Feature Thursday (1)!!

Hi everyone!! Last week I mentioned to you all that I was interested in starting a blog feature here on catching books every week! So, I can officially announce that this week is the first week of my new feature!!

Feature Thursday is a feature (created by me!) where I have a guest post or blogger interview with a blogger so bloggers can make new friends and find new blogs!

So here is this weeks feature is Monica from Cover Analysis!!

Can you tell us a little yourself to your fellow bloggers?

Well, what do you want to know? This is my first ever interview. I'm math and reading geek. I swim (I have a killer free-style stroke, by the way) and run, I get a straight A's, and I love Fruit Loops. Oh, and BBQ chips. So yummy. 

What is your favorite part of the blogging process?

Writing the blog posts! I love that I can be myself, you know? I can type and type and type as much as I want to about books and no one complains about it! :) It gives me a sense of freedom.

What book are you reading right now?

Stolen by Lucy Christopher. I seriously want to shake some sense into the main character but it has me completely intrigued. :D

What is your favorite ya book of 2012?

Only one? *racks brain* I would say from what I read so far The Selection by Keira Cass. It's coming out this later this month and I loved it.

What was your favorite book growing up and why?

To be honest, I never even read all that much when I was younger. Only the occasional Dr.Seuss book once a year or so but I'm still growing up and my favorite one right now is The Giver by Lois Lowry. :) Such an amazing, original dystopian novel. 

Are there any books you would recommend to fellow bloggers and readers out there?

LEGEND BY MARIE LU! If you have not read it. You must get on your bike, get in your car, or ride a horse and go to Walmart and BUY IT! I completely and utterly in love with that novel and have re-read, at least, 5 times already.

Favorite band?

Er, um, hmmmmm. I'm going to have to pick two. Maroon 5 and Three Days Grace. Yup, that's right. I don't like One Direction but they are cute. 

Give us one fun fact about yourself:

Let's see . . .one fun fact about me. OH! Er, *thinks*. Alright, this is something that I'm kind of embarrassed about but it's 100% true and I think it's funny. If I ever, ever, eat cookies with milk I will fall asleep almost immediately. 

Last question..if you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? 

I would go someplace cold. I don't particularly like sunny warm weather. Yeah, I know. Shocker, right? But, I would go to somewhere not to noisy nor populated. OH! I got it . . ALASKA! :) Skiing with the penguins. Oh, and I was promised BBQ chips and a juice box for this interview.

Thanks so much Monica for answering my questions and being my first feature!! Please make sure to stop by Monica's blog and follow!!
If you are interested in being one of my feature blogs make sure to send me an email at sarah.catchingbooks@gmail.com

Waiting on Wednesday 40: Time Between Us

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

Name: Time Between Us
Author: Tamara Ireland Stone
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: October 9th, 2012
Add the book on Goodreads

Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett’s unique ability to travel through time and space brings him into Anna’s life, and with him, a new world of adventure and possibility.


As their relationship deepens, they face the reality that time might knock Bennett back where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate—and what consequences they can bear in order to stay together.
Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, TIME BETWEEN US is a stunning and spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new talent in YA fiction.-Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Okay so this book sounds AWESOME. I love the whole time-travel relationship aspect..sort of reminds me like the time-travelers wife!! I am also really intrigued about how the two meet/what their relationship will be like. I also want to see how Tamara Ireland Stone incorporates the time travel into this book! Also, I really like the cover..simple but beautiful! I can't wait to read this one!!

Well what do you think of my choice?? What are you waiting for this week?? Comment below and leave me some links :)

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen Review

Name: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare
Author: Melissa Jensen
Publisher: Speak
Release Date: February 16th, 2012
Format: Library Book
Buy the book on Amazon

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?-Goodreads

My Review:
What a fun contemporary read! I was really in the mood to read something that was fun and uplifting and The Fine Art of Truth or Dare was the perfect choice!!

I really enjoyed the plot of this book! Of course it has it's cliche romance moments but I really liked how Melissa Jensen made it into her own-from Ella's crazy and loud family to Ella's love for Edward Willing-this book definitely stood out! I'm also a fan of all the art references in this book! I am in art history right now in school so I definitely appreciated Ella's love for art :)

I also really liked the main character, Ella! She is a really shy, insecure girl at certain moments, but as the novel progresses she really grows as a character and breaks out of her shell! I also loved the the relationship that she has with Alex..especially when they speak French! (even though I really don't know any French I think it's such a romantic language and of course it reminds me of Anna and The French Kiss!!) Anyways..Alex is such a sweet boy and he really helps Ella find herself and their chemistry really was perfect!

Overall, this was a really fun contemporary romance! If you are looking for a fun, contemporary read look no further and pick this book up!!


My Rating: Four out of Five Stars

The Selection by Kiera Cass Review

Name: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: April 24th, 2012
Source: ARC E-book
Pre-Order the book on Amazon
Thank you HarperTeen and Edelweiss for sending me a copy of The Selection!!

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.-Goodreads

My Review:
Wow..I was completely blown away by this book..I fell in love with the story/the characters and this easily is one of my all time favorite books. Once I started The Selection I could not put it down..and it was so hard to tear myself away from this awesome world that Kiera Cass creates!!

One of my favorite parts of The Selection was the plot!! At first, I was a little bit unsure about the dystopian (seeing that I'm not a huge fan of dystopian but I am definitely warming up to more books in this genre) aspect of this book, but once I started this book I liked how the world had changed but it still had aspects that made the people and places seem relatable. I also loved the idea of a competition for girls to "win" the heart of a Prince. Kiera Cass does such a great job of weaving the caste system that she creates into the novel, with the "reality show" idea of one girl winning and becoming a princess. I was so drawn into the story and how all of these girls are vying to win Prince Maxon's heart that I just couldn't stop reading!

I also really liked the main character America! She is a such a strong character, and is willing to stand up for herself, but she is also down to earth and doesn't let the competition get to her head. Overall, she is a very normal girl and can definitely relate to teenagers who read this book! She has the characteristics of a leader but is so kindhearted and is willing to help anyone. However, America also can be a little bit stubborn and isn't afraid to tell people what she believes which makes me like her even more!

Now onto the love triangle..at first I thought I thought this book might have a love triangle similar to Twilight where both boys are at odds with each other over a girl's heart..but I didn't really feel a love triangle at all in The Selection (at least not till the end!). Usually I'm not a huge fan of love triangles but Kiera Cass really made it work and I liked how American interacted with both boys! At first I thought I would be a huge team Aspen fan..but as the novel progressed and we learned more about Prince Maxon..I have to say that he has won me over. Maxon is so kind, and such a sweetheart that I really really liked him. While Aspen is also a great guy..he can be a little bit of a heartbreaker..but I have to say that I am interested in seeing both boys try to win America's heart!!

One of the best parts of this book was that at certain points Kiera Cass made me feel like I was in the audience watching all of this unfold and I loved that! The added bonuses of action in this novel were also great..they didn't distract from the overall plot of the story but they definitely made the novel even stronger and I really enjoyed reading those scenes!!

Overall, I LOVED The Selection! I can't wait for the second book in the series..especially after the ending of this one!! Please don't let negative reviews of this book steer you away from it..give it a chance! I promise it will be worth your while :) If you want to read an awesome book with glamour, action, romance, princesses, dystopian, and an amazing female lead you should check this book out!! Also..they are possibly making The Selection into a tv show on the CW in the fall..how awesome is that?!

My Rating: Five out of Five Stars

P.S. Here's a quick look of who is playing who in the tv show!!

Aimee Teegarden is playing America

Ethan Peck is playing Prince Maxon

William Mosely is playing Aspen

1 year Blog-O-Versary Giveaway @ Bookish!!

Hi everyone!! Evie at Bookish just reached her one year blogoversary!! Yay!! Don't forget to stop by her blog and enter the giveaway!!

Click here to go to the link

Congrats again Evie!!

In My Mailbox (39)

Hi everyone!! In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren! I hope you all are having a great week!

So this week I got some AWESOME books from publishers and from the library!! I also went to Barnes and Noble and bought Shatter Me (because it's one of my favorite books and I don't own a copy!!).

Okay so here is what I received this week!!

Received for Review:

Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Teen!!)

Silence by Michelle Sagara West (Thank you Penguin Publishing!!)

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen (Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Teen!!)

Black Dawn by Rachel Caine (Thank you Penguin Publishing!!)
Slow Twitch by Liz Reinhardt (Thank you Liz for sending me a copy!!)

Bought/Received from the Library

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy # 2) by Jennifer Estep

Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now--As Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It, and Long for It by Craig Taylor
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Well..that's all I got this week!! What did you get in your mailbox?? What do you think of what I got?? Comment below and leave me some links :)