The Reading Chic

Review: Twilight The Graphic Novel by Stephanie Meyer and Young Kim

2012-01-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Released: March 16, 2010
Published by: Yen Press
Series: Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Book One
Star Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Borrowed ?
Page Amount: 224
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary

When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret...

Review

Yes. I am a Twilight fan. Why does that surprise you? Well, it might not. But trust me, I’m not a screaming, annoying Twi-hard. I liked it before it was all hyped up. I’m not the hugest fan of it any more, but I still wanted to read the graphic novels. And god I was not disappointed.

I read this in… half an hour? While I was on my cruise back in December they had a bunch of books, so I chose to read this one because I knew I would be able to finish the book before the week was done. I probably would have waited until this came out in paperback to read this, because I don’t think it would have been worth it to pay 20 bucks on a book that would take me half an hour to read.

First off: the art was my favourite thing through this whole novel. Oh. My. God. It is one of the most GORGEOUS things I have ever seen in my entire life. I mean, look at Edward. *swoon*. I liked that the character’s didn’t look exactly like their actors in the movies, because I probably wouldn’t have liked it as much.

The story is the exact same as the regular Twilight books, just shortened. I wish it would have been longer, like I wish they would have just made the first book the whole Twilight novel, rather than breaking it up into parts.

Overall, this was a very great read and I can’t wait to pick up the second one!

Cover Comments

Like the art all throughout the novel, the cover is gorgeous. I like that they didn’t base Bella’s looks off of Kristen Stewart, but how Stephanie Meyer envisioned her with her imagination.

Review: Bright Young Things by Anna Godberson

2012-01-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

Released: October 12, 2010 Published by: HarperCollins
Series: Bright Young Things, Book One
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Amazon Kindle Store
Page Amount: 389
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary

The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star...

Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for...and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.

Review

I’ve always been a big fan of historical fiction, and I knew I needed to read more of it. When I was informed that this book was temporarily free for the Kindle, I took advantage of it. I’ve never read anything by Anna Godberson before this, but her books have been on my to-be-read list for a long time now. I was not disappointed!

The beginning of this novel didn’t captivate me right away. I wasn’t totally in love with the whole concept of escaping to New York City to live out big dreams of becoming a Broadway star/actress and being rich and famous (that’s a little Rachel Berry, don’t you think?) but by the middle of the novel I knew it wasn’t going to be one of those stereotypical breakout-star novels.

I loved the setting of this novel. New York City is somewhere that (before reading this novel, shortly after I went there for a couple days) I’ve always wanted to go, so I love reading books that are set there because it gives me a good image of what “the city that never sleeps” looks like.

Anna’s writing was beautiful. It was a lot more complex than some of the novels I’ve been reading recently, and I think it fit the story very well. I think she wrote it perfectly in that era. Even though I’m totally not an expert in history, I could totally see someone from that era speaking like Anna wrote it. At some points though, I could see a bit of modern talk slipping through, but it didn’t happen very often.

I loved Letty and Cordelia’s friendship in the beginning. Although, once you got around the middle it got very stereotypical and I couldn’t stand it. I although I loved Cordelia’s relationship with her father, I found it a bit unrealistic in some areas. It felt a bit rushed, as if it didn’t have time to fully develop like a real relationship should.

I recommend this novel to anybody who likes historical ficition which takes place during the flapper period. I would also recommend this novel to anybody who likes drama-type novels, as this novel was full of it! I really enjoyed reading this novel, and I look forward to picking up the next book in the series and reading Anna Godberson’s other works of fiction!

Cover Comments

This cover is gorgeous. I love it, I love the flapper era so this cover is definitely up my alley! I also LOVE the girl’s dress, I would totally wear it! I also love the font the title is written in, it’s simple yet not boring.

Review: Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

2012-01-09T16:10:00.000-08:00

Released: December 23, 2008
Published by: Hyperion Books
Series: Touch, Book One
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Netgalley
Page Amount: 252
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary

Some secrets shouldn't be kept...

Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben...and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help--but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret.

From the best-selling author of Blue is for Nightmares comes a story of paranormal romance that's sure to be a thrilling and chilling teen favorite.

Review

I saw this novel on Net galley (weird right?) and I knew I wanted to read it so I requested it. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to get this novel because I was not disappointed!

This story was so fast paced, getting right down to business right at the very first page. I really liked that, I felt it went very well with this story.

Camelia was a very enjoyable character. She was realistic, but without being too boring. I love my bad boys so of course I fell in love with Ben. The only thing I didn’t like was that I could see through him through the whole book, I would have preferred him to have a more hard core bad boy feel through the whole book. Camelia’s friends were some of my favourite I have ever read about… I wish they were my best friends!

I found the writing incredible, I think the author wrote the story beautifully. There were some moments that I was so captivated by the writing alone that I lost track of time.

I enjoyed this novel a lot, and I can’t wait to get into the other books in the series.

Cover Comments

I love love LOVE this cover. I think the little detailing around the title is gorgeous! I love the girl’s dress, and overall I think it’s a good representation of this novel. Gah!

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2012-01-09T14:58:00.000-08:00

Released: August 1, 2009
Published by: Scholastic
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book One
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Bought
Page Amount: 309
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary

Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side will fade away and he will be left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance.

Review

I read this book back in October… yes, October. I’m having a bit of a hard time trying to remember what I thought about this one but I’ll try as hard as I can.

I remember that I had a really hard time getting into this novel. I’m not a huge fan of paranormal romance, but I heard this novel was brilliant and a very good read so I decided to give it a try. I wasn’t totally blown away by it, but I remember I enjoyed it.

I really liked Grace and Sam’s relationship. I felt like they were two people that really complimented each other very well.

I feel like I’m the only one that wasn’t really blown away with Maggie’s writing. Sure, it was really good but I think I’ve read better. I really liked the simplicity of it.

I’m going to leave it at that, but I did enjoy this novel a lot.

Cover Comments

I think this cover is absolutely gorgeous. I think the simplicity of it is wonderful, and I think the series matches very well.

Review: Paper Towns by John Green

2011-12-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

Released: October 16, 2008
Published by: Speak
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Star Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Gift
Page Amount: 305
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life--dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge--he follows.
After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues--and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.
Printz medalist John Green returns with the brilliant wit and searing emotional honesty that have inspired a new generation of readers.

Review

I read LOOKING FOR ALASKA a few years back, and I had instantly fallen in love with John Green. His writing style is just so unique and riveting that I couldn’t get enough.

One thing I think I like most about John Green’s books is that they are written in the perspective of boys. Must Young Adult books these days are written in the perspective of girls that I think it’s a nice breath of fresh air when I read one about a boy.

One thing that I didn’t like much about this novel is that it reminded me a lot of LOOKING FOR ALASKA. I don’t know if I just had LOOKING FOR ALASKA on the brain or something, but I felt that it was very similar. Margo reminded me of Alaska and Quentin reminded me of Miles. Other than that though, this novel was amazing.

I enjoyed this book very much. John Green is definitely one of my favourite authors in the entire world and his books have made me look at this world in a totally different way than I did before I read his novels. He made me realize how many secrets one person can really keep bottled up inside and how we don’t really know someone, no matter how long we’ve known them. People aren’t open books. You need to dig and John Green has made me realize that more than ever between LOOKING FOR ALASKA and PAPER TOWNS. Everybody needs to read these books because everybody needs to realize these things.

Cover Comments

I wish I could have gotten the blue cover with Margo’s face on it, but this one is much better than the yellow one with Margo’s face on it. I like the whole photo and how it works with the title, but it’s not one of my favourites.

Review: Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

2011-10-28T15:13:00.000-07:00

Released: December 23^rd, 2008
Published by: Walker Books for Young Readers
Series: Perfect Chemistry, Book 1
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Gift
Page Amount: 360
Age Group: Young Adult
Summary

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Review

I have heard many amazing things about this novel. I had started this novel before, but I put it down. I’m not one hundred percent why I actually put it down in the first place. I don’t think I was really getting into it. I don’t know what I was thinking! This book was amazing!

Brittany and Alex’s relationship developed nicely through the novel. It didn’t happen all too fast, nor did it happen at a strangely slow speed. I loved reading about their relationship and seeing how it progressed.
The supporting characters in this novel might possibly been the best thing about it. I loved Sierra, Brittany’s best friend. She was just so sassy and I just loved her. Probably because she has the same name as me. Also, Alex had some pretty awesome friends and family members also. I loved Alex’s two brothers, Carlos and Luis. They had the typical Latino family, large, loving and very protective.

I loved how Simone wrote Brittany’s family. If you didn’t know, Brittany’s older sister, Shelly, has mental issues. Things aren’t the greatest for her family. I loved how Simone wrote Brittany trying to pretend to have a perfect life when she really doesn’t. I think this is very relatable to a lot of people. I know for a fact that everyone wants to have a perfect life and a perfect family, when in reality that is almost impossible. Every family is going to have their issues. I found that interesting reading, I was interested in finding out how that was going to happen.

I’m really glad I gave this novel another shot. I really enjoyed it in the end, and I can’t wait to pick up the other two books.

Cover Comments

I’m not a huge fan of this cover. I usually love chick-lit covers, but I find this one a bit too cheese-y for my taste. Plus, I felt a bit weird having this at school. I got a lot of questions about it.

Peanut Butter Rhino by Vincent Andriani

2011-10-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

Released: 1994
Published by: Scholastic
Series: Stand Alone
Star Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Kindergarten Classroom
Page Amount: 16
Age Group: Children’s

Review

This is the perks of having a couple kindergarten buddies, I get to find cute picture books! I won’t write a review for every single one that we read, but I think I am going to start writing reviews for the good ones and the awful ones.

Since both Goodreads and Amazon fail to have a official summary about this adorable picture book… I do not have one, but I will do a quick run through of what its about.

This picture book is about this Rhino, whose name is… well… Rhino. He is heading out to lunch with his friend, um, well, I forget what kind of animal he was. But he looses his peanut butter sandwich on the way! He goes on a search to find his sandwich, and I’ll leave it at that.

My friend, Lauren is obsessed with rhinos and her and I share a buddy some Fridays. She saw this book and demanded that I read it to our buddy, erm, I mean, she demanded I read it to both them. Oh, and did I say that the rhino is purple and her favourite colour is purple.

This book was ADORABLE! Its very short, its only around 16 pages so it’s a very quick story, perfect for bedtime. I think this book could have used a little more, but that’s coming from the girl who reads 500 page books like their nothing.

Overall, this book was adorable and I would definitely read it again.

Cover Comments

I think this cover is pretty typical for a children’s books cover, but I love the purple rhino on it! Its super cute.

Review: Radiance by Alyson Noël

2011-10-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

Released: August 31st, 2010
Published by: Square Fish
Series: Riley Bloom, Book One
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Chapter
Page Amount: 183
Age Group: Middle Grade

Summary

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighbourhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley . . .

Review

I picked up RADIANCE with the thoughts of having a very short read. I was in the mood for a short, middle grade fantasy and I found this one on my sister’s bookshelf and decided to read it. I did get what I wanted, a short read, that was middle grade, and fantasy. I actually wasn’t too impressed with it.

I feel as though RADIANCE was too short for its own good. I felt as though the story was rushed along, as if Alyson Noel wanted the story to be over and done with as soon as possible. I feel as thought the story didn’t have enough time to develop, and that everything just felt like it was being dumped on you all at the same time.

The characters, in my opinion, we underdeveloped. Riley seemed to be less of a really human being and more of a paper cut out of a person. I didn’t enjoy that very much. Bohdi was cool, but I felt like I was missing a lot of his character in the novel. I felt like I needed so much more from them. They seemed very one-dimensional.

I didn't think this novel was a very good one. I think this book had so much potential, but it just let me down in the process. I don't believe I will be going on in the series, it all depends on whether I feel like reading the series or not.

Cover Comments

I think this cover is so beautiful and magical. I think it’s a perfect middle-grade fantasy cover. I love the dog on the cover, it reminds me of my doggy!

Introducing Banned Books Read-a-thon!

2011-10-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

We all know that banned books week has come... and gone... but the banned books party has just begun! I have teamed up with my very good blogging friend Benji from The Non-Reluctant Reader to spread the love of banned books! We are doing this by... HOSTING A MONTH-LONG READ-A-THON! There are so many amazing books that have been challenged (The Hunger Games, Perks of Being a Wallflower, ect.) and we want more people to read them!

This read-a-thon will start on November 1st and will run for the entire month!

This read-a-thon will not only include just reviews of the AWESOME banned books we have read... there will also be awesome guest posts, giveaways, and interviews!

I am going to direct you to Benji's blog for most of the giveaway action, but I will be having a giveaway myself! You will have a chance to pick any banned book of your choice (that is under $10) off http://www.bookdepository.com/! I will make another post later for the giveaway, but I will run through the basic details about this giveaway...

I'm going to start with that you MUST be a follower of both mine and Benji's blogs. We are giving you an awesome book... we want some lovin' back!

I will be using a Mr. Linky. If you have a blog, link EVERY REVIEW of a banned book you have read. I will only count your entry if you read the book during the read-a-thon and if the review was posted during the read-a-thon.

If you don't have a blog but review books on Youtube, don't worry! If you link your youtube videos and your entry will be counted! Gotta spread the Youtube love!

I will do another post closer to November giving more details, but for now that is all I am going to tell you. I hope you will join us!

Love,

Sierra

Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

2011-09-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

Released: January 5th, 2010
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Series: Hush Hush, Book 2
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Borrowed
Page Amount: 412
School Rating: C (63%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Review

Going into this book I had high expectations because I loved HUSH HUSH. I borrowed this novel from a friend, and she loved it. I can’t say I enjoyed it all that much…

I have read reviews where people have said that they found Nora very annoying in the first book… which I thought she wasn’t too bad, but here comes CRESCENDO, and whiny, annoying Nora comes to haunt us. Eh, no… just… no…

I felt as though the plot was underdone. I felt that there was so much potential for this book, but it let me down. All this book was about was Nora whining over Patch. No thank you.

I am going to keep this review short because I feel as though I have nothing else to say about this novel. I just need to move on…

Cover Comments

I think this cover is gorgeous, and it looks so beautiful beside HUSH, HUSH on my bookshelf.

Love,

Sierra

Tag... You're It!! blogger style!

2011-09-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

I've Been Tagged in a Game of Blogger Tag!

The Rules: list ten facts about yourself, link back to your tagger, and then tag five more people!
I was tagged by Benji at The Non Reluctant Reader!

I am Irish, Scottish, British, and English. I have been told this is not possible, but apparently it is...
Most of my followers on my blog don't know this but... I have a not-so-secret obsession with baby names. Seriously. Right now my top names are Lila Rosalie and Greyson Michael.
I named my kindle Atticus. Pretty sweet right?
I want to read more classics.
I am currently in a reading rut.
I named my iPhone Violet. I love her so much.
I used to hate school so much... and now I don't actually mind it that much.
There are so many books I want to read... I'm not sure if I can get to them all in a lifetime.
I hate the number nine. SO MUCH. Ugh...
I don't think I could live without meat. Seriously, meat is so delicious. I could never go vegetarian... I wouldn't get any seafood!

That was harder than I imagined! Now, I tag...

Melina from Reading Vacation
Jessica & Stacy from Chapter Chicks
Gemma from I, You, We Heart Books
Alex from Electrifying Reviews
Kristi from The Story Siren

I hope to see many of you do this! It was so much fun! (:

Love,

Sierra

Review: Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

2011-09-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

Released: January 5th, 2010
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Chapters
Page Amount: 412
School Rating: C (63%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

Restless souls and empty hearts

Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.

First Line

One year ago today I lost my boyfriend, Lucca.

Review

I read this book in a online book club with my online buddy, Felicia, who I have talked about in previous reviews. We decided on reading this book for the month of September. I had read I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME (which I really enjoyed) by Lisa Schroeder before I read this one, so I had high expectations going into this novel. Let’s just say this novel wasn’t as good as I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME.

I felt like Brooklyn was missing something as a character. I felt as though there was a big hole in her personality, and as a person herself. I can’t totally put my finger on what she was missing for me. I also felt as though she was constantly sad, crying, or whining about what was happening. That got annoying really fast. Nico was an awesome character, though. I really did love him. What I didn’t like about the characters was that the story only talked about Brooklyn, Nico, Lucca, and Gabe. I felt as though there were no supporting characters in this novel. Very rarely were any other characters mentioned.

I felt as though this book was too fast. The story and the problem all felt rushed, and I don’t feel as though Lisa gave the book enough time to fully develop. I think the book should have been longer, and filled with a bit more character dialogue with other characters other than Brooklyn, Nico, Lucca, and Gabe.

This book is written in verse, a writing style that I have come to conclusion to that I love. I love the poetic feel to it, especially since I suck at writing poetry.

Overall, this book was only okay. Nothing amazing, but nothing awful either.

Cover Comments

I think the cover is very beautiful. I love all the blue tones, and I think it really represents the tone of the story. I love how the hand is representing something in the story.

Love,

Sierra

Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

2011-09-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

Released: December 9th, 2003
Published by: Simon & Schuster Children’s Books
Series: Gemma Doyle Trilogy, One
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Amazon
Page Amount: 403
School Rating: C+ (67%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order.

The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.

First Line

"Please tell me that is not going to be a part of my birthday dinner tonight"- Gemma, pg 1

Review

I had really high expectations going into this book. I have heard amazing things about it, and not so amazing things about it. But, as per usual, I cancelled out the bad reviews and only focused on the raving ones. I wish I were one of those people who could not stop raving over this book.

I found a lot of the characters really annoying in this novel. I really liked Gemma, which the story was told in her point of view. I disliked a lot of the friends she met at Spence, such as Felicity and Ann. I found a lot of them annoying and nothing that I wanted to read about.

Overall, Libba’s writing was amazing. It really was. But… when she went into detail about things (describing what things looked like, ect.) I couldn’t get a picture in my mind. I couldn’t see what she was trying to place in my brain, most of the time.

I loved the whole idea of Spence Academy. If I could time travel back to this time and attend Spence, I probably would. I’ve always wanted to attend an academy… but unfortunately I am stuck in a public school.

Overall, I didn’t really enjoy A Great and Terrible Beauty. I guess it just wasn’t for me, but maybe you will enjoy it. I do not think I will be going on with the rest of the series.

Cover Comments

This cover is gorgeous! So Victorian looking… I love it!

Love,

Sierra

Guest Post: Benji from The Non Reluctant Reader

2011-09-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Today I have Benji, from the awesome blog The Non Reluctant Reader, here for a guest post on e-readers verses physical books! (Note: these opinions are not my own.)

In recent times the stories are starting to transition from the paper book
to the electronic book (ebook) just like the scroll transitioned to the
paper-bound book. Some people argue that the ebook is much easier and cost
officiant. The paper book lovers argue the paper-bound books are more original
and wholesome. But you know what? I bet the old guys were arguing the same thing
about the transition from the scroll to paper-bound! Change is inevitable!
Nothing stays the same forever (well except the fact that this blog is awesome)
but I do like the paper book better, and I have the right to judge because I do
have a kindle. Here's why.

I love paper books for a lot of reasons. The main being you can show
them off to your friends because they have all the awesome cover graphics and
stuff. And when they see you reading a ARC of a book they really want to read
they run up to you and say “ I am super jealous!!!! OMG!!!” or “I call dibs on
reading it after you!” or my personal favorite, “GIVE ME THAT BOOK RIGHT THE
**** NOW AND NO ONE GETS HURT!”. While as when you're reading a kindle they have
no idea what you're reading (in less you tell them, but that's bragging, don't
want any of that now, do we?).

Another big reason I like the paper book is because they make great
weapons! Just the other day my brother was annoying me like crazy when I was
trying to read and I picked up my book (it was paperback so don't judge me too
harshly) and threw it at him! He wouldn't stop crying! But if I had of thrown my
kindle at him I would have just lost $350.00 for just one stupid act of
violence! How cruel is that? Note: No wounds to my brother were fatal.

The final reason I'm going to say why I like the paper book is that if
books go electronic we won't have book burnings! You get to light the books and
fire and watch them go up in smoke! How satisfactory is that? While as the only
aggression you can take out on a ebook is deleting it. Yup, all ya get to is
press a stupid button and watch it disappear of the screen, doesn't make you
feel very powerful, does it? Yup, burning books is a pastime for humans and it's
a tradition that should be upheld!

Now hopefully you see from my totally logical explanations why the
paper book is superior. Now go mutilate your ereader in honor of this guest
post, I'm waiting...

Thanks so much Benji for doing a guest post for me! (: Go check out his blog!

Love,

Sierra

Waiting On Wednesday

2011-08-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. My Waiting on Wednesday read is...

Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.
Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never have understood.
Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?
A riveting and startling companion to the bestselling Impulse, Ellen Hopkins's Perfect exposes the harsh truths about what it takes to grow up and grow into our own skins, our own selves.

I read Impulse awhile ago, and I can't wait for Perfect!

What is your WOW read?

Love,

Sierra

Teaser Tuesday

2011-08-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Re ading. Here are the rules:

Grab your current read
Let the book fall open to a random page
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Be careful to not give any spoilers... you don't want to ruin the book for everyone!

Novel: A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Page Teasers Are From: 10
Teasers:

The air has grown still. A storm isn't far off.

What are two teaser sentences from the book you are reading? Happy Tuesday!

Love,

Sierra

Its Monday! What Are You Reading?

2011-08-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme centered on reflecting on what you read this past week, what you are currently reading, and what you want to read this upcoming week. Why don't we get started??

What I Read This Week:

Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

What I'm Currently Reading:

A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

What I Want to Finish This Week:

Other than A Great and Terrible Beauty, I really want to start and finish WINGS BY APRILYNNE PIKE this week.

Post your Its Monday! What Are You Reading? post down below and I will check it out!

Love,

Sierra

Review: Impossible by Nancy Werlin

2011-08-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

Released: September 18th, 2008
Published by: Speak
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Star Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Amazon
Page Amount: 364
School Rating: C+ (69%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

Lucy is seventeen when she discovers that she is the latest recipient of a
generations-old family curse that requires her to complete three seemingly
impossible tasks or risk falling into madness and passing the curse on to the
next generation. Unlike her ancestors, though, Lucy has family, friends, and
other modern resources to help her out. But will it be enough to conquer this
age-old evil?

A beautifully wrought modern fairy tale from master
storyteller and award-winning author Nancy Werlin. Inspired by the classic folk
ballad "Scarborough Fair," this is a wonderfully riveting and haunting novel of
suspense, romance, and fantasy.

First Line

On the evening of Lucy Scarborough's seventh birthday, after the biggest
party the neighbourhood has seen since, well, Lucy's sixth birthday, Lucy got
one last unexpected gift.

Review

Let me start this review saying that I had very high expectations for this book. I ordered it over a year ago, and out of the bundle of books I got I was the most excited for this one. Don’t ask me why I didn’t read it sooner than I did. I finally picked it up, and I was somewhat disappointed.

The writing didn’t do anything for me in this novel. I hated that it was written in third person, I felt as though it was being forced to be written that way. I felt as though it almost was like Nancy wanted to write it in 1st person but something made her write it in third. It switched talking about characters very quickly, and it got confusing a lot of the time.

The setting in this novel did nothing for me. To be honest, I can’t even remember where this book was set. It wasn’t memorable, and it did nothing to the story.

The beginning sounded very promising to me. It hooked me, but sadly it lost me halfway through the book.

I loved Zach through the whole novel. He was one of the reasons I kept pushing through the bad writing. Lucy was a nice character too, she just wasn’t amazing. I loved Soledad too, I felt as though she was my mom (and she has my dream career!).

I loved the ending, and it was exactly what I wanted to happen. I think it would be more realistic if it when the total opposite way than it did, but there is nothing you can do.

I love the concept of this novel. The whole three impossible tasks idea is amazing, but sadly the novel didn’t live up to all its expectations I had for it.

Cover Comments

This cover is gorgeous. Period. My mom was even constantly telling me how beautiful this cover was. I think its just amazing, and I love the font the cover is written in.

Love,

Sierra

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

2011-08-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

Released: December 8th, 2009
Published by: Delacourt Press
Series: Fallen, Book One
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Gift
Page Amount: 452
School Rating: B+ (77%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

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.

First Line

Around midnight, her eyes at last took shape.

Review

When I picked this book up, I was expecting a really fast and action filled read. The first half of this book was the total opposaite. I found it really boring and slow, and I almost couldn’t get past the first half of the book. The middle quarter was okay, not as slow as the first half but not what I was expecting. It was the ending that made up for everything in the book. The very last quarter it was like BAM BAM BAM BAM right after the other something happened to the characters. I couldn’t stop reading once I got to that part.

Luce was an okay character, she wasn’t amazing nor was she overly annoying. I was all team Cam the first half of the book, but then for certain reasons I realized that Daniel was obviously the better choice. Other supporting characters such as Penn and Arianne were what pushed me through the first half of the book. Arianne and her quick wit and Penn and her sneakiness.

The whole idea of Sword & Cross was genius. I don’t think Lauren Kate could have set this book in a better environment for it to really make it a good novel.

I didn’t like the fact that Kate wrote this book in third person, I think the book would have been so much better if she had written it in first person. I think it just would have shown more emotion that I think was left out of this novel.

I think Lauren Kate should have dug deeper into what really happened to Trevor, it seemed as though Kate didn’t really care about what happened to Trevor as much as the story behind Daniel and his family. I think that Kate is going to dig more into that in the second and third book, but I really can’t be sure.

It seems like I am just bashing this book, but I really did enjoy reading it. The first half of the book I thought I was going to give it three stars, but the ending just made it a four star book. I really can’t wait to pick up the second book, just to see what happens to the characters.

Cover Comments

This cover is one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen in my entire life. I am not joking. It is gorgeous. I love the whole blue, navy, and black colour palette, and I really think it suit’s the book very well.

Love,

Sierra

Review: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2011-08-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

Released: February 1st, 2009
Published by: Graphia
Series: Jessica, Book One
Star Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Source: Gift
Page Amount: 354
School Rating: B+ (77%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

The undead can really screw up your senior year . . .

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war — and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

First Line

The first time I saw him, a heavy, gray fog clung to the cornfields, tails of mist slithering between the dying stalks.

Review

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I was going to think of JESSICA’S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE. I was afraid it was going to be too much like TWILIGHT, and I was afraid it was going to be too fluffy (don’t get be wrong… I love fluffy books, just not ones with vampires in them). If you read the summary and look at the cover, it screams a girly and fluffy read. Let’s just say I had a lot of concerns going into this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, without it being fluffy and girly.

The beginning was a little slow, and it took a little bit for me to get into it but once I reached about half way I sped right through it. I couldn’t put it down.

Jessica was a very likable character, when she wasn’t in a bad mood (which she rarely was). During the first half of the book, Lucius was my favourite character, like, ever. But during the middle quarter he got a little snotty and I don’t really know what happened to him.

Jessica was a very realistic character, and she processed every single little thing to make sure it made sense, which I don’t relate with well (if a Romanian vampire came up to me and told me I was a part of a pact and I was a vampire and I had to marry him I would jump at the chance!).

I loved the whole idea of Romanian royalty, and I loved it when Lucius talked about Romania, and it just sounds like a beautiful place to go (maybe I’ll visit there someday!).

Beth’s writing style was really nice. I liked that it was written in 1st person, which is my favourite writing style. I felt as if Beth gave lots of detail without it being really boring and unnecessary.

Overall, I really enjoyed JESSICA’S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE. I think it was a really good book, and its one book that I think it’s a book that everyone should pick up sooner or later.

Cover Comments

I think the cover of this book is really gorgeous, and I love the whole red, black, and white theme. I think the colour palette is really pretty.

Love,

Sierra

Friday Firsts: Impossible by Nacy Werlin

2011-08-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

Friday Firsts is a weekly meme in which you just post the first line of the novel you are reading. The first line can make or break a novel... which is yours?

On the evening of Lucy Scarborough's seventh birthday, after the biggest party the neighbourhood has seen since, well, Lucy's sixth birthday, Lucy got one last unexpected gift.

What is the first line of the book you are reading?

Love,

Sierra

Follow (My Book Blog) Friday!

2011-08-19T11:33:00.001-07:00

Follow (My Book Blog) Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee.com and Alisoncanread.com. It basically just allows bloggers to share the love... by following new blogs!

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - Belle Books & Stuck In Books
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q. If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?

I think I would write myself a part in all of the Sarah Dessen books. I know this question only asked for one book... but I love Sarah Dessen and I would love to be a part of all of her novels. Maybe I'm just that girl who the main character always finds sitting in a corner somewhere and reading a book (:

Post your Follow (My Book Blog) Friday post below and I'll check your blog out and follow it (:

Love,

Sierra

Teaser Tuesday

2011-08-16T08:35:00.001-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Re ading. Here are the rules:

Grab your current read

Let the book fall open to a random page

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Be careful to not give any spoilers... you don't want to ruin the book for everyone!

Novel: Fallen by Lauren Kate
Page Teaser Are From: 67
Teasers:

She wanted to unpack, to turn generic room 63 into her own place, where she could go when she needed to escape and feel okay. But she only got as far as unzipping her bag before she collapsed on the bare bed in defeat.

What are two teasers from the novel you are reading?

Love,
Sierra

Review: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

2011-08-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

Released: March 22nd, 2011
Published by: Philomel Books
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Star Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Chapters
Page Amount: 344
School Rating: A+ (91%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously - and at great risk - documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

First Line

They took me in my nightgown.

Review

BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY is a very touching novel. I haven’t come across YA books dealing with the subjects such as the holocaust (other than THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS). I can’t say I have never heard of what happened to the Lithuanian people back in 1941. I feel bad, because I am well educated about the holocaust and the Vel’ d’Hiv roundup, but not what happened to the Lithuanian people.

I loved this book. Let’s through that out there right now. Ruta Sepetys wrote a flawless novel, one that is definitely high up on my favourites.

After reading this novel, Lithuania is one place that I would love to visit. One thing I would like to do before I die is travel the long distances that Lina, her mother, and her younger brother, Jonas, travelled. I want to visit every train station (if they exist) that they stopped at, and just remember all the thousands of people that died right where I was standing.

The plot was amazing… I think it was one that was very delayed in being written. A novel like this should have been written forever ago, and my hat comes off to Ruta for being the one to write about it.

I loved Ruta’s writing. It was raw, to the point but adding detail of the situation, which a lot of books like this lack.

I loved Lina as a character, I felt as if I were right there beside her going through these struggles. Jonas felt like MY little brother (the one my parent’s never had), and whenever something bad would happen to him my heart would break. And then there was Andrius, who was strong and intelligent, and a character I adored as soon as he was introduced.

The ending surprised me, but I felt as if Ruta made a good decision in ending it that way, it just felt like it was one of those things were it was the most ideal.

Overall, this novel was amazing. I loved every minute of it, and it caused me to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it, to see what would happen to Lina and her family. This is a book that everyone needs to read, and everyone needs to know what happened to the Lithuanian people in the early 1940s.

Cover Comments

I think the cover is gorgeous. It shows that something so venerable growing in the worst possible condition that a human can think of. I also love the barbed wire detailing.

Love,

Sierra

P.S. To Stacy, I know how important getting this story out to everyone is to you. My copy of BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY is not ending at me. My mother, aunt and grandmother have showed interest in reading it, and my mother and aunt share a blog, which they will probably review it on.

In My Mailbox

2011-08-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. Her and her blog are too awesome for words. She is one of my biggest blogging inspirations.

I haven't done a IMM in forever, and sadly the only book I have gotten my sister actually bought, but I decided that I would add it in IMM since I will probably end up reading it sooner or later.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Love,

Sierra

Review: Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

2011-08-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

Released: April 11th, 2011
Published by: CreateSpace
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Kindle
Page Amount: Unknown
School Rating: A (87%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

Flat-Out Love is a warm and witty novel of family love and dysfunction, deep heartache and raw vulnerability, with a bit of mystery and one whopping, knock-you-to-your-knees romance.

Something is seriously off in the Watkins home. And Julie Seagle, college freshman, small-town Ohio transplant, and the newest resident of this Boston house, is determined to get to the bottom of it.

When Julie's off-campus housing falls through, her mother's old college roommate, Erin Watkins, invites her to move in. The parents, Erin and Roger, are welcoming, but emotionally distant and academically driven to eccentric extremes. The middle child, Matt, is an MIT tech geek with a sweet side ... and the social skills of a spool of USB cable. The youngest, Celeste, is a frighteningly bright but freakishly fastidious 13-year-old who hauls around a life-sized cardboard cutout of her oldest brother almost everywhere she goes.

And there's that oldest brother, Finn: funny, gorgeous, smart, sensitive, almost emotionally available. Geographically? Definitely unavailable. That's because Finn is traveling the world and surfacing only for random Facebook chats, e-mails, and status updates. Before long, through late-night exchanges of disembodied text, he begins to stir something tender and silly and maybe even a little bit sexy in Julie's suddenly lonesome soul.

To Julie, the emotionally scrambled members of the Watkins family add up to something that ... well ... doesn't quite add up. Not until she forces a buried secret to the surface, eliciting a dramatic confrontation that threatens to tear the fragile Watkins family apart, does she get her answer.

First Line

Julie Seagle stared straight ahead and promised herself one thing: She would never again rent an apartment via Craigslist.

Review

FLAT-OUT LOVE was another book I loaned from Felicia, and she had said it was amazing. I had high hopes going into this novel, and lets just say they weren’t let down. This book was amazing!

This book is a perfect summer read. Its light, fluffy, and a quick read, which is a perfect summer read in my eyes.

Julie was a very likable character, she was realistic, fun, and just an overall great character. Celeste was very quirky, which I love the occasional character who has a lot of quirks. Matt was the nerd in the book, he was the one who would rather spend a Friday night up in his room on his computer than hanging out with his friends. I thought Matt was an awesome character.

I don’t think I have ever read a book set in Boston, which is a city I would love to go to someday. I enjoyed reading about all the sights around, and this book just made me want to go there even more. (I also love their accents, which has nothing to do with the book but I just thought I would share).

I found the beginning a little slow, but once I got past the first little bit the plot just started rolling at a good, steady pace.

Oh my gosh… the ending. I was totally not expecting what happened to happen at all. Although now that I look back on it I don’t think it could have ended in any other way to make this book better.

Overall, FLAT-OUT LOVE was an amazing summer novel, a must read for everyone.

Cover Comments

I love the cover of this novel. At first I wasn’t a fan and didn’t get what it was supposed to mean, but as soon as I finished it I realized that the cover connects a lot with the story. I don’t think this novel could have a better cover.

Love,

Sierra

Follow (My Book Blog) Friday!

2011-08-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Follow (My Book Blog) Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunee.com and Alisoncanread.com. It is basically a meme to share the book blogging love... by following new blogs! Here are the rules...

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - Steph Likes Books & XXXX
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you're new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

This week's question is...

Q. How has your reading habits changed since you were a teen? or If you are still a teen what new genres are you in love with currently?

Since I'm still a teen (ish... I'm 12 so I guess I'm considered a teen) I'll answer the second part of the question. Lately I have been loving historical fiction. I've always loved contemporary... Lately I have also been loving Fantasy and Distopian, huge YA trends. (:

Post your Follow (My Book Blog) Friday post below so I can follow your blog!

Love,

Sierra

Friday First: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2011-08-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

Friday Firsts is a weekly meme in which you just post the first line of the novel you are reading. The first line can make or break a novel... which is yours?

The first time I saw him, a heavy, gray fog clung to the cornfields, tails of mist slithering between the dying stalks.

What is the first line in the book you are reading?

Love,

Sierra

Interview With Megan McCafferty... HAPPY 10TH BOOK BIRTHDAY SLOPPY FIRSTS!!

2011-08-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago on Twitter Megan McCafferty tweeted that she would be choosing 10 bloggers to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of SLOPPY FIRSTS, the first novel in a five book series. I was so excited when I was one of the chosen bloggers to help celebrate! Here is the interview:

1. First of all, congratulations on the 10 year anniversary of SLOPPY FIRSTS! Where did you get the inspiration to begin writing SLOPPY FIRSTS?

I wrote the type of book that I wish I’d had in high school. Jessica is the female narrator I’d always looked for in a book and never found.

2. Was the character Jessica Darling (or any of the other characters) inspired by anybody you know in real life?

Jessica and I certainly have things in common. We both ran track and cross country, worked on the boardwalk, were considered Brainacs, wrote for the school paper. Most significant, we were both devastated when our best friends moved away. Mine moved under completely different circumstances from Hope, but her departure was the defining moment of my high school years. I thought a similar situation for Jessica would make the compelling start of a novel.

As for all the other characters, I started with the truth then started lying my butt off. That’s the fun of fiction. I picked traits and quirks from people I’d gone to school with and added huge doses of made up stuff. None of these characters would exist without my imagination….including Marcus Flutie.

3. How old were you when you started writing SLOPPY FIRSTS? How old where you when you wrote “the end” of the very first draft?

I started writing SLOPPY FIRSTS in fifth grade in the sense that the journal entries I wrote between the ages of 10 and 25 were an essential part of the creative process. I was 26 when I attempted to turn all the material from my journals and ten years of creative writing classes into a novel. I was 28 when SLOPPY FIRSTS was published in 2001.

4. Did you always know that SLOPPY FIRSTS was going to be a Young Adult novel?

Technically SLOPPY FIRSTS isn’t a young adult novel—it’s published by Crown/Three Rivers Press which only puts out books for adults. I always hoped SLOPPY FIRSTS would have a crossover readership, one that would appeal to teens, twentysomethings, thirtysomethings….anyone who could relate to the traumas and dramas of high school. The irony? To depict high school as it really is (four letter words and all) I could only be guaranteed the uncensored freedom to do so at an adult publisher!

5. Thanks for the interview! Last question: what advice do you have to young writers who one day want to be published?

Focus your energy on developing your unique writers voice and don’t obsess over being published.

Thanks again go to Megan for choosing me for one of the bloggers, I had an awesome time coming up with the questions! Happy 10th (:

Love,

Sierra

Review: After by Amy Efaw

2011-08-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Released: August 11th, 2009
Published by: Viking Juvenile
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Chapters
Page Amount: 350
School Rating: B+ (79%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Summary

An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . .

Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made - Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there's only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.

And yet gifted author Amy Efaw does the impossible - she turns Devon into an empathetic character, a girl who was in such deep denial that she refused to believe she was pregnant. Through airtight writing and fast-paced, gripping storytelling, Ms. Efaw takes the reader on Devon's unforgettable journey toward clarity, acceptance, and redemption.

First Line

The T.V.s on, some lame morning show.

Review

AFTER by Amy Efaw is a different book from what I have been reading lately. If you read the summary, you know it says “Amy Efaw does the impossible”… and she truly did.

Although I truly hated what Devon did… she was a pretty likable character. It pained me to see what she was going through. She was a quiet, respectful character who loves reading (which is a bonus!).

This book had a little bit of a slow beginning, but once it got into it, the story just flowed and I couldn’t get enough.

Although the ending is not what I expected and I didn’t agree with it, I felt as if it needed to happen. I felt as though it was the only way to end this novel with Devon feeling good about what she was doing.

I think the jail setting was so disturbing and so detailed. It felt so real and it felt as though I was there sitting beside Devon. You could tell that Amy Efaw did a lot of research before she wrote this novel.

AFTER is about an untalked about tragedy… how a poor, innocent infant is sent to their death in a dumpster. Amy Efaw takes this tragedy and puts light to the situation… a must read.

Cover Comments

I love the cover. I love how they put the person Devon thought she was… and the person she truly was. This is a great cover if you ask me.

Love,

Sierra

Waiting On Wednesday

2011-08-10T18:30:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. My Waiting on Wednesday read is...

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

What is your Waiting On Wednesday Read?

Love,
Sierra

Teaser Tuesday... late again

2011-08-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Re ading. Here are the rules:

Grab your current read

Let the book fall open to a random page

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Novel: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Page Teasers Are From: 17
Teasers:

Mother turned her head and pretended she was deep in conversation with me, completely ignoring her cousin. A small bundle bounced into the bed of the truck near the bald man. His hand grabbed for it greedily.

What are two teaser sentances from the book you are reading?

Love,
Sierra

Teaser Tuesday... FINALLY ON TIME!

2011-08-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

Grab your current read

Let the book fall open to a random page

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Let's get started!

Novel: After by Amy Efaw
Page Teasers are From: 130
Teasers:

She moved across the room to the one empty seat and sits down. Her body, every limb, feels drained, her brain foggy.

Sometime later, Devon hears her name. She sits up, looks around, momentarily confused about where she is and why.

What are two teasers from the book you are reading?

Love,

Sierra

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2011-08-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! So its Monday... what are you reading? This blogging meme is just a way to reflect on your reading week... what you read this week, what you are currently reading, and what you want to read this week.. Let's get started...

What I Read This Week:

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

What I'm Currently Reading:

After by Amy Efaw

What I Would Like to Read This Week:

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park

Cross My Heart by Katie Klein

Well that was my It's Monday! What Are You Reading? post... what did you read this week, what are you currently reading, and what do you want to read this week?

Love,

Sierra

Follow (My Book Blog) Friday!

2011-07-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

Follow (My Book Blog) Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkee.com and alisoncanread.com. Its basically a meme where you share reading love... by following other bloggers! Here are the rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - The Book Addicted Girl & The Little Book Blog
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Question:

LET'S STEP AWAY FROM BOOKS FOR A SECOND AND GET PERSONAL. WHAT T-SHIRT SLOGAN BEST DESCRIBES YOU?

Nuff said.

Friday Firsts: After by Amy Efaw

2011-07-29T14:07:00.001-07:00

Friday Firsts is a meme where you share the first line of the book you are currently reading. Let's get right into it!

The TVs on, some lame morning show.

What is the first line of the book you are reading?

Love,

Sierra

Review: Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

2011-07-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Released: January 9th, 2007
Published by: Delacort Books for Young Readers
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Kindle
Page Amount: 272
School Rating: B (76%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Before this all happened, the closest I'd ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Okay, so maybe that sounds pathetic, but it's not like there were any guys at my high school who I cared to share more than three words with, let alone my body.

Then I met Wes, a track star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too. I couldn't believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing—and touching—parts of the body I'd only read about in my Gray's Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring. It was scary. It was fun. It was love.

And then came the fall.

First Line:

My best friend, Amy, wants to wait until college to ‘do it‘, but until then she’ll do ‘everything but’ with boys she thinks are cute and have good bodies.

Review:

I was talking on twitter with a long time Internet friend of mine, Felicia (follow her on twitter @Felicia970) and she asked if I would like to loan one of her Kindle books. I said yes, loving the opportunity at a new good read. She gave me a list of three books that she could loan, and I chose ANATOMY OF A BOYFRIEND. I started reading it as soon as it was sent to my Kindle, and it only took me about a day and a half to read this book.

Although I didn’t like ANATOMY OF A BOYRFRIEND as much as I thought I would, I still really enjoyed it. Its one of those books that it’s a quick read whether you are enjoying the book or not.

This is a warning right here. This book was a lot more graphic than I expected. Felicia warned me it was going to be weird, but some of the scenes in the book where a little much.

Dominique was a very interesting character. There were times in the book where you loved her to death, and then other times where you just want to slap her. Wes was the same way, but I came to a decision where I decided that I never LOVED him during the course of this novel. I kind of knew how it was going to end, but there were times in the novel where I really doubted what I though. As it turns out, I predicted the whole ending by halfway through the book.

I loved that the book was set in Florida. I love Florida with all my heart! The setting just made me connect to the book more, which made me happy. I love when I can connect to the book!

Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel, but it wasn’t my favourite.

Cover Comments:

I really hate the cover, to be brutally honest. I just find it disturbing and just… I don’t even know how to explain it. Sometimes when I look at it, I just have to look away.

Parental Corner:

This novel includes excessive sexual content and mild cussing.

Love,

Sierra

Review: Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

2011-07-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

Released: May 4th, 2010
Published by: Viking Juvenile
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Overall Rating: 2 out of 5
Source: Present From Family Member
Page Amount: 268
School Rating: D+ (59%)
Age Group: Young Adult Fiction

Best friends Lani and Erin couldn't be more different. Lani's reserved and thoughtful; Erin's bubbly and outgoing. Lani likes to do her own thing; Erin prefers an entourage. There's no possible way they could be interested in the same guy.

So when Erin starts dating Jason, Lani can't believe she feels such a deep connection with him and it may be mutual. The more Lani fights it, the more certain she feels that it's her fate to be with Jason. But what do you do when the love of your life is the one person you can't have?

First Line:

I never meant for it to happen like this.”

Review:

I was not impressed with this novel. Not at all. I was hesitant before going into this novel because I have been warned by more than one person that it wasn’t the greatest read. If you remember (you probably don’t), I read and reviewed THE UNWRITTEN RULE by Elizabeth Scott a while back. This book is almost like a carbon copy of that novel, and they were released within the same month. Anyways…

This novel was very high school cliché. Don’t get me wrong, contemporary novels are probably my favourite out of the whole YA genre, but this was just too high school cliché.

Although I read this novel very fast, I felt as though it was really boring in a lot of places, as though the author put the scene in there just for word count purposes only. I think this novel could have been better if she took out those boring scenes and put more important things to help build the plot a bit more.

I really wish I liked this novel, I really do. I think I will pick up another one of Susane’s novels, just to give them a chance. Maybe it was just that I read THE UNWRITTEN RULE before this novel and I found it as though they were almost the same novel. I think I may have liked it a bit more if I hadn’t read that novel before this one.

Cover Comments:

Oddly enough, I really love this novel’s cover. I think its very simple, yet girly and fit’s the novel perfectly.

Love,

Sierra

Teaser Tuesday

2011-07-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

Grab your current read

Let the book fall open to a random page

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Lets get started!

Novel: Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
Page Teasers Are From: 53
Teasers:

The annual kite festival is one of the best things about spring. Aside from school ending in less than two months and the weather getting warmer.

Lots of people bring their own kites to fly for fun, but unless they're homemade you can't enter them.

What are two teasers from the book you are reading?

Love,

Sierra

Friday Firsts -- Really Late!

2011-07-25T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy this summer that I've rarely been able to keep up with blogging and the memes that need to get done, so lately blogging has been the last thing on my mind. I hope you guys understand if some of the memes that I do are late, I honestly don't want to have them go up late, its just I've been all over the place this summer. Anyways, here is Friday Firsts, which is a meme that you share the first line of the book you are currently reading! I have two first lines to share with you. What is the first line of the book your reading?

The girl was the first to hear the loud pounding on the door.

I never meant for it to happen like this.

Review: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

2011-07-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

Released: June 12th, 2007
Published by: St. Martin’s Griffin
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Borrowed from Family Member
Page Amount: 293
School Rating: A (86%)
Age Group: Adult Fiction

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her
family by the French police in the Vel' d'Hiv roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002:
On Vel' d'Hiv's 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to
retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv, to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

First Line:

“The girl was the first to hear the loud pounding on the door.”

Review:

SARAH’S KEY is a novel that I find hard to place words for. Its one of the most tragic and horrifying books I’ve ever read in my life. I’m having a hard time explaining this novel, just because I just can’t believe what really happened to all these Jews.

Before reading this novel, I had never heard of the Vel’ d’Hiv roundup that the French police did. I always thought that it was the Germans that had everything to do with hating the Jews, but the Germans had very little to do with the Vel’ d’Hiv roundup.

Tatiana has serious talent. Her writing is deep and full of meaning, but doesn’t get you bored at all. You can tell she did endless research on the Vel’ d’Hiv before writing this novel.

I thought I was going to seriously dislike Julia’s story - it just doesn’t seem interesting from the summary, but I really surprised myself and I really enjoyed it. I still think I enjoyed Sarah’s story more.

SARAH’S KEY is a novel I think every reader should read. it’s a fast read, but it is a story that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Cover Comments:

I think the cover is beautiful, having Sarah and her little brother running. I think it has a big meaning to the story, and I love that it isn’t bright, and it almost looks like its sad.

Love,

Sierra

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-07-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. My Waiting on Wednesday read is....

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

I've read Maureen's THIRTEEN LITTLE BLUE ENVELOPES and I really liked it, so I can't wait for THE NAME OF THE STAR to come out! (:

What are you waiting on Wednesday?

Love,

Sierra

Teaser Tuesday... ON WEDNESDAY!

2011-07-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules:

Grab your current read

Let the book fall open to a random page

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Here are my teasers:

Novel: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Page Teasers are From: 47
Teasers:

''Why was this happening to her? What had she done, or her parents done, to deserve this? Why was being Jewish so dreadful? Why were Jews being treated like this?''

''At recess, all the girls with the stars huddled together. They were pointed at by the other pupils, by all of those who used to be their friends. Mademoiselle Dixsaut had made a point of explaining that the stars should not change anything. All the pupils were to be treated the same way as before, star or no star.''

I know those were longer than a sentence, but I just thought I would share the entire thought of the teaser, just so that it would make a little more sense. Hope you enjoyed!

Love,

Sierra

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2011-07-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

IT'S MONDAY! What are you reading? This is a blogging meme to talk about some of the books that you read this week and the ones you are currently reading this week. Let's get started!

Books I've Read This Week-

The Juliet Club by Suzanne
Harper

So Over You by Gwen
Hayes

Books I'm Currently Reading-

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

Hope you enjoyed. (: What are you reading on this Monday?

Love,

Sierra

Review: The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper

2011-07-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

Released: June 1st, 2008
Published by: Harper Collins
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Chapters
Page Amount: 416
School Rating: A- (81%)
Age Group: Young Adult

Italy . . . Shakespeare . . . but no romance?

Kate Sanderson inherited her good sense from her mother, a disciplined law professor, and her admiration for the Bard from her father, a passionate Shakespeare scholar. When she gets dumped, out of the blue, for the Practically Perfect Ashley Lawson, she vows never to fall in love again. From now on she will control her own destiny, and every decision she makes will be highly reasoned and rational. She thinks Shakespeare would have approved.

So when she is accepted to a summer Shakespeare symposium in Verona, Italy, Kate sees it as the ideal way to get over her heartbreak once and for all. She'll lose herself in her studies, explore ancient architecture, and eat plenty of pasta and gelato. (Plus, she'll be getting college credit for it—another goal accomplished!) But can even completely logical Kate resist the romance of living in a beautiful villa in the city where those star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet met and died for each other? Especially when the other Shakespeare Scholars—in particular Giacomo, with his tousled brown hair, expressive dark eyes, and charming ways—try hard to break her protective shell?

"In fair Verona, where we lay our scene . . . "

THE JULIET CLUB was one of those novels that I picked up on a whim - I had never heard of this book before I saw it sitting in the bookstore. I thought it sounded good, so I picked it up. I am so glad I did because THE JULIET CLUB was one of those novels that I could not put down.

Kate was a character I liked from the beginning - she was tough, yet she wasn’t mean. I also liked Giacomo from the beginning - even if he was a player.

I REALLY want to go to Verona, Italy now. Italy sound beautiful, and I loved that this novel was set there, I think it was perfect for the story. Why would you want to go to a Shakespeare seminar for Romeo and Juliet if it WASN’T set in the exact place they fell in love?

On the back of this book, it says “a perfect summer read”… and THE JULIET CLUB truly is an amazing summer read, one that I think every YA lover needs to read sooner or later.

Love,

Sierra

Review: So Over You by Gwen Hayes

2011-07-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

Released: April 25th, 2010
Published by: Gwen Hayes
Series: Stand Alone Novella
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Kindle
Page Amount: unknown
School Rating: C+ (67%)
Age Group: Young Adult

Layney Logan, girl reporter.

That's all she's ever wanted to be. This year, her senior year, not only does she have to share the coveted Senior Editor position with her arch nemesis, Jimmy Foster, she also has to figure out how to keep the school paper alive. With the local paper closing and the school cutting Journalism from the budget, it's a long shot. Working side-by-side with Foster, the guy she likes to call Lucifer, makes it even worse.

The only thing Layney dislikes more than swimming in the high school dating pool is Jimmy Foster think he got the best of her, so she takes
his ridiculous newspaper assignment--to go on twelve blind dates--to prove his powers of darkness won't work on her. The trouble is, the more she learns about herself on her journey of bad blind dates, the more she wonders if maybe Foster has known her better than she knows herself all this time.

And maybe she should have trusted him with the secret she’s kept for four years—the secret that broke them up to begin with.

I read this book on my Kindle because it was under my “suggested books” section and it was only two dollars. Great deal, right? Well, I didn’t have high expectations for this, just because it was so cheap. I can say I was surprised on how entertaining it was.

This book wasn’t the best that it could have been, but it was a really fun read! I read it in about three or four sittings, which is pretty good for me (this novel is also very short, though).

Layney was an… interesting character. When I first started the book, she seemed like, well, almost like a stuck-up snob, but once I got into the book a little bit more and learned her back-story a bit better, I realised that she was actually a pretty good character. I never really liked Jimmy, until the very end of the book. I loved Micah from the moment he was introduced, though.

I loved the whole idea of the dates. I think Layney learned a lot of what she needed to learn on those dates, which made her character that much better.

I would have liked to see it end in a different way, but unfortunately it didn’t, so there isn’t much I can do about it. I guess what happened was meant to happen.

SO OVER YOU is a story about love, loss, learning more about yourself, and learning that you should never let go of what is the most important thing in your life.
Cover Comments

I think this cover is pretty… standard. I do think it’s a nice cover, and portrays the story very well, its just every love story has a cover like this.

Love,

Sierra

Review: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

2011-07-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

Released: May 10th, 2011
Published by: Penguin Young Readers Group
Series: Stand Alone Novel
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Chapters
Page Amount: 402
School Rating: A
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary -

In the past two years, Mclean Sweet has moved four times. At each stop, she assumes a new persona, but it never quite works. Whether she's an effervescent cheerleader or an intense drama queen, nothing can permanently dispel the turmoil and rage at her mother since her parents' divorce.

Sarah Dessen's novel about a teenager and her restaurant manager father captures the vulnerability that young people often experience after the dissolution of their family. A compelling story; strong characterization; and with a touch of romance.

Review -

I waiting forever to get my hands on WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE, since I turned to the very last page of her previous novel, ALONG FOR THE RIDE. I’ve been a huge fan of Sarah Dessen for about three years now, and I’ve read every single one of her novels. She has done it again!

Mclean was a character that had to grow on me. She wasn’t one of those characters where I loved her from the beginning. After she grew on me a bit more, she became one of my favourite characters from a Sarah Dessen novel. On the other hand, Dave was one of those characters that I loved from the beginning, from the very moment he was introduced.

I loved the storyline that Dessen came up with for this novel - one of her most creative. I loved the whole idea of changing yourself, and how it isn’t as easy as its cracked up to be.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I think it’s the perfect summer read, a book about love, changing, and how important it is to be yourself.

Cover Comments -

When this cover was first revealed, I wasn’t a huge fan of it, but after reading it, I really like it! I think it fit’s the story perfectly, but I got a lot of comments from my friends of what Mclean was trying to do.
Ratings -

Plot 9/10
Like able Characters 9/10
Problem Development 8/10
Solution Effectiveness 10/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 8/10
Cover 8/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 9/10
Beginning 8/10
=
89%

Love,

Sierra

In My Mailbox: 30 (A Couple of Days Early!)

2011-07-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. Her and her blog are too awesome for words. She is one of my biggest blogging inspirations.

---

Right now I don't have a video for In My Mailbox, but if I do end up filming and posting one on Youtube, I will add it to the blog. The books I got this week were:

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller

So... I ask you... What did you get in your mailbox?

Review: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

2011-05-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

Released: April 26th, 2011
Published by: Blazer and Bray
Series: Bumped, 1
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Netgalley
Page Amount: 336
School Rating: B+
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents
are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children,
making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old
identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met
until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have
followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception
contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the
perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her
best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her
whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She
believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that
“pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is
running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous,
genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of
mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one
that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in
common.

First Line:

“I’m sixteen. Pregnant. And the most important person on the planet.” Melody, pg 1

Cheesy Back Cover Quote:

“Megan McCafferty’s first novel in a new YA series leads up to what nobody will be able to predict. I can already tell”

Review:

I read BUMPED awhile ago, so sorry if some of my accuracy is off a little bit. I didn’t get around to writing a review for it, so I am writing it now.

McCafferty’s BUMPED was a really fast read, it picked me right up in the beginning and didn’t let go of me. I did find it confusing towards the beginning, but it makes sense as you get a little bit further into the book.

Melody and Harmony were very likable characters. I think I connected more with Melody than I did with Harmony, just because me and Melody grew up in the same type of environment rather than Harmony grew up in something totally different from me.

Overall, this book was a great read. I think its something that all teenagers need to read, just to fully understand how teen pregnancy is only good if the world truly needs it.

Cover Comments:

The cover fits perfectly with this novel, and honestly I really like it.

Ratings:

Plot 8/10
Like able Characters 7/10
Problem Development 6/10
Solution Effectiveness 8/10
Writing Style 9/10
Character Development 8/10
Cover 8/10
Setting 9/10
Ending 9/10
Beginning 7/10
=
79%

Love,

Sierra

In My Mailbox

2011-05-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Blogger won't let me upload a video, but if you would like to see it you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERgnjsJDNv8

Books I got this week:

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Flowers in the Attic Series (all 4 books) by V.C. Andrews
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallad by Charlaine Harris
The Twilight Companion: The Unauthorized Guide to the Series by Loiz H. Gresh

Thats what I got in my mailbox this week, what did you get in yours?

xoxo
Sierra

In My Mailbox: 28

2011-04-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

No books this week! ): Maybe next week!

Love,

Sierra

Review: Glee- The Beginning by Sophia Lowell

2011-04-09T17:38:00.000-07:00

Information:

Released: August 5th, 2010
Published by: Poppy
Series: Glee, 1
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Chapter’s (Local Book Store)
Page Amount: 216
School Rating: C+
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary:

Fans are clamoring for more showmance, more mash-ups, more Cheeri-os...more Glee! Now, Gleeks everywhere can spend more time with uber-ambitious Rachel Berry, outrageous Kurt Hammel and dreamy Finn Hudson with these completely original stories about everyone's favorite Glee Club.

Want to know what was happening with Rachel, Kurt, Quinn and Finn before Will Schuster took over the Glee Club? Find out in the first Original Glee Novel, a prequel that transports readers to McKinley High's hallways before the show began.

Each Original Glee Novel reflects the show's intelligent comedic sensibility and quirky, heartfelt storylines.

First Line:

“Rachel Berry paused outside the door of Principal Figgin’s office just long enough to straighten her knee socks and smooth down the sides of her corduroy skirt.” - Page 1

Cheesy Back Cover Quote:

“It was interesting to see what happened to our favourite Gleeks before Mr. Shuester took over the Glee club. Lets just say things didn’t go as smoothly as you may think”

Review:

This book took me awhile to pick up. The first time I heard of it, I actually didn’t watch Glee, so naturally I didn’t want to pick it up because I didn’t watch it. Once I started watching the show, I wanted to read this book. This book was iffy for me.

The plot and story was… okay. A lot of it was incredibly inaccurate, but if it wasn’t for that, I think I would have liked it more. If I could get over that, I think I would have liked it a lot. I like the whole concept of knowing what happened to Glee club before Mr Shue came into the picture.

The writing, was again okay. It was written in third person, which I felt didn’t fit for the story. I think every chapter should have changed to a different POV, I think that would have been a better way to go.

I obviously love the characters to death, because its my favourite show and if I don’t like the characters, what’s the point in watching it? In this novel, Kurt is my favourite.

Overall, this novel was a overall okay for me. I think it would be a good read for some people, but I think I am such a perfectionist when it comes to my books that I could find all of the flaws in it. I do plan on reading the rest of the books, though, just to see if they end up getting Blaine into them.

Cover Comments:

I can honestly say I HATE this cover. I wish that they would have made it look less like a TV show cover. That may not make sense, but I wish they chose a cover that looked like a actual book cover. Maybe one that was shot at McKinley High?

Ratings:

Plot 10/10
Like able Characters 10/10
Problem Development 5/10
Solution Effectiveness 5/10
Writing Style 7/10
Character Development 4/10
Cover 2/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 8/10
Beginning 8/10
=
69%

Love,

Sierra

Review: Beach Blondes by Katherine Applegate

2011-04-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Information:

Released: May 6th, 2008
Published by: Simon Pulse
Series: Stand Alone Title
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Cole’s (Local Book Store)
Page Amount: 721
School Rating: A
Age Group: Young Adult

Summary:

Three months. Three guys. One amazing summer.

Summer Smith is in for the best summer of her life. Between the cold weather and her boyfriendless existence in Minnesota, Summer is ready for sun, sand, and boys in the Florida Keys. And by the end of the first day, she has more than enough to keep her busy:

Adam, the senator's son, has looks, power, and all the money in the world.

Diver, the mystery man, is mellow, intriguing, and definitely unique.

And Seth, the perfect guy...only he has a girlfriend.

But with new friends, cute guys, and miles of hot white sand, Summer's in for more trouble than she thinks....

First Line:

“I hate my life. I hate my life. And I hate Sean Valletti” - Summer Smith, Page 1.

Cheesy Back Cover Quote:

“Beach Blondes was a light, fluffy chick lit read that I would take to the beach any day. That is one thing that I can’t say about a lot of books.”

Review:

I always knew that BEACH BLONDES was a book. I have seen it in the bookstore before, and I remember thinking that the book looked scary because of its size. Other than that, I never gave it the time of day. I saw it in someone’s Youtube video one time, but I don’t remember who’s, but I remember them saying they really like it, so I decided to pick it up. I am really glad I did, because I found BEACH BLONDES to be a really enjoyable novel.
Although the plot is pretty cliché, I really enjoyed it. I would take this on one of my vacations and read it on the beach, because of its story and plot. The story didn’t take long to develop, within the first two chapters I would say it really started rolling.

I have never been a fan of third person writing, and that is what this was written in. It seemed to go well with the story though, because I seemed not to mind it as much as some books. I guess it fit the story, even though I wish she did write it in first person, because it would have shown a whole lot more of the emotion I think this book lacked.

I loved the characters in this book. Summer was a very nice character to read, she wasn’t crazy yet she wasn’t a goody two-shoes. The other supporting main characters were amazing too, and I loved Seth and Diver.

I think everyone should give this book a chance. I understand that it may not be for everyone, I just think that it’s a book that you should give it at least one chance, because it really is a good book. It may be too girly for some people, but I can’t say I didn’t like that about the book.

Cover Comments:

I think the cover is truly beautiful. One thing that they should have though about when they chose a cover like this was if you were going to bring this book to school it does bring a lot of attention to yourself, and your book. I do think it is pretty, though.

Ratings:

Plot 8/10
Like able Characters 10/10
Problem Development 6/10
Solution Effectiveness 5/10
Writing Style 9/10
Character Development 10/10
Cover 10/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 10/10
Beginning 10/10
=
88%

Love,

Sierra

Review: The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

2011-03-31T14:18:00.001-07:00

Information:
Released: Aril 26th, 2011
Published by: Mira Publishings
Series: Stand Alone Title
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Netgalley
Page Amount: 400
School Rating: A+
Age Group: Adult (But young adult readers can read it.)
Summary:

‘I don't know how to tell you what I did.' The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind Noelle's suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle - her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her family - described a woman who embraced life. But they didn't know everything. Because the unaddressed letter reveals a terrible secret...and a legacy of guilt that changes everything they thought they knew about the woman who delivered their children. A legacy that will irrevocably change their own lives - and the life of a desperate stranger - forever. Diane Chamberlain gets to the heart of the story.

Cheesy Back Cover Quote:
“Diane’s newest book is well written and enchanting. A mervellous and moving story on love, loss, and friendship. I wouldn’t mind having Tara and Emerson as my best friends.”
Review:
I have read two of Diane’s other books, Before the Storm and The Secrets She Left Behind, and I have reviewed both. I plan on reading her other books, so I knew I was going to read her new book. I wasn’t planning on reading it until its released, but when I saw it on Netgalley, I knew I was going to need to read it sooner. I love Diane and her books, so the thought of reading her book came naturally. I am really glad I read it, because it is now very high up on my favourite books list.

In this novel, the plot and story came naturally, not too fast and not too slow, and it kept me reading from the first page. I never say this about a book, because most of the time it is not true, but I am going to say it about this one. This story is flawless . Pure perfection. The story is amazing, moving, beautiful, flawless, perfect, enchanting and so many more words that I could write but I would never be able to stop.
The writing is beautiful, flawless... and all of those words all over again. I love Diane’s writing, its just so unique, and you can really tell that she has true talent. Her writing is unlike any other writer’s I have ever come by. If you handed me a piece of Diane’s writing and didn’t tell me it was hers, and told me to guess who the author was, I could probably pick it out right then and there. That is how unique her writing is. I just can’t get enough of it.
Emerson and Tara are amazing best friends, and I wouldn’t mind having them for ones. Noelle was someone you either loved or hated, and I honestly didn’t like her much. She just wasn’t a good overall friend to Emerson and Tara. The other supporting characters where great help in making the story that much better.
This book was amazing, beautiful, and here I go with the describing words again. Everyone who loves realistic fiction books needs to read this one now, and you will never regret it. You can tell Diane has a passion for story telling, and she doesn’t need to stop anytime soon. I am looking forward to reading some more of her work soon!
Cover Comments:
I am in love with this cover. I love the simplicity of it, just the woman holding the infant. The colours are beautiful, bright but in a subtle way. It shows a lot about the story without giving it all away at a glance. It shows protection, how one little life could mean the whole world to someone, and how they never want anything to happen to that little life.

Ratings:
Plot 10/10
Like able Characters 10/10
Problem Development 10/10
Solution Effectiveness 10/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 10/10
Cover 10/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 10/10
Beginning 10/10
=
100%

Love,

Sierra

Review: Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan

2011-03-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

Information:
Released: November 19th, 2009
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Series: Stand Alone Title
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Chapters (Local Bookstore)
Page Amount: 330
School Rating: A+
Age Group: Young Adult

Synopsis:

Click.

Telephoto lens. Zoom. In a shutter release millisecond, Blake’s world turns upside down. The nameless woman with the snake tattoo is not just another assignment. “That’s my mom!” gasps Marissa.

Click.

Saturated self-portrait: Blake, nice guy, class clown, always trying to get a laugh, not sure where to focus.

Click.

Contrast. Shannon, Blake’s GF. Total. Babe. Marissa, just a friend and fellow photographer. Shannon loves him; Marissa needs him. How is he supposed to frame them both in one shot?

Click.

Chiaroscuro. Lightdark. Marissa again, overexposed. Crash and burn.

Talk about negative space.

Click.

Review:
After hearing about this book, it didn’t take me long to pick it up. The first time I ever laid eyes on it was in one of The Story Siren’ In My Mailbox. She told a brief summary, and I knew I had to pick it up. I went to the book store one time, with no thought in mind what I was going to get. I was walking through the bookshelves, and there I saw FLASH BURNOUT, staring at me. I knew I had to get it. It took me a little while to pick it up from my bookshelf, but then I picked it up during March Break. I am VERY glad I read this book.

The plot and the story are very fast pacing, something that either irks me or enlightens me. For this story, it was enchanting (yes, I just used a Taylor Swift line). This novel was a page turner… in a different way. The plot itself is pretty flat, but L.K. Madigan was a wonderful author and brought it to life. The story was very witty and unexpectedly funny.

L.K. Madigan is an amazing author, including her writing style, and I am saddened that I have only one other book of hers before I have no more of my addiction. I loved the writing in this novel, it was extremely funny, and Blake’s witty voice lightened up the not so light subjects in this novel.

Blake was witty, hilarious, and a great character. Uh… Blake, could you marry me? Seriously. Blake is every guys dream. I don’t think there are many characters I dislike in this novel, which is a good and bad thing. I do like my villains, but I hate talking about them. I also love it because there is no hate in this novel. I even liked Shannon, Blake’s GF that most people are probably not a fan of.

This book was something fresh, and I loved the photography woven into the book. I would definitely say to read this book if you have a chance to read it, because it is truly an amazing read.

Cover Comments:
This book cover is okay, but seeing the blond girls eyes in one of the photographs really bugs me. But it is unlike any other cover I have ever seen, so it gets originality points. I really like the concept of it, but a lot of people who saw the cover thought he was smelling the photos.

Ratings:
Plot 10/10
Like able Characters 10/10
Problem Development 10/10
Solution Effectiveness 10/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 8/10
Cover 8/10
Setting 9/10
Ending 7/10
Beginning 8/10
=
90%

Love,

Sierra

In My Mailbox: 27

2011-03-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Books I Received This Week:

For Review:

Mercy by Rebecca Lim
Mission (Un)popular by Anna Humphrey
Nerd Girls by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy
Two Moon Princess by Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban
Putting Make-up on Dead People by Jen Violi
Bumped by Megan McCafferty
The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Die for Me by Amy Plum
Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
Shine by Lauren Myracle
Semi-Sweet by Roisin Meaney
Everything I Was by Corrine Pems
Plan B by Charnon Simon
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird
The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
Populazzi by Elize Allen

Swag:

Mockingjay necklace.

That's all for me, what did you get in your mailbox this week?

Love,

Sierra

In My Mailbox #26

2011-03-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted my Kristi over on her blog, the Story Siren.

I got one book this week.

Beach Blondes by Katherine Applegate

What did you get in your mailbox?

Love,
Sierra

*All links to books go directly to their Goodreads page, so its easier to add them to your wishlist!

Review: Flawless by Sara Shepard

2011-03-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

Do not read this review unless you have read Pretty Little Liars.
Information:

Released: March 15th, 2007
Published by: HarperTeen
Series: Pretty Little Liars, 2
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Chapters (Local Bookstore)
Page Amount: 330
School Rating: A-
Age Group: Young Adult

Synopsis:

Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is making her sick. And their most horrible secret yet is so scandalous that the truth would ruin them forever.

And why shouldn't I tell? They deserve to lose it all. With every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message I send, I'll be taking these pretty little liars down. Trust me, I've got enough dirt to bury them alive. -A

Review:

It took me awhile to pick up FLAWLESS, but then I started seeing the show covers for FLAWLESS coming out, and that pushed me to pick it up. When I got a couple gift card for my local bookstore, I took my chance and picked it up. I read PRETTY LITTLE LIARS back in the summertime, and I really liked it, so I was hoping I would like FLAWLESS just as much, because then I would know that I would have the full series left to read. I am so glad that I picked it up when I did, and I wished I would have picked it up a bit sooner.

Even though this novel is very clique chick-lit, the overall plot is unlike any other book I have read. Sara Shepard’s THE LYING GAME, although, sounds a lot like it, but I am going to let that pass since it is the same author. I think that it is kind of a breath of fresh air when you read a chick-lit book about popular kids getting cyber bullied (even though cyber bullying is nothing to be happy over, and I never, never, never had supported cyber bullying since I am a high victim of it) because most protagonists in chick-lit are the unpopular kids and they are getting bullied in some kind of way.

This book has it ups and downs when it comes to its characters. I think there are more dislike able characters in this novel rather than like able. From the four main characters, I like Aria, Emily, Spencer and I HIGHLY dislike Hanna. I don’t think there is a since moment that I liked or felt bad for her. Her problems were (pretty much) all her fault and she is a really whiny character. I also dislike most of the supporting characters.

I am going to mesh problem and solution together. I like how the problem with A is being stretched out all through the books, and I don’t believe that the problem will be solved (aka the readers figure out who A is) until the very last or second last novel. So, solution strikes low here, because of that factor, but I can’t say I dislike that it is being stretched out like this.

I really like Sara’s writing style, but I am not a big fan of third person, so that pushes me off of it a bit. That is just my personal view, but its not that bad.

The characters don’t really change through the book that much, but they changed before the books took place, so that makes it a bit better for me.

A lot of people highly dislike these covers, but I love them to death, because they are different from any of the book covers I have ever seen before. I like the fact that the front has a Barbie doll on it, and if you flip it over to the back cover it has the human version of that Barbie doll.

I like that this book is set in a very rich and what seems to be a very snotty and perfect neighbourhood, but the books show different.

I like how these books have a half cliff-hanger, because it makes you want to pick up the next book and just devour it.

The beginning of this book grabbed me instantly and had me hooked, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened at the end.

Parental Corner:

This book deals with mild alcohol usage and mild cussing. It briefly deals with drugs, but nothing major. This book isn’t as bad as some of the books I have read, so it is not that bad for young adult readers.

Ratings:

Plot 8/10
Like able Characters 7/10
Problem Development 9/10
Solution Effectiveness 5/10
Writing Style 8/10
Character Development 6/10
Cover 10/10
Setting 9/10
Ending 9/10
Beginning 9/10
=
88%

Love,

Sierra

In My Mailbox: 25

2011-02-27T08:24:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over on her blog, the Story Siren. In My Mailbox not only allows people to see what books YOU got this week, but also other people's books. It also allows people to drool over new books that have been coming out.

Sadly, my mailbox was empty this week. Maybe next week!

Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

2011-02-21T09:44:00.000-08:00

Information:

Released: August 3rd, 2010
Published by: HarperCollins
Series: Lorien Legacies, 1
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Kindle Store
Page Amount: 440
Age Group Recommend: Young Adult

Synopsis:

In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.
I AM NEXT.

Review:

Lets set the record straight… I usually do not read science fiction alien stories. I mainly picked this up because of the movie coming out with Alex and Dianna from Glee. I am hoping the book is a whole lot better than the book, because then I am not going to waste my five bucks.

This book was… interesting. It really never held my attention and I was very confused for a majority of it. The one thing that kept me held on to the story was John and Sarah’s love story.

I am not a big fan of the original cover, but I am in love with the movie cover. I usually don’t like movie covers, but I think they did a good job with this one.

The writing style was NOT good… at all. I felt like an eight year old could have done better than what the author did. (Yes, I know full well that there really isn’t a “Pittacus Lore”).

This book really wasn’t for me. Maybe if I read more alien stories, I might have liked it better.

Parental Corner:

This book had mild cussing, no sexual content, or drug use. Its nothing that any Young Adult reader should read.

Love,

Sierra

In My Mailbox: 24

2011-02-20T16:52:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that is hosted by Kristi over on her blog, The Story Siren. It allows bloggers (and fellow readers) to see what book people are getting this week.

The books I got this week:

Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
Flawless by Sara Shepard
The Juliet Club by Suzanne Harper

What did you get in your mailbox?

In My Mailbox: 22

2011-02-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

I am SO sorry guys! I can't believe I went this long without blogging! Anyways, lets get into this.

---

Even though I didn't get these books this week, I thought I would share.

Glee: The Beginning
Vampire Academy

What did you get in your mailbox?

Follow (My Book Blog) Friday (3)

2011-01-28T13:23:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! This is my third follow Friday, and here are the rules:

Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://missiontoread.blogspot.com
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

The question this week is:

What is/was your favourite subject in school?

Yes, I did write favourite the Canadian way. Well, my favourite school subject is writing and reading. The why is obvious.

Review: The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

2011-01-23T14:24:00.000-08:00

Released: March 16th, 2010
Published by: Simon Pulse
Series: Stand Alone Title
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Christmas Present
Page Amount: 224
Age Group Recommend: Young Adult

He's looking at me like—well, like he wants to look at me.

Like he likes what he sees, and he's smiling and his eyes are so blue, even in the faint flow of the porch light they shine, and I nod dumbly, blindly, and then grope for the door handle, telling myself to look away and yet not able to do it.

"Sarah," he says, softly, almost hesitantly, and my heart slam-bangs, beating hard, and this is what it's like to want someone you can't have. To want someone you shouldn't even be looking at.

THE UNWRITTEN RULE is a fresh change to the fantasy-esc books that I have been reading lately.

The plot wasn’t crazy original, but original enough that I haven’t read a book on the same subject. BUT, I have heard of books with the same plot-line.

The protagonist, Sarah, was a VERY likable character, since I could relate to her in more ways than one. I knew Brianna wasn’t a good friend from the start, so I never really liked her. She was also very one-dimensional to me, like how she didn’t have much of a personality. Ryan is the type of guy that you can’t help but fall for. So, this book was filled with mostly really good characters, but there is always that one bad character that throws it off.

I am going to skip over the problem and solution, because that would include spoilers.

I really enjoyed Elizabeth’s writing style. It reminded me a lot of my all-time favourite author’s writing styles, like Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti. Since I haven’t read one of their books in a long time, to was nice to read an author whose writing style is very similar.

Sarah didn’t change that much during the duration of the novel, but she did learn some lessons throughout the novel.

The cover, the cover. This is were a lot of books get picked on, it seems with me, but I actually like this cover. Its not one of my favourites, but it is very nice. It is also a refreshment to all of the covers with the model’s face in it.

I LOVED the ending of this novel, it ended up just the way I wanted it. I am not going to say anymore because I would be spoiling it.

The beginning was very slow in this novel, which was the main reason it took me so long to get through. Once you get past the first three quarters, though, it is very fast-paced and you could get through it.

This novel was very good overall, and it is definitely one you should pick up!

Plot 8/10
Like able Characters 9/10
Problem Development 10/10
Solution Effectiveness 10/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 6/10
Cover 9/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 10/10
Beginning 6/10
=
88%

Love,

Sierra

Review: Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

2011-01-22T08:47:00.000-08:00

*Warning: This is a short story in between the first and second book. This review may spoil the first book in the series, so do not read this review unless you have read The Iron King by Julie Kagawa.*

Released: May 20th, 2010
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Series: The Iron Fey, 1.5
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
Source: Kindle Store
Page Amount: 59
Age Group Recommend: Young Adult

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat...

An eBook exclusive story from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

I was not happy with this short story. It seemed kind of pointless to me, for a matter of fact. This review is going to be short, since this really was only a short story. You have been warned.

I don’t know for sure how important this short story is to the Iron Fey series, as I have only read The Iron King, and impatiently waiting to get my hands on The Iron Daughter.

Of course I liked Julie’s writing style, since it is just as beautiful as always. I don’t know… short story just wasn’t for me. I also have never been a fan of reading short stories.

At least it was nice to come back to the world of Nevernever, but it was just me, myself, and I that didn’t like it.

Plot 7/10
Like able Characters 8/10
Problem Development 3/10
Solution Effectiveness 2/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 4/10
Cover 10/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 5/10
Beginning 6/10
=
65%

Love,
Sierra

In My Mailbox: 21

2011-01-22T07:24:00.001-08:00

I know, I know, I have been really bad lately with posting blog posts. School has started back up and I have had no time to do anything other than school work.

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at the Story Siren. I love in My Mailbox, because I get to drool over the new books I got and books other people got!

---
I got a few books the past couple weeks that I haven't done IMM.

Bought:

78 Reasons Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why it Just Might by Pat Walsh (Kindle)
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (Kindle)
Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa.

That's all for me this week... what did you get in your mailbox?

Author Interview with Jackson Pearce!

2011-01-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

I am here today with Jackson Pearce, author of AS YOU WISH and SISTERS RED. Here is a mini interview! Warning: This interview may contain spoilers from AS YOU WISH, so please do not read on until you have read AS YOU WISH.

1. What’s you favourite colour?

Pink!

2. Where did you first come across the name Viola?

Viola is the name of a character in Shakespeare's THE TWELFTH NIGHT. All of the
names in As You Wish are taken from Shakesperean plays!

3. Where did the idea for Caliban come from?

I knew I wanted Jinn to be from another world, but didn't want it to be a
fantasy land where people lived in cottages and whatnot. I wanted a fantasy
city, like the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz.

4. If you could change the cover for either AS YOU WISH or SISTERS RED, which would you choose?

I LOVE SISTERS RED's cover. I like As You Wish's, but if forced to choose one or
the other, I'd have to change that one!

5. Did you always want to write for young adults.

I always wanted to write, and the stories that came out of me were just marketed
for young adults. I never really consciously think about the fact that I'm
writing for teens-- I just try to write good books!

6. Thanks for the wonderful interview, last question, what is you biggest advice for young aspiring authors?

Write-- don't talk about writing or think about writing or plan to start
writing. Just WRITE, and ignore the rest.

In My Mailbox: 20 (The No Book Edition)

2011-01-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at the Story Siren. It not only allows blogger interaction, it is fun to drool and brag about the books we got each week!

***

Sadly, no books for me!

Review: Fallout by Ellen Hopkins

2011-01-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

* This is the third book in a series, so this review may contain spoilers for the first books. Do not continue reading unless you have read Crank and Glass by Ellen Hopkins. *

Released: September 14th, 2010
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Series: Crank, Third Book (Final Instalment)
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Christmas Present
Page Amount: 663
Age Group Recommend: Young Adult

Hunter, Autumn, and Summer—three of Kristina Snow’s five children—live in different homes, with different guardians and different last names. They share only a predisposition for addiction and a host of troubled feelings toward the mother who barely knows them, a mother who has been riding with the monster, crank, for twenty years.

Hunter is nineteen, angry, getting by in college with a job at a radio station, a girlfriend he loves in the only way he knows how, and the occasional party. He's struggling to understand why his mother left him, when he unexpectedly meets his rapist father, and things get even more complicated. Autumn lives with her single aunt and alcoholic grandfather. When her aunt gets married, and the only family she’s ever known crumbles, Autumn’s compulsive habits lead her to drink. And the consequences of her decisions suggest that there’s more of Kristina in her than she’d like to believe. Summer doesn’t know about Hunter, Autumn, or their two youngest brothers, Donald and David. To her, family is only abuse at the hands of her father’s girlfriends and a slew of foster parents. Doubt and loneliness overwhelm her, and she, too, teeters on the edge of her mother’s notorious legacy. As each searches for real love and true family, they find themselves pulled toward the one person who links them together—Kristina, Bree, mother, addict. But it is in each other, and in themselves, that they find the trust, the courage, the hope to break the cycle.

Told in three voices and punctuated by news articles chronicling the family’s story, FALLOUT is the stunning conclusion to the trilogy begun by CRANK and GLASS, and a testament to the harsh reality that addiction is never just one person’s problem.

FALLOUT is the final book in the CRANK series, which was the first books that I have ever read by Ellen Hopkins. The only other Ellen Hopkins book that I have read was IMPULSE.

Of course I was going into this book with high expecations. I loved CRANK, and I linked GLASS, so I was excited to see what FALLOUT would bring, since it wasn’t told directly in Kristina’s point of view.

One thing that I didn’t like about this book was that I don’t think that it showed enough of Kristina. I did, however, like how it showed how Kristina’s addiction effected her children.

I have always been intrigued by the plot of Ellen’s novels, since I read a lot of light, fluffy, chick-lit kinds of novels, these are different kinds of book for me. In a good way.

Kristina is definitely not a likeable character, but I liked all Hunter, Autumn, and Summer.

Another thing I wasn’t a big fan of in this novel was nothing really happened that was super important until the very end of the novel. So the solution wasn’t the greatest either.

I have always been a fan of Ellen’s writing style, since it is so poetic and beautiful. Her writing style is unlike any other author’s writing style, and I think the verse writing is the best for her style.

I love all the covers of Ellen’s novels. The are simple, but yet they still catch your eye on the book shelves. They are perfect for the novels.

I liked how Hunter, Autumn and Summer all lived in different places, it made it seem so realistic.

Overall, these novels are a must read.

Plot 10/10
Like able Characters 8/10
Problem Development 6/10
Solution Effectiveness 8/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 7/10
Cover 10/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 10/10
Beginning 8/10
=
87%

Love,
Sierra

Review: Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

2011-01-08T07:20:00.000-08:00

Released: June 1st, 2010
Published by: Sourcebooks Fire
Series: Summer, First Book
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Amazon Kindle Store
Page Amount: 324
Age Group Recommend: 12 and up

Sometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the very beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.

My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything.

This is one of my favourite books, if not is. When I went into this book, I was expecting a fluffy, girly summer-y read. This was not the case of this novel, but I am definitely not disappointed. Not one bit. I am also so excited for the sequel, Summer of Sneaking Out.

If any of you guys follow me around Twitter or even on the blog, you guys will know I am a big romantic. This book is filled with the kind of romance I want to have someday. Minus the big dramatic ending.

I loved Mia and Simon to death. They are two of the most likable characters I have probably ever read. Corienne was some what likable, same with Beth, and I thought Eva was the cutest little thing in the world.

I loved how the problem didn’t come to the very end of the book. In most novels, I hate this, but in this novel it suited it most.

This novel is not a light fluffy read, just to be warned. I cried at the end of this book, to be honest.

I loved Amanda’s writing style in this novel. It is her first YA original novel, and this is not the worst I have read. I LOVED this book. (: Can I say this enough?

By the end of this novel, Mia was a totally different person. I think she turned for the better, in my opinion.

The cover is gorgous, it simple, elegant, and it suites this novel perfectly. I love the colours, and they all go together so well.

I love books that are set at the beach, since I love the beach so much, and they is no beach close to me. I have fallen in love with beaches on my vacations.

I loved this novel, and I definitely recommend EVERYONE to read this book.

Plot 10/10
Like able Characters 10/10
Problem Development 10/10
Solution Effectiveness 10/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 10/10
Cover 10/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 10/10
Beginning 10/10
=
100%

Love,
Sierra

In My Mailbox: 19- The 2011 Edition

2011-01-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, and it allows bloggers and readers to have new books on their radar.

---

I got four books this week, and I am so excited about all of them!

For Review:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Netgalley)
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard (Netgalley)

Bought:

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells (Kindle)
Wish by Alexandra Bullen (Kindle)

What did you get in your mailbox?

Follow Friday

2010-12-31T13:40:00.000-08:00

I did Follow Friday once, but I never did it again, so you could say I am new to this. Here are the rules for Follow Friday:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - not this week.
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
8. If your new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Here is this weeks question:

What is your 2011 blogging resolutions?

Well, I would like to become a more active blogger. I can go a whole week without posting a single post. I would also like to be a more well known blogger, but I know this only comes with time.

Thanks!

Sierra

End of 2010 Survey

2010-12-31T09:11:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner has a End of 2010 Survey up, and I decided that I wanted to take part in all the fun, so here I go:

1. Best book of 2010?
Oh man, I don't think I can pick one. I have read so many amazing books this year, that I just can't pick one out of the bunch.

2. Worst book of 2010?
The Lovely Bones, hands down.

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010?
The Lovely Bones.

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010?
Mhm... I don't know!

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010?
The Hunger Games.

6. Best series you discovered in 2010?
The Hunger Games and Crank.

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010?
Alex Flinn, Jennifer Echols, and John Green.

8. Most hilarious read of 2010?
Mhm... I don't know!

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?
The Hunger Games

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010?
Mockingjay!

11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010?

I am reading this one now.
12. Most memorable character in 2010?
Katniss and Peeta from The Hunger Games. Also Alaska from Looking for Alaska

13. Most beautifully written book in 2010?
Looking for Alaska

14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?
Th1rteen R3asons Why and Looking for Alaska.

15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read?
DearJohn. Oh my freaking gosh.

Book Blogging in 2010 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2010?
Since I only started blogging this year, I discovered most of my bloggers this year, but I am only going to name one, Mel from Reading Vacation, because she is a fellow eleven year old blogger.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010?
As You Wish

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?
Mhm... not sure!

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog? So many.

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?
Sadly, I have never been to an author signing or anything along those lines because nobody good comes here!

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2010?
When amazing authors took the time out to comment and email me!

7. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.) ?
Netgalley. Oh my gosh... I swear I will not be able to live without it now.

That was fun!

Come Visit Me

2010-12-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

I just wanted to let you know that I have a Youtube channel that currently has six uploads and I am currently uploading another. If you would like to check out my videos and subscribe to me (that would be wonderful since I only have three subbies) you can follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/thereadingchick?feature=mhum. It would mean the world to me if you at least checked out my videos.

Love,
Sierra

Review: Zombies vs Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

2010-12-28T10:50:00.000-08:00

It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths—for good and evil—of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies. Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

Released: September 21st, 2010
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry
Series: -
Overall Rating: 2 out of 5
Source: Book Store
Page Amount: 304
Age Group Recommend: 12 and up

This book me over a month to read. OVER A MONTH. That is just plain crazy. I felt as it was just being dragged on and on.

When I would be reading this book while in class, a lot of kids would come up to me and say “who’s winning?”, and I had to tell them that they weren’t having an actual fight, it was just a bunch of short stories for the team you were on. They walked away from me.

Since this is an collection of short stories, I will not put the ratings on the bottom of the review like I usually do, since I can’t honestly rate this type of book.

I didn’t like this book. Not at all. I was attracted to the unique cover, not the concept. To be honest, I have never read a book about either a zombie or a unicorn, so neither zombies or unicorns are my thing, but I wanted to read this book anyway. Why did I even pick it up?

I will warn you now, this review is going to be short. I have never done a review on a short story collection like this, so this is a first time for me.

This book just wasn’t really for me, it may be for other people, it just wasn’t for me. Its just my opinion, which is apparently a lot different from a majority of the readers, if you compare from the reviews on GoodReads.

Love,
Sierra

Review: As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

2010-12-26T17:59:00.001-08:00

Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing—to have someone love her again and, more importantly, to belong again—until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well . . . and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life—and her world—forever.

Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong . . . and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.

Released: September 1st, 2009
Published by: Harper Teen
Series: -
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Amazon Kindle Store
Page Amount: 304
Age Group Recommend: 12 and up

If any of you watch Jackson’s videos on Youtube, you know that she is funny. Wait a minute, let me rephrase that. If any of you watch Jackson’s videos on Youtube, you know that she is hilarious. That pretty much set the goal level another notch for her books. I hoped AS YOU WISH would be funny, just like Jackson herself, and let me say, I was NOT disappointed.

Having been subscribed to Jackson on Youtube for quite some time, it shocked me that I had waited this long to read a book from her. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know the answer myself. Let me say this: this novel is one of the best debut novels I have EVER read.

I read this book in less than twenty four hours. This book is quickly paced, hilarious, and full of amazing qualities.

I have never read a book about a genie before. EVER. I was excited to start reading this book, and this book will always hold a sentimental feeling in my heart because it is the first book I have ever read on my Amazon Kindle.

I really liked all of the characters, and I don’t think there is a single specific character that I could pick out that I can say I disliked. I swear.

I liked how Jackson introduced Jinn within the first couple of pages, because it shows how most of the book was going to revolve around him and Viola.

I love Jackson’s writing style is pure and utter genius. It is funny, deep, emotional, light, fluffy, and so much more all at the same time. I don’t know how this lady does it, but my hat goes off to her!

Viola didn’t really start changing for me until the last half of the book, but it was for the best interest for her and the supporting characters, which I really enjoyed.

This is were this book is going to get picked on. I hate the cover for this book. I dislike a lot of covers that shows the eyes of the model on it, but I also don’t think that the cover represents the book at all, and the model is defiantly not what I pictured Viola to look like.

The others I liked for pretty much the same reasons as I have already said in this review about a thousand times, so I will not repeat what I already said. This book was amazing, and a must read!

Plot 10/10
Like able Characters 10/10
Problem Development 10/10
Solution Effectiveness 10/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 9/10
Cover 4/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 10/10
Beginning 10/10
=
93%

Love,
Sierra

In My Mailbox: 18 (The Christmas Edition)

2010-12-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

*I got a youtube channel, and currently there are two videos up! Go subscribe to me and expect more videos soon! Click here to view my channel.*

This is my Christmas IMM! I also got a Kindle! These are the real books I got:

Fallout by Ellen Hopkins
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Something Like Fate by Susan Colasanti
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Paper Towns by John Green
After by Amy Efaw
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Perfect Chemestry by Simone Elkeles
The Book Theif by Markus Zusak
As You Wish by Jackson Pearce (Kindle)

Did any of you guys get books for Christmas? What was in your mailbox this week?

So... hello.

2010-12-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

Hey guys. I know I haven't blogged in awhile, but school has been crazy the last few weeks leading up to winter break, so I have had no time what so ever to blog. I get out of school tomorrow, so more blogs will be coming your way. I am also really excited to do my Christmas in my mailbox! That will probably not be up ON Christmas day, more like on Sunday or Monday, but if I do find time in that crazy weekend, it will for sure be up. I made sure I asked for LOTS of books, plus I asked for a Kindle, so books in my mailbox will probably be more likely, since I will be buying Kindle files.

Anyways, I just thought I would make a little blog post apologizing for the lack of blogs. I will probably make another Tia's Voice after I post this blog.

Love,
Sierra

Tia's Voice: Pictures Say A Thousand Words

2010-12-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Leading up until Christmas, I think my Tia's Voice Posts are all going to be holiday related! So, today there will not be a lot of talking going on. I am just going to post a few of thousands pictures that have to do with Christmas! Shall we get started?

Tia's Voice- Christmas!

2010-11-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

So, everybody knows Christmas is coming up. Whether we like it or not. Personally, I can't wait for Christmas. It is one of those rare times of year that my whole family is all together in one place and we can just have fun.

Christmas has to be, hands down, my favourite holiday. Not just because of the presents, but they have something to do with it. I feel amazing every Christmas morning, seeing the wide smiles on my little cousin's faces, and seeing the equally wide smiles on my older relatives.

Some of our Christmas traditions I am going to tell you about. Let's start with Christmas Eve.

We go over to my grandmother's house at usually about two-thirty. The boys are usually in the basement watching the hockey game, the girls are upstairs preparing dinner, also taking care of kids that filter up and down the stairs, but there is usually a movie going on in the living room for them. Usually the Lion King.

We take off our coats, and filter into the house. My dad usually immediately filters to the basement, and my sister Bailee heads wherever my cousin Zachary is. Me and my mom usually stay in the kitchen with the rest of the girls who have arrived, helping out with dinner wherever we can.

Our dinner is usually just finger foods. Shrimp, chips, crackers, ect. ect. ect. I usually eat too much, and my stomach doesn't feel the best for the rest of the night. It doesn't ruin it for me, though.

Then the kids get to open one present that was picked out. It is always a movie that we get to watch while the adults are playing cards with change that they save up the prior year. Our grandmother, who we call Mama, always buys it for us. Last year, Mama bought us the Christmas Shrek TV special on DVD. I think my dad and uncle enjoyed it more than my cousin Zachary or my cousin Carter (his brother) did! It was awesome, though.

My sister usually has the Santa tracker going, so whenever the tracker says it is about Quebec, we start planning to go to bed. We don't go to bed right away, because we are most likely not tired yet. At this time, it is about 11:30-12.

I think the best part of Christmas day is waking up, waiting in bed for seven o'clock to roll around. The reason for that is, since we have Christmas at my grandmother's house, she had set up a rule were we can't come down the stairs until seven o'clock. Since I get the privilege of sleeping in her room, I have a huge digital clock on the vanity in her room. So as soon as I open my eyes, I know what time it is. I usually wake up around six thirty, and those thirty minutes are the longest minutes of my whole entire life.

But that is only part of the best part. When seven o'clock finally rolls around, all you can hear is a stamped of kids running down the stairs. Since my younger cousins usually get up before that on any other day, they are the only ones who, on some years, get to come down early. But they are not allowed to go downstairs and look. When me and my sister surface, they are immediately allowed to go down stairs and look at the tree and all the presents. Usually some adults are up, so we are allowed to open our stockings. Which, I have to tell you, mine and my sisters are HUGE. I mean HUGE. I love my stocking, though.

The stocking items entertain us until the rest of the adults wake up and open up their stockings. Then we get to the big stuff.

Since most of the things I ask for are small, and among all the huge gifts that my cousins get, they tend to slip down to the bottom. So I have to wait awhile in the beginning, but by the end I have a huge pile of unopened gifts on my lap, and everybody else is finished, and they are staring at me.

Then we stay until after supper, than leave with all of our new gifts.

These are my family's Christmas traditions, I would love to hear about yours! If you can get it small enough, leave it in the comments, if not, and you have a blog, link me to a post!

Love,
Sierra

In My Mailbox (17)

2010-11-28T13:40:00.000-08:00

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at the Story Siren. It not only allows you to brag and drool over new books, it also promotes blogger interaction.

---

No books for me! What did you get in your mailbox?

Love,
Sierra

Review: Secrets She Left Behind by Diane Chamberlain

2010-11-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

*Warning, this is a companion novel to Diane Chamberlain’s BEFORE THE STORM, so the review may contain spoilers from the previous novel. Please do not continue reading unless you have read BEFORE THE STORM by Diane Chamberlain.*

One afternoon, single mother Sara Weston says she's going to the store--and never returns. In her absence, she leaves her teenage son alone with his damaged past and a legacy of secrets.

--
Summary from Goodreads

Released: June 1st, 2009
Published by: Mira Publishing
Series: Before the Storm, 2
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Friend of my Mom’s
Page Amount: 490
Age Group Recommend: 12 and up

I have reviewed BEFORE THE STORM by Diane Chamberlain on here before, which was borrowed from my mom’s friend. Well, since my mother felt bad since she has kept these books for so long, she told me that I should read SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND so she could give it back to her friend.

SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND was a easy, fast-paced read, just like the previous book. It leaves you hanging with the end every chapter.

The cover of this book isn’t my favourite, it is not too bad. I don’t like how you can see her eyes, but it is not as bad as some covers. It could have been better though.

I love the plot of this novel, as though I did for the first book. I can’t say too much without spoiling it, but I loved how it finished off a little less than a year after BEFORE THE STORM was set, because it was perfect, and it answered most of my questions about what happened next right in the beginning.

This novel is full of like able characters. I am one of the few people who love Maggie to death. In this novel, Andy was by far my favourite character. I couldn’t wait through the whole novel until it went back to Andy’s point of view, because I loved him so much. I felt as if in this novel he grew up so much from the point that he was left off in BEFORE THE STORM.

The problem progressed quickly yet slowly enough. In most novels, I don’t like it when it moves very fast, but I love that about Diane’s novels.

I love Diane’s writing style to death. It is just so easy and flawless, and you can’t help but love it.

I have to say, I am so in love with Topsail Island. I will have to make sure that I get there before I die. I mean, seriously. Diane does the best job ever to describe this beautiful beach paradise. I can see it thoroughly in my mind, and I can just see myself freely walking down the beach and seeing Jamie’s church. Although it probably isn’t actually there.

Diane’s novels are defiantly one of my favourites of all time. Everybody needs to read her novels, because you will fall in love with Diane’s world.

Plot 9/10
Like able Characters 10/10
Problem Development 10/10
Solution Effectiveness 10/10
Writing Style 9/10
Character Development 9/10
Cover 8/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 9/10
Beginning 8/10
=
92%

Love,
Sierra

Cover Creation (1)

2010-11-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

Cover Creation is a meme that Jessica over at Chapter Chicks made when she was bored for five minutes. I thought it was an amazing idea so I decided to start it too.

The book I am doing is BEFORE THE STORM by Diane Chamberlain. I recently read the second book in the series, SECRETS SHE LEFT BEHIND, so I decided to do this one.

What do you think? I think it is pretty good, but mine doesn't even compare to the original, though. Sicne all I am stuck with is Picnik, this is the best I could do. Here is the original cover:

Look Whos Back!

2010-11-25T16:30:00.000-08:00

I am so sorry that I haven't been blogging in awhile. Normally I hate when people make posts saying why they were gone, but this feels necessary.

School has been stressing me out lately and all I have been wanting to do is sleep. Not a lot of that has been going on at night.

Anyways, like I said this post felt necessary. I have a review coming up for you guys, so watch out for that.

Love,
Sierra

P.S. Happy American Turkey Day! I wish I was having turkey!

In My Mailbox (16)

2010-11-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. It not only allows people to see new books, but it allows blogger interaction.

***

No books for me this week!

What did you get in your mailbox?

Sierra

In My Mailbox (15)

2010-11-14T13:35:00.000-08:00

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren. It allows readers and bloggers to not only show what they got that week but to drool over some new books, too.

***

Sadly, for my mailbox it was a sad, long, and lonely week. I hope next week will be a little better for me!

That's it for my in my mailbox this week... what did you get in yours?

Review: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

2010-11-14T12:53:00.000-08:00

When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can't imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne "confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, no house that Anne's in will ever be dull." And no book that she's in will be, either.

- Summary from Goodreads

Released: May, 1908
Published by: Signet Classics
Series: Anne of Green Gables, 1
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Source: Sister’s Bookshelf
Page Amount: 175
Age Group I Recommend: 8 and up

This book took me forever to grade. This is what I am sticking with, though.

I really don’t read classics, but one morning I was in the mood for a classic that everybody said is good, so I slipped it off my sisters book shelf and read.

I really wish I didn’t.

Lucy’s writing style is very plain, my nine year old sister can write better than she can. She barely gives any detail whatsoever, which just brought the book down since it was set in one of the most beautiful provinces in Canada, Prince Edward Island. Although I have never been there myself, I have known people who have and they said it was beautiful. I have also seen pictures and it seems absolutely gorgeous.

The plot was plain and flat, half of the reason was the writing style. I mean, it really didn’t have that good of a plot to start out with. It was just like she randomly said I want to write something and thought of the character Anne and just wrote random things in a time line. It also seemed to move fast, since Anne went from twelve to an adult in a mere one hundred and seventy-five pages. And that included tons of full page pictures.

I really don’t enjoy writing this review. I wish I could say that I loved it and just ramble on and on, just stating reasons why, because this just seems to be an adored book, but I can’t, because then I would be lying.

Sorry for the short review, that is all I can pretty much say about such a short book.

Plot 6/10
Like able Characters 5/10
Problem Development 2/10
Solution Effectiveness 2/10
Writing Style 3/10
Character Development 8/10
Cover 6/10
Setting 8/10
Ending 5/10
Beginning 4/10
=
49%

Love,
Sierra

My Friend Needs Your Help.

2010-11-12T14:58:00.001-08:00

More like would love your help. My friend Amber, I have known her since... forever, started a blog recently and she only has three followers, so I would love it if you guys all followed her, I know it would mean the world to her. The link is at the bottom of this post.

Love,
Sierra

http://lalagirl87.blogspot.com/

Tia's Voice: It's Back! And Better Than Ever!

2010-11-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

That's right, folks. Tia's Voice is back.

The reason I stopped doing it is because I couldn't pick a day that was best for me, because my schedule is never the same. So, I am back with a new plan.

I am going to try to post a Tia's Voice everyday, but on some days I won't be able to, so try not to get really mad if I don't post one everyday.

I think this way, it will make my blog more interactive, and I would love if you sent me requests for Tia's Voice posts, so if you have an idea for a post, please don't hesitate to email me at thereadingchic (at) gmail (dot) com. Title the email (in the subject place) Tia's Voice Request, and I will defiantly read it and consider it for a post!

Right after I post this little post, I am going right to my first all new Tia's Voice post.

Thanks, Guys.

Love,
Sierra

Author Interview with Shelley Workinger!

2010-11-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

Hello, guys! Today I am here with Shelley Workinger, author of SOLID, for a little interview. I recently reviewed Shelley's book... and I loved it! I hope you guys pick it up soon, because you won't regret it!

1. How long did it take you to write Solid?

It took 4 months to rough out a semblance of a draft, particularly since I started with Chapter 12, then jumped all over the place. Work shopping and rewrites brought the total time to about 15 months.

2. Where did you come up with the name Calliope?

My husband and I had our first kiss at the corner of St. Charles and Calliope St. during
a Mardi Gras parade. And it also happened to be my 21st birthday.

3. What made you want to be published by Create Space?

A friend of mine published through them and had a great experience, she sold me.

4. The plot in Solid is incredible. How did you ever think of such an extraordinary plot?

I first dreamt the romantic scene that is now Chapter 12. The more I thought about it, the
more I wanted to explore how those 2 people could end up in that scene, so I kept asking
questions like "where are they?" and "why are they there?" until eventually had a storyline.

5. What is your favourite colour?

The colour of the sky at night when you can't decided if it's blue or purple or even black.

6. How many books do we expect to see in the Solid series?

I initially planned for it to be a trilogy, but based on the feedback I've received I would
consider taking the characters farther.

7. At what age did you start writing?

I clearly remember writing the story of the "Hippityhorskunfoo" in the second grade- a tale
of a bunny/horse/skunk (the "foo" ending referred to "The Little Bunny Foo", as my
wondrous creature was bunny on both ends - ears and tail). That may have been my first major undertaking. :)

8. Any different projects other than the Solid series that you are working on that you can tell us?

Between launching the first book and writing the second, the only project I have time for is
nap-training :)

9. When should we expect more books from you?

"Settling" is due to be released in 2011, though I wish I could accelerate the process as my
thoughts are already racing ahead to Book 3!

10. Thank you so much for the interview. One last question, what is your biggest advice for aspiring authors?

Believe in yourself. From the moment you declare yourself a writer, there will be people who say, "Isn't that cute?" (and when you hand those same people a printed copy, they'll probably
also say, "wow, it's like a real book!") Don't let them belittle your effort.

Thank you so much, Shelley!

In My Mailbox (14)

2010-11-07T14:21:00.000-08:00

Hello, guys! I am here with my 14th In my mailbox. In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren, a book blogger whom I am sure we, other book bloggers, all look up to. I love in my mailbox... how about you?

Here we go...

Bought

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

A book full of short stories proving if Team Zombie or Team Unicorn is better. (Pshhh... for right now... I am team zombie...)

That is all for me this week... what did you get in your mailbox?

Review: Solid by Shelley Workinger

2010-11-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance. While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

Released: July 9th, 2010
Published by: Create Space
Series: Solid, 1
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Author
Page Amount: 223
Age Group I Recommend: 12 and up

I would have probably never picked up SOLID by Shelley Workinger if it hadn’t been for her sending the book for me to review a little while ago. The funny thing was, I had been wanting to read a self-published book for awhile now, but I have never had the chance because I don’t order books off of Amazon, I knew that I would probably wouldn’t read an indie book for awhile.

Then Shelley, who I must say is a complete dear, contacted me through email asking if I would review her book. How could I say no?

I am super glad this book was good. I was worried that if this book wasn’t good, that I would feel super bad writing a bad review. Well, I am here with a god review.

I know I say this about a lot of books, but this novel’s plot amazed me. I have no idea how this woman came up with this amazing idea for a novel. I mean… I would never in a million years imagine writing a book about kids whose mothers were used for a drug testing almost two decades before. I mean… only special people have the mind to create a novel like that.

I can say that I honestly do like the cover of this novel. I think it fit’s the story very nicely, without giving too much away. I think a lot of doctors, nurses, and scientists will pick up this novel just because of the cover.

I loved Shelley’s writing style, because for a novel with this heavy of a subject, I think she did a marvellous job bringing down the intensity of it by putting in a nice, light writing style.

I think the whole idea of the kids being in the academy was total genius. Although I would have liked to have seen more of the whole learning about the drug that this doctor planted on these kid’s parents, I think that will come out more in the second book in the series, Settling I think it is called, so I can’t wait to see more of that.

I think this novel is a good novel to read if you don’t want to read a book that is as large as say Twilight or Harry Potter are. Because I honestly think that for a book that is as good as it is, I don’t think it will get the full attention that is truly deserves.

This novel was amazing, so when are you going to pull up Amazon to order it?

Plot 8/10
Like able Characters 9/10
Problem Development 8/10
Solution Effectiveness 8/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 9/10
Cover 9/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 9/10
Beginning 9/10
=
89%

Love,
Sierra

Exciting News!

2010-11-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hello guys!

I am just posting today to give exciting news... I was featured on Diane Chamberlain's blog! As most of you may know, I did a review and an author interview with her on my blog, and she featured me on hers! I'll leave a link to it at the bottom.

Love,
Sierra

http://www.dianechamberlain.com/blog/?p=2285

Review: Gone by Michael Grant

2010-10-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.
Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no Internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Released: July 1st, 2008
Published by: HarperTeen
Series: Gone, 1
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Library
Page Amount: 558

I know I say this about most novels that I have been reviewing lately, but I loved GONE by Michael Grant. Lately I have been reading really amazing books, and I have been wanting to read books that I know won’t be good since I can show you how I am not just reviewing the good books that I read. I am honestly reading just amazing books lately.

GONE is one of those novels that you just have to read. You are missing out on some amusingness if you do not pick up this novel this moment.

The plot, and I am not kidding, is one of the most unique and unheard of plots that I have ever read or even heard of. Before I picked this novel up, all I knew that it has been getting amazing reviews by every huge blogger that I know (for example, The Story Siren,) and I knew that sooner or later I would have to pick this novel up. It wasn’t until I saw the huge lettering on the spin in my school library that I was totally serious about reading it.

I loved GONE. Can I say that enough? For any of those crazy people who have not read this book, you must pick it up now. There was everything that you could ever possibly want in a novel. Like able characters, amazing writing style, and much more!

The cover of GONE is not my favourite and I honestly don’t get it. There are just a bunch of random people standing staring off into space. I am guessing that the people are characters from the book, but it is not obvious which ones. I love that it is a wrap around cover, though. I find that whenever I find a book with a wrap around cover, I fall in love with it. I don’t know for certain why though. Maybe not a lot of books have wrap around covers? I have no idea.
Like I said, if you are one of those crazy people who have not read GONE, than you must go to your nearest book store and buy it. Right now. Because it is amazing.

Plot 10/10
Like able Characters 9/10
Problem Development 10/10
Solution Effectiveness 10/10
Writing Style 10/10
Character Development 10/10
Cover 7/10
Setting 10/10
Ending 10/10
Beginning 6/10
=
92%

Love,
Sierra

Semi-New Rating Scale!

2010-10-30T14:12:00.001-07:00

Hello guys! I just posted in my mailbox, but I decided to post another post for you guys since it has been awhile since I have posted.

I am going to try some new rating scale type thing. I will still be doing the percentage scale type thing, but I will be adding a A and B scale to it. If a book's percentage is from 0-50, it is rated a B. If a book is from 51-100, it is rated and A. I decided to only use As and Bs because I wanted to have an even group of numbers (sort of, it is hard to explain).

The B books are ones that were not for me or I didn't enjoy every well, and A books are ones that I enjoyed a lot. So before you even read the review you will know if I rated it a A or a B because I will have a large image just like this:

or this:

So, what do you guys think? I personally think that it is genius. Not to be full of myself or anything. I just think it is a really good idea and that is why I am using it. I want to know what you guys think, though, because my followers are really important to me too, and I want to know when you like something or other. I would really love to know.

Love,
Sierra

In My Mailbox (13)

2010-10-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! I am sorry I have kind of been away for a little while, but I am back now! I just have been super busy with school and such that I haven't had much time for blogging purposes. But, here is IMM!

***

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at the Story Siren. It allows readers and bloggers to drool over new books and swag!

I had an awesome week this week for in my mailbox. I received my first book that an author has wanted me to review! My first review copy! For me, this is super exciting and I couldn't wait to share it with you guys! Want to know what it is?

It is Solid by Shelley Workinger! I am currently reading this, so a review for it should be up soon. I was excited to get this because this is my first book by an indie author, so I was excited to check one out.

That is all for me this week. My mailbox was certainly happy, and my question is, what did you get this week?

Love,
Sierra

Special thanks to:
Shelley Workinger

In My Mailbox (12)

2010-10-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is a weekley meme hosted by The Story Siren. It gives readers a chance to drool over new books.

---

No books for me this week. ):
But there will definatly be something waiting for you guys next week!

Love,
Sierra

Author Interview with Ellen Hopkins!

2010-10-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I have another author interview for you guys! This time it is with Ellen Hopkins, the author of IMPULSE, which I reviewed on my blog a little while ago. I hope you enjoy!

1. What was it like growing up in adopted family?

My parents were older, so any differences between an adopted family and a birth family stemmed from that. We didn't do things like ski, for instance. But I had a great childhood.

2. Why did you decide to write your novels in verse?

I started CRANK in prose, but the voice was too angry. It was my voice, not “Kristina’s” voice. I’ve always written poetry and when I saw another verse novelist, Sonya Sones, speak at a conference, I knew it was the right way to tell the story. Verse is about how the poet views his or her world, and I wanted to view Kristina’s world. Verse allowed me inside her. Then I discovered a talent for it, and that many readers do like it.

3. What is your favourite colour?

Please see my FAQ page on ellenhopkins.com

4. Any new projects you can tell us about?

Please see my FAQ page on ellenhopkins.com.....news on upcoming projects is on the home page.

5. Did you have any say in your beautiful cover art?

Not really, except for some input on color. My cover designer, Sammy Yuen Jr., is brilliant. I'm happy with his choices.

6. How long did it take you to write Impulse?

Answers in 8.

7. How long did it take you to write Crank?

'' ''
8. How long did it take you to write Glass?

CRANK took me about a year and a lot of that was developing the format. The others took around 6-8 months.

10. Thank you so much for the interview. One last question, what is your biggest advice for aspiring authors?

To read, read, read. And read cross-genre. And to write, write, write. And to write cross-genre. You won't know where you belong as a writer until you try lots of different kinds of writing. Not everyone is a novelist or a poet, or belongs writing Dystopian. Experiment!

Thanks so much to Ellen Hopkins for the wonderful interview! I love your novels and I can't wait for upcoming projects!

Author Interview with Diane Chamberlain!

2010-10-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's finally here! My author interview with Diane Chamberlain is finally mine! Well, and yours. Anyways, enjoy:

1. You are the first adult author that I have reviewed on my blog. How does that make you feel?

I’m honored that you were willing to give one of my books a try and that you enjoyed it enough that you wanted to chat with me about it.

2. Before The Storm is a novel that covers many topic that I love to read about, (crime, love, loss, ect.) what was the inspiration for this novel?
I came up with the setting before I came up with the story. I visited Topsail Island, North Carolina for an ‘authors and readers’ event and fell in love with it and knew I wanted to set a story there. Around the same time, I had an idea for a story involving an “unlikely hero,” an unpopular boy who rescues people from a fire. That’s how Andy was born. When I first “heard” Andy speak in my mind, I recognized his voice as similar to that of children I used to work with as a psychotherapist and knew he had fetal alcohol syndrome. The way he spoke reminded me of those children. But that meant I had to come up with a reason why his mother, Laurel, drank while she was pregnant with him. Plotting is like that—it’s circular. You think of one idea and then have to puzzle out how to fit that idea into the story. I love solving those problems. Another scene that was very strong in my mind even before I started writing Before the Storm was the scene with Andy’s sister, Maggie, sitting on the demolished porch of an old beach house, communing with the spirit of her father who had been killed by a whale. I loved that scene, but I didn’t know what it meant until I wrote some of the story.

3. How long have you been writing?
I wrote a few truly terrible books when I was twelve, but then I forgot about writing until I was in my early thirties and in the midst of a career as a social worker and psychotherapist working in hospitals and a private practice with teenagers. I’ve been at it more than twenty years.

4. What made you want to write adult novels? Or did it just end up like that?
I never set out to write any particular sort of novel. The story comes to me and I just write it down, but I do find that teenagers often worm their way into my stories. I enjoyed working with teens professionally very much and they make an interesting addition to most stories. Basically, though, I like to write intergenerational stories where all ages are represented, just as in real life. `

5. How old were you when you started writing novels?
See number 3.

6. What is your favourite colour?
Red!

7. How long did it take you to write Before the Storm?
About ten months.

8. In your own words, summarize Before the Storm.
I think of Before the Storm as part mystery, part suspense and one hundred percent family drama. It’s the story of how far a family will go to protect one another. It’s about the choices people make that come back to haunt them. And it’s about the gradual unfolding of truths that keep the characters on edge and those pages turning.

9. Did you have any say in your novel covers?
Authors have very little say in their covers, unfortunately. I like most of my covers, but not all of them.

10. Is there any other projects that you are working on right now that you can tell us about?
The book I just finished is called The Midwife’s Confession. It will be out in the United States in May, and yes, there are a few teenage characters in the story!

11. Thank you so much for the wonderful interview. One last question, what is your biggest advice for aspiring authors?
My advice is to learn all you can about the craft of writing. Learn the basics of grammar and punctuation and how to string words together in a way that makes sense and sounds good. You really need to know all of that to tell a great story. And then you need to figure out that great story to tell! My strongest advice is to not give up. If you love writing and have a tale to tell, just keep working at it until you get it right.

Thank you so much Diane Chamberlain for the wonderful interview! You answered so many questions that I had rolling around in my head when I finished Before the Storm. Also, I would like to add to Diane Chamberlain's comment on my review of Before the Storm, that I did know that there is a sequel and I should be reading that soon because I love her books!

Once again, I thank Diane so much for the wonderful interview and I would like to inform you guys that I will be featured on her blog sometime soon! I will let you guys know more about that at a later date and hopefully that will be sooner rather than later!

Love,
Sierra

In My Mailbox (11)

2010-10-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the Story Siren. It allows bloggers to drool over new books.
---

No new books for me this week, but I did re-new GONE by Michael Grant, and I also have an exciting thing coming soon, so I hope that will be here in about two weeks or so.

What did you get in your mailbox?

Love,

Sierra