Crescendo!

Guess what guys! There is an official synopsis out for the sequel to Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Crescendo! I discovered it from Teens Read and Write, and they found it on Girls Without a Bookshelf. Thanks to them! You can read my review of Hush, Hush here.

So here it is:

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up.Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl.

Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

So what do you guys think??? I'm so excited!

As the picture shows, the cover will be released on April 10, 2010!!

Crescendo wil be released November 16, 2010!

Contests!!

Bloody Bookaholic is hosting two--that's right, TWO--contests!

First, she's giving away three copies of Numbers by Rachel Ward. This book looks amazing; I can't wait to check it out! Enter here by tomorrow! Sorry about such late notice!

Second, she's having a "Ridiculously Awesome Contest" and the name tells no lies! SEVEN winners, over 20 books! Check it out here, and enter by April 18!!

Perchance to Dream

Again, I'm sorry about my absense. I have a feeling my goal of reading 150 books this year will not be reached, because I am already ten books behind where I was last year. Also, I am skipping Teaser Tuesday this week because I'm still reading One Butt Cheek at a Time (yes, I'm terrible). But, here is my review of a great sequel of 2010!



Title: Perchance to Dream



Author: Lisa Mantchev



Pages: 333



Rating: ****



Summary (from Goodreads): The stuff that dreams are made on.
Act Two, Scene One.
Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.
Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY.
But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—
Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.
Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.
When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?



Review: I'm a huge fan of the Thèâtre Illuminata. I adored Eyes Like Stars (You can read my review here), and Perchance to Dream was no disappointment. The characters were just as likeable and funny, and this sequel does a great job of showing Bertie as she adjusts to her newfound power.

Ariel is the only person on Bertie's "Rescue Mission" who has ever been outside the Thèâtre, and it is nothing like the rest of them could have imagined. Bertie's magic doesn't work the way she expects it to out in the real world. The romance it the book is great until the end; Lisa does a great job of showing the love triangle. I thought the romantic ending left something to be desired; hopefully that'll be cleared up in the next book?

This book has a lot more magic in it. There were some parts I read four times, but still didn't quite understand what had happened. I liked it for the most part--it added flair and mystery. I thought some parts could have been a bit clearer.

Perchance to Dream keeps the originality of Eyes Like Stars going; I have yet to read anything close to Lisa's world.

Overall, much more fantasy than Eyes Like Stars. It answers some questions, but also brings up new ones.

Perchance to Dream will be released May 25, 2010!



Recommended for: Fantasy lovers, those who believe in the power of words

Teaser Tuesday: One Butt Cheek at a Time

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by MizB at Should Be Reading

From page 92 of One Butt Cheek at a Time by Amber Kizer

"Oh no, Ms. Whoptummy has a terrible gleam of power in her eye. The same twinkle Hitler had, I'm sure."

This simply says it all! What are your teasers this Tuesday?

And what do you guys think of the countdown at the top of the page? Too much? I tried it on the side, but you couldn't see it.

It's Monday! What are you Reading?

Correction: This is a meme brought to us by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Sorry about that!

This past week, I've read quite a few gems:

Perchance to Dream

O, Juliet

Heist Society

I loved all of these books! I already posted my review of O Juliet, and I'm eager to post my reviews of the rest!

Now, I am currently reading One Butt Cheek at a Time, which promises to be hilarious!

What are you reading?

O, Juliet

Title: O, Juliet

Author: Robin Maxwell

Pages: 306

Rating: *****

Summary (From Goodreads): Before Juliet Capelletti lie two futures: a traditionally loveless marriage to her father's business partner, or the fulfillment of her poetic dreams, inspired by the great Dante. Unlike her beloved friend Lucrezia, who looks forward to her arranged marriage, Juliet has a wild, romantic imagination that knows not the bounds of her great family's stalwart keep. The latter path is hers for the taking when Juliet meets Romeo Monticecco, a soulful young man seeking peace between their warring families. A dreamer himself, Romeo is unstoppable, once he determines to capture the heart of the remarkable woman foretold in his stars. The breathless intrigue that ensues is the stuff of beloved legend. But those familiar with Shakespeare's muse know only half the story...

Review: Usually I wait a few weeks to post my review of a book. Not sure why; it just takes me that long to get around to it.

SO not the case with O, Juliet.

This book was fantastic. I love the Romeo and Juliet love story, so when I heard about this book, I had to have it. First, the writing. Phenomenal. I've found two styles for historical fiction: Some historical fiction is written in a modern tone, so I often forget it is actually set in a different time period until someone mentions a ball or something. Maxwell wrote in the second style: classical. It is written with an old voice, so it sounds as if it is really coming from that time period. It is beautiful and inspiring. It makes me want to live during that time and write from that period, but this style is much more difficult, I believe--and much more satisfying.

Next, the story. As mentioned, I love Romeo and Juliet; it is my favorite of Shakespeare's works. I am a hopeless romantic, so I could just imagine being Juliet, wanting true love and knowing it is hard to find (not unlike modern times). She knows a terrible marriage to a dull man is imminent--until she meets Romeo. Romeo is everything she has ever wanted in a man; their love is fast and true. The part I loved most about this book was how it filled in the blanks. Shakespeare's play is, while excellent, short and, obviously, a play. You only read the dialogue and actions. In Maxwell's novel, readers can read Juliet's thoughts, see into exactly what she was thinking when she fell for Romeo and when she decides life isn't worth living without him (sorry if that spoiled the ending--but we all know what happens, don't we?).

Maxwell does make a few changes to the traditional story, but none that mattered much to me. If you are a die-hard Shakespearean and treasure is works above all other literature, it may bother you. Some differences include: they live in Florence, not Verona; Juliet is 18, not 14; their names are different; and Juliet doesn't have a nurse, but a best friend named Lucrezia. I found nothing wrong with these changes; it's an author's right to take liberties with their writing.

All in all, I adored this book. The writing was beautiful, the characters were filled in, and the story completed what Shakespeare outlined.

Recommended for: hopeless romantics, historical fiction junkies, Shakespeare fans; no reader under high school age (for some *ahem* mature scenes)

CUWAC: To Kill a Mockingbird

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Pages: 336

Rating: *****

Summary (From Amazon): Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman. Though her story explores big themes, Harper Lee chooses to tell it through the eyes of a child. The result is a tough and tender novel of race, class, justice, and the pain of growing up.

Review: This is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it several years ago for school, but it has remained at the top of my list ever since. The story is touching and revealing about human nature, and the themes present can be applied to modern day as well. By telling this story through Scout, a child, we see the way innocence was ruined in children by the lies and threats of violence. Scout faces challenges far beyond her years. Atticus is a loving, brave man who I respect deeply. But it is not all deep and brooding--Boo Radley adds much to the story, and the reader comes to see what is believed is often not the truth. This is a must read for all, even those who are not big readers. Recommend it to your friends, family, teachers, waitresses, random people on the street...

Recommended for: Everyone!

Bad Apple

Title: Bad Apple

Author: Laura Ruby

Pages: 256

Rating: ***

Summary (from Goodreads): Junior Tola Riley doesn’t care what people say about her. She knows her ever-changing hair color and goth clothes make her an easy target. Whatever. But the latest rumor is different.... The entire school believes she had an affair with her art teacher. The rumors may be a lie, but the fallout is all too real. Will Tola finally stand up for the truth?

Review: This book was ok. Not great, but I liked it alright. The writing and plot were pretty good, but it never really hit me. When I finished it, I forgot about it.

I could never really connect with Tola. She's a unique young girl, and I respected how she stood up for herself in the end, but overall I never really liked her. I felt like she should have stood up to the mean girl more than she did (I mean, if someone wrote on my face, I would slap them silly!). I could relate to her sister more--the intelligent if unstable older sister who's trying to figure out where her life is going. She was pretty cool. I also couldn't relate to the absent parent thing. Her parents thought she had an affair with her art teacher, and wouldn't even listen to her side! That kind of frustrated me. Bad parenting 101.

I liked the [comments] after each chapter. It was cool to see how other people were feeling over the course of the book, even if the people were wrong and judgemental.

Overall, an ok read. Not at the top of my recommendations.

Recommended for: anyone who has ever felt like no one would listen

So sorry for my recent silence, guys. Please don't give up on me! I'll do better, promise!

Teaser Tuesday: Perchance to Dream

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• 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!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

From page 77 of Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev (ARC):

"That went rather well," Moth said. "No one was killed by a high-heeled shoe to the noggin."

This book is really, really good. Though something just happened that has me a bit confused.

What are your teasers this Tuesday?

P.S. I've hit 30 followers!!! Yay!!! Might have to celebrate in some way...suggestions?