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9 / 30 books. 30% done!

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12 / 51 states. 24% done!

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27 / 52 books. 52% done!

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34 / 104 books. 33% done!

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32 / 165 books. 19% done!
Saturday, November 14, 2009

Me and My Deadly Little Secret (I'll Give You a Hint: It Starts with Give and Ends with Away)

(Book image from Barnes & Noble)
Camelia Hammond should be dead. After all, Gloria Beckham's car came barreling straight toward her in the school parking lot. If it hadn't been for a handsome stranger saving her Edward Cullen-style, she'd have been a goner. She hasn't seen the guy since, but Camelia can't forget him, especially the strange electricity she felt when he placed his hand on her stomach. She tries to dismiss the whole episode, but she can't deny the weirdness of it - guy comes out of nowhere, saves her from sure death, touches her stomach, looks alarmed and takes off on his motorcycle before the ambulance even makes it to the school. Definitely an abnormal experience.
Three months later, Camelia sees her mystery man again. It's the first day of school and Ben Carter's just registered as a new student. His reputation has preceded him, however - rumors are already swirling about his alleged involvement in the death of a girl he was dating. Camelia's never been one for gossip; besides, he saved her life, he deserves a thank you. Only he denies he was ever in the school parking lot that day. She knows it was him - if nothing else, she recognizes the scar on his arm - but his strange denial is not the only odd thing about Ben Carter: He does his best to avoid people, even Camelia, who's been nothing but friendly. Still, there's something about him she can't resist, something about the way he keeps purposely touching her that she finds intoxicating. Her friends warn her away from the alleged killer, but she can't stay away. No one believes her, but the more time she spends with Ben, the more she believes in his innocence.
And then things get really weird. Someone's sending Camelia photos of herself adorned with hearts and freaky little notes. Then, there's the gift on her windowsill, the message on her bedroom mirror, and the anonymous phone calls. Is it someone's sick idea of a joke? Or is Ben Carter really the psychopathic killer everyone says he is? Could she be next on his hit list? Camelia knows Ben's different - in fact, she's the only one who knows exactly how different - but a murderer? It doesn't seem possible. Still, someone's watching her every move. Someone's sending her warnings. Someone wants her all for himself ...
Deadly Little Secret's the first book in a chilling new YA series by Laurie Faria Stolarz. It's a creepy story about obsession, paranoia and the fragility of the human mind. A hint of the paranormal makes it even eerier. The characters are simply, but skillfully drawn. Even though I found some of them annoying (especially Camelia's best friend, Kimmie), most of the players come off as round and real. I had Camelia's stalker pegged pretty early on, but the story still held me spellbound. I raced through it in a couple of hours, after which I immediately cracked open the sequel. My only real complaint about Deadly Little Secret is the abundance of sexual innuendo - I'm sure it's commonplace in the average high school, but still, it got distracting. All in all, though, this one really sucked me in. I enjoyed the fast-paced, deliciously chilling read.
I'm not sure how I feel about book trailers, but this one dramatizes Deadly Little Secret pretty well (even though the acting leaves much to be desired):
Grade: B+
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for heavy innuendo and some violence
To the FTC, with love: Disney/Hyperion provided me with 5 copies of Deadly Little Secret, but no monetary compensation.
Okay, now for my little secret. Thanks to the generous folks at Disney, I have 4 copies of Deadly Little Secret to give away. These are beautiful, brand new hardcovers. All you have to do to win one is comment on this post by midnight on November 24. Tweet about the contest or mention it on your blog and I'll give you extra entries. That's it - I won't even make you answer a question. This giveaway is open internationally. Oh! Please, please, please leave an email address if you don't have a public blog. I need a way to contact the winners. Thanks and good luck!

46 comments:

  1. ohh.. first comments never wins! But well I hope it changes now!

    +1 I have tweeted about it :)
    http://twitter.com/Sheeredry/status/5721767306

    sheere.dry@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds fascinating so I would love to be entered in the draw. Thank you for opening it to international bloggers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds interesting. I's love to have a chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  4. First off -- to Sheere: Sometimes first comment DO win - it happened recently at my own blog!

    Second: I think this book sounds really good. I love getting in on the beginning of a new series. I'd love to read this.

    Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds interesting! I would love to win a copy.

    jenben 8426 AT gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. would love to win...;D
    willowdust@gmail.com
    and Im a new follow.....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds intriguing. Please enter me in the giveaway.

    Sarah
    Sarahalope@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Please count me in!
    mich03@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Will I ever win? This one looks good!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Blogged about this giveaway here: http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/11/giveaways.html

    geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  11. This sounds wonderful. Please enter me. nicolama at cogeco dot ca

    ReplyDelete
  12. thanks for the opportunity to read this fabulous book...a wonderful review.

    karenk
    kmkuka*at*yahoo*dot*com

    ReplyDelete
  13. This looks great! Please enter me!

    BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Count me in! I linked this on my sidebar.

    http://towerofbooks.wordpress.com
    towerofbooks(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow!! What an awesome contest! I would love to win one of the books!:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. This book sounds so good! I'd love to win!

    bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi :)
    Thank you for the opportunity to win.
    I posted this in my Blog for Mon, Nov 16th post.
    All the best,
    RKCharron
    xoxo
    PS - Email's in Blogger Profile

    ReplyDelete
  18. This looks very intriguing. :-) I tweeted it here: http://twitter.com/madbibliophile/statuses/5751043610

    laughingstars66@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Looks like a great book!

    alisonsannouncements at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Okay! I want to enter! :)

    jenstusue AT yahoo

    ReplyDelete
  21. Yay for the giveaway! Thanks for sharing this one.

    s.mickelson at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great review! I've been interested in reading this book for a while. Yay for international! :)

    4 copies? Wow. I want in, please!

    Thank you!
    hanging.by.a.moment_@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. The odds are so good on this one, yeah!!!!

    wanlass6az at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sounds very interesting. Please enter me. Thanks!

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  25. This sounds like another great book!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Count me in! kebs314@yahoo.com. Sounds like a good one!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Please include me! Thank you!!

    dcf_beth at verizon dot net

    ReplyDelete
  28. I haven't read either of these books, but they do sound interesting! Count me in.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sounds like a great read! Count me in please

    Raelena
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sounds very good, please enter me to win. Not into tweeting as of yet...lol
    jhoorm01(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Sounds like a very interesting book. I'd love to read it!! Thanks for the chance to win it.

    ReplyDelete
  34. What an intriguing premise for a book. Please include me in this drawing. Thanks! Indigo

    ravensquietscreams@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Makes you want to read this book. Please count me in.



    mystica123athotmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thank for the international giveaway

    I tweeted about it
    http://twitter.com/eshchory/status/5883475235
    eshchory[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Sounds great! Thanks for the opportunity.
    I placed a link on my sidebar
    http://books-a-la-carte.blogspot.com/
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. This book sounds so interesting! Please enter me.

    Sidebar link

    Tweeted

    My email address is in my blogger profile :D

    ReplyDelete
  39. This sounds great! Count me in!

    +1 Tweeted it!

    Natalie @ Mindful Musings
    n_monzyk_27@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. This sounds like a fun book.

    Tweeted it as @stslibrary.

    td.ssch@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Sounds great!!

    areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Sounds really good! I'd love to read this!

    victoriah40@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. librarypat AT comcast dot net
    Sounds like a good YA read. Suspense, a touch of paranormal, and a bit of romance, what more could you ask for?

    ReplyDelete
  44. looks good

    had_triskaideka@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I have been dying to read this!! Count me in.

    +1 sidebar
    www.theneverendingshelf.com

    neverendingshelf@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.

P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!

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