In My Mailbox (33)

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for book bloggers to post what they have received for review, borrowed from a friend, bought at the bookstore, or picked up at the library!

It has been far too long since my last IMM post! I tried to think of all the books that I got the past couple of weeks but if I forgot something, I apologize!

For Review:

On Little Wings by Regina Sirois (signed)

My Thoughts: This book was brilliant! I loved the journey the main character went on. Review coming soon!

Revealing Eden: Save The Pearls Part I by Victoria Foyt (signed)

My Thoughts: I am just now starting this one but the summary is definitely super interesting!

Gifted/Won:

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer (signed)

My Thoughts: Thank you SO MUCH to Alexa @ Alexa Loves Books for sending me this awesome surprise. I cannot wait to read more of this series!

A special thanks to C.A. Kunz for sending over a Childe Bookmark! It was so nice to get a hand-written, thoughtful letter!

 A special thanks to Michelle I. Brooks for sending over a Bone Dressing bookmark!

Bought:

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford (signed)

My Thoughts: I loved this first book so much! I had it for quite a while but took it to Leah’s book launch to get it signed!!!

A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford (signed)

My Thoughts: I am so excited to see where this book takes Az, Eden, Gabe, and the whole gang!

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

My Thoughts: Lexcade has convinced me that I will love Leanna’s books and I trust her completely! I have been waiting a while for this one.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

My Thoughts: So heart-breakingly beautiful! I love this book so, so, so, so, so much. There will never be enough words to explain all of its brilliance.

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

My Thoughts: Witches, sisters, first love, magic, really is there anything unappealing about this book? I think not.

So that is it for my mailbox this week! Leave a link in the comments section and I will be sure to check out yours as well!

TGIF (22)

There once was an awesome blogger named Ginger and she decided to create a super fun feature where fellow bloggers would answer fabulous questions via blog posts every Friday. TGIF was born and we all have Miss Ginger at GReads! to thank for that! This week’s question is:

Spooktacular Reads:

Which books do you consider festive Halloween reads? Which stories have chilled you to the bone?

I would like to think that I am a tough person who can handle scary books but in reality I am a big, big baby. However, I have managed to sneak in a few creepy books and by somewhat of a shock, I actually enjoyed them. The first couple are books that just really freaked me out. The rest are ones that have Halloween-ish elements in them (a.k.a. Paranormal books that I find to be totally, freaking awesome!!!)

Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

I just read this one. HOLY FREAKING CREEPY!

The Dead of Summer by Camilla Way

I read this one over a year ago and I STILL think of how twisted that story is!

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Of course fighting off demons with swords can be considered a great Halloween read!

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

This is a book about a girl who can sense dead bodies, FREAKY!

Bone Dressing by Michelle Brooks

This book is more of a love story but the main characters do spend quite a bit of time in the cemetary which is ALWAYS good for freaking people out.

Beautiful Creatures + Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Both of these books a million times YES! Everything about them shouts great Halloween read! Plus Ethan and Lena…I <3 those two!

The Childe by C.A. Kunz

This is the PERFECT book for this time of year. It definitely makes me think of one of those cool made for TV movies that ABC Family always has this time of year. It could totally be right up there with Hocus Pocus!

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

I love me some Stacey Kade! You can’t have Halloween without a friendly little ghost (or in this case, a spoiled little ghost who wants things to go her way!)

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

I was so surprised by how much I loved this book that is based so heavily on Edgar Allen Poe. This story is dark, creepy, and twisted, what more could you want?!?

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

I don’t think this one has anything to do with this time of year but I think it is a phenomenal paranormal book!

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Oh yes, definitely a great paranormal book that is perfect for reading this time of year!

Released by Megan Duncan

Demon slaying people on the run? YES please!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Oh how I love this book! Another great paranormal book that has NOTHING to do with Halloween but you should read anyway!

So what do you think? Are any of these on your list of books to read during Halloween time?

This week on Katelyn’s Blog (10/21-10/28):

TGIF (21)

Life As Kate (4)

Past Perfect by Leila Sales

Tune In Tuesday (31)

Destined by P.C. & Kristin Cast Book Trailer + Giveaway!!!

TGIF (3)

TGIF is a fun little feature hosted at GReads! Every week we re-cap what has happened on the blog plus Ginger asks a question for us to answer. This week’s question is was sprouted from a heart-breaking article that was released by Wall Street Journal this past week. It is:

YA Saves:

How do you feel about the “dark” books filling our YA shelves today?

~The article that started it all~

Oh boy, where on earth do I even begin with this issue?  There is so much I want to say, all these thoughts running through my head but when I go to express my feelings on this particular article, I come up with “I hate that article. I just want to burn it into a million pieces. How can someone dismiss a whole genre of literature like that? Did this woman just complain about the books that TEENS READ (yes, real, live teens actually interested in reading)? I can’t stand people with such closed off minds. If this woman had a PENNY for every life that these “dark” books have truly touched she would be a MULTI-MILLIONARE.” Yup, that basically sums up my thoughts on the article. However, that’s not the question this week.

To answer the question, I ADORE, LOVE, BELIEVE IN, RELY ON, LIVE FOR, every single “dark” Y.A. book. I may not like or enjoy every book out there for young adults today but I love what they do. They truly save lives, they inspire people, and they can sometimes give someone that little extra push to keep on living their life. They do something real and significant. They make hard situations seem a bit more bearable. They make the hellish four years that people spend in high school almost worth it. These “dark” novels that the WSJ article so bluntly compares to “…fun-house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously distorted portrayals of what life is,” change lives every single day by making troubled teens feel as though they are not alone. They bring that one little ray of sunshine to a depressed girl/guy’s day. They can give a girl/guy confidence no matter what sexual orientation he/she is. They can give people like me, people who don’t have hard-pressing issues to deal with on a daily basis, a comfort and solace knowing that our life and daily problems really aren’t that bad. Y.A. books deal with hard, terrible, disgusting, horrendous, mind-blowing issues but guess what people… it states the truth! These aren’t just some crazy, messed up ramblings of a mad man/woman. These are stories told straight from the heart. These are the stories of real teens dealing with these very real issues. Finally they have someone to speak up for them. They have these wonderful authors who have the guts and talent to create these masterpieces and let people know that yes, these “dark” issues are going on in the world today. The fact that a woman, a mom no less, fails to see all the good that these novels can do, really breaks my heart. Yes, the truth is scary so these books can be hard to take but as the great Winston Churchill once said, “Truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but, in the end, there it is.” No matter how many times people try to stop the amazing stories that Y.A. authors are putting out there, they still aren’t facing the real issue at hand. The truth is scary people. Wake up and smell the garbage. We live in a dark world so of course the novels written during this time are going to reflect that. The only question is are you going to try to put a stop to it or are you going to let these Y.A. novels keep on doing what they do best, save lives?

Ok, that is my rant/feelings/random thoughts on the issue. These are my opinions on the matter. I ask that in the comments section, please feel free to voice your opinion on the issue but please no personal attacks on me or fellow commenters.

~This is a poll being hosted on wsj.com. It looks like us Y.A. lovers just might be proving a point.~

This week on Katelyn’s Blog (6/3-6/10):

Review of Bone Dressing by Michelle I. Brooks

Tune-In Tuesday (11)/Teaser Tuesday (8)

Review of Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Review of Vision by Beth Elisa Harris + Author Interview

Book Review: Bone Dressing by Micelle I. Brooks

Title: Bone Dressing (Bone Dressing #1)

Author: Michelle I. Brooks

Publisher: Self Published

Pages: 347 paperback

My Rating: 4/5 stars

Source: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review

Time is running out … the Dark that’s been chasing Syd for many lifetimes has finally caught up with her …

Sydney Roberdeau lost her parents as a young girl. Waiting for her life to start and the freedom that will come with her eighteenth birthday, Syd spends much of her time haunting the local cemetery. It is there, stretched out among the dead, that she feels most alive, most at home. Until one rainy night when Beau, Sarah and T.J. crash her ghostly sanctuary, appearing out of nowhere, turning her already inside-out world one degree past upside down.

Syd must now revisit past lives, dressing in the bodies of her previous selves … bone dressing. Her only chance to outrun the evil breathing down her neck is to face her own worst nightmares and her strongest desires. But if she can’t stay out of trouble in this life, how can she possibly fix mistakes from past lives? And just how many lives has she lived, loved and lost? What is Syd exactly, and what will she risk for the life of a man she doesn’t remember, the man she spent a lifetime with, the man she loves? Everything … including her very own life?

Bone Dressing, the first in a series of seven books, will carry Syd and Beau on an adventure that transcends life itself. 

Wow, oh wow. While getting ready to write this review, I found myself at a complete loss of words. Let me make this very clear to those of you reading this, I am NEVER at a loss of words! That is how surprising, wonderful, funny, and romantic this book is. It took everything I thought it was going to be and flushed it down the drain. What I found instead was a book that left me stunned into silence, something as I so eloquently put, never happens!

When I first read the summary for Bone Dressing and watched the book trailer (it will be at the end of the post!), I imagined it being somewhat of a scary, freaky, mysterious story with a hint of romance in it. Don’t get me wrong, it was all of those things but those words only begin to describe this book.

I found myself laughing and connecting with our main character, Syd, from the very beginning. Her sense of humor and sarcasm, not to mention those hilarious one-liners she uses all the time, kept the story light and fun. Don’t let her snarky-girl attitude fool you though. It is all just a tough exterior to hide the hurt and pain she is feeling inside. Not only is she still mourning the loss of her parents but she also feels like a major let-down to those around her. For every step forward, she seems to take five steps back. Always getting in trouble sure makes life difficult for Syd. Syd assumes all the bad crap that is thrown her way is just a result of her being a bad person but finds a whole different truth when she meets Beau, his sister Sarah, and their big ole kitty, T.J., in a graveyard one night. It is there that Syd learns that mistakes made in past lives are affecting the one she is living now and if she doesn’t do something about it soon, very bad things will happen.

This book deals with past lives, soul mates, and karma, all things that I am not familiar with. I was a bit confused when at one moment I was laughing at something Syd said and then at the next minute Syd, now named Rachel,  is in a past life. Aside from the little bit of confusion I had towards the paranormal-ish parts of the book, I actually found it quite refreshing. It is so nice to step away from fallen angels, demons, and vampires. Instead Michelle chose to write about soul mates and the idea of karma. I loved these fresh, new ideas she wove into this story!

The romance in this story was just absolutely phenomenal. Michelle’s great sense of writing helped make the love and passion between Syd and Beau [and Rachel & Jesse (Syd’s past life romance)] just jump off the pages. I want so badly to find out what other lives’ romances were like as well as how Syd and Beau will connect in the future. This book will definitely cater to those who love a deep, romantic story.

As with any series, there is bound to be a lot of questions. Bone Dressing is no exception. We learn a little bit about Syd and what dangers are sneaking up on her but I have a feeling we are just at the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to learn! A mysterious, beautifully romantic, funny, and mesmerizing book such as Bone Dressing leaves me dying for the next installment!

Monthly Wrap-Up (May 2011)

I cannot believe that it is already June! We are half-way through the year but it feels like it has just started. The month of May was a pretty awesome month on the blog. I had the most posts in the month of May than I have ever had so far on the blog! (Woohoo!!!) Even though it was busy on the blog, I still managed to read some pretty awesome books this past month. So here’s what happened for the month of May:

Books I Read In May:

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Bone Dressing by Michelle L. Brooks

Sean Griswold’s Head by Lindsey Leavitt

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

*That is a total of 7 books for the month of May. I am 33% done with my goal of 100 books for the year. Een though I read my booty off I am still 8 books behind. I better step it up a notch!*

Books I Reviewed In May:

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. All I have to say about this one is that it is my all-time FAVORITE book, so you should probably go read the review. (beware, my review includes lots of gushing!)

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen. As my second favorite Sarah Dessen book, This Lullaby is a story full of love, humor, and a totally goofy lead singer of a band!… (Hate Spinnerbait)

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. I adore this book. Both the lead character and her love interest are two characters that have totally captured my heart. I guess this one can be tied with This Lullaby as my second favorite Dessen book.

Dream Smashers by Angela Carlie. I love this book to pieces. It is an honest, gripping, heart breaking story but after it breaks your heart it makes sure to fill it with inspiration & hope.

Miscellaneous Things On The Blog In May:

I had quite a few AWESOME IMM’s this past month!

(Read my IMM posts here, here, here, and here)

I also had some great Tune-In and Teaser Tuesday posts this month!

(Read my Tune-in/Teaser Tuesday posts here, here, here, here, and here)

Were you beginning to wonder what was up with all the Sarah Dessen reads/reviews? Well Sarah Dessen Week took place the month of May!

(Read my Sarah Dessen Week Welcome post here)

On top of all the Sarah Dessen reviews I also made a list of authors with books similar to Sarah Dessen books!

(Read my For Fans of Sarah Dessen post here)

I also participated in another meme called TGIF. It is a lot of fun and I am so glad I joined in!

(Read my TGIF post here)

And to round off the month, I also started a new 7 week feature on the blog titled Warped Tour Weekend. I post a few bands that I will be seeing in concert in July and I ask you to vote for your favorite. It’s been lots of fun!

(Read my Warped Tour Weekend posts here and here)

Alright, there is the month of May all laid out for you. It turned out to be a pretty productive month but I am hoping to get a lot more done in June!

Tune-In Tuesday (9)/ Teaser Tuesday (6)

Tune in Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Ginger @ GReads so you should head on over and link up! It is a great way to bounce from blog to blog and discover what others are listening to! I love music, all types of music but there is so much out there that I haven’t heard of before. That being said, feel free to leave a link to your Tune-In Tuesday post!

This week I was drawing a complete blank! There are just so many great bands out there that deserve their moment of spotlight and I just didn’t know who to choose! I finally settled on a guy I got to see in concert this past winter. The concerts main act was The Summer Set. This was the only band I knew anything by! Other bands/performers such as The Downtown Fiction, Mod Sun, and The Friday Night Boys were great opening acts that I have now become huge fans of. However, the one performer I didn’t get to see much of due to my awesome ability of being late..all the time, was Austin Gibbs. What I did get to see of his performance was pure love though. He had such a different type of sound. His voice was raspy yet clear at the same time. His singing seemed to come to him so effortlessly and easily. I could gush on an on about this guy but all you really need to know is 1) his voice is awesome 2) the lyrics rock and 3) if you ever see him in concert beware of his mustache, nicknamed “El Capitan” which seems to have a personality all its own. And yes, I am 100% serious about #3. I would love to hear what you think of this performer so please leave a comment and as always, enjoy!

*I couldn’t choose just one video so there will be two this week*

Austin Gibbs: I Like The Ones

Austin Gibbs: All By Yourself

 

Now for the Teaser Tuesday part of this post! This awesome meme is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Teaser Tuesday asks you to take the book you are reading, flip it to a random page, and share two sentences (no spoilers though!). Sounds easy enough, right? Well it is, plus it is a great way to see what others are reading!

This past week I got Bone Dressing by Michelle I. Brooks in the mail. Guys, I am L.O.V.I.N.G. this book! I was thinking it was going to be an extremely creepy book but I actually find it to be funny, mysterious, and a super enjoyable read! The book follows Syd along with her new friends Beau, Sarah, and T.J. as she “dresses” in the bodies of her past lives to try and outrun evil that is chasing her down. Let me know what you think in the comments section!

*This is a bit longer than two sentences (the main character likes to go off on long rants and I just couldn’t cut one of them in half!) but I just had to use it! It gives you a general idea for the story and shows off the surprising amount of humor*

“So let me if I have this straight,” I said, wrinkling my nose and pointing at Sarah, “You, are some grade-school, past life elevator operator working the control panel of the entire entourage of my past lives kind of like a TV programmer, or Sulu in Star Trek-my own personal pint-size paranormal navigator.” My gaze and hand shifted to Beau. “Mr. Wonderful over here is the male lead in this comedy of errors otherwise known as my life, uh, lives. Furthermore, in that capacity, he also serves as the damn cruise director.” Finally, turning to T.J. I wrapped things up. “And Fluffy is the transcendental doorman, mmm, doorcat-that or maybe some kind of furry, four-legged bouncer-a roller coaster ride attendant, there to help get you on and off the ride, buckle your seatbelt, and remind you to keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all time? Does that just about sum things up?”

~Bone Dressing by Michelle I. Brooks, pgs. 82-83~

In My Mailbox (13)

IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It is a way for book bloggers to post what they have received for review, borrowed from a friend, bought at the bookstore, or picked up at the library. I got a few great books this week, here is the list!

For Review:

Bone Dressing by Michelle I. Brooks

Summary: Time is running out … the Dark that’s been chasing Syd for many lifetimes has finally caught up with her …

Sydney Roberdeau lost her parents as a young girl. Waiting for her life to start and the freedom that will come with her eighteenth birthday, Syd spends much of her time haunting the local cemetery. It is there, stretched out among the dead, that she feels most alive, most at home. Until one rainy night when Beau, Sarah and T.J. crash her ghostly sanctuary, appearing out of nowhere, turning her already inside-out world one degree past upside down.

Syd must now revisit past lives, dressing in the bodies of her previous selves … bone dressing. Her only chance to outrun the evil breathing down her neck is to face her own worst nightmares and her strongest desires. But if she can’t stay out of trouble in this life, how can she possibly fix mistakes from past lives? And just how many lives has she lived, loved and lost? What is Syd exactly, and what will she risk for the life of a man she doesn’t remember, the man she spent a lifetime with, the man she loves? Everything … including her very own life?

Bone Dressing, the first in a series of seven books, will carry Syd and Beau on an adventure that transcends life itself.

My Thoughts: First, thank you so much to Michelle for not only allowing me to review her book but for also sending me a signed paperback edition. I love it! It sounds so extremely interesting, I can’t wait to get started!

The Dream Crystal by Mark O’ Bannon

Summary: All of the world’s dreams are about to die. The Shadow People have come. Always near, they linger in the darkness, ready to devour dreams, hopes, aspirations and desires. . .

Aisling, having lost her dream of becoming a fashion designer, learns that she’s a Faerie changeling. Disquieted by the fact that her faerie parents are kidnappers, she has decided to rescue the human child she was exchanged for, but her “sister” is no longer among the faeries, having been taken by the Shadow People. Ith, the Lord of Shadows, is trying to control the dreams of mankind, which are under the protection of the faeries, so they’re at war.

Aisling, who doesn’t believe in dreams any longer, is falling in love with a handsome, mysterious stranger – one of the Shadow People.

My Thoughts: Thank you to Mark for sending me an awesome e-copy of this book! I am beyond excited to dive into the world of Faeries. Really, this book sounds magical and exciting!

Bought:

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

Summary: When funny, charming, absolutely-normal Audrey Cuttler dumps her boyfriend Evan, he writes a song about her that becomes a number-one hit—and rockets Audrey to stardom!

Suddenly, tabloid paparazzi are on her tail and Audrey can barely hang with her friends at concerts or the movies without getting mobbed—let alone score a date with James, her adorable coworker at the Scooper Dooper. Her life will never be the same—at least, not until Audrey confronts Evan live on MTV and lets the world know exactly who she is!

My Thoughts: I am so, so, so excited to read this book. There is a music influence plus I have not heard a single negative review on it! It sounds funny, cute, and just plain ole’ adorable!

Sean Griswold’s Head by Lindsey Leavitt

Summary: According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It’s supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold’s head. They’ve been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it’s an alphabetical order thing), but she’s never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father’s newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it’s working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on-Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He’s cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.

My Thoughts: I dare you to find one negative review on this book. It is impossible, I tell you! I have heard that this is a laugh-out-loud kind of book and that is exactly what I need! I am so glad my book club decided to read this one!

Alright that is it for this week, I got some great books to add to my shelf. I would love to hear what you got in your mailbox so leave a comment with a link and I will be sure to check it out!