Weekly Affiliate Update May 24-30

I am now an affiliate of the awesome Amelia at Imagination in Focus!

If you haven't checked out her blog, you should. She reads and reviews a lot of YA/MG fantasy.

Amelia's week

Books reviewed:

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

The Shadow Hunt by Katherine Langrish

Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

Some recent posts:

In My Mailbox
Blog Clean Up
How It All Ends (series)

Contests:

Amelia is giving away a copy of The Shadow Hunt. 

It's Monday What Are You Reading (18)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books.

Books I finished last week:

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

For Keeps by Natasha Friend

My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald

Books reviewed:

The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald

Currently reading:

A Sweet Disorder by Jacqueline Kolosov

Books I might read next:

Fairest of Them All by Jan Blazanin

Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern

The Queen's Governess by Karen Harper

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

What does your reading week look like?
Have a Happy Memorial Day!

Review: Sophomore Switch

Sophomore Switch

By Abby McDonald

Publication date: March 10, 2009

My review:

In Sophomore Switch, two young college students trade places through an exchange program. Tasha is eager to leave California behind after she is embroiled in a scandal involving a reality TV star and a hot tub and Emily leaves Oxford for U.C. Santa Barbara after her professor costs her the chance to study at Harvard. Both girls quickly find they are out of place at their new schools. Emily is used to a rigorous schedule and challenging classes but now she is surrounded by partying frat boys and flirty fashionistas. Meanwhile at Oxford, Tasha is overwhelmed by the difficult coursework and the overall rudeness of her new classmates.

I enjoyed this look at college life through the eyes of two very different girls. The chapters are told in the alternating viewpoint of Tasha and Emily. While I did not have much in common with Tasha I could sympathize with her because she struggles with really hard classes and feels like she can't handle it. As I got to know her character more I found that I liked her. At first she seems to be just a party girl but she is smart when she puts forth the effort. She studies feminism at Oxford which helps her gain a new perspective on her choices and what she wants to change or keep the same. Emily was a little easier for me to relate to even though she is British. She is serious about studying to the point of being stressed out by everything. Emily likes her life to be planned out but in sunny California it doesn't work that way. Emily has to learn to let go and enjoy herself with the help of Tasha's friends and her classmate Ryan. I liked how Emily began to take an interest in film studies and to have fun. Both girls had the possibility of romance but while it was part of the book it was not the main point.

I thought Sophomore Switch was a well written book with a mostly positive female empowerment message. What I really liked was the personal growth that both girls went through and their newfound friendship with each other. They were able to change their lives for the better through a sometimes stressful experience.The story has a fun premise but I found an unexpected depth. I enjoyed Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots but I liked Sophomore Switch even more.

Review: Oh. My. Gods.

Oh. My. Gods.

By Tera Lynn Childs

Publication date: May 1, 2008

Synopsis:

If Phoebe Castro can keep her grades up and have another stellar cross-country season, her dream of attending USC with her best friends is only a track scholarship away. She’s made all her plans, so it’s a complete shock when her mom announces she’s marrying a mysterious stranger and moving them half-way around the world—to Greece. Phoebe’s stuck on a secret island in the Aegean attending the super-exclusive Academy, where her new stepfather is the headmaster and the kids are anything but your average students—they are descendants of the Greek gods, super powers included. That’s right, Greek gods are no myth! If Phoebe thought high school was hard, she knows this is going to be mortal misery. Securing that scholarship seems like Phoebe’s only ticket out of Greece, but training and maintaining her grades will be grueling, even without a sabotaging stepsister from Hades and a gorgeous guy—what a god!—who just might be her Achilles heel. One thing is for sure—summoning the will to win and find her place among the gods could be Phoebe’s toughest course yet.

My review:

I love Greek mythology and after reading the Percy Jackson series I was eager to try this one. Oh. My. Gods. is not heavy on mythology although the students at Phoebe's new school are the modern day descendants of the gods. On the island of Serfopoula Phoebe is called a nothos, someone who is not descended from the gods. It is hard enough to fit in at a new school but now she sticks out as the only nothos on campus. She is already trying to adjust to a new stepdad and having to leave behind her friends when she finds out the truth about her new home and its residents.

I really liked Phoebe's character and the spunk she exhibits in a tough situation. At first she only complains and doesn't like her new stepfather at all. Gradually Phoebe starts to mature which was really nice to see. I liked the way her relationship with her stepfamily improved throughout the book.  Phoebe's love of running is very clear and a big part of her character. Her determination to succeed in track at her new school was inspiring. Phoebe's romantic interest is Griffin Blake, a guy who also loves running and is on the track team at the Academy. I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow especially after the early antagonism. It made things fun. The other character I really liked was Phoebe's new friend Nicole. She is the kind of girl who doesn't care about what others think of her-she is just herself. I loved that about her and the way she took Phoebe under her wing.

I thought this was a fun book with some good messages about family and friendship.  I have the sequel, Goddess Bootcamp and look forward to reading it. Oh. My. Gods. is a great read for when you are in the mood for something lighthearted and humorous. Fans of YA chick lit would probably enjoy it.

In My Mailbox (18)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to share what books you received for review, purchased, or checked out from the library during the past week.

This week more interlibrary loans came in so I have even more books on my TBR pile. I also got the DVDs of the BBC adaptation of Cranford which I enjoyed much more than the book. I also lucked out when I found White Cat on the shelf so I had to check it out too!

From the library:

White Cat by Holly Black

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson

She Walks In Beauty by Siri Mitchell

Cranford DVD
(Even though it isn't a book it is a movie based on a book I read so I included it)

What exciting books did you get this week?

Just For Fun

This weekend I am helping my mom with her report cards (always a stressful time for her and she isn't comfortable with computers) so I thought I would do a fun post while I had the time!

Meet Kitty, my "cat niece" who loves books, especially hardcover books. She particularly enjoys lying on textbooks so my sister can't study. She is very helpful like that :) Kitty has been a part of my family since she wandered into my sister's apartment complex in 2005.  She currently makes her home in Indiana with my sister, her family, and their collection of books.

Without further ado, here are some of Kitty's favorite books:

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

(Also one of my favorites!)

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan

(I plan to borrow this when she is finished)

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

(I will hopefully be able to borrow this one soon)

For years I have been my sister's personal readers' advisor and I usually suggest books for her to try. I always try to get her to check out books from the library but considering how much her cat loves books it is probably a good idea for my sister to buy them instead!

Do you have a pet who loves books?


Thanks to my sister Reneta for taking the pictures and sending them to me and thanks also to Kari at A Good Addiction whose IMM posts with her adorable dog Toby were the inspiration for this one!

Book Beginnings on Friday (11)

Book Beginnings on Friday is a new meme hosted by Becky at Page Turners. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. If you'd like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

I finished one book and started another this morning so I am going to share both first sentences.

My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day

You know your life is not exactly normal when you're sitting on the steps on the first day of school, sugar-high giddy from knowing they're about to unlock the doors.

Heidi is such a strange and fun character and I think this sentence reflects how unusual she is. She can't wait for the boarding school she attends to reopen (she is British) so that she can hang out with friends again. Then at a party on the first night back all of her friends suddenly have someone to date and an embarrassing situation leads Heidi to invent a fake boyfriend. To make him more realistic she even gives him a FaceBook-like presence online but things get complicated when her friends start IM-ing "Ed" and then Heidi starts receiving messages from "A Real Boy" who claims to know the truth.

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

When I was five years old, I walked down the aisle with the man of my dreams.

I liked this sentence and the way it leads into the plot of the book.

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: No more. She’s had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many bad boys. It’s a personal choice…and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny’s not the only girl who’s tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worse) in order to get their guys…or the way their guys don’t really care about them. Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club (named after Sgt. Pepper’s band), and Penny finds herself near legendary for her non-dating ways – which is too bad, since the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club has found a certain boy she can’t help but like…

Review: The Devlin Diary

The Devlin Diary

By Christi Phillips

Publication date: April 14, 2009

Synopsis:

London, 1672. The past twelve years have brought momentous changes: the restoration of the monarchy, a devastating plague and fire. Yet the city remains a teeming, thriving metropolis, energized by the lusty decadence of Charles II's court and burgeoning scientific inquiry. Although women enjoy greater freedom, they are not allowed to practice medicine, a restriction that physician Hannah Devlin evades by treating patients that most other doctors shun: the city's poor. But Hannah has a special knowledge that Secretary of State Lord Arlington desperately needs. At the king's Machiavellian court, Hannah attracts the attention of two men, charming courtier Ralph Montagu and anatomist Dr. Edward Strathern, as well as the attention of the powerful College of Physicians, which views her work as criminal. When two influential courtiers are found brutally murdered, their bodies inscribed with arcane symbols, Hannah is drawn into a dangerous investigation by Dr. Strathern, who believes the murders conceal a far-reaching conspiracy that may include Hannah's late father and the king himself. 

Cambridge, 2008. Teaching history at Trinity College is Claire Donovan's dream come true -- until one of her colleagues is found dead on the banks of the River Cam. The only key to the professor's unsolved murder is a seventeenth century diary kept by his last research subject, Hannah Devlin, physician to the king's mistress. With help from the eclectic collections of Cambridge's renowned libraries, Claire and historian Andrew Kent follow the clues Devlin left behind, uncovering secrets of London's dark past and Cambridge's equally murky present, and discovering that events of three hundred years ago may still have consequences today....

My review:

Hannah Devlin is a fascinating character. An early female doctor in a time when women weren't allowed to practice medicine, Hannah is seen as an anomaly. She is forced to provide discreet medical treatment to a mistress of King Charles II or she'll face imprisonment for practicing medicine without a license. Hannah is an incredibly intelligent and brave young woman. She is a widow and the sole source of support for her mother since her father was murdered the year before. I admired Hannah's courage and intellect. She has to be tough when dealing with the prejudices and politics of court life. Hannah is also the character that is most developed in the story. The modern characters were far less interesting and I found myself wishing that the chapters set in 2008 would go by quickly so I could find out what was happening with Hannah. I liked Claire Donovan at first but I started to feel that her romantic hopes for a relationship with Dr. Kent got in the way of the story.

I love historical fiction and the combination of history, romance, and suspense with the serial killer made this a mostly enjoyable read. I even found myself comparing it favorably to the works of Dan Brown and Lauren Willig. While I am not a fan of Dan Brown's books, I did like the way he fused a historical mystery into his modern plots. Like The Devlin Diary, Lauren Willig's books include historical romance and suspense as well as a modern heroine who is a historian. I liked that there were a lot of historical details about 17th century life, particularly medical practice and social customs. I also enjoyed the historical romance but my favorite part was the suspense.

There were a few minor flaws. One was the disappointing resolution of the mystery surrounding the death of Claire's colleague. The other was the inclusion of too many minor characters and the use of too many points of view in the story. It makes sense to have chapters from the point of view of the main characters and the killer but not some of the others such as Ravenscroft.  I think the book would have been much better if there was a little more focus. Then some of the other characters could have been more well developed and we could see a little more of the important historical figures. Still, I loved the parts of the book that centered around Hannah and I think she would make an interesting protagonist for future historical fiction novels. I would suggest The Devlin Diary to those who enjoy detailed historical fiction and historical mystery.

Readalikes: Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series, Fiona Buckley's Ursula Blanchard mysteries, Philippa Gregory, Karen Harper, Diana Gabaldon

I received a copy of this book from Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review

Here are some of the other blogs on this blog tour:

Rundpinne

Just One More Paragraph

Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks

Books Like Breathing

Chrissy's World of Books

See Michelle Read

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I haven't participated in this meme in a couple of weeks so today I am going to share two books that I am waiting on.

The first book I can't wait to read:

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Publication date: September 28, 2010

Return to Paradise is the sequel to Leaving Paradise, which I really enjoyed. Simone Elkeles has become one of my favorite YA authors.

The second book I can't wait to read:

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Publication date: July 20, 2010

I have yet to read a book by Jennifer Echols but this one sounds really good and has received positive early reviews. Plus this book reminds me of something Simone Elkeles would write.

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon. But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

What exciting books are you waiting on this week?

Teaser Tuesdays (15)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

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!

My teaser this week:

At the top, a wax figure of my mother lay on a couch with a cobra coiled between her breasts. "Don't look, he said angrily. "They want us to weep in front of Rome."

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

p. 102-103

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts. 

I am really enjoying this book so far. I love the historical details but it is also an entertaining story filled with fascinating characters.

What is your book teaser this week?

It's Monday What Are You Reading (17)

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books.

Books I finished last week:

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

Gateway by Sharon Shinn

Books reviewed:

A Field Guide for Hearbreakers by Kristen Tracy

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Thief Eyes by Janni Lee Simner

Currently reading:

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Not Quite Paradise by Adele Barker

Books I might read next:

For Keeps by Natasha Friend

My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald

Fairest of Them All by Jan Blazanin

What are you reading this week?

Review: Thief Eyes

Thief Eyes

By Janni Lee Simner

Publication date: April 27, 2010

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

After her mother mysteriously disappears, sixteen-year-old Haley convinces her father to take her to Iceland, where her mother was last seen. There, amidst the ancient fissures and crevices of that volcanic island, Haley meets gorgeous Ari, a boy with a dangerous side who appoints himself her protector. When Haley picks up a silver coin that entangles her in a spell cast by her ancestor Hallgerd, she discovers that Hallgerd's spell and her mother's disappearance are connected to a chain of events that could unleash terrifying powers and consume the world. Haley must find a way to contain the growing fires of the spell—and her growing attraction to Ari.

My review:

I've always enjoyed fairy tale retellings. In this case Thief Eyes is a modern take on Njal's Saga, one of the Icelandic sagas. I know nothing about Icelandic myth and very little about Norse mythology but neither does the narrator, Haley. She is descended from Hallgerd, a real character in Njal's Saga, on her mother's side. The story starts out with Hallgerd casting a spell so that she won't have to marry someone she doesn't love. The results of this spell echo through the book and affect Haley's life. After Haley finds the coin Hallgerd used in her spell she is caught up in a quest to end it. Throughout the journey we get to see glimpses of Norse mythology and meet some of its characters.

I really liked the character of Haley. She has a lot to deal with emotionally-her mom is missing, her dad is burying himself in his work, and she finds out a shocking secret about her parents. Then she gets pulled into Hallgerd's spell and she shows real bravery and courage in very frightening circumstances. She is joined on her journey by Ari, the son of her dad's colleague Katrin. Ari is an interesting love interest for Haley. I liked how he respected her. Rather than having Ari play rescuer, Haley comes to his aid a number of times as well. Haley is drawn to Ari from the moment she meets him even though she already has a boyfriend back home. Thankfully this does not lead to the usual angsty love triangle and I thought the ending was realistic and fitting.

I loved the way Janni Lee Simner combined elements of the Icelandic sagas with her own story. It reminded me of what Nancy Werlin did with the Celtic legend of The Elfin Knight in Impossible. I enjoyed being introduced to mythological characters like Muninn the raven who holds memories and Freki the fox. Hallgerd was not a complete villain and some of the other helpful characters weren't completely "good" either but that is normal for mythology. There is always a catch involved when someone offers you help and there are usually ulterior motives. The setting was also beautifully described, especially Thingvellir where the story begins. Janni Lee Simner has some useful links on her website including some breathtaking photos she took when she visited Iceland in the summertime. I recommend looking at the photos to get an idea of what Haley would have seen during her stay. I thoroughly enjoyed Thief Eyes and thought it was an interesting and well written tale. Thief Eyes would appeal to fans of Impossible and those who enjoy reading about magic, folklore, and mythology.

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to share what books you received for review, purchased, or checked out from the library during the past week.

This week I only received two books but one is a book I've been waiting months to read so I was very excited to get it.

Purchased:

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

I've already read and reviewed Spirit Bound and I thought it was fantastic. Best of all, I was able to buy it with a gift certificate. Always nice when you can get a book for free!

For review:

The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

I have already finished this and will be reviewing it for a blog tour this Thursday. Thanks to Sarah Reidy at Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book for the blog tour.

What interesting books did you get this week? Which one are you most excited to read?

Book Beginnings on Friday (10)

Book Beginnings on Friday is a new meme hosted by Becky at Page Turners. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. If you'd like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

So technically I finished this book yesterday but I loved the first sentence so much that I wanted to use it because the first sentence of the book I'm currently reading is rather dull.

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

There's a big difference between death threats and love letters–even if the person writing the death threats still claims to actually love you.

Isn't that a great first sentence? Spirit Bound is book five in the Vampire Academy series and the final book, The Last Sacrifice, will be published in December. If you aren't familiar with the series and are interested in knowing more, you can read my review of Vampire Academy. Be careful not to read book descriptions of the later books in the series before you read the first book (like I did unfortunately) because they contain spoilers!

Review: Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets

By C.J. Omololu

Publication date: February 2, 2010

Synopsis from book cover:

From the outside, Lucy's home looks normal. Inside the front door is where the secrets begin. Towering piles of newspapers and magazines. Bags of junk flooding every inch of open space. The rotting smell permeating the air. This is what she's kept from everyone-that her mother's compulsive hoarding has reduced their lives to garbage...literally. With just two years until graduation, Lucy finally feels like a normal life is within her grasp. Her new best friend, Kaylie, and her longtime crush, Josh, make a future seem almost possible. Then one morning Lucy comes home to find something she never expected, something that will change her life forever. And she must ask herself-how far can she go to protect her family's secrets?

My review:

Lucy's mom Joanna is a compulsive hoarder. She calls herself a collector and becomes upset when Lucy tries to clean or throw anything away. She considers the items she collects to be treasures and she won't give anything up even when there is junk on every surface of the house. Lucy's older brother and sister have already left home and now Lucy is the only one stuck in this horrible life until she is 18. It is no wonder that Lucy has become withdrawn and unable to have close friendships. She is afraid that people will find out the truth so she lies all the time.

Lucy's only friend is Kaylie. Lucy loves when she gets to spend the night at Kaylie's house and be around a normal family. During those moments she can pretend that her life is normal too. I was glad that Lucy had someone like Kaylie in her life even though Lucy believes she can't confide in her. The other person Lucy is somewhat close to is her older brother Phil but she can't depend on him to be there for her. Her family is pretty much devastated by their dad's defection years ago and now their mother's hoarding. Lucy's horrid sister Sara is already showing signs of being a hoarder too and loves to suck up to their mom. It was hard to read about Lucy's mom. The disorder stripped away her ability to care about her daughter. There are sad glimpses of what Joanna's life used to be like which I found to be very moving. Besides Kaylie the other bright spot in Lucy's life is Josh. She has had a crush on him since eighth grade and now he appears to be interested in her. He is a really caring guy and I enjoyed their developing relationship. Lucy really deserved some happiness after all that she goes through.

This was a difficult book to read. The descriptions of Lucy's home life are horrifying and there are several disturbing scenes when Lucy starts to clean up the mess. The hardest thing to read about is the choice that Lucy makes to enable her to have a new life. She thinks in an emotionless and clinical way and her decision is truly shocking. She has been through hell and she doesn't feel that she can trust anyone. Even though I thought her choice was terrible I still felt for Lucy. The novel does leave us with the belief that there is hope of a better life for Lucy. She is an unforgettable character with a really believable voice.

Hoarding is a terrible mental health disorder and it effects not just the hoarder but their families. I thought that CJ Omololu handled this topic in a very sensitive way. Dirty Little Secrets is the kind of book that stays with you long after you've finished.

Review: Spirit Bound

Spirit Bound

By Richelle Mead

Publication date: May 18, 2010

Note: This review is Spoiler Free

My review:

I am a new fan of the Vampire Academy series. I didn't start reading the books until this past March so I haven't had a long wait between reading last year's Blood Promise and Spirit Bound. In Spirit Bound, the characters are growing up and graduating, heading out into the real world. Rose is still dealing with the upsetting events from Blood Promise and the new information she has gained about Strigoi and Lissa's abilities. The last book was very dark and bittersweet. Spirit Bound is more action packed and the story just takes off after the students graduate and doesn't let up until near the end.

Rose is still a fantastic character. She has had to deal with a lot of heartache but she does not shy away from difficult challenges. Rose has grown throughout the series but she is as headstrong as ever.  Her temper leads her into trouble at times but she is also fiercely loyal to her friends and what she believes in which I find to be admirable. Rose is protective of Lissa and hates it when her decisions put Lissa in harm's way. In earlier books Lissa has seemed to be the weaker of the two characters but I like how she has become stronger and braver. She really impressed me in this book. One character that has slowly grown on me is Adrian Ivashkov. At first, Adrian seemed to be just a spoiled and flirtatious rich guy. Gradually he has developed into a very likeable character with depth. Of course my favorite male character in the series is Dimitri. Even though things look difficult for Rose and Dimitri's future I still continue to hope that they will somehow get a happy ending.

There are plenty of plot twists in Spirit Bound and the cliffhanger ending sets up the final book nicely. However there were some very minor things that irritated me. I felt that some of the characters disappeared suddenly from the storyline. I also felt at one point that a certain character should have been present but was not. Overall I was very pleased with Spirit Bound and thought it was another fantastic book in the Vampire Academy series. If you are a fan of paranormal romance, this is one series you shouldn't miss!

Teaser Tuesdays (14)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

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!


My teaser this week:

"Our old piano. It had been so long since I'd seen it, I'd actually forgotten we had one."

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

p.60

From the outside, Lucy's home looks normal. Inside the front door is where the secrets begin. Towering piles of newspapers and magazines. Bags of junk flooding every inch of open space. The rotting smell permeating the air. This is what she's kept from everyone-that her mother's compulsive hoarding has reduced their lives to garbage...literally. With just two years until graduation, Lucy finally feels like a normal life is within her grasp. Her new best friend, Kaylie, and her longtime crush, Josh, make a future seem almost possible. Then one morning Lucy comes hom to find something she never expected, something that will change her life forever. And she must ask herself-how far can she go to protect her family's secrets?

This is a moving and compelling book. Parts of it were truly disturbing but I finished it late last night because I just couldn't put it down!

What is your book teaser this week?

Review: A Field Guide For Heartbreakers

A Field Guide For Heartbreakers

By Kristen Tracy

Publication date: May 4, 2010

My rating: ****

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When best friends Dessy and Veronica arrive in Prague for a prestigious writing workshop, their priorities diverge. Dessy, fragile from a recent breakup, has come to mend her broken heart by honing her craft. Veronica has just dumped her boyfriend and plans to blow off the workshop. She’d rather master a different subject—boys. Veronica gets right to work on her “man-wall”— one paper cutout for every hot-dude she meets— and embarks on her mission to cover a wall of their dorm by summer’s end. At times, Dessy thinks her friend might be a genius. At others, Veronica seems more like an agent of chaos. As if their love lives weren’t complicated enough, soon a homicidal suitemate is bent on killing Veronica and Dessy, and both girls are hiding secrets that could wreck their friendship. Well, no one ever said breaking hearts was a simple craft. . . .

My review:

The title makes it look like this is mainly a romance but that is misleading. While Dessy does pine over her relationship with her ex and develop a new crush, the focus of the story is her friendship with Veronica and her beliefs about herself. I thought Dessy was a likeable main character. I love how much she cares about Veronica and how she tries to be there for her friend. She is not without flaws however. I did find her whining over her breakup to be annoying after awhile but it was her first major relationship. I also thought she was a bit of a doormat but thankfully she realizes this and she really grows over the course of the novel. Veronica is very boy crazy and pretty much the opposite of Dessy. Dessy is more reserved and introverted and Veronica is a complete extrovert. I thought she could be really annoying and at some parts really hated her character but I found that there is more to her than a loud mouthed, spoiled flirt.

For being teenagers, Dessy and Veronica had a lot of freedom to roam around Prague on their own but I guess that it works well with the storyline even if it wasn't very realistic. Veronica can't exactly meet all those guys if she is with her mom all the time and it wouldn't have been such a fun book. Since Veronica is working so hard on her "man-wall" there are a number of male characters in the book, including a love interest for Dessy. I won't say any more because I don't want to give anything away but I am very happy about the ending and who Dessy ends up with. Veronica's mom is another important character as she is the instructor of the class the girls are taking but she also has a very complicated relationship with her daughter. I did wish that this was explored more in the book but since Dessy is the main character I can understand why it wasn't fully developed. The other major characters are Veronica and Dessy's suitemates in their dorm. Annie Earl is really sweet but it is crazy suitemate Corky Tina Baker who steals the show.

The setting is probably my favorite part of the book. Since Veronica and Dessy are taking a writing seminar in Prague we get to read about some of the really neat tourist spots like The Old Town Hall Astronomical Clock, The Dancing House, and the Spanish Synagogue. I wish there had been more descriptions of Prague and more details of things like the cuisine and other cultural experiences. I also enjoyed the excerpts of short stories throughout the book that the different characters are working on. Corky's story is truly disturbing but I enjoyed the other characters' "stories" and I thought that added something unique to the book.

Overall I found The Field Guide to Heartbreakers to be a really fun reading experience. I would suggest this to fans of Maureen Johnson, E. Lockhart, and YA chick lit in general. It would be a great book for summer reading.


Note: I read an ARC of this title which was passed on to me but this did not influence my review in any way

It's Monday What Are You Reading (16)

 

It's Monday What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme that is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books.

Books I finished last week:

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

A Field Guide for Heartbreakers by Kristen Tracy

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Books I gave up on:

Numbers by Rachel Ward (just couldn't get into it)

Books reviewed:

Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Currently reading:

Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu

Not Quite Paradise by Adele Barker

(It will probably be weeks before I finish this one)

Books I might read next:

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

I probably won't get Spirit Bound in the mail until Thursday but I know I will want to start it right away!

Fairest Of Them All by Jan Blazanin

The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

I just got The Devlin Diary yesterday for a blog tour next week so I definitely need to start it by this weekend

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

Gateway by Sharon Shinn

What does your reading week look like?