ARC Book Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Title: Lies Beneath
Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Expected Publication Date: June 12, 2012

Author Links: Website | Twitter
Source: Arc/ Netgalley
Summary from Goodreads;
Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him. 
Review:
4 stars, really enjoyed it.
The cover isn't that complex, just a simple mermaid swimming but the sunlight shines through the water so it balances out. Lies Beneath was a book I wasn't pining for, but ended up requesting. Then it so happens that it got approved, so cheers. :D
Lies Beneath had sounded quite interesting as I read the summary from Netgalley and I really hoped it would be the same throughout the whole book, and it delivered. The characters were totally original, and had their own personality, which I adored but I wish I'd gotten to know them more. The romance was so cute and adorable. The plot was not that original, but Greenwood managed to change some things up and spice others, making this story unique.
Basically, Greenwood grabbed elements that make a story unique, mixed them up in a bowl and voila, she made an intriguing book, which had me gasping in shock, and flipping though the pages until I finished it in a sitting.
Anne's Lies Beneath is a truly captivating read that will have you gasping in shock and awaiting the ending while sitting on the edge of your seat.
Book Trailer: The setting of this trailer is absolutely gorgeous!

Book Review: Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Title: Babe In Boyland
Author: Jody Gehrman
Author links: Website
Publisher: Dial
Publication Date: February 17th 2011 
Format: Hardback
Summary from Goodreads;
When high school junior Natalie - or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper - is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected - especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?
Five stars.
Quote:
“I sometimes suspect they don't take Dr. Aphrodite very seriously. Which is sad, really. Because what's more serious than love?” 
― Jody Gehrman, Babe in Boyland
Review;
I have to admit I didn't really like the cover, however I like how the girl in the picture has a mustache as a disguise. Considering how the main character goes undercover in the story, I thought that was rather clever and unique.

Onto the story line, I admit to never reading about this sort of thing before. A girl undercover, to find out answers to girl's everyday questions. This book was so astounding and phenomenal and awesome, and I'm nowhere done with adjectives to describe this book. I read this in one day, not even a day, probably an hour or two. Gehrman's writing made me feel like I was in the book, just like J.K. Rowling did with her Harry Potter series. I literally felt myself feeling for the character, whatever she felt, I felt. "Nat's" attitude was great, she was sarcastic and hilarious. Oh, let's talk boys. Emilio is probably one of my favorite male characters this year. He's funny, cute, adorably, and totally swoon worthy. I loved how fast paced this book was and I must get my own copy soon since I borrowed this copy.


Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman is a fast-paced, romance filled novel that will make you feel for the character and swoon over the cuteness. If you're looking for a fast, cute read, this is the book for you.

Book Review: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter

Title: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Gallagher Girls #1
Author Links: Website | Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook
Publication Date: April 25th 2006
Publisher: Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 284
Summary from Goodreads;
Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her? 
Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.
Quote:

“I suppose a lot of teenage girls feel invisible sometimes, like they just disappear. Well, that's me—Cammie the Chameleon. But I'm luckier than most because, at my school, that's considered cool. 
I go to a school for spies.” 
-Ally Carter, I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You.
Rate: 5/5 stars
Review:
So many people have recommended this, and raved about it but I got to it just now. When I read the summary, I was so excited to read it because I love reading about people in "spy" jobs, like Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series and I also enjoy watching NCIS. Also, the title caught my attention.. as well as my friends who couldn't believe a book could have such a title, and had to get a copy themselves to figure out why the title was what it was.

I'd tell you I love you but then I'd have to kill you transported me into Carter's world from the first page. It had enough detail to draw a picture in your mind but not as much as to bore you into skipping pages.  I really liked how Cammie seemed like a real life girl, you know, beside all the spy things she can do. Cammie was a somewhat normal girl, she likes this guy but she doesn't know how to "speak boy." The plot line was amazing, and I can't wait to read the second book in the series,  Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy.
Also, I found this other cover for this book, which I have to admit I like more;

I'd tell you I love you but then I'd have to kill you is a fast paced book, with such detail that you'll feel like you're there. Carter will pull you into her world from the first page, and not let go until the last page, leaving you with anticipation to read the second installment to her series.

ARC Book Review: The List by Siobhan Vivian

Title: The List
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Publisher: Push
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Summary from Goodreads;
An intense look at the rules of high school attraction—and the price that’s paid for them. 

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn’t matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up. 

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, “pretty” and “ugly.” And it’s also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.


Review: 
I'd been patiently waiting for the release of this book and totally pining for it and I could have waited, but fortunately a fellow friend/ reviewer of mine lend it to me. I was so happy I read it and forgot to read the release date, which was rather ironic, considering the fact that I'd been so excited for it's release date.  


Anyway, The List tells the story of a couple of girls whose names have gone up on the list that year and their experiences on being either the prettiest girl in school for her year or the ugliest. This book was so intriguing to read although I wish I'd known that it was in first person. I've grown used to third person POV, it appears. I completely loved the development of the characters and plot( s ) throughout the story. Each girl has a different experience as they see the effects of the list impact their lives and emotions.  Their lives are completely different but due to the list their paths inter cross and you realize that they're as different as they are similar.


I adored Siobhan's The List. It was a quick read, filled with teenage angst and romance.