Giveaway! Win a copy of Where Things Come Back!

Title: Where Things Come Back
Author: John Corey Whaley

Goodreads summary: 
Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . .

In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared.

While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax.

Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.

Would you like your very own copy of the Morris and Printz award winning book, Where Things Come Back? I thought so! Just enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!


This contest is international if TBD delivers to your location! If the winner lives in the US, the book will be purchased via Amazon.


***I honestly hope this works! First time scheduling a post AND first Rafflecopter!***


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Hex Hall Review

Title: Hex Hall

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books

Pages: 323

Source: Borrowed from my Library

Goodreads Summary:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My take:
I loved this book so much! The humor in it was just perfect and it didn't mess with the "serious" parts of the story. I am SO GLAD I finally got around to reading this one. I think I may have to purchase it for my own collection.

The school and magical world that Rachel created for this story is great. I think I'd like more Cal in the other books. :)

A great quote from the book, actually near the end..."There was a sensible part of me somewhere that clutched its pearls and hissed that I better not give up my V-card in a cellar..." Southern belle at heart!!!! HAHAHA!

Moving on to Demonglass NOW!




My rating: 

I am definitely going to buy my own copy of this book so I can read it when I need some great humor!

This book was read just for fun! No challenges for this one.

Bunheads Review

Book Title: Bunheads      

Author: Sophie Flack

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company / Poppy
Pages: 294
Source: Borrowed from my Library


Goodreads Summary:

As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet. 
But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?

My take:

I seriously loved this book. Sophie's life experience was definitely brought to life in the pages of this story. I felt like I was a part of the story sometimes -- felt her pain, the choices she had to make, the hard work, the sacrifices, the friendships in the dressing rooms, the pressure -- all of it! I know I could never deal with that much pressure and stress. Ever!

I loved the ending. I sobbed when she made her final decision. Jacob, oh Jacob...you were patient and so smitten with Hannah from the beginning. Matt, you were a douche nugget. Call me! I'll let you spend money on me!

I am very interested in what Sophie has planned with the future and if there are any other book projects in the works. Real life experiences are great to write about.

My Rating:

This is definitely a book that I would recommend to people! 

This is the first book and review to satisfy a portion of my participation in the Completely Contemp Challenge (#CCC) hosted by Shanyn at Chick Loves Lit.

Cinder - My First Review!

I hope everyone will enjoy my reviews for my book challenges this year. I can tend to babble (like now), but when it comes to giving thoughts about things, I can sometimes have a problem with saying more than just a few words. Depending on the moment, I could have a very short review or a very wordy review. 


With my reviews, I hope to link to the book on Goodreads and the author on Twitter. I am a huge fan of stalking...errr...following authors on Twitter. :)


So, without further ado...CINDER!

Book Title: Cinder                         
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pages: 387
Source: Purchased copy


Goodreads Summary:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My take:

Let me start by saying that I absolutely love the story of Cinderella and all of the movie versions that I have watched over the years: Disney's Cinderella, Ever After, A Cinderella Story, Ella Enchanted, Enchanted and Another Cinderella Story. I'm sure I will adore and own the upcoming A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song, too.

And now, along with all of the fun Cinderella movies, we have a fantastic new twist to the classic fairy tale.  A cyborg Cinderella. CYBORG! Genius!

The book begins with us meeting Lihn Cinder, a mechanic, working in a tent in the marketplace. We also meet Prince Charming Kaito (Kai) immediately. He has brought his personal android to have fixed and he has heard that Cinder is the best.


We then meet the [evil] stepmother, Adri, and the stepsisters, Pearl (the one we all loathe) and Peony (the nicer of the two and actually friends with Cinder). The girls are, of course, being fitted for dresses to wear to the Prince's ball. Shortly after that, Peony is discovered to have letumosis...the plague. Adri blames Cinder and sends her off as a "volunteer" for plague research. Adri knows that those who volunteer for research do not live after the testing. Cue the "dun dun duuuuuun" music. The evil stepmother strikes!


Cinder's blood is tested and she is injected with a strand of the plague but her body is immune and kills off the deadly microbes that were injected. She is really talked into being a volunteer to continue helping the doctor with more tests, with the option to stop whenever she wants. She really wants to help him find an anecdote so they can save Peony.


Now, to spice up the story a little more, there's another twist to our Cinderella story. In Cinder, there is a race of people, called Lunars, who live on the moon. They have the ability to "glamour" themselves. Meaning they look like they want to look for you -- beautiful. Their Queen does this as well and attempts to get Prince Kai to "fall in love" with her *cue the "dun dun duuuuun" music* so she can rule Earth.


The story goes on and the ball goes on, but Cinder has to go so she can pass on important information to Kai.


I loved the world that Marissa Meyer built and how it still felt real. It felt very "Jetsons" like to me and I loved it! Hovercrafts, people living on the moon, comms to communicate, ID scans...love, love, love! I was hoping the news from the doctor would be what it was. It adds a whole new twist and makes me giddy! I will definitely be ready for Scarlet in 2013!

My rating:

So AMAZING! I am glad to have this one on my bookshelf and will loan it out often.