Contest Winner and such

First off I want to tell you that my friend started a blog that I'm sure you all will love! Check her out: http://readingismyantidrug.blogspot.com/

As for the winner I am about to put all the names in a cup (with the correct amount of entries) and draw! Ready?

The Winner is: LaLaLand! Congrats!!!!

Email me at: Princessashley9@gmail.com with your address!

Check back very soon for a chance to win another contest!

Must Monday

It's Monday so you know what that means! This week we have two fantastic books that I for one cant wait for! I had really wanted an ARC of Prada and Prejudice but it appears that I'll be waiting with you guys :)

Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

Pick a copy up June 11th.

Love, Lies and Texas Dips by Susan McBride

Now that her dream of becoming a deb is finally coming true, Laura’s confidence is at an all-time high. But when she dares to mess with Jo Lynn’s football star boyfriend, Dillon, Laura finds herself at the center of some heinous gossip.

As predicted, becoming a deb is a shallow undertaking that Mac can barely muddle through. Still, things go from bad to worse when the new girl at school starts working her charms on Mac’s best friend, Alex. When Ginger’s grandmother asks her to sit for a formal portrait with the son of a local legend, she discovers that she already knows him—and what she knows isn’t good.

Special

Since I was out of town on my actual blogs birthday I'm doing a get to know me post today and one next week. This week is 15 things about me. Next week I will answer any questions about me or whatever so comment or email me.

1. My middle name is Ann. I got it from my mom's bestfriend.
2. My biggest fear in the world is bee's.
3. I suck butt at spelling. Give me a word to read and you got it. Ask me to spell and your screwed.
4. I am a facebook addict. I spend more time on there then I should. Can I help it if I'm social?
5. I'm scared to death of graduating high school. Funny thing is I want to do it early.
6. I buy used books :P I have a great job and make big money but seriously sometimes you just like spending $4 on a book!
7. I read with my mom. It started when I was little, us reading the Boxcar Children together but now we've moved on :)
8. I used to be the worst reader. I was so behind.... the poof I was way ahead.
9. I love reading in the bathtub. It's so relaxing.
10. I love watching cartoons. Not all just like two shows. Dont laugh, but I spent to much time trying to grow up when I was little so I love the flashbacks :)
11. I'm scared of needles. I still cry over shots.
12. I'm better at sports then I pretend to be.
13. I still have one doll. I've had him forever and his name has always been brown baby. I dont play with him tho.
14. I'd rather hang with my mom then friends.
15. Hardly any of my friends know I love to read.

Killing Britney

Killing Britney
Sean Olin

Grade: C
Rating: tv-14

Summary: (From Amazon) Winter in Madison, WI, can be chilling enough without a serial killer on the loose. Now the La Follette Rabid Raccoons have one more thing to turn their blood cold. Britney Johnson is the ugly duckling turned swan who has reinvented herself with dramatic results. She's slim, blonde, and beautiful and begins dating the captain of the school's ice hockey team. What's not to envy? But it looks like someone is taking envy to another level by killing off her friends and family. Olin has created an atmospheric, moody horror novel filled with vivid depictions of evisceration and gunshot wounds to the head. Readers are guided from scene to scene as though the events were unfolding across the movie screen. Gritty language and even grittier situations conjure up powerful images of death and sex. Teens will be left guessing until the very end as to who is behind the mayhem.

My thoughts: When I first heard of this book I was so excited. It sounded amazing and I figured I would be finding a new love. It turns out that this book was not my thing. I would not go so far as to say this was a dumb book because it was far from dumb. The book was written incredibly and the story was captivating. With all this praise you may be wondering why I gave it a C. The C is simply a statement of my like for this book. I could not grasp the need for certain aspects and the story was just a tad to creepy. I prefer books that do not give me the chills nor keep me up at night. Would I tell people to read this book? Absolutely! Would I tell people like me to read this book? No way!

Recommendation: This novel is very dark and has lots of passion. Not for the faint of heart or younger readers. High School and up preferred.

Release: This novel has already been released to the public.

Up Next: The Blonde of the Joke

Important

Weekly mail call will not happen this week!

A review is taking it's place.

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For a Girl
Tanya Lee Stone

Grade: A+ or 5 Kisses
Rating: Tv-14 for extreme sexual content

Summary: (From Amazon.com) Three girls succumb to the charms of one sexy high school senior and emerge wiser for the experience in this energetic novel in verse. Josie is a self-assured freshman who values her girlfriends over boys until a hot jock focuses his attention on her and her simmering hormones break into a full boil. Confused by her behavior, yet unable to control her desire, she acts out every romantic cliché she has ever disdained, until the boy drops her and she experiences the chill of rejection. It is Judy Blume's Forever that sparks Josie's fire again, and finding a few blank pages at the back of the library's copy, she sends a warning to the girls of her school. Next readers meet Nicolette, a junior who sees her sexuality as power. A loner, she's caught by surprise at her own reaction when this popular boy takes notice of her. Suddenly she thinks she sees the difference between sex and love, and then, just as suddenly, he's gone. Finally, Aviva, a pretty, smart, artsy, and funny senior, is stunned when the jock seems to want her. She gives up her virginity, only to be disappointed in both the sex and the boy. Furious, Aviva heads to the library to check out Forever, now crammed with the words of girls who suffered the same fate at the hands of the same boy.

Thoughts: This was one of those books. You know the kind you just can’t put down no matter what. I read this book so quickly, it’s funny. I loved how Forever was included in the story line as that is one of my favorite books of all times. The three characters were so different yet they all had something in common that was major. I couldn’t believe how great this book was. When I first got it in the mail I figured it to be so-so. I was so wrong, as this is one of the most intriguing stories I have read in such a long time.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to High School girls, as well as their mom’s. It captures the emotions of the popular guy romance so deeply that you can feel as if you are the main character.

Release: This novel has already been released. Go buy a copy, NOW!

Up Next: Killing Brittney, Khy has been so kind as to let me borrow it!

Fab Friday

This week we have Kristi from www.thestorysiren.com

Why did you start it?
I guess for a couple reasons. I already had a personal blog, where a did a few book reviews every once in awhile. It was a little bit after that, that I found some acutal book blogs. And I thought to myself "hey I should do that!" I expected my family and friends to be my only visitors....

How many people subscribe?
I’m not really all that sure. I have 180 or so followers, and I get an average of 400-500 visitors a day. Which continues to blow my mind!

Any advice for new bloggers?
I have tons! Not that I’m an expert or anything, but I’ve picked up a few things here and there. I have a few posts I’ve done, a guest post at Harmony book reviews: http://harmonybookreviews.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/review-guest-blog-the-story-siren/
I’ve also done a few posts at my blog that might be helpful: Book Blog Ettiqute: http://www.thestorysiren.com/2008/12/book-blog-etiquette.html and How Do You Get all Those Books?: http://www.thestorysiren.com/2008/12/how-did-you-get-all-those-books.html

What is your favorite review you have written?
Hmm.... that’s a hard one. I really don’t know if I have a favorite, because honestly I’m not all that impressed with my reviews. I did have fun writing my review for Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston.

Can we have a snipet?
"I loved it, I LOVED it. I love it so much I want to marry it. If you are a fan of faerie books, you’ll want to read this one. If you’ve tried faerie books before, but didn’t like them, you’ll want to read this. If you aren’t a fan of faerie books, you’ll still want to read it. It’s that good.

Incredible characters, incredible writing, incredible plot. It was really just so fricking fantastic, it’s hard to find the words to describe it. I never in a million years would have guessed this was a debut novel. The key to my heart is great characters and story line, and this book had it all and then some. Even the minor characters stood out to me, and they were fascinating."

Thanks for having me!! :)

Thank YOU Kristi!

Giving Up The V

Giving Up the V
Serena Robar

Grade: A or 5 kisses
Rating: Tv-14 for sexual content and minor violence

Summary: Barnes and Noble, as well as Amazon had no summaries available at this time. I’ll give you a quick little peek into the world of Giving up the V with out giving too much away. A certain main character is taken to get birth control for her sixteenth birthday. This brings up the discussion of who should take her virginity. She has no interest in it, but all her guy friends would love to step on up and hit a home run. When a certain athlete shows up at her school, she thinks she has found the ONE to deflower her. But has the guy she been looking for been there all along?

Thoughts: When I first received this book I thought it would be just like Forever or Anatomy of a Boyfriend. I am pleased to tell you it was far from either of those. Don’t get me wrong, both of those were great, but the whole aspect of this book was not firsts and dating. There were quirky things thrown in to make it a lighter book, needless to say I laughed a few times. I also liked the notes the author put in at the end. They were adorable and you got a deeper understanding of how the book came to be.

My recommendation: This book is definitely for more mature readers. I would NOT tell any middle school kids to read it as you should enjoy middle school without all the sex. High School girls will love this book and remember it forever. Come on, you know you can’t resist a book about losing IT!

Release: This will be released in June! Be sure to snatch a copy!

Up Next: A Bad Boy Can Be Good For a Girl

Wednesday Wishlist (18)

Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle

Buy it May 14th :)

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeenyear- old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she fi nds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...

Contest!!!!

Wow I've had this blog a whole year now! So in celebration of my blogs birthday its contest time.

Win a copy of.... Hottie!

+1 Comment
+1 subscribe
+1 favorite feature
+2 already subscribe
+3 link my contest. Let me know and give me the link

US only :)

Must Monday

It's Monday and you know what that means....

This week we have two new releases that sound great!

I'm also trying to increase the amount of vistors/comments I get so any suggestions from some of the bloggers who have been around longer then me would be great! It's been almost I year now, in two days so I should have this under control but we'll see. There will be a contest posted tomorrow so be sure to check it out :)

The Espressologist by Kristina Springer
Buy it: September 2009

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

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

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

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

Spring Break

It's Spring Break and I am on vacation. I will be back Monday with a new review or two and Then I leave again Thursday. See you all then!

xo, Ashley

Weekly Mail Call

As I am out of town this weekend I will not be the most up to date on the mail call. Check out my youtube with this weeks books! There was a lot of them!!!

Fab Friday

Hey everyone I'm out of town this weekend so this is a scheduled Fab Friday :)

This week Sharon from www.sharonlovesbooksandcats.blogspot.com is visiting us.

"I originally started my blog to participate in book challenges. At the time I was only reading adult books. Somewhere along the way I started to discover some really cool YA book reviews blogs. I had not picked up a young adult novel in ten years so I was pleased to fall in love with them all over again." Wow Sharon! That's very interesting info right there.

"I have 47 followers if that is what you mean. I never imagined that I would have that many people reading my blog! It's amazing!" I agree! Every time you see a new follower you just cant help but happy dance :)


"My favorite review is for The Shelter Me: http://sharonlovesbooksandcats.blogspot.com/2009/01/shelter-me-by-alex-mcaulay.html. It was a fabulous book and very easy for me to review." I'll have to check it out :)

"Here is a little snippet: "Shelter Me starts off with a boom (no pun intended) and never really slows down. The whole atmosphere of London during World War II was very authentic. I did not once question the struggles that Maggie when through. I really felt Maggie's despair when her mother forces her to leave home. "" Wow cant wait to read it!

"Thanks for the interview. It has been fun!" No, Thank YOU Sharon!

If you are interested on Fab Friday we have new questions all ready for you. Drop me an email :)

Sea Change

Grade: B
Rating: Pg-13

Miranda is a typical New York teen. She lives her life and doesn’t really appreciate people getting in her way. After a recent death of a family member Miranda is sent to an island that is very popular. What she discovers there is mysterious and life changing. Will she like it?

When I first got this book I admit my expectations were high. I had read South Beach and French Kiss which were both phenomenal. I’m sure most people would be in awe of this book but after those two it wasn’t for me. Yes, it was great and a fun read but it is incomparable to the stories of the others. I would recommend this to people who love big abrupt changes in writing styles and to those who are new to reading Aimee Friedman. For those of us who like relatively small changes this may not be the book for us. Also I would vote 14+ instead of the 12+ recommended inside of the book, but it was pretty clean all-in-all.

btw.... Like the new format?

Wednesday Wish List and Birthday wishes

First off, Carol, Happy birthday! Hope you have another great year of reading and reviewing!

On to Wednesday Wishlist:

Secrets, Lies, and my Sister Kate by Belinda Hollyer

Mini adores her older sister, Kate. Although they look nothing like each other, they are best friends-or so Mini thinks-until Kate begins to act strangely. She dresses in all black, picks bitter fights with her parents, and even gets a tattoo! Mini knows something is bothering her sister, but Kate won't confide in her like she used to. Then one day Kate disappears without a trace. In her determination to find her sister, Mini unveils a shocking family secret that paralyzes her parents with regret. Now it's up to Mini to find Kate and bring their broken family back together again.

Unclaimed Heart by Kim Wilkins

No info at Barnes and Noble yet.

Boys "R" Us by Lisi Harrison

No info yet.

~Tricks by Ellen Hopkins~

~Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker~

Must Monday and then some

Hey guys so I thought I'd let you know a little of what has been going on in my life that has kept me from doing some great reviews. First off my grandpa got really sick and they thought he wouldn't make it. Considering my grandma died 2 months ago I took it very hard. Then I started having a few family issues and such so I didn't feel much in the mood for blogging. I'm feeling much better now and I have a new love interest so I feel even peppyier (my new word :P). I included a couple pics of us :)

Anyways onto Must Monday :)

Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

Buy it July 9th!

Giving Up the V by Serena Robar

Buy it June 2009! I have this one and LOVE it!

Boys "R" Us by Lisi Harrison

When the Pretty Committee deems its boy-fast null and void, boy fever sweeps through BOCD. What better way to back-handspring into new crush Dempsey's heart-and make old crush Derrington jealous-than cheer for him on the soccer field? And just like that, Massie forms BOCD's first-ever cheerleading squad. But will Massie still have something to cheer about when Dempsey starts spending ah lot of time with LBR Layne Abeley? Give me an "E" for Ehmagawd!

Fab Friday

Well it's that time again! Fab Friday! I'm getting low on interviews so if you'd like to be a part please email me at princessashley9@gmail.com. Anyone (authors too) that has a blog is invited. I will be changing the questions up so people may go again! Please please please sign up :)

This week I have Chelsea from thepageflipper.blogspot.com here to visit.

Her reasons for blogging: "Because I like to force my opinion on others. Ha, no. I just like to be able to discuss books with other readers, and to get to know some of my favorite authors. I feel like book blogging is such a community; I've made a ton of great friends through it."

How many people view your blog?
I have 100 followers at the moment, but I'm not sure how to check the various subscriber sites. Anyone want to help? :)

Any advice for new bloggers?
Just...if you're serious about it? Show it. Post consistently and enthusiastically. A lot of people start book blogs, but don't realize that it's a lot of work, and get sick of it quickly. If you're new, and really want to leap into it, just make sure you show that. Getting in contact with other bloggers always helps; ask if they'll put you on your blog roll, etc.

Favorite Review you have written?
Ah! Hard question. As far as a recent one? (Although it probably won't be recent when you post this in March), was Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall. I loved it, so it was easy for me to express my opinion on it. It was a very fun review to write.

Snipet:
"This was an excellent book. I've always been interested in the Salem Witch Trials, and the allusions and comparisons in this novel were exciting. Megan Kelley Hall twisted a modern town with age-old legends and nonfictional lore into a completely mystical setting."

Last comments:
Thanks for the interview, Ashley! :) I love communicating with readers, so if anyone has any questions, or just wants to say hi, you can contact me through my blog.


Thank YOU Chelsea! Anyone else ready? :)

Spring Break- Take two

I want to start off by apologizing for no new reviews this week. Ashley has been very confused and upset, there for my reviews would probably suck. Things are getting better though so next week I should have plenty of new reviews. It's not that I'm not reading. I just don't want my reviews to be as sucky as they were almost a year ago when I started blogging.

Anyways, Spring Break Take Two!

1. If you are stuck at home with no vacation plans and would like something out of the ordinary try, Twilight. I promise it wont be your usual love story.

2. Your stuck at home for spring break and..... it's snowing! Try Kissing Snowflakes.

Spring Break 2009 Books

Hey everyone it's just about that time. Yes I do mean the time that happens once a year where we get a week off from school where we can lounge by the beach in our itty bitty bikini's (haha all the pictures that popped up are a little to graphic for my blog, thanks). Don't forget the smoothie you'll be guzzling and the book you'll have in your hand. Here's the hard part.... What book should I read during spring break

Here are some ideas:

1. You are headed somewhere nice and sunny. It's a foreign country so your in the mood for a foreign book. How about 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson. It's cute, fun and flirty wrapped in one book.

2. Your stuck at home with your boyfriend and are in the mood for some hot and steamy teen romance. How about an almost classic like Forever by Judy Blume. It's fun, sweet and sassy in oh-so-many juicy ways.

3. Road Trip with the girls! Your in the mood for something strong in the friendship zone... How about Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen. It will have you laugh and cry all in the same chapter as you discover what best friends are all about.

Tell me what your spring breaks all about and I will recommend a book for that scenario. :)

Hugs and Kisses!

Ash

Must Monday

This week I will just tell you titles and release dates, but I promise things will pick up as normal tomorrow :)

Lipstick Apology- August 2009
Along for the Ride- June 16

Cant wait for both :)

Part 2

Part 2/3 for the day... I was gonna let you all know I started a Youtube for the blog. Check out my reviews and this weeks mail call at: http://www.youtube.com/user/Booksaremyloveblog

Please comment!

3 posts notice...

This is part one of my 3 posts to make up for a lazy weekend of kissing boys and getting frost bite :P

Part one:
Fab Friday make up.

Sorry Rachel that this is late. :(

Rachel's blog is: excersiseyourmind.blogspot.com

She started her blog, "I thought it was a great idea, and I read a lot and I think my my friends were getting fed up with me talking only about politics, books and the Red Sox, so Exercise Your Mind a.k.a Read Books was born. Though, unfortunately for my friends, my constantly reccomending books got worse instead of better."

Her advice for new bloggers: "just do whatever you want. If you want ideas don't be afraid to look at someone else's blog for inspiration, there is nothing wrong with thinking something was a good idea. Also, try to get it so people know about your blog, like I put up the link on book divas and on my facebook. Also, tell your school librarian about it, they are often enthusiastic about book blogs, and they will probably be very willing to give reccomendations."

Her thoughts on her favorite review: "I don't know, I love them all. It's nice being able to share my thoughts on books with others. My favorite post however was the interview with Melissa Walker author of Violet on the Runway and sequels. I think, though out of the books I have read since I started the blog, The Friday Night Knitting Club was my favorite. Also look out for interviews with Robin Benway author of Audrey! Wait, Elizabeth Scott author of Perfect You, Bloom, Stealing Heaven, Living Dead Girl and others I can't remember, and Megan McCafferty author of Sloppy Firsts and sequels."

Snipets: Well, I like to post topics to make people "exercise their minds", once was book banning and the topic for the next little while is illegal music downloading. I would love readers to post their thoughts about or email me. My next review is the book called Kissing Snowflakes by Abby Sher, which will hopefully be up tomorrow. I want to finish off saying that because I am doing the A~Z Reading Challenge, there will be a lot of reviews coming your way and hopefully some more author interviews

Bloom

Grade: A
Rating: Pg-13

Lauren is the girl everyone wants to be. She is just average. Average grades, looks, friends. The thing that makes her special is her boyfriend Dave. Dave is the most popular guy in school. The guy everyone would want. He has it all figured out. College with Lauren, marry her, be with her forever. Suddenly Evan shows up in Laurens life. He is a little wilder and a lot more passionate. Lauren must choose between the safety she has in Dave’s arms and the love she has in Evan’s, well trying to not become the mother who walked away from her oh-so-many years ago.
To say that I loved Bloom would be an understatement. As I first started out I thought it would be kind of stupid. It wasn’t what I expected at all. Then slowly the book picked up and I was unable to put it down. I needed to know who Lauren would choose. I loved the aspect of this book that Lauren throws out there. The concept of some books making you feel worse when you finished then you did when you started. That is so very true. So many relationships in books are like the one Dave and Lauren had, that she pretended to have. Perfect! That’s not reality and we see that through Evan. Life has choices and is not always roses and butterflies. This novel captured that so well I am amazed. Go read it, now!

Also, I guess I totally forgot where this book takes place. If you can tell me I would so appreciate it :)

Wednesday Wishlist

Ann Dee Ellis

Stuck at home caring for her severely depressed mother and abandoned by her father, Mazzy has only the day-to-day dramas of her neighborhood to keep her busy. But between flirting with the boy next door and worrying about the fact that she's flat-chested, Mazzy has to face the fact that her mom is emotionally paralyzed by a family tragedy. As readers delve into the story, they'll eventually discover what it was that tore Mazzy's family apart, and they'll see what it takes to put it back together.

Zoey Dean

Mac, Emily, Coco and Becks are so over BAMS- which means their focus has turned to hitting the Big Time. Emily's on the set of her first movie, starring opposite longtime crush Davey Woodward, while Mac's busy launching Coco's new Aguilerainspired debut and Becks's Quicksilver modeling career. Superstardom, here they come!

Zoey Dean

To survive middle school in the world's most cut throat town-Hollywood- you've got to make your own mark, find a way to stand out, and have a unique talent. So when Mac Armstrong (daughter of super-agent Adrienne Armstrong) realizes that her secret talent is to spot talent in others, she and her 2 BFFs decide to prove it by catapulting Emily (off the bus from Cedartown, Iowa, yesterday morning, discovered while sneaking into a party at the Roosevelt Hotel last night) to stardom.

Zoey Dean

Mackenzie Little-Armstrong's life is almost perfect. She has discovered an almost-movie star, she's on the brink of winning Eighth Grade Social Chair, and the fabulous back-to-school gala is just around the corner, sure to showcase Mac and her BFFs as the Next Big Things. But in the cutthroat world of Hollywood, a girl can go from almost there to nowheresville faster than you can say "soy is so last year."

February books...

so I had a review scheduled today but I am tired so I decided to say screw it. Man work really takes it's toll :)

Anyways this is what I read last month...

~A poetry book~

A Girl Like Me

Faketastic

I like it Like That

Sophomore Switch

Claire

PS I Loathe You

In too deep

Okay amount I guess :?

Coming Soon Must Monday

Star Power by Zoey Dean

Mac, Emily, Coco and Becks are so over BAMS- which means their focus has turned to hitting the Big Time. Emily's on the set of her first movie, starring opposite longtime crush Davey Woodward, while Mac's busy launching Coco's new Aguilerainspired debut and Becks's Quicksilver modeling career. Superstardom, here they come!

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Sophomore Switch

"The uptight British chick."

Sophomore Switch by Abby Mcdonald

Grade: B

Rating:PG-13

When clueless brit, Emily, does an exchange program is UCSB she is in for a shock when it comes to just about anything and everything. Tasha is off to Europe where she too is in for a shock. Ivy League college is so not the frat party she is used to.

Sophomore Switch was pretty good in my opinion. To be honest I thought it was a little slower than it should have been. The concepts in this novel were fairly mature so I would not recommend it to the middle school crowd. It was not to the point where I would say Tv-14 for the rating but it was just not what I would want my sister reading.