Did This Blog Randomly Die or Something?!?!?

Hey guys, it's S. I'm just dropping in to let you guys know that L and I have been rather busy the past few weeks. It's been hard keeping up with the blog and we apologize for that. School, family, work, and a whole bunch of other stuff has completely taken up all our time. We're going to go on a hiatus for now but we'll try to drop in from time to time, perhaps to post little mini reviews. We have exams at the end of January so we probably won't be back until after they're over. Sorry for just disappearing. Hope you all had a very Merry Xmas & Happy New Year! 

Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Title:Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2)

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Number of Pages: 427

Rating: 4.5/5

Release: October 19, 2010 

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Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can''t figure out if it''s for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father''s death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn''t answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

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In September, I had the pleasure to meet the one and only, Becca Fitzpatrick, along with Lesley Livingston and Ally Carter at a signing in Toronto. They were all wonderful. I had such a fun time talking to them because they were very easy going and courteous. Crescendo wasn't released when I met Becca but if I had read it back then, I would have told her what a great job she did with the sequel to Hush, Hush. 

I know a lot of people had mixed feelings about Crescendo but...I kinda loved it. I mean, sure, I understand that Nora acted reallllyy different in this one, but, people change. And she was thinking with her heart more than her brain. But, the reason I wasn't really that annoyed of her was because I understood her reasoning. Didn't really accept it but I understood it. Plus, Patch wasn't making it easier for her by being so secretive. But, I understood that too! I kinda guessed why Patch was acting the way he was half way through the book and I didn't see anything wrong with it. It made a shitload of sense. And I've just realized that most of you probably have no idea what I'm talking about... LOL.

So, characters were a bit off, but I didnt get too worked up over that. The plot, oh god, the plot; I actually liked it better than Hush, Hush! There was much more depth and mystery. The anxiety just kept building and building. Becca revealed a lot of information about the past; Patch's past, Nora's past, her dad's past, her mom's past. It was like, the past was coming back to haunt Nora. LOLOL, I know, that was lame, but whatever =D

The ending was just OMFG-I-NEED-TO-KNOW-WHAT-HAPPENS-NEXT! There I was, all content and satisfied,then BAM! Book #3 is going to be fan-flipping-tastic! And I know the cover is going to be drop dead gorgeous as well.

-S

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Waiting on Wednesday #5 (12/22/10)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine by Jill, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

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Title: Starstruck

Author: Cyn Balog

Number of Pages: 256

Release Date: July 12, 2011

Summary:

Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.
At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.
But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?

-L


All the reviews for this book are already sounding great. Can't wait to read it.

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Title: Taking Off 

Author: Jenny Moss

Number of Pages: 320

Release: January 4, 2011

Summary:

Reimagining the days surrounding this unforgettable event in history, readers are brought back to 1986 as the astronauts prepare for the Challenger mission, and Christa McAullife trains to be the first teacher in space. When a teen named Annie meets Christa, she is fascinated by Christa's courage. Truly inspired, Annie is determined to make it to Florida to see the Challenger launch, a trip that will forever change how she thinks about herself and her secret desire for her own future. Although she is devastated when tragedy strikes, Annie honors Christa by following her own dream, despite the obstacles. Bringing in her experience as a NASA engineer, Jenny Moss weaves a moving story that recaptures the inspiration teens must have felt years ago as they watched Christa McAuliffe reach for

the sky.

-S

The cover for Taking Off is just breath taking. I know I'm going to love this one! 

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What are you guys waiting for?

Late Teaser Tuesday #5 (12/21/10)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Here's how to do it:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

-Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

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Title: The Scorch Trials

Author: James Dashner

Number of Pages: 360

Summary:

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

Teaser:

"You're used to living with a bunch of boys," Newt said. "I don't think it's polite to go stomping into the bloody ladies' room. Just wait till she comes out." 

-S

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Better late than never, right?

In My Mailbox #2 (12/18/10)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by the wonderful Kristi over at The Story Siren with inspiration from Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. It's a great way to share books that bloggers have received and it's fun too!

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I'm really excited today because this is the second time we've done this meme here at Diary of a Book Lover! I know I said the same thing last week but I can't help it, I'm still excited! Let's just say that I'll be excited every week I do this meme =P

Bought (The Book Depository)

   White Cat by Holly Black [Goodreads]
   The Scorch Trials by James Dashner [Goodreads]

   Matched by Ally Condie [Goodreads] [Review]
   The Duff by Kody Keplinger [Goodreads]

I've finished Crescendo, which I received last week and I started The Scorch Trials yesterday. Plus, I read Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers a couple days ago so I'll be reviewing those soon. Kay, later!

-S

Review: Fear The Worst by Linwood Barclay

Title: Fear The Worst

Author: Linwood Barclay

Number of Pages: 512

Rating: 3/5

Release: February 23, 2010

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Seventeen-year-old Sydney Blake's summer is shaping up to be typical for a teenager: she's spending it with her father, and she has landed a part-time job at a local hotel. One night, Syd fails to come home from her shift, and her father Tim is a bit alarmed. However, that alarm turns to full-on panic after he visits the Just Inn Time hotel and the manager claims that Syd has never worked there. Grilling his daughter's friends for clues leads Tim nowhere - except to threats against his life - and as he frantically chases every lead, he can't help but wonder if Syd is even still alive. Despite a growing list of unanswered questions, all Tim knows for certain is that he must continue searching for his daughter - no matter how high the stakes become.

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I picked up this book because of many recommendations from a book club I joined at school. Everyone in the club loved it but I didn't really see what was so amazing about it. It was a thrilling read, lots of mystery and action to keep you on your toes but I found that the bad outweighed the good. The characters were not memorable AT ALL. I don't even remember the main character's name! And the book began to get really predictable around the middle. The story line was interesting enough to keep me hooked but there were many useless parts. And one thing I just couldn't understand was the main character's trust in the police. He told them EVERYTHING!!! Even when his lawyer told him not to talk to the police, he went and talked to them. He screwed himself over by talking to the police and he still kept going back. Half the things that the main character did were stupid and pointless. Basically, the book is alright, nothing great. 

-S

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Follow Friday #3 (12/17/10)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted over at Parajunkee's View. Each week one blogger will be selected as a feature, so sign up for the Follow Feature. Future features are picked randomly.

So, this week's question:

What did you study in college, or are currently studying and did it lead to your current 9 to 5 or are you doing something totally different?

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I wish I was done school! I'm preparing for a career in the sciences right now, biology to be specific, but that may change; I'm still open to other things. 

-S

Still in High School, my friends. However, I do plan on majoring in some type of History and minoring in Pyschology. Then I plan on going into teaching. All the while trying to publish a book. :)

-L

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Title: Heist Society

Author: Ally Carter

Number of pages: 287

Rating: 4/5

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When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

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Kat walked away. She walked away from the family business of being a thief, she walked away from her friends and she walked away from her family. She didn't look back until the day she got kicked out of a boarding school it had taken her three months to con her way into.
She soon finds out that her expulsion was the work of an old friend. An old friend with some very troubling news.
Kat's father is being framed for doing a crime he didn't commit. Being accused of a crime is nothing new to the the Bishop Family, except that the victim of the robbery is a big time crime boss who very much wants his paintings back. And he doesn't care about how he gets them.
As Kat delves back into the life she thought she had left behind, she realizes that there is now a line between her and her old life as a thief. She starts to wonder, does she wan't to cross back over?

With a talented rag tag team of the most corrupt teenagers she knows, Kat races against time to save her father.
Filled with laughs, romantic scenes and twists in the story plot that I didn't even see coming this book is a light read that you'll enjoy from the first page to the very last.

Waiting on Wednesday #4 (12/15/10)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine by Jill, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

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Title: Across The Universe 

Author: Beth Revis

Number of Pages: 400

Release Date: January 11, 2011

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
 
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand
inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

-L

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Title: City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, Cycle 2) 

Author: Cassandra Clare

Number of Pages: 432

Release: April 5, 2011

Summary:

Love, blood, betrayal and revenge — the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels. Simon Lewis is having some trouble adjusting to his new life as a vampire, especially now that he hardly sees his best friend Clary, who is caught up in training to be a Shadowhunter—and spending time with her new boyfriend Jace. Not to mention that Simon doesn’t quite know how to handle the pressure of not-quite-dating two girls at once. What’s a daylight-loving vampire to do? Simon decides he needs a break and heads out of the city—only to discover that sinister events are following him. Realizing that the war they thought they’d won might not yet be over, Simon has to call on his Shadowhunter friends to save the day — if they can put their own splintering relationships on hold long enough to rise to the challenge.

-S

The cover for CoFA was just released yesterday; beautiful, isn't it? Needless to say, I can't WAIT to read CoFA!! 

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What are you guys waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday #4 (12/14/10)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Here's how to do it:

-Grab your current read

-Open to a random page

-Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

-Share the title & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

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Title: Reign Check (Demon Princess #2)

Author: Michelle Rowen

Number of Pages: 292

Summary:

Nikki Donovan, Demon Princess, is back--and stuck in a love triangle that's straight out of hell!

Fresh from finding out that she is a demon princess, fighting her aunt for her life, and rescuing her father from being poisoned, Nikki Donovan is looking forward to getting back to her regular high school life. But when Rhys, the handsome king of the faery realm, decides to show up at her school as a "foreign exchange student," Nikki knows this won't be possible. Couple with this a whole host of other problems: there's a new prophecy that claims she will destroy everyone. Her conflicted feelings for Rhys and her boyfriend, Michael, are getting in the way of their relationship. Her best friend Melinda just might be a demon-slayer-in-training, and her old crush Chris might know of her demon side. Throw in a field trip to none other than Hell itself … and Nikki's going to be hoping for a rain check on more than just her homework!

Teaser:

"You go to school?" I don't know why I was so suprised by that. Demon teenagers needed an education, too.

-L

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Title: Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2)

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Number of Pages: 427

Summary:

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Teaser:

"I'm going to grab a cheeseburger," I told Patch. "Want anything?"
"Nothing on the menu."
I smiled. "Why, Patch, are you flirting with me?"

-S

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