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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Book Review: C.Y.A.: Covert Youth Agency: The Case of Tangled Love

Title:  C.Y.A.: Covert Youth Agency: The Case of Tangled Love (Volume 1)

Author:  Jason Ancona

ISBN:  145372463X

Publisher:  CreateSpace

Genre:  Young Adult/Mystery 

Pages: P-258

I received this book as a pdf from the author.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  An elite group of nerds fight injustices by running a clandestine operation in high school. The C.Y.A., a.k.a. Covert Youth Agency, hacked into the digital school sign and posted their message: - - - If ever you're in need of help and you have nowhere else to go, seek out the C.Y.A. We're always watching and we're here for you - - - Peter "Pi" Samuels, a fourteen-year-old sophomore, runs the shadow operation. Pi's obsessed with the high school band's lead violinist, who's as beautiful as the music she plays. When she contacts the C.Y.A. to find out if her boyfriend cheated on her at a party, Pi's objective becomes clear. Prove that her beau was unfaithful. Then maybe Pi will be the perfect shoulder to cry on. Pi schemes to destroy his love's boy-toy, all while avoiding a deranged coach bent on exposing an untraceable geek squad for hire. The Covert Youth Agency.

My Reveries and Ramblings:  Covert Youth Agency is a young adult novel about a group of young high school students who use their intelligence and individual talents to fight “crime” in school.  Peter or “Pi” is the leader of the C.Y.A. (Cover Youth Agency).  Tollhouse is the chubby yet hilarious field agent.  Lightman is the computer genius.  All three make up the C.Y.A.  In this particular case, Vera, Pi’s crush, doesn’t know whether or not her boyfriend cheated on her at a party.  She hires the C.Y.A. to find out. 

      This book reminded me so much of when I was younger.  I loved the pop culture references.  I really liked the songs mentioned throughout such as “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift-there is a whole scene kind of like the music video, which I consider one of my favorite scenes in the book.  Tollhouse reminded me of Chunk from The Goonies.  I could relate to each CYA member in a different way. For example, I felt for Pi because of his unrequited love and since he looked young for his age.  There were only two things I had a problem with: -1-a lot of clichés and -2- I really don’t think high school boys/guys would where Heely’s to school.  I wasn’t sure what to think of the clichés only because I thought in clichés when I was 13, 14, and 15.  The Heely’s shoes seemed more like elementary to middle school fashion-not so much high school.       

      Overall I really enjoyed this book.  It was an easy and fun read.  It brought me back to when I thought the world would end if the guy I liked didn’t like me back.  This book was like Agent Cody Banks meets Recess meets Codename Kids Next Door.  I hope you all enjoy this book.  The next book comes out on March 1, 2011.  I will definitely continue reading the series.  I give it 3 kisses.

Jason Ancona's Giveaway!!!!:  Jason Ancona, the author, is doing an ebook giveaway.  To enter you must:
1-Google Friend Connect him
2-Follow him on Twitter
3-Email him
Before Dec. 31, 2010.  For more information go to his website

Book Trailer:

Playlist

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Book Review: My Antonia by Willa Cather

Title: My Antonia

Author: Willa Cather

ISBN:  1583485090

Publisher: New Millennium Library

Genre:  Classics, Historical Fiction, Realism

Pages:  P-232

Synopsis (from Goodreads): It seems almost sacrilege to infringe upon a book as soulful and rich as Willa Cather's My Antonia by offering comment. First, published in 1918, and set in Nebraska in the late 19th c., this tale of the spirited daughter of a Bohemian immigrant family planning to farm on the untamed land ("not a country at all but the material out of which countries are made") comes to us through the romantic eyes of Jim Burden. He is , at the time of their meeting, newly orphaned and arriving at his grandparents' neighboring farm on the same night her family strikes out to make good in their new country. jim chooses the opening words of his recollections deliberately: "I first heard of Antonia on what seemed to be an interminable journey across the great midland plain of North America," and it seems almost certain that readers of Cather's masterpiece will just as easily pinpoint the first time they heard of Antonia and her world. It seems equally certain that they, too, will remember that moment as one of great light in an otherwise unremarkable trip through the world.

     Ántonia, who, even as a grown woman somewhat downtrodden by circumstance and hard work, "had not lost the fire of life," lies at the center of almost every human condition that Cather's novel effortlessly untangles. She represents immigrant struggles with a foreign land and tongue, the restraints on women of the time (with which Cather was very much concerned), the more general desires for love, family, and companionship, and the great capacity for forbearance that marked the earliest settlers on the frontier.

As if all this humanity weren't enough, Cather paints her descriptions of the vastness of nature--the high, red grass, the road that "ran about like a wild thing," the endless wind on the plains--with strokes so vivid as to make us feel in our bones that we've just come in from a walk on that very terrain ourselves. As the story progresses, Jim goes off to the University in Lincoln to study Latin (later moving on to Harvard and eventually staying put on the East Coast in another neat encompassing of a stage in America's development) and learns Virgil's phrase "Optima dies ... prima fugit" that Cather uses as the novel's epigraph. "The best days are the first to flee"--this could be said equally of childhood and the earliest hours of this country in which the open land, much like My Ántonia, was nothing short of a rhapsody in prairie sky blue. --Melanie Rehak

My Reveries and Ramblings:  My Antonia by Willa Cather is about the friendship between a boy, Jim, and an immigrant girl, Antonia.  Willa Cather’s novel deals with issues such as immigration, suicide, prejudice, and unrequited love.  My Antonia is a charming coming-of-age story set in the late 19^th c.  The characters are realistically written.  The story is narrated by Jim and is a compilation of memories from his childhood and young adult life-mostly revolving around Antonia. 

     To be honest, I did not want to read this book-mostly because it is a realist work.  I’m not a huge fan of realism-I find it quite depressing.  I still wonder why I decided to take a class on American Literature that concentrated on Realist works. Since I had to read and write a paper on a realist work, I was dreading it.  But it truly surprised me.  I did not expect to like it at all.  I recommend you read this if you like classic American Literature.  Even if you don’t, it’s still a good read; and by far my favorite of all the books/short stories I had to read for that class.  I give it 3 Kisses.

The following is a clip from the movie (and yes, that is Neil Patrick Harris as Jim)

My Antonia Playlist

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TGIF!

TGIF!!!! So with Friday comes The Book Blogger Hop.  It's hosted over at Crazy-for-Books.  I love participating each week.  I've discovered a ton of amazing blogs through the Hop.  Happy Hopping :)

Question of the Week:  What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?

My Answer:  Well, in every book I read, I want to care about the characters.  If the book doesn't force me to feel something about any of the characters-hate, anger, love, etc.-then I will usually put the book down.  The characters either make the story or ruin it.  

Follow Friday is also a great way to find awesome blogs.  It's hosted by Parajunkee's View.  This week Parajunkee is featuring Carmel @ Rabid Reads .  
This week's Question:  What did you study in college, or are currently studying and did it lead to your current 9 to 5 or are you doing something totally different?  
My Answer:  Last year I majored in Musical Theater then changed over the summer to Communications with a concentration in Entertainment Studies.  But I've found my calling in Advertising, SO I'm actually changing my concentration again to Advertising.  At the moment I don't have a job....but that's going to change next year.  My recent increase in spending (books and music) has taken a toll on my savings account.  I have to either get a job, or stop buying books (Ha! like that's ever going to happen)-look likes it's "get a job!" haha   What did you major in college?  Thinking about majoring in? or currently majoring in?
If you are new to Bon Bons and Reveries, enter the Happy Holly Jolly Holidays Giveaway for your chance to win one of the books reviewed on my blog (complete list on the left sidebar).

From Book to Movie: I Am Number Four

     I won't be posting that much this week because it's finals week.  However, I get to go home on Saturday (YAY!). So starting Sunday-ish, I'll be reading like crazy!  I can't wait for my sister to read the Fever series (all I've been talking about lately, apparently)-I'm bringing the books back for her.
     So I haven't read this book, but it's one my TBR list.  I saw this trailer the other day and thought "I have to read this!"  It looks awesome. I Am Number Four comes out Feb. 18, 2011 Have you read the book?  What did you think?

A Post for Barrons

    

     I finished Dreamfever the other night (review will probably be posted this week)-WHAT AN AMAZING BOOK! I can’t get Jericho Barrons out of my head for a minute (and I wouldn’t want to)So OF COURSE I went online and googled him (the stalker of fictional characters that I am) and I found this which made my night SOOOO much better. On Karen Marie Moning’s website she has an interview with the actor/character that was the inspiration for JZB– Eric Etebari from TNT’s Witchblade.  This interview is sooo good and there is even an uncensored interview with him (which is EVEN better) Click here to read the interview OR click here for the unscensored interview. 

And then of course, there’s this:

And this:

Friday!

Hello Everyone!  So it's friday once again :)  And you know what that means?  Follow Friday and Blog Hop!!!!!!  

Follow Friday!!!

Follow Friday is a weekly event/feature hosted by Parajunkee that helps book bloggers meet other book bloggers.  This week's Follow Feature is Amanda from Another Book Junkie   Check out her awesome blog.  
This week's question: Do you have an under-noticed author that you think we should all know about?My Answer:  This is a tough one because most of the books I've seen on blogs have been the books I've read or am going to read.  Since I'm new to the blogging world, I'm not sure if Ken Follett ever got any blogs hyped up and excited.  I've only read his Pillars of the Earth-which was amazing by the way. I have the second book which I will probably read next year.  He is an amazing writer-if you haven't read the book, read it.  In terms of all my friends (and family),  Most of them don't read paranormal books (unless it was a movie and/or Edward Cullen related) at all and I feel that they are missing out on a great genre-most of the books I read have some paranormal aspect to them.  For them I would suggest Karen Marie Moning or Gail Carriger.
The Blog Hop!!!

The Blog hop is another great way to find amazing blogs and create awareness of your own blog.  It is hosted by Crazy-for-Books.

This week's question:  What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs?  Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?

My Answer:  I really like reading the reviews.  I really like when the blog's post inspires me to read the book.  

Also, don't forget to check out my holiday giveaway, Happy Holly Jolly Holidays Giveaway

Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Title: Nightshade

Author:  Andrea Cremer

Series: Nightshade #1

ISBN: 039925482X

Publisher:  Philomel

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy

Pages: H-454

Synopsis (From Goodreads):  Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Reveries and Ramblings: Calla, an alpha werewolf, is set to be mated (or married) to Ren, another alpha werewolf.  When patrolling the woods, Calla comes across Shay in the woods injured and threatened.  By saving his life, she could be sentenced to death.  She doesn’t think she will ever see him again.  When he shows up at school, Calla is asked by her future master to watch over him.  Their newfound friendship turns into love and Calla must not only choose between Ren and Shay but also between playing it safe or learn the truth. 

       Okay, so for starters-I love Ren.  He is attractive, an alpha, hot, nice, caring, hot, confident, hot, and oh, did I mention-hot?  As you can tell-I’m completely team Ren.  Now that I got that out of my system, I can continue.  Calla, the protagonist, is strong, both physically and mentally.  She’s not a push over.  She and her “pack” all attend Mountain High School with Ren and his “pack.”  Andrea Cremer puts an interesting spin on werewolves and the paranormal.  This isn’t your normal werewolf story (you know, all that full-moon-tortured-soul stuff).  This is a love story that forces the reader to feel torn and conflicted.  The characters are very realistic (besides the paranormal element) and layered.  Each one has realities that they are forced to face.  Because they serve their masters they do not have a choice in who they marry (although, they can make requests) or where they live.  Disobedience usually involves death.  The other option, though, is to suffer at the hands of a dark shade-like creature that reminded me a lot of the dementors from the Harry Potter series.  There were several suspenseful scenes; and of course there is a bit of a cliff hanger.        

       I read this book in one day (at the airport and on my flights).  When I finished it, I wasn’t really sure what to think.  I liked it and I didn’t like it.  I thought it was interesting and definitely creative.  I liked the world Cremer built.  However, I really didn’t like Shay.  I wouldn’t mind him being like the “best friend” but I just don’t like him.  Also, I didn’t trust him.  He kept pressuring Calla to do things that if discovered she could be punished/killed.   I decided about a day after I finished it that I liked it and that Shay was the reason why I felt odd about it. I give it 3 kisses.  I can’t wait until the sequel Wolfsbane comes out. 

*If you read the book, highlight the area below, if not then I’m warning you that there are spoilers:

That last scene when Calla asked Ren to give her and Shay some time to get away really showed how much he loved her.  Then she just ripped his heart out (not literally).  That made me so mad.  Poor Ren.  

Book Trailer:

The Playlist:

*note- I included some of the songs from Andrea Cremer's playlist for Nightshade.  Click here for a complete list of all the songs that she used.