Love The One Your With by Emily Giffin

Love The One Your With by Emily Giffin
Synopsis:
Ellen and Andy's first year of marriage doesn't just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she's living is the one she's meant to live.

Review:

This is the fourth book I have read by Emily Giffin and she never disappoints. With Love The One Your With she shows love and marriage for what it really is, difficult and something you have to work at. In so many books falling in love is this perfect process where you are just drawn to someone and it is all sunshine and rainbows but Giffin does a great job writing about the different kinds of love and how you can love more than one person at the same time

Ellen is a perfectly relatable main character and I really enjoyed how human she was. I understood how she was torn between two men and why it was so hard for her to make a decision. I think it takes great character development to make readers love a character who is flirting with the idea of cheating on her amazing husband and Giffin did it so well.

The difference between Leo and Andy is night and day and Giffin did a great job making them both well-rounded characters. It was so easy to see why Ellen was drawn to both of them and by not allowing either one to be a villain, Giffin made the novel a much better read than if one was a terrible guy.

Giffin’s gift as a writer is in her characters and Love The One Your With is full of characters that will tug at your heartstrings and make you think about the definition of true love.

Emerald Talisman Tour: Guest Post by Brenda Pandos

I am happy to be part of the Emerald Talisman book tour hosted by La Femme Readers. You can head over here and see all the other stops on the tour. Today Brenda has been lovely enough to share with us where she writes. Be sure to stop back soon for my review of The Emerald Talisman.

Guest Post:
My writing place is my couch. It's a large, comfy, 1/2 oval shaped, white couch that's magical (and covered with towels to protect it). At night, I often find my husband crashed out on it after a long day. After that's happened, it's impossible to make him come to bed (I gave up a while back). It's also the jungle gym where my boys jump onto from the coffee table and where we all snuggle together for movies. I think it's just going to have to fall apart on us for us to get rid of it because we love it so.

If I'm writing at night, hubby usually will lay next to me and beg for a head-scrape (he calls it). The trade off is he has to listen to what I've just written while I massage his scalp, but he usually falls asleep. I want to say it's the magic of the cooshy couch, my sexy voice and luxurious fingertips, not my writing that puts him to sleep. lol.

Things I need to write would be my slanket and a good drink. I'm a huge baby if it's cold, so I really love my slanket. It's a fuzzy blanket with sleeves (like a snuggie) and perfect for keeping me warm. In the summer, I'm in the crook of the couch, drinking my diet rite with a fan propped in front of me, blowing my direction because I'm a baby if it's hot. I also need a notepad and pen to jot down notes.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Synopsis:
When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton's type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun - but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself by Printz medalist John Green, acclaimed author of Looking for Alaska.


Review:
John Green is one of those authors who gets rave reviews and a ton of love in the blogosphere as well as winning lots of pretty book awards but I had never read any of his books. When I was planning for my roadtrip a few weeks ago I grabbed some audio books from the library and An Abundance of Katherines was one of them.

What Green does that I instantly fell in love with is that he wrote a really smart book that still managed to be really funny. Colin is so annoying that he becomes likeable. He is whiney and pretentious but it is genuine cluelessness that makes him an awesome character. And when he is balanced by a great supporting cast like Hassan and Lyndsay his faults become part of his charm.

I also love any story about a roadtrip and this one leads to Gutshot, Tennessee where hilarity ensues. Colin and Hassan get themselves into all kinds of ridiculous situations but they both really learn a lot during their trip and mature in ways they didn’t see coming.

Green wrote a coming-of-age novel with intelligence and humor that anyone can read and enjoy and I certainly did.

I Accept The Contemps Challenge

I posted last week about the new Contemps website and how awesome it is. Now I have signed up for the Contemps Challenge. The goal is to read at least 18 of the 21 upcoming Contemps books between now and August 15, 2011. I sincerely hope I can do it because there are a lot of awesome books on the list. I have alread read one of them and have a few more in my posession so thats a start. Check out The Contemps website for more information and to sign up yourself.

The Reading List:
1. Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
2. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
3. Girl Stolen by April Henry
4. Freefall by Mindi Scott (review)
5. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
6. Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
7. Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers
8. Trapped by Michael Northrop
9. Rival by Sarah Bennet Wealer
10. Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
11. Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
12. Family by Micol Ostow
13. Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
14. Pearl by Jo Knowles
15. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
16. The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
17. Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker
18. Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
19. The third book in the Carter series by Brent Crawford
20. Sharks & Boys by Kristen Tracy
21. Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Synopsis:
What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Review:
The Eternal Ones is a beautifully written novel and a completely original storyline. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book about reincarnation but Miller did a great job creating realistic characters that ground such a fantastical plot. The Eternal Ones has a little bit of everything, romance, adventure, fantasy and history and it all comes together for an irresistible and haunting read.

It was often hard to tell who was a good guy and who was a bad guy but that made the novel that much more interesting and impossible to put down. I liked reading the book from Haven’s point of view, as she traveled from Tennessee to New York and desperately searched for the truth. It was impossible to try and guess what would come next and I loved that because there is nothing worse than a predictable book.

My only complaint is that the book seemed a little long, there were a few times when I felt the pace was dragging and needed to be sped up. But I powered through those times and in the end the whole was good enough that it wasn’t a major fault.

If you are looking for a complex book, that will keep you on your toes and give you a little bit of several genres then you need to give The Eternal Ones a shot.

I read this book as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tours.

This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers Synopsis:
Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul. But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.

Review:
I have a confession to make. I am a little burnt out on fantasy and paranormal books. I made this fact known on twitter but I was urged by Sara from The Hiding Spot (who has an awesome blog, seriously check it out.) to read Personal Demons before I switched gears and read some contemporary. And I am quite glad I listened to her!

A girl on earth, Frannie, inexplicably drawn to two boys who happen to be an angel and a demon, it’s a great plot made even better with Desrochers style of slowly letting out pieces of each characters back story. Luc, the demon, and Gabe, the angel, are amazing characters, so similar despite the fact that they are literally polar opposites and a perfect set of guys to play tug of war over Frannie.

Frannie ended up being way more enjoyable and complex than I originally anticipated and I loved that about her. I also loved her relationship with her grandfather, which although a very small part of the book, created some of my favorite scenes.

You have to give a ton of credit to any author who can make you feel sympathy for a demon, and wish the angel would go away. I was firmly on team Luc so I that was my stance for much of the book, although not all.
Once I got in to this book I thought I had it figured out pretty quickly but consider me wrong again. Desrochers plot line goes somewhere I never saw coming and when you think she is done surprising you there is another twist at the very end that I loved.

Overall, the book is a great, original read with awesome characters that are written perfectly. Great job to Desrochers on writing such a fun, intriguing, sexy book as her debut novel! There will be two more books in the Personal Demons series so head over to Lisa’s website and learn all about them.

My favorite quote from the book was the very first line: “If there is a hell on Earth, it’s high school.”

Personal Demons will be released Sept. 14, 2010.

I read this book as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tours.

This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge and 2010 Debut Authors Challenge

Freefall by Mindi Scott

Freefall by Mindi Scott

Synopsis:
How do you come back from the point of no return? Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn’t wake up. Convinced that his own actions led to his friend’s death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely. Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he’s ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth will soon realize he isn’t the only one who needs saving . . .

Review:
And so continues my love affair with debut authors. Mindi Scott strikes gold with her first novel, a beautiful contemporary book with a fantastic male protagonist. I decided to read the book after taking part in a chat with Mindi and genuinely being smitten with her and I was equally smitten with Freefall.

While Mindi oozes sweetness in her vlogs and tweets, her writing is full of angst and guilt and pain in the best possible way. Seth is broken, he found his best friend dead, he is drinking and doing drugs, about to fail out of school and has very little regard for life but he is able to turn it all around and going on the journey with him is very enjoyable.

Scott never hides from any of the painful emotions, drinking or drug use. Instead, she describes all of Seth’s vices with a beauty that allows the reader to feel empathy for him. When Seth meets Rosetta he begins to turn his life around but what I loved is that Scott doesn’t write a typical “good girl swoops in and rescues bad boy” book. Instead, she gives Seth other motivations to improve his life, including a great class and teacher, good friends and a supportive, although unorthodox, mother. Seth’s life improvements really come from within and it is because he is already putting in the work that his relationship with Rosetta is enjoyable to read about.
Rosetta has her own issues to deal with but I liked that they didn’t take the focus from the main character, but complimented him perfectly and when all was said and done her issues really weren’t resolved, although it was easy to sense she would get there…someday.

I also think Scott wrote amazingly complex supporting characters, particularly Kendall who is layered, complicated and lovable enough for her own book (hint, hint Mindi! I want a spinoff with Kendall).

Be sure to come back on October 1 when Mindi will stop by for a guest post as part of the Teen Book Scene blog tour! Mindi is also part of the wonderful new group, The Contemps, which I blogged about the other day.

I reviewed this book as part of 1 ARC Tours.

This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge and 2010 Debut Authors Challenge

The Contemps: YA Authors Keepin It Real

Some of my favorite YA contemporary authors have teamed up to start a brand new (and completely awesome) website. The Contemps are 21 authors who will be blogging about their books and their real lives and I can not wait! Here is a little more information:

AUTHORS TEAM UP TO SPOTLIGHT CONTEMPORARY REALISTIC FICTION FOR TEENS

“The Contemps” are Keeping it Real with Outreach, Resources and New Releases

Twenty-one authors have banded together to put real life in the spotlight and to keep readers up-to-date on the latest in contemporary young adult fiction.

“There are so many wonderful authors writing contemporary realistic fiction,” said Contemps co-founder Lisa Schroeder. “As much as we love other genres, the marketplace can feel dominated by paranormal, fantasy and dystopian novels. We want to celebrate the unique way that contemporary stories help teens feel they’re not alone in this real world.”

“The Contemps” officially launched on August 17 with a mission to help teens, booksellers, librarians and publishers connect with books that feature real-life settings, characters and situations. Group members range from debuts to veterans with several titles on the shelves, and all have new releases coming out between September 2010 and August 2011. They hope to not just build buzz for members’ books, but to create excitement and appreciation for the contemporary realistic genre in general.

The members are: Brent Crawford, Hannah Harrington, April Henry, Kirsten Hubbard, Denise Jaden, Kody Keplinger, Jo Knowles, Lindsey Leavitt, Sarah Darer Littman, Michael Northrop, Sarah Ockler, Micol Ostow, Lisa Schroeder, Elizabeth Scott, Mindi Scott, Emily Wing Smith, Courtney Summers, Kristen Tracy, Melissa Walker, Sara Bennett Wealer, and Daisy Whitney.

A number of activities are planned in the coming year, including giveaways, sharing experiences from their own teenage years, spotlighting other contemporary realistic authors, and multi-author events. The group’s home base is www.thecontemps.com, where members will be blogging several times a week on a variety of topics. Online outreach will also extend to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

“We’re reaching out to a variety of audiences,” said co-founder Lindsey Leavitt. “We want readers, teachers and librarians to know about the wealth of awesome books out there. And we want the industry to know about the authors who create these books. There’s still a market for contemporary realistic fiction, and we plan to demonstrate that.”

They will also be hosting a great reading challenge that I think I will be taking part in. I haven't decided what books I will read yet so I will post about that later. For now, check out The Contemps website and twitter.

For the comments: What is your favorite YA contemporary book!

Somewhere in Middle America...

Hey everyone as you read this I am literally somewhere in middle america to quote The Counting Crows. I have explained on here before that I work in college athletics, well one of the baseball coaches I work with is getting married this weekend in Omaha, Nebraska and I am roadtripping to the wedding. Yes, thats right, I am getting up early Thursday, piling in to a car with three friends and hitting the road for a 20-hour trip. I will then spend two wonderful days in Omaha and come back on Sunday. This should be a hilarious adventure.

The best part is they are getting married in Rosenblatt Stadium which is one of the most historic ball parks in all of college baseball which makes me really happy. The College World Series has been played there for the past bazillion years and they are building a new stadium so this is one of the last events that will ever be held there!



So, I will be offline for a few days obviously and I wanted to leave you with this lovely song which I will be singing many, many times on the long drive.

The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante

The Sweetness of Salt by Cecilia Galante

Synopsis:
Julia just graduated as her high school valedictorian, has a full ride to college in the fall and a coveted summer internship clerking for a federal judge. But when her older sister, Sophie, shows up at the graduation determined to reveal some long buried secrets, Julia's carefully constructed plans come to a halt. Instead of the summer she had painstakingly laid out, Julia follows Sophie back to Vermont, where Sophie is opening a bakery - and struggling with some secrets of her own. What follows is a summer of revelations - some heartwarming, some heartbreaking, and all slowly pointing Julia toward a new understanding of both herself and of the sister she never really knew.

Review:
I had been overdosing on the paranormal recently so I jumped at the chance to read The Sweetness of Salt which was wonderfully contemporary. It wasn’t a book I had heard much buzz about but I jumped in and found myself in a wonderful real world with well-rounded characters and a ton of crazy family secrets.

Galante does a great job in this novel of really creating layered, deep characters and showing how complicated family relationships can be. I loved Julia, who has lived an incredibly sheltered life and is naïve and quiet, and really liked being on the journey where she comes out of her shell. And this isn’t a typical girl meets boy and blossoms in to a woman story. Julie goes on a great journey, trying to create a relationship with her older sister while figuring out who she truly is. Of course, there is a boy too, but he really plays a minor role which I liked.

Sophie is an equally complicated character and her emotional, independent personality plays off Julia creating drama and love. Sophie has her own secrets and problems to deal with and what both girls learn is that they need eachother to conquer their fears.

If you are one of the many, many readers who loved Holly Cupala’s Tell Me A Secret then I think you will also enjoy The Sweetness of Salt.

The Sweetness of Salt will be released November 9, 2010.
I reviewed this book as part of Good Golly Miss Holly's (ARC) Tour

White Heat by Brenda Novak *GIVEAWAY*

Hey everyone I am happy to say I am hosting a giveaway for White Heat by Brenda Novak. I have raved about her Last Stand series on my site previously and her new series is just as amazing. My review will go up in a few days but for now you can enter to win your own copy as well as a fun prize pack.

You can win a A White Heat prize pack including:

o Tote bag

o 3D viewer bookmark

o White Heat lip gloss – made especially for the book!

o A copy of White Heat

About the Book:
In Stores NOW

White Heat is the first book in Brenda Novak’s new Department 6 Hired Guns trilogy.

Nate Ferrentino and Rachel Jessop are operatives for Department 6, a private security company, and they’re going undercover to expose a new and dangerous cult.

This group has taken up residence in the Arizona desert, in a ghost town called Paradise. Members worship at the feet—and in the bed--of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff. On his orders, they tried to stone a woman to death. And they’re implicated in the disappearance of a teenage girl.

To expose the Church of the Covenant, with its arcane rituals and debauched practices, Nate and Rachel must pretend to be married. That’s the only way they can get in—but being Nate’s “wife” is the last thing Rachel wants. She and Nate have a one-night history that’s just an embarrassment to her now. But they don’t have a choice. Wycliff has to be stopped.



About Brenda Novak:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has three novels coming out this summer - WHITE HEAT, BODY HEAT & KILLER HEAT. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com. To date, she’s raised over $1,072,000. Brenda considers herself lucky to be a mother of five and married to the love of her life.

WHITE HEAT Book Trailer



Giveaway Info:

Contest will end on Sunday August 22nd at midnight!

The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian addresses.

I will keep the how to enter pretty simple. Just leave a comment with where you are from and let me know if you have read any of Novak’s books! I love to see where in the world my readers are commenting from. Just one entry per person, no extras for tweeting or blogging about it but I would love if you did it anyway!

The giveaway is sponsored by MIRA Books so a big thank you to them!

Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love

Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love
Full of dark seduction and modern romance, this short story collection presents a variety of talented voices sure to satisfy every werewolf, ghost, fallen angel, zombie, and shape-shifter’s dark desires.

Review:
I can’t say I have read a lot of short stories for fun. I read a ton as an English major in college (and I loved so many of them) but I never really thought to read them as part of my pleasure reading. Well I am glad I picked up this anthology as there are some great stories in there from some authors I really like. I have a minor confession, I had never read anything by any of the authors in this book. There are so many great titles out by this collection of writers, many in my TBR pile but every single word in this book was from an author new to me. I will say that I will quickly be playing catch up on many of these authors after loving the short stories. I also think Trisha Telep did a great job collecting phenomenal stories and put them together in a cohesive, enjoyable way.

I don’t want to review each, individual story, and I don’t think you would like if I did that so I will give you my personal highlights.

Favorite overall story: The Assassin’s Apprentice by Michelle Zink. The very first one.

Story that gave me the creeps (in a good way): Behind the Red Door by Caitlin Kittredge. This story gave me goosebumps and yet I couldn’t put it down. Great stuff.

Story I didn’t love: Errant by Diana Peterfreun. I guess unicorns aren’t my thing. But I can say I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t like it as much as the others. The writing is still phenomenal.

Most Suprising Story: The Spy Who Never Grew Up by Sarah Rees Brennan. This story is about Peter Pan, and it is amazing. I really didn’t see that coming.

Funniest Story: Familiar by Michelle Rowen. This was sweet and funny and a perfect way to lighten the mood after some of the really creepy stories.

Story That Makes Me Want To Read Everything Else By The Author: Fearless by Rachel Vincent. It was really original and further reminded me that this is an author I have to investigate!

I reviewed this book as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tour.

If you have read/reviewed please leave your links in the comments as I would love to know what everyone else thought!

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden coming Sept. 7

A terrible secret. A terrible fate.
When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden is coming out Sept. 7 and in case you were wondering her blog is a fantastic place to hang out! I am so excited for this book and what really grabbed my attention is the cover, how freakin gorgeous is that?
Jaden is also going to be part of a super awesome new group, The Contemps, which will be launching a new blog on Aug. 17 and everyone should be on the lookout for that!

Evermore by Alyson Noel (The Immortals #1)

Synopsis:
Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste… Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.


Review:
I had this book sitting on my shelf for over a year and had never read it. As a book I bought and not one for review it often got passed over. Well I decided it was a perfect day for it by the pool last week and I was correct (and mad at myself for waiting so long to start it).

I really enjoyed this book, I like Ever and I think the book is original and a really fast read. Ever is a great main character with quirky, fun friends and a scarred, haunting past. The fact that she regularly hangs out with her dead sister is really just the tip of the paranormal iceberg in this case.

Her relationship with Damen is somehow romantic, mysterious and frustrating all at the same time. The times they are together are amazing and so much fun to read about but his sketchy disappearing acts and lies kind of made me hate him at times. At the end it all made sense, although the drama in between is incredibly, but there were times early on when I wanted to jump in the story and demand answers. I figure a passionate reaction, even if it is partly frustration, is a good thing when reading. I want something that makes me care about the characters.

The plot is really original and I really didn’t see the ending coming, best of all I put down the book and couldn’t wait to get to the library and get The Immortals #2 Blue Moon. This is a promising start to a series that already has three more in the series available: Blue Moon, Shadowland and Dark Flame. I can already tell this angsty thrill ride is going to be an addiction for me.

This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick (ARC) Tours

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick
Synopsis:
Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan. Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone. But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected…. Told in an innovative format combining tweets, emails, and blogs, Tweet Heart is a contemporary romantic comedy that will set your heart atwitter.

Review:
I really liked this book in theory, not so much in actuality. I really liked the idea of a book written in tweets and blog posts and I loved the look the text, each page set up like a real twitter conversation or fun blog design. However, to make a story written in 160 character blurbs the story has to be pretty simple or it would be too hard to follow, as a result I was a little bored by the story and the one-dimensional characters.

The book definitely had some funny moments and Bennett is a hilarious character and very well written but the simplicity of the novel hurt it, in my opinion. I do think Rudnick has a gift for comedy and I would be really interested to see what she does in a more traditional setting. I will definitely keep an eye out for what she does next, as this is her debut novel.

Now let me be clear, I didn’t hate the book or anything, in fact I found myself laughing and enjoying it but at the end I just felt it was a little too simple and predictable.

I reviewed this book as part of Good Golly Miss Holly's (ARC) Tour
This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge and 2010 Debut Authors Challenge

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin: (ARC) Tours

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
Synopsis:
Avery Hood is reeling from the loss of her parents--and the fact that she can't remember what happened to them even though she was there.

She's struggling to adjust to life without them, and to living with her grandmother, when she meets Ben, who isn't like any guy she's ever met before.

It turns out there's a reason why, and Ben's secret may hold the key to Avery finding out what happened to her parents...

But what if that secret changes everything she knows about--and feels for--Ben?

Review:
I am not sure what I was expecting from this book. The title and summary are kind of vague but I really ended up enjoying the story and at a tiny little 256 pages I was wishing for more.

The book is technically paranormal, I mean there is a werewolf involved, but it feels like realistic paranormal. I know that may not make a ton of sense but the way that the forest is treated as a character and takes on this great role in the story feels a little more mystical than paranormal.

I also really loved the relationship between Avery and Ben, there was a greater force pulling them together, part love and part the magic of the forest.

When it is revealed who killed Avery’s parents I was really surprised, I definitely didn’t see that being the final solution. However, there is definitely a bigger picture mystery that leads me to believe that a sequel may be coming.

There is a lot of heart, emotion and mystery packed in to this short book and it is a thrilling ride. I recommend this book if you think you aren’t a fan of the paranormal because this will be a great read that may just change your mind.

The word around the blogosphere is that Ivy Devlin is actually a pen name for Elizabeth Scott and after reading the book it is definitely in her poetic, beautiful style of writing so if it is true I wouldn’t be surprised.

I reviewed this book as part of Good Golly Miss Holly's (ARC) Tour

Eat Pray Love Book Club - The End

Finish Indonesia and discuss general feelings on the book. How did it affect you?
Like I have said before, this book had a profound effect on me. I love how much she learned in this book and how much I learned from her. Her time in Bali is so beautiful, its taking everything she learned in the earlier months and learning how to live differently. And changing how you live is never easy. It also gives me a little hope because she proves true the adage that love finds you when you least expect it.

Will you go see the movie?
Although I am convinced that the movie can never, ever live up to my expectations I am going to see it. I will most likely hate it though.

Will you read Committed which is Gilbert’s follow up to Eat Pray Love?
I have read it and really enjoyed it. It didn’t have the same earth-shattering power as EPL but it is a good, entertaining read and I was glad I read it.

What are some of your favorite quotes from the book?
A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

See, now that's your problem. You're wishin' too much, baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be.

Operation Self-Esteem--Day Fucking One.

Ok, everyone link to your final thoughts below and I hope you all enjoyed the book. Sorry for the delay on this last post but I was on vacation and just couldn’t make myself do work!

Felicia's Thoughts:
Well, the book as a whole didn't affected me at all. To me, it was a combination of boring, interesting, funny, touching and sweet. As for it having an effect on me, nothing that she wrote about made me want to apply it to my life. I just couldn't really connect on her level. I think if I was in a different place in my life, it may have affected me more. I'm pretty happy where I am in life right now. Not a lot of people can say that. I acknowledge my many blessings. I have a wonderful husband, enough money to buy what I want when I want, a few good friends in my circle, a job (though may not be really satisfying right now, I'm thankful that I have it). The only place I'm probably lacking is a deeper spiritual connection. But that is my own journey to take. I'm not unhappy or troubled, so there was nothing for me to take away. I am glad I read it though. I enjoyed this last section the most of the three. I smiled, chuckled and teared up a bit at a couple of places. I loved Felipe! Also loved Wayan and Tutti. I'm just a little bit disappointed though, because even though I (tried) to keep an open mind, I was still expecting something different. I was hoping to get a little more something from it. I'm not sure what, but I didn't get it. But it was still an enjoyable read. After reading the first two sections, I wasn't sure if I would go see the movie, but now after reading it all I think I will. I have no plans to read her follow up. Because even though I enjoyed this book, it did not entice me to read the next one.

Favorite quotes:

Not so much as favorite quotes, but one of my favorite parts of the book. I teared up at this section;

"She fumbled through my my hand like she was trying to untumble the combination on a lock and she found my index finger. Then she wrapped her whole, big hard fist around that finger and gave me this deep, long squeeze. I could feel her love pulsing through her power grip, right up into my arm and all the way down into my guts." pg. 246


Not sure why it touched me but it did. The other part that got to me was where Wayan hugged Big Ketut and Little Ketut after Liz told her she had money for her to buy a house, and they clung to Wayan not letting go. It was a teary moment for me.

I really loved Felipe! I have a weakness/fetish for men who can speak another language. (shh don't tell my hubs. lol)

"And then he leads be back to the bed, saying, in Portuguese, "Vem, gostosta." Come here, my delicious one." pg. 295


I want to thank everyone who hosted me on their blogs. I enjoyed reading everyone's answers to the discussion questions and the comments left on all the blog posts. Thanks again!

TMAS Trailer Launch Party

The lovely Holly Cupala has asked me to be a part of the trailer launch party for Tell Me A Secret, which I raved about in my review. Make sure you get in on the fun as there are lots of great prizes and I can tell you the book is amazing!



Party Prizes!
Here’s what people can win:
TMAS books!
t-shirts!
Fan-made bracelets by Hannah S!
Music that inspired the book!
Sneak Previews!
Bookmarks and Handmade Magnets!
and...
A Tell Me a Secret handmade necklace!

HOW TO WIN?
Share the Trailer Love!

1. Click here to go to YouTube, then click the Share button to send to your Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, or blog! 5 pts each
2. Click here to tell us where you posted and enter to win!

Plus Holly will be featured at readergirlz for the entire month of August, with a live Twitter chat coming up! Hope you enjoy the trailer, and thank you so much for being part of the virtual tour and party!

Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Love You, Hate You, Miss You by Elizabeth Scott Summary:

It's been seventy-five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her. And she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone, and Amy doesn't want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.

No one understands what it's like to know that it's all your fault.

Amy's shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. And as she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets--and that the present deserves a chance.

Review:

I hadn’t read a single book by Elizabeth Scott until just last month and now I am reading through her entire catalog at a rapid pace. So far no two are the same and they are all factastic.

The novel opens with Amy being released from rehab and struggling to deal with the guilt she feels over her the death of her best friend, Julia. She takes the journal she is supposed to be keeping and uses it to write letters to Julia. As she remembers more and more about the final weeks leading up to Julia’s death her emotions change constantly, loving, hating and missing her best friend.

The journal entries are interspersed with the main text and it adds an authentic layer to the text.

Amy’s voice is so honest and sarcastic that she makes a great protagonist, even if she is sometimes unreliable. We see everything through her eyes, through her guilt and her alcohol abuse so sometimes it is hard to know if it is the entire truth or her version but I loved every second of that.

Every character in the book, not just Amy and Julia, are incredibly detailed and well rounded. Amy’s well-meaning but self-indulgent parents and the people Amy connects with (or doesn’t) when she goes back to school are all nuanced and deep and make for a well-rounded world.

The novel is striking, authentic and moving and another great read from Elizabeth Scott.

This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge

Random Real World connections

So the other night on twitter I got in to a random conversation with the lovely Heidi R Kling and Eleni of La Femme Readers about my connection with a certain Real World New Orleans cast member. With a little urging from them (and a little need to fill some blog space this week while I am on vacation) I give you: How I know Ashlee from the Real World.

As I have mentioned before I recently moved to NC and work in college athletics. Well I got started on this particular career path while in college in Boston. I loved my time at Northeastern University and became very close with a lot of the student athletes while I worked in athletics throughout my time as a student. One of them was a women's basketball player: Ashlee!

Ashlee was also a communications major while I was studying journalism so some classes overlapped and we both worked for the student radio station. For a big school we ran in some pretty small circles. Now she is the sane one on this season of the Real World and it is hilarious to see her on television every week.
Me and Ashlee last May and then me and Ashlee with two of NU's men's basketball players Manny and Chris

Here is her profile from MTV Meet Ashlee: "Meet twenty-three year old single girl basketball player Ashlee."

So there is my fun story for the day. Do you know anyone who randomly ended up on reality television?

The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer: 1 ARC Tours

The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer

Synopsis:

Abby Goodwin is sure her sister Maya isn't a murderer. But her parents don't agree. Her friends don't agree. And the cops definitely don't agree. Maya is a drop-out, a stoner, a girl who's obsessed with her tutor, Jefferson Andrews...until he ends up dead. Maya runs away, and leaves Abby following the trail of clues. Each piece of evidence points to Maya, but it also appears that Jefferson had secrets of his own. And enemies. Like his brother, who Abby becomes involved with...until he falls under suspicion.

Is Abby getting closer to finding the true murderer? Or is someone leading her down a twisted false path?

Review:

This book surprised me, in a really good way. I started out thinking the book was a really straight forward mystery that did a great job of showing how the family dynamic changed in the face of incredibly tragedy but there is so much more to it.

Schrefer does something really interesting in this novel, playing with the readers tendency to trust the narrator. I always do, I assume that what I am being told by the narrator is the truth but what happens if the narrator is too close to the story. It added a whole new layer to the book that I didn't see coming and was really happy with.

It is a story about what happens when a family gets wrapped up in a murder investigation, and the family relationships are really well written and explained. In the final third of the novel, Schrefer turns the whole plot on its head and really surprised me in a reader. He also does it in a really subtle way that added even more suspense.

I expected a straight forward murder mystery with some family drama thrown in, which I would have been fine with and enjoyed. What I got was more, and I couldn't put it down. This is a definite read for any mystery lovers out there.

I reviewed this book as part of the 1 ARC Tour.

This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge

If anyone else has reviewed this book leave a link in the comments. I would love to know what you thought.

Crossed Out by Kim Baccellia: Book It Forward ARC Tour

Crossed Out by Kim Baccellia Stephanie Stewart didn't ask for her gift of guiding the deceased to the other side but she's stuck with it. Why can't dead people just follow that br...more

Synopsis:
Stephanie Stewart didn't ask for her gift of guiding the deceased to the other side but she's stuck with it. Why can't dead people just follow that bright light and leave her alone? When Mr. Undead wants to use her special talent for his own evil purposes, her little gift becomes a major liability.

Review:
Every once in a while it happens, I have to write a bad review and let me tell you I never like doing it but here we go. I will do my best to state exactly what I didn't like so that it doesn't seem like I am needlessly bashing a book.

I felt like the book lacked originality, Steph is guiding the dead to the other side which I have been seeing quite a bit of in paranormal YA and of course a bad guy is trying to use her but getting her to fall for him while the good guy is trying to save her and of course is in love with her. Yeah, that pretty much sums up the plot. Well it does when you add in that she is trying to avoid using her gifts and there is a magical teacher that happens to arrive in her life at just the right time.

The story was predictable and I felt it didn't bring anything new or fun to the genre. It lacked the humor of Stacey Jay's You Are So Undead To Me or the drama and intrigue of Evermore by Alyson Noel.

I think if it was the first paranormal YA book I ever picked up I would have liked it, but there is much better out there so this one could easily be skipped. The writing was pretty good though so I won't rule out anything else by this author.

I reviewed this book as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tour.
This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge

In My Mailbox- July 25

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

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting Summary:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.


Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.


Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.


Review:

I have no clue why but I seem to absolutely fall in love with debut authors the last two years and The Body Finder quickly added itself to my favorite books of 2010. The book is incredibly original and the best mix of mystery and love story I have read in a while. It is the perfect combination of edge of your seat thrill ride and heart-melting love story and I couldn’t put it down.

Violet has a gift I can’t even begin to imagine dealing with, she can sense dead bodies and also the imprints left on those who have killed. They appear as colors, smells or sounds and every one is different. To me this is the most original paranormal ability that I have come across, and there is a lot of paranormal out there right now. Her ability lands her smack in the middle of a murder investigation but it is hardly her biggest problem.

She is also in love with her best friend Jay and their relationship is so much fun to read about and Jay might be one of the best book boyfriends ever, while still being realistic. He isn’t perfect but he is awesome and incredibly protective of Violet, which is good because she goes off chasing murderers and that can lead to some sticky situations.

I also really like how much the setting of the book plays in to the plot. Mount Rainier and Lake Tapps and all the other locations become another character in the book and it really adds a lot. Derting’s description of them is amazingly well done.

I don’t often talk about covers but I really love this one. I think it is gorgeous and to me it looks like it could be one of the colors of echoes Violet sees on somebody. I also love that the cover for the sequel, Desires of the Dead has been released and it keeps the same theme. So pretty!

This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge and 2010 Debut Authors Challenge

Best Friend Guest Review: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments: Book One

I picked up this book on the recommendation of a girl I met once, so I really had no idea what her taste of books was like (although we had briefly bonded over our mutual love of the Harry Potter series so I knew that was a good sign) and I had no idea what this series was about.

It turns out it’s about a bunch of my favorite things: unrequited teen love, vampires and supernatural worlds, kick-butt (Erika Lynn interjecting here: this is why she is my best friend, I would have said kick-ass) evil vanquishers, New York City, boys with daddy issues. What’s not to like?

It was a slow burn for me at first getting into the world of Clary, a teenage girl who thinks she leads a normal life in Brooklyn by dragging her side-kick best friend Simon to dance clubs and hanging out at hipster poetry cafés. Everything changes once Clary witnesses a bizarre murder/demon slaying, her mother is kidnapped and a mysterious, arrogant boy named Jace opens her eyes further to the supernatural world around her.

I admit I still feel the story is a bit predictable, and the background of the Shadowhunters is definitely reflective of a number of other fantasy novels, but it is the strength of Cassandra Clare’s characters that keep me reading. As Clary, Jace, Simon and Jace’s adopted brother and sister Alec and Isabelle gallivant across Manhattan to try to discover what’s happened to Clary’s mom, it is the incestuous (in at least one case literally) relationships and teen angst that drive their motivations as much as their Shadowhunter training and demon prejudices. As the pentagonal love situation tries to work itself out, I find I have also become fully invested in the fantasy of this hidden world that exists in the shadows of our reality. And I want to continue following Clary and Jace as they hunt down the mysterious Valentine and uncover more about the secret lives and connection they both never knew they had.

And for the record, I now know that most people seem to be all about Team Jace – but I am for Simon all the way. I guess I’m just a sucker for the nice best friend whose love will probably always be unrequited, but he continues to express it anyway. (If you couldn’t guess I’m also a firm supporter of Team Jacob in that other little known series about vampires or something.)

The quote that solidified me being a fan of this book:

Clary: “All my life I’ve felt like there was something wrong with me. Something missing or damaged. Now I know-”

Magnus (a warlock): “I didn’t damaged you … every teenager in the world feels like that, feels broken or out of place, different somehow, royalty mistakenly born into a family of peasants. The difference in your case is that it’s true. You are different. Maybe not better – but different. And it’s no picnic being different.”

P.S. I read this and City of Ashes virtually back-to-back. In fact I had a little difficulty separating them out, but you definitely will be hearing from me about the second in this series soon. If it’s any indication I immediately put the third book in the series on hold at my library after Erika Lynn (barely) talked me out of spending $25 to get the hardcover at the bookstore. Paperback is out in August, I might still be tempted to buy.

Erika Lynn again, after hearing how much JTR loved this series I went and got the first one from the library, I am about to see what all the fuss is about.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff: Book It Forward ARC Tours

Summary:
Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret – he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants. A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world.

Review:
The Replacement is creepy, and let me tell you I mean that in the most praise-worthy way possible. It isn’t like scary movie, hide under the pillow creepy. No it is creepy in a way that draws you in and makes you part of the town so you can literally feel the rain and sense everything Mackie does. Brenna Yovanoff creates a world that is so creepy and realistic it actually made me uncomfortable at times because the descriptions felt so real. She manages to write beautifully about a very ugly world.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book base on the description, but I really did think it is an incredibly original and imaginative novel. The first thing I loved is that the protagonist is a male, which I find is so rare in YA (see this post for more on that) and he is a complex, well-rounded character and not some simple stereotype.

Another thing I loved is that Yovanoff created a truly original setting in the town of Gentry. I have never read a book with a setting quite like this town and she did such an incredible job of describing it that I could literally feel like I was in the world. She described every scene using all the senses, I could smell the woodsy leaves she constantly talked about and felt damp and soggy from all the rain. She did an incredible job.

Yovanoff also drops the reader right in to the world and it does take about 90 pages to really figure out who everyone is and how they fit in to the town’s very strange dynamics. There were times early on that I was frustrated and confused but it all came together and became a very cohesive narrative.

Mackie’s supporting cast are also incredibly well-developed and realistic characters, I love his sisters Emma who is so loving and compassionate, his best friend Roswell who is steadfast and loyal and Tate who pushes Mackie toward the truth.

With this complex, original novel Yovanoff has set the bar incredibly high for whatever she comes out with next. I’m convinced she is the female version of Tim Burton and he will jump all over the chance to make this in to a movie.

The Replacement will be released on Sept. 21, 2010.
I reviewed this book as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tour.
This book goes toward my Summer Break Reading Challenge and 2010 Debut Authors Challenge

A Good Cause and A Giveaway

Operation "I Heart Joy Like BR80" is in full swing, and this is a cause I love! It's to support an organization called Joy 2 the World, which generates micro-credit loans for the women of Ghana to encourage independence and empowerment. Besides giving loans to women for small business start-ups, they also help build wells for clean water (as opposed to river water), create pre-k schools with hot meals, and awards scholarships to those attending school.

The Misadventure's In Candyland is running a huge contest in support of Joy 2 the World, and the list of prizes is pretty incredible. Go help a good cause!

Eat Pray Love 4 - India

Finish India, where she prays a lot. Richard is a major character in this part of the book. He really is a true friend and is brutally honest. I think everyone has a Richard, maybe write a post about that person in your life as well as any general discussion about this section.

This section has always been two things to me: the part I can relate to the least and the part I admire the most. I couldn't even begin to imagine going to the ashram and sitting in silence. I don't think I have ever had or will ever have the self control for that. However, there is no arguing that it worked for her. It is also the hardest part of the book for me to read because it forces me to think about really uncomfortable things, feelings and emotions that we all try to bury. But it is the dealing of these emotions that make me a better version of myself than I was when I first read the book.

I love Richard, he is my favorite part of this book. Some of his lines are my favorite in the entire thing including "See, now that's your problem. You're wishin' too much, baby. You gotta stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone oughtta be." which have become words I try and live by every single day. I have had a few Richards in my life, people who are unfailingly honest and bring out the best in me. For the purposes of this I will tell that my very best friend in the entire world is Jessica and she is definitely that person more than anyone else and I am very lucky to have her, even if we live thousands of miles apart. She also happens to write guest reviews occasionally that you should check out.

Felicia's Thoughts

I don’t think that I have a friend that brutally honest as ‘Richard from Texas’ was to Liz. I have a couple of people that might come close though. One of those people, my husband, whose real name Richard too, is one person I rely on to tell me the truth. I consider my husband my friend and someone who would be honest with me if I ask him. I don’t know if he would be brutally honest, with me, but honest enough I think. My other friend is a woman I consider my best friend, someone I’ve known since my high school days. I have no doubt that she is someone that would be honest with me about anything I ask her. In my opinion, the reason that ‘Richard from Texas’ could be so brutally honest with Liz is because he really didn’t know her that well. I mean, yes, he knew her, and he understood her (or so it seemed), but they were not friends for a very long time. They met and became friend in just a short matter of months, so I think that is the reason he could be so honest with her, because he only knew of her what he saw and what she told him. There still was a bit of distance in their relationship and because of that he was able to be brutally honest with Liz. I think the closer you are to a person, the less likely you want to hurt them if what you have to tell them might rub them the wrong way. I think we are honest to a certain point with people we have a history with versus those that we don’t.

This is section was the one I was most apprehensive about. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect so I (tried) to continue to keep an open mind. This section was kinda interesting, kinda boring (reminded me of reading a text book at school at some points), and kinda funny (Richard from Texas was funny). But ultimately, I could not connect with Liz in this section. Sure, I understood this was her journey to find God/her spiritual self and I get that. It just felt abstract to me. There was nothing that called to me, nothing that spoke to my inner self that said ‘Ahh… so that’s what she’s talking about’. So, I was left with a feel of, ‘yeah, ok, but what do you want me to do with that information?’. I found her chanting and mediation techniques vaguely interesting. I used to meditate (and do yoga, but it was mainly for exercise, not to connect to the spiritual), but I couldn’t quiet my mind enough to continue with it, so I stopped. I assumed this part is to get you to examine your own spiritual connection. So I did, briefly. I do pray nightly, but it’s mostly for others. I’m still working on my own spiritual connection and I figure it will come in time. Now that we are through this section, I’m almost (almost) eager to see what her ‘Love’ is all about.

Everyone should link up and share what they thought of India.

Summer Break Reading Challenge Activity #9 - Your Book In Pictiures

"A picture is worth a thousand words." We've all heard that quote over the years and now it is time to put it to the test. Here is what you have to do:


1. Think about the book you are reading right now (or one you just finished) and choose key scenes, settings, and characters that would give people a good idea what the story is about.
2. Using the Internet, find pictures to represent those scenes, settings, and characters.
3. Create a blog post using the pictures. Incorporate a little text to help out the reader, but remember, the pictures are the most important aspect of this activity.I chose the Scarlett Wakefield books Kiss Me Kill Me and Kisses and Lies which I just finished and reviewed. The main mystery is that a boy dies while kissing Scarlett and some of the most important clues to his death are an epipen, peanut oil and a designer handbag. The first book is set primarily in London and much of the action in the second book happens in a Scottish castle. Scarlett is a gymnast and it is a very important skill for her and finally the maze is a part of her school, the Wakefield Academy. So there it is, the books in pictures.

See what other images people came up with for the books they are currently reading.