Showing posts with label Simon and Schuster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simon and Schuster. Show all posts
The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols
The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols
Pages: 320
Release Date: February 7th 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Online eBook
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
Gemma can’t believe her luck when the star football player starts flirting with her. Max is totally swoon-worthy, and even gets her quirky sense of humor. So when he asks out her so-called best friend Addison, Gemma’s heartbroken. Then Addison pressures Gemma to join the date with one of Max’s friends. But the more time they all spend together, the harder Gemma falls for Max. She can’t help thinking that Max likes her back—it’s just too bad he’s already dating Addison. How can Gemma get the guy she wants without going after her best friend’s boyfriend?
My Thoughts
Somebody should kick me! Why have I waited so long to read a book by Jennifer Echols? No, Wait. It's not even that. I did read Forget you (which I loved just so know you). So the real question is, why after loving a book so so much by Jennifer Echols did I not grab another one of her books straight away?
Okay I'll spare you the answer but at least now you know you should if you haven't already, start reading something if anything by this amazing women.
We meet Gemma and when there's Gemma there's Addison. Her 'best friend' and so we are told. She's the very reason of the huge complication in this book. God. She's SO ANNOYING and ruins everything. Then we are graced with the presence of yummy Max and Conor. Ahhhhh Max! So when Gemma and Addison meet these guys things start to get really interesting...
And you know what else is interesting... oh and pretty cool? It's this entire majorette idea that's brought in as well. It's just this awesome dance that involves twirling around batons. Echols description of the routines never fails to please me!
Oh and she sure knows how to suffice my romance crave. Especially hot kissing ;)
Now to just fulfill my Jennifer Echols crave...
The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Pages: 356
Release Date: January 5th 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: For Review from Publishers
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
It's 1996 and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Facebook will not be invented for several more years. Emma just got a computer and an America Online CD-ROM with 100 free hours. When she and her best friend Josh log on to AOL they discover themselves on Facebook... fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what life has in store for them.
Josh and Emma are about to find out.
My Thoughts
It's no surprise I was excited to read this book! Being a Facebook fanatic and one of those people that has to check their Facebook constantly multiple amounts of the day, I just knew that I simply had to read it. It was about Facebook for goodness sake! I was very curious to see how Asher and Mackler would present us with Facebook at a time when no one knew of it's existence!
Emma and Josh are two teenagers that happened to stumble across this CD ROM that displayed something called Facebook. You can understand their perplexity when they found out about this at a time where technology was very limited and what's even more that it may relate to future events. Their future.Emma. Emma. Emma. Two words. Annoying and whiny. Like, get a grip Emma! I wonder what Josh saw in her. But you should know that Josh is the best. I have no problems with him.
Asher and Mackler have made a seriously good plot here. It's interesting and something you can definitely get into. The things is, I liked reading it but I didn't love it. I just really think the plot could have been developed more and there were many times where there were good openings but then the idea gets dismissed!
Nevertheless, a good read and although The Future of Us didn't grab my entire liking I'm sure many of you guys would completely love it.
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Pages: 370
Release Date: February 2nd 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: For Review from Publishers
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smouldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...
My Thoughts
Everneath revolves around the story of Persephone and Hades. I've read one other book before alike to the concept and hence being very familiar with it all. So as I had foreseen, I completely loved reading this book. I just knew Everneath would be just as beautiful and just as simple as the cover.
We meet Nikki who's life has turned upside down with her one wrong choice that left her in the Underworld. Poor Nikki. But as always there's always someone who rubs the salt on the wound. Cole. Don't even get me started on him. As alluring and hot he may be, he just is not worth rambling about. And then there's Jack. The guy that Beck had come back for. For six months. Six months she has to say goodbye properly.
Everneath starts up with Nikki and Cole. So you'll understand why I was drawn to him at first seeing as he's the first guy we meet but whatever. Nikki knows what she wants and what she's doing and that's what I like about her. She understands how her actions have affected the ones she love and she just has to make it right some how. Like with her family, her dad and Timmy. She really makes an effort. I love reading about those moments as they're just particularly sincere.
There's a roller coaster of events and so the events are truly interesting. I loved being in that suspense of what would happen next and how the story would end. Ashton has given us an alluring and brilliant read. Now, I so eager to read the book that follows!
Fated by Sarah Alderson
Fated Pages: 320
Release Date: January 5th 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Source: For Review from Publishers
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
What happens when you discover you aren't who you thought you were? And that the person you love is the person who will betray you? If your fate is already determined, can you fight it?Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Read FATED!
When Evie Tremain discovers that she’s the last in a long line of Demon slayers and that she’s being hunted by an elite band of assassins –Shapeshifters, Vampires and Mixen demons amongst them – she knows she can’t run. They’ll find her wherever she goes. Instead she must learn to stand and fight.
But when the half-human, half-Shadow Warrior Lucas Gray - is sent to spy on Evie and then ordered to kill her before she can fulfil a dangerous prophecy, their fates become inextricably linked. The war that has raged for one thousand years between humans and demons is about to reach a devastating and inevitable conclusion. Either one or both of them will die before this war ends.
If your life becomes bound to another’s, what will it take to sever it?
1. It's by Sarah Alderson Guys! Come on!
I was instantly WOWed by her debut novel Hunting Lila not only that but Fated definitely went on my hit list too. You have just gotta love her writing. It's so believable and amazing.
2. LUUUUCCCCAAAASSSS :D
The main hottie! Ahhhhh he's so hot. Seriously, I love reading about him. He's one of the main reasons I carried on reading. Evie is a lucky girl! Though, I'm more head over heels on Alex from Hunting Lila. So that shows you should so so read Hunting Lila too. OK!
3. A hot hot hot romance.
Lucas and Evie! You can see the chemistry. It is going and going. Evie is one lucky girl and a hell of a protagonist too. Ohh, Can't miss a good romance can you now?
4. Shapeshifters. Demons. Vampires. Do I need to say any more?
Talk about a whole lot of paranormalcy! And when there's paranormals there's always some kick ass. You got it! Action that reaches you to the very core. So exhilarating and especially when there's some Lucas involved. *sigh*
5. The whole 'I love you but I have to kill you' idea!
This never gets old does it! Like come on, just sitting there and reading and seeing how everything would progress. Do they kill each other? What happens! The uncertainty kills you. I was most definitely on my toes with Fated you never knew what was going to happen.
Blog Tour: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler exclusive content!
The Future of Us
by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Pages: 356
Release Date: January 5th 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
It's 1996 and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Facebook will not be invented for several more years. Emma just got a computer and an America Online CD-ROM with 100 free hours. When she and her best friend Josh log on to AOL they discover themselves on Facebook... fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what life has in store for them.
Josh and Emma are about to find out.
--
Chapter 5
Emma
Emma
“HEY,” JOSH SAYS, pushing open my door. I look up from my bed. He’s standing at the edge of my room, holding the spare key we hide under a rock by the garage. It has a Scooby-Doo keychain that lights up when you press the nose.
I’m worried if I open my mouth I’ll start crying again. As it is, Josh already looks uncomfortable being up here. It’s kind of sad, because we always used to be there for each other. He went on so many bike rides with me when my parents were splitting up. That was back in fifth grade. When Josh broke his leg skating, I hung out in his back-yard even though everyone we knew was swimming at Crown Lake. Josh sat with me at my mom’s wedding last September, pinching my arm every time I succumbed to inappropriate giggles. And here he is again, yet things feel like they’ll never be as easy between us as they once were.
“I was able to get back to that website,” I say, wiping my eyes. “Only it was different.”I catch Josh glancing at the wilted roses on my dresser. Graham gave them to me before prom, when we were taking photos in my yard. I make a mental note to chuck them as soon as Josh leaves.
“It still says Emma Nelson Jones went to Lake Forest High,” I say, “and it’s still says ‘Facebook’ at the top. No matter where you click, it always says that.”
“Do you think Facebook is the name of her company?” Josh asks.
Maybe.” But that’s not the point. The point is what the website says about her. Thinking about it makes my
chest hurt.
“Emma, you still don’t know what this thing is, or whether it’s even real,” Josh says. “Somebody’s probably just screwing with—”
“No, they’re not!” I sit up and touch the necklace resting against my collarbone. “Emma Nelson Jones was wearing this necklace in her photo.”
Josh looks at the gold chain I always wear, with the del-icate E pendant dangling from it. “The woman’s name is Emma,” he says. “What other letter would she put on her necklace?”
“And she said it’s Thursday, May nineteenth.”
Josh’s forehead wrinkles in confusion.
“Today is Sunday, May nineteenth,” I say. “That means she’s writing all this from another year where May nine-teenth is a Thursday.”
Josh shakes his head. “If someone is trying to prank you, they would’ve thought of all that.”
“But everything was different! When I checked just now, it was a brand new picture of Emma. And there were different people saying things to her. You think all that could change with one corrupted CD-ROM? Don’t you get it? This thing . . . Facebook, or whatever it’s called . . . it’s from the future.”
Josh sets the key chain on my desk and sits down. When he jiggles the mouse, the brick wall disappears and everything’s right where I left it, with Emma Nelson Jones writing about macaroni and cheese.
“Why does it say she has three hundred and twenty friends?” Josh asks. “Who has that many friends?”
Emma Nelson Jones You know why I need comfort food? JJJ hasn’t come home for three nights. His trip was only supposed to last one day. I feel hopeless.
12 minutes ago · Like
“My husband. Jordan Jones Junior. The guy with the fish. I never say why he hasn’t come home, but obviously I’m suspicious. When I saw that, it made me sick.”
Josh rubs his forehead with the tips of his fingers. “Maybe he went on another fishing trip.”
“keep reading,” I say, reaching past Josh for the mouse.
Emma Nelson Jones
Hit my sixth month of unemployment. They say it’s the economy, but I’m starting to believe it’s me. Thirty-one is too young to have a failed career.
Tuesday at 9:21am · Like · Comment
“Thirty-one,” Josh says. “So this is supposed to be fifteen years from now.”
I point to the next sentence.
Emma Nelson Jones
Can’t even afford a decent therapist.
Monday at 8:37pm · Like · Comment
Josh turns to me. “I can’t believe she’s writing these things.”
“Not she,” I say. “Me.”
around me.”
Josh leans back in the chair and crosses his arms against his chest. When he does that, he looks like his brother. I haven’t seen David since last year, but he was always a fun person to have in the neighbourhood. Guys wanted him to be their older brother, and girls had a crush on him.
Josh points toward the screen. “We don’t know for sure who Emma Nelson Jones is or what we’re looking at. But even if it’s real, you’re still reading a lot between the lines.”
The front door closes. Josh and I jump back from the computer.
“It’s okay,” I shout. “Josh is here, that’s all.”
“Are you ready to help us get email addresses?” she asks.
“Can we have another minute? Josh is helping me find something . . . an assignment.”
“That’s fine,” my mom says. I hear her footsteps climbing the stairs. “But you need to finish up soon. It’s a school night.”
She cannot see this. I reach over and click the X on the top right corner of the screen. The cheerful voice chimes, “Goodbye!” My mom walks by, waving as she continues on to her bedroom. Josh picks up the Scooby-Doo key chain. He stops in the doorway and looks back at me.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I don’t think you should look at this thing alone,” he says. “It’s either a mean prank or it’s . . .”
“Let’s make a deal to only look at it together,” he says.
“So you’ll come over again?” I ask. “You don’t mind?”
Josh stares at the key chain in his hand, pressing the Scooby nose on and off. “No, it’s cool.”
“How about tomorrow? After track.”
“That’s fine,” Josh says. “Maybe Tyson and I will even stop by the meet.”
I smile for the first time all evening. Last year, Josh used to come to all my home meets just to wave and cheer me on. It makes me want to be honest and tell him what else I saw on the website, before he came over. But I can’t bring myself to say it. I look down at my new white carpet. What I saw would make things even more awkward between us. And for one night, I want to feel like things can be normal again.
“What is it?” Josh asks.
I’ll have to tell him eventually. “Tomorrow,” I say, “we should see if you have one of those web pages, too.”
--
I haven't read The Future of Us! Though, after reading this extract I sure want to. What do you think? Oh and don't forget to stop by The Story Siren on the 8th January for the next part of the blog tour!
--
I haven't read The Future of Us! Though, after reading this extract I sure want to. What do you think? Oh and don't forget to stop by The Story Siren on the 8th January for the next part of the blog tour!
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
Pages: 438
Release Date: October 4th 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Series: Hush Hush #3
Other books in series: Hush Hush & Crescendo
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.
My Thoughts
I simply adore the Hush Hush series. Crescendo definitely left me craving for more. And so after a whole year of waiting for Silence, as soon as I got the chance to read it, I left everything I was doing to read this book. I was just hoping and praying that everything would work out between Patch and Nora!
Silence left off from Crescendo. In this installation of the Hush Hush series, Nora and Patch have been captured by the Black Hand. Knowing Patch, he'll want to do everything in his power to save Nora and so he does by striking a deal to keep her safe. Nora then wakes up in a cemetery with no memory of the past few months. She can't remember anything and so she doesn't remember Patch!! Eventually, bits and pieces are brought back to her as she tries to figure out who kidnapped her and who in the world is Jeff?
As a complete sucker for romance, I have to admit how much I loved all the Patch and Nora moments. I especially enjoyed seeing how she got to know Patch all over again. You get to see how their relationship develops once again with all the chemistry and boy is it something!
The action is all egde-of-the-seat happenings. Ahhh I have got to say, Fitzpatrick did have me going for quite some time. It was all good and every much unnerving. Though, Crescendo has to be my all time favourite.
As soon as I finished Silence, I felt mixture of emotions. Disappointment yet excitement. I was disappointed mainly because Silence didn't finish there, you got it, it doesn't end here like we thought it would. There's another book. And that's where my excitement kicks in. Another book with more Pacth? Hell yeah!
Fury by Elizabeth Miles
Fury Pages: 352
Release Date: September 1st 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Source: ARC from Publishers
Buy the Book: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.
In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.
Em and Chase have been chosen.
My Thoughts
Simply epic! How awesome can this book get? I loved reading every page, every chapter and when I reached the ending of Fury, there was no doubt that I loved it. I needed more and I wanted to read more!
Fury is divided in Em’s and Chase’s perspectives. Em is witty and cool. I really connected with her. She had a hell of a lot to deal with. With her best friend Gabby going off to Spain, and being left with a total untouchable hottie, there was sure a lot of inner battles that Em had to fight through. Though, she never did the right thing. Why!? I really had a fury of my own with Em. How could she do that?
With Chase, what can I say? He’s a football team captain and, he sure likes everything to be perfect. But, I really loved how even though he’s kinda poor, he’s still knew how to get through and well, get into the popular crew. He became a jerk though, and then came Ty. I am not exaggerating when I say, I hate that girl! Everything came crashing down but making it even more exciting.
As I read on, I disliked Chase and Em more and more and grew more fond of the new girls in town, the Furies. And boy when they came, the book was on fire. Whispered secrets come at large as all innocence is washed away bringing so much action, anticipation and unexpected moments. I adore it particularly as it dealt with cause and consequence... where characters have to learn from their actions. So very Devious, and utterly clever Fury will have you yearning for more. You need this book!
Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
by Sarah Alderson
Pages: 320
Release Date: August 4th 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Buy the Book: Amazon
17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts.After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them...My Thoughts
Utterly exceptional, Hunting Lila was something else entirely. It kept me on my feet, leaving me gripping the pages and simply yearning for more. Truly, this is an unforgettable debut.
Lila Loveday is special. With an ability that enables her move things with her mind, it's no wonder it leads her very near to trouble. And so, panicked and powerless she has but no option but to run and who else to but her brother Jack and his friend Alex. It so happens that they have a few secrets of their own with their work at The Unit, regarding Alex and Lila's mother's murder. It looks like things are going to get hotter in California.
I loved this book! Alderson sure has the magic touch because boy is this something. Every event was always mind blowing and thrilling. The action was there making it fast paced and very much enthralling. With a thick plot, unexpected twists and amazing characters there's no reason not be captivated.Not forgetting the other characters that are introduced either. The group withe special abilities, they're awesome. Suki, Demos and everyone. I love reading about them.
Though, there's no doubt there is other things that keep Hunting Lila going. Like the romance. With Alex and Lila. Lila has been crushing on Alex forever and it's no wonder either. He's hot, caring and selfless. It's pretty funny seeing Lila whenever Alex is around. The chemistry is all their but then there's other things in the way. Like Jack. He probably wouldn't take it so well and oh yeah, Lila's crush is kinda out of control. But who cares right? Alex is hot!
Hunting Lila is an amazing debut. I can't wait to read the sequel! But then there's another book before that releasing in January 2012 called Fated. How awesome. Hunting Lila is a definite must read!
Cresecendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Crescendo
by Becca Fitzpatrick
Pages: 432
Release Date: October 19th 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Series: Hush Hush #2
Other books in series: Hush Hush and Silence
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
Feisty teen Nora Grey somehow survived the crises of Hush, Hush!, but dangers just as frightening loom in this standalone sequel. Patch, her guardian angel and love interest, appears to have a dark side and a wandering eye. Worse yet, he seems intent on obstructing Nora as she hunts for the truth behind her father's mysterious death. Even better than the first
My Thoughts
I LOVED Crescendo.
The great thing about it is that it always kept me guessing. So obviously, I had a very stong feelingthat Patch is one of the bad guys, but then you find out he's not. And well, the whole thing gets pretty shocking.
Very unpredicable. There are some parts of the book that I totally didn't expect at all... I was SHOCKED! You wouldn't possibly think it would happen. I'm just sitting there staring at the page with my mouth hanging open!
The whole idea of prologues is that you don't get them most of the time like at all. But then, thankfully while reading the book I finally got what the prologue was about and which characters are in there. This is also another one of those shocking moments :O
Fitzpatrick sure knows how to write to engage. In Crescendo, all the moments with Nora and Patch are very much exciting. You can feel the electricity between them and you'd just want them to be together.
I love Patch. Seriously, he sounds so down to earth! Except, The one thing I didn't like about Patch is that he wears a cap. I mean come on! That kind of blurs the image a bit... but Patch is still hot :L
It seemed like the ending was going to end simple with Patch and Nora but then there's a cliffhanger... and I don't really like them. And boy is it a humdinger. Now I need to now what happens. I just have to wait a loooooong time for the next book, Silence!
Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Hush Hush,by Becca Fitzpatrick
Pages: 391
Release Date: 29th October 2009
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Childrens'
Series: Hush Hush
Other books in series: Crescendo and Silence
Buy the Book: Amazon
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life...
My Thoughts
Hush Hush is a great book, I must say. From the moment I opened it and entered the life on Nora Grey, to the moment I reached the action packed ending I couldn't stop reading.
Nora Grey is a teennage girl that has her priorities defined: she's a top student, she wants to go to an Ivy League university, she works in the school newspaper and never fell in love, though her best friend Vee incites her to do that.
Nora is a likable character and in away she's somewhat like me (especially because she wants to control various aspects of her life, that are sometimes incontrollable) wich was really good because I love relating to the characters.
The rainy and foggy town where HUSH HUSH is set,it's perfect for this paranormal romance book because it creates an amazing atmosphere where anything can happen.
I love that this book had so many mystery. It gave so much more to the book and let me so interested that I probably wouln't have enjoyed this book as much if the mystery wasn't there.
Of course I loved as well the romance between Patch and Nora; it reminded me of Cathy and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights.
Go and grab the book!
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