My First Ever GIVEAWAY!!!!

Disney Hyperion sent me a copy of Ally Carter's Heist Society, and you can read my review here. This book was one of my favorites of all-time, and I will be putting it out as a giveaway!!

There will be 1 winner, and the winner will receive a hardcover of Heist Society! This giveaway is for US only! Ends at July 20th, 2010.


To enter, fill this FORM.

"May the odds be ever in your favor!" The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
:D

P.S: SPREAD THE WORD!!! Ta!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

"I realize only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me."

My Rating: 10/10

Just like The Hunger Games, Catching Fire also gets a perfect ten! It's an amazing book! Read it!

Katniss survived her Hunger Games. So did Peeta. Now she is back at home, where so much had happened.

Gale took a bit of rebellion, and the Peace Keepers wounded him. Katniss, now living in a rich mansion along with her family, tends to his wounds.

Then comes the annual Hunger Games. This time, the Capitol decided to do the unusual; they want to bring every girl and male tribute from each Districts that had won the title of Hunger Games. Old, or young. Haymitch does not count. It is Katniss and Peeta, the champions of District 12.

I think if I spill more than this...it'll be such a spoiler to the book!

What I like about the book: The new settings and Collins' imagination of the second Hunger Games! (the actual game Katniss played in order to survive). The characters grows more and more complicated, but if we read the first book we should be able to follow Katniss' line of thoughts easily.

What I dislike about the book: THE CLIFFHANGER AT THE END. Period.

I seriously can't wait until Mockingjay comes out! Everyone who HASN'T read this book is missing out so much! If it's slow in the first chapter of The Hunger Games, keep reading! It'll be one of the best books you've ever read!

Suzanne Collins' official website

P.S: Thanks, Scholastic (again) for giving me a chance to read the book! :) I finished it in 3 hours right after The Hunger Games! I couldn't stop reading it!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

"May the odds be ever in your favor!"

My Rating: 10/10

Believe me; The Hunger Games is DEFINITELY one of the best book ever written. It's sophisticated and eloquently written, fast-paced and filled with energy. You wouldn't be able to put it down!

District 12 is where Katniss Everdeen lives and it's controlled by everyone in the Capitol. With her father being buried in a mine explosion, her family is down to a depressed mother and an innocent little sister, Prim. She has to survive for her little sister. She can.

So Katniss goes to the woods, where it is forbidden and dangerous, but the ones who knows the way can hunt. She used to do that with her deceased father. Now she's all alone.

Then she met Gale, her skillful hunting partner. Life is bearable for the two of them hunt, fish and set snares around. They also trade with the baker and the people around District 12.

Then come the Hunger Games. 12 girl tributes + 12 boy tributes comes from all 12 districts to fight for media purposes, to show the game of survival as a reminder of how harsh the Rebellion was. Everyone's names are all put in to a box, just like a raffle system. People who worked and signed up for the tesserae (a food-help-system from the Capitol) longer has more slips of paper than everyone else.

Prim, Katniss' little sister, had never signed up for the tesserae, for Katniss really tries to prevent her to be taken as the girl tribute to the game. Prim only has 1 slip of paper.

Prim's name was called out.

Katniss volunteered. Nobody sane would have done that, really. Because winning this raffle is like getting your automatic ticket to death (if you're in District 12). The boy tribute turned out to be Peeta Meelark, who was the boy who saved Katniss and her family at their verge of deaths.

Can Katniss win the game? Will the odds be ever in her favor to come home safely to see Gale, Prim and her mother?

What I like about this book: WOW. I read it in one day. I even finished the second book right away. The character--Katniss Everdeen is stunning. She's strong but she's vulnerable. She is sarcastic and witty, and she is impulsive. Katniss is also charming. Of course, what I really like was the Hunger Games concept!! Amazing, Suzanne Collins!!!

I even like the Capitol, the antagonist. How this book has opened my eyes about the imperfect government system is fascinating. :D

What I dislike about the book: Nothing. I highly recommend this book to read!

Suzanne Collins' official website

P.S: Thanks Scholastic for the copy of this great book!

P.P.S:WAIT FOR MOCKINGJAY (the final book in the trilogy) TO BE AVAILABLE IN STORES!!!

Lauren Kate Email Interview!!!

Thank you for your questions, comments, blog reviews, and support! It is really amazing to me how many people are already excited about the series. I have just finished writing Torment and I hope it will to give you plenty of reason to stay excited!

(And if you haven’t read my books yet, beware, there are some spoilers below…)

ABOUT THE BOOKS:

Who is Luce based on? Which character are you most like?

The physical traits of Luce (pronounced Loose) are based on my oldest, closest friend—the dark wavy hair, hazel eyes, tiny teeth, etc. When I first started writing her, I pulled some personality traits from this friend, but as I continued with her story, Luce veered away from my friend into an identity of her own. I share some traits with her—like her stubbornness and tendency to get swept away by romance. But if I had to which one I’m most like (though this is hard to imagine), I might be a crazy combination of Arriane and Penn.

Did you struggle in coming up with any of the characters?

Daniel was the most challenging, mainly because the full truth of his character has to come to light very slowly over the course of the entire series in order for the books to work. The reveal at the end of the first book was probably one that most readers saw coming...it is book about fallen angels after all! But there's a much bigger, game-changing reveal about Daniel to come later in the series. It's challenging for me to know what's coming and only be able to show the reader so much at this point. Daniel's character is difficult enough as it is! But I like to think of him as a work in progress, a developing story, and someone who, above all, knows Luce better than anyone else (including herself), and has her best interest at heart.

What happened to Trevor? Who is the good and who is the bad guy? Why did these angels fall? Why did you kill Penn? Why did Daniel give Luce the middle finger? Why did you end the book with so many unanswered questions??

That is the blessing and the curse of writing a series! I wish I could give you all the answers now, but please believe me that I have a reason for withholding some of the details! I must torment you until Torment comes out in the fall! In the meantime, check out the Sword and Cross Case Files at www.fallenbooks.com to learn a little bit more about who's who in Fallen!

Why did you choose to write it in third person instead of in first?

I love talking about point of view and love playing with it in my books. In the case of Fallen, I didn’t intentionally choose this point of view. Most of the time when I start a new story, I’ll hear a line in my head before I start writing. In this case, it was the first sentence of Chapter One (more or less). The choice to say “Luce” instead of “I” was implicit, not something I was entirely aware of. I just started writing, but it felt true to the story to tell it from a close, close third, so I kept it. We’re almost in Luce’s head, but there’s that small point of view choice separating us. She remains just a little bit unknowable, which is how I wanted her character to be.

How long did Fallen take you to write?

I blazed through a first draft of Fallen in about two months. I write fast and furious and then take a break and usually go back for another month or two of heavy revision. I write in Microsoft Word on an old ibook with most of the keyboard letters worn off!

Do you have a playlist of songs for Fallen?

Not officially, but a few songs I listened to a lot as I was writing:

Drunken Angel by Lucinda Williams

You Look So Young by the Jayhawks

Not Dark Yet by Bob Dylan

I heart those of you who send me playlist suggestions, so feel free to pass them along.

What about your other book, The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove?

Betrayal is my first novel and was as much of a guilty pleasure to write as I hope it is for people to read. It’s a dark, funny, gothic story about one girl’s twisted path towards Queen Bee-dom. It’s a Cruel Intentions meets Friday Night Lights meets MacBeth (told from Lady MacBeth’s point of view), set in the contemporary south. People read Fallen and they ask me whether I went to a school like Sword and Cross. Not even close! Actually, it’s the school in Betrayal that is a thinly veiled version of my utterly enormous and insanely Texan high school. All the things Natalie cares about in Betrayal are very close to my high school heart.

Like Fallen, Betrayal is richly southern gothic—Fallen is set in Savannah and Betrayal is set in Charleston, South Carolina—so the same sort of wonderfully oppressive southern scenes are important to both books. But where Luce is struggling to find her place in a new, unfamiliar school, Natalie is a girl at the top of her game—and she won’t let anything compromise that. Like every complex character, they both have some pretty remarkable skeletons in their closet. Natalie is a bit naughtier than Luce, but I imagine they would be friends. Actually, Nat’s kind of like a type-A version of Arriane.

No plans (yet) to write a sequel to Betrayal, but you never know!

Can you give us a hint about what will happen in Torment?

I’m having so much fun writing Torment right now. I think I’m more proud of it than any book I’ve written so far. Really, it’s going to be GOOD. It’s hard for me not to spill everything right now so I can say, “Aren’t you excited? Won’t this be great?” But my publisher would probably have my head. So in lieu of that, I’ll reveal just three things:

1. As Luce learns more about her past, she comes into a host of powers she never knew she had—and they might involve the shadows.
2. After the second book comes out, a prequel (which will span thousands of years!) will follow before the final book in the series.
3. Even though, of course, Daniel is Luce’s one-and-only, a new character is introduced in Torment that offers him some stiff competition.

ABOUT WRITING:

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

I've been writing stories since I was in middle school, so I love talking to people who are interesting in writing. One question this week had to do with how to write description, and the clearest advice I can give about that would be to take your time. Say I'm trying to describe a sunset and can't figure out how to make it interesting or fresh. Sometimes, when it takes me a while to get warmed up, I'll imagine how someone else--my husband, my best friend, someone I recently argued with--might see the same sunset. What would they notice about it that I wouldn't, or vice versa? Write a whole paragraph about the sunset instead of just a sentence. Then go back and look at what is strongest image you came up with. Which image reflects something new about your characters? Save that image, cut the rest. Eventually, those strong images will pop out first in your mind.

To those of you who are working on a novel or have finished one and are sending out your work: stick with it! In addition to Fallen, I have another novel I have been working on for eight years now and I know that someday I’m going to finish it! I couldn’t even begin to count how many rejection letters I’ve received over the years from agents, publishers, editors, and contest judges. What kept me writing was the support of other friends who are writers—and a dogged determination to someday get my writing published. There were times when I never thought it would happen, but now I’m so glad I kept writing. Find a writing-buddy, share your work, revise it over and over again, read it aloud, stay true to yourself and your voice, and don’t give up. An English or a Writing program are great ways to read widely and meet other writers. You can get a lot of great practice writing and revising in an academic program but I wouldn’t say the degrees you earn are necessary. If you’re looking for an agent, Writers Marketplace (the book) is a great place to start. There are also tons of publishing blogs out there with suggestions for agents. It’s mostly about finding someone whose tastes and sensibilities match yours.

To those of you who have asked, I’m sorry that I can’t agree to take a look at your own writing and offer feedback. I would love to have the time to do that, but I have to start working on my next book!!

ABOUT LAUREN KATE:

When did you start writing?

When I was younger, I wrote often and across a lot of genres—poetry, songs, stories, lots and lots of diary writing. I started focusing mainly on fiction by the time I was in high school, and longer stories came more naturally to me than short stories. I majored in creative writing in college, and went on to get a masters degree in fiction—but I don’t think those things are necessary to being a good writer. Practice, curiosity, voracious reading, and diligence are more important than any degree. I finished writing my first novel right when I graduated college—but nothing ever happened with it. It look another six years before I had a book accepted for publication.

Did you read a lot growing up? What are your favorite books?

I’ve always been a voracious reader. I can’t go on vacation for a weekend without at least five books. Growing up, my favorite author was Roald Dahl, and I think I read each of his books ten times. My favorite children’s/YA writers are Lois Lowry, Frances Hardinge, Meg Rosoff, Maureen Johnson, Phillip Pullman, and John Green. A few of my favorite adult books are To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Can I send you a letter?

Certainly!

Lauren Kate
PO Box 461514
Los Angeles, CA 90046

ABOUT PUBLICATION AND PROMOTION:

How many Fallen books are you writing? What's the publishing plan for the series? When is the next book coming out?

Fallen is the first book in the four-book series—though I will be writing a prequel to explain some of the things that have happened before the narrative of Fallen began. Torment picks up right where Fallen left off and will be published in hardcover in September, 28 2010. Sounds far away, doesn't it? But it'll be here before any of us can believe it. There will be two more books after that, Passion in the summer of 2011(this will be the prequel), and a final (currently untitled) book in December 2011.

*The books are available in stores, online, and also on Kindle and on audio! They audio version is really cool.

Will there be a movie?

It looks like there is a real possibility! The film rights for all four books were optioned by Disney/Mayhem Productions last week. I got to have lunch with the Disney people and they seem really excited about getting the movie going. More to come! I will keep you posted on my blog. (Also, there is no connection to the other movie called Fallen, which came out in 2008.)

Can I be in the movie?!?!?! Please.....??

I wish we could ALL be in the movie! All my friends and relatives are asking the same thing. I don't know anything about casting yet, but I promise, if I hear of an open casting call from Disney, I will post it on my blog!! And thanks to those of you who sent along casting suggestions. I too think Ed Westick would make a great Cam. I’ll pass it along!

Do you have any readings/signings coming up?

I’ll be at ComicCon in San Diego on July 23^rd speaking at a panel and signing from 3-5 pm.

I will also do another tour in September and will be making stops in northern California, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, Portland, Seattle, NY, Chicago, and other places. I am also in the midst of planning a UK tour in late October and an Australia/New Zealand tour in 2011! I am keeping track of the places where readers are asking me to visit, so keep asking! Someday I would love to be able to make it to your neck of the woods. Please check my website for updates!

Is there going to be a Torment T-shirt?

Yes, but the art is not finalized yet, so I can’t share the picture that I’ve seen. Just know that it’s going to be lovely and I believe it’s going to be carried at Borders books.

Tell me more about the cover art! Where can I buy that dress!

Many people have asked about my involvement in the cover art. I actually had nothing to do with it (which is a lucky thing for all of us)—and no, I am not the girl on the cover! She’s a model from Brazil (though I don’t know her name), the artist’s name is Fernanda Brusi Goncalves, and the cover was designed by a very talented team of designers at Random House. I did a little grateful grovel when I finally got to meet them a few months ago. I’m sorry I don’t know who designed the dress, though I’ve been told Morgan LaFaye has a very similar one in her wedding collection (which also comes in black!).

When my editor first emailed me a jpeg of this art, it took me about thirty seconds to wrap my mind around someone else’s image of the world and Luce’s character, but quickly after that, I fell in love with it. I had the same reaction to the just released Torment cover. And I want both of the dresses!

Paranormal books giveaway!!

The undercover book lover is giving out 5 books+5 packs of 5 gum!!

Here are the prizes..contest ends July 15th!!

Nightshade - Andrea Cremer (ARC)
Paranormalcy - Kiersten White (ARC)
The Eternal Ones - Kirsten Miller (ARC)
Halo - Alexandra Adornetto (ARC)
Pegasus - Robin McKinley (ARC)

AND

FIVE packs of 5 gum:
Zing (Bubble)
Cobalt (Peppermint)
Flare (Cinnamon)
Lush (Tropical)
Rain (Spearmint)



Enter!

Heist Society by Ally Carter

"Why are you doing this, Hale?...You could do anything, why are you doing this?"

My Rating: 9/10

Heist Society appears to be the typical Ally Carter's novel; spies and everything else mysterious. This time in Heist Society, she's going for the professional thieves!

Katarina Bishop just wants to be normal and to achieve that, she walked out of The Life.

But since it runs in the family...she has to do this one; her father's in trouble.

All she had to do was steal 5 paintings...it's easy for her, really. She was used to doing it. But who really stole the paintings that her father was accused of?

All clues gives credit to Visily Romani. Thing is, this guy was a legend. A code name, an alias between the best of thieves. So how did the 5 antiques got stolen first place???

Katarina doesn't know the answer, no matter how many good connections she has. Also, her uncle, Eddie, wouldn't really help her in this.

Apparently, Uncle Eddie thinks that Visily Romani couldn't be brought down by a high school girl.

Katarina is confused, along with Hale (her friend/partner) and Gabrielle (her cousin). Katarina clearly doesn't know what to do. But she was sure of one thing; all things that are stolen, can be stolen back. ;)

What I like: The suspense and the puzzling events, I was really thinking hard here and there!!!

What I dislike: I didn't dislike anything!! XD YAY!

Ally Carter's Heist Society Page

Ally Carter is also the author of "I'd Tell You I Love You but then I'd have to Kill You." Check that series out too, it's awesome!

I finished this book yesterday!! (in 6 hours, cause I actually looked up all the word I didn't know..and tried to pronounce the German phrases that were there...LOL)

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

"Leave it to me to find the only book known to sass its owner."

My Rating: 10/10

Sherrilyn Kenyon wrote an amazing novel about killing zombies, high school love and an epic beginning of Nick Gautier!

Nick Gautier is fourteen and...well, the usual victim of the jocks' shove-them-to-the-lockers.

He lives with his mother in a run-down condo, his father is in jail and doesn't acknowledge him as his son. He loves his mother, and he'd die to protect her. Oedipal?? Not really.

He's as sarcastic as nobody else could ever be, except his friend; Acheron Parthenopaeus.

He doesn't believe in the supernatural, until he's forced to be veiled in a full-frontal zombie attacks. Not dead, but half dead. Gross.

In Infinity, the first book of the Chronicles of Nick, Kenyon created an impressive character. Nick Gautier is charming and attractive in his own way that doesn't require Kenyon to describe him as the usual prince charming with blue eyes and blond hair.

What I really like about Infinity was of course; Nick Gautier. To be specific, his personality and his ultra-sarcastic remarks. It's mind-engaging and funny. He's an extraordinary character and exceptionally interesting.

What I dislike from the book? The ending! Yes, I know this is book one...but to say that, means that I'm unsatisfied! I literally crave more of the pages (unlike Simi--a character who keeps craving human/zombie's blood...). I really can't wait until the 2nd book comes out in Japan. (But by then I'd probably be in Japan already....T-T I wish I still get the review copy anyway...can I..? LOL.)

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Infinity page

This book is one of the most interesting books I've read. I really can't wait until the 2nd book comes out!! :D

Thank you Macmillan for sending me a copy to read and review!! :)

e-Reader Giveaway!!

Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving a variety of books!!!

Choices:
Sony Pocket eBook (color of your choice)
RCA eReader
Aluratek Libre eBook Pro
Kobo Reader





Check it out!! It's only until July..something....they didn't put up the date on that post...just check it out!

Numbers by Rachel Ward

"While I existed, the number existed. I was the number and the number was me."

My Rating: 7/10

The story is definitely unique and fresh (which was why I bought it...) but the interaction between Jem and Spider could definitely be improved...Good book! :)

You'd think that Jem is just the ordinary wallflower, the kind that skips the class and avoid social structures. The kind that would grow up just like her failure mother, a junkie who never cared about her own daughter.

It's true Jem doesn't understand most people, but the real reason why she avoids people (specifically eye contact) is because that she sees a set of numbers. At first when she keeps blurting out the numbers in front of her mother, she of course didn't have a clue what was it all about.

Then her mother died.


The date was the numbers she sees in people's eyes. Jem avoids friends and relationships. Why not? People already think she's trashed anyway.

Then there's Spider, who always gets in Jem's face because Spider's crazy like that. Slowly and unconsciously, their friendship grew (to love eventually, too) and Jem had seen Spider's numbers. It was less than 2 months.

Throughout the book Jem finds herself in trouble to decide if she would like to stay and befriend Spider or just back off; she is very capricious. She changes her mind quickly and she dislike to show weakness.

What I like about the book:
The story and the idea (obviously). The characters are realistic and the way Rachel Ward conveys Jem's frustration is extraordinary.

What I don't really like:
Sometimes Jem's thoughts can really get too frustrating and tedious.

Rachel Ward's website.

Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

"Our baboon was going completely sky goddess--which is to say, nuts."

My Rating: 10/10

Riordan's fun narrating and free characters is definitely shown in The Red Pyramid!

When this book came out I was psyched (because I've read the whole Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and loved it). But the one crazy thing that even still made me smile after 42 days on which the event occurred was that I MET RICK RIORDAN!!! (got his autograph with my name on it too! :D :D XD XD)

Woo-hoo!

Okay, now I shall get back to the review. LOL.

Like his previous books, Rick Riordan chose to base this whole book off mythology, this time Egyptian.

Now, I knew a lot about Greek mythology already before I read Percy Jackson but compared to Egyptian mythology, I might as well think it's a whole new language. So when I got this book in my hands, I was, well, again; psyched.

Sadie and Carter Kane are brother and sister. They lived separately; Carter always pack his bags and go from one museum to another, accompanying his father Julius Kane while Sadie live the normal teenager life in London.

Then one day Julius Kane blew up...well..a Rosetta Stone. A figure of all 5 gods combined appeared and took Julius and disappeared. Soon Sadie and Carter are dragged into life-threatening, full-of-dangers roller coaster ride.

Fun??? Sadie loves it; after all, she's the one who gets to "Ha-di!" everything. (Ha-di = a zap of Egyptian magic; "to destroy")

With Carter's endless knowledge of the Egyptian mythology, Sadie's Ha-di and their Shabti Doughboy, one mission is out; Stop Set.


Kane Chronicles Website

:D

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

"People had ignored me when I was Nerd Boy, but that changed after I got arrested."

My Rating: 10/10

Definitely different and fresh--it answers most of the crazy thoughts most teenagers has!!!

Tyler Miller was just the ordinary teenager. He even faded into the background more than most people. Then he sprayed a bunch of thoughts that's been stuck in his mind for a while on the school. Graffiti.

So of course he has to pay for it. Hence; community service. He lost his car + meeting a probation officer. No jail, though. No jail. So wasn't that sort of good?

If back then he was a wimp or one of the Norms, because of the landscaping company he did his service on, he's the Champ now. He's ripped and he attracted the Queen of his high school, Bethany Milbury. (Tyler's secret crush)

Bethany, though, unfortunately, is his father's boss daughter. Who is, to say, the sister of Tyler's nemesis, Chip Milbury.

Yoda, his best friend, is hot for his sister; Hannah.

With only Hannah and Yoda at his side, can he get Bethany by his side without crushing Chip?

How about just simply not getting grounded for hitting your, er, boss' son for being provoked?

A turn at Tyler's life completely swerved him out of the safe lane. But there's no turning back, cause the harm was done.

Another problem is that his dad never really listen. Typical. What about locking himself up with his computer--workaholic? Typical. Not trusting his own son at all? Sorta typical. All combined? Lord of Darkness. Ha.


Twisted is simple and full of emotions. Laurie Halse Anderson had also written Speak, Catalyst and Prom.

Twisted review from Barnes and Nobles:

"High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the guy who faded into the background—average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it—he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy...and his secret crush. This sets off a string of events that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family, and in the world."

Twilight Love??

Pure Imagination's decided to give out all the Twilight Fans out there a chance to win LOTS OF THINGS!

TWILIGHT GIVEAWAY

• Bad Vamps canvas tote bag
• Wolf pack symbol XL T-shirt(If you can't wear it I bet you know someone who can!)
• Bella's bracelet from the books(made by Love Spell Jewels)
• New Moon bracelets (New Moon & Cliff Diving)
• Edward Bracelets
• Team Edward key chain
• 3 Stickers from Cafe Press( Forks, WA, Team Edward, & Cullen Crest)
• Twilight $1000000 bill(thought it was fun!)
• Breaking Dawn Bookmark
• Eclipse Bookmark
• The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner hourglass bookmarks
• The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner VIP necklace
• 8 piece magnet set
• Twilight gift set made by Art By Nika including: A bookmark, 2 post cards and 2 magnets.
• I will be including the Eclipse Soundtrack when it is released.

Those are some of the things that are included! Go check them out, okay!?

La Femme giveaway

La Femme Readers giveaway!!

So I was just googling around about the recent giveaways (because my mom told me not to really spend much money on books)

I found a bunch of stuff out there! La Femme Readers giveaway is one of it, and she's giving out 4 giveaways currently. Go figure! Check out the link!

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

"Vitamins had ruined my life."

My Rating: 8/10

Kate Brown's only best friend, Anna turned pretty over the summer. Before, they were both unpopular and knew how to have fun with just the two of them. That was before.
After the summer that Anna escaped her unpopularity, Kate became the single wallflower who's pretty much clueless.

What's worse is that Kate's father who had a decent job to be able to support the family, had just quit the job. He just came to his office one day and everything on his desk cracked, except a bottle of Perfect You vitamins. Hence started the man's career to sell vitamins.

Seriously.

There's Will (who's not helping either) who always flirts with Kate. Kate's sure that she's just his latest conquest, though. The guy flirts with everyone and although Kate acts like she doesn't care, she actually fantasizes kissing Will.

Ha. So much for acting uninterested...

Best friend gone, helping vitamins-maniac dad and boy problem. Hmm...


Elizabeth Scott's description:

"Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast. Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, who Kate pretends she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. And when Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him even though she knows she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures the only way things will ever stop hurting is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen--but only if she lets them."

Elizabeth Scott's website and her book listings.

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

"Ally Ryan was born with a silver spoon, but now she's living with a plastic spork."

My Rating: 10/10

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott is definitely one of the best elite High School novel there is around!!!

Ally Ryan was rich; she was a Crestie. She lived in one of those huge mansion up on the hill and went to Sunday Dinners (a Crestie-only-event).
But one day her father made an investment and asked his friend (which means Ally's friends' fathers) to chip in as well. He didn't realize that it was a scam until everyone goes bankrupt.

The stupid thing was that Ally's parents quickly left, just like that; without apologizing to his fellow bankrupt so-called "friends". Ally was confused while one of her Crestie friend, Hammond, confused her even more on the same chaotic night.

That all happened in Ally Ryan's freshman year. Now she's back during her junior year--but she still hasn't contacted her friends. At all.

Will her friends forgive her?

LOL. Fat chance; they called her 'Norm', aka Normal, regardless of the past moments they shared with her.

So Ally has to cope with her mom--cause her dad disappeared and nobody knew where the hell he went. Two, the mystery of where her dad is. Three, her friends. Four? The charming, hot jock of Orchard Hill High; Jake Graydon.

Jake Graydon is the new Crestie and guess what? He lives in Ally's old mansion. What's more is that he's sleeping in her old room. He became her knight in shining armor, came to her rescue in every need. Almost. Only Jake Graydon--just like everyone else--wasn't perfect.

I would normally NOT read this kind of book, not set my eyes in the cover or even anything like this (although sometimes I got bored with science fiction and craves high school romance). But I have to say that I'm glad that I read it!!! It's a funny, cute and heart-wrecking story.

The worst thing though, my mouth agape for 10 minutes at the last page. Then I knew there HAS to be a second book. LMAO.

Barnes and Nobles She's So Dead to us description:

"When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?

Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends — friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.

Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.

But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.

Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?"

++++

Some of you probably has read the author's style and loved it--but no one's particularly familiar with the name. Well, Kieran Scott wrote under the pen name "Kate Brian". Familiar? Yes, she's the author of the best-selling series; Private and Privilege.

Under the name Kate Brian, she has also written more books than her ordinary style's series; check her website down below.
Other books by Kate Brian/Kieran Scott

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

"Patch is the bad boy Edward wishes he was."

My Rating: 10/10

This book is one of the best books I've ever read!!! XD

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick to is what I believe to be the growing sensation. It might pass Twilight. LOL, yeah, I said it.

I first found this book in the middle of browsing the usual bookstore; Barnes and Nobles. I read the summary and I was hooked right off the bat, but it wasn't like I could just go to the bookstore right away, so I tried to kill some of the excitement to read the book by..you know, googling more about it (even though it makes me want it more lol) and somewhere on a review--now I can't find it--I read about someone going to Borders and had Hush Hush caught their eyes. Underneath the shelves was a slip of paper, saying, "Patch is the bad boy Edward wishes he was."

I've read Twilight long before, so I automatically cracked up. So I texted my friend and asked her to go to the store and buy me one and I'll pay her back the next day.

I finished it in 4 hours. That was my record. (No, I didn't specifically count, I just know that I got home at 5:30 and by the time I looked up to the watch, it was 9: 20 something..)

Many people would call this book a rip-off from Twilight, but in my opinion Twilight itself is already a rip-off from Romeo and Juliet. Just with vampires and humans instead of the Montague and the Capulet.

So anyway, this book is about a girl named Nora. She's a sophomore in high school and in the beginning of the book she was in Biology class with her best friend, Vee. On the board, written, "Welcome to Human Reproduction (sex)," and underneath it Barbie and Ken naked with their vital parts covered.

LOL. Then the teacher changed their seats and made Nora stuck with Patch. Patch is dark and tall and lean and handsome. He flirts with her in his own way--and telling you more than this or the reviews itself would make it...well...spoiling it..


Simon and Schuster Hush Hush description:

"Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys ather school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen -- and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life."

Overall? This book is worth reading. In fact, it is one of the best book I've read.

Purpose of this blog...

Well, I really like reading books, so it's wrong to say that this is the first time that I had an idea to make a blog just for book reviews. But all of my friends aren't as interested in books as me, so..well...I'm hoping to just express my opinions of the books, then!!!

So. Yes. This blog will be filled with book reviews! The genre of books will range from fantasy to romance to sci fi and mystery and et cetera. I will even re-read some the books I'm reviewing, so that I can give the same exact opinions that I had when I first read it.

And about the name...

Uh. Scholar means someone that learns from a teacher...and I'm a high school student, so I'm a scholar. I like the world scholar because of..well..to be honest, just the way it sounds...lol.

Berries are my favorite fruit! I was thinking "Scholar girl"...that doesn't fit. Then I was, well...just eating cherries. So...there ya go; Scholar Berry!!!!


XD Peace out
-Scholar Berry