Waiting For Wentworth: 04/01/2012

TGIF (2)

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads. It’s a fun way to end the week by recapping posts and answering the question of the week.

This week's Question:
Reading Blues: We all get them from time to time. What helps you overcome those reading slumps when nothing seems to grab your attention?

I don't really get into reading slumps. The only time I am not reading is when I can't decide what to read next. I have so many books that I want to read that sometimes I get overwhelmed and can't decide what I am in the mood for. I enjoy reading contemporary YA, but I have to throw in a little paranormal to keep things interesting. I'm still not a fan of dystopians (and I really hate the word 'dystopia' - it's thrown around too much recently) so I am always leery of reading them.

I borrow a lot of books from the library, so I never know when my reserved books will be available. Sometimes (like today) I have 5 books that came in at the same time. Am I going to read all 5 of them? I hope to get to all of them in the next 2 weeks before they are due back, but again, that depends on what I am in the mood to read.

I also hate being disappointed in a book I am reading. Sometimes they don't live up to the hype and I have a hard time finishing them. That is when I have to find a really awesome book to read next to get me back in the groove.

When all else fails, I get my kids to pick out my next book for me. I can always count on them to steer me in the right direction! I really love when I tell them what the book is about and they tell me "That's stupid." Thanks honey, that helps a lot. LOL

Does anyone else have too many books to choose from? What do you do when you are in a reading slump?

This week on Waiting For Wentworth:
Review - Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg
Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop
Waiting On Wednesday
Review - Black Heart by Holly Black
Quotable Quotes with Jus Accardo and Untouched With Giveaway!

Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

Hardcover, 278 pages
Published April 1st 2012 by Point
Source: Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.

Take A Bow follows Emme, Ethan, Sophie, and Carter as they navigate their way through a performing arts high school. During their senior year they all feel the pressures of performing and succeeding in the Senior Showcase and college auditions. The reader gets to experience how they handle the stress and how they deal with their friendships as they attempt to pursue their dreams.

Take A Bow is told from 4 alternating POVs. All 4 characters are unique and their personalities really do come out during their chapters. We get to see them interact with each other and get first hand knowledge of their inner thoughts and feelings. Through their eyes we also get to know the minor characters in the story and how they relate to each other. I think the entire story came together in a nice, cohesive way. The writing is beautiful and effortless and so realistic. There isn't a thing I would change about this novel.

I really loved this book. I enjoy contemporaries and this was a great read, short and sweet and full of life. The storyline is very interesting and the characters and situations are believable. I think you will love this book if you enjoy stories about friendship and music, and love a good romance.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop runs from April 26 to May 1 and features YA books with a Fairy Tale theme. Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and vvb32reads.

The Brothers Grimm version of The Frog Prince is probably the best known, though many other versions have been written over the years. In this story, a beautiful princess reluctantly befriends a frog who retrieved her golden ball after it fell into a spring. In the Grimm version, the spell on the frog was broken and he was returned to a handsome Prince when the Princess threw him against the wall (ouch!). In later versions the violent act was taken out and the frog had to spend 3 nights on the Princess's pillow to break the spell. In the more current versions the Princess must kiss the frog to break the spell.

I am giving away one copy (pre-order) of Enchanted by Alethea Kontis which will be released on May 8, 2012.

Contest is open to U.S. residents only with a valid street address (no P.O. boxes).

Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Be sure to visit all of the participating blogs in the linky below.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

My choice for this week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: June 12th 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Synopsis from Goodreads:
1 Concert
2000 Miles
3 Ex-Best Friends

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van known as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?(

This sounds like a fun book. Friends. Music. Roadtrip. Bring it on!

Black Heart (Curse Workers #3) by Holly Black

Publication Date: April 3, 2012
Page Count: 296
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Source: Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

My Thoughts:

Aw. Why does this series have to end? I want to keep reading more. If you enjoyed White Cat and Red Glove I think you will also enjoy Black Heart. It is a very satisfying ending to this series.

Holly Black created a seemingly realistic world that is actually paranormal. The writing is just so good and effortless you don't even realize that it's not all true. The events happen at a good pace and the suspense really keeps you on your toes trying to guess what will happen next.

I love Cassel. He is extremely street smart, charming, and has a bit of snarkiness that comes out when he is nervous. I love that he is a flawed character - he knows it, and while he doesn't like that about himself, he has come to accept it and makes no apologies for it. Cassel has grown as a character since the first book. He is so much more comfortable with his ability. He tries so hard to stay on the right side of the law, but things always seem to catch up with him. It's hard not to want him to always choose to do the right thing.

I think this was a great ending to a fantastic series. Although I do feel that there is enough storyline and plenty of characters left to explore to continue the series.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quotable Quotes with Jus Accardo and Untouched With Giveaway!

Today I have Jus Accardo visiting to talk about book quotes.

Quotes

A great quote can be inspirational. It can make us laugh, or swoon. It can make us feel connected when we’re lonely. A quote is the perfect example of the power words can hold. They can come from anywhere. Movies, books, people… I thought today I’d share some of my favorites with you.
Let’s start with people. Some of my absolute favorites come from Lord Byron.

For truth is always strange; stranger than fiction – Simple and says it all. This describes my life perfectly. Example? My 60 something year old neighbor mowing the lawn at midnight wearing nothing but a red Speedo. Seriously. You can’t make this stuff up…
If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad – My brain is a random idea generator. Some pan out, others get filed away in a WTF were you thinking folder. Either way though, I need to get them out. If I don’t, it gets really crowded in there…

And what about movies? Everything from creepy to hilarious. Movie quotes stick with us.
I’ll be back... – You know you think badass, unstoppable killing machine when you hear that.
I see dead people – Tell me you didn’t get the chills when you saw Haley Joel Osment turn to Bruce Willis and confess his big secret?
I want my two dollars! – I don’t care how old you are, if you don’t know this quote, a small part of me just died…

Of course I saved the best for last. The book quotes. Funny, swoontastic, and all around awesome! I’ve seen everything from t-shirts to tattoos honoring these puppies. A few weeks ago, I even saw a van that had Jacob’s face (Twilight) and I'm gonna fight for you, until your heart stops beating airbrushed across the driver’s side. On the passenger’s side, Edward's face and Look after my heart - I've left it with you. Crazy, right?

Pick up your clothes. I am not your maid. How do I know this? A maid cannot kill you with a tube sock. I can. – If you haven’t read Rob Thurman’s Cal Leandros series, you need to snap it up ASAP. There are so many awesome one liners, it will make your head spin.

So, since I’m a sucker for book quotes, we’re going to play a little game! There are 15 participating blogs for this event. At each stop there will be a teaser quote from TOXIC. It will be your job to figure out who said what. A random commenter from each blog will be picked to receive a swag bag and an eBook copy of UNTOUCHED, and then those winners will be pooled and one grand prize winner will get a signed copy of TOUCH and a Touch key chain. On the last day of the event, April 27, I’ll pop by each of the blogs and give the answers!

Untouched (A Denazen Novella 1.5)

Until he met Dez, Kale’s days were filled with violence and death. He was used as a weapon of destruction by the power hungry men of Denazen. He’s a Six. A person with an abnormal ability. Some people call them gifts, but not Kale. Kale’s touch means instant death.
But now there’s Dez, the girl he can touch, and they’re hunting down Sixes and warning them about Denazen. Kale is learning about the world outside captivity and trying to put his dark past behind him. But they underestimated how badly Denazen wanted him back.
When Dez sacrifices herself to save the new Six they’d rescued from falling into the corp’s hands, Kale is lost. Denazen has brought out its best to get the job done. Samsen, a nightmare from Kale’s past—the only person he’s ever truly feared—has come for them, and it soon becomes obvious he has his own twisted agenda.
Kale will need all his training to get Dez back and ensure they make it out, free—and alive. But will it be enough?

Touch will be re-released in mass market (with additional scenes in Kale’s POV!) on June 12th. Look for it in your local bookstore or Pre-Order on Amazon.

Untouched is a mini novella and was released in March 2012 and is available on Kindle from Amazon.

Toxic will be available on September 11, 2012. Pre-Order on Amazon.

Bio
Jus Accardo is the author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy fiction. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald. Her first book, Touch, is available now from Entangled Publishing. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Give Jus a yell on Twitter, or visit her on Facebook, and her Website.

Here is the teaser quote from Toxic:

“Um doesn’t sound good. Why are you uming? Don’t um!”

Can you guess who said it?

Ginger
Dez
Alex
Kale
Kiernan

Leave your answer in the comments for a chance to win! Contest runs from April 20th to April 27th. The eBook giveaway is opened internationally, but the swag and signed copy giveaways are US/Canada only. Please let us know if you have an international or a US/Canadian address in your comment.

Be sure to visit each of the 15 participating blogs for more chances to win:

The Bookish Brunette
Waiting For Wentworth
The Magic Attic
The Fairy Tale Nerd
Doctors Notes
Books Movies Reviews Oh My
My Reading Room
Young Readers
Paranormal Book Fan
Taking It One Book at a Time
Coffee Books and Me
Better Read than Dead
Jelly Loves Books
Nightly Reading
Always YA at Heart

Slide (Slide #1) by Jill Hathaway

Publication Date: March 27th 2012
Pages: 250
Balzer + Bray for HarperCollins
ARC provided for review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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 distant lately, 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.

Slide is a fresh take on YA paranormal. The protagonist, Vee, has a unique ability, and it really captures your attention. While those around her thinks she has narcolepsy, she actually slides into another person's mind and sees the world through their eyes. During one of these episodes, Vee witnesses a murder. The rest of the book is spent with Vee sliding into various characters as she attempts to solve the mystery of who committed the murder. Through Vee's sliding episodes, the reader is given several suspects and more clues. It is not an easy mystery to solve for Vee or the reader.

While the character of Vee was likable for the most part, I didn't really get a chance to know the other characters very well. Vee's best friend, Rollins, was secretive and elusive. And even though they were best friends, he bailed when the new boy in school, Zane, showed an interest in Vee. So, at least we didn't have a love triangle. Although it may have livened up the 'romance' aspect of Slide. I am hoping that Rollins and Vee become more than friends in the future.

The one very big thing that I did not like was Vee's usage of caffeine pills. She has been prescribed medication for her 'condition', but she doesn't like the way it makes her feel. So instead, she eats caffeine pills by the handful several times a day. This is not a good message to send to the 14-17 year olds who are the target audience for this book.

I really would have liked more of an explanation of Vee's ability to slide. Such as how she got the ability, and why. Also why she chose now to try and control how and when she slides. I was a little bit disappointed that the author didn't go into this in more detail, and I hope everything will be explained in the next book in this series. I also hope that we get more details about Vee and her past as one of the 'popular' girls at school.

Slide was a very quick read and very entertaining. It is mostly a contemporary story, a mystery with a touch of paranormal, and it is very interesting because no one else knows about Vee's ability. Most of the characters are well developed and seem very real - they definitely have real problems. I also think that this book should be for older teens. There are quite a few issues that are dealt with such as suicide, substance abuse, underage drinking, and date rape.

(I wasn't really happy with the way most of the teen girls were portrayed. They were supposedly 'popular', but they were petty and catty and real b!tches- especially to each other. They spread nasty rumors about each other, sent a naked photo of one girl to the guys on the football team, etc. Just really horrible things all the time. Personally, I found a few lines that I would never expect to read in a YA book. One sentence was a rumor about a girl 'going down' on a boy in the locker room during a school dance. Another line that really bothered me was "Samantha spread a rumor that --- gave head to all the seniors on the football team." Really? I didn't actually know that term was used in the past few decades. I certainly don't find it appropriate to use at any time, much less in a book for young teens. I can't be the only one who was offended by it.)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The final book in The Ghost and the Goth Trilogy!

Body and Soul (The Ghost and the Goth #3) by Stacey Kade

Hardcover
Expected publication: May 1st 2012 by Hyperion

Description from Goodreads:

The Ghost
I’ve been trapped in the body of Lily “Ally” Turner for a month now. Talk about a fashion crisis on an epic scale. What worries me more, though, is sometimes I catch Will looking at me like he thinks I’m Lily...or that he wishes I were. Without the good looks of my former self, I don’t know who I am, or if who that is is good enough. I need out of this mess. Now.

Will and I have been looking for a solution, one that would separate me from Lily without killing her. But it’s not going well. Then, when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, we run into Misty, my former best friend and boyfriend-stealer extraordinaire, who claims she’s being haunted...by me. Seriously?

I’m determined to get to the bottom of who’s pretending to be the spirit of Alona Dare (while I’m pretending to be someone else) and then get the heck out of this body. Or die trying...

The Goth
I’ll admit it. It’s really weird to look at Alona but see Lily. I do know the difference, though, contrary to what Alona might be saying. And Alona is more than a pretty face to me, not that she would believe that.

Our one lead for some help in this messed up situation might be a page torn from the yellow pages-—the “Psychics” section-—I found in my dad’s stuff. One of the “fakes” seems a bit more real-—and odd-—than the others. Before I can investigate further, though, Alona is off and chasing a ghost that’s probably nothing more than a figment of Misty’s guilty imagination. Now Lily’s family is freaking out because she didn’t come home, my mom is ordering me to stay out of it, and something is definitely wrong with the person formerly known as Lily “Ally” Turner...

Why do I want to read it?

I really liked the first book in this series. It was a light read and pure fluff - very cute and funny. I didn't really care for the second book. It went in a completely different direction than book 1 and I didn't enjoy it as much. Now I have my hopes pinned on book 3 redeeming the series and bringing back my love. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by GReads. It's a great way to share songs that you love, new or old, and spread some music around the blogosphere!

Today I chose a few songs that are on the playlist from Crave, the first book in Melissa Darnell's The Clann Series.

How can you go wrong with a playlist that includes Muse, Civil Twilight, AND Jesse McCartney? You can check out the entire playlist HERE.

Have you read Crave yet? What did you think of it?

Review - Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

This is making me crazy. After I read Chopsticks and wrote my review, I went to Goodreads to post my review, and I am amazed at all of the reviewers who didn't 'get' this book. Personally, it wasn't difficult to figure out what was going on. But some of the reviewers - you know the ones that tell everything that happened in the book but don't mark their reviews for spoilers - either can't figure out what happened, or think something happened at the end that didn't happen. It makes me feel like we were reading different books! See, I'm trying to be vague so I don't give away the ending and ruin it for everyone. Has anyone read Chopsticks and figured out what really happened? Can you please let me know that I am not crazy? Please don't leave any spoilers in the comments. Feel free to email me if you want to talk about something spoilerish.

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony

Publication Date: February 2, 2012
Page Count: 272
Published by: Razorbill
Source: Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

After her mother died, Glory retreated into herself and her music. Her single father raised her as a piano prodigy, with a rigid schedule and the goal of playing sold-out shows across the globe. Now, as a teenager, Glory has disappeared. As we flash back to the events leading up to her disappearance, we see a girl on the precipice of disaster. Brilliant and lonely, Glory is drawn to an artistic new boy, Frank, who moves in next door. The farther she falls, the deeper she spirals into madness. Before long, Glory is unable to play anything but the song "Chopsticks."

But nothing is what it seems, and Glory's reality is not reality at all. In this stunningly moving novel told in photographs, pictures, and words, it's up to the reader to decide what is real, what is imagined, and what has been madness all along....

My thoughts:

It's a good thing a picture is worth a thousand words, because those are the only words you will be 'reading' in Chopsticks. Let's cut to the chase and call this book what it really is - a picture book. Although it has more than just photos - including notes, letters, instant messages, youtube videos, etc. - it is almost entirely a visual experience.

What you get from this visual storytelling will depend on the amount of effort you put into it. I took my time and looked closely at the photos and let my imagination run free with the story. There are clues to be found - little treasures that you may miss at first - and I enjoyed how everything fit together. I know I found myself going back to make sure I was following the correct line of thinking. The limited text is great in that it lets the reader fill in the blanks while looking at the visual aspects of Chopsticks, which are stunning. You are able to 'see' what is going on instead of being told by the author.

Actually, after thinking more about this picture book, it would make a really interesting story in text format. I did enjoy 'reading' Chopsticks, although I don't usually spend any amount of time with picture books. And yes, I totally 'get' the ending. That's what paying attention to details will do for you - that and the fact that it's hinted about in the synopsis. It was kind of hard not to LOOK for it in the book, to see where it all went wrong and find out how the protagonist ended up like she did.

I borrowed this book from the library, so I didn't have the benefit of watching the youtube videos while going through the printed book. I am going to assume that the Chopsticks app would be a better way to experience this book. The interactive technology and all that comes with the app would make it easier to follow along.

I rate this 3 stars for the creativity. The storyline is actually really great - but it lacks the depth that more text would have given it.

Chopsticks App on Tumblr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In My Mailbox is hosted at The Story Siren.
Here is what I received this week:

eBook for Review: Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein
eBook for Review: Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
Borrowed from library: Black Heart (Curse Workers #3) by Holly Black

Winner! Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop

And the winner of an ARC of Slide by Jill Hathaway is...

Kathleen!

She has been notified and has confirmed.

Thank you to everyone who entered and hello to my new followers.

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads.

This Week's Posts:
Review - Life Is But A Dream by Brian James
Waiting On Wednesday
Tune In Tuesday
In My Mailbox
Review - The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Musical Stories: If you could read a book about any song,
which song would you love to see written down in story form?

Oh, this is a good question for me, but it's impossible for me to pick just one! I love music and I love songs that tell stories. I can really appreciate artists that write their own lyrics. I also have varied tastes and 43 years of memories to pick songs from! Here is a list of a few songs that I can quickly think of off the top of my head:

Matchbox Twenty - Rest Stop
Civil Twilight - Please Don't Find Me
Marc Broussard - Hope For Me Yet
Marc Broussard - Let Me Leave

Tracy Byrd - Somewhere I Wanna Go. Such a beautiful song. I love Tracy Byrd so very much. From 1993 until he stopped touring 2 years ago we used to go see him in concert at least 5 times a year. Sometimes even more than that. We were in his fan club so we always got to go backstage for hugs and pictures. My kids grew up with my husband and I following Tracy around and they loved it and thought roadtrips were normal. I even have a Tracy Byrd tattoo - that's how much I love him.

Okay, seriously now, this is my pick for a song that I would want to read a book about. I really like this song, and I really love Wade Hayes. I was so upset back in November when I found out he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. I cried and cried. He had surgery right away and has been going through chemo. Hopefully he will be able to recover.

Wade Hayes - The Day That She Left Tulsa (In A Chevy)

We were a half mile high on the Ferris wheel
At our old county fair
I didn't even know we had trouble until
She told me way up there
That's when my life started spinning round
My world came crashing to the ground
The day that she left Tulsa

In a Chevy in a hurry in the pouring down rain
With the caution lights flashing in the passing lane
From a bridge I watched our dreams goin' down the drain
In a Chevy in a hurry in the pouring down rain

No she wasn't showing yet but she'd be by Christmas time
Up there like a fool I took for granted it was mine
She never came out and told me that I was wrong
But all of a sudden the light came on
The day that she left Tulsa

In a Chevy in a hurry in the pouring down rain
With the caution lights flashing in the passing lane
From a bridge I watched our dreams goin' down the drain
In a Chevy in a hurry in the pouring down rain

I guess she thought the truth would end up driving me away
Well she was wrong but I never had the chance to say
The day that she left Tulsa

Life Is But a Dream by Brian James

Publication Date: March 27, 2012
Page Count: 234
Published by: Feiwel & Friends

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she'll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? Her decision may have fatal consequences.

Sabrina always saw the world differently. When she was younger she was encouraged to use her imagination and praised for her creativity. She spent her time daydreaming and creating art. But at 15 she is too old for such childish behavior and everyone around her wants her to grow up and stop playing pretend. The only problem is that it's not an act. Sabrina's parents finally realize that she needs help and admit her to a Wellness Center where she is diagnosed with schizophrenia.

While at the Wellness Center and under a doctor's care, Sabrina seems to be getting better. Then she meets a boy named Alec, a new patient at the Center. They start spending time together and Alec unknowingly feeds Sabrina's delusions and sets off complete paranoia in her. He convinces her that they are the normal ones and the doctors give them medicine to make them like robots. Sabrina can tell the difference that the medicine has made, she feels she is losing her true self. She wants to get back to seeing the world the way she used to. She is scared of facing reality and of being 'normal'. This sets off a long chain of events that eventually lead to Alec realizing that Sabrina really is different and needs help, and to Sabrina accepting that she has a mental disability.

The author does a really great job describing life through Sabrina's eyes. We are able to truly see just how disconnected she is from reality. The descriptions are vivid and colorful and almost painful to read about because of their beauty to Sabrina. It's very hard not to feel sympathy for Sabrina and her situation.

Seeing the world through Sabrina's eyes is both fascinating and terrifying. Her character was very well written, and her descriptions were so beautiful it was hard to separate her imagination from reality. I have never read a book where the protagonist has a mental illness, so this was an interesting read for me.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: July 31st 2012 by Harlequin Teen

Synopsis From Goodreads:

SO WRONG FOR EACH OTHER...AND YET SO RIGHT.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with “freaky” scars on her arms. Even Echo can’t remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo’s world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she’ll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Why do I want to read it?

Pushing The Limits is told in alternating POVs - male and female. I am always interested in books with the male POV and I am curious if the author can pull it off.

Tune In Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by GReads. It's a great way to share songs that you love, new or old, and spread some music around the blogosphere!

I'm not a big fan of radio. I'm not into what's popular and hot right now - I really couldn't give a crap about most of the current stuff my kids listen to. My daughter has recently become obsessed with One Direction. I don't know where she got her idea to listen to the same song over and over and over until it is permanently etched into my brain.... oh wait. Huh, she got that from ME. That's what I do when I like a song or an artist. My bad.

My husband and I are going to see Civil Twilight in concert (AGAIN!) on May 5. They have a new album, Holy Weather, out and we are so excited to see them! This is their new song and video, Fire Escape.

Letters From The Sky is a beautiful song from the first Civil Twilight album. It has been featured in several movies and tv shows - and it's the final song in the movie I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.

In My Mailbox is hosted at The Story Siren.

Happy Easter!

Here are the books I bought, borrowed, received for review, or were gifted
in the past week:

eBook For Review:
Untouched (Denazen #1.5) by Jus Accardo

eBook For Review:
Spectral by Shannon Duffy

From The Library:
Life Is But a Dream by Brian James

The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Paperback, 400 pages
Published February 2nd 2012 by Razorbill

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

I really did not know what to expect when I picked up The Catastrophic History of You and Me. I ended up really enjoying it. The protagonist, Brie, was a great character and I really liked her. She was very upfront about what she liked and what she didn't. She loved her family. She loved her friends. She loved life. And she loved her boyfriend Jacob - at least until he broke her heart. Then Brie literally dies of a broken heart and blames her death on Jacob. She has all this pain and anger and no way to communicate her extreme heartbreak and disappointment to Jacob since she has moved on into the afterlife. The reader is left to watch as Brie faces an unsure and unwanted future.

Brie meets Patrick, a self professed resident lost soul. He knows his way around and becomes somewhat of a guide for Brie's afterlife, or purgatory, or wherever she was. Patrick was adorable. I liked his attitude and snark and all of his cheese nicknames for Brie. I enjoyed learning about Brie as she went through the 5 stages of grief. Patrick lets Brie learn and figure things out on her own. He's never pushy or overbearing, and it's obvious that he cares about Brie. But he has secrets, and he doesn't give them up easily, which makes him very hard to figure out.

The writing was cute and funny, but serious when it needed to be. It was heartbreaking to read about Brie's family and friends trying to move on with their lives without her. It was even harder reading about Brie trying to move on without them. Brie soon starts to see things differently, and realizes she may have been wrong about a few things. I loved how determined she was to try and make things right for everyone she left behind.

Towards the end of the book it turned weird for me. I was a little confused about what was going on. I did figure it out, but it could have been written clearer. It was a little 'out there', but with a twist. It all came back together nicely by the end and it left me with a good, warm feeling all over.

The book was divided into parts according to what stage of grief Brie was in at the time. And the chapter titles were actually song titles which described each chapter perfectly. Overall, this was a really great book. It was written very well and at no point did I skim over any parts. The storyline flowed well and the feelings and situations seemed realistic. It's a wonderful book, but I would suggest keeping tissues nearby.

4 of 5 stars

Today begins the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop. I Am Reader, Not a Writer and Once Upon a Twilight will be your lovely hosts for this hop. Hop begins April 6 and runs until until April 12. Make sure you visit all the blogs and authors participating in the hop HERE.

I am giving away an ARC of Slide by Jill Hathaway.

Contest Rules:

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
This giveaway will end on April 12, 2012.
Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
You must be age 13 or older to enter.

Pages

TGIF (2)

Review: Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

Waiting On Wednesday (23) Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Review - Black Heart by Holly Black

Quotable Quotes with Jus Accardo and Untouched With Giveaway!

Review: Slide (Slide #1) by Jill Hathaway

Waiting On Wednesday (22)

Tune In Tuesday (2)

Review - Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

In My Mailbox (9)

Winner! Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop

TGIF (1)

Review: Life Is But a Dream by Brian James

Waiting On Wednesday (21)

Tune In Tuesday (1) - Civil Twilight

In My Mailbox (8)

Review: The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg

Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop