The Waiting is the Hardest Part (What I will do for a Lola ARC)

I know time flies, but when you're eagerly waiting for something specific, it just inches along. You all know how IN LURVE I am with Anna and the French Kiss by the lovely Stephanie Perkins, and the ARC buzz for Lola and the Boy Next Door is extremely positive. Apparently the ARCs were at ALA last week, and I'm SO JEALOUS of those of you that snagged yourself an early copy (especially because I was THIS close to going, and didn't).

I will TRADE you when you're done reading it. PLEASE SOMEONE! Don't make me beg (Okay, so maybe I just did)! I'm sure I have something around here worth your while. An ARC of Jeff Hirsch's The Eleventh Plague, perhaps?? Releases in September.

 

AND I JUST FOUND OUT that I WON the ARC to Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver!!! Thank you Claire from Builder of Worlds! This baby won't be out until October!

I will be more than willing to pass this along after I've read it... IN EXCHANGE for a Lola ARC. :) 

Or perhaps you are in need of sprucing up your blog? I can make you a custom header or button!! 

What say you?! Any takers?!!

In Which I Sing Penguin's Praises - And ATU Review!

Last month, some of you may recall my post highlighting the 1-11-11 release of a debut called Across the Universe by Beth Revis.  If you don't, check it out, because it's filled with awesome.

Anyway, the lovely people at Penguin who had provided me with all that info and video goodness to share said I'd be getting something a little special in February--something Across the Universe themed.  Hey, that's cool, I thought. I could always use a new bookmark or some stickers!

Well, today I get home from errand running, and there is a little package on my doorstep from Penguin. "Oh yeah!" I said with a smile. "My Across the Universe gear!"

I opened the package... and GASP!

I opened the book... and SQUEE!!

All I can say is, Penguin rocks my face off, and I surely hope when I get published one day (notice I said WHEN because I'm an optimist this week) that Penguin wants me because their marketing is made of awesome. 

I read the ARC as part of the blog tour started by fellow Texan Cinnamon who passed it on to the lovely Abby at Above Water who passed it to the always hilarious Kim Franklin who then passed it to me! I passed it on to another special blogging gal already (Kristi Chestnutt!), but I have a feeling that one of YOU may have a chance to score it next! Wink! Wink!  And if you aren't already following those ladies, do yourself a favor and clicky clicky!

Goodreads is being a brat at the moment and won't let me grab the synopsis, so you'll just have to go back to my previous ATU themed post and get the skinny if you've been living under a rock and don't know what it's about yet!!

My Thoughts:

I L-O-V-E-D every bit of this book.  The writing was fresh, the characters were INTERESTING, the storyline had such momentum throughout it was nearly impossible to put down. 

By the end of the first chapter, I was so engrossed that I kept on going... and going.. and gasping... and cringing... Amy's situation is heartbreaking and her emotions feel so real, I couldn't help but get attached to her right away.  Then comes Elder who struggles with what he's been told vs. what he's learning to be true, and I really felt for him/rooted for him.  I enjoyed the alternating POV between these two. Not only was it necessary since Amy is frozen part of the time (this isn't a spoiler... don't worry), but it lets us really feel the interaction between Amy and Elder from both sides--the culture shock, the curiosity, the attraction...

Even the secondary characters were developed well and interesting! AH I could go on forever. If you even remotely enjoy science fiction/young adult/really well written stories, READ THIS!

*I realize (fully) that a lot of my posts lately have been about books I've won in contests/random lovely things that have happened to me, and I'm getting a bit of a reputation as "lucky girl!" from some of you.  I just want you to know, that I don't take any of this for granted and that I fully anticipate my winning streak to come to a screeching halt very soon.  I'm just hoping there's no really huge let down involved somehow... you know when things are just going so good you start to worry... yes. That's where I'm at.