In My Mailbox: Week Twelve

In My Mailbox was created by the wonderful Kristi, the Story Siren. With the help from an idea the wonderful Alea thought up.

In My Mailbox is where you can tell your readers what you got in the mail that week. Well, the important things like books, that is.

So, this week I got two random packages that I had no clue that I was getting. Fun! 

I got a box from Scholastic, here were the contents:

Waves by Sharon Dogar (PB) April 15, 2009 reprint edition

Bounce by Natasha Friend (PB)April 15, 2009 reprint edition

Distant Waves: A novel of the Titanic by Suzanne Weyn (HB) April 15, 2009

A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell (HB) April 15, 2009 (Repeat. So may use the ARC for a contest! So watch out for that!)

Then I got a big package from Random House, here were the contents: 

Fat Cat by Robin Brande (ARC) October 13, 2009

Going Bovine by Libba Bray (ARC) September 22, 2009

Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner (ARC) May 26, 2009

(Re)Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin (ARC) August 25, 2009 (I'll have to get Cycler, as I haven't read it...)

The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart (ARC) July 28, 2009(I'll have to get the prequels for this as well, I haven't read any of them....)

So what did you get in the mail this week?

In My Mailbox: Week Ten and Eleven

In My Mailbox was created by the wonderful Kristi, the Story Siren. With the help from an idea the wonderful Alea thought up.

In My Mailbox is where you can tell your readers what you got in the mail that week. Well, the important things like books, that is.

In the week of 03/16/09-03/22/09 I got:

Also Known As Harper by Ann Haywood Leal (ARC) May 26, 2009, In the Mail
The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson (ARC) September 1, 2009, In the Mail
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (PB) December 1, 2008, Sent from Harlequin Teen Panel
Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott (PB) March 25, 2008, Won in a contest hosted by Laina (Thanks Laina!)
The One by Ed Dector (PB) March 10, 2009, Sent from Pulse It
Wake by Lisa McMann (PB) December 23, 2008, Bought
The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall by L.J. Smith (HB) February 10, 2009, Bought

In the week of 03/23/09-03/29/09 I got:

GoldenGirl by Micol Ostow (PB) January 27, 2009, From Pulse It
HighWay to Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore (ARC) March 10, 2009, From Random Buzzers
30 Days to Finding and Keeping Sassy Sidekicks and BFFs: A friendship Field Guide by Clea Hantman (ARC) April 14, 2009, From Random Buzzers
The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferarro (ARC) January 13, 2009, From Random Buzzers (Yes, this is a repeat. But this one is an ARC and not signed by the lovely Tina.)
Moonlight: A Dark Gardian Novel by Rachel Hawthorne (PB) March 3, 2009 Signed, From Rachel Hawthorne


I also got Twilight on DVD right when it came out. My mom think I'm going to wear the disc out because I've already watched it on DVD 7 times, and plan on watching it again later. :D Anyone else get it on DVD yet?


So what did you get in the mail this week?

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Just One Wish by Janette Rallison

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (March 5, 2009)
Paperback: 264 pages
Age Group: Young Adult

Amazon
Barnes and Nobles
Books-A-Million

Annika Truman will go to the ends of the earth to help her little brother— Or at least as fast as Hollywood.

Stalking a famous (and hunky) actor and convincing him to come home with you shouldn't be too difficult—should it? Annika is desperate to get her brother Jeremy's favorite television star to come visit him in person. That's the only thing that will convince Jeremy that wishes really do come true. And Annika's deepest wish is for Jeremy to believe that his upcoming surgery will go well. Annika will stop at nothing to give her brother the power of positive thinking.

Just One Wish wasn't what I expected at all. I mean, I had never read anything by Janette Rallison before, so I wasn't completely sure on her writing. When I first tried to read this, I couldn't get into it, at all. So I put it back in my pile and started reading another book. The release date was growing closer, so I decided to start reading it again, and finally got into it, and boy, am I glad!

It was a really cute read and actually made me cry at a few parts. I felt so bad for Annika and her brother.

The plot was unique, but not very realistic. Which is why they call it fiction, but it did kind of bother me a bit at some parts. But didn't take away from the story too much.

I liked the characters a lot. Annika was a great protagonist and I admired her determination to make her brother's wish come true and her devotion to help him develop positive thinking. It was a bit predictable at times, but she threw in some twists that I didn't expect at all. Especially at the end.

Annika and Steve's relationship was cute and it added to the story, but when you think about how fast paced their relationship was, it isn't very believable. Which is a bit annoying. Sure, every girl (Including myself sometimes.) secretly wishes that a star will fall completely and madly in love with her, but when does that ever happen?

Overall it really was a great read. I would definitely recommend it to any book lover out there! Rallison is a talented writer and I can't wait to read more from her. She knows how to hook you after a while and give you a cute, short read that you won't forget.

The cover was pretty cute as well. I wouldn't normally go for covers like this, but it's cute.

In My Mailbox: Week Seven through Nine

Yes, I know. I've been a bad mother to my blog. Neglecting it. BUT I have NOT abandoned it. I've just been extremely busy with all my school work, and for those who do not know I have a job now. Finally! So I've been trying to get used to doing that and all my school work and things.

I'm trying to get organized and manage my time more. So I won't be so stressed, because seriously! I do not do well with stress and it's always with me. It's taking too much energy out of me. But with the help of my trusty planner Scarlett (That's the name of my shiny red planner! :) Yes, I'm weird.) and lots and lots of list, hopefully I can get everything under control.

So, anyway, onto the more interesting stuff.

In My Mailbox was created by the wonderful Kristi, the Story Siren. With the help from an idea the wonderful Alea thought up.

In My Mailbox is where you can tell your readers what you got in the mail that week. Well, the important things like books, that is.


What has been in my mailbox the last three weeks, you ask?

In the week of 02/23/09-03/01/09 I got:

CoffeeHouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors (ARC) July 21, 2009
Falling for Romeo by Jennifer Laurens (PB) October 1, 2009 Signed
Magic Hands by Jennifer Laurens (PB) February 1, 2007 Signed
The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry (HB) March 3, 2009
Exposed by Susan Vaught (HB) November 25, 2008
My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison (HB) January 6, 2009
First Blood by Chris Marie Green, Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Meljean Brook (PB) August 5, 2008 Signed by Chris Marie Green
Vampire Babylon: Night Rising by Chris Marie Green (PB) February 6, 2007 Signed
Vampire Babylon: Midnight Reign by Chris Marie Green (PB) Bebruary 5, 2008 Signed
Vampire Babylon: Break of Dawn by Chris Marie Green (PB) September 2, 2008 Signed

In the week of 03/02/09-03/08/09 I got:

Evermore by Alyson Noel (PB) February 3, 2009
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell (ARC) April 15th, 2009

In the week of 03/09/09-03/15/09 I got:

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters (HB) May 6, 2008
Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters (ARC) May 12, 2009
Hunted by P.C Cast and Kristin Cast (HB) March 10, 2009
Almost Home by Jessica Blank (HB) October 23, 2007
Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz (HB) October 28, 2008

Also, I bought Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist on DVD!! I haven't read the book yet, but I really did love the movie. I've been wanting to read the book for a while, but haven't gotten to yet. But I am hoping to buy it when I go to Books-A-Million this week. After I found out the movie was coming out I decided to wait on buying the book so I wouldn't be disappointed if the movie was way off, like most book-to-movies do. Which I find extremely annoying because if you are going to create something, you should seriously STICK TO THE BOOK. And, I mean, even if it is, like, a 1,000 page book or something and you can't fit EVERYTHING in, at least the script writers need to sit down with the author and ask the author which parts are more important and should be kept in the movie no matter what. It should be in the author's hands throughout the process, no matter what. Because it was THEIR idea.

But anyway, enough of that, I don't want to launch in and write a book on how much it annoys me. You'd be here for hours and hours reading just this one post.

Also, onto the going to Books-A-Million this week thing. All of you who read this, recommend books to me that you think I should read, or if you want me to review something that you haven't read yet and want to hear my opinion on it, tell me them all. I'll see if I can get them when I go. I haven't been in a while and I usually just get my stuff online(Amazon rocks, by the way!)

If you'd like me to review the movie after I've read the book and compare them and stuff, tell me and I'll do it if I get enough votes on it. :)

And remember, if there is anything you would like to talk to me about or recommend to me or just anything you'd like to see on Nocturnal Reviews, email me at mandywriter92@gmail.com and I'll email you back. :)

So what did you get in the mail this week?

Layout anyone?

Okay, well I've been looking for a new layout for my blog. I was planning on reorganizing everything and starting new things on here.

Would anyone like to make me a new layout? It would be much appreciated. :)

Also, if anyone would like to see anything on my blog, please do tell. I'm trying to figure out what I want to start on here and what else I want to add.

Going too Far by Jennifer Echols

Going too Far by Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books (March 17, 2009)
Paperback: 256 pages
Age Group: Young Adult

Amazon
Books-A-Million
Barnes and Nobles

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

Going too Far is easy to read and utterly amazing. I couldn't put it down, which is why I stayed up until seven in the morning reading it, with a headache. I would definitely recommend this; it is now one of my top favorite stand-alone novels.

The characters were amazing and real. I really loved Meg and John. They were both funny and just overall lovable characters, both with an interesting backgrounds that shocked me as I was reading.

The plot was unique and loveable, though it did end up different than what I expected. Which isn't bad, I just kind of thought the story would go a different way.

The originality was unique and the writing was really well done and pulled me in it from the first page.

The pages of this books is filled with teen rebellion, discovery, love, and coming of age. Both Meg and John discovered a lot about themselves, each other and the world.

I cried many, many times in this book. Not going to tell where, though, because it will give some parts away. I think everyone should read this book, at least once. I know I will be reading it many more times in the future. I am definitely going to be awaiting to read more of her novels soon.

Also, you gotta love that cover. It is brilliant! Sadly, though, my ARC is just green, purple, and white. I have to say that I will definitely be getting another copy of this with the actual cover, soon. For this reason.



*Note: I did not take the picture, ~DeAtHBuTtErFly-stock created this picture, the only credit I take is for editing it.