Is it just me?

I feel so out of touch with newly released books except of course mockingjay but I didnt know that the sequel to leaving paradise had come out. I try to stay up to date but this completely slipped by. Now i must go buy it. Did it slip by anyone else too?

Review: Rush by Jonathan Friesen

Title: Rush
Author: Jonathan Friesen
Pages: 296
Pub. Date: June 2010
Synopsis (from B&N): Equal parts romance and heart-pounding action, this novel will leave you absolutely breathless. Join teen Jake King, an adrenaline junkie turned hotshot firefighter, as he struggles with the one risk he cannot take: losing his best friend and secret love, the beautiful Salome Lee. But to Jake, firefighting is like breathing pure adrenaline. And if he doesn't stop soon, they could all get burned

Opinion/Review: I have to be completely honest and say that when I picked this book up it was because I liked the author’s previous book (jerk California). The whole fire idea was a little iffy for me but I’m glad that I bought this book. The main character Jake is misunderstood by everyone except his best friend Salome. They don’t understand the need for the brain clearing adrenaline. He has to do his crazy stunts to feel like everybody does but one stunt leads to a series of life changes that could be disastrous for Jake, Salome and the town of Brockton, California. Let me start out by saying that this fictional town revolves around the firefighters who come during the wildfire season. Even Jake’s brother is part of these crews until his friend becomes an immortal (a secret firefighter club). The whole town turns on the king family, investigations are digging into mysterious deaths and Jake is a blind idiot. I definitely recommend this book but have to give it a 4 out of 5 just because it took Jake too long to see what was right under his nose.

Something like Fate

Yes something like Fate comes out may 4, 2010 and on friday I will post my review of Something Like Fate so that you can see what I thought and go buy the book on Tuesday May 4, 2010.

Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?
From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.
What if the boy who is your destiny is the one person you can't have?

LA book festival

As I said this past weekend I went to the Los Angeles festival of books. I have to say that it was overwhelming, so many YA authors that I have and hadn't heard of were there speaking on panels and signing books. Apparently this was the first year they had a YA stage and for certain events it was packed full. Unfortunately I missed the meg Cabot panel but I got to see the Blood, Fangs, and Temptation: Everything Vampire panel with some great vampire authors like Richelle Mead, Heather Brewster and others. They talked about their books and how they created the worlds their characters live in. They also answered a very interesting question. I'm paraphrasing but they talked about how all the YA vampire authors actually support and encourage each other and how other's success has pushed their books into the limelight an example being twilight. I was also able to see john green and David Levithan talk about their book Will Grayson Will Grayson. I especially liked how John Green talked about how he wanted to explore all types and forms of love there is not just the romanticized version we are taught by society and everybody else. And here is a link to some photos i had posted.

Los Angeles festival of books

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Title: Going Bovine
Author: Libba Bray
Publisher: Random House
Pages:496
Synopsis(from b&n):Can Cameron find what he’s looking for?All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.

Opinion/review: This is one of the weirdest books i have ever read and i am not just saying that. Weird in a  good way though. Cameron is just like all of us trying to survive high school when he finds out that he has mad cow disease.Throughout the entire book Cameron goes on a journey to find a cure for his disease. There is parallel between Don Quixote and Cameron. This book is like a roller coaster of emotions(mostly laugh out loud funny). There is even a gnome Balder, his own Sancho Panza if you will, if you are thinking how does a gnome fit into a story? You will definitely have to give this book a try. Honestly though it is quite long and Some people may not make it to the end and that's OK.  But props to Ms. Bray for creating this great convoluted story that just makes sense and is so fun to read.3.5/5

Easy Monday (3)

Easy monday's in where I review romantic comedies.

Title: Summer in the City

Author: Elizabeth Chandler

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 358

Synopsis: Athletic Jamie isn't sure about spending the summer in the city with her romance–novel–writing mum. But when she meets irresistible Josh, Jamie realizes she could probably use all the romance advice she can get!
Lacrosse camp 9 a.m.–noon (can't be late! "Coach" Josh will freak out)
Basketball camp 1:00–4:00 (so many screaming kids. . . )
Shopping with Mona 4:30 (finally a break)
Date with Andrew 7:30 (he's so perfect. . . isn't he?)

Opinion/review: I’m not completely sure this falls under a romantic comedy but it’s still a YA romance novel so I think it counts. I have to say I was somewhat disappointed with this book. I have read the kissed by an angel trilogy and really liked it so I bought this book. I mean it had it’s good parts but it started out really slow. It took me about 2-3 days to read all of it which is not good, towards the end the story picks up so that really helps. Jamie and Josh’s relationship starts out really weird she meets him when he is in drag and they have a moment but she doesn’t know who he is. Automatically they have an attraction towards each other but Josh is Jaime’s coach. An okay book 2.5/5

The unwritten rule

summary:Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like you best friend's boyfriend.
Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.
Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.
Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...

I definitely can not wait till the release of this book. If you have read Some of Elizabeth Scott's other books then you are also eagerly awaiting this book only 21 more days!In case you havent heard she is having a huge contest over at her Blog for 25 books and an arc of the unwritten rule so maybe go on over there and good luck.

Some info

Alright i know i have been MIA for a while, but I have a poll up on my new title or banner picture I woulf definitely love some feedback. I will try to post more regularly but no promises

Story of a girl by Sara Zarr

Title: story of a girl
Author: Sara Zarr
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 192
Opinion/Review: story of a girl is that the story of how a girl’s relationships and reputation is ruined by something she did at the age of thirteen. She fools around with her brothers’ seventeen year old friend and is caught by her dad. This leads to a strained basically nonexistent relationship with her dad, being harassed and bullied and having only two friends. Deanna Lambert seems like things don’t faze her she has an impenetrable armor. Except that’s not true she just hides things really well seems like the only person who somewhat gets her is her brother Darren who has his problems to deal with like being a young father. The book does deal with a kind of heavy subject but I don’t feel like I really knew the characters. You get a sense that something deeper is going on but that depth just isn’t revealed. The other characters seem sort of one dimensional. I really liked the book but I have to give it a 3/5.

changing it up

Changing it up, I’ve been blogging for a couple of months but still haven’t really found a way to review books that I feel comfortable with. So I will be experimenting to see what feels right. Mostly I will write the summaries myself and include links to a bookstore website with their descriptions.

This project seems great

click on the pic I will participate in my community and its awesome that all people and grops have banded together to bring books to Indian reservations.

Winner,winner,winner!

A little late on the winner annoucement but without further delay.
Bianca:?
Raelena :the astonishing adventures of fanboy and gothgirl
and
shadow:?
Chosen by random.org
48 hours to respond if not new winners will be chosen

Awesome find

I have lived in this town for almost three years and I barely discovered this wonderful used bookstore. I was so excited when I found it and I cant wait to actually have time to look around.I got story of a girl for 4 bucks. Sorry I just really wanted to share this.

The Mission by Jason Myers

Title:The Mission
Author: Jason Myers
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages:361
Synopsis(from b&n):
Wake up and do something!
Kaden Norris's life is shattered when his older brother — his best friend and hero — is killed in Iraq. All Kaden has left of Kenny is a letter, urging him to break away from his sheltered life and to go to San Francisco to visit his cousin, James.
Kaden is blown away, as James introduces him to a life filled with drugs, sex, and apathy. He goes from extreme high to extreme low, having no idea what to expect. And when Kaden uncovers secrets about his family that have been kept from him for years, his entire world comes crashing down. This may not be the trip his brother had envisioned for him, but it's one Kaden will never forget.

Opinion/review: Just one word, wow. I mean this book was on my to be read pile but after reading Exit Here last year curiosity got the better of me. I’m definitely not disappointed that I moved this book to the top of my list. Before you continue I have to say this book is not for anyone under 14…maybe 15. This is a really messed up book I mean just the things that the characters do to each other will have you thinking like what the hell is this. The drug use, explicit language and sexual content will  blow you away. It has a political message in there but I will not even touch that subject. I have never experienced any of the things that Kaden goes through during his crazy week in San Francisco and hopefully none of you have either but this book is real, human nature at its worst. This book is like nothing I have ever read but I cannot wait for more from this author. Personally I liked the book a lot and I recommend it along with his first book Exit Here but I will refrain from giving it a rating. This up to you guys I know not everybody will be able to get through it and some will dislike the graphic scenes but again give it a chance. In just one word it is real.

Reminder

My Books I love and want to share contest ends this month and there are only a couple of entries so come on over and enter for a chance to win a book and some goodies.Books to choose from: Jerk, california, The astonishing adventures of Fanboy and Gothgirl, and Two-way street. Goodies include: a gothgirl minimate(tiny action figure), signed bookmarks and some postcards. sorry but U.S. only.

Easy Monday (2)

Easy Mondays in where I review romantic comedies.
Title: Scary Beautiful
Author: Niki Burnham
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 264
Synopsis(B&N):

Chloe Rand's life is great.

She has a serious boyfriend, she's about to start her junior year of high school, and she has a tight group of girlfriends. But when her boyfriend moves across the country and decides the long-distance-relationship thing just isn't for him, Chloe's devastated. Worse, she soon learns that when you're the prettiest girl in school and totally unattached, everyone starts treating you differently. Girls don't trust you, guys aren't sure what to make of you, and everyone assumes you're either spoiled, dumb, or both.

Chloe realizes that she's been living the last few years in a bubble and decides to do something about it. But when she falls for Billy, a total geek, will it make her situation better...or worse?

Opinion/review: One of the better books I have read from this author. We get a good feel of who Chloe is and she becomes a really likable character. There is some drama between the friends but it gets solved and the friendships seem real. Billy is the cool geek who seems like a great guy. If you like romantic comedies and are looking for a good one to read I definitely recommend this book.5/5