Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender (ARC 9/24/13)

Summary (from Goodreads):

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen

Review:

So, normally, I try not to read ARCs so ahead of the publication date. A lot of the time, I am asked to review books the month they come out. I sometimes do make exceptions to this rule. I did start two ARCs way ahead of schedule when I was waiting in lines at BEA. This was one of them. And well, how could you just stop reading this crazy story?

My favorite thing about reading this story was how unclear the supernatural stuff was at first. I wasn’t sure for a while if the ghost Colette kept seeing was actually the ghost of Marie Antoinette or someone dressed as Marie Antoinette. And, I loved having to guess. I also just loved the whole concept of a pissed off Marie Antoinette ghost going around Paris, beheading people. Honestly, it sounded like a concept that could go either way: in the direction of a terrible horror movie, or in the direction of pure awesome fun. Thankfully, it went more in the second direction.

I really, really, enjoyed reading about Colette. She’s not the world’s best or bravest main character, but she is beyond realistic to me. She really is a teen girl, as compared to a teen genius, princess, super hero, etc. She can be selfish, and mean, and egotistical, but what teen girl really can’t? I liked that she wasn’t the standard YA selfless and brave main character. She puts a lot thought into what people think of her. She doesn’t want her classmates to know she doesn’t have money any more. She wants people to see her as top of the top (status-wise), and while normally these characteristics would make me hate a main character, they really just made her more authentic. And actually, these characteristics gave her that much more room for growth on her Paris trip. And you know I love a coming of age story that takes place on a trip to Europe!

All the historical (real and fake) connections Colette had to the revolution were things I have seen done before. And I didn’t really believe that the instructor of her class would seriously allow for so much of the shenanigans to go down as she did. However, this didn’t bother me as much as it could have. I was just so engrossed in the whole Marie Antoinette ghost thing. And the romance, of course. I loved the French romance!

This book is layered with romance, Paris tourism, mean girls, parties, history, and a murder mystery that is just so unique! The writing style reminds me a lot of Maureen Johnson and I highly recommend this one to fans of Maureen’s books. I give this a 9/10. I’m so glad I started it when I did.

Waiting on Wednesday (49)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren  Morrill (1/7/14):

Description from Goodreads:

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

So, I loved Morrill’s other book: Meant to Be. I am definitely loving this author’s/publisher’s cover layout. Everything about the cover screams adorable! Yes, the description sounds a tad bit like a Disney channel original movie; however, I don’t care. Sometimes, I just want a predictable, yet cute, easy-to-read contemporary. And I have a feeling that is exactly what I’d get with this. The trouble will be waiting till January…

What are you waiting on this week?

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Summary (from Goodreads):

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard was never supposed to be able to see ripples - cracks in time. Are his powers expanding, or is something very wrong? Before he can find out, Jonathan landers, the man who tried to murder is father, reappears. Why is he back, and what, or whom, does he want?

In the wake of Landers' return, the Hourglass organization is given an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the people who might carry the time gene, or time will be altered - with devastating results for the people Kaleb loves most.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Landers. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

Review:

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! It’s not what I was expecting at all. It ended up being so much more! It did take me a whole week to read it. Though, part of this problem was that I kept starting other books that I was getting at BEA, and I’m now in the middle of four books, which I hate doing to myself.

The book begins not long after book 1 finishes. Emerson is happily dating Michael. The best friend character, Lily, is more and more in the know of the Hourglass and what it does. And everyone is pretty much in recovery mode from the events at the end of the previous book. What shocked me about the beginning was that it was all in Kaleb’s point of view. Kaleb was the other boy in book 1 who was in love with Emerson. And I kind of liked him more than Michael. Granted, I tend to fall harder for the boy who doesn’t get the girl. And well, Kaleb is also a bad boy…

Any way, I liked the point of view shift. There are a lot of YA authors out there who really shouldn’t be switching point of view. And a lot of them do the whole thing where one chapter is the girl and the next is the boy. This book is all boy, all the time! And McEntire mostly pulls it off. I wasn’t expecting this because the last book was slightly on the girly side. This author goes from girly to bad boy in 0 seconds flat. Seriously.

I do think that Kaleb could have been a little bit more like a teenage boy though. Yeah, he gets kissed by strangers and drinks away his father issues…but I just think teen boys would be thinking about sex way more…particularly when they are sort of beginning to date someone. Any way, I’m still glad I got to know Kaleb more, got to see his powers more, and got to feel what he felt.

The playing with time and changing lives and erasing memories stuff is just pure awesomeness! I’m dying to know what will happen next. And I can’t stand not knowing what certain characters might not know (because their minds were messed with). I found Lily’s story and her Cuban heritage fascinating and it was also so much fun getting to know her better. Plus, the romance in this one was way steamier than the last!

I like that the book deals both with people who genetically are able to do certain things, yet it also deals with objects and science that can help people do certain things too. It’s sort of like this sci-fi, Dr. Who, Nancy Drew type mixture, and I loved every second of it.

The book surprised me and kept me interested. I loved that it was in Kaleb’s point of view. I kind of wish Kaleb was a little bit more of a real teen boy. Though, I do really love the guy now. I loved the romance, the action, and the time rifts. I give it a 9/10.

BEA Giveaway!

So there is just no way I will ever get to all these books that I brought home! I got some copies more than once…I also got some copies signed, even though I already had a copy of the ARC. One of the books in the giveaway was a sequel I received for review without realizing it was a sequel. They are all YA and they all look super good (or I wouldn’t have picked them up to begin with!)

What’s up for grabs:

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken (ARC)
The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason (ARC)
Frozen by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnson (ARC)
Torn by David Massey (ARC)
Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper (ARC)
The Enchanter Heir by Cinda Williams Chima (ARC)
The Land of Opium by Nancy Farmer (ARC)
Altered by Gennifer Albin (ARC)
Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick (ARC)
Exile by Rebecca Lim (hard cover)

How the contest works:

There will be three winners! First place winner will have their choice of up to four of any of the 10 above titles. Second place winner will have their pick of three books of what is left. And Third place winner will receive the last three titles.

SADLY THIS CONTEST IS ONLY OPEN TO MY US FOLLOWERS ONLY. I can’t afford to ship books internationally on my own; however, I do plan on having an international follower giveaway soon too.

Standard rules apply: I will email the first place winner when the contest ends, and he/she will have up to 48 hours to respond otherwise I will pick a different first place winner. From what the first winner tells me, I will be able to send an email to the second place winner (who also has up to 48 hours), and then once I hear back from the second winner, I will email the third winner (who also has 48 hours).

Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Good Week in Books (55)

I have fallen so behind in life. I need to do a serious reading/blogging/reviewing catch-up asap. I got a nice haul of books for review this week from Little, Brown and Company. And they are oh-so pretty! I apologize for the whole mirror image/flipped around thing...I'm having technical photo issues at the moment and had to take the picture with my webcam.

The Loop by Shandy Lawson (actually the same title as my undergraduate thesis/book of short stories…), though this is totally different and awesome sounding.
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland (perfect for a summer in the Cape!)
The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston (what a gorgeous cover)
School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins (yay!)
The Rules: Project Paper Doll by Stacey Kade (this one sounds different!)
The Exile by Rebecca Lim

How was your week in books?

Waiting on Wednesday (48)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on This Wicked Game by Michelle Zink (11/14/13):

Description on Goodreads:

Claire Kincaid’s family has been in business for over fifty years.

The voodoo business.

Part of the International Guild of High Priests and Priestesses, a secret society that have practiced voodoo for generations, the Kincaid’s run an underground supply house for authentic voodoo supplies. Claire plays along, filling orders for powders, oils and other bizarre ingredients in the family store, but she has a secret.

She doesn’t believe.

Struggling to reconcile her modern sensibilities with a completely unscientific craft based on suspicion, Claire can’t wait to escape New Orleans – and voodoo – when she goes to college, a desire that creates almost constant conflict in her secret affair with Xander Toussaint, son of the Guild’s powerful founding family.

But when a mysterious customer places an order for a deadly ingredient, Claire begins to realize that there’s more to voodoo – and the families that make up the Guild – than meets the eye.

Including her own.

As she bands together with the other firstborns of the Guild, she comes face to face with a deadly enemy – and the disbelief that may very well kill her.

So, I just absolutely love everything this author writes. None of her stuff screams unique, necessarily. But, That doesn’t mean her supernatural romances are not still spectacular and addicting. There’s always a strong female protagonist. There’s always a little bit of the supernatural/magic. And there’s always just the right amount of romance! This to me is a definite recipe for success. I buy and love all of this author’s YA, and I plan to keep doing so. Plus, how cool does the whole voodoo thing sound? Also, I’m definitely intrigued by the cover.

What are you waiting on this week?

A Good Week in Books (54) -BEA Edition

So, my book week was beyond epic. I don’t think I have ever gotten so many books in one time before, in my whole life. And I purchase/borrow/receive/order/request my fair share of books…

It was my first experience at BEA (Book Expo America) in NYC. My library actually sent me there! I learned a lot about all the new YA and Children’s books that pretty much every publisher out there is pushing for this upcoming year. I learned a lot about what editors are thinking will be the “next big thing.” I mingled with publishers, authors, bloggers, agents, reviewers, publishers, press, and I probably gave my card to way more people than I ever thought I would. I actually think the most fun I had was talking to people in line for author signings. I met up with a friend I haven’t seen in over a year (from library school) in line –Christina from A Reader of Fictions! And I also kept bumping into the same familiar faces (two of which belonged to two of the coolest bloggers: Giselle from Xpreso Reads, and Micheline from Lunar-Rainbows.

Seriously though, book people are the best people. Aside from the mingling, the work stuff, the awesome bloggers, and all the networking, I went to some great events, met some amazing authors, and received so, so, so, many books!

This is a picture of the interview of two Newberry Medalists: Cynthia Voight and Kate DiCamillo:

This is a picture of me with Giselle and Micheline (two awesome Canadian bloggers):

Gerald and Piggie (outside the Mo Willems signing). Gerald was blowing me kisses in line! By the way, Mo Willems was awesome and he totally drew pictures in his autographs. Also, I received two signed books, a foam pigeon, and a pigeon cupcake at this signing!

Right near the front Entrance:

Picture books:

 
A Big Guy Took My Ball! By Mo Willems (signed finished copy)
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus: 10 year anniversary  by Mo Willems (signed finished copy)
Bugs in My Hair by David Shannon
Train by Elisha Cooper
Guys Can be Cat Ladies Too by Michael Showalter (more of a humor than picture book)
Chalk by Bill Thomson (finished copy)
The Year of the Jungle by Suzzane Collins

Biggest book haul ever (in no particular order…I kind of meant to leave them in their piles, but in carrying them to write my blog post, dropped a lot…I do have a sprained ankle now –from falling down on some uneven sidewalk, carrying too many books). Also, the pictures were taken before I gave some books away. This list is made up of the books I still have…I already gave away 11 books (some adult, some fantasy, and some YA) to my roomie who helped me carry them and her boyfriend!

 
Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken (signed)
Unstoppable (Book 1 Nowhere to Run: 39 Clues) by Jude Watson
The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech
Infinity Ring Book 5 Cave of Wonders by Matthew J. Kirby
If You Could be Mine by Sara Farizan
The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable
Skin by Donna Jo Napoli
Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta
Torn by David Massey
Frozen by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston
Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (signed)
The Enchanted Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder (signed)
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown  by Holly Black
Altered by Gennifer Albin
Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick
Heaven is Paved with Oreos by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles
Hero by Alethea Kontis
School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani (signed)
A Most Dangerous Deception by Sarah Zettel
Hereafter by Kate Brian (signed)
False Sight by Dan Krokos (signed)
The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
How to Love by Katie Contugno
Teardrop by Lauren Kate
The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas
The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer
The Beautiful and the Cursed by Page Morgan (finished copy)
Ghost Time by Courtney Eldridge
The Twisted Key by Tone Almhjell
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
The Cutting Room Floor by Dawn Klehr
The Fantastic Family Whipple by Matthew Ward
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
The Truth that’s in Me by Julie Berry
The Clockwork Scarab  by Colleen Gleason
The Witch of Little Italy by Suzanne Palmieri
The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman (signed)
Under the Empyrean Sky by Chuck Wendig
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (signed)
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Creature Department by Robert Paul Weston
That Part was True by Deborah McKinlay
Bluffton by Matt Phelan
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Kate Alender
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

I will most definitely be offering up a major BEA giveaway soon. You might have spotted a few repeats in my stacks. I’m already giving a lot of books away to friends/librarians. But, I have a nice pile of books that scream giveaway, so come back soon (hopefully next weekend)!

How was your week in books?