BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin

 Description

He's come to do a job.
A job that involves a body.
A body wrapped in duct tape found hanging from the goal posts at the end of the football field.

You Killed Wesley Payne is a truly original and darkly hilarious update of classic pulp-noir, in which hard-boiled seventeen year-old Dalton Rev transfers to the mean hallways of Salt River High to take on the toughest case of his life. The question isn't whether Dalton's going to get paid. He always gets paid. Or whether he's gonna get the girl. He always (sometimes) gets the girl. The real question is whether Dalton Rev can outwit crooked cops and killer cliques in time to solve the mystery of "The Body" before it solves him.

Sean Beaudoin (Going Nowhere Faster, Fade to Blue) evokes the distinctive voices of legendary crime/noir authors Dashiell Hammett and Jim Thompson with a little bit of Mean Girls and Heathers throwin in for good measure. It'll tease you, please you, and never ever leave you. Actually, that's not true. It's only a book. One that's going to suck you in, spit you out, and make you shake hands with the devil. Probably.

About the Author

Sean Beaudoin is the author of Going Nowhere Faster. and Fade to Blue. He lives in Seattle with his wife and daughter.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (February 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316077429
• ISBN-13: 978-0316077422

I hope the book is as good as the trailer!  

AND THE WINNER IS: 13 to Life by Shannon Delaney

Maria Smith/Maria (prounounced Mariah) I blame my mother...  -- mmafsmith

An email has been sent to the lucky person named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam).  The winner(s)  has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
The notification email will come from Bookhounds@hotmail, so check your spam folder!

Thanks to all who entered.

Didn't win?  Order your copy from my Amazon link:

AND THE WINNER IS: Dreaming of Books

BOOK LOVING MOMMY -- gjmanning -- stop by her blog at BOOK LOVING MOMMY

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REVIEW: The Darlings are Forever by Melissa Kantor

Description

Jane, Victoria, and Natalya. Together, they are the Darlings. Best friends forever. They have matching necklaces, their own table at Ga Ga Noodle, and even a shared motto: May you always do what you’re afraid of doing.

When the friends begin freshman year at three different high schools in distant corners of New York City, they promise to live by their motto and stay as close as ever. The Darlings know they can get through anything as long as they have each other. But doing scary new things is a lot easier with your friends beside you. And now that the girls aren’t spending all their time together, everything they took for granted about their friendship starts to feel less certain. They can’t help but wonder, will they really be the Darlings forever?

About the Author

I was born in New York City, but I didn’t grow up here. When I turned eight, we moved to Long Island. So I still think teenagers who actually live in New York are way cooler than I could ever hope to be.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (January 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423123689
• ISBN-13: 978-1423123682

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT  **slight spoilers**



May you always do what you are afraid of doing!

This is the motto of three girls together from grade school and now off to separate high schools.  This trio now has to face life without the support of each other on a daily basis.  They each go their own way and have to make choices about how they want their lives to go now.

Jane, who wants to be an actress ends up at the High School for the Performing Arts.  She gets a part in a main stage play, which is rare for a freshman.  She ends up a little bit over her head and imagines her director has feelings for her which in reality are just his way of supporting her in a difficult part.

Natalya, probably my favorite, ends up a scholarship student at a fancy private high school where she tries hard to fit in with the in crowd.  These new friends end up using her and causing problems for Victoria. Natalya tries so hard to be everything to everyone and when she finally finds herself noticed (for all the wrong reasons), she has a true learning experience.

Victoria, the perfect one, well, not in her eyes, but that is how she is viewed by her family.  She normally keeps to herself and her long trusted friends, but when thrust into public high school by herself, she loses her identity.  Victoria's father is running for Senate, so everything she does is now front page news.  Innocent, normal teenage issues cause her untold grief.

The story unites the friends through all of these issues and strengthens the bond between them at the end.  The Darlings, as they have named themselves, all have major learning lessons in the story.  I read this one straight through and if you are looking for a book to give a young teen, this should be your pick.  This is one of the few books that don't have a lot of romance, but show what really happens to 14 year old girls when they face the world on their own.  It is just so positive how Kantor has the girls work through their issues and remain friends.  I cheered for them throughout the book.

This one is probably safe for those over 12.  There is one instance of drinking at a party, yet the girls left as soon as they realized it.  Not much romance and just once instance of a school girl crush on a teacher that the teacher handled perfectly.  Of course, there is a safe sex lesson in here with one scene about how to use a condom with a banana.  I really recommend this one to everyone!

I received this book at no cost from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.




WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK?

Contest is open to anyone with A US or Canadian mailing address (PO Boxes OK!)
Contest ends on 1.30.11 and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on 1.31.11
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by ME one book is available.This is my gently read, new copy.

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REVIEW: My Misadventures of a Teenage Rock Star by Joyce Raskin

Description

Rock ’n’ roll isn’t just about sex and drugs. It’s about self-expression, lasting friendships, and self-empowerment. That’s what Alex learns after she starts playing bass for a rock band in this almost true story. Joyce Raskin, author and musician, culls from her memories to create this funny, touching, and honest look at what it’s like to be a teenager, a girl, and a rock star all at the same time.

Also included are a note from the author, instructions on how to play basic guitar chords, advice on songwriting, and more!

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (June 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547393113
• ISBN-13: 978-0547393117

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER / NETGALLEY

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

This book is such a strong, positive story for younger teens.  My niece (15 and a reluctant reader) read a few chapters of it and declared it "real, this is how real kids my age talk".  She really wanted a copy of her own. Alex is truly the perfect character to portray the hopes and dreams of young teens everywhere.  She is smart, funny and doubts herself all at the same time.

When Alex decides to take up the bass to be in a rock band, she learns that she has to keep her nails short, deal with groupies, hours of practice and being true to herself.  The book has adorable drawings and at the end, the author has a chapter on how to start your own rock band while staying true to yourself.  Raskin also points out the issues of alcohol and drug abuse in such a way to give kids the strength to say no.

I received this book from the publisher at no expense for my honest review.  This book doesn't come out until June, but I feel it is such an important book for teen girls, the word need to be spread now!

GIVEAWAY! Dreaming of Books Blog Hop

The is a quick hop that runs from 12:01 AM on Friday, January 14th to 11:59 PM on Sunday, January 17th. 

Each participating blog is hosting their own giveaway with their own entry requirements. All participating blogs are linked up through the Dreaming of Book's linky HERE. After you have entered one giveaway hop to the next giveaway on the list.


Special thanks to Inspired Kathy over at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Martha at Reviews by Martha for putting together this amazing hop!

I have two really cute books:

Star Crossed by Jo Cotterill, click here for details ARC

The View From the Top by Hillary Frank, click here for details, ARC

WANT TO WIN THESE BOOKS?

Contest is open to anyone with reliable mail service (Worldwide and PO Boxes OK!)

Contest ends on 1.17.11 midnight and the winner will be chosen by Random.org on 1.18.11

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is sponsored by ME one set of books is available.

NOTE:  Postage has increased again and if the winner lives outside the US, I may opt to replace this set with the book of your choice from the Book Depository, up to $15 value.

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You can also social network this once daily for one extra entry for each post you leave a link for.  Just be sure to leave and email address! 

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Description

Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home—and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.
It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy—her paw-print birthmark.

About the Author

Kelley Armstrong is the author of the New York Times bestselling Darkest Powers trilogy, which includes The Summoning, The Awakening (which debuted at number one), and The Reckoning. 

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (April 12, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061797022
• ISBN-13: 978-0061797026

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
REALLY LIKED IT

Like any new series, there is a lot of set up for the characters and story development.  This one had a really slow start for me and I found myself struggling to get into the story.  I stuck with it and by found myself enchanted by the whole group of characters and now I can't wait to read the next one to see what happens next.  There are so many unanswered questions I have after finishing this one up.


What really happened to Maya's best friend, Serena? How could she possibly have drown since she was the captain of the swim team? What is the deal with Maya's birthmark?  Is Rafe really as bad as he seems? What is wrong with Daniel and is there something more to him than meets the eye?  What the heck is the deal with the medical research company that runs the area?  ARGHHH!  There, I feel better.  I tried to do this without giving away any of the plot, but I must say, I have tons of questions that I really need to know the answers to.  I guess that is what makes a series worth reading.

I really like Maya since she was strong and vulnerable with an open mind.  She never discounted any theory about anything that came across her path.  Rafe was an enigma to me and since the most of the book really centered around Maya and her history, I am sure that he will be developed more in the next book.  There is more to Daniel than meets the eye or at least that is the way I read it.  I hope I am right and I read more about him in the next installment.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone over thirteen.  There are some instances of violence, a few bad words, implied sexual situations and some alcohol/drug use. The alcohol use seems common in this group of kids, yet the do seem to be responsible.  Again, the parents are there, but not, just like in real life. 

I received this book through an advance reader group at no charge for my honest review.