'Unlovable' Giveaway Winner!!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to do a quick post about the winner of a my recent giveaway. Thanks again to Sherry Gammon for providing the ebook copy for this giveaway!

And without further ado, the winner of 'Unlovable' by Sherry Gammon is...

Kat

Congrats Kat! I have emailed Sherry your contact info and she will be getting in contact with you soon! And if anyone would like to check out my review of 'Unlovable' you can do so here.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday season and for those of you that didn't win this one, keep an eye out for my next giveaway, coming soon. [:

Waiting on Wednesday [16]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights a future release that you are eagerly waiting to come out.

'Hallowed' (Unearthly #2)
by Cynthia Hand
Length: 416 pages (hardcover)
Expected Publication: January 17th 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins


For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire.

And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

[Synopsis from Goodreads]
  
I read the first book in this series earlier this year and am interested to see where she takes the story.  Comment below on your thoughts about 'Hallowed' or even 'Unearthly' and link your WoW, if you participated this week.

'Nevermore' by Kelly Creagh

Length: 543 pages (hardcover)
Publication Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Atheneum
Source: library
Overall rating: 4 / 5 stars

For about the last four or so months, I had been hearing nothing but good things about 'Nevermore.' I finally caved in and picked up a coy from my library and I am definitely glad that I gave it a go.

My first concern about whether to read this or not came from the very strong Edgar Allen Poe elements that compose it. I was a bit worried that my limited knowledge on more than two of his works may limit me from enjoying this book.

One of the few that that I didn't enjoy about this novel is how slow it is to start in the beginning. I feel that was a big reason it took me so long to read because once I got to about page 350, I  raced right through it. I really appreciated and liked the development that Creagh was able to build during that time with her characters, but definitely felt it could have been a hundred pages shorter.

I really enjoyed how the story developed though, from something that seems like an everyday story about two teenagers, to so much deeper and more complex as the story continued. I was never really able to see and predict accurately what would happen and really enjoyed being on the edge of my seat.

In addition, I really liked the relationship between Varen and Isobel, especially since the development of it felt more realistic and paced how it really would happen. Definitely no insta-love here. Although I overall liked Isobel's character, I did have one issue with Isobel in the beginning, which had to do with some decisions that really seemed out of character and out of context for how Creagh developed her. That seems to lessen as the story progressed though, I ended up enjoying her character.

Overall, I definitely am glad I read 'Nevermore' and do plan to pick up the sequel in the future. After finishing this book and worrying about the Poe elements, I personally feel that if you are a YA reader and are a fan of Poe, that you would really enjoy what Creagh has put together. But even if you aren't as familiar with his life and works, there is definitely still room for us to enjoy this novel.

Waiting on Wednesday [15]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights a future release that you are eagerly waiting to come out.

'Arcadia Awakens' (Arkadien #1)
by Beth Revis
Length: 464 pages (hardcover)
Expected Publication: February 14th 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray


To Rosa Alcantara, the exotic world of Sicily, with its network of Mafia families and its reputation for murder and intrigue, is just that—exotic and wholly unknown. But when her life in Brooklyn begins to fall apart, she must travel there, to her family’s ancestral home, where centuries of family secrets await her.

Once there, Rosa falls head over heels for Alessandro Carnevare, the son of a Sicilian Mafia family, whose handsome looks and savage grace both fascinate and unsettle her. But their families are sworn enemies, and her aunt and sister believe Alessandro is only using Rosa to infiltrate the Alcantara clan. And when Rosa encounters a tiger one night—a tiger with very familiar eyes—she can no longer deny that neither the Carnevares nor the Alcantaras are what they seem.

Hidden caves, dangerous beasts roaming the hills, and a history of familial bloodlust mean that Rosa can’t trust anyone. Torn between loyalty to her family and love for their mortal enemy, Rosa must make the hardest decision of her life: stay in Sicily with her new love…or run as far and as fast as she can.

[Synopsis from Goodreads]
  
I absolutely LOVE this cover!! [: And the synopsis sounds so intriguin as well ...can it come out now?! [: Comment below on your thoughts about 'Arcadia Awakens' and link your WoW, if you participated this week.

Waiting on Wednesday [14]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights a future release that you are eagerly waiting to come out.

'Pure' (Pure #1)
by Julianna Baggott
Length: 448 pages (hardcover)
Expected Publication: February 8th 2012
Publisher: Grand Central


We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

[Synopsis from Goodreads]
  
I cannot wait for this to come out! Not only does it sound very good and unique, but I also LOVE the cover. [: Comment below on your thoughts about 'Pure' and link your WoW, if you participated this week.

Sherry Gammon Interview! +Giveaway!

Please welcome, Sherry Gammon to Let's Evaluate!!

Hey everyone! So I am here today with an interview with the author of 'Unlovable,' Sherry Gammon. Don't forget to check out my review of the book, which went up yesterday, by clicking here!

Ways to find: Sherry Gammon

Website: Wordpaintings Unlimted
Twitter: @SherryGammon
Goodreads: Sherry Gammon
Facebook: Author-Sherry Gammon

Interview:

'Unlovable' Questions

Q: As you wrote ‘Unlovable,’ did you ever find writing yourself into a character?
SG: No, not really. I tried to give each character one of my characteristics. It is much easier for me to write a habit/trait I have and it helped to personalize the character also.

Q: Who was the most difficult character for you to write?
SG: I think Barbara Brown, Maggie's mom. She was so despicable. I really didn't like her in any way. I thought she was a weak selfish person.

Q: Maggie is such a unique character compared to many others in YA novels, did you always imagine her that way?
SG: Yes. I knew what she would be like form the beginning. She is loosely based on a couple of friends I had growing up.

Q: If ‘Unlovable’ were made into a movie, what actor would you cast as Maggie? Seth?
SG: Lilly Collins for Maggie, Alex Pettyfer for Seth. I have a Q and A group on Goodreads and me and my readers had fun casting Unlovable!

Author Questions

Q: What made you fall in love with books and/or writing?
SG: For me, writing is a way to "deal" with things. When life is hard, or difficult, I find writing as a good way to work through my troubles/feelings.

Q: Before becoming a published author, did you ever have any odd jobs?
SG: Oh, Yeah! I worked at Mcdonald's-twice, in a nursing home, and did home health care, and I've cleaned houses. We have done foster care, as a matter of fact, my youngest son is adopted through the foster care system!

Q: If you could meet any author, who would it be?
SG: Victor Hugo…except he is dead, so probably JK Rowling. She is amazing!

Q: If you could only read three books for the rest of your life, what would they be?
SG: Scripture, Les Misérables, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

This or That Questions

·         Computer or Television? Computer!!!!

·         Chocolate or Vanilla?  Chocolate

·         Sandals or Sneakers? Sandals

·         Coke or Pepsi? Diet Pepsi

·         Comedy or Drama? Comedy

·         Noise or Silence? Silence!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again Sherry of the chance to read your book, it was amazing! And thanks for doing the interview for my blog ...I am definitely glad you became an author, rather than staying at McDonalds! [:

And don't forget to stop by and check out my review of 'Unlovable' which you can do by clicking here.

And now for the giveaway! Sherry has generously offered up an ebook copy of 'Unlovable' to be won here on Let's Evaluate! Here are the details of the giveaway:

• open INTERNATIONALLY
• must be 13 or older (13-17 must have parent/guardian permission)
• must be a follower of Let's Evaluate
• ends December 18th, 2011
  
  > I will be giving email to Sherry so she can get in contact with you!
  > winner picked using random.org
  > posting announcing winner up within week of ending

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is fill out the form below!

'Unlovable' by Sherry Gammon

Length: 307 pages (paperback)
Publication Date: June 16, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Source: ebook for review, from author
Overall rating: 4 / 5 stars

"Seventeen year-old Maggie Brown is the poster child for Heroin Chic, complete with jutting bones and dark-ringed eyes. But drugs are not Maggie's problem; her mother is. Maggie's struggling with her growing feelings for the new guy at school, Seth Prescott, and fears he is just another person who will let her down, like everyone in her life has done so far. Seth Prescott is an undercover cop assigned to Port Fare High, and despite his job, he's developed strong feelings for Maggie. While Seth's working tirelessly to flush out the sadistic drug peddlers that have invaded the small town of Port Fare, New York, Maggie's fighting to stay alive as the fight turns deadly."

The main character that really pulled at my heart strings through this book was definitely Maggie. Sherry Gammon writes her to be such a raw and real character that I started to feel that she was real in my life. Maggie had dealt and is dealing with so much every single day, but still manages to be such a strong and independent character. In my opinion, she really brings out the truth that no matter what bad may be happening in our lives, you have to push through and hold your head high because things do get better.

Seth Prescott was also an amazingly genuine character. You can easily tell from the beginning of the story that he truly cares for Maggie, but knows he also must follow through with his responsibilities. He was a mature, responsible and intellectual lead male character, something I wish was more common.

I also really enjoyed the development and writing of all the characters. They all really held their own and were unique with their own little quirks. No two characters were the same and each were identifiable in their own ways.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was how many genres Sherry managed to pull into it, leaving me on the edge about what would happen. It comes off as a contemporary story, but still manages to pull in suspense through the crime and drug aspect, as well as drama through the heart breaking relationship between Maggie and her mother.

Overall, this book is an emotional, heart breaking roller coaster that I wasn't able to put down. And of course the beautiful cover doesn't hurt either. [: I would definitely recommend this to YA readers and feel it would appeal to a wide range of readers with its intertwining between many genres.

[An ebook copy of this book was provided by the author, Sherry Gammon in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions, and overall review. I received no compensation for this review.]

Keep an eye out for the author interview up tomorrow!! +giveaway!!

TGIF [7]: 12/9/2011

TGIF was started over at GReads! where the blogger re-caps their posts during the past week and answers the question that is proposed for that specific Friday.

Book to Movie: Which book turn movie do you feel did the best adaptation? What about the worst?: I am going to let the photos below answer this one for me. [: And I have decided to do two of the best and two of the worst, in my opinion. [: So here they are:

THE BEST

 

THE WORST

And that is it! Those are the big ones that I could think of off the top of my head. There are a lot of adaptations that I really have enjoyed, but realized I haven't read the book so I definitely need to get on that! Make sure to leave a link in the comments to your TGIF for this week, so I can make sure to stop by! [:

Waiting on Wednesday [13]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights a future release that you are eagerly waiting to come out.

'Second Chance Summer' 
by Morgan Matson
Length: 244 pages (hardcover)
Expected Publication: May 8th 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster


Taylor's family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then Taylor's dad gets devastating news that changes everything. Her parents decide that the family will spend the summer together at their old vacation home in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend. . . and he's much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they’ve ever been before. But all of them are very aware that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.

[Synopsis from Goodreads]
  
I cannot wait for this to come out! Personally I think the cover is absolutely gorgeous, in part because of the title font and color scheme used. [:  Comment below on your thoughts about 'Second Chance Summer' and link your WoW, if you participated this week.

In My Mailbox [17]

In my mailbox is a weekly meme created and hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren and consists of a post about books you have either bought, received, or borrowed during the previous week.

This week I have four books to report, all of which are from the library. My library has been a life saver as I Christmas shop, so I will probably be posting a lot of library hauls in the near future! [:

'Lola and the Boy Next Door' by Stephanie Perkins

'After Obsession' by Carrie Jones, Steven E Wedel

'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' by Ransom Riggs

'Carrier of the Mark' by Leigh Fallon

And that is it! Currently I am reading 'Lola' and loving it, so expect a review of it up in the near future. And the next I plan to read is probably 'Carrier of the Mark,' since I have been hearing a lot of good about it.

Make sure leave a link in the comment to your IMM for this week, so I can stop by and be uper jealous of your books! [:

TGIF [6]: 12/2/2011

TGIF was started over at GReads! where the blogger re-caps their posts during the past week and answers the question that is proposed for that specific Friday.

Writing Reviews 101: What's your process for writing book reviews? Any tips or suggestions you would recommend to other bloggers? :Only recently did I actually start an organized structure for when I was plan and brainstorm my reviews. Before, I would just pretty much wrote the review as I went and included the parts and opinions that popped in my head at the moment.

A couple months ago I actually changed it up though. Since my reviews don't go up immediately after I read the book, I actually create a list on the post, before to goes live, of things I want to cover. That way I can always come back to it if say I think of something else a week later. This also really helps when I sit down to write the whole thing since it is right infront of me and I don't have to worry about remembering anything specific.

The only tip I would give to other bloggers would just to use a system that works for you personally, we aren't all the same. Since I tend to have bad memory about specifics of a book, lists really help me stay organized, but that may not be necessary for you. I know a lot of bloggers who write a review the day they finish, so maybe give that a try as well, you can always schedule it to post in the future.

And now for the re-cap of my last week of posts. I have been MIA lately so that is why I have had a lack of posts, but make sure to check out my recap and tbr post! [:

1. 2011: November Recap & December TBR 

2. Sorry I've Been MIA ):

And that is it! Make sure to leave a link in the comments to your TGIF for this week, so I can make sure to stop by! [:

2011: November Recap & December TBR

Three months ago I started a monthly post with a monthly recap and tbr pile for the next month. I have decided to do that again this month to help keep me on track and let you guys know what reviews will be coming soon from me. Of course, what I read in December is subject to change. [:

For the monthly recap, I will be listing the books I read that month and linking to Goodreads since neither review is up for them. And the tbr and current reads will be linked to its Goodreads page, in case you want for info on that book. So here it goes:

NOVEMBER RECAP
'Unlovable' by Sherry Gammon
'Nevermore' by Kelly Creagh

CURRENTLY READING

'Lola and the Boy Next Door' by Stephanie Perkins
'Awaken' by Katie Kacvinsky

DECEMBER TBR PILE
'Blood Promise' by Richelle Mead

'Fade Out' by Rachel Caine
'Demon Lover' by Juliet Dark, Carol Goodman

'City of Glass' by Cassandra Clare
'Invisible Monsters' by Chuck Palahniuk

Chances are I won't get to all the books on my tbr pile, but I like to aim high. [: As you can tell, I didn't have the best reading month this November. But once finals are over midway through the month, I plan to turn into a reading machine. Comment below if you have read any of the books on my tbr pile and which ones I should start with. Hope everyone had a good November and has an even better December. [: