Laina Has Too Much Spare Time

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (83)

2012-01-27T10:00:00.001-06:00

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.

Here's a song you might not have heard:

(Run to You by The Midway State.)

This is a Bryan Adams cover (the original song was released in 1984!!), but I don't think the cover is very old. It played a lot just a few months ago when CBC was advertising Camelot.

Thoughts? Comments? Song suggestions?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (101)

2012-01-25T10:00:00.002-06:00

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

I have a theme again this week! Let's see if you can guess it.

In Honor by Jessi Kirby - To be released May 8th, 2012

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Because I will cry reading it.

Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John - To be released April 12th, 2012

When sixteen-year-old Luke's book, Hallelujah, becomes a national best seller, his publisher sends him on a cross-country tour with his unpredictable older brother, Matt, as chauffeur. But when Matt offers to drive Luke's ex-crush, Fran, across the country too, things get a little crazy. Luke thinks he's enlightened, but he really needs to loosen up if he's going to discover what it truly means to have faith, and do what it takes to get the girl he loves.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Teenaged author. Brothers (boys amuse me). Girl with purple hair on the cover. Road trip. What's not to want to read???

So, did you guess the theme?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (82)

2012-01-20T10:00:00.001-06:00

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.

What song should we do this week? Oh, I know! I haven't done any Anberlin songs!

(Soft Skeletons by Anberlin.)

This is another song you can thank KT for telling me about. Isn't it gorgeous?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (100)

2012-01-18T10:08:00.001-06:00

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

This is my 100th Waiting on Wednesday post!! *bells, whistles*

Anyways, did you guess my theme last week? It was blue covers.

Okay, do you remember my 75th Waiting on Wednesday post where I did an all mermaid themed post and I said mermaids/sirens were going to be the next vampires/werewolves/angels? I stand by that opinion.

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter - To be released July 3rd, 2012

This actually the sequel to Lost Voices which was in my 75th post, so I am not going to post the summary because that could really spoil for people who haven't read it. But isn't this cover gorgeous? And it really matches the Lost Voices cover and I always like that.

(Summary on goodreads.)

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown - To be released June 12th, 2012

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy.

But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls.

Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Two words. Murderous. Mermaids.

Next up, we have:

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama - To be released August 21st, 2012

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect... or a curse?

With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I love reincarnation stories, especially when they're combined with a love that has lasted hundreds of years. What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic.

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova - To be released April 12th, 2012

Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Wouldn't a male-narrated mermaid book be AWESOME?

Wrecked by Anna Davis - To be released May 1st, 2012

Miranda has lived on Whym Island since the death of her parents. She has taken comfort in its seclusion and in the folklore that claims a mysterious sea witch controls the fate of all on the island and its surrounding waters. It's just been easier to believe that things are out of her control.

But when a terrible boating accident takes the lives of several of her friends, Miranda is rescued by a mysterious boy that haunts her dreams. As the guilt of the accident consumes her, she finds refuge in her late night swims. Then, she meets Christian, a boy who seems so familiar, but won't tell her where he is from and why they can only meet at the beach. As Miranda falls for Christian and begins to put the accident behind her, she discovers that there are secrets that Christian is keeping to protect her that may only end up bringing her nothing but harm.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Okay, I'm cheating a bit. I'm not ENTIRELY sure if this one is a mermaid book. But he has scaly things! I'm guessing that's not just a funny skin condition ;) Scales + water = mermaid to me.

Okay. That was fun. What did you guys think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (81)

2012-01-13T10:00:00.001-06:00

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.

(Fast Car by The Wilkinsons.)

Most of you probably know this is a cover of a Tracy Chapman song, but I really like this version.

What do you guys think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (99)

2012-01-11T10:00:00.001-06:00

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

We have a bit of a theme this week. See if you can guess!

Slide by Jill Hathaway - To be released March 27th, 2012

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: It sounds really, really cool. Kinda like extra super cool mind-reading, plus really cool names.

Next up:

The Selection by Kiera Cass - To be released April 24th, 2012

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 the palace and compete for the heart of the 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.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: For one thing, Kiera Cass is hilarious and super nice and has a beautiful baby boy. For another, this sounds like The Bachelor meets... The Princess and the Pizza is coming to mind, but I'm sure there's a base fairy tale under that I'm not thinking of. Maybe the Princess and the Pea?

Anyways. LOOK at that cover! Tell me you don't want to hoard the shiny like a dragon.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Any guesses about my theme?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

YA Review: Future Imperfect

2012-01-09T10:34:00.000-06:00

Okay, so, I wrote this last summer, but I've put off typing it up since then. Anything in brackets, I'm adding in today. Got it? Good.

Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese

Published: April 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: YA Science Fiction, I think
Binding: Paperback
Page count: 310 in my copy
Part of a series: Yes, it has a sequel that I can't remember the title of and goodreads is being a jerk... Past Continuous and that came out November 8th, 2011
Amazon link and Goodreads link.

Summary (from the author's website): When 17-year-old Ade Patience knocks himself unconscious, he can see the future. However, he's also addicted to the high he gets when he breaks the laws of physics. And while he's seen things he's wanted to change, Ade knows The Rule: You can't change the future, no matter how hard you try.

His memory is failing, his grades are in a death spiral, and both Ade's best friend and his shrink are begging him to stop before he kills himself. Luckily, the stunning Vauxhall Rodolfo recently transferred to his school and, just like Ade saw in a vision two years previously, they're destined to fall in love. It's just the motivation Ade needs to kick his habit. Only... things are a bit more complicated than that. Vauxhall has a powerful addiction of her own. And after a vision in which Ade sees himself murdering someone, he realizes he must break the one rule he's been told he can't.

Ade and Vauxhall must overcome their addictions and embrace their love for each other in order to do the impossible: change the future.

Review: So I was at the library (in June or so when I read the book and wrote the rough draft of this review) and I noticed we had three new YA books on the new books shelf. Considering that only happens once or twice a year because our YA section sucks (still does but we've gotten about a dozen new YA books in the last year or so which is awesome), I was seriously tempted to take all three. BUT I have a three foot stack of review books to read (*cough* no comment) so I restrained myself. Right up until a day where my library was crazy busy and I had to wait and I read the back of this book. I got totally distracted by the back blurb, so I knew I had to take it out.

And I really, really enjoyed it, especially Ade's awesome voice.

Plot: I'm not even going to TRY. Go read it and you'll see why.

Characters: In case it's not clear, Future Imperfect is narrated by seventeen-year-old Ade, who's addicted to the high he gets when he knocks himself out to the point of giving himself a concussion. He was selfish, self-destructive and sometimes so freaking sweet that it broke my heart what he was doing to himself.

I found Vauxhall pretty interesting, too, and totally called her addiction. Oddly enough, I had just read a romance novel where the main character had a similiar kind of thing going on. The books weren't really anything alike, though, just that one thing that I noticed and probably no one else would. Anyways, I liked her. She was cool. But I didn't really love her. I think I just didn't click with her one hundred percent.

Ade, however, I really liked. I generally enjoy male narrators. It's a nice change of pace from all the female narrators I read. And Ade was no exception to that. The exact note I scribbled down while reading was, "Boy brains are funny. Particularly one that's been getting bashed up for years." And that pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?

Normally when I talk about boys in books, they're the love interest and I spend a fair amount of time swooning over them. Something I really enjoyed about Future Imperfect being written from Ade's point of view was that h was very three-dimensional and real. So I'm still swooning because, well, I can, but it's not just because Ade was hot, you know?

Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc.: Sometimes the dialogue could be a tiny bit confusing and I noticed a few more typos than seemed normal in a finished book. Though, really, I read more ARCs than not, so they don't bug me much, but I still noticed them. The last chapter was... odd, to me. I liked the ending fine, though, and it didn't ruin my read or anything. It just didn't fully click with me.

PG-13 stuff: Well... yeah. Language, violence, mature content, yada yada. It's an older YA and it all felt necessary, so I'm cool with it.

The one thing I'm not so cool with in books (or life) is the underage drinking thing. And remember, I'm Canadian so I'm not talking twenty-one. I'm talking under eighteen. (Though the drinking age in my province is 19 and obeying the law is a good thing.) It's a STUPID thing to do in real life and I don't like it in books. BUT I know it's realistic. It's just a pet peeve of mine in books, on TV and in real life. So you can probably ignore this because I don't want my quirks to stop you guys from reading a good book. Moving on now!

Cover comments: Funny story. All the time I was reading this, I was pretty sure I'd heard about it before. Possibly even WoW'd it. (Totally did.) But I had never seen the cover when I saw it at the library. I'd only seen this one.

Anyways, I like this cover. The boy on the front looks kinda pretty despite the fact that the library put the bar code sticker right across the space between his mouth and his nose like some sort of weird mustache. I like the faded look, too, and I think it might sort of appeal more to boys because it's pretty unisex, yeah?

Conclusion: I enjoyed Future Imperfect a lot and I'm excited to read the sequel. Four out of five roses.

Other notes:

Okay, explanation time first. Saskatchewan is a dry province. We normally lean towards the whole drought thing. So the year before last, we had a grasshopper/cricket problem. And they freak me out. A lot.

But.

This last summer, it rained a LOT, and there were so. many. dragonflies. (Weird coincidence - dragonflies are a recurring thing in Future Imperfect.) So keep that in mind when you read the notes I had.

- "My backyard has a lot of butterflies and a dragonfly is stalking me." (It was summer and I was reading outside.)
- "FREAKING DRAGONFLY."
- "STALKED BY A DRAGONFLY."

It kept landing on my notebook. *shudder* And I was covered in bug spray.

- "Soothsayer is a cool word."
- "Flutterby's a real word?"
- Not a direct note, but when I was reading the back at the library, I thought Vaux was goingto be a guy and I was bit thrown off at first that she was a girl and a tiny, tiny bit disappointed. But that was just me being weird and it was only for a couple pages.

And that's all folks! Wow, this was long. Have you read this? What did you think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (80)

2012-01-06T10:00:00.001-06:00

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.

The first Fun Friday of the year! That deserves a special song.

(Annie by Safetysuit.)

This is one of my absolute favourite songs. (Thank you KT for telling me about it.)

Go ahead and tell me how much you love this song now in the comments!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (98)

2012-01-04T10:00:00.001-06:00

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

HEY, first WoW of 2012!!!

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale - To be released February 14th, 2012 (Another book you could get your honey/bestie for a Valentine's Day present!)

When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.

Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, joining her ex-boyfriend on his gap year travels, to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: I don't read enough contemporary books and this seems like one I would love... but that would make me cry. But I would love it more if if it made me cry. Does that make sense?

Also, I actually know what Huntington's is because of House.

The Princesses of Iowa by M. Molly Backes - To be released May 8th, 2012

Paige Sheridan has the perfect life. She's pretty, rich, and popular, and her spot on the homecoming court is practically guaranteed. But when a night of partying ends in an it-could-have-been-so-much worse crash , everything changes. Her best friends start ignoring her, her boyfriend grows cold and distant, and her once-adoring younger sister now views her with contempt.

The only bright spot is her creative writing class, led by a charismatic new teacher who encourages students to be true to themselves. But who is Paige, if not the homecoming princess everyone expects her to be? In this arresting and witty debut, a girl who was once high-school royalty must face a truth that money and status can't fix, and choose between living the privileged life of a princess, or owning up to her mistakes and giving up everything she once held dear.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Same reason as above! I also don't see a lot of YA books about characters who write. That might be very interesting.

Okay, so what are you guys looking forward to today?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (79)

2011-12-30T10:00:00.001-06:00

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.

(August 28th 3:30 AM by Automatic Loveletter.)

This is the most played song in my library but I've never shared it here. It's a bit older so you might have heard of it, but if you haven't, it's definitely worth a listen!

Tell me what you think in the comments!

Peace and cookies,
Laina
(Also, happy early New Year's!)

Waiting on Wednesday (97)

2011-12-28T10:00:00.001-06:00

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

Did you guess my theme last week? It was... drumroll please... butterfly covers! Alright, on to this week's covers.

Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen - To be released February 14th, 2012 (Hey, maybe some of you could ask for this as a Valentine's Day present from your honeys or your besties.)

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Most of what I know about Robin Hood comes from Bugs Bunny and Keropie. I can't wait to see how this one turns out. Plus, the cover is awesome.

Undeadly by Michele Vail - To be released February 28th, 2012

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath.

Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with.

To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly—against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: NECROMANCY AND AN ACADEMY THAT TEACHES THEM, HOW AWESOME IS THAT??? *coughs* Ahem. I mean, it sounds very interesting.

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (78)

2011-12-23T10:00:00.002-06:00

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.

Okay, it's December 23rd, so I'm going to do a Christmas song. Don't sheild your ears, though. Trust me, it'll be a good song.

(Mittens by Carly Rae Jepson.)

What do you guys think? What are song of your favourite non-traditional Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice/Yule/Winter holiday of your choosing songs?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (96)

2011-12-21T10:00:00.001-06:00

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

We have a THEME this week. Wanna see if you can guess it? Bonus cool points to anyone who does.

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker - To be released February 1st, 2012 in the UK and May 1st, 2012 in the US

3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world

Sherry has lived with her family in a sealed bunker since things went wrong up above. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find a world of devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage, mutant killers.

When Sherry's dad is snatched, she joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers.

But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: BECAUSE IT SOUNNDS AWESOME. Okay, so, this is actually the UK cover, but I like it and there's like a 25% chance that would be the one that I'd get in Canada. (I have a full set of UK Harry Potter books, for example. Plus, my blog, my rules.) Also, I wanted to talk about this cover. I kept thinking about how cool and pretty it was when I looked at it. Then I realized the butterfly has HANDS and LITTLE PEOPLE in the design. How freaky is that???

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison - To be released February 14th, 2012

Penelope (Lo) Marin has always loved to collect beautiful things. Her dad's consulting job means she's grown up moving from one rundown city to the next, and she's learned to cope by collecting (sometimes even stealing) quirky trinkets and souvenirs in each new place--possessions that allow her to feel at least some semblance of home.

But in the year since her brother Oren's death, Lo's hoarding has blossomed into a full-blown, potentially dangerous obsession. She discovers a beautiful, antique butterfly pendant during a routine scour at a weekend flea market, and recognizes it as having been stolen from the home of a recently murdered girl known only as "Sapphire"--a girl just a few years older than Lo. As usual when Lo begins to obsess over something, she can't get the murder out of her mind.

As she attempts to piece together the mysterious "butterfly clues," with the unlikely help of a street artist named Flynt, Lo quickly finds herself caught up in a seedy, violent underworld much closer to home than she ever imagined--a world, she'll ultimately discover, that could hold the key to her brother's tragic death.

(Summary for goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: 1. It's a mystery and I love mysteries. 2. Her name is awesome. I adore unusual nicknames from given names. 3. A character who hoards really, really intrigues me.

Alrighty, so did you guess the theme? What are you waiting on this week? Leave your answers in the comments below.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (77)

2011-12-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

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, we all know that I love Alexz Johnson and what kind of fan would I be if I didn't post about her new song?

(Skipping Stone by Alexz Johnson.)

Now, I don't know how long this will last, but right now (when I'm typing this and hopefully when it posts), you can download the song free from her website. No strings attached, I promise.

Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (95)

2011-12-14T10:00:00.002-06:00

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

Tempest by Julie Cross - To be released January 17th, 2012

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy... he’s in college, has a girlfriend... and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is... until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly... and possibly the entire world.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: For one thing, I've always loved time travel books. I also really like male MCs and you don't see a ton of them in YA. So double cool points!

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood - To be released February 6th, 2012

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read it: Witches, tea parties, and FORBIDDEN ROMANCE. Duh, how could I not want to read it???

So what do you guys think? Are you waiting on anything special this week?

Peace and cookies,
Lana

Contest for The Lost Saint!

2011-12-13T20:34:00.004-06:00

I have not had a contest in a long time. Partly because of my unnofficial hiatus and all... but that changes now! It was my blogoversary in October and I didn't have any contests which sucks, so WE ARE HAVING ONE NOW. It'll be a birthday/Christmas/winter holiday of your choice contest since today is my birthday for another four hours.

And this is your prize:

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Since this is a sequel, I'm not going to put the summary up here for the whole spoiler thing, but here's a link to goodreads. This is an ARC because I suck and have had this way too long waiting to be given away, but it is an international contest, so that should balance my karma, right? Right. ;)

Now, we're going to try Rafflecopter, alright? You probably have to actually come to this page to enter, which sorta sucks if you're using a feedreader to read this page, but hopefully this will make things easier on you guys and me both, alright?

But if for any reason you have trouble entering, you can email me at Laina1312@gmail.com and I'll either figure out how to fix the problem or tell you how to enter that way.

Let me know what you think of Rafflecopter because I've never used it before. Now get entering!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Note: Commenting is the only mandatory entry. You MUST comment to enter. Please use your name and email to log into the giveaway, not facebook, and you don't need to put your email address in the comment. When you enter with it, it'll show up on my side of things. Email addresses will not be made public in anyway.

You don't need to follow me anywhere to enter, although I love it when you do. Must be 13 and older to enter, but as long as you live on this planet, international is fine. No Martians!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Things I've Read Recently

2011-12-12T10:00:00.002-06:00

I have a review written somewhere, I just need to find the notebook it's in, so for now, I'm just going to talk a little bit about some books that I've read recently but don't want to do full reviews of.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Published: January 1st, 2002 by either Scholastic or HarperCollins, I'm not 100% sure because goodreads is confusing and it's late.
Genre: Middle grade fantasy
Binding: Paperback
Page count: Goodreads says 162 and I'm not getting up to check the copy I have.
Part of a series? No
Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): Coraline's often wondered what's behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her "other" parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes. When they make it clear, however, that they want to make her theirs forever, Coraline begins a nightmarish game to rescue her real parents and three children imprisoned in a mirror. With only a bored-through stone and an aloof cat to help, Coraline confronts this harrowing task of escaping these monstrous creatures.

Thoughts: This isn't the first time I've read this (more like the third), but it's one of my absolute favourite books ever. Highly recommend. V and I were reading it, but we didn't finish. I think it might be a bit beyond her because she's only eight. Depends on the kid. She was liking it, though.

Coraline: Graphic Novel by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell

Published: July 1st, 2008 by HarperCollins
Genre: I guess middle grade fantasy too? I'm not sure how graphic novel genres work...
Binding: Paperback.
Page count: Goodreads says 186 pages.
Part of a series? Nope.
Amazon link.

You don't need the summary again, do you? ;) You're smart people, you know how to scroll. Here's a goodreads link for you, though.

Anyways, I saw this on my library website and it looked interesting so I figured I'd order it and see what it was like. I don't mean to repeat myself, but it was, again, very interesting. I don't know a lot about graphic novels, but it was cool seeing Coraline another medium. Part of me kept expecting to see the movie Coraline, though, blue hair and all (because blue hair and all and anyone who says otherwise is on the wrong blog). I probably wouldn't buy this one because it isn't really a favourite, but it was well worth a read.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Published: January 1st, 2009 by Dutton Juvenile
Genre: YA... um, I'm not sure what. Mostly contemporary but sort of a not? I don't know. It's hard to explain.
Binding: Paperback
Page Count: Goodreads says 208 and I'm not going to the other room to get my copy and check, so we're going with that.
Part of a series: Yes, it has a sequel.
Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): What if you had everything:

A gorgeous boyfriend who was madly in love with you?
Quirky hip parents who totally got you?
A musical talent that could take you anywhere?
What if your biggest problem in life was choosing which path to take?
Follow your first love--music-- to New York City?
Or stay with your boyfriend, friends, and family?

What if one day, you went out for a drive...

And in an instant everything changed?
What if suddenly all the other choices were gone?
Except for one - the only one that truly mattered?
What would you do?

Thoughts: I bought this at a Walmart in the city because I had heard good things about it and it was pretty. (See the edge along there? The front part of the cover lifts up and there's shattered glass underneath. Really cool.) Then because I suck and my to-read pile wants to murder me in my sleep, I did the same thing I do to most of the books I buy. I put it on a shelf and forgot about it.

THEN I won a contest and got a (signed) copy of If I Stay and certain people threatened to disown me if I didn't read it. I still didn't read it for a while because I suck like that. Then I FINALLY started to read it and I loved it. I kept tearing up in public and it was just... great. Read it. Now.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Published: April 5th, 2011 by Dutton Juvenile
Genre: YA Contemporary
Binding: Hardcover
Page Count: 260 according to goodreads.
Part of a series? No duh.
Amazon link.

I am not going to post the summary to this one because it has MAJOR spoilers if you haven't read the first one. So click the goodreads link at your own risk. I am WARNING YOU and I am not responsible if you spoil yourself.

I won't say much about this one for the risk of spoiling, but I will say that I loved it. It made me cry as much as If I Stay and the choice of a twenty-one year old narrator isn't something you see often. (And I won't say who narrates it. NO ONE ELSE DO EITHER.)

Then recently I got sick and I wanted something comforting, so I decided to reread a book I had already read. I guess that's comforting for the same reasons watching movies I've seen 20 times is. Or my brain is just weird. (Quit snickering.) Anyways, this is what I read.

Birthright by Nora Roberts

Published: March 30th, 2004 by Jove (By Jove, I think she's got it!)
Genre: Adult romantic suspense.
Binding: Paperback (Mass market paperback, if you're wondering.) (Those are the shorter ones.)
Page Count: Goodreads says 502
Part of a series? No.
Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): On a hot July afternoon, a worker at an Antietam Creek construction site drives the blade of his backhoe into a layer of soil — and strikes a 5,000-year-old human skull. The discovery draws plenty of attention and a lot of controversy. It also changes the life of one woman in ways she never expected.

(I'm only putting part of the summary because this post is getting long.)

Thoughts: I had this book on my mind for a while because I recommended it to a friend. I was telling her about this scene where Callie, the main character, is in a motel room and her ex-husband is in the room next to hers. She wants to talk to him, but she's too stubborn to call him or go next door, so she starts playing the Jaws theme on her cello. He bursts into her room, grabs the bow and goes, "You know I hate that."

That stuck with me and still made me giggle after years since reading this, so I figured it was time for a reread and it was just as good as I remembered. Can I just be Nora Roberts? Only with Twitter because I read in an interview that she doesn't tweet and I don't know if I can live like that.

(Oh, also, this IS an adult romance novel, so there's smexytimes and stuff. If you're not comfortable with that, it's okay. There's mystery and archaelogy stuff which is fascinating and family drama, too, so if you skim those parts, you won't feel jipped. The romance is a big part of the novel, though. It IS a romance novel and if you don't like romance, you'll probably want to skip this one no matter how much I tell you I loved it.) (If you don't like romance of any kind, what ARE you doing here??? Like 90% of the novels I read have some kind of romance.) (Picture books generally don't.) (Although there is Smitten where a sock and a mitten fall in love and lots of princes and princesses fall in love.) (But even if you don't like romance of any kind, I don't want you to stop reading my blog, okay? Because you guys are awesome.)

(But if you don't think blue hair is awesome AND you don't like romance... I don't know what you're finding here for you, but I hope you're enjoying it.)

Anyways. One of my favourites. Highly recommend it.

Let's move on, shall we? Next up we have:

Are You Afraid? by Carla Cassidy

Published: March 7th, 2006 by Signet
Genre: Adult romantic suspense
Binding: Paperback
Page count: 352
Part of a series? Nope.
Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): At the age of sixteen, Jessica Langford endured and escaped the grip of a serial killer who buried his victims alive. After overcoming this terrifying experience, she started her own radio program to help those living in fear. If she could survive her past, why not help others do the same?

But now her past is being resurrected. An anonymouse man calls in to her how with remarkable knowledge of her traumatic experience - and her worst fears. With help from Detective Jake Merridan - a gorgeous cop on the brink of burnout himself - Jessie must try to uncover the intentions of this mysterious caller, to find him before he kills again and makes her life worse than anything she's ever feared.

Thoughts: I liked this one a lot. The romance was sweet and the serial killer part was scary like it's supposed to be. All good. (Also an adult romance, so again, sexytimes, yada yada, you know the rest.) (When I say adult, I mean grown-up. Not adult like adult movies because we all know what that euphanism means and that's a bit icky.) Recommend.

One last book that I want to talk about:

Making Waves by Tawna Fenske

Published: August 1st, 2011 by Sourcebooks
Genre: Adult romantic comedy
Binding: Paperback
Page count: 352 and you know the goodreads deal by now.
Part of a series? Nope, standalone.
Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): She always wanted to belong... just not to a disfunctional pirate crew.

Juli has trouble fitting in, though she'd prefer to keep the reasons to herself. But when she mistakenly stows away on a ship of misfit corporate castoffs, her own secrets become the least of her concerns.

He knows plotting a diamond heist may be considered unusual behavior...

But Alex isn't feeling very normal when his unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb. Meeting Juli doesn't do much to restore normalcy to Alex's life, but it sure is exhilerating!

As Alex and Juli bare their secrets - and a whole lot more - they find that while normal is nice, weird can be wonderful.

Thoughts: I started reading this at 5am on a Wednesday beause I didn't have to shower and was almost late for work because I forgot to watch the clock. (Yes, I go to work at 6am. Yes, it's as fun as it sounds.) I didn't finish it that day, so the next day, when I had Storytime at 10am, I read more after my shower at 8 and was again almost late for work.

That's how good it was. It was funny and sweet and quirky and I didn't want to put it back. I'm a bit sad I have to give it back to the library. *sniffle* YOU KNOW. Tomorrow is my birthday. (Please picture this as you read that.) Anyways, this is a definite recommend.

Alright, so there you have a few things I've read that I haven't talked about on here before. What have you guys been reading? Have you read any of these? Going to now? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (76)

2011-12-09T10:00:00.005-06:00

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.

Here's a song I really, really like.

(Haven't Had Enough by Marianas Trench.)

I don't usually talk about videos, but this is one I really like. For one thing, pirates. (Because pirates are so much cooler than ninjas. And everything else, too.) For another, if you watch the girl, she's the one being chased, but she is totally in control of things. She's in the lead. It's cool.

What do you guys think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (94)

2011-12-07T10:00:00.004-06:00

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

I have not done one of these in ages. How does it go again? Oh, yeah, I think I remember ;)

Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough - I think this one might be out in the UK or something. Goodreads says it was published January 6th, 2011, but Amazon says April 2012. I think. Not sure!!

Beware of Long Lankin, that lives in the moss...

When Cora and her little sister Mimi are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Bryers Guerdon, they receive a less than warm welcome, and are desperate to go back to London. But Auntie Ida's life was devastated the last time two young girls were at Guerdon Hall, and now her nieces' arrival has reawoken an evil that has lain waiting for years.

A haunting voice in an empty room...

A strange, scarred man lurking in the graveyard...

A mysterious warning, scrawled on the walls of the abandoned church...

Along with Roger and Peter, two young village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries - before it is too late for Mimi.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Goodreads says this was inspired by a folksong about murder, witchcraft and revenge and come on, that just sounds awesome! Plus that cover is gorgeous and I am a shallow, shallow girl.

Next up:

Fracture by Megan Miranda - To be released January 17th, 2012 (Not much longer!!)

By the time Delaney Maxwell was pulled from a Maine lake’s icy waters by her best friend, Decker Phillips, her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead.

But somehow Delaney survived—despite the brain scans that show irreparable damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be fine, but she knows she’s far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can’t control or explain, Delaney now finds herself drawn to the dying, and when she meets Troy Varga, a boy who recently emerged from a coma with the same abilities, she is relieved to share this strange new existence. Unsure if her altered brain is predicting death or causing it, Delaney must figure out if their gift is a miracle, a freak of nature—or something else much more frightening...

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Partly I have a fondess for the name Delaney and this just sounds awesome. Kinda like extra cool zombies.

Alright, I think that's everything, do you? What are you guys waiting on today?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Is anybody still here?

2011-11-14T10:00:00.000-06:00

You've probably noticed that things around here have been a bit quiet. AKA we've had complete radio silence since *gulp* July 20th. Around the beginning of July, my internet stopped working at home and I couldn't get it fixed until November 1st. (The joys of living in a small town.) I don't like making excuses about my blogging, so I just... didn't blog. But it's fixed now and my unannounced semi-hiatus is off!

Other new things that have happened that you may or may not have heard of:

I got a new job. I'm baby-sitting an eight year old girl about 50-60 hours a week. The hours are a bit crazy, but I like it.
Laina Has Too Much Spare Time turned three in October and I couldn't celebrate because of my lack of internet. This shall be remedied soon.
I finished the second draft of my third book.
The other blog I write at, the YA Lit Six? We're looking for three new members. Anyone interested?
I put a "Subscribe by email" widget thing in the sidebar over there. ---->
I have run out of ideas of what you guys would want to know, so how about I'll go and blog now?

Peace and cookies,

Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (93)

2011-07-20T11:48:00.002-06:00

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

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis - To be released November 14th, 2011

Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend?

As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?

(Summary from goodreads.)

The summary of this one kind of reminds me of Chasing Brooklyn. Which I haven't read, so it could be totallt different, but whatevs.

The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell - To be released November 18th, 2011

Sandinista Jones is a high school senior with a punk rock name and a broken heart. The death of her single mother has left Sandinista alone in the world, subject to the random vulnerability of everyday life. When the school system lets her down, her grief and instability intensify, and she ponders a violent act of revenge.

Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at The Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds friendship and camaraderie with her coworker, a boy struggling with his own secrets.

Even as Sandinista sees the failures of those with power and authority, she's offered the chance to survive through the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose between faith and forgiveness or violence and vengeance.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I love her name!!! This one will probably make me cry, but that's not a bad thing, right? Also, I love the cover.

So what are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (92)

2011-07-13T11:48:00.001-06:00

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

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez - To be released October 18th, 2011

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. Two weeks before the most important violin competition of her career, she has bigger things to worry about—like growing out of that suffocating “child prodigy” label, and not disappointing her mother. But it isn’t just the wrong time. It’s the wrong guy. Jeremy is Carmen’s most talented rival, and according to her mother, he’s only interested in one thing: winning.

He isn’t the only one.

Carmen is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to control performance nerves. But what started a year ago as an easy fix is now a hungry addiction. Her mother insists now is not the time to quit, but Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of doing what she’s told.

When the darker side of the classical music industry and her mother's ambition collide, Carmen must choose between her career and her love for music.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this one: Because it sounds awesome!!

Scored by Lauren McLaughlin - To be released October 25th, 2011

Set in the future when teenagers are monitored via camera and their recorded actions and confessions plugged into a computer program that determines their ability to succeed. All kids given a "score" that determines their future potential. This score has the ability to get kids into colleges, grant scholarships, or destroy all hope for the above. Scored's reluctant heroine is Imani, a girl whose high score is brought down when her best friend's score plummets. Where do you draw the line between doing what feels morally right and what can mean your future? Friendship, romance, loyalty, family, human connection and human value: all are questioned in this fresh and compelling dystopian novel set in the scarily forseeable future.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Also sounds awesome. I think the idea that your future could be ruined by who you're friends with is one that would resonate with a lot of people and I'm really rambling here and I don't think I'm making much sense. Basically - sounds awesome. Want to read. Me Jane. You Tarzan.

So what are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (91)

2011-07-06T11:48:00.001-06:00

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

These covers kind of match... no similar themes, though, really.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin - To be released September 27th, 2011

Chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is increasingly scarce, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city’s most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine—going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until someone in her inner circle ends up poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she’s to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight—at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafiya family.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: The coffee/chocolate part kind of reminds me the In Death books by JD Robb. Wouldn't that just be a cruel, unfair world??

I love the idea of crime boss chocolate ring, though. This one just sounds great.

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe - To be released October 13th, 2011

Once you've been chosen,

what step can you take...?

Seventeen-year-old Sara's dream of becoming a star ballerina is challenged when she falls for Remington, an older choreographer. Instead of success onstage, she becomes Rem's muse, which is a future she never considered--and one that threatens to break her heart.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I know a certain couple of people who used to dance who might like this one. *pokes certain people*

Okay, so what are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (90)

2011-06-29T11:48:00.001-06:00

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

I have another theme! PRINCESSES!!

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson - To be released September 10th, 2011

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: PRINCESSES!! (Sorry. My inner five year old is a little loud in this post. Anyways. Secret wife?? Sounds awesome. The cover is cool, too.

Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer - To be released October 11th, 2011

Jamie Edwards has loved growing up on her family’s pumpkin patch in Average, IL, and she’s always dreamed of one day being the town’s Pumpkin Princess at the annual Pumpkin Festival. But when her rich and famous cousin, Milan Woods, comes to town and changes everything, Jamie knows she has to expose Milan for who she really is and teach her that life’s not all pumpkins and apple butter at the patch.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Okay, so maybe it's not exactly the same kind of princess, but run with the theme here! I think this looks supercute and I love the cover. That's just adorable.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (75)

2011-06-24T10:09:00.002-06:00

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.

Since it's OFFICIALLY summer, how about a summer themed week?

(Summer's Not Hot - Selena Gomez and the Scene.)

This song is cute and I like the beat. :) What do you guys think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (89)

2011-06-22T11:48:00.001-06:00

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

Kind of a theme this week. Boy books! Both the books I'm featuring this week have male main characters.

Going Underground by Susan Vaught - To be released September 13th, 2011

Del is a good kid who’s been caught in horrible circumstances. At 17, he’s trying to put his life together after an incident in his past that made him a social outcast—and a felon. As a result, he can’t get into college; the only job he can find is digging graves; and when he finally meets a girl he might fall in love with, there’s a whole sea of complications that threaten to bring the world crashing down around him again. But what has Del done? In flashbacks to Del’s 14th year, we slowly learn the truth: his girlfriend texted him a revealing photo of herself, a teacher confiscated his phone, and soon the police were involved.

Basing her story on real-life cases of teens in trouble with the law for texting explicit photos, Susan Vaught has created a moving portrait of an immensely likable character caught up in a highly controversial legal scenario.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I don't think this is something I've ever seen in a YA book before. Also, does the cover remind anyone else of Pushing Daisies?

Okay, this one you're going to have to wait a while for, and normally I'd hold off on posting about it a little while longer, but it fit so well with my theme that I couldn't resist.

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic - To be released January 18th, 2012

I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Because I want to know why he won't see his eighteenth birthday!!! Also, I am in love with the car on the cover.

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (74)

2011-06-17T10:03:00.001-06:00

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.

Here's a bit of a mellower song for you guys.

(Take Me to the Riot - Stars.)

Whatcha think? I like the mellow vibe on this one... but let's not examine the lyrics too closely. ;)

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (88)

2011-06-15T10:52:00.003-06:00

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

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay - To be released September 13th, 2011

"These violent delights have violent ends

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,

Which as they kiss consume."

—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Because it sounds AWESOME??????? (Also. It makes me giggle that they use the same quote as New Moon.) It just sounds incredible. And Juliet not loving Romeo? COOL!!!!

Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett - To be released September 19th, 2011

Ariadne is destined to become a goddess of the moon. She leads a lonely life, finding companionship only with her beloved, misshapen brother Asterion, who must be held captive below the palace for his own safety.

Then a ship arrives bearing a tribute of slaves from Athens, and Ariadne meets Theseus, the son of the king of Athens. Ariadne finds herself drawn to the newcomer, and soon they form a friendship—one that could perhaps become something more.

But Theseus is doomed to die as an offering to the minotaur, that monster beneath the palace—unless he can kill the beast first. And that "monster" is Ariadne’s brother...

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Goddesses!! Gods and goddesses seem to be trending lately, hey? And not just of the Greek variety.

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (73)

2011-06-10T10:58:00.003-06:00

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.

Okay, so most of you probably know this song, but on the off chance you don't watch Glee/car commercials/twitter, I'm going to post it anyways.

(Animal - Neon Trees.)

So what do you think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (87)

2011-06-08T10:22:00.003-06:00

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

The Implosion of Aggie Winchester by Lara Zielin - To be released August 6th, 2011

Sixteen-year-old Aggie Winchester couldn't care less about who's elected prom queen–even if it's her pregnant Goth-girl best friend, Sylvia Ness. Aggie's got bigger things to worry about, like whether or not her ex-boyfriend wants to get back together and whether her mom will survive cancer.

But like it or not, Aggie soon finds herself in the middle of an unfolding prom scandal, largely because her mom, who is the school's principal, is rumored to have burned prom ballots so Sylvia won’t be elected queen. Aggie's own investigation makes her wonder if the election could be dirty on both sides.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I've said before that I don't really get the whole prom thing because none of the schools I've ever gone to have had them, but I like the pregnant Goth-girl best friend line, and this one just sounds awesome. I love the name Aggie. But I'm having a love/hate thing with the cover. I can't decide if I love it or hate the letters across the face. More and more it's leaning towards love, though.

Misfit by Jon Skovron - August 2011

Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help.

But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much.

Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I just really like the sound of this one. And hello, cute skater boy. (He was a sk8er boi, she said see you later boy, he wasn't good enough for her. She had a pretty face, but her head was up in space. She needed to come back down to earth. Okay, I'm done.)

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (72)

2011-06-03T10:43:00.001-06:00

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.

Wow, it's starting to get hard to find music for these... time for new tunes soon!! Haha.

Anyways, this is a fun song.

(Fire In Your New Shoes - Kaskade ft. Dragonette.)

I love this song. :D What do you guys think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (86)

2011-06-01T10:22:00.001-06:00

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

Eve by Anna Carey - To be released October 4th, 2011)

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Well, I like the idea of an 18 year old main character, and I really, really want to know what really happens to the girls after they graduate! Caleb sounds yummay, and I love the cover. It reminds me a little of Heather Dixon's Entwined. (I'm pretty sure it's not the same stock photo, though, because I've spent more time than I care to admit playing with the stock photo of Entwined's cover. Seriously.)

Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert - To be released October 11th, 2011

A poetic, moving story about a teen who must make an unimaginable choice

Mama has slowly been losing herself to MS. After traditional treatment fails, she takes bee sting therapy, administered by Lily, to alleviate her pain. Lily is trained as a veterinary assistant, so she can easily handle the treatments. What she can't handle is what happens when the bee sting therapy fails and it becomes clear that Mama wants to die.

One beautiful summer day, Lily's mother asks her for the most impossible thing of all—mercy. They live in Oregon, where the Death with Dignity Act allows a patient to make the decision to end their own life.

While navigating first love, friendship, and the other normal worries faced by high school sophomores, Lily also has to choose: grant Mama's request, or cling to Mama's fading life for all it's worth.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: It sounds so sad! And I'll probably cry. But I hope it'll be worth it.

So what are you waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (71)

2011-05-27T09:59:00.002-06:00

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.

Okay, I confess. I like Disney a lot. If the TV is on in my house during the day, it's either on Disney or the Food Network. *is ashamed* *only not really*

One of my favourite shows is Wizards of Waverly Place. I love Selena Gomez and I finally got around to getting her second CD with her band - and I LOVED it. This is one of the songs I like the best:

(Rock God - Selena Gomez and The Scene.)

What do you guys think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (85)

2011-05-25T10:21:00.003-06:00

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

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce - To be released August 23rd, 2011

Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.

Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.

Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: While I haven't read Sisters Red yet, I like the idea of this being a companion rather than a direct sequel. I don't think we see that very often in YA, at least I don't, and I like it. I am also in LOVE with this cover. Oh, and I also think that the idea of a Hansel and Gretal retelling is awesome.

Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst - To be released September 13th, 2011

What happens when a vampire is stabbed through the heart by a were-unicorn? She suddenly develops a very inconvenient conscience. Oops.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Okay, it's a short summary. But were-UNICORN?? How freaking AWESOMESAUCE is that?? I can't wait to see when a little information more about this one comes out.

So what are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

March, April, and May (so far) Picture Book List

2011-05-23T10:33:00.000-06:00

Wow, it's been a while since I've done this. Skip it if you want, it'll be long.

March:

Teatime in Space by Caroline Castle
Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats
Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
Aliens in Underpants Save the World -//-
Beegu by Alexis Deacon
What Faust Saw by Matt Ottley
Nova's Ark by David Kirk
Smelly Peter the Great Pea Eater by Steve Smallman
Alistair in Outer Space by Marilyn Sadler
Alistair and the Alien Invasion -//-
Space Station Mars by Daniel San Souci
Hush, Little Alien by Daniel Kirk
Giraffes Can't Dance by Gail Andreae
Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw
Tomatoes From Mars by Arthur Yorinks
Mud is Cake by Pam Muňoz Ryan
Pirate Pup by Caroline Stutson
Fluffy, Scourge of the Sea by Teresa Bateman
A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth by Alison McGhee
If the Shoe Fits by Alan Osmond
Ice Cream by Elish Cooper
Big Little Elephant by Valeri Gorbachev
How to Catch an Elephant by Amy Schwartz
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice
What Elephant? by Geneviéve Côté
Ella the Elephant by Jan Latta
Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
Never Ride Your Elephant to School by Doug Johnson
I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanegh
The Elephant Wish by Lou Berger
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Suess
Ella the Elegant Elephant by Carmela D'Amico
Where's That Cat? by Stephane Poulin
Ice Cream Fun Day by Kitty Richards
Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies
Dino-Baseball by Lisa Wheeler
Brady Brady and the Ballpark Bark by Mary Shaw
Hit the Ball Duck by Jez Alborough
The Berenstain Bears Go Out For The Team by Stan Berenstein
Rhinos Who Play Baseball by Julie Mammano
Curious George Plays Baseball by Margaret & H. A. Rey
Roasted Peanuts by Tim Egan
Albert's Ballgame by Leslie Tryon
Tulip at the Bat by J. Patrick Lewis
The Jungle Baseball Game by Tom Paxton
A Girl Named Dan by Dandi Daley Mackall
Luke Goes to Bat by Rachel Isadora
Batter Up Wombat by Helen Lester
The Boys by Jeff Newman
Snow Bear by Piers Harper
Panda & Polar Bear by Matthew J. Baek
Hush Little Polar Bear by Jeff Mack
Because I Love You So Much by Guido van Genechten
Baby Polar by Yannick Murphy
Cold Paws, Warm Heart by Madeleine Floyde
Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth
Zen Ties -//-
Zen Ghosts -//-
A Friend Like You by Julia Hubery
I Am Going to Save a Panda by Lauren Child
I Am a Little Panda by François Crozat

April:

On Beyond Zebra by Dr. Seuss
The Monkey and the Panda by Antonia Barber
Sweet Hearts by Dorothy Donohue
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Tracks of a Panda by Nick Dawson
Mr. Panda's Painting by Anne Rockwell
Here Comes the Aliens by Colin McNaughton
We're Off to Look For Aliens -//-
Dancing Larry by Daniel Pinkwater
Patrick's Dinosaurs on the Internet by Carol Carrick
A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na
Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood
Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Owly by Mike Thaler
Good-Night, Owl! by Pat Hutchins
Sam and the Firefly by P. D. Eastman
"I'm Not Sleepy!" by Jonathan Allen
Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton
Annie Hoot and the Knitting Extravaganza by Holly Clifton-Brown
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance by Tara Johnson
Down in the Woods at Sleepytime by Carole Lexa Schaefer
Angelina and Henry by Katharine Holabird
Archibald Frisby by Michael Chesworth
Bailey Goes Camping by Kevin Henkes
Three Days On a River in a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams
Camping Day by Patricia Lakin
Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathan London
Arthur Goes to Camp by Marc Brown
Curious George Goes Camping by Margaret Rey
Franklin Has a Sleepover by Paulette Bourgeois
The Bear Scouts by Stan and Jan Berenstain
The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp -//-
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris va Dusen
Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite! by Diane deGroat
Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins
Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
If I Were the Easter Bunny by Louise Gardner
Peter Rabbit's Happy Easter by Grace Maccarone
10 Easter Egg Hunters by Janet Schulman
Splat the Cat: Where's the Easter Bunny? by Rob Scotton
Clifford's Happy Easter by Norman Bridwell
Countdown to Easter by Ann Marie Harris
Easter Bunny's on His Way! by Brian James
The Best Easter Eggs Ever! by Jerry Smath
Easter Mice! by Bethany Roberts
Bunny Trouble by Hans Wilhelm
More Bunny Trouble -//-
Big, Bad Bunny Trouble -//-
Benny's Chocolate Bunny by Janee Trasler
Clifford's Big Red Easter by Nancy Parent
Owen's Marshmallow Chick by Kevin Henkes
The Great Easter Egg Hunt by Michael Garland

May:

Miss Spider's Tea Party by David Kirk
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
The Wacky Wedding by Pamela Duncan Edwards
A Closer Look by Mary McCarthy
Leo the Lightning Bug by Eric Drachman
What the Ladybug Heard by Julia Donaldson
I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd
Jump! by Scott M. Fischer
I Love Bugs! by Philemon Sturges
Bugs at Play by David A. Carter
Hello, Bugs! by Smriti Prasadam
Sleepyhead Bear by Lisa Westberg Peters
Mud by Mary Lyn Ray
It's Spring! by Linda Glaser
Spring's Sprung by Lynn Plourde
Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson
Hooray for Spring! by Kazuo Iwamura
Spring Sail by Larry Dane Brimner
Spring Is Here, Grumpy Bunny! by Justine Korman
B Is For Bunny by Tanya Lee Stone
Good Job, Oliver! by Laurel Molk
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
It's Spring! by Jimmy Pickering
Spring Is Here by Will Hillenbrand
Ready for Spring by Marthe Jocelyn

If you're wondering, I'm up to 288 books this year. You can see the full list here.

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (70)

2011-05-20T22:49:00.001-06:00

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.

(Valerie by Glee Cast.)

This is one of my favourite new Glee songs. I LOVE Naya Rivera's voice, and this song is an awful lot of fun to sing along to.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (84)

2011-05-18T10:21:00.003-06:00

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

The Death Catchers by Jennifer Anne Kogler - To be released August 16th, 2011

On her fourteenth Halloween, Lizzy Mortimer sees her first death-specter.

Confused at first, Lizzy soon learns from her grandmother Bizzy that as Death Catchers, they must prevent fate from taking its course when an unjust death is planned—a mission that has been passed down from their ancestor, Morgan le Fay. Only, Lizzy doesn't expect one of her first cases to land her in the middle of a feud older than time between Morgan le Fay and her sister Vivienne le Mort. Vivienne hopes to hasten the end of the world by preventing Lizzy from saving King Arthur's last descendant—humanity's greatest hope for survival. It's up to Lizzy, as Morgan's earthly advocate, to outwit fate before it's too late.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: I LOVE Morgan le Fay. It comes from reading this book over and over and over as a kid. Also, I think the cover of this will be really cool in real life. (It was a pain in the tuckas to find a picture of, though.)

Tunnel Vision by Susan Shaw - To be released August 16th, 2011

On her way home one evening, Liza has to force her way through a group of men in a train underpass. She doesn’t think anything of it, but when her mom is shot dead moments later, Liza’s world turns upside down. Even worse, Liza was really the target. Only hours after her mother’s death, Liza is nearly killed again and she and her dad are placed in the witness protection program.

Leaving everything she's ever known behind, Liza and her dad pick up and move, never staying in one place for long. It's too big of a risk--and Liza's worst fear is realized when she gets recognized. The would-be killer is still on their trail, so all Liza and her dad can do is keep running. Unsure whom to trust and where to go, they're just trying to stay alive.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: I like mysteries. This is a little bit more thriller, but I think I'll like it.

Anyone find it cool that the heroine names are kinda similiar in these??

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Things I Talk About on Twitter (11)

2011-05-16T10:52:00.004-06:00

Heffalumps. (Elephants.) More specifically, one I made.

I made it for my elephant Storytime at work. Because I knew none of the kids would know how to make elephant noises (you make one and see!!), I brought in one of the elephants that I got for Valentine's Day from my mom the year before last.

The one on the back left makes elephant noises!! (There's a mommy elephant, and a daddy elephant, and a baby elephant. And yes, I know, the baby elephant looks like it's doing bad things to my blanket, but that wasn't on purpose.)

That was last year's Valentine's day present from my mom. This year I got a pig!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (69)

2011-05-13T10:43:00.001-06:00

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.

WARNING: Laina is immature. Note the number up there. ^ It makes me giggle. And so does posting this song in the post with that number.

(PG-13 warning, though, guys.)

(Redlight District - Porcelain and the Tramps)

If you guys follow me on Twitter, you know I live next door to a church. I also talk about a song I won't play out loud during the summer, for that reason, that is about strippers. This is that song.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (83)

2011-05-11T10:20:00.004-06:00

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

Hey, I kinda have a theme this week! Darkish covers, with red accents.

Dark Parties by Sara Grant - To be released August 3rd, 2011

Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I like books about cities in walls. I know. Random. But what can I say? I do. And the dystopian thing is totally cool.

The Cupid War by Timothy Carter - To be released August 8th, 2011

Ricky Fallon had decided against killing himself — just before slipping off a bridge to his death. Now he's a Cupid in the afterlife, helping people fall in love. The job would be cool if it weren't for the dorky pink bodysuits, his jerky boss, and attacks from joy-sucking shadowy entities called Suicides.

When Fallon discovers a dangerous new breed of Suicide, a terrific battle erupts. To save the girl he's falling for — oh, and prevent total world domination — Fallon uses a secret weapon to kick some serious Suicide butt.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Pink bodysuit. That is hilarious. And I think this is a different sort of take on the whole Cupid thing that will probably be very interesting to read.

So what are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Books I Read Whilst Sick

2011-05-09T10:01:00.004-06:00

So I had the plague. Again. This isn't really a review of anything, because I was usually too loopy to review, but here's what I read.

Night Child by Jes Battis (OSI #1)

Published: May 27th, 2008 by Ace Books

Genre: Adult urban fantasy/mystery

Binding: Paperback

Page Count: 292

Part of a series: Yes.

Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): That's a dead vampire, I thought. My boss dragged me out of bed at two in the morning to see a dead vampire? I might be an Occult Special Investigator for Vancouvr's Mystical Crime Lab, but a dead vampire is routine and no reason to disturb a person's sleep. Then I took a closer look at the body...

Tess Corday soon realizes that there is not going to be anything ordinary about this cares - not the lab results on the cause of death; not Mia Polanski, the teenage girl living at the address found in the vamp's pocket, who may well be in thrall to a demon; and certainly not Lucian Agrado, the necromancer who is liaison to the vampire community. Agrado is supposed to be part of the solution, but Tess suspects he might be part of the problem.

Under pressure from her boss, Tess is trying to go by the book on this one. But when Mia reaches out to her, she risks her career to help the girl - and finds herself in the middle of a paranormal conspiracy that will change her life forever.

Or possibly end it...

A Flash of Hex by Jes Battis (OSI #2)

Published: May 26th, 2009 by Ace Books
Genre: Adult urban fantasy/mystery
Binding: Paperback
Page Count: 371
Part of a series: Yeppers.
Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): As an Occult Special Investigator, Tess Corday has seen her fair share of disturbing crime scenes - but nothing has ever shocked her as much as the ritualistic murder of a drugged-out runaway kid, who she soon learns was not the first such victim.

All the dead teens had traces of the dangerous magical drug called Hex in their bodies. All were the children of powerful mage families. All were killed with the sacred tools of mages. It adds up to the chilling possibility that the OSI is dealing with a serial killer, one who has incredible inhuman powers.

To stop the slaughter, Tess and her partner, Derrick, will go anywhere and do anything - including seeking help from the necromancer Lucian Agrado, whom Tess is under orders to avoid. But as the deaths continue, Tess becomes convinced that the identity of the killer is locked inside her own head. And the question is, how many rules is she willing to break to get to the truth?

Inhuman Resources by Jes Battis (OSI #3)

Published: May 25th, 2010 by Ace Books

Genre: Adult urban fantasy/mystery

Binding: Paperback

Page Count: 305

Part of a series: If you haven't figured that out by now, you're probably on more drugs than I am.

Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): Occult Special Investigator Tess Corday is not known for her people skills. If a crime's been committed, she wants the guilty party to face justice - end of story. But when a powerful necromancer is killed, Tess has to handle the heavy politics in the occult community as carefully as she handles the scant evidence.

A priceless suit of armor may know something about the murder, but it's not talking. Neither is Tess's sometime consultant, sometime lover, Lucian Agrado - who is officially representing the necromancers in the grisly matter.

Tracking down the necromancer's killer will pit Tess against old enemies, draw her into forbidden realms - and force her to confront a nightmarish truth that will change her world forever...

Thoughts: I didn't want to do a real review on these, because I didn't read them in a reviewing frame of mind, but I did want to mention them. If you read adult books, I highly recommend you read them. They're really, really good and the author is Canadian, which is really cool. (Seriously... the bio in the back of the books says he lives like two hours away from me. It's crazy cool.) And as a big fan of murder mysteries, I really enjoyed that element as well. Recommend.

Always and Forever Friends by C.S. Adler

Published: 1990 by Avon Camelot (my edition), 1988 by Houghton Mifflin

Genre: MG contemporary fiction

Binding: Paperback

Page Count: 164

Part of a series? Nope.

Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): If only Meg hadn't moved away. Then maybe eleven-year-old Wendy wouldn't be so upset about the other things going on in her life. Like her mother's marriage, and the new stepfamily that came with it. If only Wendy could find someone else like Meg to be her best friend - always and forever.

There were the popular kids - who all stuck together. And there was Honor, a bright and interesting girl who didn't seem to want to be anybody's best friend. It was only when a new girl came into class and Wendy thought she'd found the perfect "always and forever" friend that she really got to know Honor... and found out what friendship was all about.

Thoughts: My mom (and Mires) said that as long as I sat on a blanket (I sat on like four, it was like a nest), I could organize my bookshelves, which I'd been itching to do since I was so bored. And, okay, so maybe I exhausted myself a little and spent the next two days doing nothing, but my bookcases are organized!

Anyways, I got distracted by this one while I was tidying. For the record, even though it's older, it's still good. I honestly thought it was from '96 or '97, not this old. The only part that really jolted me was an eleven-year-old taking a purse to school XD Recommend.

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Published: March 5th, 2009 by Putnam Juvenile

Genre: YA contemporary fiction

Binding: ARC (Won in a contest)

Page Count: 264 (Goodreads says the hardcover has 272, though)

Part of a series? No, I think it's a standalone.

Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): Seventeen-year-old Annika Truman knows about the power of positive thinking. With a little brother who has cancer, it's all she ever hears about. And in order to help Jeremy, she will go to the ends of the earth (or at least as far as Hollywood) to help him believe he can survive his upcoming surgery.

But Annika's plan to convince Jeremy that a magic genie will grant him any wish throws her a curveball when he unexpectedly wishes that his television idol would visit him. Annika suddenly finds herself in the desperate predicament of getting access to a hunky star actor and convincing him to come home with her. Piece of cake, right?

Thoughts: It was cute, funny, and made me cry at the end. Maybe it was the drugs, but I didn't always connect with the voice entirely at the beginning and at certain parts throughout. But all and all, a solid read. If I were to rate it, I'd probably give it three and a half roses. Good characters, great dialogue, and I flew through it, so it's not that there was anything wrong with it, I'm just... hard on contemporary books. And, again, cold medicine. Recommend.

Paradise County by Karen Robards

Published: 2000 by Pocket Books

Genre: Adult romance/ mystery / thriller

Binding: Paperback

Page Count: 437

Part of a series? Nope.

Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): Left bankrupt after her billionaire father's sudden death, Alexandra Haywood returns to Shelby County, Kentucky - that bit of Southern splendor known as Paradise County - to sell the family's magnificent horse farm. Part of her mission is to fire Joe Welch, the sexy, stubborn farm manager who worked hard for the Haywoods while raising his children.

But Joe refuses to be fired, and he and Alex clash. They also fall for each other - hard. Just as their attraction flares, a shocking murder with ties to the past rocks the county - and cuts close to home when Joe's teenage son, Eli, and Alex's wild-spirited younger sister, Neely, vanish. Now, the evil that lurks beneath Paradise County raises its gruesome head - and Alex is targeted as the next victim.

Thoughts: This one was pretty good. I liked the crime/mystery element and Joe was hot. Some parts of it sort of felt like it was written in the 90s, not 2000, but it wasn't bad at all. Recommend.

I'm not even going to ATTEMPT to do this with movies. I've watched so many it's not funny since our cable's out and sometimes when I'm sick, the cold medicines make me so foggy that I can't focus on anything for more than five seconds at a time. Hence, a lot of movies.

Alrighty, so that's what I've been reading. What about you guys?

Peace and cookies,

Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (68)

2011-05-06T10:31:00.001-06:00

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.

This song is courtesy of Mireyah.

(Bruised by Sugababes.)

I really like this song. It's a whole lot of fun and it fits on my WIP's playlist really well. What do you guys think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (82)

2011-05-04T10:19:00.044-06:00

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

Wildefire by Karsten Knight - To be released July 26th, 2011

Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her.

But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own.

With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Well, besides that Ashline is REALLY close to Ashelynn, I just think it sound awesome.

Want to Go Private by Sarah Darer Littman - To be released August 2011

When Abby meets Luke online, she can’t believe her luck. He’s nice. He’s funny. He listens to her and he thinks she’s pretty. He even gets jealous of other guys, which is adorable. Without Luke, Abby’s not sure how she’d make it through her first year of high school. Everyone, including her mom and her best friend, Faith, tells Abby that if she just made more of an effort, she’d be having fun instead of dreading each and every day as if it’s a prison sentence. But there’s nothing fun about being the lowest link in the social food chain.

Abby knows she’s not supposed to chat with random guys online. But Luke isn’t random, and he isn’t a stranger. Best of all, he really loves her. So what if she never goes out with her friends anymore and her grades are slipping? All she needs is Luke. Luke is her secret, and she’s his — it’s perfect that way.

So when Luke suggests that they meet each other in person, Abby agrees. And then she’s gone. Missing. Without a trace. And everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don’t, they’ll never see Abby again.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Isn't there a movie coming out soon that kinda tackles this subject? I think it'd be better from this POV, though.

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Things I Talk About on Twitter (10)

2011-05-02T22:37:00.005-06:00

Remember when I did one of these posts about makeup and showed you the drawers I keep mine in? See the basket on the top? That's where I keep my hair products. Let's examine that a little closer.

Doesn't really look like that much, right? (Yes, I have two bottles of the same spray. One of them is running out and knowing me, I'd run out on a day I'm running late.)

But let's lay everything in the basket out:

Yeah. That's two regular brushes, one paddle brush, two round brushes, three combs, one tiny brush, two or three kinds of hair spray and, well, tons of stuff. The stuff I use the most is in the bottom left corner

The sad thing? My mom's store just got a bunch of new hair stuff I want to try.

Peace and cookies,

Laina

In My Mailbox (36)

2011-05-01T10:08:00.001-06:00

In My Mailbox is brought to us by The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea.

Leap by Jodi Lundgren - ARC

When life is changing, sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith in yourself.

Natalie Ferguson has just turned fifteen, a momentous age that, happily, means that she's officially a grown-up. But while her mom doesn't seem to have got the memo, Kevin, her best friend Sasha's older brother, has. The school year is over, and Natalie is looking forward to a summer of perfecting her technique at dance camp. Caught up with the excitement of Kevin's attention, their relationship quickly becomes intimate and all-consuming.

Natalie's summer is a mix of amazing highs and dramatic lows. She goes from being in love and lust with Kevin to realizing that he is not the guy she thought he was, and she may have lost her friendship with Sasha in the process. Then, just when she's ready to turn to her single mom for advice, she learns that her mother is now in love with a woman. Losing her virginity, dealing with her new understanding of her mother, and trying to renegotiate her relationships, Natalie clings to her dancing as the only sure thing in a life suddenly full of questions.

(Summary from goodreads.)

I won this in a contest from (blog) along with a cute little notebook.

Such A Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess - Paperback

They promised Meredith nine years of safety, but only gave her three.

Her father was supposed to be locked up until Meredith turned eighteen. She thought she had time to grow up, get out, and start a new life. But Meredith is only fifteen, and today her father is coming home from prison.

Today her time has run out.

(Summary from goodreads.)

I cheated and peeked at the first couple pages and holy WOW do I want to read this like NOW. I won this one from a blog contest, too.

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison - Paperback

Madison's prom was killer—literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.

Now she's stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.

With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.

Well, if she believed in that stuff.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Okay, so I kinda already have this one... but this is a paperback and my other copy is an ARC so it totally counts as not being the same... right? :P

Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison - Paperback

Seventeen, dead, and in charge of heaven's dark angels—all itching to kill someone.

Madison Avery's dreams of ever fitting in at her new school died when she did. Especially since she was able to maintain the illusion of a body, deal with a pesky guardian angel, and oh yeah, bring the reaper who killed her to his untimely end. Not exactly in-crowd material. It's amazing that her crush, Josh, doesn't think she's totally nuts.

Now Madison has learned that she's the dark timekeeper, in charge of angels who follow the murky guidelines of fate. Never one to abide by the rules, she decides it's time for a major change to the system. With the help of some unlikely allies, Madison forms a rogue group of reapers who definitely don't adhere to the rules of the heavens.

But as she grapples with the terrifying new skills that come with being a timekeeper, Madison realizes she may not be prepared for what lies ahead—unless she gets some seriously divine intervention.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Something Deadly This Way Comes - by Kim Harrison - ARC

When Madison died the night of her prom, she knew her life would never be the same. Now she has a powerful amulet, a team of rogue angels by her side, and the ability to flash forward into the future to see the shape of destiny. And of course, now she's finally with Josh—a perfect boyfriend who doesn't even mind that she's dead.

But being dead has its disadvantages, too. Madison feels caught between the light and the dark, and between her real life and her timekeeper status. When Madison has the opportunity to get her body back—to be alive again—she faces her most difficult decision yet. If she claims it, she could return to being a normal girl—and have a chance at a real relationship with Josh. But would having the one thing she wants most in the world also mean giving up everything she's worked so hard for?

(Summary from goodreads.)

So are they changing the covers of all the books? If they are... I don't think I like it. I like the old cover betters. Anyways, I won all three of these in a contest.

Highland Heat by Mary Wine - Paperback

Ruined, betrayed, and banished…

As brave as she is impulsive, Deidre Chattan’s tendency to follow her heart and not her head has finally tarnished her reputation beyond repair. But when powerful Highland Laird Quinton Cameron finds her, he could care less about her past—it’s her future he’s about to change forever…

But it’s never too late for redemption…

From the moment Quinton sets eyes on Deidre Chattan, rational thought vanishes, for in her eyes he sees a fiery spirit that matches his own and he’ll be damned if he’ll let such a wild Scottish rose wither under the weight of a nun’s habit…

With nothing left to lose, Deidre and Quinton band together to protect king and crown. But what they can accomplish alone is nothing compared to what they can build with their passion for each other.

(Summary from goodreads.)

*shrug* My mom has already stolen this one from me... and I like romance novels. Won in a blog contest.

I won a bunch of swag and some other little things, too, but I don't even know where my camera is, so that'll have to wait til next week.

What'd you guys get this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (67)

2011-04-29T10:23:00.001-06:00

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.

Well, I haven't done an Alexz Johnson song lately, so how about one of those?

(Running With The Devil by Alexz Johnson.)

This song is from Alexz's Epic album that was, sadly, never released. But thanks to YouTube, we can enjoy it!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (81)

2011-04-27T10:01:00.025-06:00

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

No real theme this week. Not that one if needed, I just like sometimes having one.

Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke - To be released June 7th, 2011

Zoë Sorensson is perfectly normal, except she's been told she's destined for great things. Zoë's the one female dragon shapeshifter of her kind. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL, so she's sent to a Pyr boot camp.

Zoë quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday, because the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line-unless Zoë and her friends can work together and save their own kind.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: DRAGONS. Also, the author lives in Canada and writes romance novels. *oggles Goodreads* With VERY pretty covers... Erm, yeah, anyways. Dragons.

Also. I like the cover. Tis very pretty.

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore - To be released July 12th, 2011

Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the Goodnight Ranch is even less normal than it normally is. Bodies are being discovered, a ghost is on the prowl, and everywhere she turns, the hot neighbor cowboy is in her face.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read it: Witches. Ghosts. HOT COWBOY.

*cough*

Can we pretend that I had a tiny bit of dignity in this post? ;)

Peace and cookies,
Laina

YA Review: The Julian Game

2011-04-25T10:37:00.001-06:00

The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

Published: August 26th, 2010 by Putnam

Genre: YA Contemporary

Binding: ARC (Yes. This is a horribly late review. I suck.)

Page Count: 201 in my ARC.

Part of a series? No, I don't think so.

Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): All new girl Raye Archer wants is a way into the in crowd, so when ice-queen Ella Parker picks her to get back at her ex, the gorgeous Julian Kilgarry, Raye is more than game. Even if it means creating a fake Facebook identity so she can learn enough about Julian to sabotage him. It's a fun and dangerous thrill at first, but Raye hadn't counted on falling for Julian herself and igniting Ella's rage.

As Raye works to reconcile the temptress Elizabeth with her real-life self, Ella serves up her own revenge, creating an online smear campaign of nasty rumors and trashy photographs. Suddenly notorious, Raye has to find a way out of the web of deceit that she's helped to build, and back to the relationships that matter.

Review: So. I have this unfortunate habit of putting off reading books that I end up really enjoying because I'm not "in the mood" to read them. Somebody oughta smack this habit out of me because it really is one of my worst. I absolutely love Adele Griffin, and while The Julian Game wasn't my favourite of her books, I very much enjoyed it. It was a little predictable, but it had a lot of unique elements and Adele's writing is beautiful.

Characters: Raye was a quiet, smart less-than-rich new girl at a prestigious public school on a scholarship. Her best friend, Natalya, was a science-fiction enthusiast with a quirky family. Raye was befriended by rich, mean, popular Ella, to get revenge on the popular, gorgeous Julian. Julian, while perfect on the outside, was not quite what he seemed.

At first glance, they seem like the same characters you find in every book with this basic plotline. But Ella? She was a special dose of crazy. And I loved that Raye doesn't spend the whole book under Ella's thumb like in a lot of books like this.

Plus there was a certain character I LOVED. *coughcoughcoughHenryHenrycough*

Plot: This is a plot I've seen in at least three books and one movie. Smart girl who doesn't fit in gets used by popular, rich, mean girl. Smart girl ends up over her head. Mean girl does something to ruin smart girl's social standing. Smart girl recomnnects with her old friends and comes out the better for it.

No surprises here. I probably couldn't spoil this one for you guys if I tried. But the writing is gorgeous and that's where the book's strength lies.

Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc.: I wished that the book was a tad longer to develop some of the characters more, and some of the characters were, as stated above, somewhat predictable, but horribly so. I didn't have any real complaints with this one at all.

PG-13 stuff: No language, nothing super graphic, but some older content. Blah blah blah, I feel like a movie rating system.

Cover comments: I love the cover. Both the wigs and gloves have significance in the book, and I love that. If you look really close on the cover, though, (on the ARC) you can see where the hairline is shopped on, but I saw earlier versions of the this where the girl was blonde. I'm really rather impressed by that, and it's just something I notice, not necessarily a bad thing. Plus I think they might have blended it a bit better on the finished cover.

Conclusion: I finished The Julian Game in just a few hours, I loved that it had different elements from other books with similar plots, I ADORED the ending, and I think Adele Griffin's writing is awesome. But this wasn't a five-star for me because of the predictability. But I do recommend this one to any contemporary fans out there and I feel kind of awful for not falling more in love with it. I'm going to give it a high three and a half and you guys really need to read it, because I do love Adele Griffin. So, yeah, like I said high three and a half.

Other notes:

I actually didn't have any other notes for this one. So that's it!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (66)

2011-04-22T09:36:00.011-06:00

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.

(Yet) another song heard on Vampire Diaries!

(Siren song by Bat for Lashes.)

I love this song. And! I totally just did a siren themed Waiting on Wednesday post, didn't I? So it totally fits.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Waiting on Wednesday (80)

2011-04-20T13:08:00.002-06:00

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

Starstruck by Cyn Balog - To be released July 12th, 2011

Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.

At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.

But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Well, Wish and Dough are awesome names for characters, and I also think that it's a really neat idea to have a plus-sized main character who has a romance, but doesn't loose weight to get the guy. So, yay! I also really like the simplicity of the cover.

Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia - To be released July 12th, 2011

Brought together each summer at a boarding school in Switzerland, three girls learn a lot more than just French and European culture. Shirin, an Iranian princess; Ingrid, a German-Canadian eccentric; and Vivien, a Cuban-Jewish New Yorker culinary phenom, are thrown into eachother's lives when they become roommates. This is a story of 3 paths slowly beginning to cross and merge as they spend the year apart, but the summers together. Through navigating the social-cultural shoals of the school, developing their adolescence, and learning the confusing and conflicting legacies of their families' past, Shirin, Ingrid, and Vivien form an unbreakable bond.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Well, I'm very interested in finding out a little more about this one, but it sounds sweet and very interesting.

Okay, so what are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Things I Talk About on Twitter (9)

2011-04-18T11:41:00.003-06:00

Kaitlin asked to see a picture of my kitchen. Seeing as my kitchen is a mess, I vehemently refused, but I did agree to post a picture of my backyard looking out my kitchen window.

(This is one picture where the date stamp is actually right. It was February 5th, 2008. Old picture. We had way more snow this year. Also, pictures of my yard/around my house always make it seem like I live in the middle of the woods. I don't. Our town just has a lot of trees.)

It was really bright the day that I took this, so I didn't use a flash... and I think it makes for an interesting effect.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

(Also! Follow Kait's blog. Because she's awesome and if she gets 100 followers, she'll dance on video. And I really want to see that. XD That's all.)

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (65)

2011-04-15T09:36:00.014-06:00

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.

I did a post with a Florence and The Machine song before, but how about another? :D

(Blinding by Florence and the Machine.)

Doesn't this song remind you of Sleeping Beauty? More of a dark retelling or, like, the Grimm Brother's original (because, dude, how twisted is THAT thing???) than the Disney one. Though the Disney one isn't exactly all sunshines and rainbows. That dragon scared the heck out of me as a kid.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Waiting on Wednesday (79)

2011-04-13T10:33:00.003-06:00

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

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler - To be released June 14th, 2011

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something...

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Ghosts! I love the character's name, too. And you know how I feel about ghost stories.

Luminous by Dawn Metcalf - To be released July 7th, 2011

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Gorgeous cover. Awesome author. Totally different sound from anything I've read in a long while. How could I not want to read it? (Also... I like saying Consuela. Tis a fun name to say.)

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

YA Review: Drought

2011-04-11T11:15:00.016-06:00

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Published: January 7th, 2011 by Egmont

Genre: YA Science-fiction, I would say. Kinda distopian... only not.

Binding: ARC

Page count: 392 in my ARC, but goodreads says the hardcover has 400

Part of a series? I don't THINK so (sob), but I wish!!

Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved.

She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood.

So she stays.

But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s ever known?

Review: I cheated on my 2010 ARCs with Drought. (I only have a couple left... but they stare at me while I'm sleeping, whispering, "Read us... read us.") I meant to just peek at the first page, but I got lost in the voice and the next thing I knew, it was 6am and I had finished the book. (Not quite literally, but darned close!) It just sucked me in and I don't quite have the words to describe how much I loved it. (But I shall try.) (Also, how many parenthesis can I use in this one paragraph?)

Characters: Ruby is a 200 year old teenaged girl. (Don't worry. This is revealed on the first page, so it's not really a spoiler.) (MOAR PARENTHESIS!!!) (Okay, I'm done.) Pam Bachorz managed to make Ruby sound like a little old-fashioned and yet undeniable like a teenager. That, my friends, is talent. Ruby's voice was amazing. She took responsibility for everything, carried the weight of the world on her shoulders, but even though she was almost 200 years old, she wanted the same kind of things most teenagers want.

And dude. You know I fell in love with Ford. He was smart and sweet, imperfect and conflicted - and yummy. I liked that he wasn't Superman there to save the day, that he wasn't a perfect character, you know? He might just be one of my favourite book boys in a long time.

As for the other characters... I liked who I was supposed to like and hated who I was supposed to hate. But I don't want to say more because it might spoil some things.

Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc: There were a couple characters I really didn't like. But I think that's what the author was going for... so that's not really a bad thing. There was one thing at the ending that wasn't completely explained, but I honestly hope that there'll be a sequel. :P

PG-13 stuff: There's some mild language, romance, violence, etc, but it's or older teens, obviously. The back says 12 and up.

Cover comments: I absolutely love this cover. The trees are spooky and creepy and the girl's eye is a little scary, but gorgeous at the same time. I also really like that because all you see is her eyes and hints of her nose and hair, you can draw your own conclusions of what Ruby looks like.

Conclusion: In an ideal world, I think I would like to reread this one a few times before talking about it. Maybe then I'd say all this better. I really do not have words for how much I enjoyed Drought. There were times where I'd think, "Okay, I'll stop reading after this chapter," (because, you know, it was 4am and all), then the next thing I'd know, I'd have finished another three. The voice is addicting and gorgeous. And I think the scariest thing is that things like this... not so far out. (Well, besides the 200 year old thing. But the whole cult-ish thing? Yeah, that happens. Tis spooky.)

As I read, I kept trying to think of what Drought reminded me of, but every time I thought of something, I'd then think, "Oh, but..." In the end, I came up with: One part Hunger Games + One part The Giver + a dash of Lord of the Flies + a sprinkling of Running Out of Time (Margaret Peterson Haddix) + a whole lot of unique coolness.

I highly, highly recommend this one. It's dark and delicious and I think it might even appeal to guy readers. Four and a half roses.

Other notes:

- "I haz a sad."
- "I haz a sadder."

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (64)

2011-04-08T09:36:00.003-06:00

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.

(Breathless - Better Than Ezra)

I like the Taylor Swift's cover, too, but I really like the guy's voice in the original lately.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Waiting on Wednesday (78)

2011-04-06T10:33:00.001-06:00

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

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini - To be released May 31st, 2011

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Nantucket! That's just fun to say. And lots of dirty jokes start with, "And there once was a man from nantucket..." etc. So besides the awesomeness of the sound of the summary, I like that it's set in Nantucket.

Also. Is it just me, or are there a LOT of books with the title Starcrossed or some variation of that? I can come up with like 3 different books. Strangeness there.

What We Keep is Not Always What Will Stay by Amanda Cockrell - To be released June 8th, 2011

Fifteen-year-old Angie never used to think much about God—until things started getting weird. Like the statue of St. Felix, her secret confidante, suddenly coming off his pedestal and talking to her. And Angie's mother, who's busting up her third marriage for no apparent reason. Then there's Jesse Francis, sent home from Afghanistan at age nineteen with his leg blown off. Now he's expected to finish high school and fit right back in. Is God even paying attention to any of this?

Against the advice of an increasingly vocal St. Felix (who knows a thing or two about war), Angie falls for Jesse—who's a lot deeper than most high school guys. But Jesse is battling some major demons. As his rages start to become more frequent and unpredictable, Angie finds herself losing control of the situation. And she's starting to wonder: can one person ever make things right for? Someone else?

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: It sounds different. Interesting, and different. Plus I adore the cover.

Well, I have nothing interesting to say here.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Things I Talk About on Twitter (8)

2011-04-04T10:28:00.001-06:00

Spiggleys

(It's not dirty. Get your mind out of the gutter!!)

Spiggleys. (Yes, that's the back of an elephant's head. It was the closest white thing I had.) They're pipecleaners glued around pom-poms, then the pom-poms are covered in glitter. I wore them on the headband I always wear for out outerspace/alien storytime. I think I'll wear them again on the bug storytime I'm planning.

(Also, ignore the date stamp. It's wrong because I usually have it turned off, but it keeps turning back on.)

Okay, I need some ideas. What do you guys want to see in these posts?? I'm kinda running out of ideas.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (63)

2011-04-01T08:56:00.014-06:00

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've admitted this on Twitter, but never quite on here: I have an embarrassing love of Disney. Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, Pair of Kings, Good Luck Charlie, Suite Life of Zach and Cody/On Deck, I'm in the Band, Sonny With a Chance... I'm a total Disney addict.

Including a lot of the music. One of my favourites is Selena Gomez.

(Naturally by Selena Gomez and The Scene.)

I think she's a great actress, a good singer, and adorable to boot.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Waiting on Wednesday (77)

2011-03-30T10:33:00.002-06:00

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

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury - To be released May 24th, 2011

Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history.

Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet with antique dust swirling around her.

Maybe you think she is a young Egyptologist who has arrived in Cairo on camelback.

Maybe she would like to think that too. Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperones fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping.

This is the start of it all, Agnes’s debut season, the pretty girl parade that offers only ever-shrinking options: home, husband, and high society. It’s also the start of something else, because the mummy Agnes unwraps isn’t just a mummy. It’s a host for a secret that could unravel a new destiny—unleashing mystery, an international intrigue, and possibly a curse in the bargain.

Get wrapped up in the adventure . . . but keep your wits about you, dear Agnes.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Egypt! You say Egypt to me and I'm more likely to be interested than if you had said Paris. I've been weird like that ever since second grade when I read Mummies in the Morning. Even with everything going on over there, I still think the culture and history is fascinating. And man, I want that cover slapped up on my wall.

Oh, also. That time period, if it's the one I think it is, is one that a lot of romance novels are set in, but not so much as many YA books, so that's quite neat, too.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire - To be released May 24th, 2011

Since the age of fourteen, Emerson Cole has seen strange things – dead things – swooning Southern Belles, soldiers, and other eerie apparitions of the past. She’s tried everything to get rid of the visions: medication, counseling, asylums. Nothing’s worked.

So when Emerson's well-meaning brother calls in yet another consultant from a mysterious organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to give it one last try.

Michael Weaver is no ordinary consultant. He's barely older than she is; he listens like no one she's ever met before; and he doesn't make her feel the least bit crazy. As Emerson ventures deeper into the world of the Hourglass, she begins to learn the truth about her past, her future--and her very life.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Okay, confession time. Chances are, I probably have this by the time this posts. (I don't when I'm typing this, but I'm scheduling pretty far ahead. And I want to gush over this one SO much that I really can't resist. I mean, hello, ghosts (fascinating, even if they are one of the only things that freak me out), and look at that cover! She's walking on the wall INTO the FLOOR. It's got a very Alice In Wonderland feel to it, doesn't it?

(Okay. I have this one. But I HAD to write about it. And I didn't to want to delete it from this post.)

Okay, so, what are you guys waiting on this week?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

YA Review: Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

2011-03-28T10:00:00.003-06:00

Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw (Wintercraft #1)

Published: May 13th, 2010 by Headline

Genre: YA Fantasy

Binding: ARC

Page Count: 278 in my copy, but the hardcover might have more

Part of a series? Yeppers. I think the second one is coming out in... April! (Wow. This review is LATE. I'm sorry!!)

Amazon link.

(Also called Shadowcry.)

Summary (from goodreads): Ten years ago Kate Winters' parents were taken by the High Council's wardens to help with the country's war effort. Now the wardens are back...and prisoners, including Kate's uncle Artemis, are taken south on the terrifying Night Train. Kate and her friend Edgar are hunted by a far more dangerous enemy.

Silas Dane -- the High Council's most feared man -- recognises Kate as one of the Skilled; a rare group of people able to see through the veil between the living and the dead. His spirit was damaged by the High Council's experiments into the veil, and he's convinced that Kate can undo the damage and allow him to find peace. The knowledge Kate needs lies within Wintercraft -- a book thought to be hidden deep beneath the graveyard city of Fume.

But the Night of Souls, when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest, is just days away and the High Council have their own sinister plans for Kate and Wintercraft. To help Artemis, Edgar and herself, Kate must honour her pact with a murderer and come face to face with the true nature of death.

Review: I was so excited about Wintercraft. I WoWed it, and I couldn't have been happier when I got an email saying a copy was on its way to me. (Which... is kinda awesome, isn't it?) Well... I wasn't as amazed as I wanted to be, but I did enjoy it. I'm looking forward to the second book and hoping that some of the issues I had with this one are resolved.

Plot: There's war and kidnapping and magic and a whole heckka lot packed into 278 pages and MAN I hate writing about plot.

Characters: I liked Kate. I thought she was clever and gutsy, but I wished that more of her voice had come through. The third person narration wasn't as deep as it could have been, or as I'm used to it being, and at times it felt a bit removed. Sometimes I just wished I knew a little bit more WHY she made some of the choices she made. But Kate was ballsy and I like ballsy characters.

This is a little strange, but I really liked Silas. Well, you know, not liked him exactly seeing as he was sort of evil and all, but I found him very interesting. The narration from his POV was great, too.

Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc.: I had some issues, like I said before, with the third person not being as deep as it could have been. I didn't always like Edgar, even though he was a good character. If we'd had moe scenes from his POV earlier, it would have helped, but I like him more towards th end of the book.

PG-13 stuff: No language, but ya know, war and stuff. No particularly graphic violence, even.

Cover comments: Well, my ARC didn't have the final cover, so I haven't seen it in real life, but I like how the cover looks on the screen. It's pretty and suiting for the genre.

Conclusion: All in all, I liked Wintercraft. I had a problems with a few things, but I definitely want to read the second book. I'm hoping that, like CDs, if I like the first one, I'll like the second one even more. I'd recommend Wintercraft to fans of Patrick Carman's Land of Elyon series who are maybe looking for something a little older, along with general fantasy fans, of course. Three and a half roses.

Other notes:

- "I just got ice cream on my nose." I was eating an ice cream sandwich. That's talent.
- "I like books about cities in walls."
- "BUGS."
- "Lots of world-building." <-- This was a legitimate pro, but I couldn't seem to make it fit in the review.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

In My Mailbox (35)

2011-03-27T10:20:00.004-06:00

In My Mailbox is brought to us by The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea.

Things received for review:

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield - Hardcover

Kendra, fifteen, hasn't felt safe since she began to recall devastating memories of childhood sexual abuse, especially because she still can't remember the most important detail-- her abuser's identity. Frightened, Kendra believes someone is always watching and following her, leaving menacing messages only she understands. If she lets her guard down even for a minute, it could cost Kendra her life.

To relieve the pressure, Kendra cuts; aside from her brilliantly expressive artwork, it's her only way of coping. Since her own mother is too self-absorbed to hear her cries for help, Kendra finds support in others instead: from her therapist and her art teacher, from Sandy, the close family friend who encourages her artwork, and from Meghan, the classmate who's becoming a friend and maybe more.

But the truth about Kendra's abuse is just waiting to explode, with startling unforeseen consequences. Scars is the unforgettable story of one girl's frightening path to the truth.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Cheryl is one of the nicest authors I've ever met. She sent me bookmarks, too, and signed it and how awesome that??

The Wizard of Dark Steet by Shawn Thomas Odyssey - ARC

Oona Crate was born to be the wizard's apprecntice, but she has another destiny in mind. Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective.

Eager for a job to prove her crime-solving skills, Oona never expected her first case would be this challenging. Someone has murdered her uncle - the Wizard of Dark Street. Now it's up to our precocious heroine to solve the murder mystery.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Isn't that cover absolutely adorable? I love the artwork on it. You know, I actually typed up the copy from the back cover and put it on goodreads because there were no summaries anywhere (that I could find). Yay for Goodreads librarian privilages!!

Hourglass by Myra McEntire - ARC

One hour to rewrite the past...

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

(Summary from goodreads.)

I am so excited to get this one. I *cough* might be breaking a couple of my rules and WoWing it. But only because I type WoW posts WAY far in advance and I didn't have it when I typed it. So, yeah. We'll just pretend I don't have it for that.

The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski - ARC

In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she's decorating a cake. Unfortunately everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.

But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems - only her dad's about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed.

Using just the right amount of romance, family drama, and cute boys, The Sweetest Thing will entice fans with its perfect mixture of girl-friendly ingredients.

(Summary from goodreads.)

I've been noticing lately that I don't really have a ton of "light" books. So this arrived at a good time!!

Family by Micol Ostow - ARC

i have always been broken.
i could have. died.
and maybe it would have been better if i had.

It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.

Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.

(Summary from goodreads.)

I LOVE the way this one sounds. I've only read a couple books in verse, so I think that'll be cool, too.

Notes From The Blender by Brendan Halpin and Tricia Cook - ARC

Declan loves death metal--particularly from Finland. And video games--violent ones. And internet porn--any kind, really. He goes to school with Neilly Foster and spends most of his classroom time wondering what it might be like to know her, to talk to her, maybe even to graze against her sweater in the hallway. Neilly is an accomplished gymnast, naturally beautiful, and a constant presence at all the best parties (to which Declan is never invited). She's the queen of cool, the princess of poker face, and her rule is uncontested-- or it was until today, when she's dumped by her boyfriend, betrayed by her former BFF Lulu, and then informed she's getting a new brother--of the freaky fellow classmate variety. Declan's dad is marrying Neilly's mom. Soon. Which means they'll be moving in together.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Have you guys ever heard of Life With Derek? The summary of this one kinda reminds me of that show. A little, anyways.

The Accidental Genius of Weasel High by Rick Detorie - ARC

A book for the Wimpy Kid who has grown into a Wimpy Teen

Larkin Pace desperately wants a new camcorder. How else is he going to become the next great filmmaker? But his dad won’t give him any money, his sister is determined to make his life miserable, and his nemesis Dalton Cooke is trying to steal his girlfriend. Now this height-challenged aspiring director must chronicle his wacky life for a freshman English assignment.

(Summary from goodreads.)

In the catalogue that I got from Egmont, they had a sample page of this and I thought it was an interesting idea. This is a really neat mixture of text and comics, like webcomic comics, not so much Spider-Man or Superman comics.

Bought:

The Mark by Jen Nadol - Hardcover

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

(Summary from goodreads.)

I got this for 3.77 on Amazon. Even with shipping, it was less than 7 dollars for a hardcover book. How *awesome* is that??

Killer Cruise by Jennifer Shaw - Paperback

Onboard facilities:

Pool 1, Caribbean Deck

Met hot crewmember while soaking up the sun!

The Santorini Restaurant, Olympia Deck

Heard about last year's mysterious disappearance on board. What could have happened?

Movie Theater, Fiesta Deck

Still can't stand horror flicks. Too scary.

Paris Boutique, Panama Deck

Then again, so was my near-death fall overboard last night...

Glamorama Spa, Bermuda Deck

Must relax. No one's trying to kill me—I'm just being paranoid.

Club Paradise, Diablo Deck

But what if someone does want me dead?

(Summary from goodreads.)

The summary is really random on this one... I think it's like a checklist or something on the back cover, but it doesn't translate so well to online and I'm too lazy to go get the book. It was like 4 bucks at the drugstore, so I bought it on a whim.

Won:

Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer - Hardcover

It’s another awful year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod. Joss, a professional vampire slayer and Vlad’s former friend, has moved back to town. The powerful vampire Dorian has an overwhelming desire to drink Vlad’s blood. And his archenemy, D’Ablo, has brought Vlad’s Uncle Otis to trial for crimes against vampires. So much for dating. When the tables turn on Vlad, he has just enough time to return to Bathory for his final good-byes.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Won this in a contest. It's the only one I own in the series, but there's always the library, right? :D

So, this is about... well, it's all the books I've gotten since my LAST In My Mailbox post and who the heck remembers the last time I did one of those?

What did you guys get this week/recently?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (62)

2011-03-25T10:56:00.011-06:00

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.

(Kids by MGMT)

So whenever I listen to this song, I always hear, "Enjoy yourself," instead of "Control yourself." I have no problem with, "A family of trees wanting to be haunted," however. Which sounds very strange when you sing it out loud.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Waiting on Wednesday (76)

2011-03-23T10:17:00.040-06:00

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

My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher - To be released May 10th, 2011

Vanessa is wise beyond her years. She's never really fit in at school, where all the kids act and dress the same. She's an artist who expresses her talent in the wacky colors she dyes her hair, her makeup and clothes. She's working on her biggest art project, and counting the days until she's grown up and can really start living. That adult world seems closer when Vanessa gets her dream job at the art supply store, Palette, where she worships the couple who runs it, Oscar and Maye. And she's drawn to a mysterious guy named James, who leads her into new, sometimes risky situations. Is she ready for this world, or not?

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I like the sound of the MC. (Says the girl with the blue streaks.) I'm also kinda wondering if I could recreate the look on the cover and pull it off.

Die For Me by Amy Plum - To be released May 10th, 2011

DIE FOR ME is the first of three books about Kate, a sixteen-year-old American who moves to Paris after the death of her parents. She finds herself falling for Vincent, who she discovers is not the typical French teenager he appears: he is something else entirely.

DIE FOR ME presents a new supernatural mythology presented in a city where dreams are sometimes the same as reality.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Well, the summary is a bit shorter on this one, but I think it sounds really good. Paris! And the cover is gorgeous.

So what are you guys waiting on?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (61)

2011-03-18T10:56:00.012-06:00

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.

(Come on Get Higher by Matt Nathanson.)

Another one I heard on Vampire Diaries. Seriously hot song. Vampire Diaries has the BEST music, don't you think?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

February 2011 Picture Book List

2011-03-17T11:23:00.001-06:00

(Happy Saint Patrick's Day!)

February:

1. Favorite Nurserry Rhymes from Mother Goose by Scott Gustafon
2. The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster by David Conway
3. Here Comes Mother Goose by Iona Opie
4. Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose Favorites by Mary Engelbreit
5. Tomie dePaola's More Mother Goose Favorites by Tomie dePaola
6. Mother Goose and Friends by Ruth Sanderson
7. The Book That Jack Wrote by Jon Scieszka
8. The Frog Prince Continued -//-
9. Grumpy Badger's Christmas by Paul Bright
10. If Snow Falls by Jan Agee
11. Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi
12. A Pirate's Night Before Christmas by Philip Yates
13. Captain Abdul's Pirate School by Colin McNaughton
14. Don't Mention Pirates by Sarah McConnell
15. The Night Pirates by Peter Harris
16. Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke
17. This Little Pirate by Philemon Sturges
18. Pirate Piggy Wiggy by Christyan and Diane Fox
19. Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss
20. Angelina's Birthday by Katherine Holabird
21. Angelina's Birthday Surprise -//-
22. Backbeard and the Birthday Suit by Matthew McElligott
23. Mr. Wolf and the Three Bears by Jan Fearnley
24. Flower Garden by Eve Bunting
25. The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
26. Happy Birthday, Biscuit! by Alyssa Satin Capacilli
27. The Birthday Presents by Paul Stewart
28. Birthday Mice by Bethany Roberts
29. Happy Birthday to You, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark
30. Monster's Birthday Hiccups by Virginia Mueller
31. Froggy Bakes a Cake by Jonathan London
32. Birthday Monsters by Sandra Boynton
33. The Boy Who Wouldn't Go To Bed by Helen Cooper
34. The Squiggle by Carole Lexa Schaefer
35. A Mouse Told His Mother by Bethany Roberts
36. Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
37. It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
38. The House Across the Street by Jules Feiffer
39. Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter
40. And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss
41. Meeow and the Big Box by Sebastien Braun
42. Harvey Potter's Baloon Farm by Jerdine Nolen
43. Simon's Disguise by Gilles Tibo
44. Jessica by Kevin Henkes
45. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
46. Cows Can't Fly by David Milgrim
47. Go to Sleep, Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton
48. Little Bo Peep Can't Get to Sleep by Erin Dealey
49. Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker
50. Lyle and the Birthday Party by Bernard Waber
51. Gotcha! by Gail Jorgensen
52. Alphabet Ice Cream by Nick Sharratt
53. Ice Cream at the Castle by Anne Love
54. Ice Cream Cones for Sale! by Elaine Greenstein
55. Garth Pig and the Ice Cream Lady by Mary Rayner
56. Simply Delicious by Margaret Mahy
57. Spike & Cubby's Ice Cream Adventure Heather Sellers
58. Ice Cream Larry by Daniel Pinkwater
59. Sunday Love by Alison Paul
60. Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop by Margaret Rey
61. Dora and the Stuck Truck by Phoebe Beinstein
62. Trucks by Patricia Hubbell
63. My Dad's a Wizard! by Hannah Roche
64. Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star by Kevin Hhenkes
65. The Best Restaurant in the World by Michelle Schwarz
66. Isaac the Ice Cream Truck by Scott Santoro
67. Ice Cream Bear by Jez Alborough

Holy wow, that was a big month. I don't know why it was so long this month!! Considering it was such a short month... weirdness.

If you want to see the full list of books I've read this year, check out this post.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (75)

2011-03-16T10:39:00.002-06:00

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

I have a theme this week! I've been seeing a lot of upcoming mermaid/siren books. Mermaids/sirens are the new vampires/werewolves/angels? So since I had like 5 books that fit this, I figured I'd do them all in one post, and since it was the 75th WoW I've done, it seemed right.

(But, hey, did you know that traditionally sirens were bird-women, not fish-women? Like seagulls. Thanks @AmaliaTD for clearing that up.)

Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs - To be released May 10th, 2011

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her — and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: It looks really, really good, the cover is gorgeous (like, seriously, the back tattoo!), and I'm so saying mermaids/sirens are the new vampires.

Between the Sea & Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore - To be released June 7th, 2011

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. Then Dosinia runs away to the mainland, and Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: The names are really interesting, which suggests to me that this is more fantasy than paranormal. Gorgeous cover, too!!

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter - To be released July 4th, 2011

What happens to the girls nobody sees—the ones who are ignored, mistreated, hidden away? The girls nobody hears when they cry for help?

Fourteen-year-old Luce is one of those lost girls. After her father vanishes in a storm at sea, she is stuck in a grim, gray Alaskan fishing village with her alcoholic uncle. When her uncle crosses an unspeakable line, Luce reaches the depths of despair. Abandoned on the cliffs near her home, she expects to die when she tumbles to the icy, churning waves below. Instead, she undergoes an astonishing transformation.

(Summary from goodreads, more there.)

Why I want this: It sounds haunting, gorgeous. Side note: The cover above this is a lot difference, but doesn't it kinda look like they were shot in the same photoshoot?

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard - To be released July 21st, 2011

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she’s ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: Mandy Hubbard is one of the nicest people I've ever met and I can't wait to get my hands on this one. I can't wait to find out what the terrible tragedy turns out to be. Also, gorgeous cover!

Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou - To be released August 9th, 2011

Nothing has been the same for Will ever since what happened last summer. One day, on an ordinary sailing trip with his brother, there is a strange accident. When Will wakes up, he learns his brother has disappeared, presumed drowned. Worst of all, Will can't remember what happened—his family finds him unconscious, with no memory of the accident.

Now Will and his best friend and neighbor, Gretchen, are starting a new summer. Gretchen seems troubled—her sleepwalking habit is getting worse, and she keeps waking up closer and closer to the water. Will is drawn to Asia, the exotic new girl in town. Nobody knows where she's from—all Will knows is that her beauty and her mesmerizing voice have a powerful effect on people.

Then there is another mysterious drowning, and Will and Gretchen begin to wonder: Is Asia just another beautiful, wealthy summer resident? Or is she something entirely more sinister . . . and inhuman?

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I really like books with from boy's POVs, and I feel like there aren't as many of those in paranormal. (Not fantasy.) (And I could be wrong.) Plus, hello, gorgeous cover.

So what do you guys think of this trend?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

YA Review: Tyger, Tyger

2011-03-14T11:43:00.004-06:00

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton (Goblin Wars #1)

Published: November 15th, 2010 by Clarion Books

Genre: Fantasy / High fantasy (maybe)

Binding: ARC

Page Count: 304 in my ARC, but I think the hardcover has more

Part of a series? Thankfully, yes. The second comes out in October 2011, I believe.

Amazon link. (That's a pretty good price, too.)

Summary (from goodreads): Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures - goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty - are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

Review: I cannot say how AWESOME this book was. Told in third person past tense, it's stepped in Irish mythology, subtle humour blended brilliantly with the tension. (If you have a copy, pages 49, 156, 176 are my favourite funny moments.) The longer I read it, the more my notes disintergrated into, "This book is so cool," and "I love this book," type of notes.

Plot: Well, the summary is pretty awesome already. So, yeah, we'll stick with that. I really ought to just get rid of this section...

Characters: Teagan kicked BUTT. She was smart, focused, protective of her family, and just plain awesome I loved how tough she was when she needed to be, and, of course, how smart she was. Smart girls rule! She reminded me a lot of Claire from the Morganville Vampires books (and we all know how much I love those books). I found her interest in animals very interesting, though. You don't (at least, I don't) see that often.

And Finn. *sigh* Oh my gosh, but that boy is... yum. Gorgeous Irish accent. A tattoo and a scar. (Scars are hot sometimes...) Wild. And that smile... and you disregard that total fangirling moment. But, wow, I loved him. He was sweet and nice to Teagan's little brother, protective, gorgeous.

Yeah. *fans self*

Now, if you think I just focused on the cute boy, I didn't. Teagan's younger brother was a really great character, not the usually annoying little brother fare you often find. I really liked him, along with so many of the other characters. They were almost all wonderful, quirky and interesting.

Cons, complaints, bad stuff, etc: The only thing I can really think of was that at a couple points in the book, it skipped again a few months and there wasn't a marker or subtitle saying something. It was confusing for a couple minutes. But they could have changed that in the hardcover, and even if they didn't, not the biggest deal in the world.

PG-13 stuff: Well, there's obviously "mature content," due to the nature of the book, but language-wise, it's pretty mild. 12 and up seems totally appropriate.

Cover comments: I really, really like it. It's different from what's trendy right now and very suitable for the genre. The details on the tree are gorgeous, aren't they?

Conclusion: Tyger Tyger reminds me some of A Wrinkle in Time - in the best possible way. It's different and sweet, scary and sexy. I highly recommend this one. 4 and a half roses.

Other notes:
- They live near Lake Michigan, and that was cool to me because I used to live in that area (on the Canadian side, of course.)
- "Bring on the Irish accents!"
- I decided I want a pet hedgehog. Then I had a sad moment later in the book.
- I liked that Finn called Aidan, "boyo," and Teagan, "Tea."
- "SHINY TRUCK."
- "I. Want. The. Next. One." (Seriously.)

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (60)

2011-03-11T10:56:00.011-06:00

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.

I don't think I've posted this song before...

(Here We Go by Mat Kearney.)

This was on Vampire Diaries, which is where I heard it. Such a pretty song. Love his voice!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Waiting on Wednesday (74)

2011-03-09T10:35:00.001-06:00

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

The Cellar by A. J. Whitten - To be released May 2nd, 2011

Meredith Willis is suspicious of Adrien, the new guy next door. When she dares to sneak a look into the windows of his house, she sees something in the cellar that makes her believe that Adrien might be more than just a creep—he may be an actual monster.

But her sister, Heather, doesn’t share Meredith’s repulsion. Heather believes Adrien is the only guy who really understands her. In fact, she may be falling in love with him. When Adrien and Heather are cast as the leads in the school production of Romeo and Juliet, to Heather, it feels like fate. To Meredith, it feels like a bad omen. But if she tries to tear the couple apart, she could end up in the last place she’d ever want to be: the cellar. Can Meredith convince her sister that she’s dating the living dead before it’s too late for both of them?

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: One word: ZOMBIES!!!! I am totally Team Zombie. :D

Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin - To be released May 3rd, 2010

As if transferring senior year weren't hard enough, Charlotte Locke has been bumped to lower level classes at her new school. With no friends, a terrible math SAT score, and looming college application deadlines, the future is starting to seem like an oncoming train for which she has no ticket.

Then Amanda enters her orbit like a hot-pink meteor, offering Charlotte a ticket to something else: popularity. Amanda is fearless, beautiful, brilliant, and rich. As her new side kick, Charlotte is brought into the elite clique of the debate team—and closer to Neal, Amanda's equally brilliant friend and the most perfect boy Charlotte has ever seen.

But just when senior year is looking up, Charlotte’s life starts to crumble. The more things heat up between Charlotte and Neal, the more Neal wants to hide their relationship. Is he ashamed? Meanwhile, Amanda is starting to act strangely competitive, and she's keeping a secret Charlotte doesn't want to know.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Well, I love the cover, but I think the book sounds really good, too. As much as I love paranormals, I like a good contemporary sometimes, too.

What are you guys waiting on?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Things I Talk About on Twitter (7)

2011-03-07T11:21:00.003-06:00

Nail polish. I've done fake nails like this:

But my true love is nail polish.

Yeah. There are actually a couple missing from

How do I store that? In a box. (With a fox. And some lox.)

Some of my favourite nail looks (be warned, some of these are weird pictures. It's hard taking pictures of your nails with your webcam!):

Neon orange. It's SO bright in real life.

Black and white striples. This was one of my favourite looks. It made me feel like Cruella de Vil. Only... you know, without the puppy killing part.

And most recently - ladybugs!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (59)

2011-03-04T11:01:00.005-06:00

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.

This is one of the most random songs I have on my playlist.

(Lollipop by The Chordettes, Squeak E. Clean and Desert Eagle remix.)

I think I heard it on the Whip It soundtrack. And how AWESOME was that movie???

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Michelle Moran Contest Winner

2011-03-02T15:06:00.001-06:00

The winner of the book and earrings is... *drumroll*

Gintare!

I've emailed the winner and they have one week to reply to me or I'll have to choose another.

Thanks for entering!
Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (73)

2011-03-02T11:11:00.002-06:00

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

I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler - May 1st, 2011

“For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel envy...”

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?

Janet Gurtler tests the bonds of sisterhood in this moving debut that readers of Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen will savor.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: This had a different title/cover before, The Weight of Bones, but it was changed. This cover stands out a little bit more, and seems a bit more... hopeful, I guess. From the description, it seems like a real heartbreaker, but incredible.

Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese - To be released April 26th, 2011

Ade Patience can see the future and it's destroying his life. When the seventeen-year-old Mantlo High School student knocks himself unconscious, he can see days and decades into his own future. Ade's the best of Denver's "divination" underground and eager to join the heralded Mantlo Diviners, a group of similarly enabled teens. Yet, unlike the Diviners, Ade Patience doesn't see the future out of curiosity or good will; Ade gives himself concussions because he's addicted to the high, the Buzz, he gets when he breaks the laws of physics. And while there have been visions he's wanted to change, Ade knows the Rule: You can't change the future, no matter how hard you try.

(Summary from goodreads - more there.)

Why I want to read this: I think the idea of being addicted to seeing the future is really, really interesting, and I always like the whole psychic thing. Plus the cover font reminds me of something. Drought, a bit, but another book, too. Any ideas what book I mean? Just the font, not the rest of the cover (which I love).

Okay, that's everything.

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (58)

2011-02-25T08:55:00.001-06:00

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.

Here's a song I really like:

(Patterns by Band of Skulls.)

Yep, heard it on Castle. I really like the title of the CD, too. "Baby darling doll face honey" just amuses me. What do you guys think?

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Waiting on Wednesday (72)

2011-02-23T13:08:00.024-06:00

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

I have absolutely NO theme this week besides the same release day. On the plus side, you won't have to wait long for either of these!

I Am J by Cris Beam - To be released March 1st, 2011

"Hola, Jeni."

J spun. His stomach clenched hard, as though he'd been hit. It was just the neighbor lady, Mercedes. J couldn't muster a hello back, not now; he didn't care that she'd tell his mom he'd been rude. She should know better. Nobody calls me Jeni anymore.

J always felt different. He was certain that eventually everyone would understand who he really was: a boy mistakenly born as a girl. Yet as he grew up, his body began to betray him; eventually J stopped praying to wake up a "real boy" and started covering up his body, keeping himself invisible - from his family, from his friends...from the world. But after being deserted by the best friend he thought would always be by his side, J decides that he's done hiding - it's time to be who he really is. And this time he is determined not to give up, no matter the cost.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: I've read a book that sounds a bit like this, Luna, and loved it, so I can't wait to read this one. :)

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney - To be released March 1st, 2011

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the Earl and

Countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she

will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted... by magic. When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society.

But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want to read this: Okay. Story time! Once upon a time, when I was a wee little Laina, I had an imaginary friend who lived in the mirror. Now, I have no idea how much mirrors are actually part of this, but the person looking back at her from the other side of the mirror is really speaking to me in the cover.

Okay, so what are you guys waiting on this week?
Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

Michelle Moran Contest Over

2011-02-21T23:59:00.000-06:00

Thanks for entering! I'll post the winter soon,

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Things I Talk About on Twitter (6)

2011-02-21T11:13:00.001-06:00

So as you might know, I work at the library, doing Storytime for 3-5 year olds. It happens in the back room of the library which I have been working on making a bit more colourful as it was rather grey and boring before.

Here's what it looks like now (click on any of the pictures to make them bigger):

First wall. The butterflies and bees are leftover from last summer's Where the Wild Things Are themed programs. I thought they were cute, so I kept them. I think I might make some more butterflies, too.

My full Hey-Diddle-Diddle Wall, and our craft tables. The blue thingies are leftover from a special event the library hosted. They were bright and colourful, so we left them up there.

This wall isn't decorated as well, but I ran out of time to do another drawing, so... it is what it is. My felt board's along this wall, and this is where I set up the extra books (you can see some of them here, but usually there are more) here, so it usually has a bit more going on.

Close up of Humpty Dumpty. I rather like his face, and the wall. This one might just be my favourite.

I like the cat, but not the fiddle as much. I'm not good with colouring wood things. Ah, well. Not bad.

(Hey, diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle)

I love the cow. It was so easy to do and I think it turned out pretty well.

(The cow jumped over the moon.)

The dog was the first one I tackled. It's not half bad, is it?

(The little dog laughed, To see such sport,)

I think these two are really cute.

(And the dish ran away with the spoon.)

I don't love the hickory dickory dock clock, but it works. The mouse is kinda cute.

I also set up a mini toy Storytime. I think it's cute. :)

(Ignore the boxes of books. There's no room for them in the back room, so I put them out here. If I hid them in the back, I wouldn't be able to get to my craft supplies.)

So. Whatcha think? Suggestions for jazzing it up? Oh, and what else would you like to see in these posts?

Peace and cookies,

Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something To Sing About! (57)

2011-02-18T08:32:00.001-06:00

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.

You guys probably know this one from the commercial, but I love it, so I'm posting about it anyways. :)

(Rolling in the Deep by Adele)

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.

2011 Picture Book List

2011-02-03T12:57:00.003-06:00

January:

1. Smelly Bill by Daniel Postgate
2. Who's in the Tub? by Sylvie Jones
3. Beasty Bath by Robert Neubecker
4. Bathtub Blues by Kate McMullan
5. Huggly Takes a Bath by Tedd Arnold
6. Henry's Bath by Margaret Perversi
7. Bath Time by Eileen Spinelli
8. Bubble Bath Pirates! by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
9. Kid Tea by Elizabeth Ficocelli
10. Pig Takes a Bath by Michael Dahl
11. Tubby by Leslie Patricelli
12. Tub Toys by Terry Miller Shannon & Timothy Warner
13. The Treasure Bath by Dan Anderson
14. Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton
15. Russell and the Lost Treasure -//-
16. Russell's Christmas Magic -//-
17. Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw
18. Sheep Blast Off -//-
19. Sheep in Wolves' Clothing by Satoshi Kitamura
20. Little Baa by Kim Lewis
21. Brave Charlotte and the Wolves by Anu Stohner
22. Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
23. Smitten by David Gordon
24. The Mystery of the Missing Red Mitten by Steven Kellogg
25. The Missing Mitten Mystery -//-
26. One Mitten by Kristine O'Connell George
27. The Mitten by Jan Brett
28. Missing Mittens by Stuart J. Murphy
29. The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen
30. The Mitten by Jim Aylesworth
31. Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
32. Harry and the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
33. When Bluebell Sang by Lisa Campbell Ernst
34. My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Sock by Hanoch Piven
35. Brave Charlotte by Anu Stohner
36. Looking for Christmas by Peggy Van Gurp
37. Wild & Woolly by Mary Jessie Parker
38. Christmas Mice by Bethany Roberts
39. Sheep Take a Hike by Nancy Shaw
40. Sheep Out to Eat -//-
41. Six Sandy Sheep by Judith Ross Enderle
42. The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Klabstrup
43. The Sea Serpant and Me by Dashka Slater
44. Pajama Pirates by Andrew Kramer
45. Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw

February:

46. Favorite Nurserry Rhymes from Mother Goose by Scott Gustafon
47. The Great Nursery Rhyme Disaster by David Conway
48. Here Comes Mother Goose by Iona Opie
49. Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose Favorites by Mary Engelbreit
50. Tomie dePaola's More Mother Goose Favorites by Tomie dePaola
51. Mother Goose and Friends by Ruth Sanderson
52. The Book That Jack Wrote by Jon Scieszka
53. The Frog Prince Continued -//-
54. Grumpy Badger's Christmas by Paul Bright
55. If Snow Falls by Jan Agee
56. Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi
57. A Pirate's Night Before Christmas by Philip Yates
58. Captain Abdul's Pirate School by Colin McNaughton
59. Don't Mention Pirates by Sarah McConnell
60. The Night Pirates by Peter Harris
61. Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke
62. This Little Pirate by Philemon Sturges
63. Pirate Piggy Wiggy by Christyan and Diane Fox
64. Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss
65. Angelina's Birthday by Katherine Holabird
66. Angelina's Birthday Surprise -//-
67. Backbeard and the Birthday Suit by Matthew McElligott
68. Mr. Wolf and the Three Bears by Jan Fearnley
69. Flower Garden by Eve Bunting
70. The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
71. Happy Birthday, Biscuit! by Alyssa Satin Capacilli
72. The Birthday Presents by Paul Stewart
73. Birthday Mice by Bethany Roberts
74. Happy Birthday to You, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark
75. Monster's Birthday Hiccups by Virginia Mueller
76. Froggy Bakes a Cake by Jonathan London
77. Birthday Monsters by Sandra Boynton
78. The Boy Who Wouldn't Go To Bed by Helen Cooper
79. The Squiggle by Carole Lexa Schaefer
80. A Mouse Told His Mother by Bethany Roberts
81. Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
82. It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
83. The House Across the Street by Jules Feiffer
84. Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter
85. And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss
86. Meeow and the Big Box by Sebastien Braun
87. Harvey Potter's Baloon Farm by Jerdine Nolen
88. Simon's Disguise by Gilles Tibo
89. Jessica by Kevin Henkes
90. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
91. Cows Can't Fly by David Milgrim
92. Go to Sleep, Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton
93. Little Bo Peep Can't Get to Sleep by Erin Dealey
94. Hickory Dickory Dock by Keith Baker
95. Lyle and the Birthday Party by Bernard Waber
96. Gotcha! by Gail Jorgensen
97. Alphabet Ice Cream by Nick Sharratt
98. Ice Cream at the Castle by Anne Love
99. Ice Cream Cones for Sale! by Elaine Greenstein
100. Garth Pig and the Ice Cream Lady by Mary Rayner
101. Simply Delicious by Margaret Mahy
102. Spike & Cubby's Ice Cream Adventure Heather Sellers
103. Ice Cream Larry by Daniel Pinkwater
104. Sunday Love by Alison Paul
105. Curious George Goes to an Ice Cream Shop by Margaret Rey
106. Dora and the Stuck Truck by Phoebe Beinstein
107. Trucks by Patricia Hubbell
108. My Dad's a Wizard! by Hannah Roche
109. Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star by Kevin Hhenkes
110. The Best Restaurant in the World by Michelle Schwarz
111. Isaac the Ice Cream Truck by Scott Santoro
112. Ice Cream Bear by Jez Alborough

March:

113. Teatime in Space by Caroline Castle
114. Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats
115. Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
116. Aliens in Underpants Save the World -//-
117. Beegu by Alexis Deacon
118. What Faust Saw by Matt Ottley
119. Nova's Ark by David Kirk
120. Smelly Peter the Great Pea Eater by Steve Smallman
121. Alistair in Outer Space by Marilyn Sadler
122. Alistair and the Alien Invasion -//-
123. Space Station Mars by Daniel San Souci
124. Hush, Little Alien by Daniel Kirk
125. Giraffes Can't Dance by Gail Andreae
126. Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw
127. Tomatoes From Mars by Arthur Yorinks
128. Mud is Cake by Pam Muňoz Ryan
129. Pirate Pup by Caroline Stutson
130. Fluffy, Scourge of the Sea by Teresa Bateman
131. A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
132. Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth by Alison McGhee
133. If the Shoe Fits by Alan Osmond
134. Ice Cream by Elish Cooper
135. Big Little Elephant by Valeri Gorbachev
136. How to Catch an Elephant by Amy Schwartz
137. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
138. Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice
139. What Elephant? by Geneviéve Côté
140. Ella the Elephant by Jan Latta
141. Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
142. Never Ride Your Elephant to School by Doug Johnson
143. I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanegh
144. The Elephant Wish by Lou Berger
145. Teatime in Space by Caroline Castle
146. Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats
147. Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
148. Aliens in Underpants Save the World -//-
149. Beegu by Alexis Deacon
150. What Faust Saw by Matt Ottley
151. Nova's Ark by David Kirk
152. Smelly Peter the Great Pea Eater by Steve Smallman
153. Alistair in Outer Space by Marilyn Sadler
154. Alistair and the Alien Invasion -//-
155. Space Station Mars by Daniel San Souci
156. Hush, Little Alien by Daniel Kirk
157. Giraffes Can't Dance by Gail Andreae
158. Sheep in a Shop by Nancy Shaw
159. Tomatoes From Mars by Arthur Yorinks
160. Mud is Cake by Pam Muňoz Ryan
161. Pirate Pup by Caroline Stutson
162. Fluffy, Scourge of the Sea by Teresa Bateman
163. A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
164. Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth by Alison McGhee
165. If the Shoe Fits by Alan Osmond
166. Ice Cream by Elish Cooper
167. Big Little Elephant by Valeri Gorbachev
168. How to Catch an Elephant by Amy Schwartz
169. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
170. Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice
171. What Elephant? by Geneviéve Côté
172. Ella the Elephant by Jan Latta
173. Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
174. Never Ride Your Elephant to School by Doug Johnson
175. I Love My Mama by Peter Kavanegh
176. The Elephant Wish by Lou Berger
177. Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Suess
178. Ella the Elegant Elephant by Carmela D'Amico
179. Where's That Cat? by Stephane Poulin
180. Ice Cream Fun Day by Kitty Richards
181. Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies
182. Dino-Baseball by Lisa Wheeler
183. Brady Brady and the Ballpark Bark by Mary Shaw
184. Hit the Ball Duck by Jez Alborough
185. The Berenstain Bears Go Out For The Team by Stan Berenstein
186. Rhinos Who Play Baseball by Julie Mammano
187. Curious George Plays Baseball by Margaret & H. A. Rey
188. Roasted Peanuts by Tim Egan
189. Albert's Ballgame by Leslie Tryon
190. Tulip at the Bat by J. Patrick Lewis
191. The Jungle Baseball Game by Tom Paxton
192. A Girl Named Dan by Dandi Daley Mackall
193. Luke Goes to Bat by Rachel Isadora
194. Batter Up Wombat by Helen Lester
195. The Boys by Jeff Newman
196. Snow Bear by Piers Harper
197. Panda & Polar Bear by Matthew J. Baek
198. Hush Little Polar Bear by Jeff Mack
199. Because I Love You So Much by Guido van Genechten
200. Baby Polar by Yannick Murphy
201. Cold Paws, Warm Heart by Madeleine Floyde
202. Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth
203. Zen Ties -//-
204. Zen Ghosts -//-
205. A Friend Like You by Julia Hubery
206. I Am Going to Save a Panda by Lauren Child
207. I Am a Little Panda by François Crozat

April:

208. On Beyond Zebra by Dr. Seuss
209. The Monkey and the Panda by Antonia Barber
210. Sweet Hearts by Dorothy Donohue
211. Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
212. Tracks of a Panda by Nick Dawson
213. Mr. Panda's Painting by Anne Rockwell
214. Here Comes the Aliens by Colin McNaughton
215. We're Off to Look For Aliens -//-
216. Dancing Larry by Daniel Pinkwater
217. Patrick's Dinosaurs on the Internet by Carol Carrick
218. A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na
219. Wow! Said the Owl by Tim Hopgood
220. Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
221. Owly by Mike Thaler
222. Good-Night, Owl! by Pat Hutchins
223. Sam and the Firefly by P. D. Eastman
224. "I'm Not Sleepy!" by Jonathan Allen
225. Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton
226. Annie Hoot and the Knitting Extravaganza by Holly Clifton-Brown
227. The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear
228. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
229. Berkeley's Barn Owl Dance by Tara Johnson
230. Down in the Woods at Sleepytime by Carole Lexa Schaefer
231. Angelina and Henry by Katharine Holabird
232. Archibald Frisby by Michael Chesworth
233. Bailey Goes Camping by Kevin Henkes
234. Three Days On a River in a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams
235. Camping Day by Patricia Lakin
236. Froggy Goes to Camp by Jonathan London
237. Arthur Goes to Camp by Marc Brown
238. Curious George Goes Camping by Margaret Rey
239. Franklin Has a Sleepover by Paulette Bourgeois
240. The Bear Scouts by Stan and Jan Berenstain
241. The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp -//-
242. A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris va Dusen
243. Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite! by Diane deGroat
244. Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins
245. Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer
246. The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
247. If I Were the Easter Bunny by Louise Gardner
248. Peter Rabbit's Happy Easter by Grace Maccarone
249. 10 Easter Egg Hunters by Janet Schulman
250. Splat the Cat: Where's the Easter Bunny? by Rob Scotton
251. Clifford's Happy Easter by Norman Bridwell
252. Countdown to Easter by Ann Marie Harris
253. Easter Bunny's on His Way! by Brian James
254. The Best Easter Eggs Ever! by Jerry Smath
255. Easter Mice! by Bethany Roberts
256. Bunny Trouble by Hans Wilhelm
257. More Bunny Trouble -//-
258. Big, Bad Bunny Trouble -//-
259. Benny's Chocolate Bunny by Janee Trasler
260. Clifford's Big Red Easter by Nancy Parent
261. Owen's Marshmallow Chick by Kevin Henkes
262. The Great Easter Egg Hunt by Michael Garland

May:

263. Miss Spider's Tea Party by David Kirk
264. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
265. Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
266. The Wacky Wedding by Pamela Duncan Edwards
267. A Closer Look by Mary McCarthy
268. Leo the Lightning Bug by Eric Drachman
269. What the Ladybug Heard by Julia Donaldson
270. I Love Bugs! by Emma Dodd
271. Jump! by Scott M. Fischer
272. I Love Bugs! by Philemon Sturges
273. Bugs at Play by David A. Carter
274. Hello, Bugs! by Smriti Prasadam
275. Sleepyhead Bear by Lisa Westberg Peters
276. Mud by Mary Lyn Ray
277. It's Spring! by Linda Glaser
278. Spring's Sprung by Lynn Plourde
279. Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson
280. Hooray for Spring! by Kazuo Iwamura
281. Spring Sail by Larry Dane Brimner
282. Spring Is Here, Grumpy Bunny! by Justine Korman
283. B Is For Bunny by Tanya Lee Stone
284. Good Job, Oliver! by Laurel Molk
285. Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
286. It's Spring! by Jimmy Pickering
287. Spring Is Here by Will Hillenbrand
288. Ready for Spring by Marthe Jocelyn

Waiting on Wednesday Posts

2011-02-02T19:30:00.001-06:00

March 4th, 2009 - Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, and Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine,

March 11th, 2009 - The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford, Better Than the Blondes by Teresa Totem

March 26th, 2009 - Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog, Bones of Fairie by Janni Lee Simner, Wings by Aprilynne Pike

April 23rd, 2009 - Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody, Kladeiscope Eyes by Jen Bryant, Meridian by Amber Kizer

April 29th, 2009 - The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan, Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

May 6th, 2009 - After by Amy Efaw, Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan

May 20th, 2009 - Sleepless by Thomas Fahy

June 3rd, 2009 - Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

June 10th, 2009 - The Vampire is Just Not That Into You by Vlad Mezrich, Fade Out by Rachel Caine

June 17th, 2009 - The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, The Mark by Jen Nadol

June 24th, 2009 - Dragonfly by Julia Golding, Time of the Witches by Anna Myers

July 1st, 2009 - The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin by Josh Berk, Plain Kate by Erin Bow

July 8th, 2009 - Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson, Book One: A Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis,

July 15th, 2009 - Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas, I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer

August 14th, 2009 - Fallen by Lauren Kate, Evil? by Timothy Carter, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Covet by J. R. Ward

August 19th, 2009 - Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder, Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

August 26th, 2009 - Night World: Strange Fate by L. J. Smith, Wish by Alexandra Bullen

September 3rd, 2009 - Dark Secrets 2: No Time to Die and The Deep End of Fear by Elizabeth Chandler, Thirst No. 1: The Last Vampire, Blood Black, Red Dice by Christopher Pike, Thirst No. 2: Phantom, Evil Thirst, Creatures of Forever by Christopher Pike

September 9th, 2009 - Dirty Little Secrets by C. J. Omololu, Sleepless by Cyn Balog

September 16th, 2009 - My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey, Token of Darkness by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

September 23rd, 2009 - Possessed by Kate Cann, Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

September 30th, 2009 - Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

October 7th, 2009 - The Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson, The Poison Eaters and Other Stories by Holly Black

October 14th, 2009 - Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Devoted by Shirlene Obuboi

October 21st, 2009 - Darke Academy: Secret Lives and Darke Academy: Blood Ties by Garbriella Poole

November 4th, 2009 - Whisper by Phoebe Kitandis

November 18th, 2009 - The Iron King by Julie Kawaga

December 2nd, 2009 - Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

December 10th, 2009 - Stalker Girl by Rosemary Graham, Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

January 6th, 2010 - Keep Sweet by Michele Dominguez, Invisible Girl by Mary Hanlon Stone

January 20th, 2010 - A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler, Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

January 28th, 2010 - Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw, Illyria by Elizabeth Hand

February 3rd, 2010 - Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey, For Keeps by Natasha Friend

February 10th, 2010 - Owl Keeper by Christine Brodien-Jones, Light Beneath Ferns by Anne Spollen

February 17th, 2010 - Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw, Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill by Kristen Chandler

February 24th, 2010 - Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson, Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 13 to Life by Shannon Delany

March 3rd, 2010 - Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon, The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Neilson

March 24th, 2010 - The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway, Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James

March 31st, 2010 - The Mermaid's Mirror by L. K. Madigan, Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings by Helene Boudreau

April 7th, 2010 - Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart, The Julian Game by Adele Griffin

April 14th, 2010 - Dark Water by Laura McNeal, Firelight by Sophie Jordan

April 28th, 2010 - The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

May 5th, 2010 - StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

May 12th, 2010 - Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Inconvenient by Margie Gelbwasser

May 19th, 2010 - Pegasus by Robin McKinley, Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

May 26th, 2010 - How to Make a Bird by Martine Murray, Majix: Notes From a Serious Teen Witch by Douglas Rees

June 2nd, 2010 - Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel, Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

June 16th, 2010 - Love Drugged by James Klise, Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

June 23rd, 2010 - Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin, It Started With a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech

June 30th, 2010 - Empty by Suzanne Weyn, Freefall by Mandi Scott

July 21st, 2010 - The Properties of Water by Hannah Roberts McKinnon, Girl, Stolen by April Henry

August 4th, 2010 - Daughter of Winter by Pat Lowery Collins, Meanicures by Catherine Clark

August 11th, 2010 - The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith, The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

August 18th, 2010 - Blank Confession by Pete Hautman, When The Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer

August 25th, 2010 - The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen, Choker by Elizabeth Woods

September 22nd, 2010 - All Just Glass by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Timeless by Alexandra Monix

September 29th, 2010 - Throat by R. A. Nelson, Famous by Todd Strasser

October 13th, 2010 - The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney, The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

October 20th, 2010 - Kindred by Tammar Stein, A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

October 27th, 2010 - Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen, So Shelly by Ty Roth

November 3rd, 2010 - Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler, Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach

November 10th, 2010 - See What I See by Gloria Whelan, Bitter Melon by Cara Chow

November 17th, 2010 - Vesper: A Deviants Novel by Jeff Sampson, The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

November 14th, 2010 - Chasing AllieCat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis, Human .4 by Mike A. Lancaster

December 8th, 2010 - Exposed by Kimberly Marcus, Deadly by Julie Chibbaro

December 15th, 2010 - The Door in the Forest by Roderick Townley, Wither by Lauren DeStefano

December 22nd, 2010 - The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird, Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

December 29th, 2010 - Possession by Elana Johnson, Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari
January 5th, 2011 - Falling Under by Gwen Hayes, Chime by Franny Billingsley

January 12th, 2011 - The Hunt of the Unicorn by C.C. Humphreys, On the Volcano by James Nelson

January 19th, 2011 - Karma by Cathy Ostlere, Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer

January 20th, 2011 - Flawless by Lara Chapman, Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Housekeeping

2011-02-02T16:33:00.000-06:00

Next couple posts will be housekeeping type posts, like my list of reviews. Just thought I'd let you know!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Picture book review: Cows Can't Jump

2011-01-31T10:24:00.003-06:00

Cows Can't Jump by Dave Reisman, illustrated by Jason A. Maas

Published: October 19th, 2008 by Jumping Cow Press
Genre: Picture Book / Beginner Reader (what kids use when they're learning to read independently - will sometimes have a "levels" system, but not always)
Binding: Paperback and boardbook (hard cardboard pages, designed for children under 3 - more about this later)
Page Count: Goodreads says 44, but they're not numbered so I'm not sure. That's what the book's website says, too, though, so I'm inclined to believe that.
Part of a series? I don't think so, no.
Amazon link.

Summary (from goodreads): Is it really true that cows can't jump, gorillas can't swim and sloths can't leap? Yes, but discover what these and other animals can do, as they swing, scamper and glide through Cows Can't Jump! In this humorous and inspirational adventure, animals focus on what they do best, comfortably aware they can t do everything, but proud of their own special skills.

Review: I'll admit, I'm a tiny bit conflicted on this one. I think Cows Can't Jump would be a good addition to any growing beginner reader collection, say for someone with a child just learning to read. That's who I would recommend this one for. It works very well as a beginner reader book, with big, active text that would help inspire print awareness, one of the steps of early literacy. The illustrations are great, hilarious at times, and I think kids learning to read would love that.

But as a beginner reader book, I would worry a bit about the use of contractions. The thing about kids who are just learning to read is that they probably haven't figured those out yet. I mean, how do you sound out "can't"? They can be confusing for kids. One of my favourite blogs has a post that goes a little more into depth about this. Compare Elephants Cannot Dance! The book also uses quite a few words that might be new to a young kid, like leap, trample, glide, canter, scurry, and I might worry that the reader would get frustrated at not knowing the words and quit reading. However, vocabulary building is always a good thing. But other than those issues, I think this works well as a beginner reader book.

I would not, however, use this is a Storytime. There isn't enough... story. With only a few words per page, this wouldn't be a good fit for my group. Even with a larger number of pages, it's way too short and there isn't enough of a flow to hold their attention for a long time. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, and it's true of many beginner readers, but it's something I always consider when I'm reading picture books.

My biggest criticism is that I don't really know if this works entirely as a boardbook. I like the boardbook, but I don't think it's the best medium for the story. Boardbooks are generally for children under three and meant to be gnawed on, thrown around and loved before kids are ready for paper picture books. They work best with bold, bright colours, repetition in the prose, sometimes way to interact with the book (textures, holes in the pages, that kind of thing). The shape is also a bit strange... it's long and skinny, and most boardbooks are square and smaller to accommodate small hands.

However, I could be totally wrong in my idea of what makes a good board book. I'll take it to work with me next week and see if it catches the attention of any of the little kids.

One more thing: Part of the summary on goodreads that I omitted is about inspiring and teaching messages and things and I... don't like that. I don't think you need to try and actively teach children messages, especially in picture book. Just tell the story. If there's a lesson, they'll learn it. So this is something that rubs me the wrong way. But that's a personal preference.

All in all, I did enjoy this one despite my issues with a few things and love the illustrations. It's worth checking out, in my opinion, but not one of my favourite books.

(No rating because I don't have a picture book rating system.)

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Fun Friday: Give Me Something to Sing About! (56)

2011-01-28T10:31:00.001-06:00

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.

Nothing Could Come Between Us by Theory of a Deadman. Older song, but I'm only just discovering it. Enjoy!

Peace and cookies,
Laina

Waiting on Wednesday (71)

2011-01-26T13:08:00.002-06:00

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

Did you guess the theme last week? Pink covers! Yeah, I'm not deep.

No theme this week, but here are the books I'm waiting on:

Flawless by Lara Chapman - To be released May 10th, 2011

Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killer blue eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all right, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.

On the first day of senior year, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can do-she agrees. For someone so smart, what was she thinking?

(Summary from amazon because I didn't love the goodreads one.)

Why I want this: I think it sounds sweet. Maybe not the most life-shattering book ever, but a good read nonetheless. Also, I really like the cover.

Next up:

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert - To be released April 1st, 2011

Nora, the popular girl and happy consumer, witnesses a horrific bombing on a shopping trip with her mother. In Nora’s near-future world, terrorism is so commonplace that she can pop one little white pill to forget and go on like nothing ever happened. However, when Nora makes her first trip to a Therapeutic Forgetting Clinic, she learns what her mother, a frequent forgetter, has been frequently forgetting. Nora secretly spits out the pill and holds on to her memories. The memory of the bombing as well as her mother’s secret and her budding awareness of the world outside her little clique make it increasingly difficult for Nora to cope. She turns to two new friends, each with their own reasons to remember, and together they share their experiences with their classmates through an underground comic. They soon learn, though, they can’t get away with remembering.

(Summary from goodreads.)

Why I want this: I love the futuristic thing and this one sounds really, really good. And I love the cover!

Alrighty, that's everything.

Peace and cookies,
Laina