Siren by Tricia Rayburn

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day. Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.

Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear. Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.

As the story is mysterious and secretive, Siren did take me a while to get into. It started slowly so I had to read a few chapters before Rayburn's story began to cast its hypnotic spell on me; but like the persisent waves of a shoreline, it kept drawing my attention until I became fully immersed in the story. Vanessa's voice is a quiet one, afraid of what she might face but still brave enough to leave her comfort zone to seek answers. Her love for her sister is strong and through her grief, Vanessa shows the reader the memories she has of Justine and these vivid flashbacks lend Justine a strong presence throughout the novel despite the fact that Justine is no longer alive. This intense devotion and sisterly love is what drives Vanessa to seek the truth as to what happened the night her sister died.

Vanessa then comes across the older of the two brothers, Simon, and together they try to find out where Caleb has disappeared to and what his connection is to the string of men floating up dead to shore. Vanessa and Simon's relationship gradually turns into a romantic one but it doesn't override the mystery in this novel; the romance keeps its distance as a subplot and for this book I was fine with it. Simon was very restrained emotionally so I wasn't quite able to connect to his character the way I did with his brother later on in the story. I found Caleb to be much more appealing and through Vanessa's flashbacks the reader sees how open and happy he was with Justine. The Caleb from the past and present are vastly different but the change in his demeanor is tangible. His grief for Justine felt just as authentic as Vanessa's. Simon, in contrast, is harder to crack and I felt that barrier. He is however a good match for Vanessa and I did enjoy their intense moments together. The plot does move slowly since Rayburn introduces many intricate details but I took great pleasure with the languid pace, enjoying the author's detailed passages and well-placed revelations. I also have to mention Vanessa's interaction with another character: her friendship with Paige, before things turned to a more threatening tone, were light-hearted and fun, almost reminiscent of a Sarah Dessen-type friendship.

Crackling with intensity and power, Tricia Rayburn's YA debut puts a menacing new spin on the world of sirens. Siren gives readers a glimpse of what happens when the supernatural clashes with reality and the threatening consequences. Siren will shake you and leave you wanting more.

Rating: 4.0

Captivate by Carrie Jones

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release Date: January 5, 2010
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English

Synopsis: Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

If you haven't read Need, then this review contains a few spoilers. I suggest not reading if you HAVEN'T read the first book in the series. Are you listening to me? Okay fine, you've been warned!!!

Zara and her friends know that their solution to the pixie problem won't last forever--although they were able to stop Zara's father (who's also the pixie king), his absence causes a revolt and other pixies try to take his throne away from him. One pixie in particular is Astley, who swears that he isn't out to get Zara and instead would like to rule alongside her. Zara feels that Astley is sincere but Nick and their friends disagree; Zara's in a tough spot as she tries to figure out a way to fix the new obstacle that arises and also tries to fight her destiny to become the next pixie queen.

Captivate picks up the thread that its predecessor, Need, left behind: the pixie attacks that Zara and her friends suffered through have temporarily stopped but although they surpressed the pixies, they're worried about how to control them; Zara's father was able to keep them in check but since his capture (orchestrated by his own daughter, no less), his powers have weakened considerably and the pixies are getting angrier with each passing day. Need introduced the problems that Zara would have within the series but in this sequel, Zara is finally confronted with them and these tricky situations test her character and strength. It also challenges Zara's relationship with Nick, her cute were boyfriend whose hatred of pixies makes things a little bit rocky between them. Astley ended up being a major player by the middle of the story and even though he's just been introduced into the story, I already liked him. He seemed to understand Zara and definetely had a huge role in her character's growth. The story was much more action-packed than the first novel and two major events happened that made my jaw unhinge and fall to the floor. I did not foresee ANY of the events that went down in Captivate. It was insane. I need the next installment right now! Seriously. If you've read Need, then you definetely want to read Captivate. You will be shocked at the sharp, unexpected turn that the story takes and you have to know what unfolds next. Zara's fate runs a much darker path in this installment.

Rating: 4.5

Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Graphia
Release Date: April 5, 2010
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English

Synopsis:  You’d think Polly Martin would have all the answers when it comes to love—after all, her grandmother is the famous syndicated advice columnist Miss Swoon. But after a junior year full of dating disasters, Polly has sworn off boys. This summer, she’s going to focus on herself for once. So Polly is happy when she finds out Grandma is moving in—think of all the great advice she’ll get.

But Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy sexagenarian! How can Polly stop herself from falling for Xander Cooper, the suddenly-hot skateboarder who keeps showing up while she’s working at Wild Waves water park, when Grandma is picking up guys at the bookstore and flirting with the dishwasher repairman? No advice column can prepare Polly for what happens when she goes on a group camping trip with three too many ex-boyfriends and the tempting Xander. Polly is forced to face her feelings and figure out if she can be in love—and still be herself.

Polly Martin is the queen of disastrous relationships--she's crashed and burned so many times that she's decided to take a break from dating and focus on herself. This would be easy to accomplish if she weren't constantly surrounded by her ex-boyfriends; throw Xander Cooper into the equation and Polly's head (and heart) are spinning! With his good looks and the mysterious ways, Polly's not too sure if she's safe from falling back into her old ways... but she's determined not to change herself for guys and won't, even if Xander Cooper makes her heart skip a beat.

Polly's narration had me laughing and smirking the entire time I was reading this book-her sarcastic wit, matched with a great sense of humor, easily made her an enjoyable protagonist and helped move the story along at an easy pace.  There were a lot of funny moments that happened at Polly's work place, Wild Waves, a western-themed water park where she had to deal with bratty kids, her co-worker Sonnet (an obsessive blogger with a penchant for tracking Polly's love life) and her latest ex-boyfriend, Sawyer. Polly's boy issues was the main focus of the novel and the reader doesn't get the answer to why Polly acts the way she does (joking around and never being serious) until the middle of the book. But I didn't mind waiting because Xander's character made the plot much more interesting. Xander, a skateboarder who writes poetry and makes multi-colored paper cranes for Polly whenever she was feeling down. Did I forget to mention he also willingly babysits his niece and nephew and looks great shirtless? ;)

Okay, so you didn't need to know that. (but really, he was awesome.)  He had a lot of wonderful qualities and his care-free personality meshed really well with Polly's sarcastic one. Xander opened Polly's tightly closed heart up and that's what made their relationship so touching. By the end of the book, Polly realized what her shortcomings were and fully resolved to improve them. Swoon At Your Own Risk was an endearing novel with an ending that will make you smile on the inside with how sweet it is.

Rating: 4.5

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English

Synopsis:  I’d love a cup of coffee. I wish she knew how pretty she was. I wish I could drop this kid in the dryer sometimes. I just want her to be happy. I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin…

Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

Joy comes from a family line where all the women have the ability to hear Whispers. She uses her gift as a way to please everyone and fit in while hiding the fact that she's not a regular teenager. But her older sister Jessica--nicknamed Icka for her dark and meaner personality--views their gift as a curse. Her sister's moodiness causes Joy to distance herself from Icka and ignore her ominous warnings when Joy begins to temporarily lose her powers and have terrible headaches. Then Icka disappears under mysterious cirmunstances and it's up to Joy to find out what's making her older sister plummet into darkness.

The pace of the novel was a little slow but it helped to introduce Joy's friends (all of which I immediately disliked) and her family. Joy's character was simple enough to understand in the beginning; since she could hear other people's thoughts she would do her best to cater to everyone's needs and sometimes put her own feelings aside. But for someone who had the ability to read minds, Joy was unbelievably naive. It took her a while to realize that the people she surrounded herself with were not the greatest company and that Icka may have had good reason to be so pessimistic about people in general. But once it's obvious that Icka's in trouble, Joy no longer worries about everyone else and becomes a more mature, tougher (and therefore more appealing) main character because of it.  This transformation in character also picks up the pace of the novel and that's when the action began. Afterwards I couldn't turn the pages faster to see what would happen next! There was also a little bit of romance thrown in and Jamie, the boy who helped our main character, was an intriguing addition to the story. He also had a special ability to "read" people and their blossoming romance was sweet, if not slightly rushed. Jamie's special power was skimmed over though and I'm hoping that it will be touched upon more if there's a sequel. I also loved that Joy's family was present throughout the entire story and that her and Icka's abilities was a subject that the family actually discussed. I haven't come across many YA novels with a paranormal twist where the entire family unit is present (and alive) so this was undoubtedly a refreshing quality to the story. I applaud the author for not killing any family members and creating a story where the family was a huge part of the story.

Rating: 4.0

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: April 1, 2010
Language: English
Source: Around The World Tours

Synopsis: Keep Your Head Down. Don't Get Noticed. Or Else. I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

Living as a scrub within the lower levels of Inside means having a very restricted lifestyle.  Jobs are chosen for you, regardless of whether you like it or not, and schedules are set for everyone to comply with; freedom is a distant memory for most scrubs. Chosen to clean the pipes and shafts of the lower levels because of her small size, Trella is used her monotonous life and chooses to spend most of her time alone, away from everyone else. Her anti-social behavior give her fellow scrubs the idea of dubbing her the Queen of the Pipes---a nickname that undoubtedly suits her... and gets her into trouble when a "prophet" from the upper levels challenges her to find Gateway, a supposed way out of Inside. This unwanted invitation to seek out the truth leads Trella to uncovering a secret plot that could change everything she's ever known....

When I first received Inside Out, I admit I was a little worried that I wasn't going to like this book; I've only ever read one other novel by Snyder and it was Poison Study, the first in the Study series. I was blown away by it, to say the least. So I was a bit apprehensive when I opened the book and began reading the first page. Would this book impress me just as much as Poison Study did? Or would it completely disappoint me?  After reading a mere five pages, my doubts vanished and I let myself get sucked into Trella's world. The pace was slow but that's only because of the incredible detail that Snyder gives us so the reader can imagine the complex and frightening world of Inside. Trella herself is a complex character--she's not the friendliest scrub you'll encounter; she's headstrong, unafraid of taking risks but as the chapters progress, her tough demeanor is slowly chipped at (the pace speeds up a notch) and you get a glimpse of her vulnerability once she comes across the many obstacles that await her throughout the story. And there were many, many obstacles. You don't know what's going to happen next and this kept me completely hooked to the story. There were so many twists and turns that the journey to the ending was absolutely exhilirating and left me wanting more. Snyder definetely knows how to write an action-packed adventure! She also did a wonderful job of inserting a light-hearted, subtle romance within this story; I really enjoyed Trella's interactions with her adorable love interest. Their budding relationship was a pinpoint of light intermixed with the foreboding darkness of the rebellion and whenever they weren't worried about being tracked down by their enemies, they were just the cutest thing ever!

Snyder's Inside Out was an excellent story filled with clever characters, insane plot twists and an ending that leaves the reader satisfied but hints just enough that there may be a sequel in the future. If there is a sequel, you can bet that I'll be eagerly awaiting for the next installment in this series. I can't wait!

Rating: 5.0

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Reading level: Young Adult

Paperback: 272 pages

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: February 4, 2010

Language: English

Source: Around The World Tours 

Synopsis:  As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn't enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson's the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn't be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty! When Tessa's own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa's sneaky ways end in catastrophe? The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

As head cheerleader, Tessa Crimson's always expected to set a good example for her squad and to always have a positive attitude. This is something she does well, always being cheerful and encouraging everyone around her to be the best they can. No one would ever suspect that by night, this sweet do-gooder runs a top-secret society of spies! The Society of Smitten Kittens (SOS) dedicates itself to rooting out the cheaters and ensuring that their clients get the truth. Unforunately, every case that gets through to the SOS has proven to be a disappointment--all the parties in question are proven guilty and this has Tess majorly bummed. The only thing that keeps her smiling is Aiden, her perfect boyfriend. Unfortunately, a dilemma soon pops up: Chloe Ferril. She makes it obvious that she's on a mission to sink her claws into Aiden and Tessa's not going to let that happen. But then Christian, Chloe's brother stirs up some more trouble when he finds out about SOS...

I must start out by saying that holy crap, what high school does Tess go to? The cheating around those parts is rampant! The number of cheats reported kept Tess and her crew busy--which also creates a widening rift between her and Aiden, who I found to be a little too perfect. But not so unbelievable that I automatically disliked him; he really cared about Tessa and it was obvious in his actions. I just cringed at how cutesy they could be sometimes. Speaking of cutesy, Tessa had a thing for not cursing and replacing swear words with more creative expletives like "Ginger snaps!", for example. At first, this little habit of hers irked me but as the chapters progessed, I grew accustomed to it and I started to enjoy the story even more. I loved whenever the girls had a mission; they would combine their cheerleading skills along with technology and the missions certainly were interesting to read about! There was a lot of scandolous two-timing, that's for sure. But don't think that this book doesn't have any depth; the central idea about this book is Tessa and her friends catching cheaters but it's also about the emotional growth that Tessa undergoes once her double life begins to affect her relationships, especially with Aiden. The Naughty List is a promising start to a series that's sure to be imaginative with a flirty twist to it.

Rating: 4.0

Nailed by Jennifer Laurens

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing
Releaste Date: November 10, 2008
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English

Synopsis: One girl. Two guys. Who says three's a crowd? When Mandy takes an unusual summer job-in construction-she has to prove she's just one of the guys. But she gets more than she bargains for being the only girl on the job. The mixture of hot guys, sunscreen, raw wood and testosterone proves to be an elixir she can't protect her heart from. Brooding Boston and flirty AJ find themselves looking at Mandy as more than just a girl who holds a hammer. Mandy soon finds herself not only lost in a whirlwind of a male-dominated world, but also the center of an inadvertently "constructed" love triangle. Mandy must choose between two guys who want her heart. But what's a girl to do when she wants them  both?

Mandy's dream has always been to go into the construction business so after graduation she immediately starts apprenticing at her father's business with her brother Marc as her boss. Despite this annoying detail, Mandy looks forward to working for the summer doing what she loves best. She didn't expect to find romance on the job...especially with two of her handsome co-workers.

Nailed had all the prerequisites for a fluffy read--a bubbly main character, a fun setting and a predictable plot that leaves almost no room for surprises. Toss in two hot guys to create a love triangle and you've got yourself a girly, romantic book. But as cute as this story was, it fell kind of flat for me. The story really had no point other than seeing who Mandy would choose--would it be A.J, the older, flirty carpenter that's obviously interested in her or Boston, the enigmatic guy who causes a parade of butterflies to stir within her? As the reader it's easy to follow the story line; especially when Mandy's interactions with Boston and A.J. goes in different directions... I won't say who she chooses but one romance fizzles while the other sizzles. (Look, I rhymed! I didn't mean to, honestly. It just happened. Anyways...) Usually I'm a fan of light, breezy reads but this one didn't just didn't deliver...it simply lacked substance. Which is such a shame since I really enjoyed the characters-their personalities were entertaining and so much more could've been done with them. There's no conflict, other than Mandy having to choose which guy she wants. (Although it's made abundantly clear who she truly wants, so really, no conflict.) Although Nailed wasn't a fascinating novel, I wouldn't completely ignore it: if you're looking for a no-brainer, day-at-the-beach kind of book, then I'd advise picking it up. It's like cotton candy-not very fufilling but easy to swallow.

Rating: 3.0

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 8, 2009
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English
 

Synopsis: There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce—and goes out of his way to make that very clear—she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her. Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

 Lucinda "Luce" Price is sent to the Sword & Cross boarding school after a boy that she liked dies under mysterious circumstances-leaving her as the only eyewitness. Luce can't explain how Trevor died.... just like she can't explain why menacing shadows follow her wherever she goes. At Sword & Cross she feels that life will be bleak and lonely-that is, until she spots Daniel Grigori. Too bad he keeps snubbing her every time she tries to reach out to him. But even though it's obvious Daniel wants nothing to do with her, Luce can't help but feel a flicker of recognition whenever she looks into his eyes. Meanwhile, another boy is doing his best to get Luce's attention: the charming Cam, who doesn't run away every time Luce is near. Although Luce is flattered (and somewhat attracted) to Cam, she can't deny the strange pull Daniel has over her....

After reading so many mixed reviews on Fallen, of course I needed to see why there were so many positive (and negative) things being said about it. Luckily, I ended up enjoying the story. The pace of the novel was slow but it served as a good build-up to the action that the reader is thrown into near the end. It also made Luce's longing for Daniel seem even sharper, drawing more attention to how painstaking it was for Luce whenever Daniel pushed her away. The romantic "triangle" between Cam, Daniel and Luce was well done, giving the reader an excellent glimpse into their personalities; Daniel's icy demeanor was a huge contrast to Cam's open, friendly ways. But as the story progresses, you begin to see the masks slip off for every character, even the secondary ones, and that just added a mysterious, ominous element to the story. I admit, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Fallen but I ended up being satisfied with what I was given: a good plot, strong characters and a cliffhanger of an ending that has me wanting to know more. There are some questions that aren't explained well enough in this book (like Trevor's mysterious death) but perhaps Lauren Kate will shed further light on them in the sequel; if so, I'll gladly wait for the next book in the series.

Rating: 4.0

In My Mailbox 22

It's the weekend already?! Craziness. I'm back at school for my second semester and so far my classes seem good. The only thing difference is that this time they're in the early morning (I wake up at 6:30 AM and by the time it's 8:00 AM, I'm in my statistics class.) but I intentionally chose these hours because even though it sucks to wake up early, it's great to be released be let out early. It'll be noon and I'll be freeeee!

So before I get even more off-topic, I'll redirect & show you what I got.

From Around The World Tours:

When I see these books side by side, I'm struck with how completely DIFFERENT they are. They couldn't be any more unsimilar.

Fallen by Lauren Kate. It's gotten so many mixed reviews that I had to read it to see where I stand. Am I on team love-it or hate-it? I'm happy to report that I finished it! (and sent it out this morning to the next person.... so should I even be mentioning it on this IMM post? Hmm.) You'll have to stick around for my review to see if I liked it or not ;) 

Nailed by Jennifer Laurens. Don't know much about the author but I read the synopsis for the book and it sounded like a cute, light read. Hopefully I'll enjoy :)

From Other Shelf Tours:

By The Time You Read This, I'll be Dead by Julie Anne Peters

Sad title, even more depressing cover.... I'm intrigued, that I am.

From the library:  

The Wind Blows Backward by Mary Downing Hahn

Someone told me about this book a long time ago and I've always been curious about it. The cover is so old-school...but I like it. If you're interested, you should read the excerpt available on Amazon. If you look, tell me! I want to know what you think about it :)

That's what I've got! What's in your mailbox?

Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Release Date: June 22, 2010
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English

Synopsis: This year Essie Green’s life is going to be different. She’s made the cheerleading squad and caught the eye of the captain of the football team. However, she didn’t expect her estranged cousin to join the team too. Micah is instantly branded a freak for wearing a kippah and praying during games, and Essie doesn’t want anything to do with him. As the football team’s teasing of Micah shifts into hazing, Essie struggles to do what is right—even though it might mean losing her new friends and boyfriend.

Essie "Esther" Green wants sophmore year to be different. So she decides to reinvent herself and become a cheerleader. It's only an added bonus when she manages to catch the eye of Austin King, the school's hottest guy and high school quaterback for the football team. Essie couldn't be any more happier; but then Micah, her estranged cousin moves back to town and joins the football team. There's nothing wrong with Micah per se... he just takes his jewish heritage more seriously than Essie does. But everyone else thinks pegs him as a freak and Essie is torn: should she defend the cousin she barely knows or just stay quiet?

Queen of Secrets had an interesting premise and I was curious to see how Jenny Meyerhoff would play it out; I wasn't entirely disappointed...but I wasn't entirely satisfied either. I thought Essie was a sweet girl but as the situation with Micah progressed, I grew increasingly frustrated with how long it took for Essie to finally stand up for her cousin. It took FOREVER. (like more half-way through the book!) She was so afraid to speak up when Austin's crowd (especially Austin's best friend) started heckling Micah that I wondered what would finally break her silence. Another thing that nagged me was the lack of explanations for certain things. Essie mentions her trio of best friends: Sara, Skye and Zoe. But as the story pressed on, Skye and Zoe fade into the background and randomly pop up at the end. Essie says that these girls are her best friends but I didn't feel Essie made an actual effort to try to hang out with them. Sara was the only friend that showed up regularly throughout the story; which brings another issue into focus. Sara and Essie drift apart a little but then patch things up. You don't see them actually make up-it's only briefly implied. This wouldn't normally bother me but I felt like Essie made enough mistakes that it warranted an actual face-to-face meeting with Sara. 

Now onto the details I liked about this novel: The religious aspect to the story. Meyerhoff managed to tie it in very well into the story. Also, I admired Micah's character. He's much more observant with his religion and he's always true to himself despite what everyone else thinks. He made Essie more aware of her insecurities as an individual and opened her eyes to a lot of things their family shut her away from. He was basically the catalyst that she needed. Now, as to how I felt about the book in its entirety? I would've enjoyed it far more if not for its minor flaws... I would recommend getting this from the library first to see if it's to your taste or not.

Rating: 3.5

For Keeps by Natasha Friend

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Release Date: April 6, 2010
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English

Synopsis: Josie’s never met her dad, and that’s fine with her. To Josie, Paul Tucci is just a guy who got her mom pregnant and then moved away. It all happened sixteen years ago, when Josie’s mom was still a teenager herself. But now Paul Tucci is back in town, and Josie has to deal with not one but two men in her life—her father and her first boyfriend, who Josie fears will hurt her just like Paul hurt her mother.

Josie's gotten along without her father for sixteen years and she's perfectly fine with how things are. She wouldn't dream of changing anything in her life-so you can imagine her surprise when she finds her usually calm and confident mother hiding in a grocery aisle, freaking out over who she's just seen. PAUL TUCCI'S PARENTS. As in, Josie's grandparents. Josie's mom is reduced to a nervous wreck and suddenly all those unanswered questions about her father start bubbling up to the surface. Sixteen years have gone by without a sign of Josie's dad and suddenly his parents are in town which raises the question: WHAT will Josie do now?

For Keeps had a great set of characters; their personalities were all nicely fleshed out and very believable. I loved the mother-daughter bond between Josie and her mother, Kate. Their relationship felt so genuine that I couldn't help feeling that it was a lot like the one I have with my own mother. I smiled whenever they had their moments ...and (here comes a mini-spoiler) fumed along with Josie when her mother started dating again. I know that if I were in Josie's shoes, I'd act the same exact way. (maybe even worse...) But I digress; Josie was extremely relatable in her feelings as a teenager despite her unusual circumstances. Her friendship with Liv, her wacky, stubborn and sometimes annoying best friend served as a more comical aspect to the story but there were times where I wanted to shake Liv since she stuck her nose in places where it didn't belong. As for Josie's romance, it was sweet and slightly predictable....although there was one instance where I thought she forgave Riggs (the boy) too quickly over something that I wouldn't have taken so nonchalantly. As for Josie's situation, it ends on a mostly good note; I just felt like things could've been stretched out a bit further-I was happy with how the story was spanning out but then it ends with a few loose ends. (and you know me, I'm not a fan of loose ends!) Overall, For Keeps was an enjoyable read with very few flaws; I'd recommend reading it if you want a cute story with serious undertones. It's almost like a literary version of The Gilmore Girls ;)

Rating: 4.0

In My Mailbox 20

I have to admit, my week was very rewarding when it came to getting books. I did not expect to get so many good ones! So here's what I got:

Bought from B&N:

Perfect Chemistry! I think I'm the only person that hasn't read this book. (or swooned over its male protagonist) Just about 90% of the reviews I've read for this book have raved about Alex, the sexy bad boy. I wonder if I'll like him though.

Received in the mail for Around The World Tours:

I love ARC tours. I really, really do. x)

Now, the books I mentioned above look really great and I'm super excited to start them but.... here's the real reason why I'm SO HAPPY right now.

   

I finally went to the infamous Strand Bookstore and after circling the store for two, maybe three hours? I finally found what I went to the city for.  I found treasure ARCS! I found Brightly Woven first. When I saw it sitting on the shelf, I just about died with happiness. Good thing not many people saw me: I danced around and grinned like a total fool. But once my book-induced euphoria excitement faded just a little bit, the obsessive determination to find MORE books set in. I scoured the section and dug up two more literary gems ARCS. I could not believe my luck. I left the city with a huge smile on my face and a skip to my step. :)

So... I've shared my finds this week. What's in your mailbox?

In A Hearbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 2, 2010
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English

Synopsis:  When a small mistake costs sixteen-year-old Eagan her life during a figure-skating competition, she leaves many things unreconciled, including her troubled relationship with her mother. From her vantage point in the afterlife, Eagan reflects back on her memories, and what she could have done differently, through her still-beating heart. When fourteen-year-old Amelia learns she will be getting a heart transplant, her fear and guilt battle with her joy at this new chance at life. And afterwards when she starts to feel different—dreaming about figure skating, craving grape candy—her need to learn about her donor leads her to discover and explore Eagan’s life, meeting her grieving loved ones and trying to bring the closure they all need to move on. Told in alternating viewpoints, In a Heartbeat tells the emotional and compelling story of two girls sharing one heart.

In A Heartbeat tells the story of two girls who are tied together by fate with the same heart. Amelia was born with a failing heart and by an incredible stroke of luck, she is given the chance for a new, healthy heart; while she is excited for the chance to live a life free of physical and emotional pain, she feels guilt for acquiring someone else's heart. Eagan, Amelia's donor, never intended to die-she planned on living her life to the fullest and was on the path of sucess, following her dream of becoming a figure skater....until one freak accident took it all away. Now that her donor's heart is within Amelia, she begins to adopt strange habits like talking back to her mother, liking the color purple and wanting to try figure skating. Meanwhile, Eagan is stuck in limbo, unable to move on from her life and watching every moment of it unravel before her eyes.

This book gripped me until the very last page; the alternating points of view was a perfect way of describing the emotional journey that both girls had to take. Although Eagan had already passed away, she was a great character and I had to keep reminding myself that she had no tangible future; it was frustrating for me knowing this as I read throughout the story...and the glimpses of her life that were given made it all the more heartbreaking. Amelia was also a wonderful character and her concern for knowing who her donor was and understanding where her heart came from gave her the courage that she lacked for most of her life. Loretta Ellsworth dealt with the topic of organ donation beautifully by crafting a short but incredibly poignant novel with two main characters that warmed my heart. This story tugged at my heart strings and I grew incredibly attached to both Eagan and Amelia... I do however suggest that if you plan on reading this book that you have a box of tissues near because if you're like me, (i.e. a big crybaby) you'll be crying at how bittersweet Eagan's story is...but you'll also be touched with the fact that if it hadn't have been for Eagan's heart, then Amelia wouldn't have been able to live.

Rating: 4.5

A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: February 4, 2010
Language: English
Source: Around The World Tours

Synopsis: When a mandatory course forces Fiona to “try the knot” with super-jock Todd Harding, she’s convinced life could not possibly get any worse. Until moments later, when her long-time crush is paired with her arch-enemy (otherwise known as Todd’s obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that’s nothing compared to her best friend’s fate – a year with the very shy, very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer.

A series of hilarious pranks and misunderstandings leave Fiona wondering: is there something her supposed “best friend” hasn’t told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than a deep voice and an awesome music collection? And perhaps most intriguing of all, is it possible that Todd Harding could actually have a heart – and a brain – beneath his pretty-boy exterior?

The idea of being forcibly "married" to someone you hate for one year is a rather scary thought isn't it? This is precisely what happens to Fiona Sheehan, our geeky, sarcastic, I-don't-give-a-crap-about-you-think-of-me! main character. Paired up with her "husband" Todd Harding, a popular male cheerleader, Fiona doesn't think it could get any worse-but of course it does-when Todd's gorgeous cheerleader girlfriend gets Gabe Webber, Fee's long-time crush. With her diploma dangling in the process, Fee's stuck with Todd and forced to endure one year of "holy" (hellish) matrimony.

Within the first few pages I was hooked; Fiona had such a strong, witty personality that it was hard to ignore her. (which basically means I couldn't put the book down!) In high school, everyone's guilty of being judgemental and Fee's no exception. She makes quick judgement calls on everybody she knows but Todd calls her out on it. The bantering and pranks between these two were hilarious! Whenever Fiona was especially snarky, she reminded me a little of Jessica Darling (who is the queen of snark). I kept laughing out loud when they'd have their fights. Every character had a great personality, even the minor ones like Sam, the little girl Fiona babysits. The added element of a surprise romance made the story even more enjoyable. But when it comes down to it, A Match Made in High School is really about Fiona learning to see people for who they are and not what they seem to be (a high school lesson that everyone learns at some point).

Kristin Walker managed to create this funny, wildly entertaining story with a good lesson to be learned. This is easily one of my favorites of the year and definetely pre-order worthy :)

Rating: 5.0