July 31, 2009

Create-a-Ya-Cover

Yay i saw this at The Magic of Ink! and thought it was so cool that i shall give it a try! Now at first i was way nervous because i am terrible at Photoshop, Paint, and whatever, but using Picnik was so easy!!! This is so much fun and i hope you all will give it a try!!
heres how mine turned out...


I think it turned out pretty groovy, what do you think?
but follow these steps and make your own :)


CREATE YOUR DEBUT YA COVER

1 – Go to "Fake Name Generator" or click http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/

The name that appears is your author name.

2 – Go to "Random Word Generator" or click
http://www.websitestyle.com/parser/randomword.shtml

The word listed under "Random Verb" is your title.

3 – Go to "FlickrCC" or click
http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/index.php

Type your title into the search box. The first photo that contains a person is your cover.

4 – Use Photoshop, Picnik, or similar to put it all together. Be sure to crop and/or zoom in.

5 – Post it to your site along with this text.

Let 100 Scope Notes know that you made one by commenting here, and it'll be added to the gallery!

July 30, 2009

Twenty Boy Summer

Twenty boy summer by Sarah Ockler...

“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “
It’s our secret, right?”

For Anna Reiley and Frankie Perino, the ingredients for the Absolute Best Summer Ever are simple: Two girls. Two bikinis. And twenty days in Zanzibar Bay, California. The best part? According to Frankie, if they meet one boy every day, there’s a good chance Anna will find her first summer romance.Anna lightheartedly agrees to the fun, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie… she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death last year.TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

I was not expecting Twenty boy summer to be more than its name-all about boys! What a got was a heart-wrenching, intense, insanely amazing book about a lost love! I am the ultimate cry baby and get sad at just about anything, but i rarely cry when reading a book. Within the First couple of chapters i was balling my eyes out trying so hard to keep my fresh crisp pages tear free. But this novel by Ockler seriously changed my view on a lot of things. I love that this wasn't a light boy crazy read, but a situation that is not explored a lot through writing-grievance. Anna the main character is so easy to relate to and i connected so well with her in the book. She took me on this journey from being safe and living inside the lines to jumping outside the box and living life while still remembering who she was! And Sam the typical cali-surfer was the irresistibly charming gentleman. The Writing was Fantastic, the characters were breathtaking, and the plot developed exquisitely i will re-read this over and over again! O.M.G. it was so Amazingly Fabulous! Can't Wait for more Sarah Ockler! Thanks Sarah at Sarah s Random musing for the book
One of my new all time favorites!!!

5/5 Suns



July 29, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday(4)

This weeks Waiting on Wednesday is Gone By lis McMann the third and last book in the WAKE series...

Summary-Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves--she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...He reaches toward her, his fingers black and bloody, his eyes deranged, unblinking. Janie is paralyzed. his cold hands reach around her neck, squeezing tight, tighter, until Janie has no breath left. She's unable to move, unable to think. As his grasp tightens further around Janie's neck, his face turns sickly alabaster.

He strains harder and begins to shake.
Janie is dying.
She has no fight left in her.
It's over.

Yay i cant wait to read this! I love this whole trilogy and think the idea of reading peoples dreams is so cool. Not a happy go lucky book, and i can tell this last instalment will be a brilliant ending to this intense trilogy! Comes out Feburary 9, 2010! such a long time away :(

July 28, 2009

Girlfriend Material

Girlfriend Material by Melissa Kantor...

If Kate were Lady Brett Ashley, the devastating heroine of Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, she'd spend her summers careering around the Riviera in her coupe, breaking hearts by the dozen--because why not? In reality, Kate's never even had a boyfriend, and she'll be spending the summer abetting her mom's lame ploy to make her dad jealous: running off to Cape Cod and crashing at the seaside home of her wealthy friends, the Cooper-Melnicks. To add to the shame, the Cooper-Melnicks' gorgeous daughter Sarah is a bit like Lady Brett, and she seems less than thrilled to hang out with her new houseguest. Any dreams Kate once had of a perfect summer are ruined. That is, until Sarah's cute, witty friend Adam starts drawing Kate into the fold--and seems intrigued. With Adam around, Kate feels like she just might have a bit of heartbreaker potential after all. But when a breezy summer romance quickly grows more complicated can Kate keep pretending her relationship with Adam is just a carefree fling? Or will she take the risk and tell him her real feelings? Suddenly Kate is asking herself a question she never thought she'd stoop to: Is she girlfriend material?

Girlfriend material is the perfect beach read!! this is the first book i read by Kantor, and i loved it! It was such a fun read!!! I especially loved how the characters evoved! Kate grew more confidant, Sarah toned down, and adam was just beyond adorble for words!! One of my favorite parts in the book is kates kiss scene on cape cod, i just couldnt help but smile and re-read it !! The chemistry is so intense yet there are twists and turns with all the characters. The writing is light and breezy but in no way simple. Girlfriend Material made me crave some boys and more juicy reads from melissa! would re-read again and again!

5/5 Suns




P.S- just recieved an ARC of Lipstick Apoloy so look for review later this week!

July 27, 2009

Slept away

Slept Away by Julie Kraut....

Laney Parker is a city girl through and through. For her, summertime means stepping out of her itchy gray school uniform and into a season of tanning at rooftop swimming pools, brunching at sidewalk cafes, and—as soon as the parents leave for the Hamptons—partying at her classmates’ apartments. But this summer Laney’s mother has other plans for Laney. It’s called Camp Timber Trails and rustic doesn’t even begin to describe the un-air-conditioned log cabin nightmare. Laney is way out of her element—the in-crowd is anything but cool, popularity seems to be determined by swimming skills, and the activities seem more like boot camp than summer camp. Splattered with tie dye fall out, stripped of her cell, and going through Diet Coke withdrawal, Laney is barely hanging on. Being declared the biggest loser of the bunk is one thing, but when she realizes her summer crush is untouchably uncrushable in the real world, she starts to wonder, can camp cool possibly translate to cool cool?
Summer camp might just turn this city girl’s world upside down!


I was expecting a lot of slept away!!! I love sleepaway camp and Camp in general since i have gone since i was little. One of my favorite camp books this summer was SleepAway Girls- which was AMAZING!!!!! Although i was dissapointed with this book, i loved her writing! All of the girly comparisons and metaphors were fantastic! Its the plot that bothered me! It made camp seem unattractive and sour! A personal hell.... for some. I mean no gender bonding, minimal peope in a bunk, and activities that did not seem like fun! There was no personal discovery oradoration toward this camp by Laney- the main character. Plus a major problem also for me was their wasnt any boy-drama untill the last couple chapters. It was just regular plain boring girl drama! i did like Slept Away to a degree- i mean her writing is really relatable! Overall just a non-exciting plot.

3/5 suns

July 24, 2009

Quickie ?'s

I found this at Read Into This and thought i might give it a try....

Reading something frivolous? Or something serious? Frivolous
Paperbacks? Or hardcovers? Paperbacks.
Fiction? Or Nonfiction? Fiction you can do so much more with
Poetry? Or Prose? Poetry
Biographies? Or Autobiographies? biographies.
History? Or Historical Fiction? Historical fiction.
Series? Or Stand-alones? hmmm... toughy i really love a good series!!
Classics? Or best-sellers? Best-sellers are
Lurid, fruity prose? Or straight-forward, basic prose? Lurid, Fruity of course
Plots? Or Stream-of-Consciousness? Stream-of-consciousness.
Long books? Or Short? what good is a short book?
Illustrated? Or Non-illustrated? Non-illustrated, unless like Poseur is cute with pics
Borrowed? Or Owned? borrowed- i'm way too cheap
New? Or Used?-used- who doesn't love the library

I want to hear your answers!!!!

July 22, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

This weeks W.O.W. is Alphas #1 by Lisi Harrison
Synopsis-
At OCD the losers are tormented.

At Alpha Academy, they're sent home.

Skye Hamilton has scored an invitation to the ultra-exclusive Alphas-only boarding school where beta is spelled LBR . What happens when the country's best, brightest, and hawtest begin clawing and scratching their way to the top?

I'm Very excited to read this! i haven't actually read any of the clique books so
i have no idea how the writing will be! But i love books about Sororities and
private boarding school! Cute cover too- but i think it could have been better

July 20, 2009

Godess Boot Camp

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs...

Phoebe recently discovered she’s a descendant of Nike (the goddess, not the shoe), and now she's finding out that supernatural powers come with a crazy learning curve. Her new stepfather, headmaster of the Academy for descendants of Greek gods, has enrolled her in Dynamotheos Development Camp—aka Goddess Boot Camp—with a bunch of ten-year-olds for the summer. Embarrassing as that is, hopefully it’ll help her get control of her powers in time to pass the test of the gods, continue training hard enough to qualify for the Pythian Games (the only sporting event bigger than the Olympics), and enjoy her godly boyfriend, Griffin, all while avoiding getting smoted for accidental misuse of powers!


Oh. MY. GODS. is right!! This book is amazing, I am beyond in love with this book!!! Besides the fact that i am totally into mythology, i like the fact that mythology isn't over played like vampires or fairies. Second it doesn't even seem like a sci-fi book! I love all the romance and drama! One of my favorite characters in Goddess Boot Camp, besides Phoebe and Griffin of course, was Stella! She grew from step-sister of hell to someone who honestly wants to help Phoebe out. Griffin is beyond adorable, and i adored learning about the different ways phoebe can control her powers. Plus the plot so thickens, about Phoebe having to pass a serious test, and finding more about her dad! I read this book straight from begging to end, smiling the whole way through. All i can say is i am wanting more, and hopefully Childs' will keep writing in this series. Go out and READ NOW!!!

5/5 Suns

July 19, 2009

Blog Maintnence Help

Hey guys so today i was just surfin around in the blog world and i went to check on my blog... and poof... my Background is gone!! I am so sad because i loved it so dearly and it fit perfectly! its gone because of some bandwidth exceeded on photo bucket!! i got it from SImply chic blog backgrounds, and im just so so so sad!! i mean now my blog is well just not cute!! So now i must appologize for my blog being ugly for the moment while i try to find a new layout!! I promise Sunshine Edition will be up and running soon... Hopefully! but a question to all my followers...

Where did you get your blog backround, and do you have any advice on where i should look for a new one?? or how to fix my old one, i really want it back!! :(

sadly xoxoxo

Cover Lust (2)

Cover Lust this week is Bad Apple by Laura Ruby
Synopsis-I actually had no idea what this is about, But thanks to LIZZY -

Junior Tola Riley doesn’t care what people say about her. She knows her ever-changing hair color and goth clothes make her an easy target. Whatever. But the latest rumor is different.... The entire school believes she had an affair with her art teacher. The rumors may be a lie, but the fallout is all too real. Will Tola finally stand up for the truth?
With a heroine you'll root for and a truly relevant story, Laura Ruby has once again brought the authentic teen experience to life for readers who relish dark humor and razor-sharp wit.

Cover- I like this cover a lot!! I feel way ocd about this though, because all the green apples are nice and crisp and perfectly round and then that one brown apple with the kiss just seems so out of place.... and i love it!! I mean its perfect in every single way!! I have no idea what this is about and i cant wait to read it just because of what the cover gives away!! Yay for amazing Covers!!

What are your thoughts, and don't you just want to kiss an apple now?
xoxox


July 16, 2009

You are here

You are here by Jennifer E. Smith...

Emma Healy has never fit in with the rest of her family. She's grown used to being the only ordinary one among her rather extraordinary parents and siblings. But when she finds a birth certificate for a twin brother she never knew she had, along with a death certificate dated just two days later, she feels like a part of her has been justified in never feeling quite whole. Suddenly it seems important to visit his grave, to set off in search of her missing half. When her next-door neighbor Peter Finnegan -- who has a quiet affinity for maps and a desperate wish to escape their small town -- ends up coming along for the ride, Emma thinks they can't possibly have anything in common. But as they head from upstate New York toward North Carolina, driving a beat-up and technically stolen car and picking up a stray dog along the way, they find themselves learning more and more about each other. Neither is exactly sure what they're looking for, but with each passing mile, each new day of this journey, they seem to be getting much closer to finding it.

At first i was a little apprehensive, but I loved this road trip novel!!! Em is not like any other girl, she is the odd one out in her family, and feels so alone. When she finds out she has a twin brother that died she decides to take a road trip to visit him! And of course she has to take along her smarty-next door neighbor! I love how these characters are out of this world unique! and the idea of taking a road trip at sixteen is so thrilling to me!!! A good read, but at some points i was a little bored.

3/5 suns

July 15, 2009

Waiting on Wednesday (2)

My second WOW is Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley!!Synopsis-Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning…When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: “Emily, please forgive me.”Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City— where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal. Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, Lipstick Apology is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.

WOW-I cant wait for this one to come out!! When i first saw this book i thought it was only going to be another one of those girly love stories, that i adore, but can kind of get boring!This one, i cant wait to solve the mystery in new york with her!!! Plus the Cover is Gorgeous!!!

August 6,2009 is when this comes out!
xoxo

July 14, 2009

Teaser Tuesday (1)

After seeing many a teasers on various book blogs,I have to do one. *idea from should be reading*

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
4. Do NOT include spoilers.
5. Share the title & author!

My first teaser Tuesday is from death by denim one of my favorite's!

"He was Protected, an entire team of highly trained specialist were with him, just like aphra will be when she goes to Varese"Carady said "shes not going to Varese"my mom said

July 13, 2009

Man Oh Man Monday (2)

Hey guys hope you Monday is rockin!!! I just got home from work and am bea,t plus sunburnt :( Anyways i couldnt wait to get home to do this Post!!! This weeks Man is Peter from you are here( look for review later this week) He is the dorkiest guy ever!!! He is a total nerd, and knows so much information, that it could only be adorable!! but what makes him so cute is his personalitly and that he is so clumsy and totally in love but keeps it to himself!! Haha make sure to read about Peter in YOU ARE HERE !!!

My question to you is.... On a guy do you prefere smoldering eyes or that sexy smirk??

xoxoxo,
Rachel

p.s.- For me its that sexy smirk that makes my heart flutter, but....... i also go crazy for green eyes :)

July 12, 2009

Cover Lust (1)

Cover Lust is going to be a weekly meme in which I share the covers of two upcoming YA novels that I want to read and share my thoughts and opinions of them!! Kind of like Waiting on Wednesday but i want to read them so bad because of their Wonderful Cover! * Idea from steph su reads and chick lit teens*

This First week is the Espressologist by Kristina Springer.... (P.S.- this is her first book, and it looks fantastic)

Synopsis- What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?\

Cover- From the first look of this i fell in love!! I am a coffee-holic, so that's what first drew me in. Second i love the Mug's saying ( get a little love with your lattee) and the cute foam heart in it!! Also the cover girl's eyes are piercing! I love it all, so simple yet delectible!! and the font is perfect!! Cant wait to get my hands on this one!
Look for this espresso read october 27, 2009

July 11, 2009

Across The Pond

Across the pond by Storyheart...

Finding himself packed off to friends in the USA, fifteen-year-old English born Fred Squire is not happy. Then he meets Brittany.Struggling with his feelings for Brit and the language, Fred is further confused when he meets Brit's flirtatious friend, Angel.Escaping from a confrontation with Steve Harris, the neighborhood bully, Brit tells Fred her dark secret about Harris, and Fred's world is turned upside down.Life continues to throw Fred a curveball when he catches a baseball worth a small fortune. With romance, adventure, humor, first love and even a little sport thrown in for good measure. Across the Pond takes the readers on magical trip that all will enjoy, from the young to the young at heart.

When i received an email to review this book i was ecstatic! Its my first book i got sent to me to be reviewed,and its such an honor. I was excited to read this book, but when i read it i found out its not my usual cup of tea..I absolutely love the story line, a guy coming from England and falling in love with an American Girl. I think the point that made it not as enjoyable for me is its such a younge age. If it was set around an older audience and had more adventure than just the local bully it would have been great! Also the Vocab idea was great, i loved the comparisons, but some of them i got a little confused with, and after a while it got tedious! I would suggest this to a younger audience- pre-teen era!!

2/5 Suns

July 10, 2009

Death by Denim

Death by Denim By Linda Gerber...

Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth’s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . .

I freaked out when i heard i won a signed copy of Death by denim!!I am in love with Linda Gerber and the death by series!!! She is an amazing author, and her writing is Phenomenal!! This book is so descriptive and heart pounding, and so not even close to predictable. Every move Aphra makes, i'm there following her every step. This whole action paced mystery has many twists and turns, that you dont even dare try to come to a conclusion! Romantic, adveturous, thrilling, yet scary, the characters are what makes this book! You automatically fall in love with Aprah with her cool composed appearence, and frazzled interior, and Seth is beyond adorable, just wanting to keep Aphra safe. Make sure to check out Death By Denim, a definate hot summer day read!

4/5 suns

July 9, 2009

Simply Irresistible Book Trailer

Hey Guys this awsome book by Jennifer Banash just came out Tuesday!!! It is the 3rd book in the Elite series! I love the series so far, so this one should be great! Check out this book trailer! Happy Beach reading xoxoxo

July 8, 2009

Flirting with boys

Flirting with boys by Hailey Abbott.....
How to Run a Resort:

Make sure employees arrive on time with a positive attitude. (check)

Remember that the customer is always ight. (check)

Keep your boyfriend and your most valuable guest from trying to kill each other. (oops)

Celeste Tippen can't imagine a more perfect summer. Her boyfriend, Travis, has a job at her family's resort, which means lots of quality couple time. Unfortunately, she forgot about Nick Saunders, the hot son of the resort's wealthiest customers. Every year, Nick flirts with Celeste, and apparently this year is no different, despite the boyfriend who's watching their every move. She assures Travis that hanging out with the resident bad boy is the last thing she wants to do. If only she believed that herself. . . .

I have read a lot of hailey abbott this summer. Why, because they are all perfect beach reads. My favorite thing to do during the summer, since i don have the beach, is to lay out by my pool in my bikini and read a great book. This story of a girl trying so hard to to change her boyfriend into mr. Perfect, and not seeing what is right in front of her. I love pinyon resort, and her not being a prissy/ bitch, but a genuine girl who works at her parents hotel. Nick is drool worthy and is a TOTAL FLIRT!! Overall a cute Beach read! not a lot of depth but a quick paced flowy read!

3/5 suns







P.S. Guess what i got nominated for my first blog award, im so excited!!
Thanks Cornucopiaofreview
and my nominations are
  • Cornucopiaofreview
  • Garden of books for teens
  • Eat sleep Dance Read
  • Serenehouse
You guys are the best
xoxoxo

July 7, 2009

Being Nikki

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot...

Things aren't pretty for Emerson Watts.Em was sure there couldn't be anything worse than being a brainiac the body of a teenaged supermodel.But it turned out she was wrong. Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who's gone mysteriously missing, a brother who's shown up on her doorstep demanding answers, a former best friend who's intent on destroying Stark Enterprises to avenge the death of his lost love, and a British heartthrob who's written a song about her that's topping the charts.How can Em balance all that with school, runway shows, and weekend jaunts to St. Johns - especially when she's got ex-boyfriends crawling out of the woodwork who want more than just a photo op; a sister who is headed to the high school cheerleading championships; a company she represents that seems to be turning to the dark side...Not to mention trying to convince the love of her life that models aren't really airheads after all...especially one model in particular.But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.


This is the 2nd instalment in this series, the first airheard was released a while back. When i first started reading this series, i thought "who could come up with a book about switching brains with a supermodel", but of course meg cabot! Being Nikki follows Niki around as she tries so hard to just to make every one happy, and to save Nikki's mom! I love how the whole plot plays out, and you really have to pay attention to detail. And this is not just about a supermodel living the life, but trying to save the world from this evil company. Okay not really the whole world! :) The reason i kept reading this series is not because it is weird or has hot boys in it, but because its different and it catches your attention whether you like it or not! Check this out!


4/5 Suns





My question to you, is if you could switch brains with anyone like Em, who would you switch with????