"It’s senior year and Charlotte Locke has just transferred to a new high school. With no friends, a terrible math SAT score, and looming college application deadlines, the future starts to seem like a black hole.
Then Amanda enters her orbit like a hot-pink meteor, offering Charlotte a ticket to popularity. Amanda is fearless, beautiful, and rich. As her new sidekick, Charlotte is brought into the elite clique of the debate team—and closer to Neal, the most perfect boy she has ever seen.
Senior year is finally looking up. . . .or is it? The more things heat up between Charlotte and Neal, the more he wants to keep their relationship a secret. Is he ashamed? Meanwhile, Amanda is starting to act strangely competitive. Could Charlotte’s new BFF be hiding something?
A riveting debut novel full of magnetic characters, romantic intrigue, and dark humor, Girl Wonder is a poignant story of first love, jealousy, and friendship that will keep readers rooting for Charlotte until the very end."
Book covers are almost like teasers, they give you a small glimpse at what's inside the story it contains and protects. Some give away a lot of information about itself, and some on the other hand, do not.
Before even reading Girl Wonder, I was confused about this cover. Why does the girl have red and orange, hair and skin? Is she an alien? What planet does she come from?
But what it's actually meant to represent, is a character with hot pink hair, that Charlotte (our main character) gets to meet and know, throughout the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone, that is switching schools, or jumping out of their shell and going somewhere new.
The main character Charlotte, recently moved near Seattle. Being a senior in high school, and with a learning disability that prevents her from performing well in math, keeps her in regular classes once she gets to her new school.
And unlike her old school, it isn't private...it's public.
Once caring about grades, getting scholarships, and making it to college, Charlotte's mind set changes, after being bullied in the lunch room, and escaping to the library, where she meets Girl Wonder (Amanda, the girl on the cover). Charlotte also runs into a very hot guy named Neal.
After finding out that her dad, has been having an affair, Charlotte's life is crumbling to pieces, not only are her parents getting a divorce, but Neal and Amanda don't seem to be who Charlotte thought they were.
Girl Wonder, was A-Mazing! I loved how Charlotte changed within such a short period of time. First she's focusing on school and her future, than about her social life; finding friends and crushing on a cute boy in school, and lastly Charlotte hits rock bottom, but than again changes what she wants for herself. By pushing all the bad out of her life, she's finally letting the good (which she's been keeping distance from) in.
Before reading Girl Wonder, I've never heard much about it nor about Alexa Martin. But it really held my attention, and I couldn't force myself to put it down! The characters were fantastic, the ending wasn't a cliff hanger, and the writing style was awesome!
After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with.
A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world."
"Anna can't wait for her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a good job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's not too thrilled when her father unexpectedly ships her off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The only problem? He's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her crush back home. Will a year of romantic near-misses end in the French kiss Anna awaits?
"Perkins's debut surpasses the usual chick-lit fare with smart dialogue, fresh characters and plenty of tingly interactions." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Very sly. Very funny. Very romantic. You should date this book." - Maureen Johnson, New York Times bestselling author
"Tantalizing pacing, sparkling repartee, vibrant supporting characters . . ." - Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay"
Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray.
"From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.
Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to emall. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count."
Belinda, Krista, and I, all reviewed Angel Arias yesterday, over at Burn Bright for our monthly book club! Every month we decide on a book we all want to read, we go out buy, borrow it, or whatever and read it sometime throughout that month. The very last Saturday, we send in our reviews, and combine them.
What's great about this is, not only are you getting one persons opinion, you're getting THREE! It's a lot of fun, and anyone can join in!(:
This month, we decided on reading Matched by Ally Condie! There is a second book already out, that I'm dying to read.
Here's a link to our Burn Bright Book Club page for more info:
Title: Angel Arias. Author: Marianne de Pierres. Series: Yes, Night Creatures #2. Format: Paperback. Pages: 264. Source: Author. Publisher: Random House Australia. Published Date: March 10, 2011.
"Retra - now called Naif - has escaped from Ixion, the island of ever-night. She doesn't know if her friends on the island survived the battle between the Ripers and the rebels. But she does know that she must return home, behind the sealed walls of Grave, to find out why the Ripers have been seen there talking to the councillors. What links the two worlds?
First she must convince Ruzalia to help her. The fierce pirate captain saves those who face terrible fates on Ixion, but that doesn't guarantee their gratitude. Instead, she faces a revolt - and Naif is caught in the middle.
Naif will need all her courage to survive. For Lenoir, who wants to keep her safe, for her friends Suki and Rollo, if they live, for Markes, who has secrets of his own, and for the new friends she will make on this journey.
The fate of worlds depends on it."
If you've already read my review of Burn Bright, the first book in the Night Creatures series, you know that I think these covers are pieces of art!
I couldn't imagine how much work went into these!
Before I start this review officially, I just want to inform you that this book is the SECOND PART to a SERIES! So if you haven't read the first book, but plan to soon, please be cautious of my spoiler warnings; I don't want to ruin everything for you!
After running away from Seal, to Ixion, looking for her older brother (Joel), Retra (Naif) now knows even Ixion has it's problems. Naif was never really into running away to go partying like the rest that she's arrived with, but instead Naif's searching for Joel, who took the same trip to Ixion, a while back.
Ixion, isn't what Naif was expecting. Everyone has a badge on their arm, telling them when to sleep, clothes are supplied in lockers throughout various locations, gangs exist, and night creatures are lurking.
*Spoiler Warning* At the end of the first book, Naif has found her brother, become close with Lenoir, a head leader, and is taken away from Ixion by Ruzalia (Joel's gang leader).
Angel Arias, starts with Naif, Markes, and Charlonge in a hotel, with lots of others that Ruzalia took with her; leaving Ixion behind, to try to find out what's going on with the Ripers (watchers of Ixion) and the Councilors.
Now having to go back home, where she not too long ago ran away from, to find out more about what's going on. And explaining her finds to Ruzalia.
I really enjoyed Burn Bright, so I had pretty high expectations for Angel Arias! I would recommend though, to read a little bit more carefully at the beginning of Angel Arias, because a lot's going on and it gets a bit confusing. I had to read the first four chapters twice, until it finally made sense to me, and than I felt stupid for not knowing earlier.
The characters in this book are amazing, their names are really different and interesting. Angel Arias is a book published in Australia, so I don't know if these names are common there or not, but some of my favorite ones were Markes, Ruzalia and Liam.
Throughout the book, Naif spends a lot of time alone with Markes, since their going to the Grave together. Naif starts having feelings for him, but she doesn't really want to admit or accept that she does. But when Markes shows affection towards another girl (Emilia), that his hasn't seen for a while, she feels hurt.
I hope Markes and Naif's relationship goes farther in the third book, I really want to see what happens!
Not only was Burn Bright amazing, but I love Angel Arias! I have over the top expectations for the third book in the series!
Sadly, there wasn't a summary online yet! But you can easily check out the first two books in the series, The Body Finder, and The Desires of the Dead, and see what their about! I'm super excited about this book, I love Kimberly Derting!
I haven't been able to go see the first part, of the last movie Breaking Dawn in theaters yet.
Since today's only half day of school, with Thanksgiving and all, my best friend and I are going to go see it right after we get out of school! I'm pretty excited to see it, even though I'm a bit late.
I've been trying to avoid anyone and everyone, talking about the movie, I didn't want to know anything about, until I went to go see it myself(:
If you guys have seen it, please don't spoil anything, but comment down below, and tell me if you liked the movie? Or which movie you like the best so far.
Again, this week all that was in my mailbox was junk mail (and my report card, but shhhh! Don't tell my parents!), sadly no books.
In a way I'm sad, but in another way, I want to grab my wallet, hop on the bus, and go straight to my favorite bookstore. But than as I leave my room, I look at my bookshelf, and thinking of all the books I still need to read!
So I'm not on a book buying ban, no! That phrase isn't allowed here, on Turning Pages! But I'm not going out to buy books, just to have something in my mailbox every Sunday either.
But my brother is going to Barnes and Noble tomorrow, so I'll probably tag along, and check out if any new books came out, that I want(:
I hope everyone had a great book week (last week), if you got tons of books, or none at all.
Today it's not just me here, but we also have a very special guest, Jessie Harrell, author of Destined, answering a few of our questions!
"When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.
As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined. Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell."
Did someone else inspire your story? Or how did you come up with the idea?
DESTINED is based on the Cupid & Psyche myth. The version we have is contained in a Roman story called The Golden Ass, by Lucius Apuleius. I feel in love with the myth while I was in college, so when I decided to start writing, I knew Psyche's story was one I wanted to tell. However, I also wanted to change the myth a bit so that Psyche was more a smart girl who made some poor choices rather than an airhead who plays a more passive role in the tale.
What are some obstacles you had to over come writing this book?
For one, since the version of the myth we have comes to us from a Roman, the gods' names in the myth are Roman instead of Greek (hence Cupid instead of Eros). Most people, I've found, do not know this detail. (Shocking, I know.) So, when I used the Roman names in my original draft, it was received very poorly. Most readers thought I'd made a major gaff with the names. I fought it for awhile, but eventually gave in and changed all the names to Greek.
Another obstacle was just learning how to be a writer. I wrote a great number of words that will never see the light of day. And that's a good thing. But making this story as good as I knew it could be was its own special challenge.
Did you know how your book was going to end, or did it come to you while you were writing?
Because I was basing DESTINED off the myth, I pretty much knew how it was going to end. But there's a twist thrown in that I didn't anticipate until a much later draft (I can't tell you what without spoiling it for those who haven't read it yet). I also had to do some significant rewrites to the ending after deciding to edit out the marriage/baby details from the original myth and make this a story truly for young adults. The epilogue came to me as I was writing, and although it's probably not entirely necessary, I wanted to include one final tender moment between Eros & Psyche. I thought their story deserved that kind of closure.
Do you have more books in the works?
I do, actually. I've co-written another novel with Nikki Katz, called Beneath the Surface. It's a present-day YA novel with heavy Greek myth influence but that isn't a retelling -- it's got its own original mythology. The tagline is: "An endless curse. A timeless love Which one will survive the summer?" We hope to find a home for it soon.
If you leave your e-mail address in your comment, you'll be automatically entered to win an e-copy of Destined. The contest will stay open for 48 hours after the post goes live, and then Jessie will use random.org to select a winner. Available formats include .mobu, .epub and .pdf.
And please be sure to visit the other stops on Destined's official blog tour for chances to win copies of Destined and other goodies.
Title: Tempest. Author: Julie Cross. Format: ARC. Pages: 352. Series: Yes, #1. Source: Publisher. Publisher: St. Martins Press. Published Date: January 17, 2012.
"The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world."
Covers on ARCs, aren't always final!
I'm not sure, if this one is or isn't, but I reeeeally like! I usually don't like covers, with just characters on it, but the way their falling, trying to reach for one another, and the thunder storm behind them, looks amazing!
I'm honestly, LOVIN' it(:
What would you do if you could time travel? Go to the future, and get the winning lottery numbers? Go back to that last history class, that you napped through, so you won't fail your next quiz? Maybe even go back in time to visit a loved one who passed away? Or possibly even save them?
Jackson has the ability to do all that...well as long as the time period is within his life time.
*Sorry, but these next few lines are huge spoilers!*
After finding out he could travel back more than a week, his dad is in the CIA, he never really had a mom, and there are more time travelers just like him, Jackson has a much bigger mission than he thought he did. His life is falling apart, from losing his sister years ago, to losing his family, his girlfriend, and lastly the time zone he lives in.
I love Jackson! He seems like he has a rough outer shell, but when it comes to Holly (his girlfriend) he's the sweetest guy! Just the things he says to her, and the way he treats her, was really cute!
Even though the ending was confusing me a bit, it was my favorite part. Jackson really opened up towards Holly, and told her exactly what he felt and thought.
The only thing, I was a little sad about was that we didn't get to know more about Jackson and Courtney's past, more about their "mom", and how they came to be. But this is only the first book, in a trilogy, so maybe we'll get to know more later in the series!
Thank you St. Martins Press, I really enjoyed reading Tempest! I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy, and see the movie!:D
I know I did teasers on Tempest last week already, but I had a really good time reading it, and just wanted to share some more of that with you! I'll be writing my review, right after I post this, so make sure to come back soon, and check it out!(:
1.)"I grasped the front of his shirt. 'You're not going anywhere without me. Go ahead and try if you want.'"
2.)"The only thing I really wanted to do was toss this freak off the roof and watch his bones break into a million pieces."
Welcome to another one of my In My Mailboxes, this week I only purchased one book. Simply because I have so many I need to catch up on, I didn't really want to get any books this week! But I just happen to drive by Barnes and Nobles (which I try not do to!) and could resist, and just had to take a peek at what they had inside, on their Young Adult shelves.
Anyways this is what I got!:)
The Knife of Never Letting Go, by Patrick Ness.
"Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him -- something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd's gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is."
Title: Power of Six. Author: Pittacus Lore. Format: ARC. Pages: 416. Series: Yes, #2 Lorien Legacies Series. Source: Me, My Shelf, and I Book Tours. Publisher: Harper Collins Published Date: August 23, 2011.
"I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.
I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.
And I'm ready to fight."
Whenever I see this book, it just makes me laugh; not because of the cover or that I don't like it. But it just makes me think back to when my dad asked me when the second movie was coming out, "Lisa, when's I Am Number Five coming out?" Oh dad, you're silly (:
Anyways, back to the cover! I really like it! Even though I prefer the cover to I Am Number Four over this one, I kind of like the blue.
*Warning* This review is going to be filled to the brim with spoilers from both the first book and the second!
In the first book, we find out who John Smith really is, and why his here on earth. After One, Two and Three were attacked and killed by the Aliens, their on the hunt for number Four; John.
Moving so often just to avoid this from happening, John is getting used to his new home. He meets a lot of new people, falls in love with a pretty girl, becomes friends with Sam, and starts liking school. The first book leaves us with aliens finding him, after a long time of searching and hunting, cornering him.
The Power of Six starts right after John just escaping his first attack, this time without his mentor, he is accompanied by Number Six, and his smart (and not a Lorien) friend Sam. Not only on the run from getting killed, but these three are also on the search for back up; for the other four Loriens!
We also get to learn about number Seven, Marina who's almost eighteen, and lives in a Spanish convent. Years ago, with nowhere to go, and nothing just the clothes on their back, this is where Marina and her mentor turned too. Over the years, of staying at the church, Marina's mentor changed, from always having her mind set on finding other Loriens to God, and his way; completely denying Marina, and her powers!
I had such a great time reading The Power of Six! I know I haven't reviewed I Am Number Four yet, so that review will be up very soon! If you haven't read this book yet, seriously, GO OUT AND BUY IT!
*Thank you Me My Shelf and I for allowing me to borrow your ARC!*
Title: Why We Broke Up. Author: Daniel Handler Summary:
"I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.
Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped."
This week has been so crazy! I can't believe it's already Monday again!
I just wanted to explain things that have been going on, and why I didn't get much blogging done (I didn't even have time to read!)
But things are going back to normal again, I'm sitting here blogging, drinking coffee and reading Tempest by Julie Cross. And what's blogging without having Twitter open in another tab? Nothing, absolutely nothing!
This week has been so stressful, it's unbelievable. I had four big tests in different classes, science fair time is coming again soon, SAT and ACT is coming up in the spring, so I'm studying for that, I had to present a speech in front of tons of people, and with all of that I've had to make time for friends and family!
But everything is perfectly normal, and I'm excited to start blogging, reading, and tweeting like a mad women.
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my quick update, but Tempest is calling my name, so I have to go (:
It's already seven days into November, and that means it's time for a new book for Burn Bright Book Club (if you participated last month, thank you!).
November's book is Angel Arias, by Marianne De Pierres, the second book in the Night Creatures series.
So basically, anyone who wants to participate can just pick up their own copy of Angel Arias, and start reading. On the last Saturday of the month, both Belinda and I are going to review, and express our feelings towards to the book.
You can leave comments and opinions on the post, we would love to hear what you think(:
Title: Burn Bright. Author: Marianne de Pierres. Format: Paperback. Pages: 303. Series: Night Creatures, #1. Source: Author. Publisher: Random House Australia. Published Date: January 3, 2011.
"Retra doesn't want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night. Retra is a Seal - sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn't crave parties and pleasure like all the others. But her brother left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him.
Braving the pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she's ever known, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion?
Retra will find that Ixion has its pleasures - but its secrets are deadly. "
There are covers, that are just plain boring, and don't catch someone's attention, there are covers that look really pretty, that you can see from a mile away. And then there are covers, that aren't just covers, but their pieces of art.
Burn Bright, is one of those art works. The picture just looks amazing! This might be weird, but when you rub the cover, (who in the world rubs the cover of their books? I hope I'm not the only one!) it almost feels like leather, it's smooth and sleek.
In other words, I LOVE it!
When you first get to meet the main character, a teenage girl named Retra (but her name changes to Naif, by the end of the book), is on the run! She knows where she's going, but doesn't know if it's the right day, and the right time. Retra has no choice but to take the chance; there is no turning back for her now.
After spending her whole life in Seal (a strict society, with tons of rules), Retra decides to search for her brother, and do what he did to get away from this hell hole they call home; runaway to Ixion.
On her journey, Retra meets a lot of other teenagers looking for Ixion also, but not for the same reasons; but instead to party and to live it up. Finally arriving, she's learns that Ixion isn't what everyone thinks, it has it's own problems just like Seal.
Before you even start reading Burn Bright, just looking at the cover, this dark and mysterious feeling creeps over you. Right from the beginning, you jump into action which than continues throughout the rest of the book!
Burn Bright, isn't the type of book I would usually pick up and read, but I'm glad I did. It kept me on the edge of my seat from page 1.