Just Like Fate

Author: Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young
Goodreads Rating: 3.90
Pages: 304
Format: ARC from BEA13

Caroline is at a crossroads. Her grandmother is sick, maybe dying. Like the rest of her family, Caroline's been at Gram's bedside since her stroke. With the pressure building, all Caroline wants to do is escape--both her family and the reality of Gram's failing health. So when Caroline's best friend offers to take her to a party one fateful Friday night, she must choose: stay by Gram's side, or go to the party and live her life.

The consequence of this one decision will split Caroline's fate into two separate paths--and she's about to live them both.

Friendships are tested and family drama hits an all-new high as Caroline attempts to rebuild old relationships, and even make a few new ones. If she stays, her longtime crush, Joel, might finally notice her, but if she goes, Chris, the charming college boy, might prove to be everything she's ever wanted.

Though there are two distinct ways for her fate to unfold, there is only one happy ending...

Boy Nobody

Author: Allen Zadoff
Goodreads Rating: 3.97
Pages: 337
Format: ARC from ALA13

They needed the perfect assassin.
Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends, and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone in his new friend's family to die-of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target. 
But when he's assigned to the mayor of New York City, things change. The daughter is unlike anyone he has encountered before; the mayor reminds him of his father. And when memories and questions surface, his handlers at The Program are watching. Because somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and parents; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission.
In this action-packed series debut, author Allen Zadoff pens a page-turning thriller that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, introducing an utterly original and unforgettable antihero.

Secret Readers: September

Welcome to the second functioning month of Secret Readers! I think that everyone that started with us last month, enjoyed the beginning of the process, but we'll see once they all post their reviews. I already read my book, and already I'm loving that I'm clearing books off my shelves.

How this works:

You sign up below on the Google Survey. You have until August 15th.
Then you hang out and wait while Hannah and I pair you someone. This is where the secret part comes in. On August 20th we will give you your assignment, and then you have to keep it a secret! You can't go around telling everyone who you got. We will include the person's name and the link to their blog and other various information. By August 25th, you have to tell Hannah and I what book you have selected for your chosen partner. Once we have been informed, we'll let your partners know, and then you have until September 31st to post your review.

Sound fair? We think so to.

This is for reviews to be posted in the month of September. And just for clarification purposes, you're only picking one book, and your TBR shelf should be books that you currently have or can easily get to. IE. I don't own The Future of Us by Jay Asher, but I can just hit my library to get it because they have it, or I can borrow it from a friend. If the library isn't easy to get to (Mine is around the corner from my house) then don't add it unless its a book you really want to read, but need to have a good little shove.

Makes Sense? I tried, if I didn't, please feel free to email cleanmyshelves@gmail.com with any questions, and I'll make a Q&A post so everyone is on the same page. I'll add a link to a sample list of mine later in the day. So what are you waiting for friends? If you can't access the form below go ahead and click this link!

Secret Readers

The other day while Hannah and I were having our daily bookish chat, we came to a few realizations"
1. She needs to read some sequels.
2. We both have a ton of books on our physical shelves that we never seem to get around to.

I think she needs to read Unravel Me and I really need to read Obsidian. At first I proposed a full month where we read 5-10 books picked by the other that we think need to be read. But instead, we're opening this to everyone for a new Monthly Meme.

How this works:

You sign up below on the Google Survey. You have until July 15th.
Then you hang out and wait while Hannah and I pair you someone. This is where the secret part comes in. On July 20th we will give you your assignment, and then you have to keep it a secret! You can't go around telling everyone who you got. We will include the person's name and the link to their blog and other various information. By July 25th, you have to tell Hannah and I what book you have selected for your chosen partner. Once we have been informed, we'll let your partners know, and then you have until August 31st to post your review.

Sound fair? We think so to.

This is for reviews to be posted in the month of August. And just for clarification purposes, you're only picking one book, and your TBR shelf should be books that you currently have or can easily get to. IE. I don't own Adaptation by Malinda Lo, but I can just hit my library to get it because they have it, or I can borrow it from a friend. If the library isn't easy to get to (Mine is around the corner from my house) then don't add it unless its a book you really want to read, but need to have a good little shove.

Makes Sense? I tried, if I didn't, please feel free to email cleanmyshelves@gmail.com with any questions, and I'll make a Q&A post so everyone is on the same page. I'll add a link to a sample list of mine later in the day. So what are you waiting for friends? If you can't access the form below go ahead and click this link!

BEABlitz: Danny from Bewitching Bookworms

Now, I have to thank Hannah for this interview with Danny from Bewitching Bookworms. You may have noticed that I've been somewhat absent for the past few months. Sure! My blog keeps posting, but I've started a new job and so I've hardly had time to really focus on the blog, and Hannah helped me get this review because she has seen me go from being all there to hardly being there at all. She set up this interview with Danny, and man do I wish I had because she sounds like a really awesome chick.

1.) How many years have you attended BEA?

2011 was the first year I attended so this will be my third year. 

2.) You travel quite a ways to get to BEA each year! Why did you decide to make the trek?

Since I’m living in Germany, I do not have the chance to meet so many authors. I realized that I needed to be there too. When I started Book Blogging in 2010 I saw all these post from people who were going to BEA and I knew one day BEA would be a perfect opportunity to meet these amazing authors, get into contact with publishers and meet other Bloggers. I felt like at some point I need to see why everyone is so excitedly talking about this event. And then.. the following year, I decided to just go and see for myself. Needless to say I wasn’t disappointed as I am now going for the third time :) 

3.) How do you handle getting everything you get home without spending a fortune?

Unfortunately I cannot send a package full of books home as all the people from the US usually do. If I would send all the books home to Germany it would truly cost a fortune. Just calculate for yourself, sending one book is already $15, so sending 60 books?!?! So I bring a second suitcase. This serves also two purposes. First, I can take this second smaller bag and bring it every day to BEA so that I do not have to carry all the books the whole day (My back and neck thanks me!) and I fill up this suitcase and just check it in as an second bag. You just have to check first with your airline, because some do only allow one checked in bag. 

4.) What's your favorite BEA memory?

OoOooo I have so many! From first year BEA it was definitely meeting Jenny from Supernatural Snark. We were reading each others blog but when we met in person at BEA it was love at first sight. Then, the same

year we went to have coffee with Michelle Hodkins who was made of awesome! Also meeting Julie Kagawa was just amazing! I was such a big fan and I couldn’t believe it when she even remembered my name! Big Awesome Moment! 

Then last year, my favorite moment was meeting Katie McGarry! I just read an ARC from Pushing The Limits before flying to BEA. then the first night on twitter Julie Kagawa tweeted that they were at their hotel and whoever was nearby should just come by and have a drink with them. So, that’s what we did and then we had some wine with Julie and Katie and just chatted! This is an evening I will never forget! 

5.) What advice would you give to someone going to BEA for the first time from another country?

I think it doesn’t matter if you are from the US or from somewhere accross the world, my main advice is having fun. You should make a (preliminary) plan which authors you want to see, but don’t stress too much but instead go with the flow. I love most just wandering around at BEA, talking to Bloggers, Publishers and Authors. 

And… talk to the people around you especially when standing in line! Be social, and network! Often you might know the blogger, I mean in the end when they are standing in line they might love the same books! I just love these moments and meet tons of awesome people! 

So thank you to Hannah for setting this particular interview up and Danny for joining me today!