Book Review- Team Human

I finished Team Human by Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan yesterday for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Just because Mel lives in New Whitby, a city founded by vampires, doesn’t mean she knows any of the blood-drinking undead personally. They stay in their part of town; she says in hers. Until the day a vampire shows up at her high school. Worse yet, her best friend, Cathy, seems to be falling in love with him. It’s up to Mel to save Cathy from a mistake she might regret for all eternity!

On top of trying to help Cathy (whether she wants it or not), Mel is investigating a mysterious disappearance for another friend and discovering the attractions of a certain vampire wannabe. Combine all this with a cranky vampire cop, a number of unlikely romantic entanglements, and the occasional zombie, and soon Mel is hip-deep in an adventure that is equal parts hilarious and touching.

While I really liked the premise of this book, unfortunately it was just okay for me.  The idea of vampires being out in normal society, with the option of humans applying for a license to transition to a vampire, was an interesting one.  And then add on the fact that if the transition didn't go right, the person either died or became a zombie.  Definitely interesting.

But it was the characters that didn't do it for me.  I didn't like Mel.  At all.  I thought that she was rude and seriously lacked in manners.  And for vampires to be such a common thing, Mel seemed kinda racist (not sure if that would be the right term, but seriously judgemental and in the wrong).  Cathy just seemed weak to me.  I get that she found the guy that she thought was the one but she just suddenly seemed to be all about Francis.  Francis was just ehh for me.  No personality really.  Ty was funny and I figured him out early on.  I find it hard that the other characters didn't.  Anna was okay.  I felt bad for her.  But now Kit on the other hand.  I really liked him!  He was funny and I loved his lines about things humans find normal (or what he thinks is normal). 

So overall, not one of my top books, but not horrible either.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

Team Human will be released on July 3, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 43
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 38
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 40
2012 Standalone Reading Challenge: 11

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

In My Mailbox- May 21, 2012

In My Mailbox: Here's what came in my mailbox this week (I didn't do an IMM last week since I didn't get any books that week)

WEDNESDAY

Team Human- Justine Larbalestier & Sarah Rees Brennan--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










THURSDAY

Small Damages- Beth Kephart--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










SATURDAY

Iron Crowned (Dark Swan #3)- Richelle Mead--PaperbackSwap

The Sunday Salon- May 20, 2012

The Sunday Salon

Not too much going on this week.  We're wrapping up the school year.  I just found out that I get to stay in Kindergarten instead of having to move to Pre-K so I'm happy about that!

I finished and reviewed the following books in the past week:

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell










I fulfilled items in the following challenges in the past week:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 41, 42
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 36, 37
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 12, 13
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 38, 39
Completely Contemp Challenge 2012: 2012-8
2012 Standalone Reading Challenge: 10

I am currently reading Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan and up next is Fairest of All by Serena Valentino.

Book Review- Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe

I finished reading Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell for a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

From Goodreads:

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and lNowoner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

My undergrad was in broadcast journalism and we had to work in the radio station before moving to the television station.  So radio will always have a special place in my heart.  And I loved this little radio station.  I loved the members that made it a little family.  Each member had his or her own quirk or problem that just made you love them even more.

And I really liked Chloe.  She had such a good heart and not a mean bone in her body.  She grew throughout the story and matured.  And I loved her quirky sense of humor and fun side.  And she definitely got it from her Grams.  What a great older character!  I want to be like her when I get old!  Duncan was an interesting character, but honestly, I found him a little boring.  I loved how he took such great care of his drug-addicted mother and I get how he had to spend his time working several jobs just to live but his character just seemed a little flat to me.  But maybe that's why he balanced out outgoing Chloe so well.

I rarely have a favorite part of a book.  I usually just absorb it all.  But I have a favorite part, without a doubt, of this book.

As our hands melted together, I realized the perfect gift to give Duncan, something to show how I cared.  The first day of kindergarten Grams had given it to me, and this past August, I'd given it to my brother Zach when he left for med school.

I raised Duncan's hands to my lips.  First I kissed one palm, then the other.  "When you feel lonely, I'll be there."

 Now, anyone who doesn't have child or doesn't teacher a younger grade level  might not get this reference, but it's from A Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.  It's about a young raccoon going to school for the first time and is scared so his mom gives him kisses in his palms to always remember her love for him.  I teach Kindergarten and always read this the second day of school to my kiddos.  So I love this book and LOVE this reference!

Anyways, this was a light read and something right up my alley.  Great book by a new debut author!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 42
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 37
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 13
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 39
Completely Contemp Challenge 2012: 2012-8
2012 Standalone Reading Challenge: 10

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

Book Review- Sweet Evil

I just finished reading Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

What a great story about good and evil! 

First off--loved the characters!  I loved Anna.  I loved that she was so good, mostly.  But still had to fight with the temptations of evils.  I loved that she was so loving.  And Kaidan! (I think I've found a new boys name I love!)  I think I mostly really liked him.  There were still some times where he frustrated me but overall I liked him.  His relationship with Anna was pretty fast, which usually annoys me, but for some reason, it didn't in this book.  Maybe its because Anna knew it was wrong.  I liked the secondary characters too of Anna's friends.  Jay was an awesome guy best friend.  This relationship just went to show that guys and girls can be strictly friends.  And Veronica turned out to be pretty great too.  The other Neph made for a fun group of characters.  And Anna's dad--just a big old teddy bear!

Second, I don't think there was too  much action in this book.  It's more of a character story.  But I like it that way.  I liked getting all the back story of the Angels and the Neph and the Dukes.  It was interesting to read and I just got really into it.

This is the first book in a trilogy, and I can't wait til the next one comes out!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 41
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 36
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 12
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 38

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog: Shelley Coriell

I am honored to host Shelly Coriell, author of Wecome, Caller, This is Chloe, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.
I got to ask Shelley some "this or that" questions!

1 Coffee or Tea? Tea. Green tea in the morning. Chai in the afternoon. For those of you who like chai with a kick, check out this chai concentrate recipe.

2 Hard copy of a book or e-book? I swear I never thought I’d say this, but…e-book. Great for travel and easy to read in bed.

3 Dog or Cat? Dog. I’m owned by a needy rescue weimaraner.

4 Girly Girl or Tomboy? Both. I pine for cute shoes, especially sexy sandals, but I also have a serious crush on my dusty hiking boots.

5 Cake or Ice Cream? Ice cream with toffee and double fudge brownie bites.

6 Color pictures or black and white pictures? Black and white. There’s so much story in shades of gray.

7 Travel the word or homebody? Travel the world. Just spent some time in Venice, Italy, and will be heading off next month to Alaska’s inside passage. Plus one of my best friends is a luxury travel writer, and I keep begging her to tuck me in one of her suitcases.

8 Beach or mountains? Beach. One of my favorite lines in WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE, is when Grams picks up a seashell and holds it to young Chloe’s ear and says, “Listen. It’s the heartbeat of the ocean.”

9 Watch movies at home or in a theater? I bow to the almighty Netflix. Current addiction: Downton Abbey.

10 Cook at home or go out to eat? Cook. I’m a former food magazine editor and love hanging out in my kitchen. I’ve been on a pasta kick lately. Tonight’s menu: orecchiette with broccoli, asiago breadsticks, and spring mix salad with orange wedges.

11 Early riser or night owl? Early riser. It’s amazing how productive I can be between five and seven every morning when everyone but the weim is asleep.

12 Popcorn or peanuts? Popcorn. Even better when made on the stove and drizzled with real butter. Never popped it yourself? Here’s an easy tutorial.

Thanks for having me on your blog, Andrea. May your world be filled with good books and great people!

To learn more about Chloe’s high school radio world and win a $50 electronic/radio store gift certificate or one of ten CHLOE swag packs, go to Shelley Coriell’s website, www.shelleycoriell.com/blog/. Good luck to all!

Popcorn is my all time favorite food--I'm not joking when I say I have it almost every day!  But I've never tried it made on the stove--I'm so doing it!  Thanks for the tip, Shelley, and for stopping by!

The Sunday Salon- May 13, 2011

The Sunday Salon

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there!  I feel like a mom sometimes with my furbaby--she sure is spoiled!  She's an inside dog--litter box trained in all--so she hardly ever goes outside.  But today we met up with another couple who has 2 puppies and we took them on a walk at a small town that is really dog-friendly.  We ate lunch at an outdoor cafe and just walked around.  Bella loved it!  She did so well--she didn't bark at other dogs and was friendly with everyone.  But now she is so tired!  She's not used to all that walking and has been napping the rest of the day!

I finished and reviewed the following books in the past week:

Belles by Jen Calonita

So Close to You by Rachel Carter










I fulfilled items in the following challenges in the past week:2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 39, 40
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 34, 35
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 36, 37
Completely Contemp Challenge 2012: 2012-7
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 11

I am currently reading Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins and up next is Welcome Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell.

Book Review- So Close To You

Early this morning, I finished reading So Close to You by Rachel Carter for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Lydia Bentley has heard stories about the Montauk Project all her life: stories about the experiments that took place at the abandoned military base near her home and the people who’ve disappeared over the years. When she stumbles into a vessel that transports her to a dangerous and strange new reality, Lydia realizes that all the stories she’s ever heard about the Montauk Project are true—and that she’s in the middle of one of the most dangerous experiments in history.

Alongside Wes, a darkly mysterious boy whom she is wary to trust, Lydia begins to unravel the secrets surrounding the project. But the truths behind these secrets force her to question all her choices. And if Lydia chooses wrong, she might not save her family but destroy them... and herself.

This is another one of those books that is completely out of the realm that I normally read.  I had no clue this was a book about time travel (I thought it was paranormal for some reason...obviously I didn't read the summary that closely).  If I had, then I never would have read it.  But I'm so glad that I did!

Lydia was okay for me.  I do think that its weird that she was so okay with the whole travel thing right off the bat--I would think that she would have been pretty freaked out. And I didn't like her relationship with Wes.  She fell in love with him so quickly and there was nothing really redeeming about him.  That being said, I LOVED Mary.  Such a bubbly, warm girl!  It sounds weird, but if she were a real person, I would totally be friends with her in real life.

The whole premise of the story was pretty interesting.  The whole time machine was intriguing as was the way the recruiting worked (although horrifying!)  There were some pretty good twists and turns.  And the one at the very end, the last sentence, makes me want to be able to pick up the second book in the trilogy now!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

So Close to You will be released on July 10, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 40
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 35
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 11
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 37

 *FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Book Review- Belles

I just finished reading Belles by Jen Calonita for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she’s ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn’t go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn’t thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates’ Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls’ lives forever.

Okay, so I have to admit that the first thing that drew me into the book was the title.  I am a huge Beauty and the Beast fan.  So right away I wanted to read the summary.  And while it turned out that the story had nothing to do with that Belle, it did have a take on the classic Cinderella-rags-to-riches story.  So I jumped at the chance to read it!

And I really enjoyed it!  Izzie comes from a completely different lifestyle than I'm used to (athough I'm far away from the Emerald Cove lifestyle too) and I loved reading about how her two worlds merged.  There were the bad girls you loved to hate--mostly Savannah.  And then the cousin who started off evil but tried to be good--Mira.  And Brayden--loved him!  Loved that he was from the Emerald Cove world yet was completely down to earth and real

This was just a light, fun book that had me completely into it and looking forward to the next book in the series, Winter White!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 39
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 34
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 36
Completely Contemp Challenge 2012: 2012-7

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

In My Mailbox- May 7, 2012

In My Mailbox: Here's what came in my mailbox this week (well, really for 2 weeks since my computer was broken)

MONDAY

Sisterhood Everlasting- Ann Brashares--Bookmooch









FRIDAY

Tiger Lily- Jodi Lynn Anderson--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

MONDAY

Fated (Soul Seekers #1)- Alyson Noel--for blog tour

WEDNESDAY

So Close to You- Rachel Carter--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

THURSDAY

Sweet Evil- Wendy Higgins--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

FRIDAY

Belles- Jen Calonita--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

SATURDAY

Green-Eyed Demon (Sabina Kane #3)- Jaye Wells--PaperbackSwap

Witches of East End (The Beauchamp Family #1)- Melissa de la Cruz--PaperbackSwap