• Splintered - AG HowardSplintered
  •  graceling - kristin cashore
  •  someone to love - addison moore
  •  breaking beautiful - jennifer shaw wolf
  •  the perfect game - j sterling
  •  the edge of never - ja redmerski
  •  independence - shelly crane

Friday, November 30, 2012

November RAK Wrap-Up



Book Soulmates

I Received:
Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter from Michelle @ Michelle Chew Writes


I Sent:
Poison Princess by Kresley Cole to Michelle @ Michelle Chew Writes
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready to Hannah @ In the Best Worlds
My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris to Memrie @ Dark Angel Reader


A BIG thank you to everyone who sent me books and to Isalys and Vanessa at Book Soulmates for hosting!!

{Cover Reveal} Fanged Princess by Elisabeth Wheatley



I'm super excited to be sharing the cover of Fanged Princess with you today!
BUT...
before I get to the cover lets read what it's about.

I will not let my brother suffer the same loss…

Hadassah’s father, the Vampire King, punished her for her choice to love a human. Now her brother, the only person in the world who still matters to her, has fallen for a human girl. Determined to keep the girl safe, the three of them flee from their home in New England and find themselves cornered with their father’s minions closing in. If they want to escape, their only hope may be to join forces with the mortal
enemies of their kind…

Be ensnared in this dark tale of enduring love, loyalty, and revenge from teenage author, Elisabeth Wheatley.

Sound good?

Ready for the cover?




Personally I love the purple!
Any one else notice the apple in her hands? 
So cute!!

Book Trailer:


About the Author
Elisabeth Wheatley started writing very short (and rather silly) stories when she was around six. She became a voracious reader and after being practically forced by her cousins to watch Disney's version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," she developed a chronic passion for fantasy.

Elisabeth eventually went to work on what would become "The Key of Amatahns" when she was eleve. "The Key of Amatahns" is the first in the seven-book series, "Argetallam Saga."

When she isn't spellbound by reading fantasy books and writing her own, Elisabeth trains and shows her Jack Russell Terrier, Schnay, makes goat cheese, and studies mythology.

You can find the author:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


So what do you think?
Will you be reading Fanged Princess?


Thursday, November 29, 2012

{Review} The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt




The Thing About the Truth 
by Lauren Barnholdt
Publisher:  Simon Pulse
Pages:  304
Source:  Purchased
Available as of July 10, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Fishpond
The Book Depository | Books-A-Million



In this humorous love story from the author of Two-Way Street, an unlikely romance is the best sort of surprise—but the wrong secret can ruin everything. Kelsey’s not going to let one mistake ruin her life. Sure, she got kicked out of prep school and all her old friends are shutting her out. But Kelsey’s focused on her future, and she’s determined to get back on track at Concordia High.

Isaac’s been kicked out of more schools than he can count. Since his father’s a state senator, Isaac’s life is under constant scrutiny—but Concordia High’s his last stop before boarding school, so Isaac’s hoping to fly under the radar and try to stay put for a change.

When Kelsey and Isaac meet, it’s anything but love at first sight. She thinks he’s an entitled brat, and he thinks she’s a stuck-up snob. So it surprises them both when they start to fall for each other. Kelsey’s happy for the first time in months, and Isaac’s never felt this way about anyone before...But nothing’s ever completely perfect. Everyone has secrets, and Isaac and Kelsey are no exceptions. These two may have fallen hard, but there’s one thing that can ruin it all: the truth.





Lauren Barnholdt is one of my all-time favorite contemporary YA authors. I've loved all of her books because they've taught important life lessors and were so easy to get into. The Thing About the Truth wasn't any different, but it isn't my favorite book by her.

One small lie, no matter the reason for it, can change everything. Kelsey's world has turned upside down because one small lie she told Isaac. One unimportant lie that made everything blow up.

I loved Kelsey. Except for one small blip on her record, she is the perfect student. Isaac was my unexpected favorite character. He's the senators sun, but he's down to earth. His father put him in public school after getting kicked out of a bunch of private schools due to pranks he pulled on students and faculty.

As I stated, this wasn't my favorite novel by Lauren Barnholdt. The content was great, but the ending irked me. I fell that, while the lie Kelsey told wasn't a big deal, in the end she really got everything she wanted. Yes, she realized she should have told the truth to avoid the big blow up, but nothing, that we know of, was really taken from her. I fell like she got away with it unscathed. 

What I loved most about this book was the past and present chapters. I love when flashbacks/flashforwards are used. In this case, we know that things ended badly, but we don't know exactly why until the end. We are shown little bits of the current situation while the past unfolds to shed light on how everything unfolded. I also loved that we see things from both Kelsey and Isaac's perspectives. Multiple POVs are great when we need to know motives behind the characters actions. 

Overall, The Thing About the Truth was a quick, captivating read that any YA contemporary fan would enjoy. While I wasn't a fan of the ending, you may enjoy it.


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

{Spotlight & Giveaway} All The Right Moves by Ever Leigh






by Ever Leigh
New Adult/College Romance
To Be Published: January 2013

Life for Lilah had become too predictable. Convinced she needs a bit of a challenge and change of pace in her life, she moves away for college and embarks on a new journey of self-discovery.

A college town, new friends, and a ndw romance with a mysterious older guy that may prove to be an even bigger challenge than she bargained for.


Note: Not suitable for younger readers. Contains mature content including sexual situations.

Ever Leigh
website | twitter




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 26, 2012

{Review & Giveaway} The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse




The Forsaken 
by Lisa M. Stasse
Series:  The Forsaken (#1)
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
Pages:  375
Source:  Won
Available as of July 10, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Fishpond
The Book Depository | Books-A-Million



As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.





Even though The Forsaken didn't keep my attention and have me on the edge of my seat, it was still a good book. Lisa M. Stasse did a wonderful job creating individual, memorable characters and very detailed descriptions of their surroundings.

Alenna Shawcross had her parents taken away when she was ten. At sixteen, like every other teenager in the UNA, she sat for government testing. Next thing she knows is waking up in the last place she thought she would ever be. How will she survive and will she make it a week?

Alenna was very timid when she ended up on Island Alpha, or the wheel as those on it refer to it. She grew over time to be fierce after she learned some things about the gray zone. I liked her as a character, but it was her struggles and relationships with others on the island made me want to continue reading. 

When I first started The Forsaken I wasn't a huge fan. It reminded me way too much of The Hunger Games trilogy, especially Catching Fire. However, the further I read the more original the plot became. I never had the urge to want to pick it up whenever I put it down until I got to somewhere around page 200 when the story started to pick up a little. I didn't feel that there was really a climax to this story. It kind of just ended. 

Overall, The Forsaken had a few twists I didn't expect, but I had a couple ideas on how the ending would play out and I was right. Will I be picking up books two when it releases? Probably, but only because I want to have a few questions answered. I'm not going to say whether I'd recommend this book or not, but I'd borrow it before I would buy it. Please remember that my review is my opinion and you may enjoy this book much more than I did. 



Because I won't be reading The Forsaken again,
I'm going to give my hardcover copy to one of my US followers.
Note: The book looks brand new like it just came off the shelf at the bookstore.
No cracked spines or bent pages. 
Ends 12/11 @ Midnight EST



Sunday, November 25, 2012

In My Mailbox #33




In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It is a weekly blog that allows the blogger to showcase what they received in the mail, got for review, won in contest, purchased, ect.




Books Mentioned:
The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors
Grace Doll by Jennifer Laurens
If I Can't Have You by Lauren Hammond
Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd
Breathe by Abbi Glines
Losing It by Cora Carmack
Charade by Nyrae Dawn
Fall Guy by Liz Reinhardt
The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley

Blogs Mentioned:
Shana @ A Book Vacation
Jennifer Laurens


What's in your mailbox?

Saturday, November 24, 2012

{Review} Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell



 

Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe
by Shelley Coriell
Publisher:  Harry N. Abrams
Pages:  299
Source:  Purchased
Available as of May 1, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Fishpond
The Book Depository | Books-A-Million



Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.





I was really excited to read Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe when it finally arrived in the mail. It was an adorable read that held one very important life lesson. Shelley Coriell's debut was wonderful!

Chloe is one of the most popular girls in school. Great shoes, amazing friends, and the perfect family...or she was. Little does she know that she is about to be dethroned and forced to do something that doesn't, in the least bit, sound appealing.

I loved Chloe! She was funny and always made the best of a situation. She was real, had problems and flaws, but does what she can to get by. When I started reading I wasn't immediately sucked in. It took me a few chapters to become hooked by the story line. The farther I got in the novel, the better it became. I prefer books that can suck me in by the end of the first chapter, but Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe, was a slow burn that became a scorcher. I loved that over time she learned what I believe is the most is the most important lesson of all.

Overall, I thought the story line was awesome. It was unique and got me more interested in the "behind-the-scenes" of radio. If you're looking for a cute and quirky read, Welcome, Caller, This Is Chole is definitely for you. 


Friday, November 23, 2012

Book Blogger Hop #4




Book Blogger Hop

I decided to do a vlog each week for Book Blogger Hop.
This week it is hosted by Butterfly-o-Meter Books



Do you give character their own voices when reading?
Do they sound like you or someone else?

Thursday, November 22, 2012

{Reivew & Giveaway} Shallow by Georgia Cates





Shallow 
by Georgia Cates
Series: Going Under (#2)
Pages: 261
Source: e-copy provided by author via SupaGurl Tours
Available as of September 21, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble



Payton Archer's best friend, Claire, strives to be perfect in every way. Payton doesn't and this is her story.

Nick Hawke likes his car fast and his girls even faster. He blows through females quicker than his muscle car races down the "The Strip" in Collinsville and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Determined to avoid the devastation he has watched his father endure in the aftermath of his mother leaving, he believes there is no room in his life or his heart for a relationship lasting more than one night. He seeks happiness in things that won’t let him down...fast cars, adrenaline and one night stands. To his absolute dismay, all of that changes when he unexpectedly runs into an old friend and is introduced to Payton Archer, the first girl he ever wanted for more than one night. There’s only one catch...she is completely immune to him and his smooth talking ways.

Payton Archer is looking for what Claire has with Jessie, but she has given up on finding it...at least until she leaves for college in the Fall because she is certain that is where she will find the perfect guy to fit into her perfect world. She plans on Summer being nothing but three uneventful months of fun, but it turns out to be anything but ordinary when Payton is introduced to Nick Hawke, one of Jessie’s old Collinsville friends. She is shocked by her immediate and intense attraction for “Hawke” because nothing about him is what Payton is looking for. Sure, he’s hot and sexy but he comes from Collinsville and that is definitely not on her list of prerequisites. Everything about him makes Payton’s heart speed because he is exciting and dangerous, but his fast car and the dangerous chances he takes aren't what scares Payton the most...it’s the way Nick Hawke makes her feel every time he looks at her. Can Payton find that moment of total fearlessness and make the decision to leave the safe, shallow end of love to risk going under completely?





Other books in the series...


Let me start by telling you that I loved Going Under. If you haven't read it yet, you should before reading any farther. Shallow was just as amazing as Going Under and made my heart happy. Georgia Cates did a phenomenal job writing Payton's story and I can't wait to see if she has one for any of the other characters up her sleeve.

Payton, Clarie, and Jessie have just graduated from high school. Claire and Jessie know what's to come for them, but what about Payton? One small car accident will change her world. The guy she bumps into has a bet to make with her. Neither knew where it would take them, but getting to their happily ever after might just break them.

I loved the little snip-its of Payton in Going Under and was so excited when I got an email from Georgia telling me she was writing a companion novel. However, we didn't really get to see the real Payton in Going Under. We saw the protective, snarky best friend Claire could rely on for anything. Never the feisty, surprising thing she turned out to be in Shallow. I LOVE her! We can't forget Nick, the imfamous boy who sleeps with anything with boobs. He is just oh so hott!

So what did I like? The number one thing that wins me over while reading any books is multiple points of view. We get both Payton and Nick telling their sides  of everything. We see how the actions of one effects the other. I also loved Payton's mouth. She was sarcastic, witty, and never really thought before she said something. This won me over because she sounded so much like me. This made it really easy for me to get into the story. Finally, we got even more of Claire and Jessie's story. So much swoon!

Overall, Shallow was a sweet read that made my heart swell. Now I"m wondering if there may be a book about Nick's sister Dallas in the works. One could only hope.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



FTC Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.  

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

{Spotlight} Morrigan by Laura DeLuca



Morrigan
by Laura DeLuca
Publisher: Pagan Writers Press
Available as of November 8, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords


Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.

Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.


About the Author
Laura "Luna" DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and three children. She has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. Old high school friends would tell you she was always scratching in her notebook instead of paying attention in class and the children she used to babysit for always loved to hear her scary stories at bedtime. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.




Up for grabs is...
a signed copy of Morrigan
a triquetra pendant
two boxes of incense
two crystal points 
and
a bundle of sage

Giveaway ends November 30 @ Midnight EST
Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Monday, November 19, 2012

2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

Hey everyone!

So, I've decided I want to read more books in 2013 than I have in 2012. This year I have read 125 books so far not including re-reads. Reading more than that next year may prove to be difficult because I will have a real job, I won't be in school, and I'll actually have things that I have to do. So I'm basically trying to do the impossible.


Reading Challenge Details:
  • Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
  • The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2013 than you did in 2012. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down.
  • Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
  • Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
  • Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
  • Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.


Levels:
  • Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
  • Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
  • Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
  • I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

As of right now, I'm just shooting to "Get my heart rate up" by reading 1-5 more books. After I finish a book I will add the title and author to a running list that will be posted on my "Challenges" page. 

Can't wait to start!


Sunday, November 18, 2012

In My Mailbox #32





In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It is a weekly blog that allows the blogger to showcase what they received in the mail, got for review, won in contest, purchased, ect.




Books Mentioned:
Slammed & Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover
Dying to Know You by Aidan Chambers
Matched by Ally Condie
Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen
Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter
Collateral by Ellen Hopkins
Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Creatura by Nely Cab
Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton


Blogs Mentioned:
Trisha @ Devoured Words
Ephrielle @ Hope, Love, and Happy Endings
Rachel @ Wanted Readers



What's in your mailbox?

Saturday, November 17, 2012

{Review} Every Day by David Levithan



Every Day 
by David Levithan
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Source: Purchased
Available as of August 28, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Fishpond
The Book Depository | Books-A-Million



Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.



Rating:


My Review:
Every Day is a remarkable story unlike any other I've ever read. It was unique, heartbreaking and brilliant. It is a story to get lost in. David Levithan went beyond the imaginable and wrote an outstanding novel that left me breathless.

What would you do if you woke up in a new body every day? What would you do if you fell in love with a girl? Would you tell her? Try to be with her? Seek her out? Ignore your feelings? Trust her with your secrets? For A, that is his life. A new body everyday. Then one day he meets a girl. Someone he would do anything for, but what are his limits? How much can she take?

There are so many words of praise bouncing around in my head for this story. So many thoughts and feelings that were aroused by this book. A is a stand up person who tries to keep each body he/she inhibits on their rightful path. Trying not to screw up their lives, never really living for him/herself, but rather the person he/she is temporarily inhabiting. 

I was immediately sucked into this story. The plot was fantastic and different from my norm. It engaged me and made me want to turn the page. The need to know how everything would play out and how he/she would treat each body pulled me into a deeper trance. It was enticing.

Overall, David Levithan made me question what I would do in A's situation. It kept me on my toes. Each day meant a new body and new troubles to overcome. I highly recommend this book to everyone.


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Book Buzzers #7



This week on The Book Buzzers... 

Review Requests: DO's and DON'Ts...





You can find links to all of our videos here.


What do you look for in review requests?


Also, if you have any suggestions for future topics let me know.
We would love our viewers input and ideas!

Monday, November 12, 2012

{Release Day} Make it Last by Bethany Lopez








Make it Last
by Bethany Lopez
Series: Friends & Lovers (#1)
Available as of November 12, 2012
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

In a small town, it's hard to recover from being dumped by your high school sweetheart. That's just what Briana has to do after Colin leaves her to follow his dreams. She focuses her energy into her friendships and the pursuit of her own goal of becoming a chef. Just when she finally feels like she's on the right path, he comes back to town.

Colin knew breaking up with Briana before leaving for college was the right thing to do. He was determined to leave small-town life behind forever, and that included his high school girlfriend. But when a sports injury puts him on the sidelines, he's forced to return home. Seeing Briana again brings back a lot of memories, and Colin wonders if he made the right decision. It doesn't take long for him to realize he wants her back, and this time, he wants to make it last.


About the Author
Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult novel. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her contemporary Young Adult series, Stories About Melissa. Ta Ta for Now!, xoxoxo, and Ciao are available now. Bethany is currently working on a Contemporary Fantasy YA and a Contemporary New Adult Trilogy.


Giveaway!
Lots of e-books and the adorable necklace below up for grabs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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