A Letter to the Past

Dear 2010,

We've been through a lot, you and me. We've had our ups and downs, our good times, and our bad. We've both changed a lot in such a short time, and I appreciate all the days you've brought me, the sunny ones filled with warmth and joy and even the rainy ones that allowed me to stay in and read so many wonderful books. But it's over. I'm breaking up with you. I'm ready to let go of our time together and start fresh! A new beginning! That means new releases, new covers, new titles! Ooohhh, I'm gettin' all twitchy just thinking about it! But before I can say hello, I'd like to say goodbye, to some of my favorite books read in 2010.

Ok, here we go.

The first book I must say goodbye to is Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves. The reason is because I loved it so much and I need to do quick, like ripping off a band-aid. This book has one of my favorite characters, Hanna, and I really wish Reeves would find it in her heart to give us a sequel! Farewell, Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead. You kept me on the edge of seat, word after word, page after page! Claudia Gray's Hourglass, you little tease! How dare you leave with such a cliffhanger! Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, I'm so glad we met. You're world is unique, your characters so mysterious, I can't wait to get to know you better!

The Morganville Vampires (1-3) by Rachel Caine, Liar by Justine Larbalestier and Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith were all very pleasant surprises. Hearts and Stake and Blood Feud both of the Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey are two new faves! Love love love! Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantasky was yet another great book. Good love story, good characters. Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth is a book that I wish I had the time to read again. I'm so anxious for the next one!

My Wicked Vampire by Nina Bangs is a paperback that I just could not put down! Every character was a mythical being and each one just as nuts as the last! I believe it is part of a series that I seriously need to find!

And a final goodbye to other great books I read in 2010: 

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor, Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stievfater, Wings by Aprilynne Pike and Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl and I Now Pronouce You Someone Else by Erin McMahan. 

I hate to see all of you go, but a lot of you have some really great sequels following and I look forward to all of them!

It's been real, 2010. Later!

Good news and bad news...then GREAT NEWS!

Hello Everyone! I've missed you so!

I've got goods news and bad news but then I've got something to cheer us all up! The good news is that I finally got my computer back! The new keys are great and it feels nice to be able to just type without having to worry about the missing keys. The bad news is that it appears while someone was handling my computer, they dropped it. The lower right corner is broken and the edges are sharp, I keep scraping my hand and arm on it. Luckily, it is still covered by warranty and they're paying for S&H both ways this time.

Sooo, to distract me from this disappointment, here's the great news. While I was out of the blogosphere, those agonizing two weeks, something amazing happened! The cover of Cassandra Clare's fourth installment in the Mortal Instruments Series, City of Fallen Angels, was revealed...and I am in love!!!!

 

Isn't it gorgeous?! I love Clary's hair, flying wildly around her, it makes her look magical. Like her hair is floating alive with it. I like the hint of runes on  her body, too. Simon looks strong and confident. Ready. For whatever!

There's more! If you've been living under a rock or maybe half-under a rock (like me, who is a little late), City of Bones, the first book of the Mortal Instruments Series is set to come to the big screen! That's right...Jace...big screen. Lily Collins has already been cast to play Clary Fray!

She's definitely channeling Clary with the curly hair! I'm very happy with this choice but even more excited to see who will be picked to play Jace! I don't know what I'm looking for, but I'll know it when I see it! Click here more movie updates on Cassandra Clare's website.

Tuesday Review Day!

Lure 

Written by: Deborah Kerbel

Publication date: September 20, 2010

Released in Paperback

A story based on true accounts of supernatural occurrences at the Thornhill Village Public Library.

Synopsis:

A Victorian garden, a fishing lure, and a ghost named John.

Absolutely nothing is going right for Max Green. His parents have just uprooted their family from Vancouver to the bleak suburbs of Toronto, he has no friends, and everybody at his new high school is ignoring him. To make matters worse, he's in love with an older girl who's completely out of his league.

When Max discovers a local library rumored to be haunted by ghosts, he's immediately drawn to it. With the help of some cryptic messages, he begins to piece together the identity of the teenage ghost and the mysterious chain of events that have connected its spirit to the building for over a century. But just who was John, anyway? Why has he chosen to contact Max? And what does an old fishing lure have to do with solving the mystery?

How I Came To Read This: Contacted on the YA Blogosphere to review and find reviewers.

My Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was instantly intrigued by the mystery and the clues you get in each chapter.  the chapter alternate between the two main characters: Max, 16, new in town and invisible to everyone in school; and John, ghost who haunts the town library and is contacting Max from the other side. The switching of narrators really keep you wanting more!


The story of John is heart-wrenching. Tragic, really. There's no way you could start this book and put it down. Begin it early enough and you could finish in one night. It was spooky enough that I'd jump whenever my cellphone would vibrate while I was reading! Knowing the occurrences of the story were true accounts piques your curiosity even more. I found myself shaking my head and thinking, "What in the world happened to this kid? What is Max going to do? And what is the deal with this girl??"

Who Should Read This: I recommend it for any and all teens and tweens. Great story.

Just Release it Already/Covers Revealed

I am splitting this post between 'Just Release It Already', a meme hosted over at Books with Bite to share what books you just cannot wait for any longer and two covers that have been revealed.

The book I am very anxiously awaiting is this one right here:

Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse #11) by Charlaine Harris is said to be released May 26,2011 and I just cannot possibly wait that long! The cover and the synopsis only make the book more mysterious!

The other cover that has been released is Circle of Fire (Prophecy of the Sisters #3) by Michelle Zink. Now I personally have not read this series, though I do have the first book. But for those of you that are waiting for its release, sit back and relax, you've got a long way to go - August 1, 2011. Sorry guys. But here is the beautiful cover in the meantime.

Giveaway Winner!

Danice of Pawlicious Giveaways

You've won a copy of Lure by Deborah Kerbel!

 

I have already sent you an email for your information. Please respond ASAP!

Away for Repairs

Hello Loves!

For the next week or so, my laptop is being repaired. Over the summer, my it was dropped and keys fell out and I've been typing without the M, K, the number 2 and the comma keys! I can't wait to get it back, good as new and start typing without worrying about missing a key!

In the meantime, I still have my giveaway for a copy of Lure by Deborah Kerbel, so feel free to check that out while I'm away. The contest will run until Dec. 7th.

I'm also working on a whole new layout! Your suggestions, comments and ideas are greatly appreciated!

Another Giveaway! Begins December 1!

This year, I'm really feeling the holiday spirit. The decorations, seeing Santa at the mall, buying presents. However, what I am not looking forward to, is all the snow that's heading our way. If you've got snow coming your way, too, here's a spooky mystery for those cold, snowed-in nights.

Begins Dec. 1 - Dec. 7 at 11:59pm EST

 A Victorian garden, a fishing lure, and a ghost named John.

Absolutely nothing is going right for Max Green. His parents have just uprooted their family from Vancouver to the bleak suburbs of Toronto, he has no friends, and everybody at his new high school is ignoring him. To make matters worse, he's in love with an older girl who's completely out of his league.

When Max discovers a local library rumored to be haunted by ghosts, he's immediately drawn to it. With the help of some cryptic messages, he begins to piece together the identity of the teenage ghost and the mysterious chain of events that have connected its spirit to the building for over a century. But just who was John, anyway? Why has he chosen to contact Max? And what does an old fishing lure have to do with solving the mystery?

Here are the terms: 

1. You must be a follower to qualify but to enter you must leave a comment one of my recent posts...like this one or this one.

2. This giveaway is for 1 copy of Lure by Deborah Kerbel and is open to US Residents Only

3. Extra entry point if you leave a link to your own post about the giveaway

4. Another one if you tweet about it!

Tally up in a comment below!

And the Winner is...

AIK!

You have won a copy of Gemini Night by Bonnie Hill Hearn! Please email me within 24 hours with your mailing address.

Thank you for entering! Enjoy!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING - 100TH POST!

With Thanksgiving and my 100th post falling on the same day, I decided to share with you what I am most thankful for.

I have the most amazing family. We're very close. They're supportive and encouraging, funny and fun to be with.  My aunt and I are both raising two and three year olds who are more like sisters than second cousins!

We like to play games, too! Just the other night we got together to see off a good friend before he move to California. Have you ever played the game Cranium? Really, really fun!! Roll the dice and pick a card! Humdinger? Hum the song named on the card for your teammates to guess! Sensosketch? See if they can guess what it is while you're drawing with your eyes closed. Mold things out of clay and puppeteer your friends and family and do all kinds of things that make you look ridiculous! Needless to say, we had a blast that night and my team won!! Any time we're all together, is a good time.

There is nothing I am most thankful for, every day of the year, than my daughter. She blesses me with unconditional love. The kind of love a parent can have for their child is  so deeply profound to a point that there is no word, that I have ever heard, that can describe it. Watching her grow is amazing! She surprises me everyday with something new, something hilarious, something creative. I am thankful for my daughter for coming into my life. Like a tornado.  And a hurricane. Is that possible? What are those called? I don't know. But I love my girl! I hope all of you are spending this Turkey Day with the ones you love. 

Good luck crazy people who are going Black Friday shopping, at 4 in the morning, wrestling over the last Xbox or vacuum or leather jacket or whatever. I don't know how you do it. I, for one, cannot. Will not.

So on that note...

Tangled Movie Review

4 1/2 stars - Great for the little ones and the little girl in all of us!

Minor spoiler alert - but I'd hate to ruin it for anyone else.

My daughter and I were so excited to see this movie, I knew I wanted to write a review about it. I have to be honest, I missed the first couple of minutes running out to get popcorn for my daughter, who made sure I noticed that everyone else already had theirs!


Rapunzel is taken from her parents, a King and Queen by an evil woman who wishes to use Rapunzel's magical hair to remain forever young and beautiful! To do so,she locks Rapunzel in a tower and raises her as her own. She tells Rapunzel stories of a terrifying world outside the tower to scare into never leaving.

The songs were fun and bouncy though I didn't feel like any of them had any catchy chorus' that would be easy for kids to remember and sing along to.

I thought most of the characters were well developed. Rapunzel was beautiful with big green doe eyes. She was creative and artistic; painting, cooking, playing guitar, etc. Although she was naive to the outside world, as her "mother" wanted her to be, she adapted quickly and improvised well for someone who's never interacted with other people or ever had to do anything unexpected! Even more, she was brave and strong  and feisty with a frying pan! Rapunzel was also responsible for a lot of the funny moments in this movie. After fleeing from her tower, she has hilarious moments of happiness at finally being free and worrying about what her "mother" will say. Flynn Rider, the 'smoldering' cute guy, is also very funny in a drier kind of way. As much as the story revolves around both him and Rapunzel, I think he was more of a supporting character next to her. Rapunzel's "mother" was a great villain. She was definitely a character you loved to hate. One who uses backhanded kindness to be evil.

The other two great characters were Maximus, the palace horse and Pascal, the chameleon. These two were not in the movie enough. Maximus was potentially a great addition and hilarious character in the movie but he honestly did not get enough air time. Same for Pascal. I think children connect to a movie more with a strong animal character or two. From the previews, I was really excited to see Maximus and Pascal and the antics they were going to get into and the hilarious things they would do, and it just did not deliver.

I loved the rich colors of the film right from the start. I did not see this movie in 3D because my daughter is only three and will not wear the glasses. Obviously I cannot say for sure, but I doubt 3D did much to enhance this movie.

Towards the end of the movie, much like every other kids movie, comes that pivotal moment where things look like they're going to take a turn for the worst right before they live happily ever after. Well, at this moment, a little girl in the movie theater started bawling her little eyes out! Between that little girl and the tear-jerking scene playing out in front of me, my eyes were definitely wetter than they were a moment before!

The end of the movie is so heart-warming and sweet it just makes you feel all gushy inside! I'm so happy Disney came out with a new princess and a new movie to love! You have to understand, with my daughter being three, our lives revolve around the Disney princesses and introducing Rapunzel gave us a fresh place to start again!

I think every little girl (or older girl....or grown a** woman) should see this movie. It was just too cute to miss!

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Breaking The Spine to highlight upcoming books that readers are dying to get their hands on!

Here's one I'm really looking forward to...

Blessed (Tantalize #3) by Cynthia Leitich Smith will bring together characters from the first  and second books, Tantalize and Eternal. Quincie, Kieren, Miranda and Zachary. I can't wait to see all of them again. For some I hope for change, for others, I hope they've stayed the same! Either way, things are bound to be interesting!

Better still? A FOURTH installment!! All about ZACHARY!! Just what this series needed - more Zachary!

Graphic Novels are also in the works! Visuals!

Go to Cynthia Leitich Smith's Website for more info on the whole series and some great Qs and As!

Tuesday Review Day!

In the spirit of my pending makeover, Tuesday will be Review Day! I wish I could promise a post every day but I'll be posting as regularly as possible. I've got a few things coming up this week but first...

NIGHTSHADE (Nightshade #1) 

Written by: Andrea Cremer

Publication date: October 19, 2010

Released in Hardcover

5 STARS

Synopsis: Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Review: This book is even more beautiful in real life than it was online! The edges of the pages have that worn effect that makes it appear old and tattered. I love it! There were so many words on one page I actually had to put my reading glasses on for this one!  I love the page breaks between chapters. Each one a different phase of the moon. It just the book even more of a wolf feel.

Straight to the point. We meet Calla Tor already in mid-fight. Sometimes getting a little background story is nice but other times, getting right down to brass tax is just what the doctor ordered to break a reading slump!

The way Andrea Cremer writes is poetic. Beautiful metaphors that really bring the scenes to life. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the characters of the story are more wolf than human. They don't consider themselves humans that turn into wolves, more like wolves that take human form. The world in which these wolves are a part of is so much more intricate than I've read in any other story.

Andrea Cremer created a wide variety of colorful characters. She reveals bits and pieces of them like a slow leak and it just makes you even more curious. You can tell they all have interesting background stories and because you don't get it all, it adds to the mystery of the characters. Like Cosette! What's the deal with this sad little puppy?! I don't think she says two words in the whole book! I'm dying to know more about her!

Poor Calla. Torn between two gorgeous men that are both head over heels for her, would and have risked their lives for her and can barely keep their hands (and lips) off of her. Did I say "Poor Calla"?  I meant Lucky B*tch! 

Renier Laroche, hot alpha wolf. Unlike Calla, this guys been around the block and is rumored to be a great lover. But now that their union draws near, he's into Calla and their pack 100%. This is who Calla was born to be with, this is where she belongs.

Shay Doran, hot mysterious human. He caught her attention immediately and stirred up feelings within her she didn't know she could feel, and all she wants to do is explore them - with him!

Tough decision.

The whole time I'm reading this book, with everything that was happening and all the foreshadowing, there was so much build up, so much suspense, I was all anxious and twitchy! So much action! So many paranormal creatures! I couldn't wait to get to the end! And whoa! Talk about cliffhanger! But that's okay because Wolfsbane (Nighshade #2) will be released July 26, 2010! Take a look at yet another gorgeous cover!

Can they get any better?

Who Should Read This Book: If you love wolf stories, this a book you absolutely cannot miss. Great love story, great action and great suspense! This book is by far at the top of my waiting list!

You can find more info about the Nightshade Novels on Cremer's site andreacremer.com

Tell Me What You Want!

Hello Followers!

Here's the deal. I'm really feeling a blog makeover and I think you guys might be feeling it too. I want your help, your input and your suggestions.

What can I do to make my blog better? More fun? More interesting?

What do you want to see when you come here? More book news? More reviews? Widgets? Anything! Whatever it is, I want to know! Please do not hold back - I need to know what I can do to keep you guys happy! After all, I do it for you!

So please leave a comment with your thoughts.

Thanks!

A Better Monday

We all know how dreadful Mondays are, so I decided to perk mine up with the acceptance of an award!

This award was given to me a while back by Nikki at Nikki's Starbucks Reviews and then again recently by Gabrielle of The Mod Podge Bookshelf.

To accept this award you must:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)

4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

So here are 7 things about me:

1.  My dream career is to be a stunt car driver. 'Cuz I like to drive wild!

2.  It takes me less than 10 minutes to shower but over an hour to do my hair to my satisfaction!

3.  I HATE Pumpkin Pie!

4.  I can't draw to save my life though I wish I could paint a picture - just once!

5. I wish I was a bear so I could hibernate during the winter. I hate the cold.

6. Before I discover young-adult, I read nothing but true crime books. There was one so disturbing, I put it down and never ever picked it back up!

7. The only sport I like to watch is football and the only sport I like to play is volleyball.

I bestow this award upon:

1. i swim for oceans

2. The Reader Room

3. Irresistible Reads

4. Christi the Teen Librarian

5. That Hapa Chick

6. Imagination in Focus

7. The Phantom Paragrapher

8. Things Liz Loves

9. The Paperback Princesses

10. Hooked on Books

11. YA Urban

12. Confessions of a Teen Bookaholic

13. I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read

14. Ashley's Bookshelf

15. That Bookish Girl

Thanks again guys!

In My Mailbox

Hey Guys!

This is my first official In My Mailbox which was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

Just yesterday I received from Dundurn Press Ltd. three titles from Deborah Kerbel!

Girl on the Other Side, Mackenzie, Lost and Found and Lure!

I will be hosting a giveaway of Lure so stay tuned for those dates!

Sooo, what did you get?

Extended Giveaway

I've decided to extend my giveaway of Gemini Night by Bonnie Hill Hearn to give more people a chance to enter. The Giveaway will be running until November 26! Right after the holidays, you've had your fill of turkey and stuffing and Black Friday shopping! I'll take the qualifying entries and pick the winner using random.org. The winner will be announced that evening.

If you'd like to enter, here's what you gotta do: you must
be a follower to qualify (1 point), leave a comment telling me your sign and what your favorite part of being that sign is - please be sure to leave this comment under my giveaway post (1 point), follow me on Twitter @elaineblogs (1 point) and another two bonus points if you comment with a picture of your zodiac tattoo (2 points)!

Ends November 26!

I have to give a shout out to some great blogger friends for helping me spread the word about this giveaway: Ashley's Bookshelf, Surrounded By Words and The Mod Podge Bookshelf who is currently participating in Second Hand Saturday! Check it out!

Thanks guys!

The Greyfriar: Vampire Empire Book 1

Today I received a copy of The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) for review! Isn't it funny how the mere mention of a book, can make it pop-up all over the place? Check out this great review of The Greyfriar written by Melissa at i swim for oceans!

 

Vampire predators run wild in this exciting steampunk adventure, the first in an alternate history trilogy that is already attracting attention. In 1870, monsters rise up and conquer the northern lands, As great cities are swallowed up by carnage and disease, landowners and other elite flee south to escape their blood-thirsty wrath. One hundred fifty years later, the great divide still exists; fangs on one side of the border, worried defenders on the other. This fragile equilibrium is threatened, then crumbles after a single young princess becomes almost hopelessly lost in the hostile territory. At first, she has only one defender: a mysterious Greyfriar who roams freely in dangerous vampire regions.

Release date: November 18, 2010 - Paperback

Better Late Than Never

Here are some books that I either bought myself, received for review or gotten as a gift in the last month...or so.

Torment (Fallen, #2) by Lauren Kate, Leadership by Rudolph Giuliani and The Collected Poems of Sara Teasdale by Sara Teasdale were given to me by a very good friend. He even had the Mayor sign his book for me! Not only that but he searched high and low for the collected poems of my favorite poet...of all time!

Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark was given to my aunt who then gave it to me. It's not my cup of hot chocolate (I don't drink coffee and tea is only good when you're sick) but she knows I never turn down a free book. Ever.

The Star Crossed Series was sent to me for review. Aries Rising, Taurus Eyes and Gemini Night are all the titles in the series so far. I hope Cancer is next - that's me! A copy of Gemini Night is currently up for grabs from my first GIVEAWAY! Ends November 20th!

I picked up Blood Song (Bloodsinger, #1) by Cat Adams and Nightshade (Nightshade, #1) by Andrea Cremer, which you can see I am currently reading now and is really good so far...I just started.

Shadow Riders by B.J. Bayle and Wild Spirits by Rosa Jordan were sent to me for review and to find reviewers for it. They are still available for review if you are interested. I would have to confirm their shipping limits but please email me at bloggerful_1@yahoo.com if you are interested.

GIVEAWAY!!!

Okay. I've been sitting on this giveaway for a little while now. It's the first giveaway I'm hosting so I hope you like it! This giveaway will run from November 12th to November 20th.

Do you love astrology? If so, this is the series for you! Here's your chance to win a free copy of the third book in the Star Crossed Series by Bonnie Hearn Hill:

  GEMINI NIGHT

STAR CROSSED: GEMINI NIGHT finds Logan McRae home from Writers Camp with a new mentor, a new boyfriend, a possible internship with the brand-new and highly anticipated CRUSH magazine, and an even stronger belief in the authority of astrology. As usual, trouble catches up with Logan fast. With the help of her two best friends, Paige and Chili, Logan hopes to get a handle on everything before disaster strikes. Weighed down by a troubled heart and nasty rumors at school, it won’t be easy, but Logan’s has the stars on her side.

Here are all 3 titles in the Star Crossed Series: Aries Rising, Taurus Eyes and Gemini Night.

Here's what you have to do. You get one entry point for being a follower of my blog. You must leave a comment for another entry point  telling me what your zodiac sign is and what you love about being that sign. Another entry point if you follow me on Twitter @elaineblogs.

If you have a tattoo of your sign, and you send me a picture of it (bloggerful_1@yahoo.com), I will give you an additional two (2) entry points.

So, let's add this up:

Follower: 1 point

Comment: 1 point

Follow on Twitter: 1 point

Picture of zodiac sign tattoo: 2 points

THIS GIVEAWAY IS FOR US RESIDENTS ONLY - sorry international followers :(

In the spirit of this giveaway, here is a picture of my zodiac sign tattoo and what I love about being a CANCER!!!

This was my very first tattoo (I have 4) I got when I was 17. It is located at the top of my back - which, I can't tell you how hard it was to get a picture of by myself! I love being a cancerian because we are ruled by our emotions. We feel everything deeply, good or bad and everything in between! Just like the crab, we are hard on the outside but soft, squishy and delicious with butter on the inside! The very best part is sharing my sun sign and exact birthday with my best friend!

DON'T FORGET - GIVEAWAY ENDS NOVEMBER 20TH!!

Thirst No. 3 Review

THIRST NO. 3, The Eternal Dawn

Written by: Christopher Pike

Publication date: October 5, 2010

Released in Paperback

5 stars

Synopsis:  Alisa has spent the past five thousand years as a vampire, living alone and fighting for survival. In her loneliness, Alisa cannot resist bringing Teri—a descendant of her human family—into her life. But Alisa is surrounded by death and destruction, and just by knowing Alisa, Teri’s life is at risk.

Alisa’s guilt grows when she becomes involved in a dangerous conspiracy. A top-secret group knows Alisa’s secret and will stop at nothing to use her powers for their cause. As Alisa desperately tries to protect herself and Teri from the unknown enemy, she discovers a force more powerful and more lethal than anything she has ever seen. Alisa doesn’t know who to trust, who to challenge, or who she will become….

My Review: First, let me just say how thrilled I am that Christopher Pike gave us a third book in this series! Thirst No. 2 had an actual ending so it surprised me to get another one! You can find my reviews of the first two books here!!

What I love about this series is that you're never bored! It's almost like every sentence is incomplete until you read the next sentence, and the next one and the next one and so on. Christopher Pike does not waste words. Each sentence tells you something important or leads you to the next sentence. It's hard to take a break while reading this book because you're always anxious to read the next thing.

Alisa is a 5,000 year old vampire; the girl is ancient! Try to imagine the mentality of a person who lived that long ago. The only things that would have mattered at that time, would be her family and her beliefs. Before her vampiric transformation, Alisa was likely a very simple, spiritual person and probably very primitive. These traits often surface in her present day life when necessary. I find that Alisa, even in her old age, can be ruthless yet vulnerable and the most superior being you've ever seen yet naive. In other words, she's managed to hold on to her humanity.

In this story, Alisa gets caught up in a huge conspiracy that involves beings she's never encountered before. She's always had faith in her powers and abilities but this situation causes her to doubt she'll be able to make it out alive! She never gives up. She never backs down. She knows one day her actions will get her killed but she's willing to take that risk when she discovers she has a living descendant, Teri. Alisa knows that the reason she needs to protect Teri is because she got her involved in the first place. Alisa is looking to settle down, so to speak. She wants to create a family and live happily and peacefully. But there is always some kind of evil breathing down her neck. But Alisa is a one-woman army and she diffuses threats with such style, creativity and finesse. She gets herself into such tight spots, I'm sitting there wondering "How is she going to get out of this one? There's no way!" There is such a twist at the end of this book, you never see it coming!

You can't go wrong with this series, it's got everything! Action, thrills and dry humor (which happens to be my favorite kind of humor). Some new characters are introduced and it all makes for a very exciting page turner!

Who Should Read This: Who doesn't like an action-packed story about a butt-kicking vampire?

Keep your eyes peeled for THIRST NO. 4, Summer 2011!!

I DO..SORTA..KINDA..WAIT..MAYBE..I DON'T KNOW

SURPRISE!

You may have been expecting my next review to be on Echoes by Melinda Metz - and I swear it will be coming...soon - but instead it will be this amazing book, I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan, whom, by the way, will be stopping by OCTOBER 12th for a guest post while on her blog tour! Don't miss it! OCTOBER 12th!!!!!

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU SOMEONE ELSE

Written by: Erin McCahan
Publication date: June 1, 2010
Released in Hardcover and ebook

            5 STARS

HOW I CAME TO READ THIS: Through the YA Blogosphere.

Synopsis:  Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.

When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birthday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.  

Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.

MY REVIEW:  I have been advised to be honest in my reviews. I really didn't expect to like this book. I thought it was going to be some kind of hopeless romantic story about a girl who wished to the stars every night...blah blah blah, or something like that. I don't know. But this book, this story really surprised and impressed me. The meaning of this story is touching, so profound, it literally, I mean it, literally brought tears to my eyes! I do NOT find many books that can do that to me!

When I found out the date that Erin McCahan would be stopping by on her blog tour, I said "Ok, this is gonna have to be my next book." I was already reading something else. But that night, very late, I picked it up and next thing I knew it was...chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6 and it was 2am!

So Bronwen Oliver is a girl who is so unhappy with her family that she is pretty much convinced she was switched at birth. One of those situations where you are completely unhappy with a part of your life that could never be changed. Maybe some of you are familiar with that. I was. When I was very young. You learn to love yourself and I think that is what this book is about: Self-Acceptance along with Self-Discovery.

I loved watching (yes I said watching but you all know I mean reading) Bronwen and Jared fall in love. Not leaving out any of the lovely little things, like the anticipation building up to their first kiss, late-night phone calls, holding hands and stealing kisses. They get to know each other, which, I can not stress enough how important that one is! Love is built on knowing that person inside and out and still loving them! I digress. What Bronwen and Jared were building was real.

The conversations and the dialogue in this book is just so...I mean, McCahan had to have heard someone say it and then wrote it down! It's just so raw. It made the characters feel like real people. Sometimes you read a book and you love it. You love the characters, the overall story and everything else, but you're still aware of the fiction, the fantasy of the story. You're like, "That was good. Totally unrealistic. But good."  Someone Else was more like "Man, that was really good." And then you just sit there and let it soak in. Wow.

It wasn't just a book about self, but also of other. Bronwen was very naive to a lot of things. When she realized she didn't know every little thing about Jared, the man she was to marry, like the fact that he snored and sometimes it was horribly loud, she reacted as though it was the worst thing to happen to her relationship! If that's the worst thing in your relationship - stop and count your blessings!

Towards the end of the book, Bronwen has a breakthrough with her stepfather, Whitt. Had I been alone at the time I read this part, I would have sobbed for a minute or two, but I knew my almost 3-yr-old would not have understood why mommy just burst into tears! Only a few got away. I Now Pronounce You Someone Else had THE sweetest ending I've EVER read!

My absolute favorite part of this book? The fact that Bronwen is a picky eater! I'm a picky eater and I never see that in books. Bronwen despises ketchup - everything about it. Those are my exact feelings on tomato sauce!

A girl finding her identity. Learning not to define herself by whom she's with or by anyone elses standards. I strongly related to this story at this very point in my life. No, I'm not 18, on the verge of marrying someone while trying to find myself. No. But I am ready to redefine myself and be happy. The real kind of happy, none of that content-to-settle crap.

Gee, I hate to end my review with the word "crap", but, well, there it is.

WHO SHOULD READ THIS: The question is, Who shouldn't read this? I never liked the phrase/term "coming-of-age", but that's what this was and it worked out really great!

* DON'T FORGET *

GUEST BLOG - OCTOBER 12 - ERIN MCCAHAN