Search This Blog

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday - Through To You


"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that showcases our most wanted upcoming releases.

THROUGH TO YOU by Emily Hainsworth
*Release Date: October 2nd, 2012


Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day.

As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

Okay, so I'm going to admit something a little geeky. I often daydream about what my life is like in a parallel universe. I think it would be totally rad to have a chat with your parallel self and find out what ways your lives are different. Of course, it would also be a little freaky, too. What if your other self is a criminal or dead? So a book about parallel worlds, and possible second chances with people that have been lost in this world, sounds like the coolest thing ever! I can't wait to read Camden's story and I can't wait to see this beautiful cover in person :0)

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

"Month of Cinder" officially starts NEXT WEEK!!



Month of Cinder is about to begin! In a little less than a week I'll be hosting, along with Angela @ Novel Therapy, a month long event of Cinder goodness! As is probably pretty obvious at this point, I am a huge fan of Marissa Meyer's debut novel and I can't wait to continue this amazing series! I know a lot of you have read Cinder and share my love, but I wanted to keep her in the spotlight and hopefully those of you who haven't given her a read, will want to pick the book up ASAP. It's worth it, I swear :0)


We have so much in store for you guys this month. Thanks to the amazing blogging community, I have acquired some awesome guest reviews, guest posts and cool photos! There will be posts about music, fan fiction, and a really fun project I've cooked up involving (literally) the book! We'll also have a guest post from Marissa herself! We'll also be tweeting all month for the event, using the hashtag #monthofcinder, so come join in on the twitter fun!

AND...what's a month long Cinder event without some fabulous giveaways?!? Well, we've got 'em! Marissa Meye was lovely enough to donate some awesome stuff for prizes, which I will reveal as the giveaways get started! The excellent people at Macmillan have also donated some Cinder goodness, and I'll be providing a book or two myself. I've also procured some really cool magnets, from excellent artist Michelle @ Passionate Bookworm, that are super pretty and have special ties with Scarlet (book two in The Lunar Chronicles)!

So, as you can see, there will be plenty going on all month long! Blog posts will be a little sporadic, but we'll have #monthofcinder tweets daily! Hang out with us all month, or stop by when you can, everyone is invited and we can't wait to hang out with you! The event officially starts on Monday, April 2nd, so stop on by!

Monday, March 26, 2012

"Slide" by Jill Hathaway

Release Date: March 27th, 2012
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: eGalley
Age Group: Young Adult

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.


*While I don't think this review is particularly spoilery, I do talk very favorably about a character who at one time or another during the story, may be suspected as the killer, and therefore my comments about said character may rule them out before you even start the book. Just a friendly warning :0) *

Imagine just hanging around, minding your own business, when you inadvertanly touch something that is emotionally tied to another person. Once you touch it, you slide into that person's body, and witness whatever they are doing through their eyes. That is the plight of main character Sylvia "Vee" Bell. When I first heard about SLIDE, that is what drew me to it. I love the premise of slipping into someone's body and seeing whatever they are seeing. And it's handled pretty well here, but sometimes I felt like she could have gone a little further with it. Of course, there is going to be a book two, so who knows what will be in store for us then.

As far as the mystery goes, I was not able to correctly guess who the actual killer was, which is always a nice thing to have in a book like this. Unfortunately, the killer's motives were a little to out there for me. I know that crazy people do crazy things, for crazy reasons, but I just felt like she could have given us something a little more here. It wasn't a predictable reason for the murders, but it fell a little flat in my eyes.

Despite a few dissapointments with some parts of the plot, there is one specific thing that saved this book for me. Rollins. I just fell in love with his character and I will definitely read book two, because I want to read more of Rollins. I'm also curious to see where Vee's creepy ability takes her next, but mostly I just want to spend more time with her bff!

Slide wasn't a bonafied hit for me, but I did enjoy most of the story and am certainly planning to read book two. I'm still very intrigued by Vee's ability and can't wait to see where Hathaway takes it next!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

In My Mailbox (31) - UNICORNS!


In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.It's a weekly showcase of the contents of our mailboxes!

I can't believe it's the end of the week already. This one sure flew by! I had a week of Unicorn joy and also good books, so on to the video :0)




Books Mentioned:

"Take A Bow" by Elizabeth Eulberg (My review)
"Bound" by Erica O'Rourke
"Drain You" by M. Beth Bloom
"Immortal City" by Scott Speer
"Paranormalcy" by Kiersten White
"Clarity" by Kim Harrington
"Catching Jordan" by Miranda Kenneally
"Heartless" by Gail Carriger
"Oxford Messed Up" by Andra Kayne Kaufman
"Sarah's Unicorn" by Bruce and Katherine Coville

E-Galleys:

"The Immortal Rules" by Julie Kagawa
"Until I Die" by Amy Plum

Bloggers Mentioned:

Angela @ Novel Therapy

Friday, March 23, 2012

"Halflings" by Heather Burch

Release Date: February 1st, 2012
Publisher: Zondervan
Format: eGalley
Age Group: Young Adult


After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with.

A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.



I liked HALFLINGS. I thought it was a well told story and I respected the main character, but I didn't love it. It could have something to do with reading two angel books one after the other, but it didn't suck me in like some other stories I've read recently.

It starts off throwing you right into the action. Nikki is literally running for her life, from beings that shouldn't even exist in our world. Mace and Raven are watching from above, waiting until the exact right moment to swoop in and save her. They are supposed to remain unseen, but Nikki spots them and she doesn't forget. The two of them start to ingrain themselves in Nikki's life and she is drawn to both of them. The problem is, they can never actually be with her, because it would damn them forever. I don't really have a team on this one, because the consequences are so large if she really is with one of them and I really didn't connect with one guy more than the other. Though I did like their younger brother, Vine.

There is also some shady stuff going on that involves Nikki's parents and an old family friend. As Nikki and the boys start discovering what's really going on, a terrible tragedy befalls them and suddenly it seems like there is even more at stake. I am curious to see where Heather takes this story and how the relationships evolve between Nikki, Mace and Raven. While this wasn't a complete hit for me, I think I definitely will give the second book a try when it comes out. 

Thursday, March 22, 2012

"Take A Bow" by Elizabeth Eulberg

Release Date: April 1st, 2012
Publisher: Point
Format: ARC
Age Group: Young Adult

Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.




I'm not always a fan of books that have so many point of views, but I love Elizabeth Eulberg's books, so I decided I had to give this one a shot. We first meet our four main characters as they are about to audition for their freshman year at CPA, they all have different reasons for wanting to be there, and none of them know what to expect. Then we jump right to the beginning of their senior years. They've all been in school together for three years and this year is when their futures will be decided. Emme and Sophie have been best friends since they were eight, but they are starting to drift apart. Emme has her band and her songwriting, and Sophie has Carter and the spotlight. Ethan and Emme have become really close since they became part of their band freshman year, but something happened over the summer and things are tense between them. Carter is a former child star who wants out of the spotlight, he just wants to be a normal guy.

Even though we alternate between these four characters, they are in each other's lives enough, that we get a pretty full picture of what is going on from day to day at CPA. My favorite character was Emme. She had the most going on in her story and she also had the most compassion. She was definitely naive, but had the biggest heart and worked so hard to keep things together. My next favorite is a tie between Carter and Ethan. I really liked getting to know Carter as a person, because he was learning about himself at the same time as I was, while reading. Deep down he's just a normal teenager who wants to be left to his own devices. I really enjoyed the friendship that formed between him and Emme, she really helped him see that getting what you want doesn't have to be so difficult. Ethan was so misguided and broken, through most of the book I either wanted to smack him or hug him. He was great with Emme, so careful with her feelings and taking care of her when something was wrong. He was so devoted to her and it was clear to anyone who was looking, except Emme. I hated Sophie. I know she's technically the villain of the story, so you aren't necessarily meant to like her, but I couldn't stand reading her chapters. If they hadn't been necessary to the flow of the story, I probably would have skipped them. She was manipulative, cruel and only cared about what everyone else could do for her.

This was an exceptional read. I loved how music tied into almost every part of the story and I am so enamored with most of the characters and the way they related to one another. As far as contemporaries go, this one should move up to the top of your wish list. If your reading experience is anything like mine,  you won't want to put it down until you are finished :0)
Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday - THE LAST PRINCESS by Galaxy Craze


"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that showcases our most wanted upcoming releases.

THE LAST PRINCESS by Galaxy Craze
*Release Date: May 1st, 2012*


Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Happily ever after is a thing of the past.A series of natural disasters has decimated the earth. Cut off from the rest of the world, England is a dark place. The sun rarely shines, food is scarce, and groups of criminals roam the woods, searching for prey. The people are growing restless.
When a ruthless revolutionary sets out to overthrow the crown, he makes the royal family his first target. Blood is shed in Buckingham Palace, and only sixteen-year-old Princess Eliza manages to escape.
Determined to kill the man who destroyed her family, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. She has nothing left to live for but revenge, until she meets someone who helps her remember how to hope--and to love--once more. Now she must risk everything to ensure that she not become... The Last Princess.

I am fascinated by royalty. I don't really understand the need for it, or why other countries rely on a monarchy, but I am always curious about the inner workings and what kinds of things go on amongst royal people. So a dystopian world, with an undercover royal who is out to kick butt and take names, seems like the most awesome thing I could ever imagine. Also, I am in love with this author's name! Definitely a book I am dying to get my hands on :0)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

"Embrace" by Jessica Shirvington

Release Date: March 6th, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: ARC
Age Group: Young Adult

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…


I love angel stories. I kind of feel like a collector of them. I don't always love them and it makes me really sad when I can't finish one, but as I'm sure I've said before, if it has angels it's going on my bookshelf. That being said, EMBRACE was an angel book that I absolutely adore! My favorite part about this book was definitely Violet. I don't know how anyone could not like her. She's sarcastic, funny, caring, kick butt and vulnerable all rolled into one awesome chick. Sometimes she made me so mad, because she was being petulant and ignoring Linc, but at the same time I totally got it. If I'd been told my whole life is about to change and that things were never really what I thought they were, I would probably get super pissed and act like a child for a bit. Of course, this is probably the only part where I thought the book really suffered, and that's only because we were without Lincoln for so long. YOU GUYS! Lincoln is ALL of the wonderful words. He's hot, older, totally kickass, obviously enamored with Violet and forbidden. What else could a girl want in her newest book boyfriend?

I really liked the Angel/Grigori mythology in the book. I thought the way the Grigori's were made was really unique and their purpose on earth made for an excellent back story. I thought it was really cool that even the angels need to make sure they had a system of checks and balances, so that no one group could ever truly take over another. We only really got a little of the history of the Grigori's, the exiles, and the angels, but I'm sure we'll get to find out more in the next book. I can't imagine Violet not wanting to find out everything she can, now that she is officially part of this whole new world. Which brings me to another thing, I was so stoked that she was able to clue in her best friend, Steph. I hate stories when the main characters can't ever tell their friends what is really going on. When you are in a crazy situation like Violet, you need your friends, and I can't imagine a better friend than Steph. That girl was such a riot. She is the kind of person I want as my best friend and I can't wait to see more of her in book two. Also, her overexaggerated religious references once she found out, so funny! Griffin was another favorite character of mine. Violet only meets him when she is finding out about her heritage, but he quickly becomes someone she can trust and is always around to look out for her. I definitely want more Griffin in my life, and if anything bad happens to him, I will be so sad!

You'll notice I haven't mentioned Phoenix. There is a really good reason for that. I don't like him. I didn't like his character from the start and I only grew to dislike him more as the book went on. That's not to say he was a completely terrible person, because he wasn't, I just never warmed to him. He was a good source for some information, but I won't be sad if he doesn't come around again, although I know he will.

So overall I loved this book and I can't wait for the second in the series. I want to know what's going to happen next in this world and I just know that Violet will handle it with so much awesome!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Pretty covers, with Pretty trees!

I am loving so many book covers right now, so along with all the other bloggy goodness this week, I am going to do some cover posts! Today I'm featuring gorgeous covers with trees on them, because I love looking at trees and sitting up against trees to read, I pretty much just love trees! Except when there is a whole forest full of them and it is dark out, then I get so scared of those darn trees...moving on!

So here are six gorgeous covers for some upcoming books that I am totally psyched about. Notice, each one of these pretty covers has pretty trees somewhere in the background. Trees make such a nice background :0)






Don't you just love them?!? Let me know what you think and let me know what your favorite covers with trees are!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

In My Mailbox (30)


In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.It's a weekly showcase of the contents of our mailboxes!

So I did a video, but it was crazy long due to the amount of stuff I got this week and I am not so good at the editing thing, yet. Instead of reshooting the video, because it is late and I am tired, I am just going to take photos :0)



For Review:

"Unraveling" by Elizabeth Norris!!!! * I am so excited about this one! It was the best kind of surprise :0) *
"Social Suicide" by Gemma Halliday *I'm really looking forward to this one, too! Can't wait to continue Hartley's story *
"The Hunt" by Andrew Fukuda *This sounds fantastic and its blurbed by some awesome people. It should be great *

"The Summer My Life Began" by Shannon Greenland
"Shadow and Bone" by Leigh Bardugo
"Monument 14" by Emmy Laybourne
"Breaking Beautiful" by Jennifer Shaw Wolf




Swapped w/ Lyndsey @ Strangemore:

"Perception" by Kim Harrington
"Struck" by Jennifer Bosworth
"Sweet Evil" by Wendy Higgins


Won:

"Timeless" by Gail Carriger
Steampunk necklace by Unexpected Expectancy
*Both from Braine & Cimmaron @ Talk Supe

I also won a bunch of awesome swag from Michelle @ The Passionate Bookworm
And a limited edition THE DISENCHANTMENTS poster from Penguin!


Bought:

"Shatter Me" by Tahereh Mafi
"The Talents" by Inara Scott
"Deadly Cool" by Gemma Halliday
"He's So Not Worth It" by Kieran Scott

*Thank you so much HarperTeen, St. Martin's Griffin, Bloomsbury, Macmillan, Penguin and NetGalley! *
 Leave me a link to your posts in the comments :0)

Friday, March 16, 2012

The Marked Blog Tour: Guest Post by Inara Scott! + Giveaway :0)

What's Your Talent?!?

One question I get a lot when I’m doing interviews about my Delcroix Academy series is, “What’s your Talent?” For those who haven’t read the Talents (a.k.a, The Candidates), or read it so long ago they can’t remember it, here’s the premise of the series (and a big spoiler, BTW, if you haven’t read the book!): everyone in the world has a talent. Some people are good at cooking, others at singing. Some write beautiful poetry and some tell great jokes. Most people have normal, everyday talents. You see them all around you. They’re fun, but not particular special.

Then there’s a group of people we might call geniuses. They might be a musical genius—like my girl Taylor Swift, who started writing songs when she was 12—or a physical genius, like basketball star Jeremy Lin. Their talent may be in computers, dancing, or making friends. But any way you look at it, these people stand out.
In my world, there’s another level beyond that. These people are Talents with a capital T. They can be trained to take their ordinary gifts beyond the limits of normal human bodies and minds. A really empathetic person who is good at guessing how people feel can actually learn to read minds. A super athlete can run 60 miles per hour. A gifted politician can control the minds of people who listen to him speak.
Of course, they are secretly trained to use these talents at Delcroix Academy.
One of the reasons I wanted to write about these sorts of talents is because I could actually see them being, well, true. I mean, Taylor Swift is NOT NORMAL, people. Neither is Stephen Hawking. For that matter, neither is my dad, who is a crazy computer/engineering genius. And what about J.K. Rowling? Ordinary human? I think not.
The great thing about my vision of talents is that everyone’s got them. They just vary in intensity.
As for  my talent? Well, I would love to fly, but I don’t think I’m actually gifted in any way that supports flight. I’m definitely not light as a feather, or particularly skilled at jumping off things. And I have a relatively normal fear of heights. So I think flying’s probably out.

I can, on the other hand, hold my breath for long periods of time (useful when I was on the synchronized swimming team!). I also have a deep attachment to water and swimming. My name means mermaid. So I guess I think my Talent—were I to have one—would be breathing underwater.
Now, what’s your talent? If you went to Delcroix Academy, what would they train you to do?

Make sure to find Inara and say Hi! You can reach her on Twitter (@inarascott) and on Facebook




In her second semester at a boarding school for teenagers with special powers, Dancia Lewis faces danger from both inside and outside of Delcroix Academy.

All of her life, Dancia Lewis has wanted to use her powers for good. And now that she’s learned the truth about Delcroix Academy—and herself—she may just get the chance. But being part of Delcroix’s top secret Program isn’t anything like Dancia expected. She has to ask herself: what happens to the Talented kids who refuse to pledge their loyalty to the Program? And why did her friend Jack run away rather than join? Dancia’s adorable boyfriend Cam insists they need the help of every Talented student to defend Delcroix from dangerous enemies outside their gates. But Dancia has to wonder: what if Delcroix’s most frightening enemies come from within?http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9504212-the-marked






This is such an awesome series and you should really check it out! And because I love it so much, I'm going to help you out! I've got a giveaway going on for a copy of The Marked for one lucky winner! Just enter the Rafflecopter below. This one is US/Canada only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday - The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life


"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that showcases our most wanted upcoming releases.

"The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life" by Tara Altebrando
*July 5th, 2012*


Publisher: Penguin

An all-day scavenger hunt in the name of eternal small-town glory
With only a week until graduation, there’s one last thing Mary and her friends must do together: participate in the Oyster Point High Official Unofficial Senior Week Scavenger Hunt. And Mary is determined to win.

Mary lost her spot at Georgetown to self-professed “it” bully Pete Lembo, and she’s not about to lose again. But everyone is racing for the finish line with complicated motives, and the team’s all-night adventure becomes all-night drama as shifting alliances, flared tempers, and crushing crushes take over. As the items and points pile up, Mary and her team must reinvent their strategy—and themselves—in order to win.

This book sounds like so much fun! The synopsis actually reminds me a lot of my own high school days. My friends and I did random scavenger hunts on occasion, to pass the time and just for goofs. It also sounds like it will have some awesome character growth and story development. Plus, it's a contemp and you can't go wrong there! Definitely pining for this one :0)

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

"Legend" by Marie Lu

Release Date: November 29th, 2011
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Format: Hardcover
Age Group: Young Adult


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' 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.



I fear my thoughts on this book are going to be a little unpopular, because people seem to love it so much. It's not a bad book and I didn't hate it, but the story and I never really clicked. It has a very interesting premise, which is what drew me to the book in the first place. Unfortunately, dystopian novels are hit and miss with me. The story is told alternating between Day, public enemy number one, and June, military prodigy. I actually really liked that the female character was the kick butt, military expert. In a lot of books, if there are both male and female main characters, the male character is the "tougher" one. So it was a nice change of pace that the female character was the super badass. Therein lies the problem, because that was really the only thing I liked about June. I actually liked Day. I appreciated the lengths he was willing to go to for his family. I guess mostly I wasn't really feeling the relationship that formed between the two of them. With everything else going on, it wasn't developed enough for me. I suppose there will probably be more of that in the next book.

The book was full of action and that's probably the reason I kept reading. The main storyline was well written and certainly made me feel emotions of hate towards the bad guys. At first I suspected that Metias wasn't really dead, and that it was just some elaborate plot created by the military to get June to do their bidding. And that would have been just fine with me, but what was really going on ended up being even crazier. Like I said, this part of the story is what kept me reading. Usually it ends up being the characters that save a book for me and not the plotline, but I'm still not sure if I will continue on with the series. Maybe once all the book have been released. It always makes me sad when I didn't really get along with a book, but just because this one wasn't for me, doesn't mean it isn't for everybody else :0)

Monday, March 12, 2012

"Spell Bound" by Rachel Hawkins

Release Date: March 13th, 2012
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Age Group: Young Adult


Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?





*Warning* This is the final book in a trilogy, so if you have not read the first two books and don't want to be spoiled on anything, don't read any further!


I had the strong urge just to smack my hands down on the keyboard a couple of times and hope that whatever came out would accurately express to everyone how excited I am about this book. Of course, I like my computer, so I decided not to abuse it. GUYS! THIS BOOK! I've been a little bit fangirl crazy over the Hex Hall series, I mean it's got lot's of magic, mean girls, cute boys and so much funny! The final book in the trilogy was an excellent ending to the series and I think it's the fastest I've read a book in ages.

SPELL BOUND starts off right where DEMONGLASS left off. We find Sophie as she's spit out of the Itineris and trying to determine where she's ended up. After a run in with a werewolf and a little help from the unlikliest of sources, she ends up in the Brannick compound. That's where the crazy really starts. Sophie learns some shocking truths about the world she's become a part of since she first started at Hex Hall and without her powers she isn't really sure where she fits in at this point. There are some serious things brewing with the Casnoff sister's and Sophie knows that they need to be stopped, but getting to them is a lot easier said then done, because Graymalkin Island and everything on it has disappeared.

Let's talk a little about the boys, shall we? As I might have mentioned before, I was not a fan of Archer at all in book one. I know he was supposed to be the dreamy guy and the perfect fit for Sophie, but I just didn't buy him. I was firmly on Team Cal by the end of the first book and while Archer grew on me a little in book two, I was still a Cal gal (see what I did there...hehe). In book three we see a lot from both guys and by the end of the book I was rooting for either one, but mostly I was rooting for Sophie and her happiness. Granted, getting to that happiness wasn't exactly an easy feat and even though we get a very satisfying conclusion, things aren't all butterflies and puppies, and we know it's going to be an interesting road ahead for Sophie and crew.

This book was probably the fastest moving in the series for me. There was so much going on right from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. Rachel Hawkins gives us tons of action, unlikely alliances, evil baddies, lots of good kisses and so much WIN! Seriously, as soon as you can pick this one up, do it! This was such a great conclusion to Sophie's story and I'm glad I got to go on her journey with her. And there might be a character or two, who were introduced in this book, that I wouldn't mind reading more about in the future *hint, hint*. 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

In My Mailbox (29) - The One Where I Went Crazy In The Book Store!!!


In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.It's a weekly showcase of the contents of our mailboxes!

So I've been MIA from the blog this week...I've been dog/house sitting all week so I haven't been at home and I've been spending time catching up on my tv shows and getting some reading done. I wasn't planning to even do an IMM this week, because I haven't been able to check my mail, but something totally EPIC happened in the back room of the bookstore I work in today! I walked into the back room and what was sitting on the cart minding it's own business?!?


AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I squealed and jumped and ran up front to purchase it right away! I'm reading it now and it's awesome, and I'm planning to finish it instead of sleeping. Sleep is overrated, especially when I could be spending my time with Cal and Archer, instead!

"Spell Bound" by Rachel Hawkins

So what did you guys get in your mailboxes this week?!?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

A Month of Cinder - Guest reviewers needed :0)

Hey guys! I'm co-hosting a month long Cinder event, along with friend and fellow blogger, Angela @ Novel Therapy! We are planning to post once a week on each of our blogs about Cinder, as well as tweet about the book throughout the month and have twitter giveaways, using the hashtag #monthofcinder. We've got some really good stuff cooked up, but we still need a little more.

That's where your help comes in! We've got some guest posts lined up from other bloggers, as well as Marissa herself, but I need a couple more. This goes out to bloggers and readers alike. I am looking for a guest review that focuses on the story of Cinder and a guest review that focuses on the characters of Cinder. I need to have them by April 1st, 2012, so I can work them into the event schedule. Anyone who wants to submit guest reviews can send them to sarah@thebooklife.com. Or if you've already done a review that you would let me use, I'll link back to your original post, then tweet me the link to @thebooklife.

Thanks in advance for your help! I'm so excited for this event, it's going to be so much fun! We've got a guest spot from Marissa Meyer herself, along with some great things for giveaways! It's going to be awesome and I hope you'll all join in :0)

Monday, March 5, 2012

Cover Reveal: PRETTY AMY by Lisa Burstein


Today I've got an excerpt and cover reveal for Lisa Burstein's upcoming book PRETTY AMY! It's a contemp, which we all know that I love! And what makes it even better, it's got prom in it! Contemps w/ prom are my ultimate favorites :0)

First up we've got an excerpt for you to enjoy, then I'm going to show you the pretty cover for PRETTY AMY...hehe...see what I did there?!?


EXCERPT:

I was just about to put out my cigarette and go back inside when I heard a skateboard coming down the street. It sounded like waves, like a conch shell against your ear. That full, empty sound.
Maybe it was Aaron. I conjured up my stupid daydream, the one I used to fill my head when I couldn’t deal with any of the other stuff in there—that he would find me, that he would apologize, that he would tell me that prom night hadn’t been his fault.
The difference this time was that when I looked toward the sound, he really was there.
It was him.
Aaron.
He was skateboarding down the sidewalk like it was made of water, wearing the same loose, worn jeans from his Facebook picture. He carried a backpack, like he might have been coming from the library, but I doubted he ever went to the library.
I lit another cigarette with the end of my last one; any excuse to stay put. Then I remembered I was wearing a suit.
“You got another one of those?” he asked. His eyes were blue. I hadn’t noticed that in his picture.
My hands shook as I gave him a cigarette. He brought a silver-and-black Zippo to his mouth, flipped it open with one hand, lit his cigarette, and slapped it shut. The whole thing took seconds, but it felt like he was doing it in slow motion. “Thanks,” he said.
Maybe he had just stopped to get a cigarette. Maybe it had nothing to do with me.
It probably had nothing to do with me.
“I know you,” he said. “Where do I know you from?”
I couldn’t tell him. Telling him that he’d stood me up for my own prom would have been way too embarrassing. It would tell him that I still cared enough to remember.
“I’m friends with Lila and Cassie,” I said, wishing that my hair wasn’t pulled back in a headband like I was a nun.
“What are you all dressed up for?” he asked.
Of course he didn’t know me. If he had, he would have known that I’d just come from court and that I was trying to do everything I could to forget it.
“I work here,” I said, thinking fast. “I’m supposed to be a librarian.”
“You don’t have to lie,” he said, laughing. “I’m Aaron.”
“Amy,” I said, waving hello with the cigarette in my hand.
He smiled. “Though you do make a cute librarian.”
I tried to keep myself from coughing. “This suit sucks,” I said. It seemed cooler than saying thank you. It seemed cooler than getting all squishy over what he said, even though that was how I felt.
I looked at his skateboard. “You wanna try it out?” he asked.
The deck had a mural of blue sky and white-capped mountains hand-painted on it. The wheels were covered with stop-motion birds, so that when they spun it must have looked like the birds were flying.
There was more to this boy. More that I wanted to know.
“I guess I could,” I said, but then I remembered my mother. She would come looking for me soon.
I shook my head. “I should go.”
          “You got a cell phone?” he asked.
 “Not that I’m allowed to use anymore.”
“Parents,” he said. He pulled a sketchbook from his backpack. Maybe he had painted that beautiful mural. He ripped out a piece of paper, wrote something down, and handed it to me.
It was his phone number.
I tried not to act surprised, tried to act like boys gave me their numbers all the time, especially when I hadn’t asked for them.
“See you around, Amy,” he said. He dropped the skateboard next to him. It landed perfectly on its wheels like a cat would on its legs.
As he skated away, I looked at his number; the paper was as soft as fabric. I folded it smaller and smaller and hid it in my bra. Maybe he hadn’t said what I wanted him to say, but he had found me.
He had found me.
THE COVER:


Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

Doesn't that sound awesome! I for one, cannot wait :0)
And for your viewing pleasure, how about a picture of author, Lisa Burstein, in her prom dress!


Sunday, March 4, 2012

Random Acts of Kindness: March




Hey guys! I've been feeling extra giving lately and what better way to assist my giving mood than participate in Random Acts of Kindness over at Book Soulmates, this month! Book presents are the best presents :0)

I'm sure most of you know what RAK is, but in case you haven't heard of it before I am going to include the main information from Book Soulmates site. You should definitely go check it out, it's a really cool thing these girls have created!


You can check out my wishlist here :0)

COMPLETE RULES RE-CAP:
Please read carefully & follow all rules! Thank you!

  • Please sign-up each month that you can participate (and by participate, we mean give as well as receive).
  • Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button (code is in the right sidebar).
  • Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
  • If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger directly for their information.
  • Once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] so that we can update the Google Doc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS!
  • E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble with Nook as well.
  • At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K by making a "RAK Wrap-Up" post. This post should include who you SENT gifts to as well who you RECEIVED gifts from :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE including all our International brethren!

Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!
What are you waiting for? Go get your RAK on :0)

In My Mailbox (28)


In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.It's a weekly showcase of the contents of our mailboxes!

It's been a pretty awesome book week, this week! It's late and I forgot to make my video earlier, so it's just pics this time. I hope you all had great weeks, too :0)

For Review:
"Starters" by Lissa Price (The cover on this doesn't creep me out as much in person, it's actually all shiny and kind of pretty)
"Keep Holding On" by Susane Colasanti (I already read this one and just, wow! Susane's books are usually pretty light rom-com's, so I wasn't expecting such an emotional experience. I think this is an important book and everyone should pick it up if they have the chance.)
"Where It Began" by Ann Redisch Stampler



Gifted/Swapped:

"Revived" by Cat Patrick - So I came home early this week to an unexpected packaged, when I opened it this is what I found, along w/ a nice little card explaining that it was a surprise b-day gift. This excellent gift is from Angie @ Beneath The Jacket, who is most definitely the sweetest thing :0)

"Of Poseidon" by Anna Banks - This one was a swap w/ Cristina @ The Princess of Storyland and she included a bookmark from her blog. I'm so excitded to read this one :0)



Bought:

"Shooting Stars" by Allison Rushby (My Review)
"Torn" by Amanda Hocking


NetGalley:

"Breaking Beautiful" by Jennifer Shaw Wolf
"Romeo Redeemed" by Stacey Jay
"Hanging by a Thread" by Sophi Littlefield




*Thanks Delacorte, Simon & Schuster, Viking, Random House, Bloomsbury, MacMillan and NetGalley*


So many great books this week! What did you guys get in your mailboxes?!?

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...