Book Blogger Hop (10) + Follow Friday

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! Oh and if you're visiting make sure to let me know, so I can return the favor! I'm also joining in on Parajunkee's Follow Friday, so check that out as well :)

OK now to answer this week's question, "What are some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites?"

This is a toughie because after I started blogging my favorite authors list expanded like crazy, but I'll try to control myself ;)

1. Elizabeth Scott because she's uh just AMAZING! Not only is she an amazing writer, but she's an author that can write a wide variety of books. Two of my absolute favorites of hers are Love You Hate You Miss You and Living Dead Girl (which is a book that made a huge impact on me!). If you click on the links they take you to my reviews :)

2. J.K Rolling for writing the The Harry Potter series. I'm probably one of the HP series biggest fans! I grew up with the books waiting on pins and needles for the newest books to come out. I could never get sick of reading them over and over again. Enough said.

3. Sarah Ockler for Twenty Boy Summer. I'm still in awe that this is her first novel. I fell in LOVE with everything about Twenty Boy Summer. It was just beautiful.

4. Sarah Shepard for the genius behind the Pretty Little Liar series. Each book just gets better and better. The series is plain delicious ;)

5. Suzanne Collins for writing possibly one of the best series ever. It's hard to find someone who didn't love The Hunger Games. I try to get everyone around me to give it a try because it's just that good. And I think everyone is dying to read Mockingjay, can't wait!

And I can't help but give a shout-out to some of my other favorites: Lauren Oliver for Before I Fall, Simone Elkeless for Perfect Chemistry, Sarah Dessen for all her amazing books and characters, Jenny Han for The Summer I Turned Pretty series (my favorite!),Gayle Forman for the stunning novel If I Stay, and my latest Morgan Matson for her debut Amy and Roger's Epic Detour- which I just reviewed :)

*Authors are in no particular order.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Book review #53
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Rating: Five stars!

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
Amy Curry thinks her life sucks. Her mom decides to move from California to Connecticut to start anew--just in time for Amy's senior year. Her dad recently died in a car accident. So Amy embarks on a road trip to escape from it all, driving cross-country from the home she's always known toward her new life. Joining Amy on the road trip is Roger, the son of Amy's mother's old friend. Amy hasn't seen him in years, and she is less than thrilled to be driving across the country with a guy she barely knows. So she's surprised to find that she is developing a crush on him. At the same time, she's coming to terms with her father's death and how to put her own life back together after the accident. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road--diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards--this is the story of one girl's journey to find herself. 

Honestly I don't even know where to begin. Without a doubt Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is one of my favorite books of the year. I don't want to gush, but I think I have to!  I loved everything about this book. It's almost like this book was written for me, it's made of pure awesomeness. I can say that I took an amazing tour throughout the United States. Even though I live here, I haven't gotten a chance to experiences life in states other than my own. It's hard to not want to jump in the car and take a spontaneous road trip after reading this. 

Amy's life is really falling apart. Nothing has been the same since her dad died. Living in the house alone for the month while school finishes up, she feels lonelier than ever. To top it all off she's being forced to move all the way out to Connecticut. Since Amy isn't ready to drive yet, her mom set up a road trip with her Roger-who is practically a stranger. The two set off on the pre-planned road trip to Colorado, but then decide to make a detour of their own. Not only do you get to enjoy the trip through America, but you get to watch Amy and Roger get to know each other and more importantly get to know themselves.

The cast of characters were just plain wonderful. Every single character, small or big, made a big impression on made. Amy and Roger met quite of few people on their journey. There was Lucien from Kentucky who was just a very sincere lovable person. Then there was crazy Browolyn who was super nice. Amy was such a piece of work. She's been through so much pain and I was really proud of how she handled everything. Roger oh Roger. I loved him of course. He was like the coolest person ever, not to mention a sweetie. Together they really shared something special. It was too cute witnessing them getting used to each other.

The setup of the book was one of my favorite things about it. Each chapter began with a quote relating to the state of moment they were in. Then after the two visited each state there was a scrapbook section consisting of actual receipts, tickets, postcards, and pictures. Oh and there were even play lists spread throughout the book, that related to that period. And I have to say there were some really good songs listed. I just loved all of this, it made the book even better.

Personally the coolest part for me was that Amy and Roger got to visit Kentucky! I live in Kentucky and it's very rare to see Kentucky pop up in a book. It was hilarious to see them fight over how to pronounce Louisville (we do that too) and their amazement to sweet tea and waffle house. Aside from that, the adventures they went through were fun and memorable. From sleeping in the car in the parking lot, sliding around in socks around Walmart in the middle of the night, to even sneaking into a strict facility.

Even thinking about this book makes me smile! I'm so happy that I own a copy because I'll definitely be picking it up again. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is one of the most touching, entertaining, and fun books I've read in awhile. After I turned the last page, I just wasn't ready to part with them. I would recommend this book to just about everyone, but especially fans of Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler.

*This is probably the longest review I've ever written. Sorry about that! I couldn't help it :)

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

"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".

The Kid Table by Andrea Seigel
Release date:  September 14th 2010
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

It's there at every family event. A little smaller, collapsible, and decked out with paper napkins because you can't be trusted with the good ones. But you're stuck there. At the Kid Table. Because to them- to the adults- you're still a kid.

Ingrid Bell and her five teenage cousins are in exactly this situation. Never mind the fact that high school is almost over. They're still eating mac and cheese with a toddler. But what happens when the rules change? When Brianne, the oldest cousin, lands a seat at the Adult Table, the others are in shock. What does it take to graduate from the Kid Table?

Over the course of five family events, Ingrid and her cousins attempt to finish childhood and send the infamous table into retirement. But as Ingrid turns on the charm in order to manipulate her situation, the family starts questioning her motives. And when her first love comes in the form of first betrayal (he's Brianne's boyfriend), Ingrid is forced to consider how she fits into this family and what it means to grow up. 

This sounds so cute! Growing up with a huge family filled with bunches and bunches of cousins, I know how it feels to be at the "kids" table.  And I just love family oriented books. I'm also really liking the cover as well :)

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Book review #52
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong  (Darkest Power's #1)
Rating: Five stars

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home.

At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behavior. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

Paranormal romances aren't usually my "thing", but after reading The Summoning I can proudly say I'm a paranormal type of girl. The Summoning really took me by surprise. I guess I could say I was blown away! Action-packed, horror, and suspense was splattered throughout the many pages.

Chloe strives to be normal and to have a regular life. Things are pretty much on the normal side aside from the occasional sounds and voices she hears. One day at school she has an encounter with a ghost causing a huge scene. Chloe was almost as shocked as everyone else. Her aunt decides to "save" Chloe by placing into a group home for kids with special circumstances. The Lyle House seems ordinary enough, but there is a lot more than meets the eye.

The setting combined with the unique characters really puts this novel on top. The Lyle House was really creepy, it even scared me! It sounds and looks so normal-with chores, homework, and strict scheduling. But it's not normal at all. The members all have to take pills to cure their supposed illness and they have to talk to these shrinks that convince them that they have a common illness. The teachers/directors were so secretive. I felt like it was all one big science experiment. And I haven't even started on the members of the group home!

Chloe was a fantastic main character. She started out regular, just like all of us. She even wanted to be a director, so she imagined she was in a movie scene whenever something crazy was happening. (This may distract some people from he main action, but I enjoyed it.) I like how she handled her whole situation, very gracefully in fact. I would have probably done some stuff way more drastic. It's hard to describe the other members of The Lyle House. They each have distinct characteristics and personalities, that really stick with you. Derrick stood out the most of the bunch. He was very mysterious, I really wanted to know his story. What I loved the most about him was that he wasn't the flawless handsome character seen in most paranormal romances, he had full blown acne.

The Summoning was a wonderful start to what looks like an amazing series. I was always kept on the edge and was almost thrown off at all the twists and turns that kept popping up. Even if paranormal novels isn't your usual type of genre, you should definitely give this one a try. I can't wait to see what happens next :)

In My Mailbox (24)

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.

Received/for review:

One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Eliza is in a full-blown panic. Her notebook has been stolen—the one that lists everything she wants but is afraid to go after. And the absolute worst person in the world has it: her ex-boyfriend, Cooper.

Like it’s not enough Cooper was lying to Eliza for their entire relationship, now he and his friends are blackmailing her. They’re giving her just one night to complete the most humiliating tasks on her list or they’ll post her secrets online—including the ones that aren’t just about her.

Eliza’s sure of only one thing: she isn’t going down without a fight. Cooper may have what’s left of her dignity, but she’s not the only one with something to hide … 

I've already started this one and it's soooo good! I received this from Around the World Tours. This is my very first book tour :)

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma (ARC)
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Sixteen-year-old Maya and seventeen-year-old Lochan have never had the chance to be 'normal' teenagers. Having pulled together for years to take care of their younger siblings while their wayward, drunken mother leaves them to fend alone, they have become much more than brother and sister. And now, they have fallen in love. But this is a love that can never be allowed, a love that will have devastating consequences ...How can something so wrong feel so right? 

Gosh I can't wait to get started on this one. It was my WoW a couple of weeks ago so I was delighted to read this one.  A big thanks goes to Corinne and Random House for sending me this one!

Library/for review:

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Summary: (taken from Amazon)

Phoebe is just your typical goth girl with a crush.  He’s strong and silent…and dead.

All over the country, a strange phenomenon is happening.  Some teenagers who die aren't staying dead.  They are coming back to life, but they are no longer the same—they stutter, and their reactions to everything are slower.   Termed "living impaired" or "differently biotic," they are doing their best to fit into a society that doesn’t want them. 

Fitting in is hard enough when you don’t have the look or attitude, but when almost everyone else is alive and you’re not, it’s close to impossible.   The kids at Oakvale High don’t want to take classes or eat in the cafeteria next to someone who isn’t breathing.  And there are no laws that exist to protect the differently biotic from the people who want them to disappear—for good.  

With her pale skin and Goth wardrobe, Phoebe has never run with the popular crowd.  But no one can believe it when she falls for Tommy Williams, the leader of the dead kids.  Not her best friend, Margi, whose fear of the differently biotic is deeply rooted in guilt over the past.  And especially not her neighbor, Adam, the star of the football team.  Adam has just realized his feelings for Phoebe run much deeper than just friendship.  He would do anything for her, but what if protecting Tommy is the one thing that would make her happy? 

I received a request to review the third book in this series, which meant I had to get the first two books. This sounds really interesting! I'm definitely intrigued...

Kiss of Life (Generation Dead #2) by Daniel Waters
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

The phenomenon that's been sweeping the country seems to be here to stay.  Not only are the teenagers who have come back from their graves still here, but newlydeads are being unearthed all the time.  While scientists look for answers and politicians take their stands, the undead population of Oakville have banded together in a group they're calling the Sons of Romero, hoping to find solidarity in segregation.

Phoebe Kendall may be alive, but she feels just as lost and alone as her dead friends.  Just when she reconciled herself to having feelings for a zombie -- her Homecoming date Tommy Williams -- her friend Adam is murdered taking a bullet that was meant for her.  Things get even more confusing when Adam comes back from the grave.  Now she has romantic interest in two dead boys; one who saved her life, and one she can't seem to live without.

I went ahead and grabbed the second book while I had the chance. I just love the cover :)

What's in your mailbox?

The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin

Book review #51
The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelley Martin
Rating: Four stars

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)
Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden. 

Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world.

Picking this one up, I expected an average read about a teenager romance with an older woman. And that's basically what I got, but so much more. I can't pinpoint exactly what it was that really made this one different. Maybe it was the honest, raw plot or how scary real the characters were.

Mason is having an OK life at the moment. His highs include his two best friends, Kat and Jamie and starring in the school play. On the side he has to deal with his dad re-marrying, adding three more people to the household. But after the day Mason loses his virginity to Kat, everything changes. Kat can't look at him the same way anymore and things have changed with Jaime too. The day 23 year old Collete steps into his life, his life changes yet again. Say hello to the brand new Mason...

Mason really made the book. C.K. Kelley Martin did an amazing job in really getting into an average teenage guy's head. It's always nice to read about a male's point of view. Mason is an easy-going, likable guy, but deep down he has those insecurities that sometimes aren't shown in the typical YA novel. Kat and Jamie were good best friends, but kind of confusing at times. Aside from them, I loved the whole cast of characters from t Mason's stepbrother to Y & X from the school play. Each one added a certain spice to the book. And then of course there's Collette. She was going through a hard point in her life when she meet Mason. It was hard to figure out what exactly she wanted. Although I can say that their relationship was very sincere and a definite highlight of the book.

The Lighter Side of Life and Death definitely exceeded my exceptions. It wasn't even that exciting, but I found myself having a hard time to put it down. The ending was just wonderful, it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. I do have to warn younger readers that there were some mature content in it. Overall, a light, realistic, and not so average book is exactly what your going to get. C.K. Kelley Martin is a very talented author, that I'll definitely have to look out for. Go ahead and give this one a try :)

Book Blogger Hop (9)

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

Now for this week's question:

Hi everyone. I'm Sara and I'm a 16 old year girl. I grew up reading books, I can't remember a period of time when I wasn't book crazy. I started reviewing books on Goodreads when I stumbled across my very first book blog (My Sentiments Exactly). I was pretty amazed, I had no idea these even existed. I was inspired enough to start one of my own. This blog has now become part of me, I don't know what I would do without it :) I've met some amazingly wonderful people *hugs* :D

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

"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".

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
Release date:  January 18th 2011 
Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Foster kid Emma Paxton has only just discovered Sutton Mercer, the wealthy twin sister she never knew she had, when Sutton drops off the face of the earth, asking Emma to cover for her at home, school, and with her friends—just for a few days. At first Emma enjoys trying on her sister’s fabulous life: her fiercely loyal friends, her adoring boyfriend, her close-knit family. But as Emma is drawn deeper into Sutton’s world she finds the friends are not so fabulous, the boyfriend is not who she wants to be with, and the family is clinging to long-buried secrets and a veneer of functionality. And worst of all, Sutton may not be coming back. In fact, someone may have made sure she never could…and that someone knows Emma is not who she claims to be. Emma will need all her wits to survive The Lying Game. 

New York Times bestselling author Sara Shepard’s new series weaves a mystery of long-lost twins, mistaken identities, a duplicitous circle of friends, and cold-blooded murder. Combining juicy plot lines, to-die-for lifestyles, a tangled web of friendship and romance, magnetic characters, and sharp-witted narration from the afterlife, The Lying Game is an alluring cross between Pretty Little Liars and The Lovely Bones. 

This sounds super good! I love Sara Shepard. I'm one of the Pretty Little Liars series biggest fans, so I'm sure this will be amazing! Can't wait :)

Teaser Tuesday (14)

 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:

"And even though Roger couldn't see me and I him, I was suddenly glad for the darkness in the car.  It made it easier to pretend that he couldn't see that I was trying hard not to cry, that my chin had apparently taken on a life of its own, and I no longer had any control over it."

-pg. 187, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson


Oh goodness, I'm loving this book SO much. I'm trying to space it out, to make it last longer. Review to come soon :)