This Side of Salvation Superfan Contest Day 4!

Hey guys!

I'll be participating in a contest hosted by Jeri Smith-Ready for her new YA contemporary, This Side of Salvation, which comes out April 1st!

Here's the post about the contest! And the rules are here. It's easy to enter and looks like it'll be a lot if fun. Jeri is great with her fans and I'm excited to participate in another one of her contests. Her Shade series is easily one of my favourites and I can't wait to read this new book as well!

 Here's the book summary from Goodreads:

Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he does know for sure: The closer he gets to new-girl Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels.

Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties to prepare for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. There’s a big difference between living in the moment and giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey—especially Bailey—in hope of salvation.

But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined...

Today's card features Mara Cooper, David's seventeen-year-old sister. She loves music, cars, and sarcasm. Mara's main objective in life is to survive her crazy family until she can escape them. But when her and David's parents disappear, Mara realizes how much she and her brother need each other.

For Superfan contest details, including rules, prize list, and entry form, see Saturday's post. If you already know what to do, here's a direct link to the entry form, which contains helpful instructions on how to link to your posts. To see a gallery of trading cards (and other interesting stuff from the book), visit the TSoS Pinterest page.

Waiting on Wednesday: Since You've Been Gone

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature, hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we spotlight an upcoming release we are eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is:

Since You've Been Gone
By Morgan Matson
Hardcover, 464 pages
Expected release date: May 6, 2014

From Goodreads:

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try... unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait... what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um...

This looks like it will be a bittersweet story about a girl finding herself after her life changed. Not sure what else will happen in these pages, but I know Emily will find exactly what she needs. 

What books are you waiting for?

This Side of Salvation Superfan Contest Day 3!

Hey guys!

I'll be participating in a contest hosted by Jeri Smith-Ready for her new YA contemporary, This Side of Salvation, which comes out April 1st!

Here's the post about the contest! And the rules are here. It's easy to enter and looks like it'll be a lot if fun. Jeri is great with her fans and I'm excited to participate in another one of her contests. Her Shade series is easily one of my favourites and I can't wait to read this new book as well!

 Here's the book summary from Goodreads:

Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he does know for sure: The closer he gets to new-girl Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels.

Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties to prepare for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. There’s a big difference between living in the moment and giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey—especially Bailey—in hope of salvation.

But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined...

Today's trading card features Bailey Brynn, David's girlfriend. She loves science, math, vegan food. She has a tattoo of a pair of Galapagos finches on her calf, to honor her two heroes: Charles Darwin and Atticus Finch. Her previous boyfriend was French Canadian, which David finds very intimidating. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Gateway Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we discuss and make lists about bookish topics. This week's topic is:

Top Ten "Gateway" Books/Authors In My Reading Journey (so your list could be a mix of a books that got you into reading, an author that got you into reading a genre you never thought you'd read, a book that brought you BACK into read)

1. Roald Dahl took me a lot of adventures as a kid. I'm still very fond of his books and know they helped me with my love of reading.

2. Sweet Valley made me crave a new book all the time as a pre-teen.

3. The Babysitter's Club kept my love of reading alive and well, and kept me eager for more.

4. The Hunger Games transported me back into YA books. I was reading a lot of chick lit and Nicholas Sparks, but after reading THG, I was thrown into a new world with new adventures and haven't turned back since.

5. John Green showed me that YA contemporary is just as much fun as YA dystopian.

6. The Lord of the Rings showed me what real fantasy was all about.

7. Rachel Vincent took me into a YA paranormal world that quickly left me craving more. The Soul Screamers series is still my favourite.

8. Marissa Meyer made me want to read every fairy tale re-telling there is.

9. Colleen Hoover has made me re-think the New Adult genre. Her books are amazing and real, much better than any other NA I've read. 

10. I'm still waiting for the adult book that makes me want to branch out from YA. Though I may give Gillian Flynn another shot with Gone Girl.

This Side of Salvation Super Fan Contest Day 2!

Hey guys!

I'll be participating in a contest hosted by Jeri Smith-Ready for her new YA contemporary, This Side of Salvation, which comes out April 1st!

Here's the post about the contest! And the rules are here. It's easy to enter and looks like it'll be a lot if fun. Jeri is great with her fans and I'm excited to participate in another one of her contests. Her Shade series is easily one of my favourites and I can't wait to read this new book as well!

 Here's the book summary from Goodreads:

Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he does know for sure: The closer he gets to new-girl Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels.

Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties to prepare for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. There’s a big difference between living in the moment and giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey—especially Bailey—in hope of salvation.

But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined...

Today is day 2 and today's trading card comes from Kane, a minor character with some great one liners. He's the catcher on the baseball team (#2) thus comes his day:

This Side of Salvation Superfan Contest

Hey guys!

I'll be participating in a contest hosted by Jeri Smith-Ready for her new YA contemporary, This Side of Salvation, which comes out April 1st!

Here's the post about the contest! And the rules are here. It's easy to enter and looks like it'll be a lot if fun. Jeri is great with her fans and I'm excited to participate in another one of her contests. Her Shade series is easily one of my favourites and I can't wait to read this new book as well!

 Here's the book summary from Goodreads:

Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he does know for sure: The closer he gets to new-girl Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels.

Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties to prepare for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. There’s a big difference between living in the moment and giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey—especially Bailey—in hope of salvation.

But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined...

And of course, today's trading card with a quote from our main character, David Cooper:

Review: Perfect Lies

Perfect Lies
Author: Kiersten White
Published: February 18, 2014
Hardcover, 232 pages
4 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

Mind Games was the kind of book that is exactly like its title. The whole time reading it, you're not sure what's real, who's good or what's really happening. It was one big mind game. It's sequel, Perfect Lies, made a lot more sense and helped me figure out just how this story was going to play out. This book was fast paced, full of action, and proved that girl should never be underestimated. When Fia decides not to go through with what the Keane Foundation told her too, she's suddenly on edge and trying to get out of the company. The only reason she stays is to be with James and to protect her sister, Annie. But Annie is seeing things she doesn't like, things that could mean Fia is in danger, and suddenly they are both on the run towards each other ready to end this once and for all.

This story is thrilling, fast, and full of twists and turns. So much happens in these 200 pages and I didn't want Fia and Annie's story to end. Keeping in pace with the first book, this is told from both sisters' perspectives yet happens in very different time lines. In Annie's view, we are counting down to the event that ends this book, while Fia is many months ahead, closer to the event. The girls don't see each other very much throughout the novel, but when they do - it matters. Their relationship is unusual, but they are sisters through and through and the amount of love they have for each other is unbelievable. Both would do anything for the other and both are willing to risk their lives to save them. They can't really trust anyone, but somehow they both find it in themselves to use their powers to save each other. Fia showed how fierce she is in the first book, but this one was all about Annie. She proves that just because she's blind does not mean she's weak. Her character grew so much over these pages that I was just rooting for her the whole time. And while the first book really focused on Fia and her relationship with James, this one was all about Annie finding her own love. It was beautiful and perfect and showed that love isn't about looks at all. It was wonderfully done and the sweetest moment when it was revealed. 

These girls will not leave my thoughts for a long time. This book was unique, fun and full of girl power. Who wouldn't want to live in a world where the girls get mind powers and the men are left with nothing? Well, a girl can dream. Any fans of White's Paranormalcy series will love these new girls, these new adventures, and this new world full of action and adventure. 

“She told me only people we love the most can destroy us, because no one else has that kind of power.”