In My Mailbox #10

Hosted by The Story Siren ;D

Okay in all honesty, I have NO idea why I received this book, lol. It came straight from the publishing company SOHO, but I'm not sure if I actually received this because of a giveaway I won (and was not informed that I won) or if the publishers sent it to me for review.

Either way, THANK YOU SOHO for sending this to me! It will most likely be my next book to read. Even though this is the third book in the series, I feel confident enough with it that I won't need to read the first 2 books of the series before. If I enjoy this book then I will then go and purchase the first 2. 

Mystery novels are my new favorite so I'm really excited to read this one.

Keep on the look out for a review in the near future =]

xox 

Annie 

Saturday Snapshot (3)

Hosted by At Home With Books

Soooo this is a picture I took friday night at this club I went to called LIV on south beach.

I was standing on the second floor and this was just a small portion of the dance floor with a jumbo tron going along with the beats the DJ was mixing.

LIV is a huuuugee club inside the Fontainebleau Hotel and one of the more popular ones on South Beach. I always have such a great time here and meet some pretty interesting people from all over the world.

What did you guys do this weekend??

xox

Annie

Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Title/Author: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Number of pages: 390

Series: Darkest Powers #1

How I got it: Barnes and Noble

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Summary:

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” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

My Review:

This was my first book (i think) that involved ghosts or talking to ghosts. It was new and interesting for me! Chloe isnt exactly the most exciting or likable character to me but the story was interesting enough.

I enjoyed trying to figure out what all the other characters "problems" were. I dont know why but I like to read stories that involved group homes/boarding schools/etc ..

One thing that annoyed me was the dialogue between characters. It's like the author didn't like for the characters to finish their sentences. what the heck, let them talk! The characters were constantly butting into the other person's sentence which was just beyond frustrating.

I kinda felt like the whole "supernatural" thing was forced too. Nothing was really building up to it and it didn't really go into much details about supernaturals either. hmmm... I guess the second book will fill us in?? But I'm going to try not to criticize the author's writing style too much because I really did enjoy the story!

One other thing that bothers me is when a book leaves off without an ending, so you don't have a choice but to read the next book to find out what happens. Thankfully I have the second book in this series so it's not too much of a burden, but still >_<

Okay so to sum it all up, YES i did enjoy the story! I definetly recommend buying all 3 books in this series at once though (I'm sure the 2nd one leaves off just like this one did).

Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011 ; 1st in a Series

Review: The Strawberry Letter by Shirley Strawberry

Title/Author: The Strawberry Letter by Shirley Strawberry

Number of pages: 192

Series: NA

How I got it: Giveaway on Good Reads

Rating: 3.5/5

Goodreads Summary:
Listen up, ladies! Shirley Strawberry, co-host of the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, delivers more of the no-nonsense woman-to-woman straight talk her listeners have come to love. Shirley tells it like it is—from the heart. Whether the topic is cheating boyfriends, crazy mothers-in-law, job troubles, or money problems, Shirley’s girlfriend-next-door honesty has made the Strawberry Letters segment of the show a huge hit. Now, in this uplifting motivational guide, she brings her vivacious, inspirational, and down-to-earth message to women everywhere: Get up, get out, and be the best you can be!



As a single parent and a woman willing to let Mr. Right find her, Shirley’s been there and done that—and she’s got hard-won lessons to share. In this call to action to help women look at their lives with a candid eye, she tackles the issues her fans want to hear about:

 • Love and Relationships: the highs and lows of dating, marriage, and breakups

• Family: the challenges of being a great mom

• Sisterhood: ways to get (and give) the support you need to stay sane

• Self: tips for overcoming low self-esteem and depression, and finding balance, faith, and acceptance

 Full of motivating “Strawberry Tips,” personal stories that provide welcome advice on the run, and helpful suggestions for drama-stuck girlfriends, this book offers a simple message of strength: a challenge to love yourself and your life!

My Review:
I was excited to start reading this book because I'm going through an emotionally stressful time in my life right now and I think this book was meant for me to read. I'm not one to read self-help books or really anything that doesn't involve fiction (who likes to read about reality? BOR-RING) but I had high hopes for this book since I know Shirley Strawberry is a sassy no non-sense type of person.
      I think most woman would be able to relate or take some advice from atleast one story in this book. I know I sure found some enlightenment with a few. Shirley doesn't preach to you like most self-help/advice books. She relates to each situation by telling us about situations she has faced through out her life, how she dealt with them and how she SHOULD have dealt with them. She mentions how she has made plenty of mistakes in her life and she's trying to help us from making those same mistakes.
     She includes quite a few letters she has received from listeners asking for advice and I must say some of them are pretty crazy! She even calls one of the letters a "ghetto hot mess!". It's crazy to hear some of the hardships others are going through but it is also encouraging when I hear that others have gone through my similar situation. It's good to know I'm not that only one who's been there dont that.
    I didn't get any kind of amazing life-changing advice out of this book but it sure was helpful and inspiring. I would totally recommend anybody to read this, whether they are going through a hard time right now or not because sooner or later we'll all need some advice to hold on to.


 

Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011

In My Mailbox #9

Hosted by The Story Siren =]

Bought from Bargain Books & News stand in Key West

1. The Duchess by Amanda Foreman

Swapped from Paperback Swap

2. The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley

Review: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr



Title/Author: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Number of pages: 328

Series: Wicked Lovely #1

How I got it: Paperback Swap

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Summary:
All teenagers have problems, but few of them can match those of Aislinn, who has the power to see faeries. Quite understandably, she wishes that she could share her friends' obliviousness and tries hard to avoid these invisible intruders. But one faery in particular refuses to leave her alone. Keenan the Summer King is convinced beyond all reasoning that Aislinn is the queen he has been seeking for nine centuries. What's a 21st-century girl to do when she's stalked by a suitor nobody else can see? A debut fantasy romance for the ages; superlative summer read


My Review:
It took me awhile to get into this book but i partly blame it on being busy with school. I ended up really enjoying this book though. It's nothing like I've read before. The whole modern day faerie is new to me and I loved the way Marr introduced me to it. 
    I loved how she describes the different types of faeries and how theres different courts. Some things would confuse me but everything came together as I kept reading. I don't want to give too much away but it's not your usual love story(s). Aislinn (pronounced Ash-Lin but I can't help but pronounce it like As-Lin) is not like any other protagonist ... actually none of the characters can be described as typical. It was very refreshing to read about a whole new set of personalities.
    Since I knew this was the first book of the series I was afraid that the book would end on a cliff-hanger like most do, but it didn't. Which is what I like. I'm glad it ended the way it did because I don't feel like I have to read the second book to really appreciate the first one. But I will definetly continue with the series. I'd love to see how these characters develop further.
 



Reading Challenges: 100 Books in 2011 ; 1st in a Series

Top Ten Tuesday [2]

Top Ten Tuesday meme that is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! ;D

This week's topic:

Top Ten Books You Want To See Made Into Movies

1. The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard
2. Eldest by Christopher Paolini I know they made a movie out of the first book in this series but I really wish they would keep going!
3. Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett
4. Marked by P.C. Cast Well actually I wish they would do the whole series =]
5. The Fairy-Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley I don't think they have made any movies out of The Sisters Grimm but I think it could be a movie that was enjoyable by a wide range of ages.
6. The Giver by Lois Lowry
7. The Lost City of Faar by D.J. MacHale I actually think I would enjoy the movie more than I enjoyed the book because it is so action packed ! I honestly gave the book a 3/5 stars... but the movie I'm sure would get ba higher rating.
8. Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris I love the main character so much, I would love to see her come to life like how Sookie Stackhouse did in True Blood.
9. Family Patterns by Kristin Eckhardt
10. Evermore by Alyson Noel 



In My Mailbox #8

Hosted by The Story Siren ;D

Giveaway from Good Reads

1. The Strawberry letter by Shirley Strawberry

I am soooo excited that I finally won a First Reads Giveaway on Good Reads ! Thanks so much to Good Reads, Shirley Strawberry, and One World for sending me this book! I'm so excited to read it! Especially with everything that is going on in my life right now, I think it came in my life at just the right time :)

Bought from Barnes and Noble

2. The King's Daughter by Barbara Kyle

Swapped from Paperback Swap

3. I Scream You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson

4. Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Swapped from Paperback Swap

5.The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton

Bought from Target

6. Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsay

Do any of you have a review on these ? I'd love to see what you thought =]

xox

Annie