Award Time!

Yay! I am so happy. My second and third (and technically my fourth awards!) Special thanks to Nelle from Book Check, Little Miss Becky from Stories and Sweeties, and Spellbound by Books! Thanks for your encouragments, your comments, and your support to all of my followers! Also, maye some of you were wondering why didn't I have a 50 followers giveaway? Well, I decided I should wait until I get 75 and have a bigger one, when I have more money and more prizes to giveaway! So just wait a little bit longer (I hope it's not too long!).

The Happy 101 Award was given to me by Nelle from  Book Check! Thank you so much!

The rules are that I should list ten things that make me happy and then pass it to 10 other bloggers.

1. Reading at Barnes and Noble
2. JR Celski (US Short Track Skater of Winter Olympics 2010) 
3. Snow days (Obviously, I like having no school, but the surprise of it always make it better)
4. Asian dramas (My fantasy away from life)
5. Summer (No school, going to the beach, weather, my birthday!)
6. Traveling (to California, Korea, Las Vegas. I hope I can go to Europe soon!)
7. K-pop music 
8. Hanging out with my friends
9. Ice skating (<3 Kim Yuna!)
10. Theme Parks (Cannot wait for the new Harry Potter theme park this spring!)

I would like to pass this award along to:

1. Natalie @ Mindful Musings 
2. Little Miss Becky from Stories and Sweeties
3. Spellbound by Books
4. Lea @ YA Book Queen 
5. Becky @ The Bookette
6. Stephanie @ Juicilicious Reviews  
7. Lori @ Pure Imagination 
8. Ladybug @ Escape In A Book 
9. Sammee @ I Want to Read That
10. YA Vampire Books 

The One Lovely Blog Award was given to me by Little Miss Becky from Stories and Sweeties and Spellbound by Books. Thank you so much!

 The rules are:

• Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
• Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.
• Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award!

I would like to pass this award along to:

1. Sharon @ Sharon Loves Books and Cats  
2. Mandy @ edge of seventeen 
3. Jami @ YA Addict 
4. Nelle @ Book Check
5. Morgan @ Smitten With Books 
6. Lori @ Escape Between the Pages 
7. Caitlin @ Vision Quest Fail 
8. Nicole @ Who, What, When, Where, Why 
9. Melanie @ Melanie's Musings
10. Lizzy @ Cornucopia of Reviews  
11. Lauren @ I was a teenage book geek 
12. Nikki @ Wicked Awesome Books 
13. vvb32 @ vvb32 reads 
14. RavenousReader @ Tale of the Ravenous Reader 
15. Ah Yuan @ GAL Novelty

Whew, that took a long time. I tried to give the awards to blogs that  I don't think have these awards. I'll start commenting and sending emails ASAP. Now time to study for Science Olympiad and watch men short track :)

Perfect Chemistry Review

Title: Perfect Chemistry
Author: Simon Elkeles
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Published Date: January 2008
Price: Amazon ($9.99)
Synopsis:

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart. 

Review:

This book was literally burning in my hands with the sparks that flew out of the page. The reincarnation of Romeo and Juliet combined with the modern West Side Story has the bittersweet romance, the theme of the constriction of society’s watchful eyes, and the alternating point of views between Alex and Brittany that make the book stand out. The depth of the characters explored creates a connection with the readers, as they feel the character's pain in trying to pursue love.

Elkeles created Alex into a real person, someone who’s relatable and human. Too many times has the hero been flawless and perfect. But Alex’s pain and sorrow at being the head of the family, while resenting the fact, creates depth into the character, wanting to run away from the duty of family, in contrast to a flat character, who hates being the patriarch. The flirtatious and bad boy façade he creates starts to dissolve during the plotline, shown through his interactions with Brittany. The character development was just amazing, slowly but significantly. Elkeles really did an outstanding job in depicting Alex’s two characters, the sensitive and conflicted boy to the harsh and strong man. Also, a minor character that provided depth and hoped I could see more of is Alex’s mom. She obviously doesn’t want her son to suffer, but wants to also protect her family as a whole, working for the common good, even ignoring her suffering of her husband’s death.

Brittany is the cheerleader, popular girl in school trying to live perfectly. However, her family’s distant relations and her disabled sister is the other life that she has, the life where she has to live through her family’s silent dinner, her mother’s nagging, and the impending decision to send her sister to a “nursing” home. Brittany’s pressure to be perfect, trying to please her parents whereas Shelley cannot, is tangible as you feel empathetic towards her as she starts to break society’s standards. You also didn’t feel exasperated by her whining or her stubbornness to break out of her perfecrt façade. As a side note, I didn’t really like the dialogue between Brittany and her family. I felt as if the writing didn’t really flow and their talking seemed way too cliché. I wanted to see more emotions within the word choice.

The romance was also more on the realistic side. At first, it may seem like love at first sight, like Romeo and Juliet, but their love really grows when Alex and Brittany learn about each other’s conflicts and sensitive side. I really loved the gradual progession of love, with the chemistrying energizing it and making you root for their success.

Plot: 4.5/5

Characters: 5/5

Cover: 3.5/5

The cover is simple, but I love the contrast and the models posing for it, as they accurately depict Brittany and Alex for me.

Overall: 5/5

You think you might know Romeo and Juliet’s plot by heart, but Elkele’s unique twist with the character’s realistic aspects, with their flaws and want to break out of community’s standards, create a friendship between the reader and the characters. Elkele’s brilliant writing helps convey the romance and sorrow shared between them. I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel, Rules of Attraction, to come out in April!

In My Mailbox (5)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

Borrowed from Library (To Be Read)

• Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks
• Hazel by Julie Hearn

Contest

• Daniel X Watch The Skies by James Patterson and Ned Rust (from Young Adult Book Central)
• Perfect Shot by Debbie Rigaud (from The Book Cellar)

I'm excited to add these books to my To-Be-Read Pile (even though it's already big!). Also, I am not sure I can do a Movie Poster this Monday because I have Science Olympiad I did not study for at all. So sorry :(

What did you get in your mailbox?

Silver Phoenix Review

Title: Silver Phoenix
Author: Cindy Pon
Publisher: HarperTeen'
Published Date: April 2009
Price: Amazon ($12.23)
Synopsis:

No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she is relieved—despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family—to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger's subservient bride banished to the inner quarters.

But now, something is after her. Something terrifying—a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn't only a quest to find her beloved father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined.

Bravery, intelligence, the will to fight and fight hard . . . she will need all of these things. Just as she will need the new and mysterious power growing within her. She will also need help.

It is Chen Yong who finds her partly submerged and barely breathing at the edge of a deep lake. There is something of unspeakable evil trying to drag her under. On a quest of his own, Chen Yong offers that help . . . and perhaps more. 

Review:

Silver Phoenix is an exotic, traditional Chinese fantasy with the romance and strong protagonist that sets it apart from historical fictions. The fantasy aspects of the evil spirits and the adventure Ai Ling goes on is characterized very well with Pon’s excellent description of China’s beautiful land. Ai Ling, on a journey to rescue her father, has obstacles from her past life, in which a man falls in a fateful love with her. As she is about to be defeated, Chen Yong supports her as he looks for his own identity and past. Their pasts and their futures are intertwined and written by the future.

The plot’s originality with the combination of the well developed characters creates a page-turning tale. The fantasy creatures and spirits that attack Ai Ling are described so well that made me shiver as I imagined maggots on a person’s face (it really did happen). Also, the different stages of the journey don’t lag in action, and even if nothing happens, Pon creates an aura of suspense as anything might attack the characters. The beauty of the landscape and the setting, including the yummily delicious food (I was drooling while I was reading this) portray the Chinese setting that you might not know about.

I also love the characters and the chemistry between Ai Ling and Chen Yong. Ai Ling’s character development is created very well, from a naïve girl who’s closeted within her protective family to a woman who’s experienced evil beyond imagination, death (I won’t say whose because there are a few), and the harsh measures against women’s inferiority. Ai Ling is able to not only able to rise up from these challenges but also keep her head up as she learns how to defy the woman’s boundaries within her husband’s house. However, I felt a little bit more dialogue could keep the story more paced and express Ai Ling better. Chen Yong’s supportive and deep, emotional past created a great supporting character. Zhong Ye, the antagonist, could have been developed better, maybe going deeper into his past. I felt a tugging notion that maybe he isn’t all that bad and the insults and shun he receives from others in the past created Zhong Ye’s evil nature.

Another feature that the book can be developed on is Ai Ling’s past and the pendant. I thought we could learn more about Silver Phoenix and why she decided to sacrificed her life. I also wanted to learn more about the pendant and where all the power to save her came from.

Plot: 4/5

Characters: 4/5

Cover: 5/5

I initially picked up the book because of the cover. The striking dress and the pendant, with the colorful background, make this one of the books that I would buy just to look at the cover. Even though it is very colorful that it does blind you a bit, the pretty Asian model, which her fierceness can represent Ai Ling, helps me picture her.

Overall: 4/5

The book’s original plot, with the fantasy elements and the evil spirits that you’ll probably never meet if you traveled back in time to China, creates a unique novel. I also love the combination of the adventure and the romance, even though I wish Chen Yong’s feeling could be reciprocated and is shown more. This is one book you can judge by the cover and I cannot wait for the sequel this fall!

Fashion Friday (2-Hunger Games)

Fashion Friday is creating a fashion wardrobe and picking out clothes that I would think a character would wear based on the type of personality Using pictures from different magazine, such as Vogue or Elle, or from model shows, I will usually pick out one or two types of outfits, and even accessories or shoes. I hope everyone enjoys it and if you have any suggestion or fashion websites, please feel free to tell me! Also, I am planning to create a button very soon (or if you're great at button making, please help me :)).

First off, I wanted to say sorry for the lack of posts this week. I've been either watching the Olympics or doing homework, but I'm reading a lot of books currently. This week, I decided to do the The Hunger Games series. Instead of creating a wardrobe for their time in the Games, which would probably be athletic skin-tight clothes, I decided to create clothes they would wear casually. I couldn't find a dress similar to the mockingjay dress she was wearing, so please give your suggestions!

For Katniss, I wanted to choose a tomboy style, but with an air of chick and rebellious. I think the clothes on the left with the opened up plaid collared shirt and the faded jeans will fit perfectly for Katniss. It is not extravagant or like a princess style, but it portrays a sexiness within her. Also, the clothes have an aura of rebellion, with the open shirt and cut up jeans, as if she isn't trying to be too formal or casual. I also think that the clothes on the left, with the vest and the belt, portray a boyish style, with an underlying classy look.

Peeta is the nice and "church" boy and to me carries a sense of innocence. I think the casual-formal wear is not too formal to create Peeta into an arrogant character who thinks he's superior of everything else, but a nice clothes that are business casual. The collared shirt, the clean blue jeans, and the cardigan/sweater has the amiable boy look., conforming into society with its clean looks, but isn't too formal as it portrays his childlike innocence.

Ah. Gale, the rebellious and "sexy" guy. I think of Gale as the motorcycle guy, lol. Maybe he's put into a big contrast against Peeta, the guy who keeps his head down and tries to conform into society, but to me Gale seems the one to take risks. I thought the leather jacket and the baggy jeans create the sexy, but dangerous looking guy. Also, with his shirt and jacket open, it portrays Gale's rebellious nature, as if he doesn't care what the Capitol says about his dress code. 

That's it for today's Fashion Friday. Comment and tell me what you think of it, whether you think it's on the spot or way off and want to rant :). Also, PLEASE GIVE SUGGESTIONS for Movie Poster Monday and Fashion Friday! Thanks and I hope you enjoyed it!

In My Mailbox (4) and Olympics

Hey everyone! Sorry for not being online for awhile. I've been really busy and out of town particiapating in a Model UN conference. So I haven't had the time to read or write reviews. Sorry ^^ But this week, I was able to get tons of books from the library because all the books I put for hold came in and I'm so excited to start it.

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie.

 

 Borrowed from Library (To Be Read)

• Beautiful Creatures by Kimi Garcia and Margaret Stohl
• Player's Ruse by Hilari Bell 
• Very LeFreak by Rachel Cohn
• The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliot
• Blood Ninja by Nick Lake
• Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern
• Candor by Pam Bachorz

Borrowed from Library (Reading)

• Wish by Alexandra Bullen (Yay! My first 2010 Debut Author Book)
• Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles

This is quite a lot of books I'm going to have to start and finish reading, which is going to be challenging to do since school is already starting this week after that second "winter break" and wanting to watch the Olympics....

I started watching the 2010 Olympics from the opening ceremony and I absolutely cannot wait to watch more short track speed skating and figure skating. What sports do you follow in the Winter Olympics?

I watched the first day of short track speed skating with Apollo Ohno and J.R. Celski (whom I developed a soft spot). Even though I am very happy for Team USA to win two medals I didn't really think it was really a competition with the two Koreans tripping and falling at the last second. I feel sooo bad for the two Koreans and also Ohno and Celski got a lot of luck because they weren't even close to the first place Korean skater. But, kudos to them! I also love watching figure skating, but particularly I'm watching the Korean figure skater, Kim YuNa and cannot wait to see her perform!

Images: Medal Ceremony for 1500 m. Short Track Speed Skating (Top) and Kim Yuna (Bottom)

Waiting on Wednesdays (5)

Waiting On Wednesdays is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights highly anticipated releases.

Title: Rules of Attraction
Author: Simon Elkeles
Publishing Date: April 27, 2010
Synopsis:

New sparks will fly in the sequel to Simone Elkeles’s breakout book Perfect Chemistry
When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.
With new characters to fall in love with and the same hot romance found in Perfect Chemistry, Simone Elkeles has crafted another sure-fire hit for teens.

My Thoughts: 

I am reading the first book, Perfect Chemistry, and I am absolutely loving it! It's such a bitttersweet romance novel and has a lot of emotion packed into it. I cannot wait for the sequel and I heard Brittany/Alex comes back. However, I am a little bit wary that the book might be too much of a repeat, but we'll just have to see!

Also, I am so sorry for the lack of reviews. Even with the snow, I had a lot of work to make up. More reviews will be on their way, even though I will probably be sparse from the internet from tomorrow to Sunday. Sorry again :(

Movie Poster Monday (2-Hush, Hush)

This meme is created by Tuning Into YA Books (if you haven't figure out, that's me! :)). This meme is a combination of Matching Actors Into Characters and my mediocre Photoshopping skills. I compile images together from different movie scenes and fan art (that is not mine) to create a movie poster, ever hopeful of a future movie.

I've heard some rumors for an upcoming movie for Hush, Hush so I really hope they choose a great cast (sorry, Robert Pattinson and Kristin Stewart fans, I really have given up on the movies, except for Taylor Lautner!). For Nora, I thought Emily Browning would be a great match (I matched her to Tamsin in Once A Witch before here) with her vulnerable look and brown eyes and hair. And I think she'll act brilliantly as Nora, by beginning to understand the angel fantasy, like she did with the ghosts in Uninvited. For Patch, I really had a hard time choosing a great actor for him. When I was looking throguh some dream casts, there was the chance of Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian), but I didn't really think he had the "hotness" (in my opinion, sorry fangirls!) for Patch. So, I decided to try Aaron Johnson and even though he might have too much of a softness in his face, I think with enough makeup, he can characterize Patch well. (By the way, I was thinking Gaspard Ulliel, but that was way too much Twilight with Emily Browning). 

Without further ado, here's my movie poster! Again, if you want to help improve my poor Photoshop skills, please let me know!

Model UN Absence

Hey everyone! I wanted to let everyone know from Thursday to Monday, I might not be on because I am going to be participating in NAIMUN (North American Invitational Model UN)! This is my first time doing this and I am so excited to participate in this. Since I procrastinated a lot, I need to focus a lot on my proposal paper and researching. My topic is Slumization and Woman's Rights Violations in War Zones.

But I'll still be posting up reviews and my memes by setting it to automatically post it on the day. For my upcoming movie poster I decided to do Hush, Hush, since I really want to see this as a movie (and not be terrible as Twilight, sorry Twilight fans!). And I haven't decided what to do for Fashion Friday yet so please tell me some suggestions!

Again, sorry in advance! And if anyone has done Model UN, please feel free to share some advice or experience :) 

The Devouring Review

Title: The Devouring
Author: Simon Holt
Publisher: Little Brown Young Readers
Published Date: September 2008
Price: Amazon ($7.99)
Synopsis:

When Reggie finds an old journal and reads about the Vours, supernatural creatures who feast on fear and attack on the eve of the winter solstice, she assumes they are just the musings of some lunatic author. But soon, they become a terrifying reality when she begins to suspect that her timid younger brother might be one of their victims.

Risking her life and her sanity, Reggie enters a living nightmare to save the people she loves. Can she devour own her fears before they devour her?

Bone-chilling, terrifying, thrilling...what are you waiting for? 

Review: 

Before I begin my review, I need to develop my “position” on horror books and movies. I probably am on the different end of the spectrum of horror tolerance than others. Last summer at a party, someone decided to bring The Grudge 3 and the horror just didn't end there for me. Let’s just say, I couldn’t practice the violin in the dark basement without seeing hallucinations of the bloody girl.

I started The Devouring around the Winter Solstice at 12 AM (while procrastinating on homework). I couldn’t sleep that whole night as the Vours gave me nightmares, and I couldn’t even stand looking out in the dark expanse outside my window. Reggie, a horror fan, tells her younger brother, Henry, the story of the Vours. Like many other protagonists in horror movies, she doesn’t realize the reality behind the story until it is too late, when the Vours actually take control of Henry and create him into a monster.

The fearscape and “Henry’s” chilling tone, which the Vour creates a perfect, but cracked image of an innocent child, makes the reader more disgusted and scared. Holt’s horrific descriptions when he descries the Vour's manipulation of the fears make you almost feel it yourself. I personally thought Henry’s fearscape was gory and bloody, reminding me of Saw (even though I’ve personally never watched it). However, the horror of the gruesome hallucinations starts to recede once the reader gets accustomed to it. I wished there was a more psychological terror to the book, creating suspense for the readers. Movies like The Ring (watched 20 minutes of it and freaked out) or Paranormal Activity (never watched it, but heard a lot about it) base its success on the unknown evil, the suspense in which you can’t control what happens to you and just has to wait and see how the higher powers will manipulate fate. After Reggie finds more about the Vours and she learns how to play with them, I got bored by it and the ending was too predictable.

I also thought character development was much needed, since the reader should experience the same fear as the protagonist. For example, even though I knew Reggie is a horror fan, I thought she overcame her fears way too quickly making her more like Superwoman who comes to rescue the day. I also thought Reggie’s personality isn’t delved into too much, in which all the readers know about is she likes good-looking guys, even if they are jerks (*cough cough* Quinn) and cares for her brother deeply. On the other hand, I thought Henry’s insecurity and fear is crafted very well since I felt sympathy and sadness for Henry’s sufferings.

Plot: 4/5

Characters: 3.5/5

Cover: 4/5

The cover is so pretty with the purple smoke and the contrast against the black backdrop and Reggie’s pale skin. It portrays the horror aspect of the novel well, especially with the smudged mascara.

Overall: 3.5/5

The Devouring will make you stay up at night, just staring out the window and planning to hide under your blankets during Sorry Night so be prepared to face your fear. The unique premise of the book, in which Vours take over one’s body and uses it as a puppet, begins the series well by starting with an innocent, naïve boy, by playing the sympathy card as you wonder how a boy can live their fears everyday. Even though the characters could be developed better to create more of a connection between the readers, the plot balanced it out. I already have its sequel, The Soulstice, so I cannot wait to start it.

Fashion Friday (1-The Luxe)

Fashion Friday is creating a fashion wardrobe and picking out clothes that I would think a character would wear based on the type of personality Using pictures from different magazine, such as Vogue or Elle, or from model shows, I will usually pick out one or two types of outfits, and even accessories or shoes. I hope everyone enjoys it and if you have any suggestion or fashion websites, please feel free to tell me!

So, this week, I started reading Splendor. I absolutely always loved the beautiful cover and the dresses. So I thought instead of matching clothes from the 1800s, I decided to modernize the character's clothes to current trends.

I thought this was a great match for Elizabeth. Elizabeth is characterized as being very pretty, but also fits into society's decorum. I thought casual professional would work for Elizabeth. The casual clothes, but also the underlying chick style, would be a great match for Elizabeth. I like the mid jacket and the white dress to almost create a pure aura.

 

For Diana, I thought a tomboy look was a match to her teenage kinda rebellious nature. Unlike her sister, Elizabeth,  I didn't think she would be the one to wear "girly" stuff, but she is still known for being pretty in almost a tomboy way. I didn't think she would wear fancy dresses and clothes, but I thought the way she layers the different type of clothes work perfectly well, like the vest with the scarf, to create a fashion sense. 

Ok, I nearly fell back in my chair from shock  when I saw EMMA WATSON in this picture! I mean, Emma changed from the bookworm Hermione (who is too pretty to be Hermione) to a sexy woman. So, I thought this was a great match for Penelope, the "sexy" one who goes out of her way to not be conformed into the polite woman of the 1800s. The bright red dress against Penelope's skin and the bright red lipstick will work well to develop her as a woman who shines for the light.

The potential beauty of the model with the dress that tries hard to be formal and part of society's repsected reminds me of Lina. The stiff prettiness, created by the formal white dress with the high collar, and the pretty, but not absolutely, gorgeous face, portrays the adjusting Lina to me.  

And then I couldn't leave the boys out :). I thought the colorful but aristocratic suits would be a perfect match for Henry and Teddy. They both have a boyish and innocent aura to them, which is created by the colorful suits, but also an elite sense of clothes.

So that ends today's Fashion Friday. Tell me your opinions and tell me what books you want me to do next week and also for Movie Poster Monday. By the way, if you live in the eastern part of the US, have fun with the snow!

Change of Meme and SNOW!

Hey everyone! I hope everyone's been having a good week (sadly, I haven't. I really do hope it improves). I mentioned earlier that I will be hosting a meme of Fashion Thursday. But, I realized that I will not have time for that on a Thursday (school day), so I will move it to Fashion Friday (the name even makes more sense).
So expect it tomorrow. Also, I am open to any book suggestions. For now I'm thinking about The Luxe Series.

Also, if you live in the Eastern coast of the US, I'm sure everyone's excited about the snowstorm! My friends and I have been complaining that for some odd reason, all the snow storms come on a weekend, which means there is always the slight chance of school. But I heard this one is going to be really big, like the one we had before Christmas break. It's even possible for 20 inches. I'm crossing my fingers for no school! Also, the review for Devouring will be up soon along with Silver Phoenix.

Waiting On Wednesdays (4)

Waiting On Wednesdays is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights highly anticipated releases.

Title: Anxious Hearts
Author: Tucker Shaw
Publishing Date: May 1, 2010
Synopsis:

“Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper. “Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you.”

Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva.

A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited.

My Thoughts: 
The cover is absolutely beautiful with the color composition and the magical air of the forest. I'm ashamed to say that I do judge books by the covers so I cannot wait for the book to be released. Even if the contents of the book, I think I'll just buy this book for my bookshelf. Also, the plot seems romantically sad and a nice twist to the poem, Evangeline, which I have never read but read the summary of. Here are some photos and more information for the cover shoot.

Also, if any of you have book suggestions or ideas to either improve Movie Poster Monday or Fashion Thursday, please tell me. I still haven't decided what book to do for tomorrow's Fashion Thursday, so please feel free to tell me!

Movie Poster Monday (1-Silver Phoenix)

Hey everyone! So this is my first time doing this meme. It's similar to Matching Actors to Characters, but instead of only naming characters who I think match the actors, I also compile some images and put them together to create a movie poster using my terrible Photoshop skills (if you want to help out, please let me know! :)).

The first book I decided to do was Silver Phoenix. I am currently reading it right now (review will be up this week!), so the characters are fresh in my mind. Also, I love to watch Asian soap operas so I knew a lot of actors/actresses that could match the characters. For our heroine, Ai Ling, I thought Kim So Eun would be a great match and for Cheng Yong, I thought Oh Ji Ho would be a great match. (The graphics are from the dramas, Empress Chun Chu and Chuno).

I thought Kim So Eun (the girl in the movie poster) matched Ai Ling with her innocent and pretty face, but with the sense of confidence. At first, I thought the picture in the top left corner was too regal to be Ai Ling. But I thought the contrast served well between the fancy dressed Ai Ling to the girl in pastoral clothes, fighting for her father's disappearance. I also thought Oh Ji Ho was a good match for Chen Yong, even though the actor is quiet old. Oh Ji Ho has a foreign, American look in his features, which make up the important characteristic of Chen Yong. Also, I've seen his acting before and I know he can pull out the confident, but weak in the inside, man.

So here's the movie poster! Again, I am really sorry if you are disappointed. I have little to no Photoshop experience, so if you want to contribute (or use this meme) please feel free to do so!