Follow Friday (#5)

Follow Me Friday is a fun book meme hosted by the fabulous book blogs of Parajunkee & Allison Can Read. Each week a new question is asked and it's a lot of fun! Let's see what the question is this week...

Q: The New Year is here — and everyone wants to know your New Years Blogging Resolution! What are you going to try to revise, revamp and redo for 2012 on your blog?

So I've been blogging, not this blog but other blogs, since I was about 18 (I'm now 24!). Also I'm a tech geek girl as well, so I understand a lot of the lingo. Anyway, this is was my first year attempting blogging about books. I've learned a lot and it took me about two and half months to really grasp how to handle writing up book reviews and more.

So what do I plan to change for 2012? My time management, organization skills, and reading more. I received an eReader this Christmas (thank you mom & dad!) and so far it's helped me read more already. So far underway with at least one resolution before sunday! haha

I'm also looking to invest maybe in a basic planner or something like that to help with the schedule I have set for this blog. I've got some interesting books to read not only for D.A.C. but also in general that I've gotten over the months and what I've got on my eReader as well.

And lastly, time management. I'm horrible at mostly because I've got ADD and it really cuts into everything. I'm a notorious procrastinator, so I'm hoping to not let it get in the way with read for 2012. But I've got a feeling with the books I WANT read, it'll make it easier as well :)

Anyway... that's my blog resolutions, not the ones I've got set out in general, but yeah that's what I've got.

So I'll be busy Saturday/Sunday with New Years, but I'll be adding my IMM (it's being worked on and scheduled to post sunday). So in till then, I'm wishing everyone...

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IMM (#13)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. It's a great way to showcase the books you've gotten over the week, whether they are bought, borrowed or you got them for free from a contest or the library. Either way, it's to show your love for books and how excited you are to received them!

Okay so this week will probably be my last IMM for the year of 2011 and being that it's the week of Christmas and all other joyous festivitis of the holiday season, I'm wish everyone a Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!
*Also this post was scheduled on the 22nd and posted on the 25th*

Dark Eyes by William Richter (Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository)
Tempest by Julie Cross (Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository)
The Morganville Vampires: Volume 1 by Rachel Caine (Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository)
* Received Tempest from St. Martin's Press, won Dark Eyes from LibraryThings, and The Morganville Vampires (Vol. 1) from PaperBackSwap.*

Also I received this in the mail. I won Possess from Jessica over at Confessions of a Bookaholic back in one of the October contest they had for Halloween. It was then sent from none other than Gretchen McNeil herself! It came with some cool swag too! I've gotten a bookmark signed and four temporary tattoos inspired by the book :)

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Winter Break!

So tis' the season to be jolly as they say. So in the spirit of Christmas, I'll be off being festive with my family. This means I'll be away from my blog probably the next 72 hrs or longer. I do have a blog post scheduled for sunday and then after that nothing for the rest of the year. I'll be seeing/reading from everyone around January 2nd! So I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season, no matter what you celebrate, I also wish you a Happy New Year!

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10 ebooks for $10! HarperCollins Sale till 1/30/12!

You better believe it! The publishing company has decided to drop prices on 10 books from 2011 to $0.99! I know it's a STEAL! So it's the best time to buy the books while you still can! As they say: Don't walk, RUN! lol

1) Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Amazon | B&N)

2) Vesper by Jeff Sampson (Amazon | B&N)

3) Hereafter by Tara Hudson (Amazon | B&N)

4) Bumped by Megan McCafferty (Amazon | B&N)

5) The Unidentified by Rae Mariz (Amazon | B&N)

6) The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood (Amazon | B&N)

7) Entwined by Heather Dixon (Amazon | B&N)

8) Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski (Amazon | B&N)

9) Withering Tights by Louise Rennison (Amazon | B&N)

10) Lucky by Rachel Vail (Amazon | B&N)

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Penguin Presents: Authors Stand Up for Free Speech (video)

All these authors talk about how books are positive for young readers, how they expand the mind and give them something they need in this world. By censoring this exact thing, it could hurt them and everyone else that reads young adult literature.

This is why NDAA/SOPA/IP bill needs to never become a real law! Our voice is important and our imagination when reading is too. Don't let it be silenced. Stand up, fight back, and help keep free speech alive!

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Wish List (#3)

My wish list is a post where I talk about which books I wish to own and read. This can include upcoming books, just released, or has been on the shelf for years (but not on my shelf, sadly). I also talk about why I would want to read these books. I think explaining helps to understand a book bloggers brain more, especially about the books they love!

Title: Illuminate
Author: Aimee Agresti
Release Date: March 6th 2012

I'm a sucker for a cover that is beautifully done. This is due to my background in graphic design and my father having graduate over 30 years ago with a graphic design degree; I'm just naturally drawn to covers that have effort put into it. Also the story itself draws me in too. The fact that it's set in Chicago, awesome city by the way! And the main plot from what the except mentions, I'm putting some eggs into this basket for it to be a great read!

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Published: May 3rd 2011

This is the book that everyone cannot stop talking about for months on end! Besides this beyond amazing graphic design for the cover, the story, oh man! That story sounds so friggin' insane, but in a good way! Divergent, is also on my Christmas list. I'm hoping "Santa" lol brings me it!

Title: Tempest
Author: Julie Cross
Release Date: January 17th 2012

Did I forget to mention I have a HUGE fascination with time-travel and anything alternate dimension wise? One of my favorite movies is Back to the Future and I still love the show Sliders, which is mostly about traveling through parallel dimensions as four friends are stuck on almost identical earths in San Francisco every time, while each new earth is also different than the last! Anyway, just that premis alone for a book will get my vote to read it haha. It sounds like The Butterfly Effect a little with just the idea of how in that movie Ashton's character kept trying to go back and save the girl he loved. Also who doesn't love a good story about love that can beat the odds in such an interesting way?

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Book Review: 'ProtoStar (The Star-Crossed Saga #1)'

"On the brink of Civil War, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his Council, King Gregorio Derry has agreed to send his only son William, on a mission to restore honor to his family. What starts out routine, becomes a lot more complicated as an inopportune crash landing delays the assassination. During this time, William begins to form a 'connection' with Sydney that challenges his inner being. But this conflict is the least of his problems, as a conspiracy back on his home planet Fabricius threatens the lives of those he loves and his father's royal legacy. Along with that, he must unravel a hidden threat here on Earth that seeks to secure a vested interest that threatens both his and Sydney's safety. Will William be able to complete his mission or will he choose love, sacrificing everything he stands for?" - Goodreads

Title: ProtoStar
Series: The Star-Crossed Saga
Author: Braxton A. Cosby
Publisher: Firefly Publishing Entertainment LLC
Release Date: September 25th 2011
Format: Paperback
Pages: 356
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: ❤❤
Where to Buy: Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository

The story itself is about a love that knows no boundaries that has time and space creating situations for the characters. Even though the outcome is laid out in the book, the journey itself is interesting to the end.

However, even with such a good concept for a novel, I couldn't feel a connection with the characters. It lacked those elements that makes up great characters, let alone for a young adult book. But in reality I felt it was less young adult actually and more science fiction in general for adults.

I did find some of the dialogue to fall a little flat through out the book. It could be that one or more of the characters were not pulled out into a much richer persona when being described or explaining their thoughts.

I think Cosby hit the nail on the head with the location for a sci-fi genre, that I do love. I can see the passion put into the details of that alone. I think that if there were to be a sequel, there needs to be something laid out about the characters that are magnetic to readers. I do find this sometimes happens in a first novel for writers when entering a young adult world, the character make-up is a hit or miss. Sometimes they come back out on top for the sequel. So maybe before it comes out I'll try to re-read the book and maybe attempt the second to see if I feel more of a relation to the characters, especially Sydney.

And the last thing i do have to point out, it's a pet peeve of books or just writing in general, but the type font is a big deal for myself. My eyes strain too much when the font is hard on my eyes. They literally hurt due to them constantly readjusting and focusing on it too much. I have this problem with reading too long and too much on my computer screen. This one of the reasons I pushed myself to get through this book because I knew if I didn't I would have never finished it and felt bad all because my eyes are "allergic" to type font lol

All in all, this novel wasn't something that I truly enjoyed. Sometimes this happens. Not every single book works for every single person. But I'm glad I've given it a try. © 2011

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Video: PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet

PROTECT-IP is a bill that has been introduced in the Senate and the House and is moving quickly through Congress. It gives the government and corporations the ability to censor the net, in the name of protecting "creativity". The law would let the government or corporations censor entire sites-- they just have to convince a judge that the site is "dedicated to copyright infringement."

The government has already wrongly shut down sites without any recourse to the site owner. Under this bill, sharing a video with anything copyrighted in it, or what sites like Youtube and Twitter do, would be considered illegal behavior according to this bill.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill would cost us $47 million tax dollars a year — that's for a fix that won't work, disrupts the internet, stifles innovation, shuts out diverse voices, and censors the internet. This bill is bad for creativity and does not protect your rights. - Stop American Censorship

In other words my own blog could be shut down because the government thinks maybe a picture of a book is fringing on copyright or even using a word could get me sued hundreds of dollars for it! This is why it's so important that I spread the word! We all need to take a stand and fight for our right to keep blogging, reading, and enjoying what the world offers on the internet.

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Mini Review: 'Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time'

"Welcome to James Gurney's fantastic lost world of Dinotopia, where humans and intelligent dinosaurs have lived together in harmony for centuries, undiscovered by the rest of the world. Now these New York Times bestselling books are available from HarperCollins. The Dinotopia books are a celebration of the imagination for readers of all ages. In 1862, biologist Arthur Denison and his young son Will are washed up on the shore of an uncharted island, where they discover humans and an ancient race of dinosaurs sharing a civilization of wonder and adventure." - Amazon

Title: Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time
Author: James Gurney
Publisher: Turner Publishing, Inc.
Release Date: September 1992
Originally Read: 1992 - 1998
Format: Hardcover (1st Edition)
Pages: 159
Genre: Children's
Sub-Genre: Fantasy
Where to Buy: Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository

Before I get into the review itself, I wanted to share with you readers how amazing the artwork is in this book! I've had it for almost 20 years and still I'm captivated by it every time. I personally took these pictures of the book with my camera. It's hard to find the pictures online, so I figured why not just take them myself and let everyone see why this is a book that kids should read!

So now onto the book itself...

I've always loved reading, looking, staring at this book for years. I'm sad that the cover ripped and that there are stains on the book front cover as well (I was a kid! lol so sue me!), but the book itself has held up inside almost perfectly.

Anyway, the story itself is truly timeless in many ways. Discovering the world alone for the characters was interesting. There is so much more than meets the eye when reading more than once. I've learned about many things that maybe weren't in the made for tv movie they did about 9-10 years ago on ABC.

This is one of those type of books that I think it just great to collect and have in general as well. The cover art alone would make people go "oOoOo" and "Ahhhh" very easily because of the details.

All in all, this is just one of those books that is good to own. There is so much that I could say, but it'll mostly be about the art work that the story lol
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**Mini Reviews are books I've read, but may have read long ago or something along those lines in regards to books. This is a way to share my thoughts about it without creating a novel of an explanation. Just a nutshell point of view of the book itself.**

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Our Gov. Has Official Lost It's Marbles

If you haven't been keeping up with the latest issues of our "government", than you may be in for a shocker. In about a few days, not sure of the exact day, but our freedom of speech online will soon be not only filtered, but silenced in many ways. How did this get to a point like this? The republican party won a bill that is called NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act of 2012). Well for more information on how insane it's all about to get, read the rest o this article below:

NDAA Set To Become Law: The Terror Is Nearer Than Ever

American Democracy: 1776-2011.

It turns out that destroying the American democratic republic was easy to accomplish, historians will write someday. Simply get the three major cable news networks to blather on about useless bull**** for a few days, while legislators meet in secret behind closed doors to rush through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (NDAA), and its evil twin sister, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which is a clever name for an Internet censorship bill straight out of an Orwellian nightmare.

Sure, some independent media web sites and Jon Stewart warned us about this. Ron Paul & Son warned us about this. Amnesty International and the ACLU have been screaming from the rooftops, crying bloody murder. But the American people let it happen, because the vast majority of us simply didn't find out in time.

And now President Obama's advisers are saying he is withdrawing his veto threat against NDAA, so it will become law.

As will SOPA, since it is becoming ever more apparent that our "elected officials" in Congress are not satisfied with their 9% approval rating. They want a 0% approval rating.

I have no idea why Congress is pushing through anti-American legislation that is not only incompetent, but openly belligerent.

I have no idea why an American media blackout on NDAA is still in effect -- Anderson Cooper, Chris Matthews, Bill O'Reilly and the other broadcast "journalists" have been disgustingly silent on what is undoubtedly the most important news story of the past decade. The single most important news story since September 11th, 2001.

Combined, NDAA and SOPA simply destroy American democracy. That isn't hype. That isn't exaggeration. Within a few days, your freedom of speech will be gone -- post something controversial online, and the government can legally "disappear" it.

Annoy the government too much, or criticize Congress' infinite wisdom and mercy, and you may find yourself in military prison for the remainder of your life, without access to a trial or attorney. Even if you're an American citizen on US soil.

This is a brave new world. Watch what you say. Be mindful of who you associate with. You may criticize your government within the privacy of your own home, amongst close family or friends, but do not post negative comments online. Do not assemble. Do not protest. Do not agitate. Do not give "comfort" to the "enemy."

This is a sad day for all of us. All of our military spending, all of our fortresses and moats, and it turns out democracy was attacked from within, the historians will write someday. We didn't even see it coming. http://www.businessinsider.com/ndaa-set-to-become-law-the-terror-is-nearer-than-ever-2011-12

Now these are the kind of things you find in a communist country or even China. They monitor the internet being used in such countries with people HIRED to watch every single computer that goes online. This is the kind of thing I feared for our own country and it's coming true.

Our free speech to say what we want, even about our our government, will be silenced forever. This isn't want our country was found upon and our original constitution.

Times are changing, but to the point that we are literally becoming out own Dystopian novel! The thing you know, everyone will be required to have chips in their body to regulate our dreams, thoughts, even what we have to say... this is the stuff that science fiction is made of.

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(#2) Quotes: Being Erica

One of my favorite shows is coming to end, Being Erica. There was some very inspirational quotes from a character called Dr. Tom. He had a quote for almost everything. He also had his own words of wisdom as well. Some of it was pretty profound, other times it made you laugh, feel moved, or even gave you insight to your own life beyond the show.

I'm going to truly miss this gem of a show, because it was so different. So I felt inspired to post the quotes from this current season and share it with everyone who reads the blog. I feel maybe something could work for you or maybe someone you know.

Sometimes just one word or one phrase can help make a world of sense out of something that didn't before . . .

- Dr. Tom's Famous People Quotes -
"Failure is nature's plan to prepare you for great responsibilities." - Napoleon Hill

"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through." - Anais Nin

"Life is too short to blend in." - Paris Hilton

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." - Sigmund Freud

"With the possible exception of the equator, everything begins somewhere." - C.W. Lewis

"Life is so constructed that events cannot, will not, match our expectations." - Charlotte Bronte

"The wise adapt to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher." - Chinese Proverb

"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life... The whole aim and end of human existence." - Aristotle

"With Great power comes great responsibility." - Spider-Man

"Nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." - Oscar Wilde

"Fall in love for all the right reasons." - eHarmony

"We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." - Sam Keen

"Everything that has a beginning, has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well." - The Buddha

- Dr. Tom's Words of Wisdom -
"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."

"It's an old story. It's how wars begin, it's how people turn on each other."

"And it starts so simply - I am not you. I am nothing like you. And it is, each time - a lie."

"Feelings rarely make any kind of rational sense. Until we understand why we have them."

"The more we learn, the less we know. It keeps us humble, keeps us growing and changing, which in the end is the whole point."

"What doesn't bend, breaks. You need to bend, in order to survive in this world."

"Fights that seem to be about one thing, are often about something else."

"Relationships are difficult - we know this, and yet, we hope with each new person that the honeymoon will last forever."

"Relationships challenge us in ways we don't want to be challenged, force us to see things we don't want to. About our partner, and ourselves."

"We learn by doing, there is no other way."

"Sometimes you need the journey in order to see what was right in front of you the whole time."

"We push down what we truly want... and the more threatened we feel, the more it comes out."

"Secrets. The big ones. Are hard to live with. They're hard to keep. And they're hard to resist digging into, once we know they're there."

"Confidence pushed to far, becomes arrogance."

"We tend to see the world through the prism of our own reflection."

"This is how it goes. You train, you learn, you practice and the one day, when the time is right... It just begins."

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Tune in Tuesday (#11)

A weekly meme by Ginger of GReads! In the meme I'll talk about music and showcase it here each week. And this week, I'm going to talk about... cover songs!

Now this isn't just any set of songs that I've chosen, it's actually songs that almost everyone knows (depending on if you've been listening to the radio the last 5-10 years) have been done by bands that are consider "in" with the kids these days. These are those songs, the kind that you've heard plenty of times on the radio that you can sing along, out loud, and care free.

So to start off, I'd like to introduce a lovely cover version of a song from the '90s that was pretty popular by a band called Third Eye Blind:

"Jumper" (Cover) by Bedlight for Blue Eyes

There is something about this cover that makes you appreciate a band that doesn't take away that original melody all the while putting their spin with the vocals and guitar on it.

"More than a Feeling" (Cover) by Hit the Lights

This song may sound a slight different than the original, but I do have to admit that they kept the original melody of the song. This is a pet peeve of mine, when a band does a cover and the melody of what made the original work is no where to be found. But Hit the Lights made sure to keep it there.

"I Melt With You" (Cover) by Sugarcult

One of the great things about this song is the lead vocalist even tries to capture the way Modern English's singer did the song. They added a little more uptempo side to rock than alternative, but none the less it's a really good cover that captures that '80s vibe.

"Ice Box" (Cover) by There for Tomorrow

This song is more pop/r&b than rock, but still it is pretty amazing how a pop-punk rock band can capture the essences of a song like this. From the beginning of the beat, to the way it flows, it sounds similar to the original Omarion did a few years back. And then when the song jumps into the second verse, it picks up with the drums and a strum off the guitar that lets you know it's a little more rock sounding by the second chorus, but still this is one of those songs that I would recommend to those that love rock music and love the original song.

There are plenty of other songs that I wanted to add, but it's such a big list, that I can only provide a list with the link to it:

1) Silverstein - "Apologize" (OneRepublic Cover)
2) VerseaEmerge - "Paint It Black" (Rolling Stones Cover)
3) Forever The Sickest Kids - "Crazy Train" (Ozzy Osbourne Cover)
4) All Time Low - "Umbrella" (Rihanna Cover)
5) Relient K - "Manic Monday" (The Bangles Cover)
6) Atomic Tom - "Don't You Want Me Baby" (Human League Cover)

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The Disney Channel and Young Adult Books

Growing up I watched the Disney Channel. The first time I watched it was when they did these little ads/bumpers on it:


This bumper was seen, not sure of the exact year, but way back before 1993, that I do know. My age is showing lol

Anyway, they use to have amazing movies for kids and on top of that really good moral ending with some cool music for my generation to enjoy. A few good examples are movies like "Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century", "Smart House", "The Paper Brigade", "Brink", "Wish Upon a Star", "Halloweentown", and many others that were good!

So over time as the Disney Channel has changed (more like the last decade!), they have started running out of ideas for movies for the kids of this new generation (i.e. - ages 9 to 14, the tweens to young teens).

A good example of this when they took the book, A Wrinkle in Time, and well basically they kind of butchered up the amazing well nominated and award book for over 30 years! The trailer looks great, but so many fans were disappointed. I never got a chance to watch mostly because I stopped watching the network around that time, but also because I never got around to re-read the book and watch the movie. Also if you haven't read the book yet, this is one to add to the list or if you have some kids of your own, this is a GREAT book to have them do for a book report, which is how I ended up reading the book in the first place. Something I don't regret almost 13 years later!

Also they have no taken another well known book and turn it into a DCOM*, Geek Charming. I saw the trailer and it kind of is too "fluffy" of a trailer and from the looks of things the script writers seem to be missing their mark more as time goes on for kids who watch this network. My first piece of evidence to that was, Hanna Montana, something I was once forced to watch, not a bad show but really wasn't that great either in teaching kids things that were practical nor educational either; something that can be found on OLD shows I use to watch on Disney (i.e. - So Weird, The Jersey, In A Heartbeat, Flash Foward, Bug Juice, etc...).

So now the question begs, will they ever start playing reruns of the old movies/shows or will they have to come up with new material in hopes that it'll impress the kids and their parents?

And lastly, I leave everyone with a video of Disney Channel Original Movies from 1996-1999, a golden era of smart, funny, and good acting based movies for kids! I mean you've got Amy Jo Johnson, Katherine Heigl, Kyle Howard, Erik von Detten, Katey Sagal, Joey & Andy Lawrence, and a few other well known actors. Enjoy!



*i.e. - Disney Channel Original Movie

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YA eBooks: New to the Scene!

"Parker Nixon has never been away from home. She’s never been in love. And she’s never been wanted for murder… until now. The boy Parker got caught kissing last night turned up dead this morning, and there’s no shortage of suspects. Her reclusive father leads a double life, and the people at Stone Well Ranch have their mysteries too. But then there’s beautiful, broken Brandon Beauchamp. He saved Parker’s life once, and holds her heart in his hands. But he may be hiding the darkest secret of all." - Amazon

"Seventeen-year-old figure skater Penny Trudeau has secrets. She’s not perfect, as hard as she tries to be. With a mother who is dying and a father who treats her like she’s invisible, Penny has every reason to lie. To escape the life that is spinning out of control, she falls into the arms of an older boy. But when she lies about her age and he finds out the truth, Penny loses the one good thing that has happened in a long time.

Carter McCray is the hockey hunk she falls for, but Carter has his own family drama, and he’s not looking for trouble. Penny proves to be the exception, until the truth comes out and he can’t get past the betrayal—or her father’s threats.

Can Penny find her way back into Carter’s heart, or will she have to face the harsh realities of life on her own? Penny’s choices lead her down a dangerous road and the secrets she’s keeping will change her world forever." - Smashwords

"Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.

When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.

A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly tried to escape.

Promises is the first book of The Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of growing up in a discrete world that inherently threatens human society." - Amazon | Smashwords

"When you don't really belong anywhere and your only gift in life is finding trouble, you don't expect to change the world.

But the world is in danger, and Carla Mainston is finding that her problems are only just beginning.

As a purple-skinned outcast, she discovers she is from a race of beings who literally become slaves to hormones, and the secrets of her past are catching up to her.

To save her world and herself, Carla must go on a journey through the ancient archives at the planet's core, to the magical caves beneath Foamy Mansion.

She must embark on a quest to uncover a mystery that spans generations, and ultimately holds the secrets to her existence." - Smashwords

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Book Review: 'Pretty Little Mistakes: A Do-Over Novel'

"There are hundreds of lives sown inside Pretty Little Mistakes, Heather McElhatton's singularly spectacular, breathtakingly unique novel that has more than 150 possible endings. You may end up in an opulent mansion or homeless down by the river; happily married with your own corporation or alone and pecked to death by ducks in London; a Zen master in Japan or morbidly obese in a trailer park.

Is it destiny or decision that controls our fate? You can't change your past and start over from scratch in real life—but in Pretty Little Mistakes, you can! But be warned, choose wisely." - Goodreads

Title: Pretty Little Mistakes: A Do-Over Novel
Author: Heather McElhatton
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: May 8th 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 501
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Sub-Genre: Choose Your Own Ending
Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Where to Buy: Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | IndieBound

Okay so this novel isn't for everyone, especially for those that like a novel to stick to a normal routine of telling a story from beginning to end. This does that, but with a handful or your own that you can choose instead. The reason for that is there are 150 endings to choose from in the book!

Growing up I was into the Goosebump books that let you choose your story. Not only was I totally into those covers (they were pretty awesome for Goosebump books!), but I loved changing the story into something more interesting. I was the kid that would mark my page if there were two choices and then go back to it if the one ended too quickly or was too insane for me.

I still did that with this novel. It has some grown-up themes to it, so maybe this wouldn't be a good book for those under the age of 15 (i.e. - sex, drugs, and a few other descriptive things that most YA books don't have!).

Anyway, the book starts off with you either choosing to go to college or off traveling. From there depending on which choice you make you can either go into an art program or science program or travel to europe and have your life changed. Along the way things get more complicated and life gets a little too real for the choices you make or just a little crazy, because let's face it, it's fiction, but still really interesting fiction.

I've gotten to read about 20 or more different endings so far, but all of which have been really interesting. I've died a handful, been shot, grown old and happy, grown old and sad, fall in love, been cheated on by men, been discovered, became famous, made my parents proud or shamed them, lived out my dreams, made miserable choices, and still trying to get to every ending!

No two endings are the same. And that's what I love the most. It makes you wonder, "what if I choose to fly to...?" or "should I have gone to that show with...?" or even "was that a really big mistake to...?"

This book I think is for those that get frustrated when books don't go the way they like it and wish they could have chosen something else or are the types always wondering "what if...?" about their own life in general. © 2011

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Pulse It: December Reads

"Hannah can't wait to sneak off for a romantic weekend with her boyfriend, Colin. He’s leaving for college soon, and Hannah wants their trip to the lake house to be one they’ll never forget.

But once Hannah and Colin get there, things start to seem a bit...off. They can't find the town on any map. The house they are staying in looks as if someone's been living there, even though it's been deserted for years. And Colin doesn’t seem quite himself. As he grows more unstable, Hannah worries about Colin’s dark side, and her own safety.

Nothing is as perfect as it seems, and what lies beneath may haunt her forever." - Pulse It

"In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime." - Pulse It

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'To Turn Left' by .piXie.

It Changes Everything

To turn right means that life goes on: birth, school, work, love, family, death...To Turn Left changes everything

Sometimes, you don't get a choice. It's your time and you have to choose, life or death, left or right. You have to make a choice, and once you make your decision, there's no going back.

For Evelyn Farley, the time came on her sweet sixteenth and, unconsciously, she chose left. Now she is thrust into the world of monsters and slayers with no hope of turning back. Questions she never thought to ask are slamming back into her.

But, in the end, it all comes back to one thing. Did she make the right decision? Or did she make a huge mistake

Inkpop: .piXie.

Every now and then I find a really interesting story from an potential writer on inkpop.com that leaves me happy to know that some teens have some amazing talent! I like showcasing this talent when I can and give these individuals a chance to be discovered or know that some day they could be the next big thing. Not only is the cover amazing, but on her page she even mentions how Jackson Pearce has picked this novel to be featured as a handpicked Figment.com piece as well! This young girl must certainly have talent if a big name author is impressed by the story!

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The Anatomy of a Christmas Card!

Ever wonder what the statistics are for cards sent around Christmas? or ever wonder how the history of giving cards started? Well now here is your chance to find out exactly everything you can imagine about Christmas cards! Make sure to click on the image to get a bigger view of the information! Enjoy!

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Sneak Peak: 'The Probability of Miracles' (Chapters 1 - 5)

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Book Review: 'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones'

"When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know." - Goodreads

Title: City of Bones
Series: The Mortal Instruments
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: McElderry Books
Release Date: March 27th 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 485
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Sub-Genre: Paranormal
Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles | The Book Depository

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, tells of a story about a young girl named Clary Fray who embarks on her summer in NYC, living in Brooklyn, and ends up with a life that is far from what she calls "normal". Along the way with her best friend Simon, her mother Jocyln, and an old family friend named Luke, they meet some interesting people. Some of these people include Jace, Isabelle, Alec, and Hodge. Things get complicated when Clary finds out about the world of the Shadowhunters and their ways of living. The end result is an epic journey into the unknown and the ability to not only trust herself, but that of others as she beings self rediscover of her past that makes her finally feel like she belongs in the sea of 1.8 billon people.

I'm not sure who has read the book, but I'll try to keep spoilers to a minimum.

My only issue with the story was how the characters Clary and Jace turned out in the end. It felt like a true greek tragedy to the point of how they found out a missing link between them: Valentine. That in itself kind of rubbed me wrong on a few levels, I mean if they were "cousins" then thats a different story and I would have been chill with… but they are not. Kind of takes it to a whole new ice factor level.

Anyway, the story itself was great! I loved how there was a whole back history to so many well known mythology of werewolves, faeries, vampires, warlocks, and more! It made you feel as though you had another piece to the puzzle of this story come alive.

I did enjoy the descriptions of the landscape, because of my own adventures in Manhattan over the years. I could picture the driving along the hudson river past the building on the west side, the imagery of the village with the cobble stone on the ground, the grand cathedrals standing tall in downtown, and the way it was when you get to the subways. Everything was perfectly described and I have to thank Cassandra for adding that amazing touch to the story!

I do however found it to be slow twice in the book, but that's because sometimes a first novel has that happen. The need to get out certain details and making the reader understand the world that which these characters come from too.

Lastly, I feel like there was something missing in regards to some more backstory about the characters. I can't put my finger on it, but something felt left out. I'm hoping it's in the sequel because it's the reason I couldn't give it 5 stars and the way things played out with Clary and Jace too is the other.

Overall this is a good book for those that have an obsession with YA paranormal mythology/folklore based in werewolves, vampires, faeries, etc... © 2011

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Tune in Tuesday: Retro Edition (#10)

A weekly meme by Ginger of GReads! In the meme I'll talk about music and showcase it here each week.

This version of the meme hasn't been done yet, but since I'm a HUGE fan of classic songs from almost every genre, I felt this was more fitting. I will also do a special edition of a Christmas one in a few weeks with a special version of the meme logo!

Anyway, hope this version catches on to inspire those that like music from any decade before the 1980's. That in itself, I will try to do at some point! Anyway... let's get this show on the road

I'm a HUGE fan of classic rock, which also calling it "classic" once in the past in front of my dad made him feel old haha so since then I try to be careful not to say it. But calling it classic doesn't me old. It can me in lingo terms: the best thing since sliced bread and always will be!

These bands are highly influential on me since I was in diapers. There are more, probably about 20 other musicians, bands, etc... from 1965-1990 that my fathers has played around the house that I still hear today. I even hear the Beatles more than three times a week after midnight blaring outside on the front patio and the kitchen while my father sits out there haha but still the best of the best still lives on in my house.

I think it has to largely do with that he saw most of the music, minus Janis Joplin and Jimmy Hendrix, live on stage one time or another. He has even met John Lennon while working at the Dakota Hotel at the end of the 70's and the early 80's.

Now for myself, I will play the greatest rockers of all time when I'm driving or just lounging around. I listen to a local radio station that has been around since the late 1960's and all they do is play music from 1965-1990/1991. You hear everything from "Cream", "Nirvana", "Pink Floyd", "The Beatles", and everything else considered good music of the rock genre.

Also my pride for this era of music is sort of borderline addictive haha. The reason I say that: I have a collection or rock vintage looking band shirts pilling up in my bedroom. I've got about four beatles shirts, a hendrix, two pink floyd, and a few other well known artist. Not to mention my vintage taste for '70s style clothing (long live floppy hats and bells!), just that this genre is everything that is me and probably won't ever disappear from my life.

I guess, I bleed not only O negative blood, but rock and roll is surging through my veins spinning the 60's and 70's!

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Publishers May Be Changing Up Their Game About Book Bloggers

Has book blogging hit the wall? A marketing department email sent to bloggers on Thursday by William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, indicates some kind of horizon is in sight. What's on that horizon? The end of the flow of free books, which will soon be reduced to a trickle."

Message is essentially: if you don't review enough of the books we send you, in the timeframe we want you to, you're out," Rebecca Joines Schinsky tweeted Thursday. Schinsky, who writes and edits The Book Lady's Blog, is one of the leaders of the latest generation of committed book bloggers. - LA Times

To read the rest of the article, head on over to the here!

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Mini Review: 'The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book'

"In November 1985, the magic of Calvin and Hobbes first appeared on the funny pages, introducing the world to a wondrous pair of friends. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this distinguished partnership between a six-year-old boy and his (sometimes) stuffed tiger, Watterson has prepared a special book, which shares his thoughts on cartooning and is illustrated throughout with black-and-white and color cartoons." - Goodreads

Title: The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book
Author: Bill Watterson
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Release Date: September 1st 1995
Originally Read: Before 2001
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
Genre: Comics
Where to Buy: Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository

One of the many reasons I really love this book is it's not just about comics, it's also about the history of the comic strip, the backstory about the way the characters talk, how a comic is produced for the newspaper, and a whole bunch of other really amazing things! Most of that wasn't a priority part of the book when I was a kid over 10 years ago, because you know, as a kid the last thing you want to read is the "how to" or "history" of something unless it's fun, then it's in one ear and out the other lol

But as I grew up, I started to read the information in the book. I was surprised at the vast knowledge that Watterson put into the book itself. He even points out some of his influence for writing the famous cartoons. He was mostly inspired by The Peanuts, by Charles Schultz, Pogo, by Walt Kelly, and Krazy Kat, by George Herriman. Way before my time, but not my parents (they graduated high school in the '70s, so they know who the last two are haha).

Anyway, as you get past the first couple of pages, you start to see some really interesting and satirical comic strips of Calvin and Hobbes.

Also, not only does the book have mainly black & white based strips, but it also has some sunday color comic ones too!

I do believe this book is a great for those that: 1) love comics, 2) are a big fan of Calvin & Hobbes, 3) all of the above!
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**Mini Reviews are books I've read, but may have read long ago or something along those lines in regards to books. This is a way to share my thoughts about it without creating a novel of an explanation. Just a nutshell point of view of the book itself.**

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Charity Drive from Paperback Dolls & a Kindle Giveaway!

"For every new follower Paperback Doll’s acquires during this 17 day contest, Day has teamed up with her local Half Price Books and Dollar Tree Store and will donate 1 children’s book or toy to Operation Christmas Child or Toys for Tots charity. We hope we are able to give lots of books and toys to children all over the world this holiday season! As a special “thank you” to all of our readers we are giving away a KINDLE FIRE tablet and donating books and toys to charity. To participate simply enter below. Already have a tablet? You can still help by sending monetary donations securely via paypal."

*make sure to click the picture to be sent to the Paperback Doll webpage for the giveaway!* 

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IMM (#12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. It's a great way to showcase the books you've gotten over the week, whether they are bought, borrowed or you got them for free from a contest or the library.

This week I've been a little busy with school which is done this upcoming friday for me and my finale(s) will start in two weeks. So I'm in study mode and research paper mode lately. On top of reading when I can, sleeping, eating, and remembering my own name, it's been a little nutty from my end...

Enough about my real world situation, you came here for the books originally.

So let's see what I've received in my mailbox this week . . .

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Goodreads | Amazon | B&N)
Switched by Amanda Hocking (Goodreads | Amazon | B&N)
Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig (Goodreads | Amazon | B&N)

*I'd like to thank Goodreads, Putnam, St. Martin's Griffin, and HarperCollins for all these ARCs this week!  I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing every single one of these books!*

So what did you get in your mailbox this week? Share with me and everyone else below in the comment section!

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Follow Friday (#4)

Follow Me Friday is a fun book meme hosted by the fabulous Parajunkee & Allison Can Read. Each week a new question is asked and it's a lot of fun! And this week's edition is a little interesting . . . let's check it out!

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to books? Maybe you don’t like love triangles or thin plots? Tell us about it!

Hmm . . . tricky question, many answers. But as the saying goes: there can only be one! haha points to anyone who got that quote! Just kidding about only having one . . . so here goes nothing!

Pet peeves about books? I think I don't like it when the cover has nothing to do with the book. It's very misleading, because I'm an aesthetically (i.e. - visual) person. So the cover is also a key factor in getting me to read a book. The reason for this is I'm an artistic person, so the first thing we artisty people notice is how everything is as a whole. If something is off, it won't sit well. I'm about how the colors flow, the shapes, the sound imagery in the title, etc . . . covers are my major selling point, besides a great plot. Think of it like marketing 101 at a PR firm: you have to be able to sell it to the group it's aimed at or they won't buy it.

My second pet peeve? I can't stand it when not even one back story is added to the story! If there isn't one I kind of feel let down. But if the story is amazing, I can let it slide just once and hope a mini story in between the next sequel will fill in some blanks or a prequel back story is good too! I'm all for those!!!

And my final P.P.? Authors that have been around for years, that are jumping on the YA bandwagon and producing material that isn't even geared toward a YA audience; just slaps on an excerpt and cover that looks YA, but isn't a YA book. I feel like authors should immerse themselves in the culture a little if they want to write YA. A lot has changed even in the last five years when it comes to YA novels. Not only have the covers become amazing in graphic design, but the issues that this audience deals with is not so "childish" anymore. If it's like a "Sweet Valley" novel, it won't fly anymore. A good example for pop-culture for authors to look at is "Degrassi". Something about that show, no matter what, always seems to stay popular with each and every generation that grows up watching it. They always recycle the same plot lines, but they change up some of the lingo, the clothing, the music, and add on some stuff to the original ideas. It's about keeping it classic but making it modern at the exact same time.

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YA eBooks For Under a $1.00

"I have always existed, not just me but all of us, the un-embodied spirits who wait to live.”

Tess is an unborn spirit, who is about to embark on a much awaited journey into mortality to a brand new planet called Earth. She is chosen by the Eternals for an important mission, and is put under a rigorous training by a half-human, half-lion Seraph. This training exposes Tess to some of her darkest fears and insecurities. These experiences force Tess to work on her gift as a discerner of thoughts and reader of auras—thus helping her become one of Heaven’s most powerful angels. But even angels falter, and deep inside her a gnawing fear is growing. Will she meet her soul mate in life? Will their love be strong enough to overcome the forgetting effects of the Veil? And, is she prepared to take on the responsibility of keeping the most dangerous renegade and leader of the Fallen Angels at bay during mortality? - Amazon

Shayna and her two best friends have the abilities to manipulate and control the four elements, earth, air, water and fire. While learning to hone their growing powers, they discover a new and malicious presence in their sleepy beach town. Someone is performing blood magic and threatens to expose their small magical community. So far only small animals have been slaughtered, but then the nightmares start.

Shayna suffers nightmares of being chased and sacrificed only to wake up bloodied and bruised. She thinks her magical blood is the ultimate target for the final blood rite. When an innocent girl, Tracy, is kidnapped Shayna knows it’s only a ploy to draw her out; she can’t let someone die because of her. - Amazon

Seventeen-year-old Alice Bonham's life feels out of control after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave hits aside, Jack's unlike anyone she's ever met.

Then she meets his brother, Peter. His eyes pierce through her, and she can barely breathe when he's around. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him.

But falling for two very different guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood... - Amazon

When Claire Miller turned eighteen all she wanted to do was celebrate her birthday, but after a night on the town with her best friend she awakes to a visitor she never expected. The rulers of her region, a vampire royal family, have chosen her to be turned as their new heir and vampire princess. In a world fueled by the power of blood, Claire quickly discovers the vampire royal family is not what they seem and that she has secrets in her past, she never knew existed. - Amazon

A dying brother. A young man with golden planes of light on his back. A blind chess wizard. An insane angelic kidnapper in flamboyant red leather. A town with more secrets than stoplights. A cat that talks to spirits. Waking up with eyes the color of moonlight. Before her world tilts towards impossible, Caspia Chastain thinks the only strange thing about her is that she sometimes draws the future. Only her brother Logan, fighting his cancer diagnosis, knows what she can do. When she draws a man surrounded by brilliant light, dark wings, and frightening symbols, she can only hope the vision won't come true.But when a stranger named Ethan appears, determined to protect Caspia and her brother from dangers he won't explain, she's not sure what to think. Strangers almost never come to Whitfield. They certainly don't follow her around, frightening her one moment and treating her like glass the next. And they certainly don't look exactly like the subject of her most violent drawing.

Ethan'i'el can't deny the pull he feels towards this mortal with untapped gifts. Although he has come to guard her dying brother's soul from the Dark forces that would claim it, he realizes Logan's death will shatter her. Even worse, Ethan'i'el knows that choosing life with a mortal means eternal banishment from the Light and eventual descent into the Dark and madness.Soon Caspia finds herself in the middle of a war between Dark and Light forces, where both Chastain siblings are targets. When she turns to her self-appointed guardian for help, Ethan must choose between devotion to the Light and an attraction that has already altered his world forever. - Amazon

I loved him—that was my torment.
And I was losing him all over again.

Walls crumbled all around me. An undeniable force pulled at my core.I tried to fight it, I tried to deny it the power, but I was weak. I felt pain in my side, and I knew that this dark force was winning. My veins startedto burn, and I screamed, but it didn’t stop.

Thrilling and seductive, PINELIGHT is a bitter sweet love story submerged in a dark and beautiful world. - Amazon

Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate...until she dreams a future she can't ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past. - Amazon

Sixteen-year-old Riley Williams has been able to see ghosts since the car crash that took her mother's life and shattered her family. Guilt-ridden over the belief that she's somehow responsible for her mom's death, Riley is desperate to see her mother's elusive spirit to gain her forgiveness.

When her father moves the family to Scotland so they can all start over, Riley believes her life couldn't get worse––that is until the ghost of nineteen-year-old Ian MacKinnon catches her purposely cutting herself. An uneasy truce quickly turns into friendship, and soon Riley's falling hard for Ian.

Riley believes her gift could help Ian end the curse that has kept him tied to the land for centuries, but that would mean letting him go forever and she's not sure she is strong enough to do that. As if her life wasn't complicated enough, the malevolent spirit of the woman who killed Ian returns and she'll stop at nothing to keep Riley from helping Ian find eternal peace. - Amazon

Ashlyn McVean doesn’t believe in fairy tales. That is, until Ashlyn is thrown into the crosshairs of grudges her grandmother created long ago. After finding out she is one of two people able to cross between faerie realms, Ashlyn is faced with trying to understand her abilities, along with navigating a new relationship with her boyfriend, Liam. As if being on a centuries old hit list and dealing with crazed pixies isn’t enough, her new abilities mean trouble for Liam. Knowing her new life puts everyone she loves in danger, Ashlyn must decide what’s most important in her life between friends, family, love, and ultimately, realms. - Amazon

Sixteen year old Arelia LaRue lives in New Orleans where the music is loud, voodoo queens inhabit every street corner, and the ghosts are alive and well. Despite her surroundings, all she wants is to help her Grand-mere Bea pay the rent and save up for college.

When her best friend Sabrina convinces her to take a well-paying summer job at the infamous Darkwood plantation, owned by the wealthy LaPlante family, Arelia agrees.However, at Darkwood strange things start to happen, and gorgeous Lucus LaPlante insists that he needs her help. Soon, the powers that Arelia has been denying all her life, come out to play and she discovers mysteries about herself that she could have never imagined. - Amazon

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