TGIF (#3):Show Me Your Cover

TGIF is Hosted @ Greads by the great Ginger!

This Week's Question:  Show Me Your Cover: What are some of the worst book covers, but hold some of the best stories inside? Don't be embarrassed, show us your cover!

I am a huge cover person! If the cover looks sucky or not so promising chances are I won't pick it up at all, but like they say Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover! But if course you know you do! *eyes crowd* :D

The Cover That Was All So Promising But Wasn't



Hereafter by Tara Hudson had such a great cover that actually made me grab the book at the library! I loved the outline of the ghost and the whole color scheme but that book was impossible to get into! This is an example of a book cover that had so much potential but ended up flat.

The Too Bland Cover [Credits to Jen for this one!]



Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz, was a example of a book cover that was to bland and needed so more life into it. But I loved the story! Seriously if you have the time you must pick up Deadly Little Secret! Laurie is now one of my favorite authors of all time! :)

The Too Creepy Cover

Doesn't this cover scream, creepiness? I love how you can see that girl ripping through that glass thingly and it's completely creepy! *walks around freaking out*

What Are Your Book Cover that Was Not Promising? Leave them in the comments!

Updates:

Due to my final weeks I will not be able to post up this last week of May, sucks right? Well I'll be schedualing post for this coming week and since it's Memorial Day this week I get an extra day! Yay! *claps* Hope you guys have fun this week and what are you guys planning to do?



Interview with Kimberly Sabatini!

I had such a great opportunity to interview Kimberly Sabtini, author of Touching the Surface coming out October 2012! I can't wait for this amazing book and check out the book! Thanks so much Kimberly! :D *claps*



Touching The Surface by Kimberly Sabatini

Release Date: October 30th 2012 by Simon Pulse

Life altering mistakes are meant to alter lives…

When Elliot dies for the third time, she knows this is her last shot. There are no fourth-timers in this afterlife, so one more chance is all she has to get things right. But before she can move on to her next life, Elliot will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed… and people she’s killed.

As she pieces together the mistakes of her past, Elliot must earn the forgiveness of her best friend and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.

Patrick-What inspired you to write Touching the Surface?

Kimberly-About seven and a half years ago my dad died. I really needed an outlet for my emotions, but even more importantly, I wanted to honor him by being a stronger, healthier person. Standing up and having a voice was something we both struggled with so I decided to rise to my own occasion. Additionally, I felt as if my dad passed on, leaving some unfinished business in his planner. Oh, who am I kidding--neither one of us was organized enough for a planner. LOL! Anyway, it didn't seem right to me that I was going to be working so hard to challenge myself and he'd just move on, especially since we both still had a lot of the same weaknesses to over come. Was dying a kind of pass go and collect $200? That didn't resonate with me. I started to try and figure out what made sense and I tried to imagine where it was that I felt comfortable picturing him. That is how the Obmil was born.

Patrick-A Quote.

Kim-"Be yourself. Have an opinion. Tell the world." By K.L. Going

Kim-Clothing Brand.

I'm not a brand person. I gravitate towards what works for me. It could be something high end or it could come from the $2 bin in Walmart--it just needs to make me feel good when I wear it.

Patrick-A Current YA Read[and what you thought]

Kim-My favorite YA read in 2012 so far is THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green. I was moved and forever changed for having read it and I can't ask for more than that from a book and an author. I aspire to leave that much honesty and heart in what I write.

Patrick-What were the hardest and easiest part of writing Touching the Surface?

Kim-The hardest part of writing TOUCHING THE SURFACE was that I was a newbie goober when I started. I was learning EVERYTHING along the way. I think I have eight million drafts of this book. You have to find the right amount of hubris and humility to navigate this process. You need to understand that you KNOW NOTHING and that you must be open to growth, change, rejection, wrong turns and dead ends. At the exact same time, you also have to believe in yourself with 100% conviction. Some days it seems impossible. The way that I found this balance was to believe, that I would have a book on the shelf some day, but I didn't give myself an end date in which to make this happen. I figured that if I was willing to work hard and unwilling to walk away from the process, than eventually I would learn what I needed to know to be a success. Either that, or everyone would just get tired of getting query letters from me and publish me to shut me up. :o) 

Patrick-How did you come up with the title?

Kim- Titles are EXTREMELY important to me. I don't think I could write a book without first having the title. It's the thread with which I weave the deeper meaning of the story--it ties it all together. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I'll just say that TOUCHING THE SURFACE is layered throughout the story in many different ways--or at least that was my intention. Hopefully the readers will find that to be true.

Patrick-Tell Me in Twitter Style [140 words or less] about Touching The Surface!

Kim-Life altering mistakes are meant to alter lives. #daretodelve

Patrick-Do you have a playlist for Touching The Surface while writing it?

Kim-Absolutely!!! One song even made it into the book LITTLE BIRD by Annie Lenox.

Patrick-If you had the chance to be immortal who you take it? Why or Why not?

Kim-I kind of already think that there is a part of us that is immortal. In my humble opinion, we can not even comprehend the magnitude and complexity of the place where our soul lives. And I find this oddly comforting.

Quick Round!

Pie or Cake?

Kim-Cake!!!! Chocolate. Just sayin.

M-Day or Night?

Kim-Night

M-Dog or Cat?

Kim-Cat

M-YA or Adult, what you read.

Kim-A all the way!!!

Thanks Kimberly!

Patrick, thank you so much for having me over to your blog. It was so much fun and I really hope that you make a connection with TOUCHING THE SURFACE.

Hope you guys enjoyed the review and pick up Touching the Surface soon! :D

Insurgent-Veronica Roth This Book was Seriously Amazing!

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Date Released: May 1st 2012            

Publisher: HarperTeen         

Pages: 525 pages

Date Read: May 3,2012

Format: Hardcover

Source: Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Synopsis:  One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

From Goodreads

My Review:

“I love Tris the Divergent, who makes decisions apart from faction loyalty, who isn’t some faction archetype. But the Tris who’s trying as hard as she can to destroy herself … I can’t love her.”
I want to scream. But not because I’m angry, because I’m afraid he’s right. My hands shake and I grab the hem of my shirt to steady them.
He touches his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. “I believe you’re still in there,” he says against my mouth. “Come back.” 

*Pre-reading* This is exactly how I was when I got it at Barnes and Noble on its release day, sometimes sequels just make your day better... *nods*

I have a message for the Divergent.I am Divergent.
This is not a negotiation.
No, it is not.
It is a warning.
I understand.



Insurgent starts right where Divergent exactly ended on. Tris, Four, Marcus, and a few others are heading toward the Amity compound, for refuge as the escape from the Dauntless compound. Everything in Tris's society has fallen. Erudite is corrupt. Dauntless is torn for the bad and good. But Tris knows that war will come and no who can be trusted as a friend or enemy.

No doubt that Insurgent was by far one of my best, top reads of 2012, it totally delivered and my high expectations where just blowed away. Insurgent has everything Divergent had but just way way better. Insurgent was full of action everywhere, twist and secrets, scorching romance between Tris and Four. Stunning and completely breathless, Insurgent was no doubt in my mind awesomsauce! :) Oh, especially the ending....be ready since so much is going on it will overwhelm you, literally.

Tris was by far the best heroine I ever met and read, loved and hated. She is kick ass like no characters Iead before, she has all the guts and fearlessness to take on so much challenges, she was so so amazing! Tris is a Divergent. She is a mix of Erudite, Dauntless, and Abnegation, and that is one of the most rarest in society. Tris knows how to be a leader but she knows when to come down to a lower level to accept defeat. I was rooting for everyone and I just wanted them to make it! Veronica Roth you are smart for making such great characters!

“Cruelty does not make a person dishonest, the same way bravery does not make a person kind.”

The romance was perfect. Tris and Four's heating scenes where great. Noting too much and noting to little it was just so good! And what I liked it wasn't the focus of the book. You know the types where its all about the romance, well Insurgent wasn't like that. The scenes flowed and they were always brought together by some problem, it was real.

There was heart-ache, choices that put people in danger, betrayals, and alliances. I liked how we got to see more of the fractions. And how Tris and her friends worked together to gain forces to prevent a war. But in the middle of the book when they where in the Candor HQ it kinda dragged, that was possibly the only bad thing I would I have to say.

“Cruelty does not make a person dishonest, the same way bravery does not make a person kind.”

I love how this book just left be breathless and made me feel good. Roth shows how choices can affect just about everything in your life. People can betray you even  they were "good" its a fine line of honesty and decisions. The world is full of bad and evil. But its the way people decide for themselves to just make it a little better, even if it means trusting the people who's motives aren't clear.

“People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.” 

 “We both have war inside us. Sometimes it keeps us alive. Sometimes it threatens to destroy us.”  

The ending was stunning! Veronica Roth you really out did yourself, she knows how to write and she always makes an impacts.Tris during the end of the book was strong and so was the scnene with various simulations trying to corrupt Tris. Those scneces were by far the best of the best, for me. :)  Tris broke Jeanie Mathews. She did the impossible and make it possible, Tris came so far and she was hearth-pounding in the end. I didn't know if she was going to do something stupid, or wrong, but she has her motives. Also, Peter in the end he surprised me. He actually helped Tris and there is defiently hope for him to be a good guy! :D

Now my post-readin status of Insurgent, prepare to be ready!

*First 100 Pages*

Tris you are good!

*The Middle*

Claps for Veronica Roth, you are awesome! :)

*The Ending*

Who wouldn't have a bundle of emotions at the end?



Waiting On Wednesday (#5)-May RAK Edition

"Waiting On Wednesday" is Hosted by Jill @ Breaking The Spine :)

This Week's Waiting On Wednesday is going to be a little different. I'll be showcassing Book that are also on my wishlist and what I'm waiting on combined! :D {Maybe a new meme?}

May RAK Edititon:

 

-The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead-I LOVED LOVED Bloodlines by Richelle Mead! It was completely amazing! Sydney was a really good character! Loved Jill and Sydney. Also, Team Adrain all the way! :D

-Touching The Surface by Kimerly Sabatini-I recieve loads of swag from Kim and THANKS! I'll share it during this week's haul! Also I love the cover and the sypnosis! I have to read this one already!

-City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare-Not one doubt to put this in my RAK/Waiting on Wednesday! I need to know what happens to Clary,Jace, Issie, Simon!!! All of you guys having your copies lucky you! *envy stare* :P Also, we got a top 2012 cover here!

-Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock-Every since hearing the great reviews for Hemlock, I knew I so had to get this book! I like the whole idea and and werewolves, I really need more of that! :D S badly want this book!

What are Your RAK List and Waiting on Wednesday? :)



The Selection-Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Date Released: April 24th 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen         

Pages:  327 pages

Date Read: April 29, 2012

Format: Hardcover

Source: Barnes and Noble

Shelves: Pre-order, So good, Love the cover

Goodreads Sumary: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

My Review:

Tagline: "The Selection meets The Hunger Games and The Bachelor"



First off, let me say how awesome that cover is! When I first saw this book's cover I was hooked I wanted to buy it. I needed to see it! It so eye-catching, don't you agree? 0.0 *nods head*



The Selection was a great read! Nothing that will have you heart racing so fast, but a quickly paced book that had I had pretty big expectations for and it did deliver! I loved the Selection, personally. And I'm saying that over the bitching and drama about this book over Kiera and a popular blogger's review. But the world was cool. Every person belongs to a caste level where each one a a specfic type of work backround. Like for America she's caste 5, the art caste.

Every second reading the Selection was stunning! The Selection is basically a chance for 35 girls who are picked by a lottery, to win the heart of Prince Maxon and be the future queen of Ilea. They have the once in a lifetime chance to be swept up in a world of crowns, jewels, and everything in lavish lifestyle. But when America Singer gets selected she is torn for everything. Her mother is super estatic because she can help their caste system and family. Her love for her best friend, Aspen is shattered.

America Singer was a pretty good character.She can be at times a little 8-year old, sarcastic, funny, humble type of person. She was crafted really good! *claps* She was not so competitive to get Maxon, but her conversations with Maxon really had me smiling the whole way through. I really think she was would go great with Maxon. :) I also loved her maids she gets and their little personalities you get here and there.

Aspen...., not really sure what to say of him. I really wanted to like him as a great character in the beginning just when America got selected and all the officals where coming to her house for precautions. And as I write this review, I don't really like him at all. *shivers* He was all pushy and stuff, no one like that... :/

But the end was kinda rushed. I mean everything was really good, including that America makes a couple of friends, half-in-half wins the heart of Maxon, I was kinda expecting more Kiera! But I thought it was a really good book I would read and proudly place on my bookshelf! :D

 “...Maxon lowered his lips to mine and gave me the faintest whisper of a kiss.

Something about the tentativeness of it made me feel beautiful. Without a word, I could understand how excited he was to have this moment, but then afraid at the same time. And deeper than any of that, I sensed that he adored me.

So this is what it felt like to be a lady.”  

“. . .true love is usually the most inconvenient kind.”  
 

 

100 Followers Giveway+Giant Thank You!

I can't believe I reached 100 Followers! Well more like 150 something followers right now with RSS, GCF, and Networked Blogs! Thank You so much! I can't believe how far I got into blogging within 8-9 months and Thank Your very much! It means so much to me and it shows I'll always blog! ;D

And to prove it to you guys I got a screenshot of the page

 

To celebrate by 100+ follower giveaway I'm going to giveaway! *confetti everywhere* This is just a way to let my followers know they are awesome! *claps* One US winner will get a $10 Barnes and Noble or Amazon Gift Card.

TGIF (#2)

This Week's Question: Supporting Characters: We tend to gush over those main characters the most, but what about those supporting roles? Who are some of your favorites? 

I am super excited to particpate in TGIF again this week hosted @ GReads by the amazing Ginger! :) I have lots of supporting characters that are my favorites. And here I'm doing only 3-4 of them.



Like Issie Lightwood from The Mortal Insturments Series by Cassandra Clare. Issie is a complete kick-ass character. She will make you second-guess messing with her and getting on her worst side is not something you want to see! But also she funny and caring at times. :) That makes Issie such a likeable supporting character!





Next I would have to say is, Syndey from Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. Syndey is at times innocent, funny, completetly likeable plus she got some royal blood in her. She does things carelessly just because she wants to. And she's relatable to most people.



And last would have to be Jenna from Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. Oooh Jenna is flat out hilarious with her streaked pink hair, spunky personality, I really want to met her! Who doesn't love a witty character that has a slight obsession with pink?? 0.0 When I read Hex Hall and we met Jenna I was hook with her personality and the story. Thank goodness Ms. Hawkins created Jenna! *thanks Ms.Hawkins*



What is Your Favorite Secondary Characters? :)



What I Got This Week-Insurgent, Wonder, and Fury

Ever since all the plagiarism involing Kristi over from The Story Siren I am not longer particpating in In My Mailbox. I'm not sure what to call today's book haul. Still coming up with a new meme and I'll probably have it by next week. So call this Stacking the Shelves, New In Books, Book Haul...I don't really care actually.But I'm also adding this week's updates to my new meme [not this one] I'm calling this What I Got This Week, not very creative right? 0.0 Now onto my books...

This Week was another AMAZING Week! I'm seriously so happpy I got so much things this week! Yay! :D

So library books, I borrowed Fury by Elizabeth Miles since this one's been on my mind forever and I so wanted to read it ever since last winter! I also borrowed The Pledge by Kimberly Derting. Doesn't that cover scream read me? Yes!

Next,....*suspenseful music*  I bought Insurgent! I can't believe I have it! and I'm already on page 60 something and already there is so much going on! HUGE Expectations for this one! Love the cover! :)

I also bought belly up and Posession by Elana Johnson at my library's used book sale [I really have to go to more of these!] for $1 dollar each. *Gasp* Is it true? Yes and I'm so happy to finally read Posession since I have her sign bookmarks! And belly up is MG, but I love MG before I got into YA and it was on my mind a long time ago.

Then my order from BN came and I got........The Selection by Kiera Cass!  I already finished this on Thursday and loved it so excited for Book 2! And the cover?, awesomesauce! Review should be up by Tuesday. I got Wonder a couple weeks back from a book survey at Goodreads. And I can't wait to dive into this one!

Also got some swag for giveaways. They were outside Barnes and Noble getting wet by the rain so I had to take them.

And I won lots of books at amazing blogs!

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins @ Jen Ryland/YA Romantics over from her Freebie Friday, you guys should really enter them! So excited for this one! And Jen is my blogging buddy! :)

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis @ Sarah from I'm Loving Books. Never expected to win this one! her blog is huge and so much enteries where there I thought I never would win but I did!

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda@ Nikki from Fiction-Freak. My first audiobook! I need so FAQ on how to use it though......

This Week's Scheduale:

So I'm having my CST's this coming week and I'm having several minimum days so I have more time to blog. Hopefully I won't be busy with anything else!

Monday-Spring Releases I'm Excited For Post, where I'll share the scoop on hot spring titles you must get!

Tuesday- Teaser Tuesday, along with The Selection review should be up.

Wednesday- Fresh Off The Press, with Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday- Some review I still need to do.....?

Friday- TGIF and Follower Friday

What is YOUR Mailbox? Leave Your Links!



The Fine Art of Truth or Dare-Melissa Jensen

The Fine Art of Truth Or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Date Released: February 16th 2012

Publisher: Speak

Pages: 380 pages

Date Read: Febuary 27, 2012

Format: Paperback

Source: Barnes and Noble

Shelves: Pre-order, Liked it, Really Good

Goodreads Synopsis:  
Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

From Goodreads

My Review:

Tagline: "Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy"

I always love a great cute, comedy book that makes you feel really good and laugh alot, and that was exactly how The Fine Art of Truth or Dare was!

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare was a sweet,short book that is a cozy read but I did expect more. I know lots of people compared it to Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins {even though I didn't read it *goes to corner and cries* I want to! And don't get mad at me! I'm late to the train!} and that book shows why I love comtemporaries!

The story starts with Ella, a girl who goes to the rich, preppy boarding school and she loves art history especially Edward Willing. Ella was a great charater. Not a memorable one but she was funny, charismatic, and full of laughs with her thoughts on everything about life. So was her friends, Sadie and Frankie. I loved Sadie! She was like those people who say what they want not intentionally and has a secret artistic side, and I like those type of people. So was Frankie.

Ella's troupe is what I would call "The Invisibles" no joke there. Their one of the few who is invisible at Willing. But of course Willa bumps into preppy, social hilly boy Alex Bainbridge she knows she can't deserve at the halls to Art. *Laughs. Ella eyes Patrick* And she comes back with a big sorry and apology, and Alex drops his notebook filled with Ella's obsession, art.

From there, everything falls into place. Ella's troupe has a fun Truth or Dare session, Alex decides to tutor Ella because of her grades, lies happen, and Ella starts to second guessing herself if she ever deserved Alex. The Fine Art of Truth or Dare is a beautiful, great book that I wanted more of and I hope to see what else Melissa Jensen has in store for next year!

“Love is one of two things worth dying for. I have yet to decide on the second.”  

 “sometimes no matter how many eyelashes or dandelion seeds you blow, no matter how much of your heart you tear out and slap on your sleeve, it just ain't gonna happen.”  

TGIF Friday (#1)

This is going to be the first week I'm going to be participating in TGIF hosted at GReads! :)

This Week's Question: If you could take a trip any place within a fictional book, where would you go?

I'm excited for this one! I would say maybe The Arena over at The Hunger Games! How awesome would that be? The adrenaline, action, and  fireceness would be off the charts total awesomesauce!

Another would be in Divergent, the fraction ceremony, and if I chose Dauntless the train would be amazing! :) Oooh maybe Victorian London in Clockwork Prince! I would so love that!

What's Your TGIF Friday? :)