Yearly Archives:: 2011

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Review: dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman

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dancergirl
Carol M. Tanzman
Release date: November 15th, 2011
by Harlequin Teen

Goodreads / Purchase

Ever feel like someone’s watching you? Me, too. But lately it’s been happening in my room.
When I’m alone.

A friend posted a video of me dancing online, and now I’m no longer Alicia Ruffino. I’m dancergirl. And suddenly it’s like me against the world—everyone’s got opinions.
My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy—even he’s acting weird. And some stalker isn’t content to just watch anymore.
Ali. Dancergirl. Whatever you know me as, however you’ve seen me online, I’ve trained my whole life to be the best dancer I can be. But if someone watching has their way, I could lose way more than just my love of dancing. I could lose my life.

 *A copy was provided by Harlequin for review purposes*
 
Oh wow! For a book that I had no expectations, I ended up really enjoying it! I love when that happens. The creepy premise is what made me want to read this. A girl being stalked because of an online video – count me in!

dancergirl (very hard to not put a capital D *twitch*) starts off smoothly and brings us into the life of Alicia – Ali – who is just a regular girl with a passion for dancing. Ali is your average high school girl who thrives on popularity. Which is why she’s fine with the video that’s been posted online by a classmate, of her dancing at a concert. What she doesn’t expect, is when another video is uploaded of her dancing… in her room, alone. I really enjoyed Ali’s personality. She wasn’t perfect and she makes some bad decisions, but that’s what makes her real. I did have a problem with her having no qualms about the first video getting online, though. Sure it was taken from a classmate she knows, but he never asked if it was ok to post it online, and she just shrugs it off, then agrees to do more! See what I mean about her bad decisions? Videos online = stalker magnet! Everyone knows this. This was, however, the only issue I had with her character.

As I’m sure you guessed, there is a lot of dancing in this story. Ali has a deep love for dance; her life revolves around it. I was never as much into it as Ali, but I love dance as well. I’ve taken classes for a few years and performed at a couple of shows. So I could really relate to the dancing and the rush of performing. I got stage fright right along with Ali – I could feel it! Those part were a lot of fun for me and added some lighthearted moments to the otherwise anxious mood of the book.

Now on to the best part – the stalker plot. All throughout the book I felt chills for Ali and feared for her. It’s so incredibly easy to imagine all of this happening, that it got me very unsettled. Not knowing when someone’s watching or what part of your privacy is being taken from you – that’s incredibly discomforting. I didn’t find it hard to guess who the stalker was. I do read and watch a lot of suspense stories like this though so it’s hard to surprise me anymore. Regardless, I still thought it was a fantastic thriller with a realistic setting and gripping suspense. I’m curious what the rest of the series will entail since this one ends like a stand alone. But I’m sure I won’t be disappointed. Carol is a great author and I absolutely recommend you give dancergirl *twitch* a try.


4 Hot Espressos

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

Posted by on 11/09/2011 • 125 Comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.  My pick this week:

                                    Cursed                                     Jennifer L. Armentrout

                                    Release date: September 18th, 2012

Dying sucks–and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things–including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he’s a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she’s more than interested. There’s just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden’s adopted father, a man she’s…

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Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Posted by on 11/08/2011 • 29 Comments

The PledgeKimberly DertingRelease Date: November 15th, 2011by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Goodreads / Purchase

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It’s there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she’s never heard before . . . and…

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Dusty Reads (7)

Posted by on 11/08/2011 • 26 Comments

Dusty Reads is a weekly meme, hosted here, featuring a book that has been sitting unread on our home shelf for some time. To participate, add your link at the bottom.  If you wish, you can grab the button and find more information here.

My pick this week: The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1) Julie Kagawa Released February 1st, 2010 by Harlequin Teen Goodreads / Purchase

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined. Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan…

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Review & Giveaway: Become by Ali Cross

Posted by on 11/07/2011 • 27 Comments

BecomeAli CrossRelease date: November 11th, 2011

Goodreads / Purchase

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

*A copy was provided by Ali Cross for review purposes*

 Become is not your average YA paranormal. We’re thrown into an intense novel about the battle between angels…

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In My Mailbox (8)

Posted by on 11/06/2011 • 164 Comments

“In My Mailbox” is a meme, created by Kristi at The Story Siren, that features books I’ve  received/ purchased/ borrowed during the current week. So, already November! Ack! We got our first freaky snow fall that was almost blizzard-like. Then the next day it was sunny and 15 (celcius). The fun of living in Canada! =) So, here’s what I got this week! I got for review:     1. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons 2. The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle 3. Pure by Julianna Baggott Click on cover for Goodreads:

I won:

Thanks to Claire of YA Bookie Monster I bought: 1. Variant by Robison Wells 2. Fury by Shirley Marr 3. Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday I’m pretty happy about my haul 🙂 I want to…

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Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Posted by on 11/05/2011 • 20 Comments

The Dead-Tossed Waves(The Forest of Hands and Teeth, #2) Carrie RyanReleased March 9th, 2009by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Goodreads / Purchase

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead….

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Fresh Batch (Nov 6th-Nov 12th)

Posted by on 11/05/2011 • 8 Comments

This week’s hot releases

Fresh Batch features some of the hottest releases this upcoming week. The books to feature are exclusively chosen by Giselle.

Flavour of the week:

BecomeAli Cross

Goodreads / Purchase

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

…

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