Kiss It by Erin Downing

Kiss It by Erin Downing Simon Pulse/June 15, 2010/Young Adult/273 pages Author Links: Website//Twitter 

Chastity Bryan has never been shy about going after what she wants. And when sexy, mysterious, so-not-from-this-town Sebastian walks into Chaz's life, she knows in an instant that what she wants next is him. Chaz has no intention of playing for keeps—but she most definitely has intentions. Who needs true love when you've got true lust? Sebastian has no idea what he's in for—but maybe neither does Chaz?.

Review If you are looking for a book that has morally driven and goody goody characters, this book is not for you; however, if you want a book that deals with real teenage situations, this is for you! 


Chastity Bryan is one of the most real female characters in YA that I've read in awhile. She is a witty and not afraid of going after what she wants. She has a different view on sex than other girls, like her best friend Sadie, have on it. Chaz isn't one of those people who believe in waiting for marriage, in fact she kind of just wants to get it over with. 


I applaud Downing for writing Chaz the way she does. It was interesting to read her take on this subject. I pretty much knew the deal with Sadie and I'm glad how everything was handled! However, throughout the book, I found myself trying to figure out what exactly was with Sebastian. I definitely wasn't expecting the part about his past history. Some parts of this book were laugh-out-loud funny and I had to go back and reread them. 


Overall, KISS IT is an enjoyable read and I can't wait for whatever Erin Downing writes next! Oh, and I liked that Chaz was a runner! I definitely wasn't expecting that. Yay!

RATING

Writing: 5/5

Originality: 4/5

Characters: 4.5/5

Voice: 5/5

Ending: 4.5/5

Overall: 4 stars

Favorite character(s): Chastity. Like I said before, she was just so real! Cover: B- I don't particularly like the orange background nor the bunnies (although, I ) but I love the heart. The tag line, "Want It. Get It. Love It. Kiss It" is awesome and I like the font and colors.

Put-down-ability: 3. I pretty much read it straight through and it was hard to put down!

*Source: Received a signed copy from author! Thank you!!

Here are some places you can buy the book: Amazon, BN

Waiting On Wednesday 26

Her and Me and You by Lauren Strasnick

Simon Pulse / October 5, 2010

"First love, broken friendships, and heartache all play a part in this evocative, voice-driven novel about Alex, a girl whose world is ripped apart when her father’s affair splits her family in two.

Alex moves with her mess of a mother to a new town, where she is befriended by hot, enigmatic Fred—and alternately flirted with and cold-shouldered by Fred’s twin sister, Adina. Others warn Alex to steer clear of the twins, whose sibling relationship is considered abnormal at best, but there’s just something about Fred—and something about Adina—that draws Alex to them and makes her want to be part of their crazy world…no matter the consequences."

Why I want this: Well, Nothing Like You is on the top of my bookshelf just sitting there and whenever I see it I am seriously thinking 'Man, I wish Lauren Strasnick would write another book.' I read Nothing Like You in the beginning of this year and really enjoyed it. It was a fast read and her writing is amazing. I am so excited for this book! I love the sound of it AND okay, THE COVER IS SO GORGEOUS. It really is.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking The Spine

Gone by Lisa McMann

Gone by Lisa McMann Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 9, 2010)

Age Group: Young Adult

Hardcover: 224 pages

Summary: "Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her. She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves: She has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both. Then a stranger enters her life — and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...."

Review: This book was only a little more than 200 pages so I was able to read it quickly. I actually wasn't planning on reading it for a couple of weeks but I was eager to read how the series ended!

Gone is the last book in the Wake Trilogy and we get a deeper look inside of Janie's life. She must choose her fate in being a dreamcatcher and throughout the book. Along with her choice, comes her decision about Cabel. There isn't a lot of over the top romance between the two but I really love the couple! In the series, Janie's mother is an alcoholic and I applaud Lisa McMann for including such a serious topic.

Lisa McMann's writing is very unique. When I first got Wake, I was a bit skeptical about it but I really like her style of writing. This series caught my attention because it was about a girl who got sucked into other peoples dreams. I am fascinated with dreams and their meanings so this series is awesome. Although it doesn't get into detail about the meanings, but rather the affects that other peoples dreams have on Janie.

I recommend this to anyone whose interested in dreams or just wants to read a good trilogy. Here are my reviews of WAKE and FADE

Rating:

Characters: 5/6

Originality: 5/6

Ending: 4/6

Writing: 6/6

Voice: 6/6

Plot: 5/6

Favorite character(s): Cabel because throughout the series he's been so sweet!

Cover: A! I have loved all of the covers in the series and I think this is my favorite! I love the green and the black.

Thoughts: I can not wait for whatever Lisa has coming next!! 3.5 Stars

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott

Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 24, 2009)

Hardcover: 224 pages

Reading Level: Young Adult

Summary: "Everyone thinks their parents are embarrassing, but Hannah knows she's got them all beat. Her dad made a fortune showcasing photos of pretty girls and his party lifestyle all over the Internet, and her mom was once one of her dad's girlfriends and is now the star of her own website. After getting the wrong kind of attention for way too long, Hannah has mastered the art of staying under the radar...and that's just how she likes it.

Of course, that doesn't help her get noticed by her crush. Hannah's sure that gorgeous, sensitive Josh is her soul mate. But trying to get him to notice her; wondering why she suddenly can't stop thinking about another guy, Finn; and dealing with her parents make Hannah feel like she's going crazy. Yet she's determined to make things work out the way she wants -- only what she wants may not be what she needs....

Once again, Elizabeth Scott has created a world so painfully funny and a cast of characters so heartbreakingly real that you'll love being a part of it from unexpected start to triumphant finish."

Review: I have only read two other books by Elizabeth Scott: Perfect You and Bloom and they both have been amazing! I was eager to read Something, Maybe and Elizabeth Scott does it again!

The book starts off with, "Everyone's seen my mother naked," and you absolutely have to continue reading after that! Having parent's like Hannah's would be difficult for anyone. Her mother sits in front of her computer with hardly anything on and she has a father whose old enough to be her grandfather, that lives in a mansion with women like her mother.

The romance isn't overly the top. She works at BurgerTown, a popular fastfood place, with the guy she has a major crush on, Josh and the boy who annoys her, Finn. I thought Finn was sweet and didn't like Josh that much. I liked reading about Hannah's friendship with Teagan. I thought it was a really nice touch to the story!

I enjoyed the book! It was sweet and I think Elizabeth Scott has a knack for creating belivable characters which is awesome! I'd reccomend this if you're looking for a nice, realistic book to read!

Rating:

Characters: 8/10

Originality: 7/10

Ending: 7/10

Writing: 9/10

Voice: 9/10

Plot: 8/10

Favorite character(s): Finn. I can't help it. I love sweet guys like him.

Cover: D. I just do not like the cover.

Overall: 3 stars. Cute book. PLUS Hello! It's Elizabeth Scott! I need to read The Unwritten Rule!

Review of Fade

Fade by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 10, 2009)

Hardcover: 256 pages

Reading Level: Young Adult

"SOME NIGHTMARES NEVER END.

For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, but no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open -- but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability -- and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared...."

Review: I read the first book in the series last month and I liked it a lot and Fade does not disappoint. Fade is one of those books that keeps you turning page after page. I went through it so fast, I wished it was longer.

The characters are amazing. Lisa McMann writes Janie and Cabel so realistically, its makes it easy to relate to them. I absolutely adore Janie and Cabel's relationship in this installment. They're a lot closer in this book than the last and the relationship is so sweet and I love how Cabel becomes very protective of her as she approaches her "assignment."

In FADE readers find out more about the seriousness of Janie's dream catching ability. There is a bit of angst in this in the middle of the book -which I hated!- between Janie and Cabe, but they work it out. I liked the ending, but you know, if I didn't know that there was another book in this series, I would've thought that it ending there. It was a definite ending IMO, but I'm so glad that there is going to be another book. I can't wait to see where the relationship and Janie's ability end up.

Rating:

Characters: 9/10pts

Originality: 8/10pts

Ending: 8/10pts

Writing: 9/10pts

Voice: 9/10pts

Plot: 8/10pts

Favorite characters: Besides the two main characters, I really like the personality of the "Captain" who works with Janie and Cabel. The character is a nice addition to the story and I enjoy reading scenes with her in them.

Cover: A. The covers for this series are just plain awesome! Love it.

Overall: This book was fantastic!!! If you want a book that's fast paced, this is it! I want the last book, GONE, right now! :)

Review of WAKE

WAKE by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Simon Pulse --March 4, 2008

Hardcover (224 pages)

Reading Level: Young Adult

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.... 

My Review: When I heard about this book a couple of months ago, I thought it sounded so freakin' interesting! I love dreams and the meaning behind them and it's awesome. What I liked about this book is that it was a really quick read and really good! 

Wake is one of those books where it's really easy to get into and it's hard to put down! The main character Janie, has this problem. She can't control getting sucked into other people's dreams. She comes from a broken home, in which she lives with a mother that drinks to much and lives in a bad part of town. Janie is determine to make enough money to go to college and so she works at a nursing home. 

I loved the added romance between Janie and Cabel. Cabel is somewhat of a misunderstood guy at her school, but they soon cross paths and help each other out. The romance isn't overly the top, but it was really nice to read. I also loved the task they are given later on in the story.  

(will have review of Fade soon!)

Rating:

Characters: 8/10

Originality: 9/10

Ending: 7/10pts

Writing: 9/10pts

Voice: 8/10pts

Plot: 7/10pts

Total score: 48/60

Favorite character: I love Cabel! He is a really nice addition to the book!

Cover: A. I love the purple on black. Simple but very pretty!

Overall: I thought it was a great book!