Review: Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite writers and she proves it yet again with Insatiable.

Synopsis:
Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.
But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them.
Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.)
But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.
The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own.
And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.
Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future…
If she even has one.

I am one of those people who is really, really sick of vampires so I was leery going into this book. Could Meg Cabot make me not hate vampires, make me want to read about them again? Well the answer to that is a resounding YES.

Meena Harper is a soap opera writer who just heard the terrible news: the bosses want a vampire storyline written in. Meena is not thrilled. On top of that, she recently lost out on a job from one of her coworkers, a woman who never works. And oh yeah, Meena is kind of psychic. At least, that is she can sense when people are about to die. It's a "talent" she's had all her life and it hasn't exactly been a picnic. When her neighbors introduce her to Lucien Antonescu, a prince, well finally things seem to be looking up for her. He is sexy, he saved her from a bat attack, and he is definitely attracted to Meena. He is Mr. Perfect, right?

Oh Meg Cabot, you wow yet again. I love how you twist the mythology of Vlad Dracula to fit your story while also paying homage to Bram Stoker, and oh yeah, making fun of the current fad of vampires in your own fun way. Like this fun little gem:

"Even though these guys [vampires] admit over and over to wanting to kill us," Meena went on, "the idea that they're nobly restraining themselves from doing so is supposed to be attractive? Excuse me, but how is knowing a guy wants to kill you hot?"

"The fact that he wants to but doesn't makes some girls feel special," Leisha said simply. "Plus, vampires are all rich. I could deal with having some rich guy who wants to kill me--but is nobly restraining himself--being super into me right now."

Then there is the Palatine Guard, Alaric Wulf (my personal fave guy of the story) and his desire to rid the world of all vampires. And oh yeah, he has an awesome wit. Case in point:

"This isn't love you're feeling. Only dopamine. Because Felix isn't like anyone else you know. being a creature of the night, he's new and exciting and activates a neurotransmitter in your brain that releases feelings of euphoria when you're around him... especially because you know you can never actually be together, and he seems complicated, and perhaps even sensitive, and vulnerable at times. But I can assure you he's anything but."

Then there is the fact that Meena is awesome. She wants to help others and is trying to find the best way to do that. She guards the man she loves, even knowing that isn't exactly the wisest choice. She wants to stop the killings that are going on in New York City, and oh yeah, she owns a dog named Jack Bauer. I loved her from the first page until the very last.

Basically this is a hands-down, plain ol' good time story from start to finish. Meena learns to use her powers for the better, she meets a man (even if he's dead!) who makes her heart flutter, and oh yeah, she helps stop vampire attacks around the city. But how she does that, well that is what makes this story so fantastic. I have a feeling this is only the beginning of Meena's story and am already looking forward to more of her adventures.

And one last vampire quote that had me in stitches:

Alaric didn't give him a chance for any last words. In his experience, vampires didn't really have anything that interesting or insightful to say. It was all Shakespeare and emo.

Oh Meg Cabot, thank you for the laughs and sizzling romance along the way!

(ARC provided by Around the World Tours).

In My Mailbox

Sarah Mail!

Lots of great stuff this week.

For review:
One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare (for romance review site)
The Gift of Love, anthology (for romance review site)
Girl, Stolen by April Henry (Around the World ARC Tours)
The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells (Around the World ARC Tours)
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway (this was sent by the lovely Rachel Cohn who offered me her ARC copy since I've basically been desperate to read this book. Thank you Rachel and Robin)

Bought:
Sugar Creek by Toni Blake
Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas
Sand Chronicles Volume 8

Happy book week indeed! And hopefully I can get some serious reading done on my three day weekend. :D

And don't forget, if you haven't entered yet, be sure to enter my contest to win ANY Jennifer Echols book. It ends June 1, 2010. US residents only.

Author Interview: Jessica Brody

I'm really excited today to bring you an author interview with Jessica Brody, the author of The Karma Club, a really fun and humorous YA story. You can read my review here but suffice it to say it was a good way to spend a few hours. So, that makes me even more excited to bring you this author interview! Jessica Brody was a real treat to speak with and now I'm going to be hunting for her adult novels too. Enjoy!

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1. Was your writing experience for The Karma Club, a novel for teens, different than your experiences writing for adults?
It’s surprisingly not that different…except maybe a bit more fun! I plot all novels the same way, whether they’re for teens or adults. My goal—no matter who the audience—is to write stories that make you laugh and keep you turning the pages all the way to the end! Writing a teenage character was especially fun for me though because I felt like I got to revisit high school…without all the insecurities.

2. Have you had any incidents with karma, either good or bad, that were inspiration for your book?
You know I didn’t really notice Karma until after I wrote this book. I was always fascinated with the concept, but it wasn’t until recently that I started to notice it actually happening around me a lot more. Like the universe lining up in certain ways that were really cool. Before I might have thought these kinds of things were just coincidences but now I know that it’s something bigger than that.


3. I see from your blog you are collecting worst job experiences. Do you have one you would like to share?
Haha! Yes, I was collecting worst job experiences. It’s for a new book I’m writing now called 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER, about a teen heiress who is forced to take on a different low-wage job every week for a year if she wants any hope of receiving her trust fund. I needed some help coming up with bad jobs for her to do. I can think of one job in my past that was terrible. In my early twenties, I started waiting tables at a seafood restaurant and on the first day they told me that as part of my training, I’d have to spend a week in the kitchen, learning how the fish was prepared. Which included gutting and cleaning whole fish. UGH! Although I’m not sure that really counts because I quit the very next day so I never actually had to gut any fish!

4. Do you have a specific writing routine that you stick to or do you write when the mood strikes?
I can only write for about 2-3 hours a day. For one, I get antsy and can’t still for much longer than that and I always seem to have so many other things to do. I’m a full time writer, but you’d be amazed at how much other work besides writing piles up. When you work for yourself you also end up being your own tech person, graphic designer, accountant, publicist, assistant, photocopier, filer, and online marketing specialist!

So in the morning, I usually go to my favorite coffee shop and write for a few hours until I fulfill my daily word quota (which is normally 1000-1500 words a day), then I come back to my home office and take care of everything else that needs to be done.


5. I loved seeing karma being turned on its head in The Karma Club. The bad karma scenes were particularly harrowing. Were any of those scenes (being robbed at gun-point, food poisioning) from personal experience?
LOL. I like those scenes too. They’re not really from personal experience. I did have food poisoning once and it was the absolute the worst! Although I don’t think it was from bad Karma. At least I hope not. But I guess you never know!


6. I see you have a whole section of words of advice for writers on your website. Do you have any writing donts you'd like to share?
Not really. I don’t believe there’s one way to do anything. What works for some people might not work for others and vice versa. I guess the only “don’t” I can think of is “Don’t stress. Don’t worry.” Failure is inevitable in a job like this. It comes with the territory. But I believe it’s only there to make the successes more meaningful. Remember everything happens for a reason and everything has an opportunity hidden in it somewhere. You just have to find it!

7. Does your competitive personality translate into your writing career in any way?Oh, all the time! Every day! Although I’m learning in my old(er) age, not to compete with other people, just myself. And that has been a very healthy transition for me. There’s always going to be someone better than you and someone worse. There’s always going to be someone more successful and someone less. I just try to make sure that every book I write is better than the last and that I’m always pushing myself forward and challenging myself to improve and grow.

9. Are you a believer in karma?
I definitely believe in Karma. I believe there is a certain balance and synchronicity to the universe. And if you look for it, you’ll always find it. But I also believe you shouldn’t just do good things to get good things in return. You should do good things and good deeds for the pleasure of doing them.

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Thank you so much Jessica! And if you haven't had the chance yet, I definitely recommend reading The Karma Club. If you aren't a believer in karma yet, you may convert after this book.

Review: Forget You by Jennifer Echols

I've enjoyed everything I've read by extremely talented author Jennifer Echols (Going Too Far made my list of top books for 2009) and her new book, Forget You is no exception. So yeah, I will admit, I have a bit of a fangirl crush on this author.

Synopsis: There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

What I totally and absolutely loved in this book: Doug Fox and Zoey Commander, two extremely memorable characters. Their interactions from the opening scenes until the end were filled with tension and a sense that these two were meant to be together. Even when Zoey was convinced Doug hated her, well, that passion hate she felt still reverberated off the pages. When Zoey sees Doug at the hospital after her mom's suicide attempt, she is sure Doug is going to use this event to get at her. Because of course all Zoey sees (or wants to see) is Doug's bad boy facade, the boy who was thrown in juvie for one week. She does not, absolutely does not, want to see their attraction.

But Doug does not do as Zoey expects and soon enough they are at a party and then, crash! Zoey is in an accident and Doug is somehow involved except Zoey does not quite know how because she does not remember the accident, the party, or pretty much anything that night. All she knows is that when Doug shows up at her house the next day, he cannot keep his hands off her. And Zoey has no recourse but to try to puzzle out what really happened.

Zoey is the kind of character I love. She is unique but she wants to be like everyone else. She resents her dad and his soon-to-be wife and she is pissed at her mom (along with hurt, sad, depressed, scared and every other emotion in the book) that her mom tried to commit suicide. That's by far not an easy mix of emotions to be feeling so adding in a little amnesia is not a good thing. However, this is not an amnesia story. Yes, Zoey wants to recapture her memories of that evening but in reality, it's about forgetting what is going on in life and trying to make do.

What I didn't enjoy quite so much (and this is basically a minor quibble in the scheme of the book) was Zoey's insistence that Brandon was her boyfriend. After one hook-up. I realize she had to use that reason as a means of staying away from Doug, but it got tiresome as the story continued when it was very obvious to everyone (Doug, Zoey's best friends, Brandon himself) that Brandon was not Zoey's boyfriend. That being said, it did lend itself well to one of my favorite exchanges between Zoey and Doug:

"I'm dating Brandon," I told his bowed head."Really?" he asked without looking up.
"Yes!"
"I'll print you a wallet card to whip out every time you need to say that, so you can save your voice."
"Could you laminate it?"
Finally he lifted his head and raised one eyebrow at me. "Don't push your luck."

Forget You was the kind of book I wanted to avoid work for; I wanted my lunch breaks to go on forever, and basically I just wanted to read. I love when that happens! I think, in the wrong hands, this situation could have seemed a tad ridiculous. An amnesia storyline in a YA book? How is that going to work? Fortunately, it turned out to be an utterly fabulous plot because its characters were so realistically written. This book is definitely geared towards your older teens, if you're thinking of a library setting, like I tend to do. There is sex, there are condoms, there are random hook-ups and there is heavy touching. But there is also a great lesson about what makes a positive and healthy relationship and what just makes for a random hook-up.

Zoey and Doug's relationship is fragile, rough, humorous (the salty dog scene with drunk Doug), and utterly satisfying. I already can't wait to re-read this book.

This book provided for review from Traveling ARC Tours.

Guest Post!

I have a very, very special guest post today from one of my favorite romance writers, Victoria Dahl, the author of the Tumble Creek, Colorado, trilogy. I always knew this author was awesome, but when I found out she was the critique partner for one of my favorite YA writers, Ms. Jennifer Echols, who I've been so happy about promoting this week (seriously, if you haven't read her yet, what on earth are you waiting for??), well it was like serendipity! Or something. So today, I bring you a guest post from Victoria Dahl where she is praising the talented Jennifer Echols.

Now seriously people, if you won't take my word for it, at least take the word of another amazing writer!

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I met Jennifer Echols seven years ago, before either of us was published. We were at the same place in our careers. We’d both been writing for years. We were both on the cusp of publication. We had a lot in common and she seemed perfectly nice. Still, I was convinced she was a crazy stalker.

It was an easy mistake to make. We’d interacted a couple of times on an RWA loop when Jennifer sent me a private email. “I think you’re funny and pretty,” she wrote. “Do you have a critique partner?” (Please note, all quotes are paraphrased or possibly entirely made-up. But I am trying to capture the spirit of the interaction.) I replied with an email liberally laced with friendly smiley faces, but the message was clear: “Bless your heart! I’m sure you’re perfectly nice, but I don’t do critique partners. I’m a lone wolf. A rebel. An island. Good bye.”

Amazingly, Jenn didn’t flip me the bird and start a horrible online rumor about my personal hygiene. She stuck around. She wooed me. We made each other laugh. Eventually we started exchanging reads. Then we started critiquing. And somehow I found myself working with the perfect critique partner.

Each of Jenn’s books read like a flowing river of awesomeness, but in that, she’s like a great athlete. Her genius is in making her final product look effortless while working her butt off behind the scenes.

She’s a professional copyeditor, so she’s spent years learning every nuance of the language. She gets up before the sun rises to make time for her writing if she’s facing a busy week. And she’s obsessed with the craft of writing. She reads all the books. Books on flow and story idea and character and motivation. She calls me at odd hours, her words tumbling together with excitement because she’s found a new book on analyzing personalities or tightening pace or creating the perfect conflict. In short, she’s a writing nerd. Which means that I don’t have to be. She tells me when I’ve used lay when I should use lie. She mocks me when I’ve gone right up to the edge of a perfect idea and then backed away from it. She keeps me working.

I have no idea what I bring to the relationship. I generally don’t read YA. My critiques are filled with smiley faces, just like that first email. I love ideas and jokes that nobody else likes, so I’m not great at helping smooth rough edges. As far as I can tell, all I offer is an occasional dose of emotional Prozac.

I will sometimes read the first chapter of a writing book if Jenn insists, but my knee-jerk response is, “I’ll do what I want! No one tells me how to write!” Except that Jenn does. In the beginning, I’d politely resist her critique suggestions. Then I realized that whatever suggestions I ignored, my editor would inevitably ask for. “What’s this?” I’d boggle. “How did Jenn know that already?”

She knew because she’s a writer. A professional writer. A real, honest-to-goodness professional writer who dedicates her life to her craft. And I couldn’t do this without her.

Now who’s the crazy stalker, huh, Jenn? I hope you don’t regret that first email, because you’ll never be rid of me now. Nevah!

Thank you Victoria for your amazing post. I love the story of how you two met. And as an overt user of smiley faces, I'm glad I'm not the only one who can go smiley face crazy.

Author Interview: Jennifer Echols

I am so excited to bring you this interview with Jennifer Echols. I love her books, her characters, her writing style, and the humor I find in her books. In fact, there really isn't anything I don't like about Jennifer Echols and her titles. And you know what else I like? Her guy characters. Hands down, they are sweet, sarcastic and kind of mean, but authentic. LOVE. Yep, I love them. But you may be asking, just who is this great author I keep hearing about? I don't know much about her? Well, that can be changed today! I have an interview with Jennifer Echols and I hope you enjoy it.

1. Did you ever have an offer from a boy to gallantly check for bryozoa?
No, boys threw it at me.

2. Was it difficult writing a sequel to The Boys Next Door? Was it hard getting back into these characters' heads, or did you always have some kind of plan in the back of your mind?
I always had a plan. I knew exactly what happened the night The Boys Next Door ends. But I never thought I would have the chance to write it—so this book release is a very happy one for me. And these characters are close to my heart, so it wasn’t hard to get back into their heads. I would write books about them forever.

3. The lovelorn quality between Adam and Lori as they were "separated" was intsense. Is this from personal experience? Were you ever forbidden from dating a specific guy?
I was not, but I have been separated from a guy in a long-distance relationship, so I was writing from the heart.

4. Have you read a really great YA book lately that you could recommend?
By all means! The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting and In Your Room by Jordana Fraiberg. I have been blathering about them to anybody who will listen. Finding a book you love is the best feeling!

5. I've never been to Alabama, let alone Birmingham. Any place I should visit that I can impress people with, so they'll have an "Oh you've been to Birmingham" reaction?
The most famous landmark is the statue of Vulcan on top of Red Mountain. He’s actually pretty impressive—he’s the world’s largest cast iron statue. He is the Roman god of the forge, and he was commissioned at the turn of the last century in honor of Birmingham’s history as a steel town. The funny thing about him is that his butt is completely naked, and this is the Bible Belt. When he was taken down for repairs about 10 years ago, there was a movement to keep him down because he is obscene. Luckily the riff-raff won out and he is back on his pedestal where he belongs. I love him so much that I have written a (still unpublished) novel about him.

But of course Birmingham was also a center of the Civil Rights Movement, and anyone visiting town should see the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the 16th Street Baptist Church.

And if you want a lake experience like Adam and Lori’s, you should drive down to Alexander City and camp on Lake Martin at Wind Creek State Park. You can also view a huge fireworks display over the lake on the 4th of July. I have seen it from land and by boat. It is awesome either way.

6. I'd love to see Sean get his own come-uppance from a girl. Any chance of that happening?
Oh man, I would love to write that book.

7. What does your writing area look like? Do you listen to music, blare the TV, or do you need total silence?
It looks like the inside of Starbucks.

8. Ok, no joke. My nickname as a kid was Sarah McGillicuddy. Does McGillicuddy have some specific reference for you, or do you perhaps just like the way it sounds?
First, I am so sorry. Second, I needed this name to be very long so Sean could make a joke out of always referring to Lori’s brother this way. I literally went through the phone book looking for the longest name.

9. Do you have a favorite couple of the characters you've written?
Lori and Adam would be high on the list. So would Zoey and poor Doug from Forget You, which is coming out on July 20. (I think of him as poor Doug. He is so adorable and I feel really bad for what I did to him in that book.) But as you know, I always try to keep writing no matter what happens. So I am hard at work on the Book I Can’t Talk About Yet, which is coming out in July 2011. My favorite couple is always the one I’m writing at the moment, and right now it’s Erin and Hunter.

10. I realize you're a very busy writer, but what do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I run about four miles a day, and I love to do things outdoors with my son. I am so glad it’s summer! I don’t live on a lake anymore, but there’s a pool right around the corner.

Thank you so much Jennifer for your time! Who else is anticipating July 2011 already??

You can learn more about Jennifer at her blog or read her interview at the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit Tour. And don't forget to enter my contest to win your choice of any of Jennifer Echols' books.

Review: Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols is the sequel to the endlessly fun The Boys Next Door. So, Lori and Adam finally have their happily-ever-after right? After a summer spent trying to make Sean jealous, Lori has finally fallen for the right Vader guy and things are now easy-peasy, right? Of course not, and that's where the real fun begins because let me tell you, these two have no idea how to have a relationship with each other. They are both fairly clueless, leading to mix-ups and heartache on both side.

And it all starts when a late night of kissing turns into an unexpected sleepover in Adam's truck. Completely platonic and sexing free, but of course, when your parents are on the hunt for you, no teen will get by unscathed. And so, Adam's parents and Lori's dad lay down the law. Lori cannot date Adam, end of story.

Of course, this is not th end of the story because neither of these characters are going to take that indictment lying down. Thus, trouble for Lori and Adam.

This book is both hilarious and a testament to the lengths teens will go when they are in love. I felt like Jennifer Echols did a fantastic job of exaggerating Lori and Adam's lovelorn escapades for the sake of the story but even so, those escapades had a definite ring of truth to them. No matter how much you love or respect your parents, when you finally meet THE boy or THE girl, well nothing else seems to matter.

I also really enjoyed the ridiculous schemes these two came up with in order to see each other, but which, in the grand scheme of things, just made seeing each other more difficult. As we all know, teens do not always have the best judgement and I think that stereotype was used to the best advantage in this story.

There are many, many choice scenes in this book that induce laughter and that explore that truly unique feeling of being with the guy you really, truly want. This scene is of the former variety, but it's a good one, involving Adam and his dad:

I can't repeat in mixed company of what he said to me. However, I can convey the general import of the message by replacing the word I shouldn't have said in front of my mother with the word "monkey." I hate monkeys.

"Son," he said, "you monkeyed up....The reason I will send you [to military school] is the reason your mama and I were discussing it in the first place. You have absolutely no monkeying self-control. None."

"Thanks for nothing." I ran down the ramp to retrieve my football.

"That's a prime monkeying example," he shouted after me. "You're in trouble and you're still talking back. People like you end up in jail, son."

Then, there is this choice quote also from Adam's dad.

"And it might help public relations with Lori's pop if you put on a shirt and quit walking around here like sex on a stick."

I love a summer story that takes advantage of the summer setting and Endless Summer definitely does that. The woes of falling in love but being forced apart are well cataloged against the backdrops of wakeboarding, parties, a long run in the heat, and bonding time in the tree house.

I was really pleased to revisit Adam and Lori and this book felt like such a natural continuation from the first story. It was the best place to pick-up the story again and it once again showed Lori's life amongst the boys, only now with an edge of jealousy.

You'll enjoy this story even more if you read The Boys Next Door first and lucky for you readers, Endless Summer comes packaged with The Boys Next Door. You won't miss any of this courtship now.

So um, yeah, can you tell I enjoyed this story? Perfect cover for the book too! Jennifer Echols is one of my favorite YA writers for a reason.

Jennifer Echols contest!

So you want to win a Jennifer Echols book?? Just enter below! This contest will run until June 1, 2010. Open to US residents only.

Jennifer Echols Appreciation Week!

One of my favorite YA writers right now is Jennifer Echols. She writes amazing stories that feature utterly fabulous romances. I am a big romance reader aside from my YA reading so it's nice when the two combine in such a fantastic way.

A small biography, courtesy of her website:

Jennifer Echols grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama--a setting that has inspired many of her books. Always interested in creative writing, she finished her first (and still unpublished) novel soon after graduating with a degree in English from Auburn University at age 20. She worked as an editor for newspapers, a writer for business publications, and a writing instructor for three major universities, completed a master's degree in English, and finished the coursework for a PhD in genre studies before selling a book. Since then, she has written four young adult novels for Simon & Schuster, including Major Crush, which won the National Reader's Choice Award, and Going Too Far, which is a finalist in the 2010 RITA, the National Reader's Choice Award, and the Book Buyer's Best. Three more of her novels are forthcoming from Simon & Schuster in 2010 and 2011. Currently she works as a copyeditor and lives in Birmingham with her husband and son. If she were any other author, now she would say something witty about her cat.

This week I plan to celebrate the amazing talent of Jennifer Echols! I have a few reviews planned along with a few guest posts. I think it should be fun, the first time I've ever really celebrated an author all week so I hope you will enjoy. There is also a contest which you can enter to win a copy of one of Jennifer Echols' books! If you haven't read one before, this is the perfect time to do so.

My favorite book is definitely Going Too Far, the story of Office After and Meg, a girl making some bad decisions. It is a romance of two total opposites, their emerging friendship and feelings for each other and it is just... sigh-worthy in a major way. It was one of my top books of 2009 in fact. So, if you haven't read this book yet, you have a lot to look forward to. Did I mention this book was nominated for a RITA? Because it is so if you haven't read it yet, get to it!

This week, May 25th to be exact, will see the release of Endless Summer which combines two books, one a republication, and one a brand new story. Another romance story and it is just great. Summer romances can be so awkward and sexy at the same time and those feelings definitely come out in this story. And Adam is just... well, such a total guy! My review will be published tomorrow to celebrate the release so you can read my thoughts then but I was very happy to read about Adam and Lori's continuing romance. Humor abounds so be prepared!

Then, this summer, Jennifer is releasing another book! (Isn't this fabulous! All these new books. LOVE.) Forget You releases on July 20th and it is also great. It's not as lighthearted as Endless Summer and it deals with more complicated issues, similar in some ways to Going Too Far. My review of Forget You will also be published this week. Look at that cover. It fits the book in such a great way. I cannot wait to own a copy! I was lucky enough to read an ARC through a tour group but this is one I need permanently.

She has also written two Simon Pulse titles (The Boys Next Door--included in Endless Summer--and The Ex Games) both of which are fun and quick reads. You get a great taste of her writing style.

So, I hope you're excited! I know I am anyway. I would love it if you would post about the contest because I'd love to have some people enter who haven't read Jennifer's books before.

In My Mailbox

Sarah Mail!

This week in books:

For review:
Insatiable by Meg Cabot (Around the World Tours)
Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
Divine Redemption by Jory Strong (ebook for review)

Nothing bought this week but I have a huge order arriving next week of things being released on May 25th.

Stay tuned for next week at my blog because I have some great things planned in celebration of one of my favorite YA authors, Jennifer Echols, including a contest!

Summertime, summertime, sum-sum summertime

Summertime is here, which means it's time for the summer reading program at your local library. I've been busy prepping for this big, three month event for well, nine months, basically since last summer ended. Abby (the) Librarian has a great post about all the work that goes into planning a summer reading program and if you're curious, definitely check it out.

My library does a summer reading program for babies, kids, teens, and adults. It's a ton of work but fortunately the summer proves to be a usually fun and exciting time, mostly smooth, but with some little bumps along the way of course. I'm in charge of the teen summer reading program and this year, as the grand prize, my library is giving away three netbooks. They have been a big crowd-pleaser when I talk about the program at school and what teens have the potential to win.

In addition to the reading program itself, there is also a more passive program, a bingo sheet, that gives teens another opportunity to be entered into the grand prize drawing. Also this year, if a teen attends one of the programs the library offers in summer, that gives him or her a third potential opportunity to be entered into the grand prize drawing. I'm pretty excited and I hope that all these opportunities will show increased participation and fun in the program.

For those interested, here is my program breakdown:

Week 1: Water games and ice cream floats
Week 2: Water crafts (hydro bracelets, sand art, snow globes)
Week 3: Henna tattoos
Week 4: Graphic artist
Week 5: Bubble program
Week 6: Water color program
Week 7: Tie-Dye (I'm really nervous about this program since I haven't done it since high school so if you have any tips, please share!)
Week 8: Video games

I'm hoping there's something for everyone in these programs, from middle school students up to the high school crowd which can be the harder of the two groups to get to library programs, at least in my area.

I'm also initiating a Teen Writing club this summer so I hope to have some participation in that. It's definitely going to be a hectic summer. On top of programs, I still do storytimes, still monitor the teen area, still attend meetings and make sure things are running smoothly across the district at the branches. Challenging and fun, that's for certain.

Do you have a teen who participates at your library's summer reading program? Are you a teen who participates? Do you have a favorite activity you like to participate in summer? Are you excited for summer reading at your library

Review: The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody is a light, feel good read about one girl's quest to find the perfect karmic balance in her life. Her road to truly understanding what Karma means is filled with ups and downs, Crisco, and some granny panties.

Synopsis: Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. Do good things and you'll be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what you deserve. But when Maddy’s boyfriend cheats on her, nothing bad comes his way. That’s why Maddy starts the Karma Club, to clean up the messes that the universe has left behind. Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. It turns out Karma often has plans of its own.

Madison truly thought everything was going great with her boyfriend of two years. That is, until she catches him cheating with the most popular girl at school. Talk about a swift kick in the stomach. Maddy is angry, hurt, and confused. How can Mason seem to care so little about how she is feeling? Where is the justice in this break-up? This leads to Maddy's quest of understanding Karma. 

I like this book because I thought Maddy had an authentic teenage personality to her. She truly thought the pranks she was pulling were karmic justice. However, despite an early understanding of what karma is, she quickly loses track of that in a mere mortal quest for revenge. Maddy is only a teenager after all, even the best of intentions go awry when you're working with your two best friends against the boys who have hurt you.

This book fortunately is not a shove it in your face lesson book. Yes, by story's end, Maddy realizes that what she has done is not exactly in keeping with the principles of karma, but that doesn't mean she didn't thoroughly enjoy the ride. Maddy comes away from her karma adventures a bit more mature and with a better idea of doing right for others. However, this is all accomplished without the author sounding preachy.

There is a developing romance, a strong female friendship plot line, and some very fun hijinks. I breezed through this book and was completely absorbed. It made me laugh and smile and I think teens are going to enjoy it immensely. I also love how "The Karma Club" is used so aptly on the cover, with a great tie-in to the book.

Some other reviews around the Internet:

The Book Scout reviews The Karma Club
Chick Loves Lit reviews The Karma Club
The Compulsive Reader reviews The Karma Club

Also, check out the trailer:

Book received from publisher.

Some Lisa Kleypas news:

So, some of you may know that aside from my love of YA books, I'm an avid romance reader. Well, doing a little Googling today, I found out some new information about Lisa Kleypas's (one of my favorite romance writers) upcoming contemporary series. The first book is Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor and here's the little blurb I found:

The first book in New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas’s new series begins during the most magical time of the year, when true love gets a second chance

Dear Santa, what I really want for Christmas is a mom . . . In the close-knit community of Friday Harbor, secrets don’t last long. So when the local radio station reads Dear Santa letters on the airwaves, everyone knows this heartwrenching letter was written by Zachary Nolan’s adorable young daughter Halle. Zachary has been a widower for two years, and his family and friends have decided it’s time for him to start dating. But will all their matchmaking efforts help to make Halle’s Christmas wish come true?

Unfortunately, Amazon only lists it as 224 pages which means it's more like a hardback novella which frankly I don't like. They are priced higher and you don't get as much story for your money. Oh well. I know I'll be buying it anyway. I'm excited for her new contemporary series!

I also thought, since I am a romance reader, but I do not necessarily want to start posting my romance reviews on this blog, that I'd at least link to them, in case any of you out there are also romance readers and want some ideas of new books to read.

A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine
Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson
Straight Up by Deirdre Martin
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts
A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior by Suzanne Enoch
Lover Mine by JR Ward
Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery
An Honorable Man by Darlene Gardner
Sweet Temptation by Maya Banks

And there you have it, Sarah's Romance Corner for the month.

In My Mailbox

Sarah Mail!

Just one book in the mail this week, but I'm very excited to read it!

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody (from publisher)

I'm happy with my mailbox this week, how about you? Did you get anything fun?

In My Mailbox is created by The Story Siren with inspiration from Pop Culture Junkie.

Review: The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell captured me from the first page onward. This is the book that is everything, everything wonderful about superheroes and villains, everything that Pixar's The Incredibles was not for me. And why you ask? Well, because of the main character. As countless authors have proven, an amazing protagonist can make any story a worthwhile read and such is the case here.

Damien Locke has been waiting for one major, life changing moment his entire life so far. His sixteenth birthday. On that day, his thumb will reveal to the world that he is a supervillain, just as terrible and awful as his mother. Only, the night of the big event, instead of a V thumbprint, Damien gets an X. The X is a very unknown quantity in the world of superheroes and supervillains because it means the person could turn either way: hero or villain. What's an already mixed up sixteen year old to do?

If you like your main characters sarcastic, humorous, facing difficult decisions and telling everyone what is on their mind, then you will definitely relish the adventures Damien faces. He so does not want to be a superhero. It's like his worst nightmare (ok, maybe next to flying). I also like how the extraordinary (superheroes! Villains!) became ordinary. Damien has a family, a mom who is dating a new guy, and as he just discovers, he has another family too. Oh yeah, and Damien has plenty of girl troubles too. This teen, potential hero or villain aside, is just like every other teen I know: not exactly having an easy time of their teen years. And it works so well. It doesn't feel fake but rather it's the perfect mesh with the hero/villain plot.

So basically, while the plot revolves around Damien having to decide, is he a hero or a villain, where the book becomes so interesting is in its characters and utterly amusing dialogue. Case in point, when describing his ex-girlfriend, Kat (the only character I really didn't warm up to unfortunately):

"No, we only meet to have sex. She's probably calling because she has a..." I cup my hand to my mouth and glance over my shoulder to make sure the intern's not listening. "...a you-know-what." I balloon my hands out over my stomach, gesturing the shape of a pregnant woman. "It's a product of passion, unlike me, whom God planted in your womb in a fit of divine and spermless inspiration."

Or this impassioned speech to his father:

"As I was saying before the interruption, I like villainy, and I like things how they were before you dragged me here. I want to be accepted by other supervillains. I want to go to Vilmore. I want a supervillain girlfriend. You know what they say: supervillains have more fun." I lean in close and stage whisper, "It's true, isn't it? You've had both--you can tell me."

Side note: I love how the author makes flying seem like the worst possible power in the world, like it's the end of the line for your superhero career if flying is what you end up with. I've always thought being able to fly like Superman is kind of cool but in this book, Damien definitely made a good case for its utter lameness.

Basically this book is just fun, very fresh and filled with the arrogance and humor only a sixteen year old can pull off. I was very, very impressed and I think this book is going to do well with both comic book fans and your non-comic book readers. Basically I think this book can be passed successfully to just about any teen. I hope to book talk it in the near future.

Damien makes the best undecided villain/hero I can imagine reading about.

Some other reviews around the net:
The Hiding Spot reviews The Rise of Renegade X
Steph Su Reads reviews The Rise of Renegade X
The Book Cellar reviews The Rise of Renegade X

Message in short: go out and read this book!

Waiting on Wednesday

When Callie arrives for her freshman year at Harvard, she encounters her three vastly different roommates, new friendships, steamy romance, and scandalous secrets.

The Ivy releases August 31, 2010. I love Ivy League settings for some reason so I'm hoping this is a good one!

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.

Review: You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard is pure fun from start to finish, with a positive and timeless message that wasn't too over the top for me.

Synopsis:
Kayla McHenry's sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla's secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin' do.
Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year's supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla's wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend's boyfriend. 

I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. because they never freakin' do.

Who knew such a simple statement could turn into something truly magical? Kayla is about to find out as the last fourteen birthday wishes she made are about to come true.

I really liked how Mandy Hubbard played with the concept of the wish. Sometimes it's fun and frivolous, like wanting an endless supply of gumballs, while other times it's hurtful and resentful, like wishing something awful on a person who has been awful to you. It's really a very simple story: wishes can have terrible or wonderful consequences, but are you truly ready for what they will do for your life?

This book is filled with a lot of fun! I mean, imagine having Raggedy Ann come to life, or the infamous Ken doll himself showing up at your house, looking horribly over tanned and calling you sweetheart. I was laughing frequently in this story. As someone who was obsessed with My Little Pony as a little girl, I could sympathize very well with the horror Kayla felt as seeing a pink pony come to life. MLP is definitely not quite as cool when you are sixteen.

But at the heart of this story, it's about choices. Will Kayle remain a sarcastic girl who pushes everyone away? Will she be able to face up to the pain of her dad abandoning the family? And as her best friend changes before her very eyes, can she choose to make a new, positive start with her? And of course, can she resist the boy she has been crushing on for three years, the boy who happens to be her best friend's boyfriend?

This was a really great reading experience and I know the teen girls at my library will enjoy this book. Plenty of fun and awkward situations, but not so fluffy as it doesn't resonate with something real teens are facing. Plus, it has a lot of cross-reader appeal I think. It has a hint of magical but it's also grounded in reality. I can book talk this to my paranormal readers and my contemporary reading fans. And it's a nice clean romance too, so it's good for a middle school, 7th or 8th grade, crowd I think.

This is an August 2010 release so there's still a bit of a wait for it but I know I'll be purchasing a copy on its release day. I enjoyed Mandy Hubbard's book, Prada and Prejudice and I'm glad to see the author kept up the charm and appeal of that book.

One minor quibble and that relates to the cover. I would have loved to see have seen the over-the-top four tiered cake Kayla had on her sixteenth birthday on the cover, rather than the cupcake that is featured. I mean, if you're going to feature some kind of "cake" why not just go for the cake described in the book?

All in all, a fun read!

This book was received from Around the World Tours.

Review: The Mark by Jen Nadol

The Mark by Jen Nadol just was not my cup of tea.

Synopsis:
Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today. 

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

I was actually enjoying this book up until Cassie arrived in Kansas and met Lucas, who reinforced all my thoughts about philosophy majors: they are jerks who use philosophy to force you into things you do not want to do. (I knew several philosophy majors in college, all of whom were well, to put it mildly, self-centered jerks. Generalizing, thy name is Sarah.) Lucas was a total jerk. First he didn't believe Cassie and then he basically wanted to use her for her gift. Cassie even sees it herself:

I used to catch him watching as I read or dressed or cooked, but his expression now was as if he were watching a rare but dangerous animal: intrigued, drawn, repelled, and above all, cautious. He smiled when I caught him looking, but it was without warmth. Calculating.

I really wished Cassie had trusted her instincts more instead of forcing herself to follow Lucas's dictates to tell people they were going to die. Lucas rubbed me the wrong way from the very beginning and that feeling was just reinforced as the story continued.

I also felt like the story didn't really pick up and get interesting until the last third or so of the book, when Cassie finally started discovering some of her family history, the history of her gift. While not totally original, I thought the author did a good job of starting to explain Cassie's gift. Unfortunately she caught my attention far too late. I'm not nearly excited enough or interested enough in this book to look into the sequels unfortunately. I'm sure I'll be in the minority in that respect but I felt like this book was all indecision with a little action in at the end.

I was also a tad concerned with how easily Cassie was able to gain access to her mom's medical files, even with help from one of the doctors on staff. That seemed very unrealistic to me and I can only hope my own doctor would never give up my medical records so easily. I do realize this is fiction and this plot point was needed to dive more into Cassie's mom's story, but I wish it had been a more natural, realistic discovery.

However, that's not to say I didn't enjoy the philosophy aspect of the story. I felt like philosophy was actually well worked into the story and was a good reflection of the turmoil Cassie was feeling. It's too bad the catalyst for that was in part Lucas.

All in all, this book caught my attention a tad too late in the game. While I enjoyed the first few chapters, despite how sad it was to see Cassie losing her grandmother, I basically detested the middle part of the story and how Cassie's character deteriorated, and the end third of the book, while more interesting, just grated because I had had to suffer through that middle portion. I guess this book just wasn't for me.

A few other reviews around the net:
April Nichole's Blog reviews The Mark
The Book Smugglers review The Mark
Presenting Lenore reviews The Mark

In My Mailbox

Sarah Mail!

It's definitely a quality versus quantity week for me because this week I received...

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols
Forget You by Jennifer Echols (Traveling ARC Tours)
You Wish by Mandy Hubbard (Around the World Tours)

I'd say it has been a great week for my mailbox. Nothing purchased this week however.

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren with a special mention to Pop Culture Junkie.

My other passion: TV

My reading this week has been limited but my TV exposure has not been. Yes, I am one of those people who really enjoys TV, in particular, some shows that make the TV world more awesome. My most current obssessions are:

Glee! LOVE this show. I love musical theater so when I heard they were taking the musical experience to TV, I was thrilled. Rachel is my favorite character on the show, I detest Will Schuester, and I love how Sue constantly mocks his hair. The music is fab, the "teens" are what make this show so great really, and well, Sue. If you haven't tried it yet, you're in for a fun time!

Community! Another comedic show of awesomeness. Joel McHale is great of course (and hot! that body, holy moly.) But really the supporting cast is what has won me over on this show. They are truly a fantastic ensemble cast and make each episode a laugh a minute. Abed and Troy are probably my two favorites on this show. And look, my two shows collide! If you haven't tried Community yet and you want a show that is great, in the way The Office used to be, this may be the show for you.

The Vampire Diaries! I have never read the books and really, I have no intention of doing so. I just adore this show however because the two brothers make this show awesome. Damon is snappy and hilarious, Stefan is broody and tortured but NOT in the over the top Edward Cullen way. And Elena, Caroline, and Bonnie, the female characters, add another element of spark and romance and um, well hotness I guess. I don't think this show is for everyone and I hardly even consider myself a vampire fan, but this is one show I look forward to every single week. One of my favorite recent lines:

Elena: What's his favorite...
Damon: Favorite what?
Elena: Type of...animal blood he prefers?
Damon: Eew, gross.
Elena: Your joking doesn't help.
Damon: Helps me.

Damon: Stefan likes puppy blood. Little golden retriever puppies. Cute floppy ears. That's his favorite.

How I Met Your Mother is one of my Monday night go-to shows. This season it hasn't been at its strongest unfortunately but that being said, I still laugh a ton and I still really enjoy the friendships this group shares. Marshall is the husband I want in fact! Though I would settle for Ted. For me, this is the Friends of my generation and I really enjoy watching them on their search for love and well, that perfect person for you.

The Big Bang Theory is my other go-to Monady night show. I love the antics of this group of nerds. Sheldon is one of my current favorite TV characters but I have to say, I think Raj has really stolen the show this season. Monday night tv really can't get any better than The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother.

Other shows I am passionate about: Lost (I can't believe it's ending so soon!) and America's Next Top Model (don't judge!). I still watch Gossip Girl and Grey's Anatomy but I am really behind this season so I can't really count those as shows I adore anymore. Friday Night Lights is also premiering on NBC tonight and I cannot wait. Of course, I really should catch up on season 3 before starting season 4. However, with the return of True Blood and Mad Men this summer, well, I cannot wait.

So um, yeah, you can totally tell I love TV. However, I do manage to find time to read amongst all these shows. The great thing about tv now is that so much of it is online on various network websites that I can watch it at my leisure instead of when it airs originally. Love that!

Do you have any shows you are devoted to? Is there a show I need to watch, stat? Please share!

Love that Meg Cabot!

Heard some exciting Meg Cabot movie news on one of my listservs this morning:

Sudden Motion Productions and Ranger Productions begin production on Avalon High, a new Disney Channel Original Movie featuring Britt Robertson (Life Unexpected) and Gregg Sulkin (Wizards of Waverly Place, As the Bell Rings). A fantasy story, the movie is based on the Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries) book that follows Allie, as she attends a new school where she discovers that her classmates are reincarnated members of King Arthur and his Court. Scheduled to premiere in fall 2010, the teleplay for Avalon High was penned by Julie Sherman Wolfe (Jonas, Phil of the Future) and is directed by Stuart Gillard (Hatching Pete, 90210).

I really enjoyed the first Avalon High book but I will admit, I never read into the graphic novel versions so I hope it doesn't go too much into that part of the plot. Hopefully it will be a faithful adaptation.

And on that note, Sarah at GreenBeanTeenQueen has a post discussing your favorite YA book to movie adaptations. Go discuss!

Review: Dark Life by Kat Falls

Dark Life by Kat Falls is the underwater adventure you’ve been waiting for. It’s a really interesting look at what it would be like to be the first explorers of such a venture.

Fifteen year old Ty has just discovered a sub with walls covered in blood. This does not bode well, and when he hears a mysterious sound, he is surprised to find it is a young girl. Gemma is a Topsider who has come to the bottom of the ocean to find her older brother, her only remaining family. Unfortunately, Gemma knows nothing of how to stay safe and alive in a world crawling with sea creatures big and small, dangerous and well, even more dangerous. Ty becomes her guide and they start an adventure of a lifetime.

Ty was born in the sea. His parents were one of the first homesteaders and have raised a successful farm venture on the ocean floor. But all their success, their livelihood, is under attack from the outlaw Shade. This brave group must band together to protect what they have worked so hard for, and little do they know it, but Ty is leading the charge.

I have mixed feelings about Dark Life. The book started off very awkwardly I thought. The introduction of Gemma became the catalyst the author used to describe her world. Ty basically takes Gemma on a tour of the ocean world and thus, the reader goes along. But instead of it being a natural, show not tell type of tour, I felt like it was a big information dump, the first few chapters in particular. I thought about putting the book down, but because of praise I have read previously, I persevered. I’m glad I did because the book seemed to pick up and become more interesting as Ty gets involved with the outlaws and attempts to save his homestead and those of his neighbors. This is one brave kid, maybe taking a few stupid risks, but at the same time, he had courage aplenty. The first person narration really let me get into Ty’s head and understand him.

Gemma bored me to death unfortunately. Her quest for her brother really paled in comparison to the Shade and the outlaws storyline, though they do end up having connections. I felt this book was at its strongest when we got to explore the ocean naturally with Ty as he went about his adventures, as we saw how hard his parents worked to maintain animals below the ocean. There are of course improbabilities (at least I hope, who knows though) but at the same time, I was fully immersed in this ocean world and just enjoyed the ride. I was one of those kids who always wondered why Ariel wanted to live out of the water as a kid when rather than in the amazing ocean so this book in that aspect really worked for me.

This book will be a great adventure for your middle school readers. Ty is a great character, the Dark Life world comes alive, and well, you may just start craving a look into the deep yourself. Despite my initial issues with it, I came away from the story satisfied. Also, I love how the cover corresponds with the story! Wait until you learn about the connection.

A few other reviews:
Presenting Lenore reviews Dark Life
Abby (the) Librarian reviews Dark Life

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In My Mailbox

Sarah Mail!

I was fortunate to receive some good things again this week.

Bought:
Lover Mine by JR Ward (Qhuinn/Blay anyone else??)

For review:
Runaway by Meg Cabot (Around the World Tours)
After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy (Around the World Tours)
This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas

Amazon Vine:
Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin
Dark Life by Kat Falls

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren with inspiration from Pop Culture Junkie.

Month in review: April

Here's what I read this past April:

44. A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine (4/3/10)
45. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (4/4/10)
46. Sweet Temptation by Maya Banks (4/5/10)
47. Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu (4/10/10)
48. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han (4/12/10)
49. A Lady's Guide to Improper Behavior by Suzanne Enoch (4/14/10)
50. Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery (4/16/10)
51. Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma
52. Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson (4/25/10)
53. The Everafter by Amy Huntley (4/25/10)
54. An Honorable Man by Darlene Gardner (4/26/10)
55. Runaway by Meg Cabot (4/29/10)
56. The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor (4/30/10)
57. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (4/30/10)

Total books read in April: 14
Favorite books read in April: Dani Noir and Psych Major Syndrome
Most overrated:: Before I Fall

So, I'm making progress but yet again I still need to speed up my reading if I want to hit the at least 200 books read mark this year. I did have two major presentations this past month and those were definitely my focus so considering that, not too shabby.