Thursday, August 11, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday!

Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.

Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

Jennifer Castle’s debut novel is a heart-wrenching, surprisingly witty testament to how drastically life can change in the span of a single moment.



This one comes out next month and it sounds amazing! I'm quite excited. :)




Sunday, August 7, 2011

Startdust by Neil Gaiman



Date Released:
July 2007
Publisher: HarperCollins
Rating: 5 keys
Source: Bought
ISBN: 0380804557



Description:

In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for six hundred years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named.

Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve that star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.

Review:

This book was my first reading of Neil Gaiman and oh, did it start a beautiful friendship. Since this book I have scrounged up nearly every book ever written by him and keep trying to fit them into my schedule around every turn because this man is one amazing writer.

This book is one that was surprisingly great, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I had seen the first ten or so minutes of the movie, but when one of my friends read American Gods and couldn't stop going on about it I decided I had to read some Gaiman myself.

And we all know, I'm a YA girl.

So, Stardust was what I picked up and it was amazing. The book doesn't center around any one character, of course it focus' on Tristran but it jumps around to give a more well rounded view of all of those who live beyond Wall and this was a world I wanted to get to know more about. It was interesting, the characters, the setting, the situations, all of it kept my interest and had me reading until late in the night.

What I really loved though about Stardust was just Neil Gaiman's way of writing. The way he phrases simple things astounds me and it makes me realize just how powerful words can be. After reading this book I am on a quest to read all of his others and that doesn't happen all the time.

If you haven't read Gaiman yet, or if you just want to, Stardust is the perfect starter book to one of the greatest writers out there. I highly recommend it - so you should go read it.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Harry Potter, the Fun Stuff

I'm still not over the end of Harry Potter.

I'm actually not sure if I will ever be completely "over" Harry Potter as I credit it to making me who I am. Not completely of course, Harry Potter didn't make me cheat on my math test in second grade, or cause me to get that speeding ticket when I was sixteen, but Harry Potter did do some other things in my life.

Because of Harry Potter, I became a reader. I have said it before, but I really do think Harry Potter inspired my generation to do more than just read, we believed in magic again which is something we were lacking in a world filled with The Backstreet Boys and Brittany Spears because they were the people kids were looking up to.

Until we met a little boy with a scar.

So, I take this opportunity to stop my sappiness, and move onto other things.

These are some of the best Harry Potter related images I have found on the internet so far, I have done enough talking about exactly what Harry Potter means to me to fill several posts, so this one I just want to make fun.

Here they are. Enjoy.

Lolz!


Lol, Spidey...


I don't think this was a waste of five dollars...

No offense Twilight, I loved you as well... it's just not the same thing. lol

And finally...



It's over guys, and I never did get my hogwarts letter...


Friday, August 5, 2011

Hey, Guess What... I'm BACK!


So, I have been MIA for the last few months, most of that was due to college and me starting work but there was a problem... I missed you guys too much!

So, without further ado, I am here to say that I am back.

Just because I wasn't blogging, doesn't mean I wasn't reading so I will have some reviews coming your way quickly.

I can't wait to see you all again!

As always, books are life and I have missed you all!


(The reason for the picture of the cast of Harry Potter, is because I like Harry Potter...)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Miss Delacourt Has Her Day by Heidi Ashworth

Date Released: February 4, 2011
Publisher: Avalon
Rating: 5 keys
Source: From Author for Review.
ISBN:
978-0803477162

Description:

Ginny Delacourt felt the course of true love could not have run smoother. After all, it required only a fortnight, a pair of highwaymen, a pox quarantine, a sham betrothal, and a masquerade ball to bring Sir Anthony up to snuff. When her beloved suddenly becomes the heir to his uncle, the Duke of Marcross, protocol dictates that he drop the "Sir" from his name. It's his uncle who insists Ginny, daughter of a lowly vicar, is not the proper bride for a future duke.


Lucinda and Lord Avery arrive on the scene to stir up trouble, and Ginny's normally manipulative Grandaunt Regina seems helpless to arrange anything, least of all a frowned-upon wedding. It's up to Anthony, with help from his fussy valet, to see to it that Ginny has her day.
The road to true love just got a little bumpier.

Review:

Those of you who have followed me for awhile know all about my secret obsession with Regency Romances. I flock to them when given the opportunity because a huge small part of me loves the idea of the dances, the dresses, the perfect gentlemen... what is not to love?


I came across Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth around two years ago, you can read my review here. I loved it then, and when I heard there would be a sequel I couldn't repress my excitement (because honestly, who doesn't want to read an awesome regency when given the chance?)

The sequel to Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind, the book I swooned over two years ago definitely did not disappoint. This book did not suffer the curse of the sequel and it held my attention with the perfect amount of drama and humor to keep me fervently flipping the pages.

There are times in both books where I find myself laughing out loud, this book is filled with what I love to find in a regency romance. It's full of errors and missteps and moments where you can't help but giggle at the characters.

I loved watching the characters develop, they changed throughout this book I believe more than they did in the first installment and I enjoyed watching their development as they ran through the hurtles that faced them.

If you enjoy regency romances, humor, or are just yearning for a well developed and well plotted story you cannot miss this series!
 
Blog Design by Use Your Imagination Designs all images from the In the Castle and Story Book Castle by Lorie Davison