Spotted: Cover of Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Umm, where have I been? I've missed this cover reveal, but it's never too late to show this cover!
What do you think?

Sever (The Chemical Garden, #3) by Lauren DeStefano 

Set to be published by Simon & Schuster on February 12, 2013

 I really like this cover! It matches nicely with Books #1 and #2. (so my books will look pretty on my shelf) I'm glad they kept the theme the same. I can't wait to read this book, that's for sure.

Book Review: Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 978-1-442-40201-0
Pages: Paperback, 543
Series: Nevermore, #1
Source: Bought

Goodreads Synopsis:
Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.
Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.
As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

My Review:

I've never been a huge fan of poetry. Not because I don't enjoy it, but because I've never been able to decipher and find the real and intended meaning in the words. I've been intrigued by the works of Edgar Allen Poe but never took it upon myself  to read any of his works, so I guess this was my first dip into his works.

Isobel, the main character is a popular teenage, beautiful cheerleader whose life is normal as she knows it. She's dating the football star, her friends are all popular like her. This is the life that other teenagers envy until she is paired up in English class with "the freak". The Gothic looking guy who is kind of creepy and keeps to himself always. With his long black hair, black eyeliner and chains everywhere Isobel is a little worried (not only for her grade but also for her life.)

I couldn't really relate on a personal level with Isobel but I did like her. She was easy to like, just your typical teenager trying to fit in and be cool. Varen is the guy she is paired up with. He's quiet, keeps to himself. He;s never been bothered with people at school or the rumors, or anything else really. Varen has a few friends, and like him, are fully clad in black so he's said to be a vampire and Isobel's friends make jokes about that during their time spent working on their English project. I liked Varen to be honest, he had an attitude that was really fun to read. He was so straight to the point, obvious and blunt that just made him a memorable character in Nevermore.

The English project that Varen and Isobel are working on is about Edgar Allen Poe and Varen is very knowledgeable about him and his works (Isobel not so much!) Isobel is left with Varen's copy of Poe's work, and once she has that in her possession, things start to happen that she can't explain. From this point on we are no longer reading about high school projects, friendships and drama. We're reading of paranormal events, dreams and nightmares that can actually become reality.

Kelly Creagh had a talent for writing and story telling, as Nevermore is her first book and it's as well-known and popular as it is. The description that Kelly writes in the pages is great and adds to the overall picture. The characters are developed and the book flows together nicely.

I'm definitely looking forward to book two. I want to see where Isobel and Varen's relationship takes them. I want to know what separates the dream world from the real world.

Oh, the places to read

I love reading, I really do! And trust me when I say that I will read anywhere, anytime. I've always loved reading but just within the last few years has reading really become a passion of mine.
I'm the kinda girl that will carry books around with me just in case the opportunity arises and I can catch up on a few pages. I recently bought a bicycle to bike back and forth from work, you know, get some fresh air, reduce the amount of cars on the road and to get some exercise. It's been lovely - though I've actually only used the bike for reason a handful of times. Why? Because I've been so engrossed in the books I've been reading that I opt to walk so I can read at the same time! Walking and reading can be a dangerous activity...trust me, I've tripped many times, almost flat on my face and yeah, I've almost walked right into a sign. Not my best moments, but it's all so I don't have to put my book down (I will NOT try riding and reading!)
But there is nothing better than crawling into bed with a book. After the day is done, I love taking the time to relax and read. Just me, the book in my hand and the characters (I'll admit, the last few nights I've gone to be with Mr. Grey!). Whether it be 5 minutes and a handful of pages, or hours upon hours devouring the read, there's nothing like falling asleep after turning the pages of a book.
My purses are bought big enough to store a book in. My bedside table is littered with books (along with many other places). Many books have had their fair share of splashes from the bathtub, policies and procedures have to share locker space with a good book at work (heaven forbid I forget my current read at home that day).
Some people carry their iPods, lipstick or cell phones as their prized possessions, I prefer books as mine, though my phone is right up there! And I've seen in everyday life that my daughter is following in my footsteps. Each visit to a bookstore, she's picking out new adventures and making new friends within the books. It was just yesterday that she sat with her back against the chair in front of our bookshelf and sat down to read because she was bored. Books open doors for us and take us places we could only imagine!

Image taken from Google

Endless books and endless places to read!

Book Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: October 25, 2011 (first published March 2nd, 2010)
Pages: Paperback, 470
ISBN: 9780061726811
Series: None
Source: Bought

Goodreads Synopsis:
What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?
Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.
The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

My Review:
Before I Fall was an interesting book. It was the same story basically, just told about 7 times. Each time Samantha realizes something about herself and her friends and the way she lived her life. You can't help but feel a bit sorry for Samantha. I'm sure it would be hard enough to relive her death once, but to have to do it over and over? That would be awful and at certain points of the book I could really see the effect it had on Samantha. But once she understood what was happening, it was a bit easier for her and she was expecting it.
I couldn't relate to this book at all. Through high-school I wasn't popular, I didn't drink, go to parties etc so I didn't relate to Samantha or the story and I think that made it a little harder for me to enjoy the story. When I finished Before I Fall, I realized that I didn't mind the book. The end of the book was so much better than the first 3/4 of the book. None of the characters spoke to me, though Kent was a character that I liked. Honestly, Before I Fall isn't a book that I would remember for years to come. There wasn't that one special thing that stood out to me, but I did enjoy Oliver's writing and because of that I added Delirium to my shelf.
I've heard some mixed reviews of Before I Fall, but I know that there are a lot of Lauren Oliver fans out there so sure, read this book, you may enjoy it more than I did!

Spotted: Cover Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Look at this pretty cover?

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3) by Cassandra Clare is to be released March 19th, 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

I really like this cover. Tessa looks stunning, the dress is gorgeous and the book that she's holding tie it all in nicely. I'm so glad they've decided to keep the covers following the same design. There is nothing worse than the books not fitting together on my bookshelves!
What do you think? Do you love it?

Author Interview - Denise Jaden

In honour of Never Enough, Denise Jaden's new novel which is due on shelves TODAY. I'm excited to say that I have Denise here for an interview.
For those of you who missed my review of Never Enough, you can read it here before reading the interview.

From the author of Losing Faith, a novel about two sisters and the eating disorder that threatens to destroy their family.

Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special… even if that means betraying her sister.  But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship —and her sister—before it’s too late?

Please welcome Denise Jaden to Stellar Book Blog!

1. Was it difficult to write Never Enough because of the bulimia and abuse issues that the characters deal with throughout this novel?

Because I wrote this novel over more than eight years, many of the difficult issues were layered in over time. It was still difficult to write on these subjects, especially because some of them were affecting my life through friends at the time, but I can imagine it would have been more difficult to write during a shorter period of time.

2. What made you feel like the book needed to be written? What inspired you to write Never Enough?

I started writing Never Enough because a good friend of mine was suffering with the ups and downs of a severe eating disorder. I felt like I was always saying or doing the wrong things for her, and so I started writing in order to understand her and what she was going through better. At first, it was more of an exploration than something I aimed to publish.

3. What message are you hoping will get across teens or adults after reading Never Enough? Do you have any advice for someone living in these situations?

I never write with a message in mind, but now that I’m on the other side of writing Never Enough, I would hope that readers would take away a renewed willingness to reach out and to speak up when they see someone who needs them.

Even after spending so long thinking on these subjects and writing about them, I’m not sure that I have any hard and fast advice. All individuals are different, and so it depends on the person, but I would encourage everyone to try to find true friends who you can share your deepest struggles with.

4. When writing your novels, do you have any tricks or habits that help you write?

Not really. Having a young son at home has made writing time fairly limited for me. Usually when I sit down to write, I only have an hour, at the most. So when I have that hour, I get serious right away. I believe in fast-drafting and moving forward, especially with early drafts—not spending any time second-guessing my words, but just letting whatever is in me that day pour out.

5.Just for fun - if you could spend the day with anyone, dead or alive who would it be and why?

It’s kind of an emotional answer, but I’d spend the day with my dad. He died in an accident just over a year ago, and I miss him terribly. One more day with him on earth would be amazing.

Thank you so much Denise for taking the time to answer my questions. And I'm terribly sorry for the loss of your father. That must be a terrible thing to go through. Though congratulations on which will be a HUGE success, the novel Never Enough. It's already word in the blogging and book community that this book is FANTASTIC!

About the author

Denise Jaden's writing has appeared in Mississippi Crow Magazine (Spring 2008), The Greensilk Journal (Fall 2007 - where her story, Locked Away won an Editor's Choice Award)  and The Tidepool Ficton Ezine. Her novels have won various awards through Romance Writers of America. Her first novel for teens, Losing Faith, was released from Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster in 2010 and her next one, Never Enough will be out in July 2012. She lives just outside of Vancouver, Canada with her husband and son.

For more Denise Jaden, you can visit her:

Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Book Review: Never Enough by Denise Jaden

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: July 10th, 2012
Pages: 400
ISBN: 978-1-442-42907-9
Series: None
Source: ARC from publisher

Goodreads Synopsis:
From the author of Losing Faith, a novel about two sisters and the eating disorder that threatens to destroy their family.
Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special… even if that means betraying her sister.
But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship —and her sister—before it’s too late?

My Review:
Never Enough is a book about sisters and an eating disorder that may pull them apart. Neither the cover or the blurb that accompanied the ARC of Never Enough was enough to pull me into the story. It was the unforgettable characters and the writing that did it for me. What happens when you have 2 sisters who are complete opposites of each other, one quiet, shy, and self-conscience while the other is beautiful, talented and popular? We find out in the riveting new novel by Denise Jaden.

Loann is a young girl in high school just trying to fit in and get through life. Her life as she knows it isn't overly hard, and there isn't anything extraordinary about her, except her sister, Claire. Claire is beautiful in every way, she's talented, popular and dating Josh, Loann's crush. These sisters are basically the complete opposite, but they are sisters nonetheless. I could relate to Loann on some levels and I really liked her. Her character is real and believable and her emotions really drew me, as a reader into the whole book. Loann feels as though she is the key to holding her family together while dealing with the eating disorder that consumed her sister, but it`s tough and you could really see the toll it takes on her. She tries her hardest to make her sister and her parents see what this is doing physically and emotionally to the family but it seems that everyone is turning a blind eye on the truth. Denise Jaden does an exceptional job writing the trauma and the emotions of all of the characters, right down to Claire and her parents. Marcus, the boy who has been around all throughout high school but always went unnoticed has finally been noticed by Loann when all her other friendships go awry. He is a phenomenal character, probably my favourite in Never Enough. His dynamic relationship with Loann was great. They compliment each others personalities and it was nice to see a friendship like theirs develop without jumping right into the "I'm madly in love with you" relationship.
The detail that Denise Jaden puts into her work is amazing, never overdone. For example, the details that I really noticed and enjoyed was that her characters actually took their shoes off before going into the house. Being a Canadian as well, that point really stuck out to me and I could appreciate it since we don`t usually wear our shoes inside. And since Loann has a talent for photography, Jaden describes the photos down to the precise lighting techniques. Little things like this really added to the overall feel of Never Enough.

Going into the book I didn't realize it dealt with the issues that is does. Not only do we read about bulimia, we`re also immersed into physical abuse and unwanted sexual experiences (though the latter isn't prominent). These issues are serious and I'm sure hard to write about, but Jaden was able to write about them with such expertise and emotion that i felt as though I was there seeing things and I felt as though I knew these people and wanted to be there to help them. The mere fact that Denise Jaden was able to make such an emotional connection with me while reading, means she`s done her job perfectly. Even after I finished the book, I was still an emotional mess.

Never Enough is a strong book with multiple plot lines but it fits together like puzzle pieces, and once you`re finished you`ll want to step back and look at the whole picture. It`s just one of those books that everyone should read and remember for years to come.


Read my author interview with Denise Jaden here.