Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine. Here we share what we are looking forward to reading!! If only they would be published already!!!

This week's book is:

The Other Life

By: Susanne Winnacker

Release Date: February 2012

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Sherry and her family have lived sealed in a bunker in the garden since things went wrong up above. Her grandfather has been in the freezer for the last three months, her parents are at each other’s throats and two minutes ago they ran out of food.

Sherry and her father leave the safety of the bunker and find a devastated and empty LA, smashed to pieces by bombs and haunted by ‘Weepers’ - rabid humans infected with a weaponized rabies virus.

While searching for food in a supermarket, Sherry’s father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a boy-hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a tumble-down vineyard in the hills outside LA, where a handful of other survivors are picking up the pieces of their ‘other lives’. As she falls in love for the first time, Sherry must save her father, stay alive and keep Joshua safe when his desire for vengeance threatens them all.

Why I can't wait:

First, I love the cover. The butterfly looks like it is dripping blood. Second, I like female main characters and Sherry looks like a strong female character. The part of the synopsis that really drew me to this book was that it takes place in a distopian society. LA has been blown up and people have to survive. And who doesn't like a little flesh eating zombie?? I will be waiting to pick this one up!!

If you can't wait, try this one:

Book #16- Princess

Princess for Hire
By: Lindsey Leavitt

Synopsis (from Amaon.com): When a flawlessly dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and wants to know, like, now if you'd like to become a substitute princess, do you:

a) run

b) faint

c) say yes!
For Desi Bascomb, who's been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite c)--that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent, Meredith, explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula "Royal Rouge," she can transform temporarily into the exact look-alike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?
Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don't know? Or when a princess's conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off--and you're sure she would want you to change his mind?

So what did I think?

Overall: I have been following Leavitt online even before her novel came out. She was so excited when she got her first shipment in!! I even won some boomarks from her blog on Livejournal. With that being said, I LOVED her book. Desi was such a great character and you can tell that the book was thought out. I mean, a magic bubble? Who thinks of that suff? LOL

Characters: Desi is the main character and in the opening chapters, you get a feel of who she is. You start to feel bad for her in the first few pages!!She would be the perfect fit for any princess. Her lve interest Hayden is like all of those cute boys you dreamed about when you were their age. Pretty, but dumb. I also don't think the story would have worked if she didn't have Meredith as her guide. They fit perfectly together.

Setting: Leavitt provides the perfect amount of description where you know what it looks like, but also where you can put your own ideas in. I can see myself walking into that magic bubble and into a posh office. Also, the places she goes to are very well described. It's like I'm the princess for hire too!!

Googie's Grade: 5 out of 5 stars!!

If you liked this book, I would recommend:

Book #15- A Fairy Tale

Wings: A Fairy Tale
By: E.D. Baker

Synopsis (from barnesandnoble.com): Tamisin has always been a little weird. Her freckles actually look more like sparkles and occasionally, she likes to dance under the full moon. Then one day, wings sprout from her back, and Tamisin learns that her parents adopted her from fairyland. Inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this fairy tale will delight fans of The Tales of the Frog Princess and new readers alike.


So what did I think?

Overall: About halfway through the book I couldn't put it down!! I love fairy stories and anything fantasy, so this book was right up my ally. I would recommend this book to girls and boys because there was a good mixture of goblins and faries. This is more of a pre-teen storyline, but would be good for any age level.

Setting: The setting is broken up between the human world and the fey world (where the non humans live). You start off with Tamisin seeing goblins in her world and then see it from Jak's point of view in the fey world. Both are well written to where you can see where the characters are in their journey.

Characters: Tamisin is different, but in a good way, from the other students. The biggest difference is that she has pointed ears. She is accepted by her dance team, so she isn't a total loser. Pre-teens will be able to relate to her. Jak is a well rounded character too. He is half goblin and half human. He is described beautifully and I can picture him in my head.

Googie's Grade: 4 out of 5 stars!!

If you like this book, you might also like:

Book #14- Vampires



Evernight

By: Claudia Gray

Synopsis (from barnesandnoble.com): Bianca wants to escape. At the eerily Gothic Evernight Academy, the other students are sleek, smart, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

When she meets handsome, brooding Lucas, he warns her to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. But the connection between them can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

So, what do I think?

Overall: I really enjoyed his book. At first, I was thinking it was going to be like all of the other Vampire books I have read, but after about 100 pages in, I realized I couldn't put it down. It was nothing like the typical Vampire book out there. It had a twist that you will have to read to find out.

Characters: I thought all of the characters were well thought out and memorable. Bianca feels like she doesn't belong with the cool crowd, but isn't a big loser like some of the others. The love that Bianca feels towards Lucas does not feel fake or immature. Everyone always remembrs their first love, so it's nice to get that feeling from the book.

Setting: I feel that Gray did an excellent job of describing Evernight Academy. I could see the laout in my head and knew where the characters were in the building. I like how the stain glass windows were described.


Googie's Grade: 4.5 out of 5 stars!!!

If you like this book, you might also like:

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine. Here we share what we are looking forward to reading!! If only they would be pubished already!!!

This week's book is:

Vesper

By: Jeff Sampson

Release Date: January 25, 2011

Synopsis (from goodreads.com): Emily Webb is a geek—and happy that way. She’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for parties. And she definitely doesn’t start fights or flirt with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that … the same night a classmate—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.


The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing this. Every night, she gets wilder until it’s not just her personality that changes; she’s also becoming strong, fast, and utterly fearless. Has she been bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely—something not human?

Why I can't wait:

First, I love the cover. The red and that teal color work great together. I also like how you can't see her facial features. You can kinda make up what you want he to look like in your head. I also like the type font. Very mysterious. As for the story line, I like how it is mixed with mystery and paranormal. You have a murder mystey, who did it?, and a paranormal with something not being human. Overall, I think this one might be a hit!!

If you can't wait, try this one:

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should be Reading.


This is how you do it:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two (2) “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!)

4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I am currently reading:

Rampant
By: Diana Peterfreund

Here's the Teaser!!

"My hands slipped from the horn, down the creature's face; and I dug in desperately, until I felt something squish beneath my thumb. It's eye."

What is your Teaser Tuesday?

Book #13- Story in Verse- Teen Pregnancy

Planet Pregnancy
By: Linda Oatman High

Synopsis (from goodreads.com): For sixteen-year-old Sahara, “life and death and everything in between” depends on the color of a little stick. She waits three long minutes, praying to Jesus, Mary, and all the saints that the stick will turn blue, meaning she isn’t pregnant. Instead, the stick turns pink and Sahara’s life is changed in a heart beat.

So, what do I think?

Overall: I wasn't a teen when I became pregnant with my first son, but I was still in college and unwed. I found out the night before my 21st birthday. I too was looking for one line, not two. I know exactly how this character felt. My parents wern't the happiest in the world to hear of my news just like hers. I was lucky in that I had a great boyfriend who is now my husband of five years. We even added a second addition to the family last year!! Now, back to  the story. Also having a friend who hid her pregnancy from everyone for a few months, I know how this character is feeling too. I laughed, I cried, and then I sobbed at the end of the book. Overall, I really liked this book.

Characters: I can see these characters in my little Texas town too. The loser boyfriend, the loser dad, and even the rude brothers and sisters. I can even see the mom only caring about herself too. I think the brother and sister probably could have been in the story more, but I really liked the main character Sahara. She was relatable.

Ending: I think the ending is what I liked best about the book. I kinda gave me hope. I know exactly how the release of giving birth and the rush of emotions that follow. You want nothing but the best for your child in those few minutes right after giving birth. I feel the author caught that emotion really well.

Googie's Grade: 3 out of 5 stars!!

If you like this book, you might also like: