In My Mailbox # 17

In My Mailbox is a weekly bookish meme hosted @ The Story Siren

This week was awesome :)

BOUGHT / WON

- Scott Pilgrim, Vol 4: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley (spanish ed)

- Scott Pilgrim Vol 5: Scott Pilgrim vs The Universe by Bryan Lee O'Malley (spanish ed)

- Tres Metros sobre el Cielo by Federico Moccia (not available in english)

- Blood Law by Jeannie Holmes (Thanks to Book Faery)

- Matched by Ally Condie (Thanks to Vicarious Reader)

Oh, and a cute bag for books ;)

NETGALLEY

- The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks

- The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Trick or Treat! Happy -almost- Halloween!

Halloween is here! (almost) I'm going to celebrate it watching scary movies with my boyfriend, at least, that's the plan.

Can you recommend me a spooky movie? I don't usually watch movies that scare me but it's Halloween! xD

Anyway, in case you decide to be a werewolf/vampire/ghost/zombie for this night, here are some name generators you could use to create your spooky identity!

- Zombie Name Generator: My zombie name is Maria the Shambling-ArmBiter (hahahaha)

- Werewolf Name Generator: Mine is Amaris Phellan (cool)

- Vampire Name Generator: The Great Archives determine you to have gone by the identity: Chastity Black. Known in some parts of the world as: Iseult of The Vile The Great Archives. Record: Vile, foul, filthy and greedy: this creature knows nothing of light.(wow....just...wow)

- Ghost Name Generator: Mine is Banafrit the Sexy Ghost (OMG!! xD)

Have fun! (and leave your names at the comments)

Review: How to Crash a Killer Bash (Party Planning Mystery #2) by Penny Warner

Title: How to Crash a Killer Bash

Series: Party Planning Mystery #2

Author: Penny Warner

Release Date: August 3rd, 2010

Publisher: Signet

Pages: 320

Age: Adult

Presley Parker is hosting a Murder Mystery party thrown by a notorious yet benevolent curator, Mary lee Miller. But when the role play becomes terrifyingly real, and Mary Lee is found dead, Presley kicks her sleuthing into high gear-only to find that someone wants the life of the party dead too...

How to Crash a Killer Bash is the sequel to How to Host a Killer Party. The protagonist, Presley, is still organizing parties, and this time, she's hosting a Murder Mystery party. Everything is going great, until Mary Lee Miller, the hostess, is found dead, and Delicia, Presley's best friend, is a suspect.

Of course she knows she didn't do it....but who? Nobody seems to like Mary Lee Miller at all...

Presley is still the same funny girl. What I most like about her is that she's independent, and doesn't get scared easily.  But her main problem is that she is compulsive, and sometimes doesn't know when to stop.

I still enjoyed reading about her, but I wished sometimes wasn't so repetitive about her disorders. She tends to use them as an excuse for her actions.

Anyway, I absolutely loved Brad. He wasn't a suspect, and he helped Presley more this time. And finally, he started to make some moves with her. Besides, we get to know more about him, but he's still mysterious. And sexy.

I liked that we get see more of the other characters - as Presley friends, her mother, her cats, and even the super sexy but annoying detective - but still, the main character was Brad. I was really glad, because in the first book I wanted more of him, and in this book, my wishes were granted.

The mystery was more complex this time, because there were lots of suspects and none of them seemed to have a motive (at first). There were many clues that didn't mean anything, and others that meant more; and some nice twists. I had a couple of suspects in my mind, but didn't discover the killer until the end. I wished Presley wouldn't have been so naive sometimes, because she was barely telling the killer every important detail.

Overall, I really enjoyed it....even more than the first one. I love this series and I can't wait to read the next book, How to Survive a Killer Seance, which is going to be released March, 2011.

More information about this book at www.pennywarner.com | Amazon | Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday # 22 - Fractured: Happily Never After?

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick:

Everyone knows a fairytale or two. They’re the kind of stories that seem to stick with you. Maybe it’s the magic. Maybe it’s the handsome prince. Or maybe they’re just the absolute perfect place to lose yourself for a little while.

But what would happen if Snow White were around today? Would Cinderella still need a fairy godmother? And would the Little Mermaid show up on YouTube?

Joanna Karaplis has put an unexpected spin on Snow White, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid; she’s quietly fractured the stories and then reassembled them for the 21st Century. So, while there may not be a whole lot of horse-drawn carriages and magic potions, you can be sure that there will be at least one evil witch and maybe even a handsome prince (or two)…

Joanna Karaplis

November 1st 2010 by McKellar and Martin Publishing Group, Ltd.

Paperback, 128 pages

Book Review: Dead Is Just A Rumor by Marlene Perez

Dead Is Just A Rumor
Series: Dead Is, #4
Author: Marlene Perez
Release Date: August 23rd, 2010
Publisher: Graphia
Age: Young Adult

As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its 200th anniversary—on Halloween, of course—many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find out who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isn’t easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though she’s is happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having difficult time adjusting to home life—and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisy’s boyfriend, Ryan. Can their relationship take the strain? And Daisy’s got even more on her plate: A talented amateur chef, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circe’s pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect the temperamental chef’s secrets aren’t only in her ingredients. . . . The fourth installment in this favorite series is full of surprises and scares!

I never read a book without reading the previous books of the series...except now. I liked the description, and I thought why not? It would be great to read it for Halloween.

The thing is that, at first, I was kind of lost. The characters weren't really described, and I assume it was because they were described before, in the previous books. But still, I continue to read it because I started to get more information about everyone.

The world that the author creates for this series is very original. Almost everyone in Nightshade is paranormal. You could be a witch, a werewolf, a ghost, a vampire....anything! It's cool, but at the same time, they have to worry about the people who doesn't like them, like The Scourge. That's why, when some of them start to receive blackmail, everyone freaks out. For me, it wasn't so mysterious. It kind of obvious who was the responsible of this. But apparently no one thought the same until the end.

The protagonist, Daisy, seemed to be kind of plain. She's a senior, and her only worries are her father and her boyfriend. She spends her time dealing with her father, who is still recovering from The Scourge, and isn't comfortable with this grown up Daisy...specially because she's dating Ryan. But still, I have to say she's different from most of the YA protagonists, because she's very responsible and has a good relationship with her family, which was refreshing.

I wished there was more about the others characters. This book was all about her father, and I wanted more about her boyfriend, her friends or even her family, because they all are very interesting!

There was another mystery too, that Daisy managed to discover. There is a new chef in the town, called Circe Silvertongue, and apparently a few things happens when she's angry. It was also obvious what Circe have done, but maybe in the next book - DEAD IS NOT AN OPTION.

Overall, I didn't enjoyed Dead Is Just A Rumor as much as I would have wanted to. I'm pretty sure it was because I haven't read the previous books. But I still think it's an original series, and maybe I'll try to read the others books.

More about this book at www.marleneperez.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Review: Sing Me To Sleep by Angela Morrison (Republished)

Title: Sing Me To Sleep

Author: Morrison, Angela

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Deate: March 4th 2010

ISBN: 1595142754 (isbn13: 9781595142757)

Pages: 301

Age: Young Adult

Summary from Goodreads:

THE TRANSFORMATION

Beth has always been “The Beast”—that’s what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth’s only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she’s selected to be her choir’s soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.

THE LOVE AFFAIR

When Beth’s choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek’s untethered passion—for music, and for Beth—leaves her breathless. Because in Derek’s eyes? She’s not The Beast, she’s The Beauty.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

THE HEARTBREAK

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek’s been hiding a dark secret from her …one that could shatter everything.

Beth, one of those girls who suffer a miserable life at school for being ugly, becomes beautiful and finds love. But the end may not be a happily ever after, because (prince) Derek has a secret.

Beth is a nice girl, but has low self-esteem, is submissive and too dependent for my taste. Obviously, to live your life by accepting the name of The Beast is not pleasant, and that is why a major change in her appearance really helps her. Gradually, Beth stops thinking she is ugly, gets out of the shell and become something else.

Derek is the prince of the story, and probably you will fall in love with him. He is nice boy; sweet, loving, and way too sexy to be the good guy. It's almost perfect. Almost. Although it's obvious that he loves Beth, he disappears many times, and every time he goes away, his little secret becomes more and more uncomfortable.

Of course, there is a love triangle. Scott, Beth's best friend, who sees beyond her outside. I didn't really liked him, he was way too intense, insistent and even cruel. But in the end he was just another boy in love.

I liked the fact that the characters sing. They have a great voice, and participate in choirs. It is an activity that it's never taken into account for young adult's books (first time I read about it. Also, I liked that the author include some lyrics, which sometimes appeared out of nowhere, mixed with the thoughts of the protagonist and helps you understands how she feels.

The only thing I'm not convinced is that the story doesn't focus on a single topic. First, its Beth's  transformation, then she finds love, but her best friend starts to bother, and finally Derek's big secret comes out. When I finished the book, Beth's beauty problem seemed so far away. I think that if the author had focused only on the love story, it would have been better.

The writing grabs you and doesn't let you go until you finish the book; And although it started being unoriginal, the ending left me surprised. I wasn't expecting it at all!

It's a book I enjoyed, and at the end, cried a lot. So if you decide to read it, be prepared (with tissues!).

Rating:

More about this book at www.angela-morrison.com | Goodreads | Amazon

Review: Hunger (Horsemen of the Apocalypse, #1) by Jackie Morse Kessler

Title: Hunger

Author: Jackie Morse Kessler

Series: Horsemen of the Apocalypse #1

Release Date: October 18th, 2010

Publisher: Graphia

Pages: 180

Age: Young Adult

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

Wow. Just...wow.

Lisa is a seventeen years old anorexic girl who is barely living. She's depressed, and her inner voice is Thin.

When her real friends and family starts to notice something is wrong, she can't believe it. They are against her! Don't they want her to be thin? Perfect?

Her only solace is her bulimic friend, Tammy. She thinks she's so perfect, because she can eat everything she wants and then just go to the bathroom. It seems so easy.

Lisa was such a deep character. I could understand why she felt that way, and I haven't had eating disorders. But it's awful to feel like you aren't worth it. Like you have to be thin, and maybe that way you would be perfect. I think lots of girls could relate to this.

It was really interesting to listen Lisa struggling with her Thin voice, that constantly tells her she isn't good enough because she's fat. Every time she grabs something to eat, she's calculating the calories and the time she must workout.

When we met her at the first chapter, she's trying to escape from her life. But then the Horseman Death rings the doorbell and offers her an alternative, to be the Famine.

Every place she visits as the Famine is different. At some places people are eating too much, at others people are dying of hunger. In her rides, she starts to understand the real meaning of hunger and balance. She starts to, finally, open her eyes and realize the damage she's doing to herself.

I liked that we also get to know the other Horsemen. Death is the first and most important, and I loved him. He's mysterious and amusing, but at the same time he's scary (I mean, he's Death, right?). War was very intense, and Pestilence is just kind of gross. Lisa met them all, and managed to learn something about every one of them.

For a while, I just thought Lisa was crazy and this whole story was an illusion caused by her anorexic dying body. She barely had the energy to think and the pills she was taking didn't help.

It's a very unique story, with some twists, and easy to read. I just read it in a couple of hours, I couldn't stop, really. Maybe because it wasn't obvious what was going to happen in the end, who was going to win, Lisa or her Thin voice.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's an original mix of fantasy and modern issues, that I'm sure you won't find at another YA book. I can't wait to read Rage, the sequel, which is going to be released April 18, 2010.

More about this book at www.jackiemorsekessler.com | Goodreads | Amazon

Blog Tour ~ Angela Morrison | GUEST POST: My thoughts about teen love

Hi everyone!! Please welcome Angela Morrison, author of Sing Me to Sleep | Taken by Storm | Unbroken Connection | Cayman Summer, who was kind enough to give us a few words about teen love.

“My thoughts about teen love”

Teen love? I think when we talk about teen love it’s often about the popular girls getting it on with the popular guys and everybody else is kind of left out.

That feeling of being left out of love is painful. I remember it so well. It is during our teen years when we first feel that ache in our hearts only someone very special can fill.

I worry when I hear about girls who will do anything—risk their health, their safety, their very soul—to join the game only to find they’ve fallen for something false. Love that demands more of you than you want to give isn’t really love at all, is it? It’s counterfeit and far more painful than those initial pangs of loneliness.

If you abuse the physical side of love, it can numb you to the deeper spiritual essence that I believe is true love. We are all divine creatures and true love is a divine emotion. Don’t let anyone rob the ability to feel that from you. Protect your heart. Protect your soul. Be patient. Sometimes finding real love takes time. Wait for it. It’s worth it.

When I write about teens falling in love, I don’t write about the popular kids and the games they play. I write about the girls who are left out. They fall for guys who need them desperately. Their journey through these emotions—from fascination to adoration to true love—fascinates me.

There is nothing quite so romantic as a first kiss—and a second, and a third one! There is nothing as exciting, tempting or frightening as the first stirrings of desire you feel. As my characters face these situations in the context of their beliefs or lack of belief, I always try to be honest, frank and realistic.

I often hear from readers who are touched by that and see themselves in my characters. That’s exciting to me. That is why I write. Thanks so much for listening today.

All my love,

Angela

www.angela-morrison.com | Facebook | Angela Morrison Fan Club

What do you think? Do you have a different opinion or the same? Did you find love being a teenager? Leave your thoughts and stories about teen love in the comments :)

Halloween Read-A-Thon! The End

The Halloween Read-A-Thon! I really enjoyed this read-a-thon. :) The books I chosed were good and the mini challenges were awesome!

My readings:

- Dead Is Just a Rumor by Marlene Perez 

- Accidentally Dead (Accidental Friends, Book 2) by Dakota Cassidy

Costume Mini Challenge WINNER!!

And now, the winner of my Costume Mini Challenge, the one who is going to choose a paranormal book (-$10) is....

Lauren M !

Her costume (she's actually sewing it herself!):

Lauren, if you're reading this, please email me to magabygc(@)gmail.com so you can tell me the paranormal book you want, and your address!

Thanks to everyone who participated! :D I hope you had a great time!