Review: Where I Belong

Where I Belong

By: Gwendolyn Heasley

Publisher: Harperteen

Amazon/Goodreads

Review:

 First off the cover, which is the reason I picked up the book, is just beautiful. The bright colors catch your eyes and you can really see the different between the main character from New York and the one from Texas.  The cover has a very Romantic feel and makes it look like a great summer romance.

Now that I talked about the cover I should talked about the actual book. Where I Belong is about Corrinne who lives in New York City shopping at Barneys, going to the best parties sneaking into clubs. She basically lives the life everyone wants. Well until her father gets laid off and she has to go to Texas instead of the boarding school of her dreams. If that’s not bad enough she also has to get a job shoveling manure. All Corrinne wants is to get back to her life in New York till she starts to learn about life down in Texas.

I picked up “Where I Belong” because it looked like a cute romance. After reading countless paranormal book in the last month, I wanted to read something cute and fun. This is definitely not what I was expecting but I couldn't put it down.  The story moved slowly and was very predictable but it was believable and entertaining.  From the cover I was expecting a summer romance like book, but there wasn't much romance. The story focused on the characters and how they changed and grew. I think that’s what made it such a good story.

It was because of the characters that I couldn't put the book down. Corrinne while very annoying in the beginning (you are even warned about that before the first chapter) you get to watch her grow and learn. Kitsy is the first friend Corrinne makes in Texas she is so cute and bubbly! She’s just one of those people that you wish you could be friends with. Then you have Tripp, Corrinne’s little brother who was hilarious and energetic. All the characters work so well in the novel. Each one has their own personality, and their own purpose.

If you want a break from paranormal and fantasy books you should pick up Where I Belong. It is also a great book if you’re a fan of Sarah Dessen or Rachel Hawthorne. If you do pick it up you might want to save it to read on the beach this summer. 

--Danielle

Beastly : The movie and book

Not sure if you remember but about a year ago I made a post about how excited I was for Beastly to be made into a movie. I'm sure you know by now Beastly started as a book by Alex Flinn. Since then she made a few other fairytale stories. Beastly is still my favorite, well maybe thats because Beauty and the Beast was my favorite Disney movie but still its a fantastic book.

If you haven't gotten the chance to read Beastly I really recommend you do, and even if you don't I think it's going to make a very good movie. Especially if you enjoy romance. Here's some information on the book and movie.

I am a beast.
A beast!
Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster.
You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll, stay this way forever ruined unless I can break the spell.
Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly

I read the book around the time it first came out in 2007, I saw it in  my library and had to pick it up. I wasn't dissipointed and I'm so happy to see it being made into a movie. Here's the movie trailer...

Alex Pettyfer! Do I need to say more? I have loved Alex since I saw him the the movie Alex Rider and the Stormbreaker in 2006. It was one of his first movie and since then I have been in love with him. He was also great in Wild Child (with Emma Roberts) and I Am Number Four (which I just saw this weekend, review coming soon). 

The first post I made about Beastly last year I thought it was coming out June 30th. That never happened, and before that I spent a year waiting for the movie. I have been following Beastly's progress for a long time and I'm so excited to FINALLY see it come to a big screen. I'm also glad that the release date can't get pushed back AGAIN.

So who is looking forward to Beastly? Has anyone else read the book? Leave a comment!

--Danielle

In My Mailbox (33)

**Sorry for my crazy hair. I was being lazy yesterday when I recorded this.

A vlog? I know it's been awhile but I've finally did another one. Now I have to apologize for the music in the background. It wasn't suppose to be playing in the back ground, so at times it's hard to tell what I'm saying at times. So sorry about that.

One more thing... I got The Gathering two weeks ago and it was in my IMM last week. I for some crazy reason thought I received it this week. I don't know what I was thinking. So weird.

Bought:
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
Balefirre by Cate Tiernan
For Review:
Haunted by:  Joy Preble

--Danielle

Book Accessories!

Bloggers talk about reading and books all the time. We are book bloggers after all, it's really all we talk about. What about all those fun accessories that you use with your books? I love to shop, and I mean LOVE. It's really somewhat of a problem but here are some book accessories that I have found and loved while shopping.

First we have the all important Bookmarks. What could we do with out them? I don't spend much on book marks anymore because I ALWAYS loose them but here are some adorable ones.

I found these at etsy.com They are so cute! Here's the  LINK to them

You can also get bookmarks to represent your favorite books, like this Eclipse bookmark made on a scrabble tile. How cute is that? Link to this HERE.

This is one of my favorites! The design on it is very cute and bright, but it's also magnetic! I thought that was different and it keeps the book mark from falling out of your spot. There are many different designs for this bookmark, you should check them out.  You can find the link for it HERE.  They are all very affordable, and would make great gift. I know I want one! 

Another accessories you'll need with your books is a Book Light!  

First we have the average book light's nothing special about them You can pick them up in almost any store.

Then you have the average book light with a twist, Two lights!

Then if you want to be creative and hands free with your book light, you can get this one...

(Link, from Amazon) 

Now we have the Book Pillow!  

Okay so this one is a bit weird and I can't find a link to where you can buy it. I got one for Christmas, I don't use it while I'm reading the book but I do use it has a bookmark for resting my books while I'm not reading them. I really like my book pillow. 

 

Next we have Book Ends 

These come in all different shapes and colors. They are perfect for making your books look good on your shelf. 

I thought these Owls were the cutest things ever! I want one. I found them on Amazon HERE.

 

This one is different, and I love it! The guy pushing to keep the books up is a cute idea. I also found this one on amazon HERE. 

Book ends can be on the expensive side, but I found these on Etsy.com for only 18.99. Thats a great price for these beautiful bookends! Here's the LINK.

The last thing on my Book Accessories list is a Purse. I know I have to have a big purse to bring with me everywhere so I can fit a book or two inside of it. 

This one is from Charlotte Russe, one of my favorite stores. Their bags are pretty and cheep plus most are big  enough to hold all my junk and a book. Link HERE

Kathy bags are another ones that I really like. They are stylish and big. You can also find them at places like TJ-Max and Marshals for less. Link HERE

Thats all I have for book accessories. I had so much fun making this post, searching the internet and wanting to buy so many things. If you have any accessories you want to share put it in the comments! 

--Danielle <3

Review: Across the Universe

This cover so so pretty! One of my favorites
and its reversible! How cool is that?

Across the Universe

By: Beth Revis

Publisher Razorbill (January 2011)

Amazon/Goodreads

Warning: This is a novel for older teens. 14+ like the book suggests, at least. It has some intense themes. I’m only putting this down because I wish someone had warned me about a few YA books when I was younger.

**Spoiler free so for the people who have read the book, thats why certain things are a bit off. (You'll know what I mean)

Review:

“Wow.” That was the first thing I thought when I finished Across the Universe.  Well that and “I need the sequel now!”  At first I didn’t know if I was going to enjoy it , I’m usually not a fan of science fiction. The only one I have actually liked was the Host by Stephenie Meyer. But after being persuaded by many bloggers and the beautiful cover I picked it up. I’m so glad I did.

Throughout the story you get to see inside the heads of the two main characters Amy and Elder. Amy is a girl from earth who was frozen to be transported and woken up at their new planet in 300 years. Elder is in training to be the future leader of the ship Godspeed that Amy and the other frozen ‘cargo’ are on.  Fifty years before the ship gets to the destination someone wakes Amy up. Leaving her on in this new place that she can’t under stand.

From the first chapter where you read about Amy having to leave her life and boyfriend on earth to be frozen with her family, to the very end, there is suspense on every page. Beth Revis throws so many plot twists in the story line its hard to put Across the Universe down. I know I couldn’t. I also give props to the author for her ‘slang’ curse words. It makes sense that 250 years later they would be using different words.Is it bad to say that I thought they were cute?

I can’t wait for the sequel, even if it’s half as good as Across the Universe it will still be epic. (If that makes sense) This is definitely another amazing 2011 novel; I haven’t read one that disappointed me yet. If all the 2011 books are as good as Across the Universe this is going to be an unbelievable year for YA fiction.

--Danielle

Waiting on Wednesday: Sixteenth Summer

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. 

Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.

But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking….

This one sounds so cute! I also thought it was an appropriated book to use for this week's WoW because I turn 16 today. I hope I get a summer like that. 

This one will be released May 3rd 2011 by Simon Pulse. I can't wait to get my hands on it. I love the romance novels like this, they are always so cute! 

Birthday/Valentines Day/200 Follower Giveaway!

I just got my 200th follower a couple days ago, and today is Valentine's Day plus my birthday is on Wednesday! I thought this called for a giveaway.

What am I giving away? Well there will be two winners the first on will win

This will be an ARC of Immortal Beloved. I'm giving this one away because it was one of my favorite books of 2010. Since this giveaway is partly because of my birthday I want to giveaway one of my favorite books that I read while I was 15.

The Second winner will receive:

Swag and Valentines Candy! The swag will be from some of my favorite it books on 2010. I would put a picture up but my camera isn't working at the moment.

To enter just fill out this form below.

In My Mailbox (32)

Good morning everyone! I hope you all had a great week, and have a wonderful valentines day tomorrow! Since it is Sunday here is my IMM.

IMM is created and hosted by The Story Siren (www.thestorysiren.com)


From NetGalley:

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for 62 years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically-induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten sub-basement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long dead, and Rose - hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire - is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes - or be left without any future at all.


This one doesn't come out until September 2011. So you won't see my review on this one for awhile, but it sounds amazing and I can't wait to read it. 


For Review:

The Gathering (Darkness Rising trilogy #1)

Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home—and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.

It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy—her paw-print birthmark.

Thanks to Harper Teen for sending this one! I can't wait to read it, I'm a HUGE fan of Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Power's Trilogy. I can't wait to visit that world again. Also this cover is very pretty, can't wait to see what it looks like on the hard-copy when it comes out.  

What did you get this week?

--Danielle

Random Book Questions!

This is something that I did May of last year. I was just going over my Word documents that I saved on my computer and deleting the really old ones when I found this.  I was reading through my answers and I realized how much they changed. So I thought I would do it over again.

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack:
 

I don’t usually eat when I’m reading a book. It’s just too hard!  When you’re sitting on the couch reading you have to look away from the book to get the food. When the book is good I don’t want to look away.

But when I do eat and read it’s usually a Clementine. I love them!

What is your favorite drink while reading?

Chi Tea Latte. This is my mom’s fault. She suggested I buy on at Borders on a snowy day. They are so good!  

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

I’ve stopped marking my books because it’s just a really bad habit.  When I’m reading an ARC I will highlight and underline important stuff that I want to use in my review.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

When I’m not using my nook (which marks my pages for me) I use an index card because if I want to write something down, I don’t have to write in the book. This is how I stopped writing in my books.  

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?

FICTION! (Ya fiction) I bet you all knew this J

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

I can never stop at the end of a chapter. I always stop in the middle of one. Have you notice the most suspenseful parts happen at the end of the chapter?  The only time I can put a book down is when I’m forced to or it’s a boring part.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
This is the same answer as last time. I can’t think of any more times that this has happened. (Spoiler alert if you have not read City of Ashes)

Well……..I might have thrown a few books…..but I don’t realize it till after I do it. Some examples are New Moon (when Edward left), Eclipse (when Bella kissed Jacob), and in City of Ashes. Actually that’s a funny story. When Clair broke up with Simon I was doing a happy dance and humming thinking she’ll be with Jace. And then she says no to Jace, I threw the book like it was a hot potato. 

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?

Ehhh sometimes, it depends. I love that my nook has a dictionary built in.  

What are you currently reading?

Currently I’m reading a book for school called Stick Figure.  

What is the last book you bought?

I haven’t been able to buy books in awhile; I don’t think I’ve bought any since Christmas. When I bought Ghost Town for my nook.  I had to buy a cover for my Nook and that wasn’t cheap. I also don’t have a job so I don’t always have money to buy more books. My birthday is coming up soon so that means lots of new books.

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?

I know this is bad but I am almost always reading more then one book. I try to read one at a time but they all look so good.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?

I like to read somewhere warm. I can’t read while I’m cold, I’m weird. Usually I read on the couch with a blanket or in my bed. Sometimes I’ll sit on the stairs, I don’t know why but I’ve always found that to be one of my favorite places to read.

My favorite time to read is in the morning, right after I wake up. Usually it’s on the weekends when I actually have time to read.

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?

Same answer as last time:

Series, because I’ll get to hang on to the characters for a little while longer. 

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?

Right now I’m recommending Delirium, but some of my favorite that I always recommend would be Cassandra Clare, Sarah Dessen, The Uglies Series, and Maria V. Snyder.

How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author's last name, etc.)

Same answer:
Oh course not. Since so many people borrow my books, most of the time it’s hard to keep different series’ together. 


So this is something old that I just decided to do it over again. I could never find where it originally came from. I had found it on Always With A Book (back in may of 2010). If you decide to do this to let me know in the comments I would love to see your answers.

--Danielle

Waiting on Wednesday

This was suppose to post while I was at school, I guess blogger wants to be stubborn today.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking The Spine

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long, and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous and that is simply… the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all she has her best friend—the gorgeous Hale—and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses, realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

Release Date: June 21, 2011

I enjoyed the first one and can't wait to read the sequel. I'm a fan of all Ally Carters YA books. They are full of action, suspense, romance, and fun.

--Danielle

Review: Anna And The French Kiss

Anna And The French Kiss
By Stephanie Perkins 
Publisher:  Dutton, December 2nd 2010 
Amazon/Goodreads

Review:
Cute, charming and love-able! I can’t think of better way to describe this book. Yet it’s also probably one of the worst words I could use in a review. It gives you the completely wrong idea about the story. While it was filled with adorable moments that make you smile and laugh it also was filled with plot and real problems. That’s why I think Anna and the French Kiss so well liked. It was cute but realistic.

Anna And The French Kiss was about Anna being sent to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year by her father. Exciting right? Not for Anna, she would rather finish her last year at high school with her all her friends, and the crush who kissed her before she left. Anna doesn’t really start enjoying the wonders of Paris until Étienne St. Claire starts showing her around. She and St. Claire quickly becoming very close friends. Of course, Anna knows he’s insanely hot, with a swoon worthy accent but she also knows he has a girlfriend. Plus she has her crush back home in Atlanta, which complicates things.

Humor! There’s so much of it through out the whole novel. I loved reading in Anna’s point of view she has this sarcastic and hilarious attitude that always kept me laughing. Then there’s St. Claire who seems so perfect yet has many flaws. It made him so realistic, I mean he was shorter then Anna! You don’t see this to often in YA fiction. The guy is usually a ‘perfect’ bad boy.

The plot of Anna and the French Kiss was completely it’s own. It wasn’t just one of those novels completely about romance. These characters were thrown into so many different complications. It seemed almost impossible for them to be happy. Once they get into a grove that seemed to work something would throw them off. This book touched so many different topics. I don’t want to give too much away. You should just know it’s not another romance novel. Stephanie Perkins is an author you’re going to want to watch.

If you don’t believe me about the epic-ness of Anna and the French Kiss well take a look at some of these reviews. This should help convince you.

The Story Cellar

Reading Teen:

"Very sly. Very funny. Very romantic. You should date this book."
— Maureen Johnson
This is a quote that can be found on the hard cover copy. I wish I could date this book Hint-Hint St. Claire.

"Imagine a mug of rich, thick hot chocolate. Now add a swirl of sweet whipped cream. Yummy? Oui. Well, Anna and the French Kiss is richer, sweeter, and—yes—even hotter. You're in for a very special treat."
— LAUREN MYRACLE
Another quote from the hard copy but they are just so true that I have to share them.

--Danielle

Barnes and Noble Nook Review

I've never reviewed anything other then a book. I don't know much about the e-ink technology, but I am a reader. This is my opinion on the nook as an avid reader.



Here are a few links about things I mentioned in the video.
The Nook: here
The Nook Color: here
Angelfire: here
Jonathan Adler Cover: Here
Jolly Ranchers! : here

If you have any questions about the nook leave them in the comments! I would love to help you if I can.

Trends In YA: Beautiful Covers

I haven’t done one of these since 2010! I’m so sorry!!!! I have been packed with school work with finals and new classes. I have no math homework today so I’m writing as many posts as I can. Anyway here’s the Trend in YA for today…
Beautiful Covers!

This is a slightly different trend then I have been doing, but a new year calls for new things right? I have definitely have been noticing a large number of beautiful covers in Barnes and Nobles lately. Here are just a few of them.

This has to be one of my favorite covers EVER! I was in love with the one on the ARC but it person it blew me away. This is one you have to see in person. P.S. I really want her dress. :)

I just keep staring at that flower. It's beautiful, the whole cover is. I love how the focus is on the flower and the girl in the back is blurred. The purples. blues, reds and yellows work wonderfully together. This just is just perfect. period. Best in the series.

This one has a REVERSIBLE cover! How can you do better then a reversible cover? You can't. Both covers are beautiful. The colors in this one are eye catching and beautiful. It captures the attention of both the science fiction novel lovers and the romantics. (I loved this book, if you haven't read it yet GO READ!)

This one is just so different. The circles have you focus you attention on certain aspects of the cover. That's something different that I haven't seen before. The green and blue color scheme is also very pretty.

This cover reminds me of Unearhtly. I'm not sure why, maybe it's just because they are both incredibly beautiful. The font in the middle is very pretty. I also love the design on the outer parts of the cover. It has a delicate feel to it. The castle in the background I didn't notice at first but it's a very nice touch. The colors all work together perfectly.

You can DOWNLOAD Dreaming Anastasia for FREE

You can DOWNLOAD Dreaming Anastasia for FREE from Feb. 1^st to Feb. 7^th—wherever eBooks are sold—in celebration of the launch of Haunted.

Anastasia Romanov thought she would never feel more alone than when the gunfire started and her family began to fall around her. Surely the bullets would come for her next. But they didn't. Instead, two gnarled old hands reached for her. When she wakes up she discovers that she is in the ancient hut of the witch Baba Yaga, and that some things are worse than being dead.

In modern-day Chicago, Anne doesn't know much about Russian history. She is more concerned about getting into a good college—until the dreams start. She is somewhere else. She is someone else. And she is sharing a small room with a very old woman. The vivid dreams startle her, but not until a handsome stranger offers to explain them does she realize her life is going to change forever. She is the only one who can save Anastasia. But, Anastasia is having her own dreams…

I wanted to let you know about this amazing opportunity! I know that I will be downloading it for myself to read. This one has been on my TBR list for a long time. Can't wait to read it.

--Danielle

Winner of the CSN giveaway!

The winner of the CSN giveaway is.....

...drum roll...

Callie!

Congrats! If you didn't win make sure you keep your eyes open for another giveaway sometime soon. My birthday is coming up (Febuary 16th), so I think I'm going to do a giveaway for that.

Anyway I'm going to give Callie a while to answer because of the power outages from the blizzard. So don't hope to win because the winner takes to long to answer.

--Danielle