Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday (Birthday Edition)

It's my birthday today (well tomorrow but I'm writing this yesterday so when you read this it will be today-how's that for confusing?), so I had to make my 'Waiting on Wednesday' post extra super special...

There are actually three books today (I'm being nice to myself and not fighting my indecisiveness because I want them all equally badly):



Vintage Veronica by Erica S Perl

here's the synopsis: Veronica Walsh is 15, fashion-minded, fat, and friendless. Her summer job in the Consignment Corner section (Employees Only ) of a vintage clothing store is a dream come true. There Veronica can spend her days separating the one-of-a-kind gem garments from the Dollar-a-Pound duds, without having to deal with people. But when two outrageous yet charismatic salesgirls befriend her and urge her to spy on and follow the mysterious and awkward stock boy Veronica has nicknamed the Nail, Veronica's summer takes a turn for the weird. Suddenly, what began as a prank turns into something else entirely. Which means Veronica may have to come out of hiding and follow something even riskier for the first time: her heart.

Of all the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

and here's the synopsis for that: When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.
Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.

Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.
And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she’s never stopped missing.

Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls’ friendship survive when all the rules have changed?

She actually has a post (and contest) up on Jeri Smith Ready's Blogtoberfest right now--which is great timing since I had this all bookmarked for a WoW post! Here's the link and the contest runs through the 24th.


The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To by DC Pierson

and one last summary for you: When Darren Bennett meets Eric Lederer, there's an instant connection. They share a love of drawing, the bottom rung on the cruel high school social ladder, and a pathological fear of girls. Soon they're collaborating on a comic book that becomes a series of graphic novels that becomes a movie trilogy before they've actually put pen to paper. Then Eric reveals a secret: He doesn't sleep. Ever. When word leaks out about Eric's condition, he and Darren suddenly find themselves on the run from mysterious forces. Is it the government trying to tap into Eric's mind, or is there something else Eric hasn't told Darren? It could be that not sleeping is only part of what he's capable of, and the truth is both better and worse than they could ever imagine.


Vintage Veronica
is out March 9, Of all the Stupid Things December 22 (2009), and The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep February 9.

Do they not all sound amazing enough to make my Birthday Edition of Waiting on Wednesday, though? And they have some pretty fantastic covers, too :D


(links to who does what about starting/running Waiting on Wedneday and the Mailbox posts are over on my sidebar always)

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Cathy's Book ~ Sean Stewart & Jordan Weisman Review

Cathy's Book: If Found Call (650) 266-8233 (Cathy's Series Book 1)
Running Kids Press
176 Pages
February 25, 2008
Paperback


I really don't know if I can tell you why this review didn't get posted--I was absolutely sure it had until I went to check that all of the books I had received from authors or publishers had some sort of note saying so in the review and, well, I couldn't find this review...

Wherever it may be (even if it was only in my head) here's a new version for you--that will for sure get posted right away:

Cathy's Book, the first in a trilogy, is set in the San Francisco area and starts after Cathy's boyfriend breaks up with her. She's more than a little determined to find out why--her best friend just might agree with you if you said her need bordered on 'criminally so,' actually. And her 'book' is her own personal journal of the events that transpire as she works to discover Victor-her ex's-secrets. (It's a really difficult book to summarize.)

An interesting-and honestly sometimes strange-combinations of romance, mystery, and supernatural, Cathy's Book is also interactive with numbers to call, websites to visit, and doodles along the pages (Cathy is an artist). The interactive bits aren't completely necessary for reading and following the story (as they are with Skeleton Creek and Ghost in the Machine) but they do add some enjoyment.

I'm not sure they book wouldn't have been better if it hadn't been more focused on one genre, either the mystery of finding out about Victor or the supernatural instead of trying to work so many things into one short book that some things seemed to be thrown in (a mystery where blanks just happens to be true).

Regardless of that, it was a fun read and I enjoyed the way the different Chinese, I suppose, myths were worked in and I would like to see where the next to books take the story. (I am especially interested in seeing if they're more focused and better now that the first book has sort of set everything up.)


I'll give this book 7/10

(and thank you to Dawn at Running Press for sending me the book--sorry, sorry, sorry for the brain freeze on the review!)

In My Mailbox Monday (er, Tuesday)

I definitely thought yesterday was Sunday not Monday!

So, here-on Tuesday-is my In My Mailbox Monday post:

I only got one book for review this week, but that's fine because it's one that looks super fantabulous:
Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph (for review in conjuction with my Miami Book Fair International posts-so review soon)

and then I bought:

The Sky Always Hears Me and the Hills Don't Mind by Kristin Cronn-Mills

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday

Unfamiliar Magic by RC Alexander

While there's not some snazzy super fantastical reason for why I'd connect witht his book or why I'd be an amazing person for the reading of this book and so on and so forth...I just really want to read it! It really sounds like a great, fun read. Cat familiars turning into teenaged/same-aged babysitters for a teen girl witch?

A teen girl witch named Desi who wants to be a better witch but her mom's much more comfortable keeping things all undercover and top-secret.

And did I mention that the no-longer-a-cat babysitter has a fascination with eating sushi and getting a date?

Does that not sound amazing and like Sabrina the Teenage Witch after a spell of awesomeness was conducted? Or like Charmed did a 'when they were teenagers' special and refrained from being plain crazycakes about it?

Here's the actual book description, which can be found (that I know of) on goodreads or Amazon:


Desi is a witch. And she knows she could be a great witch—if only her mom
would teach her any spells. Unfortunately, Desi’s mom is more concerned with
keeping them safe and their abilities hidden.

When her mom leaves town under mysterious circumstances, it should be Desi’s perfect opportunity to explore magic on her own. But Desi has been left in the care of the most unusual babysitter of all time: her pet cat—also her mom’s familiar—now transformed into a teenage girl named Cat. And Cat has only three goals: Learn how to eat sushi
with her new hairless monkey paws, get the awkward boy next door to pay for her
sushi, and keep Desi out of trouble. And that means no magic.Yeah, right!

This hilarious and high-spirited fantasy is perfect for cat lovers, embattled siblings, and anyone who yearns to find the magic in everyday life.

It's not out until April 27, 2010 (that's almost seven months!), I don't know how I'll wait!! The teeny little author bio says this is his first book, though, so I can only hope that it will be great and there will be another out soon, too, because this one's really grabbed my interest :)


*If you look for it on Amazon, try the title, it has the author only as 'R.C' so looking that way doesn't tend to yield any results-or not very quickly

Friday, October 9, 2009

Video Veneris (Some Girls Are trailer)

Because it is the book that makes my brain 'SQUEEE!' everytime I even think about it:




Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers is out January 5, 2010 (it's her second book after the magnificently amazing Cracked Up to Be.)

Her site and such for more info: CourtneySummers.ca

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday

Someday I will go back and number these 'Waiting' posts....

Now, to get back to the books I really can't wait to read.. (aka those that have me hoping I get some giftcards for my birthday in a few weeks so I can buy them when they are released)

This week, there's Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison. I've been watching this one for a while on my Amazon wishlist but because I was apparently only looking there, I missed out on the cover until just now :( Snowflakes and barely touching fingers really push a cover over the top, don't you think?

Anywho, here's the book description so you can know just why I'm so darn interested in this book (and so jealous of everyone who's getting to read it already):

(from Amazon.com, since that's where I was getting my info after all)

THE TRANSFORMATION

Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone
at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick
glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s
selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will
change her life forever.

THE LOVE AFFAIR

When Beth’s choir
travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s
untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in
Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.

THE IMPOSSIBLE
CHOICE

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes
a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady
Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

THE HEARTBREAK

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away
he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her
…one that could shatter everything.

See, it's Beauty and the Beast but gone all topsy turvy :) It's not out until January 18 of 2010, but that's great for anyone who wants to get a super head start on their holiday lists or planning what to do with any money you get over the winter present times :D

Here is the author, Angela Morrison's, website

(and speaking of goodreads-& Amazon-looks like I should be there more often: (I'm kind of in love with the snow right now so I like the Sing Me to Sleep cover much more but it's interesting how much book cover images overlap/get used again when stock images are used...)

Monday, October 5, 2009

In My Mailbox Monday

This covers I think two or three weeks...honestly I've been off the last few weeks so I'm not actually sure (and then I was out of town for a week so that helped, too)...





for review:
Ex Games by Jennifer Echols
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Isis by Douglas Clegg

because they're likely made of awesome so I spent monies:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

some of my library books:
Gentlemen by Michael Northrop
You Are Here by Jennifer E Smith
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Book Trailer Friday [@RandomHouse @TransworldBooks]

Beth Dorey-Stein's From the Corner of the Oval  - a tale of being the White House stenographer during the Obama administration will be ...