27 December 2011

Review: Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 12:00 AM 1 comments


  Title: Every Other Day                 Pages: 336
  Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes      Source: Netgalley
  Publisher: Egmont USA               Published: Dec 27, 2011
  Series: N/A                                  Purchase: Amazon
Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between... She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive... and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.
I hadn't heard much about Every Other Day before I found it on Goodreads. Actually, I hadn't heard anything at all. After reading and discovering how good this story was, I'm very surprised I haven't heard anything, because this novel was wonderful.

Kali is the best female character I've read in a while. She reminds me a lot of Emily Webb from Vesper by Jeff Sampson - kick-ass sometimes, and regular girl the rest of the time.

When she's not being her kick-ass, paranormal-killing self, Kali is a vulnerable teenager. While that may sound like a cliche, I actually felt something for Kali and thought she brought uniqueness to this overdone cliche. She doesn't have all the answers at first - she doesn't even know what she is.

Her background, once it was all unfolded and on the table, was quite tragic and I felt for her even before her past came to light. I was also very surprised at what paranormal creature she was revealed to be and loved the unique take on said creature.

The rest of the characters were all important in their own way and all had unique personalities. My favorite was, of course, Skylar. I thought her character was just brilliantly done. She seemed so bubbly and positive and exactly like the type of person you'd want to give a hug because they're so adorable.

Every Other Day's writing was excellent. It was sarcastic and witty and imaginative. It was very easy for me to get a clear picture in my head of what was happening.

The plot was equally amazing. So many twists and only a few I saw coming. It was a fresh take on old, tired paranormal creatures and I applaud Jennifer Lynn Barnes on a job well done.

Overall, I absolutely loved Every Other Day. I was sucked in immediately, though I was sucked in even more so in Chapter 2 and beyond. I highly recommend to anyone getting a bit tired of paranormal novel clones.

Cover thoughts: I rather like this cover. It appeals to me because of the lack of a person on the cover and the fact that it relates to the story.



25 December 2011

Merry Christmas and IMM (21)

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 3:55 PM 4 comments

I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays! I hope you all have a wonderful time doing whatever it is you do on this holiday!


In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme to showcase what you got over the week by buying, receiving, borrowing, stealing from a friend etc.


From Luxury Reading for review:
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

What did you get in your mailbox or for Christmas?


19 December 2011

Cover Reveal: Sleepers by Megg Jensen

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 12:00 AM 1 comments


  Title: Sleepers
  Author: Megg Jensen
  Published: July 20, 2011
  Series: Swarm #1
  Buy: Here
An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can’t calm the fires raging inside her.

Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she’s always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen’s alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?

I like this a lot better than the original! The colors are pretty and I really like the font. What do you think? Leave a comment telling me your thoughts!


18 December 2011

Review: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez (Luxury Reading review)

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 1:22 PM 0 comments


  Title: Virtuosity                               Pages: 294
  Author: Jessica Martinez                Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: Simon Pulse                   Published: Oct 18, 2011
  Series: N/A                                     Purchase: Amazon
Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....
Virtuosity did not really catch my attention in the beginning, because I do not typically read contemporary fiction. I am glad I did take a chance on this wonderful novel.


To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!


Cover thoughts: This cover is so pretty! To me, it really represents the freedom and exhilaration that Carmen found when she stopped taking the anti-anxiety drug.


In My Mailbox (20)

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 1:13 PM 8 comments

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme to showcase what you got over the week by buying, receiving, borrowing, stealing from a friend etc.



Soul Screamers Volume One by Rachel Vincent - Super excited for this one! I won this from the Gratitude Giveaway Hop at Martha's Bookshelf. Thank you!!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - I cannot tell you how surprised I was when I opened the package and found this. I was totally expecting Soul Screamers and I open it and it's this lovely book! I read a sneak peek and absolutely fell in love with it, even though I only read like one or two chapters? :P

That's all I got this week or so, what did you get in your mail box?

15 December 2011

Cover Reveal: Mirage (Winterhaven #2) by Kristi Cook

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 2:49 PM 0 comments


  Title: Mirage
  Author: Kristi Cook
  Published: June 5, 2012
  Series: Winterhaven #2

Seventeen-year-old Violet McKenna is back for her senior year at Winterhaven, and her visions have returned as well. With her friends in danger, a mysterious (and hot!) new teacher as her psychic coach, and her Sabbat tendencies threatening her relationship with Aidan, Violet may just be in over her head.
I like that it matches the first book! What do you think? Leave a comment telling me your thoughts!


14 December 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 2:54 PM 3 comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's can't-wait-to-read selection is..
  Title: The Raft
  Author: S.A. Bodeen
  Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
  Published: August 21, 2012
  Pages: 240
  Goodreads
Robie, 16, lives with her family on the Midway atoll, a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific. Her parents are scientists; it’s an isolated life. Robie enjoys visiting her aunt in Hawaii – she gets back and forth on a cargo plane that brings supplies to Midway.

During a visit, her aunt is called to the mainland for a work emergency, leaving Robie to get home on her own. On her flight back to Midway the cargo plane hits nasty weather, and goes down. It’s just Robie, the pilot, and Max, a co-pilot she’s never met till this flight, on board. Robie is pulled aboard a raft by Max, who is injured and slipping in and out of consciousness. They have a bag of candy and very little water between them. When they finally reach an island that seems abandoned, Robie hopes they’ll be found quickly. But she’s not sure she was even on the flight manifest. Her parents must be looking for her…aren’t they?
Another one about survival and another one I'm sure I'll love. That simple :P.

What are you waiting on?


07 December 2011

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 5:26 PM 6 comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's can't-wait-to-read selection is..
  Title: Survive
  Author: Alex Morel
  Publisher: Razorbill
  Published: August 2, 2012
  Pages: 272
  Goodreads
Jane runs away from Life House, a facility for kids with mental health disorders and addictions. She boards a plane to Montclair, New Jersey, though her destination does not matter—she doesn’t plan to be alive when the plane lands. Jane has planned the perfect suicide: she’ll fall asleep on the plane and never wake up. As she’s reaching for her pills in the cabin’s bathroom, the plane hits turbulence. Another jolt, and the engine’s down. The plane crashes into the mountains of Montana, and Jane and a boy named Paul are the only two survivors.

What starts out as a death mission quickly becomes a fight for life.
I'm really into movies and books about survival (Beauty Queens by Libba Bray), so this sounds absolutely wonderful!! I really like the cover font, but the girl kind of makes it look like a paranormal book for some reason?

What are you waiting on?


04 December 2011

In My Mailbox (19)

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 4:36 PM 6 comments

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and is a weekly meme to showcase what you got over the week by buying, receiving, borrowing, stealing from a friend etc.

Won:


Inheritance (Inheritance #4) by Christopher Paolini 

Random Buzzers:

You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis

Bought:


Possess by Gretchen McNeil
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen


That's all I got this week or so, what did you get in your mail box?

01 December 2011

Review: Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson (Luxury Reading review)

Posted by Meghan @ Books and a Cup of Tea at 4:36 PM 1 comments


  Title: Rites & Wrongs of Janice Wills  Pages: 224
  Author: Joanna Pearson                    Source: Luxury Reading
  Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books      Published: July 1, 2011
  Series: N/A                                         Purchase: Amazon
For anyone who's ever survived a rite of passage or performed a mating dance at Prom...

The Japanese hold a Mogi ceremony for young women coming of age. Latina teenagers get quinceaneras. And Janice Wills of Melva, NC ... has to compete in the Miss Livermush pageant.

Janice loves anthropology--the study of human cultures--and her observations help her identify useful rules in the chaotic world of high school. For instance: Dancing is an effective mating ritual--but only if you're good at it; Hot Theatre Guys will never speak to Unremarkable Smart Girls like Janice and her best friend, Margo; and a Beautiful Rich Girl will always win Melva's annual Miss Livermush pageant.

But when a Hot Theatre Guy named Jimmy Denton takes an interest in Janice, all her scientific certainties explode. For the first time, she has to be part of the culture that she's always observed; and all the charts in the world can't prove how tough--and how sweet--real participation and a real romance can be.

Funny, biting, and full of wisdom, this marks the debut of a writer to watch.
I enjoyed The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills as a whole and felt that Janice was the epitome of an awkward girl coming to terms with herself, and finally seeing herself as pretty. She also really came to terms with how she treated people. She used to study her high school from the sidelines, always quick to point out a person's flaws and used her anthropological research as an excuse for why she did this. The rest of the characters in the novel really helped her see that she did it as a coping mechanism for her self-consciousness and helped her see it was actually mean, not honest.

To read the rest of my review, please go to Luxury Reading!


Cover thoughts: I do not care for this cover, it doesn't look that creative to me.


 

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