Bloom

Bloom

By: Elizabeth Scott

There's a difference between falling and letting go.

Lauren has a good life: decent grades, great friends, and a boyfriend every girl lusts after. So why is she so unhappy?

It takes the arrival of Evan Kirkland for Lauren to figure out the answer: She's been holding back. She's been denying herself a bunch of things (like sex) because staying with her loyal and gorgeous boyfriend, Dave, is the "right" thing to do. After all, who would give up the perfect boyfriend?

But as Dave starts talking more and more about their life together, planning a future Lauren simply can't see herself in -- and as Lauren's craving for Evan, and moreover, who she is with Evan becomes all the more fierce -- Lauren realizes she needs to make a choice...before one is made for her.

summary from book

My Rating: 5/5

This is the second time that I've read Bloom. I usually don't read a novel more than once just because there are hundreds of books that are on my ever growing "To Be Read" list that I still desperately need to get through. That being said, I just had the sudden urge to pick this book up again and so... I did.

I originally purchased Bloom about a year ago. At the time, I had recently finished reading Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott in almost one sitting and was so ecstatic to discover that she had more novels published. I think Bloom is a really fantastic book. If you're a fan of teenage romance and first love-you'll eat this book up.

I feel one of the strongest points of this novel is the characters. I believe we can all relate to Lauren on some level weather it be due to her family life or due to the feelings that encompass her as she begins to fall for Evan and ultimately, the aftermath that follows. One thing I really enjoy about YA books like Bloom is their ability to transport me back to a time when those feelings- similar to Lauren's- were fresh and new in my life, amazingly exhilarating yet frightening all at the same time.

I have to say that the chemistry between Evan and Lauren was so spot on I could almost physically feel it for myself. I love it when characters have this incredible connection that transcends throughout the novels entirety. From the first mention of Evan, it was apparent that Lauren felt something for him even when she wouldn't allow herself to admit it.

If you're a fan of YA contemporary fiction novels infused with romance, I would highly recommend this book. If you've never read anything by Elizabeth Scott and are interested in doing so, I recommend either Bloom or Perfect You. All of her novels are great- some very different from others- but these just so happen to be my two personal favourites.

In My Mailbox 18

Credit for In My Mailbox goes to Pop Culture Junkie and The Story Siren

For Review

Thanks to Andy from Sellers Publishing for sending me this book to review!

Won

Thanks a bunch to Andrea from Buried In Books for Summer Boys!

Purchased ( a long while ago)

I bought these quite a long time ago, read a few pages and shelved them after that. Posting them here will for sure motivate me to pick them up again.

Sneak Peek Saturday: Linger

Linger (The Wolves  of Mercy Falls, #2)

By: Maggie Stiefvater

Pub date: July 20th, 2010

Summary

Continues the story of the wolves of Mercy Falls. . .

It's about after. What happens after you discover there are werewolves in the wood, after you've fallen in love for the first time, after you've lost what you think you can't live without, after you've become someone you can't live with.

Excerpt

...Grace...

This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn't cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.

But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it's only me who's not firmly in my own skin. 

__________________

 

Just a tiny sneak peek. I know many of you are eager for Linger to be released. I just started reading Shiver (book #1 in the series) and my inner curiosity is having a difficult time not reading this excerpt. ;)

 

For more information on Maggie Stiefvater and her other novels you can visit her website.

Upcoming Release: The Ghosts Of Ashbury High

The Ghosts of Ashbury High/Dreaming of Amelia

By: Jaclyn Moriarty

Pub date(s): June 1st 2010 (North America)

April 2nd, 2010 (UK)

Already available in Australia & New Zealand

Amelia and Riley have transferred to Ashbury for their final year of school, and everyone is completely obsessed with them. Glamorous, talented and totally devoted to one another, the two of them drift through school in their own world. But there's more to the couple than meets the eye - they have secrets. And some of them are dangerous to share.

As Riley starts to lose his grip on Amelia, the repercussions affect everyone around them. It is a spellbinding story about ghosts, secrets, madness, passion, locked doors, femme fatales, and that terrifying moment in the final year of high school when you realize that the future's coming to get you.

summary from goodreads.com

I stumbled across this book today over at Good Golly Miss Holly and instantly added it to my list. I think it sounds beyond interesting. I'm all for stories lined with secrets and about characters with extraordinary bonds.

This book is called Dreaming of Amelia in New Zealand, The UK and Australia. You can even see above under pub date that it's already available in some of those countries. For some reason, it's going to be called The Ghosts of Ashbury High in North America. To be honest, I actually prefer the original title a lot more. What about you guys-which title do you prefer?

(The above cover I believe is for Australia and New Zealand. The UK has a different cover that you can view here.)

Leftovers

Leftovers

By: Heather Waldorf

Fifteen-year-old Sarah Greene''s father-chef by day, camera buff by night-choked to death on a piece of steak. It was the best day of Sarah''s life. But a year later, Sarah still struggles with the legacy of her father''s abuse.

After a brief skirmish with the law, Sarah is sentenced to do community service hours at Camp Dog Gone Fun, a summer program for shelter dogs. With the love of a big goofy dog named Judy, the friendship of Sullivan, a guy with problems of his own, and the support of a few good adults, Sarah begins to understand her past and believe in a brighter future.

summary from goodreads.com


My Rating: 3.5/5

I really enjoyed this book. I'll admit that it took a few chapters to draw me in but once it did, I couldn't place it down for very long.

I really liked the premise of Leftovers. Although many forms of abuse have been covered in past YA novels, I found Heather Waldorf's take on a familiar and difficult subject to be refreshing and different especially the idea behind Camp Dog Gone Fun which introduced the reader to a multitude of interesting characters and scenarios.

As far as characters go, I really liked Sarah. I thought her emotions and actions to be realistic. I also really enjoyed some minor characters as well, especially Sullivan who I thought to be very quirky and adorable.

My only complaint is that I wish this book would have been longer. I felt like there could have been more development as far as some characters were concerned. I don't think Sarah was lacking but I do feel that a lot of the minor characters (other "volunteers" at Camp Dog Gone Fun and so on) would have been really fantastic had they been drawn out more. I also feel that many scenarios and situations could have been further played out as well.

Aside from that, I really liked this book. One little plus is that Leftovers takes place in Canada which is always great for me because when the author mentioned particular landmarks or locations, I knew exactly what she was referring to. It was a nice change. :)

Book Of The Month: November 2009

November's Book Of The Month Is: Scribbler Of Dreams

I was in the eighth grade when I first read Scribbler Of Dreams. Mary E. Pearson is a really great author and this book is what fueled my love for YA novels focusing on teenage romance. This book is also what opened my eyes up to YA literature in general which I wasn't  aware of at the time (thank you elementary school library!) If you love contemporary/"realistic" fiction with an emphasis on forbidden romance, you should definitely check out Scribbler Of Dreams.

New Releases: November 2009

Above are some of the novels being released in November 2009. I didn't come across very many for this month.

IndieBound | Amazon [.ca] | Barnes & Noble | Chapters

New in November 2009:

1. Cashing In/Susan Colebank/November 12th
2. Betrayals (Strange Angels #2)/Lili St. Crow/November 17th

3. Beautiful/Cindy Martinusen-Coloma/November 3rd

4. The Seven Rays/Jessia Bendinger/November 24th

5. How To Ruin My Boyfriend's Reputation/Simone Elkeles/November1st

6. Struts & Frets/Jon Skovron/November 1st