Once Upon a Wish (1)

Once Upon a Wish is a super cool meme hosted by Aly over at I Have a Dream. Anyone can play along all you have to do is this:

- Pick any thought, something you would like to share, a memory, a belief or perhaps a wish?
- Head over to The blog of the first person that comments.
- Now say any one random honest  thought that comes to mind.

*The meme runs from Thursday until Sunday. 

I think I'll pick a wish for this week:

I wish that everyone would be the change they wish to see in the world. 

This is actually an all time favorite quote of mine by Ghandi. It's something that really means a lot to me. When I think about it- it's saying that change starts within ourselves. It's the smallest thing you do that can change your whole outlook. Sometimes it's a lot easier to think about the things other people should change or do, but we forget that we're the most powerful of all. Everything can make a difference in at least someone's life (:

Book Blogger Hop (7) + Affiliate News!

 Hey! It's Friday and you know what  that means-it's time for the book blogger hop! I absolutely love this, I've found so many great blogs over the process. Hop on over to Crazy for Books and join in!

Have a lovely weekend everyone! :D

Oh and if you're visiting make sure to let me know, so I can return the favor! 

Now for affiliate news:

Aly from I Have a Dream has been really swamped this week, so she hasn't had the busiest week. But she has a brand new meme, and it's the coolest! It's called Once Upon a Wish (click for more info). And I'll be participating in the next few days. Make sure to join in (:

Jami from YA Addict has had an awesome week as always. First off she has an awesome contest going on. She's giving away a Jennifer Sturman Prize Pack, so definitely head over there to enter! She also reviewed Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead, which really made me want to start the Vampire Academy series. And she participated in some awesome memes.

Both are wonderful affiliates with great blogs, that you should definitely check out! :D

Gimme a Call by Sarah Mylnowski

Book review #45
Gimme a Call by Sarah Mylnowski
Rating: Four stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from Goodreads) 

A new life is just a phone call away!
Devi's life isn't turning out at all like she wanted. She wasted the past three years going out with Bryan—cute, adorable, break-your-heart Bryan. Devi let her friendships fade, blew off studying, didn't join any clubs . . . and now that Bryan has broken up with her, she has nothing left.

Not even her stupid cell phone—she dropped it in the mall fountain. Now it only calls one number . . . hers. At age fourteen, three years ago!

Once Devi gets over the shock—and convinces her younger self that she isn't some wacko—she realizes that she's been given an awesome gift. She can tell herself all the right things to do . . . because she's already done all the wrong ones! Who better to take advice from than your future self? Except . . .what if getting what you think you want changes everything? 

Oh my goodness! That was one of the coolest, funnest, most ridiculous books I've ever read. The concept was really unique and it was executed beautifully.  I had a really really good time. Overall it was fabo as Frosh (freshman Devi) would say.

As Devi walks through the mall, alone on senior skip day, she drops her phone in the fountain. She thinks it's broken, but when she presses the send button she hears someone very familiar on the line. It turns out it's her freshman self, back when she had wonderful friends and an actual life. She ditched everything for Byron, but now that he broke up with her she has nothing. She finally gets a second chance to change things for the better...or so she thinks.

The chapters alternated between freshman Devi (Frosh) and senior Devi (Ivy). You got to see two versions of the same character and what a treat that was! It was crazy how similar they were, yet so different. Some things never change. I really loved Frosh. She was so relatable, definitely one of the most accurate freshman I've read about. I remember having the same exact concerns as her as a freshman...aside from her future self telling her what to do all the time haha. Senior Devi was a bit more dramatic and wacky, but I understood where she was coming from.

It was so fun seeing how one little decision can change everything. You learned so many life lessons from this one little book. You were taught to learn from your mistakes and to not cheat your way out of life. Sometimes you have to let life take it's own course. Oh and I almost forgot- this book was hilarious! I laughed and smiled so much. Yes, it's one of those. Books that can make you laugh that hard are priceless.

Gimme a Call is such an awesome read, it's as simple as that.  It was extremely clever and enjoyable. It certainly brightened my day. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone. Even if the beginning is a little bumpy, stick with it you'll be devouring it in no time. Pick this one up... soon (:

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we "can't-wait-to-read".

Love Drugged by James Klise
Release date: September 1st 2010
Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

Fifteen-year old Jamie Bates has a fail-safe strategy for surviving high school: fit in. Keep a low profile. And, above all, protect his biggest secret—he’s gay. So when a classmate discovers the truth, a terrified Jamie decides it’s time to change. After accepting flirtatious advances from Celia, the richest and most beautiful girl in school, Jamie steals an experimental new drug that’s supposed to “cure” his attraction to guys. At first, Jamie thinks he’s finally on track to living a “normal” life. But at what cost? As the drug’s side effects worsen and his relationship with Celia heats up, Jamie begins to realize that lying and using could shatter the fragile world of deception that he’s created—and hurt the people closest to him.

A star-crossed romance with humor and heart, Love Drugged explores the consequences of a life constructed almost entirely of lies . . . especially the lies we tell ourselves. 

This one sounds really interesting and different. I  feel like it has potential to be totally awesome. I love the cover! I can't wait to see how this one turns out (:

Teaser Tuesday (12)

 Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

-Grab your current read.
- Open to a random page.
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
 -BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
-Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser:

"Why would I say that? Why would I bring up the dreaded G word? It reverberates around us, like an echo."

pg. 72, Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

I'm loving this one so far! I was really surprised to find myself laughing so much. Look out for the review soon (:



And Pretty Little Liars premiers tonight, I'm soooo excited! Anyone else as excited as I am?

Daily Dose Monday (15)

Daily Dose Monday is hosted by Holly over at Good Golly Miss Holly and features inspiring/magical images that you would like to share with your readers :)

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is a meme originally hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren (click for more information) that shares all the new books you've bought, borrowed, received, or traded for the week.

I had a good week! I love that feeling of getting a new book in the mail (:


Received/for review:

The Karma by Jessica Brody
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It’s that mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know—do good things and you will be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what’s coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act.

But when Mason Brooks, Maddy’s boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue-wrestling with Miss Perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them—except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School, it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That’s why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma Club—a secret, members-only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they’re modifying Heather Campbell’s acne cream as part of “Operation Butterface,” or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie and Jade’s own slimy exes, they know they’re just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They’re taking care of one another.

Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. Because it turns out, when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good, even as everything around her seems to be toppling to the ground. 

I won this from Goodreads first reads. I never win anything so I was really surprised. It's even signed! Oh and it came with two bookmarks. I already started reading it and it's good so far.

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined? 

A special thanks goes to Scholastic/Point for sending me this one! It sounds really good and the cover is gorgeous. And I also have two books to giveaway so look out for a contest coming soon! 

The Worst of Me by Kate Lee Vann
Summary: (taken from back of book) 

Cassidy has been feeling unsettled and adrift, but things look up when she meets an older boy called Jonah. She loves spending time with him and his friends, flattered to be included in their discussions. Jonah is sweet and sensitive and she’s never felt so happy.

But then Cassidy hears disturbing news about Jonah which shakes her trust in him and makes her question her own judgment. If you love someone, how far should you go to overlook their faults?

A sharply insightful story about the sometimes painful process of growing up and thinking for yourself.

Thank you SO much Kate for sending me this one! She even signed it and sent the nicest card ever. It definitely made my day. I can't wait to read it.

Library/for review:

Two Way Street by Lauren Bornhaldt
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

There are two sides to every breakup. This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation. Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet. It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care. But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot. Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other. 

This sounds so so good! I love books with two POVs, especially with a male and female one.  

What's in your mailbox?

The Body Finder by Kimberley Darling

Book review #44
The Body Finder by Kimberley Darling
Rating: Five stars (refer to the rating system on the right)

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself. 

I picked up The Body Finder not really expecting to like it. Imagine my surprise when I completely fell head over heels in love with it! The Body Finder easily became one of the best books I have read this year. I devoured it whole, loving every single second of it. With just the paranormal aspect it would have still been great. That topped with the heated chemistry between Violet and Jay it made this book amazing.

Violet has an extraordinary gift, she has the power to sense dead bodies, not just any dead bodies, but only bodies that have been murdered. Lately her "gift" was the last thing on her mind. Jay, her best friend since forever, is the only thing on her mind. He definitely changed over the summer, but he's not the only thing that changed.  Violet finds herself falling in love. A couple of weeks after school starts, it has been reported that several girls have been missing. When Violet finds a an actual human dead body, she has a strange feeling that there is one person responsible for all the murders. It becomes her main priority to use her gift to find the killer, no matter how dangerous it becomes...with Jay's help of course.

Violet is such an awesome person. She's the type of person I could see myself being friends with. She's one of those girls that are amazing, but they don't really know it. She can be stubborn at times, but in a good way if that's possible. Her friendship with Jay was super cute. You don't usually see boy and girl best friends. Now the romance aspect with Jay was hot! Their love for each other was amazing. And oh Jay! He became another one of my character crushes. Not only was he extremely handsome and sweet, but he didn't fall for all the attention he got.

I also loved the thrill and suspense parts of The Body Finder. I was grateful to see the little tidbits of what was going on in the murderer's head. It was really interesting, even though it was really creepy! Even though there were moments with not much going on, something always happens. The mystery wasn't the hardest thing to solve, but it was still great.

The Body Finder is the type of book you cancel your plans for. I'm so happy that it actually lived up to the hype. And there is a sequel coming out! I'm definitely ready for some more Jay and Violet. If you have this one in your TBR pile, move it up to the top. What could you be waiting for?

Book Blogger Hop (6) + Introducing New Affiliates!

 Hey! It's Friday and you know what  that means-it's time for the book blogger hop! I absolutely love this, I've found so many great blogs over the process. Hop on over to Crazy for Books and join in!

Have an awesome weekend everyone! :D

Oh and if you're visiting make sure to let me know, so I can return the favor! 

Now for my lovely new affiliates: 

I'm very happy to introduce Aly (Blueicegal) from I Have a Dream! I absolutely adore the name of her blog this is the reasoning behind it:

"Yes my blog is called "I Have A Dream".. the reason for the name, is because i am a dreamer it fits with who i am, i am big on imagination, of what i would like in the world, what i feel the world should be like, and so I Have A Dream... was born, i feel the name says so much, it screams, i love to dream!i am full of dreams and fantasies, i want impossible things to be real i want them to come true, and i feel it shows ambition, i have a dream to be something, to do the imaginable to help others, so if you were wondering, when i see my blog and its name that is what comes to mind."

That is so inspiring! This is actually her second book review blog. Her first blog is called and Fantasy 4 Eva and it's awesome, so check that one out too! Anyways I Have a Dream features a super cool feature called Put A Ribbon on it that is held every Sunday. She also has the best reviews, she definitely shows her personality and voice through them. 

I'm so glad I found Aly's first blog! She leaves the nicest comments on everyone's blogs and overall she's just a fun really sweet person. Her blog is awesome, so please make sure to head on over there! (:

My other awesome affiliate is Jami from YA Addict! Her blog name is really true- if your looking for anything YA, YA Addict is definitely the place to go. She updates and posts for regularly and she has really awesome reviews! They give just the right amount of details without giving away any spoilers. 

Jami also very generously does ARC tours, so be sure to check that out! She also participates in memes, such as In My Mailbox, Teaser Tuesday, and Waiting on Wednesday.  

Here's a little bit more about her:

"Alright, it's time to admit it.

My name is Jami, and I am a YA book addict.

My home is crammed with so many books that my family bought me a Kindle in hopes of preserving space. It didn't work. I still buy books. If you see a woman in your bookstore, blocking up the YA section with her double stroller, camped out on the floor, that might be me.

YA Addict is my place to rave about the newest book I loved so much I can't get it out of my head. (since my family is ready to vote me out if I don't stop talking about it.) I will be reviewing mostly YA, but some adult will be thrown in there as well. If you are a fellow YA addict, feel free to join me on my journey through this wonderful world of literacy."

So all you fellow addicts please make sure to run on over to Jami's blog! You definitely won't regret it. I've followed Jami's since I first started blogging, and I'm so happy I did. Jami is awesome, go see for yourself :)