Airhead ARC

Yes, I know that mentions of contests are kind of taking over my blog right now, but this contest is just too good to pass up. If you head over to the Story Siren's blog you can enter to win an ARC of Airhead by Meg Cabot which is set to be released June 1st. I really, really, really want to read this book! It sounds very interesting, so you should all definitely go and check it out.

And I promise that I am trying as hard as I can to finish a Sweet Far Thing, but you can't blame me for taking a while; it's about 800 pages long! Yikes!

The Mutating Meme

I've been memed yet again by Book~Adorer!

The Rules:
1. Copy and paste the questions, then fill in your answers. Post this on your blog, livejournal, etc. There’s a catch, though. You have to change/add a question from the meme you were tagged with.
2. Post the rules.
3. Link to the person who tagged you.
4. Tag 3 people, by commenting on their blog.
5. Link back to the original (you can visit it here) to see how much it has mutated.

Now to the questions:
1.) If you were writing a book, what would your lead characters name be?
Oooh. That's hard. Probably Leah or Maddie. I kind of like the cute and simple names. And then for a guy, I'd choose Noah.
2.) What is your least favorite food?
Any kind of bean. Except for garbanzo beans. Those are good. I am especially disgusted by baked beans even though I don't think I've ever eaten them. There's just something so wrong about putting any veggie in nasty brown sauce. Ick.
3.) Are there any songs that get stuck in your head really easily?
Oh my gosh yes. Any song with a really simple melody and stupid words, I'll inevitably get stuck in my head. And then I'm humming it for the rest of the day! It's so annoying!
4.) If you could be (or are) a mythical creature, what would it be (or what are you)?
Hmmm. I think that I would like to be a shape-shifter because then you can take on all sorts of disguises and be whatever you want to be.
5.) What do colors taste like?
What a good question. I think colors taste like what you kind of perceive them as. Like brown tastes warm and thick and yellow tastes light and airy. It would be so cool to taste colors!
6.) Which Disney princess is your favorite?
Aack! That's so hard! I really like Belle because she sings all those cool songs and is a bookworm. But I also like Mulan. I don't think she's technically a princess though.
7.) What kind of toothpaste do you use?
I use that all natural stuff.
8.) If you could chose one superpower, what would it be?I
I would want to fly. I think it would be so cool to see everything from a bird's eye view!

Now then, I tag Em, Harmony, and The Magic Of Ink Girls. Have fun!

My First Contest!

So last night, I was lucky enough to go to a book signing of Meg Cabot's. I was so excited that she was visiting my chilly state of Minnesota. The whole night was very fun. She was upbeat, witty, and very funny. You could tell she really tried to connect with the audience which was great. And afterwards, I got to get my whole Mediator series signed (which is a very good series that I highly recommend, btw) as well as a copy of one of Meg's more recent books, Jinx. So therefore, I am having a contest to giveaway a signed copy of the book Jinx by Meg Cabot. I have read it and I thought it was very good so I'm sure you will all like it.

Now for the rules:

1. To enter either leave a comment on this post that includes your email or just send an email to livsbookreviews@yahoo.com.


2. If you blog about my contest and help spread the word, be sure to send me the link back and I will give you two extra entries. How cool is that?


3. The dead line for entries is Saturday April 12 at midnight, central time.


And that's it! I hope you enter!

The Earth, My Butt, And Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Virginia Shreves is living a tough life. Being overweight in a family of perfect, popular, and fit people is hard. She is constantly being pressured to change who she is to please those around her. To make it worse, her best friend just moved across the country leaving Virginia to fend for her own in the vicious world of highschool. And her brother was found guilty of date rape. Her perfect, flawless brother let her down. Virginia's world is crashing down around her and if she doesn't do something fast, she's going to be lost in the tidal wave of lies, expectations, and troubles that are filling her life. Can she find a way to be herself and assert who she is in an unaccepting world?

Yes, I finally finished this book. It's not that it was hard to get through or anything, it's just that I listened to it on audiobook. I find it so much harder to listen to books than to read them because to listen to them, you have to have no distractions. I usually listen to music in the background and it's hard to have to focus completely on listening to something. On the other hand, I'm able to read with tons of distractions. I can tune out the world and get lost in a book so much easier, so I think I'm going to stick with that from now on. :) Anyways, this was a really good book! I really loved Virginia's unique voice and her cynicsm. I think the author approached the difficult topic of obesity in a great way. You could really get into the main character's mind and see the world through her eyes. The media definitely presents a distorted picture of the perfect body and I think that this book really proved that you don't have to look perfect to be happy. I especially liked Virginia's doctor. He was so open and didn't pressure her at all. He said that it isn't about having the perfect body, it's about feeling good about yourself, which I think is a great viewpoint. I enjoyed seeing Virginia discover who she was and showing her family and friends that she was unique and special and that she wasn't going to let anyone push her around. I think that everyone should think about themselves that way. I think that the ending was really satisfying also. I liked that Virginia used her own experiences to help others. Overall, this book was very good. I would highly recommend this as a book that will change your thinking on a difficult subject. It really opened my eyes.

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

In 1899 New York City, Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule the social scene. They have mountains of money, doting servants, and handsome men to fawn over them. That all changes when their father dies and leaves their family penniless. Per her mother's orders, Elizabeth becomes engaged to one of New York's wealthiest bachelor in order to save the family name. Will Elizabeth and Diana be able to bring honor to their family or will they decide to follow their hearts even if huge consequences are inevitable? No matter the choice, drama and scandal are sure to follow.

Yum. This book was positively delicious. I had heard many good things about it and it did not disappoint in the least. In fact, it exceeded all of my expectations. I mean, any book that has such a gorgeous dress on the cover has to be good right? Man, I want that dress so bad! :P It's fluffy, silk, intriguing, and meant to impress; just like the book. Woah! So yeah, this book is truly amazing. It is full of lavish details and sumptuous plot twists. I could not put it down. I think I actually lost about three hours of sleep over this book. One of the things I really liked about it was that it showed that yes, historical fiction can be good. I've never been a reader of historical books, but reading The Luxe changed my viewpoint entirely. If anything, historical fiction is more thrilling than urban and modern books because of all the rules and etiquette people had to follow and then all the drama and scandal that ensued because of that. Over on the Compulsive Reader's blog, she has people give her reasons why they liked historical fiction. They were all so true; you can check them out here. The Luxe was really an example of a great historical fiction boo. It was fast-moving, clever, and immediately drew me in. I would highly recommend it to anyone. It'll be sure to please you.

Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn

It all starts in prehistoric times when a young man and a young woman fight over a precious jewel. From then on, they share a special connection that is linked with green stones. Each time they are reincarnated as different beings, they are both undeniably attracted to each other when their paths cross, no matter the obstacles; but each time, their love never has a happy ending. Their affinity is put to many tests, but will it all work out in the end? Will true love prevail?

Yay for good books! I didn't really have any expectations coming into this book because I hadn't heard anything about it. It really surprised me though. It has a very unique plot line that draws you in immediately. The stories of the two souls are so intertwined and complex, and as the book progresses, you really start to root for them to work it out in the end. I loved how you got to experience different time periods and circumstances. And in each of the stories, everything is somehow connected. Like, in the first prehistoric story, the man gets stabbed in the head and the side and in later bodies, he has headaches and even experiences a ruptured kidney. And the girl has a beautiful singing voice as well as a lame foot that turns up in each of her reincarnated forms. I also liked the little twists that the author threw into the story. They really helped the book not seem so predictable and showed many some of the many different angles that love can have. One of the aspects of the story I particularly liked was that you got to meet the two side characters who have to work out their part in the story for themselves. You get to see the smaller characters really grow into themselves as well as the more important characters. The small complaint I have about this book, is that it is confusing. And you kind of have to expect that if there's around ten different stories that are intertwined in one book! It was good though, how in the end everything got unraveled and you could see how all the different parts were related. I felt like this was a well though out, well crafted story. It immediately drew me in and kept me entranced for the whole book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a quick, captivating read!

Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith

All their lives, Nix, Ondine, and Morgan have known they are different. They each have different "powers" that they don't know anything about and aren't in control of. When they go to a rave on the summer solstice, they each learn the startling truth about what they really are. The three of them are a ring of Fay who are guided by Moth, a local drug dealer, and whose main goal is to reach their exidis without having their human corpuses die. When Tim Bleeker, a Fay gone wrong, steps into the picture, he tries to use each of them to make a more powerful version of Fay so that he and his group of his "cutters" can have ultimate power. His aspirations put all of Nix, Odine, and Morgan's friends in danger. They must learn about themselves and about what their purpose is in order to keep "Bleek" from eliminating their race.

I had high expectations for this book. I really thought it was going to be good! The plot is complex and original and the characters are believable and easy to relate to, but overall, the story really failed to deliver. Throughout the course of my reading, I had mixed feelings. Some parts would be good and would move fast, but other parts were just plain confusing. I think it was a big undertaking for the author to write a story in which she has to create this whole new species and have an interesting plot line at the same time. I do admit, that the idea of the story is intriguing and interesting, but I think it was just a little too much. I felt that the author was trying to cram too much story into too little of a book. One of the redeeming qualities was that the characters were explored in depth. Each of the three main characters had creative, defining characteristics and their reactions and emotions were plausible. That's one of the few good parts of this book. Overall though, it was a drag to have to trudge through it and I'm glad it's over. I guess I will be reading the sequel when it comes out just to see if it can bring anything more to the table than its predecessor did; which I'm hoping it will. I wanted to like this book, but I wouldn't really recommend it because, all in all, it failed to draw me in and didn't hold my attention.

Six Random Things Meme!

I was tagged by Em for the Six Random Things Meme! And since this is my first meme, I figured I had to do it. And then while I was thinking about what my answers were going to be, I learned that it is really hard to think of random things about yourself! But, I tried my hardest to be interesting and creative, so here's my attempt:


1. I love chai tea. Whenever I go to a coffee shop, I never get coffee, I always get a chai. It has vanilla, spices, cinnamon, and warm milk. What more could a girl need on a rainy day?

2. I have never been able to pick a favorite color. I like all of them; it depends on my mood. I especially like the cooler pastel colors but if you can find a bright pink, orange, or yellow, then I'll be sure to fall in love with that color too. So whenever people ask me what my favorite color is, I say the first thing that pops into my head that day.

3. Best movie ever = August Rush. I saw it about a month ago at this little theater about two blocks from my house and, oh my gosh, it was amazing. I loved the music and the ambience, the plot line, and the characters. It was one masterpiece of a movie and you should all go out and see it ASAP. It just came out on DVD and I am just waiting until I have enough money to buy it so I can watch little Freddie Highmore with his adorable accent over and over again.

4. green beans are gross.

5. I love snow. Maybe not the actual wet flakes, but I love the whole idea of it. Right now, I'm staring out of my bedroom window at the branches of a tree that have little puffs of snow resting on every twig. It's sooo pretty. It snowed over night here, so nothing has had the chance to be messed up yet, and it's truly beautiful.

6. I'm going to the mall today! Yay! I get to go shop a little for my spring clothes, of which I have none. I swear, I think I have some ratty t-shirts and a pair of shorts or two and that's it. I don't think that's really going to get me through the summer.


And there you have it. Six random things about me that you didn't know yet. I hope that was at least a little bit interesting/entertaining!

The Rules For The Meme:
1. You link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your entry.
5. Let the tagged people know by leaving a comment on their blogs.

So, I tag: Enna Isilee, Teen Book Review, Page Numbered, The Page Wanderer, Shelf Elf, and Kelsey

City of Ashes Contest

The Story Siren is having a contest to win a copy of the book City Of Ashes. It is the sequel to the book City of Bones, which is very good, so you should definitely go check out her blog to enter! I can't wait to read it!

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

In the small college town of Morganville, there is more going on than meets the eye. And Claire just happens to get herself mixed up in the middle of it. It all starts when she gets bullied by the most influential girl at her dorm. To escape, she tries to find sanctuary at the Glass house; a large mansion shared by three college students-Eve, Shane, and Michael. Claire finds that the Glass house is the only place where she is truly safe in Morganville because there are vampires living in town. And they will stop at nothing to get what they want, even if that means killing Claire and all of her friends. She has to try to find a way to find peace and protection for herself and her friends or the consequences would be unimaginable.

Okay, something that's really strange to me is that there are so many vampire books out there! Doesn't that seem a little wierd? Couldn't authors find something else to write about? But really, I'm not complaining, because almost all of the vampire books I've read have been really good. And that stays true for this one. This is the kind of vampire book though, that has suspense, chills, and fangs. It's not the whole nice, goody-goody deal that the Twilight saga or the Blue Bloods series has. And although I thought I wasn't going to like all of the freaky scary vampire parts of this book, I actually did. I enjoyed having shivers race down my spine and having myself have to keep reading. I think the plot is very good in this book and it was executed perfectly. I also liked that the author went into such depth with the characters. Even the minor characters were described thoroughly and you could really see all the aspects that any given character had. The imagery in this book was great too. Everything was filled with detail so you could be brought into the story and feel the aura of the town. I loved that. I also loved the little bit of romance that was thrown in. It helped the story not seem all scary! The ending, of course, was filled with a ton of suspense and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, Dead Girl's Dance. I would highly recommend this book.

Frenemies Contest

The wonderful Nicole is having a contest for a signed ARC of the book Frenemies by Alexa Young. To enter, you just post a comment telling her what your favorite book is from 2008 so far. What could be easier? So head on over to her blog and check it out!

Secrets of My Suburban Life by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Ren D'arc's mom was killed by Harry Potter. Well not actually by him, but by his books. She was crushed by a pile of J.K. Rowlings books in a freak accident. So, after that, her dad decides to move them out of New York and into a small
Connecticut town. And since Ren has lived in New York all her life, she has no idea how to fit in to a town in which you need to drive and the school requires you to play a sport. Things go from bad to worse with her when she discovers that the snobby, rich girl Farrin has been chatting online with an older man and is actually planning to meet him. So Ren decides to intervene, but after she finds out who the guy is, it just brings more and more trouble.

I liked this book a lot. I think that the plot line was really unique because I have never read a book about an internet sex predator. And a funny book at that! So, I definitely liked the idea of the story, it was new and interesting. The one thing that I didn't like though was the unbelievability of Ren's character. I don't really think that anyone has ever been exempt from playing sports in elementary school gym class and she, supposedly, has never done a sport of any kind. Also, in the scene where she walks out of the door of her house to hail a cab, I find her rather immature. I think that anyone would understand that you just cannot walk out the door in the suburbs to catch a ride. Other than that though, I thought this book was really quite good. I especially liked that the author leads you to believe that you know who the bad guy is but at the end she adds a big twist that really made the book fun. So, I would definitely recommend this book. It was a fast, easy read with a good message!

m or f? by Lisa Papademetriou and Chris Tebbets

Frannie and Marcus are brain twins. They finish each other's thoughts and are always there whenever the other needs a second opinion. So naturally Frannie turns to Marcus (who's gay) when she starts crushing on Jeffrey. The problem is, Frannie is too scared to talk to him so they start having online conversations where Marcus writes for Frannie. Jeffrey and Marcus really seem to hit it off and that's when everybody starts making mistakes and things get confusing. Frannie and Marcus have to get through tough situations and find out who everybody really is on the inside to sort through the mess that they've created for themselves.

This book actually wasn't that bad. I was a little tentative going into it because I've read some pretty amazing books recently and didn't want this book to not live up to them. Frannie and Marcus's story is very cute and heartwarming. I think that the authors did a great job working through a complex, twisting plotline to make it all turn out in the end. I also like the two main characters. I really appreciated how in depth each of the people in the story were. You really got to know them which is great. Some books really don't develop their characters very well, but this is not one of them. One of the other things that I thought was cool was how the book explored sexuality a little bit. Some of the main characters are gay and I really liked reading the story through their perspective. It shows that everyone thinks the same way and there is no reason to be afraid or disrespectful of someone who just happens to have different attractions than you. All in all, I really liked the book m or f? and would recommend it to everyone.

Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz

In the second book of the Blue Bloods series, Schuyler Van Alen is trying to figure out the mystery of the Silver Bloods. When her grandfather comes back to New York after a self-professed exile, Schuyler's world starts changing. Her grandfather is teaching her many skills and techniques that only grown vampires know and the effort is taking a toll. She has to take a human familiar so that she can regain strength and doesn't end up in a coma like her mother. But who will be her familiar? And then a new student comes to Duchesne and no one knows much about him. He's a trouble maker and very self confident, but is there more to this new guy than what everyone thinks? All of these things are just making Schuyler's life as a half-blood vampire more difficult. She's going to have to put her self to the test when a Silver Blood attack rocks the committee and someone is wrongly convicted. Will Schuyler be able save the committee and ultimately someone's life?

Eek! This is yet another vampire series that I've fallen in love with. There are just so many good vampire books out there and this one is definitely not an exception. One of the things that I like is Melissa De La Cruz's writing style; it flows really nicely. I also like how she gets so in depth with the characters. It's got to be hard to make up all the past lives of the characters because they have lived since the beginning of time and are just reincarnate. I like how all their back stories weave together. I also like the idea of the blood bond between two vampires. It creates drama and struggle which is always a great element in a story. And I think my favorite thing about this book would have to be the imagery. When Schuyler and Oliver go to Venice, you can really picture the canals and streets; and then when Mimi had the party I loved the description of the old synagogue with the broken beams and tealights. It sounded so magical and I could really see it in my mind which I loved. My other favorite thing would have to be Schuyler. I just like her character so much. She's always super modest even when she's getting a ton of attention and that is always an attractive trait in a person. She is definitely not egocentric. So, as you can see, I am totally devoted to the Blue Bloods series. I would highly recommend this book to everyone and am eagerly awaiting the sequel Revelations, coming in the fall!

Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

In the third book of the House of Night series, we join Zoey Redbird, a fledgling vampyre, once again. Things are really getting turned upside down in her life. For instance, her best friend is undead and pretty much all monster. Also, she has three boyfriends. No, not one, three. And to add to that, her sworn enemy, Aphrodite, seems to be the only person she can turn to. Oh, and adult vampyres start being killed. Sound's fun doesn't it? Now, Zoey has to try and figure out what's going on without her evil mentor/the House of Night's high priestess finding out that Zoey's on to her. And she has to deal with her guy situation. Also, she is still hanging on to a thread of hope that her best friend might still be saved. With all this going on, Zoey's having to keep a lot of secrets and when her friends find out what she's been keeping from them, it's not going to be pretty. I'm just glad I'm not Zoey...

I have been in love with the House of Night series since reading the first book, Marked. And with the third book, my love was just deepened. :P I really don't have much to complain about with this book! For example, the plot, though very complicated, was woven seamlessly and perfectly. The Casts really know how to deliver a story convincingly. I love, love, love this series! One of the things that sort of bothered me though was Zoey's selfishness. I mean, three boyfriends? Come on. And throughout the story she's debating what to do about that situation, but never actually acts on it. The only way the boyfriend problem gets cleared up is when the guys find out about each other. Not really a great way for it to end, huh? I think it really served Zoey right though for her to end up with no guys loyal to her. That actually satisfied me. So I'm hoping that for the next book, Untamed, coming in the fall, Zoey learns her lesson and puts it into action. One of the other things that I liked was the character Aphrodite. It really proved that even though people can be horrible in the beginning, everyone can change and I really liked that perspective. I was also glad that Stevie Rae, Zoey's undead best friend, came back in the end. I loved her charachter and can't wait to see more of her. So, obviously, I really liked this book. It's just another example of all the great vampire books out there! I would highly recommend it.

Wake by Lisa McMann

Janie rarely has dreams of her own. She is always sucked into others', and it's not much fun. I mean, how would you feel if you never had a true second of rest and were always on your guard for the next dream you would have to play a part in? It would definitely not be fun. And then one day, she experiences a new kind of dream, that of Cabel Strumheller. It's horrific, violent, and extremely frightening. Jamie has to somehow figure out how to control her ability and at the same time learn the truth about Cabel and all the mysteries that he keeps from her.

After all of the rave reviews about Wake I figured I had to go pick myself up a copy and learn what all the hype was about. I was not disappointed. Although the beginning was a little dry, it quickly picked up and I was completely drawn in. Lisa McMann's writing style was very unique and even though at first I thought it would be annoying, I actually really enjoyed the change from the usual writing style in books. I especially liked the idea of the plot. Falling into dreams is a cool, novel concept, and Lisa wrote about it flawlessly. It really made me think about what it would be like to be privy to everyone's secret thoughts. Although it might sound appealing now, Lisa really showed that not everything is what it seems, especially having to experience others' dreams. One of the other things I liked about the book was Cabel and Janie's relationship. I liked the way their romance evolved and they ultimately learned everything about each other. I wish I had me a Cabel. :) So, without a doubt, this was an extremely good book and I would recommend it to everyone and anyone. I can't wait for the sequel Fade!

A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Imagine living as a ghost for 130 years. No one has ever been able to see you, hear you, or feel you, and you've never seen another ghost. And then one day, a boy looks at you. He doesn't just look through you, he actually looks you in the eyes and acknowledges your presence. That's what happens to Helen, and now her world is suddenly linked with the human one. Not only do she and the boy, James, fall in love, but she discovers that he is actually a ghost like her but is inhabiting an abandoned human's body. Helen, following his example, also goes into a body in order to be with him, which brings about tons of trouble. She and James must find a way to be together, bring peace to the lives that they are living as humans, and find a way to heaven.

I liked this book a lot. It was written in a sort of old-fashioned style which was really neat and there was a bunch of great imagery. I liked how the author really delved into the details of living as a ghost and explored all the aspects of it. I've read about vampires and werewolves in books, but never about a ghost, so this was really cool. Also, the whole story has an aura of spookiness about it, and it sent shivers down my spine more than once. Helen and James can't remember anything about how they died in their previous lives as actual humans, and seeing them find out about their pasts was really eery. I also liked the whole romantic side of the book with Helen and James' relationship, seeing as their human bodies came from such unsimilar backgrounds. I did feel as though their relationship was rather underdeveloped and I think the author could have done a little more with it. Overall though, A Certain Slant of Light was a breath of fresh air for me. I would highly recommend this book.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Quincie Morris and her uncle are opening a vampire themed restaurant in Austin, Texas. When their chef gets brutally murdered they hire a new young man but there are many mysteries still surrounding the murder case. Meanwhile, Quincie's best friend Kieren, who happens to be half werewolf, is trying to sort through his and Quincie's relationship as well as find his place in the world as a half were-person. And then the more serious attacks start. People are missing left and right with no clues as to who the kidnapper/murderer is. It is up to Quincie to put all the pieces of this complicated puzzle together before everything she depends on is lost forever.

This book was not one of my favorites, but it wasn't horrible. One of the things that I liked about it was the imagery. The author did a great job describing the setting and the characters which helped redeem this book in my eyes. I felt like I could really feel the atmosphere of the book which is always a turn-on for me when I'm reading. There were a couple of things that I didn't like very much though. Specifically the undeveloped plot. I felt like there were a lot of pieces left hanging. I also didn't really fully understand the whole were-person/vampire part of the story and I wish the book had explored more into the magical perspective because that was one of the more interesting things. Also, some parts of the book were rather confusing but they mostly cleared up as I kept reading. So overall, although this book was not a favorite of mine, it wasn't extremely bad either. It had a nice general plot but could have done more with developing things. I'm hoping there might be a sequel to clear some things up but I'm not counting on it. I guess I would recommend this book because it did hold my attention while I was reading for the most part.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Nick and Norah meet and use each other at a club one night in order to get revenge on both of their exes. They both had their issues with their previous relationships, but after spending some time talking together, they discover that they're attracted to each other. And after night of clubbing, kissing, and getting to know each other, they both find a part of themselves in the other and have their views of life altered.

I have to say that this was not one of my favorite books. Don't get me wrong, the story line was cute and all with them spending a night together wandering around New York finding out who they are, but there wasn't much more to the plot than that. And with the excessive amount of swearing and sexuality, this book really failed to engage me. When I first picked it up, I thought it would be an enjoyable light read about young love and such, and I guess it was but it really wasn't all that good. The only circumstances I would recommend it under would be if you had absolutely nothing else to read. Sorry, but I didn't really like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.