The Body Scoop for Girls

The Body Scoop for Girls by M.D., Ob-Gyn, Jennifer Ashton

Review:

-Author was personable and wise. Teens in this day and age are less informed and more pressured to act "older" than ever before.

-Teen pregnancy has gone way up and that's not just because teens are impulsive. The media makes it sound like no big deal. The main reason girls get pregnant is simply because they are ignorant on the subject.

-It answers all the questions you're too embarrassed to ask (Informative).

-I got bored midway through, possibly because the contents are not entirely relevant to me, or maybe because it was just very lengthy (repetitive too).

-Overall? Excellent resource.

The Other Girl

The Other Girl by Sarah Miller
Pages:304
Genre:Social situations
Rating:6/10
Summary:
"Molly McGarry is about to learn that the only thing more traumatizing than spending six months trapped in your boyfriend’s head is being stuck inside your ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend’s head. After Molly dumps Gideon because she thinks he’s lusting after some one else, a game of spin the bottle leads to a kiss between Gideon and the beautiful, sexy Pilar Benitez-Jones. Somehow, the kiss knocks Molly out of Gideon’s head—and right into Pilar’s. Now she’s desperate to get Gid back. She uses all her “superpower” to try come between Pilar and Gid, but instead of breaking them up, she seems to be bringing them closer together. Can she stand to be at school with Gid and at the same time be inside the mind of the girl he moved on with? How does Molly win back Gid without letting him know what’s going on? And how on earth is she ever going to get out of Pilar’s head...?
My Review:
It's been ages since the first book came out (Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn), yet I was still excited to read the sequel.
I found it to be an exaggerated version of the first book. All the charm of the characters has been sucked out. Cullen was especially disappointing. He was actually funny in the first novel. His playfulness was lost in the sequel. His dialog was not realistic or amusing. It was just plain juvenile. Gid is just dull. His nerdy attitude is gone, as well as all his other idiosyncrasies.
The first novel was filled with drama, but it had an undercurrent of depth. Now, the characters are all good-looking idiots without an ounce of intelligence. Even when Molly is insecure, it doesn't come off as genuine. The way they interact with each other seemed as if the author was trying to hard to sound teen-like. I didn't like the casual way drugs, drinking, etc., were represented.
Another distinction between the first and second novel is the lack of logic. I honestly did not care why or how Molly got inside Gid's head because it was told well. In TOG, she stretches the imagination too far. I could hardly understand what was going on and felt like she was just bending the plot to her will, without any explanation. I wouldn't have minded so much if the story-telling was interesting. The whole book was all just mindless drama.
Overall, TOG is very different from the first, and not in a good way. The plot/characters are uninteresting and I had a difficult time sympathizing with them. I would still recommend reading the first book if you're in the mood for something light and funny.

Dexter

When I say I have been busy lately, that means I've been busy watching all four seasons of Dexter in one week. I should change my blog name to addictedtodexter.
I'd heard of the show, but the premise of a "good" serial killer, combined with blood and violence, did not interest me.
Then, I was browsing somebody's blog (wish I could remember who) and they were talking about the show. I needed a good show to vegetate in front of after school, so I watched the first episode. It was...actually not bad at all.
I continued to watch the show, and became increasingly more into it. The action, the excellent psychology of the characters, the plot twists...
Forget Buffy and Angel. Dexter is my new favorite show.
There is something very morally fascinating about it. I believe no person has the right to take another person's life, even if the person in question is a murderer. It just seems hypocritical. The killer should be sentenced to life in prison to contemplate his actions.
That is not how things are, though. The law can't always get a murderer behind bars, or executed. That's where Dexter comes in. Technically, he's doing what the law would be doing if they had the chance.
Michael C. Hall is just a phenomenal actor too. He's a really believable killer. Also, the guy who plays Trinity inspires a great hatred in me. He plays evil to perfection.
Anyway, I had to vent about the show. Give Dexter a chance. I cannot bear to wait for season 5. I hope the show goes on forever. It's absolutely brilliant!

The Lonely Hearts Club

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
Pages:320
Genre:Romance
Rating:6/10
Summary:
"Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like. . . ."
My Review:
Two things I love are in this book, right off. The Beatles and a battle of the sexes plot. I wanted to read this since I heard about it.
Unfortunately, the characters were too cliched and unrealistic for me to get really involved in the story. In fact, I didn't particularly like Penny or her friends at all. She came off as over-dramatic and immature.
The love interest was just bland.He was too...nice? I don't know. I would have liked some clever humor, or at least sarcasm. The romance aspect was unsatisfying.
It had such a great premise and so much potential, yet the book turned out to be predictable.
This is a very girly book. No mistaking that. Clapping while jumping up and down and OMG's abound. I'm not a girly person, so that was one more reason I couldn't connect with the MC.
Overall? Excellent read for a younger audience. Cutest cover I've seen in a while. The idea is very fun- I simply don't love the execution.

Winners:

Of Lonely Hearts Club are...

Jen
Jessy
Sara

Congratulations! I've emailed you already...

Win Soul Screamers!

Three (3) winners from your site will receive:

* My Soul to Save book

Books are valued at $9.99 each Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

Contest ends February 9th and usual rules apply...

http://soulscreamers.com/soulscreamers/

Book 1 of The Soul Screamers series -- My Soul to Take -- was released this past summer, and readers found out why Kaylee Cavanaugh screams bloody murder when someone's about to die.

In Book 2 - My Soul to Save - when teen pop star Eden croaks on stage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul. The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld-a consequence they can't possibly understand. Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk.

Soul Screamers: The last thing you hear before you die.

You can learn more about Kaylee by downloading the free Soul Screamers prequel My Soul to Lose here: <http://soulscreamers.com/soulscreamers/sites/all/themes/harlequin/mysoultol ose.pdf> !

VIDEO Direct Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XAEKAXRN8E

Commenting

Sorry for not commenting lately, I've been super busy.
It just takes up too much of my time, but I definitely do read and appreciate the feedback.
Just felt the need to say that :-)

Spreading the news...

Join Lonely Hearts Club author Elizabeth Eulberg and Amy of MyFriendAmy for a Twitter party Wednesday, January 20, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. EST!

• Be sure to follow Elizabeth @ElizEulberg and Amy @MyFriendAmy before the party!

• Join the fun! No one expects you or your tweets to be perfect; we’re just happy you made it to the party!

• Anyone who tweets during this hour using #LonelyHeartsClub is entered to win a limited edition Lonely Hearts Club t-shirt!

• Watch for questions from @MyFriendAmy and win awesome prizes including an iPod shuffle, $50 iTunes gift card or $25 VISA gift card!

• To join the party, you can use our official party tweetgrid or just search #LonelyHeartsClub on Twitter.

• Ask Elizabeth questions or chat with other partygoers about how excited you are to read LHC—just use the tag #LonelyHeartsClub in all of your party tweets! (This is added automatically in TweetGrid.)

• Please don’t post any spoilers and don’t forget to pay attention to the time zones, the party starts at 8:30pm EST.

Bleeding Violet

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Pages:464
Genre:Paranormal
Rating:8.5/10
Summary: "Love can be a dangerous thing....
Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.
But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe." My Review:
I strongly dislike qualities of this book, but I strongly like qualities of it too.
Cons:
-I like a little bit of a chase, and there was almost none of that.
-The main character was hard to relate to at times. She took crazy to a new level. (she expected a thank you after ripping the guy's skin off!)
-The ending fizzled out.
Pros:
-Hanna's personality was most certainly consistent. She has the strangest voice I've read, possibly, ever. She was blunt and independent at times, then shy and lonely at others, but always mental.
-Her relationship with her mother was odd, to say the least, but not in a bad way. I would've expected more resentment toward Rosallee, but I'm also relieved there wasn't. I don't want to read a downer.
-Some aspects of the characters were not believable. They were flawed, yet I still liked them. Especially Wyat. He was very well developed with humor and depth.
-The mystery of the plot was fast-paced, intriguing, and suspenseful.
-This author definitely has an imagination on her!
Overall? It's supernatural and I got through it, so that's saying something. In a pool of Grey paranormal, Bleeding Violet stands out. Unfortunately, the ending failed to keep my attention. I would still be interested in future works by Dia though.

Castration Celebration

Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner
Pages:304
Genre:Comedy/romance
Rating:50/10
Summary:
"It’s High School Musical—rated R!

When the girl who’s foresworn men meets the boy who’s devoted himself to picking up women, there’s bound to be drama—perfect for a sixweek summer program devoted to the arts. Olivia’s summer goal: to write a musical that censures men with wandering eyes. Max’s summer goal: to hone his acting skills, along with his talent for attracting the ladies. Before camp is over, they’ll perform Olivia’s musical onstage and in real life—though the ending may turn out differently than either expects."

My Review:
This book is equal parts crude and clever, but always entertaining.
Half play, half novel, Castration Celebration keeps things interesting and varied.
One of my favorite things about the book is how he's not afraid to push the limits. The dialog is often disturbing and blunt, yet it's a realistic portrayal of how teens talk.
The antics Max gets into trying to convince a girl to date him are crazy funny.
It's not all just fun and games though. There are some deep themes as well, and all the characters are wonderfully layered.
Overall, Jake Wizner has a new fan for life (me). He is so talented and underrated. Each book of his is better than the last. If you liked this novel, then I'd also recommend Swim The Fly.

What?!?

Little Vampire Women by Louisa May Alcott, Lynn Messina
(published by Harper Collins 2010)

"The March sisters are back, sweeter and more loving than ever. But they’ve grown up since you last read their tale. That’s right—they live on as vampires. Readers will be agog and aghast at the hilarity of the sisters’ transformation—especially now that they have (much) longer lives and (much) more ravenous appetites.

This uproarious retelling of a timeless American classic will leave teens craving the bloodthirsty drama on each and every page."

This is insane...Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but I prefer them human.
Wow ;-D
Vampires are taking over the whole world!!!

Win The Lonely Hearts Club!

The Lonely Hearts Club

PRIZING
Three (3) winners will receive The Lonely Hearts Club

Books are valued at $17.99 each

VISIT THE AUTHOR’S WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION http://www.elizabetheulberg.com

WATCH A VIDEO FEATURING THE AUTHOR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyJqHNdl0pM

INFORMATION ABOUT THE RELEASE
Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: No more. She’s had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many bad boys. It’s a personal choice…and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny’s not the only girl who’s tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worse) in order to get their guys…or the way their guys don’t really care about them. Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club (named after Sgt. Pepper’s band), and Penny finds herself near legendary for her non-dating ways – which is too bad, since the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club has found a certain boy she can’t help but like…

Contest ends on January 26! (usual rules apply)

Tangled

Tangled by Carolyn Mackler
Pages:320
Genre:Multiple genres
Rating:10/10
Summary:
"Paradise wasn't supposed to suck.
Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean.
Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.
It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting.
It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn't have to be a jerk just because people think he's one.
It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences.
And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise. . . .
From confused to confident and back again, one thing's certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same."
My Review:
Carolyn Mackler is one of my favorite authors, and she did not disappoint with her newest book.
It was inspiring, and you can't say that about many books.
Like Jena, I also have a thing for quotes. There's so much wisdom out there if you just look for it. In all the millions of years that the world has been in existence, one person has likely experienced the same thing you are, and that one person very likely put it in writing.
This book is gold. I love how the plot moves along so effortlessly, not once becoming boring.
She doesn't fall into the trap many authors have where there are many main characters, some more developed than others. Each character in Tangled had a distinct voice and a relate-able story.
They influence each other without even knowing it. These type of fateful meetings are interesting to me, because I've always felt that that smallest thing you do could change a person's whole outlook.
Overall, great characters, great plot, and great message. I expected nothing less and it was a very satisfying read.

The Naughty List

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
Pages:272
Genre:Social situations
Rating:9/10
Summary:
"As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!
When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?
The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?"
My Review:
I've been reading reviews for this book everywhere, and the word that keeps popping up is how cute it is. There's really no other way to describe it. This book simply oozes cuteness (not the sappy kind).
From the little catch phrases to the zany idea of cheerleader spies, the whole book was very entertaining.
It was just so much fun to read! I thought it would be predictable, and that was fine, but there was a shocking twist I didn't even see coming.
It's not too deep, but the characters still have depth. It's an excellent balance between light and dark, resulting in the perfect book to read when you don't want to think too hard. It's a great chill read.
Overall, this series is off to a great start and I'm eagerly awaiting the second installment. Suzanne Young is an author to watch out for.

Magic Under Glass

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
Pages:240
Genre:Historical fantasy
Rating:7/10
Summary:
"Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for mere pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril."

My Review:
I keep picking up historical fantasy, but so far none has matched Libba Bray's brilliance. She set the bar high. Because of my high standards, I did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped.
When I picture this period in time, I think of intrigue and romance.
What I got was not exactly that, but it was not bad either. It's just not what I was looking for. It was more a mystery than anything.
The main character was not relate-able. I like that it was set in a different era, so she had to deal with very different problems. Nevertheless, no matter what era a book is set in, people are human and they have common characteristics. I didn't find that in Nimira.
I did not dislike Erris. In fact, I sympathized with his situation. Still, the romance was not fulfilling. There was an electricity missing.
Overall, the mystery of the plot was good but it would have been great if she improved on these other aspects. I see potential, but it was not reached in Magic Under Glass. I know many who greatly enjoyed this novel, so check it out for yourself.

All Unquiet Things

All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
Pages:352
Genre:Mystery
Rating:7/10
Summary:
"Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.
Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.
As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save."

My Review:
I can appreciate the way Anna created the characters with depth, but somehow, I wasn't convinced. I'm probably being too picky, but I didn't connect with either Neily or Audrey (the two main characters). How can it be that I couldn't bring myself to care for a 3-dimensional character? I do not know. Something did not come off as entirely genuine.
The only character that was 100 percent believable was the dead girl. The fact that she could bring a dead girl to life (had to do it, couldn't resist the pun;) says a lot about the authors' talent.
The plot was unpredictable. I liked that she didn't go the usual route. I would have liked some more excitement apart from the mystery. Some humor would have been welcome too.
Overall, everyone's going to have a different opinion on this book. I found the characters to be mediocre, and much of this novel is counting on the readers' emotional investment. I actually really love the cover though.

Win Lament and Ballad

Want a copy of Lament and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater? (I can never spell her last name)
To win, all you have to do to enter is comment with your email.
For an extra entry, tell me what your favorite "unknown" book is? What book do you love that is underrated?

Extra entries:
-You follow (1 point)
-You answer desired question (1 point)
-You link this (2 points)
-You get a friend to follow (3 points)

Good luck! Contest is international and it will end February 19th at midnight.

Ballad

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Pages:360
Genre:Fantasy
Rating:6/10
Summary:
"Remember us, so sing the dead, lest we remember you
James Morgan has an almost unearthly gift for music. And it has attracted Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and then feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. James has plenty of reasons to fear the faeries, but as he and Nuala collaborate on an achingly beautiful musical composition, James finds his feelings towards Nuala deepening. But the rest of the fairies are not as harmless. As Halloween—the day of the dead—draws near, James will have to battle the Faerie Queen and the horned king of the dead to save Nuala's life and his soul."
My Review:
I hate to say this, but Ballad disappointed me.
I was under the impression that Luke and Deirdre would be prominent figures in the novel, even though it was from James' perspective. Nope.
There was quite a bit of action, yet I couldn't get into it.
Why? I wasn't crazy about James. I was hoping I would warm up to him, but there was really nothing intriguing about his character. He has a special power, but he's not interesting or original in any other way. I didn't care for him. James was bland, and because I was not invested in him, or any of the characters for that matter, the book was very slow.
Sadly, it did not pick up speed.
The only really positive thing I can say about this book is that the fairy lore was well done.
Overall, I did not like Ballad. I didn't like Shiver either, for the same reason. (dull characters) However, the majority of book bloggers did love Ballad, so check it out and decide for yourself.

Winner!

Thanks everyone for entering, but there can only be one winner. :-(
So, without further ado, the lucky winner of a signed, hardcover copy of The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley is.......
Book Lady!!!
Congrats :) I've emailed you, so just send me your info and it will be on it's way.
Look out for upcoming contests. I need to make some room on my shelves for new books, which means I'll be giving some away.

Oh, goodness...

Why must she torture me so? Two awesome upcoming books, and both won't be out for quite a while :-(

"Seventeen-year-old high school senior Shannon Card needs money. And lots of it. She's been admitted to Wellesley, but her dad just lost his job, and somehow she has to come up with a year of tuition herself. But Shannon's dream of making big bucks waitressing at the local casino, the Collosio, disappears faster than a gambler's lucky streak. Her boss is a tyrant, her coworker is nuts, and her chances of balancing a tray full of drinks while wearing high-heeled shoes are slim to none. Worse, time is running out, and Shannon hasn't made even half the money she'd hoped.

When Shannon receives a mysterious invitation to join Aces Up, a secret network of highly talented college poker players, at first she thinks No way. She has enough to worry about: keeping her job, winning the coveted math scholarship at school, and tutoring her secret crush, Max. But when Shannon musters up the nerve to kiss Max and he doesn't react at all, the allure of Aces Up and its sexy eighteen-year-old leader, Cole, is suddenly too powerful to ignore.

Soon Shannon's caught up in a web of lies and deceit that makes worrying about tuition money or a high school crush seem like kid stuff. Still, when the money's this good, is the fear of getting caught reason enough to fold?

This fun, sexy, recession-proof story is a bubbly summer read with surprising depth—great for fans of Sarah Mlynowski."