999 Challenge Wrap-Up

I absolutely loved this challenge and am actually saddened to see it end. I, of course, will be part of it next year again. I loved that I was able to choose my own categories. Here is the final list:

ROMANCE
1 The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright (completed 1/04/09)
2 The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley (completed 5/25/09)
3 Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler (completed 1/09/09)
4 Time of My Life by Allison Winn Scotch (completed 1/17/09)
5 Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (completed 2/19/09)
6 One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon (completed 4/16/09)
7 Last Light Over Carolina by Mary Alice Monroe (completed 7/10/09)
8 One Scream Away by Kate Brady (completed 7/12/09)
9 Summer of Two Wishes by Diana London (completed 8/12/09)

YOUNG ADULT
1 Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (completed 6/07/09)
2 If I Stay by Gayle Forman (completed 6/02/09)
3 Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (completed 5/19/09)
4 M is for Magic - Neil Gaiman (completed 2/25/09)
5 The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (completed 1/29/09)
6 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (completed 3/07/09)
7 Stardust by Neil Gaiman (completed 3/22/09)
8 The Lake that Stole Children: A Fable by Douglas Glenn Clark (completed 4/06/09)
9 Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley (completed 6/18/09)

I'VE BEEN MEANING TO READ
(TBR Pile)
1 The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (completed 5/28/09)
2 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Time by Mark Haddon (completed 1 /07/09)
3 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (completed 5/16/09)
4 Life of Pi by Yann Martel (completed 1/23/09)
5 The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister (completed 7/07/09)
6 Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult (completed 3/28/09)
7 Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts (completed 4/04/09)
8 Before I Die by Jenny Downham (completed 7/20/09)
9 Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon (completed 7/29/09)

PART OF A SERIES
1 A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (completed 8/27/09)
2 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (completed 8/25/09)
3 Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (completed 1/15/09)
4 My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel (completed 6/28/09)
5 The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul (completed 6/20/09)
6 Confessions of a Shopoholic by Sophie Kinsella (completed 2/02/09)
7 The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DuPrau (completed 5/02/09)
8 Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart (completed 8/03/09)
9 The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/14/09)

NEW TO ME AUTHORS
1 The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine (completed 4/26/09)
2 Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright (completed 1/02/09)
3 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (completed 2/01/09)

4 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (completed 1/19/09)
5 Ms. Hempel Chronicles by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum (completed 1/27/09)
6 One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell (completed 2/09/09)
7 Confessions of a Former Child by Daniel J. Tomasulo (completed 2/22/09)
8 Matrimony by Joshua Henkin (completed 3/24/09)
9 The Simplest of Acts and Other Short Stories by Melanie Haney (completed 5/05/09)

COMING TO A THEATRE NEAR YOU
(Books that are or will be adapted into movies)
1 He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (completed 3/06/09)

2 Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (completed 6/08/09)
3 I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle (completed 6/12/09)
4 The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/13/09)

5 Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (completed 6/14/09)
6 Blindness by Jose Saramago (completed 1/11/09)
7 The Reader by Bernard Schlink (completed 1/03/09
8 Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts (completed 1/05/09)
9 Wings by Aprilynne Pike (completed 6/16/09)

JUST RELEASED
(Books released in 2009)
1 Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult (completed 3/17/09)

2 The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker (completed 1/26/09)

3 Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa (completed 3/14/09)
4 The Side-Yard Superhero by Rick D. Niece (completed 3/19/09)
5 Laura Rider's Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton (completed 3/29/09)
6 I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci (completed 4/06/09)
7 The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe (completed 4/09/09)
8 Jantsen's Gift by Pam Cope & Aimee Molloy (completed 4/20/09)
9 The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow (completed 4/22/09)

BITE ME
(Anything Vamp or Supernatural related)
1 Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris (completed 5/11/09)
2 Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter (complted 6/25/09)
3 Burning Wild by Christine Feehan (completed 5/17/09)
4 No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole (completed 2/05/09)
5 One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon (competed 2/12/09)
6 Secret Vampire by L.J. Smith (completed 1/13/09)
7 Upon the Midnight Clear by Sherrilyn Kenyon (completed 2/10/09)
8 The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox (completed 5/08/09)
9 Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog (completed 7/22/09)

HE SAID, SHE SAID
(Recommended or Book Club reads)
1 The Host by Stephanie Meyer (completed 3/11/09)

2 Disquiet by Julia Leigh (completed 1/01/09)
3 Playing with the Grown-Ups by Sophie Dahl (completed 2/24/09)
4 The Mistress's Daughter by A.M. Homes (completed 3/03/09)
5 Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (completed 4/01/09)
6 Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch (completed 4/12/09)
7 The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (completed 4/30/09)
8 My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff (completed 5/04/09)
9 Mother of the Believers by Kamran Pasha (completed 5/10/09)

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

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.

Gemma, 16, 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. [taken from back cover of book]

Firstly, I want to say that I absolutely loved Ms. Bray’s descriptions of colonial India, Victorian England and The Realms - such very different places but so vividly detailed. Oh and Spence... {sighs} I love Victorian finishing schools. I liked Gemma - I thought Ms. Bray did a great job depicting her as a normal teen with all the emotional turmoil, teen angst, pettiness, selfishness, etc., that you would see in any teen. I liked that she wasn't perfect - that she had her flaws and in the end that was what won me over. My only complaint was that (on certain occasions) the way she talked and expressed herself was not very true to that of a Victorian young lady - I found it somewhat modern.

I liked the friendship that the girls sparked - I thought they were all so different (some likeable, some not so much) but in the end, they made it work. I also enjoyed how Kartik was woven into the story - especially in those dream sequences (wink wink). I wasn’t sure if to like him or not (somewhat the way Gemma feels about him) but I think there’s still hope for him yet. I really had to appreciate that Ms. Bray managed to tell an entertaining story, while trying to instill ideas of feminine power.

My only issue with this book is that they paint suicide in such an easy light. I really don’t want to spoil or give anything away, so I won’t be able to discuss this in as much detail as I’d like, but there is more than one suicide and the characters just seem “okay” with this.

All in all, I still thought that the story flowed really well and had plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. There were plenty of loose ends - but alas, there are two more books in this trilogy which I’m sure will remedy that. In the end, I found A Great and Terrible Beauty entertaining and definitely a page-turner. I would definitely recommend to lovers of historical fiction with a (slightly creepy) magical twist.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Tally Youngblood is anxiously awaiting her sixteenth birthday. Why? Well once she turns sixteen she will be reunited with her BFF Peris, but more importantly than that, she will finally be pretty. That’s right, at the moment, Tally is living amongst the Uglies.

“Uglies” is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious global catastrophe has pretty much wiped out most of the planet as well as its inhabitants. Several hundred years later, the survivors (or at this point generations later) fearful of war and violence - now cities are known as independent states. These cities have agreed to certain standards for the greater good. For instance at the age of sixteen you undergo major plastic surgery and are moved to new living quarters in a town known as, you guessed it, “Prettytown” - where you live it up with other pretties just like you - partying and just having a grand ol’ time.

A couple of months prior to their sixteenth birthday, Tally meets Shay. They become fast friends and tend to hang out and play tricks together. But after several weeks Tally realizes that there’s something different about Shay. For one, she doesn’t want to be pretty, she actually thinks she’s not ugly. Which to Tally is quite surprising since everyone knows you are ugly before the operation. Secondly, she keeps talking about a secretive place called the Smoke and a mysterious friend named David. Shay eventually runs away to the Smoke the day before her sixteenth birthday leaving Tally behind with a set of cryptic directions in case she decides to forgo her dream of being pretty. But Tally has no intention of running away - her dream has always been to be pretty. That is until Special Circumstances (an organization like the FBI) gets involved and gives her the ultimatum of being pretty or staying ugly forever but in the process she’ll have to betray her friend and all the inhabitants of the Smoke. That is, of course, if she can decipher Shay's directions and makes it there alive.

Although I did find it a bit difficult at first to understand what was going on, once I actually started understanding about pretties, uglies, etc., I really enjoyed this dystopian future. I love anything post-apocalyptic - and reading about a world where technology surpasses ours, where there's a magnetic grid running beneath the surface that allows the residents to travel via hoverboards and/or hovercrafts, is a treat. I liked the fact that it had an underlying thread about recycling and taking care of our planet. And like most teens today - Tally and Shay were facing some of the same issues - low self-esteem, peer pressure, etc. I loved when they would mention the Rusty's (the people who were living before the big catastrophe... or us). It was a mystery that little by little unraveled itself on what and why the world was the way it is in their time. I will forewarn that it ends rather abrubtly, but do not fret as there is a sequel.

With that said, although a bit confusing at first, stick through the first couple of chapters and you will find yourself completely immersed in a unique world full adventure, suspense and even a little romance thrown in there for good measure.

Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London

Macy Lockhart is devastated when she is informed that her beloved husband, Finn, has been killed while fighting in the war in Iraq. She succumbs to depression and lands herself in a deep, dark hole that she just can’t seem to climb out of. That is until Wyatt comes along and helps her accept the fate that Finn is gone and she must move on with her life - she eventually falls in love with and marries him.

Then the news arrives that Finn is not dead - but alive. Macy is overcome with joy - her one true wish - that the love of her life is not dead but alive has come true... but what about Wyatt? She is now also in love with him. What about their marriage? Which love does she choose?

We’ve all seen this story more than once.. just recently in Jennifer Haymore’s A Hint of Wicked, if you think about it. But this just never gets old. I enjoyed the tug and pull that you feel from both Finn and Wyatt. They are both in love with Macy and you (as the reader) can’t choose one or the other. They are both good men, yet are both flawed, but in the end they each have one goal ... spending the rest of their lives with Macy. I liked these characters so much. They were all fleshed out in a way where you felt their joy and you also felt their pain. I was drawn to Finn - just because I’m gushy about the whole love of your life romanticism but at the same time Wyatt was very appealing - he came into Macy’s life and picked up the pieces making her a very happy woman.

Ms. London’s writing was superb and there were some sensual scenes that were quite beautiful (to say the least). I really liked that the chapters were read through different narrators (Macy, Finn and Wyatt). It really gave you and in depth feel for each character making Macy’s/your decision an even harder one. I was absolutely captivated by this love triangle and I would recommend this to anyone who likes character driven novels - not just romance readers since it did have a dramatic flare to it.

Thanks to Sarah at Pocket Books for allowing me to be part of this blog tour and also for providing my readers a chance to win a copy of Summer of Two Wishes.

GIVEAWAY: I have 2 copies of Summer of Two Wishes by Julia London up for grabs.

As allways, leave a comment for one entry. Second entry if you follow, third if you follow on Twitter, extra entries for blogging, twitting about contest or sidebar posts, etc. I will also be giving extra entries to those who come by and comment on weekly book review posts. So the more comments the more entries.

Rules: This contest is open to U.S. residents only. Winners will be drawn Saturday, September 5.

Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart

Fielding Gray has been hired by Solomon’s (otherwise known as the Legend Hunters) to help return a missing artifact. This artifact is described as quite dangerous and the sooner it is returned the better... it is the legendary Pandora’s Box . Fielding knows of the tales surrounding the box but he is more concerned with how much money they plan on paying him to go on this mission. He isn’t very fond of Solomon’s or its members - his father was once a member and Fielding always felt that they lured his father away from him with the promises of wealth and notoriety. So needless to say, he is not too happy when contacted by them but upon an agreeable sum, he is off to find Pandora’s Box.

Esme Worthington finds herself in a tough predicament when she finds two men ransacking her study/library and seeking a "key". She has no idea what key they are referring to and since they obviously don’t have time for her nonsense, they bound, gag and carry off with her. She is taken to a cathedral where they eventually find Pandora’s Box. Much to her delight really, since she is a scholar and the focus of her studies has been on none other than ..... you got it, Pandora’s Box.

Fielding finds Esme shackled to a wall, wearing only her nightdress, cold, tired and well, passed out (thanks to a blunt hit to the head). He is able to save her and retrieve the box... but this is where their problems start. For Esme cannot resist the lure of "peeking" into the box and next thing you know she is shackled with a bracelet inscribed with the curse -- LUST. Upon some quick investigating on their part they find that she has until the next lunar eclipse to remove the bracelet... if not she wil DIE. From one adventure to another, they must find a way to remove the bracelet, discover the truth of Fielding's father's death, return the box to its rightful place... all while Esme's feelings for Fielding get rather "lustful". Will they be able to save the day or will they succumb to the curse that is Pandora's Box..

Firstly, I want to say that I loved this! Fielding and Esme were these wonderful characters that complimented one another perfectly. Their interaction was just plain fun to read. I thought the story was well-balanced with both romance and adventure. The story flowed just right where the pages would fly by. It gave you a feel of The Mummy (you know, the one with Brendan Fraser) so it was a different type of adventure for me - but one that I quickly fell in love with. This is Ms. DeHart's first in the Legend Hunters series - I can't wait for the next one.

Full of romance, mystery, likeable characters and plenty of adventure. This is one I highly recommend.

GIVEAWAY: I have 5 copies of SEDUCE ME by Robyn DeHart to giveaway.

As always, leave a comment for one entry. Second entry if you follow, third if you follow on Twitter, and so forth.

Rules: Books will be delivered directly from Publisher so giveaway is only available to residents of the US and Canada. No P.O. Boxes please. Winners will be drawn this Sunday, August 9.

Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story by Carolyn Turgeon

What if the story we’ve all come to learn and love about Cinderella were not exactly true? What if our vision of the fairy godmother - all plump and rosy - was not accurate?

The story switches back and forth between present day New York and the days leading up to that fateful night where Lil (the Fairy Godmother) is to have Cinderella appear at the ball and have her prince fall madly in love with her, have plenty of children and live happily ever after. At least, that is what was supposed to happen. Lil had no idea that she would fall in love with the prince herself and usurp Cinderella’s place in the prince’s heart.

Lil is now an elderly woman living in New York, struggling to make ends meet, working at a local bookstore. She has been outcasted by her fairy-kin and has struggled to make a living as a human for years. One day at work she meets Victoria (a cool hairdresser with an old soul) and feels a connection with her. And when her boss, George, tells her that he needs a date for a charity ball that he is attending... Lil finds that these similarities could just be the opportunity that she has been waiting for in order to redeem herself.

Although I did not feel much of a connection with Lil, I felt I could relate much more with Victoria. I became intrigued a couple of chapters in and read this very quickly. Ms. Turgeon does a magnificent job describing Lil’s feelings (from falling in love to the depressive state she lives in while residing in NY). I found myself looking forward to the chapters on Cinderella and was surprised by the turns the story took. I really have to say that the ending took me by surprise and, call me cynical, but it somehow worked for me. It was sad, touching, and truly a unique story.

I picked this up thinking that it would be a light, fluffy read about one of my favorite fairytales. Boy was I mistaken. There was surprisingly nothing light in this tale - but don’t let that deter you from reading this darker (somewhat morbid) version of the classic fairytale.

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are the couple that every one is jealous of in school. Cam is the cute quarterback - Mogan is the "normal" girl (I know, I found it refreshing that she wasn’t the mega-hot cheerleader). They have been the best of friends since they were in nursery school and it was only natural for their friendship to evolve into love. They are so meant for each other they even have the same birthday. In celebration of their Sweet 16 - they have decided to throw a joint 16 birthday bash. A week short of the party - Morgan starts noticing some slight changes in Cam. He’s not his normal happy-go-lucky self. She’s worried there might be another girl involved... she just can’t figure it out. That is until Cam shows her the wings growing out of his back. It seems Cam isn’t being seduced by a new girl but by a whole other realm. He’s slowly becoming a Fairy. Seriously... a Fairy.

Things start getting weird when a mysterious cousin named Pip appears, Cam can no longer throw a football, not to mention he’s getting smaller by the day, and he has no time to spend with her because he’s in "fairy" training. Once he confesses that he is a fairy king being called to the throne on his 16th birtday, it is up to Morgan to fight for their "perfect" love and do anything in her power to keep Cam... even if it means fooling the fairys and possibly putting herself in danger.

This is another one that I've been gushing to everyone about. I absolutely loved this story. It has such a unique blend of fantasy and reality. Morgan (our narrator) has this witty, sarcastic humor that I found myself laughing out loud over. I totally got her! Cam and Pip were just adorable and I was going through all the mixed emotions Morgan was experiencing. I enjoyed that it wasn't your average tale about a girl in love with a fairy - but instead it was a struggle to stay together when so many obstacles were driving them apart. I also found it neat that it wasn't told through the girl becoming the fairy but through the eyes of the person in love with the fairy... which was a very different take for me. Although towards the middle I had an inkling as to what the ending would be - I think Ms. Balog did a fantastic job in getting us there and making us (the readers) feel good in the end.

Fairy Tale is a charming story you won't want to miss - full of delightful characters, star-crossed lovers and plenty of magic.

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

Tessa is 16 years old and she is dying. She has made a list of things she wants to do before she dies. This is not your average list of course.... some of the things on her list include having sex (for the first time), doing drugs, saying "yes" for a whole day, even breaking the law. All of Tessa’s feelings, her relationships with her family and best friend are painfully brought to closure the precious weeks before Tessa’s time finally runs out.

This is not your conventional novel about a young girl dying. It had some very strong emotions and I felt it really captured the way any person would feel if they had a limited time to live. Tessa had mood swings ranging anywhere between mad, happy, sad. There were times where she hated herself and times where she hated everyone around her. She was hateful at times, but at the same time, I felt this was credible. I can really envision feeling this way being placed in her shoes. Ms. Downham is a very talented writer. She has created a character that you will grow to love and will miss terribly as she slowly fades away. The ending was perhaps the most powerful part of the whole book, the specific way it was written brought tears to my eyes. Although this novel is aimed at young adults, I would also recommend to adults. It is sad, it is poignant, it will linger with you long after you are done with it.

My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel

Alexandrine is in terrible danger. She is still in shock after finding out her brother, Harsh, is alive. It’s been years since she’s heard from him - but it gets even worse when he tells her that her biological father wants her dead. It seems she has acquired a Talisman that he wants and will stop at nothing to get it... even if it means killing his daughter for it. In order to protect her, Harsh asks his friend Xia for help in protecting his sister. The problem with this scenario is that Xia hates her for being a Mage (or witch). He especially doesn’t like Alexandrine because her father was the Mage who enslaved him for years. Due to honor and the respect he has for Harsh he agrees to protect Alexandrine not knowing the danger she’d be to his own heart.

I liked this story. It was not your average paranormal romance. It had plenty of new concepts that I found quite unique and interesting (i.e. magehelds and blood-twins, etc.) - with a nice, little glossary at the front to explain same. Xia is the epitome of the bad boy and I really enjoyed him as a character. Alexandrine was the perfect mate for him. They were both strong, intense, flawed, yet also very likeable. I really loved the dialogue and interaction between them.

This was a fantastic introduction to Ms. Jewel’s writing and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more titles from her. This is required reading for any paranormal romance lover.

GIVEAWAY: I have 5 copies of MY FORBIDDEN DESIRE by Carolyn Jewel to giveaway.

As always, leave a comment for one entry. Second entry if you follow, third if you follow on Twitter, and so forth.

Rules: Books will be delivered directly from Publisher so giveaway is only available to residents of the US and Canada. No P.O. Boxes please. Winners will be drawn this Saturday, August 1.

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

The School of Essential Ingredients is the story of eight individuals who come together for one Monday a month to participate in a cooking class. This class is hosted by Lillian who has quite the knack for making food bring the best out in a person. Each chapter focuses on a particular student and deals with topics/issues that can be considered deep and thought provoking.

I absolutely fell in love with Ms. Bauermeister’s writing. Her descriptions of food were so rich that I could actually envision and practically smell what was being cooked. Too bad there weren’t any actual recipes - some of the meals were just mouth watering. Each of the characters were interesting in their own way. Some of their stories were sad (yes, I admit it, I did shed a tear or two) and others were quite uplifting. And although the stories are short, they contain the "essential elements" of each character, and I found myself unexpectedly moved by their stories. For each character, food has had an impact on their lives and you enjoy getting to know these people and reinforcing the idea that food is much more than sustenance. This book is a celebration of the senses with the added beauty of personal growth of its characters.

I am definitely adding this to my list of favorite books in 2009. It was a quick, simple read that teaches you how to cook without a cookbook. My only complaint would be that it was too short. The story is beautiful and the writing is just lovely - this is one of those books that you just have to own.

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

Charlotte Usher is your typical teenager - her only problem, she’s basically invisible to the kids in school. She’s the type of person who just blends into the background... has no real friends, isn’t overly academic nor into sports. She is excited this first day of school because she spent her whole summer preparing herself to finally catch the attention of Damen Dylan (yes, he’s the hottest boy in school). Although Damen already has a girlfriend (Petula) - Charlotte plans on not letting anything or anyone get in her way - that includes Petula and her BFF’s - The Wendys. Just as things start looking up for Charlotte when it comes to Damen - she has a mishap with a gummy bear and (dum dum dum) SHE DIES. But she refuses to let something as minuscule as being dead get in the way of her plans. Shortly after her death she learns that she has to complete Dead Ed in place of high school. All “dead” students have to learn something important (something they never learned in life) before crossing over.... and Charlotte is definitely lacking in that subject. Be prepared for possessions (consensual, of course), major stalking issues and even a love triangle.

I must confess I purchased Ghostgirl because I fell in love with the cover (it reminded me of Tim Burton and I ♥ anything a-la Tim Burton). I loved the elongated cover and pages, the color scheme, great illustrations, the font, the borders on every page, etc. In between each chapter there was this fantastic little blurb that caught my attention and I just bought it... very spontaneous-like, since I had never really heard of it before.

With that said, I had some issues with it. Don’t take me wrong, I did find the story unique at first, but then it slowly disintegrated for me. I definitely could not relate to Charlotte - not even thinking back to when I was her age. She was very shallow and I found some of her actions even annoying at times. Luckily, she did outgrow most of this - but it was towards the end of the book so she didn’t fully redeem herself in my eyes. I did like how the story ended (although it did feel a bit rushed) and I can definitely appreciate the message that the author was trying to convey but it was still confusing and I felt as though it left a few plot holes. There were some great characters and some fantastic lines thrown in that made me laugh, but in the end, I must confess I was disappointed with this.

One Scream Away by Kate Brady

Beth Denison is being stalked and harassed by serial killer Chevy Bankes. Chevy was just recently paroled and is after Beth since she’s the one who sent him to jail seven years ago. He keeps calling her cell phone to threaten her and her young daughter Abby. She is terrified by his antics but at the same time she feels that she has the strength to take him on.

Former FBI agent, Neil Sheridan has been called in for his expertise by his friend and colleague, Rick. Neil once handled a murder case whose actions were quite similar to Chevy’s. Their investigation leads them to Beth’s doorstep but they know that she isn’t being honest when questioned as to her connection to these killings. Beth has no other choice but to trust and believe in Neil... but as their feelings grow stronger and Chevy draws nearer she worries about what the truth of that fateful night, years ago with Chevy, might cost her.

This was a fast-paced thriller, full of twists and turns that had me at the edge of my seat. It had these great characters - Beth, Neil and even Chevy, that were broken in one way or another, but who were strong, clever and downright terrorizing (Chevy). Although some scenes were graphic in nature - they were not overly disturbing. I thought it was neat that Chevy had his own chapters so you were able to get these glimpses into his disturbed mind. He was always one step ahead of the good guys and the whole Jenny thing was just creepy. The romance was very subtle - I would classify this more as a thriller than a romantic suspense - which is a good thing. I really enjoyed this and I’m sure that fans of detective/murder mysteries, thrillers and action novels will too.

GIVEAWAY: I have 5 copies of ONE SCREAM AWAY by Kate Brady to giveaway.

As always, leave a comment for one entry. Second entry if you follow, third if you follow on Twitter, and so forth.

Rules: Books will be delivered directly from Publisher so giveaway is only available to residents of the US and Canada. No P.O. Boxes please. Winners will be drawn this Saturday, July 25.

Last Light Over Carolina by Mary Alice Monroe

Bud and Carolina Morrison have been married for well over 30 years. They reside in the small coastal town of McClellanville, South Carolina where Bud captains the Miss Carolina - his shrimping boat. Although being a shrimper is not the easiest of lives (long, hard-working days) - it is something that he would not give up for the world. Like any marriage - Bud and Carolina’s has not been an easy one they have definitely had their share of bumpy roads, but they have found a way to overcome these obstacles and have held strong to their lives together.

The story takes place in the course and scope of one day. Bud wakes up that morning well before dawn and heads out for the day’s catch. Once his ship is ready to sail out and after waiting for his deckhand, who is late, he decides to head out on his own - not an easy thing for one man to do (and definitely not for one well into his sixties now). Due to bad weather and an accident at sea Bud is missing causing Carolina’s nightmares to become a reality. Most of the day Carolina has had a dreadful feeling in her stomach... she feels as if something is wrong but just can’t pinpoint what it is.

While Bud is at sea and Carolina runs around doing her daily errands, we slip back and forth between flashbacks of their lives together. The realities of being a shrimper and a shrimper’s wife, how they first met, making a home, having a baby, the destruction of Hurricane Hugo, long separations (if the shrimp don’t come to you, you must go to where the shrimp is), and how the local shrimping market is being affected by foreign shrimp being used at much lower rates. Prepare to be taken on a roller coaster journey through the lives of two people as they come to realize how precious life really is and how important they really are to one another.

I really enjoy character driven novels like this. The flashbacks are told in a way where you get both sides of the story which give these characters a depth that you feel as if you know them and you can't help but fall in love with them (flaws and all). I love that you learn so much about shrimping... and I could even relate somewhat to Carolina’s feelings - since my grandfather was a fisherman (back in the day). I remember the nights that my grandmother stayed up waiting for him or the days that went by while she waited by the phone for that call from a dock somewhere just to let her know that he was okay. The writing is superb - you can almost feel the Southern twang while reading it. This was a beautiful and poignant story about life, love and hope that I honestly loved and highly recommend.

My thanks to Sarah at Pocket Books for sending me this copy for review.

Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter

Seduce the Darkness is part of Ms. Showalter's Alien Huntress series. Due to a war between otherworlders and humans, Earth is barely recognizable but still habitable. Bride McKells is a vampire who secretly resides amongst the humans. She used to be hunted by fanatics but since the war she has been able to reside undetected... her only problem she has never met another vampire and she has many unanswered questions about her race. Then one day she meets Devyn, King of the Targons - he promises to have all the answers to her questions. He is a womanizer and has dedicated himself to sleeping with women of all races, he considers it his collection. And although he's been with vampires before, several at once even, he has found a match in Bride who does not fall for his womanizing ways. In fact, she is just as good looking, cocky and when they find that her blood is a cure for a deadly alien disease, she becomes essential to humans.

This was definitely different as it dealt with aliens (a first for me). I fell in love with both Devyn and Bride - although they were both cocky and full of themselves, they were very likeable and quite funny. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the things they would say and do. I also really liked Devyn's friendship and interactions with the men and women who were part of his alien hunting team. This is the first book that I read of Ms. Showalter's and it was loads of fun - with several naughty parts but the story was not overpowered by the steamy love scenes. There was plenty of action and character dynamic to keep your pique interested. There was even a twist or two that I did not see coming. Although this is not the first book in the series you can definitely start here and, like me, read your way back. If you like your paranormal romances steamy with plenty of action than this is definitely one you won't want to miss out on.

The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul

Tipper, a young Emerlindian, has been responsible for her family’s upkeep since her sculptor father vanished several years back. It’s been years since she last saw her father, and her mother's, the Lady Peg, mental health has slowly been deteriorating since then, so she has had to single-handedly do everything in her power to maintain her family’s good name. She has even had to sell her father’s beloved sculptures for money in order to pay their servants and purchase food. Until the night her father, Verrin Schope, returns with tales of wondrous places, gateways, and the fact that he keeps appearing and disappearing and then reappearing through her mothers closet. It seems the gateway that brought him back home is unstable and keeps bringing him back and forth through time which is ultimately affecting his health in the process. Yet there is hope as three of his sculptures can save him, the only problem, Tipper obviously sold these pieces and she has no idea whom the buyers were or even in which town or village they might be able to start looking in. Thus the adventure begins for Tipper, Verrin and Tipper’s faithful guardian, Beccaroon (who’s a five-foot tall parrot), as they set forth on this journey.

Since I have never read any of Ms. Paul’s "DragonKeeper Chronicles", a lot of the terms used in this story were new to me. Luckily, there was a handy glossary at the back of the book that I kept referring to for help. And I also want to make note that there were some inconsistencies with the map and the story itself - so I was a little lost at times as to where exactly the characters were in the story when compared to the map, but other than that, I can definitely see the appeal this story would have on children and adults alike. The story has an undeniable Christian message, but it is subtle enough for a non-believer to also enjoy the book.

The characters were quirky, funny and quite endearing and Ms. Paul’s writing builds a world that you can definitely envision. I recommend this for young and older readers alike, or anyone who enjoys science fiction, good writing and magical characters.

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Wings is the debut novel of Aprilynne Pike. In it we are introduced to Laurel - a not-so-human girl who discovers that she is a fairy who has been sent by the fae to live among humans to guard one of the gateways to Avalon. Little does Laurel know that there are other dangerous beings also trying to find this magical gateway which places her and her human family in real danger. Luckily for her she is not alone as she discovers more and more about who and what she is. David - the cute boy from school, who just happens to be a whiz in biology, helps her understand some of the scientific changes her body is going through. And then there’s the mysterious Tamani.... although she’s not very trusting of him at first, he is the one that helps her understand that she is not human but a fairy... like him.

This was super neat! Ms. Pike explores the realm of faeries and immerses us in a world that is very unique. Although I can’t really say I have read any Fae books, the legends I’ve come to know (and I blame this on Disney) are nothing like the world Ms. Pike creates in Wings. I must say that her take on fairy life is refreshing, if not AWESOME.

Although this follows the traditional set up most fantasy/love triangle/young adult fiction titles we've seen in the past few years, this story, involving the mystical world of the Fae, Camelot, and the doors to Avalon, had me hooked from page one.

I fell in love with the characters and I am already torn between who Laurel will choose - David or Tamani. Apparently this will be a 4-part series, and I am already anxious for the next installment!

To learn more about author, Aprilynne Pike, you can visit her blog here.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. See Nick’s ex-girlfriend just walked into the club where Nick’s band is playing... with a new guy. So Nick thinks that if the girl sitting next to him at the bar (Norah) will just act like his girlfriend for a couple of minutes - he’ll be able to avoid that whole "I can’t live without you" scene with the ex. Nick was definitely not expecting Norah’s reaction to his question, since she grabs him and plants a big, juicy wet one on him. That one kiss is the beginning of their adventure that takes place throughout one crazy night in the Manhattan underground punk scene... a car that won’t start, writing a song while sitting on the curb, bar hopping, chasing Where’s Fluffy?, a jacket once owned by Salvatore, and eventually two kids who just wanna be themselves and be liked for who they are.

I know nothing about punk music, only a tad about Manhattan (since I’ve only been there once), yet I still managed to fall in love with this book. The writing is phenomenal - especially the dialogue - clever and witty, yet still touchingly real. It was funny and had depth and heart. You really felt for these two people and felt like you could know them in real life. Their mutual love for music is really explained and you feel it through the writing. The story is told in the first person switching back and forth each chapter between Nick and Norah's point of view. I found myself relating more to Nick than to Norah, he was more reserved and maybe even a little naive. Norah I found I couldn't really relate to so much, but she was still a very funny and likeable character.

I actually read this book before I saw the movie. If you’ve seen the movie and haven’t read the book because of this, you should definitely read the book. They are two different entities with some similarities. They are both good in their own way so this is one I’ll have to say: "Don’t judge a book by its movie."

All in all, I love the idea of this book. It is entertaining, funny and heartwarming. I can definitely see myself reading this over and over - and enjoying it the same, or more, every time.

I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle

Denis Cooverman - class valedictorian, captain of the debate team and your all-around nerd is standing on stage, sweating profusely and giving his graduation speech when he decides to live on the edge and says:

"I love you, Beth Cooper."

Yep, in front of his 500+ classmates and their relatives.

Beth Cooper - head cheerleader, most popular and the hottest girl in school has only the vaguest idea of who Denis is. They’ve been in the same classes their whole lives but Denis has always sat behind her in class and never actually uttered a word to her. When Beth agrees to “maybe” make it to a graduation party Denis spontaneously decides to throw, little does he know that Beth has a very big, muscular boyfriend in town on furlough from the United States Army who is not very happy about his “creative” speech.

I was looking for a book that would make me laugh and was not serious whatsoever and definitely found it in "I Love You, Beth Cooper." This is the classic tale of the nerd loving the most beautiful girl in school - in a “day in the life of” scenario. It took me back and captured that high school surreal feeling of social status and angst. It's like Return of the Nerds, where the nerds become semi-cool, get the girl, and realize that there's more to life outside the world of high school and all its pettiness.

This is one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Any book that quotes characters from some of the funniest movies of all time has to be funny! And the comics were just hilarious. I will confess, I actually bought the book because I skimmed through it and was laughing at how funny the illustrations were.

If you’re in the mood for something fast-paced and highly-entertaining then this is definitely your book.

The movie comes out this summer - here's the trailer.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda Sordino starts her freshman year in high school as an outcast. She was just like any other kid in eighth grade, she was popular and had many friends, but there was a problem over the summer. While attending a party with some friends, Melinda ended up having to call the police. Now her friends won’t talk to her and most of the kids in her school know she’s the one who made the call so they shun her as well. The story takes place throughout Melinda’s school year as we see how her silence deteriorates her and eventually comes out at the end with redemption and the courage to speak the truth.

I thought it was neat how truly immersed in Melinda's mind you are but at the same time you still are not able to see the whole story at once. This is a powerful novel, and readers can enjoy both Melinda's wry humor and her heart-wrenching pain. The metaphors and symbolism add to the richness, but the primary attraction is Melinda herself - you become one with her and I found that I cared deeply for her and ached for her sadness. Although most girls will not be able to relate to Melinda directly, her tale is one that needs to be told. She is a survivor and a heroine and a voice that every young girl should learn from.

This was a very unique coming-of-age story but, more importantly, the author addresses issues that are difficult to discuss (I won’t go further into these issues as I don’t want to give any of the story away). If you enjoy books with a strong message, creative writing, and an intriguing plot than Speak will be the book for you.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

In Wintergirls we meet Lia, 18 years old and the skinniest girl in her school. Lia and her best friend Cassie make a vow when they are twelve to be the skinniest girls in their class and this has come to pass. Because of years of struggling with their weight issues/eating disorders, Cassie has developed a severe case of bulimia, so severe in fact, that it takes her life. Lia, on the other hand, lives on, but with a severe case of anorexia... among other things. When Cassie is found dead, alone in a hotel room, Lia can’t help feeling guilt, she was the last person Cassie reached out to and she did not answer her calls. Shortly thereafter, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit who is taunting her and pressuring her to eat less and less and join her.

I never could imagine the struggle that someone like Lia is going through. Her internal dialogue, debating on what to eat (or not eat). The calorie counting, the blogs created by others like her, the constant weighing in (and the lengths she goes through to appear that she isn't losing weight when she has to weigh in), the changes her body was going through (it’s amazing what our bodies will do to adapt and live). Reading about how she longs to be able to simply eat and not obsess over every single bite of food, the hundreds of sit-ups and hours on the stair climber....

Kudos to Laurie Halse Anderson for tackling this difficult subject matter in such an honest and unflinching way. I started to think that this should be recommended reading for any teen girl - but I think that someone who is already predisposed to eating disorders or inclined to self-mutilate, might read this book and have it act as a "trigger" to such behaviors.

It was so hard to read, but even more difficult to stop reading. It's honest. It's explicit. It's raw. I liked it.