A Buzz-Worthy Review for Elemental by Emily White

Elemental by Emily White

Release Date: (Today!!!) 5/1/2012 

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press 

Age Group: YA 

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

SUMMARY
(from Goodreads)

"Just because Ella can burn someone to the ground with her mind doesn't mean she should. 

But she wants to. 

For ten years—ever since she was a small child—Ella has been held prisoner on an interstellar starship. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers. 

Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories? 

Is Ella the prophesied Destructor… or will she be the one who's destroyed?"

MY REVIEW

I have to be honest, I had absolutely no idea as to what to expect from Elemental!
But this greatly intrigued me...

"Just because Ella can burn someone to the ground
with her mind
doesn't mean she should."

For the last 10 years, Ella has been imprisoned on a ship since she was 7 years old. Why would a child be locked up in total darkness in an empty metal room from all of civilization for so long?
And, after all these years, why has the ship landed? And where is this mysterious voice coming from urging her to take this opportunity to escape... Ella thinks twice before running - what if it's a trick? Where will she go? But the urge to finally put this nightmare behind her, to be free from the darkness, to go find the boy with the green eyes - her only memory - wins. She is blinded by the smallest beam of light, the sun feels like it's scorching her skin, she is weak from being underfed - she has her doubts and fears, but she is determined to get away and rather die than go back.
Within minutes of her escape, she meets Meir. A kind stranger who instantly takes on a fatherly protective role to Ella. At first I was a bit put off on how Ella and Meir connected so quickly, but once you learn Meir's story and realize how badly Ella is craving to connect to someone, anyone, it completely makes sense.

Ella's escape, even with Meir's help, is not easy. Nothing comes easy for Ella at all throughout this whole book. The story flows quickly, which is a wonderful thing. As you can see, the reader is thrown right in with Ella. We are asking questions and finding things out right alongside her. Ella doesn't remember anything from her past. She is unfamiliar with what is going on around her - what is going on in the galaxy, the different politics, religions - it's all so amazing! I have to honestly say that all of this does remind me of Star Wars a bit! And that's all the sci-fi I know, lol!

As the story moves along, the mystery starts to unfold - we find out more about Ella, she's a faerie who is capable of controlling wind and fire. We also learn where she comes from, why no one was able to find her, who her enemies are, and who are on her side.
And most importantly, we meet the mystery boy with the green eyes - the only memory that she has been clinging to for all these years was truly a memory and not a dream - and his name is Cailen.

The ending is amazing! Yes, a lot of questions do get answered, but we're left with a few and with a small cliffhanger too! Which is amazing and was so perfectly well written! I can honestly say that this is one of those rare books were you are satisfied just enough to be able to wait a bit for that next book to be released!

The only reason why I didn't give Elemental 5 bees is because of my weak stomach and running imagination during 2 or 3 scenes! One of these scenes being... {shivers!} if you can handle bugs creepy crawling all over you, peeling and eating off your skin - then this is definitely a solid 5 bee book :)

Fae the sequel to Elemental is to be released by in 2013.

Stay tuned for Elemental Book Blast Post and Giveaway!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy reading :)

April 2012 R.A.K.Wrap Up!

Hello! Hope you're all having a fab Monday :)

There's not much to report for this month...

I R.A.K.'ed an eBook of The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen to
Emily of Doodle's Book Blog :)

I didn't receive anything this month and that is SO okay!
I have plenty of books right now to keep me busy ;)
I really wish I could have done more for the month of April, but this month flew by and I got behind, lol! May is looking to be a wonderful month to share with fellow book-lovers! Did you see how many books are being released on May 1st alone??? WOWzers!!!

A big thank you to Book Soulmates for hosting this every month!!!

If interested in finding out more about Random Acts of Kindness -
please go HERE to get all of the info!

Thanks much! xo

A "Fallen" Book Discussion with The Bucket List!

I'm so happy and honored to be a guest at The Bucket List today for their Fallen Discussion event this month! A huge thank you to Gina for inviting me! I am a huge fan and follower of the Fallen series by Lauren Kate and head over heels in love with all of the characters... especially Daniel! 

http://thebucketlist-gn.blogspot.com/

Please stop by The Bucket List today to see my review! 

and do go HERE to see what else is going on and the giveaways that they are offering - signed book and other 'Fallen' related items, woo hoo!!!

Thanks!!! 

Welcome to my first Beehive News Vlog!

Hello bookie friends!!!
It's been a while now that I have been wanting to create my own vlog, and here it is!
It's kind of long, SO sorry!!! I forgot to keep an eye on the time! and the funny part is - I forgot to mention a few things too, lol! I think things would have moved along a lot faster if a) I could read my notes, lol! b) could remember what I want to say without my notes! ha!
I was really nervous while doing it, you can actually see me trying to contain myself from giggling and making fun of myself :) I promise to do better on the next one!
This first vlog was suppose to be a virtual type of newsletter, but like I said, it got too long, so I edited some stuff out and just concentrated on the books that I had received....

So, here it is! You're getting a dose of some of the bumbling madness that goes on around here!
Please feel free to leave me some tips/feedback!!! but do remember be nice to me, please ;)



(ETA: I am unsure as to who/whom to give credit to for my newsletter-vlog type post!
There are SO many bloggers that have inspired me to expand my horizons - too many to list every time! So I have decided that I will add in a few shout outs to those very deserving people :)

Here's a quick summary... 

On the blog last week: 

- A Review: Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis 

- Pretty Crooked Book Blast 

- Waiting On Wednesday: Three books! 

Books mentioned: 

- Elemental by Emily White (release date 5/1/20102)

- The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty (release date 6/5/2012)

- Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (release date 5/1/2012)

- The Selection by Kiera Cass (release date 5/1/2012)

- Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore (release date 5/1/2012)

- Embrace by Jessica Shirvington 

- Kane Richards Must Die by Shanice Willliams 

- The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate 

- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 

- Ascend (Trylle Trilogy #3) by Amanda Hocking 

- Enchanted by Alethea Kontis (release date 5/1/2012)

- Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino
- Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout (mass paperback release date 5/15/2012)

Thank you to... 

Jac of The Reading Housewives of Indiana, Fire & Ice, Riverhead Books (Penguin), Ashley Suzanne (Donation Post), Tara of Tater's Tall Tails and Ivy of Ivy Reads. 

Mentions: 

- Loretta of Between the Pages
- Amy of Book Loving Mama 

- Jen and Belle of Reading with Pugs

What to look forward to next week!
- Elemental Review and Book Blast
- Waiting On Wednesday Post
- A Bewitching Book Tour (Interview and Review) for ReVamped by Ada Adams
- The Enchanted Attic: Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame Review
- Waiting On Wednesday Post
- Fallen series review :)

What I'm going to (hopefully) read:
- The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis
- The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
- Frost by Kate Avery Ellison

Thanks SO much for stopping by!!! 

Sooo, what have you been up to??? Let me know in the comments below :) 

Waiting On Wednesday #7: When You Were Mine, Hemlock and Vicious Deep

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  

Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and make our shelves look all pretty :) 

I have THREE books for this week's meme!!! 

I couldn't resist, lol! and they're all being released around the same time, so I know that I would not be able to give them their individual loving posts in time... so here they are! 

In no particular order ;) 

When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle 

Release Date: May 1st, 2012

"In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale. 

What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.     

Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy... and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.     

Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. 

Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends…."

{It's a Romeo/Juliet kind of re-telling through Rosaline's eyes!!! 
Obviously it's going to be high on the TBR/Wishlist, right???}

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock 

Release Date: May 8th, 2012

"Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love."

{This may be the book to finally swing me over and convince me that I should be on Team Werewolf now! This story just screams mystery and possibly romance(?) Can't wait!!!}

Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

Release Date: May 1st, 2012 

"For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea…and now it wants him back."

{I have yet to find a mermaid book that I like, even though it has been ages since I have read one... I think this might be the one to get me to give mer-people a chance again!}

Have you read any of these already? Reviewed?
Let me know what you think :)

What book(s) are you craving???

A Pretty Crooked Book Blast and Giveaway!

Good morning everyone!
Today is the Pretty Crooked Book Blast
hosted by Kathy of I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.
The purpose of a book blast is to show some love and give exposure
to books and authors that we support and love!
Show Pretty Crooked some love and enter the giveaway!!!

Pretty Crooked 

by Elisa Ludwig 

Release Date: March 13th, 2012

Publisher: HarperCollins

Age Group: YA 

SUMMARY 

"Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.

Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”-known to everyone as the Glitterati-without them suspecting a thing, is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.

The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her-evening the social playing field between the have and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan.

But when the cops start investigating the string of burglaries at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could he wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?"

BOOK TRAILER

Praise for Pretty Crooked: 

"This should be an easy sell to fans of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars books." - Booklist

"This debut keeps readers zooming along as a formerly poor girl plays Robin Hood when she strikes it rich... A solid debut." - Kirkus

"Packed with romance, humor and adventure, PRETTY CROOKED will steal your heart."
- Sarah Mlynowski, author of Ten Things We Did (But Probably Shouldn't Have)

"Intriguing characters, high adventure, good-hearted heists, and plenty of romance. PRETTY CROOKED has me pining for Willa's next adventure!"
- Jennifer Echols, author of Forget You and The One That I Want


ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

"My debut young adult novel PRETTY CROOKED (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins) will be released in March 2012. 
Even though I had to extensively research pickpocketing techniques, I am a law-abiding citizen. 
I live in Philadelphia with my husband Jesse. 
I'm a proud member of The Apocalypsies, a group of children's book authors debuting in 2012."


Official Website, Goodreads, Blog, Twitter, Facebook 







a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enjoy and good luck!!! 

A 'Nobel Beehive Award' Review: Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Glimmer 

by Phoebe Kitanidis 

Release Date: 4/17/2012

Format: ARC from Author

Publisher: Balzer + Bray 

Age Group: YA

SUMMARY

"What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls."

MY REVIEW

This book is definitely going on my top 12 list for 2012!
If you're looking for a very unique and different kind of story to read, this is it!!!
The writing, the characters, the story-line, the pacing - everything is spot on... even if I wanted to, tried to, forget this book, I would never be able to! Yes, it is that good!

Can you imagine waking up, not knowing where you are or who your with? But also, having absolutely no idea who you are??? Mind blowing!

And ladies and gentlemen, that is how this story begins!

We meet Her and Him, who we eventually learn are Elyse and Marshall. As scared as they are, they are able to go with their instincts to trust one another and help each other figure out what has happened to them, why they cannot remember anything and why their town, Summer Falls, and its residents are so odd and completely out of it - it's creepy. Page-turner creepy.

Their discoveries are so unpredictable and and at times sad, you cannot help but feel what these two are going through as they discover who they are/where, how they feel about it each other before and now, and you start to really fall into this odd world of theirs and really hope that things will get better for them soon.

*A bit spoiler-ish here...
There are ghosts walking about! They're not spooky scary, but if you can see one, you better run away!
I really did like the whole paranormal twist to this story and how it developed. However, my one and only wish is that I would have liked to have known more about the  the 'legendary tribe' and Summer Falls guardians at the end of the story. We do get to find out as to why and the how, but will it happen again? I'm hoping that their will be some sort of short story or novella to give a little bit more detail.  
*End spoiler.

I highly recommend this book!
Magic, ghosts, mystery, trust and love all mixed into one of the best paranormal books I have read in a long while!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phoebe Kitanidis wants you to know:

How to pronounce her last name.

It's actually really easy...

Just say "kitten eat us" really fast. 

(It's Greek.)

Official Website, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook

My Saturday IMM #16: The Big Pile

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme created by 

The Story Siren 

The idea is to post whatever 'books' you may have received from the week (before), whether you purchased them, gifted to you, borrowed, traded, etc.

Because I cannot resist super cool prices, I was able to get Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
and Looking for Alaska by John Green.

Funny story: Hubs called me from the store the other day asking me if I had read The Hungers Games... "yes, but only the first book, why?"... "because you never asked me to go see the movie!"... "whoops!"
And then he came home with the boxed hardcover set!!!
I guess I owe him a date now ;)

 And I got a finished hardcopy of This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel -  

You can see my review right HERE! 

For review! I received this book from ZonderKidz :)
The Enchanted Attic: Facing the Hunchback of Notre Dame by L.L. Samson

And I won this book from Scholastic on Goodreads First!
Perception (Clarity 2) by Kim Harrington

Hmmm, guess I'll have to pick up book 1, Clarity, soon :)

And Amy of Book Loving Mom shared this arc with me :)
Thank you so much, Amy!!!
Destined (Wings #4) by Aprilynne Pike
... and you can see Amy's review of Destined here!

I have the first 3 on my Nook...
but now I think I may need physical copies for my new shelf ;)

AND, I also got some minicards done at moo.com! 

I couldn't resist these images! Aren't they bumble-y and fairy-tail-ish??? 

What my kiddos got this week :)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5 The Ugly Truth, #6 Cabin Fever and 

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary by Jeff Kinney  

Phineas and Ferb's Guide to Life by Walt Disney Company

AND... we went to a book sale at the public library today
and look at all we got for $20!!! 

I am SO super excited to have been able to find a hardcopy in mint condition of
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor!
I have always wanted to read this series :)


And that was our stack for last week!
What was in your mailbox this week???

My Waiting On Wednesday #6: Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  

Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and make our shelves look all pretty :) 

Enchanted 

by Alethea Kontis 

Release date: 5/8/2012 

"It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?"

This book had me at "enchanted frog"!!! 

A re-telling of a few fariy-tales! A handful of fairy tales all in one book!!!  

And the cover is... gorgeous... enchanting :) 

Will Sunday's story be 'happily ever after'??? 

I cannot wait to read this book :)

What are you waiting for this week??? 

A Book Tour: Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein (Interview)

Pretty Amy 

Lisa Burstein

Release Date: 5/15/2012

Format: eBook

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Age Group: Young Adult

INTERVIEW 

1. Describe Pretty Amy in three words. 

Funny, Real, Bittersweet

2. How much input did you have in Pretty Amy's cover? 

A lot actually, but the cover I originally wanted wasn't the one I got. I requested a cover with a girl in a prom dress from the neck down. I wanted it to be "Amy's mug shot" with the title of the book and my name, on her mug shot sign. That cover was made, but so was the one that was chosen and I liked that one a lot better. That was all my publisher Liz Pelletier and my editor Stacy Cantor Abrams. From what I hear they went through a lot of "Amy's". I think the one they picked is perfect!

3. Can you tell us more about the Pretty Amy project?  Will the stories be shared? and if so, where can we see them? 

Basically I wanted to provide a safe place where teens who had read PRETTY AMY could share their feelings about the book and how they feel it relates to their lives and their experiences. I am asking them to tell me how they've felt like Amy. How they got over it. How they are getting over it. How they are embracing it. I am inviting them to tell anything they've been too afraid to tell before. I will be creating a blog to showcase the stories, teens can decide whether they want to be anonymous and or have their names listed. I am hoping it will let teen girls know they are not alone. That a lot of people feel what they feel: the desire to belong, to fit in, to have people who understand them.

4. Which is your most favorite fairy-tale character/story? and why? 

I refer to this fairytale in PRETTY AMY, in regards to how Amy sees the differences between herself and her friends, like human versions of the three bears, so I guess I would say, Goldilocks. I like how Goldilocks isn't afraid to admit that she doesn't know what she wants.

5. What are you working on now/next? 

A companion novel to PRETTY AMY, titled DEAR CASSIE about the aftermath of the girls’ arrest and its effect told through diary entries of Amy’s best friend Cassie. It should be out next spring.

Thank you so much for stopping by, Lisa!!!

SUMMARY

"Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing. 

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over."


You can find my review for Pretty Amy HERE!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Fiction from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats. Pretty Amy is her first novel. She never went to her senior prom.

Official Website, Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter

A Promo/Blog Tour for: 

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/

A "Buzz-Worthy" Review: Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

Pretty Amy 

by Lisa Burstein

Release Date: May 15th, 2012

Published by: Entangled Publishing

Genre: Young Adult

Format read: eBook

SUMMARY

"Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing. 

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over."

MY REVIEW

Pretty Amy was not what I expected - and that is such a good thing! 

I expected the story to be lighter and fun, and again, I am so happy that I was wrong.
Amy's story is not dark, it may be slightly depressing and sad - but it has it's funny moments too.
I am amazed on how Lisa Burstein's writing was able to draw me in and remind me what it was like to be a senior in high school again - every time I was forced to put the book down I had to remind myself that I am no longer that teen and that I am married with children, a billion years away from being an 'Amy' again, lol! But every time I started reading again, I felt for Amy and knew exactly what she was going through... well, sans the arrest... 

Amy is the quiet one of the group who goes along with whatever her 2 rebellious friends, Lila and Cassie, say and do. And in the process of being cool with them, she loses her longtime childhood friend.

Then on Prom night, the trio get ditched by their so-called dates and long story short, they end up being arrested for possession of pot. And of course, the teen drama begins and it's the end of the world as we know it! Amy is forbidden to see any of her friends, her cell phone is taken away, she has to get a job to pay for the attorney her parents hired, she has to see a shrink and she's pretty much on house arrest. She has also been expelled from school, which meant that she was not allowed to finish the last week of school - and even though she will graduate, because she was no longer permitted on school grounds, she was also not allowed to go to her graduation ceremony.

Now, we meet Amy's parents.
Her mom is overbearing, very picky and seems to care more about what people think than her only daughter. The Dad is very laid back and seems to be your typical kind of Dad that hasn't accepted the fact that his little girl is growing up and tries to downplay everything that is going on by making bad pancake breakfasts and letting his wife make the decisions.

At first, I really had a hard time with Amy's parents, I felt like they weren't really there for Amy and that they were being too harsh and making things worse for her. But then I remembered what being a teen was like, the things that I went through, the things I saw my parents went through and now that I am a parent too - I get it!
Amy's parents, just like a lot of parents, think that things for teens should be so easy.
They forget and don't understand how hard life could be for a teen, especially a teen that has lost her way and doesn't know who she is or who she wants to be. How difficult it is to find your own voice and just speak up. Amy has never had anyone to rely on or to talk to. No one who ever showed a genuine interest and listened to her... or did she???

The ending is really good. I won't say anymore due to spoilers!

All girls should read Pretty Amy!
No matter the age, just like Amy, you will find that you are never alone!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Lisa Burstein

 Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Fiction from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats. Pretty Amy is her first novel. She never went to her senior prom.

Official Website, Blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter

A Book Trailer Reveal and Excerpt: Taste by Kate Evangelista

Taste

by Kate Evangelista

Release Date: May 1st, 2012

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press 

SUMMARY

"At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud."

TRAILER

EXCERPT 

I sat up and followed Calixta’s gaze upward. I rubbed my eyes. I didn’t know what I was seeing at first. A statue? ­My brain refused to snap together coherent thoughts.  I didn’t realize I’d fallen so close to one of the garden benches until I stared up at the boy that sat on one. He was strikingly beautiful. His tumble of blonde hair curled just above his sculpted cheekbones. He wore a silk shirt and a loosened cravat, like he’d become bored while dressing and decided to leave himself in disarray. His ivory skin and frozen position was what had me mistaking him for something carved from marble by Michelangelo. Then he sighed—a lonely, breathy proof of life. If I had to imagine what Lucifer looked like before he fell from heaven, the boy on the bench would certainly fulfill that image. My brain told me I had to look away, but I couldn’t.

“Luka,” Calixta said again, her voice unsure, almost nervous. It no longer contained the steel and bite she had threatened me with, which made me wonder who the boy was.

He leaned on his hands and crossed his legs, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on the night sky. His movements spoke of elegance and control. I’d encountered many people with breeding before, but his took on the air of arrogance and self-assuredness of someone used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.

I only realized I’d been holding my breath when my lungs protested. I exhaled. My heart sputtered and restarted with a vengeance. Luka tore his gaze away from the stars and settled it on me. I’d expected pitch-black irises, like the other Night Students, but blue ice stared back at me.

“Human,” he whispered.

He reached out, and with a finger, followed an invisible trail down my cheek. I stiffened. His touch, cooler than Demitri’s, caused warm sparks to blossom on my face. He lifted his finger to his lips and licked its tip. He might as well have licked me from the way my body shivered.

Luka’s curious gaze held mine. “Leave us,” he said, but not to me.

“But—” Calixta protested like a spoiled child.

He spoke in a language I hadn’t heard before, remaining calm yet firm. The words had a rolling cadence I couldn’t quite follow, like rumbling thunder in the distance. They contained a harsh sensuality. The consonants were hard and the vowels were long and lilting.

Footsteps retreated behind me.

Luka reached out again.

It took me a minute to realize he wanted to help me up. I hesitated. He smiled. I smiled back timidly and took his hand, completely dazzled. Even with my uniform soaked from melted snow, I didn’t feel cold—all my attention was on him and the way his callused hand felt on mine. Without moving much from his seated position, he helped me stand.

“What’s your name?” he asked. He had a voice like a familiar lullaby. It filled my heart to the brim with comfort.

I swallowed and tried to stop gawking. “Phoenix.”

“The bird that rose from the ashes.” Luka bent his head and kissed the back of my hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

My cheeks warmed. My head reeled, not knowing what to think. I couldn’t understand why I felt drawn to him. And the strange connection frightened me.

From behind, someone gripped my arms and yanked me away before I could sort out the feelings Luka inspired in me. I found myself behind a towering figure yet again. Recognizing the blue-black silk for hair tied at the nape, relief washed over me. Calixta hadn’t come back to finish me off.

Demitri’s large hand wrapped around my wrist. Unlike the night before, no calm existed in his demeanor. He trembled like a junky in need of a fix. The coiled power in his tense muscles vibrated into me.

“What are you doing here?” Demitri asked.

I didn’t know he’d spoken to me until I saw his expressionless profile. I sighed.

“Phoenix.”

I flinched. The ruthless way he said my name punched all the air out of me. “You owe me answers,” I said with as much bravado as I could muster.

“I owe you nothing.” He glared. “In fact, you owe me your life.”

“I don’t think so.”

Ignoring my indignation, he faced Luka, who’d remained seated on the bench during my exchange with Demitri. “Why is she with you, Luka?” 

“I wasn’t going to taste her, if that’s what you’re implying,” Luka said. “Although, she is simply delicious. I wouldn’t mind if you left us alone.”

There it was again. Taste. The word that kept coming up between these Night Students and I was connected to it in an increasingly uncomfortable way. To taste meant to sample, but what? My flesh? They had to be joking because the alternative wasn’t funny.

“The sins of the father …” Demitri left his sentence unfinished.

Luka’s smile shifted into a snarl. “Obey my command.” His chin lifted. “Kneel.”

Demitri’s stance went rigid. His grip tightened around my wrist.

Okay, weird just got weirder. Why would Luka want Demitri to kneel before him? I thought back to Eli and the others bowing to Demitri when he questioned them, but they didn’t kneel. Seriously? Were they all living on a different planet or something?

“Kneel.” Luka’s detestable smirk made his features sinister rather than angelic. The real Lucifer: a fallen angel.

Without letting go of my wrist, Demitri knelt down on one knee and bowed his head, his free hand flat at the center of his chest. “Your command has been obeyed,” he said formally.

Luka nodded once.

Demitri stood up and pulled me toward the school without telling me where we were going. Not having the time to thank Luka for saving me from Calixta, I risked a glance back. Luka smiled at me. His smile spoke of whispers, secrets, and promises to be shared on a later date.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

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Crescent Moon Page for Taste


I am really looking forward to reading Taste...
The cover is gorgeous! and I must know more about this Demitri... must!
Sounds like a creepy story, but a good kind of creepy, right?!

What do you think???