2010 Debut Author Challenge Info & List

The Story Siren is hosting the 2010 Debut Author Challenge, and you can find out more about it at her blog HERE. The challenge runs from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. I'm going to try to read as many as possible because they are so many great new books coming out in 2010. You can sign up for the challenge HERE. Here is my list which will probably change many times as time goes by. I'm aiming at reading at least 20 debut books.

2010 Debut Author Challenge List:

1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver *

2. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey *

3. Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien *

4. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy *

5. The Duff by Kody Keplinger *
6. The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells *

7. My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking * 

8. Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus *
9. Jane by April Lindner *
10. Queen of Secrets by Jenny Meyerhoff *
11. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young *

12. Dirty Little Secrets by CJ Omololu

14. The Iron King by Julie Kawaga

15. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

16. The Mark by Jen Nadol
17. Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
18. Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards
19. A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

BOLD = Own
* = Finished

IMMB (15)

IMMB was started by The Story Siren. In My Mailbox is where I post the books I won, received for review, bought, or borrowed. The book titles are linked to their Amazon pages. These are the books and swag I got this week:

FROM THE LIBRARY:  

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa De La Cruz (Hardback)

RECEIVED FOR REVIEW:

Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (Hardback from Engleman & Co.)

Walking Backward by Catherine Austen (Paperback from LibraryThing)

WON:

Phantom Island: Wind by Krissi Dallas, postcard, bookmark, and tattoes (Signed Hardback won from TeensReadToo) 

Cold Streak by Lewis Aleman, bookmark, and book sampler (Signed Paperback hosted by La Femme Readers courtesy of Lewsis Aleman)

What great books did you get this week? (leave your links!)

Contest Reminder, New Winter Layout, and Other Things!

Hey everyone, my 100 followers contest ends in a couple of weeks on the 8th. There will be two winners and the first picks their own book, so go enter HERE now! Also I redid my header with snowflakes, changed the background for the millionth time, added a Christmas tree countdown, and finally got rid of all the pink : D I don't really like pink, but somehow everything was pink haha. My favorite color is purple, but oh well everything is blue now. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy the rest of their break. I can't wait til Christmas!

Friday Firsts (8)

The first line can make or break a reader’s interest. Just how well did the author pull you in to the story with their first sentence? To participate in this weekly book meme is extremely easy.

• Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.
• Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.
• Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title and the author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)
• Did this first sentence help draw you into the story? Why or why not?

The book I'm currently reading is the Van Alen Legacy by Melissa De La Cruz. I just started reading it, so I'm not vary far into it yet. I've been dying to read it and finally after being the tenth person on the hold list at the library, I got it...yay! : D I love all the Blue Bloods books and can't wait to devour this one too. This is the first sentence: (it starts off with a sort of intro of a "conversation", but I will just put the first sentence of Chapter 1)

"There had been little time to mourn."

 

This is an okay first sentence. If you have read the first three books and especially the third, this make sense to you but if not, it won't. Since I remember how the last book, Revelations, ended, this does draw me in and make me want to know more. Like I said above, I can't wait to this and find out how everything turns out.

What's your current book's first sentence?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope everyone has a great holiday and eats a lot of yummy food aka turkey and pie : D Here are a cute and a funny Thanksgiving pic for your viewing pleasure:

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly awaiting. This week I can't wait for Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White. Her debut novel sounds so good, and the cover is really pretty too : ) It comes out next year on March 2nd 2010.

Forget-Her-Nots (summary from Amy's website)
By: Amy Brecount White
When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn’t so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out.  In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum.  Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher.  When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others.  But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her.  And her bouquets don’t always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin.  Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she’s soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

The Espressologist Review

Title: The Espressologist 
Author: Kristina Springer 
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux 
Publication Date: October 27, 2009 
Pages: 192 
My Edition: Hardback 
Reading Level: Young Adult 
Where I got it: Henry Holt InGroup

Summary from Goodreads:
What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?
With overtones of Jane Austen’s Emma and brimming with humor and heart, this sweet, frothy debut will be savored by readers

Review:

I really like the Espressologist cover and the story. The cover goes perfectly with the plot, and I love the coffee mug with the heart. The only thing I don’t like about the cover is the girl’s eyes are just a little too much. The most compelling part of the book would be the great, descriptive characters. Also, I love the plot because it’s so original and cute!  

My favorite part of the story is the middle when Jane becomes the “Espressologist” and starts to match up people by their favorite drink choices. Also the ending was really just perfect, and it didn’t leave off with a cliffhanger which was good. I finished the book pretty fast and really enjoyed reading it. I couldn't put it down once I got into it and wasn’t disappointed by the author’s first novel. I would definitely recommend this cute book to everyone. I'm looking forward to reading other novels by Kristina Springer in the future. 

Rating:

Along for the Ride Review

Title: Along for the Ride 
Author: Sarah Dessen 
Publisher: Viking Juvenile 
Publication Date: June 16, 2009 
Pages: 383 
My Edition: ARC 
Reading Level: Young Adult 
Where I got it: won from Mishel at mis(h)takes! 

Summary from Sarah's website:

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live. A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend. In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

Review: 
Sarah Dessen always writes amazingly, great books and this one is just as wonderful. All of her stories are similar: girl and boy fall for each other then something happens where they stop talking, so then they either get back together or they don't. I couldn't stop reading and really wanted Auden and Eli to be together! I was worried they wouldn't be together, but the ending was perfect.

The story is cute, funny, and pretty good. I love all the characters because they all are unforgettable and very easy to relate to. Auden goes through a lot in one summer, and it great how much she grew during then. She makes new friends, learns to let loose a little, and even to love and forgive. This wasn't my favorite Dessen book, but I still like it a lot. If you're looking for a nice, quick, summer read this would be perfect. I can't wait to read future books from such a great author!
 

Rating:

100th Post! IMMB (14)

IMMB was started by The Story Siren. This week was pretty good! For review from HenryHolt, I got the Espressologist. From contests, I got Bad Apple from Princess Bookie and Leviathan from Teen Libris. Also, I got some Hollow swag from Jessica Verday and Something, Maybe at the library. 

The Espressologist By: Kristina Springer
Summary from Espressologist.com:
What’s your drink of choice?
Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie.

Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right? With overtones of Jane Austen’s Emma and brimming with humor and heart, this sweet, frothy debut will be savored by readers. 

Bad Apple By: Laura Ruby

Summary from Amazon:
"If I really wanted to open up, I'd confess that I really am the liar everyone believes I am."
High-school junior Tola Riley has green hair, a nose ring, an attitude problem, and a fondness for fairy tales, which are a great escape from real life. Everyone thinks she's crazy; everyone says so. Everyone except Mr. Mymer, her art teacher. He gets her paintings and lets her hang out in the art room during lonely lunch periods. But then rumors start flying and Tola is suddenly the center of a scandal. The whole town is judging her—even her family. When Mr. Mymer is suspended for what everyone thinks is an affair, she has no choice but to break her silence. Fairy tales won't help her this time . . . so how can she tell the truth? And, more importantly, will anyone believe her?

Leviathan By: Scott Westerfeld
Summary from Amazon:
It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet. Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered. With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

Something, Maybe By: Elizabeth Scott
Summary from Elizabeth's website:
Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. Her dad made a fortune showing pretty girls--and his "party" lifestyle--all over the Internet, and her mom, who was once one of her dad's girlfriends, is now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of attention for far too long, Hannah has learned how to stay out of sight...and that's how she likes it. Of course, being unknown isn't helping her get noticed by gorgeous, confident Josh, who Hannah knows is her soul mate. Between trying to figure out a way to get him to notice her, dealing with her parents, and wondering why she can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn, Hannah feels like she's going crazy. She's determined to make things work out the way she wants....only what she wants may not be what she needs. 

What great books did you get this week?

 

The Treasure Map of Boys: Ruby Oliver Book 3 Review

Title: The Treasure Map of Boys (Ruby Oliver Book 3) 
Author: E. Lockhart

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: July 28, 2009

Pages: 256

My Edition: Hardback 
Reading Level: Young Adult 
Where I got it: the Library

Summary from E. Lockhart's website:

In this third book in the Ruby Oliver series. Roo  is back at Tate Prep, and it’s her thirty-seventh week in the state of Noboyfriend. Her panic attacks are bad, her love life is even worse, and what’s more:
• Noel is writing her notes,
• Jackson is giving her frogs,
• Gideon is helping her cook,
• and Finn is making her brownies.
• Rumors are flying, and Ruby’s already sucky reputation is heading downhill.

Not only that, she’s also:
• Running a bake sale,
• learning the secrets of heavy metal therapy,
• encountering some seriously smelly feet,
• defending the rights of pygmy goats,
• and bodyguarding Noel from unwanted advances.

In this companion novel to The Boyfriend List and The Boy Book, Ruby struggles to secure some sort of mental health, to understand what constitutes a real friendship, and — if such a thing exists — to find true love. 

Review: 
Yay, E. Lockhart delivered another hilarious, cute, and fantastic Ruby Oliver story. Compared to the first two, The Treasure Map of Boys is probably my favorite because Ruby has grown up a little more but still has so much to learn about herself, her friends, and the others around her...especially all the boys! Ruby had some trouble during Freshman year by losing all her friends and being named the school "whore." Finally in Junior year she has kind of moved on, gained two friends, but is still seeing her shrink.  

I love the footnotes at the bottom of some of the pages because they are always so hilarious. I loved this one, but it took me awhile to read only because I've been a little busy and too tired to read. Other than that, whenever I got a chance, I couldn't stop reading. If you haven't read this series, I recommend it if you are looking for a funny, girly story to read. If you have read any of them and liked them, you won't be disappointed at all with this third companion novel. I'm pretty sure there will be at least another one for Ruby's senior year, so I can't wait for some new info on that!
 

Rating:

Friday Firsts (7)

The first line can make or break a reader’s interest. Just how well did the author pull you in to the story with their first sentence? To participate in this weekly book meme is extremely easy.

• Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.
• Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.
• Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title and the author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)
• Did this first sentence help draw you into the story? Why or why not?

The book I'm currently reading is the Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. I'm very close to finishing my books, so expect the Along for the Ride and the Treasure Map of Boys reviews sometime this weekend. I love all of Sarah Dessen's books and so far this one hasn't disappointed at all! This is the first sentence:

"THE EMAILS ALWAYS began the same way. Hi Auden!!"

 

This is a decent first sentence, but could have been a tad better. It got my attention and is kind of funny. Along for the Ride of course has a female main character who falls for a boy but then kinda blows it. I really like it and really just want to know it ends.

What's your current book's first sentence?

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly awaiting. This week I can't wait for Heist Society by Ally Carter. I love her Gallagher Girl series, so this will probably be good too! Also, the cover is so cute : ) It comes out next year on February 9th, 2010.

Heist Society (summary from Amazon)
By: Ally Carter
When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected. Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history--or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

Princess Bookie Creative Challenge

Princess Bookie is having another creative contest! There's three options and go HERE to find out more. Here are my designs for Cindy's cupcake rating system!

Vampire Diaries Town Set

Hey everyone, this past weekend my sister and I went to Atlanta, GA where our dad is working on the Vampire Diaries. I really wanted to see something from the show, so we drove to Covington where many of the exterior buildings are filmed. I took some pictures of the town which are below:

This is a pic of the exterior of Elena's house like the picture below.

 

The town's church that's in a couple of episodes

This is the Mystic Grill where the characters hang out at a lot. It's funny because it's actually law offices, so it was painted green and the sign & awning were put up just for the show.

This is the rooftop where Damon takes Vikki like the pic below where you can also see the church!