Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

Publication Date: December 28, 2010
Source: Around the World Tours
Summary from Goodreads:
 
Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight.
Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run.
Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens . . . once in a full moon. 

My Two Cents:

Okay first I loved loved loved the cover for this book. Plus I've been told that Ellen Schreiber's Vampire Kisses series is pretty good. I did identify with the main character Celeste because she was stuck between following her heart and doing what felt natural to her (pleasing everyone).


The romance happened a bit quickly. Am I the only person noticing this happening a lot lately? One page they're saying "hello" and on the next page they're making out! I love the sexy stuff but c'mon make me pant for it lol. I also found issues with her relationships with the minor characters (ex-boyfriend, best friends, parents). Her conversations with her friends didn't flow very smoothly and seemed a bit awkward for girls that are supposedly your bffs. Her ex-boyfriend was just clingy and extremely annoying. The only person I loved was Brandon. I just wish his story was fleshed out a bit more.


This was a cute book. Unfortunately I was not looking for cute when I read the summary. I was expecting something dark and dangerous. If you're a teen who wants to try out a werewolf book but don't want to be afraid to turn out the light, then this is perfect for you. It was geared more towards teens than Young Adults in my opinion. Young Adults may find this one to be a bit too kiddie. It was just okay for me.


Rating:

In My Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox highlights all the books we've received throughout the week and is hosted by Kristi The Story Siren.

~Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers (Woohoo!)
~Misguided Angel by Melissa De La Cruz
~Across the Universe by Beth Revis
~The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
~Torment by Kate Lauren


Not as much as I received last week but I'm happy! Also, just as a heads up I am in the middle of doing a total revamp of this blog. Stay tuned..

Echoes by Melinda Metz

Publication Date: July 27th, 2010

Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:

From the author of the Roswell High books comes a series that combines everything that teens love—a relatable heroine struggling to fit in, a tension-filled friendship that develops into more, an overarching mystery to be solved, and a fresh supernatural twist. Originally published as the Fingerprints series, the first three books are combined here in an exciting, edgy package that introduces fans of Wake and Pretty Little Liars to these suspenseful and action-packed paranormal thrillers.

With one touch of an object, Rae can pick up what whoever touched it before her was thinking. What she hears freezes her blood: Someone close by is planning to hurt her...and she has no clue why. As Rae reluctantly teams up with Anthony to figure out who is behind these malicious thoughts, she stumbles upon a much larger secret. And this mystery from her past may hold the key to Rae’s future.


My Two Cents:

What a way to hold someone in suspense! The summary above is not identical to what's usually on the back cover of a book. So pretty much when I began reading it I had no idea what Rae's deal was. I honestly thought she was going crazy like everyone else in the novel. We're almost halfway into the book before it is finally revealed how she can hear these thoughts. I was a bit relieved that it wasn't just her hearing people's thoughts. Finally something different!

Rae is popular. She has a great boyfriend, bff, and even the reserved lunch table. Then one day her perfect life goes up in smoke when she begins hearing voices. She's put into a hospital until she finally convinces everyone that she no longer hears the "voices". Of course this is a lie, but it works. Only now she has to go to these group meetings which is where she meets Anthony.

I love Anthony out of all the characters because he's labeled as a bad guy but he's really not. He's a sweetheart deep down and is just misunderstood. Anthony is the first to shed some light on Rae's "gift". As far as the romance aspect, every time I thought it was coming it would sort of fall flat.  To be honest I'm fine with them just being good friends. I really didn't feel the chemistry between them in that way.

By the time I closed this book I was pretty angry. Imagine going up on a roller coaster and getting stuck at the top right before it's supposed to come all the way down. That's this whole book! Except by the time you turn the last page you have even more questions than you did when you first started it. UGh!! I need to know the answers now. I felt like someone had played a cruel joke on me but nope. That was really the end. If this drives you nuts like it did me, you should probably wait for the next book in the series to come out before reading this one.

Rating:

In My Mailbox (22)

In My Mailbox highlights all the books we've received throughout the week and is hosted by Kristi The Story Siren.

I'm a little PO'd right now. Since I have 2 weeks worth of books I decided to do a vlog. I did the whole thing and can you believe it said something was wrong with my converter??! I don't even know what it means by that. All I know is I wasted all that time for nothing and I actually put on makeup! I need to find another player..Thought you should know lol. Anywho on to the BOOKS!

Bright Young Things-Anna Godberson

Blue Bloods: Keys to the Repository-Melissa de la Cruz

Threads and Flames-Esther Friesner

Please Ignore Vera Dietz-A.S. King

Crescendo-Becca Fitzpatrick

Amelia O'Donohue is So Not a Virgin-Helen Fitzgerald

Cate of the Lost Colony-Lisa Klein

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-Stieg Larsson

Slayed-Amanda Marrone

Elixir-Hilary Duff

The Six Rule of Maybe-Deb Caletti

Trance-Linda Gerber

The Lighter Side of Life and Death-C.K. Kelly Martin

When the Stars Go Blue-Caridad Ferrer

Freefall-Mindi Scott

The Carbon Diaries 2017-Saci Lloyd

Rosebush-Michele Jaffe

Timeless-Alexandra Monir

The Scorch Trials-James Dashner

16 Isn't Always Sweet-Cassandra Carter

Water Wars-Cameron Stracher

The Iron Thorn-Caitlin Kittredge

Between Shades of Gray-Ruta Sepetys

Anna and the French Kiss-Stephanie Perkins

Camo Girl-Kekla Magoon

All You Get is Me-Yvonne Prinz

Ashes-Kathryn Lasky

Throat-R.A. Nielson

The Trouble with Half a Moon-Danette Vigilante

The Cries of Vampira-Sean H. Robertson

Words in the Dust-Trent Reedy

Book Blogger Hop (12)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Jennifer @ Crazy For Books. This is a great way to discover new blogs and connect with more people. If you'd like to participate, visit Crazy For Books where she explains how it works.

 "Since Thanksgiving is coming up next week, let's use this week's Hop to share what we are most thankful for and what our holiday traditions are!"

I am most thankful for my family who is always supportive of what I do, my boyfriend James who I love but drives me nuts, and good friends. Even though I've been a little sick lately it could be worst! So I'm thankful for good health.
Traditions? Well usually everyone meets at my mom's house. My mom makes pretty much everything. My brother in law makes the turkey with special sauce and candied yams with marshmallows..YUM (I can't wait!). What do I bring you ask? The desert LOL. Usually an apple pie because I don't eat cake. For some reason every year my pie that I've purchased in the box always goes untouched! So I'm trying to think of another desert to bring that isn't cake that everyone can enjoy. Any suggestions??    

Branded: Fall of Angels by Keary Taylor

Publication Date: March 4, 2010

Source: Teen Book Scene, Author

Summary from Goodreads:

Night after night, Jessica stands trial before a council of vindictive angels for deeds she didn’t commit. Condemnation brings a branding as they dementedly laugh and point but exaltation starts a war over her soul.These are Jessica’s nightmares.Alex is everything Jessica could ever want and she’ll do anything to be with him. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck.This is what she will fight for.But the nightmares rule Jessica’s life and she must find a way to stop the events that are pulling her toward her own judgment or become the object of her greatest fear. And lose Alex forever.

My Two Cents:

I know I know.....more angels! Angels for some reason have become the big thing in YA. Especially Fallen angels. However this sheds a whole different light on them. I wouldn't actually classify this as an "angel" book. It also has nothing to do with Fallen angels. This is a novel about love, true friendship, and right and wrong.


Main character Jessica is unlike any character I've come across. She's not what we would call "friendly" but she's a great friend. She's not exactly what we would call "boy crazy" but the first guy who she comes across in the book makes her heart flutter. She lived her life keeping this huge secret for fear of being put in the nut house.

The romance between Jessica and Alex happened fairly quickly. But when it does it's so sweet and genuine. I found Alex to be very swoon-worthy. It's almost as if his personality was taken from the Perfect Man list.  Caring? check. Hot? check. Catering? check. Protective? check! 

There was so much more beneath the surface in this one. The trials Jessica had to stand for every time she slept were intense. I found myself holding my own breath to see if she would be cast Up or Down. I definitely was not expecting the ending which is unusual for me. All of the pieces finally fit together and everything made sense. My only issue is that this novel probably could have been a bit shorter because at some parts I found myself skipping a page or two to get to the point. Other than that I enjoyed this ride. I'm looking forward to the sequel Forsaken.

Rating:






In case you missed it, I did get a chance to interview main character Jessica.  Also if you haven't already, make sure you enter my contest to win a signed copy of this book HERE

Winners Winners Winners!!

Sorry for the delay on these! Things have been a bit hectic for me lately.

According to Random Org.........................................................

Winner of Subway Girl is Katelyn The Bookshelf Sophisticate
Winner of Party Girl! is Kisah J.
Winner of The Romeo & Juliet Code is Erin @ Bookish in a Box
Winner of the fabulous skull earrings from my Halloween Read-a-thon mini challenge is Vampires and Tofu

Thanks to everyone that entered. Don't forget to enter my newest contest to win a signed copy of Branded:Fall of Angels by Keary Taylor if you haven't already!

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox highlights all the books we've received throughout the week and is hosted by Kristi The Story Siren. Even though I've been on a little blogging hiatus I've accumulated a good haul!

~See What I See by Gloria Whelan

~Pink by Lili Wilson

~Twice Bitten by Chloe Neil

~Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

~Emily the Strange: Dark Times by Rob Reger

~Along the River by Adeline Yen Mah

~I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

~Once a Witch by Carolyn McCullough

~The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block

~Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst

~Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

~Remember Me by Christopher Pike

What Did You Get??

Branded Tour Interview + Giveaway

Branded: Fall of Angels by Keary Taylor 

 

Publication Date: March 4, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

Jessica’s had the nightmares for as long as she can remember. Nightmares of being judged for people who have died, of being branded by the angels. Her friends and family think she’s a crazy because of it all. Yet she carries the mark of the condemned, seared into the back of her neck, and hides it and herself away from the world.

But when two men she can’t ignore enter her life everything changes, including the nightmares. The two of them couldn’t be more different. She will do anything to be with one of them. Even tell him the truth about angels, why she never sleeps, and the scar on the back of her neck. But one of the two has set events into motion what will puller her toward her own judgment and turn her into the object of her greatest fear.



Today I'm getting up close and personal with Main Character Jessica!

1. How would you describe your life on an everyday basis?

I spend a lot of time by myself so I’ve become a bit of an obsessive cleaner. I love playing the guitar. I also spend a lot of time with Sal. Every day is just a struggle to cope. I try to just take everything one day at a time. Now that Alex is in the picture things are looking a lot brighter…

2. How many people have actually seen the scars on your back?

Alex and my ex, Jason. Believe me, it wasn’t easy hiding them from my parents when I was little.

3. I figured out that sleep really isn't your thing, so what are your favorite things to do while trying to stay up?

I’ve done a lot of reading, research to try and figure this thing out that I’m dealing with. I go on movie watching spurts, I don’t really have a reason for it and I know it’s a bit creepy but I tend to research the people from my nightmares. I guess it just seems barbaric to simply forget them.

4. What is your attitude towards death?

I’ll admit it, death terrifies me. I know what happens after you die. Um, next question please…?

5. If there was a fire in your apartment, what is the one thing you couldn't leave behind?

Oh that’s a hard one. Probably the bracelet Alex gave me on Valentines. But then it’s always on my person. Or maybe my GTO, I’ve grown a strange attachment to my muscle car.

6. Would you describe your last relationship as Bliss, A Disaster Waiting to Happen, or Utterly Dull?

My relationship with Jason Walker? Definitely a disaster waiting to happen!

7. What was your first thoughts upon seeing Alex?

Well the first time I saw Alex was in the middle of the night. I nearly attacked him with a baseball bat. I thought he was a burglar. Second thought was just shock at the situation. Third? Drool and stare…

8. How do you feel about Angels?

Well since they’ve terrorized me for as long as I can remember, so not too positively. I think it would almost be better if angels were more like vampires, where no one really believed they are real. That way they wouldn’t crop up in churches, on gravestones, at every Valentines and Christmas. Most of the time I’d rather pretend they didn’t exist. But, in light of recent events, I’ve had to change my opinion just a bit…

9. Describe your relationship with Sal.

Sal is one of the sweetest women I know. But after her ex-husband beat her nearly to death it left her not quite all the way there. She needs help sometimes. And she doesn’t mind my little oddities. As strange as it sounds, she’s one of my best friends, as good as family. I’ll always be there for her and help her however I can.

10. Anything else you'd like us to know about you?

Um… I’m not a cat person? I once ate a worm cause a boy dared me to. I like ketchup way too much. I’d shave my head if it was socially acceptable (hair is such a pain…) and if I didn’t know that Alex liked it so much. And I’m not as sweet and timid as most people think I am…

Thanks so much for joining us! Check back on November 18th for my review!

Want to know more about Keary and this hot new series? You can stalk her on her Website and on her Blog. Now on to the Giveaway:

One winner will receive an autographed copy of Branded!

• Fill out the form below to enter
• Open to US residents only
• Contest ends November 30th        

Book Blogger Hop (11)

Book Blogger Hop is a fun meme hosted by Jennifer @ Crazy For Books. This is a great way to discover new blogs and connect with more people. If you'd like to participate, visit Crazy For Books where she explains how it works.

This Week's Question/Topic:

"What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?"

Sheesh! Every time I lose a follower my heart sinks just a little. Then I give myself a little pep talk lol. To be honest, I find that I lose the most followers when I've posted a negative review. Everyone has different tastes and I'm just giving my honest opinion. Isn't that what blogging is about? So I really try not to let it get to me. The amount of followers of a blog isn't everything. I want people to follow my blog because they like my content and they are genuinely interested in it.

Yes I have stopped following a blog.  Firstly I hardly ever have the time to do this because the process annoys me. Second, the reason is usually because they aren't discussing books/content that I am interested in. It's nothing personal. I always scan through my reader and when someone posts something that interests me I comment on it. I try not to follow just to follow because I'd like to be an active follower!