Title: Moonglass
Author: Jessi Kirby
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 224 Pages (May 3rd 2011)
From: the Publisher, Thank You! (Amazon Vine)

Synopsis: From Jessi Kirby, a debut novel about confronting the past in order to move ahead.

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

Review: 4 Stars - Jessi Kirby’s Moonglass is more than just sun, sand and sea. It’s about truth, healing and honesty. It’s about strength and love. Kirby fit many emotions into her book and did a wonderful job with her characters and what they were finally working to come to terms with.

When Anna is forced to move when her dad takes a new job, she has the typical teen reactions. She’s angry and hurt and wants to stay right where all her friends, her grandmother and her memories are. She’s one heck of a girl with some guts, let me tell you. She’s grown up with the beach on her doorstep, enjoying the sand as much as the ocean. Along with her guts and her strength she’s also grieving. Her grief runs deep, something she’s been contending with for years and being in the place where here parents met, being so close to where her mother spent her summers stirs up old emotions and old but ever present wounds soon begin to fester.

There’s heartbreak of many different kinds throughout Anna’s journey. Not just her past, but also the past of those around her, new and old and of the Cove she now calls home. Many of these things are part of Anna’s past, a past she needs to come to terms with, but doesn’t know how to face it. Sometimes things aren’t as they seem and other times – sadly - things have to get worse before they can get better.

The relationship she builds with Tyler came at a time that I think she needed it the most. It was a slow thing that happened at it’s own pace and didn’t feel rushed. Which is a great because more often than not these types of relationships can feel rushed in YA novels, and Kirby did a wonderful job in writing the two and their relationship at a realistic pace. Anna and Tyler have cute moments and some great lines back and forth. I did laugh at a few things Anna said, which also added to the story and helped to make her a more rounded character.

All in all, Kirby’s debut was not only well written, it was sweet and entertaining with realistic characters in a beautiful setting. It’s always thrilling to find a new contemporary young adult title and this one fit the bill perfectly! I have no doubt that many others will become a fan or Kirby and will be on the look out for new titles from her in the future, just as I will be. Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Title: My Blood Approves (My Blood Approves, #1)
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: LuLu, 261 pages (March 17th 2010)
From: ebook purchased from Amazon.

Synopsis: Teenager Alice Bonham's life feels crazy after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave, he's unlike anyone she knows. Then she meets his brother, Peter. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. Falling for two guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood.

Review: 4 Stars - For some time now Amanda Hocking has been taking the self published world by storm, and I was quick to understand why. The first in her Vampire series – My Blood Approves – sets the stage with characters I was glad to meet, history and a back story that was mysterious, often thrilling and writing that flowed and kept my interest from beginning to end.

Alice and Jack are the two main characters within this title. However, they are far from the only note worthy characters. Jack’s family and Alice’s brother Milo make many appearances throughout. One major player is Jack’s “brother” Peter, which turned out to be an extremely interesting part of the story. Talk about throwing a wrench into the works. Alice and Jack have a friendship that builds from that first encounter, which allowed things start to come to the surface as to who Jack and his family really are. While Alice and Jack’s relationship is different from the beginning it’s the draw that Alice has to Peter that turns this story upside down. It’s not your typical love triangle, that’s for sure. Put into Alice’s shoes, I’d be drawn to both Jack and Peter as well. As for which camp I sit in, I’m torn myself.

The unique aspects of Hocking’s vampires and the interesting bits and pieces we learn of Jack and his “family” throughout the book made this title interesting and one that I didn’t want to put down. Thankfully when I did finish I was ready for more and had the next book set up to continues the saga and see where Hocking and her characters would take us next.

I always love it when I find a new book or series and being that this is a self published title was just the icing on the cake. Hocking is talented and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the publishing world.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading this book and or writing this HONEST review.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: Awake at Dawn (Shadow Falls, #2)
Author: C.C. Hunter
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, October 2011
Preorder here: Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble,
The Book Depository

Synopsis: Kylie Galen thought her life was a mess before she went to Shadow Falls Camp. However, now that she's discovered she's not human, the problems presenting themselves are anything but normal.

She's determined to uncover the answer to her supernatural heritage, but with a ghost insisting someone Kylie loves is about to die, her newly developed sixth sense telling her someone is watching her and a rogue vampire on a murdering rampage, Kylie's quest for answers is on hold. As if her life isn't difficult enough, just when she's about to give her heart to Derek, he starts pulling away. When Lucas comes back, Kylie feels more conflicted than ever. Kylie's weekend with her mom should have been just the break Kylie needs, but it turns out to be her breaking point. Discovering her heritage may not ever matter if she doesn't survive.

Title: Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy, #1)
Author: Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation, 336 Pages (July 26th 2011)
Preorder here: Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble,
The Book Depository

Synopsis: My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Acad­emy — a school of myths, magic and war­rior whiz kids, where even the lowli­est geek knows how to chop off somebody’s head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spar­tan guy in school, also hap­pens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jas­mine Ash­ton was mur­dered in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties. Then, some­one stole the Bowl of Tears, a mag­i­cal arti­fact that can be used to bring about the sec­ond Chaos War. You know, death, destruc­tion and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I’m deter­mined to find out who killed Jas­mine and why – espe­cially since I should have been the one who died...

Loved the first book in the Shadow Falls Series - Born at Midnight, so this was a no brainer must read for me. I can't wait to see what happens next to the characters. As for the second part of this weeks' WoW - Touch of Frost, sounds like a must read mystery wrapped nice and tight in a paranormal. Can't wait for both!


*covers are always subject to change.
*I am not compensated at all for any of the links within this post.

"Just Picked" is a feature here at A Life Bound By Books. This is a place where I'll be spotlighting new (and old) childrens book or picture books for parents and new readers. It's a place to talk about books for a younger group and to try to help create a new generation of readers.


Title: Trauma Queen
Author: Barbara Dee
Publisher: Aladdin, 272 Pages (April 19th 2011)
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: Every tween girl knows what it's like to have a mom who can be a little embarrasing at times. But for Marigold, it goes way beyond embarrassing. Marigold's single mom is a performance artist, meaning she stages dramatic, wacky performances to express her personal beliefs. Things like wrapping herself in saran wrap for a piece on plastic surgery, or inviting people over in the middle of the night to videotape her sleeping. In fact, Marigold's mom's performances caused such a ruckus in their last town that the two of them, along with Marigold's little sister, have just had to move. Now Marigold's starting a new school, missing her best friend like crazy, and trying to fit in all over again in the shadow of a mom who's famous for all the wrong reasons. As if that's not bad enough, Marigold's mom takes on a new job--teaching drama at Marigold's school! Now all the kids know instantly just how weird her mom is, and Marigold's worried she'll never be able to have a friendship that can survive her mother.

Review: 3 Stars - Middle grade title – Trauma Queen by Barbara Dee was a cute story about a tween girl growing up extremely embarrassed by her mother – shocking right? Being embarrassed by your parents is something most everyone can relate to; even as we get older they can still manage to find a way to make us cringe. If you ask me, I think it’s in their DNA. For Marigold she doesn't think she’ll ever have a normal teen life. Her mom is a performance artist and does things such as wrapping herself in saran wrap for a piece on plastic surgery.

Marigold is more than hurt when her moms dramatic performances hit close to home and affect her relationship with her best friend. It’s so bad that her mother moves them away.

Being a teen girl is rough and Marigold goes through a lot in a short period of time. Moving away from her best friend, starting a new school while trying to keep everyone from finding out about her moms art, just to name a few things.

Marigold has lessons to learn at both home and from the new friends she makes. Dee was able to express and portray the feelings and issues of being a teen pretty spot on. It was easy to see through Mari’s eyes, while dealing with the crazy things life threw at her.

Her grandmother was just as a grandmother should be. She listened, was supportive, explained things in ways Mari’s mother couldn’t and talked about the past to give Mari a better understanding of just who her mother was. Mari’s little sister had her own wacky side – she liked to “Prairie Speak”. Yes, you read that correctly. I had to smile each time her little sister talked. It’s just something you weren’t expecting but became endeared to.

Dee made Marigold likeable and easy to relate to as we were a fly on the wall to Mari as she grew and changed from the first page to the last. If you ask me, the ending was perfect. I haven’t read many middle grade books, but this one was a quick read that flew by, with great characters, an entertaining and sometimes off the wall story.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Hello, and Happy Summer to Everyone!

It's time for another giveaway!

This hop is hosted by I'm a Reader not a Writer.

Thank you!

This one is quick and easy to enter, good luck to each of you.

Now lets get on with the good stuff!

ONE lucky winner will receive $15.00

to the Book Depository!

Here's the rules and the form to enter:

Please fill out the easy form below for your entry to count.
You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
Giveaway open: INTERNATIONAL! If The Book Depository ships to you, feel free to enter!
Giveaway ends: 12:01 AM (EST) June 25th, 2011

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or feel free to email. Winners are chosen at random

via Random.org - unless otherwise stated.

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