Awesome New Covers...On Wednesday

Happy Veteran's Day, everyone! **awesome new cover warning!!** This week, I found not two, but four awesome covers to feature on this week's Cover Love:

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard (August 5, 2010)

Mandy just posted this over at her awesome blog, and when I saw it, I nearly screamed. Out of joy. Best. Cover. Ever. I mean, purple ponies? Cupcakes? I LOVE. Congrats, Mandy! (Oh, yeah--and your book is now at the very tippy top of my 2010 wishlist...as in I NEED to read this book rightnow)!

How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World by Jordan Christy

I love this simple, cute cover! It gives off a girlie, fun vibe, and the colors are perfect! I really like how the black and white pops against the turquoise background, and the black dress shows off the white font. The cover alone would make me want to read this one for sure!

Brilliant by Rachel Vail (May 25, 2010)

I have the second book in this trilogy, Gorgeous, on my shelf, and it sounds really cool! My favorite part of this cover is the lighting on the (very cute) shoes and the reflection, it gives the image some depth! I'll definitely be checking this one out.

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway (Aug 3, 2010)

OK, so this cover is very cool. The title alone makes me want to check it out, but the tri-colored cover is intriguing and eye-catching, giving it a nice visual touch! This book sounds awesome, too, so hopefully I'll be checking it out when it's released!

Harry Potter Book vs. Movie review

So, I recently finished the 2nd Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and decided it would be fun to do a joint book-and-movie review!

Book:

I've always heard how fabulousamazing the Harry Potter books were, but I haven't decided to actually pick them up until recently, although I've been a huge fan of the movies (I've seen each one like, 10 times, and eagerly await the next). I liked the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a lot, but the second one simply blew me away. The creativity of these books is brilliant! The story was riveting, filled with twists and turns, suspense and humor, and ending perfectly with all the loose ends tied up neatly, greatly satisfying the reader. I could picture every corridor of Hogwarts clearly and all of the zany, unique characters added depth to the story, portrayed with colorful descriptions. My favorite character? Ron, the perfect best friend-sidekick. Now craving the next book in the series (which is waiting on my shelf for me), I can finally say that I'm officially addicted to the Harry Potter series. If you haven't picked them up yet, don't miss out!

Movie:

Seeing the movies sparked my desire to read the books, and after doing so, I can happily say that these movies could not be better adaptations of the beloved Harry Potter stories. First of all, the actors are very talented and are cast perfectly for their parts: I'm glad that the movie-makers got unknowns (at the time) to play the leads. The setting was amazing as well, exactly how I had pictured Hogwarts in my mind. It was so cool to see all of the action come alive on screen! While not as detailed as the actual book itself, the movie still stayed true to the novel.

From reviews that I've read, many well-known and well-loved books (like Eragon and The Golden Compass) that have been turned into movies greatly disappoint fans, but those who adore Harry Potter will be greatly satisfied with the big screen adaptation and will want to watch it over and over again (I think I've seen it 9 times). (:

DEMON PRINCESS contest extended!

Hey everyone! My birthday contest, where I'm giving away a copy of Michelle Rowen's Demon Princess, has been extended until November 20, so go check it out and enter! Good luck! :D

Cover Love!

This week I am majorly loving the covers of....

Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw (May 1, 2010)

“Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper. “Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you.”

Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva.

A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited.

This cover is just so beautiful. I love the golden lighting, the font, and the colors. I'll be checking this one out for sure when it's released!

The Debs: Gloves Off by Susan McBride (March 2010)

I couldn't find a synopsis of the book, but I really like the simplicity and bright colors of this cover, especially how the white pops against the pink!

In My Mailbox/Week in Review!

Happy Halloween, everyone! Speaking of which, I got some nice treats in the mail this week (meme created by Kristi of The Story Siren):

Charmed and Dangerous: The Clique Prequel by Lisi Harrison (Oct 27, 2009)

Happy New Clique!

Once upon a time, in Westchester and Orlando, there were four betas just waiting for their alpha. It took a miracle to bring the Pretty Committee together--or rather, a New Year's Yves party. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it just cliques.

Massie Block: Is destined to lead, but trapped as a beta in the Ahnabees, the top clique at PMS (Presbyterian Middle School). She has ah-mazing ideas--Friday night sleepovers, Gossip Points, and matching charm bracelets. When will it be her time to rule?

Alicia Rivera: Is dying to lead the Body Alive Dance Studio Squad. With the captain on vacation, BADSS's live performance on Merri Lee Marvil's New Year's Yves show is her chance to shine. Will she prove herself alpha-worthy--or will she need to find a whole new clique?

Dylan Marvil: Is done, done, and done with people kissing her teeny-tiny butt just because her mom is famous. But who would be brave enough to stand up to someone so Marvilous?

Kristen Gregory: Has made a New Year's resolution to make friends and get a life. Escape from Planet Loser starts...now!

Claire Lyons: Is psyched times ten to win a last-minute invitation to the New Year's Yves satellite party in Orlando. But first she needs to sneak out of the house. And the countdown to midnight begins in ten...nine...eight...

I love the Clique, so I can't wait to see how it all started! My one complaint: what's up with an 175-page hardcover? Ergh.....

We Were Here by Matt de la Peña

When it happened, Miguel was sent to Juvi. The judge gave him a year in a group home--said he had to write in a journal so some counselor could try to figure out how he thinks. The judge had no idea that he actually did Miguel a favor. Ever since it happened, his mom can't even look at him in the face. Any home besides his would be a better place to live.

But Miguel didn't bet on meeting Rondell or Mong or on any of what happened after they broke out. He only thought about Mexico and getting to the border to where he could start over. Forget his mom. Forget his brother. Forget himself.

Life usually doesn't work out how you think it will, though. And most of the time, running away is the quickest path right back to what you're running from.

This book sounds very intriguing and interesting. Plus I love the cover. Many thanks to Random House!!

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Here's what went on around Bookworm Readers this week:

Tuesday- I posted my weekly Cover Love (yay-it's back!). This week's featured cover was Finally by Wendy Mass. Even more perfect, the cover ties in with Bookworm Reader's second birthday! (:

Wednesday- In honor of Bookworm Readers' birthday, I'm giving away a copy of Demon Princess by Michelle Rowen! Click here to find out how to enter!

Friday- I reviewed Hex Education by Zareen Jaffrey and Emily Gould. It was a cute read perfect for Halloween!!!

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Hex Education

Authors: Zareen Jaffrey & Emily Gould

Pages: 182

Published: RazorBill, 2007

Genre: Fantasy/Magic

Cover Score: B

Overall Grade: B+

Sophie Stone is anything but thrilled when her happily-goth, overly enthusiastic, horror movie-making parents uproot her from sunny LA and plop her down in Mystic, Massachusetts--her father's hometown with a long history in witch trials and where anything spooky or Halloween-y is welcome--year round. But even Sophie can't deny that she's mysteriously drawn to Mystic. Luckily, she meets new friends that she instantly clicks with. But little does Sophie know that her fashion-forward new friends are her coven....which means that they're also witches, descended from the magical founders of the town! But can they save Mythic from an unknown evil?

My thoughts: Hex Education was a fun, fast, light read perfect for Halloween! First of all, the setting was very well-described, and it totally sucked me into its gloomy atmosphere from page one. As well as this, all of the witchy details were very clever and fun, as well as humorous when spells go awry!

One of my major issues with the story, though, was Sophie, who at first was annoying--all she did was whine and didn't even bother to try to like Mythic. It became really, really old, and I got really sick of her complaining. Thank God she started to be more positive towards the middle and end or else I may have screamed. I loved the secondary characters, who were all unique and fun, but I did not get Sophie and Linc's relationship all that well.

Some of the details about the history of the town witches seemed really vague, and this made the whole "coven" thing a bit difficult to comprehend.

The ending was sort of rocky for me, too--it was very abrupt and way too corny-happy, like the authors couldn't think of anything else to write about. There was no smooth conclusion and therefore it just stopped, which was a big disappointment to me. However, I loved the awesome surprise ending where the mystery of the evil witch was solved!

If you're not a big horror fan and want something spooky and light for Halloween that's not too serious but fun, give Hex Education a try. It was fast, funny, and cute--and plenty witchy, too! :D

Must-Read! Check it out Dont' Bother

Bookworm Readers Birthday Giveaway: Demon Princess!

In honor of Bookworm Readers' 2nd birthday (yay) and the upcoming holiday (that would be Halloween), I am giving away a book that is both totally awesome (definitely my favorite of the month so far) and supernatural for Halloween!

Here's what to do to be entered to win a copy of Demon Princess by Michelle Rowen (yup, that would be the super-special, secret book that I picked up at B&N over the weekend that I mentioned in my In My Mailbox post on Sunday):

- Comment below with what you're dressing up as this Halloween. If you aren't dressing up, you can tell me your favorite childhood costume! Please remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!!

Bonus entries can be acquired the following ways:

+1 Follow Bookworm Readers!

+1 Link to this contest on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, whatever! Just remember to leave me the link!

+1 Tell me what your favorite Halloween candy is

+2 Comment on my Demon Princess review!

Good luck! This contest will be closed on November 5, 2009! (US and Canada only, please!)

Trick or treat! :D