Abandon by Meg Cabot

Abandon by Meg Cabot
"Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld."- summary from Amazon

I have been excited for this book and trilogy since it was first announced way back in the beginning of 2008. Cabot does her usual wonderful job of crafting memorable characters, a setting that's used like another character, and a captivating romance. Reading a Cabot book is like meeting up with an old friend- while the book is darker than her previous ones, you still see that Cabot style of writing that's made readers fall in love with her books time and time again.

However, I did have a problem. I know people have mentioned the flashbacks and being confused by the shifts, but I never had that problem. I always knew from the beginning what was flashback and what wasn't; usually, it was a whole chapter (almost a back and forth kind of thing, but never in the same page like I've seen some people say). My problem though was the pacing- I really felt like there was a lot of unnecessary scenes that could've been cut out and the story would've been fine. This book at least could've been shortened- I don't know what Cabot has up her sleeve for the next two books so I can't really say that it could've all been in one book yet.

Once the action really got going though in the last 100 pages, it was amazing. I was really surprised at the twist and may have even gasped a bit. I loved Pierce and John's romance; I know John is a death deity and all, but I still really grew to love him over the course of the book.

Overall, this is a pretty good Cabot book though it reads like the start of a trilogy (all set up, very little action) and I am quite excited to see where Cabot takes us in Book 2, which unfortunately we have to wait a year for.

PS Who else LOVES this cover? It's amazing! I can't wait to see what they do for Books 2 and 3!

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Ask Book Chic (23)

It's time for another round of Ask Book Chic. I had something similar earlier this week as part of my Meandering Monday post, and it was dedicated to questions about BEA. If you have any other questions about BEA, leave them in the comments on that post and I'll answer them in the next Meandering Monday on the 16th. Anyway, here we go:

Lauren M asks "What's the toughest obstacle you've ever had to overcome?"

Gosh, I don't even know because I've led a fairly easy life, which I'm extremely grateful for. I did grow up extremely shy and while I still am some level of shy, I'm not as shy as I used to be. Accepting my homosexuality was never a problem for me like I know it can be for many teens in the world. I actually talk a bit about it in my guest post that I did for Kristi of The Story Siren as part of her GLBT Lit Days last August. It also mentions how when I came out in college in 2005, my friends accepted me. So I think that may have been my toughest obstacle; even though they already pretty much knew and I knew they wouldn't disown me, there was still a part of me that was really worried. For no real reason. It was just irrational because I'd never really had a bad experience- no bullying or anything like that. But it is still a big thing to overcome even if you have a pretty good feeling everything will be fine.


Sysha asks "What is your favorite kind of cake?"

My roommate made me my favorite kind of cake on my birthday back in March. It's yellow cake with chocolate icing. Simple, but I love it!


Bunny Cates asks "Since I dont see one, I'll ask - if you will ever do a bookshelf tour??"

I did do one a while back, but it was just through pictures and not very well done, lol. I probably should do a video to show off everything. Let me clean up my room a bit, and I'll do a short vlog showing off what I got! I don't know when it'll go up since I have the rest of the month planned, but if there's a free Sunday coming up, I may post it along with my IMM that week, or maybe combine the two? We'll see. Also, I'm much more organized since the last bookshelf tour, lol. There's not as many books on the floor now!


Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed this! If you have any questions you'd like to ask, leave them in the comments and I'll answer them in a future Ask Book Chic. The questions can be about anything at all.

Die for Me by Amy Plum

Die for Me by Amy Plum
"In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again."- summary from Amazon

Before reading this book, I'd heard a lot of good things about it, and tons of people (well, ok, three) told me on Twitter that it should be my next egalley to read, so I knew I must be getting into something special. And I was. I was immediately drawn in to Plum's prose and Kate's voice from the beginning and was always eager to read more.

I loved this take on a new paranormal (well, I haven't read any novels featuring them before this) and so it was really exciting to see where the story would go. The setting of Paris was great, and I also really enjoyed seeing the mythology of it all unravel as the novel went on. It was really interesting.

Kate was a great narrator and was just awesome. I also really liked pretty much everyone else too. And Vincent? OMG I WANT HIM. Like, seriously, I loved reading their scenes together- they were witty and romantic. I also felt the romance was handled fairly realistically.

Overall, this book was just fabulous- it was full of humor, action, and steamy romance. What more can you ask for? Other than the next book in the series... :P

FTC: Received eARC from Netgalley. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.

Meandering Monday- BEA Questions

Thanks all of you for the wonderful comments about my business cards last week! At the end of the post, I asked if any of you had any questions about BEA and two of you did. Kristi of The Story Siren has done two posts so far about BEA, answering questions from her readers and I'd suggest you check it out: Part 1 and Part 2. Now let's get started:

Lauren M asks "I've heard the exhibit hall is usually packed with people, but is it so packed that you won't get an opportunity to talk to the people working a booth? Do you have any advice for putting yourself out there despite the loads of people?"

Yes, it is definitely packed with people and you have to learn to manuever through it all quickly. But there is definitely time to chat with people working a booth. Only the aisle itself is packed and usually there's a space around the booth or off the aisle itself where you can position yourself to chat with the people working or publicists you may already know.

It also depends on where the booths are located as well as the publisher itself- booths that are located further away from the entrance or even at the entrance are not as filled as the middle areas. There's also the Big Six publishers and those will be crowded, but I remember going to Flux or Sourcebooks and it was way less dense in those areas. It was a welcome relief. By mid-to-late afternoon though, people are leaving and so it's easier to talk to those people at the various booths.

In regards to putting yourself out there, put a brave face on and strike up a conversation if it's someone you don't know. Introduce yourself and your blog (or school or library or whatever)- business cards come in handy at this time because it gives them something tangible to remember you by- and just go with the flow. Kristi's said on her blog more than once- you're all there because you love books so you already have something in common, so don't worry too much. The people there are nice and friendly.


Wendy asks "Last year was my first time as well. I saw many people with those big huge bags full of ARCs. While I'm not going just to get a ton of free books, I might see a few I'd like. But I feel so awkward taking free stuff. Any advice on how to get over the awkwardness and acquire ARCs?"

You just have to do it. It's a little bit easier when they're just laying around in piles, but it can be hard to ask for an ARC. Some publishers just put out piles of books for the taking (like Beautiful Darkness, Nightshade, and some others), or will have a line where you can get an ARC (Penguin did this for Matched), or they will have ARCs hidden beneath their table or in a storage closet and you have to ask for them (Penguin did this with Grace by Elizabeth Scott; Random House, Bloomsbury and Flux do this in general). Usually, if they are hidden, there are display copies out so you know what they have. Also, the worst they can say is no, and then you thank them and move on (or they might take your business card and write down the ARC you want to send to you later, which is always nice).

OK, so I said at the beginning that you just have to do it, and that is one way. Just get brave and take what's there (if you want it, obviously, and that it's actually there to be taken- ask if you don't know!), or ask for an ARC you want if that's the policy. But I find what really helps is to have a buddy with you, and this is a bit of a general BEA/any big convention rule anyway.

At the past two conferences I've been to, I have had two buddies at various times- Meaghan and Susan. Now, Meaghan is a lot like myself- timid and scared to ask for/get things. You'd think that having two similar people together would be bad and nothing would ever get done, but what actually happens is you get to this point where you HAVE to gather the courage to do whatever it is you need to do. You get irritated at how much time you're wasting because you're so scared to ask an author for a photo, or ask for an ARC, or whatever, until you just do it. Meaghan and I are an awesome duo.

Susan is a take-charge kind of gal and has no qualms taking ARCs (that are for taking- she doesn't steal or anything) or going up and asking for them. Since we sometimes want the same things, I stick with her and she'll ask and then I'll pipe up and be like "Oh, and may I have one too?" (or sometimes I'll be quiet and the booth person will take pity and be like "Do you want this too?" and I will say yes). She is my hero and I love having her around.

So yeah, a buddy will help when it comes to snagging ARCs or even just approaching people at the booths. Plus, if something embarassing happens, you aren't alone! It'll probably turn out to be something funny later on.


I hope this helps at least a little bit and if anyone has any questions (or needs anything written today cleared up), just leave a comment or email me and I can answer it next week!

In My Mailbox- Weeks of April 17 and 24 + Retrospective

I did another vlog for this week. Hope you all enjoy!!



Books Shown:

Tighter by Adele Griffin (ARC; May 2011)
Tempest Rising by Tracey Deebs (ARC; May 2011)
Flawless by Lara Chapman (ARC; May 2011)
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby (hardcover; May 2011)
Love Story by Jennifer Echols (signed ARC; July 2011)
Bitter End by Jennifer Brown (hardcover; May 2011)
Bossypants by Tina Fey (hardcover from library; April 2011)

and here's my retrospective:

Sunday- I did my Waiting on Wednesday early because I found an amazing book I wanted to share- Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moskowitz!

Monday- I unveiled my new business cards that I'll be using at BEA as well as other bookish events! I also asked for questions you might have about BEA that I will answer in coming Mondays.

Wednesday- I reviewed The Dead-Tossed Waves + The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, which are both out in stores now!

Thursday- I reviewed Trauma Queen by Barbara Dee and Blowout by Taylor Morris, two middle-grade novels that are out in stores now!

Saturday- I reviewed family by Micol Ostow, which is out in stores now!

So yeah, a review-heavy week, lol. Next week, there'll be stuff aside from reviews, I promise!