Favorite Book Trailers

The idea of book trailers are really cool, n'est-ce que pas?  But we all know that there are a ton of corny, and just plain bad ones.  I've only thought a few were actually cool representations of the book, where I wasn't laughing at the terrible acting, but I'll admit to liking some of those cheesy ones because the premise and actors were cute:)


1. Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

The graphics in this are amazing!  The author and her husband work within the film industry, so I'm not surprised by this awesome trailer.  It truly reminded me of a movie trailer.

2. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I think the music and atmosphere of the trailer are perfect for the book.  However, I wasn't too impressed with the sequel's trailer.  I think it focuses too much on Mara and Noah shoving their tongues down each other's throats and too little on the supernatural aspects, but the set is beautiful.

3. Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls

This is a super cute and clever representation of the book.  I believe that this is the first trailer I've seen for an indie, so those self-publised authors have got to step up their game!

4. Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

This is one of those cheesy and ehh acting ones.  But the actors are just perfect!! I prefer this over the absolutely terrible Perfect Chemistry rap or the Rules of Attraction trailer because all of the Fuentes brothers are featured.

P.S. Doesn't the actor who plays Carlos look like Joe Jonas?

5. Everyday by David Levithan

This is like no other trailer I've ever seen because it is simply authors reading quotes from the book, yet it's super cool to see how many authors you recognize.

What are your favorite trailers? Why?  Have you seen any that were absolutely horrid?

Repost: The U.S's First Bookless Library!!

What is this blasphemy???????

Source

BiblioTech, opening this fall in San Antonio, will be the USA's first book-less library, according to reports.

ABC News says that Bexar County's Judge Nelson Wolff got the idea from reading Walter Isaacson's bestselling Steve Jobs biography. 

"We all know the world is changing. I am an avid book reader. I read hardcover books, I have a collection of 1,000 first editions. Books are important to me," Wolff told ABC News. "But the world is changing and this is the best, most effective way to bring services to our community." 

The 4,989-foot, Apple Store-like space will offer 50 ereaders for loan, as well as tablets and computers, plus ebook loans for existing ereader users. 

"It will be a learning environment - you'll be able to learn about technology itself as well as access a tremendous amount of information," Wolff said. 

Fast Company reports that the new library is intended to supplement, not replace, the existing print book libraries in the city. 

Time magazine wrote an article about the phenomenon of the bookless library in 2011, saying that Drexel and Stanford Universities had already instituted bookless library spaces.

My thoughts: This is WEIRD! I always thought it would happen, but now it's reality.  To me, a library is where you can share books, literacy, and learning.  I guess the format really isn't important,  but this is so strange! I love my hardbacks, but even I have an e-reader.

If this works in such a way, that multiple people can read the same book, I'll give this idea a thumbs up.  The way libraries have sharing through OverDrive is aggravating because only one person can check out a title at a time, and there can be an infinite number of people on the hold list.  Ok, around 60 people on hold seems endless to me.


What do you think of this?  Do you like e-readers? What does a library mean to you?

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare Audio book Announcement

Breaking News!

The reader of the Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare audio book is... Daniel Sharman!

Daniel is a Brit best know for his role as Issac in Teen Wolf and Ares in Immortals.  

Cassandra Clare actually had the idea of choosing him.  She said:

During the casting process for the ‘Mortal Instruments’ movie, the casting director and I talked about probably every young actor in Hollywood. Daniel Sharman had just come off doing ‘Immortals,’ and I remember we talked about him as an actor who had huge talent and promise. When we were looking for someone who could read the ‘Clockwork Princess’ audiobook, I thought of him because he seemed like someone who could capture the parts of the narrative that require vulnerability as well as the ones that require a great grasp of action. 

I've listened to a little bit of Clockwork Prince, narrated by Ed Westwick and Molly Quinn.  First, these actors have beautiful voices in their natural tongue.  Otherwise, listening to it was pretty comical.  Just imagine a British guy speaking in a female American accent and an American girl in a British boy accent.  Maybe this should be a deterrent for Clockwork Princess, but I found it really entertaining and am looking forward to Daniel's narration.


What do you think of this pick?  Will you listen to the audio book or read it to yourself?

Livecast: John and Hank Green- An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall

Calling all Nerdfighters! John and Hank are doing a livecast right now.  Go watch below!

"In which Hank and John and special guests the Mountain Goats bring Nerdfighteria to one of the most famous stages in the world to sing songs, tell stories, answer questions, and be extremely nervous."

Review: The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Summary: When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm.
Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.
Filled with tender romance and terrific suspense, The Lucky One is Nicholas Sparks at his best—an unforgettable story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love.

Characters: These characters were kind of blah...

Thibault: He's a veteran who suffers from PTSD (Thanks for teaching me the acronym, Rachel.).  I didn't find him funny,but no Nicholas Sparks characters are funny.  They're all pretty serious since, you know, someone's death is imminent.  However, Thibault is very kind and caring, especially with Ben, and has good intentions even though his plan to find Elizabeth wasn't fantastic, but kinda stalkerish.

Elizabeth: Single mother who got married to her abusive high school sweet heart.  And that about sums her up.  Alright, so she's a very good mom, but lonely and subject to her husband.  That is the one thing I don't like about her.  She should be more independent, but then we wouldn't have Thibault to swoop in and be her gallant hero, now would we?

In my opinion, the characters didn't have as great of chemistry as Nicholas Sparks' other characters.

Plot: First chapter, really weird... Thibault finding more about the mysterious woman in the photo and tracking her down, even weirder and much more creepy.  Man, you can find out a lot on the Internet!
Overall, the story was very sloow.  Not until the very end did any drama actually unfold.

Movie: Now, I might be a bit biased because I find Zac Efron super attractive, but I liked it.  I knew going into it that the story didn't have a typical Sparksian ending, but Rachel did not.  She didn't like the movie too much because she went into it expecting to cry.
The story line is pretty much spot on with the book, so if you liked one you will probably like the other.  And if you like Zac Efron shirtless, you're gonna like this one :P

Would I recommend this to a friend? No, if you wanted to read it because of the movie I wouldn't bother.  And certainly don't let this be your first Sparks novel.  Get the full sap from The Last Song or my other favorite, A Walk to Remember.

View all my reviews

Blog Tour Host: Making His Mark by Jennah Scott

Get ready for the Making His Mark by Jennah Scott Blog Tour!

Synopsis: One kiss is all it took for Alexis Catori’s world to turn upside down. One kiss with a man she thinks can help her move beyond her past. 
Bo Nantan has one rule when it comes to tattooing: he refuses to ink his friends. Until Alexis asks him to do her work. 
Bo tries to refuse, but decides maybe there is a compromise that will work. Together they discover their compromise is about more than just art, it’s facing the past so they can move on with the future.

Here's the Schedule:

January 20  www.adrianaryan.com/blog , Guest Post

January 21  www.thebookcellarx.com , Review

January 22 www.living-fictitiously.blogspot.com , Author Interview

January 23 www.fictitiousdelicious.com , Character Interview

January 24 http://weallmakemistakesinbooks.blogspot.com , Review

January 25 http://confessionsofavi3tbabe.com , Review

January 26 www.moonlightbookreviews.com , Character Interview

January 27 www.tickettoanywhere.net , Author Interview

January 28 www.lisleslivres.blogspot.com , Author  Interview and Review

January 29 www.booklalaland.blogspot.com , Review

January 30 www.bringingtheepic.com , Giveaway Winner Picked

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Review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Summary: Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gas lit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Characters: 

• Tessa: I like Tessa.  She's very relatable and not only reminds me of Belle from Beauty and the Beast, but me, another proud bibliophile.  Also, Tessa's very brave after having been thrown into the Shadowhunters' world.  And how cool is her special ability?
• Will: With his last name being Herondale, I thought he'd be a mirror of Jace.  Unfortunately, no such luck.  He was not nearly as witty as Jace, nor as sweet despite his bad boy image.  Honestly, Will is really moody and reminded me of a girl PMSing, and I remember barely laughing in this entire book.
• Jem: Jem is the super kind best friend that is always there for you when you need him.  He isn't very funny, but I preferred him over Will.

I must say it, though I love Cassandra: These characters were really disappointing, and the character development wasn't magnifique.

Plot: This book was really slow at some points for me, but the plot is pretty cool. I mean, there's Shaowhunters and other evil creatures!  How can you go wrong with these?

Overall feelings: Because I absolutely adore every single character from the Mortal Instruments, I guess I had my hopes too high for this one.  I've been told that the second book is a lot better, and the characters get further developed.  So, I am hopeful for Clockwork Prince.  I've got to read it before Clcokwork Princess.  Only 65 more days! I'm running out of time!!!!!  

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes. Even though I was disappointed, I think I can trust Rachel and Crystal that the next book is awesome, so it'll be worth the read in the end.

View all my reviews

Update: Order has been Restored!

The big font just got to me, and I had to change it!  I also changed the background to our Twitter background, a black and white image of Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris.  However, I don't want both of them to look identical.

Oh, the problems of a book blogger...

Hopefully, I'll post something with some substance in a few.  But, again, we can only hope. 

Bookhangover?

So, a book hangover occurs when you read a really good book, then start a new one but are still in the world of the previous because it was so fantastique!

I first saw this word and I thought it meant being really out of it from staying up reading rather than drinking and partying, though one could say that one imbibes the text and that books can be a party. Oui? Non?

I've been finding myself thinking about the characters from The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski. I hope there's a follow up or a book about Asher. This is my last book hangover.

What was the last book that caused you to have a book hangover? You can use any definition of the word, even make up your own.

Update: Blog's Newish Look

Today, I did some font changing and added a quote for the description.  I really wanted to make up my own... something like "Bibliophiles of the world unite.  You have nothing to lose but your _____."  (Thank you Karl Marx for the inspiration).  Unfortunately, I was drawing a blank for the blank. Ahahah


As you can see, I'm still trying to figure out this blog thing  I wanted to make just the quote about kissing books larger,  but now the blog has turned into a friend for the BLIND.  No discrimination toward that group, but my eyes are starting to hurt from the huge letters.

Any advice?

Today's Releases!

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

A breathtaking journey toward self-discovery and true love, from the author of If I Stay

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance ofTwelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Just One Day is the first in a sweepingly romantic duet of novels. Willem’s story—Just One Year—is coming soon!




Rise by Andrea Cremer
The sequel to Rift and the prequel to the New York Times bestselling novelNightshade.

Everything Conatus stands for is at risk. Hoping to gather enough resistance to save their order, Ember and Barrow attempt a desperate escape. But fate offers little mercy. When their mission is exposed, the  couple face relentless pursuit by the supernatural horrors that act on the commands of Eira’s ally: the mysterious Bosque Mar. A shocking revelation forces Ember out of hiding, sending her back into the heart of dark magic at Tearmunn keep, where she must convince her old friend Alistair of her love or face dire consequences. Ember’s deception offers the only chance for the resistance to succeed, but what she discovers in the shadows beneath the keep will shatter her world and bring about the Witches’ War.

Richly sensual and full of magic, action and danger, Andrea Cremer's fifth book set in the Nightshade world is an edge-of-your-seat page turner.

Crash by Lisa McMann If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Timesbestselling author of the Wake trilogy. Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that. What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow. The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember. In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming  reality.

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls. For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness. With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again. Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between.

Shadowlands by Kate Brian Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye. 

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?









Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum

Twenty years ago, the robots designed to fight our wars abandoned the battlefields. Then they turned their weapons on us.

Only a few escaped the robot revolution of 2071. Kevin, Nick, and Cass are lucky —they live with their parents in a secret human community in the woods. Then their village is detected and wiped out. Hopeful that other survivors have been captured by bots, the teens risk everything to save the only people they have left in the world—by infiltrating a city controlled by their greatest enemies.

Revolution 19 is a cinematic thriller unlike anything else. With a dynamic cast of characters, this surefire blockbuster has everything teen readers want—action, drama, mystery, and romance. Written by debut novelist Gregg Rosenblum, this gripping story shouldn't be missed.

Review: The Vow by Kim Carpenter

The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie by Kim Carpenter

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This may have possibly been worse than the movie...

Summary: Life as Kim and Krickitt Carpenter knew it was shattered beyond recognition on November 24, 1993. Two months after their marriage, a devastating car wreck left Krickitt with a massive head injury and in a coma for weeks.
When she finally awoke, she had no idea who Kim was. With no recollection of their relationship and while Krickitt experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head injuries, Kim realized the woman he had married essentially died in the accident.
And yet, against all odds, but through the common faith in Christ that sustained them, Kim and Krickitt fell in love all over again. Even though Kim stood by Krickitt through the darkest times a husband can ever imagine, he insists, “I’m no hero. I made a vow.”
Now available in trade paper with a new chapter and photo insert, The Vow is the true story that inspired the major motion picture of the same name starring Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Channing Tatum (Dear John), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), and Academy Award winner Jessica Lange.

Characters: So, this is mainly about Kim.  He seems like a nice guy, but he is very religious, and his constant and explicit faith in religion get overbearing and annoying quick!  You do have to admire this guy for sticking by his wife though.  Through this book, you really don't get to know Krickitt, but she seems sweet, but also very religious as well.

Plot: I can't really criticize the "plot" since it consists of true events, but I just thought this was weird.  Initially, Krickitt was answering the phones somewhere Kris was placing an order.  Soon, they got to know each other over the phone.  It was after that that they finally met each other in person.  If my memory serves me well, they got married pretty quickly after their meeting.  I guess they were really in love, but I thought that they moved a little fast.

Writing: This book was uber short, but it took me a while to get through.  Frankly, I didn't like that this love story was told through the male's POV.  Men just can't get away with being sappy.  Mostly, I thought the book was boring and far too religious for anyone's tastes.

Movie:  Not even Channing Tatum's derriere could make you want to watch the movie.  What the heck was that ending?! :(

Would I recommend this to a friend? NOOO
View all my reviews

Just One Day by Gayle Forman Tour Details

Just One Day by Gayle Forman Tour Information!!!!!!!!

Friday January 11th-Saturday January 12th: EVERYWHERE
Just One Day 24-Hour Read-A-Thon.
Read Just One Day in just one day with a whole community of readers. There will be prizes and chats and so much fun. It’ll be like a giant pajama party, with books. Start reading at 5 p.m. EST on 1/11/ We’ll go until 5 on the 12th. And chime in as you read on Twitter with the hashtag #JustOneDay.
More details here.

Monday, January 14th 7 p.m.
Miami, FL: Books & BooksDetails

Tuesday, January 15th, 7 p.m.
Houston, TX: Blue Willow Books
Details.

Wednesday, January 16th, 6 p.m.
Albuquerque, NM: Alamosa Books
Details

Thursday, January 17th, 5 p.m.
Albuquerque, NM: Bookworks
 Details

Friday, January 18th, 7 p.m.
Austin, TX: Book PeopleDetails

Tuesday, January 22nd, 4 p.m.
Boston, MA: Wellesley  BooksDetails 

Wednesday, January 23rd, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia, PA: Children’s Book WorldDetails

Thursday, January 24th, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia, PA: Towne Book Center & Cafe
Details

Sunday, February 3rd, 4 p.m.
Rhinebeck, NY: Oblong Books
Details

February 19th-21
Paris, France. Details/Events TBA 

March 9th
Tucson, AZ: Tucson Festival of Books.
Details

March, 2013
New York City: 2013 New York Teen Author Festival
Dates and events TBA. Check here for details.

Wednesday May 1-Friday May 3rd
Kansas City, MO: Romantic Times Booklovers’ Convention
Specific panels and events TBA. Check for details.

See you at Children's Book World (It's Crystal's first book signing!) :)

Repost: Book Riot Article- What Your Book Pile Says About You

Original Article
Jan. 4, 2013
by Wallace Yovetich

Congratulations, you read your books! Your pile is small enough to be manageable. You have the effortlessly intellectual look of the person who reads a lot, but doesn’t overwhelm themselves to the point that they no longer know what unread books they own. Non-readers probably think all readers are like you. You belong to a small group of readers who are able to control themselves when it comes to the written word. Relish the knowledge that you can name all of your books… for now.

Poor dear. You are the one that had the BEST of intentions. You began your stacks with the belief that you wouldactually read the books you placed there. You had no idea, when you started this, that you would have so little will power when it came to bookstores and libraries. Soon the lust for books overcame you, you greedy little thing, you, and the stacks grew taller and wider. You now have more unread books than read books… welcome to the club.

Once upon a time in a land far away (or possibly even the exact same house you live in now), you used to believe that you would read all of the books you owned over and over again, so you kept them. All of them. Eventually you acknowledged that some books would never be re-read, but you couldn’t (or wouldn’t) part with them. You decided to use them for decorating, and soon your oh-so-cool book-fireplace became full, so you started building perfect stacks. Before you knew it you had several perfect stacks. (And soon you will have a room full of perfect stacks… good luck with that.)

You are the giver-upper; the realist; the I-know-I-won’t-ever-read-these-againer who keeps them anyway. You have been obtaining books for so long that you actually incorporate them into usefulness (a table, a lamp, wallpaper) because you cannot get rid of them, yet there is no where else for them to go. Congratulations, you are a hoarder of books, there is no cure – there is only Pinterest and the tutorials that you will post about how to incorporate unread books into daily usefulness.

What does my book pile look like? I have the super tall, but neat stack of books that I thought I would eventually read.  I still think that!

Review: The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Summary: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.

The only thing I can remember about this book is its gorgeous cover and it being really boring and laborious to finish.

My friend calls me a "sap" because I love sappy romances. I was expecting this one to be a good rom dram, but David left for a majority of the book and comes back for the end. I couldn't get attached to him, and he is supposed to be a main character.
You know those characters that you know have had rough pasts, but still manage to have a little sparkle despite their troubles? I didn't think that either Laurel or David had that in them.

Would I recommend this to a friend? Buddy, don't waste your time on this one. When the plot has been done before, the characters need to stay with the reader. Before looking at the summary to do this review, I couldn't even remember these characters' names.

View all my reviews

Review: The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Finally a new adult that is très bon!

I just couldn't sleep last night, and maybe wanting to stay up to read this
amazing book was part of it. Yes, it was 3 AM but I had to finish it!

Summary: With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.
But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?

Characters:
Camryn- I really liked her. She's kind and smart, but shy and scared of getting
close to anyone after the tragedies she's faced in the past. Yet, after spending
time with Andrew, she starts to let her guard down and becomes more adventurous
and free-spirited.

What I didn't like about Camryn- For being such a smart person, she was kinda
dumb, not paying close enough attention to her surroundings at the bus stop or
just having too much faith that people aren't dangerous. Why would you go on a
road trip with some guy you just met?

Andrew- Even though he's funny, audacious even, and playful, Andrew has his
issues too. He's deep at times, making me fall harder for this fictitious
character.

Whether you want to call him whipped or simply very caring, he treats Camryn
like gold, how every girl should be treated.

And his physical description! A green eyed, fit, gorgeous guy who looks like
Kellan Lutz according to Camryn's best friend;)

What I didn't like about Andrew- There were two instances where he used
violence. I understand the first time was out of defense, but the second? I just
don't get bar fights.

His stubbornness got me so angry towards the very end of the book! What he did
was so stupid, but I do understand his reasoning.

Asher- He is barely in the book, but I quite enjoyed the few moments he is
mentioned. He handsome like his brother Andrew and very kind and loving towards
his family and even a nonmember, Camryn.

Plot: I'm a sucker for road trip stories. Perhaps that why I thought the first
few chapters before Camyrn sets out on her journey are boring. Just my personal
opinion, but I think they could have been cut out all together. Camryn had
enough misfortune in her life without her friend stabbing her in the back.

I honestly did not see that curveball at the end coming.

Overall, this is a beautiful, beautiful story about finding love,
forgiveness and living life.

Writing: Ms. Redmerski did a splendid job crafting the characterization and the
changing relationship between Camryn and Andrew. Not to mention that she wrote
funny, funny characters. I caught myself laughing out loud numerous times at the
witty banters between the main characters or the crazy things Andrew teased
about.

Well, it is true...

Cover: I just wanted to mention this because if doesnt have the typical
appearance of a new adult fiction book, where the models are basically groping each other. This cover is stunning, as it should be to match the content.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF THE SEQUEL THE EDGE OF ALWAYS!

Would I recommend it to a friend? I just said i stayed up until 3 to finish it.
Of course I would!



View all my reviews

YA2U: Bring 5 YA Authors to Your Town!

Have you ever wished that a big YA book tour would make a stop in your hometown? Well, here's your chance for that wish to come true! YA2U is a program that features five award-winning and best-selling authors who are holding a contest to see what city they should visit in an exclusive tour stop!



The authors are collecting votes from January 1 to February 15, and any city in the continental US or any Canadian city that has an international airport can win an exclusive visit from all five authors, including an author panel and book signing! Entering is super easy--and if you help spread the word about the contest, you can also enter win a signed copy of all of their books (TEN signed books in total!)--and the book contest is open internationally!



The authors in the program are:

• Marie Lu, the New York Times best-selling author of Legend and the upcoming Prodigy


• Marissa Meyer, the New York Times best-selling author of Cinder and the upcoming Scarlet


• Beth Revis, the New York Times best-selling author of Across the Universe, A Million Suns, and the upcoming Shades of Earth


• Victoria Schwab, author of The Near Witch and the highly-anticipated upcoming The Archived


• Megan Shepherd, author of the debut novel The Madman's Daughter

And they want to have an event in your home town! To participate, just got to the YA2U website and let them know what city you want them to come to. And while you're there, help spread the word about the contest and you can be entered to win all of their books--TEN signed books in total! 

Here's why the YA2U Team should come to MY hometown, PHILADELPHIA! 

*I kinda stole the following ideas from The Pop Traveler: 10 Reasons to visit Philadelphia

1.  Independence National Historical Park "America's historical epicenter"

• Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were written
• The First Bank of the United States
• Liberty Bell 
• Betsy Ross' house
• Constitution Center

2. Philly Cheese steak

It's not an authentic Philly steak unless you get it here. Pat's and Geno's are two famous places to get them, right across the street from each other.

3. "Rocky" steps

Run up the famous Art Museum steps just like Rocky.











4. Philadelphia Zoo America's first zoo

 

5.  Eastern State Penitentiary

Tour the famous wagon wheel designed jail where criminals like Al Capone and Willy Sutton were imprisoned.

Why should the YA2U Team come to your hometown? Why not join in the fun today and share with others about this program and your hometown. The more votes your town gets, the closer you are to having your very own personal tour stop! Vote for YOUR town here!

And if you help spread the word, you can also participate in the book giveaway. Tell them that you learned about YA2U from me and we both get extra entries in the contest! 

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