Defining New Moon by Brian Leaf

Defining New Moon is a workbook that helps you learn vocabulary for SAT, ACT, GED and SSAT, by using the book New Moon by Stephenie Meyer. The work book is not only for those tests listed above, but you can also use them to brush up and learn new words. How it works is in the workbook, they give you groups of words and page numbers on where you'll find the word in the actual book. You can then write what you think the word means and then check your answer on the next page which has the definitions. The workbook also has synonyms, analogies and sentence completions.

If you're anything like me, then it sometimes takes a little bit for you to feel like studying. You think about other things, get online, or read a book (not the one you're suppose to be studying..) instead of just jumping in. I think we're all a little guilty of this from time to time. So, when I saw Defining New Moon, I was eager to get it and see if it really worked or not. I was very surprised by how much I liked the book and how much I learned. I would look up the word in New Moon and try to guess what it meant. Sometimes I was right, sometimes I wasn't. But now I know more words than I did when I began this little experiment.

I highly recommend Defining New Moon, along with it's predecessor Defining Twilight. Coming soon there is also going to be a Defining Eclipse, which I'll definitely have to get my hands on! I think these are very helpful workbooks and Twilight fans are going to love them! I think what Mr. Leaf is doing here is great and and it's a genius idea! I think anything to help is worth giving a shot and this is a series to try out! You can check out Brian Leaf, M.A on his website or you can become a fan facebook where there's usually giveaways and news about the series.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

From borders.com:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies-or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world... and the imprints that attach to their killers. Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her.

But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him. Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer-and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer... and becoming his prey herself.

My thoughts:
This book pulled me in from the first chapter. I loved that this isn't the same ole story that I've read over and over lately. It has paranormal aspects with the right amount of love mixed in. Of course couldn't put it down, because the mystery kept me wondering what was going to happen next.

The characters are also very believable and easy for the reader to relate to. Violet is easy to follow and her feelings are very real. It makes you root for her during the whole novel. Jay is also like a boy that I would know from school. Their relationship is carefree and easy going.

I highly recommend picking up this book. It's definitely worth the time that you'll invest in reading it. Then you can sit with me and wish that Kimberly Derting would hurry up and write another novel! It's hard to find them this good these days!

The Clearing by Heather Davis

From bn.com:

In this bittersweet romance, two teens living decades apart form a bond that will change their lives forever.

Amy is drawn to the misty, mysterious clearing behind her Aunt Mae’s place because it looks like the perfect place to hide from life. A place to block out the pain of her last relationship, to avoid the kids in her new town, to stop dwelling on what her future holds after high school.

Then, she meets a boy lurking in the mist—Henry. Henry is different from any other guy Amy has ever known. And after several meetings in the clearing, she’s starting to fall for him.

But Amy is stunned when she finds out just how different Henry really is. Because on his side of the clearing, it’s still 1944. By some miracle, Henry and his family are stuck in the past, staving off the tragedy that will strike them in the future. Amy’s crossing over to Henry’s side brings him more happiness than he’s ever known—but her presence also threatens to destroy his safe existence.

My take:

My first thought when I closed this novel was "Wow". This book is one of the best books that I've read in a long time. I loved Amy and how she just doesn't feel like she fits anywhere. The book has both perspectives by rotating chapters from Amy to Henry's point of view. It's beautifully told. The only complaint that I have is that I feel like the friends that Amy makes in school are not fully developed, they could have even been left out and I probably wouldn't have noticed. That's okay, though, because Heather Davis makes that up in the other action that is happening in the book. The book does end in a mysterious fashion, which is kind of a bummer because I wanted a little more of an ending.

This is my first novel by Heather Davis and now I'm going to be picking up her other book that I've somehow missed, which is entitled Never Cry Werewolf. I'll be looking forward to more books from the author in the future!

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

from borders.com:

When a flower blooms in the middle of her back, Laurel discovers that she is a faerie and was placed with human parents as a child. As Laurel learns about her true background and the dangers that face the faerie realm, she struggles to find her place in both worlds.

My take:

Overall I loved the story line. Laurel is just your average, beautiful girl who starts growing wings, which happens to look like a flower. What bothered me in the story was when she tells her guy friend/ possible love interest that she has something like a flower on her back he doesn't freak at all. He just takes it all in stride.

I loved the other world aspect also. I'm hoping that in the upcoming book Spells we can dig more into the faerie world. That's what is going to get me to pre order Spells. Plus the ending is left open so that there's a lot of possibilities that Ms. Pike will be able to explore.

Hearts At Stake : The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey

from bn.com:

On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.

Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that is guaranteed to jump start any romance-lover’s heart.
My thoughts:

As the first book in a series, I was fairly impressed. I really enjoyed it, even though it was a quick read. There are some situations that I would have loved to have more information on, but maybe they'll be touched on in future books of the series. I am definitely going to keep up with the series, because I am really interested in the characters and would like to see what Alyxandra Harvey has up her sleeve. I think she left the book with enough opened so she can explore more into the vampires and the hierarchy. I would have loved to see more in the relationships that develop, because they did feel a little rushed. While that was quick, it didn't hurt the book, just made it more fast paced. This is a quick read that I would recommend for a vacation read.

*Giveaway!*

I know, it's been a little bit since you've heard from me. This new year has been a hectic one. To make it up to you, I have some great book reviews and giveaways to come your way!

This first giveaway is a big one, thanks to the lovely and talented Ms. Nancy Holder. You might know her from her books Wicked, Pretty Little Devils or Possessions. She has supplied me with 6 SIGNED books and some yummy Wicked mints (bought by her from Disneyland!).

• The grand prize winner will have their pick of 3 of the books that I have.
• Second prize will get their choice of the remaining books.
• Third prize will be the remaining book and a pack of mints.
• Three other winners will win a pack of mints and a grab bag of bookmarks.

All you need to do to enter is comment on this post. That's it.


Now for extra entries:

+1 for being a new follower
+2 for already being a follower
+2 for posting this contest on your blog
+2 for Tweeting about this contest


Thanks for being awesome and loyal readers!!

Contest ends on March 17th!

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

(from BN.com)

High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out -- doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T -- and to everyone's shock, she's a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest -- and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize -- Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare....

This story is such a fast and easy read. I loved it from the first paragraph. Tere is so real and would be easy for anyone to relate to. Being shy in high school myself, I could feel Tere's pain as she had to fight with herself to stand up and do a report. The job that Tere is offered turns her into another person. She's not afraid to show her true colors on air, unlike in school, where she hides herself from everyone. This story is such a fun and easy read. I would definitely recommend that you pick it up!