Thursday, October 31, 2013

Girl in Translation

Author: Jean Kwok
Goodreads Rating: 3.94
Pages: 304
Format: Finished Copy Purchased


Introducing a fresh, exciting Chinese-American voice, an inspiring debut about an immigrant girl forced to choose between two worlds and two futures.
When Kimberly Chang and her mother emigrate from Hong Kong to Brooklyn squalor, she quickly begins a secret double life: exceptional schoolgirl during the day, Chinatown sweatshop worker in the evenings. Disguising the more difficult truths of her life like the staggering degree of her poverty, the weight of her family’s future resting on her shoulders, or her secret love for a factory boy who shares none of her talent or ambition. Kimberly learns to constantly translate not just her language but herself back and forth between the worlds she straddles.
Through Kimberly’s story, author Jean Kwok, who also emigrated from Hong Kong as a young girl, brings to the page the lives of countless immigrants who are caught between the pressure to succeed in America, their duty to their family, and their own personal desires, exposing a world that we rarely hear about. 
Written in an indelible voice that dramatizes the tensions of an immigrant girl growing up between two cultures, surrounded by a language and world only half understood, Girl in Translation is an unforgettable and classic novel of an American immigrant-a moving tale of hardship and triumph, heartbreak and love, and all that gets lost in translation.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Amelia Anne Is Dead and Gone

Author: Kat Rosenfield
Goodreads Rating: 3.47
Pages: 304
Format: ARC from Swap


An arresting un-coming-of-age story, from a breathtaking talent
Becca has always longed to break free from her small, backwater hometown. But the discovery of an unidentified dead girl on the side of a dirt road sends the town--and Becca--into a tailspin. Unable to make sense of the violence of the outside world creeping into her backyard, Becca finds herself retreating inward, paralyzed from moving forward for the first time in her life.
Short chapters detailing the last days of Amelia Anne Richardson's life are intercut with Becca's own summer as the parallel stories of two young women struggling with self-identity and relationships on the edge twist the reader closer and closer to the truth about Amelia's death.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Dollhouse Asylum


Author: Mary Gray
Goodreads Rating: 3.66
Pages: 296
Format: ARC from BEA13

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

ALA Recap


Oh my goodness my friends. I had the craziest two days I think that I have ever had. I was really nervous when it was the night before and I all I did was ask myself "What was I thinking!?" Two days? Not even two full days? At a Book Conference? In a city I had never been to before?

Needless to say, it was two of the best days I've ever had. We had a 6AM flight out of New York, and we landed shortly before 8AM in Chicago where I don't think I can even explain my excitement at being there. I love traveling be it road trips or really anything. I don't get to do it often, and more so now, having a big kid job, it makes traveling hard.

Everyone said that I was crazy for doing this. For dragging my poor, wonderful boyfriend to Chicago for a book convention. I didn't think we would get to do much sight seeing, and I'm sure we missed a ton of really cool things, but I got to see everything that I wanted to, eat what I wanted to, and even grab all the cool books that I wanted!


So excited I couldn't even talk.
So where was? 8AM we made it to Chicago, and we didn't make it to the convention center until like 8:30. I didn't realize that my hotel was attached to the convention center so I made the poor man drive to the center even though it was right there. I guess it was only fair as we drove in a circle (3 Times to the same Hotel) when I was jittery and wanted to get to ALA. I just wanted to be there already!

Right away we hooked up with Bailey and her mom Jamie, and they gave me the lowdown on what ALA was like as this was my first time there. They told me about how they have a post office in the hall, on the floor! (BEA Listen up!) I mostly wandered while Mike went to hold my spot in line for Sarah Dessen because I missed her at BEA, no way that was happening again...
The Bean!

Right away I got a ton of books, and when I went to meet Mike on line, he was shocked as I had to organize everything. (I also won't lie, I ditched the books with him so that I could free up my shoulders and walk around a little bit.) We wound up leaving a little early to check into the hotel which was actually a really awesome place. There was a fitness center and pool (Which I knew when I booked it, but by the time that it came time to go 6 months later, I left my bathing suit at home.) 

Amazing.
I think my favorite part of this trip was that I was able to not just do the conference, but also see some of Chicago. I didn't feel tied down to the Convention Center because I didn't have to be at a signing at least once an hour. I was able to get out and sight see and we got to see so many sights! We went to see the Bean, and we got to walk around Chicago. I never realized how artsy this city was.

I was terrified and I loved it.
Of course we went and tried some Deep Dish Pizza which was delicious and I was only able to eat while slice while Mike had 3. We had to walk the pizza off, and we decided to do that while visiting the Skytower. It was a really amazing experience, and I would love to repeat it! I think the biggest problem is that it was completely packed and you couldn't get a chance to do something fun because everyone wanted to push their way into the 4 little boxes that hovered over the city. It was terrifying sitting on that because while I understood I was in a safe little box, it did not feel like I was in a safe little box.

We spent most of the next day in the hall as well, wandering around, sadly, Bailey and her mom had to leave somewhat early, because they were flying out Sunday the same way we were. The remainder of our last day was spent wandering before we caught or flight back home. Which was a pain, but thats a story for another time. I cannot wait to go back and explore another new city!


All the great books!



PS. Sorry this took so long to get up, but better late than never, yeah?

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Tormet (Fallen #2)

Author: Lauren Kate
Goodreads Rating: 3.92
Length: 9.7 Hours
Format: Audiobook from Library

Hell on earth.
That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel.
It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.
At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous.
What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?
The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series...where love never dies.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Conjured

Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Goodreads Rating: 3.47
Pages: 368
Format: ARC from ALA13



Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.
At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.



Friday, October 11, 2013

Where Silence Gathers Cover Reveal

Today
The Mod Podge Bookshelf and Mod Podge Blog Tours are hosting Kelsey Sutton’s exclusive 



WHERE
SILENCE GATHERS
 



cover reveal!


Summary:

In this companion novel to the
critically acclaimed Some Quiet Place, Alex must choose between Revenge and
Forgiveness.

Seventeen-year-old
Alexandra Tate sits outside Nate Foster’s house, clutching a gun. After serving
ten years for the drunk driving accident that killed Alex’s family, Nate has
been released from prison. Every night, Alex waits out of sight, building up
the courage to exact her own justice. There’s just one problem: Forgiveness.
Alex has been able to see personified Emotions for as long as she can remember,
and Revenge is her best friend. But when Forgiveness suddenly appears, he
offers Alex a choice—getting even or moving on. It’s impossible to decide when
Revenge whispers in one ear . . . and Forgiveness whispers in the other.

Enter
to win a pre-order of WHERE SILENCE GATHERS below!

(This
giveaway is international.)






Kelsey
Sutton has done everything from training dogs, making cheeseburgers, selling
yellow page ads, and cleaning hotel rooms. Now she divides her time between her
college classes and her writing. Kelsey lives in northern Minnesota with her
dog and cat, Lewis and Clark.

Goodreads


I am so excited to check out this book and I cannot wait to get my hands on it!

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Wait For You

Author: J. Lynn
Goodreads Rating: 4.29
Pages: 332
Format: ARC from BEA13


Some things are worth waiting for…
Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.
Some things are worth experiencing…
Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.
Some things should never be kept quiet…
But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?
And some things are worth fighting for…

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Sunny Sweet Is So NOT Sorry

Author: Jennifer Ann Mann
Goodreads Rating: 4.50
Pages: 208
Format: ARC from BEA13


We’ve all woken up on the wrong side of the bed. But have you ever woken up stuck to the bed? Masha Sweet has. And there’s only one possible reason: her little sister Sunny. Masha is used to Sunny’s evil genius ways, but the glue Sunny used to secure a bouquet of plastic daisies to Masha’s head is not coming out! The girls have to stay home from school and through a bizarre turn of events, they wind up at the hospital. It’s the perfect place to fix Masha’s head…but first they will (almost) contract a (not so) killer virus, steal a cast, and lead the nurses on a wild goose chase. When this is all over, Sunny Sweet is going to be so sorry!

Friday, October 4, 2013

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...

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Don't Look Back Cover Reveal


Today, I have an extra special treat for you. Today, I'm going to be helping to reveal the cover for Jennifer L. Armentrout's new book, Don't Look Back. If you haven't already picked up a JLA book yet, then you need to right away. This year I read Wait for You and Obsidian by her, and I cannot wait to get my hands on even more including her 2014 release of Don't Look Back.

I know. I know. All you want now is to check out the cover, but first, a word about our author.



# 1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture.


She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.


Isn't she fab? You can find her at a few different spots like her Website, or on Twitter, and then there is Facebook.

So now without further ado.....

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

November Secret Readers

Welcome to the fourth 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 October 20th.
Then you hang out and wait while Hannah and I pair you someone. This is where the secret part comes in. On October 25th 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 October 30th, 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 November 30th to post your review.

Sound fair? We think so to.

This is for reviews to be posted in the month of November. 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!




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