Title: Revealing Eden
Author: Victoria Foyt 
Publisher: Sand Dollar Press Inc
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Source: Author/Agent
Rating: Acquire
 

Eden Newman must mate before her 18th birthday in six months or she'll be left outside to die in a burning world. But who will pick up her mate-option when she's cursed with white skin and a tragically low mate-rate of 15%? In a post-apocalyptic, totalitarian, underground world where class and beauty are defined by resistance to an overheated environment, Eden's coloring brands her as a member of the lowest class, a weak and ugly Pearl. If only she can mate with a dark-skinned Coal from the ruling class, she'll be safe. Just maybe one Coal sees the Real Eden and will be her salvation her co-worker Jamal has begun secretly dating her. But when Eden unwittingly compromises her father's secret biological experiment, she finds herself in the eye of a storm and thrown into the last area of rainforest, a strange and dangerous land. Eden must fight to save her father, who may be humanity's last hope, while standing up to a powerful beast-man she believes is her enemy, despite her overwhelming attraction. Eden must change to survive but only if she can redefine her ideas of beauty and of love, along with a little help from her "adopted aunt" Emily Dickinson.

*My Review*

When I read Dystopian books, I either love them or hate them. Most of the time I just can not connect with the characters, and sometimes it's the setting. But with Revealing Eden I was completely captivated with the world Victoria created. In Eden's society things are not what you would expect.  Things for Eden are rough, she is most likely going to die from The Heat at a younger age. People with pale skin have a higher chance of dying, and a lower mate rate. 

One of my biggest fears is getting skin cancer. My aunt recently had a huge chunk of skin removed form her face, so I am not the biggest fan of tanning. Anytime I go out I make sure I have on sunscreen., that is why I am as white as my table cloth. Because of this fear I can relate to Eden's constant fear of getting The Heat.

The romance! I just have to do this: OMG. (sorry :P) But really, it was so intense! At first when Eden was reveling her feelings towards Ronsom this was my reaction:

Ronsom is part animal, and Eden's feelings at first seem strange to me, but I did start to warm up to the idea of them being romantically involved.

If you like dystopian novels and you love romance I would definitely give Revealing Eden a shot! I was really impressed with Victoria! I can not wait for part 2! I want to read more of Eden's story!

*Key Points*

• Dystopian lovers this might be a book for you
• A shocking romance that takes a while to get comfortable with.
• I was able to relate to Eden.

Title: Steel
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: March 15, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Source: Purchased
Rating: Acquire 
 

It was a slender length of rusted steel, tapered to a point at one end and jagged at the other, as if it had broken. A thousand people would step over it and think it trash, but not her.

This was the tip of a rapier.

Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she finds a corroded sword piece on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued and pockets it as her own personal treasure.

The broken tip holds secrets, though, and it transports Jill through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Stranded in the past and surrounded by strangers, she is forced to sign on as crew. But a pirate’s life is bloody and brief, and as Jill learns about the dark magic that brought her there, she forms a desperate scheme to get home—one that risks everything in a duel to the death with a villainous pirate captain.

Time travel, swordplay, and romance combine in an original high-seas adventure from New York Times bestseller Carrie Vaughn.

*My Review* 

Time travel and pirates. These are two words that I love to hear! I have always love time travel, and pirates have always interested me. So finding this book was like finding a buried treasure! ( why yes, that was super cheesy, but I couldn't resist!) In fact a book I am writing now has to do with time travel. :D hehe!

I haven't heard much about this book and haven't seen it on to many blogs, but when I saw it at the store I just HAD to get it! The beautiful cover called to me! :3 so I ended up getting it, and then it sat on my shelf for a few months. When I finally picked it up, I could not put it down! I was so captivated in the story line. (If you know me you know I love History!) 

The main character, Jill, was a difficult character for me at first. She can't let things go, she's a lot like me, and she lets it eat her up inside. Other then that I loved her characters. She's another kick-butt heroin. Henry was perfect thats all I'm going to say. :3 He makes me happy. The only thing I wanted was more of the lovey dovey stuff!

Carrie does a fantastic job of creating the setting. You feel as if you are right their with Jill as she is sailing, or sword fighting for her life. You also learn a thing or two about being a pirate and controlling a ship. 

Have you ever fenced? No, me either and in Steel there are a few fencing terms . The terminology in this book isn't really confusing, but do not fear! Carrie has been so kind to include a dictionary in the back of the book for your convenience. :)

Overall I loved the whole idea of the book. Time traveling by something I'm not going to say and landing on a ship with a very fine pirate named Henry. Hey! I want to go next. It also provides us another outlook on pirates. They're not all bad! 

*Key Points*

• A great setting. And very descriptive.
• Jill is a great heroin, and Henry is just perfect!
• Fencing is awesome!
• Provides us another outlook on pirates.
• TIME TRAVEL

Hello my lovely readers! If you haven't noticed (which I'm hoping you did) I have been MIA. To sum everything up: Life caught up to me. Unfortunately, I just had to much going on: school, horses, other activities, family issues, learning to drive, and the list could go on and on. But do not fear I am back! My life has calmed down, and I MISS BLOGGING! So I'm back. You'll be hearing from me a lot more. Just saying.

Some news!! I have a lot to tell you guys (which will come later on)! :D

• I found some more awesome books.
• My dad and I built a new bookshelf :3
• I now have the comment thread thingy. 
• and I feel like I'm forgetting something. 

I hope you all are as excited as I am for me to be back! :D

The Blood Lie character interview: Jack

Shirley Reva Vernick

Q: Music is really important to you.  How do you feel when you play cello?

A: I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, doing exactly what I’m supposed to do. In that sense, you could say it feels like being home. But it also feels like being transported to a place where the rest of the world has dropped away. I’m serene when I play. Even when I’m performing in front of an audience, it’s just me and my cello, and it’s all about the music.  

Q: You would love to play with New York Philharmonic. What do you have to do to achieve this dream? 

A: I’d have to get formal, intensive training at a conservatory. And even then, there’s the luck element – is a chair open? Who else is competing for it? Do they like my audition selection? I don’t know if there’s anti-Semitism at work in the selection process, but I fear it is. After all, anti-Semitism exists everywhere else, so why not in the orchestra?

Q: How do you feel about Emaline?

A: I’ve never said this out loud, believe me, but since you ask, here it is: I love her. Always have. She’s kind and beautiful and, well, perfect. I know it’s futile. I know she’s forbidden. I can tell my head that, but my heart won’t listen.

Q: Does your religion play a huge role in your life? 

A: Yes. Judaism is a religion, a lifestyle, a shared history, and an ethnicity. My worldview is grounded in its tenets, and I’m proud of my heritage. Gentiles see me as a Jew – they’re conscious of it – and the bigoted ones dislike me for it. I don’t think I’ll ever be seen simply as a guy who’s good at the cello. I’ll be seen as a Jew who’s good at the cello.

Q: How about in your music?

A: On the surface, not so much. I play the same kind of music any other cellist would: classical and modern. However, it’s when I play my music that I feel the closest to the Divine. In that way, my music and my spirituality are closely intertwined.  

This is so pretty! I love purple, it is by far my favorite color. I feel like they hanged the model. Did they? I'm not sure, her hair and face look different. It could jus be me though. :P I am so happy all of the covers have the same style! I really hate how publishers completely change covers on book series. I haven't read the second book, but I need to soon!

What do you all think of the cover? The series?

I'm back you guys! And I have a new, and so much better, camera! :D I have some questions at the end, please let me know your thoughts!



What di you get in your Mailbox?

Title: The International Kissing Club
Author: Ivy Adams
Publisher: Walker & Company
Release Date: January 3, 2011
Format: ARC
Source: From Publisher
Rating: Borrow 
 

Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?

My Review
The International Kissing Club, also known as TIKC, was a cute read. This novel has so many great messages and lessons all wrapped up in a pretty purple cover, which is my favorite color! :D TIKC went much deeper and developed more than I thought it would. This really surprised me!

Starting out I really could not get in to this novel. I have no idea why, maybe t was me, maybe it was the book. Who knows! I struggled through the first few chapters, wondering if I should just set the book aside. I am happy I didn't! As the novel goes on you get into more interesting and uhmm shall I say educational on a few levels. When you read on you really become attached to the girls. I often found me putting myself in one of there shoes, seeing how I would handle what they were going through.

One thing that bothered me was how willingly they were to put all of that stuff online. I know I am going to sound like some lame parent pr teacher, but what you put online is never private! If someone really wanted to get.. say revenge on the girls the could have found out who was posting on their public facebook page.

What really drew me to this book was all the different settings. I am a sucker for traveling. I really, and I mean badly want to travel the world. It was awesome to read about the girls experiences with other types of countries, and other types of boys. :P

If you are looking for a cute, flirty, and fun novel I would give it a shot! But remember it make take a few chapters to draw you in! So do not give up on it.

If you haven't noticed Snow White is VERY popular right now. It's kind of weird, but it seems all of these things came up out of the blue and all at the same time. There are two movies coming out soon about this princes and there is a current TV series that I adore!

Once Upon A Time is an ABC family TV series that I just LOVE! Snow white is one of the main characers. I think she is amazingly portrayed in this series. This is how I would have actually pictured her, instead of the Disney way. If you haven't watched this series I highly recommend it!

Mirror, Mirror is a movie scheduled to be released March 16, 2012. This movie mostly focuses on the Evil Queen, but Snow White is still present, of course. I feel like this will be a movie that is more focused for the children audience. 

Snow White and the Huntsmen is going to be kick-butt! June 1, 2012 I will be hitting the movie theater to see this film. I know it's going to be awesome. Kristen Stewart is staring in this movie as Snow White, and I can't wait to see if her acting is to par.

See Snow White is making a come back! I love fairy tale retellings, it could be a movie, TV series, or a book. I wonder if the book world will be putting out any Snow White books soon? Do you know of any?