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Review: Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

2012-02-23T14:17:00.000-05:00

Title: Friendship on Fire
Author: Danielle Weiler
Pages: 471
Publisher: Sid Harta Publishers
Release Date: March 1, 2011

The first few days of year 12 are disastrous for school captain Daisy Brooks.

But Daisy’s life takes a sudden turn when she is dared by Skye, the leader of the Blonde Brigade, to meet the mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous stranger, Nate, from rival school Addison Grammar. Daisy’s instant attraction to him disrupts her world. But what about her best friend Roman? How will he respond to this intruder?

Daisy is a vulnerable, yet fiery girl going through the chaotic phase between teenage and adulthood. She is about to discover the complexities of relationships, the etiquette of friendship and, most of all, her development as a woman.

Is it too late for Daisy to realise that the choices she makes shapes who she is and who she will become?

My Thoughts (minor spoilers): Friendship on Fire is one of the longer YA contemporaries I've read. There were times in the beginning of the novel where I found myself easily putting it down. The story was a bit slow-going, and I couldn't bring myself to become totally invested, which I figured was all a result of the novel's length. Once I got to a certain point later on, though, I realized it was mostly the main character Daisy who had been holding me back. Don't get me wrong. I do think Friendship on Fire could have still achieved the same message had it been shorter, but for me, it was Daisy and her relationships with the other characters that ultimately determined how I felt as I read the book. And while it took me some time to warm up to Daisy, as I got closer and closer to the end I kept wishing more pages would magically appear in my copy. I became that attached to Daisy's story.

Like I mentioned, Daisy initially wasn't my favorite character. I can appreciate a character who is strong-willed and has a fiery personality; however, it was the choices she made that were kind of a turn off. As I got further into the novel, I realized they weren't choices that most of us probably haven't made in our lives, and I began to accept the way things were happening. So, while it can still be a bit frustrating, Daisy's experiences were a necessary part of growing up, just like with any one else. She wouldn't have learned from her naive mistakes if she didn't go through all the situations she did. And comparing the person she was before to the person she is now, it's clear that she has matured greatly. It's a pretty amazing transformation.

Other than the two boys in her life (who I'll mention in a bit), Daisy's relationships with others evolved throughout the novel as well. Certain characters really surprised me in a good way, others in a completely bad way. There was one relationship that was constant throughout, and it was Daisy's relationship with her family. I love how her parents and older brothers were there for her and looked out for her. They let her figure things out on her own, even when they worried she wasn't making the best decisions. It was just great knowing that Daisy had a close and supportive family when she going through some important changes in her life.

Friendship on Fire is a bit like stories we've seen before. There's a girl (Daisy) who falls for the hot and douche-y guy (Nate) and can't see that her best friend (Roman) is actually the perfect guy for her. We know it'll either end badly or...yeah, who are we kidding? Even before reading it, I already had an idea of where Daisy's relationship with Nate was headed. It wasn't such of a surprise. What did surprise me was that I ended up feeling a bit sorry for Nate. Maybe I wasn't suppose to, but I did. Finding out about his home life made me understand why he became the person he is today. It doesn't excuse his behavior because he can definitely decide whether or not to be influenced by the people around him. I do believe his relationship with Daisy might have made him see things differently, and although I'm not sure how much he has changed or is willing to change as result, hopefully Nate realizes that it's not to late for him to become a better person. (Or maybe I'm all wrong about him and he just managed to manipulate me like he did Daisy and deserves to be miserable! Gahh!)

Now, Roman. The best friend, the good guy, the underdog. Oh, Roman. Even though I knew he was the better choice for Daisy, I can't say that I felt much of anything for him in the beginning. Honestly, and I feel bad now for saying this, I remember thinking that he must be a pretty pathetic guy for still obviously pining over a girl who didn't seem like the greatest friend. I think the reason I didn't care about him was because I was seeing him through Daisy's eyes. Since she dismissed his feelings and her focus was always elsewhere, I didn't get to really know him. It led me not to care about him or give him a second thought. I was so wrong about him. Roman ended up being part of why I didn't want the book to end. He's definitely the perfect guy for Daisy. For many reasons, actually. I thought he was sweet and attentive. It just amazes me that, while I had zero interest in him at first, I was seriously swooning over him by the end! I love that! And I love that Daisy was able to realize that he's a very good friend and that

It took some time for me to get completely hooked into Friendship on Fire, but when it happened, I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Whether my initial feelings were because of the pacing and length or even the characters, I thought it was all worth it in the end. I really liked Daisy's gradual development into a mature character, and I'm happy with how things turned out for her and certain other characters. I'm usually impressed with Australian authors, and Danielle Weiler is no exception. I'm not sure if there's another novel by her in the works, but if there is, I'm looking forward it!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Danielle Weiler for the chance to read FoF!

ARCs Giveaway

2012-02-22T00:02:00.000-05:00

I'm giving away the following ARCs...

Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Dark Eyes by William Richter
Dead to You by Lisa McMann
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Slide by Jill Hathaway

...to ONE winner! :) This giveaway is US only and ends March 14. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox #62

2012-02-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Free Download:
Catching Suki by Sarah Alderson
The Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra's Last Hope by Elizabeth Isaacs
The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier

Library:
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Tour:
Fated by Sarah Alderson [Thanks to Tina!]
The Last Echo (The Body Finder, #3) by Kimberly Derting [Thanks to Southern Book Bloggers!]
The Selection by Kiera Cass

Won:
Fateful by Claudia Gray [Thanks to WinterHaven Books!]
The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey by Rebecca Hamilton [Thanks to Rebecca!]
Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1) ARC by R.L. LaFevers [Thanks to HMH!]
Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand [Thanks to Fictional Distraction!]
Pride & Popularity (The Jane Austen Diaries, #1) by Jenni James [Thanks to Inkberry Press!]
Strings Attached by Judy Blundell [I have no idea where this came from, but thanks!]

It's been awhile! This IMM is for the past 5 weeks. I have read 4 of these books already (Catching Suki, The Selection, Fateful, The Last Echo) and currently reading Fated. My review for The Last Echo will be up closer to the release date.

A Monster Calls sounds pretty amazing, so I can't wait to get started! I'm also curious about Grave Mercy and The Forever Girl. Just a little nervous about Hallowed though, but hopefully I like it.

Thanks to Crystal & Amber from WinterHaven Books for the signed copy of Fateful! You guys are awesome! I also received copies of Pride & Popularity and Strings Attached, but I honestly have no idea how I ended up receiving them. Must have been giveaways, I guess. I definitely don't mind though; they were a nice surprise! :)

Well, this is the end of this IMM. Hope everyone has a great book week!

GirlTank + prequel to Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

2012-02-15T20:59:00.003-05:00

Want to read a prequel to Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson told in Suki's POV? Well, you're in luck! The short story prequel is Catching Suki and for a limited time you can download a copy for FREE at the GirlTank Facebook page! First, read the summary:

The Unit are closing in and Demos needs one of his team to go deep cover.

Enter Suki.

Fashion obsessed, boy-crazy and more than a little kooky, Suki is a mind reader with a special talent for buying shoes and for listening in on private conversations.

Tasked with infiltrating the enemy (namely Jack and Alex) Suki rises to the challenge, leaving a trail of chaos, destruction (and a large room service bill) in her wake.

A prequel to the events of Hunting Lila and including many of the characters from the book, this short story told through Suki’s eyes, will have you laughing out loud and gripping the edge of your seat.

My mini-review: I've already read it, and I really enjoyed it! I love Suki's character. She is seriously awesome and hilarious. It was so great to know a bit more about what happened before Lila came into the picture. At first I was nervous that I wouldn't remember anything from Hunting Lila (it's been awhile since I've read it), but I was happy and pleasantly surprised to find that it was easy to follow. I just wish it were longer because I was having too much fun reading it! It also made me want the sequel Losing Lila even more. Cannot wait!

As I mentioned, you can download the Catching Suki ebook for free at GirlTank's Facebook page. All you have to do is nominate a young woman you know (it can even be yourself) who you believe is a social entrepreneur, innovator, or hero! Want to know more about GirlTank? Here are some words from the director of GirlTank:

"We want to show the world that young women from every region of the planet are making powerful contributions to society and leading social change. We want to tell your stories!

So send us the names of the best examples of young women innovators from Chicago to Hong Kong to Capetown to Buenos Aires. Then spread the word to your networks!

As a thank you, each entry will receive a copy of “Catching Suki,” a short story by U.K.-based author Sarah Alderson (Hunting Lila and Fated)."

Awesome, right? Remember the free Catching Suki download is only for a limited time, so be sure to get your nomination in to support a great cause and for a chance to read Catching Suki and win other great prizes!

Review: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2012-02-13T20:54:00.001-05:00

Title: Pure (Covenant, #2)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 330
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: April 3, 2012

There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

My Thoughts: In Pure, stricter rules are implemented on all half-bloods, and Alex comes to realize just how much her actions can lead to very serious consequences. All of this results in Alex having even less freedom than other halfs (most higher-up Pures treated her unfairly though!), forcing her to either focus completely on training or stay confined in her bedroom. Although I felt that caused there to be a lot of similar scenes for a majority of the book, it did lead to some interesting and important character and relationship developments. It also made Alex aware of the fact that she is being targeted and that she needs to figure out who to trust. Honestly, I'm suspicious of almost every single character. I'm hoping Alex figures it out because I want her to finally be able to catch a break! I just don't know how soon that will be.

Compared to Half-Blood the mystery was much more amplified in Pure. I think I was excepting answers to at least some of the questions I had from the previous book. However, in reality, there was little to no answers. What's interesting, though, is that I didn't even notice, until I got to the very end and realized I was left with more questions than what I had before I started the book. There was definitely hints and small revelations throughout, like when the Oracle appeared again (seriously, WHO is the HE she was talking about?!), but there wasn't enough to actually draw concrete conclusions. I would say that Pure was a build-up to the major revelations that are sure to come in the final books of the series. Although I'm nervous, I cannot wait to know everything!

As for the romance, it was pretty obvious that there would be more love-triangle in Pure. And that the focus would shift...elsewhere. I knew this, and even though I'm not a huge fan of love-triangles, I was still dying to read this book! So, what did I think of this love-triangle? While I can't say the love-triangle in this series is groundbreaking, it's not so bad. I do like all the characters involved. However, no matter how likable and nice a character is or how steamy and hot things get, I am not easily swayed. That's just that way it is for me. If you're okay with love-triangles, then you're probably going to like what happens with it in Pure. Even I can admit there's some good development.

Overall, I found Pure to be completely addicting and hard to put down! Like with the other novels that I've read so far by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Pure was filled with awesome characters, kick-butt action, great humor, and some pretty hot romance. The 'Covenant' series is definitely a series I'm very excited to continue reading, and I'm really looking forward to the next book Deity!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Spencer Hill Press for the ARC!

Review: Dark Eyes by William Richter

2012-02-07T21:34:00.000-05:00

Title: Dark Eyes
Author: William Richter
Pages: 383
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: March 15, 2012

Wally was adopted from a Russian orphanage as a child and grew up in a wealthy New York City family. At fifteen, her obsessive need to rebel led her to life on the streets.

Now the sixteen-year-old is beautiful and hardened, and she's just stumbled across the possibility of discovering who she really is. She'll stop at nothing to find her birth mother before Klesko - her darkeyed father - finds her. Because Klesko will stop at nothing to reclaim the fortune Wally's mother stole from him long ago. Even if that means murdering his own blood. But Wally's had her own killer training, and she's hungry for justice.

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for teens, this debut thriller introduces our next big series heroine.

My Thoughts: Dark Eyes had some pretty shocking moments. Things I did not see coming, especially in the last couple of chapters. But that doesn't mean I was happy with those surprises. In fact, I can't wrap my head around why some secrets were secrets in the first place. It made no sense. I felt like most of the death and sorrow in this book could have been avoided if a certain character was truthful YEARS ago about the identity of Wally's biological mother.

And the way every single event played out was completely unbelievable! See, some of the characters planned ahead for the future and seemed to know EXACTLY what would happen in the future. Like how other characters would react and what those characters' actions would be in the situations they were set up in. What are the odds of everything working out like that? Yeah... Unless those characters are actually psychics, very unlikely.

I also can't say I was a fan of the main character Wally. You would think, since Wally lives on the streets, that she must have come from a rough home. But...no. She was just a rebellious RICH kid with loving parents who decided to live on the streets. I don't care if her being adopted led to her acting out like that. She was still annoyingly selfish. I don't think she was the only character like that either. And after the big reveal near the end, I'm not sure who to blame for her behavior.

Although it managed to keep my interest, I was disappointed with the characters and the consequences of all the secrets. I do think Dark Eyes will appeal to some readers, so I would recommend it to those who enjoy thrillers minus a happily ever after.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to LibraryThing & Penguin for the ARC!

In My Mailbox #61

2012-01-14T08:48:00.030-05:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought:
Living Violet (The Cambion Chronicles, #1) by Jaime Reed

Tour:
Article 5 (Article 5, #1) ARC by Kristen Simmons
Guitar Highway Rose by Brigid Lowry
For Darkness Shows the Stars ARC by Diana Peterfreund

Won:
Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles, #1) ARC by Jessica Spotswood [Thanks to Penguin!]
The Iron Quill (The Pace, #3) by Shelena Shorts [Thanks to Shelena Shorts!]
Possess by Gretchen McNeil [Thanks to Jessirae @ Words, pages and books!]

It's been quiet around here lately. I've realized I haven't posted much reviews either. I'm working on a few though and hoping to get them up before February. Things have just been slower ever since December. Also, before the end of 2011, my focus was on completing my goal of reading 100 books. Only made it to 95 books, but yeah...that's why I didn't do much on my blog except cover reveals last month. ;)

Anyway, as for this IMM, I've already read three of these books (Living Violet, Guitar Highway Rose, and For Darkness Shows the Stars). Loved all of them! Highly recommend all three! I'm also excited to have won Born Wicked, The Iron Quill, and Possess; look forward to reading them. :)

That's about all I have to say. Hope yall have a good week reading some great books!

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

2012-01-08T13:32:00.000-05:00

Title: Beautiful Disaster
Author: Jamie McGuire
Pages: 362
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: October 3, 2011

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend America, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the charming college co-ed. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his charms, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’ apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

My Thoughts: I really liked the beginning of Beautiful Disaster when Abby first meets Travis. I was so glad it didn't take them long to meet. The relationship between Abby and Travis was what intrigued me the most from reading the book's summary. The good-girl and the bad-boy. I love it when opposites attract! But what I always realize about two people in a relationship that are labeled as "opposites" is that they're not entirely different from each other. And I think Abby and Travis are a good example of that. Both have their vulnerabilities and share other similar qualities. Even if it was hard for them to believe that their relationship would work out or that they were meant to be, it was obvious they cared about and loved each other deeply.

Before I started the book, I expected Abby and Travis's relationship to be drama-filled and to make me frustrated. So, as the story went on, I wasn't surprised with all the back and forth between them. That being said, though, I can't say that I completely liked some of the decisions Abby made, some of Travis's actions, and some of the ways they both reacted to things. And I do think that at times the drama was a bit too much. Maybe overboard. Definitely very frustrating. Some events seemed a bit unrealistic and convenient. Kind of what I usually see in soap operas. I can totally understand the appeal though. I know there have been times where, out of nowhere, I became addicted to all that drama in soaps, no matter how frustrated it made me. It's just hard to look away, especially when all you want is for everyone to be happy in the end.

And in the end, I was satisfied with how things turned out for Abby and Travis. To those who are interested in reading Beautiful Disaster, I would say...go for it! Just be prepared for the drama. It's definitely one of those guilty pleasure reads.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

In My Mailbox #60

2011-12-26T11:03:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review:
Dark Eyes by William Richter [Thanks to Penguin & LibraryThing!]

Gifted:
Ashfall (Ashfall, #1) by Mike Mullin [Thanks to Joy @ Joyous Reads!]
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire [Thanks to Jojo!]

Tour:
Angel Arias (Night Creatures, #2) by Marianne de Pierres [Thanks to Arlene!]
Fury by Shirley Marr [Thanks to Crystal @ Winterhaven Books!]

Won:
Silver Sparks by Starr Ambrose [Thanks to Dreamonus!]
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1) ARC by Marissa Meyer [Thanks to The Lunar Chronicles on FB!]
Daimon (Covenant, #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout [Huge thanks to JLA!]
Half-Blood (Covenant, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Obsidian (Lux, #1) ARC by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Books from the past 2 weeks! Not surprising, Santa pretended like he didn't know I had a book addiction. ;p But I still received gifts from some fellow book lovers. Huge hugs and thanks goes out to Joy for Ashfall and Jojo for Beautiful Disaster! Happy to receive them & can't wait to read them. Thanks ladies! :')

Another huge thanks goes out to Jennifer L. Armentrout! I won a Thanksgiving giveaway on her blog, and she sent me signed copies of Daimon, Half-Blood, and an ARC of Obsidian AND a whole bunch of swag! Really exciting and awesome! Thank you thank you, JLA! :D Anyway, as you all can see from the pic below, it definitely is a lot of swag. I will most likely host a swag giveaway next year, so look out for that. :) (Btw, did you guys hear that Alex from Half-Blood won the round against Rose Hathaway in the YA Heroine Tournament? YEAH. Isn't that completely awesome?! I feel so proud!)

And...that's it! This is last IMM from me this year. ;) Hope you guys had a great year full of awesome books! :)

Vote for ALEX + Giveaway!

2011-12-23T09:22:00.001-05:00

Alex from Half-Blood won against Nora from Hush, Hush in the previous round of the YA Heroine Tourney! YAY! Jennifer L. Armentrout gave us the Alex/Aiden scene she promised; it can be read HERE. So good! Loved it!

And today...Alex is up against Rose Hathaway. Yes, that Rose. I know she has a lot fans. And I mean, A LOT. Some of you following my blog might even be Rose fans. BUT! I'm going to give you a few reasons why you should vote for Alex instead of Rose. I won't be going on and on about how seriously awesome and kick-ass and loyal and funny Alex is (although she is all of that and more), but I will bring up other reasons and I hope you hear me out. :)

First reason: If Alex gets 500 votes, Jennifer L. Armentrout will share a juicy scene from Pure! (I've read Pure, so I totally know what scene she's talking about. And yes, it is juicy!)

Second reason: If Alex gets 750 votes, JLA will write CHAPTER 16 from Half-Blood in Aiden's POV! (OMG! Need it now!)

Third reason: If Alex gets 1000 votes, JLA will also write CHAPTER 26 from Obsidian (book 1 in her other series Lux) in Daemon's POV! (OMG!! Yes!))

Fourth reason: If Alex WINS, JLA will write basically a novella from Aiden's POV about Aiden and Leon going after a daimon at the end of Half-Blood! (More Aiden? Heck yeah!)

Before you say 'Pshh! I haven't even read Half-Blood or Obsidian! So why should I care?,' here are a few words that best describe all those scenes/chapters: HOT, STEAMY, SEXY, SPICY, KISSING. Both chapter 16 and 26 take place on either a bed or a couch... *ahem* Sound good, right? Basically, you're going to want to read those chapters if you haven't already! And Half-Blood is all from Alex's POV and Obsidian from Katy's POV. Can you imagine reading it from the guys' POV as well? *fans self*

Another reason you should vote for Alex instead of Rose is actually directed towards readers who have read both Half-Blood (and even Obsidian) and Vampire Academy. Here's something that you should ask yourself and really really think about:

What will Richelle Mead give us if Rose wins?

Yeah, think about it. Anything better than reading those chapters in Aiden & Daemon's POVs? No? Didn't think so. :) Don't worry, you won't be a traitor if you don't vote for Rose. This is just an online poll created by fans for fun! It'll be even more fun if we can read chapter 16 in Aiden's POV and chapter 26 in Daemon's POV, don't you agree? So, pretty please, VOTE FOR ALEX! :D Click here to access the post with the Alex vs Rose poll!

Giveaway

Momo from Books Over Boys is giving away a copy of the prequel Daimon, a copy of Half-Blood, AND a pre-order of Pure to one lucky person! Giveaway is international & ends January 6! To enter, visit the giveaway post on her blog HERE. Good luck! :D

VOTE FOR ALEX!!

Cover Reveal: Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

2011-12-22T00:08:00.017-05:00

Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

(book 1 of The Lost Souls series)

Current Release Month: April 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

"What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?

Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?"

Whoa! Doesn't this book sound awesome? And the cover is gorgeous! I really LOVE the tagline used. "Love can't be engineered." I cannot wait to read this! Looks like it will possibly be released in April of next year by Entangled Publishing, which has been releasing some really great titles! In the meantime, you can add Chosen Ones to your GoodReads shelf or follow Tiffany Truitt's blog and Twitter! Really looking forward to reading this book. :)

Cover Reveal: Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-12-12T09:05:00.001-05:00

Here again with another cover reveal from the awesome Jennifer L. Armentrout! This time it's for Deity, the third novel in the kickass Covenant series.

Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Check out the previous covers in the series:

What do you think? I love the red! And I love how they all have their own color! BUT someone actually being on the cover is something new (if you don't count ~~HOT~~ Aiden being on the back of Pure). I'm assuming it's Alex. And I'm already wondering what the final cover of the series, Apollyon, will look like. All the covers are so pretty!

By the way, I have a HUGE favor to ask you guys. Alex is up against Nora from the Hush, Hush series in the YA Heroine Tournament, and Alex needs your votes! If Alex wins this match, Jennifer L. Armentrout will post an Alex and Aiden scene that occurs during the time between Half-Blood and Pure! Guys, we need that AA scene! So, PLEASE, vote for Alex! :D Voting is only today, so if you want to help out and vote for Alex, please CLICK HERE and scroll down till you see the poll. Would really appreciate it; thank you!

In My Mailbox #59

2011-12-11T11:20:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought:
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
Madly (Madly, #1) by M. Leighton - Download FREE eBook at Smashwords.

Won:
Minder (Ganzfield, #1) by Kate Kaynak [Thanks to Kate Kaynak!]
Succubus Revealed (Georgina Kincaid, #6) by Richelle Mead [Thanks to GR & Kensington!]

For Review:
Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler [Thanks to Danielle Weiler!]
Pure (Covenant, #2) ARC by Jennifer L. Armentrout [Thanks to Spencer Hill Press!]
Switched (Trylle Trilogy, #1) by Amanda Hocking [Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin & Bookittyblog!]

So many great books this week! I won a copy of the new edition of Minder from Kate Kaynak through a giveaway hop on her blog. She also sent me swag, a Spencer Hill Press tote bag, and a candy cane! Also, won some The Pledge swag from Erika @ Rescue Reads! Thankies to you both!

I got my first review request from an author! Danielle Weiler, an Aussie author, wanted me to check out her novel Friendship on Fire. Of course I said YES. It's AUSSIE YA, how could I not accept? She kindly offered to send me a print copy all the way from Australia, and I thought that was awesome. Thank you!! I'm currently reading it now and can't wait to find out what happens to Daisy.

And last thing I want to mention is...PURE!! AHH! I sent a request to review an ARC of Pure months ago; it was the first time I sent a request to a publisher. It arrived just yesterday, and I had to stop myself from jumping up and down. lol There were some blurbs in the beginning and guess what I found?

Yes, that's me! I was grinning like an idiot. First time I've ever been blurbed. Never thought that would happen! And I'm so glad it happened with a series I love! :D I'm so excited and nervous for this book! So far I've managed to not sneak a peek at the ending, and hopefully I control myself. hehe Anyway, be prepared for a special cover reveal tomorrow... Hint: third book in the "Covenant" series. ;)

Okay okay, that's about it! Remember to come back tomorrow if you want to see the cover I'm revealing. So, what did you get this week? :)

Everneath Winner

2011-12-10T14:51:00.000-05:00

The giveaway ended last night, and here is the winner of the Everneath ARC by Brodi Ashton:

Jessirae @ I live my life through the pages that I turn!

Congratulations! :D Winner has already responded through email. Thank you to everyone who entered, and also thanks to those who decided to follow my little blog! I've had other giveaways before, but this one definitely had the most entries. Hopefully there will be other giveaways in the future. :)

Mini-Reviews #4

2011-12-07T09:00:00.002-05:00

The following mini-reviews are for books I read MONTHS ago. Even though I wish I had, I didn't write full reviews for these for different reasons, but I hope I managed to get my feelings across in each of these mini-reviews.

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar / Released: June 29, 2009
There were a lot of things I loved about this book. The writing and the characters, especially. I don't know anything about surfing, so I admit I wasn't always able to visualize what was happening during those parts. But, I just went with it and it didn't effect how I felt about everything else. I just wish the book didn't have to end. Carly was very easy to like. I've never been through, and I personally don't know anyone who's been through, what she has, but I could sympathize with her. I felt like I understood her anger and shame and fear, and I think the author did a wonderful job with Carly's character. I can't wait to read more from this author! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren / Released: Feb. 1, 2011
Although the historical genre doesn't interest me all that much, I ended up being pretty curious about Waterfall after reading some great reviews. I just had a feeling I would like it. And after seeing this post (now if that doesn't convince you to read this book...), I knew I needed to read it! This book was way better than I could have ever hoped for! I loved the relationship between Gabi and Marcello. Both were amazing and likable characters. And there was a lot of kick-butt action that made me an even bigger fan of the characters. The author did such a great job, and I seriously cannot wait to read the second book and the rest of the series! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Blood Destiny by Tessa Dawn / Released: December 1, 2010
I remember thinking that some characters were a bit too perfect and that I didn't feel like I knew the leading female character Jocelyn. Apparently she's a Homeland Security agent, but honestly, if I didn't know that before reading the book, it would have never crossed my mind. There was another female character, Joelle, and her story was extremely heartbreaking. I wish things had ended differently for her because she deserved so much better. I would also like to mention that this book has very graphic and disturbing, gory violence. I think some readers will probably be very put off by that. So, just giving a warning to those who don't like to read those types of books. Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Cover Reveal: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-12-05T08:38:00.000-05:00

Time for another cover reveal! This time it's the cover for Onyx, the second novel in the YA alien series called LUX, by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Month: May 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Sneak peek of official blurb: "No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…"

Ooo very mysterious and intriguing, right? I cannot wait to read it! I think the cover has a Roswell-feel to it because of the rock in the background. (Fans of the Roswell TV show should know what I'm talking about.) Loving it! I also love when covers have their own color. Obisidan, the first novel, was green and now Onyx is blue! I'm already starting to wonder what the featured color will be on the next cover.

Anyway, looks like Onyx will be released next May. (It will be a long 5 months...!!) In the meantime, if you haven't yet read the first book in the LUX series, Obsidian, good news! It offically releases December 6 and can be ordered it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository, and FishpondWorld.

Review: Incendiary by Chris Redding

2011-12-02T10:48:00.001-05:00

Title: Incendiary
Author: Chris Redding
Pages: 290
Publisher: Sinful Moments Press
Release Date: April 5, 2011

Chelsea James, captain of her local first aid squad, is trying to keep the organization afloat, but someone is sabotaging her. The squad is her father’s legacy and she feels responsible to keep it going. Jake Sweeney, back in town after a decade, is investigating the arsons he was accused of long ago. When they start again Chelsea and Jake must join forces to defeat their mutual enemy. Jake would like to rekindle what they had before he left town, but his departure left Chelsea hurt and bewildered. To begin again, she must learn to trust him. Her life could depend on it.

My Thoughts: Incendiary centered around Chelsea and the ordeals she faced in trying to keep the local first aid squad she is the captain of from being replaced, overcoming the tension between her and her older brother Brad, and having to deal with the feelings that arise when her ex-boyfriend Jake returns after 10 years.

There was a lot going on that I wouldn't have minded if the book were longer, if only to have more details and background. I think that there was so much more to learn about the history the characters shared, but all we got were glimpses. As a result I didn't feel like I really knew the characters or understood the emotional connections they had with each other. At the same time, I think there were too many events happening right after another that made the story seem unrealistic.

Also, there was an arsonist in the town 10 years ago who was never caught, and then suddenly fires start occurring around town when Chelsea's ex-boyfriend comes back. I think from the beginning it was pretty obvious who the arsonist was, and I believe the readers are suppose to know, but it made me wonder why it wasn't so obvious to the characters. Especially since there were other people investigating this person. To me, that aspect wasn't as mysterious or thrilling as it could have been.

All in all, I think readers who are interested in reading Incendiary should read it if they are looking for a quick, easy read where everything is pretty much resolved in the end.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to the author and Goodreads for the book!

Mini-Reviews #3

2011-11-29T11:23:00.007-05:00

The following mini-reviews are for books and ARCs I've read. I didn't write full reviews for these for different reasons, but I hope I managed to get my feelings across in each of these mini-reviews.

Everneath by Brodi Ashton / Release: Jan. 24, 2012
I managed to read this in one day because it was that easy to get sucked into the world of Everneath. I liked the main character Nikki's determination. Sometimes she didn't make the best choices, but I can't completely fault her for that because of...Cole. He really knows how to influence a person. I don't think I quite understand him or his agenda. As for the romance, I'm glad I didn't dislike the love-triangle, but I can't say that I completely enjoyed it. I am rooting for the other guy Jack. Out of all the characters, I liked him the most, even though my connection to him wasn't very strong. Other than that, I thought it was a great start to the trilogy. Alternating between the past and present was done really well, and the ending was definitely a shocker! I look forward to reading the sequel. Rating: 4 out of 5

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis / Release: April 17, 2012
These same words kept popping up in my mind while I was reading this book: strange, weird, lost, bizarre, crazy. Because it was! Which was not a bad thing at all. The book alternates between the POV of Elyse and Marshall as they try to regain their memories and figure out what's wrong with the too perfect town of Summer Falls. Those first few chapters... Well, let's just say it was probably one of the most intriguing beginnings to a story I've ever read! Glimmer was fast-paced and full of mystery and ghosts and lots of...heatnaps. And magic. Cannot forget the magic. It ended up being no where close to what I expected; it was such a different kind of read. I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. Another great thing about it was that it definitely seemed like a stand-alone. Props to the author! Rating: 4 out of 5

Madly by M. Leighton / Released: June 2011
This is a novelette, and I feel like this is a very promising start to the series! Madly is about mermaids, but it seems there are other fairy tale characters in it, which I thought was pretty fascinating. Madly, the main character, was awesome. I loved that she took charge. Jackson was...smoldering. Really interested in reading more about their relationship! I would have liked more of Madly's friends Aidan and Jersey. They were completely overshadowed whenever Jackson was around. Jersey and Jackson are even siblings, and it didn't feel that way. But since this is only a glimpse into the series, I'm sure we'll get more of them in the second book. I thought the writing was great, and I'm looking forward to more! I would recommend this to fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout! Rating: 5 out of 5

ARC Giveaway: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2011-11-28T00:02:00.005-05:00

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath is a debut novel by Brodi Ashton, and it's the first book in a trilogy coming out in January 2012. I just read Everneath and liked it! It was hard to put down, and I actually managed to read it in one day (that doesn't happen often!). I was lucky enough to receive two ARC copies of this book in the same week. So, I've decided I NEED to give one away! :)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada mailing addresses only and will end on December 10. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

In My Mailbox #58

2011-11-27T14:10:00.004-05:00

Free Download:
Intuition by J. Meyers - A bonus short story for Intangible. Find download link here.

For Review:
Incendiary by Chris Redding [Thanks to GoodReads & Chris Redding!]

Won:
Everneath ARC by Brodi Ashton [Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers & Brodi Ashton!]
Glimmer ARC by Phoebe Kitanidis [Same as above!]
Slide ARC by Jill Hathaway [Same as above & thanks to Confessions of a Bookacholic!]

Okay, so there was a giveaway on Twitter hosted by HarperCollins with authors Brodi Ashton, Phoebe Kitanidis, and Jill Hathaway. Participants had to write a sentence including these three words: ever, glimmer, and slide. Each author picked 3 winners and those winners would receive a prize pack of those 3 ARCs above. Amazingly enough... I was one of those winners! :o I won through Brodi Ashton; she let her nieces pick the sentences Go Brodi Ashton's nieces! :D I'm a little embarrassed to share my sentence, but if you want to read it, you can find it somewhere on Ashton's blog. Just remember, the "with" is suppose to be "wish." ;)

Anyway, that was pretty exciting! Don't they all have pretty covers? I finished Everneath last night and liked it! Interestingly enough, I ended up with two ARC copies. I think the other one was through the Shelf Awareness ad. So...I'm going to put up a US/CA giveaway tomorrow! Look out for that. ;) I just started Glimmer; it's weird and I'm liking it so far. :D I think I will probably get to Slide in December. Looking forward to it.

Hmm... I think that's about all I have to say about this IMM. Have a great week! :)

Cover Reveal: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

2011-11-25T09:17:00.001-05:00

I've been eagerly awaiting the cover of my most anticipated YA debut novel for 2012 to be revealed, and it's finally here! There's kissing and hand-holding (aww!), and I think the look of the font and the way it's placed on the cover is so unique! And I just LOVE the tagline 'War is Only Half the Battle.' It's a contemporary novel about a young Marine who is back from war and... Well, you're going to have to read the rest of the summary down below to find out more! ;)

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Release Date: June 19, 2012

Publisher: Bloomsbury

"A powerful debut novel about a young Marine's return home from Afghanistan and the new life and love he finds while fending off the ghosts of war.

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and the way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.

His sense of humor, sense of his own strength, and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently lovable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel."

Doesn't it sound so good? Ah! I cannot wait! Something Like Normal can be pre-ordered at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Book Depository. And you can find and add the code for the countdown widget to your blog by accessing the widget here!

Review: The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

2011-11-21T10:00:00.009-05:00

Title: The Disenchantments
Author: Nina LaCour
Pages: 308 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Release Date: February 16, 2012

Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall.

But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next?

Morris Award—finalist Nina LaCour draws together the beauty and influences of music and art to brilliantly capture a group of friends on the brink of the rest of their lives.

My Thoughts: I felt pretty disconnected at times with The Disenchantments. I love reading from the male POV, and even though I rooted for Colby, he didn't do much for me. Colby's in love with his best friend Bev, and for most of the book, I had a hard time understanding why. Bev was distant and didn't seem to care about Colby's feelings. I just couldn't get myself to like her. Eventually, Bev explained why she had been acting that way. And I got it. I understood where she was coming from. However, unlike Colby, and probably because I'm not in love with her and I don't know her like he does, I didn't completely forgive Bev right away.

This book also made me feel a little dazed while reading. It was a weird feeling. I usually feel that way when I visit unfamiliar areas, and the places Colby and his friends went to on their road trip tour to perform music seemed to mostly be in the middle of nowhere. Colby's other friends and Bev's fellow bandmates were sisters Meg and Alexa. They were unique and quirky and were definitely part of the reason I ended up having a daze-like feeling. I liked them though. They were good friends to Colby and Bev. Another thing I liked was that even though their band The Disenchantments pretty much sucked, they didn't care at all. It could have been awkward, but it never happened. They just did it because it's fun and they love music.

In the end, the weeklong journey might not have been as enchanting as I had hoped, but it was an interesting one to experience. There was enough closure, and I'm happy with the way things turned out for everyone, especially Colby.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Penguin & LibraryThing for the ARC!

In My Mailbox #57

2011-11-20T08:17:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought:
Night Huntress (Sisters of the Moon, #5) by Yasmine Galenorn
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2) by Richelle Mead
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) by Richelle Mead

Library:
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Won:
Crossroads by Mary Ting [Thanks to We Fancy Books & Mary Ting!]
The Disenchantments ARC by Nina LaCour [Thanks to Penguin & LibraryThing!]

The books I bought this week came from a book sale at the library. I had no idea what to expect from the sale, but I'm really glad I decided to go because I found the first 3 Vampire Academy novels and they were in 'like new' condition! :) I also picked up Night Huntress just because it looked interesting. I didn't realize it was the 5th book in the series though. Having skimmed through it as soon as I got home, I'm not sure if it will be something I will like... We shall see. One day. :P

Unearthly is one of 3 books I promised myself I would read this year. I have already read the other 2 books I wanted to read, except this one. Really hoping I love it! And finally, books I won were Crossroads and The Disenchantments. I've been curious about both, and I'm hoping I end up liking them. :)

That's it! What awesome books did you get this week?

Mini-Review: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

2011-11-16T09:39:00.004-05:00

Title: Why We Broke Up
Author: Daniel Handler
Pages: 354 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 27, 2011

"I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened."

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

My Thoughts: I read up to page 41 in Why We Broke Up, and I could not bring myself to read more. I felt like the story was going so fast, and I got irritated with Min's voice (the story is a letter Min wrote to her ex-boyfriend, some jock guy from her school called Ed). And Ed? Who? I couldn't even picture him in my head. Seriously, I just saw a blob. I even skimmed to see why they broke up, and it was very annoying. If I actually read the entire book, I'm pretty sure I would have gotten a headache.

Now, with the way Min talked...or how the author wrote. I did not like the writing AT ALL. This is the main reason why I didn't like the book. There were many run-on, never-ending sentences...!! I started thinking, 'AHHH! MAKE IT STOP! It's too long! Someone get me a pen so I can scribble in periods!' And by the time I was done with those crazy did-not-even-make-any-sense sentences, I couldn't even remember what I read. It also didn't help that the ARC was pretty heavy to hold.

Thanks goes out to Crystal @ WinterHaven Books for letting me borrow it! I wish I had liked it, but unfortunately, I could not finish it.

Rating: DNF

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-11-13T09:00:00.004-05:00

Title: Obsidian (Lux, #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 266
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: December 6, 2011

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

My Thoughts: Ever since I read and completely loved the prequel and the first book in Jennifer L. Armentrout's "Convenant" series, I just knew I had to read more by this author. That series is exciting and kickass and one of my favorite reads for 2011! As you can imagine, I desperately wanted to get my hands on Obsidian, which is the first book in JLA's newest series. I admit, though, I've always had the hardest time reading books on the computer. I get so distracted, my mind wanders, and I've only managed to finish a full novel once. But I was willing to try for Obsidian. I'm happy to say that I wasn't at all bothered reading it as an eGalley! In fact, I was easily hooked and read through it quickly. I just couldn't stop reading; it was that addicting! To me, it proved once again that Jennifer L. Armentrout is a definite author to watch.

After reading JLA's other novel Half-Blood, I told her on Twitter that I would read anything she writes. Then I think she replied with something about garden gnomes delivering pizza. I wish I had the original tweet because it made me laugh. Anyway, what I remember thinking was that I would read it as long as there's romance! Because for real. JLA can write a make-out scene! The romance between the main characters in Obsidian, Katy and Daemon... Well, they have a love-hate relationship going on. Sometimes I found all the bickering frustrating because they seriously argued about 95% of the time and I kept thinking, 'Oh, just kiss already!' However, whenever they were together, the tension between them got pretty electrifying. And going through all that made the moments they shared together where there wasn't any fighting totally worth the wait!

Now, the reason for all the fighting was because of Daemon. (Really, I can only blame Katy for a little bit of it. haha) Daemon can be an ass. He was a very big one when Katy first met him. He had his reasons though. He's not very trusting of humans and is willing to do whatever he can to protect his sister and himself. It didn't excuse the way he acted, but I felt like I understood why he's not so nice sometimes. And as the book goes on, it seemed Daemon just enjoyed getting under Katy's skin. He definitely had his moments, of course, and that's why I couldn't help but to like him!

As for Katy, I liked her from the beginning. She didn't allow Daemon to run all over her and scare her away. There was this one awesome moment involving spaghetti, and I was like, "YES!" I seriously wished at that moment I could go into the book and high-five Katy! There were a few times where she made some not-so-great decisions, but I couldn't bring myself to hold it against it her since she usually ended up proving herself. Another thing I liked about Katy was that she was a book blogger! I could easily relate to that. (Was anyone else waiting for Katy to make a My Book Boyfriend post featuring AIDEN?) This is probably the first time I've read a book where the main character is a book blogger, and I thought it was a unique and fun thing to include.

Obsidian was highly addictive and filled with all kinds of funny, surprising, HOT, and action-packed moments. Jennifer L. Armentrout really knows how to make it easy to get into a story! I also loved that it was about aliens because I don't believe I've seen much of that in the YA category. I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book (and the rest of JLA's novels)! Seriously cannot wait to find out what happens next with Katy and Daemon and to know more about the other characters. Big thanks goes out to Entangled Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read an eGalley!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In My Mailbox #56

2011-11-12T08:40:00.006-05:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium, #2) by Stieg Larsson
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
A Wrinkle in Time (Time Series, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle

For Review:
Obsidian (Lux, #1) eGalley by Jennifer L. Armentrout [Thanks to Entangled Publishing & Netgalley!]

Library:
Wither (The Chemical Garden, #1) by Lauren DeStefano

Tour:
How to Save a Life ARC by Sara Zarr [Thanks to Crystal @ WinterHaven Books!]
Why We Broke Up ARC by Daniel Handler [Thanks again to Crystal!]

Won:
Amplified by Tara Kelly [Thanks to Joy @ Joyous Reads!]
Half-Blood (Covenant, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout [Thanks again to Joy!]
Shatter Me ARC by Tahereh Mafi [Thanks to HarperCollins!]

I've already read and loved both Amplified and Obsidian! My review for Obsidian will be up soon, and I'm still working on my Amplified review. I read and reviewed Half-Blood months ago; so glad to have won a copy because I loved it! I'm not sure when I'll get to Shatter Me, but I'm happy to have an ARC and love how shiny it is. Not sure what to expect from How to Save a Life and Why We Broke Up, but look forward to reading them.

Checked out Wither because I need to get to it before I start the ARC of Fever. Hoping I like it! And finally, the books I bought came from a garage sale at my church. I only saw like two YA books, but they weren't books I was interested in, so I just got adult books and classics I've been curious about. I'm glad they were all in good condition.

That's it for this week's IMM. What did you get? :)

Review: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

2011-11-11T09:14:00.000-05:00

Title: Stolen
Author: Lucy Christopher
Pages: 299
Publisher: The Chicken House
Release Date: May 1, 2010

Gemma, 16, is on layover at Bangkok Airport, en route with her parents to a vacation in Vietnam. She steps away for just a second, to get a cup of coffee. Ty - rugged, tan, too old, oddly familiar - pays for Gemma's drink. And drugs it. They talk. Their hands touch. And before Gemma knows what's happening, Ty takes her. Steals her away. The unknowing object of a long obsession, Gemma has been kidnapped by her stalker and brought to the desolate Australian Outback.

Stolen is her gripping story of survival, of how she has to come to terms with her living nightmare - or die trying to fight it.

My Thoughts: Gemma is a 16-year-old from London. She and her parents are at the airport in Bangkok, preparing to catch a flight to Vietnam, when she meets a man, Ty, who steals her away and changes her life forever. Stolen is a letter written by the victim to the captor. Gemma's letter reveals what happens between her and Ty during her captivity in the Australian outback.

Throughout the book, I had conflicting feelings towards Ty. Which were kind of similar to the way Gemma felt about him. Ty was patient with Gemma and kind to her. I believe he did care deeply for her. But he had some serious issues. There were glimpses of instability and moments where I thought that he could be capable of hurting her. I also think he was a bit delusional, and I don't believe he was completely honest about every single thing he claimed to know about her.

So I was a bit surprised when I realized that I was starting to sympathize with Ty, just like Gemma, by the end of the book. We got to know Ty and learned some of his story. But it made me wonder if I was sympathizing with him because I was suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, which was brought up in the book. Or was it something else? I'm not sure. It's really a confusing feeling.

Overall, I thought Stolen was a unique and captivating story. Even though I want to know what happens next with these characters, I'm not sure I'm ready to know. Not yet, at least. I think I need to get over this Stockholm Syndrome-ish feeling first.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In My Mailbox #55

2011-10-30T11:02:00.001-04:00

For Review:
Fever ARC (The Chemical Garden, #2) by Lauren DeStefano [Thanks to GoodReads / Simon & Schuster!]

Tour:
This is Shyness by Leanne Hall [Thanks to Nic @ Irresistible Reads!]

Won:
Blood Red Road by (Dustlands, #1) Moira Young [Thanks to Nicci @ Paper Dreams!]
Delirium (Delirium, #1) by Lauren Oliver [Thanks to Wendy Higgins @ YAtopia!]
Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves [Thanks to POC Reading Challenge!]

October has been a pretty busy month for me IRL. I'm surprised I even managed to read 6 books. The book I'm currently reading is This is Shyness, and it's bizarre. I'm liking it though; hopefully I finish it before November.

Won an ARC of Fever from GoodReads. Haven't read Wither yet, but will read it before I get to Fever. Reviews for Wither have been mixed, so I hope I like it. Also won copies of Blood Red Road (read & enjoyed a few months ago), Delirium (haven't read yet), and Slice of Cherry (haven't read it or Bleeding Violet). SoC was even signed, which was pretty cool.

I want to say that I hope November isn't so busy for me, but I doubt that. lol Anyway, that's it for this IMM. Have a good week!

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour Winner

2011-10-25T10:17:00.001-04:00

Since I never heard back from the first winner, a new winner has been picked! The winner of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour is...

Manda

Congratulations, Manda! Hope you enjoy the book! :)

Review: If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

2011-10-24T12:44:00.000-04:00

Title: If I Tell
Author: Janet Gurtler
Pages: 256
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: October 1, 2011

Jasmine Evans knows one thing for sure... people make mistakes. After all, she is one. Jaz is the result of a onenight stand between a black football player and a blonde princess. Having a young mother who didn't raise her, a father who wants nothing to do with her and living in a small-minded town where she's never fit in hasn't been easy. But she's been surviving. Until she sees her mom's new boyfriend making out with her own best friend. When do you forgive people for being human or give up on them forever?

My Thoughts: I could relate to the main character Jasmine in a way. I understood why she felt like she never fit in because of her skin color and the way she looks. I know the feeling. But she pretty much annoyed me for the majority of the book. The secret she kept from her mother.... It made me wonder why she even bothered keeping it to herself, since she started taking out her frustrations on the one person she was trying to protect. Telling her mother that unlike her, she wasn't addicted to a color? And that she was a horrible mother? Whoa. Jasmine made unfair assumptions and was as judgmental as everyone else throughout the book. Even though she realizes this by the end and knows she has to change herself and become a stronger person, I can't say I ever went out of my way to root for her.

Another thing that bothered me was the fact that so many other issues were mentioned. There was the gay friend and the friend who was abused growing up and the boy who had a drug past. Every other character had a dead parent (cancer, drunk driving, etc) or a parent who wasn't in their lives. Yes, everyone has problems. But considering the book was already about prejudice and racism and forgiveness, it was too much. I guess I was suppose to feel sorry for the characters, but I honestly never felt much of anything for them. And then the dialogue from some of the characters made me cringe. Things like 'Once you go black, you never go back' and 'You know what they say about black men...' I've heard those jokes before. Who hasn't? It felt very forced. Like I was being reminded and convinced that the character was black. And I wasn't convinced. It didn't sound real or true to me. Just stereotypical things to say.

I liked that If I Tell brought up the issues of race and prejudice. However, I wasn't able to completely connect with the characters, and I think the book had a lot going on with the other issues I mentioned above. While I didn't enjoy If I Tell as much as I wanted to, I don't think it was a bad read at all. And I believe that if you're still interested in reading it you should go for it.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to LibraryThing & Sourcebooks Fire!

In My Mailbox #54

2011-10-15T18:25:00.001-04:00

Borrowed:
Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2) by Melina Marchetta [Thanks Joy!]

For Review:
If I Tell by Janet Gurtler [Thanks to LibraryThing & Sourcebooks Fire!]

Only two books this week, but one of them is SUPER AWESOME. I'm talking about Froi of the Exiles, which is the second book in the "Lumatere Chronicles." Melina Marchetta is my favorite author ever, and FotE was my most anticipated 2011 novel! HUGE thanks to Joy @ Joyous Reads for giving me the chance to read it. I already wrote a review, which can be found here. FotE was epic and I don't mind that it ends with a cliffhanger. Melina Marchetta can do no wrong. ;) Btw, see how thick the book is? Yeah, WHOA, right? That's the longest MM novel published, and I hope the next book, Quintana of Charyn, is just as long! :) If you love epic YA fantasy, then BE SURE to check out the "Lumatere Chronicles," starting with the first book Finnikin of the Rock.

Also got If I Tell from the publisher through a LibraryThing giveaway. I will be starting that one soon. Hope it's good. Anyway, that's all for this quick IMM. I need to go back to reading. :)

Review: Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta

2011-10-14T13:55:00.003-04:00

Title: Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2)
Author: Melina Marchetta
Pages: 608
Publisher: Viking Australia
Release Date: October 3, 2011

Blood sings to blood, Froi . . .
Those born last will make the first . . .
For Charyn will be barren no more.

Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home Or so he believes.

Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds. Here he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, and must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad Princess.

And in this barren and mysterious place, he will discover that there is a song sleeping in his blood, and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.

Gripping and intense, complex and richly imagined, Froi of the Exiles is a dazzling sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, from the internationally best-selling and multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca, On the Jellicoe Road and The Piper's Son.

My Thoughts: It's been about two days since I finished this book, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. All I've been doing is skimming through the entire book and rereading my favorite parts and coming up with theories on how Melina Marchetta is going to resolve everything. When I started it, I stayed up really late the first day because I just could not put it down! It's definitely the fastest I've read through a Melina Marchetta novel. I can't say that taking my time and savoring it ever crossed my mind. EVER. There was no way I would have been able to do that. It was my most anticipated novel for 2011! And usually when I really love a book, I can't keep my mouth shut about it on GoodReads. But I'm glad I've managed to pretty much stay quiet about this book, even only for a little bit, so that I can go back and savor it this time and figure out what I want to say in this review.

Froi of the Exiles was as epic as Finnikin of the Rock but a whole different experience! It's HUGE. Not only does it come in at about 600 pages, but I felt like the story was even bigger because of the fact that Froi of the Exiles is from more than just Froi's perspective. There was a nice balance of chapters from other characters such as Beatriss, Finnikin, Lucian, Lucian's wife Phaedra...and we get a lot more characters through them. It was so great catching up with the characters from FotR (what happened with some of them exceeded everything I ever imagined and made me very happy!) and getting to know the new characters in FotE. I honestly could not decide who I wanted to read more about. Always at the end of each chapter I would start thinking: 'Noo! Chapter, don't end! I want to read more about [insert character's name here]!' But then I would start the next chapter and, by the time I was done with that one, I would think, 'Noo! Chapter, don't end! I want to read more about [insert character's name here]!' That's basically how it went for me throughout the majority of the book.

There are so many characters and relationships I would love to talk about... But I'll have to stick with a few because I don't want to end up giving spoilers.

Froi and Quintana: These two have some of the most heartbreaking stories in the book. I wanted to hug and comfort them both. Froi has changed so much since he first appeared in FotR. He's such a great person and proves himself over and over again. Even through all the ridicule and trauma she's had to endure from her people, Quintana continues to do whatever she can to protect her country of Charyn. I really admired their strength. Both Froi and Quinanta want to feel worthy, respected, and loved. There is a romance between them, and I have to say it wasn't easy. Neither has experience with romance, and it didn't help that Froi didn't trust himself at first and Quintana didn't trust Froi. I loved reading about them and their developing relationship, and the way the book ended...let's just say I'm really rooting for them!
Finnikin and Isaboe / Beatriss and Trevanion: Squee! That's all I'm going to say.
Lucian and Phaedra: I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about reading from their perspectives. Phaedra's a new character, and while Lucian was in the previous book, I didn't really know his character. I thought it would take some time for me to warm up to them, but that wasn't the case! Both ended up being favorite characters of mine. Even though I wanted to slap Lucian in the beginning for the way he treated her, I came to understand why Lucian acted harshly and why Phaedra felt worthless. (I admit I was swooning a bit over Lucian... There's just something about him.)
Rafuel: I had to give a quick mention to this character! This guy is cool. I really hope I'm not wrong about him, and I kind of hope he appears more in the next book.

US cover

Now, the cliffhanger. I didn't think it was a mean way to end the novel. Cliffhangers really don't bother me. They just get me even more excited for the next book. The last couple of chapters were pretty devastating when it came to certain characters. It was so sad! But having the epilogue actually made me feel a bit relieved for the most part, since at least I got to know what was going on with those characters before it ended. Plus, so much happened in the book, and there's many things left to be resolved that I don't believe the story would have been nearly as great if it the ending was rushed to make it feel like it had complete closure. And I loved where Finnikin of the Rock ended, but if I hadn't read Melina Marchetta's blog interviews or her website after finishing that book, I would've had no idea there was a sequel on the way. There would have been less time for me to get anxious and excited and fully prepared for FotE! And the fact that there's a cliffhanger means I can look forward to MORE, which makes me extremely happy.

Everything you expect from a Melina Marchetta novel can be found in Froi of the Exiles. It was amazing, and I loved it! If you haven't even read Finnikin of the Rock, what are you waiting for? I'm so looking forward to Quintana of Charyn, but I'm wondering how Melina Marchetta is going to top FotE! My theories as to what'll happen next haven't gone far... Good thing the next book is only about a year away from being released! Cannot wait!

Finally, big shout-out to Joy @ Joyous Reads for letting me borrow her copy! THANK YOU! Be sure to read her awesome review of this book!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In My Mailbox #53

2011-10-08T19:55:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Tour:
The Bridge by Jane Higgins [Thanks to Nic!]
Tempest (Tempest, #1) ARC by Julie Cross [Thanks Crystal!]

Bought:
Darkfever (Fever, #1) by Karen Marie Moning
Bloodfever (Fever, #2) by Karen Marie Moning
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Won:
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake [Thanks to Sash & Em!]
The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen [Thanks to Trinity & Book Faery!]
Virtuosity ARC by Jessica Martinez [Thanks to Simon & Schuster!]

I finished Tempest the other day...and it's crazy! The first half was a bit slow, but it definitely got better. Can't wait for the sequel. I'm starting The Bridge now, and because I loved Daughter of Smoke & Bone (love the cover too!) so much I bought myself a copy. :D

I also bought copies of Darkfever and Bloodfever at my local library. You know what the total was for both books? $3. That made my day because I love that series!

Haven't read Anna Dressed in Blood, The Mephisto Covenant (which is signed by the author!), or Virtuosity, but I hope I enjoy them. I'm really looking forward to Anna because I heard it was from the male perspective, which I love to read from. :)

That's about all I have to say for this IMM. Have a great week!

Review: Indelible by Lani Woodland

2011-10-03T09:07:00.008-04:00

Title: Indelible (The Yara Silva Trilogy, #2)
Author: Lani Woodland
Pages: 394 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Pendrell Publishing
Release Date: September 27, 2011

Yara is beginning to understand just how much her life will change now that her Waker abilities have emerged. She has come to terms with the fact that seeing ghosts is part of her life, but she isn t ready to let being a Waker dictate her choices. All she wants is a ghost-free senior year with her boyfriend, Brent, and her best friend, Cherie. But Yara soon discovers that there are more dark secrets in her school's history than just the curse she broke. While an angry ghost makes Yara question everything she thought she knew about spirits, she and Brent learn that there are long reaching consequences to last year s adventures. As new enemies emerge and old ghosts resurface, Yara finds herself in the center of another deadly mystery, and this time she has to contend with the living as well as the dead.

My Thoughts: I thought the story in Indelible was even better than the one in Instrinscial (and I loved that one). In this book, we learn that the world of those with supernatural abilities is much more complex and complicated than Yara Silva once believed. There's whole groups of people out there Yara had no idea about, and she is caught in the middle because she is a very talented and powerful Waker. And if that isn't enough, she soon finds out that what happened with her and her boyfriend Brent during the previous school year isn't over. It's coming back to haunt them both in ways they never expected.

Yara was awesome in this book. In my review for Intrinsical, I mentioned that I didn't warm up to her right away, but in Indelible, I completely loved her! It's clear that Yara has definitely grown as a person, a Waker, and a character. What Yara went through in this book was not easy. If I were her, I would have lost my patience a long time ago and blown up on some people. Throughout the book other characters tried to threaten or guilt her into doing what she didn't want to do, but Yara followed her instincts and did what she knew was right, without making rash decisions this time around! I was seriously even more proud of her in this book for staying levelheaded and true to herself.

I felt the relationship between Yara and Brent was just as believable as it was in Intrinsical. They didn't fight nearly as much in this one, of course, but they had their share of disagreements, including a huge fight at one point, which was a result of all the stress and complications in their lives. I liked that they weren't perfect. They went through a lot, and they each had their own secrets. While Brent's secret made me want to shake him for keeping it to himself and yet hug and comfort him at the same time, I'm so glad it didn't stop them from wanting to be together. To me it just showed how strong their love for each other is and how much they are willing to do for each other. They also had plenty of adorable moments together. It was too cute! I love them as characters and as a couple, and I sincerely hope they are able to overcome all the obstacles thrown their way and everything turns out fine for them because they really deserve it.

While I enjoyed Yara and Brent so much in this book, there were some other things in the book that ended up frustrating me a bit. I'm glad the whole deal with the Wakers and the Clutch and all the others isn't so simple and that it wasn't all quickly resolved. It makes things way more interesting. But at the same time, there was no way all the questions could have been answered and all the issues resolved in just this book. It would have been unrealistic and too much to take in if there was 100% resolution. So, unlike Intrinsical, Indelible ends with readers still having some questions. Questions about the new mysterious groups and characters.

As I mentioned, some characters would try to tell Yara what to do and yet those same characters were extremely vague about their reasoning and wouldn't give Yara answers. Some acted all high and mighty about it. The Clutch, for example. I hated them!! Another character I'm unsure about is Brent's father. What happened? Did he care what happened to his son? Was he involved with those people or not? I don't get him, and I want to know what his deal is. Other characters couldn't quite help their vagueness, though, like DJ. But in the case of DJ...I couldn't get myself to warm up to him. He had his own agenda, his own lives to protect, but I really didn't like how he kept telling Yara to run away and asking her whether Brent was worth it. There was definitely not a love-triangle, but there were a few moments between DJ and Yara that still made me go: What was up with that? Maybe I was looking too much into it, but it made me uneasy, especially since I had serious trust issues with DJ and I'm such a hardcore Yara/Brent supporter. I don't know, my feelings towards him might change in the next book. We'll see.

Initially I gave Indelible 4.5 stars for those reasons above. However, after thinking about it, I've decided to go ahead with a solid 5 stars because 4.5 was the rating I gave the first book and Indelible really was better. And because I actually like where the story is going, even with the frustrations I had. Also, I have faith and trust that the author will address everything and have everything come together in the final book of the trilogy Inevitable, which I'm so looking forward to reading! (I need another Yara and Brent fix! lol) That being said, if you haven't started the Yara Silva Trilogy yet, you need to get on it! It's definitely a favorite of mine, and it truly is one of the most unique and better YA paranormal series I've read.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Lani Woodland for the ARC!

In My Mailbox #52

2011-10-01T19:03:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought:
Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

Tour:
Daughter of Smoke and Bone ARC by Laini Taylor [Thanks Crystal!]

Won:
Carrier of the Mark (Carrier Trilogy, #1) ARC by Leigh Fallon [Thanks to Dark Faerie Tales!]
Indelible (The Yara Silva Trilogy, #2) ARC by Lani Woodland [Thanks to Lani!]

IMM for the past 3 weeks. These books are all blue-ish! I like when it all matches. hehe :D And all pretty covers.

I've already read Raw Blue months ago, and I loved it! (I regret not ever writing a review.) So I had to get my own copy. :) All thanks to FishpondWorld! I finished Indelible yesterday, and I think I loved it even more than Intrinsical. I'm working on a review now. You guys should really check out the Yara Silva Trilogy; it's awesome! Huge thanks to the Lani Woodland for sending me a copy!

I'm starting Daughter of Smoke & Bone, and I'm crossing my fingers that I love it because my expectations are pretty high! I have a good feeling I'm going to love it though. ;) I've been curious about Carrier of the Mark, so whenever I get around to reading it, I hope I enjoy it.

And that's it for this week! Have a great week. :)

Review: The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

2011-09-29T09:10:00.001-04:00

Title: The Marked Son (Keepers of Life, #1)
Author: Shea Berkley
Pages: 334
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Release Date: August 2, 2011

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he's never met, he had no idea what.
When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents' farm, he knows he's seen her before...in his dreams. He's felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power.

Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he's completely insane or he's about to have the adventure of his life, because where they're going is full of creatures he's only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death...

My Thoughts: Whoa. That was awesome.

I didn't realize how much I would end up loving The Marked Son. Before I read this book, I read some reviews and opinions seemed kind of mixed. It's amazing how different people's reading experiences can be when reading the same book. I found The Marked Son to be such a thrilling read! I was captivated from the very beginning. I thought the main and supporting characters were very likable and had great relationships. I loved the writing, and the story was unique and filled with magic, romance, action, and some surprising twists that I never saw coming. The Marked Son just really did it for me!

For years Dylan Kennedy has had dreams about the same beautiful girl. He tries not to think much about it, but that all changes when he actually sees the girl in the woods where his grandparents live. Dylan decides he has to find her, and when he does, she opens his eyes to a whole other world, a magical one. One that may explain why his mother ended up abandoning him and why he has always felt ignored and forgotten by people. But that magical dimension is dangerous and after becoming marked for death, Dylan has to decide whether to stay in the human world and forget everything he just learned or fight to protect both worlds and the girl from his dreams.

The world the girl is from is called Teag, and it's filled with fantasy and mystical beings. Most of the people from Teag are firsts. They are Keepers of Life, and they have the ability to use magic to control nature. Some are more powerful than others. There was a time when they could cross the barrier to the human world, so there are even half-bloods, people with human and first blood, in Teag. Firsts can be very selfish, and when it comes to love, they can become obsessive and end up hurting people. As one of the characters stated: "Love is our curse." There are also creatures like the tiny pux, who are a type of sídhe that are a real nuisance and can be frightening when in a large group; and the ones created by magic like the bug-like millispits, who are extremely scary because their only purpose is to kill. I thought the world of Teag was completely fascinating, and I hope to learn more about it in the next book.

As for the characters, Dylan was so great. Even though he didn't have the best life growing up, he managed to become a person who is caring, determined, and passionate. I loved that the book was from his point-of-view because I enjoy reading from the male POV, and I think the author did a wonderful job on making his voice believable. I really loved his character. Kera, the girl from Dylan's dreams, was a great character as well. We got to know her through the parts that are from her perspective, and she was pretty kick-ass. I loved how protective she was of her people and Dylan. The only thing I wanted to know more about were the dreams Dylan and Kera shared throughout the years. We get a glimpse of the dreams in the beginning and the dreams were mentioned a little throughout the book. I really rooted for Dylan and Kera, and I believe they truly love each other. But it all started with the dreams. And I would have liked more insight about those dreams just so that I could get a better understanding of their connection. Either way, I loved their relationship, and I cannot wait to know more about both Kera and Dylan in the sequel.

There were other great characters in this book: Dylan's grandparents, Bodog, Leo, Jason, Pop, Lucinda (she made me laugh!). I even liked the bad guy Navar because he actually made me feel really nervous and worried for the other characters. Not many villains can get that reaction out of me. This guy didn't hold back. However, I have a feeling there might be others who are capable of more evil and damage than Navar, so it should quite interesting finding out what Dylan and the others are going to have to go through.

The Marked Son was a fast-paced and consuming novel. With the way it ended, I'm already excited to read the rest of the trilogy (the second book is The Lost Prince and the third is The Bastard King) to come back to the world and the characters the author has created. I pretty much loved everything about it, and it's one of my favorite YA fantasy/paranormal novels this year! A really awesome debut!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

2011-09-28T06:23:00.030-04:00

Now, I'm not lazy when it comes to a Melina Marchetta novel. ;D She is my favorite author ever. I cannot wait for this book!! It's the sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, which I loved so much.

Title: Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles, #2)
Author: Melina Marchetta
Release Date: October 3, 2011
Page Count: 608
Publisher: Viking Australia

"Blood sings to blood, Froi . . .
Those born last will make the first . . .
For Charyn will be barren no more.

Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home Or so he believes.

Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been trained roughly and lovingly by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds. Here he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, and must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad Princess.

And in this barren and mysterious place, he will discover that there is a song sleeping in his blood, and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.

Gripping and intense, complex and richly imagined, Froi of the Exiles is a dazzling sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, from the internationally best-selling and multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca, On the Jellicoe Road and The Piper's Son."

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Why do I fancy books?

2011-09-26T12:37:00.000-04:00

I was bored before I started seriously reading again in 2009, after about 10 years of not reading much of anything except manga (and by then my obsession of anime was gradually fading). My only other hobby before reading was Postcrossing, which was great but there's only so much you can do with postcards and there's not much interaction other than the postcard you send and receive. It can be a pretty lonesome hobby if no one you know cares about postcards and everyone thinks you're weird for liking that hobby. :\

Now, that's not to say that my friends and family like books. Because the majority of them honestly don't care. (Sometimes I just feel like the odd one out! :P lol) But the online book community is MUCH BIGGER than the postcard community. I've met some pretty awesome people through GoodReads and other book blogs, and I've found out about some amazing books because of them. Books I probably never would have considered to read before. Like my favorite book of all time: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta.

I mean, WOW. That book... I didn't even know books could take you to a whole another level, until I read Jellicoe Road! O_O It changed my reading experience, my expectations, and made me see what I've always wanted (but didn't realize I wanted) out of books! It left me speechless. My mind was seriously blown. And because of that book I found my favorite author. I'm a hardcore fan. A major fangirl of Melina Marchetta! ~~GO MELINA MARCHETTA! :D YOU'RE AWESOME AND AMAZING! ♥♥~~

So yeah, most of my family and friends still think I'm weird because I'm obsessed with books... But hey, at least I have a hobby I enjoy, right? Reading gets my mind going and keeps me inspired. Books can be life-altering and mind-blowing, and most importantly, books keep me from dying of boredom. That's why I fancy books.

Trailer: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

2011-09-24T09:31:00.000-04:00

Have you guys seen the book trailer for The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin? It's...WOW. I love everything about it! I even have the song featured in the trailer on repeat right now. It's definitely the best book trailer I've seen. Really impressive. It's like a commercial for an awesome TV show or movie! If I hadn't already read an ARC, I would be dying to read this book after watching this trailer. It's just that good.

who is mara dyer?

Man. It makes me want to re-read the book! The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer will be released September 27, published by Simon & Schuster. I highly recommend it, so be sure to buy it when it comes out. It's really good! *goes back to watching trailer*

Excerpt: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-09-21T07:41:00.028-04:00

An excerpt featuring what I'm sure is just one of the many hilarious exchanges we'll read between Daemon and Katy from Jennifer L. Armentrout's newest YA paranormal, Obsidian, which will be released December 6, 2011 by Entangled Publishing:

Eyes still on me, he tipped his desk forward even further. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"I checked out your blog."

Oh. Dear. Baby. Jesus. How did he find it? Wait. More importantly was the fact that he had found it. Was my blog now googleable? That was awesome sauce with an extra heaping of sauce. "Stalking me again, I see. Do I need to get a restraining order?"

"In your dreams, kitten." He smirked. "Oh wait, I'm already starring in those, aren't I?"

I rolled my eyes. "Nightmares, Daemon. Nightmares."

Go Katy! I know that if someone I didn't like or I didn't want knowing about my blog found out about my blog... I would just die of embarrassment! *hides* :P Anyway, it's so cool that Katy is a book blogger. She should totally do a 'My Book Boyfriend' post featuring Aiden from Half-Blood. Right?? ;D LOL

Pre-Order Obsidian:

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

2011-09-20T09:07:00.001-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It's a weekly meme featuring

book-related lists. This week's topic is ten books I feel as though everyone has read but me.

1. The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine - I feel like all my GoodReads buddies have read this series. There are so many volumes...with tiny text! Eek! I really want to read them though because my GR friends always get excited for nekkid Shane.

2. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - I've heard so many GOOD things about this book. I really really want to read it and I can get it from the library, but I want to get through the books I own and haven't read first. I hope to read it before the end of the year.

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - I've had a copy since last year. It's Aussie... I should have read it by now! But I'm just too intimidated.

4. The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa - I have read the first book, but I still haven't gotten around to reading the rest. I can get them from the library, but I just have to find time for them.

5. Looking For Alaska by John Green - I've wanted to read this for awhile, but I ended up reading two other books by Green instead. I bought a copy a few months ago, and I think I'm going to wait until I'm in the right mood.

6. Delirium by Lauren Oliver - I kept seeing this book everywhere earlier this year. I'm a bit unsure because I was 'meh' about her debut, and I've seen mixed reviews on this one.

7. Across the Universe by Beth Revis - This was a book I couldn't wait to read! I don't know what happened, but I didn't get around to buying a copy. Now, I'm not sure I care enough to buy it. I'll probably get it from the library.

8. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White - This one sounds funny, and while I planned on checking it out from the library, I didn't know when I ever would. I won a copy of the second book recently, so now I'll definitely go the library sometime for this one.

9. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer - I felt like I saw this all over the place last year. It's too bad they changed the covers... The reason I haven't gotten around to it is because I have a feeling this will be a love-triangle I won't like.

10. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - When this came out, I really wanted to read it! I waited and waited for the library to get it, but they never did. Thankfully a friend sent me a copy...but I still haven't read it. The reviews I've read have scared me.

Giveaway: Amy & Roger's Epic Detour

2011-09-18T16:49:00.001-04:00

I'm in the mood to host a giveaway. I guess this giveaway could be the I'm So Close to Getting My Braces Off Giveaway! I feel like this is it. Before the end of the year, it has to happen. It's been a long time coming. And if it doesn't happen...well, I might have to cry myself to sleep until I do get them off. :P

I'm giving away a hardcover copy of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson! This was one of my favorite books in 2010, and I'm very excited to read Matson's next book, which will be out May 2012, called Second Chance Summer. I hope whoever wins this giveaway enjoys Amy & Roger as much as I did. :)

Giveaway Info:

Open to US residents. (If you have someone living here who can send it to you, that's fine.)
You do NOT have to be a blog follower.
Ends October 14 at 11:59 PM EST.
Read my Giveaway Policy for more.
To enter, fill out this form: CONTEST ENDED

I'll contact and announce the winner, who will be chosen by Random.org, after the giveaway is over. Good luck!

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

2011-09-14T00:03:00.008-04:00

I haven't done a WoW post in a long time! I don't do them anymore because I'm lazy... But I decided to be not so lazy this time. :D Indelible is the sequel to Intrinsical, which I really really enjoyed! Can't wait to read it!

Title: Indelible (The Yara Silva Trilogy, #2)
Author: Lani Woodland
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Pendrell Publishing

Yara is beginning to understand just how much her life will change now that her Waker abilities have emerged. She has come to terms with the fact that seeing ghosts is part of her life, but she isn't ready to let being a Waker dictate her choices. All she wants is a ghost-free senior year with her boyfriend, Brent, and her best friend, Cherie. But Yara soon discovers that there are more dark secrets in her school's history than just the curse she broke. While an angry ghost makes Yara question everything she thought she knew about spirits, she and Brent learn that there are long reaching consequences to last year's adventures. As new enemies emerge and old ghosts resurface, Yara finds herself in the center of another deadly mystery, and this time she has to contend with the living as well as the dead.

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Cover Reveal: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-09-13T07:10:00.000-04:00

Jennifer L. Armentrout, the author of Half-Blood, has announced a new book series! Half-Blood is one of my favorite paranormals this year (it will be released October 18, 2011). I've already decided I want to read more books by JLA , and I'm very excited for this one, especially since I heard that it's like the TV show Roswell! So here is the title, blurb, and more! :D

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: December 6, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Find it at: Amazon || GoodReads

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, outhouses, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring. Until I spotted my hot neighbor with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marked me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and the mark he left on me has me lit up like Las Vegas strip to the bad guys. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. If I don't kill him first, that is.

And then things got really bad…

Countdown Widget

Mini-Reviews #2

2011-09-12T09:07:00.003-04:00

The following mini-reviews are for books and ARCs I've read. I didn't write full reviews for these for different reasons, but I hope I managed to get my feelings across in each of these mini-reviews.

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert / Released: July 1, 2009
Man, it's just effed up. I cried like twice. I've had a copy of this book for almost a year now, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. I've never done drugs and I don't drink; however, I'm surprised how I felt like I could relate to some of these characters in a way. And I think that there is something that everyone can relate to in these characters. Stephanie Kuehnert did such a great job on them and their stories. Ballads of Suburbia is filled with friendships, anger, sadness, love, heartbreak and self-destruction. And in the end, even though it isn't a happily ever after story, there's still a bit of hope. It's the most real and rawest story I've probably ever read. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins / Release: Sept. 29

Cricket. ♥ St. Clair. ♥ AHHH!! Stephanie Perkins owns. I loved Anna and the French Kiss, but I loved this one even more! It was so freaking good and perfect! One of my favorite books this year! Probably my favorite so far. Lola and Cricket were amazing, and the appearances from Anna and St. Clair were awesome. Just like with Anna, I couldn't stop laughing and fangirling, and I couldn't put this book down. I love when a book makes me smile and forces me to finish reading it in one day. (My expectations for Isla and the Happily Ever After are pretty high now!) I don't think I can write a proper review for Lola. It's one of those books I adored so much that I can't seem to find the right words to express how I feel. All I can say is... JUST READ THIS BOOK! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler / Release: Nov. 21

I'm really surprised at how much I loved this book! Looking at other reviews and ratings on here and LibraryThing made me a bit wary, but I'm so glad I gave this book a chance! The book alternated between the POVs of Emma and Josh, who have been best friends since they were little kids. I really liked them both! Emma was a caring and good person, but she did come off as a little selfish and seemed unsure of what she wanted at times. But I can't fault her for that because who wouldn't be after finding out about their future? As for Josh, he was such a sweet and nice guy. I just wanted to hug him! Both of them grew throughout the novel. While it probably won't be a mind-blowing, life-altering story for readers (who probably already have expectations because of the authors' other novels), I still enjoyed it very much. It was funny and cute and hard to put down! I pretty much had a grin on my face the whole time I was reading, and I was extremely pleased with the ending. It's a fast-paced novel about two people who ultimately have to figure out what they want in the future for themselves and from each other. A light and really fun read. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In My Mailbox #51

2011-09-10T13:08:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Won:
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead [Thanks to Penguin!]
The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler [ARC thanks to LibraryThing & Penguin!]

Bought:
Hunting Lila (Lila, #1) by Sarah Alderson
Shadowfever (Fever, #5) by Karne Marie Moning

Gift:
The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by Kody Keplinger [Big THANKS to JoJo!]
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid, #1) by Richelle Mead

This IMM is for the past 2 weeks. First off, I would like to thank JoJo for sending me The DUFF, Some Girls Are, and Succubus Blues! These books have been on my wishlist for awhile now and were not available at my local library, and she kindly offered to send them to me. I'm starting The DUFF today and can't wait to read the other two. Thank you so much, JoJo!! :)

I won The Future of Us from LibraryThing. I finished it yesterday, and I loved it! It was a light read and very cute and funny. My mini-review will be posted next week. I also won a finished copy of Bloodlines from Penguin and was so happy to see it because I LOVED that book! It also came in a shiny red bubble envelope! It was blazing. I bought Hunting Lila because I heard it was great & it was! My mini-review is here. And I also bought the paperback of Shadowfever because I needed a copy! Shadowfever is actually tied with 2 other books for my top favorite read of 2011 so far. There also is a deleted scene in the back... ;)

Well, that's it for this IMM! I'm back to reading. Have a great week. :)

If you're a fan of Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta, you need to read the excerpt from Froi of the Exiles, the sequel to Finnikin! Read the prologue here and the first chapter here! Froi is going to be epic, I tell ya. O.O

Review: Intrinsical by Lani Woodland

2011-09-07T09:33:00.000-04:00

Title: Intrinsical (The Yara Silva Trilogy, #1)
Author: Lani Woodland
Pages: 304
Publisher: Pendrell Publishing
Release Date: August 20, 2010

Sixteen-year-old Yara Silva has always known that ghosts walk alongside the living. Her grandma, like the other females in her family, is a Waker, someone who can see and communicate with ghosts. Yara grew up watching her grandmother taunted and scorned for this unusual ability and doesn't want that to be her future. She has been dreading the day when she too would see ghosts, and is relieved that the usually dominant Waker gene seems to have skipped her, letting her live a normal teenage life. However, all that changes for Yara on her first day at her elite boarding school when she discovers the gene was only lying dormant. She witnesses a dark mist attack Brent, a handsome fellow student, and rushes to his rescue. Her act of heroism draws the mist's attention, and the dark spirit begins stalking her. Yara finds herself entrenched in a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening not only her life, but the lives of her closest friends as well. Yara soon realizes that the past she was trying to put behind her isn't going to go quietly.

My Thoughts: I didn't know what to expect from Intrinsical. I just knew I wanted to read it and hoped that I would like it. While the beginning didn't grab me right away, I clearly remember the moment I became completely hooked. It was during the last two-thirds of the novel. It was filled with many surprises, and it was exactly what I was hoping for and more, exceeding any expectations I had! If I had to describe Intrinsical in one word it would definitely be impressive.

I admit Yara, the main character, had to grow on me just a bit. She had a temper, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but combined that with the fact that she would keep secrets about her abilities.....well, it did get a bit frustrating at times. And then she would sometimes go into dangerous situations without thinking things through. But you know what? Sometimes risks are necessary. It may have seemed stupid at first, but in the end, it was smart and really brave. If she didn't follow her instinct, she never would have been able to get out the situation she and Brent were stuck in. I'm proud of her for making her own decisions, and I ended up really liking her feisty character.

The relationship between Yara and Brent was one of the things I really loved about this book. Right away it was easy to see that they were interested in each other. It seemed like a typical romance was about to bloom between them, and I thought it was only a matter of time before they were kissing and became a couple. But I was wrong! They became friends first. They didn't jump into a romantic relationship because all that mattered to them was helping each other stay alive. That's what they focused on, and I loved that. There were also times where they became irritated and frustrated with each other like normal people. I'm so glad for that because it made their relationship seem more natural and believable.

As I mentioned, I really enjoyed the last two-thirds of the novel. I thought the paranormal aspects were very unique, and it was filled with some pretty heart-pounding moments, which really surprised me! At first I didn't like that important information wasn't revealed right away, but I really came to like how it was all done. When I finished I just knew it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting and exciting if the author decided to not reveal only bits and pieces throughout the story. Another thing I really liked about the last two-thirds of the novel were the secondary characters like Yara's friend Cherie and Brent's friend Steve. I thought they were just going to continue to stay in the background, but nope! They became very important to the story, and they were just as great as Yara and Brent. I hope to see more of them in the sequel!

With a unique ghost story and one of the few I can think of off the top of my head that has a romance that develops gradually and naturally, I have to say that Intrinsical is definitely one of the better young-adult paranormals I've read. It didn't end in a cliffhanger (in fact, I was completely satisfied with the ending), but it still left me wanting more and feeling very impressed. I so look forward to Indelible, the next book in 'The Yara Silva' trilogy, to find out what happens next with Yara and Brent and their friends! Be sure to check out these books!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Top Ten Tuesday: Sequels I'm Dying To Read

2011-09-06T10:23:00.004-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. It's a weekly meme featuring

book-related lists. This week's topic is ten not-yet-released sequels we are dying to read.

1. Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta - AHHH! Of course this is #1! This is the sequel to Finnikin of the Rock. I loved Finnikin so much! I was extremely ecstatic when I found out there would be sequel. This book comes out in Australia on October 3, so thankfully the wait doesn't feel too long! I've read the first chapter extract already and...whoa. This is going to be freakin' EPIC! Melina Marchetta is a genius!

2. Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh - Varen! The first book Nevermore took me by surprise with it's unique, dark and haunting story! I need this book right now! I've already waited a year for it, and sadly, it looks like I'll have to wait another year for it's release.

3. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins - Okay, so this is more of a companion than a sequel, but hey, I couldn't help it! I adored Anna and Lola, and I cannot wait to read about Isla! My expectations are very high, I admit, but I'm not worried because Stephanie Perkins is amazing!

4. Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Daimon and Half-Blood were completely awesome (and aren't the covers amazing?)! The characters, the story, the action, the romance were all so freakin' good! I'm dying to know what happens with Alex and Aiden. Armentrout is definitely an author to watch!

5. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead - I fell 100% in love with Adrian in Bloodlines, which shocked me since I honestly didn't care about him in Vampire Academy (don't hurt me!). I knew I would love Sydney, and she was as awesome as I expected. With the way the first book ended...man, I NEED to know what happens next!

6. Indelible by Lani Woodland - I adored the first book Intrinsical! Woodland did such a good job with Yara and Brent's relationship and the way she revealed all the important details. I'm super excited for this book, especially since I've heard it's even better, and curious to know what the ghost story will be about in this book.

7. Unwholly by Neal Shusterman - Unwind is probably my favorite dystopia ever (yes, it even beats The Hunger Games)! It's perfect as a stand-alone, but I was so excited when I found out Shusterman was working on a sequel. Not sure what it's about; however, I have a feeling it's going to be amazing!

8. Under the Light by Laura Whitcomb - This is like a sequel/companion, probably more of a companion, to A Certain Slant of Light, which I didn't realize I would LOVE until I actually read it. I'm so glad Whitcomb wrote this because I need to know what happens with Jenny and Billy!

9. Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson - Hunting Lila was a thrilling story, and I really really loved the romance! Girls falling in love with their brother's best friend has always intrigued me. Plus, it was action-packed, and I want to know how they'll overcome the bad guys!

10. Magic Under Stone by Jaclyn Dolamore - This is the sequel to Magic Under Glass, and while I don't remember everything that happened in that book, I still can't wait for this one! Because I do remember thinking that I need more Nimira and Erris.

Well, I think my list is pretty freakin' awesome. There are some others that would have made this list, but since those sequels don't have titles yet...I decided not to include them. ;)

Mini-Review: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

2011-09-04T10:23:00.012-04:00

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
Released: August 4, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
Buy it: The Book Depository || FishpondWorld

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts.After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them...

I recently finished reading Hunting Lila and gave it 5 out of 5 stars! If you haven't read it, then you need to! :D

Reasons you should read Hunting Lila:

It's way different than the usual paranormal! Your first indication should be the lovely cover, which doesn't feature the cliché ~~moody-looking~~ girl wearing a prom dress ~~in the middle of the woods~~. ;) And how can you not be lured in by the cover? Those red heels are HOT!
American characters speaking fancy British words like mum (for mom) and vest (for undershirt) and using what we Americans like to call military time. It's always good to brush up on your British! If you're a clueless American like me, of course. ;D
Jack and Alex (do yourself a favor and click that link!). Normally I get turned off by male characters named Alex because well...I have a similar name and it's weird to me if I start swooning over a character that basically has the same name as me... But this Alex is the exception! hehe Anyway. *ahem* Jack and Alex, two very fine military men. Marines, to be exact. Damn. *fans self*
And most importantly, you don't want to miss out on a fast-paced and action-packed story (there's guns and fast vehicles!) with awesome characters and a pretty sexy romance (NO love-triangle in sight! Heck yeah!). I totally believe this book would make a great movie or TV series. I heard film rights were already sold so it's well on it's way!

Since Hunting Lila is only available in the United Kingdom and Australia at the moment (what are you waiting for USA?), you can order it at The Book Depository or FishpondWorld, both of which provide FREE worldwide shipping! Very good deals, in my opinion. Really, you don't want to miss out on this book! I'm already eagerly anticipating the sequel Losing Lila, which will be published in August 2012. :)

Btw, Sarah Alderson is giving away an ARC of Fated, her newest paranormal that will be released January 2012! Find out how to enter by visiting the competition post on her blog HERE.

Review: Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

2011-09-02T17:25:00.001-04:00

Title: Blood Song (Lharmell, #1)
Author: Rhiannon Hart
Pages: 290 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Random House Australia
Release Date: September 1, 2011

I wanted to turn but I was held captive by the song on the wind. I’m coming, I told the voices. Please, wait for me.

When her sister becomes betrothed to a prince in a northern nation, Zeraphina’s only consolations are that her loyal animal companions are by her side – and that her burning hunger to travel north is finally being sated.

Already her black hair and pale eyes mark her out as different, but now Zeraphina must be even more careful to keep her secret safe. Craving blood is not considered normal behaviour for anyone, let alone a princess. So when the king’s advisor, Rodden, seems to know more about her condition than she does, Zeraphina is determined to find out more.

Zeraphina must be willing to sacrifice everything if she’s to uncover the truth – but what if the truth is beyond her worst nightmares?

My Thoughts: Blood Song first came to my attention after finding out it was written by an Australian author. (If you don't already know, I love to read Australian YA!) I became even more curious after reading some great reviews. Fantasy seems to be one of the genres that I tend to pay less attention to. I'm not sure why. I have read some young-adult fantasy that I really love and are some of my favorite books. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read Blood Song because I'm finally able to add another YA fantasy and Aussie novel to my favorites!

For the past few years, sixteen-year-old Zeraphina has had a strange craving for blood. Although she has never tried any, there are times where she can't stop thinking about it. What's worse is that she has felt an urge, a pull to go North. She practices archery to keep herself distracted, but it's in the back of her mind all the time and every day these urges and cravings seem to slowly intensify, causing her immense pain. She finds relief when her older sister becomes engaged to a prince from Pergamia, a northern country of Brivora. By accompanying her sister to Pergamia, Zeraphina has a chance to figure out why she's drawn northwards and why she hungers for blood. But the answers she desperately wants and eventually finds end up making her life much more complicated than before.

As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew I was going to love Blood Song. Zeraphina and her sister Lilith and mother Renata were making me laugh with some of the things they said. I love when a book gets me to laugh! I didn't even know there would be a bit of humor, so it was a nice surprise. (Other readers might not find it quite as hilarious I did, but oh well, maybe it's just the kind of humor I like.) What I loved about it is that it showed how close they were as a family. It was so great to read about two sisters actually getting along. There was no rivalry between Zeraphina and Lilith, and while Renata is just a little overbearing, it's obvious she cares deeply for her daughters and only wants the best for them.

"I knew what you were the minute I saw you [...] and you seemed so fierece, so...human, that it gave me hope."

That is part of one of my favorite quotes in the book. I couldn't include the entire quote and the next line because it might be a bit spoiler-y. But I can say that is was Rodden Lothskorn speaking to Zeraphina. Rodden is the 22-year-old advisor of the Pergamian king. He's mysterious and intriguing but also arrogant and infuriating. From the moment Zeraphina meets him, they can't seem to get along. Zeraphina is clever and pretty sarcastic and she can hold her own, so her clashing with someone like Rodden wasn't surprising. Their bickering kept me laughing, and I loved it.

Zeraphina doesn't know if Rodden can be trusted and he seems to feel the same way about her. I can understand Zeraphina's frustration, since Rodden is part of the reason why her life gets even more complicated. He hints at having the answers she wants but avoids giving them to her...until she starts figuring him out. I'm very happy it didn't take the entire book to get some answers. There is still a bit of mystery from Rodden, though, because he never goes into detail about his past. I really look forward to knowing more about him in the next book, and hopefully there will be more moments between him and Zeraphina because their connection was something that I really loved about the book.

I recommend Blood Song to Kristin Cashore fans and fans of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. And if you're not a huge fantasy fan, you should still give this book a read! It's hard not to get sucked into the story from the very beginning. There's enough suspense and action, and the world in Blood Song is beautiful but not overwhelming. Plus, who doesn't like awesome and kickass characters? Blood Song is the first book in a trilogy, and I'm already anxious and excited for the second book. So, if you get the chance, be sure to read it!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Huge thanks to Nomes @ inkcrush for sending out her ARC!

(FYI: Blood Song can be ordered at FishpondWorld with free shipping worldwide.)

Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

2011-08-30T10:24:00.007-04:00

Title: Vanish (Firelight, #1)
Author: Sophie Jordan
Pages: 304
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: September 6, 2011

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

My Thoughts (SPOILERS and not for Vanish fans): I'm just going to get to the point. The love-triangle RUINED this book for me. I don't even care who Jacinda ends up with at this point. I really don't. I liked Will in Firelight, but I didn't care for him in this book (honestly, didn't even give him a second thought, which might be because he was barely in it). I was neutral towards Cassian in Firelight, and I ended up disliking him in this book.

I don't understand why everyone is in love with Jacinda. It was worse because she kept going back and forth with this: 'I want Will. No, I can't be with him. I'm starting to feel something for Cassian too. He truly wants me for me. I can't betray Tamra though. But I can't let either of them go. I feel something for them both. Will! Cassian! Will! Cassian!'

I can't believe I'm saying this, but minus the bitchy attitude, she is like the Bella Swan of Firelight, I swear. And you know what else pissed me off? That Jacinda kept going on and on about Tamra being obsessed and infatuated with Cassian, and yet she NEVER EVER says that about Cassian and Will's obsession with her or her infatuation with Will and sometimes Cassian. What the hell is up with that?? Selfish! That's what Jacinda is. I was not convinced by this love-triangle. At all. And it's even more frustrating because it doesn't look like it's over.

What did I like about the book? Tamra.

She intrigued me in Firelight, and I was so looking forward to knowing more about her in Vanish. *looks at cover* Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, Vanish is all about Jacinda. It just makes me feel bad for Tamra. I WISH this book was in her POV instead because at least she knows what she wants. And we wouldn't have to deal with a pathetic love-triangle and all the moping Jacinda does in this book. What we did get of Tamra, though, was awesome. She said most of the things I was thinking. Her asking Cassian why Jacinda was so special was priceless because he didn't even know how to answer it! Wow. I'm so glad she lashed out at Cassian a couple of times. He deserved it too because apparently he led her on a bit in the book and also for the way he treated her after Jacinda became a draki and she didn't. I only supported Tamra/Cassian because she liked him, but he really doesn't deserve her. At this point, I can't say they will happen; HOWEVER, I won't be surprised if they do end up together though. And if it does happen, Cassian is going to have to work hard for it. Big time. Convince me like he couldn't do with Jacinda.

Other than the romance, I felt like nothing else happened in Vanish until the very end. That's when the action picked up. It's disappointing because I really liked the beginning of Firelight. I thought this story would be different, but...it ended up being the same old same old. I feel like it has gone downhill since the moment they went into the human world in Firelight. *sigh* Anyway, it may come as a surprise, but I still plan on reading the final book. *shrugs* I just have to know what happens with Tamra. I'm not getting my hopes up though.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Crystal for letting me borrow her ARC!

In My Mailbox #50

2011-08-27T11:00:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Tours:
Blood Song (Lharmell, #1) by Rhiannon Hart [Thanks to Nomes @ inkcrush!]
Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood [Thanks to Arlene!]
Vanish (Firelight, #2) by Sophie Jordan [Thanks to Crystal!]

Gift:
Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry, #3) by Simone Elkeles [Thanks to my mommy! :D]
Fantasy Lover (Dark Hunter, #0) by Sherrilyn Kenyon [Huge thanks to Arlene!]
Night Pleasures (Dark-Hunter, #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Night Embrace (Dark-Hunter, #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Won:
The Marked Son (Keepers of Life, #1) by Shea Berkley [Thanks to Entangled Publishing!]
Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, #1) by Rachel Vincent [Thanks to Nicci @ Paper Dreams!]
Soul to Save (Soul Screamers, #2) by Rachel Vincent
Supernaturally (Paranormalcy, #2) by Kiersten White [Thanks to Heidi @ YA bibliophile!]
Torrent (River of Time, #3) by Lisa Tawn Bergren [Thanks to Lisa Bergren!]

This IMM is for the past 4 weeks! I've only read about 2 from this stack, but I think all these books look good.

I'm especially excited to read Torrent because I've read some awesome reviews for it, but before I can get to that I have to read the second book in the series Cascade. I may have only read the first book Waterfall (which I loved), however, I already know the rest of The River of Time series will be good! So be sure to check it out if you haven't already! :)

Blood Song is a YA fantasy debut in Australia that releases September 1. I loved it! I'm hoping I get around to writing a review by next week. I think fans of Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder will enjoy this book. ;)

So...I have a lot of reading to do. And that's about all I'm going to say about this IMM. If I talk about each book, it'll never end. lol :P Have a great week!

Review: The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

2011-08-22T00:02:00.015-04:00

Title: The Probability of Miracles
Author: Wendy Wunder
Pages: 336
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 8, 2011

Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page.

My Thoughts: This is mostly what I kept thinking while reading the book: 'Hmm...' Which equaled other sentences like 'When am I going to get hooked to this story?' and 'I'm not feeling it.' Basically this book didn't quite do it for me. I really wanted to like it. In fact, I was hoping to LOVE it. But it didn't happen. I didn't hate it though. I thought it was just okay.

The Probability of Miracles reminded me in a way of an Australian young-adult title I read last month: Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe. Both are quirky, both have main characters who've had cancer since childhood and have a dead parent, and both even have a "Let's save a lobster!" scene (which was totally weird because what are the odds of that happening in both books?). But I liked Girl Saves Boy a bit better, although there wasn't enough closure in that one. Unlike that book, I couldn't connect with the characters or the story in The Probability of Miracles.

For the past several years of her life, sixteen-year-old Campbell (or Cam) Cooper has been fighting a battle with cancer, and after a recent visit to her doctor, it's not looking good. With the little time she has left, Cam decides she wants to do some of the things on her Flamingo List, a list she created a year earlier of all the rebellious things she wanted to do. Cam manages to complete some before her mother takes her and her younger sister on a road trip to Promise, Maine in search of a miracle. It is there in the mysterious and almost magical town of Promise that Cam meets and falls for a guy named Asher, completes her Flamingo List and creates a new one, and finds her miracle.

As I mentioned, I didn't have a connection with the characters. Cam was dry and sarcastic, and while I usually like that in a character, I never REALLY warmed up to her. And I felt like I never really knew the other characters. This was a problem because it resulted in me not being able to become emotionally invested in the story. The story was about cancer and death and miracles, and I needed that emotional connection in order to feel for the characters and understand their actions. But sadly, I couldn't get myself to become invested in that way.

I thought some things were rushed. The romance between Cam and Asher wasn't developed enough. Or maybe I didn't feel anything for it. Or maybe it was both. Either way I felt like it happened, like most of the things in this book, just so that Cam could experience what she hasn't yet been able to and probably won't be able to. I also thought some of the events that occurred were weird and random. I think the story was suppose to be bizarre (what with the town of Promise being sort of "magical" with the purple dandelions, flamingos in Maine, Killer Whales in the bay, etc.), but it was almost too bizarre. I honestly started to think that Cam was actually in a hospital bed dying and having an extravagant hallucination or dream.

So, it was a bit strange. I may not have felt much for the story or the characters, but here's what I really liked about The Probability of Miracles:

The cover! The font is cool, the girl is beautiful, and the pink is HOT. It fit the story.
Cam is half Samoan and half Italian. She gets her looks from the Samoan side of her family, and her Polynesian heritage was integrated into the story.
There was a road trip. From Orlando, Florida to Promise, Maine. They stopped in South Carolina, North Carolina, and New Jersey.
A whole chapter dedicated to a tourist trap Cam and her family stopped at in South Carolina called South of the Border! Have you guys ever been there? I have. A couple of times. It's not that I enjoy going there (it's gross and offensive and probably the CREEPIEST place I've ever been to), but it's something I'm a bit familiar with. And I thought it was hilarious that it was in this book. Here are some pictures of that place:

Notice the flamingo in the night shot on the left? ;) The bottom

picture is one of the MANY billboards found along the interstate.

Note: I did not take these pictures. Found them online.

Writing in the ARC. It was fun. You should try it, especially if others are willing to read and write in your ARC. It made me want to finish reading it, and I was able to enjoy the story more. The picture on the right is what I wrote on the first page of chapter 12.
The last couple of paragraphs, especially the last few lines, in the book. Those finale words... I thought it was beautiful. And heartbreaking. I wish the entire book had been written like that because it got a reaction out of me. It really made me feel for Cam and all the people who love her.

Overall, I didn't love or hate The Probability of Miracles. It was an okay read. Even though it wasn't what I was hoping it would be, I'm sure other readers will like it. I've already seen some who've read it and really liked it, and I think those who are still curious should give this book a read and make up their own mind about it. It's something you have to experience yourself.

Rating: 3 - 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Penguin & LibraryThing for the ARC!

Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2011-08-17T01:01:00.001-04:00

Title: Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 281 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: October 18, 2011

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.

My Thoughts: Once I was done reading Daimon, I was so glad I had an ARC of Half-Blood in hand and hoped it was as good as the prequel. I can safely say that Half-Blood exceeded any expectations I had! I completely loved it! It was so awesome that it's now one of my favorite YA paranormals, and if this keeps up, I know Covenant could end up being a definite favorite series of mine!

After three years in hiding with her pure-blood mother, 17-year-old Alexandria Andros is finally back with the Covenant, a place where pure-bloods, the children of Hematoi (who are descendants of demigods), and half-bloods, the offspring of mortals and Hematoi, live away from the mortal world. It's also where some are trained as Sentinels and Guards whose purpose is to kill daimons and protect pures. Halfs also have a chance of becoming docile servants to pures if they aren't cut out for Sentinel duty or if they break the rules. As a half-blood who broke the rules by running away with her mother and living in the mortal world, Alex chances of becoming a servant are high. To gain back the trust of the leaders she has to prove her loyalty and that she has what it takes to become a Sentinel by catching up with the three years of training she missed before the end of the summer. But following the rules is easier said than done, especially when Alex starts to fall for a pure and finds out the real reason her mother took her away from the Covenant.

Daimon, prequel
to Half-Blood.

First, I have to quickly mention the setting. There are Covenants located around the country like Tennessee and New York, but this particular Covenant is located on an island off the coast of North Carolina. Being on an island sounds awesome, and I like that the author chose a fitting name for it: Deity Island. And I have to admit that I'm pretty bias to anything North Carolina, so of course I'm happy that it's located there!

Now on to the characters. Alex was just awesome! She's funny and kickass. Strong, yet vulnerable. Her interactions with the rest of the characters, like her best friend Caleb and another fellow half-blood Seth, were great. Those characters were very likable as well, and I loved that they were all important to the story. Another character I really liked was Aiden St. Delphi. He's the pure-blood who volunteered to train Alex, and if you've read Daimon, he's actually the 'older guy' Alex use to have a crush on. I knew there was a chance I would swoon over him, but I didn't realize just how much! Aiden's such a sweet and protective and patient and nice (and I could go on!) guy, and I completely understand why Alex would fall for him, even while knowing a relationship between a pure-blood and half-blood is forbidden. I absolutely loved their moments together, and it makes me so happy when I really like the main character and the lead male character. I cannot wait to read more of their interactions!

I think this is my first experience reading a YA paranormal book where the characters are descendants of gods. I'm impressed with how the author incorporated Greek Mythology into the story, and I have a feeling Half-Blood will stand out among the other YA books with Greek Mythology released recently. I've already mentioned how much I love the characters, the relationships and the romance, and I think another aspect readers will enjoy is the action. Half-Blood is filled with it! It was never boring. There are plenty of scenes where Aiden is training Alex, and I loved that Aiden did not go easy on her. There are also parts with the daimons, which were pure-bloods who changed into dangerous creatures after drinking the aether, a pure's esscene, from another pure. They're powerful and ruthless, and I never knew what to expect from them. Another was finding out the reason Alex's mother took her away from the Covenant; it was a bit surprising, and I really want to know how Alex will continue to deal with this sudden revelation and what the outcome will be.

When I finished Half-Blood, all I wanted was more! I was satisfied with everything. The author is a great storyteller, and I'm extremely excited for the second book Pure! It's being released in less than a year, but I wish it was out already. I look forward to finding out what happens next with Alex and the rest of the characters and to learn more about their world. If you're a YA paranormal fan, you don't want to miss out! Definitely check out this series!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Daimon is available for free download here.
Thanks to the author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, for the ARC tour!

Review: Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra

2011-08-13T13:36:00.006-04:00

Title: Invisible Touch
Author: Kelly Parra
Pages: 279
Publisher: MTV Books
Release Date: October 14, 2008

Kara Martinez has been trying to be "normal" ever since the accident that took her father's life when she was eleven years old. She's buried the caliente side of her Mexican heritage with her father and tried to be the girl her rigid mother wants her to be -- compliant and dressed in pink, and certainly not acting out like her older brother Jason. Not even Danielle, her best friend at Valdez High, has seen the real Kara; only those who read her anonymous blog know the deepest secrets of the Sign Seer.

Because Kara has a gift -- one that often feels like a curse. She sees signs, visions that are clues to a person's fate, if she can put together the pieces of the puzzle in time. So far, she's been able to solve the clues and avert disaster for those she's been warned about -- until she sees the flash of a gun on a fellow classmate, and the stakes are raised higher than ever before. Kara does her best to follow the signs, but it's her heart that wanders into new territory when she falls for a mysterious guy from the wrong side of town, taking her closer to answers she may not be able to handle. Will her forbidden romance help her solve the deadly puzzle before it's too late...or lead her even further into danger?

My Thoughts: I like reading paranormal books. Sometimes I can relate to the main character's personality. That's fine and all, but sometimes...I want more than that. I want a character, a girl specifically, who has a similar heritage as me. So here's what I've been searching for: a young-adult paranormal with a Latina as the main character.

I thought there wasn't a book like that out there, and it frustrated me. Then a few months ago I was surprised when a Goodreads friend told me about Invisible Touch. It sounded exactly like what I was looking for! But I wondered, Why haven't I heard about this book before? It was published back in 2008 and had less than 90 ratings on Goodreads. I was still excited to read it, but in the back of my mind, the serious lack of attention it received made me question if the book would even be good. I felt bad for thinking that. At the same time, I just didn't want to get my hopes too high. Thankfully, once I was able to read it, I found that it actually exceeded all my expectations, and I was so grateful to be given the chance to read it!

Ever since the boat accident six years ago that killed her father and left her dead for several minutes, seventeen-year-old Kara Martinez has been able to see visions. These visions appear on people and are usually hints into impending danger. It's something she's not able to ignore. She must sort out the puzzle of clues her gift gives her before she can figure out what exactly the danger is, and she has to do it all on her own. She doesn't even trust her own her family with her secret because she fears being sent back to the psychiatric hospital, which was where she was sent the first time she tried to tell her mother about her visions years ago. The recent vision she sees is on a fellow classmate, who is somehow connected to a guy from the other side of town she recently met: Anthony Garcia. Keeping her gift a secret and behaving like the daughter her mother wants to be becomes even harder when she starts to fall for Anthony.

I thought Kelly Parra did such a wonderful job with this story. Although Invisible Touch is a quick read (it's a small book in size that comes in at about 280 pages) and takes place over the course of about three weeks, I felt it was paced really well. Things were revealed at just the right time. Some moments were pretty shocking and took me by surprise. I never knew what to expect next, and I couldn't put the book down! It's the type of book that makes me wish there was a sequel because I didn't want to let the characters go. I wanted to know what happens next with everyone: Kara, Anthony, Kara's family (her mother and her brother Jason) and her friend Danielle. But it's also the type of book that's perfect as a stand-alone. All questions were answered, and it didn't have a cheesy ending. It was enough to keep me satisfied and yet leave me wanting more.

Another thing I liked was the blog entries scattered throughout the book. Kara's only outlet to share her gift and her feelings about it is the anonymous blog she created called Secret Fates. It was like reading a diary, just in modern form, and it was another way for us readers to know more about Kara. She never reveals too much about herself, but her blog still adds to the mystery of the book once an anonymous reader claims to know her true identity. Maybe it's because I have a blog and am always checking other blogs, but I felt her blog entries were a nice addition to the book.

Before I end this review, I need to mention the romance. Kara and Anthony had a forbidden romance going on what with Kara having a strict and overprotective mother and Anthony coming from the wrong side of town. They did become a couple quickly, but I found it believable. It was natural, and it just felt right for them to be together. They had some steamy moments, but they weren't desperately trying to get to the next level. I thought they were pretty mature about it, and I think that reflects the type of characters they are. Mature and levelheaded. Definitely likable characters. And I could really relate to Kara on a personal level. I'm not 100% Mexican either, and I can't speak Spanish even though I wish I could. She is someone I could see myself being friends with. As for Anthony, well, I thought he was the perfect guy for Kara. (It doesn't hurt that he's also a hot guy! heh) He's a bit mysterious and seems like he would be a bad-boy, but he actually prefers to stay out of trouble. He's caring and trustworthy, and I loved his relationship with Kara.

Invisible Touch was everything I was looking for and more. It's my first and hopefully not my last paranormal book that has a main female character with Latin American roots. I honestly don't get why this book hardly got any attention, and sadly it's going out-of-print soon. I talked to the author though, and she's plans on reissuing it once it's out-of-print. That makes me feel a whole lot better, and hopefully more people will read it! I think it will appeal to fans of Wake by Lisa McMann and Simone Elkeles's Perfect Chemistry trilogy. So give it a chance if you like those books too!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Janina for sending me a copy! :)

Aussie August!

2011-08-02T12:33:00.000-04:00

If you haven't heard by now, this month is Aussie August! Aussie August is basically celebrating and promoting the awesomeness of Australian young-adult literature during the entire month of August. A bunch of awesome Australian book bloggers will be hosting interviews and giveaways and posting reviews and guests posts all entirely related to Aussie YA!

Want to know more? Visit the Aussie August site. Also, the blog schedule for Aussie August can be found here.

Such a cool idea. (I always knew August was awesome! heh) I love Australian YA books, if you couldn't tell already, so this is very exciting to me! Don't miss out on the awesomeness! :)

In My Mailbox #49

2011-07-30T20:16:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

ARC Tours:
Incarnate (Newsoul, #1) by Jodi Meadows (Thanks to Lyndsey @ Strangemore!)
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Thanks to Flannery @ The Readventurer!)

ARCs Won:
The Beginners by Rebecca Wolff (Thanks to Riverhead/Penguin & GoodReads!)
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (Thanks to The Nerd's Wife!)

The Scorpio Races not pictured.

I've been quite busy with tours lately. Huge thanks goes out to my book group for putting Incarnate & The Scorpio Races on tour! I'm reading Incarnate right now, and although I haven't gotten far, so far so good. I like the writing and Ana & Sam. I've heard The Scorpio Races is good, so I hope I enjoy it too.

I won The Beginners from GoodReads. I liked the cover, and when I read the summary I thought it would be a YA/adult type book. Then a few weeks passed & I read a review, and yeah...I was wrong. Doesn't sound like my cup of tea; I'm honestly not sure when I'll get around to it.

Finally, I won an ARC of Lola and the Boy Next Door. Super excited when I found out I won! :D I've already read it, and omg... I loved it even more than Anna and the French Kiss, which I loved a whole lot! It was so good and just perfect. I cannot wait for Isla and the Happily Ever After. (I'm crossing my fingers for cameos from Anna/St. Clair and Lola/Cricket in that one!) Big thanks to Arena @ The Nerd's Wife for hosting the giveaway!

Well, that's it for this week. Time for me to get back to Incarnate. Have a great week! :)

Review: Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe

2011-07-26T12:00:00.007-04:00

Title: Girl Saves Boy
Author: Steph Bowe
Pages: 288
Publisher: Text Publishing
Release Date: August 30, 2010

The first time we met, Jewel Valentine saved my life.

Isn’t it enough having your very own terminal disease, without your mother dying? Or your father dating your Art teacher?

No wonder Sacha Thomas ends up in the lake that Saturday evening…

But the real question is: how does he end up in love with Jewel Valentine?

With the help of quirky teenage prodigies Little Al and True Grisham, Sacha and Jewel have a crazy adventure, with a little lobster emancipation along the way.

But Sacha’s running out of time, and Jewel has secrets of her own.

Girl Saves Boy is a hugely talented debut novel, funny and sad, silly and wise. It’s a story of life, death, love… and garden gnomes.

My Thoughts: Girl Saves Boy was a quick read told in alternating point of views between Jewel Valentine, a loner girl whose family fell apart after the death of her brother 10 years ago, and Sacha Thomas, a boy who survived childhood cancer and lost his mother only about a year ago. They first meet at the lake where Jewel saves Sacha after he tries to drown himself. After that chance encounter, they start to fall in love.

Throughout the book, it seemed both Jewel and Sacha were unsure about their futures. One doesn't like to think too far ahead, and the other really doesn't have one to look forward to. It sounds like it would be a depressing read, huh? There are definitely sad parts throughout, but for the most part, there was actually a lot of humorous moments. Quirky is the perfect word to describe it. I never quite knew what to expect from the characters and the story next.

I almost gave this book 4 stars, but I didn't for a couple reasons. The romance between Jewel and Sacha was sweet, but it was rushed. I would have liked more development between them and more from the rest of the characters. I also didn't get enough out of the ending. I almost thought pages were missing from the copy I read. When books just end like that I feel sad. I know I'm suppose to use my imagination, but I needed a bit more closure.

Overall, I thought Girl Saves Boy was good for a debut novel. I've liked the writing in all the Aussies novels I've read so far, and this book was no exception. (I've also noticed Aussie books are tiny and cute in size. And usually less than 300 pages. Why is that? I need more!) I hope to see more novels by this author in the future.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Arlene for letting me borrow her copy! :)

Review: Winter's Shadow by M.J. Hearle

2011-07-25T10:23:00.004-04:00

Title: Winter's Shadow
Author: M.J. Hearle
Pages: 424 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Release Date: June 1, 2011

Blake Duchamp...

He's all that Winter Adams can think of. Ever since their fateful meeting at Pilgrim's Lament. Ever since he looked at her with those emerald eyes. Ever since he saved her life.

But Blake isn't all that he seems. There is a strangeness about him, something dark and otherworldly. Something dangerous. In his attic is a secret he would kill to defend, but Winter seems to have a special ability to make him forget his duty. And he is her only protection against the gathering darkness.

The only problem is, to protect Winter, Blake must risk exposing her to an even greater danger. Himself.

My Thoughts: While taking photos inside an old, abandoned church for the school newspaper, Winter Adams is saved by a man she's never seen before in her small town after the church's roof collapses. His name is Blake Duchamp, and he's beautiful with mesmerizing green eyes. After their encounter, Winter can't stop thinking about him. She knows there is something different and dangerous about him, but she can't stay away and neither can Blake, no matter how hard he tries. As their connection grows, Blake tries to protect Winter from others who want them dead...and from the danger lurking inside himself.

I love to read young-adult books from Australia, and since I haven't read much paranormal from there, I was very excited to read Winter's Shadow. What I liked about this book was that the writing really set the mood of the story. The atmosphere is dark and creepy and mysterious. I thought it was a good setting for a paranormal novel. I found the supernatural aspect to be pretty original. It's definitely not the usual vampires, werewolves, or angels. It was something I don't believe I've ever come across in other YA paranormals. I felt like I learned enough about it to be satisfied, but not too much so that I would continue to stay curious.

While it did have it's own unique moments, I felt Winter's Shadow mostly had what is usually seen in YA paranormal romances. If I had read this about a year ago or even months ago, I probably wouldn't have minded as much. However, I'm getting to a point where I'm starting to want something more than the typical storylines and characters with instant romances that include some kind of paranormal twist. I want all of it to be unexpected, instead of just moments in the last half of the book. And if it's going to have some of the usual, then I want to feel that it stands out among the rest by the time I get to the very end. As I mentioned, it did have it's moments, but overall, this was a case where I felt it wasn't too different from other YA paranormals I have read.

I think Winter's Shadow will appeal to YA paranormal fans who aren't necessarily looking for a story that diverges from the usual characteristics found in paranormal books. The book ends in a way that should leave readers wanting more. Thankfully it seems the author is currently working on a sequel, and after what happened, I'm hoping that the sequel will be a bit different. Because if it is, I look forward to reading it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Nic @ Irresistible Reads for sending this out! :)

Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

2011-07-24T14:50:00.001-04:00

Title: Graffiti Moon
Author: Cath Crowley
Pages: 244
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Release Date: August 1, 2010

"Let me make it in time. Let me meet Shadow. The guy who paints in the dark. Paints birds trapped on brick walls and people lost in ghost forests. Paints guys with grass growing from their hearts and girls with buzzing lawn mowers."

It’s the end of Year 12. Lucy’s looking for Shadow, the graffiti artist everyone talks about.

His work is all over the city, but he is nowhere.

Ed, the last guy she wants to see at the moment, says he knows where to find him. He takes Lucy on an all-night search to places where Shadow’s thoughts about heartbreak and escape echo around the city walls.

But the one thing Lucy can’t see is the one thing that’s right before her eyes.

My Thoughts:

"...we watch the dirty silk of the factory smoke float across the sky."

I loved that there was a lot of graffiti and mentions of glassblowing in Graffiti Moon. Photographs of urban decay featuring old, abandoned buildings and factories are my favorite form of art to look at, but graffiti is a close second. Whenever I see graffiti sprayed on the wall of a building or painted on the side of a boxcar moving along the railroad tracks, I always wonder, 'Who made that? When did they do it? Why did they do it? And where are they now?' It just blows my mind, and it's one of the reasons why I loved this book.

Lucy wonders about the graffiti made by the artist who calls himself Shadow. She finds Shadow's work to be extremely inspiring, and she is determined to figure out his identity so that she can meet him in person. She wants to tell him everything she feels whenever she sees his work...and what she feels for him because of it. But she's been searching for Shadow for awhile now and it seems she misses him by mere minutes every single time. Then one night, Lucy and her friends meet a few guys from school who claim to know Shadow. One of the guys is Ed, someone she has a history with and doesn't want to be around. But she's willing to endure Ed's company for the night if hanging out with him means finally meeting Shadow.

Aussie cover

I have read one other book by Cath Crowley (A Little Wanting Song, which I loved!), and she has already made my favorite authors list. I absolutely love her writing. Her characters are extremely likable and funny, and they have such great relationships. I could easily relate to Lucy, and she was spunky and just completely awesome. Ed... I adored him. I want my own Ed. Lucy seems to have gotten the wrong impression of him because I think he's actually the kind of guy you want to be around. In the book, Ed takes Lucy on an adventure through the city to see more of Shadow's graffiti. I thought the atmosphere and the setting were perfect. It made me want to be there with them, hanging out and exploring the city at night in search of amazing graffiti.

Like I mentioned, I always have questions whenever I see graffiti, and I felt Lucy and I shared the same curiosity. Who is this mysterious guy who fills her with so much inspiration? And where is he? Since Graffiti Moon is told in alternating point of views between Lucy and Ed, Shadow's real identity is quite obvious to the readers. However, I didn't feel it lessened the mystery or allure of Shadow, especially since Lucy truly has no idea. I always wonder if someone will live up to my expectations when I meet them, and for Lucy it's even more crucial because she's falling for Shadow. I was holding my breath for the moment when Lucy finally figures out who he is. Will he be like the Shadow she's imagined? Or will she end up being disappointed? I think moments like that are pretty priceless.

I cannot wait to read more novels by Cath Crowley because this was another book that I didn't want to end. I highly recommend Graffiti Moon to YA contemporary and Aussie fans. If you can't get a hold of this book and you desperately want to read it, don't worry. It will be published in the US on February 14, 2012 from Knopf Books for Young Readers. The cover is amazing, by the way. Be sure to check it out!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Go Aussie Book Tours! :)
The factory picture is by PET.

Mini-Reviews #1

2011-07-19T18:47:00.005-04:00

I was inspired by Nic @ Irresistible Reads to do this Mini Reviews post. :) The following mini-reviews are for ARCs I've read. I didn't write full reviews for these for different reasons, but I hope I managed to get my feelings across in each of these mini-reviews.

Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando / Released: May 12
When I started this book, I was really intrigued and I liked the strangeness of the characters. But as I continued reading, I felt like the main character wasn't making much progress in learning more about her mother (convenient how her own father doesn't seem to know anything, huh?). I'm sure by the end she would have learned just about everything, but I think it's taking too long, especially since I started finding the story less and less interesting. It took me two weeks to get halfway with this book, and it's been months since I picked it back up. I really wanted to like this book, but I don't see myself continuing it at the moment. Rating: None / DNF

Stay with Me by Paul Griffin / Release: Sept. 8

A fast-paced novel told in alternating POVs between fifteen-year-olds Mack and Céce over the course of one hundred and two days. Reading through this book was a struggle for me at first. I could not connect with the characters. Didn't feel much of anything for them. The relationship between Céce and Mack.... It seemed like I blinked and they were already all over each other, saying how much they were in love. I felt like I missed something. Eventually I just let it go, and after that I was able to appreciate the story more. By the end, I was a bit more connected with the characters. I think the ending was fitting, but I felt sad about the whole situation. Because stories like this happen all the time. Life isn't always fair, and people end up making terrible mistakes. All you can do is move on and have hope that things will get better. I wish these characters all the best. Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin / Release: Sept. 27
Huh... That was... I don't even know... What?? I liked Mara Dyer. But sometimes the choices she made (or tried to make) and her reasoning behind them frustrated me. A lot. I also liked Noah. However, in the beginning, he was hard to figure out, and there were a few things about him I didn't like. But, he ended up being...not that bad, actually. It's just...yeah. I know I'm not making much sense. I just felt the need to type a little something because I'm still trying to figure out what I just read. What's real and what's not real. Very original and unique story. Overall, I liked it and can't wait to read the sequel. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

In My Mailbox #48

2011-07-17T00:00:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review:
Blood Rights (House of Comarré, #1) by Kristen Painter (Good Choice Reading ARC Tours)
Waterfall (River of Time, #1) by Lisa Tawn Bergren (Books With Bite Book Tours)
Vanish (Firelight, #2) by Sophie Jordan (NetGalley)

Won:
Glow (Sky Chasers, #1) ARC by Amy Kathleen Ryan
The Probability of Miracles ARC by Wendy Wunder
Dreaming Anastasia (Dreaming Anastasia, #1) by Joy Preble
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, GoodReads, LibraryThing's ER, Penguin, Joy Preble, and I Read Banned Books!

Glow not pictured. Yes, that's
Naruto beside the books.

Some lovely covers this week! :) So... The only book I've managed to finish from this pile is Blood Rights and my review for that one can be found here. I'm currently reading Waterfall and haven't gotten far enough to form an opinion yet, but I'll read more later today and hopefully have a review up in a week or two.

I'm pretty excited to read Vanish and The Probability of Miracles. I really hope I enjoy them both because I kind of already have some expectations. :P I love the cover of TPoM! It's one of my favorites in this IMM (the other one I really love is Blood Rights's cover). Not sure what I'm going to think of Dreaming Anastasia and Glow, but I'm glad I have copies to read. And like with every book I read, I hope they're good! :)

That's it for this week. Time to start reading! :D

Review: Blood Rights by Kristen Painter

2011-07-16T08:59:00.000-04:00

Title: Blood Rights (House of Comarré, #1)
Author: Kristen Painter
Pages: 392 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: September 27, 2011

Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle’s body bears the telltale marks of a comarré—a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world…and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.

My Thoughts: The world of this series is set in the not so distant future. There seems to have been a major war, at least in the Americas, and there are advances in technology, but minus the vampires and other supernatural beings, it doesn't feel too different from the world we live in today. That was something I liked because it was easy to imagine and I tend to like stories set in the future more so than the past. So, in Blood Rights, it is the year 2067, and the covenant that protects humans from the supernatural world is close to being destroyed. However, before that can be fulfilled, the ring of sorrows must be found.

As a comarré, Chrysabelle's life in Romania has revolved around protecting her vampire patron Lord Algernon and offering him her blood. Allowing her patron to drink her blood helps them both gain strength and power and prevents Chrysabelle's blood from building up and poisoning her body. Chrysabelle dreams of escaping of her comarré duties, but it seems unlikely that her patron will ever give her the freedom she desires. That all changes when Algernon is found murdered. Although Chrysabelle is finally free, she is accused by noble vampires of murdering Algernon. She is forced to go on the run, seeking refugee with her comarré aunt in New Florida. It is there that she encounters a dangerous anathema vampire named Malkolm, who may be able to help her prove her innocence, and finds out that the ring her patron gave her before he died may be the real reason she is being hunted.

Blood Rights is told from the perspective of various characters, the main ones being Chrysabelle, Malkolm (or Mal), and the power-hungry noble vampire Tatiana. Chrysabelle would have to be my favorite out of all the characters. She's disciplined and serious. I really liked that she could hold her own in a fight, and it was a bit amusing how she tried adjusting to a world that didn't fit with the comarré lifestyle she was used to. The relationship she has with the castaway noble vampire Mal is an interesting one. Mal's cursed with a beast inside him and voices in his head that constantly demand he kill Chrysabelle, and it takes a lot of self-control from him to ignore the urge. Because of this Chrysabelle and Mal have a hard time trusting each other and are always clashing in the beginning, but once they get to know one another, the walls between them begin to slowly crumble and they come to care for each other just a bit. Both are actually very caring of the people they love and consider their allies and would do anything to protect them. There isn't quite a romantic relationship between them in this book, but it's obvious they are attracted to one another. I have a feeling their relationship will continue to develop, and I can't wait to read more about them and find out where their relationship goes.

While I liked Chrysabelle and Mal, I can't say I particularly liked Tatiana. Tatiana is a vampire who wants one thing only: power. It seems she's been scheming for awhile now to replace Lord Algernon as Elder, and she desperately wants to become Dominus, the ruler of her noble vampire family. She didn't have the greatest life as a human and suffered some tragedies, but I felt that wasn't enough to explain why she became cruel and power-hungry. Maybe she's just easily influenced. Or maybe there is still plenty more to learn about her. Whatever the reason I found it very hard empathizing with her throughout the book and understanding her purpose in siding with evil. To me she just came off as selfish and even a bit delusional, and I didn't think she was even close to being the scariest or evilest character in the book. I'm curious to know what happens to her; however, I hope she acquires some redeeming qualities because at the moment I don't believe I can bring myself to feel sorry for her.

Ever since I saw the amazing covers for this series, I knew I wanted to read Blood Rights. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it early, and the great thing is that the next two books will be released within only two months after Blood Rights's official release in September. So, the wait isn't long at all. Overall I thought it was a pretty solid first book for the House of Comarré series, and I look forward to finding out what happens next with Chrysabelle and Mal.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Good Choice Reading ARC Tours for providing the ARC!

In My Mailbox #47

2011-07-02T09:55:00.015-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

ARC Tours:
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Half-Blood (Covenant, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Winter's Shadow by M.J. Hearle

Library / Won / Bought:
Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6) by Richelle Mead
Legend (Legend, #1) ARC by Marie Lu [my review]
The Gorgon in the Gully by Melina Marchetta [my review]

Half-Blood & Winter's Shadow
not pictured.

Okay, so I'm pretty busy with ARC tours. @_@ I've realized that tour books usually like to arrive all at once. I think there needs to be more hours in the day... Thankfully this weekend is July 4th weekend. Hopefully I can get a lot more reading done. I am looking forward to finishing all 3 of those books, and they all sound good, so I'm hoping all of them do end up being good. (Don't they have pretty covers? Love 'em.)

Now, I have read the last 3 books listed! Phew! Bloodlines really motivated me to read Last Sacrifice. VA had a good ending, and now I just want book 2 in the Bloodlines series even more! (Adrian!!!) I loved Legend and The Gorgon in the Gully. My reviews for both those books are already up (I linked them up there in the list). Really cannot wait for the next Legend book, and I'm happy I got a Melina Marchetta fix that should last me until Froi of the Exiles! (And if anyone's wondering, I bought Gorgon in the Gully at FishpondWorld.com, which sells Aussie books and has free worldwide shipping.)

That's about all I have to say. I need to start reading now. Have a nice week! :)

Review: Legend by Marie Lu

2011-06-29T09:37:00.000-04:00

Title: Legend (Legend, #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Pages: 301 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: November 29, 2011

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

My Thoughts: Out of all the YA dystopian novels I've read so far this year, Legend is my favorite. The writing, the plot, the setting, and the characters were all great! It had a nice balance of action and development and even a bit romance. I was never underwhelmed by the story. The action had me on the edge of my seat. Some parts were pretty intense, and there were shocking revelations and heartbreaking moments throughout the book. I was left feeling anxious at times because I didn't know what to expect next. I just loved everything about it and wish it didn't have to end.

I adored the main characters Day and June. I found them both to be extremely likable. Day has lived a rough life growing up in the slums of the Republic, and he risks his life every day to make sure his family has enough food and the other necessities needed to survive. It would be easy to become a cruel and uncaring criminal, but Day never loses his kindness and compassion. It's what I really admire about him. June has grown up in a rich district to an elite family. While she is loyal to the military and the government, her older brother Metias is the one she would do anything for. Because of their different upbringings, June doesn't have the same experiences and views of the world as Day. June isn't lacking compassion, but she is naive and ends up placing her trust with people she has always believed in, never excepting the cruelty they are capable of. I can't fault her for the decisions she makes in the beginning because she truly believes the right thing would be done. What I like about her is that once she realizes her mistake she makes sure it doesn't ever happen again.

Although they grew up differently, Day and June are similar in many ways. Like June said in the book, they do almost seem like the same person just born into different worlds. I believe that's why they are attracted to each other when they first meet. They share some of the same traits and qualities. They know what it's like to suffer the lost of loved ones, and neither has ever known anyone who can match their intelligence or survival and fighting skills. (Day may not have June's military training, but if they were to ever fight seriously in either a mental or physical battle, I have no idea who would win! I imagine it would be epic though.) They acknowledge the fact that they haven't known each other that long, but there's a connection between them that has been there since the moment they met. And after what they go through together in the book, that connection continues to grow deeper and stronger. I loved their moments together, and I thought their relationship was done really well.

What I also loved about Legend was that I actually felt something for the secondary characters like Metias, Day's family, and Tess. From the synopsis, Metias's fate is known, but his presence is still there in the book. He was a loving brother to June, and I wish his life didn't have to end that way. Tess is a young girl who Day took under his wings two years ago. She's a great person, and I really hope we get more of her in the next book. Day's caring personality definitely comes from his family. The situation Day's family is put through is horrible and broke my heart, and I hope justice is served out to those people who caused their suffering.

By the time I got to the end of Legend, all I wanted was more. I really loved the last few pages. I cannot wait to revisit this world and find out what happens next with Day and June and the rest of the characters. (I believe the sequel will be released over a year from now, which is too far!) Legend is a thrilling and awesome start to this trilogy; it's the first YA dystopian novel I've read this year that I actually loved. Highly recommend it to YA dystopian fans!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to CBS Films for the ARC!

Review: Gorgon in the Gully by Melina Marchetta

2011-06-28T11:37:00.007-04:00

Title: The Gorgon in the Gully
Author: Melina Marchetta
Pages: 119
Publisher: Penguin Australia / Puffin
Release Date: September 27, 2010

Beyond the basketball courts and classrooms of St Raph's is a gully where everything disappears forever. Danny Griggs has heard stories about a creature that lives down there. So why does he volunteer to face the Gorgon when he's been petrified of everything all his life?

A gentle story about overcoming fear and looking at things from all angles, from best-selling author Melina Marchetta.

My Thoughts: Melina Marchetta is my favorite author EVER. I will read anything she writes. When I found out that she was releasing a children's book, I knew I wanted to read it. And when I found it was about Danny Griggs, the little brother of Jonah Griggs (my favorite male character of all time) from Jellicoe Road (my favorite book in the entire world), I knew I had to get my hands on a copy! Sadly, Australian books are hard to come by and shipping is pretty expensive to the US, so I thought it would be awhile before I ever got a chance to read it. But then a miracle... FishpondWorld.com! Three weeks after ordering it I finally received it in the mail. I read it as soon as I could, and it was worth the wait! I just loved it!

There's a legend about an evil monster called the Gorgon that lives in the gully at the St. Raph's schoolyard. If any ball happens to fall in the gully, it's lost forever because no one will ever dare risk facing the Gorgon. But after Danny Griggs accidentally hits a classmate's soccer ball (the lucky soccer ball signed by Harry Kewell that will help them win the grand final!) into the gully and gets called a gutless wonder by the school bully, Danny decides he's going to stop being afraid and venture into the gully. With the help of his friends and his older brother Jonah, Danny hatches a plan to retrieve the ball from the gully and along the way learns to overcome his fears and the importance of friendships.

The Gorgon in the Gully had the humor and friendships Melina Marchetta is awesome at, but in a much more innocent form (the characters are little kids, of course!). It was such a cute read. I mean, c'mon, mini-Melina Marchetta characters? So adorable! All the characters were great, and Danny was my favorite! He's a sweetie, and I loved how he wanted to be courageous even though he was terrified. I do think he's a whole lot braver than he gives himself credit for. I loved the relationships Danny had with his friends and how he made new friends, and I also loved reading his interactions with his mother, Jonah, and Jack, his mother's boyfriend. Danny was really such a nice character to read about.

This story actually takes place during the same time as Jellicoe Road, so I think you'll appreciate it even more if you're a Jellicoe Road fan. Especially if you love Jonah Griggs. He was in this a lot more than I expected. And yes, I had a HUGE stupid grin on my face ever single time he was mentioned. I didn't believe it was possible, but I love him even more now!

One of my favorite quotes from the book (Jellicoe fans will understand!):

"The next night he asked Jonah if he could take $9.49 out of Jonah's secret stash that only Danny and his mum and Jack knew about. Jonah kept it in his sock drawer next to a photograph of Jonah and a girl with sad eyes, taken in one of those railway station photo booths."

Really, I could go on and on, but since this is a short story, I don't want to end up spoiling everything. This is a book about friendships and overcoming fears, and it's definitely a great read for children. I also recommended it to Melina Marchetta fans, who need a quick Melina Marchetta fix before the next book release!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In My Mailbox #46

2011-06-11T11:06:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Not pictured:

Book Tour
Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1) ARC by Richelle Mead (from Once Upon a Twilight)
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley (from Go Aussie Book Tours)
Invisible Touch by Kelly Parra (from a GoodReads book buddy!)

Won
Stay With Me ARC by Paul Griffin (from LibraryThing)

It's been like a month since my last IMM! I remember at that time I was going to the SC Book Festival. I was going to talk about it, but...yeah. Things did NOT go as planned. :( I had car issues that entire weekend! I was 10 minutes late to Neal Shusterman's panel, and since his panel ended at the same time as the festival, I couldn't see Shelena Shorts & Jennifer Murgia in the Exhibit Hall. I was going to go the next day, but the brakes on the car were too messed up. I just couldn't risk it. And wasn't able to meet them. I was very disappointed. :'( Maybe I'll have better luck next year. Anyway, I did really enjoy Neal Shusterman's panel. He was a great speaker, and I was able to ask him about Unwind's sequel & get my book signed. Yay! My first author signing! :)

So, I've already read Graffiti Moon and Bloodlines, and I loved them both! My review for Bloodlines is here, and I'm working on a Graffiti Moon review. I recommend both books. :D (And I like seriously need The Golden Lily now!) Currently I'm reading Stay With Me. Haven't gotten far enough to form an opinion yet. Invisible Touch was another book I received this week. Thanks to Janina! I've been looking for a YA paranormal with a Hispanic girl as the main character. Hope I enjoy it becaue it sounds really interesting! :) I will review that one for the Persons of Color Reading Challenge. And finally, you've probably noticed the Entertainment Weekly magazine in the top picture. I just had to share it because yeah, I love The Hunger Games too much. I'm so freakin' excited for the movie! XD

Well, that's it for this week. :) Have a great week!

Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

2011-06-10T15:00:00.002-04:00

Title: Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Pages: 421 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: August 23, 2011

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

My Thoughts: I liked the Vampire Academy series. It was entertaining enough, but I never felt that reading it was a top priority. For some reason, though, I REALLY wanted to read Bloodlines. I was way more excited for it than Last Sacrifice. I think knowing that Sydney, a human and an Alchemist, would be the main character made it sound very interesting to me. I liked Sydney from the VA series, and I wondered how different her story and her character would be from Rose's. Also, although I might not have cared as much for Adrian as other readers did, I was still really curious about what happened to him. So when I had the opportunity to read an ARC of Bloodlines, I went for it.

About a month after events in Last Sacrifice, Sydney Sage's life continues to be effected by her decision to help Rose Hathaway. Other Alchemists, including her father, don't trust her, and she has nightmares of being sent to a re-education center, a secretive place where an Alchemist who has gotten too close to vampires is taken to "learn the errors of their ways" and eventually become a person less than themselves. When she is given orders to pose as Jill Dragomir's sister at a California human boarding school in order to prevent a Moroi civil war, she accepts so that she can protect her younger sister Zoe and prove her loyalty to the Alchemists. Right away, though, Sydney learns just how difficult it is protecting a vampire princess in a human world and that Alchemists may not know as much about vampires as they believed.

I don't feel like you should go into Bloodlines without at least knowing what happened in the Vampire Academy series; however, if you haven't read it, you'll just be like Sydney, missing details and information that VA readers would already know. The great thing about Sydney is that she's very intelligent. Her intelligence is her biggest strength, and she'll eventually figure out what she doesn't already know. People's first impressions of her is that she's spineless and lacking in some social skills. She is a little oblivious in certain social situations, but that's part of who she is and I really liked that about her. And the truth is Sydney's an observer and someone who likes to make sure her job is done efficiently without any problems. She likes to follow rules, but knows there are times when rules shouldn't always be followed. And she may not be a kick-ass fighter, but she's kick-ass in her own way. She has a sharp mind and is smart enough to handle herself in dangerous situations. I just thought Sydney was such an awesome character, and I found myself able to relate to her more than I could with Rose. She's part of the reason why I cannot wait to read the next book.

The supporting characters in this book were Adrian, Jill, and Eddie. Adrian played a much bigger role than I expected. I'm really glad for that because he was amazing! Hilarious and perceptive. Usually bickering with Sydney and protective of Jill and everyone. I feel like I understand him a whole lot better now, and I can't believe I never noticed how great he was while reading Vampire Academy. I know readers are wondering what happened to him after Last Sacrifice, and well... Like I mentioned, Bloodlines starts about a month after LS. He really is trying though. He just needs people to trust and believe in him. So far he's doing a very good job, and I admire his efforts. I'm definitely rooting for him; he deserves it!

Another thing I'm sure readers are wondering about is the romance and if it involves Adrian. If you're looking for romance in this book, I think you'll be disappointed. Romance was not a main focus in this book. I do believe something is developing, and I'm completely fine with the pace because I would much rather prefer a relationship and a romance to grow gradually instead of occurring instantly. That being said, I really can't wait to see where it goes! I'm crossing my fingers that it ends up how I'm hoping it will.

Now that I've read Bloodlines, I have to say that I'm already liking it more than Vampire Academy! I didn't want to put the book down. There wasn't as much fighting in Bloodlines (only because Sydney isn't a guardian like Rose), but there was definitely enough action and everything to keep me interested. I highly recommend Bloodlines to VA fans looking for a fresh start and a new heroine to root for and for those who just love Adrian! I know I'm extremely excited for book two, The Golden Lily!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Once Upon a Twilight for hosting the ARC tour!

Soul in Love Winner & Quick Update

2011-06-02T11:07:00.002-04:00

The winner of a signed copy of Soul in Love by Vone Savan is....

Sarah E. Cruz

Congrats to Sarah! :) She has already been notified by email.

Quick blog update: I realize I haven't posted much of anything this past month. I would like for that to change this month, but I'm not sure what will happen. We'll see. All I know is that I'm not giving up on this blog. :)

In My Mailbox #45

2011-05-14T09:33:00.004-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Book Tour
Blood Magic (The Blood Journals, #1) ARC by Tessa Gratto
Burn Bright (Night Creatures, #1) by Marianne de Pierres

Bought
Looking for Alaska by John Green

Won / Gift
Silver Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia, #1) by Cindy Pon
Fury of the Phoenix (Kingdom of Xia, #2) by Cindy Pon
Where She Went (If I Stay, #2) by Gayle Forman

When this post goes up on Saturday, I will be getting ready to go to the South Carolina Book Festival! I should be there around 3pm. I wanted to get there earlier, but it didn't work out. As long as I don't miss the Neal Shusterman panel, which starts at 4:10, I'm good. Neal Shusterman is the author of Unwind (one of my favorite books), and I can't wait to hear him talk about his books. I'm excited, and I know I won't be able to say anything to him because I'll be so nervous. Hopefully I manage to at least mumble a hello. LOL

Anyway, big huge THANKS to a book buddy for getting me a signed copy of Where She Went! How will I ever repay her? I loved this book so much! It's definitely at the top of my favorite books in 2011 list (along with Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning. I can't decide which one I loved more!) If you haven't read WSW, you need to! :D Another thanks goes out to author Cindy Pon! I won both her Kingdom of Xia books in a giveaway. I read Silver Phoenix back in 2009 and really enjoyed it. Very happy to own a copy and also a copy of Fury of the Phoenix, which I can't wait to read. :)

Another book I got was Looking for Alaska (bought the hardcover at Books a Million for only $3!). I've never read LFA before, but I enjoyed his other books, so I'm looking forward to it. And from book tours, Blood Magic and Burn Bright. Burn Bright is a debut YA book from Australia with an amazing cover. Already read & reviewed it. I plan on starting Blood Magic soon.

Whew! This post feels long. That's it for this week! Just a reminder to those with US addresses, I have a giveaway for Soul in Love by Vone Savan that ends on June 1. Click here to enter!

Review: Burn Bright by Marianne de Pierres

2011-05-13T16:11:00.003-04:00

Title: Burn Bright (Night Creatures, #1)
Author: Marianne de Pierres
Pages: 316
Publisher: Random House Australia
Release Date: March 1, 2011

Into a world of wild secrets and deadly pleasures comes a girl whose innocence may be her greatest strength.

In Ixion music and party are our only beliefs. Darkness is our comfort. We have few rules but they are absolute . . .

Retra doesn’t want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. Retra is a Seal – sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn’t crave parties and pleasure, experience and freedom.

But her brother Joel left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him. Braving the intense pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she’s ever known, Retra stows away on the barge that will take her to her brother.

When she can’t find Joel, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion?

Retra will find that Ixion has its pleasures, but its secrets are deadly. Will friendship, and the creation of an eternal bond with a Riper, be enough to save her from the darkness?

My Thoughts: In Burn Bright, seventeen-year-old Retra escapes from her strict and isolated life in Seal South, an area walled off from the already enclosed land called Grave, to Ixion. Ixion is an island with never-ending night known for it's pleasure. It's where young people go to run away from rules and to enjoy freedom. The freedom to have fun and party all the time. Retra isn't looking for pleasure though. Her sole purpose in going there is to find her older brother Joel, who left to Ixion two years ago. But before she starts her search, she quickly learns that the island is a much darker and dangerous place than she could have imagined. If Retra wants any hope in finding her brother, she has to survive Ixion first.

What I liked about Burn Bright was Retra's character. Even though Retra was timid and naive when she arrived in Ixion, she wasn't completely helpless. She had a determination that came out when it was really needed. It gave her the strength to survive Ixion and to eventually overcome some of the fears caused by the sheltered life she grew up in. I found her development believable, and I was glad there wasn't anything I disliked about her. Although I thought Retra was a good character, Rollo and Suki were my favorites. I felt like they, especially Rollo, stood out among the rest of the characters. Suki was a strong fighter, and Rollo knew a whole lot about the secrets in Grave and Ixion than he first let on. Both were pretty funny and made great friends, and I liked how they did what they could to try and help Retra.

Some of the relationships Retra had with other characters, though, took some time for me to accept. I didn't get why she was drawn to Markes, a guy she met on the barge to Ixion, other than the fact that he was nice and good-looking. Another was the connection she felt with Ixion's Guardian leader Lenoir. They both seemed drawn to each other, and I couldn't figure out why. Lenoir also tended to give Retra puzzling information about Ixion, and he was a complete mystery. I still don't know what he is exactly and what he's trying to accomplish in Ixion.

Which brings me to the world in Burn Bright. Retra was lost in Ixion in the beginning, and I have to say that I was just as lost as her. Probably even more. It was strange and confusing to understand at times, especially the way things were done and the certain words used in Ixion. There were a lot of times where Retra asked questions, and she either didn't get answers or the answers were too vague for me to wrap my head around. Like when Retra had Confession. The confession Retra went through was not anything like the confession I know. It took me awhile to understand the purpose, which might have been because one of the Guardians (or Ripers) messed up Retra's first confession experience. I wish I had just went with it like Retra seemed to do. Maybe then I wouldn't have felt like I was missing details. By the end, however, I felt like I understood things that I was left wondering about throughout the book. Not everything was entirely clear though. I think the reason might be because it's a planned trilogy. I'm sure the next books will have more answers.

Other than the confusion I felt, I liked Burn Bright overall. It was definitely a unique story, and I thought it was well-written. Hopefully I get the chance to read the rest of the trilogy because the ending left me wanting to know more about that world and what happens next with Retra and the rest of the characters.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Missie @ The Unread Reader for Go Aussie Book Tours!

In My Mailbox #44

2011-05-07T11:07:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Borrowed:
Awakened (The Guardian Legacy, #1) by Ednah Walters
Blood Red Road ARC (Dustlands, #1) by Moira Young
Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar
Saltwater Moons by Julie Gittus

Won:
Clarity (Clarity, #1) by Kim Harrington
Everfound (Skinjacker Trilogy, #3) by Neal Shusterman
The Great God Pan by Donna Jo Napoli - signed
Intrinsical (The Yara Silva Trilogy, #1) by Lani Woodland - signed
[Thanks to Scholastic, BookKittyBlog, S&S Children's Publishing, Donna Jo Napoli, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing, and Confessions of a Bookaholic!]

This is an IMM of the past 3 weeks. First off, huge thanks to Nic at Irresistible Reads for letting me borrow Raw Blue and Saltwater Moons! Both books are Australian YA and only available in Australia. I liked both books & it just makes me even more excited for other Aussie books. Thanks again, Nic!! :D

Another thanks goes out to two other book buddies for letting me borrow Awakened and Blood Red Road. I'm enjoying BRR so far! Really hope Awakened is good because I've been wanting to read that want for awhile now. Another book that's been on my wishlist forever is Intrinsical by Lani Woodland. Very excited to have won a copy.

I read an ARC of Clarity a few months back, and I'm glad to have won a finished copy because I really liked it. Another book I won was The Great God Pan. It's a tiny book! I've only read one other book by the author (Sirena, which I really liked, so I hope I like this one too). Finally, I won an ARC of Everfound. Even though I still haven't read the first two books in the trilogy like I planned...I'm still excited to meet Neal Shusterman next Saturday at the SC Book Festival. Hoping to get it and Unwind signed! :3

Hmm... I think that's about it! I do have a US giveway going on for Soul in Love by Vone Savan, if anyone's interested... Anyway, hope you all have a great week! :)

Giveaway: Soul in Love by Vone Savan

2011-05-01T16:16:00.001-04:00

Title: Soul in Love
Author: Vone Savan
Page Number: 308
Release Date: October 29, 2010
Publisher: Vone Savan Enterprises, LLC

Soul in Love is a fictitious paranormal romance that centers on a seventeen year old girl named Amber Olive. One evening, after spending time together, Amber and her boyfriend, London, end up in a horrible car accident in which she somehow survives, but her boyfriend does not. Then, while Amber mourns his death, she begins to see and feel London again. At first, she questions her sanity, but then starts to believe in him. Through this newfound belief, she takes a metaphysical journey which ultimately answers the questions to London's appearances and her own reality. This book deals with the issues of loss, grief, and love. It challenges the idea of how far we will go to try and get back the person we once loved; even after something as profound as death. Soul in Love also raises questions relating to what each of us will truly believe after something tragic happens-spiritually and otherwise.

A book friend won this book, and after she read it, she asked me if I wanted to host a giveaway on my blog. Soul in Love is a young-adult paranormal. It's a hardcover and signed by the author. Read the rules below to find out how to enter.

Giveaway Info:

Open to US residents. (If you have someone living here who can send it to you, that's fine.)
You do NOT have to be a blog follower.
Ends June 1 at 11:59 PM EST.
To enter, fill out this form: [CONTEST ENDED]

Good luck! I'll announce and contact the winner after the giveaway ends. :)

Review: Saltwater Moons by Julie Gittus

2011-04-28T15:15:00.005-04:00

Title: Saltwater Moons
Author: Julie Gittus
Pages: 268
Publisher: Lothian Books
Release Date: August 7, 2008

In the beginning it seems so simple. A poem in the mail. A weekend invitation to the coast. But when Sun says yes to a midnight walk, her life becomes suddenly complicated. Saltwater Moons tells the story of Sun Langley during her final months of Year Twelve. There's the intensity of her first relationship, complicated by the fact she continues to exchange poems with her boyfriend's best mate. It's a story about love and betrayal, about constantly longing for the things we can't have.

My Thoughts: When I finished Saltwater Moons last night, I had mixed feelings. There were a lot of things that happened that brought out my anger, but I just could not stop reading. I thought the story was intriguing, the setting was nice, and I really liked the writing. (All the Australian books I've read so far have great writing.) Those must have been the reasons why I couldn't put the book down because I know some of the characters weren't the ones who kept me going.

I couldn't sympathize with the main character Sun. I just wasn't able to fully understand her actions and behavior. She allowed the situation between her and Mark to continue... And for what? She knew what type of person Mark was, so it was pretty obvious where the relationship was headed. She also knew that she had feelings for someone else, Mark's friend Tycho. Now, I might have gotten annoyed with Sun, but I don't believe she was a horrible character. She made mistakes like any normal person. I do believe she learned something and gained strength from all this, but I just don't get why she put herself through that. I wish she had the courage to confront Tycho in the first place instead of allowing Mark to take over.

I didn't like Mark. All the things he said to Sun... I'm sure she's not the first girl to hear those words from him. And every time he was with her it never seemed like he was ever completely there. His behavior might be his way of coping with his stressful home life, but I don't believe that's any excuse. As for Tycho, he didn't get nearly as much page-time as Mark, but from what we did get, he sounded like a nice guy. He definitely wasn't perfect though. At least he sounded better than his friend. I honestly wondered what he thought of Mark & Sun. Because, to me, it was obvious Tycho was interested in Sun and shouldn't Mark have known that? But I guess Mark's too selfish to care. And Sun wasn't strong enough to stop it from happening.

I know it may seem like I didn't like this book, and I know it might not make sense with me saying that I have mixed feelings, but overall... I actually did. I just didn't enjoy the decisions and behaviors of certain characters. So would I recommend this book? Yes. And if the author were to write more books, I would definitely be interested in reading them.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Nic @ Irresistible Reads for sending this out! :)

In My Mailbox #43

2011-04-16T09:39:00.115-04:00

Before I get to my IMM, here's some exciting news! These authors will be attending the South Carolina Book Festival in Columbia, SC on May 14-15:

Neal Shusterman (Unwind, Skinjacker trilogy)
Shelena Shorts (The Pace series)
Jennifer Murgia (Angel Star series)
Sanford Greene (Comic book artist)

There's a lot more authors, but these are the ones I'm most interested in seeing. This will be my first year attending the SC Book Festival. I'm really glad there will finally be authors there that I've actually read books by. If you live close to Columbia, come to the festival or spread the word! It's a free event. :)

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review:
Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando (Won from LibraryThing.)

Library:
Everlost (Skinjacker trilogy, #1) by Neal Shusterman
Everwild (Skinjacker trilogy, #2) by Neal Shusterman

Won / Gifted:
The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1) by Julie Kagawa (Thanks to Maria V. Synder!)
Firelight (Firelight, #1) by Sophie Jordan (Thanks to Arlene!)

Since Neal Shusterman's panel at the SC Book Festival is for his final book, Everfound, in the Skinjacker trilogy, I figured I should read the first two books before then, so that I won't feel lost when I'm there. Umm... Well...hopefully I read them in time. :P

Normally I don't like covers with photos of a bunch of people in the background, especially if I can see their faces, but I'm kind of liking the cover of Dreamland Social Club. I think it's the title font and the COLORS that's doing it for me. I won the ARC through LibraryThing's March batch. Reading it now & plan on reviewing it sometime this month.

The other books I got this week are not pictured in the top photo. I won a signed copy of The Iron King through the blog of author Maria V. Synder, and I received a signed copy of Firelight from an awesome book friend! Very exciting because I enjoyed both books and didn't already own copies. Big thanks to both of them! :)

That's it for this week! (Btw, sorry for the lack of reviews lately. I haven't been feeling inspired. I'm slowly getting over that. :p)

Review: Die for Me by Amy Plum

2011-04-14T12:19:00.002-04:00

Title: Die for Me (Revenants, #1)
Author: Amy Plum
Pages: 259 (eGalley copy)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: May 10, 2011

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

My Thoughts: The setting of Die for Me was something I really loved about the novel. Reading a paranormal that is not set in a typical location like the United States or the United Kingdom is extremely refreshing. Although Paris is a familiar city, it's not a place most people have the chance to actually experience. I'm glad the author gave us a view of Paris that wasn't focused on cliché attractions and instead gave us a new glimpse of life in Paris.

Revenants were another refreshing aspect of Die for Me. Revenants are like immortals, and while immortals aren't anything new, revenants are a unique type. Revenants have a purpose, a destiny. They can choose to ignore it, but it takes a whole lot of self-control. What revenants have to do and what they go through is something I don't believe I have ever come across in the paranormal genre. I cannot wait to learn more about them.

Sixteen-year-old Kate Mercier is the main character. She and her older sister, Georgia, move to France from New York, after the death of their parents, to live with their grandparents. Losing her parents causes Kate to withdraw from her family and the people around her. But when she meets the mysterious Vincent Delacroix, she finds herself wanting to open up her heart again, even though Vincent may not be normal at all.

I felt both Kate and Vincent had qualities similar to characters in other books. Even the relationship between Kate and Vincent wasn't something we haven't already seen before. However, I thought they were likeable characters. What I really liked the most was that Kate didn't immediately jump into a romantic relationship with Vincent. She thought through the consequences and risks of being a human in a relationship with a revenant, before finally making a decision. Overall I enjoyed their moments together, and as the story went along, I kept wanting more!

The other characters (Vincent's fellow revenants) were great as well. They all had something that made them memorable. Jules definitely stood out among them. He was funny and sweet. I would love to get to know more about all of them, though, especially Ambrose and Charlotte. As for the normal humans, Georgia was an interesting character because, although she was more outgoing than her sister and they sometimes had disagreements, she and Kate seemed to get along pretty well. Hope to see more of her in the next book too.

With an amazing setting, likeable characters, and an original take on a paranormal being, Die for Me is a refreshing read in the young-adult paranormal genre. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

eGalley provided by HarperTeen through NetGalley.

Video: Leigh Fallon & The Carrier of the Mark

2011-04-09T13:52:00.003-04:00

Congrats to Leigh Fallon! Inkpop is currently hosting an ARC giveaway for The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon! Check out inkpop's blog to enter. :)

Want to know more about The Carrier of the Mark? Visit Leigh Fallon's website. And here is the summary from GoodReads:

The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
Publication Date: September 13, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen

"A move to Ireland is about to introduce Megan to her destiny, her real destiny, can she embrace it and will she survive it?

A tragedy in Megan’s past set her on a predetermined course. A chain of events has been set in motion that brings Megan to Kinsale, a small town in the south of Ireland where her destiny awaits her. Her life starts to fall into place as she makes new friends and settles into her new school. However, the reclusive and distant Adam DeRís calls to her body and soul.

She finds herself increasingly drawn to Adam and his strange family. Adam knows a secret from her past and he and his family hold the key to her future. A future that binds her to Adam and his world, a world of power, mystery and ancient orders. A world that unbeknownst to her, she very much belongs in."

In My Mailbox #42

2011-04-02T09:25:00.153-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought:
John Belushi Is Dead by Kathy Charles

For Review:
Shift (Shade, #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready

Library / Borrowed:
Break by Hannah Moskowitz
Girl Saves Boy by Steph Bowe

I got two Aussie books this week! I'm borrowing Girl Saves Boy from a friend, and I bought John Belushi Is Dead at Books A Million for only $3! Really like the cover of that one. And the book is small, so it just looks cute.

The other books I got were Break and Shift. I downloaded Shift through the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab. I liked Shade, so I hope I enjoy the sequel as well! I was challenged to read Break, and I've already finished it. I have to say, the behavior of some of the characters made me go: o_O;;; Oh, and cringe. Yes, it was definitely a unique read. You have to read it for yourself, but if you don't know what it's about... The main character breaks his bones. (See why I cringed while reading?)

And....that is all for my IMM this week. :) Don't forget to sign-up for the Aussie YA Book Challenge! *end of advertisement*

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

2011-03-30T01:48:00.006-04:00

Title: The Gathering
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Release Date: April 12, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Summary: Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can’t find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and her school has only sixty-eight students—for every grade from kindergarten to twelve.

Now, strange things are happening in this claustrophobic town, and Maya's determined to get to the bottom of them. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. A year later, mountain lions start appearing around Maya's home, and they won’t go away. Her best friend, Daniel, starts getting negative vibes from certain people and things. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret—and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy: Her paw-print birthmark.

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Review: Brother/Sister by Sean Olin

2011-03-24T16:23:00.002-04:00

Title: Brother/Sister
Author: Sean Olin
Pages: 242 (ARC copy)
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 9, 2011

Will and Asheley have a troubled past. Their father left them when they were little, and their mother has just been carted off to an alcohol treatment center. Now, they have the house to themselves, and an endless California summer stretching out before them. Through alternating perspectives, they tell the story of how and why their lives spun violently out of control—right up to the impossibly shocking conclusion you'll have to read for yourself to believe.

My Thoughts: Before I started the book, I read reviews that said that the ending was shocking and surprising. Now that I've finally read it, I have to say that I agree. I was not expecting it to end that way at all. It made me question everything else in the book. And now I'm wishing the entire book got a reaction out of me like the ending did because maybe I would have liked it more.

Will and Asheley are siblings. Their father left them when they were really young, and their mother is a complete drunk. For their entire lives, Will and Asheley have never felt normal. Because of the way they grew up, they have social problems and aren't very trusting of others. But things seem to be finally improving for them. Asheley is starting to socialize with the girls on her softball team, and Will is doing great in golf and he's getting noticed by girls. Their mother has even been sober for a couple of months. That feeling of normalcy doesn't last though, and Will and Asheley's lives being to spiral out of control.

Will was weird and creepy, and I just did not like him. He had anger and jealousy issues. Asheley was... Well, after that ending, I'm really confused about her and her relationship with her brother. I don't know what to think about either of them. Both were very paranoid people. I know I don't feel sorry for them, no matter how bad their home-life was. Honestly, they deserve what's coming to them.

All in all, I thought this was an okay read. I was never really hooked until the very last page, and I wish I had felt something for the characters. It was a strange and kind of disturbing book, so if you're curious, check it out.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Thanks to LibraryThing & Penguin for the ARC.

In My Mailbox #41

2011-03-20T10:11:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Bought:
Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

For Review:
Clarity (Clarity, #1) by Kim Harrington (From Different Area Codes Book Tour.)

Gifted:
Finding Sky by Joss Stirling
Promise (Soul Savers, #1) by Kristie Cook

Library:
Guitar Highway Rose by Brigid Lowry
Leaving Jetty Road by Rebecca Burton

Feeling tired, so I'll keep this short.

Read Clarity, and I got a sort of Veronica Mars vibe from it. Enjoyed it. I'll start working on a review soon. Guitar Highway Rose and Leaving Jetty Road are both Aussie books that I checked out for the Aussie YA Challenge. I got Promise and Finding Sky thanks to a friend. I've had both books on my wishlist for awhile; really hope I like them. Finally, I bought Playing Hurt because I plan on reading it with my book group. It sounds good; can't wait to read it. :)

And that's it for this week!

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

2011-03-16T01:33:00.016-04:00

Title: Faerie Winter (Faerie, #2)
Author: Janni Lee Simner
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Summary: The war has been over for 40 years, and finally Liza's town is accepting children born with fairy talents. Then a nearby town is destroyed, and Liza discovers that the war might not be over after all. It seems some faeries survived and have crossed over into the human world to continue the fight. And the most powerful and merciless of them all—the Queen herself—may be among them. . .

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Faerie Winter is the sequel to Bones of Faerie, which I really liked. I was so excited when I found out there was going to be a sequel. Hopefully it's just as good. :)

In My Mailbox #40

2011-03-12T15:30:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

For Review:
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab (From Different Area Codes Book Tour.)

Won:
Brother/Sister by Sean Olin (From LibraryThing.)
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta (Thanks to Alexa @ Not Enough Bookshelves!)

The Piper's Son! Melina Marchetta! Squee! (Yes, I'm a total fangirl.) Thanks to my awesome book buddies, I was able to read TPS last year. Really happy to own a copy now because I want to reread it. Huge thanks goes out to Alexa! :D

The Near Witch and Brother/Sister are two books for review. I heard TNW was just put up on NetGalley, so check that out if you're interested in reading it. I'm not really sure what to expect from B/S. The summary and the title made me think of Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma; however, I have a feeling it won't be anything like that book. Still, I'm hoping it's good.

Well, I have nothing else to include about this week's IMM. I'll end with the song I'm currently listenting to: The Reeling by Passion Pit. <3