Impromptu Hiatus Thingamajig

Things might be a little sporadic around here for a while. I'd like to say life got in the way, or something cool and important sounding like that, but it's simply not the case.

I haven't felt the same drive for all the things I usually love lately, which sadly, includes blogging. So for now, I'll be taking a little break. I don't know how long it'll last, or anything like that, but I can say that I won't be completely gone. I'll still be popping in on Twitter and you'll see the occasional post. I have tons of backlogged reviews, so I'll probably still be putting those up, but I can't make any promises for my other regulars.

I just wanted to let you all know what's up with me these days and put a little notice out for A Room with Books's foreseeable future. So don't you guys go worrying about me or anything ;]

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard {Review}

Publisher: Razorbill

Publish Date: July 21, 2011

Source: Library
Goodreads

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. The water calls to her, draws her in, forces her to sing her song to unsuspecting victims. If she succumbs, she kills. If she doesn't, the pain is unbearable. To keep herself and those she cares about safe, she shuts herself off, refusing to make friends or fall in love -- again. Because the last time she fell in love with a boy, he ended up dead.
Then Lexi finds herself torn. Against her better judgement, she's opening up again, falling in love with someone new when she knows she shouldn't. But when she's offered the chance to finally live a normal life, she learns that the price she must pay to be free of her curse is giving him up.

For about 2/3 of Ripple, I really didn’t think I was going to like it. It still wasn’t my favorite read, but Miss Hubbard managed to take just about everything I felt for this book and flip it all upside down within that last third and I ended up fairly satisfied.

Something about Lexi’s sob story of a life kind of set my teeth on edge at the beginning. No parents, no friends, no love. Just a lonely girl wanting companionship but pushing everyone away. I sort of understand why she pushed people away, but on the other hand it doesn’t really make sense. Yes, she was afraid of killing people, but it’s not like she’d go around killing people all the time if she was civil. That didn’t quite make sense to me.

Lexi and Cole’s relationship just felt so weird and unnecessary at the beginning. I didn’t like him or them together at all. By the end, though, the relationship really grew on me and I was inwardly rooting for the two.

I really liked Hubbard’s take on sirens. It definitely wasn’t your typical mythology and I love when a story can surprise me. Who knew mermaid’s could still be entertaining if they didn’t have tails ;P

The Nutshell: I really wasn’t feeling Ripple for the majority of the book, but I’m really glad I finished it. If you tend to give up on books easily, you’re either going to want to completely avoid this one or convince yourself to stick it out till the end. If you like a twist on your mermaid mythology with a dash of “I DID NOT see that coming!” then Ripple is worth the read.

Pages: 260

Series: No

Rating: Near Miss

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting {Review}

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publish Date: March 16, 2010

Source: Bought/Gifted

Goodreads

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies -- or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes that the dead leave behind in the world...and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent be a gift; it mostly just led her to find the dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now, that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer -- and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Hay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer...and becoming his prey herself.

Holy. Wow. The Body Finder was one seriously intense read. It wasn’t about ghosts or things that go bump in the night, but it scared the pants off of me all the same. Some might say since it’s about regular killers it’s almost more scary and I’m thinking I’d have to agree.

So, anecdote time: I finished The Body Finder minutes before running out the door to catch my bus to make it to Kimberly’s signing. I was so freaked out from reading it I almost didn’t leave since I was traveling by myself and it’d be dark by the time I came home. Oh the power of authors ;]

I love that though Violet’s ability can be classified as paranormal, everything else about The Body Finder is real. Real scary dudes, real homework, real parents; the works. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t abhor paranormal or anything, but it’s refreshing to read a book that’s spine-tingling-ly creepy for real world reasons.

I like that besides her ability to sense the dead, Violet’s still a normal girl. She has homework, parents who occasionally annoy her, and a massive crush on her best friend. I also liked that she was determined to help find the killer but still knew enough (sometimes) to be careful and scares.

Sometimes I just wanted to yell at Jay and Violet to come to their senses and realize they liked each other because COME ON, everyone else could see it :P

Slightly Spoilery

I really liked that Jay & Vi didn’t dance around their relationship for the entire book. Of course I enjoy a slow burn, but I also like kissing. And boy is there lots of kissing!

End

The scenes written from the killer’s point of view had me both fascinated as well as creeped out. I found myself wanting more of them, but at the same time disturbed with myself for wanting that :P

I don’t normally put age suggestions on my reviews, but I’d definitely advise this one be read by older teens.

The Nutshell: The Body Finder definitely has the creep factor going for it, but there’s more than that too. If you’re looking for a book with a strong main character, lots of kissing, and will leave you feeling jumpy, this is definitely the book for you.

Pages: 327

Series: The Body Finder #1

Rating: Direct Hit

My Current Obsession (18 To Life)

To be honest, guys, I simply didn't feel like making an IMM post so, I didn't :P Next week I'll have plenty to show you, though, so you can...look forward to..that? Maybe? Whatever, onward we go!

How about we talk about my current obsession, hmmm? Again, there's no book relation here, so if that's not your interest then you're free to go, and thank you for the visit :]
However, if you're curious about my current television obsession then grab yourself a cup of coffee (or whatever your favorite beverage may be) and settle in!

Lately I've been obsessed with this show I found on Netflix called 18 to Life. It's a Canadian show about two highschool sweethearts/neighbors who get married at 18 and it is stinking hilarious. BUT, it also has heart. Cute, adorable, young newlywed heart :]

Single people might not appreciate it quite as much, but I still think they could find it enjoyable. I don't mean to single out a whole set of people here, but as a newlywed myself, nearly every episode has had me going "Yes! THIS! We have that argument ALL the time!" or "Ohhh, I totally remember that argument. It was not pretty :P"  I mean, the episode I just finished watching was about how she likes planning and control and he liked being spontaneous. That's pretty much Husband's and my relationship in a nutshell :P

One of the main things I really love is that they don't really dress married life up. Yeah, it's fun most of the time, but the couple also has plenty of fights and normal married people problems. Like, the "Hanging Pictures" episode. I won't write about it as I like to keep things as PGish as possible around here, but that both had me cringing, laughing, and almost shouting at the tv in agreement.

I know my post probably isn't all too persuasive, but trust me, if you have Netflix just give it a chance. The series is already over so there's only 25 half-hour episodes. Try one or two and maybe come back here or tell me on Twitter how it's working out for you. :]

Always Neverland by Zoe Barton {Review}

Publisher: Harper 

Publish Date: October 11, 2011

Source: Library

Goodreads

School has only been out for one whole day, and Ashley can already tell her vacation is going to bore her to tears. With her friends out of town and her parents working nonstop, she finds herself alone and with nothing to do -- until one night she wakes up and discovers Peter Pan in her bedroom -- wrestling with his shadow.
Since his original adventure with the Darlings, Peter Pan has been bringing new "Wendy girls" to Neverland to take care of the Lost Boys. But Ashley's made of much tougher stuff than the Wendy girls before her -- she'd rather befriend the mermaids or fight Captain Hook and his pirate crew. Creating new adventures for her friends, Ashley is bringing change to Neverland...and not everyone is happy about it.

Always Neverland was a fun addition to the Peter Pan tale. I especially loved that Barton didn’t try to change the tale of Pan, but rather, added to it. Ashley is a descendant of Wendy so the original story did happen but Always Neverland is an entirely new adventure.

I adored Ashley. She’s young, but she proves her worth among the Lost Boys and Peter. She refuses to be like the other Wendy Girls just watching the Lost Boys and being a Mother. Plus, she won’t take a simple no from anyone. Peter says she can’t befriend a mermaid, but she tries anyway. The Lost Boys say she can’t fight, but she does it anyway. Seriously, I love this girl’s determination.

The Lost Boys are adorable (though they’d probably deny it and say they’re fearsome) and they all have different personalities. I would have loved to hang out with these boys when I was younger. They’re fun and always ready for an adventure. But of course, they all still have a soft spot that wants a mother.

Now, Pan is another story. I have to say he kind of got on my nerves. He was the cockiest little boy I’ve ever seen. I’ll admit, I’ve never read the original story, but I imagine he acted much the same in the original, but I can’t say I like it.

I loved all the adventures Ashley had. There were fights with pirates, mermaid befriendment, lion riding, food trees, Never bird riding, and so much more. I found myself sitting down to read only to look up and discover I’d already read 1/3 of the book!

The Nutshell: Always Neverland is a retelling/addition you don’t want to miss. There’s plenty of the old Peter Pan that you know and even more new adventures. If you still have even the tiniest amount of kid in you, then this book is for you.

Pages: 320

Series: No

Rating Hit