Review: The Clearing

Book: The Clearing
Author: Heather Davis
Pages: 228
Published: April 12th 2010 by Graphia
Source: netGalley

Amy, a sixteen-year-old recovering from an abusive relationship, moves to the country to start a new life with her aunt–all she wants is for everything to be different. In the clearing at the back of Aunt Mae’s property, she makes an amazing discovery—Henry, a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. Henry and his world become Amy’s refuge and she begins to learn that some moments are worth savoring. But when the past and present come crashing together, both of them must find the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.

I have been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it (and that was a while ago, okay?) and I was so excited when I finally got it. I was a little worried at first -- The Clearing got mixed reviews from a lot of the blogs I've seen, but I had nothing to worry about.

So I was really impressed with how I immediately got a sense of both Amy and Henry's characters from their alternating perspectives. I felt so extremely sad for Amy; I can't imagine what it would be like to have to deal with an abusive relationship and still be so…well, I can't exactly say hopeful, because that's not really what she was, but I don't think she lost herself. She frustrated me a few times, but I think that was just her being stubborn. Henry was such a sweet guy, I completely loved him and the way he helped 'fix' Amy, in a sense, after what happened to her.

I thought that their relationship could have been a bit better developed. It was so sweet and pure, but I thought that a lot of their relationship was them apart, longing for one another. I was really interested in Henry's eternal summer thing -- it confused me a lot at first, I had a bit of trouble keeping up, but luckily that got cleared up later on, though I do wish that it had been explained better nearer to the beginning. I thought the plot was evenly paced, and I think my favorite parts were the ones with the clearing (kinda obvious, I guess). The ending…oh my god, it broke my heart and made me so extremely happy at the same time. I think it's amazing when an author can do that to you.

The Clearing was an impressive book and I'll definitely be looking out for any future novels of Heather Davis's, as well as her previous book, Never Cry Werewolf.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Cover: I love this cover. It's so beautiful and simple! The colors are amazing and I love how the red dress that Amy's wearing stands out (it really is actually quite significant in the book) against the paler colors. I love the font and the boy at the bottom over there (Yeah, I didn't see it at first either), who I assume is Henry. Gorgeous!

In My Mailbox (6)

Morning everyone! Or at least, it's morning here. In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.
This week I have a ton of stuff! This is gonna be a loong post. I kinda went a bit crazy with my Sony eReader, seeing as how, now I've gotten a Kindle, it'll be my brother's before long. I also went to the bookstore and bought a book I've been wanting for a long time!

Bought:



Review: (via netGalley)



So that's what I got this week. What about you?

Book Blogger Hop

So this week I've decided to participate in the Book Blogger Hop!
I'm not quite sure what you're supposed to write when you post about it...but seriously, you guys should go check it out! I've found a few really great blogs from this, and it's a really great way to find them as well as get word out about your blog. If you have one, I definitely recommend participating in this great meme!
So I guess I'll tell you guys what to expect from me in the coming week. Tomorrow I'll post an IMM, and it is going to be LONG because I kinda went a little crazy this week and bought way too many books - my TBR pile is growing by the day! :S I'd also like to know what you guys think about IMM posts though: which do you prefer, a vlog or just a regular post? Leave your answers in the comments section!

Ooh, and I am planning to host a contest soon (either 50 followers or 100, I have yet to decide, or maybe it'll be some random cleaning out my bookshelf contest). You might not hear from me for a few days this week because I'm super busy - I have nine more days of school! Teachers are trying to cram everything in and I have a ridiculous amount of work to do, but I'll still try and post at least once a day, yeah? (:
Anyway, have a great weekend, guys!

Covers of the World (1)

You know how every blog has a few features that are used only for their blog? For example, Steph at Steph Su Reads has a feature called Cover Lust, which is where she showcases a lot of gorgeous covers that she loves. Kristi at The Story Siren has her Books to Pine For posts, and Katie at Sophistikatied Reviews has her Fan Art Fridays...I just thought I'd make one of my own!

Being an international blogger definitely impacts me a lot. One thing I've noticed about blogs over the years is that the covers that are posted in reviews and such are the US covers - you rarely ever see covers of other countries! And living in Asia, sometimes the covers of the books I buy are different from the ones in the US. I thought I'd pick a few covers from all around the world to show you guys how different some of the covers are, and how beautiful some of them are!

So, this week, I'm going to show you guys the German covers of one of my absolute favorite series, Vampire Academy. Here are the US covers for the first three books:



Now here are the German covers (in order):



Aren't those gorgeous? I'm in love with the one for Frostbite!

What do you guys think of this new feature? Should I continue?

P.S. I've decided that I really like this idea, but I'm going to change it a little from this post - I'll just post one or two covers at a time, because that way if I want to write some thoughts at the bottom, my posts will still not be too long. Sound okay to you?

Sea Trailer!

Hi everyone! So sorry I didn't post anything yesterday, but wow it was a CRAZY day! I had my Strings concert and that was completely hectic - I didn't even get back home until midnight! I was even late; my friends and I lost track of time before the rehearsal and we had to run a mile from our friend's house to the school to get there on time, and let me tell you - not easy to do in heels.
So to make up for my absence yesterday, I'll share with you guys a gorgeous trailer for a book I'm so excited for - Sea, by Heidi R. Kling! It's so fantastic, and I really love it! I can't seem to stop watching it, and every time I do, I just get more excited for the book, coming out in June!
So, here it is:

Review: Darklight

Book: Darklight
Author: Lesley Livingston
Pages: 312
Published: December 22nd 2009 by HarperTeen
Source: Bought

Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was Faerie royalty, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved New York City from a rampaging Faerie war band. When a terrifying encounter in Central Park sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful—but cut short. For they’ve been plunged into a game of Faerie deception and wavering allegiances in which the next move could topple a kingdom...or part them forever.

Wow. I thought Wondrous Strange was a fantastic debut, but Darklight completely blew me away! I was stunned by how much I enjoyed this one and the speed at which I absorbed it.

Kelley was reliably stubborn and I remember that as being one of my favorite things about her. I didn't have to worry about her -- I knew she'd stand up for herself and for the ones she loved, and she'd do absolutely anything to protect them. Sonny was brilliant, still sweet and maybe a little naive, but always wanting to protect Kelley at all costs. Seriously, I think if every guy in the world was a little more like Sonny, there'd be a hell of a lot less sadness. Bob, better known as Puck, makes more appearances in this novel than in WS, and there wasn't a scene of his I didn't love. I also liked the inclusion of Fennrys Wolf, one of the Janus Guard -- he's kind of underdeveloped in the first book, and I really liked seeing more of him in Darklight. What I most liked about the characters though is the fact that you really get a sense of who they are and how they act, and I was impressed with the author's ability to do that with her characters.

So, you know how in trilogies, the middle book has like this thing where it feels just kind of like a filler? Yeah, so, that completely was not the case with Darklight. It hooked me from the start and kept me on the edge of my seat -- I hated putting it down, but luckily I only had to do that once! There were lots of plot twists in this book that really threw me, and a lot of mystery elements as well. Faerie politics and hidden secrets start to blend together to bring a lot of revelations and realizations, and I was totally in love with it. Everything kept me wanting more and I am not kidding when I say that I was screaming 'OHMYGOD!' every time something happened.

I think I mentioned it in my review of WS, but I'll say it again -- Lesley Livingston is an extraordinary writer! The pages are filled with amazing descriptions and action-packed and romantic scenes. I could practically feel the tension vibrating out of this book! I could imagine everything that was happening, and I really liked the images that Livingston puts into your head.

This book ended with a freaking major cliffhanger that ensures I'll be running all around the city trying to find it once the next book, which is currently untitled, is released! I can't wait!!!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Cover: I like that they used the same cover model for this one. I love the magical feel of it and the model's pose and expression, even though she still doesn't look like Kelley to me. I love the font they used too! Beautiful cover.

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Hey everyone! Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm really excited for Please Ignore Vera Dietz, by AS King. I've read The Dust of 100 Dogs by her, and I really enjoyed it! So I'm hoping that her next book will be just as good, if not better.
Now that we've established that I really want to read this book, here's what it's about:

---Is it okay to hate a dead kid?
---Even if I loved him once?
---Even if he was my best friend?
---Is it okay to hate him for being dead?

Vera's spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she's kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, or even the police. But will she emerge and clear his name? Does she even want to?

Please Ignore Vera Dietz will be released on October 12th, 2010 by Knopf

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Yay!

Hey guys! Hope you're having a great Wednesday!
So, I just wanted to share that I got my very first award! Yay! It's from Brent and Emily at The Naughty Book Kitties, and it's the Prolific Blogger Award!

"A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content." After accepting this award, thank and link back to person passing it on and recipients are asked to pass it forward to seven other deserving blogs and also to let them know that they were awarded.
Brent&Emily: You guys are awesome. Thanks for the award! ❤

Here are my seven recipients:
1. Sara at The Hiding Spot. I love her blog and she has some really fun features! She also has a few contests going on right now. (:
2. Leanna at Daisy Chain Book Reviews. She posts just about every day and she is always updated with the latest in book news!
3. Steph at Steph Su Reads. Her reviews are amazing and I love how she posts all the time.
4. Eleni from La Femme Readers. This is one of my favorite blogs! She always has something fun going on, and posts all the time.
5. Katie at Sophistikatied Reviews. In addition to being completely awesome at designing things (have you seen her header?!), she posts a lot of great reviews, plus I'm a huge fan of her Fan Art Fridays!
6. Cindy from Princess Bookie. No joke, she posts all the time, and I love that about her blog!
7. Reggie from The Undercover Book Lover. She writes great reviews and has some really cool posts and themes!

Teaser Tuesday (5)

Hey people! So Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Wanna participate? Here's how it works:

• Grab the book you're currently reading!
• Turn to a random page
• Pick out a few random sentences [non-spoilery, please!]
• Be sure to add the title and the author of the book so that others can add your book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Even if you're not a blogger, you can still participate by commenting on this post and sharing your teaser!

So right now I'm reading Manifest by Artist Arthur. It's a bit slow at the moment, honestly, but I'm only 30 pages in (I've had like, no time to read! You know how it is - teachers trying to cram everything in during the last few weeks of school. Plus, I had a math final today!) and I'm thinking it'll get better. Anyway, here's my teaser for this week:

"I hear Sasha calling my name as I try to keep walking. Other kids either eager to get to class or just tired of the noise of the cafeteria bump into me on their way out. She calls my name again and I stop, reluctantly, that funny feeling in my stomach rising again. I turn and Sasha and Jake are still standing in the same spot where I left them at the table.
'We need to talk,' Sasha says, all serious-looking."

What are your teasers this week?

Review: Need

Book: Need
Author: Carrie Jones
Pages: 306
Published: December 23rd, 2008 by Bloomsbury
Source: Bought

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

General Overview: You don't see many books out there that feature pixies. And usually, when we picture a pixie, we think of this cute little thing with pointy ears and an elfin-santa-like hat […no? You don't imagine pixies this way? It's just me?], but in Need, Carrie Jones brings to mind a new type of pixie -- the deadly type.

Characters: I loved Zara's list of phobias! They're all so interesting, their names and what they mean. I liked how she changed, and you can see that. In the beginning, she was a bit annoying. I didn't like how she seemed to be afraid of anything and everything, but as the novel progresses we realize that Zara is brave, and she does her best to face her fears and that is an admirable trait in anyone, real or fictional. Nick was so sweet, and I loved how he treated Zara and cared for her. I guessed his secret before it was mentioned, but that didn't ruin it at all for me, because I still wanted to know how his powers would develop and what it would do to his relationship with Zara. Oh, and ZARA HAD THE MOST KICKASS GRANDMA EVER!!!!

Plot: This plot kept me guessing. The pixies were such a cool part of it! I think this is the only book I've ever read that featured pixies and their abilities and their weaknesses. I loved the world that Jones created and her version of these little mythical creatures. I thought that there was a certain mystery element as well, in Need, and I kept stopping for a while to predict what would happen -- I was often wrong, and I thoroughly enjoyed that.

Writing: I loved how Jones described Zara's move and the way she transitioned into her new school and made new friends. I thought her writing was very original and unique -- I can't think of any others I would compare her book to. Carrie Jones completely impressed me with her debut novel, and I am so peeved that I don't have Captivate yet! (Captivate is the sequel to Need, in case you didn't know)

Cover: I am in love with this cover! I love the gold dust all around, and the girl's make up. I'm not quite sure whether it's supposed to be Zara on the cover, but if it is it's not really how I imagined her…uh, her neck?

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Review: All Unquiet Things

Book: All Unquiet Things
Author: Anna Jarzab
Pages: 337
Published: January 12th, 2010 by Delacorte
Source: Bought

Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it—especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

I'd heard quite a few mixed reviews about this book, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started it. I had nothing to worry about, though -- I enjoyed All Unquiet Things more than I expected to!

I liked the alternating narratives between Neily and Audrey. I could distinguish Neily's narrative from Audrey's, and I really liked that. I think too often authors don't know how to write from the point of view of the other gender, and the result is a boy whose mind sounds like a girl's, or a girl whose mind sounds like a boy's. I didn't particularly like either of them at first -- they seemed somewhat aloof, despite them supposedly being in mourning for Carly. But I eventually warmed up to them and I found the narrators increasingly intriguing characters. Jarzab wrote Carly in a way that made me love her and hate her at the same time, and even though she's already dead during the events of the novel, sometimes I felt like she was the most alive of all of them.

The mystery element of All Unquiet Things could have been executed better. I felt like not much happened in the first third or so of the book, like it was more introducing the characters and setting up the backdrop without really getting into the mystery aspect. It moved really slow at first, but luckily it quickly picked up and I really got into it. I loved how it switched between time periods -- before Carly's death and after. I felt like those served to make us sympathize with the characters and understand them a bit better, and I really liked that insight into their pasts.

I thought that probably the best thing about the book was the writing. This book was written excellently, and I'm jealous of the way Jarzab is able to string her sentences together in a way that makes her characters sound brilliant and still young at the same time, if you know what I mean. Her dialogue was realistic and entertaining, and I think Anna Jarzab is definitely an author to watch.

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars

Cover: I LOVE this cover! It looks so sophisticated but so very attention-grabbing. At first I thought the girl on the cover was posing, but then I was like, oh…she's not lying on the grass, posing dramatically; she's dead. I thought that using that kind of surprise was extremely clever of the publishers!

In My Mailbox (5)

Hey everyone! In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie.

So, this week was pretty good. I bought three books yesterday with my cousin and borrowed a few from the school library, which actually has a pretty good stock.

Library:



Bought:



So that's what's in my mailbox this week! What did you get in yours?

Pretty Little Liars!

Okay, so lately it seems like every book is getting turned into either a TV show or a movie, right? Vampire Diaries (which I love, BTW...TEAM DAMON!!), City of Bones, True Blood...I love these shows, but I'm kind of worried about these new upcoming ones. I just think these movies ruin the effect of the books.
But I am so excited for the upcoming Pretty Little Liars TV show! It's premiering on June 8th, and I seriously can't wait. It looks so good!



What do you guys think about it? Are you excited for a PLL show? What are your thoughts on book adaptations in general?

Review: Wondrous Strange

Book: Wondrous Strange
Author: Lesley Livingston
Pages: 336
Published: December 23rd, 2008
Source: Bought

17 year-old Kelly Winslow doesn’t believe in Faeries. Not unless they’re the kind that you find in a theatre, spouting Shakespeare—the kind that Kelley so desperately wishes she could be: onstage, under lights, with a pair of sparkly wings strapped to her shoulders. But as the understudy in a two-bit, hopelessly off-off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, wishing is probably the closest she’s going to get to becoming a Faerie Queen. At least, that’s what she thinks... In this fun, urban fantasy, Kelly's off-stage life suddenly becomes as complicated as one of Shakespeare’s plot twists when a nighttime trip to Central Park holds more than meets the mortal eye.

General Overview: I was amazed by this book. I am a huge fan of faerie lore and Shakespeare too, and Midsummer's is one of my favorite plays. So, a mixing of these two things? No duh I was going to read this book. And I ended up loving it more than I thought I would.

Characters: Kelley is the type of girl most anyone can identify with. She was defiant, and unafraid to speak her mind and stand up for herself. She was strong and brave, and that's a good trait in any heroine. Sonny was chivalrous, maybe a little too much so for his own good, but I loved that about him. I found it so sweet how willing he was to protect Kelley even though he didn't really know her. And Tyff, of course, made me crack up cos she reminds me so much of one of my friends! She was so much fun to read about.

Plot: Some crazy stuff goes down in Wondrous Strange. The events and the creatures might not be things that came straight out of Lesley Livingston's mind, but she puts her own twist on these things and tells her own version of the stories. The plot kept me guessing and even though some things were kinda easy to predict, the rest was so unexpected that it totally made up for it (not that there was anything to make up for, anyway).

Writing: Okay, so Lesley Livingston is a fantastic writer! This book was so well written it was hard to believe it was her debut book (yeah, I read a lot of debuts, get over it) but it was! Her writing is impeccable and has such a musical, ethereal quality to it. She knew all the right words to use and the right time to use them.

Cover: This cover is beautiful! I love the girl on the cover, she looks really close to how I imagined Kelley! Her dress is gorgeous too, and I love the font used.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Review: Meridian

Book: Meridian
Author: Amber Kizer
Pages: 320
Published: August 11th 2009 by Delacorte
Source: Bought

Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.

Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate’s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home—and Meridian’s body explodes in pain.

Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she’s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. It’s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra—the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos.

I really liked this book! I'd heard mixed things about it, so I was a little worried starting this one, but luckily I thoroughly enjoyed it. The premise of Meridian was really what interested me at first, but I was doubtful of whether the book would live up to the standard that the summary set for it. It did.

Meridian (besides having an awesome name) was an interesting character. I liked how she developed from a slight immature teenager to a young adult. She was kind of forced to grow up, with all the weird crap that happened to her. My favorite scenes were the ones with her and Tens, who was extremely swoony. He was always trying to do the right thing and kept Meridian's best interests in mind -- their conversations struck me as humorous and sarcastic. Their relationship had a certain dynamic to it that I really enjoyed reading about.

The plot was fairly quick and filled with adventure. Amber Kizer presents a new type of supernatural power: the Fenestras and their evil counterpart, the Aternocti. It was extremely original and I loved Kizer's idea. The only complaint I have about the book is the fact that some things seemed too coincidental, too unrealistic. Things just seemed to happen just in time way too often, though that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.

I was really impressed with Meridian and I will definitely be reading the sequel, which as of now is titled Wildcat Fireflies, to be released by Delacorte Press/Random House in fall 2011.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Cover: I like this cover! The girl on it looks absolutely nothing like Meridian in the book (um, hello, publishers? You got the hair wrong.) but I liked the expression she has on her face and the pattern around the sides. Very interesting and this would definitely catch my eye in a bookstore.

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Hey everyone! Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine.
I am a huge fan of the Blue Bloods series! They're so original and completely breathtaking. I am so excited for the next release in the series, Misguided Angel, which my WoW of this week.

After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence--with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the seven gates that guard earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silverbloods.

As the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler closer to a terrifying crossroads--and a choice that will determine the destiny of all vampires.

Does that not sound freaking AMAZING?!

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: Beautiful Creatures

Book: Beautiful Creatures
Author: Kami Garcia + Margaret Stohl
Pages: 563
Published: December 1st 2009 by Little, Brown

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

I thought there was no way this book could live up to my expectations. Every review I've read about BC was rule of raving comments and adoration, and so I set immeasurably high standards for this book. I was completely shocked when BC surpassed all of them.

I loved how easily I could connect with every single one of BC's characters. I didn't even have to try, and how often does that happen, right? Ethan and Lena's relationship was beautiful and sad, wonderful and turbulent, all at the same time. They both seemed like such genuine and seriously cool characters, and I kind of wished they were real. It was effortless for me to feel everything they felt and imagine everything they saw and did, and I loved that element of the story.

I read all 562 pages of this book in a day. I devoured it, I seriously just couldn't turn the pages fast enough! I wanted moremoremore and I even read at the dinner table (which is something I never do, so a book is freaking amazing if it's invited to dinner)! Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl detailed everything, and by that I do mean everything. They don't leave anything out. I will admit, at the beginning, adding in all that background and introductory stuff, I was starting to doubt the book a little, but later on the details provided in the beginning are so helpful and I wouldn't have understood a lot of things if those hadn't been there.

So…umm. If you haven't picked up/read/bought/borrowed from your library/borrowed from your friends/done everything you could to get your hands on this book, you're kinda dumb. Cos I loved. Loved. LOVED. This book. (Yeah, yeah, my grammar there is terrible, WHATEVER.)

Needless to say, Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl have made a crazy swimfan out of me and I can't wait for Beautiful Darkness, the sequel!

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Cover: I have loved this cover insanely much since it was revealed. It is so gorgeous, and you don't even know how amazing it is until you see it in person. I love the lettering used and the trees in the background…absolutely gorgeous.

Teaser Tuesday (4)

Hello people! Well it's Tuesday, which means another teaser (: Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Wanna participate? Here's how it works:

• Grab the book you're currently reading!
• Turn to a random page
• Pick out a few random sentences [non-spoilery, please!]
• Be sure to add the title and the author of the book so that others can add your book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

If you're not a blogger, you can still participate by commenting on this post and sharing your teaser!

Here's mine for the week:

'"We're always who we are,' Henry said. 'Mostly people don't show you all sides of themselves. I'm pretty sure it's impossible to become someone else suddenly. Human nature is to hide the parts that aren't pretty to look at. It's easier to hide than to be your real ugly self,' Henry said.
'Yeah, well, some people hide a whole lot of ugly,' Amy said with a bitter laugh."

Page 148, The Clearing by Heather Davis