Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About (21)

Fun Friday: Give me something to sing about! is where you guys get to see a song or two I like or that I want to talk about each week. Thanks as always goes to J.J. at Random Musings for help with the title.

So, I had a weird dream last night. That's pretty common, though, what was really weird was that it was set to music and I woke up with the song stuck in my head. So I decided since it was Friday, that it had to fate, and I shouldn't skip my Fun Friday post out of laziness. So here is the song I've had stuck in my head all day.

Shout by Alexz Johnson.



This is the mastered, newer version of the song. The older demo version is really cool too and you all should listen to it.



I personally like the beginning of this version and the volume of the other. But I'm insane, so what do you all think?

Okay, that's it for me for this week! What do you guys have stuck in your head today?
Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Waiting on Wednesday is, of course, brought to us by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I'm doing a kind of special WoW this week, because its cover was just revealed.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - Release date February 1st, 2010
Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.

(Summary from goodreads.com)

Doesn't it sound incredibe? And isn't that one of the most gorgeous covers you've ever seen? Click it, it's a huge picture. I love it!

Also! Bonus! Sharon has already done a review (the lucky witch), so go check it out!

Okay, that's it for me for this week.
Peace and cookies,
Laina

Blogoversary Contest Winners

Thanks to everyone who entered! You guys are awesome!

Drum roll please...

The winner of Boy Toy is Mariana!!! Congrats!!

The winner of the Barry Lyga postcards is Ashley (Books Obsession)!!!! Congrats!!

The winner of Explorer X - Alpha and a poster is throuthehaze!!!!! Congrats!!

The winner of Blue Plate Special is Katie (Katie's Book Blog)!!!!! Congrats!!

All the winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to reply before new winners will be chosen. Thanks again to everyone who entered!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting On Wednesday (25)

Waiting on Wednesday is, of course, brought to us by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My choice this week is a tenner, soI don't think it has a cover yet. Soon, though, hopefully!

Whisper by Phoebe Kitandis - Release date April 27th, 2010

I’d love a cup of coffee. I wish she knew how pretty she was. I wish I could drop this kid in the dryer sometimes. I just want her to be happy. I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin…

Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears Jessica whisper: I want to kill my Hearing dead, and kill me too if that’s what it takes, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Doesn't that sound soooooo good? *wants*

I'm feeling really lazy (and exhausted from choosing four contest winners, it took hours), so I'm just going to do this one.
What are you guys waiting on this week?
Peace and cookies,
Laina

Hush Hush Review

Happy Halloween! In honour of one of my favourite holidays, I have a very special review for you guys!

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Published: October 13th, 2009 by Simon & Schuster

Genre: Young Adult Thriller/Paranormal/Fantasy/Urban Fantasy

Page Count: 391 in my ARC, but the last chapter has been changed, so I'm not sure what it is now.

Part of a series? Yes! Thank goodness, or I'd die. Crescendo is the sequel and I can't wait for it.

Summary (from goodreads): For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Review: I've always said that Simon and Schuster puts out great books. This is proof of that. You all know my Edward Cullen issues, right? Need I bring up the life sized cardboard cutout again? Well, screw Edward Cullen, I want a Patch! Seriously, I have peanut butter filled pretzels and a Dairy Milk chocolate bar for the first time in months, if someone sent me a Patch, I could die happy.

Becca Fitzpatrick's writing is amazing. It's so hard to believe that this is her debut novel. I practically tortured myself by only reading a tiny bit of this at a time at first yesterday, to make it last as long as possible, but today, I sat down and I was just going to read a little bit and I ended up finishing the book and I was whining about how I read too fast. It's a curse!

Plot: When Nora Grey's biology teacher decides to change the class' seating arrangement, Nora is paired with Patch Cipriano, who, in her words, is tall, dark, and annoying, but she can't help but be attracted to him. The story is fast paced and kept me so involved in the action that I literally could not stop reading. (And how's that for plot? Not bad, hey?)

Characters: Nora was very realistic. She isn't the most confident girl in the world, she isn't perfect, but she's balanced, real, and so easy to relate to. She's smart, too, which is something that I absolutely love in female characters. I also wish I had her hair. And her legs, but that's never going to happen, but I could totally rock a perm.

I could go on and on about the characters, but (in my mind anyways) the real star of Hush Hush was Patch. He's so freaking hot, from the scars on his back to that edge of danger he has to how he calls Nora "Angel". I may (read: so do) have bad boy issues, but he's one of the best I've ever read and I'm serious that I want a Patch. It would make my year.

Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc.: I do have a couple complaints. 1. They changed the last chapter and I don't have a finished copy, so I can't compare and it's eating me up inside quite a bit. 2. Crescendo cannot come out soon enough. 3. It ended WAY too soon. (In case you think I'm serious, these are noncomplaints because it was so good.)

PG-13 stuff: There's some stuff. Mild swearing, violence, some fun moments (and that's all I'll say on that) but it didn't bother me any. I've read far, far worse in YA. There isn't anything bad, this just isn't the book for more immature readers. Please let me know if that isn't clear, because I worked tonight (made 25 bucks and a pumpkin) and I'm getting tired and I don't think I'm expressing myself clearly enough.

Cover comments: I bookmarked this picture (the one I use in this post) because it's so gorgeous, and huge. Click it if you dare. Seriously, click it, it's amazing seeing how big that picture is and I oh so much want it as a poster. That guy is so hot, which is always a plus. And I love black and white photography and I haven't seen many book covers, especially not YA ones, with black and white covers. It's just so dramatic, and then the red feathers at the top and the cool lettering... major props to the designer.

Conclusion: I got a little too close to selling my soul for this. I'm rather glad I didn't have to, but I'm so glad I could get it and read it, and as soon as possible, I will be buying a finished copy to compare the last chapter. And because it was so awesome, go shower some love on Becca at her Twitter, her livejournal, or her website. Four and a half stars to Hush Hush.



I can't believe how many reviews I've done this month! It's not many compared to some people, but for me, it's a lot. And that I've been blogging a year! Don't forget to enter my blogoversary contests before they close later tonight, and happy Halloween.

Peace and pumpkin cookies,

Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something To Sing About (20)

Fun Friday: Give me something to sing about! is where you guys get to see a song or two I like or that I want to talk about each week. Thanks as always goes to J.J. at Random Musings for help with the title.

Tomorrow's Halloween! And since it is, what else could we have but



The Monster Mash!

Enjoy!!
Peace and cookies,
Laina

In My Mailbox (16)

Wow, I haven't done this in forever. This is actually a few weeks worth of books. As always, In My Mailbox is brought to us by The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea.

For Review:


Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maquires by Molly Roe - Paperback

Coming of age amidst the seething unrest of the Civil War era, feisty fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty infiltrates the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish organization, to rescue a lifelong friend. Under the guise of Dominick, a draft resister, Katie volunteers for a dangerous mission in hopes of preventing bloodshed. Katie risks job, family, and ultimately her very life to intervene. A series of tragedies challenge Katie's strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can she balance her sense of justice with the law?

(Summary from the back of the book and goodreads.)

The pictures in this post look a little weird because my firefox stopped working so I'm using Internet Explorer and it, well, sucks. So click on the pictures of the covers to see them better. :)

Blue Plate Special by Michelle D. Kwasney - Hardcover

Blue Plate Special — Doomed loves, failed families, nixed dreams — someone else's leftovers are heaped on our plates the day we come into this world.

Big Macs and pop tunes mask the emptiness as Madeline watches her mom drink away their welfare checks. Until the day Tad, a quirky McDonald's counter boy, asks Madeline out for a date, and she gets her first taste of normal. But with a life that’s anything but, how long can normal really last?

Hanging with Jeremy, avoiding Mam, sticking Do Not Disturb Post-its on her heart, Desiree's mission is simple: party hard, graduate (well, maybe), get out of town. But after Desiree accepts half a meatball grinder, a cold drink, and a ride from her mother's boyfriend one rainy afternoon, nothing is ever simple again.

Too many AP classes. Workaholic mom. Dad in prison. Still, Ariel's sultry new boyfriend, Shane, manages to make even the worst days delicious. But when an unexpected phone call forces a trip to visit a sick grandmother she's never met, revealing her family's dark past, Ariel struggles to find the courage to make the right choice for her own future.As three girls from three different decades lives converge, they discover they are connected ways they could never imagine. Each of them finds strength that brings her closer to healing a painful past, and faith that there is a happier future.

(Summary from the inside of the cover.)

I'm currently giving this away! Not this copy, obviously... but you know what I mean! So go check it out! It's open to Canada and the US until the end of the month.

Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen - ARC

Sara Black is tiptoeing across a fraying tightrope.

As the new eleventh grader at Anton High – the most elite public school in the country – she sticks out like an old VW bus in a parking lot full of shiny BMWs. But being the new kid also brings a certain advantageous anonymity.

In Anton High’s world of privilege, intelligence, and wealth, Sara can escape her family’s tarnished past and become whomever she wants. And what’s the harm in telling a few little black lies when it can lead to popularity? That is, until another it girl at Anton becomes jealous of Sara’s social climbing.

With her balance evaporating, one small push could bring Sara crashing down.

(Summary from goodreads.)

I freaking love the hippy bus on the cover of this. (My name for it as I am odd, I'm pretty sure no one else on earth calls them that. Like the veggie baby thing.)

Bought: None.

Borrowed (from the library):

The Actual Real Reality of Jennifer James by Gillian Shields - Hardcover

This is the diary of Jennifer James. It contains:

One Heroine: Jennifer James, burdened by brains, struggling to release her Inner Babe

One High School: London Road Comprehensive, a no-hope English school in a no-hope English town

One Prize: A scholarship to the elite St. Willibald's College [Jennifer's idea of Paradise] offered to the winner of a tacky reality TV show, Down The Bog

and...

A Thousand Complications: Like Jocasta, the crazy feminist mother; Tallulah, the blond rival from hell; Marcus, the guy with green eyes; and above all, the actual real reality that Jennifer's chances of winning are less than Mega-Zero...

(Summary from goodreads.)

I was wasting time at the library the Wednesday before last waiting for it to get to be five o'clock so I could have some teddy bear books (and I get paid for this!) and I spotted this, so I grabbed it. I've never heard of it before, but it sounds cute. It's not part of a series, though, is it? Bonus points if you know why the name Tallulah amuses me.

Well, that's it for me for this week!

Don't forget to enter my contests for Explorer X - Alpha and Boy Toy! Both of those are open internationally, and again, my Blue Plate Special contest is open to the US and Canada. All three are open until the end of the month.
Peace and cookies,
Laina