April 2012 Readathon Pile!

The Readathon is just hours away!  Here's my book pile for it:

I think this is quite ambitious, for a 24 hour period, but hopefully I'll be able to get to all of them! :]

My plan is to wake up by 5 AM, since that's when it starts for me, here in LA (let's see if I actually wake up, lol).  And then read continuously through they day, with a few breaks in between for, you know, eating and just so I don't go cross-eyed. :P

BTW, I got rid of Disqus.  It was just not working properly, with comments showing up only sometimes.  So back to regular blogger comments.  But that's okay, because blogger let's you reply now!  Am I the last one to know that blogger added that? lol

REVIEW: Bumped

Title: Bumped
Author: Megan McCafferty
Series: Bumped
Genre: YA
Publisher: Balzar + Bray, HarperCollins
Format: Kindle e-book
# of pages: 324
Source: bought from Amazon
Challenge: Read the Month (April)

Summary:
(from Amazon)

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society. Girls sport fake baby bumps and the school cafeteria stocks folic-acid-infused food.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and have never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Up to now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in Goodside, a religious community, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Review:
This book totally sucked me in!  Okay, so I was pretty confused in the beginning, with all the slang, and just a bit frustrated, but in the end I couldn't put it down.  But let's start from the beginning...

When we begin the story, we are thrust right into our characters' lives.  Harmony, the religious twin, has come to the Otherside to "save" and "witness" her long lost twin Melody.  They live in a world where a virus has made almost everyone over the age of 18 infertile, so teenagers have become hot commodities, especially if you have excellent genes like Melody (and Harmony).  Surrogacy has been glorified and turned into a profession, with couples offering full college tuition, cars, and even liposuction to land a surrogacy contract.  Melody has one such contract and is just waiting for her RePro Rep to pair her up with the best of the best Sperm (a.k.a. a RePro).  Harmony obviously does not think this is okay, and decides to hijack Melody's life after she is mistaken for her.  But then she ends up falling for Melody's RePro, Jondoe.

I especially liked Melody's voice and character.  Melody is strong, beautiful, intelligent, and athletic, and is beginning to feel like she doesn't want to be the Surrogate that she was raised to be.  She doesn't have any enthusiasm for it, and what happened with her best friend Malia before, and what happened to her best friend Shoko this time around didn't help the matter.  Another best friend that didn't help boost her enthusiasm much?  Zen, who I also liked.  Though we don't ever get to hear his point of view, we learn enough through his interactions with both Melody and Harmony.  He isn't "reproaesthetical" due to being only 5' 7.5" even though he has all the other qualities.  He's smart and good looking, and also beginning to question what the world is turning into with Surrogacy becoming ever more popular.  And according to Melody, everyone likes him, and she's pretty much right...can't help but like Zen!  And then there's Harmony.  I don't know why, but I didn't like Harmony much.  She's written by the same author, and yet, I didn't like Harmony's character and was not pulled in by her voice quite as well as I was with Melody.  I didn't really care about her story, unless it related to Melody's story (like when Harmony stole Melody's "RePro" Jondoe).  Actually, she was kind of annoying.  Jondoe was not much better.

As for the story...I'm not one to actually analyze a book for it's underlying meanings, but this book is pretty obvious with the issues.  I mean, I think it's pretty obvious that it's a satire dealing with the sensitive issues of teen pregnancy and religion.  But I feel like it also deals with ever evolving technology creating a more big brother like presence, with people needing know everybody else's business ASAP. (Reminds me of that 4G commercial..."That was so 5 seconds ago...")  Overall, I think this is a topic that hasn't really been touched in this way before, so I found it interesting.  I feel like Megan McCafferty wrote it well.  I didn't always like reading what was written, mostly during Harmony's parts, but it was an interesting, easy read, and I recommend it!

Moments I Loved: Melody and Zen in the treehouse at the library.  I really hope they end up together in the sequel!!

WTF Moments: Most of Harmony's scenes.  Honestly, at times, I really thought she was certifiable.


Rating:
Plot - ★★★★
Characters - ★★★★
Ending - ★★★★
Overall:

Waiting on Wednesday (02)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.

For me, this week, the book is Thumped by Megan McCafferty which is due to be released on April 24, 2012.  I just finished reading Bumped today (reviewing coming soon ;]), and I can't wait to find out what happens next!  I'm very curious (anxious?) to find out if Melody got pregnant by Jondoe or Zen, or even if her pregnancy is real or just a "FunBump" meant to fool the public!

from GoodReads:
It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day!


Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances.


To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants.


The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous:


Tell the truth.

What are you waiting on?

REVIEW: A Callahan Wedding

Title: A Callahan Wedding
Author: Tina Leonard
Series: Callahan Cowboys
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Harlequin American Romance
Format: ebook
# of pages: n/a
Source: Netgalley
Challenge: Read the Month (April)
Summary:
(from Harlequin.com)

Sabrina McKinley broke Jonas's heart when she left him for another man. Then the eldest Callahan brother gets the surprise of his life when he sees her again…holding his son. Even at six months, his bouncing baby boy was wearing the legendary Callahan smile!

Which means Sabrina has got to marry him, even if Jonas has to drag her to the altar.

Sabrina's been head over heels for the hunky cowboy doctor since the day she first came to Rancho Diablo; it's always been Jonas keeping her at arm's length. She won't settle for anything less than the real deal—the love and happiness that Jonas's five brothers have found.

But when a revelation about a family secret comes out, Sabrina can see Jonas is ready to look toward the future. He won't be the last bachelor on the ranch. After all, he's a Callahan!

Review:
This is the sixth book in Tina Leonard's Callahan Cowboys series.  I haven't read the previous books in the series, so it affected my reading and enjoyment a bit, since there are quite a few references to the other books.  I was left with some questions because of that, so I recommend reading the previous books before reading this one.

The main story is, of course, Jonas trying to win Sabrina back.  All of a sudden, he's accepted that Sabrina's son was his, so he had to marry her.  Unfortunately, I was not a big fan of Jonas from the start and that didn't change too much throughout the story.  I understand that he needs to be macho, but as Sabrina said, most of his proposals (if you could call them that) were chauvinistic.  He didn't ask her to marry him, he told her she needed to!  Also, I didn't get too much chemistry from Jonas and Sabrina together.  Maybe that's because I haven't read the previous books, since they got together before in a kind of "friends with benefits" type thing.  But there was a big lack of romance in their relationship in this book.  He didn't even tell her he loved her until the end!  He would tell himself, sure, but never mentioned that to her, so of course she wouldn't know how he felt!

There was also the added mystery of the family secret.  A man is hanging around the Callahan property trying to find out if any of the Callahans know the secret.  He was caught before, in one of the previous books, but was released and is on the prowl again.  The ending of this books makes it seem like it's probably not the last time you'll see him, so I imagine there'll be another book in this series.

Overall, the plot was okay and most of the characters were likable enough.  I would recommend this book if you're looking for an easy read about a cowboy romance in a small town.  But remember, read the previous books in the series first!  I think it'll help your enjoyment of this one...

Rating:

Plot:	★★★
Characters:	★★★
Ending:	★★★
Overall:

REVIEW: Wicked Weekend

Title:  Wicked Weekend
Author: Gillian Archer
Series: Pleasure Code
Genre: Romance, Erotica
Publisher: Carina Press
Format: ebook
# of pages: n/a
Source: NetGalley
Challenge: n/a
Summary:
(from NetGalley)

Why did Lauren Vaughn introduce her sister to the man she herself was crazy about? Now Lauren is watching the happy couple at their combined bachelor/bachelorette party-while Lauren sits all alone at the bar. Until she spots a hot stranger with the telltale black handkerchief in his pocket: the signal for "seeks no-strings affair with sexy submissive." Lauren can't take her eyes off him. So when he comes over, she kicks her inner good girl to the curb and follows Jamie Forman to his room, where he makes her scream with pleasure all night long.

But Jamie is a complicated man. He can't handle how desperately he wants her in his bed-and his life. It's up to Lauren to teach him how to make all night last forever.

Review:
Wicked Weekend is a short novella about Lauren Vaughn's fantasy of BDSM and the man she meets who helps fulfill it.  Lauren sees herself as too curvy and always lost in her little sister's shadow.  When the story starts, we find her at her sister's bachelorette party, as her sister prepares to marry the man Lauren has had a crush on forever.  Needing escape, she ends up at the bar of the restaurant, where she spots Jamie and the handkerchief hanging out of his pocket.  She lingers on it, but doesn't make a move and doesn't think anything will come of it, until Jamie approaches her.  What happens next is the best night of her life!  Her introduction to BDSM leaves her wanting more...and more of Jamie.  She can't stop thinking about him now, and accepts his offer for another night.  But this time, it doesn't go as planned...as Jamie's history comes back to haunt him and taint the experience.

Both Lauren and Jamie were easily likable, as well as Sawyer, Jamie's friend and Lauren's idol in the BDSM world.  Lauren has issues with self confidence, and seems to find an inner strength through her encounter with Jamie.  And Jamie has issues with relationships, due to his family history.  Both don't count on the heat and reaction to each other turning into wanting something more than just a sexual fling.  Jamie can't deal with it at first, and it affects their second sexual encounter leading to some misunderstandings.  Also, though their relationship was purely sexual and they hadn't talked enough to have a deep relationship, I was rooting for them.

Another interesting aspect was the flagging system.  I haven't researched BDSM or anything, so I'm not sure if that's a common aspect of it, but I found it interesting.  I hope it's explained more in future installments of this series.  I'm interested in what all the different colors mean, since Sawyer was mentioned as having a gray hanging out.  I don't know if I missed it, but I don't think it was explained what exactly that meant and I want to know! Haha...

This was a fast read, and I enjoyed it.  It has several sexual scenes that are graphic, but not to an extreme, so be aware of that.  I recommend it if you're open to the idea of BDSM and looking for a quick, hot read.

Rating:
Plot - ★★★
Characters - ★★★★
Ending - ★★★★
Overall - ★★★★

Read the Month: mi A-I-B-R-E-A-N (Irish Edtion)

Read the Month Irish Edition 
mi A-I-B-R-E-A-N (April) 
Duration: April 1, 2012 - April 30, 2012

Completed: 2/7

A Callahan Wedding by Tina Leonard 04/11/12
Interim Goddess of Love by Mina V. Esguerra
Bumped by Megan McCafferty 04/18/12
Rules of the Game by Elaine Raco Chase
Entwined by Heather Dixon
A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James
Not Just Friends by Kate Hoffmann

Bloggiesta and March Wrap Up

Time for a Wrap Up, or two.  Bloggiesta is coming to an end.  Unfortunately, I did not finish all on my list.  Here's an update of what I got done:

1. Reorganize labels. 04/01/12
2. Create images for rating system. 04/01/12
    
   
3. Create a more comprehensive (explanation of) rating system. 04/01/12 here
4. Update challenge posts. 04/01/12 
5. Create a review archives page. 04/01/12 here
6. Update Goodreads shelves and reviews.
7. Write 2 reviews.
8. Create a header and buttons. 03/31/12 (see above for header, see sidebar for button)
9. Create a signature. 03/30/12 (see end of post)
10. Update currently reading. 04/01/12 (see sidebar)
11. Catch up on BBPOC panels.
12. Pick books to read in April and create a list. 04/01/12
13. Add current events/giveaways/blog hops to sidebar. 03/31/12 (see sidebar)
14. Create post template for reviews. 03/31/12
15. Visit other Bloggiesta participants! 04/01/12

I also completed some of the mini challenges!

• Themed Pages by Charlotte from Charlotte's Library
• How to Build Readers for Your Blog Through Commenting by Sheila from Book Journey
• Sidebar Help: What You Really Need! by Penelope from Reading Fever
• Different Blog Events and Challenges with Kai from Fiction State of Mind
• Policies by Enna Isilee from Squeaky Books
• Back Up Your Blog by The Book Vixen

I learned a lot from the mini challenges, and it also pushed me to do stuff that needed to be done that I hadn't thought of (especially backing up my blog!).  All in all, Bloggiesta was quite productive, even if I didn't finish everything.  I also added some stuff to my ever-growing to-do list that I saw on other bloggers' lists. :)

Something I would like to learn, and maybe someone will do a mini-challenge on it next Bloggiesta, is how people do those drop down menus for their pages when you hover over it (does that make sense?.  I know it's something to do with coding, but I just don't know where to go to learn blogger coding...lol.

April 1 is not just the end of Bloggiesta...it also means March has ended!  Time for a brief March wrap up!

Challenges completed: 0. EPIC FAIL!  But I did manage to write 4 reviews this month.  I think that's a record for most reviews I've written in a month since the start of this blog.  I hope that number will continue to increase!  My favorite book that I read this month would have to be Lola and the Boy Next Door.  Loved it!  

Alright, that's pretty much it.  I cleaned up my challenges page to get rid of the March challenges and other finished challenges, and will be adding April challenges soon.  Start of a new month = new challenges to complete!

Until next time~

Bloggiesta!

I saw several of the book bloggers I follow participating in this, so I checked it out and decided I want to join in too! There are several things I've been meaning to do with this blog, and here are just a few to get started.  I'm sure, over the course of the weekend, I'll be adding some more things to my to-do list.

1. Reorganize labels. 04/01/12
2. Create images for rating system. 04/01/12
3. Create a more comprehensive (explanation of) rating system. 04/01/12
4. Update challenge posts. 04/01/12
5. Create a review archives page. 04/01/12
6. Update Goodreads shelves and reviews.
7. Write 2 reviews.
8. Create a header and buttons. 03/31/12
9. Create a signature. 03/30/12
10. Update currently reading. 04/01/12
11. Catch up on BBPOC panels.
12. Picks books to read in April and create a list. 04/01/12
13. Add current events/giveaways/blog hops to sidebar. 03/31/12
14. Create post template for reviews. 03/31/12
15. Visit other Bloggiesta participants!

WHEW!  That's quite a bit of work to do!  But this runs from March 30 to April 1, so I think I'll have time.  If you're interested in Bloggiesta, you can find out more here, and then you can sign up here.  Hope to see you there!  Good luck on your list, if you're participating. :)

In My Mailbox (05)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.  I haven't done one of these in a while, but I have accumulated quite a few books over the past 2 weeks, so I thought I'd post what I've gotten. ^^

From the Library:

From Netgalley:

I've been on a romance kick lately and am excited to read all of these!  What's your haul this week? :]

REVIEW: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Series: has 2 companion novels
Genre: YA Romance
Publisher: Dutton Books (member of the Penguin Group)
Format: Hardcover
# of pages: 338
Source: Library
Challenge: RRRC Treasure Hunt (Quarterly Challenge)
Summary:
(from Goodreads)

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Review:
I loved Stephanie Perkins' first book (and reviewed it not too long ago), so I was a little hesitant about reading this next one.  I didn't want to be let down.  But I sucked it up and borrowed it from the library, and I'm so glad I did!  Because I loved it just as much as I loved Anna and the French Kiss!

I really like Stephanie Perkins' writing style.  Her first person point-of-view really lets you connect to the character and puts you in their world.  It's a fun and easy read, with me finishing this book in a day.  I just couldn't put it down!

Lola, our narrator, is happily living her life with her 2 dads, Andy and Nathan, and her rocker boyfriend, Max.  That is, until her past comes back in the form of the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket.  They were her neighbors up until 2 years ago, but now they're back and Cricket Bell is acting like they never moved away.  Lola is confused, to say the least.  Soon she must decide between her boyfriend, who she thought was "The One," and the Boy Next Door.

The story draws you in, but the characters are what makes the story.  You want to know what happens to them, and you want everything to turn out alright and for them to have a happily ever after.  All the characters are really likable in this book (well, except Max, who turns out to be a jerk).  I find that I can relate to them, even though we have different personalities.  And once again, Perkins has created characters who, if I met them in real life, I'd want to be their friend.  Characters like Lola, who is quirky and funny, with a unique sense of style.  She makes her own clothes, and I totally wish I could be like her.  (She can be self-centered at times, but that's a fact of life.  She's a teenage girl, after all.)  And Cricket Bell who is an inventor of sorts, and also very cute, from what I imagine through Perkins' words.  He is described as 6 foot 4 inches, with dark hair and intense blue eyes.  I wish I had a boy like Cricket living next door, when I was growing up, lol.

Besides the main characters, there are several side characters, and they are all delightful.  Anna and Étienne make a reappearance in this book and are Lola's example of what a happy couple should look like.  (I am still a big fan of this couple, and am still in love with Étienne, though now I am also in love with Cricket, haha!)  Lola's dads, Andy and Nathan, are hilarious at times and great father figures throughout.  Also, Lola's best friend Lindsey is pretty kick-ass.

The setting was also great, and reading about Lola's escapades through San Francisco brought me back to my trip there last year.  It was my first time there, and I really liked it and had hoped to go back.  After reading this, I really hope to go back now, haha!

There is so much to like about this book, from the writing style to the characters.  This book is great in my opinion, and I would highly recommend it!

However, there is one thing I wish it had.  Even though I really like the first person point-of-view because it really works with her stories, I wish we could have read a little bit from the guy's point-of-view.  I especially want to know what Cricket is thinking, while he's away from Lola...

And finally, the last thing I like about the book is the first thing you see before reading: the cover!  I like pretty/cute cover, but get a little annoyed when it has no elements from/nothing to do with the story.  Like having a blonde model on the cover of a book with no blonde characters.  What is that?!  But that's not a problem here!  The models on the cover have the appropriate hair color.  In fact, "Lola" has rocking hair, and I wish I had that hair.  The cover is cute, and after reading the story, all I think when I see it is, 'That is so Lola and Cricket,' all the way down to the rubber bands around Cricket's wrist and the drawing on his hand.

Rating:
Plot - ★★★★★
Characters - ★★★★★
Ending - ★★★★★
Overall - ★★★★★