Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week’s waiting on Wednesday is:

My Invisible Boyfriend
By Susie Day
Release Date: April 1, 2010

Synopsis: Heidi has the perfect solution to her popularity problems - a fake boyfriend. She's even made him an Internet profile that makes him look like a motorcycle-riding, poetry reading bad boy. *swoon* Heidi's friends are so impressed they start emailing Heidi's fake boyfriend with their problems . . . including their problems with Heidi. As if that weren't bad enough, a delicious and possibly single person called "A Real Boy" emails Heidi to say he knows the truth. Can Heidi escape from her world wide web of lies? Or will her chance at romance disappear faster than you can type gtg?

Why I’m Waiting: Doesn’t this just sound cute? The story idea seems kind of unique and the high school setting should be a lot of fun. I haven’t read any of this author’s other works, but I’m looking forward to giving this a try.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: March 2010

One Word Review: Enjoyable

Author Website: www.alexandrabracken.com

First Line: “The day the rains finally came was like any other, with blistering air coating the canyon in a heavy stillness.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him. In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers.

Kathy’s Review: I was so excited when I won this book in a contest hosted over at Angieville. The book description sounded just like the kind of story that I enjoy, and I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed the world that Bracken created, including all the fun characters and a new twist on magic and wizards. I also enjoyed the fact that I didn’t know where the story was going, there were some interesting twists along the way and I ended up enjoying the story very much. Sydelle was a very likable heroine. I thought she was easy to relate to and I enjoyed following her journey. She is not one to sit by and let others have all the fun, she jumps in and can take care of herself. I also enjoyed North’s character, and thought he and Syd had good chemistry together. I did think the love-triangle was a little weak and really didn’t play a huge part in the story. I thought the writing was well done and would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure, romance, magic and fun.

I’m curious if this is going to be a series, I felt like everything was wrapped up nicely and the book could really stand on its own. I do like the characters though and would be happy if it turned out to be a trilogy or something.

Book Source: A big thanks to Angie for hosting her fun contest, Alexandra for sending me the book (along with some fun bookmarks), and of course the random-number generator for choosing my name!!

Bookworm Rating: 3.8

Who is your favorite magician?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Genre: Adult Fiction

Publication Date: Feb 2009

One Word Review: Enlightening

Author Website: www.kathrynstockett.com/stockett-synopsis

GoodReads Synopsis: Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

Jess's Review: The book that stands out most in my mind as the first book that I realized that books have something to say and not just a story to tell was To Kill a Mockingbird. I read it for the first time in the 9th grade and it has never been dethroned as one of my all time favorite books. As a result of reading that book I have since become fascinated with The South. All aspects of The South interest me; the Civil War, Civil Rights, and some of my heroes are Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. For these reasons it isn't shocking that I adored reading The Help. This book will be with me for a very long time. From the beginning the book drew me in. At first I had reservations about a modern white woman writing a first person narrative of a black maid. However, I found that Stockett was up to the task. The book trades off from 3 different voices; Aibileen, (black maid) Skeeter, (White) and Minny. (black maid) Stockett was able to create 3 distinct voices that I fell in love with. Aibileen was my favorite and it must have been very difficult to write the way a Aibileen spoke . The story had so many layers that it can hardly be categorized as a straightforward story of white on black prejudice. I found that prejudice is maybe the only thing that is color-blind. As people we find all sorts of reasons to hate another person and I feel like she explored this aspect of prejudice. Stockett created touching friendships that looked at the heart and made me appreciate my own girlfriends. It truly was a touching story and by the end I felt like I was friends with Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter. Two things prevented me from giving this book 5 stars. First, there is a part where a naked man threatens one of the characters and it felt superfluous. Although neither was used in excess, my own personal taste prevents me from enjoying course language and taking the Lord's name in vain.

p.s. I just realized my one word review was enlightening. I felt that way because I didn't realize how whites viewed the black maids that served them. I believe there was a very small portion who loved their maids like human beings. I came to realize that some viewed them almost like beloved pets, some simply viewed them necessary, while a few, simply saw them as dirty. In the book it says the line was drawn and people stayed inside the line. Man I hope that has changed!

Bookworm Rating: 4.8

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre: YA Fiction/Fantasy

Publication Date: October 2009

One Word Review: Okay

Author Website: www.beccafitzpatrick.com

First Line: “I walked into biology and my jaw fell open.”

GoodReads Synopsis: For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Kathy’s Review (Spoiler Warning): Hmm, so I admit I was a little nervous to start this one. I had a lot of friends who totally loved it, and a lot who totally hated it. I fell somewhere in the middle. I thought the story idea was just okay, reminded me of a few other books (which won’t be named). The writing was okay, but kind of moved along slowly. I didn’t really feel like things picked up until about 300 pages in, but it could be because of the reviews I read that I was really expecting a lot more action (no innuendo intended…well, maybe a little) than what was presented. The relationship (if you can call it that) between Patch and Nora was totally unbelievable. It was completely based on lust and little else. From previous reviews I was really expecting a villain with Patch, and aside from Nora constantly telling us he is bad, I didn’t really get that from him. I got more of the lusty-teenager vibe. Based on the very few interactions we actually have with them, there wasn’t enough “real” connection for Patch to make the choices that he did; at least I didn’t see it. Nora was just okay for me; I kind of got tired of the rollercoaster emotions. One minute she says she will stay away from Patch, and the very next second she is purposefully looking for him. If they had built up a friendship which eventually led to true romantic feelings, than the whole story and Nora’s and Patch's actions would have been more believable. As for Nora’s sidekick Vee, not really a fan. She gave horrible advice, which was all over the place and I wish there would have been a little more consistency. None of the characters reactions seemed that authentic, but its fantasy-fiction so I guess it’s not supposed to be realistic. Overall, the book was a little bit of a let-down, but I still think I’ll read the sequel (even though I think this could really stand on its own).

Bookworm Rating: 3

Reading Order:

Book One: Hush, Hush

Book Two: Crescendo
Book Three:

Do you prefer the “good-guy” or the “bad-boy”?

Book Blog Hop

While surfing around on book blogs today I came acrossed an awesome idea over at Crazy for Books that can help network your blog! You just enter your blog link into the McLinky and then hop around the book blogosphere to discover other people's blogs!

Go HERE to join!!

Shadow of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

Genre: YA Fiction

Publication Date: March 2010

One Word Review: Entertaining

Author Website: www.rachelhawthorne.net

First Line: “Fear sliced through me, jolting me awake.”

GoodReads Synopsis: Hayden was born a werewolf, a Dark Guardian. But her ability to sense the feelings of fellow werewolves has made her life unbearable. She runs away, only to be tracked by charming, mysterious Daniel, a newcomer to the pack and the one Shifter immune to her powers. As she reluctantly follows him home, Hayden finds herself falling dangerously in love. But even as her feelings for Daniel deepen, Hayden begins to wonder if he is who he claims to be. Where did he come from and why has no one ever seen him transform? When they stumble upon the body of a Shifter still in wolf form, her worries grow. Someone is killing her kind. Is her handsome tracker really a hunter? And is Hayden now his prey?

Kathy’s Review: This is the fourth book in the Dark Guardian series, and for me totally different than the first three. While it takes place in the same setting, the main characters, Hayden and Daniel, are different from our previous friends. Normally I don’t really believe in the whole “love-at-first-sight” thing, but Hawthorne makes it very believable. I really felt the chemistry between Hayden and Daniel and enjoyed watching their relationship develop. The plot idea was just okay for me though, I think if the “villain” had been mentioned in the previous books I would have found it a little more believable, but as it was it seemed a little contrived and just thrown in there so another story could be told. Not that I’m complaining, because I love Wolford and all the characters throughout the series. Anyway, this was a fun read and would recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic, light-hearted adventure.

I’m thinking Hawthorne end the book with hints for another book in the series, possibly following Seth, I’ll be keeping my eyes open!

Bookworm Rating: 3.8

Reading Order:
Book One: Moonlight
Book Two: Full Moon
Book Three: Dark of the Moon
Book Four: Shadow of the Moon

If You Could Shift Into Any Form, What Would You Choose?

Waiting to Score by J.E. McLeod

Genre: Teen Lit

Publication Date: February 2009

One Word Review: Pass

Author Website: www.jemacleod.com

First Line: “I didn’t want to look up.”

Synopsis: Quirky, smart, and good looking, Zack Chase is a book-loving, talented hockey player. New in town, Zack’s pitted against obnoxious Mac, the hockey team captain with something against Jane, the alluring Goth-girl who’s caught Zack’s eye. As he copes with sore losers, other people’s drinking problems, and the consequences of making out with too many girls, Zack discovers other ways he wants to score in lofe, especially as a 15-year-old guy with spiking hormones. Soon Zack finds out the hard way that people have secrets and burdens all their own, and that some actions have tragic, far-reaching consequences.

Kathy’s Review (Spoiler Warning): I really don't like writing negative reveiws, and you may read this and love it. This is the kind of YA book that I don’t like and I ended up skimming the last half just to get it over with. I could tell from the first chapter, maybe even the first page that I wasn’t really going to like this one. I prefer uplifting books, even when there are tough topics, I like books that make you feel better while teaching a lesson. For me, this was just a downer. In one review I read they said that the author tried to take on too many issues, and I have to agree considering the plot consisted of all your typical teen stereotypes: underage drinking, bullies, date rape, hook-ups, parties, suicide, mean parents, and absent parents…just to name a few. I also didn’t really care for Zack and by the third chapter I was tired of hearing how different he was from all the other guys. I personally thought he was a little arrogant, and while he did do some good things most of the time I did not like the perspective of a horny teenage boy. I also didn’t feel any real chemistry between Zack and Jane; I know I skimmed the second half so maybe I missed something later on. I don't think Zack was feeling the chemistry either since he cheats on her with his best friend Sheila, just another issue I guess the author wanted to tackle. In a nutshell, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

It does contain a lot of underage drinking and a lot of sexual content.

Bookworm Rating: 1

What was the last "underwhelming" book you read?

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This weeks waiting on Wednesday is:

Mistwood
By Leah Cypess
Release Date: April 27, 2010

Synopsis: The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod. But when she is needed she always comes. Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have. Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat. Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them. Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

Why I’m Waiting: There are a lot of great books coming out in April, in fact 2010 is packed full of great upcoming novels, its going to be a great year. Mistwood sounds like a great fantasy novel, full of adventure and mystery. Angieville has a great preview review up on her site, if that doesn’t get you excited for this book I don’t know what will.

The Debutante by Kathryn Williams

Genre: Teen Lit

Publication Date: May 2008

One Word Review: Charming

Author Website: www.kathrynwilliams.com

First Line: “The overwhelming scent of magnolia wafted through my bedroom on a humid breeze.”

Synopsis: Annie MacRae’s senior year just went south. Specifically, to Beaufort . . . Alabama. Mere weeks before the start of what’s supposed to be the best year of her high school career, Annie’s parents inform her they are moving to the land of deep fryers,“debs,” and worst of all, her grandmother. But before she can say “No way, y’all,” Annie finds herself living among the “others” and biding her time till she can head to college and get back on the right side of the Mason-Dixon. The only problem? To get that ticket to college, Annie will have to trade in her jeans for a white debutante dress and learn the true meaning of being a lady.

Kathy’s Review: So this was a fun read that totally sucks you into the Southern charm of Alabama. Annie goes through quite the change as the book progresses. At first she is very upset with her parents for dragging her away from her friends and life in Connecticut to the slower paced lifestyle and demanding Grandmother in Alabama. I imagine it would be rather hard to move your senior year in high school and I felt bad for Annie when I put myself in her shoes. I’m glad she made friends and started to make the best of the situation. There were a couple lose ends I wish would have been tied up. First, at the beginning of the story Annie receives a box from her best-friend Jamie, to open in a time of crisis. The box is soon forgotten and I’m curious what was inside! Second, I wanted there to be some resolution between Annie and her Connecticut friends, maybe open the box and bring back old memories and reconciliation ensues? Anyway, it was a cute read and I enjoyed learning a little etiquette along the way (something I’m probably in need of). It reminded me of a Tina Ferraro or Janette Rallison novel, with a little less romantic comedy.

It does contain underage smoking/drinking, but otherwise very clean.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

What Is Your Favorite Teen Lit Book?

Dragonfly by Julia Golding

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: October 2009

One Word Review: Adventurous

Author Website: www.juliagoldning.co.uk

First Line: “The Fourth Crown Princess of the Blue Crescent Islands had sixteen rituals to observe from the moment of waking to when she broke her fast.”

Synopsis: Princess Taoshira of the Blue Crescent Islands is appalled when she is ordered to marry Prince Ramil of Gerfal. And he's not too pleased, either. She is used to a life of discipline, ritual, and splendor. He is used to hunting and carousing. They hate each other on sight. But both of their countries are under threat from a fearsome warlord, and the only chance of peace is to form an alliance. When Tashi and Ram are kidnapped, they fear there’s no escape--from their kidnappers or from each other. Can they put aside their differences long enough to survive ambush, unarmed combat, brainwashing, and imprisonment? And will the people they meet on their adventure--including a circus strongman, a daring rebel leader, a sinister master of spies, and the best female fighter they have ever seen--help them or betray them to the enemy?

Kathy’s Review: I’m not sure why this one was listed as a fantasy novel, maybe because the whole thing takes place in a fictional land, but it doesn’t have the usual fantasy elements like magic, elves, etc. I still really enjoyed this book, even though at times it felt a little long. This book stands well on its own, there is a companion novel coming out this summer which will be following different characters. Tashi and Ram’s story was full of adventure and love. It did seem like they were getting into one problem after another, but that’s part of the fun. The story rotates from their respective points of view, which was a fun way to see how they viewed one another and when they weren’t together you could see how the story was moving along. I admit, after awhile I got a little bored with the religious aspects of the story but they were an important part to Tashi’s character, and it was nice to see her grow throughout the book. It was a fun read and I look forward to reading the companion novel this June. This reminded me of The Demon King and Incarceron.

Bookworm Rating: 4

Reading Order:
Book One: Dragonfly
Book Two: The Glass Swallow

Exes and Ohs by Beth Kendrick

Genre: Chick-Lit

Publication Date: March 2005

One Word Review: Fluffy-Fun

Author Website: www.bethkendrick.com

Synopsis: Child psychologist Gwen Traynor has learned the hard way that "perfect" men aren't always what they seem. After being dumped the night before her wedding, she's understandably wary of diving back into the dating pool. But when she meets Alex Coughlin, she's convinced her luck is changing. Just as things are heating up with Alex, Gwen meets her newest patient -- a precocious preschooler whose chaotic soap opera-actress of a mother, Harmony, sounds an awful lot like one of Alex's crazy ex-girlfriends. Mostly because she is one of Alex's crazy ex-girlfriends.

Kathy’s Review: This was a fun read; it was a nice distraction at the end of a long day. I enjoyed the story, even though I wouldn’t agree with all the choices our characters made, it was still entertaining. Gwen was a good heroine, I liked her personality and that she stood up for herself. I also liked Alex and how deep down he was more of a traditional guy who knew the importance of marriage and family. He kind of makes a few mistakes along the way, but he does have good intentions. I thought Alex and Gwen had good chemistry and it was fun watching their story unfold. Her best friend Cesca drove me a little crazy, but she was a good friend to Gwen. I was a surprised with where Cesca’s story ended up, but glad things turned out the way they did. Overall, this is a fun fluff book that was well written and I will definitely be checking out what else Kendrick has to offer.

It does contain a bit of swearing scattered here and there (including a few "f" words), as well as some mild sexual content.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5