Weekly Wrap-Up: May 12-18

It's summer so I just wanted to read some light summer-y contemporaries. Also, Abbi Glines's books were on sale.

Completed:
Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2) - Abbi Glines: 4 stars
While It Lasts (Sea Breeze #3) - Abbi Glines: 4 stars
Just for Now (Sea Breeze #4) - Abbi Glines: 3 stars
The Book of Broken Hearts - Sarah Ockler: 4 stars
Fallen Too Far (Too Far #1) - Abbi Glines: 3 stars
Never Too Far (Too Far #2) - Abbi Glines: 3 stars

Currently Reading:
Levitating Las Vegas (Levitating Las Vegas #1) - Jennifer Echols
Winger - Andrew Smith
Breaking Point (Article 5 #2) - Kristen Simmons
House of Night: Legacy - PC & Kristen Cast

New to my bookshelf this week:
Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell
Sleepover Girls - Jen Calonita

Listmania Monday: Collaboration

Anyone else notice the sudden growth spurt of author collaborations? Not anthologies or things like that, but regular novels written by two or more authors, usually very well known/best-selling authors at that. Personally, I dig it as long as it doesn't cut into any solo writing projects (I'm talking to you, Cassie Clare! You've promised me a full decade of shadowhunter novels in addition to the Magisterium!). After beloved childhood authors Ann M. Martin and Paula Danziger pulled together to create the oh-so-relatable P.S. Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail No More (I'll never look at cheetos the same again), I was hooked on co-authored books. When I met David Levithan at TLA, he told me that doing co-authored projects is a way that he can find time to write and edit as he still maintains his publisher/editor position with Scholastic. However, I know there must be plenty of cynics who believe this is a publisher-pushed ploy to empty our wallets faster. What do you think? Cool creative venture or money-making scheme? Do you have any author duos you'd love to write a book together? Let me know in the comments!

The Bane Chronicles - Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson
The Blackwell Pages - Kelley Armstrong & Melissa Marr (using pen names K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr to not confuse different readership demographics)
Caster Chronicles series - Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Invisibility - Andrea Cremer & David Levithan
Magisterium Series - Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
Naomi & Ely's No-Kiss List - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
P.S. Longer Letter Later/Snail Mail No More - Ann M. Martin & Paula Danziger
Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & David Levithan

Weekly Wrap-Up: May 5-11

A couple days late in posting this as I was distracted by both paintballing and Mothers' Day this weekend.

Completed:
Elegy (Hereafter #1) - Tara Hudson: 4 stars. I cried. You probably will too. Review forthcoming.

Currently Reading:
Levitating Las Vegas (Levitating Las Vegas #1) - Jennifer Echols. This ebook-only new adult debut really is a perfect cross between Jennifer's ya dramas and her adult novel Star Crossed.
Winger - Andrew Smith. Ryan Dean reminds me SO MUCH of John Green's protagonists.
Breaking Point (Article 5 #2) - Kristen Simmons.

New to my bookshelf this week:
Awaken (Abandon #3) - Meg Cabot. EEEK! Scholastic sent me a lovely arc of the finale of John & Pearce's story. Can't wait to start this one!
Mila 2.0 (Mila 2.0 #1) - Debra Driza. I've heard such great things!
Spellcaster (Spellcaster #1) - Claudia Gray
True (Elixir #3) - Hilary Duff
all of Abbi Glines's published Sea Breeze novels, except Breathe, which isn't out in the format I want until June

Spring Into the Future tour: Dallas stop recap + Giveaway

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

Check HERE for open giveaways

A few weeks ago, I was delighted to discover that Veronica Rossi, Cynthia Hand, and Tahereh Mafi were going on tour again and adding Eve trilogy author Anna Carey to the lineup. Plus, this coincided nicely with the end of TLA as I had an hour to make the short drive from the Ft. Worth convention center to the Hurst Barnes & Noble, eat, and generally relax after such a tiring but exhilerating conference. The ladies did a nice long Q&A session (with plenty of mentions of Chapter 62) followed by a signing. Since I already met Veronica, Cynthia, and Tahereh and had them sign my personal copies of their books, I had plenty of time to have them sign giveaway copies!

Q&A + contest details under the cut! Let me just say that this Q&A was AMAZING. The authors were a little late and kind of flustered from traffic, but they didn't let it faze them at all. They were so warm and friendly and chock full of great stories and advice. This is definitely worth a read.

Review: If I Should Die by Amy Plum

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

Check HERE for open giveaways

Rating: 4 stars

Pub Date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Genre: Young adult paranormal romance (sub genre: zombies)

Format/Source: ARC, obtained at TLA

Status: Book 3 of the Revenants trilogy (aka The End)

Summary:

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

Review:

First, let me state that I was given an advanced copy of If I Should Die by the publisher at TLA last week, and in exchange, I'm reviewing it.

Second, if you have not already, get your butt over to Epic Reads ASAP. Why? Well, duh, they posted the first 84 pages, of course! And yeah, there's some squishy-feeling-inducing-squee-worthy moments in that excerpt. Come back when you're finished and have sufficiently cooled down. I'll wait.

.....

Welcome back! Now, since this is the final book in the Revenants trilogy, and I'm going to mention moments from the first two books and the shorts, I'm just going to stick the whole thing under the cut so as to not spoil moments for anyone who has been living under a rock and hasn't read any of the books yet. IISD spoilers will be at a minimum.

Weekly Wrap-Up: April 28 - May 4

Not a lot of reading done this week. Mostly sleeping. :)

Completed:
If I Should Die (Revenants #3) - Amy Plum: 4 stars
The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson Graphic Novels #1) - Rick Riordan: 2 stars. I just don't really like the art. There's something off about the human faces that I don't enjoy

Currently Reading:
Elegy (Hereafter #3) - Tara Hudson

New to my bookshelf this week:
NONE! I'm trying to clear out my bookshelf since I just picked up so many new reads at TLA.

Monthly Wrap-up: April

List of April reads

Jen Calonita - Broadway Lights (Secrets of My Hollywod Life #5)
Cassandra Clare & Sarah Rees Brennan - "What Really Happened in Peru" (Bane Chronicles #1)
Eoin Colfer - The Supernaturalist: The Graphic Novel
Lauren DeStefano - Sever (Chemical Garden #3)
Abbi Glines - The Vincent Brothers (Vincent Boys #2)
Miranda Kenneally - Things I Can't Forget (Hundred Oaks #3)
Tahereh Mafi - Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)
Erin McCahan - I Now Pronounce You Someone Else
Marissa Meyer - Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)
Stephenie Meyer - The Host (The Host #1)
Amy Plum - "Die for Her" (Revenants #2.5) 
                  - If I Should Die (Revenants #3)
Rick Riordan - The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson Graphic Novels #1)
Kristen Simmons - Article 5 (Article 5 #1)
Joss, Zack & Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen -  Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Book
Brenna Yovanoff - Paper Valentine