GIVEAWAY: Hades (Halo #2) by Alexandra Adornetto!

Hi everybody! It's giveaway time :)

I've been given the opportunity to host a giveaway for the newly released HADES by Alexandra Adornetto, the sequel to HALO. I have not read either book yet but I most certainly will since they both sound absolutely fantastic! Here are the giveaway rules:

• You do not have to be a follower of BAM Book Reviews but it would be appreciated if you guys would follow!



• This giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada. Sorry guys!

• If you are a follower, you will get an extra entry but don't bother lying! Your entry will be completely deleted if you do.

Here's the description and trailer for HADES:

Bethany and Xavier are even closer since battling Jake Thorn and his evil influence (in Halo) and Beth and her angel siblings must still protect Venus Cove from the Dark Forces. When a party game – a séance – inadvertently releases Jake from the Underworld, he disguises himself and tricks Beth into taking a ride on his motorcycle. When the highway opens up and swallows them, Beth learns too late that she’s now a prisoner in hell. What happens to angels there? As her archangel brother, Gabriel, her sister Ivy, Xavier, and her best friend, Molly search for her, Beth must weigh Jake’s bargaining for her freedom: one night with him, and she will be released back to Earth. Can Jake be trusted in this wager?And is he also using Beth to engineer the fall of the archangel Gabriel? Xavier has already lost one love – when Jake tricks him into thinking that Bethany is dead, his grief and anger result in a betrayal that will leave Bethany –and readers – wondering if he is so good after all. It will be up to Beth to use everything she’s learned about her powers as an angel – and about love -to free herself and those she loves from the clutches of Hades

Click HERE to enter and good luck! :)

Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (April 2008)

Source: Received from author for review

Edition: Hardcover

Pages: 356

Rating:

With her mother ill, it’s up to fifteen-year-old Ruby Jacinski to support her family. But in the 1940s, the only opportunities open to a Polish-American girl from Chicago’s poor Yards is a job in one of the meat packing plants. Through a chance meeting with a local tough, Ruby lands a job as a taxi dancer and soon becomes an expert in the art of “fishing”: working her patrons for meals, cash, clothes, even jewelry. Drawn ever deeper into the world of dance halls, jazz, and the mob, Ruby gradually realizes that the only one who can save her is herself. A mesmerizing look into a little known world and era.

Ten Cents a Dance is a very fun and light read and I knew immediately that I would enjoy this book because I've always been interesting in the jazz era. I really like the plot of the story, it was unique and interesting and it definitely kept me captivated. Ruby is a likeable character and her charisma with the neighborhood bad boy is enticing.

Fletcher's writing ensures that you can fully picture and imagine the jazz music, the dancing, the costumes and everything in between, which allowed me to fully appreciate the novel. Ten Cents a Dance is a perfect book to read during summer and it reminds me of the movies Grease and Dirty Dancing (amazing movies!), so if you enjoy jazz era dancing, high class clubs, lowly gangs and much more then Ten Cents is the perfect book for you :) There's really nothing bad about this book, while it might not be super amazing, it is definitely worth a read. It's an exciting book, something fresh and different from all the paranormal romance novels out there!

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill (August 2007)

Source: Bought (B&N)

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 332

Rating:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

I've owned this book for longer than a year now and kept putting it off because the synopsis didn't really pull me in as much as I would've liked it to. Vampires are fun and all but the whole guardian thing seemed a little unappealing at first. But, since I've heard so many people rave about it, I figured I would give in and finally allow myself to indulge in it.

The first few chapters were a little slow (just like mostly any other book I've read) but it finally picked up and I was officially curious about how the story was going to play out. I really like Rose's sense of humor and how she approached gossip situations... hilarious! (By the way, the whole time I was reading this book I saw Mila Kunis playing Rose and Skyler Samuels playing Lissa.) Dimitri was absolutely to die for. Such an swoon-worthy character whom I predict will get even hotter as the series continues.

So from the paragraph above, I'm sure you can tell that I really loved the characters. The plot? It was good. Wasn't the most exciting plot but I feel like it's going to get much better as the series continues. This is the start of a series after all which sometimes can be the least action packed. I definitely have high hopes for the rest of the series and can't wait to get started on them =)

Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love by Trisha Telep

Publisher: Running Press Kids

Source: Publicist

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 432

Rating:

For those who thirst for accounts of paranormal romance, Trisha Telep has compiled some of the most thrilling takes of forbidden love in this collection. First crushes and last rites; dark spells and bright magic; forbidden lovers and enchanted beings -- and always, always the hungry games of desire. Pucker up for a darkly sweet collection of ghosts, shape shifters, fairies, unicorns, vampires, and demons in tales from today's biggest writers of the paranormal persuasion.

I hate giving a book a bad rating, especially in this situation. I was pondering what I should rate Kiss Me Deadly because I really don't think it's a crappy book. Some of the stories were kind of interesting but the reason I'm giving this book such a low rating is because of the style. After reading this book, I've finally decided that anthologies aren't for me. I wasn't a huge fan of them before reading this book but I thought it was just the book itself I didn't like, not the actual format. After reading Kiss Me Deadly, I'm positive that I should probably just ignore anthologies from now on.

Confession time: Some of the stories I didn't actually read all of the way through. I just kind of skimmed through them which led me to getting confused which then led me to move on to the next story. Sometimes I read the whole story, sometimes I didn't. I'm not going to review each story because I didn't really read all of them... but my favorite was probably The Spy Who Never Grew Up by Sarah Rees Brennan because Peter Pan is in it =P

Like noted above, this book isn't bad! I just didn't enjoy the style but if you like anthologies and paranormal romance, then this may very well be the book for you! Watch out for a giveaway in the future!

In My Mailbox (40)

In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea from Pop Culture Junkie and created by Kristi from The Story Siren. Click here to learn more about it.

(All titles are linked to their Goodreads page.)

People Mentioned:

Lauren from 365 Days of Reading --Thanks Lauren!

Review:

The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

Bought:

The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Won:

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Delirium by Lauren Oliver Giveaway

Hey guys! I'm back with another giveaway. Unfortunately I haven't had much time to read because I've been moving into my new apartment! But hopefully after I move, I'll be able to read a bit more and post some reviews!

I have an extra copy of Delirium which I haven't read yet, but if you'd like to check out a review, a good friend of mine (Taschima from Bloody Bookaholic) just reviewed it at her blog so click here to read that. I actually bought a copy of this book at Sam's Club and then went to BEA and got a copy signed. Since I don't really need two copies, I figured I'd give one away!

• You don't have to be a follower of BAM Book Reviews to enter, but it is much appreciated since I bought the book myself and will be using my own money to ship it.
• I will only ship to the US (sorry, I'm a poor college kid!) but if you have someone in the US that is willing to ship the book to you, I will ship it to them no problem!
• Lastly, if you are a follower, you get an extra entry. But be warned, I DO check if you follow me and I will delete not only your extra entry but your original entry if you lie.

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Click HERE to enter and good luck!

The winner of Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver was Rae from Throuthehaze Reads.

In My Mailbox (39)

In My Mailbox was created by The Story Siren. Click here to learn more about it.

Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver Giveaway

Hey guys! Like I mentioned in my BEA vlog, I accidentally got an extra copy of Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver. Before anyone judges, I would like to explain myself =P. The first day BEA had a book drop (basically just a hand out of unsigned titles,) and I grabbed a copy of Liesl and Po. The next day, Lauren Oliver had a signing for Delirium so I thought I would get an autographed copy. It turns out that Lauren Oliver was signing both Delirium and Liesl and Po so I got a copy of both without remembering of previous copy I received the day before. Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the giveaway!

Since I am going to be spending my own money on shipping costs, I would really appreciate it if you would follow BAM Book Reviews, but it is not required to be able to enter.

This contest will be limited to just US citizens, sorry! =( I promise I'll have an international giveaway for a special occasion. The giveaway will end July 23rd at 11:59 PM.

Click here to enter the giveaway!

We meet Liesl the night after the day her young father has died. That same day she is visited by a ghost, Po, an eight year old boy who lives on the other side, the territory between life and death that runs parallel to the living world. Po has come to tell her that her father is stuck on the other side, and that she is the only one who can help him cross over. A couple of wooden boxes. Some ashes. Some magic dust. A ghost, its pet, and a boy who forgot to wear a hat in the cold. From these seemingly odd, random characters Oliver weaves the enchanting story of how, with the aid of Liesl, these elements come together over the course of one week to restore love and luster to a world gone grey and heartless.

**The winner of Ordinary Beauty (signed) by Laura Wiess was Indigo from Shattered Prose**

The Forbidden Game (The Forbidden Game #1-3) by L.J. Smith

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Publisher

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 768

Rating:

To lose the game is to lose your life in bestselling author L.J. Smith's
THE FORBIDDEN GAME.

To capture the love of Jenny Thorton, Julian--a visitor from a dark world--draws Jenny and her friends into forbidden games; the contest for a human soul. The prize is Jenny's freedom. The stakes are all of their lives. Jenny's friends are determined to help her win. But Julian is the master of the Game. Jenny's most desperate fight will be with him, this eerily handsome boy with electric blue eyes. He knows her deepest secrets, her darkest fears. He has almost infinite power. And the only thing he wants is for Jenny to surrender to him--body and soul.

L.J. Smith is one of my favorite authors. I find most people enjoy her books but not a lot of people find them amazing, aside from myself. Her books are always really good, in my opinion, and The Forbidden Game is certainly no exception! This book is really cool, somewhat scary and different but I love the originality and the concept of the "forbidden game" in the novel.

The book is very fast paced and compelling. The beginning is intruiging and I was already engrossed in the story by the second chapter. For me, The Forbidden Game is an excellent book, maybe not because of the way it's written but because it took me on a rollercoaster ride of obssesion, love, nightmares and much more. Several chapters in the novel or in other words, several of the characters' nightmares were definitely scaring me as I read and I'm not one to get scared by books or movies easily. That was one of the reasons why I couldn't put the book down. It made my heart race and my blood pump in anticipation. There's also several plot twists that I really didn't see coming and although all three books are excellent in this omnibus, the first book of the three is by far the best. As for the conclusion of the trilogy, I find it to be kind of a cliffhanger ending with which L.J. Smith could definitely get right back into in a spinoff series of sorts.

As for the characters, I love all of them especially, of course, Julian! He's one of the most complex and mysterious characters of all I've read about. I believe that he in fact did love Jenny but his view of love is quite different from the average person's view of love. All of the characters are likeable and endearing in their own way which is also another reason why I love this book!

I recommend this book to those who like a good thrill and those who are fans of Jumanji and the Saw movies! Obviously the book is not half as gory as the Saw movies but there some definite similarities :)

Hourglass (Hourglass #1) by Myra McEntire

Publisher: Egmont USA (May 2011)

Source: Publisher

Edition: ARC

Pages: 397

Rating:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

I don't know where to start with this review. I loved every single part of it and I don't really have anything bad to say about it. I'll start off with the characters. I. Love. Emerson. Her personality is adventurous and very relatable and her name is incredible! Last semester (in college) I had to read a few of Ralph Emerson's essays so I'm actually pretty happy with myself that I know where the name came from. Michael is a total swoon-worthy MC who I fell in love with more and more every page. One of the reasons I liked him so much is probably because Emerson couldn't have him! I'm a sucker for forbidden love, in case you didn't already know ;)

It took me a few chapters to really get into the story but once I was, I was hooked. The plot was pretty fast paced, but to be honest, the plot isn't what made me fall in love with the book. The characters are what made me fall in love. Their personalities, their physical attraction ;), and the individuality.

It's taken me quite a while to write this review because I really had to think about why I loved the book so much. Other than the reasons listed above, I simply just connected with the story. I laughed and cried because I truly cared about these characters. Lastly, the cover is incredible if you couldn't tell, which was half the reason I chose this book for review.

The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms #2) by Cinda Williams Chima

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Source: For Review

Edition: ARC

Pages: 586

Rating:

You can't always run from danger... Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen. The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

After reading The Demon King, which is the first book in this amazing series, I jumped right into The Exiled Queen because I was so excited to read more. I thought the first book was amazing but let me tell you, the second book is far better. To be honest, I didn't expect much from the series but little did I know that it is probably one of the best book series I've read. The action is non stop and the world of the Seven Realms is enthralling! I loved reading every single page of this book and it continued to surprise me until the very end. There's just the right amount of comedy, suspense, romance, ect. in the novel.

As for the characters, I once again enjoyed the different perspectives of the story. Han still remains one of my favorite characters as does Micah. I always like the antagonists in novels because I find them more interesting and they add spice to the story! Princess Raisa surprised me quite a lot and I definitely enjoyed the romantic development between her and several characters. She also grew as a character and I liked how she was more herself in this novel than in the first one.

There's honestly nothing bad I could write about this book or the series! I thought that the story became bigger and better, very unique and captivating. I love the size of the books because there's no possible way that a series this amazing could be told in less than 500 pages! I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the next book, which I believe is entitled The Gray Wolf Throne, and I certainly recommend this series to everybody.

Laura Wiess Signing + Giveaway

Yay! Another giveaway! I went to my local Barnes and Noble during the week and saw a sign that Laura Wiess was going to be signing and almost had a heart attack. No one ever signs around my area that I'm interested in. I liked Such a Pretty Girl and am very excited to read Ordinary Beauty and I love the cover. I made sure that I took advantage of this opportunity and got an extra copy for one of you!

Since I used my own money to purchase the book, I would like to ask you to show your appreciation by following BAM Book Reviews! I won't limit the contest to just my followers, but if you follow our blog you'll get an extra entry for the giveaway! =)

Click here to enter! Giveaway deadline: 7/9

Laura Wiess and I! She was so sweet!

What you'll get if you win:

Ordinary Beauty by Laura Wiess *SIGNED*

Ordinary Beauty Magnet

MTV mini-notebook!

*SIGNED*

Ordinary Beauty:

How can you make someone love you when they won’t?

And what if that person happens to be your mother?

Sayre Bellavia grew up knowing she was a mistake: unplanned and unwanted. At five months shy of eighteen, she’s become an expert in loneliness, heartache, and neglect. Her whole life she’s been cursed, used, and left behind. Swallowed a thousand tears and ignored a thousand deliberate cruelties. Sayre’s stuck by her mother through hell, tried to help her, be near her, be important to her even as her mother slipped away into a violent haze of addiction, destroying the only chance Sayre ever had for a real family.

Now her mother is lying in a hospital bed, near death, ravaged by her own destructive behavior. And as Sayre fights her way to her mother’s bedside, she is terrified but determined to get the answer to a question no one should ever have to ask: Did my mother ever really love me? And what will Sayre do if the answer is yes?

This book sounds AMAZING and I bet it's just that. Good luck to all that enter! =)

**ALSO**

The winner of the Over the Moon giveaway was Amanda from That Teen Can Blog! Thanks to everyone who entered!

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part II

Caught this video over at Katie's Book Blog!

Briana: Oh man =( This is so sad! I literally cried while watching this. I can't believe Harry Potter is almost over. I grew up with this and took it for granted. Now the final movie is coming out and I'll never wait in line at midnight to see a Harry Potter movie, ever again. This is such an epic trailer. I'm definitely going to re-read the book and I'm sure I'll cry just as much as the first time I read it.

The Quest for Merlin's Map (The Jumper Chronicles #1) by W/C. Peever

Publisher: Savant Books and Publications LLC

Source: Publicist

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 296

Rating:

Charlie is an awkward twelve-year old living a normal life till he is abducted and thrust into a world of ever-looming danger, a world of Magic, of Angry Gods, and Creatures that are should only exist inside of fairytales.

Charlie and his three friends must unravel the mysteries of their new found abilities, save the father Charlie has never known, and uncover a secret that will change their lives forever.

When I got a request to review this book, I was uncertain about whether or not it would be something I would enjoy. Whenever I get a request, the first thing I look at it is the cover to see if it attracts me. I know that's not the way I should judge a book by first impression, but that's just how I've always been! With that said, I'm not attracted to the cover. It's a nice cover, but it just doesn't look like my type of book, at first glance. However, The Quest for Merlin's Map, pleasantly surprised me with it's lovely characters and intriguing plot.

During the first 100 pages, the story was moving pretty slow for me (but that might've just been because I was in a reading rut!) Once I got past that point, I became attached to the characters and was finding myself getting nervous for them during their adventures.

Now, some of the reasons why I didn't give The Quest for Merlin's Map 5 butterflies instead of 4: I found the story to be pretty predictable at times. While I was reading I would take a guess of what would happen next, and half the time my guess was correct. I personally just like a bit more of an unpredictable plot. Also, I did find quite a lot of similarities between the characters of The Quest for Merlin's Map and Harry Potter. The characters go to school in a castle very similar to Hogwarts, the three main characters are two boys and a girl, the headmaster is very old and wise, etc. I don't read a whole lot of MG, so maybe these similarities are common among quite a few MG? I'm not sure.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and would recommend it to anyone that likes Harry Potter and/or Percy Jackson. I'm looking forward to the next installment in The Jumper Chronicles.

Over the Moon Giveaway

Hey everyone! So I got this book quite a while ago for review and it just wasn't for me. The idea of this book is so intriguing but for some reason I just couldn't get into it. However, that doesn't mean one of you won't like it! I would really appreciate whoever entering the contest be a follower of BAM Book Reviews, since I will be spending my own money on shipping costs, but I won't limit the contest to just the followers.

When seventeen-year-old Tiana moves to Hurricane, Utah, her comfortable world is turned upside down as she traverses the rough waters of adjusting to a small town and new school. Her father insists they were supposed to move here for some unknown, important purpose, and the voice in her head tells her not to argue. After resigning herself to being a miserable outcast, Tiana finds that she is not only accepted by most of the students at her new high school but is also the recipient of unwelcome attention from the opposite sex.

But then she meets the mysterious Andrew Martin and is soon Over the Moon crazy about him. Andrew seems to be the perfect boyfriend: protective, tender, good with her parents, and a fabulous kisser. But he also has a few unusual qualities: an intuitiveness that borders on mind reading, a touch that seems to heal, and almost superhuman strength. Tiana marvels at his talents but doesn't seriously consider the implications until she can no longer ignore the clues: Andrew does not belong on Earth. When Andrew admits his true identity, Tiana enters a world previously unknown to her and is plunged into mortal danger as it is Andrew's sworn duty to combat evil, extraterrestrial villains who wish to invade Earth and enslave mankind. Join Diane Daniels for a romantic adventure in Over the Moon, which will take you to a world where the impossible comes to life.

If you're interested in entering the contest, click here. The contest will end Saturday, June 25th at 11:59 PM.

BEA/IMM Vlog

In My Mailbox was created by The Story Siren. Click here to learn more about it.

PART ONE:

PART TWO:

Breaking Dawn Part 1 Trailer

Briana: So. Frickin. Impressed. Everything about this teaser trailer made me squeal and jump and smile, etc. I think I almost died when Edward broke the bed. I didn't expect them to show that, at all! So excited to see the feathers ;) OH and the baby bump scare in the end?! AWESOME. This movie will be epic. I know that not everyone loved the book, but I think everyone will enjoy the movie. The only negative about this trailer? Edward's hair in the wedding.

Arielle: I completely agree with Briana! I am so impressed with this trailer. I almost didn't expect it to be that good. I haven't really been keeping up with any BD info since I am not a huge Twihard, but once I saw this I immediately got excited for November. I am thinking this movie with be MUCH better than the past three.. which is so exciting! I believe that even non-Twilight fans would find this trailer intriguing!

Marisa: I also definitely agree with Briana and Arielle :) I've been waiting for this trailer for quite awhile now and I'm definitely satisfied with it! I totally thought that they wouldn't show anything of the wedding or the baby because those are really important parts of the book but I'm so glad they did! It looks super awesome and will probably be the best movie yet :) I'm excited! Oh and I agree with what Briana said about Edward breaking the bed, really unexpected and awesome :)

My First BEA Experience (Part 1)

As some of you may know, I attended the infamous Book Expo America! Yes this post is a little late, but I couldn't find my camera cord and well, you know... there has to be pictures in this post. So I borrowed a camera cord and am so ready to show you guys the amazing-ness of BEA, or at least what I was able to capture through a lens. I'll try my best to go in depth enough but not too much so it's ridiculously long!

Day One (Sunday): I arrived in NY around 4:00, as far as I remember. Lexie and Jen (read below for info on bloggers) picked me up at Port Authority and took me to the hotel so I could drop off my bags. After we dropped off my bags, we went back to Port Authority to grab some grub and then back to the hotel! That night, my roomies Jen, Lexie, Taschima and I compared our schedules for BEA. It was a pretty relaxing night and was good to rest before the madness about to come our way.

Day Two (Monday): I am not a morning person, but I have to say I didn't mind getting up early on Monday since we were going to have an exciting, yet another relaxing day. We went to the Javits Center and then headed to the... HARRY POTTER EXHIBIT! Not as exciting as Harry Potter World (FL), I know. But don't get me wrong, there aren't any complaints here! If you guys are in NYC, definitely spend the $25 (?) and visit the exhibit! Anyway, my roomies and I met up with Emily, Nikki and Danielle!

After the HPE, we went to get pizza in a church. Yep, you read right. We had pizza in a church, specifically John's Pizza (Danielle's recommendation.) Before Teen Author Carnival, we headed to The Strand bookstore. This was my first downfall of NYC. I purchased 14 books at The Strand. Now that was fun carrying around NYC; can you say blisters? Teen Author Carnival was a really fun experience and SO many people were there! I kind of wish we wore badges like we did at BEA so we would know who everyone is! =P

At one point after TAC, we met up with Amelia and Tegan! Sadly, Amelia didn't come to Dave and Busters with us for dinner, but dang that food was GOOD. Is there any way to request to bring a Dave and Busters to my town? Later that night we came back to the hotel and just hung out for a while and compared schedules once again.

I'm waiting for Jen to post her part 2 so I can look at that to make sure I don't miss any events that went down since I was with her pretty much 24/7. Is that cheating?

Bloggers:

Lexie is from Poisoned Rationality.

Jen is from Reading with Tequila.

Taschima from Bloody Bookaholic.

Emily from Red House Books.

Danielle from Frenzy of Noise.

Nikki from Wicked Awesome Books.

Tegan from Poisoned Rationality.

Amelia from Imagination in Focus.

Non-bloggers (AMAZING people):

Taschima's mom Suzan!

Taschima's friend Chaz!

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Published: May 2011

Source: Barnes and Noble

Edition: Hardcover

Pages: 416

Rating:

Since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move - four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, Mclean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, Mclean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself - whoever that is. Perhaps her neighbor Dave, an academic superstar trying to be just a regular guy, can help her find out. (Barnes and Noble)

Sarah Dessen has hit another one out of the park. I fell in love with this book immediately. Dessen’s books have always captivated me from the beginning, and this one was no exception. Mclean, a senior in high school, has been living with her dad ever since her parent’s scandalous divorce. Her father is a restaurant consultant that jumps from job to job meaning they move constantly. Mclean has moved four different times in two years. Every time she moves, she creates a different persona – Liz, Beth, Lizbet, etc; she enjoys deciding who she will be instead of what people think she should be. Except when they move to Lakeview, Mclean decides to stay Mclean. She doesn’t completely understand why at first, but throughout the book she begins to realize she enjoys being Mclean much more than her previous personas she thought she liked.

The story is like any other from Dessen: charming, funny, witty, touching, and thoughtful. Unlike other Dessen books though, this one focuses more on the family aspect instead of completely focusing on the life of the main character and a certain boy. The story feels real based on the related circumstances. Everyone, at least once in their life, tries to find themselves, and in What Happened to Goodbye, this is exactly what Mclean is trying to do. She needs to decide who she really wants to be and if she will finally let people get close enough to have lasting relationships with them.

However, this book is not without a good-looking, charming guy. Dave, Mclean’s neighbor, is the extremely smart, cute, and all around great guy that Mclean is afraid of. She doesn’t know if she is ready to get close to anyone since her and her father may relocate at any point. But as the story unfolds and some things turn sour, she finds herself relying on Dave and needing him more than she expected.

What Happened to Goodbye does not disappoint for us hardcore Dessen followers. It will have you laughing, thinking, and maybe even tearing up a little bit. I recommend it to any new and old Dessen readers.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Published: April 2005

Source: Borrowed from friend

Edition: Paperback

Pages: 352

Rating:

Race White is the consummate good girl. A hard-working attorney at a large Manhattan law firm and a diligent maid of honor to her charmed best friend Darcy, Rachel has always played by all the rules. Since grade school, she has watched Darcy shine, quietly accepting the sidekick role in their lopsided friendship. But that suddenly changes the night of her thirtieth birthday when Rachel finally confesses her feelings to Darcy's fiancé, and is both horrified and thrilled to discover that he feels the same way. As the wedding date draws near, events spiral out of control, and Rachel knows she must make a choice between her heart and conscience. In so doing, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself. (Barnes & Noble)

From the very first page, I was absolutely hooked onto Something Borrowed. I could not put it down. The novel as a whole is witty, charming, a little mysterious, and extremely funny and entertaining even during the more serious parts of the book. It had be laughing and gasping out loud as the story unfolded.

Rachel, the main character, is turning thirty. And while she has an amazing job in Manhattan, her life is far less glamorous. Although her life isn’t all too terrible, her dreams of having a husband and a family by the age of thirty have yet to come true. While she has enjoyed single life, it becomes more prominent to her that she wants to find a husband when her best friend, Darcy, becomes engaged. Darcy and Rachel have been friends since childhood; they grew up living across

the street from one another. Darcy is outgoing and flirtatious, whereas Rachel is level-headed and focused on her career. But one night, the night of Rachel’s surprise 30^th birthday, changes everything.

After a long night of partying with friends, Rachel admits to her feelings for Darcy’s fiancé – Dexter, who Rachel met during law school and then ultimately introduced to Darcy figuring they would be better off with each other because of their stunning good looks and confidence. Throughout the novel, Rachel battles her feelings for Dex while trying to be a good best friend to Darcy. The story continues to unfold as the affair between Rachel and Dex grow; it is up to the both of them to determine if this is merely a pre-marriage fling or if it is the real deal in which Dex will call off his wedding to be with Rachel.

I completely recommend this book to everyone. Although, it is a little PG-13, so read with caution. But it was an enjoyable and quick read. The sequel to Something Borrowed is Something Blue which I am adding to my reading list.

Review Policy

[We would really appreciate any authors/publishers/etc. reading our policy before emailing us!]

Firstly, I would just like to point out that BAM Book Reviews is primarily devoted to YA book reviews and news. Every so often we may review a book that isn't YA, but for the most part that is our main focus.

Genres we accept and/or consider:

• YA (Any sub genre except non-fiction)
• MG (Usually don't accept, but will consider)
• Adult Fiction (Usually don't accept, but will consider)

Genres we don't accept:

• Non-fiction (Biographical, Informational, Self-help, etc.)
• Graphic Novels
• Westerns
• Also, we don't accept e-books.

[For any genre not listed above; please ask us about so we can give you an answer of whether or not we're interested and also so we can add it to one of the lists above for future reference.]

About our reviews:

All three of us are currently students so it may take us anywhere from a week to a year to review a book. We will always provide an honest, critical review of the book. We try to be as polite as possible when writing a bad review and in no way do we tell our readers not to read the book. We strongly believe that one man's trash is another's treasure (for lack of better words.) If a book is sent unsolicited to one of us for review, we will consider it but do not have to review it. If we aren't interested in reading it, then we'll either have a giveaway, donate it to a blog tour, or give it to a fellow blogger.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask us (preferably) through email. You can either email us at the address we share (bambookreviews [at] gmail [dot]com) or directly to one particular reviewer. Our personal email addresses should be to the left unless we (for some reason) took it down or would rather not have it posted publicly.

**Lastly, we are in no way paid for our opinions. We're sent books for free in exchange of a 100% honest review.

Old Cover VS New Cover: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Old:

New:

Uglies wasn't my favorite book but one thing I did like was the cover. These new covers are nice, don't get me wrong, but they're so... white. So as you can probably tell, I like the old covers more. What about you guys? Which covers do you like and why?

The Amanda Project Contest!

Hi guys! Michele from Plum Willow (a really cool website that lets you share your outfit creations with other fashionistas and shop) contacted me so I can let you guys know about an awesome contest!

You might remember that I reviewed The Amanda Project by Stella Lennon a while back, and the winners of the contest will receive an autographed copy of the latest Amanda Project novel and also a $50 gift card to their favorite store on Plum Willow!

For more contest details on how to enter, click here.

Back in Action!

Hey guys! :D

So as you can tell from the title, I'm back! No more school for me... at least for a few months :P. Thank you to everyone that stuck with BAM Book Reviews during the dreadful school year, we really appreciate it! For the summer: I'll be reading all of the books in my review pile plus a few that I've bought over the past few years.

Also, in a few weeks I'll be in NYC for BEA! :) SO excited. Leave a comment telling me if you'll be there so we can meet up and take pictures! I'll be rooming with the lovely Taschima from Bloody Bookaholic and the also lovely Lexie from Poisoned Rationality. I'll be taking a ton of pictures and will try my best to get as many books to giveaway to you guys!

Other things I'll be doing this summer:

• Going on vacation to Mexico. I am super pumped for this, especially for the plane! I've never been on one and I love heights so I'm assuming I'm going to enjoy it. Oh yeah, Mexico will be fun, too.
• Moving into my very own apartment! No more dorm rooms, hallelujah! I'll make sure to post pictures, not like anyone cares, but it'll be pretty cool to document such a sweet experience.
• Also, like I said above, I'll be going to BEA. This is probably the most exciting experience of my life. I've never been to BEA and I do plan on moving to NYC after college so it'll be pretty amazing to see what it's like to live there for a week.

I think that's all I really have to say as of now but I am super excited to get back in the habit of reading and also checking my favorite blogs!

The Scarlet Letter (Readable Classics) by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Wayne Josephson

Publisher: Readable Classics

Source: Author

Edition: Paperback

# of Pages: 210

Rating:

Readable Classics gently edits the great works of literature, retaining their essence and spirit, and making them more enjoyable and less frustrating for modern readers.

Puritan Boston, 1600's -- Beautiful, defiant Hester Prynne commits adultery, refuses to name the father of her illegitimate child, and is condemned to wear a scarlet A on her breast for the rest of her life. She becomes the first true heroine of American fiction.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 masterpiece was the first American novel to explore the moral struggle with sin, guilt, and pride; the conflict between the heart and the mind; and the deadly consequences of not being able to forgive ours

elves and others.

Miss me? It's been a while since I've reviewed a book and it's funny because I'm not actually reading this book just for pleasure, it's for school too. That shows how much time I have... This is a hard book to review because I'm not just reviewing one author's work, I'm reviewing another's work also.

I enjoyed The Scarlet Letter although I got bored at times. It was mysterious, yet somewhat predictable. Romantic... yet lacking. I really wish they could have showed the romance that happened before the prosecution.

As for Wayne Josephson, he did a great job making the book an easier read. This is the first book I've read for a literature class that I didn't fall asleep reading! If Readable Classics has another book that I'll need to read for a literature class, I'm definitely going to have to grab it!