Top Ten Tuesday: Book Club Picks

Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

In no particular order.

1. Gone by Michael Grant

I didn't even finish this book, but I think it appeals to many different demographics and provides many things to discuss amongst a group.

2. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

This book deals with a lot of issues in a very stunning way. Plus, it's an amazing book that everyone should read.

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Do I even need to elaborate?

4. Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble

This book is so fabulous and it goes where few books dare to go. It'll bring most people out of their comfort zones and most likely alter the way they think about certain issues.

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

This book is original and entertaining an appeals to guys and girls alike. It's also a very unique retelling which is good for discussion.

6. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

This novel is written in a unique form. It is fast-paced and oozing with romance and action.

7. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This is written so beautifully. Lauren Oliver is so incredibly talented at painting pictures and pulling emotions and everyone deserves to read this gorgeous book.

8. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

This book is oozing with a rich gothic setting, a 3D world and history, entertaining characters, and unique paranormal aspects. And it's told from a guys perspective!

9. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman

This book is touching and moving and all together stunning. It'll make you think and hurt and appreciate what you have.

10. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Again, must I elaborate? Swoon-worthy guys, wonderful prose, heart-racing action. It's great!

Those are my selections. What are yours? Leave me some links!

In My Mailbox (16)

I know, I know. I have been such an AWFUL blogger latetely. Bt if it makes you feel any better, I haven't really done much reading or writing lately either. Just lots of crap going down in my life, and I've got bigger priorities than blogging, as much as I sometimes wish otherwise. So, without further ado, I present to you the fabulous books I have received the past 2 weeks. Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page.

Soul Screamers Volume One by Rachel Vincent

Holy balls, I am beyond siked for this. I have been wanting to read this series for forever and ever and ever. I feel like everyone and their friggin dog has read this series and I am so happy to have the first two and a half bound into one gorgeous volume!

Don't Let Me Go by J.H. Trumble

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGGGGG. This book is amazeballs. I'm so in love with it. I borrowed the ARC from Brent Taylor at Naughty Book Kitties, and I fell so hard for it that I bought the final copy, and OMG I CANNOT STOP STROKING IT AND STARING AT IT AND LOVING IT. You can read my review for this fabulous work of art here.

The Iron King by Julia Kagawa

Once again, everyone has read this book. And adored it. And I haven't. I borrowed this from my English teacher, which is super awesomesauce because I have never had an English teacher who loves YA. She loaned this to me because it is her favorite book. I've already started it and it's really good.

Starters by Lissa Price

Hollyweird by Terri Clark

Ferocity Summer by Alissa Grosso

Croak by Gina Damico

YAYAYAYAYAYAY! This book looks absolutely fabulous and I have wanted to read it since the very second I heard about it.

Book Review: The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

Series: Incarnation #1
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format: ebook
Pages: 256
Source: PulseIt website

After spending six hundred years on Earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world's riches but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to take the bodies of other humans from jumping from one vessel to the next, ending the human's life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she's done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

Then sixteen-year old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body while trying to save her. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she's inhabiting--and falling in love with the boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she's his again, and every moment she stays, she's putting herself and the people she's grown to care about in danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that's eluded her for centuries: true love? (goodreads.com)

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I'd heard amazing things about this book before starting it, and I've really been into incarnation and reincarnation lately. So as you can imagine I was really excited to start this book, though I still didn't really know what it was about. I can't say that I am head over heels for it.

It starts with a prologue. Something you may or may not know about me is that I very rarely like a prologue. And the one in this novel especially didn't work for me. It felt very rushed and unbelievable. I was extremely hesitant to continue on after that, but of course I did. I found that parts of the book had the same rushed feeling, but it wasn't too bad to the point where I wanted to give up again.

The plot was interesting, though I always struggle with the "pretending to be a person you're not" storyline. I mean, how does the family and friends not realize that  a person has COMPLETELY changed. Sera enters the body of a teenage girl -- something she hasn't been for centuries. This teenage girl was an artist and she had friends and loved ones. She had a complete history that Sera didn't know, and yet she managed to pass as this girl without raising many questions. Uh hello? Am I the only one who just doesn't believe that? But I did really like how Cyrus was after her. There was a definite tension throughout the novel that couldn't be ignored.

Sera was an okay character. She got kind of annoying at times and I really just wanted to smack her. In the beginning she kept going on about how she needs to die. I understand why she believed that and why she kept thinking it, but I don't want to hear about it over and over. It sounded so....emo. And then she was too weak to stick to a decision. She kept saying that she was going to run away, because it was the right thing to do. Then she wouldn't run away, and she would rationalize that STAYING was the right thing to do.

Th romance was all right. It wasn't the heart-thumping kind, but it was still really sweet to read and I was rooting for Sera and her love the entire time. The writing was gorgeous and I love the way that the author incorporated alchemy into the story, though I would like to see a little more of that in the next book. The ending was fabulous, though! It made me eager for the next book and broke my heart.

All in all, this was a book that many people will enjoy, though it didn't particularly rock my socks. I you're looking for a super quick read packed with great tension and an awesome premise, I'd say you should pick up The Alchemy of Forever.

Book Review: The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

Series: Standalone
Genre: YA contemporary
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Walker & Compnay
Format: eARC
Pages: 397
Source: NetGalley

Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive? (Goodreads.com)

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Upon hearing the premise for The International Kissing Club, I was extremely intrigued. A book focused on kissing? Yes, please! As far as contemps go, I thought it had a pretty unique little twist to it and I was really happy to get the opportunity to read it. However, the novel didn't contain that certain spark that I wanted it to.

The story begins with a prologue from Piper's perspective. I'm not a fan of prologues, so I probably would have liked it a lot more if it was just chapter one, but the prologue did help me easily sympathize with Piper. I mean, being humiliated in front of the entire town by having to kiss a pig? Not a particularly ideal situation. The prologue also helped readers grasp just how far Germaine, Evil Popular Girl, is willing to take her and Piper's feud. Maybe it's because of the prologue that I felt for Piper the most, and that out of all four girls, I was rooting the hardest for her.

As for the other girls...I liked them, but I didn't really connect with them to a full extent. Each one of them was strong, independent, and good for some laughs. But like I said above, Piper was my favorite of the girls. Out of the boys, Lucas, Cassidy's love interest, was definitely my favorite, because he was the only one where I saw how great he was, rather than being told. Well, that's not true. It was obvious how great a guy Guiran, Mei's love interest, was, but he fell a little flat to me. Piper and Izzy both went on and on about how sweet and hott their guys were, but I couldn't really see it or feel it.

The way the perspective alternated between Piper, Cassidy, Izzy, and Mei wasn't particularly annoying or bothersome, because it was all very necessary, but it definitely made it difficult for me to fall for all of the characters and connect to them. In the beginning I also kept getting their background stories confused and I'd have problems following along with who is saying and doing what, but once I learned about the girls it was a lot easier.

I didn't like the way this novel ended. I know that some authors like to keep the ending open in order for the readers to make inferences about what happens, and that's fine. I didn't want an epilogue twenty years in the future, but I felt the ending of The International Kissing Club was unsatisfying. None of the major conflicts were really resolved. And I also didn't expect everybody to live la-dee-da-da happily ever after perfect lives, but it's like by the end, the girls were in the same position they started - only worse because they're friendship is being tested and some of their hearts have been broken.

Aside from those things, though, I did enjoy the novel. It was really cute and great for a good laugh! The writing was clear and sweet and snarky and I absolutely adored reading the posts on the IKC facebook page between chapters! The dialogue between the girls is hilarious because they don't take any crap from each other.

My favorite part of this story, though, was the power of friendship. Every girl craves the kind of friendship that these girls have, and some have even found it themselves. It's the kind of thing that makes my heart happy, as lame as that sounds.

In My Mailbox (15) - Stolen Books Edition

STOLEN BOOKS EDITION

Let me begin by telling you a little story. Me and my dad live in a mother-in-law suite which is like a mini apartment below a house. That means we share a mailbox with the people who own the house. Well, I just started babysitting after school so instead of checking the mail before them right after I get off of the bus, I've been riding the bus to my cousins' house and by the time I get home, the mail is already checked by them. Well, I knew there were quite a few books I was supposed to get this week and I kept getting frustrated when they WOULDN'T GET HERE. I was also supposed to get a package from my siblings as a Christmas present. And that hadn't come either. Well, I figured out the people that own the house have been taking my mail and returning it to the sender due to the "wrong address." We're moving tomorrow, but I am SO MAD. Sosososo mad. Not only for me, but for the people who have had to pay to send books to me only to have them sent back. I'd feel horrible asking them to send them to my new address because it is EXPENSIVE to send books. And I had so many that I was looking forward to! Anyway, I obviously don't have any physical books this week, but the NetGalley books I got I am superlyduperly excited for :) Clicking the titles will take you to the book's Goodreads page.

Partials by Dan Wells

OMGOMGOMG I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS. Everything about this book looks and sounds amazing! I died when I saw it on NetGalley.

Jersey Angel by Beth Ann Bauman

This sounds like a really good contemp :)

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman

This book sounds sooooo good, and I loveloveloved Robin's Frozen. Her writing is just fabulous and I am really excited to read this. I actually got denied the first time I requested it, but then, having absolutely no shame, I requested again and got approved.

Book Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Series: Newsoul #1
Genre: YA Fantasy Sci-Fi
Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: ARC
Pages: 384
Source: Gifted by another blogger

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.  (goodreads.com)

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Take a second to gaze admiringly at that cover. I've been in love with that cover since the very first time I saw it. A stunning cover to accompany a stunning novel!

In the beginning, I was slightly confused. There was a lot of worldbuilding that I didn't understand. But obviously since it was only, like, the first 10 pages I knew things would be explained. And then BAM! The awesomesauce kicked in. We begin to see what Ana is really like: tough, intelligent, a tad prickly, bitter. Right off the bat it is easy to sympathize with her - if not exactly love her - because of her horrible circumstances. I very easily related to Ana, and I think others will, too. She has the unwavering need to discover who she really is and where she came from. She needs to get away from her horrible mother who has abused her emotionally and physically for years. She wants to find someone that loves her and cares for her, even though she believes that it is impossible. I felt for this girl sooo much. Her evil mother has damaged her so harcore, calling her a nosoul and claiming that Ana is incapable of loving anything or anyone. Some people may get annoyed because she's really defensive, but can you blame her? She's been nothing but beat down her entire life! I really ended up liking Ana and rooting for her.

Then Sam came along. And OMG SAM. For me, it kind of felt like instalove, but then I realized it wasn't. Sam only saves Ana from a big, scary sylph because he thinks it is someone he knows. (Though, I'm pretty sure he would have done it if it was his mortal enemy, because that's just the kind of guy he is.) He then notices her combination of fear and determination and decides to help her. He's a seriously great guy, not like the normal brooding bad boy, though he does have some weird moments. But really, he's sweet and smart and a MUSICIAN. Drool-worthy, certainly.

The plot and premise and world created in Incarnate are all so original that I seriously just want to, like, jump for joy. Add to that the sylph and the dragons and ZOMG HOW AMAZING. I didn't really know what a sylph was before starting this book because I had never read a novel where they played such a prominent role, but quite frankly, they are CREEPY CREATURES. They're just floating shadow creatures that have a searing touch and are nearly unstoppable. And Ana has been attacked by them multiple times. You go girl!

And I can't overlook the most fabulous thing of all: the writing. Jodi Meadows wowed me. She sucked me into her world and allowed me to see through Ana's eyes. I could feel my heart racing along with Ana's. I understood her decisions, even if I didn't always agree. AND THE ENDING. :OOOO Let's just say we discover some really important things. But what I love most is that there is no stupid cliffhanger that simultaneously annoys and intrigues you. Meadows leaves us with a satisfactory ending that will allow us to breathe easily while waiting for the next installment.

All in all, you need to read this book. Whether you're a fan of fantasy, dystopia, sci-fi, or any other genre in the world. You need to read this. Jodi Meadows is sweeping into debut authorhood with a resounding BANG.

Blog Tour: Wandering Stars by Marlon Pierre-Antoine (Guest post + Giveaway)

Today, I have Marlon Pierre-Antoine on the blog to promote her book, Wandering Stars. Take it away, Marlon!

5 Things I'd Like to do Before I Die

The reader should be cautioned that this list loses its credibility with breathtaking speed.

1. Learn multiple languages. I have a culural connection to Haitian Creole, and I really like Spanish, French and even – gasp – Esperanto.

2. Visit Mexico, Cuba and South Africa. And Russia. And France. Spain, too, and Brazil would be nice – okay, I'm going to change this one to visit every country.

3. Ensure that the Wandering Stars series becomes part of the mandatory literature curriculum in all high schools. Students should write essays on which character they adore the most and the profound symbolism behind the color I chose for Indigo's fur. (Hint: There isn't any symbolism there whatsoever.)

4. Live forever.

5. Finish this list.

Wow, Marlon. You're aspirations are certainly...aspirational! :D But thanks so much for stopping by! Now, awesome readers, how would you like to know something about this book!?

Alice Valdez is a normal seventeen year old girl living a mundane post high school life that consists of work, sleep, hanging out, and more work - but it all changes when a chance encounter on the beach one night leads to a series of haunting dreams that bring her face to face with the most ancient evil the Universe has ever known.


What do you do when the man you care for is none other than the Devil himself? Wandering Stars follows one girl's journey into the arms of darkness and into Hell itself - all in the name of love. (Goodreads.com)

And for one lucky winner I have an ecopy of Wandering Stars up for grabs!! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and leave a way to contact you (email address, twitter, etc...). Giveaway ends 01/18/12.