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Thursday, July 8, 2010

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

"..Five minutes from now, when everything else had dropped away and I realized the full impact of what I'd done, I'd feel my heart breaking."

My Rating: 10/10

Becca Fitzpatrick's debut novel, Hush Hush was phenomenal. Click here for my review on Hush Hush.

Crescendo, the second book that's coming out in October 19, 2010, will make fans dying for the 3rd book of the series.

Nora Grey and Patch Cipriano are now officially an item, but a bad boy is always going to be a bad boy, right?

Nora screwed it all up by telling him the three big words; "I love you." Patch left, without returning the affection.

Nora's mom disliked Patch, so she goes and invited the nightmare of Nora's childhood, Scott Parnell, to match him with Nora.

Plus, Nora is stuck with Marcie Millar as her chemistry partner. Marcie apparently hates her for no reason she knows.

When Nora broke up with Patch for stalking Marcie (though it was more of Patch not returning the affection), Vee (Nora's best friend) goes and date Rixon, the person who knows Patch best.

That's not all; Scott Parnell's a Nephil, too. In Crescendo, Nora will find more danger that awaits her, her dead father's secret and more about Patch Cipriano.

Becca Fitzpatrick has written a nerve-wrecking story, and I'm proud to actually say that I cried reading this.

What I love about the book: The conflict, and how the emotions felt real. As if I was Nora, and I was the one breaking, needing to be Patched up. :) And oh, that I got to read this 3 months and 11 days earlier than the real publication date.

What I dislike about the book: The cliffhanger at the end! The misery to wait another year for the 3rd book to come out!!!!!!

Thanks, Simon & Schuster for the advance copy!!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

"Madison's prom was killer--literally."

My Rating: 7/10

Kim Harrison, the NY times bestseller wrote YA fantasy; Once Dead, Twice Shy.

Madison went to the prom as a junior, and she was killed. She ditched her original date because her mom told the guy to ask her out to prom, and went out the door with someone else completely hotter.

But he killed her. Not only he crashed the car off the cliff, but when he knows she's not dead yet, he stabbed her with a sword.

Or, a scythe.

Madison Avery doesn't believe in angels and grim reaper and et cetera. All she wants is her body back, or dead. Fully dead. Not stuck-on-earth-dead.

Throughout the book, Madison tries to figure out the reason she's been hunted by all these reapers. It's not like she's special or anything...right?

Chased by reapers + Stuck with poetic cherub + Crush thinks she's Madison A-very-freaky girl = Once Dead, Twice Shy.

What I like about the book: Grace's (the cherub/Madison's guardian) personality! Madison too, and combined, they make the perfect entertainment! :) I have never read any book by Kim Harrison before, but this sure does makes me want to read every other book she wrote!!

What I dislike about the book: Nothing! I love it!

Look out for the second book: Early to Death, Early to Rise



Thanks, Harper Teen!! :)

Kim Harrison's Once Dead Twice Shy Official Page

In My Mailbox 2

I am so excited!

Usually, I put my In My Mailbox in the In My Mailbox Page. But this time? I am so excited I can barely contain my excitement!!
I love Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and it was my first review! Read it here.
Just today, I got home from summer school and I found a package from Simon and Schuster!

I got an ARC of Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick!!



Thank you so much Simon and Schuster!!

The real book is coming out in October 19th! Wait for it, guys!!! :D

Invisible I (Amanda Project) by Stella Lennon

"'My own person,' I said quietly. 'I'd like to be my own person.'"

My Rating: 9/10

Simply intriguing and sophisticated, Invisible I is the first book of the Amanda Project! Although it is written by "Stella Lennon," it is an alias that which a group of authors will use. Melissa Kantor is the author of Invisible I.

The narrator in the book is Callie. Callie is one of the I-girls (which is a group of 4 girls with their name ends in 'i'; Traci, Kelli, Heidi, Calli(e)) and she met an extraordinary girl in her math class.

Amanda Valentino is eccentric and witty. She's blunt at the same time she's so mysterious, her words are clear as day although at first it confuses you.

In the beginning of the book, Callie, Nia and Hal were called to the Vice Principal's office, because of Amanda Valentino. She apparently drew on the VP's car, and all the clues she hinted to the VP led him straight to call Callie, Nia and Hal.

Nia was on the bottom of the social status at Endeavor (their school).

Hal was a dork. He was a hottie, but he's still a dork.

So how could Callie be possibly dragged together with Nia and Hal?

Throughout the book, Callie finds that it doesn't matter where Nia or Hal stands. The three of them searches for Amanda Valentino, refusing to go back to their lives without her. Amanda Valentino is missed, and they want to know why she left.

What I love about the book: It made me curious and it left me wanting more! I like how Amanda is so mysterious, but how she's very kind and thoughtful of others.

What I dislike about the book: That I have to wait for the second book to come out. ...


Invisible I Official Web Page
Melissa Kantor's Official Web Page

Saturday, July 3, 2010

AS: Emma Michaels' The Thirteenth Chime




Emma Michaels' The Thirteenth Chime is coming to stores Friday the 13th in August 2010!

Emma Michaels' Official Website
Emma Michaels' Blogspot

No one knew of its existence until it was removed from the attic upstairs.

In a beautiful house that overlooks the sea, an antique clock has the power to change the course of their lives.

The power the clock resonates will not only force Destiny and ex-boyfriend David on a journey into the depths of one man's mind long dead, but into the mind of a man filled with hatred and bent on revenge.

With the only clues to the nature of the clock having disappeared into the sea, Destiny and David must retrace the steps the man had taken into the darkness, before they fall prey to the trap he had set in motion over half a century ago.

Hatred never dies.



+ + +

1. What was the biggest obstacle writing The Thirteenth Chime?

A: Rejections. I think deep down, I was really afraid that I would never get published. I've always been told I'm a great writer by many people, but to actually be faced with knowing that a story I have given life to would be sent out into the world? It was a daunting experience, but I am so glad I stuck with it!


2. I've only read the summaries, but the one thing that really caught my attention was this antique clock. Do you have a special connection with something similar? If not, where did the “clock” idea came from?

A: I live on an island out in Washington State that occasionally loses power during bad storms. One night, I was at a neighbors and we lost the power. It was late in the evening when this happened and after we had retrieved a few candles and lit them, the storm was going full force outside. Then the grandfather clock in the house began to chime. It made me jump, it was so eerie the way the sound echoed through the house and made my heart beat faster. It was as if the clock came alive during the storm.

3. Where did the inspiration for writing The Thirteenth Chime come from?

A: Lots of places. Everything here in the area I live in is full of inspiration for me. I sometimes feel like every time I get up in the morning, a new book, filled with promises of a new story, opens before me. I just wish my hands could keep up with the way my mind races with ideas!


4. Did you always want to be a writer? If not, how did you change and become one?

A: I think I first realized I wanted to become a writer when I was reading a book and thought about the ending. I imagined what the book would be like if it continued - what would happen? Within no time, I was creating characters and giving them a life of their own, letting them weave a story as they came alive.

5. What is(are) your favorite book(s)?

A: Tamora Pierce's "In The Hand of the Goddess"


6. Did you listen to music while writing The Thirteenth Chime? Can I get a list of the playlist???

A: (I'll have to put together a playlist for everyone)


7. As a writer, I feel like putting personality to the characters and not putting myself as the character is a challenge. Who is the most difficult character to write in The Thirteenth Chime?

A: For me, I feel like most of my characters come alive in my writing. I really don't think I give them personality, so much as they develop their own personalities as they make their journey through the book, just like people in real life. I think when writers allow it to happen, they become like readers - they meet the characters for the first time and they never know what is going to happen next. Life is such a beautiful thing. It is filled with so many possibilities and interesting twists and turns that we can never truly expect!

Thank you so much for your interview and to everyone who reads it! I am so blessed to have so many people supporting me!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

"I never knew there were so many different ways to say good-bye."

My Rating: 10/10

In Shiver, it was Sam's fight to stay human and Grace's fear for losing him. In Linger, it was Grace's turn to suffer the fever and her biggest fear--losing Sam--and Sam's turn to slowly break.

In Linger, the sequel to Shiver, Stiefvater wrote another beautiful novel. It's one of the books that's very hard to review, because there's just so much that can't be expressed with words.

Sam was staying human, the meningitis worked. But Grace was constantly feverish, drowsy and sick. Grace thought she was dying. Sam wasn't prepared for the worst case scenario.

There's the new wolf; Cole. Cole wanted to be a wolf. He's mysterious and playful, Isabel and him are both broken. They are drawn to each other in a strange yet familiar way.

Grace knew what was coming. She could feel the wolf in her. She wasn't telling Sam--it would break both of them. Besides, Sam was occupied by Cole. Cole and Isabel's father; a wolf-shooting maniac.

Plus, Grace's parents just suddenly had taken interest in her. After all the time they've left Grace to cook dinner without a suspicion. Just because of Sam.

Sam. Samuel Roth. The only one that Grace truly need.


What I like about the book: Sam's usual romantic mood--to the extent that it's a bit emo-ish, but it's still beautiful. If emo is bad, Sam makes it beautiful. Grace's response and her bluntness in Linger is also what I love.

What I dislike: The ending. But that's only cause I know I'm craving for more. The ending. The climax. If Sam got his wish or not. If Grace could stay.

Maggie Stiefvater's Linger Website.

Thanks again, Scholastic. I look forward to reading Forever, the final book of the series.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

"...And me, holding this moment that was as fragile as a bird in my hands."

My Rating: 10/10

I've always wanted to read this--not because of I seem to be getting into the "forbidden love" kind of stories, but simply because of the cover and the simple title "shiver."

I read it today, and I finished. In the beginning, it was..well, introduction. Prologue. Whatever you call it. But you read more and more of the pages, and it's becoming a story you know. The deeper you're in the story, the more you're touched by it.

It's pure love, not lust, no made-up drama. I understand that this is still fiction, but just like other fairy tales, this is one of the tales that would make the reader crave for the knight in shining armor; Sam Roth.

Sam is a werewolf, and for 6 years he has been watching over Grace. Wanting to be with her, wanting to be close. But also afraid that Grace will be scared of her.

Sam never knew that Grace felt the same. How she looks forward to winter, because only in winter her yellow-eyed wolf comes close to her view.

Then this year they meet. Finally. Neither Sam or Grace wants to let go, although they know that it won't last. They plunge themselves into their love, and they're far too deep in love with each other.

The only question is how to hold on to such fragile moments when any minute, it would all be taken away...

What I LOVE MOST about the book: The characters!! How romantic Sam was and how Grace is so unpredictable sometimes. How this book was written so beautifully and..and how it was just so full of pure love. It's rare to have a book that's filled with so many emotions that it would evoke this tender feeling to linger inside of your chest.

What I dislike about the book: Nothing! This is definitely my favorite book of all-time, now!

Thank you, Scholastic and Maggie Stiefvater (for sending the book for me, along with Linger, which I'll read right after I post this review..)

Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver Webpage.
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