In My Mailbox (2)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was started by Kristi at The Story Siren with some inspiration from Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. It features books or book-related things that have been bought, borrowed, won, or received in the mail. Be sure to check out The Story Siren for a list of all the other blogs participating!



Bought:






Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier



Weekly Recap:

Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Monday Reads
Teaser Tuesday: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
"Waiting on" Wednesday: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Book Blog Hop & Follow Friday



What books did you get this week? Please leave a comment or link to your own IMM post!

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday (2)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books. In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! So visit Crazy-for-Books to grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list there!

This week's question:

"Highlight one book you have received this week (for review, from the library, purchased at the store, etc.) that you can’t wait to dig into!"

I've actually already started reading this book - it's Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. This book deals with some difficult subject matters, but so far it is excellently written and very moving. The other new book that I've bought is Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier.





Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Allison Can Read. Visit either of their blogs for complete rules of the following fun!

This week's question:

"Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you?"

I might be taking the easy way out here, but at BEA and ALA Sourcebooks had t-shirts that said "Authors are my rockstars." The other option would be one that many musicians have: "I can't, I have rehearsal." Chances are that I'm either in a practice room or reading, so both of these would fit perfectly!



What are your answers? Please leave a comment or a link to your blog!

Review: Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS
By: Stephanie Perkins
Published By: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: Dec. 2, 2010
Series: None
Pages: 372
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near - misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?



I have to admit that I had this book for a while before I read it. I read much more paranormal or fantasy than contemporary, and even though so many people loved this book, it seemed like it would be a frivolous read that would appeal more to high school students than an adult reading YA. But I finally gave in and read this book, and I loved it.

Anna and the French Kiss might be a romance, but it doesn't follow the traditional models. There is no insta-love, and the story isn't about a perfect relationship that has to endure challenges. Instead, the novel is built around one question: Will they or won't they? Anna's father has decided to send her to boarding school in Paris, and she resents having to leave behind her friends and her maybe-boyfriend for a city and place she doesn't know. However, her neighbor comes to welcome her the first night, and Anna soon finds herself in a new circle of friends. This circle includes Etienne St. Clair, the swoon-worthy boy with a British accent. As Anna comes to know him better, she can't help but feel chemistry between them. However, she still has attachments back home, and St. Clair has a girlfriend. But in the City of Lights, anything can happen...

There are so many things to love about this book, but the characters are especially great. I really felt that I knew each and every one of them, quirks, flaws, and all. Anna and St. Clair really came to life, Anna with her sense of humor, her love of movies, and her emotions, and St. Clair with his charm, his love of history, and his (sometimes maddening) loyalty. I loved watching them grow closer, even if I did want to yell "Just kiss already!" in so many places. The longing and tension were so clearly felt, as were the attraction and the budding feelings. And this is a given, but I also loved the setting. It was so much fun to go on tours of the city with Anna and St. Clair - because really, who wouldn't want him for a tour guide?

Even though this story was set in a Parisian boarding school, there were plenty of moments that felt just like a regular high school. The fights between friends, the secrets, and the moments of bullying that happen all the time to teenagers happen here as well. While at times things were frustrating, everything seemed very realistic, and it was easy to get caught up in the story. I did enjoy the ending; sometimes it is refreshing to have everything wrapped up tidily.

In her debut novel, Perkins weaves a story of longing, love, and life, one that is realistic yet engaging, and one that is guaranteed to leave you with a smile. I cannot wait to read the companion novel, Lola and the Boy Next Door!

"Waiting on" Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:


SHATTERED SOULS
By: Mary Lindsey
Published By: Philomel
Release Date: Dec. 8, 2011

Goodreads Summary: A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.



Why it's wanted:
I love paranormal books, and this seems like something new and intriguing. And any book with a cover that gorgeous is just begging to be read.

Teaser Tuesday (1)

I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:


"My stomach knotted as he walked away. I fought the desire to run after him and instead rolled onto my back, staring at the twinkling stars I could see through the glass ceiling and hoping that at some point sheer exhaustion would drive me to sleep.

I ran from Vail and that may have changed everything, but I still don't know where I belong."


p. 146 (ARC) from Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

WOLFSBANE
By: Andrea Cremer
Published By: Philomel
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Series: Nightshade (#2)
Pages: 400
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Borrowed
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended-Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer-one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack-and the man-she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.



If you haven't read Nightshade, go buy it and read it immediately. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. If you've read it, you know that Nightshade is amazing and that the wait for Wolfsbane was cruel and unusual punishment.

Wolfsbane begins just after the end of Nightshade. Calla Tor wakes to find herself surrounded by Searchers, far removed from her pack, from everyone but Shay. She is desperate to find her way back to her home, but the Searchers have other plans for her. They need her and her pack as allies in their war against the Keepers. At first, Calla refuses - after all, she's fought the Searchers all her life - but the more she talks to them, the more she comes to realize that some of her long-held truths were actually lies. But no matter what has happened, she is the alpha, and she has to help her pack...and her mate. Yet will Calla be torn between love and duty? And can she find her pack - and protect them - before it's too late?

I was thrilled to be back in the Nightshade world. Once again Andrea's writing drew me in and kept me turning page after page, needing to know what happened next. In addition to seeing more of Calla and Shay, there are a new cast of characters to meet, each with their own stories and quirks, and some (especially Connor and Adne) with very entertaining senses of humor. The details and descriptions are always so vivid, and the constant plot twists and romantic tension make for riveting reading. The stories and memories revealed in Wolfsbane are by turns alarming and poignant.

Wolfsbane is just as intense as Nightshade, but in a different way - it has a darker tone and is driven more by events than by the romantic tension, but for this book that certainly works. My only complaint about Wolfsbane is that it ended when it did - I wanted more! Is it time for Bloodrose yet???

I've said this before, and I'll say it again - Andrea Cremer's writing style is brilliant. I absolutely cannot wait to read the third installment of this story!

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Clarity by Kim Harrington
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

Currently Reading:
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Planning To Read:
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
Blood Red Road by Moira Young



What are you reading this week?

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was started by Kristi at The Story Siren with some inspiration from Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. It features books or book-related things that have been bought, borrowed, won, or received in the mail. Be sure to check out The Story Siren for a list of all the other blogs participating!



Bought:




Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young



Weekly Recap:

Review: Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Book Blog Hop & Follow Friday



What books did you get this week? Please leave a comment or link to your own IMM post!

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday (1)

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books. In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! So visit Crazy-for-Books to grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list there!

This week's question:

"What’s the ONE GENRE that you wish you could get into, but just can’t?"

I actually read a variety of genres, so this question is hard. But I think I'd have to choose chick lit. I've only read a few books in this genre, namely because most of the synopses that I've read don't hold my interest. However, I have lots of friends that read and love chick lit books, and I do wish I could discuss them.





Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Allison Can Read. Visit either of their blogs for complete rules of the following fun!

This week's question:

"Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with just talking about either their books or get advice on writing from?"

This is so very tough! I would have to say Terry Goodkind, because he has a very interesting philosophy on life and the world he built and details in his books are incredible. Then there is J.R. Ward. I might be a tad (okay, very) addicted to the Black Dagger Brotherhood books. I also love her writing style. Last but certainly not least, I would choose J.K. Rowling. The Harry Potter books continue to be amazing every time I reread them, and even though the last movie has come out, I'm still not ready to let the characters and the world go.



What are your answers? Please leave a comment or a link to your blog!

Review: Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

RIVAL
By: Sara Bennett Wealer
Published By: Harper Teen
Release Date: Feb. 15, 2011
Series: None
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?



As a singer myself, I've wanted to read this book since I first heard about it. Even without the description, the cover alone would have drawn me to this book. Having witnessed firsthand how deeply rivalries can run between singers at the college level, I was very curious to see how this drama would play out in a high school chorus setting.

Kathryn has become a social outcast thanks to Brooke. Since Brooke punched her junior year, tensions have been high, and this is not helped by the fact that they have to see each other in choir every day. This rivalry only escalates as the Blackmore competition approaches; jealously and fear of secrets coming to light seem to be a constant state of being for both girls. But in the midst of this, they both cannot help but remember their junior year and the evens that led them to dislike each other so strongly. In fact, Rival alternates between both girls' points of view, as well as between memories and the present day, which really show this contrast and brings the reader deeper into the world of both girls.

I loved getting to know Kathryn and Brooke, and I could sympathize with both of them. Kathryn longs for the things that she has never had - popularity, money, the chance to really be seen - and Brooke is caught between what she wants and what everyone expects of her. I would say that these two aren't your typical high school girls, but they are; however, they are not the stereotypical girls found in so many stories. Instead, they both have their moments of goodness and their moments of poor decisions. Sometimes I was frustrated with them, but everything seemed so familiar from my own days in choir that I felt that I was attending school right along with Kathryn and Brooke.

I also enjoyed the scenes in which Kathryn and Brooke discussed music and opera. However, these conversations were not so predominant that someone who is not a singer couldn't follow them. The Blackmore competition may have been the driving force behind many of the events and the reminiscing, but it was not always the focus. However, the competition is part of the story, and while I was slightly surprised by the competition results and the ending of the book, I felt that it was both realistic and the way things should have been.

In Rival, Sarah Bennett Wealer has spun a story that is so realistic and engaging that you can't help but be drawn into it. Despite the frustrations, I had to know if Kathryn and Brooke would be okay after all was said and done. I will look forward to reading what Wealer writes next!

Welcome to Portrait of a Book!

Welcome to Portrait of a Book! I love reading and talking about books, so book blogging seemed like a natural outlet. Some of you may know me from Between the Covers, but now I am blogging here. This blog will be primarily young adult books, with a few novels of literary fiction and paranormal romance added to the mix. I hope that you will come back often for new book reviews, features, interviews, giveaways, and more!