Caught my Arrow # 9

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

This week I got a steal! I found all of these hardcover books (Anna and the French Kiss is a paperback) at Chapters for under 5$. Can I let you in on a secret? Except for The Dead-Tossed Waves, I have read all of them. But they are so good, I don't mind re-reading them.

The Bad Queen

Keep Sweet

Anna and the French Kiss

The Dead-Tossed Waves

What are you reading this week?

Review: Boys, Girls and other Hazardous Materials

Remember all the high school drama? Well, this book will take you on a trip back in time: crushes that crushed back others that didn't, backstabbing friends, true friends, hazing, pressure to belong... You can even read some of Charlie's school news bulletin. Yup, it's high school alright.

Is Charlie a mean girl? In a way, yes.

She doesn't insult people or put them down, but she will stand by quietly while a friend hurts someone who didn't do anything to deserve it. People like that sometimes seem meaner than the bully itself -- if only they would have your back maybe the bullying would stop. It's important Charley finds her voice. Not everyone will hate her if she speaks her mind. I enjoyed watching her struggle and progress, and desist. Change is never easy.

Will also made a nice male lead, dealing with his own pressure to make a sports team.

This is the first book I read from Wiseman although I am a big fan of Mean Girls and appreciated all the research she put into this novel.  Her new book Masterminds Wingmen filled with stories and advice  for boys will be released on September 2013.

Feature and Follow Friday: Hot and Cold

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: What is a book you didn't like and all your friends raved about or what book did you love that wasn't popular?

As a Bookcupid, my joy is to spread book love. However, it's impossible to love everything all the time and if you don't believe me ask Tom -- he is sleeping on the couch right now.

I didn't like...

Switched. 

To be fair, I read the first edition (not hardcover or paperback). I read it on the computer and it was filled with spelling mistakes. The premise was great, a troll, I mean you don't read that everyday... but the character kept switching from her home to her troll family back and forth. Until I couldn't hack it and offered to buy her a U-Haul. 

I liked...

Keep Sweet.

It is not that raved about, but it should be. This little book of 215 pages is wrapped up with so much action, it's hard to put down. It took me one sitting to know this character would never leave me. We need more girls to be strong and brave like Alva Jane when she gets punished by a cult for kissing her lifelong crush. 

Author Spotlight: It's your time to shine

I'm happy to be receiving author Anna Adams today to promote her new YA novel, A French Girl in New York.

Maude Laurent is a spirited 16 year-old orphan who grew up in a small, provincial town in North of France with a passion for piano and a beautiful voice. One day in Paris, she is discovered by an American music producer who takes her to New York to live with him and his close-knit family while producing her first album, with help from teen pop star, Matt. Maude will dive into a new fascinating world discovering New York City, music, family, love and the truth about her past. 

Find it on Amazon

Hello Anna, it's a pleasure to have you here. Please tell us, what inspired you to write this book?

What inspired me for this book is my love for music first of all. That's why in this book Maude uses her classical music background to enrich her new pop career.

But also what inspired me are the two countries closer to my hear, the two countries in which I grew up and became what I am today: France and America.

Can you name some of your favorite authors?

Anne Bronte for one -- she is a lot less famous than her two sisters, but I think she is the best of the three -- Charlotte Bronte, J.K.Rowling, George Eliot, Toni Morrison.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Travel, travel, travel! In your own country in foreign countries, everywhere you can! It is an inextinguishable source of inspiration. 

 

What are you working on now -- or would you rather surprise us?

Surprise, surprise....

Just kidding!

Currently, I'm working on the sequel of the Maude Laurent series. In A French Girl in New York we get to know Maude on her road to fame. In the second installment, Maude will learn to deal with her newfound fame, she'll learn to assert herself and find her place in the music industry. Her romantic relationships won't be a smooth ride either!

I'm also working on a short story that focuses on street art.

Best of luck to you Anna and thanks for stopping by. You can follow Anna on:

• twitter: https://twitter.com/ADAMSANNA1 
• facebook:https://www.facebook.com/anna.adams.14606936
• blog:http://annaadamsya.wordpress.com/

Review: Ghostworld

Enid and Becky are done with high school. This should be the time of their lives when they party and travel to the beach. But instead, they continue to hang out at the coffee shop and music stores, or just relax by the television having normal pointless talks. You can tell from the very start that these two are best friends.

The problem: Enid doesn't listen to anything Becky says, constantly monopolizing the conversations. Treating Becky as if she were dumb and keeping mum on her plans after high school. Why would she do that? The answer is in the book.

Ghostwolrd

And that is a good enough reason to read this book. It's honest. Not all friendships are good for you, and it doesn't mean that because a person is extroverted that they are able to show their true emotions.

Daniel Clowes also worked on the screenplay for the 2001 Ghostworld movie, and was nominated for an Award for best adapted screenplay.

Top Ten Tuesday: Series on my Mind

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Wanting is part of being human, and frankly I want books. Here are the series I haven't read and invade my dreams. 

1. The Host:  I placed it on top because I want to read it before the movie comes out and I'm running out of time.

2. Obsidian: It comes widely recommended and it has to do with aliens. 

3. Under the Never Sky: Why are they hugging under the sky -- I don't know but I want to find out.

4. The Forest of Hands & Teeth: I bought it when it first came out and keep in my bookcase, unopened.

5. Daughter of Smoke & Bone: The cover drew me in.

6. Anna Dressed in Blood: I've heard it's scary.

7. Legend: Who hasn't read it -- me! I feel like I'm the only one.

8. Darkest Powers series: As a fan of The Gathering, I think this one will do it for me as well.

9. Mara Dyer series: I read so many good reviews from you guys. I need to read it.

10. The Grisha series: The plot, the cover -- everything intrigues me about this one.

Caught my Arrow # 8

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Whenever I go to the library I tell myself, just get one book, just get one book, but I always end up getting more.

Yup, I went in for Wicked Lovely but had to arrow The Friday Society and Level 2 because if I didn't someone else would have and I couldn't live with that. Muahaha....

I also got The Immortal Rules from Netgalley

What are you reading this week?

Review: Starters

Look at this cover. The poor blue eyed girl looks extremely sad and who can blame her. Callie's parents died during the Spore Wars -- a terrible epidemic that wiped out everyone between the age of twenty and sixty. Sadly, those who didn't have any grandparents were left to struggle on their own. And so Callie who doesn't want to be separated from her little brother must do a crazy thing: she must rent her body.

Please no dirty thoughts. I said rent not sell. What they do is insert a microchip into her head and then the elder who rents her body can operate it while the real Callie sleeps. 

I admit I loved to see the experiment go wrong as Callie woke up and took control of her body. I expected her to do what I would have done: go shopping. But instead she tries to figure out who this  renter is and moves the story from Dystopia to Mystery to Horror, and then sprinkles it with a dash of Romance. 

Needless to say, I devoured this book. Callie is a strong character, never forgetting the huge responsibility   that rests on her shoulders. Helena kept surprising me at every turn. The only character I couldn't warm up to was Michael. Yes, he took care of Tyler but he was so secretive it annoyed me. Can't wait for book two to come out.  

Feature & Follow Friday: Did I do that?

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

 Q: Confess your blogger sins! Is there anything as a newbie blogger that you've done, that as you gained more experience you were like -- oops?

Dear Alice  readers,

Life is filled with oops moments. If I had to go back in time and start this blog all over again I would:

A- Write a review policy early on.  My email wasn't written anywhere else on the site and authors who wanted me to review their books had to go through my Goodreads in order to contact me -- sorry --

B- Stay away from Oreos. Let's face it, late night blogging and sugar filled cookies to keep you up is a bad combo. You are still tired afterwards, only you can't sleep because of all the chocolate intake.

C- I would keep away from Coca-Cola as well, and tea, and Gatorade and fruit filled gummies and ...

No, I don't have a writing/eating problem at all. How dare you :p

Review: Rapture

Ah, the conclusion of the Fallen Series. My hands were shaken with anticipation when they grabbed hold on this book. So many hours invested in this series, I really wanted to know how it ended. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this one more than Torment and Passion. 

Luce's character grew a lot in Rapture (at least she didn't kiss any unknown boy). For once she concentrated on her relationship with Daniel, while he concentrated on the war. 

At least now I know why we had to go through most of Luce's lives : to understand that Luce and Daniel love each other. And although most of the book was spent travelling from one location to another, I admit the ending did carry a surprise that left me speechless and for that, thank you Lauren Kate. 

Top Ten Tuesday: I'm in debt because of you

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Hmm, this week's question was tough. I took a look at my bookcase to see which authors appeared the most and was able to draw a good conclusion.

Sorry, Miss Piggy. But I only picked authors who I've read more than one book. No hard feeli-- ouch, that hurt!!

Top Ten Authors on my Auto-Buy List

1. Suzanne Collins I fell in love with The Hunger Games Trilogy before the movie came out and have a Mockingjay pin on my winter jacket.

2. J.K. Rowling Harry Potter is the only series I've ever re-read.

3. Cassandra Clare Can't get enough of her books. I'm about to read City of Lost Souls.

4. Veronica Roth Divergent captivated me instantly and made me a fan.

5. Richelle Mead I always pick up one of her books whenever I need a paranormal fix.

6. Sarah Dessen Her stories are deep and heartfelt.

7. Kelley Armstrong I'm hooked. Her books always carry an element of surprise. 

8. Maggie Stiefvater I have no clue how she writes with such intensity. Every single word counts. 

9.  Deb Caletti For some reason, her contemporary stories always hit close to home.

10. John Green The only man in the list. Not that they aren't many great male authors out there. Simply that John has a way with words that make me pause and think. 

Review: Marking Time

When we first meet Saira she is caught by the police in a dark alley with a can of spray paint. Her mother has disappeared and the only person able to take care of her sends her off to a boarding school. And I thought I had problems.

It turns out that going to that school is the best thing that could happen to Saira. Not only does she get some attention and good friends, but she also learns that she is a descendant -- a time traveler -- and it is possible for her to go back to the 19th century and save her mom.

This is where the story takes a strange twist. You see in 1888, Jack the Ripper was terrorizing the streets of London. And so April White decided to bring him into the story and give us a real villain.

I wish I could travel back in time and read this all over again. It's refreshing to read a paranormal book told in the first person, especially when the main character is strong-willed and exhuberates girl power. April White maintains the tension throughout the whole book. Even the romance is intense.

Recommended to paranormal/romance fans who enjoy a dash of historical fiction.