Your Blog Is Fabulous! Award!

I got the Your Blog Is Fabulous Award from The Book Gobbler and Sharon and SweetMelissa818!

Update: And thanks also goes to Amy, Jordyn, Taren and Liviania!

Thank you, you guys!

5 Things I'm Addicted To:

1. Buying books when I don't have room for them!

2. Checking my email first thing in the morning.

3. Sparkling water of all kinds!

4. My new winter boots (i've been wearing them for a month straight, no joke)

5. The YA Book Swap chatroom!

You all are too fabulous so I cannot pick who to tag, I apologize!

Where My Books Live Part 2

Multiple people have said I didn't show enough pictures or books in my previous post here. I can't take pictures of all of my books, that would take pretty much forever, so I had these random Polaroids from several years ago before I started buying tons and tons and tons of books. It shows all the bookcases I currently have, so use your imagination to figure out where the rest of my books are! (It's not pretty) If you have stalked me on Facebook these might not be new to you, sorry. R.I.P. Polaroids.

That pile on the left now is my TBR pile that I showed in my previous post, and that green bookshelf is all YA now.

This is my desk bookcase, it's pretty much still like that.

This is a zoomed out view of a bookcase I showed in the previous post as well.

This Week In Books Or Hopefully This Can Turn Into An Average Week!

*Sorry I know I've used this layout for a picture in the past :/

Monday:

Vidalia In Paris by Sasha Watson
My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff
Retail Anarchy by Sam Pocker

Vidalia came from Em via a mooch! Red Book I won from Teddy Rose! And Retail Anarchy came for review.

Tuesday: nothing

Wednesday:

Alligator Bayou by Donna Jo Napoli

Came for review.

Thursday:

Happy Birthday Or Whatever by Annie Choi

I know a lot of you noticed I didn't get anything at the library last week, I did this week! :P

Friday:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Came for review.

Saturday: nothing

Lookalikes 38

The After Life by Daniel Ehrenhaft

Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde

For this one my vote is going to go to the first cover, I like the crispness of the image and the title treatment and background. I really dislike how the image is blurred in the second but I do like the type treatment used.

Which is your favorite?

UPDATE: Here's one from Deborah! Thanks!

It's got to be from the same shoot at the one above, though in this one it looks like perhaps the person has nail polish on their toes! 

RV There Yet? by Diann Hunt

Booking Through Thursday: Collectibles

Hardcover? Or paperback?

Paperbacks for almost everything. The only types of books I prefer hardcovers for are art/design books that have to stand the test of time and me touching me all the time. I pull them out and look at them a lot more than novels so they need to deal with more wear. Besides that, paperbacks all the way. They are so much easier to hold and don't poke you in the hands!

Illustrations? Or just text?

Both! Sometimes individually, sometimes together! I love graphic novels and design books so sometimes you just don't need words!

First editions? Or you don’t care?

Don't really care. Though, I do have an ARC of a book that was pulled from the shelf for plagiarism so that's kind of interesting. Doesn't really have anything to do with the question but yeah...

Signed by the author? Or not?

Signed books are always nice but I still love my un-signed books :)

So, what about you! This was a fun one!

LOL

Amazon.com:

From acclaimed auteur Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes the Stairs, Kissing on the Mouth), the SXSW Film Festival favorite LOL is a raw, witty and painfully intimate look at modern sexuality and the technology that either helps us click or turns us off.

Struggling to balance their online obsessions with the demands of real life, Alex (Kevin Bewersdorf), Chris (C. Mason Wells) and Tim (Swanberg) are, like many young men, unable to decipher the mixed messages that everyday tools of communication offer. Does e-mail help them connect, or are they alienating their chances for love by viewing women through the dimensions of a computer screen and the lens of a cameraphone?

Filmed with documentary-like realism and a nonprofessional cast, and featuring a brilliantly eclectic soundtrack by Bewersdorf, LOL's defiantly un-Hollywood approach pulls no punches in its up-to-the-second relevance and honesty about the new male paradigm.

I've seen a handful of movies from this group of people, but only one by this actual director. I think I preferred this one a bit to his other movie, Hannah Takes the Stairs.

It definitely brings to light an interesting and important topic, being too connected and plugged in via the phones and computers (which I suspect might be me right now). And this movie is a good example of maybe what not to do! It depicts strained relationships and ones left unexplored because of technology as a distraction and interference.

My favorite parts of the movie were the montages of mouth sounds that are cut together to make music (by one of the characters.) I couldn't get enough of it! I also liked the montages of camera phone pictures played to voice mails. Beautiful stuff.

And a warning, there is some nudity in this movie so if you shouldn't be watching it please don't!

3/5 Stars
Watched via Netflix

"Waiting On" Wednesday! 19

It's Not You, It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann

From Amazon.com:

Funny and touching—this is a heartfelt breakup story.

Zoe loves Henry.

Henry dumps Zoe.

Zoe wants Henry back—at any cost.

Zoe’s two best friends come up with a plan to help Zoe get what she thinks she wants. The plan: make Henry jealous.

But the plan takes a surprising turn. . . .

Spanning thirty-one days in the cycle of a breakup, Kerry Cohen Hoffmann’s humorous and poignant novel depicts a girl whose single-minded focus on her ex-boyfriend has pulled her far from the person she most needs to win back—herself.

Released June 9th 2009

I've read the author's memoir, Loose Girl, she has a really engaging writing style. I've picked up one of her YA books, Easy and this new one sounds great as well! I love that the whole book takes place in a span of 31 days. And that cover just makes me squeal!

What can't you wait for to be released?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Tuesday Thingers!

Today's question: Do you have a specialized blog where you only review a certain genre or type of book? If so, what is your favorite thing about that type of book? If not, what is/are your favorite genre(s)? What makes that genre(s) a favorite?

My blog isn't specialized but it seems I'm reviewing a lot of young adult books lately. I guess that's the genre I'm most interested in currently so I'm a bit more up to date about new releases in that genre. That being said I enjoy a variety of genres including, chick lit, memoirs, and comics among other things! I'm also trying to do some movie reviews to live up to my blogs name!

I guess what makes a genre a favorite is when I enjoy a great number of books from that genre, I know that I'll probably enjoy more!

What's your favorite genre currently?

Hardcover vs. Paperback 17

Girls Dinner Club by Jessie Elliot

Hardcover

Paperback

Amazon.com Product Description:

ingredients one rainy afternoon one huge crush on a boy a few secrets a kitchen, preferably somewhere in Brooklyn fresh laughter -- as much as you want one or two broken hearts a pinch of salt a good friend -- or even better, three Junie's The love of Junie's life for the past year is suddenly acting like a crazed puppy. Celia's dad has found the most ridiculous woman in all of Manhattan -- and decided, after fifteen years of being single, to date her. Danielle's hot-guy-in-a-band ex-boyfriend is trying to convince her that he's "changed." Sometimes, living life is a recipe for disaster. Sometimes, girls just have to make their own recipes.

Doesn't this sound a little like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Teashop Girls? I like both covers but like the hardcover just a bit more for the pastel colors, style of photography, and title treatment!

Which is your favorite?

SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground

Thanks to Sheri S. from Bookopolis who suggested this movie to me!

Amazon.com:

New York has a reputation for being a surprising city. But you won't believe the surprises that rock its foundations daily, and the adventures that await those who venture into its serpentine subway system. Subway Stories is ten movies in one, capturing the laughter, the fear, the sexiness, the strangeness, the money ??? and the lack of it ??? that every day shapes the lives of those who ride the subways of New York. From the young Wall Streeter who could make it rich to the con artist with a paper cup; from a love affair without words to a chance meeting where music is the only language; from being in the right place at the right time to the wrong place at the wrong time ??? it's a ride you'll never forget! Each story is helmed by a different acclaimed director, including Bob Balaban, Jonathan Demme and Ted Demme.

So, this movie has a very interesting premise. New Yorkers were invited to submit their stories from riding the subway and then 10 were turned into short films starring some very recognizable actors and actresses. Some stories are sad and other humorous. There is a great mix of emotions here.

Some of my favorites were "Underground", where a young man has his heart and face broken and is nursed and a little more by a sweet older women, "Honey-Getter" where a women asserts herself when I really didn't think she would, "Love On The A Train" which is about a strange relationship which I still cannot believe is a true story(!) and "Manhattan Miracle" which was surprising therapeutic to watch.

Because these are true stories they don't really have story arcs, they are more snippets of life not unlike other short films or stories. And it's really crazy to think that all of these are true. I ride a bus in a metropolitan area but don't see things nearly this crazy!

4/5 Stars
Watched via Netflix

Watch Me (Trust Me I'm Good)

So I love this movie, Salaam-E-Ishq and since it shares and actor with the Oscar winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire I thought this was a good excuse to post this song from it! I still need to see Slumdog Millionaire *shame*

The Makedown by Gitty Daneshvari

From Amazon.com:

Anna Norton used to be fat. Correction: Anna Norton used to be a fat, nerdy, overeater with low self esteem. When she moves from suburban Ohio to Manhattan at age 23, her life does a total 180. With guidance from her boss, an unlikely Fairy Godmother in the form of a chic caterer and excellent cook, Anna loses all the weight and--though still not quite Kate Moss--finally drops her inferiority complex, brushes the crumbs off her skirt, and enters the world of feeling good, looking good, and...finally having sex.

When Anna meets Ben, the man of her dreams (and of every other person's dreams who isn't blind) she almost can't believe she is dating the Ken Doll. Deep down, she is still the chubby nerd who wrote in a diary called Hello Fatty. But not everything is perfect; her hot boyfriend is a huge flirt, and every leggy blond who crosses his path is a threat to Anna. She just can't escape the feeling that Ben is way out of her league and that everyone thinks she is dating up and he's dating down. It gets so bad, she decides she will do anything to make these women go away.

Enter the Makedown. The reverse makeover. As Anna was made up, so will Ben be made down. Where she went from shabby to chic, he will go from prince to frog. Anna will sabotage his hotness for the sake of her own sanity, and to bring this man into more of what she considers her own league. Enter Nair to induce premature balding, Sears catalogs to inspire bad dressing, and secret additions of cream to her cooking and SKOR bars in granola bar wrappers to induce weight gain. Hilarity ensues, but in the end, Anna must find out if Ben's makedown will save their relationship, or end it.


The Makedown is a very interesting book and definitely more than chick lit. I could relate to it in some ways, I could definitely weigh less than I do and I love junk food. I was very interested to see Anna's transformation from a totally socially awkward over-eater to a thin more confident women.

Before I started reading I was unsure where the book would start. Would it start right at the Makedown and hint to the past and Anna's transformation or start before that? Thankfully it starts when Anna is very young and gives snippets of her life until she graduates from college and then the story settles down and proceeds from there. So by the time the actual makedown starts we have a real sense of Anna and her hopes and fears.

I think my favorite part of the book was right up until she started dating her Mr. Wonderful, Ben (I couldn't really see his appeal beyond his physical attractiveness). Then I felt like she became a totally different person (which sometimes does happen to people) and not in a really good way. I admit it was pretty funny to read about how she tried to prevent her boyfriend from flirting and being flirted with but after awhile it did get kind of sad, though Anna did realize her mistake and tried to fix it.

Her banter and relationship with her FG (Fairy Godmother) was great. I was really interested to see how she was going to kick her junk food addiction and lose all her extra weight, some pretty drastic measures had to be taken for it to happen. I thought the book could have done without the Epilogue but besides that I thought it ended how it should have.

I would definitely suggest this book, it's funny, hopeful and a bit out of the ordinary!

The Makedown is released on February 25th.

4/5 Stars
Review copy received from publisher

This Week In Books Or What A Week For A Swap!

Monday: nothing

Tuesday:

Pretty Tough by Liz Tigelaar
Meet Me at the Boardwalk by Erin Haft

I got these books from Hope from a swap, thanks Hope!

The School of Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer
The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty

These two came from bookmooch! The Year of Secret Assignments is the book with the misspelled spine I freaked out about here.

How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro

Tina Ferraro kindly send me her book, How to Hook a Hottie for guessing her favorite YA Book from 2008, Let it Snow, during her chat last week! Thanks Tina it was a great time!

Confessions of a Former Child by Daniel J. Tomasulo

This one came for review.

Wednesday:

Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra
Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler

These came from The Book Muncher via a swap! Thank you!

Thursday:

Prelude by William Coles
Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet by Joanne Proulx
The Rose Variations by Marisha Chamberlain
Everything Is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis

These came for review.

Friday:

The Local News by Miriam Gershow

This came for review also, it was starting to get covered by snow when i found it!

Saturday: nothing

Benefit From My Bargain Finds Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to everyone that entered my giveaway! The 4 winners have been emailed and they are:

Michelle Kuo- The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Sheri S- Confessions of A Triple Shot Betty

Robin_titan- Revenge of the Homecoming Queen

Morgan- Audrey,Wait!

Winners, please email me back with you addresses!

Thanks to everyone that entered! Check out the comments here to read what everyone said were the most interesting books they recently read!

Thank You's! (Really Late!)

So apparently I've been very very lazy lately and have been meaning to give a few shout-outs! So here they are! I have these all on post-it notes, so i hope i didn't forget anyone! I'm sorry if I did, I suck!

Thank you to Mari of Mari Reads and Avis of She Reads and Reads for nominated me for the Premio Dardos Award!













Thanks to LadyTink of Up Close & Personal with LadyTink for her super special personalized award she made! How cute is that! Thank you!





Thanks to S. Krishna of S. Krishna Books and Meghan of Medieval Bookworm for the Friends award!

Giveaway Reminder! Ends Tonight!

Just wanted to give a quick reminder that if you wanted to enter my Benefit From My Bargain Finds Giveaway, tonight is your last chance! It ends at 11:59 pm Central Time tonight! Thanks to everyone that has entered so far!

Lookalikes 37

Pants On Fire by Meg Cabot

Pants On Fire by Meg Cabot (back cover)

Sticky Fingers by Niki Burnham

I didn't even have to think about where my vote would go this time. Pants On Fire wins for me by a landslide. It is so so colorful where the other is practically monochromatic and cuts off at a weird place on the guys neck.

Which is your favorite?

Thanks goes to Amee for pointing out this lookalike!

Booking Through Thursday: Storage

Question: I recently got new bookshelves for my room, and I’m just loving them. Spent the afternoon putting up my books and sharing it on my blog . One of my friends asked a question and I thought it would be a great BTT question. So from Tina & myself, we’d like to know “How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?”

Er, in the past I sort of arranged by genre and now I totally don't arrange. i haven't had room on my bookshelves for a long time now so they basically just go where there is room, in stacks mostly! A few months ago I tried to rearrange a bit to clump genres back together and it sort of worked but then I got new books and now it's a big mess again. Refer to this post to see what i mean. (Those pictures were totally taken after doing some straightening).

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro

From Amazon.com:
Parker Stanhope has played soccer practically since she could walk. And now that she’s a high school junior, everything she’s worked for is finally coming together. She’s paid her dues on the field, and as an upperclassman, she’s a shoo-in for the varsity team. But that’s not what happens.

This year, Coach Hartley moved up every JV player but two—and one of those two was Parker. Now, she’s stuck with the freshmen, her friends are cutting her loose, and her love of the game is seriously beginning to fail. But Parker is determined to get her life back. She has to get on the varsity team, and she has the perfect plan. All she needs now is the right kind of coach.

The ABC's of Kissing Boys is a cute book worth of multiple squeals! It's a great mixture of flirting, romance, and learning who you really are.

Parker's "faux-mance" with the younger Tristian stars innocently enough. He knows how to kiss and she needs his skills to pull off a stunt to get back onto the varsity soccer team. Soon enough the line between business and actual romance starts to blur and Parker finds out that maybe she's enjoying her time with Tristian a bit more than she had expected. And holy crap it's too cute for words! Their back and forth banter and warring fathers is great. It's never boring and always entertaining!

Parker's pack of three friends headed by Chrissandra decide to cut her loose so she can bond with her new team or so they say. But really they don't think she is good enough for them anymore, at first Parker goes along with their taunts and jokes but soon enough realizes they aren't real friends and ends up reconnecting with a friend from her past. I was so glad that Parker didn't allow these so-called friends of hers to get the best of her and ended up finding a real friend. It's actually something I could relate to and I'm glad that she ended up making the same decision as me (we are both for the better!)

This is a very enjoyable book that is fun and romantic but also deals with some of the issues kids face in school. This book will surely put you in a great mood!

The ABC's of Kissing Boys was released on January 13th.

4/5 Stars
Review copy received from publisher

What's one book that puts you in a great mood?

"Waiting On" Wednesday! 18

Tempo Change by Barbara Hall

From Amazon.com:

It’s tough enough defining your identity—imagine if your father was a rock legend.

Blanche Kelly's dad is a famous indie rock icon, but not many people at the private school she attends on scholarship know this. Her father left when she was in the first grade, and she can’t quite forgive her mom for not understanding that an artist like her dad needs the time and space to connect to his muse.

When Blanche creates an all-girl rock band, their sound captures a wide audience and the band is invited to compete at the Coachella Music Festival. Blanche feels this could be the perfect time for a reunion with her father. Won’t he be proud to hear her band? Won’t he be happy to get to know his only daughter?

Author Barbara Hall sensitively explores the expectations between parents and teens, as well as the value of learning about your past to make your own future.

Released June 9th 2009

I've been wanting to read more music related books and this sounds like a great one! Not only a famous father musician but an all-girl band? Sounds great!

What can't you wait for to be released?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Tuesday Thingers!

Today's question: How do you get your books for reviewing? Do you track them somehow (excel, database, etc), or just put them in a tbr (To Be Read for anyone that doesn't know) pile?

Well when I originally decided to turn my blog into a book orientated blog I had already been a member of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's Program for some months. So to start, I literally posted all the reviews I had done for the program! Then I started posting reviews of books that I was just reading (my own books) all the while still doing the Early Reviewer's books. Eventually I found things like Shelf Awareness and Bostick Communications (which found me). I think I've only ever received one book from Bostick (even though I expressed interesting in maybe 2 others). In the summer I received my first email from an author about reviewing their book and I was over the moon! I don't get tons of emails like that but enough to keep me squealing with excitement! I've also started getting books straight from the publishers from various sources.

How do I track them? Let's see. First I write the book down on a paper check-list to make sure i post my reviews where i want to post them, then a paper calendar, then a word document (which also acts as a calendar and a list of what I got from where) so basically I'm a bit over-organized to the point of confusion. I really need to pick one system and stick with it. Also, I have a bookstack stack that is divided by release month and then another stack of books that have already been released. And then, because I don't track these things enough places, can view them all through goodreads as well!

How do you keep yourself organized?

My Worst Fear

See this book, doesn't it look good!

Now see the spine? Does something look wrong to you...

Do you see it now? Oh my gosh Assignment is spelled wrong! Apparently someone forgot to use spellcheck! I hope I never do that!

I just noticed this and had to share!

Hardcover vs. Paperback 16

Pants On Fire by Meg Cabot

U.S. Hardcover and Paperback

Alternative Cover

U.K. Hardcover

U.K. Paperback

Barnes and Noble Product Description:

Katie Ellison is not a liar.
It's just that telling the truth is so . . . tricky. She knows she shouldn't be making out with a drama club hottie behind her football-player boyfriend's back. She should probably admit that she can't stand eating quahogs (clams), especially since she's running for Quahog Princess in her hometown's annual Quahog Festival. And it would be a relief to finally tell someone what really happened the night Tommy Sullivan is a freak was spray-painted on the new wall outside the junior high school gymnasium—in neon orange, which still hasn't been sandblasted off. After all, everyone knows that's what drove Tommy out of town four years ago.

But now Tommy Sullivan has come back. Katie is sure he's out for revenge, and she'll do anything to hang on to her perfect (if slightly dishonest) existence. Even if it means telling more lies than ever. Even if, now that Tommy's around, she's actually—no lie—having the time of her life.

This time not only do we get to pick a favorite cover but a favorite title! Personally, I like the cover being used in American, love how colorful it is and the little stars everywhere. I also like that title better!

Which cover and which title do you prefer?

TV Meme!

I saw this on Amy's blog today and decided I just had to do it too!

1. Name a TV show series in which you have seen every episode at least twice: There are probably others but for sure Felicity and Veronica Mars.

2. Name a show you can’t miss: Er that's a hard one. The Big Bang Theory (i missed one episode this year and couldn't find it online. I was mad!) How I Met Your Mother, The Office, 30 Rock.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show: Tina Fey, that's why I started watching 30 Rock!

4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show: Charlie Sheen

5. Name a show you can, and do, quote from: A quote? I'm not sure if I can do a quote.

6. Name a show you like that no one else enjoys: I'm not sure a show like that exists but I don't think I've ever heard people talk about the show, Life As We Know It. It ran for probably half a season before it was cancelled.

7. Name a TV show which you’ve been known to sing the theme song: I sort of sing along in my head to the Gilmore Girls theme song, I have the cd too!

8. Name a show you would recommend everyone to watch: Pushing Daisies, it's a movie quality tv show!

9. Name a TV series you own: Er I own a lot. Off the top of my head, Veronica Mars, Felicity, Mad Men, The Office, 30 Rock, Gilmore Girls, The O.C., Gossip Girl, The Big Bang Theory and Sex and the City. I better stop here...

10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium, but has surprised you with his/her acting choices in television: Wasn't America Ferrara a movie actress before she started Ugly Betty? I thought that was pretty awesome!

11. What is your favorite episode of your favorite series? Well I just recently watched a great Veronica Mars episode, The Wrath of Con from Season 1!

12. Name a show you keep meaning to watch, but you just haven’t gotten around to yet: Let me consult my Netflix Queue! Friday Night Lights (my friend says I'll love it despite the football)

13. Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad? Yeah in the last few years I stopped watching Grey's Anatomy and Heroes, not because they were bad but because they were boring. I might check them out on dvd again someday. And you all are going to hate me but.... after seeing the first several episodes of LOST when it premiered I couldn't take it anymore and decided to maybe try it again once the series had ended.

14. Name a show that’s made you cry multiple times: Not sure about multiple times but the last episode of Six Feet Under had me sobbing!

15. What do you eat when you watch TV? Anything, and that's probably the problem!

16. How often do you watch TV? About 4ish days a week, give or take a day for DVRed shows.

17. What’s the last TV show you watched? I watched Desperate Housewives last night.

18. What’s your favourite/preferred genre of TV? Comedy! Or feel good-ish drama with a bit of humor.

19. What was the first TV show you were obsessed with? Full House??

20. What TV show do you wish you never watched? Heroes, it just stayed boring and never got better, very disappointing!

21. What’s the weirdest show you enjoyed? I think Arrested Development is pretty weird in a random way and I love it!

22. What TV show scared you the most? I usually don't watch scary things but I watched X-files a few times with my friend and it was really creepy!

23. What is the funniest TV show you have ever watched? That's a hard question! 4 way tie between The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, and 30 Rock!

24. What show was cancelled too early? And easier question would be which show wasn't cancelled too early. Here are just a few.... Veronica Mars, Freaks and Geeks, My So-Called Life, Arrested Development and Pushing Daisies.

Want to play along? Just answer these questions on your blog and leave me a comment so I can come check out your answers!

Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson

From Amazon.com:
After discovering that someone saw what looked like Dan’s emergency EpiPen in A-lister Plum’s designer handbag, Scarlett and her tough American sidekick, Taylor, sneak into a posh London nightclub, where Plum has a private table. Scarlett is stunned to discover a piece of evidence that might implicate another girl in Plum’s exclusive circle, Lucy Raleigh. Which means Scarlett must cast a wider net in order to catch the right suspect.

Back at school, groundskeeper Jase is hoping to take Scarlett’s mind off her troubles with some heart-stopping kisses. Scarlett can’t help but feel guilty for indulging in romantic rendezvous when she should be hunting down Dan’s killer. However, once Scarlett finds out how Lucy is connected to Dan, she knows she must drop everything and travel to the McAndrew estate in Scotland to hunt for more clues. But when she arrives, Scarlett becomes the target of a dangerous hunt herself.

A Warning: Don't read this book unless you have read Kiss Me Kill Me, the prequel! You will be very confused!

Kisses and Lies picked right up where Kiss Me Kill Me left off. There is a small recap from the previous book but not enough in my option to skip the first book. Scarlett and Taylor have become great friends and are determined as ever to solve Dan's murder. In my opinion all the really good stuff happens in this book and Kiss Me Kill Me is just the set-up for all of this to happen! A whole family of new characters of introduced, lengthening the suspect list greatly. Some of the situations are humorous while others are deadly serious, but all the while a great time to read! Also, Scarlett and Jase's relationship starts to blossom, not without its problems.

For me the best part of the book is when Scarlett goes to Scotland and meets Dan's family. Man was a group, and what a castle. You don't know who to trust or where you are safe or if Scarlett is going to be stuck going round and round in circles around the castle before finding the stairs! This was my kind of mystery! It did get a bit wonky towards the ending and I have to admit I sort of guessed who the killer was after a bit, but it was still great fun and I never knew what was going to happen next! The ending of this book is much more satisfying than the first book's ending but it definitely sets it up for a third book. Which in my opinion looks like it could be rather good and hopefully involving a love triangle or two!

Read my review of the previous book, Kiss Me, Kill Me here.

Kisses and Lies was released on January 13th.

4/5 Stars
ARC received from publisher

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

From Amazon.com:
Ida Mae Jones dreams of flight. Her daddy was a pilot and being black didn’t stop him from fulfilling his dreams. But her daddy’s gone now, and being a woman, and being black, are two strikes against her. When America enters the war with Germany and Japan, the Army creates the WASP, the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots—and Ida suddenly sees a way to fly as well as do something significant to help her brother stationed in the Pacific. But even the WASP won’t accept her as a black woman, forcing Ida Mae to make a difficult choice of “passing,” of pretending to be white to be accepted into the program. Hiding one’s racial heritage, denying one’s family, denying one’s self is a heavy burden. And while Ida Mae chases her dream, she must also decide who it is she really wants to be.

In school, I was always the girl that's eyes glazed over during history class. To me it was all a bunch of dates, facts, and mini-bio of people. Nothing for to grasp onto or become interested in. So when I heard about Flygirl I was afraid (like with all things historical) the same thing would happen. And to my great surprise and relief I loved it! Flygirl is a very engaging book that pieces together parts of an era and presents it in a narrative form. I seriously bet if Flygirl had been paired with a chapter on WWII in my high school history class I would have been interested a hundred more times over.

On to the story. Along with my hesitation about a historical book I've never really cared one way or another about flying. But this book made me care. Care about all the female pilots proving they are great at what they do, achieving their dreams, and just having that chance to fly. It was very empowering to read!

I loved the character of Ida Mae and her struggles to stay true to herself and her love of flying but also her family. I could totally sympathize with her, in a time period when the rights of African Americans and Women were not what they are today and should have been, it's hard to play by the rules when you know they are wrong. I thought Ida Mae handled her dilemma very well. The secondary characters were also great. Especially her close friends at training, Patsy and Lily. What a great bond they formed! I also appreciated how the ending was handled. It's one women's story and this is just the beginning of her journey.

Flygirl was a very engaging book that opened me up to a whole era that I had never really thought about at any great length. There is joy, sorrow, and real life. It was wonderful!

Flygirl was released on January 22nd.

4/5 Stars
ARC received from publisher

What is one historical fiction book that you enjoyed?

This Week In Books Or Could These Books Look Any Better (No They Could Not!)

Monday:

Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald
Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Sophomore Switch I got from Bookmooch but will also be reviewing sometime soon! Shadowed Summer was also for review, thank you!

Tuesday: nothing

Wednesday:

You Are So Undead to Me by Stacey Jay
Peace, Love and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
Hottie by Jonathan Bernstein
Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

Review copies, OMG I'm so excited! Sqqqqquuuuueeeeeeeee!

Thursday:

Crystal by V.C. Andrews

Got this at the library sale. Had never heard of this Orphans miniseries.

Friday:
Aurelia by Anne Osterlund
The Fearless Fish Out of Water by Robin Fisher Roffer

Thanks to Sarah from Sarah's Random Musings for Aurelia which I won in her contest! The Fearless Fish Out of Water is for review!

Saturday: nothing

Lookalikes 36

Breathless (Orca Soundings) by Pam Withers

Breathless by Lurlene McDaniel

I like this set of lookalikes because the books have the same title and very similar styles of photography. Same blue and everything! I like the photography of the first cover and the title treatment better on the second.

Which is your favorite?

Booking Through Thursday: Author's Talking

Do you read any author’s blogs? If so, are you looking for information on their next project? On the author personally? Something else?

I do read author blogs more and more lately! My favorite to read is Melissa Walker's blog! She talks about a lot of great things but my favorite feature is Cover Stories! Where author's tell the stories behind how their covers came to be!

I guess when I read author blogs it's more to find out more about them rather then when say their book is being released. Although it's always fun to hear about a new book coming out as well!

What's your favorite author blog?

"Waiting On" Wednesday! 17

Almost Single by Advaita Kala

From Amazon.com:

In a city where old is meeting new, daughters are surprising mothers, and love is breaking all the rules, this heartfelt and wickedly funny cross-cultural debut novel introduces a smart, irreverent young woman searching for independence and matrimony in a culture bound by tradition.

Between elegant soirees and the occasional mortifying mishap, Aisha Bhatia’s job as guest relations manager at New Delhi’s five-star Grand Orchid Hotel is intermittently fabulous—she certainly knows her wines and cheeses. But despite a life filled with good friends and first-class travel accommodations, the fact is that not many twenty-nine-year-old women in India are single—as Aisha’s mother never fails to remind her. Somewhere a clock is ticking, though as far as Aisha is concerned, it can be cheerfully drowned out by laughter over a champagne brunch. Yet when the handsomely chiseled Karan Verma arrives from New York, Aisha experiences an unexpected attitude adjustment. Karan is everything she’s ever wanted…that is, if she actually knew what she wanted. Is it possible that she’s about to find out?

Savvy, sexy, and unforgettable, Almost Single tackles the loving, exasperating tug-of-war between mothers and daughters, traditional customs and contemporary romance—and what happens when a modern Indian woman is caught in the middle.

Released February 24th 2009

I heard about this via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's Program! It sounds like it's going to be really great! The cover is unforgettable!

What can't you wait for to be released?

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

Tuesday Thingers!

Today's question: Do you use a rating system on your blog? How do you feel about using the rating system provided on sites like Library Thing and Amazon? When looking up information on a book you are interested in, do you use the ratings provided by these sites (or similar sites) to help you make the decision on purchasing the book?

I started using a rating system a few months ago when I felt I couldn't totally express myself with just my words (I need to work on that) I use stars 1-5. It probably goes something like this:
5- Favorite
4- Really Good
3- Good-ish
2- Has some problems
1- Probably finished out of obligation

I like Librarything's rating system the best, with the half star ratings. I use the same thing on my blog. Usually on Amazon I round up the half a star sometimes down half a star. I use a lot of half stars apparently!

I often look at the ratings of a book, if they are all similar I tend to believe them, if they are all over the place then it's hard to tell how I personally would enjoy a book. When looking at ratings I also read the reviews that go along with them.

Do you use a rating system? Do you find ratings helpful?

Hardcover vs. Paperback 15

Summer Intern by by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman

Hardcover

Paperback

Amazon.com Product Description:

To do:

Secure models for photo shoot.

Fetch dry cleaning when it arrives from Paris.

Walk big star's makeup artist's assistant's dog.

Snag invitation to tonight's hot party downtown.

I'm Kira Parker, total fashion junkie. I thought I had it made when I landed a summer internship at Skirt, the preeminent fashion magazine. Ha. Don't get me wrong—working at Skirt, and spending the summer in New York City without my parents, is amazing. But now I'm up against Daphne Hughes, daughter of the magazine's owner. She's already got the guy of my dreams and all the right connections. Now she thinks she'll get the plum position working for the editor in chief without even lifting a diamond-adorned pinky? This catwalk is primed for battle.

I'm not sure if either of these covers fit the description, an intern doesn't usually get to be glamorous right? Has anyone read this book? Anyhow I like the paperback better, the first one makes me think of backstage at a concert.

Hardcover or Paperback?

Got You Back by Jane Fallon

From HarperCollins.ca:

Stephanie loves James. Married for nine years, the couple leads a busy, sophisticated life in London -- Stephanie doing fashion styling for C-list celebrities, James working at his urban veterinary practice for half the week and at his rural practice the other half.

But Katie loves James, too. Ever since the kind and handsome vet treated her dog -- then asked her out for a drink -- they’ve practically moved in together. For the half week he spends in the country, she looks after him, helping him get over his “acrimonious divorce” and waiting for the day he’ll stay with her full time.

And James loves having it all: witty wife and doting girlfriend. Then Stephanie and Katie find out about each other and discover they’ve both been duped. Deciding that James deserves everything he has coming, they set out to embarrass and ruin him. But in discovering the truth about James, they also learn a few things about themselves. Told from all three sides of the love triangle, Got You Back is a witty, fun and surprising tale about getting along -- and getting even.

Got You Back was a treat to read. From the hilarious plotting of Stephanie and Katie to Stephanie's clients being tricked into wearing a more flattering outfit Got You Back is full of laughs. But forget all the laughs, the book also deals with serious issues as well, people's lives being ruined and having to start over and having your life turned upside down when finding out your partner has been living a lie. Got You Back is a great book that covers a lot of ground.

My favorite parts of the book were when James was set up to be embarrassed in some way by Stephanie and Katie. The stories he told to try and keep himself on people's good sides where too great. But then after awhile I did start to feel bad for him and was rooting for him to pick up the pieces of his life. You could tell he was truly sorry for what he had done and was ready to start over again.

I really liked the character of Stephanie and how she handled the situation. Though, maybe it wasn't the best idea to work out a plan to humiliate her husband (though what fun would the story be without it!). I also liked Katie who brought a whole different set of cards to the table. At first she just sort of went along with whatever Stephanie said but eventually found her own self in this whole mess. I think all three of them, Stephanie, Katie, and James came out of the situation for the better.

The ending wasn't exactly what I had expected but after thinking about it a bit more it makes sense. Overall I thought this book was a great mix of things that came together to create a funny, interesting, emotional and layered book. Jane Fallon is very talented and I look forward to reading her other book, Getting Rid of Matthew!

Got You Back was released by Harper Collins Canada in paperback February 6th!

To buy a copy visit Amazon.ca and click here to Browse Inside of it!

4.5/5 Stars
Review copy received from publisher

What is your favorite chick-lit book?

This Week In Books Or What Can I Say, I Buy As Much As I Can Carry!

Monday:

My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler
The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
Lucky Girl by Mei-Ling Hopgood

First three from Bookmooch. Thanks to Amee for suggesting A Company of Swans. And the last one was a random book for review! Sounds interesting!

Tuesday: nothing

Wednesday: nothing

Thursday:

Melody by V.C. Andrews
Contents Under Pressure by Lara M. Zeises
Babe in Toyland by Eugene Seifer Olson
Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations by Alexander McCall Smith
The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinski
There's A (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell by Laurie Notaro
Falling In Love With Natassia by Anna Monardo

^^^ Library Book Store, was there for longer than usual (more time to grab things)! Melody sounds like it might be the most interesting of the V.C. Andrews I've come across!


The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

Thanks to Yan for this book via a trade!

Friday:

Geektastic by Various
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

These came for review, I screamed OMG several times when I saw what they were!

The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor
I Love You, Let's Meet by Virginia Vitzthum
Envy by Anna Godbersen

First two were from the $2 Borders Clearance Sale while I was buying the books for my giveaway. I had $15 Borders Bucks and a coupon so I'll call Envy free!

Saturday:

The Celebutantes: On the Avenue by Antonio Pagliarulo

Got this from bookmooch, anyone read it?

So what are you reading right now?

Benefit From My Bargain Finds Giveaway!

So I went to Borders tonight, big surprise! Their clearance sale was down to everything for $2 and there were still a lot of great looking books left. So I decided to grab a few and give them away to you guys. Someone besides me should benefit from my bargain finds! Unfortunately I've only read one of these (Audrey, Wait! and it was really good) but I have my own copies of the rest of these to read as well! So since these are bargain books they have price stickers and the little black lines on some of their bottoms.

The Books:
Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale (paperback)

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty (hardcover)

Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (hardcover)

Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway (hardcover)

How To Enter:
- There will be 4 winners, each winning one book.

-Leave a comment on this post telling me about the most interesting book you read recently and which (or all) of the 4 books you would like to win.

- For one additional entry become a follower of my blog (if you do so already that counts too, just let me know) and leave a separate comment letting me know!

- This giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S. and Canada.

- Please leave a way for me to contact you if you are a winner!

- The giveaway will end Friday February 20th at 11:59pm Central Time.

Did I write this too fast and confuse anyone? Let me know!