Making A Comeback

Hello my lovely followers,

I hope you had a wonderfully relaxing winter holiday and a fun-filled New Year! It's been a while, huh? I'll admit, I completely dropped the ball with blogging for the last few months. I really only meant to take off the month of October to concentrate on my college applications (I've gotten into two schools, by the way!), but that month quickly turned into three after I joined my school's theater department for the Christmas production. It was such a great experience, and I'm hoping to help out with our spring musical, but it did suck away a lot of my reading time. I apologize for being gone so long; I've really missed reading and writing and talking with all of you. (:

So, with the new year, I'm reading (and blogging again!) While I can't necessarily promise that my posts will always be consistent, I can promise that I'll do my best to get reviews and interviews and such up and running again.

Here's to an amazing 2011! Happy Reading!
<3 Cate

Restoring Harmony Playlist

I had the opportunity to read Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony (review here) through The Teen {Book} Scene! As part of the book tour, I was asked to make a playlist of songs that I feel fit in with Restoring Harmony. Since Molly, our main character, plays the fiddle, I tried to find some more folksy songs, and then I threw a few extra in. I've linked all the songs with their Youtube videos. Enjoy!






1)Spit on a Stranger- Nickel Creek
2)Sunny Came Home- Shawn Colvin
3)We Used to Wait- Arcade Fire
4)Long Time Traveler- The Wailin' Jennys
5)After the Storm- Mumford and Sons
6)Belong- The Cary Brothers

Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony

The year is 2041, and sixteen-year-old Molly McClure has lived a relatively quiet life on an isolated farming island in Canada, but when her family fears the worst may have happened to her grandparents in the US, Molly must brave the dangerous, chaotic world left after global economic collapse—one of massive oil shortages, rampant crime, and abandoned cities.

Molly is relieved to find her grandparents alive in their Portland suburb, but they're financially ruined and practically starving. What should've been a quick trip turns into a full-fledged rescue mission. And when Molly witnesses something the local crime bosses wishes she hadn't, Molly's only way home may be to beat them at their own game. Luckily, there's a handsome stranger who's willing to help. Restoring Harmony is a riveting, fast-paced dystopian tale complete with adventure and romance that readers will devour.

I was able to read Restoring Harmony courtesy of The Teen {Book} Scene.

Dystopian stories have always been a favorite of mine; they're usually fast-paced and brimming with suspense and the ever-present longing to explore the world the author created. Thankfully, Restoring Harmony does not disappoint on any of these counts. The reader is led on a journey through a futuristic and poverty-stricken North America, with Molly, our determined and musically-inclined main character.

Undoubtedly, one of my favorite bits of the book are the harvesting scenes. As a kid, I used to have a vegetable garden, and I loved collecting all the tomatoes and squash and cucumbers. So while I may just have positive connotations with gardening, I found those scenes in particular to be very lovely. It's clear that Anthony put a lot of heart into this book, and I'm sure I'm not the only reader to see that. Go look for it!

<3 Cate

Wishlist Wednesday

When Jill, a competitive high school fencer, goes with her family on vacation to the Bahamas, she is magically transported to an early eighteenth century pirate ship in the middle of the ocean.

So even though the synopsis for this one isn't exactly detailed, I'm definitely intrigued! In general I enjoy pirate stories (who doesn't love Pirates of the Caribbean, even as a guilty pleasure?), but I don't think I've actually ever reviewed one on Sparrow Review, despite several bloggers pleading with me to read Bloody Jack. Who knows though, maybe Steel will put me in a pirate-y mood?

<3 Cate

Wishlist Wednesday

Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been ther ...more Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day.

Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.

Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear.

Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.

First of all, the cover for Siren is full of intensity and is so striking I just want to snatch it from my computer screen and start reading. Not to mention the plot has me hooked already. *Runs to the library*

Have you read this one? It's been out since July, so hopefully someone has! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
<3 Cate

Update

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to apologize for my lack of posting lately. As you probably know, I'm a senior in high school, and this next month is pretty much the most crucial and busy one of the year! Most of my college applications are due at the beginning of November, so it'll be more difficult for me to find time to read and post. I'm going to the best I can though! I'll have up some reviews and maybe some guest blog posts. (: I'll be around, don't worry!

xxx Cate