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Review: Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz


Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz
Publication Date: April 19th, 2011
Published By: Simon Pulse
Paperback, 336 Pages
Source: Simon&Schuster Galley Grab for Honest Review


Summary:

"Noah’s happier than I’ve seen him in months. So I’d be an awful brother to get in the way of that. It’s not like I have some relationship with Melinda. It was just a kiss. Am I going to ruin Noah’s happiness because of a kiss?

Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart. But some girls are addictive....

Not your typical beach read"


Review: **** 1/2 = 4.5 Stars

I read Hannah's first book, Break, last year, and I loved it. I am very glad that Invincible Summer was great as well, and has lived up to its hype, IMHO. Hannah writes with a certain roughness. I don't mean the writing itself, but the characters and relationships. Break was very gritty and powerful and Invincible Summer is very much the same in that way. I appreciate the way she writes. It comes off as honest and real and when I read the words she puts together, it feels as if she holds nothing back. You can tell when you read her work that she puts all of herself into and holds nothing back, and there is something quite amazing about that.

There were many aspects of this book that I enjoyed immensely. For one, the characters. While I wish there was more of them, more revelation of who they are, were and especially what will become of them, books can only last so long. There were many characters that played huge roles throughout the novel and with that many characters I imagine it is hard to delve to far into any one character. I enjoyed the Camus quotes that are scattered throughout the text, and I think it was one of the main things that tied some of the characters together. I really enjoyed the format of the book. I think splitting the novel off into four different summers was brilliant. Maybe its the fact that for each section, Hannah was able to pick up a year later and could show growth as well as similar aspects from the summer before. I read in an interview that Hannah did over on A Good Addiction, that for this type of story the author really needs to know the characters and what goes on in between each summer, even if we don't see that stuff, because its important that we see the same character but we also need to see the effect and change and growth. And it is apparent that she knows her characters, otherwise the transition from summer to summer in this book would not have been so smooth.

I feel that the cover doesn't do this book justice. When I look at the cover I imagine this book would be Chick Lit, but after reading it, Invincible Summer is so much more. It is very much a family-oriented piece. It deals with family problems, a hearing disability, first loves, sex, sibling bonding, friendships, loyalty, loss and so much more.

I would definitely recommend this to any Contemp fans(Readers- there is sex involved in this novel, so it might not be appropriate for younger readers).


Opinions? Have you read or do you plan on reading Invincible Summer? I would love to know what your thoughts are!



Sherry<3

Inkpop Weekly Writing Challenge featuring Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer!

The newest weekly challenge is posted over at inkpop and this is one you don't want to miss. It coincides with Jennifer Archer's upcoming April release, Through Her Eyes.


Summary of Through Her Eyes:

"Every ghost has a story to tell.

The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But it's the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar—a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal—that have the most chilling impact on her.

Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality—before she loses touch with her own life forever."


The Challenge:

"Photographs represent a moment captured in time. Now it's your turn. Write a story, poem or essay about a photograph you would like to step into to enter a moment in time from the past."

There will be four winners, two writers and two commenters, and each will snag a copy of Through Her Eyes as well as three additional picks from the HarperTeen Catalog!

To get all of the information, and/or to sumbit your entry, just go here.

Good luck to all of you who choose to enter!!!




Sherry<3

Divergent Winner!

Hello my lovelies!

Sorry for the delay(and recent absence from the blog), but I have finally selected a winner for a Pre-Order of Divergent by Veronica Roth!

The entries were tallied and I used the wonderful Random.org to select one lucky winner....

and that lucky winner is.....


**********

*****

**

Jasmine aka The Reading Housewife


***********

Congrats Jasmine! I will send you an email shortly and your book will be pre-ordered for you!

If you didn't win, don't fret. I will most likely be having another contest for Divergent because of it's epicness. You can also enter to win a Pre-Order of The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter, that contest ends 4/15/2011.


On a side note: I want to apoligize for not being around lately. My job and school have me so stressed and worn out, that I haven't had time to read/blog/have a life. It's unfortunate but when times like this arise, we have to choose, and while I may enjoy blogging more than school or work, they are my priorities. Sucky but that's the way it is. So bear with me, I swear I'm not gone for good!! :)



Sherry<3

In My Mailbox: March Edition

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, and inspired by Alea at PopCulture Junkie.

Seeing as the last time I did one of these was a month ago, we'll just call this the March edition.


For Review:

My Life, the Theater and Other Tragedies
Trials by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Illusions by Aprilynne Pike
Animorphs: The Invasion & The Visitor by K.A. Applegate
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Rage by Jackie Morse Kesslar

Not Pictured:

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
When Colors Bleed by Estevan Vega (ebook format)

E-galleys from Netgalley:

Die for Me by Amy Plum
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett
Possession by Elana Johnson
The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch

*Special thanks to Egmont Books, Scholastic, HarperCollins/HarperTeen, Hyperion, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Simon&Schuster, Little Brown books for Young Readers, Harlequin Teen and Estevan Vega*


For Teen Book Scene Blog Tour:

Complusion by Heidi Ayarbe

*Special thanks to HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray*


Gifted to me:

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

*Special thanks to Pam*


Won:

A Season of Eden by Jennifer Laurens (signed)
Timeless by Alexander Monir (signed)

*Special thanks to Jennifer and Alex!*

I also won a signed hardcover of Wither by Lauren DeStefano from ebay. I ended up paying $35 but it all went to a local animal shelter. Thank you Lauren for the book and for supporting such a great cause!!!

Phew! So that's what I got this past month. I hope your mailboxes were just as full!



Sherry<3

Must Havessssssss!

Hello again!

I'm scouring the blogging world for ARCs of Karsten Knight's Wildefire and Andrea Cremer's Wolfsbane,

I have some things I would trade like the following:

Finished Copy of Wither by Lauren DeStefano
ARC of Divergent by Veronica Roth (I wasn't going to trade this bc I love it so much, but I will for one of those books above)
ARC of Illusions by Aprilynne Pike

and others ARCs that I haven't read yet but will read asap if you want to trade for them... like:

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Trials by Fire by Jen Lynn Barnes
The Near Witch by Victoria Schawb

I don't usually resort to such measures, but I really want to read these books. They are the only two I am interested in trading for at this time.

Let me know peeps! :)


Sherry<3

A note for my followers:

Hey everyone. I just want to address a certain subject that I've heard whispers about lately.

If you look at my blog, you will see that many of the recent reviews, are all 5 stars. Most of the time, the books I read will get rated 4 and above. Someone recently made the comment that they wouldn't take recs from a reviewer who rates everything 4 and above, specifically for the reason that they (they being me) are not harsh enough. Now of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, I'm a free speech and thought kind of person , I respect whatever you want to think.

But...

I want you all to know, that I LOVE the books I read. As a reader, I know exactly what it is I am looking for, which is why I specifically purchase those books and request those books and not other books that I don't feel I would enjoy.

If I don't enjoy a book by a certain point, I stop reading. If I don't finish it, then I don't review it. Hence, why the majority of my reviews are high rates.

I just want you all to know I'm not simply reading books and raving about every single one I can get my hands on. If you take a look around and ask other bloggers (as I already have) you will see that there are A LOT of awesome books recently released and coming soon.

I bring this up because....

I really don't want my readers to think they can't trust my opinions. I don't want you thinking that I'm only here to get you to buy the books I'm raving about. Publicity of these books is certainly an important factor of blogging, we want the book world to stay strong and grow, but I'd say the most important factor is that we all love reading and enjoying books. We want to be able to find new books that we will love. There are a lot of reasons why people blog. I'm not going to say I don't enjoy the perks of being a blogger, getting free books is awesome, but it should be about something more. I know it is for me.

I know not all readers who read the same genre will love each book the same. Some will love one book that others might just hate. I know of a few books that almost EVERYBODY loved, but there were some people that just didn't like them at all. There will always be that. No author can please everyone, no matter how hard they try or no matter how awesome that would be.

Anyways, sorry for the rant.  I want my readers to be able to come to my blog if they are looking for a new book and not have to worry that I rate ALL books the same. I haven't even posted a review this week because the last two books I read were also 5 Stars in my opinion. I was thinking I was just being too kind too, until many other people spoke up and said that most from this year are just that amazing.

I have already considered changing my reviewing methods because I don't want to just throw all these 5 stars around. Some people take out rates and simply stick to recommending ones they like, and thats fine. But whats the difference between me rating books I love 5 or me recommending it to everyone in a blog post, rates and recs go hand in hand in my opinion. At the end of it all though, I thought, I really love these books and I want my readers to know that. I stick by everything I have said in all of my reviews and I wouldn't change a thing.

End rant.


Love you all!!! :)


Sherry<3

New Inkpop Weekly Writing Challenge

In case you missed it, the new weekly writing challenge has been posted over on inkpop. The Dark Days of Supernatural Writing Challenge #4 features none other than Kimberly Derting's recent release, Desires of the Dead, the sequel to The Body Finder.



About this writing challenge:

"See me, hear me, touch me, feel me. What must it be like to have heightened senses? To understand the world through intense smell or know something is wrong the moment that you touch another person. In Desires of the Dead, the second book in Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder series, Violet senses the dead, or rather the brutally murdered, through heightened sense of smell, touch, sound and even sight. How can a girl have a normal relationship with her new best friend turned boyfriend whens she is constantly haunted?

Now it's your turn. Write a story, poem or essay that uses a heightened sense (touch, sight, sound or smell) to influence a protagonist relationship? Maybe your heroine can not find anyone to date because men smell noxious to her, or maybe you have a poem about a feeling a pain so great, your body aches. Let your sense drive your writing in the Dark Days Supernatural Writing Challenge #4: Desires of the Dead."

For more on this challenge, how to enter, and what prizes you could win, go check out the full post here.


Good luck for all of you that enter! :)


Sherry<3

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Publication Date: May 31st, 2011
Published By: HarperTeen
Hardcover, 496 Pages
Source: E-book from Netgalley courtesy of HarperTeen


Summary:

"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."


Review: ***** = 5 Stats

This is the second book with a Greek mythology twist that I have read in the past week. I was worried that reading two books with a similar concept that close together might have me comparing too much. I was glad that that wasn't the case. While both books (Starcrossed & The Goddess Test) have themes of Greek mythology, the books are completely their own and I didn't find myself comparing them to each other at all(phew!).

At some point after I finish a book, I usually look on Goodreads to see where I rate a book compared to where others rate the book, to see the different opinions. I was surprised to see the ratings for this book range from 2 to 5 stars. For me, I'm with the 5 star crowd. While the book might have started out a tad bit slow, once it gets into it, there's no turning back. I also saw some people saying there are too many comparisons to Twilight, and I honestly have to say I don't see it. I mean, I can see things that are the same but it's not like I'm reading and thinking, oh hey this is too similar to that book. It's doesn't read as it's copying elements, it reads like it was written well enough to be it's own story. Or maybe I just realize that all books will have similarites to some extent no matter what, if you look hard enough, you will find some.

There are many details I will leave out, because a lot of them play into the bigger picture, and it's no fun going into a book knowing how everything will turn out.

Helen is an only child that lives with her father, her mother having left them long ago. She stays under the radar for the most part due to painful cramps that she gets when being the center of attention. A new family has just moved onto the island and talks of them spread through the halls of the high school quickly. The first one Helen has contact with is Lucas Delos, and the instant their eyes lock she heads straight towards him and attacks to kill. She doens't know what is wrong with her, but the idea of her going crazy becomes more realistic everytime she is near one of the Delos' and she sees the image of three women crying tears of blood. It isn't until one night after a mystery person attacks Helen, that an encounter with Lucas will change everything she knows about herself and her future.

I was enchanted by the relationship between Lucas and Helen, as well as the relationships between her and the other characters, such as her best friend Claire and the other Delos family members. A lot of the questions I was asking throughout the novel got answered as I went along, and some were left in the open. I CANNOT wait to continue this story in Dreamless(Starcrossed #2). I have to know what happens and what direction Josephine will take the story. Oooo I'm giddy just thinking about it!
Starcrossed is the perfect blend of romance and action, that will have you hoping a family like that of the Delos' move to a town near you. Fresh, exciting, and unputdownable, you will race to finish it and then wish you took your time since book two won't be out for a while... =P

Also, as far as the Greek mythology is concerned, I don't have a degree in it. I certainly couldn't tell you much about it. I enjoyed how it was written in this book. I can't say how accurate it is or isn't, but I probably won't be wasting my time to research it. When it comes to fiction books, I really don't mind if things are changed around or different, as long as I enjoy them when I read them, and I definitely did in Starcrossed.

So, this may be one of those books that you either dislike or really love, I personally loved it. HarperCollins and Harperteen have some awesome books coming out this year, and this is just one more to add to the list!

To find out more about Josephine Angelini or to keep updated on all things Starcrossed, check out her webpage here
or
go check her out on twitter!


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Feel free to leave your thoughts, whether you agree or disagree, or whether you can't wait to read it, I love hearing with my readers have to say!


Sherry<3

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter: Review & Giveaway!

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Publication Date: April 19th, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Paperback, 297 Pages
Source: E-galley from Netgalley courtesy HarlequinTeen


Summary:

"Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails..."
 
 
Review: ***** = 5 Stars
 
There were three major points that had me initially interested in reading this book. First, just by looking at it I knew I wanted to read it. The cover is lovely and I don't care what anyone says, a cover can most certainly sell a book. Second, the blurb on the front comes from none other than Cassandra Clare, who just happens to be one of my all time favorite authors. If she has good words to say about it then... I want to read it! Lastly, the summary.. did you see it ^^^ up there. It just sounds amazing. Add all three things together and BAM you have just created a book I consider a MUST-READ.
 
Everything about this book drew me in. The characters, the relationships between those characters, the setting, the greek mythology that was weaved into it, the romance, the mystery. Need I go on?? It was like a big pile of awesomeness was combined into one book, and wonderfully done I might add. I couldn't set it down, I even got a headache from reading on my Nook for too long but I still had to finish it. I mean, I sacrificed my own health to continue reading.. that should be a cue to how much I loved this book.
 
Kate and her mother head back to her mother's hometown, Eden, when her mother's battle with cancer goes downhill. Kate adjusts, willing to do anything to make her mother's remaining time pleasant and as happy as it can possibly be. She enrolls at the small school in Eden, and quickly makes a friend and an enemy. Her whole life is turned upside down when a prank goes horibbly wrong and she makes a deal with the devil, or in this case, Hades. The world that unfolds to her is one of make believe, but soon she realizes she has two options. Pass the tests, or possibly die trying.
 
There are so many surprise twists and turns, a few times I had to close my mouth, not realizing my jaw had dropped at the shocking revelations. Aimee Carter has managed to combine an array of elements, and do it well, leaving an end product of a remarkable debut that will have readers feeling a mixture of emotions, but mostly leaving them clamoring for book 2!
 
To find more about debut author Aimee Carter, check out her webpage here or
 
go follow her on twitter.
 
 
GiVeAwAy TiMe!!!
 
Since I loved this book so much, I'm going to give away a copy from the Book Depository... so its international.. YAY! The book will be released on April 19th, 2011 so we will have this contest end on April 15th so I can get the winners info and have the book ordered before the release date.
 
Please fill out the form to enter, no comment entries will be accepted, but review love is always graciously accepted. :)
 
 
 
Sherry<3

Review: The Other Side of Life by Jess C. Scott(Blog Tour)


The Other Side of Life by Jess C. Scott
Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy #1
Publication Date: 2011 (First Published in 2010)
Published by CreateSpace
Paperback, 234 Pages
Source: Ebook Courtesy of Jess C. Scott / Teen Book Scene Blog Tour


Summary:

"A thieving duo’s world turns upside down when an Elven rogue uncovers the heinous dealings of a megacorporation.

* Recommended for adults or young adults seeking cyberpunk themes (not hardcore sci-fi), and a love story (not fluffy romance)."

EXCERPT:

Nin knew how much humans loved money, riches, and material things — though he never really could understand why. The more technologically advanced the human species got, the more isolated they seemed to become, at the same time. It was alarming, how humans could spend entire lifetimes engaged in all kinds of activities, without getting any closer to knowing who they really were, inside.


My Review: **** = 4 Stars


I was interested in reading this book because of the elements in\t combined, elves and technology. It sounded like a fun read, but I had no idea that I would enjoy it so much. Once I started reading, I had trouble putting it down, I couldn't wait to see what direction the author would take me.

Anya and Leticia and are two teenaged girls who make a living by "stealing" items and returning them to their rightful owners. Nin is an elf with a difficult task, so he enlists the help of the two girls. In addition to these three, are two other elves, Tavia and Dresen. Friendships are formed, relationships blossom and these thieving friends start on something that might just change the fate of the world. The adventure that ensues over a two day period, is artfully written. Scott did a wonderful job at blending the cyberpunk and elven worlds, so that they formed one. This is definitely unlike anything I have read before. I will say that this is something I wouldn't normally pick up. If I wasn't part of the the blog tour I'm not sure I would have read it. But I'm so GLAD I did.

Scott's writing is simply amazing. She had me hooked right from the get go. I fell in love with all of her characters and knowing that this is one journey I get to continue, makes me so happy. I can't wait to see where things go. I have a feeling about some of the things that might be plot points in Book 2, and I hope I'm right!!

I know not all books are for everyone but I really hope you guys take a chance on this one. It was a wonderful mix of action/adventure, some mystery, the perfect amount of romance added in and so much more. I know I need to step outside of my comfort zone more and this is the perfect example why. You don't want to miss the good ones just because you were scared to try them!!

If you're interested in learning more about Jess and her other work, check her out here

or follow her on Twitter.


Any thoughts you would care to share?



Sherry<3