Paper Princess

Paper Princess: A Novel (The Royals Book 1)

Erin Watt; Everafter Romance 2016

Summary:From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone. 

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees. 

My Review: This book was recommended to me on top YA books of the month on amazon. It had really good reviews n amazon and goodreads, so naturally I purchased it.  Honestly, this book kinda stressed me. There are so many twists, turns, drama, darkness, comedy, revenge, love, and friendships, that it constantly keeps you on your toes. It reminded me of the TV show Gossip Girl in many ways. The beginning was a little slow for me and then it picked up towards the middle. The end of course was a cliffhanger, which I hate! It literally made my jaw drop because of its intensity. Now I have to wait until the end of the month to get the second one! Just plain rude.

The best thing about this read was Ella. Ella was really likable and tough. She is a strong character, who yearns for love and acceptance, but hides behind a hard exterior, and she really developed throughout the story. For someone so young, she has gone through a lot. I really respected her, because she is a fighter and she wasn't going to crap from anyone. She really stayed true to herself and said what was on her mind.

Callum Royal, the dad and guardian of Ella, was so sweet. He is probably my second favorite character. He is constantly saving the day and is really a diamond in the rough.

The Royal sons were a buncha Mc-A-Holes in my opinion. They had their honorable moments, but seriously were evil the rest of the time. Reed, who is the ringleader of the brothers, was pretty brutal at times, but he also had a protective and soft side to him that I loved.

There were several things that turned me off in this book. The control the boys had in the community, school and home. The bullying and spoiled brat like characters. The sexual tension, sex scenes, and hardcore partying scenes.

Overall, not my favorite. I would call it an OK read.

Quotes:
“No one wants to be ruined. We all want to be saved.”

Watch Out For:  Language, drinking, drug usage, partying, sex scenes, lies/deceit, greediness, violence, fighting, etc..

The Watchers: Knight of Light

The Watchers Book 1: Knight of Light

In England, 1270 A.D., Auriella (pronounced yurr-ee-ella) flees her village after being accused of witchcraft. Pursued by nightmarish creatures, she struggles to accept the truth about her humanity. Filled with fairies, dwarves, pixies, dragons, and monsters, Knight of Light is an enthralling tale that will capture the imaginations of readers young and old.
The Watchers Series has been described as Braveheart meets Supernatural. The mythology for the series is based on many theological texts from dozens of sects with correlating themes. Ancient writings include The Dead Sea Scrolls, The Traditional Apocrypha, The Pearl of Great Price, and The Kabbalah.

“The Watchers” are supernatural beings in human form whose duty it is to protect and guard mankind from the armies of darkness. Unfortunately, as the Book of Enoch mentions, some of these Watchers go bad. Although the mythology is based on these texts, Deirdra Eden’s The Watchers Series is written in a traditional fairytale style with a young girl’s discovery of incredible, but dangerous powers within herself, a cast of humorous side-kicks, a quest for greater self-discovery and purpose, and villains of epic proportions.

Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads  Wattpad  Pinterest

About the Author

"My goal in writing is to saturate my books with intrigue, mystery, romance, and plot twists that will keep my readers in suspense. I want to see fingerprints on the front and back covers where readers have gripped the novel with white knuckles! Aside from writing, I enjoy jousting in arenas, planning invasions, horseback riding through open meadows, swimming in the ocean, hiking up mountains, camping in cool shady woods, climbing trees barefoot, and going on adventures."
-Deirdra Eden

Find Deirdra Eden and The Watchers Series online on Amazon, Deirdra's website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Wattpad, and Pinterest.


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The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault of Our Stars

By John Green;Dutton Books 2012


Summary: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

My Review: I have read a few of John Green's books over the years and thought them to be alright, until this book. 

I have been meaning to read this for some time. People were always asking me if I had read it yet? My answer was always no. A couple of months ago it was on sale on Amazon. So I bought it and downloaded it to my kindle. There it sat for months and months until yesterday. 

While on my road trip to Colorado. I decided to read it. From there on out I could not stop reading it! I was so drawn into the story of two teenagers with cancer, who fall in love even thought they are eventually going to die. It really showed me that even when life is bleak you still have to live every day like it is your best day and to not let an opportunity pass you by. 

The main character Hazel, I found to be very relate able. She enjoys reading, watching TV, laying on the grass and looking at the night and day sky. Through out the book you can see her journey of opening up and letting people in. Hazel provides us with insight about what it is like to know you are dying. Her story is about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.
  

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed it! And I highly recomend it! 


Watch Out For: Cancer, near death experiences,  brief sex scene, kissing, mild language, brief drinking scene, and descriptions of drugs for cancer patients. 


Video Trailer:

Sisterhood Everlasting 

by Ann Brashares; Randomhouse 2011

Summary: Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting.

Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness.

Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected.

As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one

My Review: It has been so long since I have read a whole book! It feels good to read a whole book again, instead of samples on my kindle. I have been behind these last few months. But I am making a goal to start reading and blogging reviews again. I've missed it a ton.

This books was something I needed to read at this time. It reminded me of friendships I have and the friendships I've let slip away. During my junior year of college, there were four of us. Just like the sisterhood. We would have bridge night, where we lit candles, had junk food, and talked about everything. We were best friends. A teacher told us that eventually we would all stop talking and that our friendship wouldn't last. We of course deined it then. It has almost been five year since that time and I only comminicate with one of them.

Much like the sisterhood, each character goes down a different path and lives their lifes. Often their thoughts turn to thier friends, with wonder on how things are going in their lives.
This was a difficult read because of the tragedy that happens to them. It was heartbreaking to watch each character go through struggles and heartbreak. I am not going to lie. I shed a tear or too while reading this.

What I like so much about the sisterhood is that even though each character is flawed, they still grow and come to find their own happiness. And that their friendship is everlasting.

Watch Out For: Sex, planned parenthood, birthcontrol, explicit swearing, drinking, death, and suicide.

A Quest Post: The Great Good Thing

The Great Good Thing
By Roderick Townley; Scholastic 2001

Summary: Sylvie had an amazing life, but she didn't get to live it very often.

Sylvie has been a twelve-year-old princess for more than eighty years, ever since the book she lives in was first printed. She's the heroine, and her story is exciting -- but that's the trouble. Her story is always exciting in the same way. Sylvie longs to get away and explore the world outside the confines of her book.

When she breaks the cardinal rule of all storybook characters and looks up at the Reader, Sylvie begins a journey that not even she could have anticipated. And what she accomplishes goes beyond any great good thing she could have imagined...

Things to Watch Out for: Dangerous characters.

Quest Post from Cambria Sees:

I've loved The Great Good Thing since I was in the 2nd grade. The plot line has twists and turns, which always keeps the reader quessing and wondering what will happen next. Sylvie is adventurous, spunky, and willing to go the extra mile to be apart of an adventure and the unknown. This read is fasinating because of how the point of view pulls the reader in and draws the reader into the story. The characters in this book seem to surround the story around the reader. The characters are seperate different beings with great personalites, which make everything work together wonderfully. I've enjoyed this book for years and I plan on enjoying it for many to come. 

Divergent

Divergent

By Veronica Roth; Katherine Tegen Books 2011

Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series--dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My Review: OMIGOSH! While I was gone away to a foreign country for a year this marvelous book came out and I just barely got around to reading it. I couldn't put it down. I was so addicted and drawn to this book. Way to go Veronica Roth! I was really interested in the five factions and how people were divided. It kinda made me think about which faction I would choose. The training and decision process the kids went into to find their faction was beyond fascinating. I seriously enjoyed every minute of it.

 Beatrice/Tris has made it to the list of heroines who kick trash! She is a tiny not so pretty girl who has this determination about her. She is determined to succeed and do her best to prove her self. To prove that she is not weak or like anybody else. She is someone people can really look up too. At times she really doubted herself, but she uses her bravery and selflessness to protect others. 

 This is an exciting dystopian thriller which has a sense of originality and it way addictive. Read it if you dare!

Watch Out For: Some kissing, drinking, violence, death, fighting, assault, and one incident of  suicide.

The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero
By Rick Riordan; Hyperion 2010

Summary: Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

My Review: 

Yes, indeed it is yet another Rick Riordan book! I cannot get enough of him or his books. The Percy Jackson Series, Kane Chronicles, and now The Heros of Olympus Series. 

Epic! Simply Epic! There are brand new characters, a new quest, and one heck of an adventure in the world of Greek and Demigods. The new demigods Jason, Piper, and Leo are my favorite! Even better than Grover, Percy, and Annabeth.  At first I was really nervous to read this book because of my love for the Percy Jackson Series.  But as always, Rick does the treat and sets my mind at ease and pulls me into this incredible world. Gosh! He has a dang good imagination. I simply loved it!

While reading you feel as if you are getting a little history lesson of Greek mythology. Both the Greek Gods and Heroes.  The back stories of the Gods, demigods, and the heroes are awesome. I simply love Greek Mythology and the idea on having powers and weapons.

Two thumbs up! It's remarkable and I highly recommend it!

Watch Out For: Flirting, attacks, fighting, kidnapping,supernatural, and mentioning of  deaths.

Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl  # 1

By Cecily von Ziegesar; Little Brown Books 2002


Summary:Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live, go to school, play, and sleep--sometimes with each other. 

S is back from boarding school, and if we aren't careful, she's going to win over our teachers, wear that dress we couldn't fit into, steal our boyfriends' hearts, and basically ruin our lives in a major way. I'll be watching closely...

You know you love me, 
gossip girl


My Review:
 To be quite honestly I did not like this book at all. I found it rather trashy and disappointing. I was into the first few pages and I was like o no I know right now that I am not going to like this book, but I give every book a chance. 


The story takes place in Manhattan young, rich, and fashionable. Where the characters Serena, Blair, Nate, Chuck, and others throw parties, fall in love, and try to get into Ivy League colleges. The story is narrated by the characters and the online site Gossip Girl. No one knows who this Gossip Girl is, but she knows and sees everything.


 I am not into the snobby rich girl scene, where they just party every night, steal each others boyfriends, and keep up or ahead of the fashion treads. And yet hundreds of young girls want to be like them. They want the popularity, the money, the fashion, and the boys.And yet how to these girls feel about characters such as these? Do they want to be like them? Do they hate them? Do they feel sorry for them? Do they envy them? Something to think about.


But overall I didn't really like it and I don't plan on finishing the series. What will your opinion be?


What Out For: Sex, strong language, smoking, drinking, rumors, and gossip.

Oh.My.Gods.

Oh. My.Gods. 
By Tera Lynn Childs; Speak 2008

Summary:When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe's plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uberexclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That's right, they're real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes: supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they're on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.

My Review: Oh. My. Gods. And interesting take on modern day Greek Mythology. Dealing with the facts that the Greek Gods have descendants who develop powers. I am always up for a good modern day Greek mythology novel. I loved the Percy Jackson Series  and I actually enjoyed this one. 


The thing that bothered me the most was that there wasn't  much fantasy.  The kids all seemed pretty normal and acted like teens. Occasionally there would be a zap of powers, but nothing quite as drastic as Percy Jackson stuff (fighting evil, etc...). 


I thought Phoebe to be a determine little thing and a well rounded character. She would push herself to the limit in running. I really envied her for her running abilities and awesome Nike gear. I felt really sorry for her at the beginning because she had to leave America, her friends, and school to go live with a new step father, on an island, and go to a school full of Gods. So I imagine it was a little rough for her. But then  cross country, Griffen, and other friends make a difference. 


I would say it is an ok book. Not bad, but not great. If you like Greek Mythology and just a regular ole YA novel then this is ideal for you.

Watch Out For: Supernatural powers, some kissing, mild profanity, and Greek Mythology.

Beastly ( Lindy's Diary)

Beastly Lindy's Diary
By Alex Flinn; HarperCollins 2012

Summary:
Diary,

I am locked away . . . with no one to confide in but you . . . and him. His fur, those claws—they caught me off guard at first, but now I'm noticing something else about him—something deeper. It's the look in his eye. It tells me he's got a secret to keep. That's okay—I've got one, too. I think I'm falling in love with him. . . .

Lindy
My Review: The is the Beastly story through Lindy's eyes. She keeps a dairy and records her captivity with the beast. Her thoughts, feelings, and actions gave a greater depth to the book Beastly. Finally we get a better view of the character Lindy and what her feelings were about Kyle and the Beast Adrian. We take an inside look of how Lindy came to love the beast and see the inner beauty inside him. For those who have not read Beastly or even have heard about it this is my review on Beastly. I suggest reading  Beastly first and then this one.

Watch Out For: Drug usage, some kissing, and mild violence.

Bloody Jack

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary “Jacky” Faber, Ship’s Boy

By L.A. Meyer; Harcourt 2004

Summary: Life as a ship's boy aboard HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. Gone are the days of scavenging for food and fighting for survival on the streets of eighteenth-century London. Instead, Jacky is becoming a skilled and respected sailor as the crew pursues pirates on the high seas.
There's only one problem: Jacky is a girl. And she will have to use every bit of her spirit, wit, and courage to keep the crew from discovering her secret. This could be the adventure of her life--if only she doesn't get caught. . . .

My Review:   Jacky Faber (Mary) is a spunky girl with a sense of adventure. In her debut Bloody Jack  we can see her spirit and her sense of adventure. She is a fighter and survivor! Jacky Faber is girl involved in a man’s world.  O how I love her. She truly grows in the series and she deals with so much. This whole series is great! If you love pirates and adventure you will love this book and series. L.A. Meyers draws you into a historical fun adventure. I really enjoyed it!

Watch Out for: Pirates, death, mentioning’s of women’s periods, violence, beatings, attempted rape, and some fighting. 

Twilight Graphic Novel 2

Twilight: the Graphic Novel, Vol 2 
By Stephanie Meyer, Young Kim ( Art/Adaption)
;Yen Press 2011


Summary: Having uncovered the dark secret of her enigmatic classmate, Edward Cullen, Bella Swan embraces her feelings for him, trusting Edward to keep her safe despite the risks. When a rival clan of vampires makes its way into Forks, though, the danger to Bella has never been more real. Will she make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people dearest to her? The second volume completes the visual adaptation of Meyer's worldwide bestselling debut novel and is a must-have for any collector's library.


My Review: Love Graphic Novels! Always have always will.  Best adaptation of the twilight series. I prefer the graphic novels over the actual book.  What I like most about the graphic novels is that they show my favorite parts in the book that weren't shown in the movies.  The illustrations are just amazing and beautiful.  I really hope that they do graphic novels for the rest of the series. All in all I loved it!


Watch Out For:  Some kissing, fighting, and super natural (mind reading, vampires, etc...).

The Breakup Bible

The Breakup Bible

By Melissa  Kantor; Hyperion 2007

Summary:Jen Lewis is having a great junior year. She is the features editor of the school paper, and she’s dating Max Brown, the paper’s editor-in-chief. Everything is perfect—that is, until Max says, “Maybe it would be better if we were just friends.” In shock and total denial, Jen wonders how she is going to deal with the pain of seeing Max in school every day. Her misery only intensifies when her grandmother gives her a book that she heard about on the radio. Dr. Emerson’s The Breakup Bible claims that “there’s no reason a woman can’t get over a breakup very quickly if she’ll just follow a few basic commandments.” Jen is doubtful. What does Dr. Emerson know about her and Max? In a send-up to the scores of dating books on the market, Melissa Kantor’s The Breakup Bible tackles the aftermath of a high school romance with her trademark honesty, humor, and wit.

My Review: Once when I was a young girl in high school I found this book hidden away in the wrong section of the library. I checked it out and started reading it. I thought it was one of those books to help you step by step get over a breakup (Which I was going trough) and how to move on. But I was disappointed at first, because it turned about to be another Young Adult book. But still I gave it a try.

 To me this is just an ok read. I don't like reading about an over dramatic girl who just got dumped and is in the "I'd rather die mood." Nothing too exciting or funny. You just feel sorry for the girl and her family and friends. You feel sorry for her because she doesn't know how to cope. And You feel sorry for the friends and family because they are dealing with a morbid friend and daughter who is constantly crying. Some of us have had to deal with breakups and know how hard it is to move on. But the problem with Jenny is that she takes forever to pick up and move on. She is always thinking that her ex and her will get back together. The only thing I really liked about this book is the Ten Commandments of moving on from a break up. Which I will show below. Overall it was just an ok book.

Quotes:
"Friends are as precious as boyfriends. Don't think of this time as your friends are somehow second-rate just because your not in a relationship."

" Is there a Web site called dreamscometrue.com? If so, this moment deserved to be the home page."

Ten Breakup Commandments

1. Move out

2. You cannot be friends

3. Do not process this breakup together

4. Do not bad-mouth your ex to other people

5. Get rid of anything that reminds you of him

6. Start an exercise regime

7. Pursue an interest you could not have pursued while you and your ex were together.

8. Take a vacation

9. Embrace Change.

10. Go on a date-there are plenty of other fish in the sea.

Watch Out For:Some Kissing, some profanity, controversial race issues, and Teen Drinking.

Bitterblue

Bitterblue
By Kristin Cashore; Dial 2012


Summary: Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

My Review: I loved Graceling, Fire, and now Bitterblue. Kristin Cashore has a way of drawing you into to this world  where there is mystery, history, thieves, secrets, kingdoms, and heroines that fight for what is right. 


Bitterblue was definately different from the other two heroines, because she was a queen and had to make big decisions regarding her kingdom.  She also had this desire to help her people from the horrible 35 years worth of terror they experienced from her father King Leck. Her advisors and locals are suffering from emotional damage and Bitterblue wants to find out what kind of things her father did. Bitterblue and her gang track down the secrets that her father left. Through ciphers, journals, spy keys, and a talented librarian answers will be found.


I highly recommend these companion novels. Read all three and then maybe you will love just as much as I do.  

Watch Out For: Suicides, Death, Kissing, drinking, fighting, mild cussing, torture, a psychopath and his demented experiments on humans and animals. 

The Truth about Lilly Barnes

The Truth about Lilly Barnes
By Kimberly Russell; 2012

Summary: “Today is the day it is going to happen. I’m not melancholy or nervous. I just want to get it over with more than anything. Today is the day that I, Lilly Barnes, die.”

 Lilly Barnes doesn't want to live anymore. She is prepared to leave her life, family, and more importantly, her best friend Buddy behind for good. But, why? What could be so horrible that it makes a young girl want to end her life? Find out in The Truth about Lilly Barnes.

My Review:  Whew....Honestly when I received this novel I was a little skeptical.  When I heard it was about a girl wanting to end her life, I was really unsure. But I like reading new things and I always give a book a chance. And  I was quite taken by surprise to how much I like it. When I take on a read such as this, I become the character. I put myself in their place and try to think and feel like they do. Just to understand the character and get a better reading experience.  And with this read I gained a better perspective about how certain events in your life can effect how you feel about yourself and life in general. This really gave me a better insight to what people go through and how they deal with it.

Lilly is just incredible. I am in awe by her courage. She is such a raw character and has this haunting feel about her. Lilly comes from a very dysfunctional family, which is why she turns to her best friend Buddy and his family. Buddy and his family are awesome. They are so kind and thoughtful and really reached out to Lilly in her time of need. There is something so intriguing about Lilly.  She is totally content with the thought of ending her life and giving up on the future and her dreams. Nothing was holding her back from wanting to kill herself. I was so fascinated by her thought process and her feelings. She was just so numb and willing to die. Some of us have never felt that way before. This read pulls us into a view of what people go through everyday and how people are hurting so much inside that dying would bring them more happiness than living.

This read  made me think about  the realities of life, what teens go through, and how one event or more can change your life. We all know what kind of issues iare out there and sometimes we are scared to listen or read about it. Suicide, depression, and abuse is real.We nee to be informed about these sort of things, so when the time comes we can handle it. I give major props to this author for touching on a sensitive subject such as this and giving me a better insight to suicide and abuse.

If you are looking for a short read and something different than your usual reads, then this is a read for you.

Watch Out For: Sexual abuse, suicide, language, and some kissing.


Guest Post from Kimberly Russell:

Thank you Channing for letting me be a part of your blog! Today I wanted to talk about the advantages of being self-published. When I started this process I didn’t know anything about self-publishing, so if anyone here is thinking about writing or publishing I hope this helps.

People always ask me if I ever plan on trying the traditional route in publishing and my answer is:  I did and it didn’t work out.

 If you don’t know how it works I’ll explain it quickly.  After you finish your novel you write a letter called a query to agents. You tell them about your book and a little bit about yourself. It should only be a page long. Every agent has different requirements for a query, but generally they ask you for a sample of the book. Then, you wait. Wait for them to tell you no or wait for them to ask you for more.

With my book, The Truth about Lilly Barnes, I had a lot interest but ultimately I couldn’t find an agent.   At first I was really upset; actually, I was hurt more than anything. I wanted people to read and love this book as much as I do! I turned to self-publishing as a way to get my work out, and I’m so happy that I did. I never imagined how much joy it would bring me.

Here are the top 5 advantages of self-publishing: 

5. Retention of Rights – that means I own everything that I come up with, and I can do with it whatever I want. A lot of times when you sign a contract you don’t actually own your work anymore.

4. Marketing – I get to market the book however I want. I’m on tumblr, facebook, twitter, etc. No one tells me what I can or can’t put on these social media outlets.

3. Publication Speed – I published The Truth about Lilly Barnes 6 months after my first novel Between Balloons. If I was working through traditional channels, the process would have been much slower. Books traditionally take two years to become available.

2. Creativity Control – One of my favorite things in the book process is working on the book cover. My little sister is my cover model and that would never happen if I was published traditionally. The time and memories we built during the process are invaluable.

1. Price – Both of my eBooks are on sale for 99 cents. I know most eBooks sale for more but I like that mine are so cheap. I want them to be accessible, available, and affordable to as many people as possible. I hate when you hear about a book you really wanted to read and its $8 on the NOOK.

Thank you, again Channing, for letting me be a part of your blog, and if anyone has any questions you are more than welcome to contact me.www.kimberly-russell.com

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The Luxe

The Luxe (Luxe #1)
By Ann Godbersen; HaperCollins 2007

Summary: Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.
Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.
White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.
This is Manhattan, 1899.

Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

My Review: Ann Godbersen has brought about an exciting series of the late 1800's and the entering 1900's with five teenager who live  in New York. This series is Ann Godbersen's debut and I believe it to be a successful one. I have every single one of her books. I find her stories to be creative, exciting, and just enough drama to keep me on my toes. Get ready for some scandalous drama!  

Elizabeth and Diana are sisters who are both very different from one another. Elizabeth is more quiet and does what she is told, to an extent. When it comes to saving her family from financial ruin she will even except marriage to Henry even though she is in love with her family's coachman Will. Diana is my personal favorite. She is a rebel,sassy, and has caught the eye of Henry. Then there is the evil mean girl Penelope who tries to ruin everyone's lives, especially the Holland sisters. 

What I learned the most from this book and series is that it is important to follow your heart and fight for what you want even when duty to your family is envolved . 

I love this series. I will always buy this author's books. I highly recommend them!

Watch Out For: Drinking, Kissing, Sex, Gossiping, Death, and just plain Scandal

The Serpent's Shadow

The Serpent's Shadow 
By Rick Riordan; Hyperion Books 2012

Summary: He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can’t seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos.

To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent’s shadow... or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld...

My Review: Definitely my favorite out of the three! Whew! What a great ending! I am devastated that The Kane Chronicles are over.    :(   Well done once again my dear Rick Riordan. Excellent writing  and ever so clever and funny. I laughed out loud through out this book. He is a brilliant writer and he has this amazing way of drawing you in to the Egypitian mythology.  

I especially loved Sadie and Carter in this book. They have grown so much throughout this series. Now they are leaders and kick trash magicians.  Sadie is amazing at magic  and Carter is a great fighter. Both of them had interesting love lives in this book. Sadie was going through a love triangle with Anubis and Walt and I won't give details on that, but I was satisfied. I have a crush on Anubis. That Egpyitian God  makes my heart spin. I blame Rick Riordan and his writing.

In other words this is an amazing book and Rick Riordan's books are amazing. Read them! 

Watch Out For: Kissing, fantasy violence, and magic.

Scarlet

Scarlet 
By A.C Gaughen ;Walker Childrens

Summary: Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

My Review: I found this book on ALA Teen's Top Ten Nominee of 2012. I love seeing which books get placed in the top ten and usually try to read a few of them. This one caught my eye especially because it mentioned Will Scarlet, Robin Hood, and Gisbourne. I am a sucker for Robin Hood. Books about Robin Hood, T.V shows, and movies. I've watched and tried to read them all. So of course I downloaded the ebook and started reading right away.  


What I love about this version of the Robin Hood story is that Will Scarlet was actually a girl.  Well Scarlet is a miss-I-can-do-what-I-want type of girl and doesn't let anyone push her around. At first I found her really annoying and wanted to slap her. But as time went on she grew on me because she started opening up and showing her true feelings. Throughout the book you find out who she really is, what happened to her, and why she is the way she is. And of course Robin hood is a babe as always. A do-gooder for sure and I thought he was portrayed very well. The whole gang is there as well all the way down to Friar Tuck. There were alot of mouth dropping moments that really surprised me. There were things I did not expect or couldn't figure out until the end. As soon as it ended I wanted more.


I really hope that the author will write more to this story. Because I would definitely buy all her books.  I found this to be an excellent and quick read. It has everything. Adventure, love,  mystery, and fighting. I recommend it!

Watch Out For: Some language, fighting, death, kissing, and thievery.

Graceling

Graceling  (the Seven Kingdoms  #1)

By Kristin Cashore; Harcourt 2008

Summary: Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. 


When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

My Review: This is one of my favorite books! This will be my third time reading it. I will always recommend this book because of its awesomeness. The characters are relatable and their stories are worth talking about. Kristin Cashore created a world that I want to see and live in.

 Talk about a kick trash woman. Kasta is up there with the heroine Katness from The Hunger Games. Kasta is a fighter, a survivor. I look up to her in so many ways because she is an independent woman and doesn’t take anybody’s crap! There is a sensitive side to her as well. While she is not doing the evil work for her uncle, she is fighting against him by doing good secretly. She created an organization that helps the helpless.

One of the coolest things about this book is the whole idea of a grace. A grace is a talent or ability to do something rather well. Kasta has the grace of killing or so it seems. Kristin Cashore said that some graces are useless while some are useful. Someone for instances, could have the grace of writing backwards or mind control. Either way I think it is awesome.

So basically this is an amazing book and I will continue reading this book and others like it. I recommend it to anyone who has the grace of reading.

Watch Out for: non-descriptive sex, some kissing, drinking, violence, injuries, and bloody fighting.