FANTASTIC BOOK REVIEW

Waiting on Wednesday: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

2012-01-25T10:09:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

THE IMMORTAL RULES (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: 4/24/2012
Pages: 304
Age range: 14 years
Series: Blood of Eden Series

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.(

I don't know about you but I ADORED The Iron Fey Series! I can't wait to see how Kagawa portrays her vampires.

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-24T08:36:00.000-06:00

EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: 1/24/2012
Pages: 384
Age range: 14 years
Source: Netgalley

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her boyfriend—before she’s banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance—and the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s queen.

Everneath is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton.

EVERNEATH is a refreshingly unique tale that will leave you hungering for more. With references to Hades/Persephone and Orpheus/Eurydice, this book definitely kept me glued to the pages to find out how Nikki’s story would unfold. This book had plenty of original elements even though loosely based off the mythology characters mentioned above. I was not disappointed!

What was especially attention grabbing about this book to me was how Nikki’s story started. Six months later after enduring endless time in the Underworld, Nikki reemerges to give a proper farewell to the ones she left behind. She quickly finds out that things aren’t as easy as she thought it would be. She has to make a lot of adjustments to try to fit back into her old life. But that’s not her only worry, she has only Six months to say goodbye while trying to figure out the Everneath and what it all means to her and ultimately how it will affect her relationship with Jack, the one she left behind.

I enjoyed how I got to get glimpses of Nikki’s past and how it leads her to the Everneath. This installment was pretty good and I can’t wait to see what happens next! Talk about sacrificing for the ones you love, this book really puts love to the test. I was pleasantly surprised!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Check out the book trailer!

Waiting on Wednesday: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

2012-01-11T08:00:00.003-06:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

CITY OF LOST SOULS (Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication date: 5/8/2012
Pages: 536

In Book 5: City of Lost Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling.

How about that ending? I'm on pins and needles right now! There's so much to love about this series. If you haven't started, then you don't know what you're missing!

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

2012-01-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

HALLOWED (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: 1/17/2012
Pages: 416
Age range: 13 years
Source: Netgalley

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn’t prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

In this compelling sequel to Unearthly, Cynthia Hand captures the joy of first love, the anguish of loss, and the confusion of becoming who you are.

Mesmerizing right down to the very last page, HALLOWED will leave you begging for more. UNEARTHLY was one of my favorite reads in 2011 and I was eagerly awaiting the next installment to uncover all the mysteries surrounding Clara and her purpose. This book did not disappoint!

In this installment we get bits and pieces of the significance of Clara's purpose while also discovering more about her kind. This book just so happened to be a tear jerker for me which was so unexpected. I had no idea how wrapped up I was with these characters and their lives. Cynthia Hand out did herself in this installment. I can't get enough of these characters!

Some things unfolded as I expected and some not so much. Let's just say I was particularly surprised with some of the revealed secrets throughout this book. The ending of this book wrapped things up nicely but leaves readers excited about what's to come in the next chapter in this series. I can't wait to delve back into their world!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

In My Mailbox (91)

2012-01-08T10:30:00.000-06:00

FOR REVIEW

Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand

Forbidden by Syrie & Ryan James

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

2012-01-03T09:08:00.000-06:00

UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: 1/3/2012
Pages: 384
Age range: 14 years
Source: Netgalley

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.

First off, I’ll admit that I was a little confused when I started reading this book. As Aria described her world, I was thrown a bit trying to digest how her world worked. Fortunately, it didn’t take me long to get the gist of it and fall head first into this extraordinary new world.

The way the Dwellers and Outsiders live is so completely different, it was mind-boggling to read between Aria’s and Perry’s perspectives and realize how little they actually knew about each other. This only made for great tension throughout the book as Perry and Aria joined together to help each other journey back to Reverie. I also enjoyed reading about how drastic each character’s life was. These two take the cake when it comes to “opposites attract.”

I was constantly mesmerized while reading this book. Especially, when it came down to trying to figure out how these two saw each other. Reading from their point of views as they embarked on a dangerous journey into the unknown, put me down in the trenches with them. I love these types of novels and UNDER THE NEVER SKY is one you don’t want to miss!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Winner of Top 2011 Reads!

2011-12-31T08:24:00.000-06:00

The Winner is...

Carly

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Waiting on Wednesday: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

2011-12-28T08:00:00.002-06:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

GIRL OF NIGHTMARES (Anna #2) by Kendare Blake
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
Publication date: 8/7/2012
Pages: 304

In this follow-up to Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas begins seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he’s asleep, and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong. These aren’t just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn’t know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn’t deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it’s time for him to return the favor.

The first installment in this series was off the chain! It knocked my socks off! You can check out my review here.

So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Essay Contest for Aspiring Writers of YA/middle grade fiction

2011-12-15T09:13:00.000-06:00

Thanks to Logan Kleinwaks, President of Book Wish Foundation, for sharing this info.

Win a literary agent or acclaimed author's feedback on your unpublished manuscript for young adult or middle grade readers. This rare opportunity is being offered to the six winners of an essay contest recently announced by the literacy charity Book Wish Foundation. Click here contest for full details.

You could win a manuscript critique from:

Laura Langlie, literary agent for Meg Cabot
Nancy Gallt, literary agent for Jeanne DuPrau
Brenda Bowen, literary agent and editor of Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust
Ann M. Martin, winner of the Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe
Francisco X. Stork, winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for The Last Summer of the Death Warriors
Cynthia Voigt, winner of the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and the Newbery Honor for A Solitary Blue

All that separates you from this prize is a 500-word essay about a short story in Book Wish Foundation's new anthology, What You Wish For. Essays are due Feb. 1, 2012 and winners will be announced around Mar. 1, 2012. If you win, you will have six months to submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript for critique (which means you can enter the contest even if you haven't finished, or started, your manuscript). You can even enter multiple times, with essays about more than one of the contest stories, for a chance to win up to six critiques.

If you dream of being a published author, this is an opportunity you should not miss. To enter, follow the instructions here.

Waiting on Wednesday: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

2011-12-14T11:43:00.000-06:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

DREAMLESS (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: 5/29/2012
Pages: 400
Age range: 13 years

As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.

The first book in this series was not only swoon worthy but it was action-packed with great drama and a delicious cast of characters. I'm so looking forward to diving back into this series! So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

In My Mailbox (90)

2011-12-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

FOR REVIEW

Pure (Covenant, #2) (ARC) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Bittersweet (ARC) by Sarah Ockler

BOUGHT

Destined by Jessie Harrell

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

2012 Debut Author Challenge List

2011-12-08T08:00:00.005-06:00

Once again Kristi @ The Story Siren (Thank You) is hosting a 2012 Author Debut Challenge. This will be my 3rd challenge. I'm looking forward to another great year of books. There are so many that I want to read.

Here's more information on the challenge directly from The Story Siren:

The objective of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit! I encourage readers who can read more than twelve to do so!
Anyone can join. You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States.
You do not have to have an blog written in English to participate.
You can join at anytime. Deadline to join is May 31, 2012. The challenge runs from January 1, 2012 - January 31, 2013.

If you would like to sign up, head over to The Story Siren for more info.

Here's my list: I'm sure my list will change to include more summer/fall/winter releases.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
Tempest by Julie Cross
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Fracture by Megan Miranda
Harbringer by Sara Wilson Etienne
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
After the Snow by Sophie Crockett
Slide by Jill Hathaway
Above by Leah Bobet
The Selection by Kiera Cass
Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
Immortal City by Scott Speer
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans
Glitch by Heather Anastasiu
Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear
Venom by Fiona Paul
Cybernetic by Laura Riken

This is all I have right now but I'm sure this list will change to include books coming out later that year. I know I'm forgetting some.

Waiting on Wednesday: Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready

2011-12-07T08:00:00.001-06:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

SHINE by Jeri Smith-Ready
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: 5/1/2012
Pages: 384
Age range: 14 years

No other love has burned so bright

Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced that she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.

This series has become one of my favorites! You almost expect to be but on an emotional rollercoaster while reading these books. Just Remarkable! So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

2011-12-06T08:00:00.003-06:00

CLOCKWORK PRINCE (Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date: 12/6/2011
Pages: 528
Age range: 14 - 17 Years
Series Title: Infernal Devices Series
Source: Publisher (ARC)

The situation at the London Institute has never been more precarious. With Mortmain and his clockwork army still threatening, the Council wants to strip Charlotte of her power and hand the running of the Enclave over to the unscrupulous and power-hungry Benedict Lightwood.

In the hope of saving Charlotte and the Institute, Will, Jem, and Tessa set out to unravel the secrets of Mortmain's past—and discover unsettling Shadowhunter connections that hold the key not only to the enemy's motivations, but also to the secret of Tessa's identity. Tessa, already caught between the affections of Will and Jem, finds herself with another choice to make when she learns how the Shadowhunters helped make her a "monster." Will she turn from them to her brother, Nate, who has been begging her to join him at Mortmain's side? Where will her loyalties—and love—lie? Tessa alone can choose to save the Shadowhunters of London...or end them forever.

Fans of CLOCKWORK ANGEL will be thrown back into the wondrous world that is the Infernal Devices. In this installment, Clare pulls the reader deeper into the inner workings of Shadowhunter politics as Tessa, Will, Jem, and friends try to hunt down the illusive Magister. This series is so addictive – you don’t want to put it down!

This book broke my heart. All of these characters are fighting or yearning for something. I got to know each and every one of these characters on a deeper level. Clare continues to keep up in suspense as far as Tessa’s origins. But, we do get some shockers as the twists continue to throw you for a loop. Let me state again how much I adore love triangles. CLOCKWORK PRINCE had me twisted up all inside as Tessa tried to understand her feelings for Will and Jem. It’s a good one – that’s all I’m going to say on that!

It’s amazing that Clare can continue to craft these amazing books filled with lovable characters and great story telling. It always comes down to that last chapter/page. I always dread turning to the last page of these books. I never know what to expect because surely the wait is mind-boggling. I’ve fallen in love with these characters and I can’t wait to continue their journey in the next installment.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Check out the Book Trailer!

Taking a break....

2011-10-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

Yes, I am taking another Hiatus. I have so many things coming up like starting grad school in the spring (taking the GMAT) and other things that I have to prep for (Baby #2). Add this with working a full time job and taking care of family plus the blog, then you can see how my time is limited.

When I first started my blog, I had plenty of free time but 2 and a half years later, it's all I can do to keep up the blog. I was so active in the blogging community when I first started and now I'm spending less and less time communicating with authors, publisher, bloggers, and readers. I just need to take a step back and think everything over. I've finally reviewed all of the books that I've requested so I'm going to try to get life outside of blogging back on track.

I have not decided how long this hiatus will be but I'm thinking that the beginning of the year 2012 will give me plenty of time to consider what changes I'm going to make and how to proceed forward. I really do miss MONDAY MADNESS, so I'm thinking about bringing this feature back along with Book Chatter. They will be featured every other week.

I will post the latest book chatter winner as an announcement.

Waiting on Wednesday: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

2011-10-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore
Pub. Date: May 2012
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Hardcover , 576pp

"Book 3, tentatively titled Bitterblue and currently in progress, is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling. Bitterblue will tie all three books together in some way. Bitterblue is the sixteen-year-old protagonist, and Katsa, Po, Giddon, Helda, and other characters from Graceling will be part of the fabric of the book. Plenty of fighting still to come!"

I have fallen in love with these books. Although Katsa and Po are still my favorite characters from the bunch, I am looking forward to reading Bitterblue's story. So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

2011-10-18T08:00:00.011-05:00

VIRTUOSITY by Jessica Martinez

Pub. Date: October 2011

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Format: Hardcover , 304pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher (ARC)

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen’s whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn’t just hot...what if Jeremy is better ?

Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can’t end well, but she just can’t stay away. Nobody else understands her—or riles her up—like he does. Still, she can’t trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes antianxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything onstage, and even sicker of always doing what she’s told, doing what’s expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....

With A perfect blend of drama, romance, and music, VIRTUOSITY lulled me into its pages. I enjoyed the whole concept of this book. The characters lived and breathed music and Martinez depicted every emotion in such a way that it was palpable. I felt the intensity of the music and its impact on Carmen’s life; I actually wanted to sit front row and center and experience the music.

Carmen’s lead an interesting life; she’s won a Grammy, and she’s considered one of the best violinists. But with the Guarneri competition looming over her head and the expectations that come with that, Carmen’s not so certain that she can beat the competition. Jeremy King is everything that Carmen is not but he does understand what she’s going through. As their relationship start off as just a curiosity of the competition, things start to change in Carmen’s life. She’s finally decided to stand up for herself and do what she wants no matter the results. I never would have expected this book to play out the way it did but it certainly packed a major punch as to what would become of these talented violinists. This book sheds light on child prodigies and the expectations that come with being the best.

Overall, this book was a nice surprise and a great read if you are a lover of music. I was thoroughly entertained and glad to see that this book was a bit unpredictable. The characters were a joy and the music that lived in their hearts played on to the very end.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Book Chatter (11): Fictional Crush

2011-10-17T08:00:00.042-05:00

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Well, you’ve come to the right place. Every week, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on various book topics and offering prizes that pertain to the topic at hand. That’s not all – You will get to choose the weekly topic by voting on which topic to discuss for the following week. You will also be able to suggest topics by clicking on this FORM.

Fictional Crush

If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and heartbeats. ~Richard Bach

One of the joys of reading is being able to fall in love with the characters that come along and accidentally find a place in your heart. It’s not often that I crush on fictional characters but when I do fall in love with a character, it’s groundbreaking. So many elements have to come together for me to even see the characters come to life in my eyes. When these elements meld effortlessly, sparks fly.

Character development is so important to me. When it’s done right, I often find it hard not to care about the characters. Since we’re discussing crushes, I can’t help but swoon over the guy(s) that captures my heart. I love reading about complex characters, they have so much depth. When I enjoy reading about their struggles and triumphs, it makes them more endearing to me.

Character description is also important. I’ll be honest and say I love tall, dark, and handsome descriptions. Add the bad boy element to the character on top of great character development and I’m a goner. There are so many characters with this description but again when that character is created to utter perfection (Not talking about him being perfect); he leaves quite a memorable impression.

So, what fictional character knocks my socks off? When it comes down to it, it’s the characters that I love reading their stories over and over again. Oh and every time, I continue to be reminded why I fell in love with that character.

Jericho Barrons (Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning) – This is how I picture Barrons. He’s the ultimate bad boy. He has so many layers to him that I can’t wrap my head around it sometimes. Just to make it simple as to why this man is my fictional crush, I’ll just say I’m obsessed! That says it all.

I could name more fictional crushes but none even compare to Barrons. If you have not read this series, I would highly recommend it. But keep in mind that it is an adult series (You are warned).

Other fictional crushes:

Jace Wayland (Mortal Instruments)

Bones (Night Huntress Series)

Patch Cipriano (Hush, Hush)

Dageus MacKeltar (Dark Highlander)

Edward Cullen (Twilight Saga)

Who's your fictional crush and why?

*CONTEST*

Winner will receive his/her choice of book with fictional crush - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner!

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) October 31, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Winner of My Life Undecided!

2011-10-14T09:55:00.000-05:00

The Winner is

MY LIFE UNDECIDED by Jessica Brody

Andrea Howell

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Waiting on Wednesday: A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

2011-10-12T10:30:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A TEMPTATION OF ANGELS by Michelle Zink
Pub. Date: March 2012
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Format: Hardcover , 288pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.

I'm digging the setting and it has one of my favorite elements - A LOVE Triangle! Oh, and it has Angels, which I'm currently loving in books now. So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Interview: Mike Mullin, Author of Ashfall

2011-10-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

Mike Mullin's first job was scraping the gum off the undersides of desks at his high school. From there, things went steadily downhill. He almost got fired by the owner of a bookstore due to his poor taste in earrings. He worked at a place that showed slides of poopy diapers during lunch (it did cut down on the cafeteria budget). The hazing process at the next company included eating live termites raised by the resident entomologist, so that didn't last long either. For a while Mike juggled bottles at a wine shop, sometimes to disastrous effect. Oh, and then there was the job where swarms of wasps occasionally tried to chase him off ladders. So he's really hoping this writing thing works out.

Mike holds a black belt in Songahm Taekwondo. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and her three cats. Ashfall is his first novel.
www.mikemullinauthor.com

What authors influenced your writing? Why Dystopia?
I grew up reading dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels. Some of my early favorites included Z is for Zachariah, The Postman, The Day of the Triffids, and Alas, Babylon. So when I started writing for publication three years ago, it was natural that I’d choose to write in that milieu. (I’ve been writing more or less non-stop since sixth grade. But I didn’t decide to try to write a publishable novel until 2008.)

Unfortunately, the first idea that called to me was a YA horror concept. While I was working on that, I happened across a display in my local library that included the lavish, illustrated edition of Bryson’s A Short History of Nearly Everything. It’s an impressively-sized book, but, I thought, nowhere near big enough to merit the title. So I checked it out, and learned about the Yellowstone supervolcano in its pages.

A few weeks later, I woke in the middle of the night with a scene from ASHFALL bubbling in my brain. (I know it’s a cliché—the writer dreaming his book—but evidently my subconscious doesn’t care.) I wrote 5,500 words before dawn. When I returned to ASHFALL eight months later, after finishing my YA horror novel and researching supervolcanoes further, I realized that the scene I’d written in the middle of the night was junk. Only one word survives from the 5,500 I wrote that night: the title, ASHFALL.

Favorite Dystopian novel? Favorite Dystopian Movie?
There are so many great ones! The Hunger Games, Divergent, Gone, Feed, City of Ember, The Giver, Unwind, etc. Let me talk about one of my favorites that’s less well-known than it merits, Epitaph Road by David Patneaude. It takes place in a world in which a virus has killed 97% of the men. The fourteen-year-old male protagonist, Kellen, faces a life in which his choices in relationships and career will be carefully controlled. When he overhears a secret that calls into question the source of the plague and beneficence of the government, the thrill-ride begins. Epitaph Road is also notable for the economy and beauty of its prose. I enjoyed the epitaphs that open each chapter so much that I often return to the book and reread just those.

It’s not a movie, exactly, but I enjoyed the short-lived TV series, Jericho. The image of a small town of diverse and fractious people working together to survive an apocalypse resonated with me. It probably influenced my portrayal of towns like Worthington, Iowa and Warren, Illinois in ASHFALL. One caveat: the rushed conclusion at the end of the second season really didn’t do justice to the series, but despite that flaw, it’s well worth your time.

What makes Ashfall so different from other Dystopian novels in the market today?
I thought about this question a lot as I was writing ASHFALL. While I love the current crop of dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels, I often find myself wondering: Could this really happen? Little details knock me out of the story—toilets that still function after a brutally cold winter without power, for example.

I decided I’d attempt to differentiate ASHFALL by making it unflinchingly realistic. So, for example, I asked myself whether ASHFALL should include any mention of cannibalism. The obvious answer is that no, it shouldn’t, because it will gross out the teachers, parents, and librarians who are so influential in putting books in the hands of teens.

Instead of accepting the obvious answer, I researched the question. And sadly, the truth is that collapsing societies with widespread starvation virtually always turn to cannibalism. Check out Jared Diamond’s excellent Collapse, or follow the link to the Donner Party research below for more info on that topic.

I attempted to portray the full range of human behavior in an apocalypse, from the most brutally savage to the most sublimely selfless. Rebecca Solnit’s A Paradise Built in Hell was useful for stimulating my thinking—it chronicles responses to real natural disasters ranging from the San Francisco earthquake to Hurricane Katrina.

If you had to live in Alex's world, do you think you'd be able to survive the conditions?
No. And I live in Indiana, where things would initially be much better than in Iowa, where Alex starts.

The super volcano I depict in ASHFALL would directly kill hundreds of thousands, maybe millions. But the bigger death toll would be from global starvation and disease in its wake. Twenty percent of the world’s grain supply is produced in the United States, primarily in areas that would be buried in ash. Globally, we have less than a 60-day supply of stored grain. Starvation would reach epidemic levels very quickly following a supervolcano eruption.

In thinking about who would survive and how, I found this research on the Donner party very useful. I have two strikes against me: I’m too old, and I’m male. Being female roughly doubles your odds of survival in a starvation situation. Women start out with an average of a third less muscle mass and higher body fat than men. So they both need fewer calories to survive and have a greater reserve.

Being between the ages of 6 and 35 also roughly doubles your odds, and I’m past that. (Only by a day or two . . . maybe. Ha!) The other thing that roughly doubles your odds is having family close. While my wife and I are lucky enough to have both sets of parents in town, they’re obviously even older than we are.

So my odds aren’t good. If the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts tomorrow, my goal will be to try to live the short remainder of my life in a way that helps the younger generation survive and rebuild.

What's next for you and your books?
I finished the third draft of ASHEN WINTER, the sequel to ASHFALL, yesterday (8/17/11) and sent it off to my critique group. It will be published by Tanglewood Press in October 2012. Once that’s finished, I’ll start work on the final volume of the ASHFALL trilogy. I’m also planning to start a seventh rewrite of my YA horror novel. Oh, and I had a crazy idea for a funny middle grade novel the other day. And there are about fifteen other book ideas at various stages of conceptualization on my hard-drive. So many books to write, so little time!

ASHFALL by Mike Mullin
Pub. Date: September 2011
Publisher: Tanglewood Press IN
Format: Hardcover , 476pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Many visitors to Yellowstone National Park don’t realize that the boiling hot springs and spraying geysers are caused by an underlying supervolcano. It has erupted three times in the last 2.1 million years, and it will erupt again, changing the Earth forever.

Fifteen-year-old Alex is home alone when the supervolcano erupts. His town collapses into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence, forcing him to flee. He begins a harrowing trek in search of his parents and sister, who were visiting relatives 140 miles away.

Along the way, Alex struggles through a landscape transformed by more than a foot of ash. The disaster brings out the best and worst in people desperate for food, clean water, and shelter. When an escaped convict injures Alex, he searches for a sheltered place where he can wait—to heal or to die. Instead, he finds Darla. Together, they fight to achieve a nearly impossible goal: surviving the supervolcano.

You can read the first two chapters here.

Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-10-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

HALF-BLOOD by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pub. Date: October 2011
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Format: Paperback , 304pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: Covenant
Source: Publisher(ARC)

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem—staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

HALF-BLOOD, reminiscent of one of my all time favorite YA series, THE VAMPIRE ACADEMY, lured me into its world filled with compelling characters. I’d like to say that this book would have blown me away, except that I kept having so many flash backs of characters, scenes, and plots from THE VAMPIRE ACADEMY SERIES. I can’t say that this book was original because there were too many things that were similar to VAMPIRE ACADEMY. I did like the half-blood & pure aspect of this species which included gods instead of vampires. I guess when it comes down to it, if you are a fan of the VAMPIRE ACADEMY SERIES, then you will most likely enjoy this book.

I highly enjoyed the cast in this book. Alex is so like Rose in some ways, she’s strong, she has a bit of a temper or let’s say her actions and mouth tend to get her into trouble. She’s special in ways that the other half-bloods are not. I loved the whole concept behind the Greek mythology and how it was tied into this world. Aiden, a pure blood, who’s also reminiscent of Dimitri, is one sexy and fierce fighter. Then there’s Seth, the unknown. He’s powerful and he’s about to make life miserable for Alex. I really enjoyed his laid back character. He’s cocky, yet he cares about what happens to Alex. I know I can’t wait to see where this goes. The whole prophecy/oracle aspect of what will happen with Alex and her future did provide a bit of mystery as to what would happen next. So, I’m glad that where some differences in HALF-BLOOD’s world that kept me entertained throughout.

Overall, I wasn’t too impressed with the originality of this book, but Armentrout’s writing and characters kept me entertained and thrilled about the world that she has created. A lot of things have changed in Alex’s world and the consequences will have a life or death impact on her kind. This book is sexy, kick-ass, and entertaining. I enjoyed it!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

In My Mailbox (89)

2011-10-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

FOR REVIEW

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Win My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody!

2011-10-06T09:14:00.000-05:00

MY LIFE UNDECIDED by Jessica Brody
Pub. Date: June 2011
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Format: Hardcover , 320pp
Age Range: Young Adult

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else decide which book I read for English. And whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it. Read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

You can read the first chapter here.

Check out the book trailer!

CONTEST

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) October 13, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Waiting on Wednesday: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

2011-10-05T08:45:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

PANDEMONIUM by Lauren Oliver
Pub. Date: March 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover , 384pp
Age Range: 12 and upSeries: Delirium Series #2

Lauren Oliver captivated readers with Delirium, the first book in a thrilling dystopian trilogy in which Lena Haloway dared to fall in love with Alex and escape the cure, the government-mandated procedure that renders a person immune to the disease of love. Lena and Alex staked their lives on leaving their oppressive society, but only Lena broke free.

Pandemonium continues Lena’s gripping story. After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again.

Full of danger, forbidden romance, and exquisite writing, Lauren Oliver’s sequel to Delirium races forward at a breathtaking pace and is sure to appeal to fans who crave the high-stakes action of The Hunger Games and the bittersweet love story of Romeo & Juliet.

With the way DELIRIUM ended, my heart just about gave out for Lena and Alex. How do you fight against the odds? I can't wait to see what adventure awaits the two in the next installment! So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

2011-10-04T08:00:00.009-05:00

SWEET VENOM by Tera Lynn Childs

Pub. Date: September 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Format: Hardcover , 352pp
Age Range: 12 and up
Source: Publisher (ARC)

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.
Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they’re triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

SWEET VENOM is filled with mythical allure and a kick-ass cast of heroines. Told in alternating vantage points between the three descendants of Medusa, I got a first hand encounter of the different backgrounds the girls came from and how their personalities varied. Gretchen, super strong and a loner, is my favorite of the three. She's had it rough and she came from the worst home out of the three. And because of her adversity, I instantly gravitated towards her and how she overcame her past to fight for the good of human kind. I love how the three compliment each other. Grace is all geeky and happy dory while Greer is the rich and poplar ice queen. I enjoyed getting to know the sisters.

The sisters, being guardians of this realm have a destiny to fulfill and everything's not cut and dry as it seems. There are a lot of things that the girls are still learning about themselves and their legacy as they try to get over the shock that they are triplets and the continuous showdowns with the creatures that keep popping up all of a sudden. I really enjoyed the spin on Medusa and her descendants.

With a bang of an ending, I'm looking forward to the next installment. There are so many things that the girls must figure out about their legacy and how it all ties into the now. Plus, I can't wait to find out more about the guys in their lives. I know there's a mystery behind that and I can't wait to get some light shed on it. Overall, this book is an absolutely entertaining start to a new series.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Book Chatter (10): Favorite Paranormal Creature

2011-10-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Favorite Paranormal Creature

Vampires, Werevolves, and Faeries...Oh My! Well, I guess you could say that if you enjoy reading books with paranormal elements. Anything supernatural fascinates me and as you know, my blog is all about the SUPERNATURAL. Some of my friends don't particularly like this genre and just doesn't understand why these paranormal creatures intrigue me. When asked, I say, "Don't knock it until you try it."

There are so many mythical creatures in the fantasy world and I'm just dying for authors to take a step outside of the norm and give readers something new. But until then, I'll just be happy reading about the different spins on vampires, werewolves, fairies, and angels. With that said, how do we decide which supernatural creature is our favorite? What is it that makes these creatures so alluring? I'll start by sharing which creatures are my favorite and why.

These are my top favorite paranormal creatures. Although there are others that I’m beginning to enjoy reading about, such as ghosts and dragons but the following are by far my favorites:

1. Vampires

2. Werewolves

3. Faeries

4. Angels

As you can see, my list is filled with the traditional supernatural creatures. I think that society has a fascination with some of these creatures for the same reasons. I am particualarly attracted to the otherworldly beauty that they possess. The immortality factor or eternal youth as you might call it, calls to my inner youth of staying young and fresh. These creatures also exude power and strength, not to mention there is a sensual side to them when it comes to how they seduce mortals with their glamours or prowess or what not. One of the biggest attributes that I love about these creatures is their dualities - one moment they can be dark and dangereous and the next, a brooding hero of damsels in distress. I can’t get enough of them!

So, I've told you mine, now tell me yours. Which supernatural creature(s) is your favorite and why?

*CONTEST*

Winner will receive his/her choice of book of character that they would like to meet - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner!

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) October 17, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

In My Mailbox (88)

2011-10-02T12:44:00.000-05:00

FOR REVIEW

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2) by Cassandra Clare

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Review: Damage by Anya Parrish

2011-09-30T08:48:00.000-05:00

DAMAGE by Anya Parrish
Pub. Date: September 2011

Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Format: Paperback , 288pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher (PB)

When Dani was eight, she fell from a building. No one believed her claim that she was pushed by Rachel, her imaginary friend. It took years of therapy to convince Dani that Rachel was a product of her own mind.

Now fifteen, Dani wants to make it as a dancer. But a deadly freak accident sends her a terrifying message: Rachel is back, she's real, and she'll stop at nothing to kill Dani. Complicating matters is Jesse, the school bad boy who's being stalked by his own invisible childhood monster.

When Dani and Jesse join forces to learn why their tormenters are back, their investigation leads to a horrifying discovery—and the secret that binds them to each other.

DAMAGE packs a major punch on the speedometer factor. This action packed nonstop plot keeps you wired into the pages. We're introduced to Dani, who's in treatment for diabetes. To shut out the negative effects of her sickness, Rachel, her imaginary friend comforts her. That is, until Dani's stay at the hospital comes to an end. Things go awry real quick after that then Dani has a stay of executions of sorts when Rachel just disappears. Now seven years later, let the chaos begin!

DAMAGE alternates between Dani's and Jesse’s experiences. These two have lived one helluva nightmare that continues to plagues them. I would definitely not want any part of their "imaginary" friends. Talk about a nightmare come to life. As the pieces of their pasts start to fall together after a deadly crash ties them together, things get explosive as Dani and Jesse run for their lives. This book takes you on a ride and never let's up. There's no time to catch your breath as you follow along while the characters try to unravel the mystery behind their pasts. This was a really quick read and before I knew it, I was at the last page.

Overall, the plot moves quickly as events span over a day. This book packs a lot as one event unfolds after another which just pulled me right alongside Dani and Jesse on a roller coaster ride. It kept me entertained that's for sure!

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Waiting on Wednesday: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

2011-09-28T08:42:00.003-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

INSURGENT (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth
Pub. Date: May 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Format: Hardcover , 496pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: Divergent Series #2

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

I was left on the edge of my seat after reading DIVERGENT! I loved the action, danger, and secrets surrounding the factions. I can't wait to see what the next installment holds for Tris. So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

The Winner of TUOMD!

2011-09-28T08:42:00.002-05:00

The Winner is...

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER (ARC) by Michelle Hodkin

Renee

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-09-27T08:00:00.008-05:00

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor
Pub. Date: September 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Format: Hardcover , 432pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher (HC)

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Daughter of Smoke and Bones pulls readers into a lush and vivid world full of fantastical characters. I was immediately drawn into Karou's world. The setting was magical and I loved the duality of worlds and the different beliefs that ruled them. I haven't read a book like this in some time. The writing is superb and the concept behind the plot is so unique that I found myself in awe the entire time I was reading.

The characters are rich and so full of life that I couldn't help but be drawn into the complexities of their lives. Karou and the creatures in her life brought so much intrigue and mystery within the pages. These characters are so well thought out and because their backgrounds are shrouded in dark secrets, I wanted to unlock every mystery this book held within. I love how the present and past entertwined in this book. Everything came together effortlessly as the story switched back and forth to give readers a glimpse into the characters' past and present.

This is one of those books that you don't want to put down. I fell in love with Karou and Akiva. The forbidden love aspect is always welcome as far as I'm concerned. It just ratchets the tension up even more for me. I didn't want this book to end and I'm looking forward to the next installmet. If you are looking for something different, this is a book I highly recommend. Check it out! You won't be disappointed!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Favorite September reads...need suggestions

2011-09-26T09:11:00.000-05:00

I've read a few books this month and I've come to a point where I'm looking for the next best read. I was in a book slump and thankfully the following books pulled me out.

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin - review

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake - review

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor - review will be up tomorrow.

I'm currently reading DAMAGE by Anya Parrish and it's a nonstop read. I'm almost finished with this book and now I'm looking for something different. I would love suggestions!

What are some of your favorite August or September reads?

In My Mailbox (87)

2011-09-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

FOR REVIEW

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

2011-09-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD by Kendare Blake
Pub. Date: August 2011
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
Format: Hardcover , 320pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher (HC)

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Anna Dressed in Blood is a nonstop page turner magnified by ghostly showdowns that will keep you glued to its pages. This book is a mixture of scary encounters, gory endings, and continuous suspense mixed in with a bit of horror. There wasn’t a moment while reading this book that I wanted to put this book down. I was infatuated from the beginning to the end.

Cas, the ghost hunter is the type of character I would love to see more of in books. He's confident, witty, and has an interesting past. His ghost hunts leads him to Anna, the local killer ghost. She's the one that's supposed to help him make a full circle and avenge his father’s gruesome murder. But, their grisly encounter leads to something neither of them expected...an unlikely connection. I love the conflicting sides that war with these two characters. They're complex and I couldn’t get enough of their struggles and triumphs. I enjoyed the secondary cast too. I kept laughing at the ghostbusters term that was thrown around. I loved everything about this book; the plot, the characters, and the writing.

I was sitting on the edge of my seat while reading this book. Long into the wee hours of the night, this book bewitched me. I couldn’t sleep without knowing what would happen next. So, I picked the book back up and dove back in. Anna Dressed in Blood packs a punch and I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment. This was a fantastic start to a series that I have a feeling will be one of my favorites.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Check out the book trailer!

Sneak Peek Snippet of The Iron Knight book trailer!

2011-09-22T12:46:00.000-05:00

Check out a Sneak Peek of the Book Trailer!

THE IRON KNIGHT (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa
Pub. Date: October 2011

Publisher: Harlequin
Format: Paperback, 304pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: Iron Fey Series

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice

Waiting on Wednesday: Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

2011-09-21T08:00:00.002-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

CARRIER OF THE MARK by Leigh Fallon
Pub. Date: October 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback , 352pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

I love the cover of this book! The setting in Ireland is enticing and the possibility of doomed love always gets my attention! So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Win The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-09-20T16:00:00.002-05:00

**CONTEST CLOSED**
This is your chance to Win...

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER (ARC) by Michelle Hodkin

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Additional Entries

Comment on my review of TUOMD here

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) September 27, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-09-20T08:00:00.019-05:00

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin
Pub. Date: September 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Format: Hardcover , 464pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher ARC

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER is filled with witty characters, mystery, and a sizzling romance that will leave you begging for more. I was in a book slump and this book brought life back into my endless days of book gloom. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. The chemistry between Mara & Noah sent sparks off the pages. I knew this book had elements of paranormal abilities and mystery but I found myself not caring about that at all. I just wanted more and more Mara and Noah scenes. I now have a favorite new couple!

I love Hodkin’s writing. She totally seduced me with her words. There were so many scenes that I adored in this book that I found myself sighing or writing down some of my favorite quotes. Mara's journey to find out what happened to her the night her friends died became quite an addictive page turner. There were some events that came to light that were unpredictable which is always good when you can keep me guessing. However, I want to point out that I did wonder a couple of times about how one event/incident correlated to another. The ending was quite the shocker. I did not see that coming and yet I'm still trying to put all the pieces together to find out what was really real and what was not.

I can’t wait to read more about Mara and Noah. Perhaps, a bit of light will be shed in the next installment on how it really went down. Plus, I really want to know more about what's going on inside of Mara's head. I seriously can't stop thinking about Noah. I think I have a bit of a crush on him now. Can't wait for more!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Check out the book trailer!

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Book Chatter (9): Characters I would like to meet

2011-09-19T08:00:00.040-05:00

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Characters I would like to meet.

One of the great things about books is falling in love with the characters. Being able to read about so many different worlds and the characters that bring these books to life can be quite addicting. With so many popular books toping the bestseller’s list, it’s no wonder the buzz has readers itching to bring their favorite characters to the big screen.

It would be amazing or a dream/fantasy comes true if I could meet some of my favorite characters. Well, it’s just as I said, “A Dream” but I’ll settle for them coming to the big screen just to get me a bit closer to reality. But this topic is about the characters that I would love to meet, so who cares if they’re not real. When I’m immersed in a book and I’m crying my eyes out or I’m all goo-goo eyed over a swoon worthy character – to me that’s as real as it gets. With that being said, here’s a list of characters that I would love to meet.

Young Adult

Ø Rose & Dimitri (Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead) – They’re one of my favorite YA couples and I would love to see them spar with each other.

Ø Patch (Hush, Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick) – I’d want to meet him just to swoon.

Ø Jace & Magnus (Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare) – Put these two in a room together and I just may die from laughing.

Ø Nicholas & Lucy (The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey) – I love these two! They are just unforgettable to me.

Ø Puck (Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa) – Yes, I know I would literally die being in the same room with Puck. Maybe he can teach me some magic tricks too.

Ø Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed, and Peaseblossom (Theatre Illuminata by Lisa Mantchev) – I’d want to hang with them so they can point me out to the best desserts, plus we could make some mischief while we’re at it.

Adult

Ø Mac & Jericho (Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning) – Probably one of my favorite couples of all time now. I’d probably pee in my pants or just faint from setting eyes on Jericho Barrons. I’d kick it with Mac so we can shop. I love pink too!

Ø Cat & Bones (Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost) – I wouldn’t know what to expect with this couple. But both Cat & Bones are hilarious. So, I’m sure I’d have a great time.

Ø Faythe & Marc (Shifters Series by Rachel Vincent) – Both kick ass and down to earth characters. I feel so connected to these two.

Ø Merit (Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill) – I could paint the town red with Merit. She just seems like a fun person to be around. Plus, she loves chocolate!

Ø Dageus & Drustan (Highlander Series by Karen Marie Moning) – I would love to be a sandwich just for a day with these two tall gorgeous men. *sigh*

Ø Cassie (Cassie Palmer Series by Karen Chance) –I’d want to kick it with Cassie for the inside scoop on t her powers. Plus, you never know what’s about to go down when Cassie is around. Just keep your seatbelts locked!

So, which characters would you like to meet? Why?

*CONTEST*

Winner will receive his/her choice of book of character that they would like to meet - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner!

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) October 3, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

In My Mailbox (86)

2011-09-18T11:15:00.000-05:00

FOR REVIEW

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

Damage by Anya Parrish

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Waiting on Wednesday: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

2011-09-14T11:48:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

TOUCH OF POWER by Maria V. Snyder
Pub. Date: December 2011
Publisher: Mira
Format: Paperback , 400pp

(GOODREADS SUMMARY)

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life

I love Maria's books! I'm so excited to dive back into her fantastical world! So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Winner of Blood Bound!

2011-09-14T08:40:00.000-05:00

The Winner is...

BLOOD BOUND (Signed ARC) by Rachel Vincent

Sarah

I've contacted the winner, thanks to everyone for participating!

Winner of Book Chatter's Standalone vs Series Contest!

2011-09-13T10:20:00.000-05:00

Standalone VS Series Winner!

KAYLA

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Interview: Sarah Beth Durst (Author of Drink, Slay, Love)

2011-09-09T08:00:00.008-05:00

I'm thrilled to have Sarah Beth Durst on my blog to today where she talks about her latest novel.

Sarah Beth Durst is the author of young adult novels ENCHANTED IVY and ICE, as well as middle grade novels INTO THE WILD and OUT OF THE WILD. She has twice been a finalist for SFWA's Andre Norton Award, for both ICE and INTO THE WILD. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband and children. For more information, visit her at www.sarahbethdurst.com

Drink, Slay, Love hits shelves September 13, 2011!

I love the settings of your previous books, how does the setting in this novel differ?
Thanks! So happy you liked them!

DRINK, SLAY, LOVE is set in a fictional town in Connecticut. Here's a snippet of what it's like:

"Do you know how to drive?" Jadrien asked.

"Sure," Pearl said. "This one is the gas."

The wheels squealed as Pearl spun the steering wheel to the left and zoomed out onto the street. She rolled down her window and let the wind whip into the car. At near dawn, Greenbridge, CT, was nearly dead. Street lamps (every other one out) lit the sidewalks in circles of yellow. Trash rolled down the streets like tumbleweeds. Storefronts -- a deli, a dry cleaner, an antique store -- were dark. The local homeless man slept under a pile of filthy blankets with his shopping cart close beside him. Pearl loved this time of night: just before the cusp of day, when the humans were still caught in their last dream of the night and her kind had one final moment of delicious darkness to drink down.

Your last two previous novels have been standalones, have you considered writing another series?
My first two novels (INTO THE WILD and OUT OF THE WILD) were a duology, but ICE, ENCHANTED IVY, and DRINK, SLAY, LOVE are all standalones. I love both series and standalones, and I plan to write plenty more of each!

What can readers expect from your version of vampires?

My vampires are beautiful, immortal, and deadly. They lack morals, and they love to drink blood. And they don't know that they are being hunted by were-unicorns. (Unicorns are natural vampire hunters, of course. Look at their horns! Built-in stakes!)

Favorite Vampire book? Favorite Vampire Movie?
Favorite vampire book... ooh, how to choose? I adored Bloodshot by Cherie Priest. I also recently read and loved Soulless by Gail Carriger. And I devour the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris.

Favorite vampire movie... I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the TV series, though, not the movie).

Is there anything else that you would like to share with your readers? What's next for you?

I'd like to share this box of Raisinets... *holds out box*

DRINK, SLAY, LOVE will be out on September 13th. And I am currently working on a new standalone YA fantasy novel called VESSEL, which will be out in fall 2012 from Simon & Schuster.

Thanks for stopping by Sarah!

For more information about Sarah Beth Durst and her books, please visit her website here.

You can also click here to read an excerpt of Drink, Slay, Love!

Win After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

2011-09-08T16:00:00.003-05:00

This is your chance to Win...

AFTER OBSESSION (ARC) by Carrie Jones & Steven Wedel

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Additional Entries

Comment on my review of After Obsession here

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) September 22, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Blog Tour: Review: After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

2011-09-08T08:00:00.025-05:00

AFTER OBSESSSION by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

Pub. Date: September 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Format: Hardcover , 320pp

Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher ARC

Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

The cover caught my attention and the summary lured me into wanting to read the about the mystery of what happens in After Obsession. Told in alternating POVs from Aimee and Alan, who both have abilities that manifest in relation to their dreams, their dreams set the stage for the creepy factor. What could they mean and how will everyone survive the aftermath? These are the questions that continued to nag me.

We get to see what goes on inside the characters’ heads and I thought it was interesting seeing how their abilities affected each one of them differently. Aimee's experiences were more frightening and I found myself wanting to get to her POV more so than Alan's. The one thing that gave me a few pauses while reading this book, stemmed from a bit of disjoinment in linking the character's POVs together. This was more evident in Alan's POV to me. There were also quite a few scenes that jumped around in both POVs to the point that, to me, it would have been better if the scenes were left out completely.

AFTER OBSESSION, Intriguing in mystery and the plot surrounding demon possession was overall, a satisfying read. I think that the little things that bothered me weren't big enough to distract me from the overall plot. I think readers will be pleased in the end.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Check out the Book Trailer!

Waiting on Wednesday: Reckoning by Lili St. Crow

2011-09-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

RECKONING (Strange Angels, #5) by Lili St. Crow
Pub. Date: November 2011 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Format: Paperback , 304pp

Age Range: 12 and up

Series: Strange Angels Series #5

The electric finale in New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow's Strange Angels series!

Nobody expected Dru Anderson to survive this long. Not Graves. Not Christophe. Not even Dru. She's battled killer zombies, jealous djamphirs, and bloodthirsty suckers straight out of her worst nightmares. But now that Dru has bloomed into a full-fledged svetocha - rare, beautiful, and toxic to all vampires - the worst is yet to come.

Because getting out alive is going to cost more than she's ever imagined. And in the end, is survival really worth the sacrifice?

DRU ANDERSON'S NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK.

BUT SHE SHOULD BE.

I'm Stoked! After the ending of DEFIANCE, I can't wait to see what happens next! Christophe is my guy, so I'm crossing my fingers that everything works out for him & Dru! So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Oh My! Book Slump Alert!

2011-09-06T09:36:00.004-05:00

I've been in a major book slump these past several weeks. Normally, when I'm feeling like this, I always go back to some of my favorite books to help me get over it. Well, I have not done that so I've been going from book to book trying to catch a spark. I have plenty of book reviews for this month and with classes and work, I've been feeling a little overwhelmed too. Suffice it to say, I've decided to take a two week hiatus to catch up on reading. I think I've found a winner to help get me out of my slump. But we'll see.

I tend to read at least 3 books a week and my slump has only gotten me through 2 books over these past few weeks. Hopefully, I'll have several reviews to share when I return. I do have a few things to post this week as part of a blog tour and an upcoming book release. Well, I guess in this case, it will be a week Hiatus. So Stay Tuned...

Book Chatter (8) Favorite Genres

2011-09-05T08:00:00.003-05:00

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Favorite Genres

If you’re a book lover like me, then you’ve probably read tons of books. Being a book blogger, also pushes reading up a notch. My love for books is one of the reasons I started blogging. As I’ve come to realize, after reading countless books, I’ve naturally gravitated toward certain genres.

There are so many reasons why people read books but I’ll point out a few that I can relate to:

 Knowledge

 Enjoyment

 Entertainment

 Escapism

 Education

 Relaxation

 Creativity

 Expertise

 Boredom

Click on image to getter better view

Whether it is for Knowledge or Entertainment, every reader has certain genres that they enjoy more than others. There are many sub-genres within the Fiction and Non-Fiction Genres. I only read Fiction for PURE ESCAPISM. My favorite sub-genres are genres within genres. Any book, YA or Adult with Fantasy or Paranormal elements is where I LOVE to LIVE in. I love genres like this because it’s left up to your imagination to live completely in the character’s world with no worries about the real world. Anything goes in this genre and I don’t have the urge to critique it and get caught up in applying the rules of the real world into the fantasy world.

I also love Historical Romance (Regency/Victorian). There’s something magical about being caught up in a whirlwind of balls, gowns, and rakes. *sigh* I’m just beginning to really delve into Contemporary novels. The ones that I’ve fallen in love with are more on the darker, grittier side. These books have a way of forcing me to acknowledge the characters and their struggles on their journey back into the light. Although, I’m not a big fan of this genre, I am more open to it now. One of the main reasons I’ve had such bad luck with this genre is my tendency to compare the books to real life. In the end, most of the books that I’ve read fall short in making a believer out of me.

So, what is/are your favorite genre(s)? Why?

*CONTEST CLOSED*

Winner will receive his/her choice of book in favorite genre - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) September 19, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

In My Mailbox (85)

2011-09-04T10:41:00.001-05:00

FOR REVIEW

These are the books that I've received from the past few weeks. Sorry, I was too lazy to post links to goodreads

Ashfall (Ashfall, #1) by Mike Mullin

Nocturne (Claire de Lune #2) by Christine Johnson

Possession by Elana Johnson

And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Pearson

Hades by Alexandra AdornettoBloodlines (Bloodlines, #1) by Richelle Mead

Wichlanders by Lena Coakley by Kendare Blake

Skyship Academy by Nick James

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Dreams of Significant Girls by Cristina Garcia

Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Waiting on Wednesday: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

2011-08-31T08:56:00.001-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

THE PLEDGE by Kimberly Derting

Pub. Date: November 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Format: Hardcover , 336pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Words are the most dangerous weapon of all.

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

The summary of this book sounds really good. A dark dystopian and a mysterious Hottie, sign me up! So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Win Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent!

2011-08-30T20:00:00.002-05:00

This is your chance to Win...

BLOOD BOUND (Signed ARC) by Rachel Vincent

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Additional Entries

Comment on my review of Blood Bound here

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) September 13, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

2011-08-30T08:00:00.010-05:00

BLOOD BOUND by Rachel Vincent
Pub. Date: August 2011
Publisher: Mira
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 400pp
Series: Unbound Novel Series
Source: Author - ARC

By blood, by word, by magic…

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's over…

In this thrilling new series, Vincent has created a nonstop, action-filled plot with twists and turns that will keep you glued to the pages. Set in a gritty world where the Skilled are bound by blood, Liv has to hold her own to stay at the top of her game. After all, she is one of the best blood trackers, which unfortunately for her, is the source of her problems. Mystery and action ensues as Liv and Cam join together on a hunt for a murderer.

I'm a big fan of Vincent's works and I was all too excited to get a crack at her new series. Vincent has created a whole new world with complex characters whose lives are encompassed with oaths and rules that they live and die by. Told in perspectives by both Liv and Cam, I really got down and dirty with these characters and the myriad of circumstances that played a part in their lives. I was highly intrigued and impressed with the blood bound oaths that dominate this world. It was interesting and entertaining to delve into the complexities and trickery rooted within these oaths. How far would the characters go to forsake an oath? This question kept me turning the pages.

This first installment packed a punch and opened up a whole new world to immerse myself into. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next book has in store for the characters. Overall, BLOOD BOUND exceeded my expectations and introduced me to a whole new cast that I can't wait to get to know better.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Check out the book trailer!

Book Chatter (7): Standalone VS Series

2011-08-29T08:00:00.032-05:00

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Standalone VS Series

Characters come and go as we read book after book while escaping into their worlds. Some characters enter our lives and leave an unforgettable impression upon us. It’s hard to let go but in the end, we may or may not find ourselves satisfied with the end of their stories. While everyone has their own preference, I guess it depends on what we look for in our books.

I’ve read my share of remarkable books and the one thing that always seems to be consistent after I turn the last page is how the characters fare in the future? Or, will there be a sequel? These questions are the reasons why I prefer a series to a standalone.

If the book left a great impression upon me in leading me to care about the characters, then of course, I want more. The majority of the books I own are series based. I have loved and cried right alongside these characters. This type of connection is often lacking from the standalones that I read. I don’t fully get to know the characters well enough to care much about them. That being said, I do have a few standalone favorites that managed to sweep me off my feet. But in the end, it comes down to how deeply invested I am in the characters’ lives by the time I turn the last page.

Here’s a list of my favorite Standalones & Series

Favorite Standalones (Top 5)

Going too Far by Jennifer Echols

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Favorite Series (I have way too many, so I’ll do top 10 (5 Adult/5 YA) in no particular order – means I’ve read most at least 2 times & there are 2 or more books out)

Favorite Adult Series

Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill

Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning

Magic Study by Maria Snyder

Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost

Shifter Series by Rachel Vincent

Favorite YA Series

The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer

Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

What do you prefer? What are some of your favorite standalones/series books?

*CONTEST CLOSED*

Winner will receive his/her choice of favorite standalone/series book - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) September 12, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Gone on vacation...

2011-08-20T16:12:00.000-05:00

I'll be taking a vacation away from the blog this week....please tune back in for Book Chatter August 29th for topic, Standalone vs. Series.

Waiting on Wednesday: A BEAUTIFUL EVIL by Kelly Keaton

2011-08-17T08:37:00.001-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A BEAUTIFUL EVIL (Gods & Monsters #2) by Kelly Keaton

Pub. Date: February 2012

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Format: Hardcover , 304pp

Age Range: Young Adult

A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight.

When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari is a descendant of Medusa and can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.

Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.

Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.

I enjoyed the first book in this series. The characters are so unique and the storyline is very different. I can't wait to learn more about the characters! So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Review: The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

2011-08-16T08:59:00.000-05:00

THE BEGINNING OF AFTER by Jennifer Castle

Pub. Date: September 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Hardcover , 432pp

Age Range: 12 and up

Source: NetGalley

Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.

Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

Jennifer Castle’s debut novel is a heart-wrenching, surprisingly witty testament to how drastically life can change in the span of a single moment.

The Beginning of After is a touching debut! Filled with beautiful moments of love and loss, this novel was truly palpable. I never know what to expect reading novels that could quite possibly be emotional reads. Sometimes it's hit or miss with me but Castle's writes in such away that she captures every detail which pulled at my heart strings. As with any book that can pull me in emotionally, I can't help but give it high praise.

After tragedy strikes, both Laurel & David are about to embark on an emotional journey that could quite change their lives forever. While each character has their own internal struggle and guilt to deal with, they are tied together through their losses and grow closer together in there grief. This book makes you laugh and cry and I empathized with them and just wanted the characters to heal after their tragedy.

Castle blew me away with her writing and character development. If this book is anything to go by, then whatever Castle writes next, I will be picking up to read. Great debut!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Winner of Book Chatter's Hardcover vs. eBook Contest!

2011-08-16T08:37:00.000-05:00

Winner will receive $15 gift card from Amazon or Barnes and Nobles
Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

The winner is...EMMY SHIN

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Book Chatter (6): What's the Cover got to do with it?

2011-08-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

What's the Cover got to do with it?

When I’m looking for the next book to take me to out-of-this-world escapism, lately these lyrics come to mind:

You’re so hypnotizing
Could you be the devil
Could you be an angel

Your touch magnetizing
Feels like I am floating
Leaves my body glowing ~E.T. by Katy Perry

Imagine browsing the isles of your local bookstore, and then BAM - the cover of a book captures your attention. It’s gorgeous, unique, and makes you want to sneak a peek. And when you pick up the book, not only is the cover mesmerizing, the touch and feel of the book has you quickly ensnared and flipping through the book to read the summary. Does this sound like you? Well, it certainly fits me.

That’s right! I LOVE book covers. I’ll buy a book just because of the cover. More often than not, a cover can make or break a book. It’s that old cliché, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” that I oftentimes tend to ignore. While beautiful covers grab my attention, some great books get skipped over because of unattractive or mediocre covers. One book in particular that I always think of is Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. I did not like the cover and would not have read the book if it wasn’t for the great reviews from my friends. So whether the book has a beautiful cover or not, you have a 50/50 shot of getting a great book. But it doesn’t hurt to entice me by beauty or uniqueness.

We could also spin this topic around and take a look at all the book covers that have absolutely nothing at all to do with the book. Sometimes, readers may even be annoyed when cover model is portrayed differently than the book’s description. I do find myself a little disgruntled with covers that do face shots. I like to imagine what I think the characters would look like, especially when the majority of the time the cover models are not what I imagined. Then I’m left with a snapshot of the cover model detracting from an otherwise good reading experience. I know it’s really out of the author’s hands about the covers but it would be really nice if they had more input. Maybe we’d see better covers. But hey, what can you do?

Some of my favorite book covers of 2011 so far are (I could go on and on but I’ll do my top 15): How I picked this list: If I was in a bookstore, these covers would automatically make me pick up the book.

The Unbecoming of MaraDyer by Michelle Hodkin

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Wither by Lauren Destefano

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Destined by Jessie Harrell

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

After Obsession by Carrie Jones

Everneath by Ashton Brodi

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Elemental Reality by Cesya MaRae Cuono

My favorite book covers from 2010 were Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick & Fallen by Lauren Kate.

My favorite series book covers are The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.

What are some of your favorite Book Covers? Do they portray the book?

*CONTEST CLOSED*

Winner will receive his/her choice of favorite book cover- pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) August 29, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Waiting on Wednesday: UNLEASHED by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

2011-08-10T08:00:00.026-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

UNLEASHED (Wolf Springs Chronicles #1) by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

Pub. Date: November 2011

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Format: Hardcover , 400pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Series: Wolf Spring Chronicles Series

Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie, the New York Times bestselling authors of the Wicked series, have created an entirely new trilogy with the passion of Twilight and the grandeur of Fallen. The Wolf Springs Chronicles introduces readers to a town of secrets and the new girl who's about to start believing in werewolves.

From the Hardcover edition.

I like the way the cover model's head is tilted up to the moon...well the fact that a guy is holding her helps too. I love the authors' Crusade Series and I can't wait to see what spin they put on werewolves. So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

Blog Tour: Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

2011-08-09T07:00:00.087-05:00

I'm today's Tour Stop for Damned, the sequel to Crusade. Please welcome Debbie Viguie & Nancy Holder!

Nancy Holder (left) has published sixty books and more than two hundred short stories. She has received four Bram Stoker awards for fiction from the Horror Writers Association, and her books have been translated into more than two dozen languages. She has written or cowritten twenty Buffy and Angel projects. Her books from Simon Pulse include the New York Times bestselling series Wicked and the novel The Rose Bride. A graduate of the University of California at San Diego, Nancy is currently a writing teacher at the school. She lives in San Diego with her daughter, Belle, and their growing assortment of pets. Visit her at nancyholder.com.

Debbie ViguiÉ (right) holds a degree in creative writing from UC Davis. Her Simon Pulse books include the New York Times bestselling Wicked series and the Once upon a Time novels VIOLET EYES, SCARLET MOON and MIDNIGHT PEARLS. She lives in Florida with her husband Scott. Visit her at debbieviguie.com.

Each character in your Crusade Series is so unique with their backgrounds. Do you find it difficult writing different POVs? How do you keep your characters fresh?

Debbie: I love writing different POVs. That's what actually helps keep the story fresh and exciting for me. I have different songs I listen to that I think of as theme songs for the particular characters which helps me to write from their unique perspective.

Nancy: I also love writing different POV’s. I like to let the reader in on information and situations that a single POV character wouldn’t know. That way the reader is in the center of the entire story. They can anticipate what may happen next, in the same way that someone watching a movie whispers “Don’t go into the basement!” as a character does exactly that. I think that the epic nature of a series like Crusade demands that kind of breadth and scope.

I love the world that you have created in this series. How much research went into the setting that your characters live in? Did you find out anything interesting?

Debbie: A lot of research goes into the settings. The thing that amazed me the most was learning about the statue that depicted Lucifer in Madrid, the only such statue dedicated to the fallen angel in the world.

Nancy: I love doing research and I’m a history geek. I agree with Debbie that finding out about the fountain dedicated to Lucifer rocked my world. Today I learned a bunch of cool stuff about Leeds Castle.

For readers who are a little wary with all the vampire books in the market today, what makes this series so different?

Debbie: First off, the vampires in the series are evil, much more old school. Second, we've worked to develop a very realistic feeling of what it would be like if the world was at war with these creatures. Many readers have told us it frightened them because they could see how easily our governments could bow or topple to such creatures. By bringing a global scale to the war and making it very reminiscent of other world wars I think we bring a sense of horrific realism to the story that people are really responding to.

Nancy: What Debbie said. Our story is about more than vampires. It’s about courage, life-and-death crises, honor, and sacrifice. And it’s as much about werewolves and witches as it is about vampires. We both love to write about witchcraft and magicks.

Who's your favorite character in this series so far and why? If you could pick an actor or actress that resembles that character who would it be?

Debbie: Holgar is my favorite character because he is so strong and so funny. I love how he uses humor to diffuse tense situations. I also love how when things spin out of control that very humor can sometimes get him into trouble. He is an alpha male who is also so tender and so compassionate. My favorite character to write, though, is Jamie. It's a lot of fun to work on his dialogue and see just how obnoxious he can be.

Nancy: I love writing Antonio. He is so kind and sincere, yet so passionate. I would cast the cover model of Damned to play the part. His first name is Sterling, and I know he was in L.A. during pilot season to audition for roles. Good luck, Sterling!

What can readers expect from you and your books next?

Debbie: We're working on the final book in the trilogy, Vanquished. It's going to be a wild ride!! Also, Nancy and I have a new series starting up in a couple of months, Wolf Springs Chronicles. Book 1 is called Unleashed and it deals with werewolves. For myself I have a new book series starting up in October with Kiss of Night, a vampire series aimed at the adult market.

Nancy: Vanquished has completely taken over our lives. We eat, sleep and dream Vanquished! Then once we let go of it (in other words, once our editor pries it out of our hands and tells us it’s going to press) we will turn all that energy into our next Wolf Springs Chronicles book. I have a number of short stories coming out, including a shared world vampire story for IDW. I’m very proud of my contribution to Dear Bully, an anthology of seventy pieces about bullying by seventy young adult authors. Dear Bully will come out in August--the same month as Damned!

Thanks for stopping by ladies!

To check out more events on The Damned Book Tour, click here.

More about the book!

DAMNED (Crusade #2) by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

Pub. Date: August 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Format: Hardcover , 544pp

Age Range: Young Adult

There is a fine line between love and sacrifice….

Antonio would do anything for his beloved fighting partner Jenn. He protects her, even suppresses his vampire cravings to be with her. Together, they defend humanity against the Cursed Ones. But tensions threaten to fracture their hunting team and his loyalty—his love—is called into question.

Jenn, the newly appointed Hunter, aches for revenge against the Cursed One who converted her sister. And with an even more sinister power on the rise, she must overcome her personal vendettas to lead her team into battle.

Antonio and Jenn need each other to survive, but evil lurks at every turn. With humanity’s fate hanging in the balance, they must face down the darkness…or die trying.

Book Chatter (5): Books into Movies

2011-08-08T08:00:00.014-05:00

Pull up a chair, relax, and let’s discuss the wonderful world of books.

Do you enjoy discussing anything and everything pertaining to books? YES!

Books into Movies

How many times have you pondered why reading one of your favorite books, “I wish this book was made into a movie.”? Some of today’s and past award winning movies were adapted from books not to mention that most of these movies are considered some of the best in film history.

I’m all for transforming great books to the big screen...if done right. Now, I know everyone has their own opinion on how these books should be adapted. Most of time fans of said books have concerns about choices in actors/actresses and what scenes should be included in the movies. As we all know, it’s not up to us or the authors who’ve written the books.

Some of my favorite books into movies include (I’ve watched it at least 3 times):

THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY

THE NOTEBOOK

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

SCARFACE

THE COLOR PURPLE

JURASSIC PARK

DIE HARD

SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

WAR OF THE WORLDS

WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ

BOURNE IDENTITY

ROMANCING THE STONE

JAWS

FORREST GUMP

FIGHT CLUB

THE SECRET OF NIMH

Lately, there’s been a rise in YA books being adapted into movies following the Harry Potter rave. The Twilight Saga is currently sending fans screaming into the theatres if only to get a peek at actors Robert Pattison or Taylor Lautner. I love the Twilight Series as books but I think the movies are mediocre at best. Each film is a little bit better than the last - I’ll admit but half of the time I cringe throughout each scene. But hey, that just me…I think it takes the right combination of ingredients to make a great book into a successful movie. In my opinion, the majority of the books that I’ve read have been better than the movie but it’s still satisfying to see the adaptation on the big screen if it’s even remotely good.

Some upcoming YA films that I’m ecstatic about seeing include:

THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS by Cassandra Clare

THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan

WICKED LOVELY by Melissa Marr

Some optioned books that I would like to see:

VAMPIRE ACADEMY by Richelle Mead

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver

FALLEN by Lauren Kate

MATCHED by Ally Condie

BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver

INCARERON by Catherine Fisher

Well, there you have it! How do you feel about books being adapted into movies? What movies would you like to see on the big screen?

*CONTEST CLOSED*

Winner will receive his/her choice of favorite book turned into movie - pre-orders included!

Rules: 1 Winner! Must comment to be eligible.

Please fill out this FORM!

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) August 22, 2011. US & Canadian Residents only.

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Elise Allen (Author of Populazzi)

2011-08-07T08:00:00.015-05:00

I'm today's stop on Elise Allen's Blog Tour for Populazzi. Please welcome Elise as she shares with readers the Popularity Tower levels in her book

Elise Allen has among the most random television-writing resumes ever, with credits that run the gamut from Cosby to Dinosaur Train. She recently fulfilled one of her many life’s ambitions by writing for the Muppets. Another ambition, anytime-access to Disneyland’s Club 33, is for the moment still a pipe dream. Elise has a sick penchant for running marathons, and can’t seem to stop even though fifteen really should be enough already. She lives in L.A. with her husband, daughter, and insatiable food-hound of a dog, Riley. For more, visit http://www.eliseallen.com/ or follow Elise on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EliseLAllen

Hi, Tina! Thanks for having me on the blog! Today I’m offering up a Quiz based on the Popularity Tower levels in my book, Populazzi.

Where would you place on the popularity tower? Read on and find out!

1. As you read this, you are surrounded by:

A. A crowd of friends and wanna-bes.

B. No idea – you’re too lost in your own deep thoughts to pay attention to what or who is around you.

C. One to three BFF’s, all laughing with you at inside jokes Star Wars Marathon!

D. A herd of life-sized Thestrals you built with Legos.

2. Your greatest fear is…

A. Waking up unpopular.

B. Probably going to happen. It’s a bleak world, and the worst thing you can imagine will most likely smack you in the face.

C. Your best friends moving away and leaving you with no one.

D. “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” {You say this, of course, in a Yoda voice.}

3. The perfect boyfriend/girlfriend….

A. …will make everyone else seethe with jealousy.

B. …won’t want to talk much – would rather think deep thoughts and hook up.

C. …will totally fit in with my friends.

D. …can speak Klingon.

4. Your idea of a perfect Saturday night is:

A. Dancing at the hottest club in town.

B. Sitting outside and pondering the meaninglessness of it all.

C. Watching goofy movies and eating pizza with your closest friends

D. “Star Wars Marathon! All six movies, no stopping – who’s with me?”

5. What do you love most about high school?

A. Hello! You own the place.

B. Unfair question. You can’t love something you don’t think about, and you don’t think about high school. You have deeper things on your mind.

C. You love your group of friends, but the whole popularity thing is pretty awful.

D. High school sucks, but it’s a blip. You get to have real life -- in twenty years, your graduating class will wish they were you.

And now… THE RESULTS!

If you answered mostly A’s, you are a POPULAZZI, the highest level on the Popularity Tower. You are the social scene, and you’re adored and feared in equal parts by everyone else at school. Your status is your top priority, and you calculate every move to maintain it.

If you answered mostly B’s, you are a DANGER ZONE. You’re too deep, dark, and brooding to pay attention to the social scene, but it pays attention to you. You exude cool, even though you wouldn’t be caught dead actively trying to do so.

If you answered mostly C’s, you are a CUBBY CREW. These small groups of close friends are held together by common interests (i.e. Theater Geeks) or long-term BFF-ships. Together, a Cubby Crew’s members shine; without their group, each member struggles, lost in the wider social scene.

If you answered mostly D’s, you are a HAPPY HOPELESS. If you’re into something, you go 100% fanboy/fangirl, no matter how dorky it makes you look. Are you at the bottom of the popularity tower? Sure. Would you trade your life for the Populazzi’s? Never in a million years.

Where did you end up? Shoot me an email and let me know – I’d love to hear!

Want to know more about the Popularity Tower levels, and how one girl climbs her way through them? Check out Populazzi and give it a read!

Thanks for stopping by Elise!

POPULAZZI by Elise Allen

Pub. Date: August 2011

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Format: Hardcover , 400pp

Age Range: Young Adult

What would you do if you had the chance to erase your past and reinvent yourself as the person you’ve always wanted to be? Would you grab it? Would you stick with it, no matter what the consequences?

Cara Leonard always wished she could be one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and never at a loss for the perfect thing to say. One of the Populazzi.

It always seemed impossible… but now could be her chance.

When Cara moves to a new school just before junior year, her best friend urges her to seize the opportunity and change her life… with the help of The Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms herself into the perfect girlfriend for guys higher and higher on the Popularity Tower, she can reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi, the most popular girl in school.

The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment — a straight climb up — but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.

New in Paperback: Delirium (UK) by Lauren Oliver

2011-08-04T12:04:00.000-05:00

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver
Pub. Date: August 4 2011
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Format: Paperback , 416pp
Age Range: Young Adult

They say that the cure for love will make me happy and safe forever. And I've always believed them.

Until now.

Now everything has changed. Now, I'd rather be infected with love for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years suffocated by a lie.

There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it.

Then, at last, they found the cure.

You can check out my review here!

The publisher is also running a competition where you can win one of the first five UK proofs of Lauren’s upcoming novel, Pandemonium here.

Check out the book trailer!

Waiting on Wednesday: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2011-08-03T08:00:00.012-05:00

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

EVERNEATH (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton
Pub. Date: January 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: Hardcover , 384pp
Age Range: 12 and up

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

Wow! Take a look at that cover! Beautiful! It's like the very fabric of her is made out of smoke. This book looks like it's going to have what I love in my books...A LOVE TRIANGLE! Plus, I curious to see what the setting of the Everneath will entail. So this is my pick. What are you waiting for?

FANTASTIC BOOK REVIEW

Waiting on Wednesday: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Waiting on Wednesday: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

In My Mailbox (91)

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Winner of Top 2011 Reads!

Waiting on Wednesday: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Top 2011 Reads + Contest!

Essay Contest for Aspiring Writers of YA/middle grade fiction

Waiting on Wednesday: Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

In My Mailbox (90)

2012 Debut Author Challenge List

Waiting on Wednesday: Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready

Review: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Taking a break....

Waiting on Wednesday: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Review: Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Book Chatter (11): Fictional Crush

Winner of My Life Undecided!

Waiting on Wednesday: A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

Interview: Mike Mullin, Author of Ashfall

Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

In My Mailbox (89)

Win My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody!

Waiting on Wednesday: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Review: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Book Chatter (10): Favorite Paranormal Creature

In My Mailbox (88)

Review: Damage by Anya Parrish

Waiting on Wednesday: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

The Winner of TUOMD!

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Favorite September reads...need suggestions

In My Mailbox (87)

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Sneak Peek Snippet of The Iron Knight book trailer!

Waiting on Wednesday: Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Win The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Book Chatter (9): Characters I would like to meet

In My Mailbox (86)

Waiting on Wednesday: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Winner of Blood Bound!

Winner of Book Chatter's Standalone vs Series Contest!

Interview: Sarah Beth Durst (Author of Drink, Slay, Love)

Win After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

Blog Tour: Review: After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E. Wedel

Waiting on Wednesday: Reckoning by Lili St. Crow

Oh My! Book Slump Alert!

Book Chatter (8) Favorite Genres

In My Mailbox (85)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Win Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent!

Review: Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Book Chatter (7): Standalone VS Series

Gone on vacation...

Waiting on Wednesday: A BEAUTIFUL EVIL by Kelly Keaton

Review: The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Winner of Book Chatter's Hardcover vs. eBook Contest!

Book Chatter (6): What's the Cover got to do with it?

Waiting on Wednesday: UNLEASHED by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

Blog Tour: Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

Book Chatter (5): Books into Movies

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Elise Allen (Author of Populazzi)

New in Paperback: Delirium (UK) by Lauren Oliver

Waiting on Wednesday: Everneath by Brodi Ashton