Kickin’ it Old Skool! #1

Hello all!!! I have decide to start a new feature here on Black and Blue Ink! It is going to be a feature where I give due respect, recognition, and complete gushing to my absolute favorite books from back in the day. Not too long ago, but long enough that the buzz of all the new releases have allowed it to fade into the background. This feature is here is bring them back into the limelight!!!
For the first Kickin’ it Old Skool!, I am going to shine some light onto an old favorite of mine.


A Certain Slant of Life
by Laura Whitcomb
Graphia Publishing, September 2005

 Helen is a disembodied spirit who "attaches" herself to humans. Unable to remember the circumstances of her death, and with no idea why she's in this precarious state of limbo, she knows this much: she's been haunting the living world for 130 years. But when Helen attaches herself to a high school teacher, everything changes. For though he remains quite unaware of her presence, a certain boy in his class is clearly able to see Helen. This realization, and Helen's subsequent introduction to him, rocks her world.
Uncomfortable with the boundaries of her existence, Helen continues to test them and takes hair-raising risks -- often for love. Moved by her passions, she is stymied by limits placed on her that she doesn't yet understand and is unable to control. Despite the supernatural realm it explores, A Certain Slant of Light is nothing sort of chilling in its evocation of a world that's starkly real, and a newfound love that's positively sublime.

(Synopsis from Goodreads, but I had to alter a few things because they were incorrect.)

This is one of the best love stories I have ever read. It is soooo different from the paranormal romances that are coming out now. For some reason I think there is a distinct difference between a romance, and a love story. And this is definitely a love story. It shows that love transcends pretty much everything, and that love is definitely more than what is on the outside. While throughout the book you see this incredibly genuine romance being to bloom, there is also the whole issue of Helen being a ghost that puts a damper on things. There is such an air of mystery about the situation the main characters are in. And once one problems ends one is brought to the surface revealing what these two people who have absolutely nothing on their side, will ultimately do to escape from their current lives, into one much better, and where they can be together. One of the best books I have ever read. I pretty much recommend to every person on the planet!!!

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Apologies...

Hello guys, I know it has been longer than forever and I really know how truly annoying it can get when it seems that the only post a person does on their blog are apology posts, but I feel one is in need. So far junior year is kicking my but something fierce. And along with sports I barely have enough time to get 5 hours of sleep, which sucks big time. And it is currently finals week!!! Yayyyyy...NOT! But after this week is it is Winter Break and I will definitely start posting again. So sorry, I have pretty much been putting my blog on the back burner, but its not purposefully I promise. Can't wait to get to posting and doing the things I love about blogging!!!

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CSN Upcoming Review and Black Friday Sale!

Hello People!!! I have been given the wonderful opportunity to work with CSN again! I really enjoy helping to get the word out for this great company! And I hope the winner of the recent contest I had for CSN is enjoying whatever product they chose to use the gift certificate for.

I'm pretty sure by now you guys know all about all of the stores CSN has by now. But the CSN enterprise is expanding. You can get all kinds of things in their stores. If you want a fancy new stool, new play things to spice up a game room, or my personal favorite- a new pair of heels, CSN has it all.

I have been given the opportunity to do a review for one of their products and again, I am torn. I am in great need of a affordable desk for my room but then again, why go for necessity when you could have accessories. So you guys decide. This desk on the left. Or that cute bag.

On another note. The CSN stores are having a Black Friday Sale for select items. If I were you I would definitely take advantage of this great opportunity to get some great discounted products even more discounted!!! Happy Shopping Everyone!

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Waiting on Wednesday- Born at Midnight

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Born at Midnight

Release Date: March 29, 2011

Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin

Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

 Synopsis from Goodreads: Kylie Galen has had a lot of crap tossed in her lap. Her parents are getting a divorce. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she wouldn’t put out. Her grandmother died and now Kylie’s acquired a stalker. Unfortunately, she’s the only one who seems to be able to see the stalker. And that gets her sent to a psychologist’s sofa. The kooky psychologist gets Kylie sent to Shadow Falls Camp. Kylie and her parents think it’s a camp for troubled teens. They thought wrong. It’s a camp of supernaturals: vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches and shape shifters. And if she believes the camp leader, Kylie is one of them, too.  As Kylie attempts to cope with the realization that these creatures actually exist, and that she might even be one of them, the ever present stalker/ghost appears to have secrets that could unravel the mystery of Kylie’s identity and her destiny. 

As Kylie struggles to find answers, two hot guys, a werewolf and a half-fairy vie for her attention. However, Kylie’s determined that before she lets her heart discover a new love, she needs to solve her identity crisis and unearth the truth of her destiny. 

Sounds like it is going to be really good. The one thing I am a little skeptical about is the romance. Which is a complete change of pace because I am all about books with romance and all that good stuff. But lately, even though this is probably just the books I am reading, it seems like there can't be a love story in YA without their being a love triangle. And since the first day I made this blog, I have stood by my anti-love shape way of thinking. I refuse to let it go. Though this could be the one book to change that belief of mine forever...I doubt it. It still seems like it is going to be a great book. It sort of reminds me of Fallen with all the reform school stuff. Anyways, anyone want to tell me what the girl in the picture is doing with her dress???

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

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Review: Sea Change by. Aimee Friedman

Title: Sea Change
Author: Aimee Friedman
Publication Date: June 2009
Pages: 290 
Genre: Romance
Rating: 6/10

Synopsis from Goodreads: 16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate. There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality. Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

Review: I was really really looking forward to reading this book the first time it came out. The whole mermaids and mermen idea has been explored so little in YA that I was hungry to see what this book had to offer to the genre. I was expecting a very interesting mermaid love story with a little bit of mystery from this book. It delivered a little more on romance, not so much the mermaid aspect I was pining for.

You know you just read a good book when in the end you either had most of your questions solved from the book, or the author leaves you with one or two burning questions that you just have to decide for on your own. Either way, you are left satisfied at the end. Sea Change, for me, was not that book. I think what really did it for me was the end. It seemed like throughout the book the evidence of a mermaid and the mystery of 'are they or aren't they' kept on building up that in the end I expected an answer. What was unexplained in the beginning stayed unexplained till the end. I guess you could say that part was left to the reader to decide, but to me that sort of made the rest of the book built up to a dead plot. This book to me was just a large question mark.

The romance in this book was okay. Miranda was torn between two guys. Or actually being torn between the guy she was "supposed" to like and the one she actually wanted. Leo pretty much represented the hot beachy really smart says-all-the-right-things kind of guy with the one flaw the girl is set to unravel: the secret. There was spark and some good moments, and that was it.

Overall this book was okay. I expected a lot more. In my opinion is great if you are looking for a light quick read!


Overall: 6/10 

Characters: 7/10 
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 6/10 
Entertainment: 6/10 
Ending: 6/10 
Writing Style: 7/10 
Cover: 10/10- this cover is amazingly beautiful!

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Monday’s Question of The Day

If you could see any book/series in the world made into a movie what would it be and who would you cast for the lead roles?
        
  I would have answered Vampire Academy to this but since it is already being made into a movie, which I cannot wait to see, I will go ahead and choose the Awake series by Wendy Raven McNair. As you guys may know I really really love this series and I would love to see all of the characters and the plotline made into a movie.I would definitely cast Keke Palmer as Adisa and … I really don’t know who to cast for Micah. I’ll leave that decision up to the author on this one, but I am think somewhere along the lines of a teenage Trey Songz…

Don’t forget to leave a comment saying which book or series you would like to see made into a movie!!!

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In My Mailbox #16

In My Mailbox is a bookish meme hosted by Kristi The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Hey everyone!!! I am finally getting to doing an In My Mailbox post. You know since I have not been posting and reviewing for the couple of months since volleyball and school started wouldn't you assume that I would have a load of books I have accumulated and not shown you guys for the last 3 months. NOPE! I haven't been buying books in a serious long time. And usually this would be an awesome thing and my wallet would be extremely thankful. But since I haven't been buying, I haven't been reading either. Yeah, suffering through serious withdrawal here. Anyways, hear are the few I have been accumulating these couple of weeks.

Bought:

Fallen (Fallen #1) by. Lauren Kate

Go ahead, you can tell me, I can take it; Am I the only one in the planet who has yet to read this book. It's okay, I know I am. But I finally got it, and it is a very powerful feeling. But I got it in softcover, and I hear the hardcover ones had these fancy fuzzy feeling covers that I missed out on...

   Review:

  Awake by. Wendy Raven McNair 

  Yeah so obviously my hiatus wasn't too bad since I received (and already read and absolutely love) the second book in the Asleep trilogy by. Wendy Raven McNair. I have been waiting to read this book since I finished Asleep and this one was even better. If you have not read Asleep yet, I recommend you do immediately. My review of Asleep is here. And my review of Awake is here.

Swapped:

Unleash The Night by. Sherrilyn Kenyon 

One of my favorite authors. In my opinion Sherrilyn Kenyon is the best (non-YA) paranormal romance author ever. Oh yeah, she's great. All fans of J.R.Ward must read her books because the Black Dagger Brotherhood series is a close second in my heart to every book I have read by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

 Unwanted 

(jk jk...no book is ever unwanted...right?!?):  

My parents were kind enough to leave me the extremely subtle gift of a brand spanking new SAT Prep book. Excitement!

So yep, that is what I received for the past few months. There may be some I didn't find lying around somewhere, but one can only hope.

 Don’t forget to tell me what you guys got in your mailboxes!!! 

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Review: Awake by. Wendy Raven McNair

Title: Awake
Author: Wendy Raven McNair
Publication Date: September 20th 2010
Pages: 321
Genre: Supernatural/Romance
Rating: 9/10

 Synopsis from Goodreads: Adisa and Micah's saga continues as the young couple try to heal Micah on their own. Their repeated failures drive Adisa into a desperate but secret alliance with Micah's father and place a strain on the young couple's relationship that may drive them apart permanently. Adisa learns more about the super world, revealing just how alien they are, like their curious bathroom habits and disdain for earthbounds, which leads her to question if a life with Micah is possible. Victor, Micah's super twin, continues his pursuit of Adisa in hopes of fulfilling a prophecy predicting their union is the only way to save Micah's life.  As Adisa deals with the mounting challenges, threatening her relationship with Micah, she discovers her birth parents are alive and want to see her. Pearl, her earthbound mother, and Cyrus, the greatest super being in modern times, have been absent from Adisa's life since they abandoned her in a cotton field when she was only three years old. Does Adisa's reunion with her birth parents hold the key to Micah's cure or will it lead to his death?

Review:  Asleep, the first book in Wendy Raven McNair's YA  trilogy, was an incredible first book that set up the premise for an even better romance, and fantasy filled second book in Awake. It combines everything you would like in a great romance, coupled with fantasy elements that haven't been explored in any other book I have read before. 

The characters seem to come even more to life in this book, and their personalities start to blossom. Adisa in the first book was somewhat shyer when it came to her relationship with Micah, a common trait among female leads in YA books, a trait that Micah also had. But throughout this book you see them both begin to grow a backbone and find out what it means to love each other. The sacrifices, the promises, and what is at stake for their relationship and the people's lives who are involved. That was really how the romance was so stepped up in this book. It wasn't just the "I love yous" that showed the bond between Micah and Adisa, it was what was at stake for both of them and how they used it to make them grow closer together, and push the limits of what in the end they would be willing to do to save and be with the other.

The fantasy aspect was also amplified. It was taken to a whole new level. Slowly throughout the book facts and different theories about the whole Sp world is given out. And the way all that begins to turn together towards the end is awesome. Adisa is put into a situation that she has been dreaming about since we ended with her in Asleep, but now that she is there, she is being tested, experimented, and given a huge reality check on the decisions and choices she made to get there. Something else that I loved was how many of the minor characters in the last book or the beginning of this book took on a greater role. It made everything more suspenseful when it wasn't just Micah and Adisa at stake. The new friends, the old enemy's, everyone thrown into this world of not just good and evil, but trying to decipher the greater good over the worse evil.

This book was more than the unexpected, I have the dynamite romance between Adisa and Micah that I have been craving since I read the first book, but an even stronger plot line and character buildup that leave me in even more anticipation over the third book!


Recommendations: If you loved, or even liked the first book, you must read this one because it is that much better. And if you love supernatural romance, or anything fantasy, this book will most definitely satisfy your cravings. 
 
Overall: 9/10 

Characters: 10/10 
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10 
Entertainment: 8/10 
Ending: 10/10 
Writing Style: 10/10 
Cover: 10/10

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1 Year Blogoversary Contest Winner!!!

Hello guys, very long time no see. I have counted tallied and entered all of the contest entrants into random.org to generate a winner for the CSN $60 gift certificate, and the winner of that is...

Brianna B.

Congrats Brianna B.  Your $6o dollar gift certificate should arrive via the email you entered with within the next couple of days!!!

Thank you to all who entered and made this contest such a success!!!  

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10 Things You Might Not Know About Me...

 (Warning: Not Book Related)

First off, I would truly like to apologize for the lack of posts since about August when school started. Keeping up with AP classes and volleyball and this blog have proved impossible for me so, but I am trying really hard to prevent the inevitable (which is to go on hiatus until next summer). I would really hate to do that, but school comes first. Anywayzzzzz, These are just 10 things about me that you may not know that actually don't have to do with books or reading, oh yes be excited!

In no particular order...

10. I'm an athlete, all day, everyday. Maybe not all day, and maybe not everyday, but pretty close. There is about only 2 weeks during the year where I am not practicing or vigorously involved in a sports team. I started playing sports when I was 3 and it just kind of stuck and became a part of me. My #1 is of course volleyball! I have been playing varsity volleyball since my freshman year of high school and I play that in the fall and throughout the summer. Then comes basketball, and then track, my second favorites. I also play softball and soccer, but a lot less vigorously than the others. I am in love with sports. I really couldn't imagine my life without volleyball or track. I love everything about playing sports, its so much fun, and I love pushing what I think is my limits and improving and competing!

  9. I am obsessed with nail polish. Ha, didn't see this one coming did you now? If there was anything I collect as much and have too much of (well according to other people) besides books would definitely have to be nail polish. I change my nail polish designs pretty much every two days. I love creating different nail art designs and on my nails as well as my friends. It's so much fun and has kind of become a fun obsession of mine.

8. I have Aquaphobia. It sounds like a serious medical disease but it is really just a fear of bodies of water. Seems weird since I'm from the Bay Area, but yeah. Any body of water larger than my bathtub I am afraid of. It has been this way for as long as I can remember. People say I'm afraid of water because I can't swim. NO! I can't swim because I'm afraid of water. There's a difference!

7. I don't care what NASA says, according to me, Pluto is a planet!

6. I am probably the most sarcastic person you will ever meet. Sarcasm is the best intellectual device ever in my opinion!

5. My favorite colors are blue, black, and purple. Just in case my blog layout doesn't give that off.

4. I'm think I'm very outgoing, but according to my mom, I'm just loud. I could be worse...I think.

3. I want to become a lawyer/journalist/...something else. I was never one of those, I want one career kind of people. If I'm going to be in school 8 more years after I graduate high school, it better be worth it. Someday I would like to have my own published magazine. Like a multi dimensional magazines, that has things all kinds of girls, and guys of course, would like to read about. Not just what color highlights Miley Cyrus decides this week (nothing against Cyrus, she never did anything to me and shes a great artist but really, since when is hair highlights breaking news).

2. I am a mall rat. Yes, I hold the title with pride. If I'm not at the library, just check the mall you'll probably find me with a Jamba Juice in hand.

1. I don't get the point of a scarf, they look cute, but my neck never gets cold. 

1/2. My name is Chioma, and I love to read. 

That last one must have really thrown you guys off. So that's just some things you guys might not know about me. Sorry nothing too exciting, but not every one's life can be a Degrassi episode (thank heavens for that). Maybe I can do a ten of the weirdest things that ever happened to me post, but still nothing teenage soap opera worthy though. But I am really enjoying these top 10 posts. Let me know if there is any specific top 10 posts you guys would like to read. Thank you for reading and don't forget to leave a comment!

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Monday’s Question of the Day

Wow its been a while since I’ve done one of these. Today’s Monday’s Question of the day:

Is there a certain element what has to be in a book in order for you to consider reading it? 

I remember when I was in elementary school and I would not read a book if there was not some sort of mystery involved. If it was just a romance or just a contemporary school life novel, I would not even touch it. (Just because I thought only mystery books could live up to my obsession with the Nancy Drew series). And then when I was in middle school I wouldn’t consider reading a book if there wasn’t even the slightest, smallest hint of romance in it. Now though I would read any book that I think is going to be good whether it has any mystery or romance in it at all!

Feel free to leave a comment answering the question, I look forward to reading your responses!

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CSN Preffered Blogger Opportunity + Blogoversary Contest [CLOSED]

Recently I have been offered an incredibly incredible opportunity to work with CSN as a preferred blogger. This is a great opportunity and I am really looking forward to incorporating it in my blogging. And this time they are offering a $60 gift card to the winner of the contest. I think it is great that CSN offers so many products so it doesn't matter what you are in need of because CSN has it. If you are in need of entire new bedroom furniture sets, a new bookshelf (oh yeah, I'm talking to all of you), or a desk for all you fellow AP kids who just can't find enough room for all that work, CSN has it. I am so glad to be hosting this contest for my blogoversary!

Winner will receive a $60.00 E-gift card to any of CSN storess 200+ stores!


Rules: 

1. Must Fill out the form below.
2. Contest Ends October 31st, 2010

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1- Year-Blogoversary!!! Thank you to All my supporters!!!

Today September 19, 2010 marks the 365th day I have been blogging. Which makes it my 1 year blogoversay!!!! I am so glad I have made it this far. My blog really means a lot to me, and though some can't tell it because of my lack posts the last weeks (blame high school-junior year I tell you)(oh and AP classes)(and volleyball games that end at 10 o'clock, but you know...life)! I am trying really really hard to get back into it and no better way than to kick it off with my blogoversary.

I think as a book blogger I have grown a lot more throughout this year. If you have read my first review (which I don't really recommend) you could see that it was pretty much a bad persuasive essay. Which is okay if I want to pass an English class, but I am glad that my reviews have at least grown and I have found my own style as a book blogger.

Most importantly I would really really really 1000x really want to thank, honor, and commend all of you who read my blog, especially those of you who have been here from the beginning. It is really great motivation knowing that people actually read what I have to say. So a huge thank you to those who read my blog on a regular basis, rarely, or even if this is the first post of mine you have ever read, Thank you. I appreciate it, and hope you come back later!

Expect a contest as my next post btw...

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Monday’s Question of the Day

This meme was started by Eleni over at /- LA FEMME READERS -/. I always enjoyed answering and reading the responses to the questions she comes up with, so I decided to start some of my own!

How do you feel about books turning into movies?

To be completely 100% honest…I don’t like it. It really kind of bugs me whenever I see another YA book, especially one of my favorites, being made into a movie. This used to make me really ecstatic to see a book I liked made into a movie. but lately it has just become too much for my taste. It would be okay if they were making them into as close as possibly remake’s of the books, but adding all the sparkle sparkle, Hollywood casted, annoying directors who like to change great books into their own twisted visions really bugs me. Wake, and Vampire Academy are two of my favorite favorite series ever, and I’ll just say I was less than happy when I heard they were being made into movies. But maybe they will be able to find that one director out there that will actually make the books what they are, instead of what they think it should be. *Toes and Fingers Crossed!*

That’s my opinion on the whole YA into movies phenom, what do you think?

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Waiting on Wednesday #18- Forsaken

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Forsaken

Release Date: January 7th 2011

Publisher:  Macmillan Children's Books

Paranormal/Supernatural Romance

Riley has always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father, and she's already following in his footsteps as one of the best. But it's tough being the only girl in an all-guy world, especially when three of those guys start making her life more complicated: Simon, the angelic apprentice who has heaven on his side; Beck, the tough trapper who thinks he's God's gift, and Ori, the strikingly sexy stranger who keeps turning up to save her ass. One thing's for sure - if she doesn't keep her wits about her there'll be hell to pay... - from Goodreads

 Have you ever wanted a book just because it reminded you of another book, and if you really really wanted it, you could pretend in your mind that that book was going to be just as good as the book in which it reminded you of. Yes? No? You following me here? Well that is why I have decided that I really want to read this book. Though it seems that it is not only going to be a love triangle, but a love quadrilateral (I could have said square, but the sophisticated thing to do is use big words these days). With this WoW I am officially ending the love triangle trend that has become of my WoWs. For 1 reason, I despise books with love triangles. I don't like to read them. I like the leading male, then all of a sudden a new leading male comes and there is this huge catastrophe. OR, I don't like the leading male, then another one whom I do like comes, and the leading female seems to want the 1st leading male when it is obvious he is a loser. You see what I mean. But I'm hoping this one will be one of the good love shape books, fingers crossed. Oh and if my rant hasn't distracted you and you are still wondering which book this one reminds me of, it's the Strange Angels series by.  Lili St. Crow!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?  

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Goodbye Involuntary Hiatus+ Updates!!!

Hello people of the blogging community!!! It has been so long since I have written up a post,  and really there is no excuse for that. Except if you count the fact that school started 3 weeks ago for me and I am already swamped with homework, projects, and midterms. I mean really, which teacher gives a midterm after only 3 weeks of school. You'll be lucky if I remember your name after three weeks. Anyway, school has really become a hassle. I know Junior year is my make it or break it year so I am trying to start off as best as I can. So blogging has actually taken the back burner in my life which is not what I want. But since I'm in class to 3 o'clock everyday, and from 3 o'clock to 6:30 I have volleyball practice, and after that finishing my homework at 12 every night, its hard to find time to blog. Basically I am stressed to the brink of wanting to pull out my hair. But I did it last year, and I am more than determined to do it this year. So yeah that is my little, or long hiatus disclaimer/excuse/rambling paragraph.

Updates!

So as I try to get back into the swing of things I have planned a lot. I would really like to do more discussion posts and I have a lot of ideas for those too. If you guys have any idea’s for discussion posts feel free to let me know.

I have a lot of reviews on newly released books I would like to get out soon. But is sucks that every week I have a new book I have to read for AP English, and you know I never get tired of boring 100 year old, nonfiction books!

I have been thinking about doing a vlog. I’m not really sure I want to do it for In My Mailbox unless I get a lot a lot of books. I really like the idea of doing a video review of a series. I have a series in mind that I really want to review, and since it has a lot of books in the series, I thought a video review would be great for that. We’ll see…

*Non Blog Related*

We won our first 2 volleyball games. Of course it is still pre-season, but they were both awesome teams and we beat them both in 4 games which is so awesome. I can tell this year is going to be a great year for our team. In our last game I averaged 6 kills per game and 2 blocks. It’s all so exciting, I can’t wait for our next game.

I am currently failing pre-calculus. My life as I know it, is ending.

That last one was a bit overdramatic but what are you gonna do?

I am working on starting a new blog on something that I love but is completely unrelated to this blog. I’m not sure I am going to announce it on this blog since it is so unrelated.  You’ll get a hint to what it is in my next post!

Well that’s all folks! I’m trying my best to get back into the swing of things. Again I apologize for being missing in action for so long!!! I hope to get updated on everything I’ve missed!

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Review: Other by. Karen Kincy

Title: Other
Author: Karen Kincy
Publication Date: July 1st 2010
Pages: 326
Genre: Paranormal/Romance
Rating: 9/10

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.
When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.

Review:  Other is a paranormal mystery combined with the best kind of romance. Not only that, but we are introduced to two new creatures of the para, the Pooka and the Kitsune. Other- a paranormal creature including vampires, werewolves, fox spirits, and...pooka??? Yes the beloved Pooka. Shape shifting pookas. It so refreshing to have a whole new paranormal creature thrown into the mix. And not just any kind of shape shifters, an anything goes kind of shape shifter. Sounds like my kind of people.

I don't know about you guys, but for me when I'm picking a paranormal romance, I love to know that the romance is up to par, especially when its supposed to be a love triangle. And Other delivers, big time. Sometimes I find it is hard to pick between two guys in a book with a love triangle, usually because there really isn't anything distinguishing the two, but Other does not have that problem. There is the original hot and...hot Zach, and then there's the witty, sexy, intelligent, Japanese fox-spirit, supportive Tavian. Would you say it's a hard choice? Tavian had a real distinct personality that made him a favorite character of mine and you could easily see the romance and chemistry blossoming between him and Gwen in the book.

Someone is killing Others, and Gwen could be next. And when the killings take a turn for the personal, she decides to get involve and try to save the lives of more Others, including herself. I actually didn't see the ending from a mile away. In my mind the killer's identity changed about 5 times throughout the book. What else could you ask for in a mystery book. The book was fast paced and had absolutely no filler pages or chapter. Every page is needed in developing either the romance or giving clues to the mystery murderer. Not only that but I like how the fact that Gwen wasn't only a paranormal creature but also a teenager didn't get lost in the book. The things any other average teenager would go through, Gwen also has to deal with. 

Overall, I loved this book. It took me right out of my reading slump within a day. Everything intermingled great. It wasn't one of those books where there's action, then wait there's a little romance randomly added, then back to the action. The action and the romance mended nicely which made the book flow perfectly. I really enjoyed this book and was very satisfied with the ending. Though I wouldn't mind a little more Pooka, Kitsune action maybe in a sequel...wishful thinking! 

Recommendations: I recommend this book to all romance and paranormal fanatics. Also if you interesting in adding another paranormal to vampire and werewolf list of favorites, definitely give this book a try!


Overall: 9/10 

Characters: 10/10 
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10 
Entertainment: 9/10 
Ending: 10/10 
Writing Style: 10/10 
Cover: 9/10

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Currently Reading: Moby Dick by. Herman Melville

 

Moby-Dick, the white whale: emblem of nature yet unnaturally pale, tender and violent, god and demon, an enigma to which Ahab is bound by ropes of vengeful obsession. The Pequod: whaler out of Nantucket, with its polyglot world crew bound upon a voyage for spermwhale, a ship of the damned driven by its ungodly captain to the edge of the void. Ishmael: named for a Biblical outcast, narrator, masthead philosopher, sole survivor.

Currently, my summer is coming to an end. I can tell by how my summer homework seems to be much much more than it was when I saw it at the beginning of the summer. Part of my AP English Composition summer homework is to read Moby Dick which is what I am currently doing. And to my immense surprise it is going pretty good. Though I am not even 1/3 of the way through the book it is still going better then expected. And it has cannibals, yes cannibals. I am fascinated yet disturbed, creeped out yet intrigued, (doesn’t that tell a whole lot about my personality?) just take a gander at this excerpt:

“I then asked Queequeg whether he himself was ever troubled with dyspepsia… he then began to tell me of a time..it was a great  feast given by his father the king, on gaining a great battle wherein fifty of the enemy had been killed by about 2 o’clock, and all cooked and eaten that very evening…

he told me that it was custom, when a great battle had been gained there, to barbecue all the slain in the yard or garden of the victor…”

My favorite quotes of the entire book by far. Interesting, very very interesting. Can’t wait to get on with that essay!

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In My Mailbox #15

In My Mailbox is a bookish meme hosted by Kristi The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought:

The Seven Rays by. Jessica Bendinger

I put this book off for a very long time since pretty much all of the reviews I read were negative, and I really didn’t want to read it after that. But I found it on a site for 99 cents plus free shipping, and in hardcover, and I couldn’t resist the pretty, shining, bright gold cover. And my inner book buying addict succumb to the pressure and here it is. I am probably going to put off reading it for a while, but I still hope it wasn’t a total waste.

Gifted (sort of):

My Soul To Save by. Rachel Vincent.

I received this book courtesy of the Harlequin Teen Panel. Which is just a great place for teen girls to talk and discuss books and other miscellaneous things. They sometimes send you surveys in you inbox to do, which is how I got this book. I was just completing this survey on my favorite book covers and at the end they asked me what book I wanted to receive. Oh yeah, fun times!

So that sums it all up. I also got quite a few workbooks and reading material for school, but even I didn’t want to open those up when I got them so I doubt anyone else would want to see them :). Don’t forget to tell me what you guys got in your mailboxes!

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Waiting on Wednesday #18 -Wake Unto Me

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Wake Unto Me

Release Date: March 31, 2011

Publisher:  Speak
Paranormal/Ghosts

A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school. There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School. And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy.

I blame Meg Cabot's mediator series for my new infatuation with ghost books. They sound so intriguing and I love the different ways a love story can play out when one of the characters happens to be dead...ooh, ahh, interesting!

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Posted in: ghosts,paranormal romance,Waiting On Wednesday

Monday's Question of The Day!!!

This meme was started by Eleni over at /- LA FEMME READERS -/.

This Monday's question is: 

Do you prefer reading a series or a stand-alone book?

This one is a no brainer for me. Of course I prefer series! I thoroughly enjoy reading books that are a part of a series a lot more than stand alone. About 80% of all the books I read are apart of a series. Especially if there is wonderful character development so I get really attached to the characters, of course I would love for the story to go on with more books. If you check out my Top 10 Favorite Books post, you'll see that only one of those books out of ten were not a part of a series. There are so many books that I love out there that I would have loved to have a sequel. Without a doubt, series any day!

So tell me, which do you prefer: series, or stand-alone books? I would love to hear your opinions so don't hesitate to leave a comment!    

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Review: Shiver by. Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)  
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Age Range: 14+
Publication Date: August 1, 2009 Scholastic 
Pages: 392
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 10/10

Synopsis from Goodreads: For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Initial Reaction: "Let's see if this book will live up to all the hype."
End Reaction: "Now that's a romance done right! I loved the ending, I didn't think it needed a sequel though, hope's its as good."

Review: Usually I am more than a little hesitant to read a book that has received nothing but the best reviews. I was especially hoping that Shiver would live up to the hype, and that it did. Engaging romance, and a unique pretense surrounding the werewolves make for a great combination in this fascinating novel.

When I look back at this book, the one thing I remember most is, of course, the romance. It was just beautiful. Even though the romance did start early in the book, and it may have seen a little sudden, it worked out perfectly. Once you read the prologue and the emotions that went between Grace and Sam even before Grace even knew that Sam was a human being, you can tell that the love between them is so real. I can't even describe how intense to me it was. And to go through the whole book not knowing whether this romance could last between the two of them made me so eager to get to the end to see what happens, at the same time wanting the book to last forever!

The struggle in this book is what really gave it something extra than just the romance which could have stood on its own anyway. There was the time restraint the characters were constantly on. Not just Grace and Sam but the other supporting characters. Grace and Sam are fighting to fit in all the time they can together and say all they want to say within one season WHILE dealing with Sam's restrictions and a renegade werewolf threatening what may be the only winter Sam and Grace may have together. 

This book was incredibly. The reviews said it was one of the best books of the year, and it still surpassed my expectations. Even though I loved the ending of Shiver and didn't think a sequel was needed (just because I don't want it to spoil the ending of Shiver), I am still awaiting the day I finally get to read Linger.

Recommendations: I recommend this book to paranormal, romance, and werewolf fanatics everywhere! 


Overall: 10/10 

Characters: 10/10 
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10 
Entertainment: 10/10 
Ending: 10/10 
Writing Style: 10/10 
Cover: 10/10

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In My Mailbox #14

In My Mailbox is a bookish meme hosted by Kristi The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

I had my best book week in a very very long time! I got so many books that I have been looking forward to reading! And I went to our big 5 story library in my city this week. You would think that a library with 5 freaking stories would have a whole story dedicated to YA books, but no, I guess they're going for the whole quality vs. quantity thing which is fine I suppose. Anyways the books I got are really great, but there is a down side... you'll see...

Bought:

Betrayals by. Lili St. Crow 

Oh how overdue this purchase was!

 Contest:

(from Online Publicist)

Manifest by. Artist Arthur

and

This incredible tote bag, which is so pretty. The cover image showed up really vivid and it's signed!!! It's hanging beautifully next to my bookshelf so I can easily access it for library trips!!! 

Thank you so much Artist Arthur and Online Publicist, I look forward to reading this one!

Library:

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

I heard about this book a while back, and I just now decided to pick it up. Can't go wrong with Meg Cabot!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green, David Levithan 

 I know I am going to love this one. Which for is why I don't think I am going to read it until I purchase it. I'm weird that way. I know I am going to love it, so I want it to be my own so I can add it the my shelf and re-read it to my heart's desire. Again, I'm weird that way. You'll probably see this book next week under my BOUGHT section of IMM.

Wings (Wings, #1) by Aprilynne Pike

 I've heard many many mixed reviews on this book so I decided to get it at the library.

Kin (The Good Neighbors, #1) by Holly Black (Goodreads Author), Ted Naifeh (Illustrator) 

 Also wanted this for a while, but it seems to be at a limited availability everywhere!

Vampire Kisses: The Beginning (Vampire Kisses, #1-3) by. Ellen Schreiber [not pictured]

 Already read these books about 100 times. But sadly, I don't own them. This is where libraries especially come in handy. Probably my favorite series to re-read!

Library- for school books: 

Lo and behold the dreaded reason I mentioned about not being able to read all of the amazing above books for a while. 4 words: AP English Summer Assignments.

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Ugh, I haven't had much luck with the past books I had to read for AP English so to say I am not looking forward to these books would be the biggest understatement ever. And this is only 2 of the three. Anybody ever read Sophie's World?

 School starts in about two weeks which means I am going to have a while to read the three books and do the rest of my AP homework I have procrastinated on, but all these other books look so good. This is my attempt at disciplining myself and prioritizing...so far, not working out. But hope springs eternal :).

Don't forget to tell me what you guys got in your mailboxes!

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Collector, Hoarder, or Lover?

Which one are you?  Myself, I make up the collector and lover part of the equation. Of course I am talking about books. A long while back, Donna from Bites did a post that I don't really remember what it was about, but it brought on a very passionate response from most who read the post. One comment in particular stood out to me about hoarding books. Of course, I was quick to think this comment was insulting, but when I look out if from the perspective of someone to whom books do not carry the same meaning as to me, this could be how they see it.

Personally I consider myself, a lover and collector. I am a lover, because I love to read and I love books. I guess they sort of go hand in hand together. I'm pretty much always in the middle of a book. I like to have a book I can come home and finish reading or continue at all times. My name is Chioma, and I am a compulsive book buyer...sue me!

I would also consider myself a collector. Not sure why, it just kind of goes with the way I am so obsessively a perfectionist when it comes to my books. Example 1: I recently read the first book in the Georgia Nicolson series Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging. I didn't particularly like it, but now that I have the first one on my shelf, I must have the rest (which I have already ordered). Why you ask, because I want to and they will look so pretty all together on my bookshelf (Don't get me wrong, I'll probably read them...eventually).  Example 2: Lets take a look at the picture on the right. Perfectly normal section of my bookshelf. Except for the giant hardcover copy of Twilight Mediator Series Book 6 next to the rest of the series. Something had to be done about the situation, so of course I am indeed looking into buying the paperback copy. Do I need it, of course not, must I have it, of course! I, like many of you out there, have been known to buy books out of shear "prettiness" of the covers as well as just because I want to have the series. I have the first 3 books in 2 manga series that I haven't even began reading yet. I see interesting looking books, I want, so I buy! It's just the way I am!

In my opinion, those who truly love reading books and are true book lovers at heart, can't be book hoarders. I know I have an emotional attachment to my books, but its not just because they are objects that I don't want to part with. Each book means something different whether I liked it or not. They are all different in significance, depending on the story, when I read them, and I can honestly say, I would re-read almost all of the books on my bookshelf at any time.

In conclusion, I am both a lover and a collector. The idea that some people might consider my accumulation of books as hoarding never even occurred to me until I read that post. I mean I barely even have a TBR pile since I don't request ARC's and I usually only buy two books at a time, but I still have over 20 books that need to be read and to some that may be considered a lot. No real point to this post, that comment has just been hanging in my head for a while!

Thank you! 

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Review: The Iron King by. Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Age Range: 11+
Publication Date: January 21 2010,  Harlequin Teen
Pages: 363
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 8/10

 Synopsis from Goodreads: Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series.

Review:  The Iron King bundled everything I enjoy about faerie books into one convenient package. Equipped with oblivious faerie heroine (oblivious to the fact the she is a faerie, as well as oblivious to...other things), hot romance, and kick butt fight scenes!

I thought it was great the way the story expanded from just the first story line. A quest to find a kidnapped loved one turns into the beginning of a war, as well as the beginning of a romance. It all flowed together well and the characters were well developed. I love the reoccurring roles of the Seelie and Unseelie courts in the faerie world. Such an adventurous plot that had so much at stake all at once. The romance also fit together perfectly. I didn't feel like it was just a separate point in the book, it just flowed very nicely with the book.

The characters, such a variety of characters there were. My #1 is definitely Puck! Puck was the funnest character I've read on in a long long time. He was always upbeat and funny and protective of Meghan, though I think she took it for granted... Anyways Meghan was pleasantly not the same character I pegged her to be in the first few chapters of the book. Once she is on a mission, she turns her intelligence on and uses it to her advantage. Of course she could be very impulsive at times, but who wouldn't be in her situation i.e kidnapped siblings and possible wars. Ash got on my nerves most of the book, but I didn't completely dislike him. He was actually pretty cool to read about, and had more layers to him than meets the eye. Though he seemed not only stoic but so scripted at times. He was so by the book I questioned whether he had any emotions or thoughts of his own at all at times.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next installment. Loved the characters, loved the plot, and loved the set up for the next books in the series. As a lasting statement I would like to leave you all with this: GO TEAM PUCK!!!

Recommendations:  Everyone who loves faeries will love this book. And those who enjoyed Wondrous Strange will love this book just as much!


Overall: 8/10 

Characters: 8/10 
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 7/10 
Entertainment: 8/10 
Ending: 9/10 
Writing Style: 10/10 
Cover: 10/10

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Top 10 Favorite Books (currently...)

Here is a list of my top 10 favorite books!
My favorite books change weekly if not daily. Probably the next book I decided to read this week, is going to end up being one of my favorites. Probably just because I only read books I am really sure I am going to love!

But I really tried to narrow it down to get a good combination of all time favorites, and my current favorites. I tried very much to rank them, but it got hard to choose so it's kind of in no particular order, but not exactly!

10. Uglies Saga - It would be impossible to create this list without giving most credit to this series. If my best friend hadn't given me the first book in the series to read back in the 8th grade, I would not have even know a Young Adult genre existed. I fully hail credit to this series for the love of reading I have today, (this and fictionpress.com but that's another story). This series is forever one of my favorites. It's futuristic fiction, with sci-fi, and romance, and so much action, and betrayal, and drama, and all that good stuff!

9.  Vampire Kisses- To be honest, I probably never would have heard of this book if I hadn't read an excerpt of the second book of this series in Seventeen Magazine. Oh yes, you heard that right, way back 3 summers ago. And it wasn't just any excerpt, they extracted the sexiest, most thrilling, and romantic part of the book they could find and just stamped it right on a page. I was at a lost, and thus, a vampire fanatic was born. These books are so sweet and romantic and I like how they take me back to the traditional Draculaesk vampires from back in the day. You know the Gothic, batty, princesses and princes of the night!

8. The Dark Hunters Series- Favorite adult series by far. No doubt. I don't really like to compare books but I love this series for the same reason so many adore J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. Sherrilyn Kenyon's characters are all so different and individual and unique characters that I can't help but get attached. I like each character for a different reason because they are all so developed and original. All the guys are different and have you falling in love with all of them throughout the series!

 7. Asleep [review]- This is one of the books I am painstakingly awaiting the sequel to. It is really an incredibly book with amazing characters! I can say with complete content that if I could only have one fictional guy brought to life for my amusement (and staring privileges), it would definitely be Micah. Tall, dark, superhero Micah. He can fly...nuf said!

6. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side [review]- This book blew me out of the water ten-fold! I don't know why because Beth Fantaskey's other book Jekel Loves Hyde was completely amazing I should have expected as much. But WOW. This book represents a paranormal romance at its ABSOLUTE best! Lucius is definitely high up on my top ten hot guys that should soooo be brought to life!

5. Wake Series [review]- This series is incredibly. I love how emotional it can make me. The whole story surrounding it is supernatural, yet the emotions and the characters are still so real that it is still a story that makes the biggest impact. Not only the topics and the characters in this series, but the romance. It is all so intense. It is really hard to describe, I just think everybody needs to read this series!

4. The Darkest Powers [review]- One of my favorite series ever. I liked the mix of all the different kinds of paranormal characters. My favorite character was Derek, he seemed like he was a really mean guy at first, but then he eventually turned into my favorite character! I can't wait to read The Gathering.

3. Twilight- Need I say more? Of course! I love The Twilight Series. This series actually marks a milestone in my "reading journey" since it was the first time I actually finished a book in one day! Love, love, love it! BTW my favorite Twilight character of all time is without a doubt Alice. I wish their was a whole separate story on Alice's and Jasper's lives.

2. The Pace [review]- My favorite book of 2009! Just a terrifically written and engrossing read! I love pretty much everything about it except...the killer CLIFFHANGER. It was the most intense cliffhanger I have ever seen in a book. Wes is another one of my favorite male characters in books. He's not perfect and he knows it, and that's just part of his charm. And Sophie is one of my favorite female characters just because she knows what she wants, and she goes for it, without backing down.

1. Vampire Academy [review]- Favorite series ever! I love everything about these books. The drama the romance, and then more drama and more romance. Rose and her kick-ass confident ways. Dimitri with his tall, hot, older guy sexiness. All the action, the scheming, the love triangles. When Richelle Mead adds anything to the series, she makes sure it is packed with as much tension and drama, and all the good stuff it can have. All time favorite always and forever!

I am going to cheat and show anyways what was so close to making the list:
I am the Messenger [review]
Jekel Loves Hyde [review]
Perfect Chemistry Series [review]
Intertwined
Mediator Series

As a closing statement: I DARE YOU! to try and narrow your favorite books, of all time or just of this month down to 10! Leave a comment telling your TOP 10, or top 9, or top 8...!!!

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