Written By Brittan

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 20:21:00 +0000

Hey,
 
I'm sorry I haven't posted in years, I lost my dad to cancer and stop reading and posting. I recently got back into reading and the book community. Would anyone be interested if I started blogging again? Leave a comment letting me know thanks.

Waiting On Wednesday (7)

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 04:15:00 +0000

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you spotlight upcoming books that you are waiting for.

My WoW Of The Week Is:

Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date: 4/22/2014

Goodreads: "Here"
Summary:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Why It's My WoW of The Week:
This book sounds so good, and I love Jenny Han's books! Plus, the cover helps a little, it is so gorgeous! I can't wait to be able to read this book.

What Are You Waiting On This Wednesday?

Leave me the link to your post in the comments.

Review: Elegy by Amanda Hocking

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:21:00 +0000

Genre: YA Paranormal

Release Date: 8/6/2013
Received from: Publisher for Review
Goodreads: "Here"
Summary:

Readers won't want to miss the explosive final book in the Watersong series by New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking

Now that Gemma holds the key to breaking the siren curse, the stakes have never been higher. At last, a future with those she loves—and a romance with Alex—is close enough to touch...but not if Penn has anything to say about it. Penn is more determined than ever to have Daniel for her own and to destroy Gemma and Harper along the way, and Penn always gets what she wants. Now a final explosive battle is about to begin, and the winner will take everything Gemma holds dear

My Thoughts:

Elegy is an epic ending to the fantastic Watersong series. I’m sad to see the characters and their story go. Even though I’m sad to see the series go, I’m extremely happy with how it ended. I highly recommend Elegy and the rest of the Watersong series.

I loved reading about all the characters; good or bad, I enjoyed reading about each and every one of them. I have especially enjoyed reading about them in this book. Gemma was at her best in this book, through out the series there has been many times where Gemma infuriated me. She was extremely selfish and she didn't care about what the things she was doing affected other people through most of the series. In Elegy she is not like that anymore, she changed into a part version of herself, and I really enjoy that. Throughout the series Harper and Daniel have been my favorite characters to read about, and I highly enjoyed reading about their happy ending.

The end to the Watersong series was great. I was super happy to see more of the mythology in this one. I also loved how quick and fast paced it was for a book with over 500 pages. I also loved that unlike some of the other books in this series, was action packed. But, the end was a bitty cheesy and wrap into a to perfect of a bow. I overall enjoyed how the series ended; I just wished a couple things were done differently.

I loved Elegy as much as I have loved the other books. I’m sad to say goodbye to the characters and this highly entertaining storyline, but I’m happy it went out with a bang. Overall the end was great; just not want I was wishing for. I highly recommend Elegy and the rest of the Watersong series.

My Rating:

4.5 Stars, I loved it!

Favorites: August Releases

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 06:27:00 +0000

Favorites is a weekly feature where I will share my favorite books that fall under a chosen category.

Today’s favorites are my favorite August releases. I’ve only read 6 August release (so far) and I picked my top 3 out of those 6.

3. Taste Test by Kelly Fiore

Release Date:8/27/13

Genre:YA Contemporary

My Rating: 5 stars

Received From: Walker Childrens for my honest opinion.

Summary:

If you can grill it, smoke it, or fry it, Nora Henderson knows all about it. She’s been basting baby back ribs and pulling pork at her father’s barbeque joint since she was tall enough to reach the counter. When she’s accepted to Taste Test, a reality-television teen cooking competition, Nora can’t wait to leave her humble hometown behind, even if it means saying good-bye to her dad and her best friend, Billy. Once she’s on set, run-ins with her high-society roommate and the maddeningly handsome—not to mention talented—son of a famous chef, Christian Van Lorten, mean Nora must work even harder to prove herself. But as mysterious accidents plague the kitchen arena, protecting her heart from one annoyingly charming fellow contestant in particular becomes the least of her concerns. Someone is conducting real-life eliminations, and if Nora doesn’t figure out who, she could be next to get chopped for good. With romance and intrigue as delectable as the winning recipes included in the story, this debut novel will be devoured by all.

Why:

I loved Taste Test so much! It is such an original book, I’ve never even heard about another YA book about a food competition TV show. I like food competition TV shows, so reading a book about one with teens around my age in the competition was extremely fun. I also highly enjoyed all of the characters. Original and fun storyline plus great characters makes Taste Test my third favorite August release.

2. Infinityglass (Hourglass, #3) by Mrya McEntire

Release Date:8/6/13

Genre:YA Time Travel

My Rating: 5 stars

Received From: EgmontUSA for my honest opinion.

Summary:

No time like the present. No time in the present. No time left. From the moment the Hourglass group violated the rules of the space time continuum to rescue a murdered loved one, time has been in flux. People from other centuries slide into our time, intruding into our space, threatening our world. Frantically seeking a way to turn back this tide, the Hourglass begins a search for the legendary Infinityglass, tracking it to the city of New Orleans, a place where the past rests easily with the present. Quiet, reliable Dune, the group's favorite geek, is selected to travel to the Crescent City and somehow retrieve the renowned object. But there's a problem. Because the Infinityglass is not an object, it's a person. A beautiful, headstrong dancer named Hallie, a girl so enticing Dune can't take his eyes off her. And time is not on her side.

Why:

I love the Hourglass series so much. I think this is the last book (but I’m not sure, the end of the book made it seem that way but I haven’t heard anything) in the series and I’m sad to see it go but Infinityglass is a great end to this series. I love the characters in this series and they didn’t disappoint in this book. It is in the point of views of Dune and the Infinityglass (Hallie); I loved Hallie and reading from her point of view so much and I loved reading from Dune’s point of view. Great ending to a great series plus always amazing characters makes Infinityglass my second favorite August release.

1. Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young

Release Date:8/27/13

Genre:YA Contemporary / Ya Parallel Universes

My Rating: 5 stars

Received From: Simon Pulse for my honest opinion via edelweiss.

Summary:

Caroline is at a crossroads. Her grandmother is sick, maybe dying. Like the rest of her family, Caroline's been at Gram's bedside since her stroke. With the pressure building, all Caroline wants to do is escape--both her family and the reality of Gram's failing health. So when Caroline's best friend offers to take her to a party one fateful Friday night, she must choose: stay by Gram's side, or go to the party and live her life. The consequence of this one decision will split Caroline's fate into two separate paths--and she's about to live them both. Friendships are tested and family drama hits an all-new high as Caroline attempts to rebuild old relationships, and even make a few new ones. If she stays, her longtime crush, Joel, might finally notice her, but if she goes, Chris, the charming college boy, might prove to be everything she's ever wanted. Though there are two distinct ways for her fate to unfold, there is only one happy ending...

Why:

I loved Just Like Fate so very much! The storyline is mind-blowing, beautiful, and highly entertaining. I loved the great message this book holds. I loved Caroline so much; she is really relatable and extremely enjoyable to read about. A beautiful and meaningful storyline with a message plus an extremely lovable main character makes Just Like Fate my favorite August release!

Comment on this post to help me come up with categories to do favorites on next week and in the future. Remember, I will give the person who comes up with the category I use credit on the post I use their idea on.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 20:36:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

I’m extremely sorry for my lack of blogging lately. My life has been super busy and I also have been in a reviewing slump lately. But my life has slowed down a bit and I think I finally have kicked the reviewing slump. I’m ready for a fresh start of blogging. I changed the blog design back to how it was when I first started, as a clean slate for this fresh start. I’m adding some new features and changing the schedule a little bit. I decide to stop doing book haul for now. I’m also not going to be posting any Midway Chatters for a little while because I have not pre-written any for most of the books I have reviews for coming up and I also want to change how I write them. I will be doing two new features. The first one is favorites, I will be doing this weekly with different themes; more details about this feature here in the first post and in the features page. The second is called Ittie Bittie Rambles, where I will do a couple mini reviews in one post; more details about this feature will be in the features page also and in the first post later this week. The new schedule of post is: Saturday: Favorites, Monday: a review, Wednesday: Waiting On Wednesday, Thursday: Ittie Bittie Rambles. This is how it will be for right now, I’m hoping to be able to do more than one full review week soon but for right now I’m not going to be able to. Comment and let me know if you like the idea of the new features, if you like this blog design better or the other one, and if you would want to see book hauls.

Thanks so much for sticking with the blog and me through my lack of blogging, and also helping me make the blog better! I appreciate each and every one of you so much! :)

Waiting On Wednesday (6)

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 17:29:00 +0000

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you spotlight upcoming books that you are waiting for.

My WoW Of The Week Is:

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction / YA Contemporary
Release Date: 9/12/2013

Goodreads: "Here"
Summary:

When you can’t trust anyone, how can you ever feel safe?

In seventh grade, Maggie Camden was the class outcast. Every day, the other girls tripped her, pinched her, trapped her in the bathroom, told her she would be better off dead. Four years have passed since then, and Maggie’s tormentors seem to have moved on. The ringleader of them all, Raleigh Barringer, even moved out of town. But Maggie has never stopped watching for attacks, and every laugh still sounds like it’s at her expense. The only time Maggie feels at peace is when she’s hiking up in the mountains with her best friend, Nick. Lately, though, there’s a new sort of tension between the two of them—a tension both dangerous and delicious. But how can Maggie expect anything more out of Nick when all she’s ever been told is that she’s ugly, she’s pathetic, she’s unworthy of love? And how can she ever feel safe, now that Raleigh Barringer is suddenly—terrifyingly—back in town?

Why It's My WoW of The Week:

This book looks so heart-breaking, and like an extremely good realistic fiction. I can't wait to be able to read this book.

What Are You Waiting On This Wednesday?

Leave me the link to your post in the comments.

Review: Rush by Eve Silver

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 18:09:00 +0000

Release Date: 6/11/2013

Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Received From Publisher For Review
Goodreads Link: "Here"
Summary:

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.

My Thoughts:

The only word I can think of to describe Rush with is wow. Wow for everything this book is. Wow for an amazing storyline and great explanation behind "the game". Wow for great characters, like kick ass Miki Jones and lovable bad boy Jackson Tate. And also wow for hair that smells like strawberries. Wow is just three little letter word that can mean a lot of things like; wondrous original well-done, willful obnoxious (that one is just for Jackson) well-written, worn-out over-done well-known.

I love the storyline of this book! It has a very well developed storyline, and the sci-fi elements in this book are slowly but surely excellently explained. The ending is extremely frustrating, because there is a cliffhanger. The action in this book is heart-racing. Most of the action scenes I felt like I was there in the "the game" too, and I really liked that it made reading this book even more fun. This is a book I want to read over and over again, because it is such a well-developed storyline, it fast paced, action packed, and the sci-fi elements are well explained (even though you do have to wait awhile for it). Plus there are incredible characters to back up this astounding storyline.

I loved all of the characters. I loved Miki so much, she is so fun to read from and about. She is a kick ass heroine with a highly relatable, lovable, and realistic side. She is so strong and powerful, in "the game" and in her day to day life. I can't wait to read more about Miki in the next book. I also really loved Jackson, he is extremely obnoxious but extremely likeable at the same time. He is one of those bad boys that you love to hate and hate to love. But he is also so much more that, he is complicated to explain. I also loved all of the background characters.

For as original as I thought the storyline and the characters are this book does have some things that I feel like I have read a million times before. Having a bad boys in book is so over-done to me, but it is not to frustrating because even though it's done a lot it's done differently every time. Also Jackson is so much more than just a bad boy. There is also a cliffhanger, much like with the bad boy thing it is frustrating but not to frustrating. The most frustrating thing in this book is that: during a scene Jackson tells Miki that she smells like strawberries and Miki says it's her shampoo. I just feel like I read of girls using strawberry shampoo a million times, and for as unique Miki is I would think that she would use something more original. But really, strawberries!?!? Why do girls always smell like strawberries in books, why not every once in a while some of them smell like green apples, or even waterfalls!?!?

I loved Rush! I loved the excellent storyline. I adored all of the characters. There are some over-done things that did frustrate me slightly, but I still overall loved Rush. I highly recommend this great action packed sci-fi novel.

My Rating:
5 hearts, I loved it!

Waiting On Wednesday (5): Unthinkable

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 04:28:00 +0000

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you spotlight upcoming books that you are waiting for.

My WoW Of The Week Is:

Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: 9/12/2013

Goodreads: "Here"
Summary:

This much anticipated sequel to the New York Times Bestseller Impossible a fantasy full of suspense, mystery, and romance will appeal to fans of Beautiful Creatures, Raven Boys, and Wicked Lovely.
Fenella was the first Scarborough girl to be cursed, hundreds of years ago, and she has been trapped in the faerie realm ever since, forced to watch generations of daughters try to break this same faerie curse that has enslaved them all. But now Fenella’s descendant, Lucy, has accomplished the impossible and broken the curse, so why is Fenella still trapped in Faerie?
In her desperation, Fenella makes a deal with the faerie queen: If she can accomplish three acts of destruction, she will be free, at last, to die. What she doesn't realize is that these acts must be aimed at her own family and if she fails, the consequences will be dire, for all of the Scarborough girls.
How can she possibly choose to hurt her own cherished family not to mention the new man whom she’s surprised to find herself falling in love with? But if she doesn’t go through with the tasks, how will she manage to save her dear ones?

Why It's My WoW of The Week:

I loved Impossible so much, and this book sounds just as epic. I can't wait to read Fenella's story.

What Are You Waiting On This Wednesday?

Leave me the link to your post in the comments.

Waiting On Wednesday (4): Elegy

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 06:07:00 +0000

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you spotlight upcoming books that you are waiting for.

My WoW Of The Week Is:

Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date: 8/6/2013

Goodreads: "Here"
Summary:

Readers won't want to miss the explosive final book in the Watersong series by New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking

Now that Gemma holds the key to breaking the siren curse, the stakes have never been higher. At last, a future with those she loves—and a romance with Alex—is close enough to touch...but not if Penn has anything to say about it. Penn is more determined than ever to have Daniel for her own and to destroy Gemma and Harper along the way, and Penn always gets what she wants. Now a final explosive battle is about to begin, and the winner will take everything Gemma holds dear.

Why It's My WoW of The Week:

I've been eagerly waiting this one since right after I finished Tidal. I loved everything about Tidal, and it left me so pump for this one. I can't to wait to get my hands on this hopefully epic ending to the series. I also can't wait to read more of Amanda Hocking's breathe taking writing style.

If you want to know more about how I feel about this series you can go here:

My review of Wake: "Here"

My review of Lullaby: "Here"

My review of Tidal: "Here"

What Are You Waiting On This Wednesday?

Leave me the link to your post in the comments.

Review: The Year Of The Great Seventh

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 18:18:00 +0000

Release Date: 7/6/2013

Genre: YA Egyptian Mythology

Author: Teresa Orts

Goodreads Link: "Here"

Summary:

Sophie has always felt out of step — an outsider, even amongst friends in her high school with all the hype about celebrity culture. Her life in L.A. seems to have been already written for her, but when her junior year starts, it all takes a drastic turn. When she crosses paths with the school's heartthrob, Nate Werner, they fall for each other in a way neither can understand. What they don’t know is that by giving in to their desires, they are unlocking an ancient Egyptian prophecy that threatens to return Earth to the dark ages.

To undo the curse, Nate and Sophie embark on an adventure that takes them across the country. But their quest is not only to save the world as they know it. It is also a fight for their very survival. Behind the scenes, there are those that are counting on them to fail.

My Thoughts:

The Year of the Seventh is very intriguing and engrossing. I loved the Egyptian Mythology, but the book was confusing at times. I liked the main characters, but I felt very disconnected from them. Overall, I did really enjoy this book; it just had some flaws that took away from the story.

I haven't read an Egyptian mythology before and I really liked it. I loved how this book was Egyptian Mythology instead of the normal Greek Mythology. I feel like it brings some originality to the book. Even though I truly did enjoy the mythology I found it to be confusing in spots. Some of the mythology related things were under explained, making it confusing to people who know nothing about Egyptian Mythology; like me. The book also focuses a little bit on life of a teenager in L.A. I feel like those parts of the story were just taking time away from the mythology, especially because they don't affect the storyline.

I really enjoyed reading about the main characters. They were fun to read about, but I felt so disconnected with them. I wish I was more connected with them, but sadly I wasn't. I felt like every character that didn’t have to do with the mythology part of the book kind of got in the way of the story. With that being said I still enjoy a lot of the background characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Year of the Great Seventh flaws and all. The Egyptian Mythology was great and extremely fun to read about. The characters were fun to read about, even though I had some issues with them. I recommend this book to anyone looking a great mythology.

My Rating:

3 hearts, It was good, but it had some flaws.

Review: Life After Theft

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:47:00 +0000

Release Date: 4/30/2013

Genre: YA Paranormal / YA Contemporary / YA Retelling
Received from: Publisher for Review
Midway Chatter: "Here"

Goodreads Link: "Here"

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Summary:

Kimberlee Schaffer may be drop-dead gorgeous . . . but she also dropped dead last year. Now she needs Jeff's help with her unfinished business, and she's not taking no for an answer. When she was alive, Kimberlee wasn't just a mean girl; she was also a complete kleptomaniac. So if Jeff wants to avoid being haunted until graduation, he'll have to help her return all of the stolen items. But Jeff soon discovers that it's much easier to steal something than it is to bring it back.

Paying for your mistakes takes on a whole new meaning in this hauntingly clever twist on The Scarlet Pimpernel

My Thoughts:

Life After Theft is entertaining and charismatic. It is a great modern retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel. All the characters are enjoyable and lovable. I enjoyed Aprilynne Pike's writing. I highly recommend Life After Theft.

Life After Theft is a excellent and highly entertaining modern retelling of the classical novel; The Scarlet Pimpernel. I have read The Scarlet Pimpernel before, but that was a couple years ago so I only remember the key parts of the story. I loved Aprilynne Pike's modern twists on this classic. It stays true to the main points of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but it's done in very unique and unpredictable way. I loved how Pike didn't always have a person representing a person; I found that really unique and very interesting. I also love how this book is good for people who have read the classic, and for people who haven't, because the retelling elements aren't dominating the story.

I loved the characters in this book. I loved Jeff. I'm extremely picky when it comes to reading from a guys point of view and especially when a book is just from a guys point of view, but I really enjoyed reading from Jeff. I also loved Kimberlee. I loved see her change and become more a caring and less of a self centered person. I also loved all of the other background characters. Overall I loved all of the characters; they really brought this fun story to life.

I haven't read a book by Aprilynne Pike before, and I really liked her writing style. I love that this book is a stand alone. It did start out slow at first, but it did pick up pace around the halfway point of the book. Once you get past the halfway mark the book gets way better.

I loved this book. It's a unique twist on The Scarlet Pimpernel. I loved all of the great characters. I loved the writing, even though there was a bit of pacing issue for me in the beginning of the book. I highly recommend Life After Theft for people looking for a fun beach read and/or a great modern retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 Hearts

Midway Chatter: Life After Theft

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 16:37:00 +0000

To learn all about Midway Chatter go "Here".

Release Date: 4/30/2013

Genre: YA Paranormal / YA Contemporary / YA Retelling
Received from: Publisher for Review

Goodreads Link: "Here"

Author: Aprilynne Pike

Summary:

My Midway Thoughts:

So far I'm enjoying Life After Theft. It is kind of slow paced. It was also kind of hard for me to get in to at first. It's getting better now and it's also picking up pace. This is the first book I have read by Aprilynne Pike, and so far I like her writing. Even though I feel like the pace is slow I still like the writing because the story is still enjoyable. This is a retelling of The Scarlett Pimpernel. I did read The Scarlett Pimpernel a couple of years ago and I kind of remember it and so far I'm not seeing Life After Theft as a retelling for it.

Kimberlee is very hard to like because she is so self centered. But I'm starting to like her more, because she is starting to soften up a little and be more caring about other people other than just herself. I don’t normally like reading from a guy’s point of view, but reading from Jeff is enjoyable so far. Even though I'm liking Jeff, sometimes I feel like he is not a very realistic teenage boy to me. But I'm still very much enjoying his character.

I love the cover! It's so beautiful and eye catching. So far I'm really enjoying the book. And I can't wait to see what happens next.

Stay tuned for my full review soon.

Facebook Page

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:15:00 +0000

I just want to let you guys know that I finally made a facebook page for the blog. Here is the link so you can over and check it out and like it and all that stuff : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Written-By-Brittan/219587248188335. I also made a button, and its over on the sidebar with the other social media buttons.

Review: Tidal by Amanda Hocking

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 18:14:00 +0000

Genre: YA Paranormal

Release Date: 6/4/2013
Received from: Publisher for Review
Goodreads: "Here"
Summary:

With Penn and Lexi determined to kill Gemma and replace her with another siren, Gemma's life is in grave danger...unless she can break the curse before it's too late. With the help of Harper and Daniel, she'll delve deep into her enemies' mythical past--and their darkest secrets. It's her only hope of saving everything she holds dear: her family, her life, and her relationship with Alex--the only guy she's ever loved.

My Thoughts:

Tidal packs a punch. It's everything and more I've been waiting for this series to be. The character development in this book is the best so far in the series. Like all of Amanda Hocking's book other books I have read, I loved the writing. I highly recommend this author, series, and book.

Tidal is the best book in this series so far. There a lot of questions that we have had since the first book answered in this book. We learn more about the sirens, and also about past sirens. There flash backs in Thea's point of view, which I loved a lot. There is Penn chapters, and seeing in to her is such a great addition to this book. I loved how unpredictable this book was, and also how unpredictable Penn still is even with chapters focusing on her. The development of the storyline was superb. I loved what happened in the story. I also loved how it setup for a great ending for the series in Elegy without taking away from what was happening in Tidal.

The character development was also superb. Gemma changed a lot in this book. She really grew up, matured, realized her mistakes and her selfishness, and she stop relying on Harper as much as she did in the previous books. With Gemma not relying on Harper as much, we really get to see more of Harper than just seeing Harper taking care of Gemma and her problems; and I really liked that. I loved that with more chapters focusing on the sirens and the flash back chapters that it showed more of the sirens characteristics and behaviors.

Like with every book I have read by Amanda Hocking I loved the writing. I love how she writes and how she brings these creatures to life in such a realistic and believable way. She also writes third person so beautifully and enjoyable even for me someone who personally doesn't like third person. Amanda Hocking's writing style is one of my favorites, and I highly recommend her books.

I loved Tidal. It is my favorite book of the series so far. I loved the character development. I loved reading about the sirens past and learning more about them. I loved the writing. I highly recommend Tidal, and The Watersong Series.

My Rating:

5 hearts, I loved it!

Blog Tour: Dancers and Divas Series

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:39:00 +0000

Passion and Pain (Dancers and Divas #1) by Kathy Petrakis
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 15, 2012
Buy Links:

Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Book Description:

Does passion and desire guarantee success? Can friends really be trusted? Can true love be found beneath lust and deceit?

These are questions tenacious street dancer Elena Martinez faces as she struggles to compete against the most talented students at New York’s top Performing Arts High School. Along with her best friend, the carefree and mischievous Sebastien Duval, they are determined to make center stage.

But the singing diva Letitia has other plans. Beautiful, talented and popular, her desire for revenge could ruin everything for Elena and Sebastien. Now, they must fight against prejudice, treachery and deceit as Letitia sets out to destroy Elena’s friendships, her romance, her dignity and her dreams. Can Elena win the battle for true love, happiness and success?

Bittersweet (Dancers and Divas #2) by Kathy Petrakis

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 28, 2013
Buy Links:

Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Book Description:

Can secrets stay hidden forever? Can people really change? Are some mistakes unforgivable?

As Elena and Sebastian embark on a fresh start, will Letitia keep his secret, or will she use it to destroy them?
As Veronika falls in love, Frankie is out of rehab and trying to make amends, but will it last for either of them?
Meanwhile, as Anya is torn between loyalty to her Nana and love for Darius, could Darius fall for the new temptress, Rosa? With her stunning looks, her powerful, sensual dancing and her desire to seduce, she has everyone nervous but what secret is she hiding?
Continue the roller-coaster journey with your favorite characters as they try to survive junior year at the country’s top performing arts school.

Author Bio:

Kathy Petrakis was born and raised in Sydney Australia by Greek immigrant parents. She always had a passion for the performing arts - dancing, acting and singing but they were hobbies giving way to a traditional professional career in banking. Before this book, her writing was used to entertain friends with her unusual, and often disastrous travel adventures from around the world.

By the hand of fate, Passion and Pain and Bittersweet were born while living in London, heaven for lovers of the performing arts. After launching Passion and Pain, she returned to Sydney for the launch of the sequel, Bittersweet.

Where to Find Kathy Petrakis:

Twitter

Facebook

Website

Goodreads

Excerpt:

Jay looked at her, impressed. “That was great!” He put it to his music and it fit perfectly. “Sing it with me?”

Elena gulped but couldn’t refuse. They sang together, though Elena did so very quietly. She had been so engrossed in the song that she had totally forgotten their earlier meeting.

“You know half of singing is confidence and the other half is emotion,” Jay said, briefly touching her hand.” You have the heart, you just need some confidence.” Elena felt the color rising to her cheeks and looked away.

“Yeah, easy for you to say.”

“How about this?” he asked and played some more of the song while Elena helped to finish the lyrics. “This is really helpful. Can you help me with another song?”

“Sure,” Elena said. She would cross the Sahara Desert for him.

They continued collaborating until Elena finally noticed it was dark outside.

“What time is it?”

“Nine. Why?”

“Holy crap! I was supposed to be home at seven! My mom is going to kill me!” She checked her phone. Six missed calls.

“Do you want a lift home?” Jay asked. “It’s my fault you’re late.”

Elena thought about her neighborhood and the apartment block. She knew she shouldn’t be travelling alone on the subway at this time of night, but it was better than Jay seeing where she lived. “No, that’s okay.”

Giveaway:

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Midway Chatter: Tidal by Amanda Hocking

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 06:06:00 +0000

To learn all about Midway Chatter go "Here".

Genre: YA Paranormal

Release Date: 6/4/2013
Received from: Publisher for Review
Summary:

My Midway Thoughts:

I love The Watersong series so much. And I'm super happy to be back in the world and to be reading about the characters I love in these books again.I didn’t like Lullaby as much as Wake, but Tidal is better than Lullaby so far. I love Amanda Hocking’s writing, and I’m really enjoy in this book.

So far it is an A+ for character development in this book. There has been some chapters that have focused on Penn. I really like that; because I'm loving see little bit more behind her madness. I’m liking Gemma a lot more in this one. In the first two books she whined a lot and in this book she is stronger and ready to fight for herself. I’m really like where the storyline is going. I love the suspense of not knowing exactly what Penn is going to do. I also seeing Gemma look for answers and not just Harper. So far Tidal is amazing, and I can’t wait to read more!

Stay tuned for my full review soon.

Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 22:51:00 +0000

Release Date: 4/23/2013

Genre: YA Dystopian / YA Romance

Goodreads Link: "Here"

Summary:

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.
America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

My Thoughts:

The Elite was not what I was anticipating. There was not much more world building in this book than there was in The Selectin. There was not much if any character development. I personally had a lot of problems with this book, but I also still had things that I liked about it.

The Elite was not the sequel to The Selection I was hoping and looking for. There wasn't anymore world building then there was in the first book. Plus, the tiny bit of world building there was in journal from, which I didn't personally like. I feel like this book was just a filler to set up for a great ending in the series. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book it just didn't meet my expectations for it from The Selection.

The characters fell to pieces in this book. What happened to my America?!?! America whined a lot in this book, and something I liked about her in the first book was that she didn't whine. Poof gone! Yes, a lot of bad stuff happens but I think that the America in The Selection would have reacted to those things in a better and stronger why then she did. Maxon fell apart too. I felt so disconnected from him, and some of the things he did seem highly out of character for him. Maxon and America's communication disappeared. Some many problem could have been fixed and even averted if the have had talked to each other. Aspen needs to go away, he is so whine and into himself. The only reason that America keeps running back to him is because he is safe and familiar and Maxon and the crown that comes with him are new and unfamiliar and she doubts herself. But, America and Maxon falling apart and being bad versions of themselves, made them more realistic to me. Because, very one has bad moments and make bad decisions once in awhile. That being said the characters still highly frustrated me while I was reading it.

Now on to things I liked about The Elite. The thing I liked the most was the last page or so. The America from The Selection reappears and is ready to fight for what she wants. I loved how she learned from her mistakes. I loved how the characters did break down and turn into bad versions of themselves, and how realistic that was, but they still were driving me crazy. I loved the writing, whether if the book made me mad and frustrated Kiera Cass's writing is still great and lovable.

I did have problems with this book, but I still liked it. The characters were very flawed and that was a good and bad thing for me. I loved the ending, and I'm very excited for the next book to read about America fight for what she wants. I recommend this book to fans of The Selection.

My Rating:

3.5 hearts, It was good just not what I wanted for a sequel to The Selection.

One Year Blogoversary!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 07:20:00 +0000

I can't believe that I've been blogging for a year now. It feels like I just started the blog yesterday and at the same time it feels like I have been doing it for years. I want to thank all of you that have followed the blog, whether you have been following a year or a day. I love and appreciate each and every one of you. I also love and appreciate all of the comments that you guys have left me, and the Goodreads messages that I have gotten from some of you. I also very grateful for all of the great things blogging has brought me. I've been able to talk to so many great people (other bloggers, my readers, publishers, authors) I would not have be able to if I wasn't blogging. I also want to say that I'm sorry for not blogging very much the past couple of months, school has been really hard this last semester and it took up most of my time.

Now on to the giveaway! I'm just doing clearing my shelf type of giveaway, because that I'm financially able to have multiple winners. There will be three winners. The raffle-copter will be down below in the post. I just want thank all of you again, I appreciate and love all of you so much!

Books Winners Can Pick From:

Giveaway Button:

Rules:

I will email all three winners the books that is up above and the winners will need to email me back with what book they want, and that will go by a first come first serve kind of a thing.
If two people what the same book, then the person to reply first get the book and the other will be asked to pick again.
This giveaway is not international, I'm so sorry!
You must be 13 or older or have your parents permission to enter this giveaway.
You will have 48 hours to email me back with your mailing info or I will pick a new winner.
Do not leave your email in the comments.

Fill out the Rafflecopter to enter:
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I’m Not Her: Ebook Deal plus Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:40:00 +0000

I’m Not Her by Janet Gurtler is the iBookstore Book of the Week!

Amusing and heart-wrenching, I’m Not Her is sure to appeal to sisters and teens of all ages. Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will?

And because of that the ebook is free until May 27! I got this book when the ebook was on sell a couple months ago, and I just started reading it and so far it's really breathe taking and I highly recommend you pick up the book now while it's free.

Links For More:

Also, the great people at Sourcebooks Fire gave me an excerpt of the whole first chapter for me to put in this post for you guys.

Excerpt:

crowd gathers for the funeral. The church walls seem to strain to accommodate the bodies, but there isn’t enough space for everyone. People cram together, squished thigh to thigh in the pews, shoulder to shoulder in aisles. The back is standing room only.

Not surprisingly, I don’t hear anyone complain. I hardly hear any sound at all except the occasional whisper, cough, or sniffle. Everyone wears dark colors, even kids who don’t usually follow rules or social customs. I guess it’s like that when someone young is snatched from the earth. It’s wrong on so many levels that thinking about it makes my already sad heart ache even harder.

Dad says parents shouldn’t have to bury their children. He says a lost child leaves a hole in the heart of the parents, a hole hacked out with a dull knife. The heart can function with the wound, but it never entirely heals.

chapter one

o matter how much I don’t want to care, it’s not easy being stranded all alone in the middle of a crowded room, like the ugliest dog at the animal shelter. Kristina shoved me into her shiny red Toyota like she’s my fairy godmother, insisting I do the party “for my own good.” But other than a few heys and disinterested stares, no one notices that I’m there. Before long, even Kristina forgets about me. Swept up by her friends and admirers, Kristina leaves me bathing in my own flop sweat.

I begin plotting my escape just as a drunk guy plunks down on the couch beside me and leans against me for support. Smoke and alcohol fumes waft off him and he blocks me, pinning me in place. Wrinkling my nose, I elbow him in the side, trying to move him. He hacks up the equivalent of a human fur ball, focuses his eyes on me, and then grins the carefree smile of the intoxicated. He leans closer, giving me an up-close view of the angry red pimples on his shiny skin.

“Hey, Freshie. You’re Kristina’s little sister aren’t you?” He whistles through his teeth. “She’s seriously hot.”

He’s implying that I’m not and, honestly, I’d be okay with his observation if he’d get out of my way. I take a deep breath, but no words form in my mouth. I glare at him but he doesn’t notice. His long blondish hair curls up at the edges and in the middle of his face is a big crooked nose that looks like it’s been broken or something, but the imperfection kind of works on him. His eyes look like they might have been a great shade of blue before the alcohol consumption hit, but they’re pretty much pinkish now.

Folding my arms across my chest, I push hard with my shoulder, but he doesn’t budge. Other than the brief pant over my sister, there’s no indication he even notices I’m not part of the furniture. I wiggle and push and finally make progress, when he snaps his arm out and grabs mine, pulling me back down. The strength in his arm is deceptive for such a skinny guy.

“What’s she like?” Drunk Pimple Guy stares at her, his voice dripping with the kind of reverence people save for the very famous or very beautiful. Far as I know, Kristina isn’t famous outside of Great Heights, but even I can’t deny she has the beauty part down.

Breathing deep, I try to shake him off but he doesn’t let go. Propelled by growing humiliation, I decide to give him some truths. “She burps. Red meat gives her gas and she won’t eat anything that contains a carbohydrate. Oh, and she takes medicine to control her acne.” I consider recommending the brand to him but no. Not cool. “She also hogs the bathroom and is a slob who treats my mom like her personal maid.”

I think it’s the most I’ve ever said to a boy at one time. I don’t add that Kristina cries at sad commercials, never mind the blubbering she does during movies, or that when I was nine, she punched a boy who called me ugly and gave him a bloody nose.

He stares at me as if I’ve grown three horns from my ever-so-ordinary, two-minutes-to-get-ready face. Well, if he didn’t want the truth, he shouldn’t have asked. After all, as the younger sister of Kristina Smith, I have an in on the lifestyle and personality of the Goddess.

I try to break free again, but he holds on like I’m his security blanket and he’s five years old. He grins and his expression changes and he almost looks cute. If he weren’t holding me hostage and all.

“You mean she doesn’t have a real maid? I heard your old man is loaded.”

Please. My mom would never share control of her home with hired help, but I don’t tell him that.

He studies my face. “You don’t look much like her.”

My crooked nose matches Dad’s and I also inherited his stupid red hair. Unlike my curvaceous sister, I’d never be mistaken for a pole dancer. People would be more likely to compare me to the pole. DNA is indeed a baffling concept. Thanks for pointing it out, dude.

“Whoa, she can dance,” he says, without letting me go.

I’m forced to watch with him as Kristina performs as if she’s on a stage, acting like she doesn’t know almost every eye in the room is on her.

Kristina continues to grind and shake to the music in her skinny jeans and a tank top seriously helped along by a push-up bra. She gets off on crowd approval, like I get off on watching the guys on MythBusters blow up things.

Silence hangs between me and my captor. Well, not exactly silence since a new pop song is vibrating the speakers in the living room, and all around us kids yak and laugh. But there’s a definite lull on our couch.

“All righty then.”

Just like that Drunk Pimple Guy lets me go and vaults himself off the couch.

“I have a name too,” I say under my breath, because of course, he didn’t ask. “It’s Tess. Rhymes with mess.” No one ever asks my name. No one knows that there are jokes trapped inside my head.

I push myself up, even more determined to sneak down the hallway, slip out the back entrance, and escape. I don’t care that it’s dark outside or even that going home alone will require walking over two miles. And that I hate walking. And the dark.

I start pushing past bodies crowded in the living room. People brush me away like I’m an annoying insect, or their eyes meet mine for a brief second before they look away. Just as the entrance to the kitchen is visible, a hand reaches out and grabs my shirt from behind and pulls. Hard. Kristina latches her free hand on my arm. Damn. She pushes me back into the living room where flocks of freshmen lurk awkwardly in twos and threes. She bops her head and keeps mouthing the words to the song playing, just as well since her voice is not as pretty as her face. I don’t brag about it but I’m the one who can sing in our family. She’s the one who looks good lip-synching.

Eyes follow us because, after all, she is Kristina. She doesn’t loosen her grip on my arm, and shoves me past a group of seniors and the freshies stalking them. Great. Might as well stick a kick-me sign on my butt the way she’s dragging me around. Kristina leans in close, making a wincing sound as she pushes us toward an open spot by the dining room table. From the corner of my eye, I catch the art of Robert Bateman and a teeny part of me notes that based on the textured look of the paper and the pigments collected in tiny hollows, it’s an original, not a print.

Kristina lets go of me and leans down, rubbing at her knee. “Ouch. My stupid knee,” she mumbles. “What are you doing?” she demands in her “I’m the big sister, now listen to me” voice.

“Going home.” I stick out my bottom lip for courage. “This is humiliating.”

She stops massaging her knee and straightens, glancing off in the direction Drunk Pimple Guy disappeared. “Did Nick make a pass at you or something? I’ll kill him. He’s such a man-whore.”

I shake my head back and forth, mortified by the concept. As if he’d make a pass at me.

“There’s lots of cute boys here your own age. You promised to at least try to make friends.”

“I already have friends,” I mumble, wishing she would try to understand how hard it is for me to talk to people.

“No. You have friend. One. And Melissa is a socially inept, religious freak. You can do better.”

“Melissa is a better friend than you’ll ever have.” Melissa does have her religion thing but it doesn’t come between us. Well, except for the time when she told me I wouldn’t be going to heaven because I don’t go to church.

Anyhow, I’m not about to argue quality versus quantity here, but all Kristina’s friends do is giggle a lot and screech OHMYGOD and talk about boys. And take pictures of each other, usually in skimpy clothes. And then post the pictures online.

Kristina sighs. “This is an opportunity to meet new people. Not just art freaks or brainiacs from the Honor Society.”

“Art is not freaky,” I remind her for the millionth time, but it still hasn’t registered in her head. She’s exactly like our mom. She doesn’t understand how important art is to me. Or even that I’m pretty good at it. “And neither are people from the Honor Society,” I add, and ignore her huge eye roll.

“You can’t leave,” she whines. “Come on, Tess. Live it up a little. It’s your first high school party. Have fun. I really want you to get something out of this.”

I can’t understand why she even cares. She checks me out from head to toe but then something catches her eye and she directs a full-watt Reese Witherspoon smile across the room.

Her eyes don’t twinkle though, and she self-consciously fixes her tank top as she wiggles her fingers in the air. I see her ex, Devon Pierce. The male equivalent of Kristina. Prince Charming to her Cinderella. Except in this story they split up instead of living happily ever after.

“He broke my heart,” she whispers in a sad voice, without wiping the mega-grin off her face. I can’t tell if she’s lying about the state of her heart. Sometimes I wonder if she has one.

“So why’re you smiling at him like he’s a bowl of sugar-free Jell-O?”

She leans forward and the force of her breath on the tiny hairs on my ear hurts. “I kind of have to. He’s super A-list.”

I almost feel sorry for her having to be nice to a boy who broke her heart. I want to go over and punch him in the stomach on her behalf.

She keeps smiling though, watching him from the corner of her eye. “He’s not a bad guy. We mostly broke up because I wouldn’t hook up with him.”

I pretend to stick my finger down my throat, but I’m a little relieved to hear that she didn’t give in to him just because he’s a hot guy. From what I’ve heard, most of her friends don’t have the same reservations.

Her expression tightens and her eye twitches slightly in the corner. “You have to be careful with guys.”

No, she does. I don’t. Boys don’t notice me. For example, right then a boy approaches us, checking out my sister. He has a cute baby face but is wearing a dorky rap star T-shirt. He’s carrying a digital camera and has a look of utter adoration on his face. I don’t think he even sees me standing beside her.

“You were awesome in the game last night,” he says. “You’re captain this year, right?”

Kristina nods. “Yup. And as of last week, I’m the outside hitter too. If my knee holds out.” She frowns for a second and then shakes her head once.

“Can I take your picture?” His lips tighten as if he’s nervous.

“Sure,” she gushes, and flashes her perfect teeth at him. She treats her admirers with equal deference, I’ll give her that. No one can accuse my sister of being one of the mean girls; she’s not like that.

She throws an arm around me. “Take one of me and my little sister, Tess. She’s a freshman, you know, just like you.” She smiles and squeezes my shoulder harder. “And she’s also available.”

My face warms and she pinches me to warn me not to run in horror as she tries to pimp me out to some kid. I say nothing but can’t stop blushing and refuse to smile at his camera.

“Say ‘Facebook,’” the boy says.

Kristina squirms happily, hearing one of her favorite words. “Facebook,” she says, smiling at his camera with her eyes, her arm tight around my shoulder so I can’t escape. She manages to turn her body to expose her most flattering angle. I glare at the camera. “Make sure you friend me so I can see the pics after you post them. My last name is Smith,” she chirps, as if he didn’t already know.

“Cool. Thanks,” the boy says. “I’m Jeremy. Jeremy Jones. I play volleyball too.”

“Jones?” Kristina says. She taps her fingers on her chin, thinking.

I almost smile. His last name is as lame as ours. Jones. Smith. As common as celebrities in rehab.

“I made the junior team,” he tells Kristina.

She smiles but she clearly hasn’t heard of him.

He peeks at me but I duck my head.

“You’re in my friend’s homeroom and a few of his classes,” he says to me.

Kristina nudges me out of my stupor.

“Oh,” I say, only because of her prompting. I have to admit he’s kind of cute in a lost-puppy-dog way, but he’s obviously a member of the Kristina fan club and that deducts major points.

“What’s your friend’s name?” Kristina asks him sweetly, nudging me harder with her pointy, anorexic elbow.

“Clark.”

Clark Trent. I know who he’s talking about. The poor guy’s parents obviously have a warped sense of humor. I mean, come on. Clark Trent? Superman much? He even wears glasses.

I know who he is because he’s one of the top freshmen this year. Academically. Rumor has it he’s after a spot in the Honor Society. Well, the rumor is between Melissa and me. She made a list of all the prospects. In our school, freshman members of the Honor Society aren’t chosen until the end of the first semester, so it’s imperative we get great marks until November.

Jeremy squirms, holding his camera tight as if he has something else to say, but Kristina’s already been distracted. She only feels she owes her fans so much time, I guess.

She signals her hand at a boy leaning against the wall opposite ours. He appears at her side in a flash. Jeremy makes a quiet excuse and leaves. I lift my hand and wave good-bye, mostly sorry for him because Kristina doesn’t even seem to notice his exodus from stage right.

“Sweetie, would you get a cup of punch for my sister? You know. The special punch,” she says to the boy she’s called over.

He grins, thrilled to be put to use for Kristina Smith, and hurries off to do her bidding. Seconds later he returns and hands a cup to me.

“Drink up, little sister,” he says with a laugh.

I take a sip from the cup and sputter and cough. I stare at Kristina, shocked, while the boy laughs some more. I put it down on the table and cross my arms, glaring at Kristina.

“What?” Kristina says. “It has a little rum in it. Drink it fast. Maybe it’ll loosen you up a little.” She studies me for a second. “Tell Mom and I’ll kill you. She’s already freaking—”

I shake my head. “I’m not drinking alcohol to loosen myself up.”

Kristina sighs. “You know, most little sisters would think I was pretty cool giving you a drink. I’m not trying to get you drunk. You need to chillax a bit. Take the edge off. ”

The boy wisely steps away from us and takes off toward the kitchen.

“I don’t want to get drunk and throw up just to show people how cool I am,” I say.

“I didn’t say you had to get drunk. Or throw up. I just want you to be, you know, a little more relaxed.” She lifts her chin. “Get you a little more connected. I only want what’s best for you.”

“So does Mom and she tries to make me eat porridge for breakfast every day.”

As far as I can tell, Kristina’s idea of connected is how many people text her each day.

“I won’t always be around to try to help you out socially, Tess. You need to make an effort on your own too.”

“Did you ever think I don’t want your help?” I glance around to see if ears are tuned in to our conversation, but no one appears to be listening in. “Maybe I’m happy.”

She crosses her arms. “Define happy.”

“Happiness is going home,” I tell her.

Kristina frowns and is about to continue to lecture me when a gaggle of volleyball girls burst into the room and squeal her name. The volleyball girls stick together like waterlogged book pages. She has no choice but to go to them. She turns to me before she takes off.

“I just want to help,” she says and then she walks off, limping toward her friends.

“I’m not the one who needs help, Kristina,” I tell her. Pure bravado. Kristina doesn’t know what I would give to be like her. So outgoing and likable. Not to mention beautiful.

“Is your sister still in bed?” Mom asks as she enters the kitchen from the sliding patio door. “We have to go to the doctor in a couple of hours.”

I don’t bother to ask why Kristina’s going to the doctor this time, or which one. She’s always getting tested and poked at and prodded and X-rayed by chiropractors, naturopaths, and sports therapists. My mom invests a lot of time and energy in Kristina’s volleyball “career.”

I glance up from the newspaper and then at the oversized clock. “Yup. A new record.”

Mom pulls out her ear buds and chugs the bottle of water she’d taken on her run. Her blond hair is pulled into a high ponytail; her aqua running band matches the stripe on her running pants, and does double-duty keeping stray hair from her face. She puts her water down on the table and checks the Garmin GPS strapped to her wrist. “Five miles in forty-nine minutes, even without Kristina keeping up my pace.”

I raise my eyebrows, pretending to be impressed, but really, I don’t think there’s a good reason to run unless someone’s chasing me. Seriously. And that hasn’t happened since Brad Myers came after me in fourth grade when my art was featured in the local paper instead of his.

“Kristina’s knee’s been bothering her,” Mom says as if I’ve asked a question. “That’s why I didn’t wake her to run with me. We’ve been having a few things looked at. Trying to figure out the problem.”

Her voice sounds off, higher than usual, enough that I look up and see that she’s frowning, but then she glances at the clock.

“Good party last night?” she asks, and turns back to me, hope I’ve actually frolicked at a party lighting up her entire face.

My unease flees and I shrug and return to the comics. I don’t have to look at her to see her disappointment.

“Honestly, Tess. You’re just like your father. I swear, if he didn’t have me and his golf partners, he’d be a hermit.”

I flash my best good-daughter smile. “Well, you do give good parties.”

If she hears contempt in my voice, she chooses to ignore it. She complains all the time but he gives her a purpose. She helps my dad, Mr. Introverted University Professor, with his networking by throwing parties for his colleagues. No one intimidates her, not even stuffy college professors.

Despite their opposite personalities, Mom clings to Dad in public and crawls on his lap to make out with him, which is completely gross and embarrassing. It might be kind of sweet if they were someone else’s parents, but they’re mine.

“You need to get ready,” Mom says. “And a shower would be nice.”

“Awww, Mom. Do I have to go?” After finishing with the newspaper I was looking forward to finishing an English assignment. I know I’ll ace it and pump up my GPA. Honor Society beckons. After that I planned to work on some sketches of Melissa’s cat. A surprise for her birthday.

Mom turns her back on me and opens the refrigerator. She bends at her waist and peers inside as if something’s calling her name. Like plain yogurt or fat-free cottage cheese.

“I promise I won’t go on the Internet.”

She’s got this weird thing about the Internet and rarely lets me use the computer unsupervised, as if I’m going to search around the Web for hot muscle men or be lured into private chat rooms by creepy pedophiles. It’s not like I’m the daughter with the social networking addiction.

Mom closes the refrigerator door without taking anything out. She walks over to my side, glancing down at the newspaper. “I’m a little nervous about this meeting,” she tells me.

“Please?” I say, ignoring her. Kristina is her purebred pony. She’s always worried about her.

She lets out a deep breath, seeming distracted. “Fine,” she says, taking me completely by surprise. “You can do your homework on the computer and use your art program, but nothing else online.”

I’m so shocked I don’t know what to say, but I’m no idiot either and keep my mouth shut.

“I wonder if I should wake Kristina,” Mom asks, glancing toward the stairs.

I flip a page in the newspaper but follow her gaze to the stairs, wondering if Kristina is suffering from drinking too much of the “special” punch at the party.

“She’ll be up soon,” I say. “I’m sure she’s just tired from socializing last night. You know. Like mother, like daughter.”

Even though Kristina pretty much added to my total humiliation, it’s still us vs. them when it comes to the units.

“Yeah, and like father, like daughter,” Mom says.

I stick my tongue out, knowing she doesn’t mean it as a compliment, but she’s already leaving the kitchen and misses it. I reabsorb myself in the newspaper and a write-up in the Arts section catches my eye. My heart skips out an excited beat. An art contest for contemporary drawing. I read on. The Oswald Drawing Prize for emerging artists.

Me. I’m an emerging artist! I continue to read and see there’s a Junior Division for grades nine to twelve. A winner from each state will be announced along with a Grand Champion. Winning pieces will be shown in universities and art galleries across the country.

My eyes scan the fine print. The winner from each state will be interviewed for a television documentary, plus an illustrated catalog will be published to accompany the exhibition. The catalog will include images of the winning drawings, biographical details of each artist, and a statement about the drawing.

The Grand Champion will receive a full scholarship and acceptance into the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in their graduating year. The art school I’ve been salivating over since I studied the art school rankings over the summer. Gah! On top of all that, there’s a free trip to San Francisco for the winner.

A rumble like the lava of a volcano surges through my body. There’s a three-hundred-dollar entry fee, but I’ve got more than enough to cover that in my bank account. The entry deadline is November 1, so there’s time. Not a lot, but enough if I get to work right away. I glance down. Winners will be announced the week of November 18 by email or phone.

There’s kind of a destiny vibe, coming across the article like this. Feelings I didn’t know I had stirred in my soul. True, serving killer volleyballs is not in my future, but I’m truly proud of my art skills. Something no one else in my family can claim. A recessive gene, probably.

Maybe, just maybe, winning would quiet the voice in my head. The voice that tells me drawing pictures is silly, unimportant. The voice that sounds a lot like my mom. As I try to visualize myself accepting the award and finding my voice in a room full of admirers, something brushes against my arm. I grab my throat and yelp. Kristina stands over me, looking unusually pale and drawn. Not nearly as radiant as last night.

“Did you have to sneak up on me?” My heartbeat sprints like a greyhound charging after a mechanical rabbit.

She takes a step back. “Sorry,” she whispers. I look closer at her. Bags under her eyes. Washed-out skin.

“Whoa,” I tell her. “You look terrible. Did you freebase a bottle of tequila or what?”

“Funny,” she croaks. She heads to the fridge, pulls out bottled water, undoes the cap, and chugs it, much like Mom a few minutes before her. “I must have the flu or something.”

“Flu?” I stare at her. “More like hangover-itis.”

“I never have more than one drink. One hundred calories max.”

Mom says the same thing. One glass of red wine is acceptable as an antioxidant. Dad teases her that she doesn’t drink because it makes her mean, but I’ve never seen it and have no idea if it’s true or not.

Kristina glares at me and then walks forward and leans right over me. “Here. Feel my forehead.”

I stare at her and scrunch up my face to show my reluctance, but she doesn’t leave, so I relent and reach up and put the back of my hand on her forehead.

“Hey.” Her body definitely doesn’t feel like it’s running at 98 degrees. “You feel like you slept in polar fleece or something.”

“I know, right? I’m hot. I feel like hell.” She collapses into a chair opposite mine at the kitchen table. “It has to be the flu. I don’t want to be sick. We have a big game coming up. Against Westwood High.” She drinks more water and then plunks it on the table and stares at me. “You got home okay last night?”

I don’t meet her eyes. “Yeah. Fine.” I close the paper and slide it away from her. I don’t want her to find out about the contest. Not yet. I have to do some thinking about the perfect entry. I want it to be my own thing.

She gulps more water and then gets up and walks to the stove. Standing on her tiptoes, she reaches to the cupboards above and pulls out a bottle of Tylenol. The only non-herbal medicine Mom allows in the house. She opens the cap, pops two pills in her mouth, and swallows them without water before returning the bottle to the shelf.

“Gross.” I don’t know how she swallows them like that.

“I hope it’s nothing serious,” she says as she stares off into space. “I can’t afford to be sick in the next few weeks.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I tell her. “You won’t get sick. You’re perfect. Just ask that drunk pimply guy from the party last night.”

Kristina focuses and tries to hide a smile but she’s pleased. She takes a sip from her water bottle. “Which one?” she asks.

I focus back on the paper, refusing to feed her unquenchable ego. I can’t wait until she’s gone so I can have the house to myself and start brainstorming ideas for the drawing contest.

A few hours later Mom and Kristina walk into the kitchen right while I’m in the middle of dunking Oreos into chocolate milk. I stop chewing, with cookie crumbs bunched up in my cheeks like a chipmunk. Busted. Dad came home early and brought the cookies with him as a peace offering for making me go to the party. He often provides me with stashes of sweets instead of heart-to-heart talks. I was supposed to hide the cookies before Kristina and Mom got home. I can hear him clattering away in his home office off the kitchen.

I’m scrambling, about to make up an excuse about why I’m gorging myself on cookies instead of something healthy like Mom’s delicious yogurt with fruit or nuts, but neither of them even says a word about my snack. I chew as quickly and quietly as I can and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, trying not to look guilty.

Mom takes one look at me, though, and bursts into tears. I blush, ashamed my gluttonous actions have caused her such anguish. On one hand I wonder why she’s freaking, but I also can’t help worrying if I’ve messed up my future shots at staying home alone?

“Mom. It’s my first snack of the day. I swear. I finished my homework and I’m starving…” I don’t want to tell on Dad for bringing the treats home.

Kristina plops hard onto the chair beside me. “Don’t sweat it.” She keeps her back straight, her posture perfect. “That’s not why she’s crying.” Her face is pale and strangely devoid of emotion, a creepy contrast to my mom’s tears.

Mom sniffles and struggles to get a hold of herself. “I’m sorry, Kristina. No tears. It’s going to be fine. I’m just shocked, you know. That’s all. You’re going to be fine.”

My heart skips a beat. Mom turns away from us, opens her mouth and hollers. “Dan!” she yells in a most unladylike way. “Dan, come in here. We need to have a family meeting. Now!”

I hear my dad mumble something from his office at the end of the hall. When he’s working I think he forgets our names.

“Seriously, Daniel, I mean it. Come here this instant.”

Uh-oh. She used his full name. I look back and forth from my mom to my sister. Mom rarely interrupts Dad when he’s working. “What’s going on?” I ask, too afraid to even try to imagine.

The cookies bungee-jump to the pit of my stomach. Mom pulls out a chair and sits gingerly, as if she’s afraid someone might have put a tack or a whoopee cushion on it.

“What?” I repeat.

“I want to wait until your father joins us,” she says to me. She avoids Kristina’s eyes. “We’ll discuss this as a family.” She stands up and leaves the room to go and get him.

“What’s going on?” I ask my sister. I haven’t seen my mom this flustered, well, ever. It isn’t easy to ruffle old Lisa Smith.

I wonder if my perfect sister lied about not doing it and got herself pregnant. I hope not. I know I’ll be stuck changing diapers. And rubbing lotion on her fat belly to avoid stretch marks on her flawless skin.

“It’s no big deal.”

Kristina’s top lip quivers a second but then she swallows and looks right into my eyes. A cold feeling runs up my spine and a chill settles on my arms. I realize I’m holding my breath.

“I have cancer,” she says.

Stacking The Shelves (19)

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

I haven't done a book haul in forever, so this probably everything I have gotten since the last haul.

Bought / Traded:

The Fifth Wave By Rick Yancey

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

My Beautiful Failure by Janet Ruth Young

I traded and I got an ARC of Towering by Alex Flinn

E-Books Bought:

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Unraveling by Elizabet Norris

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

What Did You Get This Week?

Leave me the link to your haul in comments.

Midway Chatter: The Elite by Kiera Cass

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:29:00 +0000

To learn all about Midway Chatter go "Here".

Release Date: 4/23/2013

Genre: YA Dystopian / YA Romance

Goodreads Link: "Here"

Summary:

My Midway Thoughts:

So far The Elite is not what I was expecting it to be. And it's really frustrating me. There is not anymore world building in this one than The Selection. Plus, the tiny bit of world building in this book is from an old diary, which I'm not liking. I want to shake America and Maxon so bad, they had such great communication with each other in the first book but now they don't. It makes me so mad that their not talking to each other like in the first book. Whether America ends up with Maxon or Aspen or some random guy, she still needs to talk to Maxon about everything. And the thing I'm having the most problem with is America. She is driving me up a tree. Some of the qualities I loved about America in The Selection was that she had great decision making skills and that even through the rough spots she didn't really whiny. Poof, those qualities are gone in this book so far.

Even though I'm having those problems with this book I'm still enjoying it. I'm loving the storyline, it fun and entertaining just like the last book, but with some frustrating parts for me. I hope the second half of The Elite is better for me, and that America stops whining and starts communicating with Maxon and making better decisions.

Stay timed for my full review soon.

Waiting On Wednesday (3): The Haven

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:06:00 +0000

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you spotlight upcoming books that you are waiting for.

My WoW Of The Week Is:

The Haven By Carol Lynch Williams

Series: The Elysium Chronicles

Release Date: 4/9/14

Genre: YA Dystopian

Goodreads: "Here"

Summary:

For the teens at The Haven, the outside world, just beyond the towering stone wall that surrounds the premises, is a dangerous unknown. It has always been this way, ever since the hospital was established in the year 2020. But The Haven is more than just a hospital; it is their home. It is all they know. Everything is strictly monitored: education, exercise, food, and rest. The rules must be followed to keep the children healthy, to help control the Disease that has cast them as Terminals, the Disease that claims limbs and lungs—and memories.
But Shiloh is different; she remembers everything. Gideon is different, too. He dreams of a cure, of rebellion against the status quo. What if everything they’ve been told is a lie? What if The Haven is not the safe place it claims to be? And what will happen if Shiloh starts asking dangerous questions?

Why It's My WoW of The Week:

Do I have to say more than Carol Lynch Williams plus dystopian. But not only is it a dystopian by Carol Lynch Williams, it sounds mind-blowing! I can’t wait for 2014! Why they do this to me?!?!

What Are You Waiting On This Wednesday?

Leave me the link to your post in the comments.

Review: The Selection

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:36:00 +0000

Release Date: 4/24/2012

Genre: YA Dystopian / YA Romance

Author: Kiera Cass

Goodreads Link: "Here"

Summary:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Thoughts:

The Selection is an immersing and addictive read. Even while I was rereading this book I could not put it down. For being a dystopian there was not nearly enough world building. I love the character (most of them at least). I loved the writing, it so fun, entertaining, and alluring. I highly recommend this book.

There is not very much world building in this book. I wish it had more, because I want to know how the world got to where it is in the book. Even though I wish there was more world building, it doesn’t take that much away from the book for me. I love the storyline. It is so different from anything I have ever read. It is also very addicting and hard to put down. The selection is so fun to read about, if you like (or have a love hate relationship with) The Bachelor the TV show then you'll love The Selection.

I love America. She is very relatable. She is also very strong, even through the hard thing he goes through she doesn’t whiny. And I love that about her. I also love America's maids; they are funny and fun to read about. I love Prince Maxon, he is so realistic.

I loved the writing style. Kiera Cass was to transport me into this book, as if I was America. Even without that much world building. I loved hoe realistic the book felt. I also loved how this book could make me laugh, even though it is not a comedy. Kiera’s writing is incredible and I can't wait to read more of it.

I loved The Selection. I could not put this amazing book the whole time I read it. I love America and all of the other characters. The writing was great, even though there is not very much world building. I recommend this book to fans of the bachelor, and to people who want a mild dystopian.

My Rating:

4.5 hearts, I rounded up because I do love this book very much even though it has a couple flaws.

Review: Also Known As

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 05:29:00 +0000

Release Date: 2/26/2013

Genre: YA Contemporary

Author: Robin Benway

Goodreads Link: "Here"

Summary:

Being a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.

Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover.

My Thoughts:

Also Known As left me speechless. I loved everything about this book. The storyline was fun, entertaining, and mind-blowing. The characters were so relatable, lovable, and fun. The writing was breathe taking. I really loved Also Known As, and I highly recommend it.

This book is fun, funny, and exciting. There is so many great things about this book. It's a spy book, which I never can find enough, and there is a great romance. Plus this book is hilarious, I laugh so hard while I was reading this. I loved how it was the perfect mix of sweet romance, hilarious comedy, and action packed spying.

I loved all the characters; they were fun and entertaining to read about. Maggie was a great protagonist. I loved reading about her and reading from her point of view. She was very relatable and realistic; it felt like I had known her for years. I loved Roux. She also was very relatable and real, she was a little bit of a loudmouth but that is what made her realistic to me. I also really loved Jesse; he was also very realistic and entertaining. I also loved all of the background characters; they also were very enjoyable to read about.

I loved Robin Benway's writing style. She kept you on your toes. This book was so unpredictable. I loved how Robin Benway could have me laughing at one moment and biting my nails the next.

I loved this book. Also Known As is an incredible spy book you won't want to miss. I loved all of the amazing characters. I also loved the writing style. I recommend this book to people who like spy books and people who like book that will make them laugh.

My Rating:

5 hearts, I loved it!

Midway Chatter: Also Known As

noreply@blogger.com (Brittan) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 02:31:00 +0000

To learn all about Midway Chatter go "Here".

Release Date: 3/12/2013

Genre: YA Contemporary

Author: Robin Benway

Goodreads Link: "Here"

Summary:

My Midway Thoughts:

So far Also Known As is mind blowing. I'm loving everything about it. I'm loving all of the characters, especially Maggie and Roux. I'm loving the writing style. The storyline is really fun and entertaining so far. I was not excepting this book to be as funny as it is. So far I'm loving this book.

Stay timed for my full review soon.