Teaser Tuesday - Twenty Boy Summer

Teaser Tuesday asks you to:

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

"Frankie slams her chair against the table and stomps out of the kitchen. Never leaving the last word to chance, she tosses a casual "Bitch!" over her shoulder and disappears upstairs."

From page 81 of Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Bree Despain contest!

Bree Despain is a super cool member of the blog 2010: A Book Odyssey, a blog for authors who will be debuting in 2010. This is where I came to discover her but she has her very own blog as well and on her blog there is a super cool contest for super cool prizes which you need to go enter. The only catch: you have to tell her I sent you!

Her book The Dark Divine will be out in 2010. Here is a summary from the 2010 blog.
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood--but the monstrous secret of what really transpired resurfaces when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's small Christian high school.

Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry, glint in his eyes. The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, and the lives of her enitre family, as her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Daniel and Jude's dark secret, and the way to save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

So go enter and tell her I sent you!

In My Mailbox

As always In My Mailbox is hosted by the amazing The Story Siren. See her blog for more details.

I had planned on gathering all the pictures for this week but three things happened. The flu attacked my two sisters and my mother and I had to hold their hair and fetch ginger ale. My job is slowly killing me as we had a sports expo in town and they all had to eat at my restaurant. And I got in to a very awesome twitter conversation about awesome 80's movies and the people (HOPE!) who haven't seen them. So here it is again in list form. I promise next week I will be a better blogger.

I finally got the long-awaited, much-anticipated and oh so lovely 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. It came with the absolute loveliest note and I am in love with the 5 pages I have read. (see above for excuses as to why I am only 5 pages in.) It is also sorta her fault since she was part of the twitter conversation!

• No Laughter Here by Rita Williams-Garcia (from the amazing Melissa Walker)
• Something Happened by Greg Logsted
• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
• Interred With Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell

The next three were sent to me by Karen from Bookin With Bingo and if you haven't checked out her blog, do so ASAP!
Smart Girls Marry Money by Elizabeth Ford and Daniela Drake
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (such a pretty cover)
Nothing is Quite Forgotten In Brooklyn by Alice Mattison

and from the library
Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty (I am slowly catching up on this series!)



I also bought myself the Twilight DVD on Thursday. I hadn't bought anything for myself in months and I thought that was a great little present for the crap week I was having. So YAY TWILIGHT and the amazingly funny commentary with Rob and Kristen!

Weekly Geek - Review Links

Weekly Geek
When Dewey started Weekly Geeks, one of the first projects she encouraged us to do was link our book reviews to each other. Sadly, I've fallen of the wagon on this one. For people like me who need a refresher and for all the new Weekly Geeks this is a topic that could use repeating.

Here's what we'll do:

1. Write a post encouraging readers to look through your archives (if you have your reviews in a particular place on your blog, point them there), and find the books that they have also written reviews. Tell them to leave a link to their review on your review post.

2. Edit your reviews to include those links in the body of the review post.

3. Visit other Weekly Geeks and go through their reviews. Leave links for them.

4. Leave a note somewhere on your blog to let people know this is your new policy.

5. Write a post later this week letting us know how your project is going!

I have tried to do this since I started my blog but I always feel bad posting links to my reviews on other people's blogs. It feels like I am stealing their thunder or something but I always encourage people to post links on my reviews. And on occasion I link them in the actual post like I did with Going Too Far.

I label all my reviews so you can get to them through this link.

Or you can check out this list and see if you have reviewed any of the same books. If you have leave a link in the comments and I will add it to the post. I really want to make this a normal part of my blog so for all you regular readers out there leave me links!

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn and Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer
Kiss My Book by Jamie Michaels
A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton
D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton
A Girl's Guide to Witchcraft by Mindy Klasky
Accidental It Girl by Libby Street
E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton
F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton
G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton
The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer
Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
Major Crush by Jennifer Echols
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes
How to Hook A Hottie by Tina Ferraro
Bloomability by Sharon Creech
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
H is for Homicide by Sue Grafton
Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway
Evernight by Claudia Gray
Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

So leave a comment on this post if you have reviewed any of these and make sure to include your links so I can add them and feel free to add my links to your reviews.

Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Synopsis:

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Review: I have to say I was never much for the paranormal in books but lately I have been enjoying them more and more and this book was no exception. I enjoyed it far more than I expected, but it definitely had its faults. Jessica and Lucius are great characters with a lot of personality. They are funny and emotional and endearing. But the background characters don't have the same depth, they are very one dimensional.

I really liked the story, it was a fun romance that had a darker ending but the two parts of the story didn't mix well in spots. The first half is funny and the second half is dark instead of the two blending throughout. The ending also felt a little rushed. The whole story had built to that point and I was waiting and waiting for it and then it just ended. It ended the way I wanted it to but somehow I was still a little let down at the end.

I know this review makes it sound like I didn't like it but I really did enjoy this book and I think because I loved certain parts so much, the parts I didn't like were an even bigger let down.

This book counts toward my Spring Reading Thing Challenge

Help a charity and win a book!

Stephanie Kuehnart, the fabulous author of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, is having a contest to win an ARC of her new book Ballads of Suburbia and all you have to do to enter is help a charity!
Just head over to Stephanie's blog for all the details on the contest and the awesome charity her cousin started called Tipping Points.
And of course tell her I sent you!

Cover Story - Evermore and North of Beautiful

Many of us have noticed the similarities between the covers for North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley (my review here) and Evermore by Alyson Noel but here is a great story from Publisher's Weekly on the two covers. Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday - Jenny Han

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. Head over to check it out and play along.

Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Pub. Date: May 5
Summary: Belly has spent her summers at the beach house with Conrad and Jeremiah, who has never noticed her noticing them. Every summer Belly hoped it would be different. This time, it is. The summer Belly turns pretty is the summer that changes everything - for better and for worse.

Why I want it:
The first thing I noticed about this book was the cover (yeah I am totally one of those people who judges books by their covers) and then I thought the title was really interesting. But the summary really got me, not only does it sound like a great book but I love the characters names. Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah are really great names.
I also discovered in my research that this is the second book by Han and I will certainly be looking in to reading her first book Shug. Has anyone read it?

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Synopsis:

Bianca wants to escape.

At the eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas, he warns her to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Review:
I had a major love/hate relationship with this book (which my twitter friends can attest to). I loved the second half of the book but really hated the first half. Reading this book was a rollercoaster ride for me, I liked the beginning, got really ticked off in the middle and loved the second half.

My problems: I knew this book was about vampires but I didn't know much else so when the narrator didn't say anything about vampires through the first half of the book I assumed Bianca was as clueless as me. I assumed she would be let in on the secret at he same time I was. Well I was wrong and I really didn't like the way it was revealed. It made Bianca a really unreliable narrator and in my opinion, she either should have been honest with the reader from the beginning or the story should have been told from a different point of view.

What I liked: just about everything else. I love the relationship between Bianca and Lucas and the plot was great. I don't want to give too much away but this is a great story and I love the concept of the Evernight Academy I just didn't like the way it was revealed. As always my favorite character was one of the background characters, Balthazar, who seriously has the best name and it really understanding while also knowing how to kick a little behind. My suggestion, if you read this book be patient, the ending is worth it to get through parts that may be a little frustrating. In the end I was really glad I did and I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Stargazer.

Stargazer, the sequel to Evernight is released TODAY! So head out and get a copy! I have a wonderful copy from Gray sitting on my nightstand waiting to be read.

This book counts toward my Library Challenge and First in a Series

Teaser Tuesday - Evernight

Teaser Tuesday asks you to:

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

"In some ways, it felt like I'd gotten away with something - that I'd pulled off a trick of some kind - closed my eyes and said abracadabra and turned the whole world upside down."
page 168 of Evernight by Claudia Gray

Operation Teen Book Drop Press Release

For more information contact:

Sara Easterly, Publicist for readergirlz

Sara Easterly & Friends

sara@saraeasterly.com

206-632-8588

READING STIMULUS PLAN FOR HOSPITALIZED TEEN PATIENTS
LAUNCHES JUST IN TIME FOR “SUPPORT TEEN LIT DAY” APRIL 16

Despite economic downturn, generous publishers have donated
thousands of young-adult books for readergirlz, Guys Lit Wire, and YALSA
to deliver to teens in America’s top pediatric hospitals

March 17, 2009 (Seattle, Wash.) – Teen patients in pediatric hospitals across the United States will receive 8,000 young-adult novels, audiobooks, and graphic novels next week as readergirlz, Guys Lit Wire, and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) celebrate the third annual Support Teen Lit Day on April 16.

In its second year, “Operation TBD” (short for Teen Book Drop), puts free books donated by 18 book publishers into the hands of many teens most in need of escape, inspiration and a sense of personal accomplishment. Books with exceptional characters and fabulous stories can provide just that for teens and their families dealing with difficult, long-term hospital stays.

At a time when philanthropic giving is down, readergirlz co-founders have been inspired by overwhelming industry support for Operation TBD. “readergirlz is always looking for innovative ways to connect teens with literature, “ said Dia Calhoun, co-founder of readergirlz and acclaimed young-adult author. “We’re honored that publishers have supported this goal by giving so liberally this year.”

Operation TBD also aims to encourage all teens to choose reading for pleasure as a leisure activity, over other entertainment options. Inciting the broader teen community to participate in Operation TBD in its drive to spur reading on a national scale, readergirlz has launched a trailer on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/readergirlz) inviting teens and YA authors to leave a book in a public place on April 16. When visiting www.readergirlz.com, participants can download bookplates to insert into the books they’ll leave behind, which explain the surprise to the recipient and tell them to read and enjoy.

“This event is such a special one because it not only raises awareness about teen literature, but it also truly helps those teens most in need. Teens facing illnesses will be able to find an age- appropriate new book to read while in the hospital — teen books matter and not just any old book will do,” said Sarah Cornish Debraski, YALSA president. “Our thanks to the publishers, readergirlz, and Guys Lit Wire. It’s wonderful to unite with these organizations to forward this cause.”

Participating book publishers who have donated books or audiobooks include Abrams Books, Bloomsbury/Walker Books, Candlewick Press, Full Cast Audio, Hachette Book Group, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Hyperion, Milkweed, Mirrorstone Books, Orca Book Publishers, Peachtree Books, Perseus Book Group/Running Press, Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Soft Skull Press & Red Rattle Books, TOKYOPOP and Tor/Forge/Starscape/Tor Teen.

“Putting the right book into the hands of a teen can turn that teen into a reader for life, “ said Suzanne Murphy, VP and Group Publisher, Scholastic Trade Book Publishing. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to help Operation TBD show teens firsthand just how much fun reading can be.”

Pediatric hospitals that have signed up to receive books include Phoenix Children's Hospital (Phoenix, Ariz.), Rady's Children's Hospital (San Diego, Calif.), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital and Research Center (Oakland, Calif.), All Children's Hospital (St. Petersburg, FL), Children's Memorial Hospital (Chicago, Ill.), UM C.S. Mott Children's Hospital (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics (Kansas City, MO), The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital & Health Center (Tacoma, Wash.) and Seattle Children's Hospital.

“Our teen patients here at Seattle Children’s loved the books donated through the Operation Teen Book Drop last year,” said Kim Korte, Child Life Manager, Seattle Children’s Hospital. “Books are a wonderful avenue for our patients to be distracted from the pain and stress of hospitalization. We are always in need of books and greatly appreciate the generosity of the publishers who donated.”

Everyone who participates in Operation TBD is invited to celebrate at the TBD Post-Op Party on April 16 at 6 p.m. Pacific Time on the readergirlz blog: http://readergirlz.blogspot.com.

About Support Teen Literature Day

For the third consecutive year, Support Teen Literature Day will be celebrated April 16, 2009 in conjunction with ALA’s National Library Week. Librarians all across the country are encouraged to participate in Support Teen Literature Day by hosting events in their library. The purpose of this new celebration is to raise awareness among the general public that young adult literature is a vibrant, growing genre with much to offer today’s teens. Support Teen Literature Day also seeks to showcase award-winning authors and books in the genre as well as highlight librarians’ expertise in connecting teens with books and other reading materials.

About the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, visit www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390, or email, yalsa@ala.org.

About readergirlz

readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by five critically acclaimed YA authors—Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Holly Cupala (A Light That Never Goes Out) Lorie Ann Grover (Hold Me Tight), Justina Chen Headley (North of Beautiful), and Melissa Walker (the Violet series). readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award.

To promote teen literacy and leadership in girls, readergirlz features a different YA novel and corresponding community service project every month. For more information about readergirlz, please visit www.readergirlz.com and http://readergirlz.blogspot.com, or contact divas@readergirlz.com.

About Guys Lit Wire Guys Lit Wire brings literary news and reviews to the attention of teenage boys and the people who care about them. Working to combat the perception that teen boys aren’t as well read as teen girls, the organization seeks out literature uniquely targeted toward teen male readers in hopes of bringing attention of good books to guys who might have missed them.

Contest Roundup!

As always I will add to this as the week goes on and I come across more contests

March's fourth contest from Juciliciousss Reviews. Ends March 28 - I WON!
City of Glass Celebration from Ravenous reader and Reverie. Ends March 29
Willow from The Story Siren. Ends April 2
11 books from Presenting Lenore. Ends April 5
Sucks to be me from Booksworm Readers. Ends April 6
Blush Topless Undershirt from The Write Gal. Ends April 8

The Summer I Turned Pretty from Cupcake Witch. Ends April 10

Cyn Balog is having a contest to give away a copy of her awesome upcoming book Fairy Tale and a silver fortune cookie necklace. Also check out the countdown to her release on my left sidebar. Ends April 13 - Balog's birthday!

Cara Lockwood giveaway from Steph Su. Ends April 13

Speak from Sarah's Random Musings. Ends April 18

A Countess Below Stairs from Katie's Book Blog. Ends April 19

A Mighty Wall from Tower of Books. Ends April 24.

Love for Something Like it from J. Kaye's Book Blog. Ends April 25

The Chosen One from J. Kaye's Book Blog. Ends April 25

Maximum Series giveaway from J. Kaye's Book Blog. Ends April 25

Sweet Sixteen Contest from Addicted to Books. Ends April 29

Canadian book giveaway from Reader Rabbit. Ends April 29

What Should I Read Next Poll Results

A HUGE thank you to the 26 people who voted in my What Should I Read Next poll? It is so cool that there are 26 people on the planet who actually read this blog. (I am still convinced only my sister and best friend actually read it even though you wonderful people leave comments all the time!) Now here are the results:

The Season - 6
The Forest of Hands and Teeth - 6
Shadowed Summer - 1
Dust of 100 Dogs - 5
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side - 8

So I am reading Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side next! I am currently in the middle of Evernight but as soon as I am done I will start Jessica's Guide. I am really excited to read it!

I liked doing this and might do another in a few weeks. What do you think?

In My Mailbox

"In My Mailbox" was started by The Story Siren. See her blog for more details.

I will be honest, pictures are limited for this post because I am just too tired to get them all. So here are the books I got this week in list form.

• What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
• Stargazer by Claudia Gray
• Kiss My Tiara by Susan Jane Gilman
• Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress by Susan Jane Gilman
• Undress Me In The Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman
• South Beach Sizzle (Simon Romantic Comedy) by Suzanne Weyn and Diana Gonzalez
• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

And from the library I got

• Evernight by Claudia Gray
• Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
• I is for Innocent by Sue Grafton

What did you get this week?

Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

Synopsis:

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!

Review:

Let me preface this with the fact that I knew absolutely nothing about this book when I first picked it up. I had seen the cover on a few blogs and In My Mailbox posts and since it is kinda hard to miss I remembered it but I never actually knew what it was about. So when I popped in to the library last week I recognized the cover and grabbed it without even reading the description. Basically, I started reading this book with no idea that it would be amazing!

I devoured this book in two sittings (and it would have been one if it weren't for this pesky job thing). This book was fun and entertaining and with the added music element I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Audrey becomes famous overnight when her exboyfriend writes a song about her and it launches him in to super stardom.

Audrey, Wait is written in such a relatable way that you feel every emotion Audrey feels and can't help but take every step of her journey with her. Even when I knew she was wrong and picking fights with her awesome best friend and new boyfriend I was still on her side because I really connected with her. Audrey is a normal teenager trying to stay sane in an insane situation and the story is wickedly funny.

Even better than Audrey are the background characters. Her best friend Victoria is sassy and hilarious and has all the best lines in the book. And she is a real best friend, she doesn't sugar coat anything with Audrey but shows with a hammer when CDs need to be broken (just read the book and this reference will make sense). And Audrey's new boyfriend James is everything a dorky non-musician should be and I want him to be more than a fictional character.

As soon as I finished this book I looked up Benway to see what other genius she has given to the world and was sad to see this is her only book. So go hassle her on her blog and let her know more books are needed.

For now, I need to go make a playlist of all the awesome music referenced in this book!

Favorite quotes:

"I'm a sucker for cute boys with guitars, as you may have noticed, but throw in a London accent and I'll happily sell my soul without a second thought"

"The jack and cokes had definitely made the flirting part of the night
easier. Whoever had mixed them deserved a medal."

This book counts toward my Library Challenge

Spring Reading Thing 2009

For my fourth reading challenge I am signing up for the Spring Reading Thing 2009 hosted by Callapidder Days.

Essentially, Spring Reading Thing 2009 is a fun, low-pressure reading challenge open to anyone and everyone. It will take place March 20th-June 20th (which is, coincidentally, the spring of 2009).
For more information go here and sign up!
Reviews are posted here

I am going to use this as a challenge for reading the books I already own and sometimes get passed over for reviews or other challenges. I think 15 is a good number to start with so here we go!

1. Stargazer by Claudia Gray
2. Miss Match by Wendy Toliver
3. Split By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja
4. Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
5. Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
6. Something Happened by Greg Logsted
7. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fanteskey
8. Every Demon Has His Day by Cara Lockwood
9. Fairest of Them All by Jan Blazanin
10. The Year of the Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty
11. Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
12. Looking For Alaska by John Green
13. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
14. Inappropriate Men by Stacey Ballis
15. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

I will link to the reviews as I read them.

I have given in to Twitter

okay, I had been toying with the idea and after the urging of a few people...Sharon...cough, cough...Hope...cough, cough...Sarah...I have given in. I am not sure how much I am actually going to use it but I am trying. My name is kissmybook so find me, follow me? help me figure out how the heck this works? I don't even know what terminology to use. HELP!?!

Waiting on Wednesday - Jen Lancaster

So I have decided to change a few things up on my blog now that I am a few months in and really starting to get the hang of it. First I am going to change up what weekly memes I am involved in. I started doing a bunch of them because it was a way to get my feet wet and connect with other bloggers. Now I have enough content that I don't need all of them and I have discovered other ones, like Waiting On, that I want to do instead. So bear with me through some changes. And as always, if there is something you love and/or hate PLEASE let me know!
I also added a What Should I Read Next poll on my left sidebar so please vote!

Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. Head over to check it out and play along.

The one book that I am looking forward to above all others is Pretty In Plaid by Jen Lancaster. The full title is Pretty in Plaid: A Life, a Witch, and a Wardrobe, or, the Wonder Years Before the Condescending,Egomanical, Self-Centered Smart Ass Phase which actually makes me laugh every time I read. (Although, not so much when I have to type it.) And it is released May 5 so I don't have too much longer to wait. (And since that is just four days after my college graduation I think it would make a great gift...hey anyone reading this??)

Description:
In Pretty in Plaid, Jen Lancaster reveals how she developed the hubris that perpetually gets her into trouble. Using fashion icons of her youth to tell her hilarious and insightful stories, readers will meet the girl she used to be. Think Jen Lancaster was always “like David Sedaris with pearls and a super-cute handbag?” (Jennifer Coburn) Think again. She was a badge-hungry Junior Girl Scout with a knack for extortion, an aspiring sorority girl who didn’t know her Coach from her Louis Vuitton, and a budding executive who found herself bewildered by her first encounter with a fax machine. In this humorous and touching memoir, Jen Lancaster looks back on her life—and wardrobe—before bitter was the new black and shows us a young woman not so very different than the rest of us. The author who showed us what it was like to wait in line at the unemployment office with a Prada bag, how living in the city can actually suck, and that losing weight can be fun with a trainer named Barbie and enough Ambien is ready to take you on a hilarious and heartwarming trip down memory lane in her shoes (and very pretty ones at that).

I am a HUGE Jen Lancaster fan and her first three books are among my favorite books of all time. This woman can make me laugh, like full belly laughs in public so that people look at me funny. You don't have to read the books in order or anything, they all stand on their own and they are all hysterical. I have made no secret of my love for snarky woman and Lancaster is the Queen of Snarkdom. I am really excited as this is the first of her books to really look at her past and I can't wait to see what Lancaster was like in high school.


And if you haven't read the first three, get on that, like yesterday!
Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office

Bright Lights, Big Ass: A Self-Indulgent, Surly, Ex-Sorority Girl's Guide to Why it Often Sucks in the City, or Who are These Idiots and Why Do They Live Next Door To Me?

Such A Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big, or Why Pie Is Not the Answer

Her blog is also completely hysterical, and a nice hold over until Pretty In Plaid comes out.

What are you waiting on?

Also if you made it to the bottom of this marathon post then I A) adore you and B) and requesting your help. Vote for my awesome St. Patty's Day picture at Linda Gerber's blog.
Details here and voting here.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! - help a blogger buddy!

So the wonderful Linda Gerber is having a Wearing O' The Green Contest and I entered a picture of one of my darling ginger best friends. So head over and vote for that picture! please?
It is picture 2 of the slide show! voting will remain open until Friday.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Teaser Tuesday - Audrey, Wait

Teaser Tuesday asks you to:

Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!

"James does not have a crush on me," I told her. "It's just a CD."
"Yeah, well you're blushing."
"I'm blushing because everyone is staring at me!" I hated when she was right, especially about this.
-page 69 of Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

Operation TBD and Lauren Henderson Giveaway

Support Teen Literature Day on April 16th!
For more information go to readergirlz



Help get books to teens in the hospital, this is a brilliant initiative so help spread the word!

There is also a giveaway going on at Starry Night for two Lauren Henderson books: Kiss Me Kill Me and Kiss and Lies. So go enter and make sure to say I sent you!
Ends April 5

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

Synopsis:
Quiet, unpopular, non-cheerleading Mia is blissfully happy. She is dating super hot football god Rob, and he actually likes her and asked her to prom! Enter Samantha—cheerleading goddess and miss popularity— who starts making a move for Rob. With prom in a few days, Mia needs to act fast. So she turns to her best friend, Candice, and decides to do a love spell on Rob. Unfortunately, she ends up inflicting a zombie virus onto her whole class, making herself their leader! At first she is flattered that everyone is treating her like a queen. But then zombie hunter hottie Chase explains they are actually fattening her up, because in a few days, Mia will be the first course in their new diet. She’s sure she and Chase can figure something out, but she suggests that no one wear white to prom, because things could get very messy.

Review:
This book was really cute and very funny and I have to say I enjoyed it a lot. I don't usually find myself drawn to zombie stories (and scary movies terrify me to the point of cowering under the covers) but something about how charming the synopsis was, how awesome the cover was and how brilliant Ashby is on her blog put this book at the top of my TBR pile and I am really glad I gave it a chance.

Zombie Queen is brilliantly funny and actually made me giggle out loud a few times. Mia is smart and obsessed with Buffy and Supernatural which means if she were real, and not a character who turns her entire high school in to zombies, then we would be best friends. No really, my real life best friend, the one who writes Best Friend Guest Reviews, is super smart and obsessed with Buffy. Sorry for the digression, but this book has me feeling a little silly.

Ashby managed to write a zombie book for the scaredy cat in all of us, ok just me. It made me laugh instead of scaring me to death and was a great change of pace from all the love stories I have been reading. That isn't to say there isn't a love story because Mia does get herself in to trouble because she is trying to cast a love spell and what better time to fall in love than while battling zombies at the senior prom?

Ashby also pays great attention to the little details and things that don't seem to matter pop back up later in the book in a really brilliant way. My favorite character is Candice, Mia's best friend who seems to have all the best lines in the book.
"Mia turned everyone at the senior prom into zombies and now we all want to eat her because she smells like the most amazing barbecue chicken that you could ever imagine. We want to eat Chase as well, but right now he smells a bit undercooked."

Now, do as your zombie queen is telling you and read this book!

Favorite quotes:
"Mia wailed as she felt her stomach churn in a way it hadn't done since she had first heard that Buffy was going to be cancelled."

"Do you think we could stop talking now so I could kiss you? I've heard that it's how all the very best TV shows end."

Weekly Geek - Bad Movie Adaptations

Weekly Geek - Bad Movie Adaptations

Worst movie adaptations: The recent release of Watchmen based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore got me thinking about what I thought were the worst movie adaptations of books. What book or books did a director or directors completely ruin in the adaptation(s) that you wish you could "unsee," and why in your opinion, what made it or them so bad in contrast to the book or books?

Let me preface this with it is really hard for me to answer because I go in to movies based on books with a very particular mindset. I look at the movie and the book as two separate things. This keeps me from being disappointed and allows me to enjoy the movie. I have to do this or I would hate the Harry Potter movies for not acting out the books word for word and be mad every time one of Nicholas Sparks' movies isn't exactly like the book.

That being said, there is one time when I am pretty sure Hollywood really messed up the chance to bring a great book to life. I know there are many people who don't like The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown but I loved that book. I though it was fun and interesting and the entire time I was reading it I wished I had pictures to go a long with all the paintings and places that were being described.

I was already disappointed in the movie when they announced Tom Hanks as the lead. Now I love Hanks but he is not at all how I pictured the character, not in appearance and not in personality. I was also disappointed with the actress who played the female lead as she wasn't how I pictured her either. When I finally saw the movie I went in with an open mind but just felt the movie didn't capture the intensity of the novel and I was really let down.

I am cautiously awaiting the movie release of Angels and Demons. Please don't let me down again.

In My Mailbox

"In My Mailbox" was started by The Story Siren. See her blog for more details. I got more signed books this week! This is getting to be an awesome habit for me.



Split By A Kiss by Luisa Plaja
That Went Well by Terrell Harris Dougan
I got the first two books by commenting on them at other peoples blogs and the author's saw it and contacted me. So leave comments! you never know what it will get you!

signed copy of Miss Match by Wendy Toliver
I won Miss Match at Amanda Ashby's awesome bog party!!

signed copy of Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
I won at YA Fresh and I am half way through and loving it so keep an eye out for the review


The Agency by Ally O'Brien
In Too Deep by Jennifer Banash
Here is the thing, I got In Too Deep from Bookmooch but I don't have a copy of The Elite to read first. Oh, the problems of a book blogger!

From the library
Audrey, Wait by Robin Benway

What did you get this week??

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Eyes Like Stars: Théâtre Illuminata, Part I by Lisa Mantchev

Synopsis from ARC cover:
Enter Stage Right All her world's a stage. Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She is not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but has no lines of her own. Until now. Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known. Open Curtain

Lisa Mantchev's debut novel Eyes Like Stars is completely captivating and better be followed by her sophomore effort in a hurry!

Have you ever wondered what happens to a play's characters when the curtain closes? Well Mantchev has concocted a charming novel with the answer to that very question. Beatrice Shakespeare Smith not only has one of the best names ever but is a wild but endearing narrator who carries the reader in to a completely original world.

I must admit I wasn't immediately in love with the book but that was because the setting is so completely unique that it took me a while to orient myself in the Théâtre Illuminata. But once I was comfortable in the setting and had reacquainted myself with some of my favorite Shakespearian characters (Ophelia, Ariel and of course Mustardseed, Moth, Cobweb and Peaseblossom) it was impossible not to fall in love with the book. There are also appearances by characters from plays ranging from Peter Pan to the Little Mermaid.

Beatrice, or Bertie, messes with the magic of the theatre and discovers some of her own as she is determined to make a place for herself in the theatre as a director. She creates a mess that may very well destroy the theatre if she can't fix it, and discover her own past in the process. While a lot is resolved for Bertie in this play, like discovering who her mother is and how she came to the theatre there is much left open ended. I can only hope that the "Part I" at the end of the title means there will be a "Part II."

You don't have to be a Shakespearean expert to enjoy this book but any familiarity with his plays will help you enjoy this book even more.

Eyes Like Stars will be released July 7 but you can preorder it now.
Or if you don't want to wait Mantchev is having a contest at the Théâtre Illuminata website to win one of six ARCs.
Jess from Book Reviews by Jess is also passing on her ARC but hurry her contest ends 11:59 pm, Saturday, March 14th.

Best Friend Guest Review - You Suck: A Love Story by Christopher Moore

It is time for another edition of Best Friend Guest Review with my lovely best friend JTR! If you missed the first one check it out here and as always leave her lots of love and encouragement so she comes back for more.


Welcome to another edition of BFG Reviews, no unfortunately not written by the Big Friendly Giant, instead you just get stuck with me: JTR.

If you love vampire stories and love books that openly mock pretty much everything than you will love You Suck: A Love Story by Christopher Moore. In his sequel to Bloodsucking Fiends, (which is a marvelous book that you really must read first) Moore continues the story of C. Thomas Flood, a young aspiring novelist who moves to San Fransisco to start his writing career, but instead meets his first girlfriend: the vampire Jody. Humorous antics unwind as this now vampire couple finds a teenage wannabe Gothic minion, fight off a dyed-blue prostitute, and go through the usual relationship ups and downs with some added undead complications.

This is definitely not a YA book. Rated R for sure. Moore's blunt humor leaves no taboo topic untouched. Half the chapters are written from the perspective of Abby Normal, a 16-year-old who is secretly warm and cuddly but puts up a tough wants-to-be-a-vampire front to remain edgy. Moore's ability to get in the head of this off-the-wall character is the true gem of this novel.

Moore plays with the traditional vampire lore and bends the rules to fit into this modern day retelling. This is not your average Twilight or even Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it's more something that makes fun of them. But as someone who loves those vampire tales, I still found You Suck entertaining.
I even enjoyed the bittersweet non-ending that makes me wonder if Moore's love story might turn into a trilogy.

The opening line of the book is one of the best quotes: "You bitch, you killed me. You suck!"

Weekly Geek - Thursday quotes

This is day six of this week's Weekly Geek assignment of daily quotes.
Weekly Geek home
My Saturday quote
My Sunday quote
My Monday quote
My Tuesday quote
My Wednesday quote

This will be my final day of this because I feel I have shared enough of my beloved quotes and because I think you have had enough of my blathering about how much I love quotes (and John Steinbeck and Elizabeth Gilbert and Dorothy Parker). So for the last day I am going to give you non-book quotes. Again, if you read this blog with any regularity you know that the only thing I love more than books is sports. So here are some of my favorite sports quotes.


I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures. ~Earl Warren

October is not only a beautiful month but marks the precious yet fleeting overlap of hockey, baseball, basketball, and football. ~Jason Love

Fans are the only ones who really care. There are no free-agent fans. ~Dick Young

Things could be worse. Suppose your errors were counted and published every day, like those of a baseball player. ~Anonymous

All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity. ~Gordie Howe

So go ahead...argue with the ref, change the rules, cheat a little, take a break and tend to your wounds. But play. Play. Play hard, play fast. Play loose and free. Play as if there's no tomorrow. Okay, so it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game...right?
~so this one is from Grey's Anatomy but it totally fits!

-in related news my beloved hockey team, is hosting the first round of the Hockey East playoffs this weekend. So my mood will be completely dependent on how those games go.
GO NORTHEASTERN! GO HUSKIES!
good luck this weekend guys!