Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

Note: This version of Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols has both The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols and the sequel: Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols. Since I have already reviewed The Boys Next Door, this review will only be about the sequel and if you have not yet read the first in the series, this review may contain spoilers.


Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols
Publication Date: May 25, 2010
Versions: paperback

Summary (from Jennifer Echol's blog post):
Lori should have known better than to date a pirate.



After finally getting together and going out on their first real date, only Lori and Adam could manage to fall asleep—and wake up seven hours past Lori’s curfew. Their parents forbid them to see each other. So Lori takes it upon herself to date boys scarier than Adam until her dad gives in.


But Adam won’t play along. He’s afraid Lori might fall for these scary boys. And when she goes out with the scariest boy of all—Adam’s own brother and her ex-crush—even the threat of being sent away to military school can’t keep Adam from swashbuckling his way back into Lori’s heart.


Can this forbidden love stay afloat, or will it sink in the watery deep?


I recently read and reviewed The Boys Next Door (you can see my review here) and I really enjoyed it. I loved all Jennifer Echol's characters and couldn't wait to continue on with Lori and Adam's story. Endless Summer starts off with Lori and Adam finally together but then they end up falling asleep in Adam's car until around six in the morning. They hurry up and get home, but Lori's dad is furious and forbids the two of them to date. Adam and Lori refuse to listen to their parents so they find ways to sneak away, but maybe their parents are right about them.

Adam is such a cute character, from the way he looks to the way he acts around Lori which is so lovingly. He makes some horrible decisions throughoiut the book but seems to redeem himself. Lori and Adam make one of the best couples and this book is sure to make your stomach flip.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I absolutely adored this sequel. And hopefully Jennifer Echols will continue on with Lori and Adam's story-I am crossing my fingers. Endless Summer is a great summer read!

I am hosting a giveaway to win three of Jennifer Echol's books, including this one. So go here to enter. The giveaway ends on June 10th..

Love Me Some Bad Boys (3)

I love everything about bad boys: the way they smirk, laugh, touch you, throw you against the wall to kiss you (wow that kind of sounds abusive) and defiantly much much more. There's just something about them that makes me swoon. And since I'm so obsessed with bad boys, I decided to make a meme about them. Every week I will pick one boy character from a book I have read that fits these "bad boy" qualifications. So here it goes:

Seth in Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

How he is a bad boy:

Seth lives in a train car all by himself (so hot) and is known to sleep with a lot of girls. He always lets Aislinn come over anytime she wants and constantly puts her in very close positions that they would be close enough to kiss in. He has piercings and has long dark hair. He is one of the most amazing bad boy characters I have ever read about.

Favorite bad boy moment:

There's one scene where Aislinn is sitting on the counter and Seth is standing on the floor right in front of her and he won't let her get down. It was super cute and made my stomach flip. Favorite scene in the whole book.

Dateable:

Yes, he is. He's super sweet to Aislinn even though she is very reluctant around him and trusts her when she tells him her secrets. They show one of the most perfect relationships.

-Wicked Lovely with bonus material is free in the kindle store. So if you have a kindle or a kindle app-you can read this book for free here.

And if you really like the sound of this meme, then feel free to participate as well. Just leave a comment with a link to where you posted it.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Publication Date: June 12, 2007
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle, audio

Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.



Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.


Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.


Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.


Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.


But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.


Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.


Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.

Aislinn is different-she can see faeries when no one else can. They walk around like humans do but sometimes do really bad things like pinching and tripping but since no one can see them, they don't know faeries exist. But even though Aislinn can see them, she can't let them know she can. Seth is Aislinn's comfort-he's her best friend and supporter. And he's one sexy boy who keeps pulling Aislinn closer to him.

I've said this in earlier posts, but I'm not really into the whole faerie thing. There's just something about faeries that are very unrealistic for me to read about which is the main reason I don't find them appealing. But in this story, Melissa Marr plays them out well. Seth is by far my favorite character throughout the book-and yes, he's a bad boy! Gotta love those bad boys.

Will I reread it?
I think so, and I'm also looking forward to reading the rest of the series. My expectations are very high and I expect great things in the future from Melissa Marr-she's such a wonderful author.

200 Follower Jennifer Echols Giveaway!

For reaching 200 Followers I am throwing a Jennifer Echols Giveaway. In order to enter you must be: 13 years or older, living in the United States (sorry I'm really tight on money) and be a follower of my blog (sorry about this one too but since this is a follower giveaway-it only makes sense).

Here are the books I'm giving away:

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols

First place winner will get to choose two of these titles, and the second place winner will get the book that the first place winner doesn't choose. To enter just fill out this form below!

Thank you so much, I could have never done this without each and everyone of you. So thank you and good luck.

This giveaway closes on June 10th at midnight and the winners will be chosen via random.org.

Kiss It by Erin Downing

Kiss It by Erin Downing (ARC)
Publication Date: June 15, 2010
Versions: paperback, kindle
Recieved from: Around The World Tours

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Chastity Bryan has never been shy about going after what she wants. And when sexy, mysterious, so-not-from-this-town Sebastian walks into Chaz's life, she knows in an instant that what she wants next is him. Chaz has no intention of playing for keeps, but she most definitely has intentions. Who needs true love when you've got true lust?



Sebastian has no idea what he's in for, but maybe neither does Chaz...

This book is pretty much about one thing: sex. Chastity, who goes by Chaz, is obsessed with it. She talks about it with her best friend constantly and urns for it every second. Then one day at work, Sebastian is seated at her table. She is instantly drawn to him and starts laying on the flirtation. But mabye Chaz is way over her head.

From the first chapter, which was about Chaz watching a show about bunnies "getting it on" you can tell it's going to be a book that isn't suitable for younger audiences. It was actually kind of nice though to see another side of Erin Downing's writing after I read Drive Me Crazy and really liked it. I also liked Kiss It but in a different way. It was well written and focused on issues most teenagers go through.

Will I reread it?
I think I will, because it had unique voice to the writing and really stood out from all the other books I've been reading. I recommend this book, but not to really young teenagers. Overall I really enjoyed it and love the cover with the two bunnies kissing. Super cute!

Any Lost Fans Out There?

The season finale starts in a few hours and then that's it, Lost will be officially over. I bet there's some of you who have watched the show from the start and have continued with it for six whole years-so congratulations! I didn't start until this year, but then one day I watched the first season (we have them all on tape) and couldn't stop! It is one of the best shows I have ever watched and am sad to see it end. I really hope a few questions are answered including but not limited to:

1. Why did that wierd guy say Claire can only be the one to raise her baby?
2. What does the flash sideways have anything to do with the characters?
3. Will the smoke monster ever get off the island?
4. Is Jack going to remain the new Jacob?
5. Is Sawyer and Kate finally going to get together?
6. And how is this series going to end once and for all?

My favorite character in the show is Sawyer because he's a bad boy-enough said. So any ideas about what's going to happen and who is your favorite character? Team Jack or Team Sawyer to be with Kate?

And to get you through the long six or so hours until the season finale, here is a countdown clock:

In My Mailbox (vlog) 2

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Sorry about the mumblings and I had to edit a few times, because I was talking too much. But enjoy:

Books I recieved in the mail and bought:

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

Kiss It by Erin Downing (Traveling ARC Tours)

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

And for my 200 follower contest I'm going to do a Jennifer Echols giveaway:

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols

I will be holding this giveaway soon, so watch out for it! What did you guys get this week?

Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (ARC)
Publication Date: June 8, 2010
Publisher: Egmont USA
Versions: hardcover
Recieved from: publisher

Summary (from amazon.com):
Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.



But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.


But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

I expected great things from this book, just mainly due to the summary. And I wasn't dissapointed. The plot line was unique (after so many werewolf books have been published) and kept me reading. Bryn, was a very strong character who went against the pack rules and didn't care-she was overall very stubborn and kicked butt. And then Callem (the pack alpha) was a little too demanding and got a little annoying. And even though nothing much happens until the first 100 pages, Jennifer Lynn Barnes still draws you in.

Raised By Wolves is about a girl named Bryn whose parents were killed by a rabid werewolf when she was young. And Bryn was also beaten pretty badly, so Callem bit Bryn to save her. After the accident, Bryn didn't have any family left so Calem and the rest of the pack raised her. But Bryn is a very rebelious teenager and she doesn't let any of the pack in. She keeps to herself and refuses to open up to anyone. That is until Callem starts keeping secrets...

Will I reread it?
Probably, I love reading about werewolves and this one was really good. I recommend it to any Twilight fan. The only thing I wish there would have been more of is romance. To tell you the truth, there wasn't really any. And I love romance, so that was kind of dissapointing.

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review and no compensation.

Have fun at Bea

For those of you who have not seen anything about BEA in the past couple months (very unlikely) then BEA stands for Book Expo America which is held this year in New York on May 25-May 27. This is an event where bloggers, authors, librarians and book lovers alike come together to go to author signings, get free books, and have tons and tons of fun.

I have only been blogging for fourish months, so this was the first year I have heard about this spectacular event. Unfortunatly since I live several states away and it is scheduled on a school day, I will not be going. But I have been admiring everyone's posts that say they get to go.

So I just wanted to to say: Have fun!!! I hope you all have a great time, get lots of free books, and meet some very fabulous authors. Hopefully I'll get to go next year and join in on the fun.

And if you are going and want some very fabulous tips make sure you check out this link:
-BEA Tips for Newbies over at Bites

Poll Results

This weeks poll question was: How do you like to comment on blogs? I think this was a very important question for my blog, because you guys are the ones who are commenting so I want to make it the easiest possible way.

And for the results:

• 3        Pop Up
• 3        Full Page
• 5        Embedded

The winner was Embedded! And if you didn't get to vote: What is your favorite way to comment on blogs and why? If you see a blog with word verification do you sometimes not even comment?

Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills
Publication Date: April 16, 2009
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
Hailey Abbott’s Summer Boys takes a weepy turn in this story of one girl’s attempt to tell her childhood friend how she really feels about him. Alex thought she’d be spending the summer focused on her family’s rafting business, burying the memories of her father’s death last year, and leaving behind all the messes she made in its wake. But when Sean returns to town, she is forced to reckon with her mixed-up crushy feelings for him—more powerful than ever before. It takes another tragedy to make Alex realize Sean has loved her, and forgiven her, all along.


Alex and Sean used to be a couple before her father died. Then Sean left and Alex hasn't seen him since. One day while working at her family's rafting business-Sean shows up back in town and Alex can't help feeling something for him. But he doesn't seem to recipricate her feelings. She now has to survive the whole summer while working beside Sean as her feelings for him grow.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a very fun summer read that makes you appreciate the nature. Not a lot of books are nature based but since this one had to do with a rafting business, it was very refreshing. Sean was also a very great character and I loved all the scenes when him and Alex were together. And I always like books having to do with the boy leaving and then coming back at a later time-which fit this plot line perfectly. I defaintly recommend this book to any Hailey Abbot or Meg Cabot readers.

Will I reread it?
I think so, it was super cute and an overall well written book that's great for getting in the summer mood!

200 Followers!

I just want to thank everyone who has supported me, followed me (in a non stalker way) and commented on my blog posts. You have no idea how much each of you mean to me and have made my blog, Smitten With Books, the blog that it is today. You each inspire me every day and I have learned so much from each and everyone of your blogs. I really look up to you, and hope to someday be somebody elses inspiration.

So thank you everyone- I really appreciate it!

And thank you so much Kelly Bryson for being my 200th follower! You have put a smile on my face and made my day that much brighter. And because everyone is so wonderful- I am planning a 200 followers contest-so be looking out for it.

Thanks again to you all and have a wonderful rest of your Sunday!

Winner of Albatross by Josie Bloss!!!

I used random.org to pick the winner. And the winner of Albatross by Josie Bloss is:

StarShadow

I will contact you via email very soon!

Flirting With Boys by Hailey Abbott

Flirting With Boys by Hailey Abbott
Publication Date: April 28, 2009
Versions: paperback

Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
How to Run a Resort:


• Make sure employees arrive on time with a positive attitude. (check)
• Remember that the customer is always right. (check)
• Keep your boyfriend and your most valuable guest from trying to kill each other. (oops)


Celeste Tippen can't imagine a more perfect summer. Her boyfriend, Travis, has a job at her family's resort, which means lots of quality couple time. Unfortunately, she forgot about Nick Saunders, the hot son of the resort's wealthiest customers. Every year, Nick flirts with Celeste, and apparently this year is no different, despite the boyfriend who's watching their every move. She assures Travis that hanging out with the resident bad boy is the last thing she wants to do. If only she believed that herself....

This was my first Hailey Abbott book and I expected a lot from it. Her writing has gotten so many great reviews and buzz. But something fell short for me in this one. The plot line was adorable and the writing was great but there was just something that couldn't hold my attention.

Celeste as a character was very fun to read about and all the teenage drama that came along with it. I also really liked Nick, who fits the stereotype of being a rich bad boy. He constantly makes Celeste bring him magazines and rare food which makes her very mad and especially when her boyfriend thinks something is going on between Nick and her.

Will I reread it?
Maybe next summer when I'm looking for a cute read I'll be picking this one up. Overall, it was a great read that has put Hailey Abbot high up on my list. I'm going to have to read some of her other books as well, any suggestions?

Love Me Some Bad Boys (2)

I love everything about bad boys: the way they smirk, laugh, touch you, throw you against the wall to kiss you (wow that kind of sounds abusive) and defiantly much much more. There's just something about them that makes me swoon. And since I'm so obsessed with bad boys, I decided to make a meme about them. Every week I will pick one boy character from a book I have read that fits these "bad boy" qualifications. So here it goes:


Joe Morelli in One For The Money (Stephanie Plum, No. 1)
 
How he is a bad boy:
Joe has pretty much slept with most of the girls in his high school and everyone knows it. He thinks he's hot (which he is) and uses it to his advantage. He's always so cryptic and leaves Stephanie Plum (the main character) swooning. He's very demanding and insists to stay with Stephanie when a bad guy is after her.
 
Favorite bad boy moment:
When Stephanie steals Joe's car, he breaks into her house, when she's in the shower, and handcuffs her to the shower rod-naked. Lol-so hilarious.
 
Dateable?
Yes, even though he can be selfish and cryptic, when Stephanie's in danger he comes to her rescue and cooks her a meal-awh!
 
And if you really like the sound of this meme, then feel free to participate as well. Just leave a comment with a link to where you posted it.

Albatross by Josie Bloss

Albatross by Josie Bloss
Publication Date: February 1, 2010
Versions: paperback

Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
What's so cool about nice guys?


Everyone at Tess's new school warns her that Micah is bad news—a heartbreaker. But she can't ignore her attraction to this brooding, brilliant, friendless emo hottie who can turn on the charm—or heart-shredding scorn—at a moment's notice. Starting over in a new town after her parents' split isn't easy for Tess, and Micah feels like her first real connection. But what happens when their bond suddenly feels like shackles? And Micah starts to remind Tess of her freakishly controlling father?

When Tess has lunch at her new school, she notices a boy named Micah and is instantly drawn to him. She starts asking around about him and then starts talking to Micah herself. They even hang out and watch movies, and even slip in a few kisses. But the thing is that Micah is so caught up with another girl that he says he would marry her. Maybe Micah's not everything he's cracked up to be.

Uh...okay I don't know about you but I'm not really into the whole abuse relationship thingy. I don't like reading about some girl getting verbally abused by some guy and she thinks it's okay. It's not! But don't get me wrong, it was an overpowering and beautifully written story that almost left me in tears. It was so real and emotional but I didn't like it as much as I hoped I would.

Will I reread it?
No, it wasn't what I expected and left me feeling depressed. On the other hand, you could love it and have it be your favorite book. So if you think this is your kind of plot line, go for it! And if you do end up reading it, make sure you get back to me, because I want to know your opinion.

I'm holding a giveaway for this book (since I didn't like it, I wanted someone else to have the opportunity to) so you can enter here.

The Mark by M.R. Bunderson

The Mark by M.R. Bunderson
Publication Date: March 8, 2010
Versions: paperback
Recieved from: Around The World Tours

Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
She's had it forever. A tiny mark on her hand. No big deal, right? But when Tori discovers that her ordinary freckle is really some kind of microscopic tattoo, she doesn't know what to think, especially after meeting Eric, a guy she feels strangely connected to--and not just because he has a mark too.


All too soon, Tori and Eric realize that their marks are only the first clue to a mystery that will change everything. And with each new discovery, Tori finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into a world she could never have imagined.

Tori has always had a birth mark on her hand. But one day during science class, she looks at it under a microscope and discovers it to be a very small tattoo. When she asks her adoptive mother about it, she has no idea either. And then when her friend sets Tori and Eric on a blind date, there's just something about Eric that makes Tori feel like they're so similar. Before they even leave Tori's driveway, they touch hands and instantly are captured into another dimension.

This book was very refreshing. I haven't read anything like it before and the writing was very encapturing. The plot line, on the other hand, went way too fast for me. On page two, Tori was already figuring out about her birth mark and then on the next couple pages she meets Eric. It just felt like the plot was a little rushed.

Will I reread it?
It's a little iffy because on the one hand, it was refreshing but maybe only for a one time read.

Reading Habits Meme

I came across this meme from Kathy at Inside of a Dog, who came across it from Simcha at SFF Chat, who got it from The World in the Satin Bag. And I loved reading Kathy's answers so I decided to answer them myself. These questions are all reading related. So here we go:

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack:
I actually don't. If I did, I would get too sidetracked and then stop reading.

What is your favorite drink while reading?
Uh, you know what? I don't think I've ever drank anything while reading (as wierd as that sounds). But if I were to go read right now and drink something, it would have to be water.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
The thought doesn't horrify me, I just never felt like I needed to write in a book. But maybe the time will come soon.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
Okay, so I know some people are going to cringe when I say this, but I actually used to dog ear the pages! I know, I know, but I have officially stopped. And now I usually just throw in whatever's closest (wrappers, pencils, or homework, lol). I love bookmarks, don't get me wrong-but I always lose them and then when I need one, I don't have it anymore.

Fiction, nonfiction, or both?
I've always liked Fiction better just because...well I don't know. Nonfiction reminds me of school for some reason and since school isn't my favorite-I just can't read nonfiction. But I don't have anything against it.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
This is a tough one, I would have to say that I have to read to the end of the chapter. Yes, because I need it to be a stopping place if I'm going to stop. But most of the time when I start reading, I don't stop until the book is finished.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
I actually did this once with Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins-I was so irritated!

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
It depends on the book. I've looked up many words in Twilight because it's one of my favorites. And if I'm reading a book on my Kindle, it's really easy to look up a word, so I'll most likely do it.

What are you currently reading?
Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (for English class) and Forget You by Jennifer Echols (for fun!)

What is the last book you bought?
I bought Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver a few days ago.

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
I usually try to stay away from reading two at one time, because then I will most likely put both of them away. But like I said before, if I start a book-I have to finish it.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
I'm a night person so I love reading at night. But on the other hand, it's horrible when I have school because I sometimes go to bed at 1 in the morning.

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
It depends how much money I'm willing to spend. If I only can buy one book, it will be a stand alone because I won't be able to buy the others in the series if I love it. But I do love series because if I really like a book, I want to continue on with the characters.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
There are a few, but the top ones are: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols and Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott.

How do you organize your books?(by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.)
I'm a very unorganized person so I just throw them in my bookcase.


You can post these questions and then answer them on your own blog and join in on the fun. I hope you liked my answers and make sure you comment with a link so I can see yours as well!

Ransom My Heart by Meg Cabot

Ransom My Heart by Meg Cabot
Publication Date: January 6, 2009
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
He's a tall, handsome knight with a secret. She's an adventurous beauty with more than a few secrets of her own. Finnula needs money for her sister's dowry, and fast. Hugo Fitzstephen, returning home to England from the Crusades with saddlebags of jewels, has money, and lots of it. What could be simpler than to kidnap him and hold him for ransom?



Well, for starters, Finnula could make the terrible mistake of falling in love with her hostage.

Finnula's sister goes broke and expects her to help out. But Finnula doesn't have the money either so she does the next best thing, kidnaps a stranger and holds him hostage. Hugo is rich and doesn't exactly let Finnula know who he really is. He has so much fun letting her hold him ransom that even though he can run lose, he decides against it.

This book was really cute. The second I read the summary on amazon.com-I knew I had to buy it because I love the whole "ransom" business. It was overall a very funny book that was very cute and charming. And even though, not much happens throughout the story (as in action) it holds your attention and keeps you turning  pages just from the pure romance aspect of it.

Will I reread it?
Yes, this was my second book read by Meg Cabot but I enjoyed it a lot and am going to continue reading her. It's a wonderful book if you like historical romance.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Publication Date: December 23, 2008
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle

Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.



In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Brittany Ellis is perfect: the perfect daughter, the perfect dresser, the perfect girlfriend (or at least that's how everyone sees it). Brittany Ellis has to be perfect because underneith her appearance, her life is anything but. And Alex is the bad boy, from the opposite side of town as Brittany, he thinks she's perfect too. But when his friend dares Alex to sleep with Brittany, will he find out how her life really is?

This book was pretty similar to Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare because of the star crossed lover plot line. I really enjoyed it and I loved how even though Brittany and Alex were so different, they were also alike in many ways. And even though Alex is so tough, he actually opens up to Brittany.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I already have. And I loved it the second time just as much as the first. I defiantely recommend it to everyone!

Albatross by Josie Bloss giveaway!

For those of you who saw my In My Mailbox vlog, then you know that I bought Albatross but didn't really like it. And since some of you commented and said you've wanted to read it-I want to give it away to someone who will appreciate it and will actually enjoy it. I don't just want it to sit in my bookshelf.

So if you want to enter for a chance to win my (very lightly used/ it looks like new) copy of Albatross by Josie Bloss leave a comment with a way to contact you.

Rules to win my (very lightly used but looks like new) copy of Albatross by Josie Bloss:
1. Leave a comment below and a way to contact you (email address)
2. Must live in the United States
3. Must be 13 years or older

Since this is my first giveaway, I want to make it as simple as possible, so you don't have to be a follower or anything, just comment.

I will pick the winner (using random.org) on May 15th. And you don't have to worry about safety, I will not save your address or email address.

The Boys Next Door (Simon Romantic Comedies) by Jennifer Echols

The Boys Next Door (Simone Romantic Comedies) by Jennifer Echols
Publication Date: June 26, 2007
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from barnesandnoble.com):
Lori lives for summertime on the lake. She spends all season wakeboarding, swimming, and hanging with her friends -- including the two hotties in the house next door. With the Vader brothers, Lori's always been one of the guys.



But while Lori and the "baby" brother, Adam, are inseparable friends, she can't deny a secret crush on Sean, the older Vader boy. This year Sean's been paying Lori a lot of attention, and not in a brotherly way.


But just as Lori decides to prove to Sean she's girlfriend material, she realizes that her role as girl friend to Adam may be even more important. And by trying so hard for the perfect summer romance, she could be going way overboard....

This was the only book written by Jennifer Echols that I have not read yet (she's such an amazing author). So I thought, what the heck, and bought it. Was it worth it? Defiantley. Did I love it? Defiantley. Do I recommend it? Oh yeah! This book is about a girl named Lori and she lives next door to the Vader boys. Adam, the youngest brother, has always been her friend since they were younger and Lori has had a crush on Sean, the oldest Vader boy, forever. And since Lori's turing sixteen, she needs to impress him before he goes off to college. She ends up wearing tight and short shirts, skimpy bathing suits and pretending to date Adam just to make him jealous. But maybe Lori and Adam both have ulterior motives.

Oh boy this book was so cute! I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Well, except for some of the things Lori did which made me so uncomfortable (just from reading it) and embarrased for her that I had to put it down, but I picked it right back up.

Will I reread it?
Defiantely, right now I would have to say that Jennifer Echols is my favorite author. And I can't wait for the sequel which comes out this month.

Love Me Some Bad Boys (1)

I love everything about bad boys: the way they smirk, laugh, touch you, throw you against the wall to kiss you (wow that kind of sounds abusive) and defiantly much much more. There's just something about them that makes me swoon. And since I'm so obsessed with bad boys, I decided to make a meme about them. Every week I will pick one boy character from a book I have read that fits these "bad boy" qualifications. So here it goes:

Carlos in Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

How he is a bad boy:
He does drugs, isn't afraid of what people think, wears black and run down shirts, isn't aftraid to speak his mind, he always teases Kiara about what she wears and about how "hot" she is. He also doesn't follow Kiara's parents rules when he stays with their family, swears even though he's told not to, makes dirty jokes and threatens jerks at his new school.

Favorite bad boy moment:
When Carlos plays a trick on Kiara on her locker. It was so funny and cute.

Dateable?
Oh yeah, even though he's very tough on the outside, he's so sweet and funny in the inside and lets his true personality shine through when Kiara's around.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells (ARC)
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
Versions: paperback
Recieved from: Around the World Tours

Summary (from goodreads.com):
After getting dumped by her boyfriend, sixteen-year-old Mia Gordon is looking forward to spending a relaxing summer in the Hamptons with her glamorous cousins. But when she arrives, her cousins are distant, moody, and caught up with a fast crowd. Mia finds herself lonelier than ever. That's when she meets her next-door-neighbor, Simon Ross. Simon isn't like the snobby party boys her cousins seem obsessed with; he's funny, artistic, and utterly adventurous. And from the very first time he encourages Mia to go skinny-dipping, she's caught up in a current impossible to resist. Timeless in feel, The Summer of Skinny-Dipping is a poignant, literary read sure to dazzle tweens and teens alike.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping starts off with Mia going to her cousins house (in the Hamptons) for the summer. But everything she remembered about them has changed and they don't even seem like they want to spend time with her anymore. Then one night at a party, she meets Simon and starts hanging out with him at night. He tries to get her to go swimming and skinny dipping and it turns out to be a fun little romance.

I expected more from this book, because I loved the summary but I wasn't too dissapointed with it either. The book was overall a little too wordy and got very dry and boring-but the plot line was interesting. I wasn't pleased with the characters either. The cousins were annoying and I could hardly stand reading about them.

Will I reread it?
Um, maybe. I guess if I'm in the mood for a fun summery book then I might pick it up. But I will have to say, that even though I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would have liked, I'll probably give Amanda Howells writing another go, so I'll be keeping my eye out.

Poll Results

This weeks poll I asked the question: What team are you on? It was posted on my sidebar for about a week and has officially ended.

Now for the results:

• 3       Team Edward
• 2       Team Jacob
• 11     Team Peeta
• 3       Team Gale

Most eveyone voted for Team Peeta which makes me wonder, do you like The Hunger Games better than Twilight?

Hailey Twitch Is Not a Snitch by Lauren Barnholdt is officially on sale now!

Seven-year-old Hailey Twitch knows three things for sure: who she’s the boss of, how to throw a tantrum, and above all, how to get exactly what she wants. But all that changes when Hailey gets paired up with annoying Addie Jokobeck on the class project. No matter what Hailey does, she can’t seem to change her teacher’s mind.
At home, a cranky Hailey is feeling sorry for herself when – poof! — Maybelle, a magic sprite, comes flying out of Hailey’s dollhouse. Maybelle’s on probation with the Department of Magic, and on a special mission to get Hailey to have fun.

The only problem? The invisible Maybelle starts causing a lot of trouble, and when Hailey’s teacher wants to know who’s to blame, Hailey takes responsibility. After all, Hailey Twitch is not a snitch! Now if only Hailey can convince the Department of Magic that Maybelle has reformed…
You can buy Hailey Twitch from amazon by clicking here, and find out how to win a free book from Lauren by clicking here!

Author Guest Post: Cynthia Roberts

Cynthia Roberts is the author of Wind Warrior (The Iroquois Series) which will be available at Amazon and all other venues on June 15, 2010.

Wind Warrior by Cynthia Roberts

Summary (from Cynthia's website):
Leslie Michaels is a visionary, and only those close to her know of her special gift and the visions that come when her mind and body surrender to sleep. Fate has a way of righting many wrongs, and for Leslie it is a destiny that changes her life dramatically. But not before she is forced to flee into the wilderness to escape a murderous trapper bent on claiming her for his very own. Faith and a strong will to survive are her only companions, until she encounters Winnokin, the handsome Seneca war chief who first came to her in her dreams. Not only does he prove to be her rescuer and protector, he teaches her that tragedy can breed happiness and the passion to live and love deeply once again.



So here is Cynthia's post which tells a little more about herself and how Wind Warrior came to be:

Hello everyone. Like all of you, I lived and breathed reading romances … it filled many long, lonely evenings when my husband worked nights in law enforcement and I was raising our children Jason and Alyssa (now 31 and 29). It proved my constant companion later when my “Cinderella” marriage of twenty-five years came to an unexpected end. There is a quote I heard once I can’t remember verbatim but goes somewhat like … “There is no greater loss than a love once known.”

I’m a true believer that when tragedy strikes and you’re standing at the edge of a fathomless abyss and all you see is darkness looking back at you, faith lies in knowing one of two things will happen. You can either let fear consume you, roll up into a ball and waste away or, you can take a leap of faith and learn how to soar like an eagle.

I’ve always had a passion for writing from that very moment a Crayola was placed in my hand and throughout my career in marketing, public relations and sales writing creatively came easy. When my marriage ended at the age of 45, life as I knew it was never the same. It was a time of unrest, uncertainty, losing friends and family and financial ruin because I also found myself jobless which continued nearly two years.

Wind Warrior became my salvation. One evening I sat in front of the computer and decided to write instead of read. I loved Cassie Edwards Savage Series and read every one of her books and figured all I could do was fail. It proved my therapy back then but not quite up to par to win the favor of publishers. I received so many rejections I could have wallpapered a small room in my house and almost gave up on my dream. That is, until I realized it just wasn’t my time. I needed to live through and get beyond the pain in my own life before I could transform that experience into the kind of passion and emotion I wanted my readers to feel personally through my writing.

Wind Warrior is book one of five of my Iroquois Series and will officially be released by Tate Publishing June 15th. It is, however, available now for purchase through Tate’s website and it is my heartfelt hope readers will find it as enthralling to read as it was for me to research and bring to life. Book #2 Captive Heart is finished and expected to be released the end of this year.

Now that the writer in me has been unleashed … look out world! If I can leave my beautiful five grandchildren any legacy, it will be the strength, conviction and passion put into every story I bring to life. Please stay tuned for future projects which will include a series introducing contemporary shape shifters and two mainstream romance thrillers entitled Pawn For Malice and The Keeper’s Watch.


You can read an excerpt from Wind Warrior here or order the book here off of the Tate Publishing website. Thank you so much Cynthia!

In My Mailbox (vlog) 1

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. This meme spotlights books you have reiceved in the mail, bought or borrowed from the library.

Here is my first ever In My Mailbox and first ever vlog which I had a blast with so I hope you enjoy:



Books mentioned:
-Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
-Albatross by Josie Bloss
-Swoon at Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter
-Flirting With Boys by Hailey Abbott
-First Kiss (Then Tell) by Cylin Busby
-Four Summer Stories (Fireworks) by various authors
-Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
-Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

People mentioned:
Princess Bookie's (review of Swoon at Your Own Risk)


Now that you've seen what's in my mailbox, what's in yours?