Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

"What are we looking at?" I asked Morelli.

"I'm guessing Lou Dugan," he said.

A half rotted hand was poking out of the disturbed dirt, and not far from the hand was something that might be part of a skull.

Smokin' Seventeen - Janet Evanovich pg. 13

What Are You Reading

It's Monday What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished in the last week:

Never Knowing - Chevy Stevens

Books I am reading this week:

Smokin' Seventeen - Janet Evanovich
Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson




Books to finish this week:

Smokin' Seventeen - Janet Evanovich
Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson

Groundswell - Book Tour June 23, 2011

Groundswell - Katie Lee (publisher book tour)

Synopsis:

EAT, SURF, LOVE. A butterfly flaps its wings in New York City . . . and a groundswell forms in Mexico. . . .

Sometimes the biggest ripples come from the smallest events. Like the day that Emma Guthrie walks into world-famous movie star Garrett Walker’s trailer. When she steps through the door, she’s a novice PA who’s just dropped out of college after losing her scholarship. When she walks out, she’s on her way to becoming Mrs. Emma Walker—wife of an A-list actor. Soon, Emma has made the transition from nobody to red-carpet royalty, trading jeans and flip-flops for closets full of Chanel and Birkin bags, swishing past velvet ropes to attend every lavish party and charity gala on both coasts. With her husband’s encouragement, Emma pens a screenplay based on her life, Fame Tax, which becomes a blockbuster sensation. Through it all, Garrett is her ally and her mentor . . . until their relationship is thrown into question by an incriminating text message that Emma discovers on Garrett’s phone the night of the Met Costume Institute Gala.

Devastated by her husband’s infidelity and hounded mercilessly by the paparazzi, Emma must flee New York City to get away from it all and clear her head. Her destination? A sleepy coastal town in Mexico where no one recognizes her and there is nothing but unspoiled beaches for miles. Here, she meets Ben, a gorgeous, California-born surf instructor, who teaches her about the healing powers of surfing, shows her the joys of the simple life, and ultimately opens her up to the possibility of love.

From Manhattan’s hippest restaurants to the yacht-and-celebrity infested waters of St. Barts, Katie Lee’s debut novel is an irresistible insider’s glimpse into a glittering world—and a captivating story about how losing everything you thought you wanted can be the first step to finding what you need.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book although it was not what I expected. I expected to find my main character rediscovering herself in Mexico healing hurts through surfing. Its the whole reason I did this tour. A book on surfing is right up my alley way. I did not get that however and while it was a good book, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I wanted more after the bad had happen healing process and not so much of life before the bad.

So while it was a good book, unfortunately it just didn't quite hit the spot for me. That's not to say it wouldn't be perfect for someone else though.

Author's Website: Katie Lee

Never Knowing - A Review

Never Knowing - Chevy Stevens (publisher)

Synopsis:

All her life, Sara Gallagher has wondered about her birth parents. As an adopted child with two sisters who were born naturally to her parents, Sara did not have an ideal home life. The question of why she was given up for adoption has always haunted her. Finally, she is ready to take steps and to find closure.

But some questions are better left unanswered.

After months of research, Sara locates her birth mother — only to be met with horror and rejection. Then she discovers the devastating truth: Her mother was the only victim ever to escape a killer who has been hunting women every summer for decades. But Sara soon realizes the only thing worse than finding out about her father is him finding out about her.

What if murder is in your blood?

Never Knowing is a complex and compelling portrayal of one woman’s quest to understand herself, her origins, and her family. That is, if she can survive....

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this author's first book so jumped at the chance to read the new one. I enjoyed this one as well, not as much as her first but still enjoyable.

I will admit I only could read this one in chunks though. I kept getting mad at one or more of the characters for whatever reason and would have to put it down for the day. As frustrating as some of the characters were, the story kept me pulled in.

Imagine knowing your that one or both of your biological parents is/are horrifying in the worst possible way. Imagine the fear of being like them, or fear of them, eating away at your soul. This is in essence the theme behind this book. You can feel the fear, stress, anxiety written in these pages and that's what kept me reading. I needed to see how the story played out even if I could have throttled every character at one time or another.

I'd recommend this book as long as your aware of what you are getting into heh. Aware that you might be in for a bumpy ride of a story.

Author's Website: Chevy Stevens

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

I can make a list a mile long abut all of the stupid things I've done when I've been high or drunk, all the ways I've been hurt and all the ways I've hurt other people. Just thinking about it make me want to get high, and I haven't even gotten into the details.

Clean - Amy Reed pg 23. (note ARC subject to change)

What Are You Reading

It's Monday What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished in the last week:

Groundswell - Katie Lee
Sometimes It Happens - Lauren Barnholdt

Books I am reading this week:

Never Knowing - Chevy Stevens




Books to finish this week:

Never Knowing - Chevy Stevens

Sometimes it Happens - A Review

Sometimes It Happens - Lauren Barnholdt (S&S egalley program)

Synopsis:

On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction—and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think...

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this read. It was quick and easy and dealt with issues often seen while growing up. The growing attractions between friends and guys. Attractions that aren't supposed to happen but regardless, do anyways. The book touches around on the feelings that go with it. The guilt, shame, the other parties suspicions, generally all the feelings that come with either being directly indirectly involved or just and observer to it all.

While I liked the book, part of me wants to say you shouldn't glorify these kinds of behaviors, the other part of me believes she's not glorifying it just simply stating a fact. It happens, we don't mean it too, but it does and it's a part of life and growing up. Like the title of the book says, sometimes it happens. It's like having the devil and angel show up on my shoulders, that's how I feel about this book. A mixed bag of feelings to be honest. So I do recommend this book, just with the knowledge you may or may not agree with the subject matter.

Author's Website: Lauren Barnholdt

The Iron Daughter - A Review

The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa (own)

Overview

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My Thoughts:

Wow!! I'm always wondering if a second book in a series will be as good as the first. I can honestly say this one is! I was drawn straight back into this world, feeling like I never left. While I think this was a bit slower paced than the first, there was plenty of action to go around. Lots of OMG moments to be had.

The characters I fell in love with in the first book, made me love them more. A few new characters were introduced that I loved as well. Some more than others. Some questions answered, more questions posed and left unanswered. Hopefully to be answered in the coming books. Did I mention the cliffhanger? A mix between a subtle one and a drop of a hammer one.

I desperately want to pick up the next book, but will patiently wait for my book reading buddies to get caught up before I do. I am having a blast doing reading chats on this series.

Author's Website: Julie Kagawa

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

I rocked back on my heels, and caught myself from falling at the last possible second. My husband --my white knight for the last seven years--was cheating on me with my best friend. And my unlikely love story was over.

Groundswell - Katie Lee pg. 8

Mailbox Monday & What Are You Reading

Mailbox Monday was originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, but is now a meme that travels to a new blog every month.This is a weekly meme is being hosted by The Bluestocking Guide for the month of June. Join the fun and post what you got in your mailbox last week!

I had a crazy busy mailbox this week:






Groundswell - Katie Lee (blog tour)
















Blood Magic - Tessa Gratton (From my reading buddy J.Kaye*squeal*)















By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead - Julie Anne Peters (bought)















Darkhouse - Karina Halle (Author)
















The Line - Teri Hall (bought)

















It's Monday What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished in the last week:

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl - Barry Lyga
The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa

Books I am reading this week:

Groundswell - Katie Lee


Books to finish this week:

Groundswell - Katie Lee

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl - A Review

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl - Barry Lyga (own)

Synopsis:

For most of his life, Donnie's followed his mother's advice, given when he was first picked on by bullies in grade school: ignore them. He lives mostly under the radar, both at school and at home, sailing through classes and working on his graphic novel, Schemata. His life sucks, but at least he knows what to expect. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl relates what happens when someone notices him really notices him for the first time.

Mysterious goth girl Kyra, dressed in black and with an attitude just as dark, forces her way into his life, renaming him Fanboy. A loner in her own right, Kyra challenges Fanboy's perceptions of his possibilities. When Fanboy's longtime friend Cal starts hanging out with the jocks that have always made Fanboy's life a living hell, Kyra steps in to fill the void. She convinces him that greatness lies within reach, if only he can convince comic book guru Bendis to take a look at his graphic novel . . .

Author Barry Lyga, a comic book fan in his own right, writes intimately and respectfully about how the world sees and is seen by marginalized, creative, and conflicted teens whose only difference from those around them is that they read and write about superheroes.

My Thoughts:

I'm going to keep this short and simple. I liked this book. Better than I thought I would. I found Fanboy to be an interesting character. This book is mostly about Fanboy growing up, trying to fit in and rebel all at the same time. Making new friends, losing some. Learning more about the person within.

To be honest I was most intrigued by Goth Girl. I want to know more about this character, what makes her tick, her history. Why she is the way she is. I guess I'll be hunting up Goth Girl Rising and reading that one as well.

Author's Website: Barry Lyga

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser this week:

The Bedroom is strange. Unfamiliar. I don't know where I am, how I came to be here. I don't know how I am going to get home.

Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson pg1. (arc subject to change)

Malbox Monday & What Are You Reading

Mailbox Monday was originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, but is now a meme that travels to a new blog every month.This is a weekly meme is being hosted by The Bluestocking Guide for the month of June. Join the fun and post what you got in your mailbox last week!

I received one book last week:






Before I Go To Sleep - S.J. Watson (shelf awareness)

















It's Monday What are you reading this week? Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books. This is a meme to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished in the last week:

Firespell - Chloe Neill
Sea Changes - Aimee Friedman
Some Girls Are - Courtney Summers

Books I am reading this week:

This Is Gonna Hurt - Nikki Sixx
Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa



Books to finish this week:

This is Gonna Hurt - Nikki Sixx
The Iron Daughter - Julie Kagawa

Some Girls Are - A Review

Some Girls Are - Courtney Summers (own)

• Pub. Date: January 2010
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Format: Paperback , 256pp
• Sales Rank: 49,075
• Age Range: Young Adult
• ISBN-13: 9780312573805
• ISBN: 0312573804

Overview

Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard—falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.

My Thoughts:

Wow this books packs a punch! Sometimes literally. This is an averages persons worst nightmare of a high school life. These girls are the epitome of cruel and mean. They made mean girls look nice.

Regina was part of them, until she wasn't. I found myself both feeling bad for her and thinking she deserved it. Which then made me feel bad for feeling that way lol. A crazy roller coaster of emotions I felt over this main character.

What shook me up most in this book is the adults. It's like they didn't even exist. I kept thinking where are the teachers at? Where are the parents. How can they be so blind to what's in front of their noses. What's so blatant? The sad thing is, it's really common. You hear it all the time in the news. Bullying in school. Only we never hear of it until something tragic happens. I think it's a topic that should be on the table and confronted all the time and not just when tragedy strikes.

Okay I kind of got away with myself on this review, but I kept on topic of the book at least heh.

Great book. Fast read. Read it if you haven't yet.

Author's Website: Courtney Summers

Sea Changes - A Review

Sea Change - Aimee Friedman (own)

Product Details

• Pub. Date: June 2010
• Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
• Format: Paperback , 320pp
• Sales Rank: 86,956
• Age Range: Young Adult
• ISBN-13: 9780439922302
• ISBN: 0439922305

Synopsis

Best selling author Aimee Friedman is back, with her signature combination of warmth and humor. And with this book, she adds a touch of fantasy....
16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

My Thoughts:

I need to read more books on mermaid's and mermaid lore. I just love them. I do not know what the pull is, but every time I pick up a book on this subject, I am transported into that world. I can feel the sand between my toes, and smell the salt air, and I long to swim and get to know the mysterious mermaid's.

This wasn't so much about mermaid's per say but about mermaid lore and the sleepy, mysterious Selkie Island. The moment Miranda stepped off the ferry, I felt the islands pull. I loved Miranda's character. I loved Leo and I bet most will. He's that perfect, sensitive boy all full of mystery. The kind of character every girl wants to know.

Most importantly it was about Miranda finding herself and learning to be okay with who she is. Growing pains all girls and boys go through when they began to mature. Growing pains I think all can identify with.

Author's Website: Aimee Friedman

Firespell - A review

Firespell - Chloe Neill (own)

Product Details

• Pub. Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Format: Mass Market Paperback , 256pp
• Sales Rank: 36,554
• Age Range: Young Adult
• Series: Dark Elite Series , #1
• ISBN-13: 9780451228864
• ISBN: 0451228863

Synopsis

New Girl.
New School.
Old Evil.

From the author of the Chicagoland Vampires novels.

A new series about a boarding school filled with something worse than homework.

Lily's parents have sent her to a fancy boarding school in Chicago filled with the ultra-rich. If that wasn't bad enough, she's hearing and seeing bizarre things on St. Sophie's creepy campus. Her roommate, Scout, keeps her sane, but keeps disappearing at night. When one day Lily finds Scout running from real-life monsters, she learns the hard way that Scout is involved in a splinter group of rebel teens.

They protect Chicago from demons, vamps, and dark magic users. It's too bad Lily doesn't have powers of her own to help. At least, none that she's discovered yet...

My Thoughts:

I think Firespell is a solid start of a new series. You've got magic, bad guys, good guys. Who could ask for more?

I will admit that while the book drew me in pretty quickly it did start a little slow. Mostly because I was getting my footing in the world Chloe was creating. By the end of the book, however, I was well settled and ready for more.

Lily is a strong female character who spent a great deal of this first book, trying to settle into a new life while having change after change tossed her way. Scout has got to be my favorite character by far. I love how spunky she is! Sebastian and Jason are great characters and I can smell a possible triangle brewing.

I will be finding myself in possession of book two as soon as I can to delve back into this world.

Author's Website: Chloe Neill