Friday, January 28, 2011

Book Review- Fallen Angel

I finished reading Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell for a Teen Book Scene review.

From Goodreads:

Heaven-sent?

Ellie was never particularly good at talking to boys—or anyone other than her best friend and fellow outcast, Ruth. Then she met Michael.

Michael is handsome, charming, sweet. And totally into Ellie. It’s no wonder she is instantly drawn to him. But Michael has a secret. And he knows Ellie is hiding something, too. They’ve both discovered they have powers beyond their imagining. Powers that are otherworldly.

Ellie and Michael are determined to uncover what they are, and how they got this way . . . together. But the truth has repercussions neither could have imagined. Soon they find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict that threatens to destroy everything they love. And it is no longer clear whether Ellie and Michael will choose the same side.

In this electrifying novel, Heather Terrell spins a gripping supernatural tale about true love, destiny, and the battle of good versus evil.

This book had me pretty much right off the bat.  For some reason, the writting was easy to get in to. 

Without saying too much, what Ellie and Michael were came as a surprise.  Although I definitely didn't agree with what they first thought that they were.  That theory didn't make sense to me.  But the story ended up right.

One negative was Ellie and Michael's relationship.  For some reason, it just seemed too involved too fast.  It was all-consuming.  There was a scene where Ellie and Michael went dresss shopping for their first dance.  I don't know of any guys who like to go shopping, and all the girls I knew in high school would have wanted to go with their friends.  It just seemed weird to me.

Anyway, I think the book was set up to be a sequel, and if so, I look forward to reading it!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: T
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 7
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 6
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 5
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Teaser Tuesday- January 25, 2011

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

My two teasers:

"In my haste to open the coffee shop door, I nearly crashed into the back of a man who walked in just before me.  As I started to apologize, he turned to face me."
~pg 115, Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell (ARC)

Monday, January 24, 2011

Mailbox Monday- January 24, 2011

Mailbox Monday: Here's what came in my mailbox this week

FRIDAY
Red Moon Rising- Peter Moore--surprise copy from publisher
Demons Are A Girl’s Best Friend- Linda Wisdom--from publisher











SATURDAY
Saving June- Hannah Harrington--surprise copy from publisher

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Missed Blogoversary!

Shame on me!  My blog turned 2 on January 10th and I totally forgot!  I have been so busy planning my wedding and playing with my puppy that I totally forgot! Boo!

Book Review- Mercy

I just finished reading Mercy by Rebecca Lim for a Book It Forward ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

An electric combination of angels, mystery and romance, MERCY is the first book in a major new paranormal series.

There's something very wrong with me. I can't remember who I am or how old I am, or even how I got here. All I know is that when I wake up, I could be any one. It is always this way. There's nothing I can keep with me that will stay. It's made me adaptable. I must always re-establish ties. I must tread carefully or give myself away. I must survive.

Mercy doesn't realise it yet, but as she journeys into the darkest places of the human soul, she discovers that she is one of the celestial host exiled with fallen angel, Lucifer. Now she must atone for taking his side. To find her own way back to heaven, Mercy must help a series of humans in crisis and keep the unwary from getting caught up in the games that angels play. Ultimately she must choose between her immortal companion, Lucifer, and a human boy who risks everything for her love.
 
This book had an interesting premise.  I thougtht it was interesting how Mercy  had to take over Carmen's body.  And maybe that's why I didn't really connect with her.  She seemed aloof and just distant to me.
 
There was a big mystery in the story.  The twin sister of the boy who Mercy/Carmen is staying with as part of an exchange program was kidnapped two years ago.  Their parents believe she is dead, but Ryan feels that she is still alive.  And Mercy wants to help find her.  Unfortunately, this story was predictive in the fact that I pretty much knew right away who the kidnapper was.  Without saying too much, I feel the ending was too quick.  I felt that there needed to be more action there.
 
But there is still more to come from Mercy.  It will be interesting to see what body she takes over and what happens to her next.
 
I gave this book a rating of 3/5.
 
Mercy will be released on May 17, 2011.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: L
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 6
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 5
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 4

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tours.

The Sunday Salon- January 23, 2011

The Sunday Salon

More wedding planning!  I met with the lady who is going to design our invitations on Wednesday.  She was so nice and she loved out idea!  We made two plans though because i have a feeling my idea is going to be out of my price range.  But we talked about lots of other fun things too like menu designs and escort cards!  And then yesterday, Kory and I had our engagement photos at Epcot's World Showcase.  I had to get up at 6:30 to get my hair and makeup done (yikes!) but the girl who did it was sooo nice!  And the hair and makeup last all day, even through a nap!  And then our photographer was great and had such creative ideas!  She's getting married in April so we talked a lot of wedding talk.  We had such fun (even though I was wearing a sun dress and it was freezing!  And for some reason, my black strappy shoes, which I wear teaching ALL OF THE TIME gave me huge blisters on the balls of my feet so I'm having a hard time walking).  And will definitely be booking both the hair/makeup girl and the photographer for my wedding.  So excited!

I finished and reviewed the following books this week:
My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
The Lying Game by Sara Shepard


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:
2011 A to Z Challenge: S
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 5
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 4
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 3

I am currently reading Mercy by Rebecca Lim and up next is Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Friday Finds- January 21, 2011





Pale Demon- Kim Harrison
Condemned to death for black magic and shunned, Rachel Morgan has three days to somehow get to the annual witches convention in San Francisco and clear her name. If she fails, the only way she can escape death is to live in the demonic ever after . . . for ever after.

Banned from the flight lists, Rachel teams up with elven tycoon Trent Kalamack, headed for the West Coast for his own mysterious business. But Rachel isn’t the only passanger along for the ride. Can a witch, an elf, a living vampire, and a pixy in one car survive for over 2,300 miles? And that’s not counting the assassin on their tail.

A fearsome demon walks the sunlight, freed after centuries of torment to slay the innocent and devour souls. But his ultimate prey is Rachel Morgan. While the powerful witch with nerves of steel will do whatever it takes to stay alive, even embracing her own demonic nature may not be enough to save her. (From Goodreads)
Fairy Bad Day- Amanda Ashby
My life seriously couldn’t get any worse.

First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he’s really cute, but that doesn’t give him an excuse.

On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you’re thinking—how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won’t STOP!

But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately…it’s Curtis.

It’s going to be a fairy bad day. (From Amanda Ashby's website)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Book Review- The Lying Game

I finished reading The Lying Game by Sara Shepard over the weekend for an Around the World Tour.


From Goodreads:

I had a life anyone would kill for.
Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convinc my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.Let the lying game begin.

At first, I had a hard time with the way the story was written. It was written from Sutton's point of view. Most of the time she was talking third person, telling Emma's story. Then suddenly, a paragraph would be in first person and she would be talking about herself. But there was no big space between the paragraphs or anything to give you a heads up that the point of view would be changing. And it would only change for a paragraph or two and then it would be back to Emma's point of view.

This book is definitely a mystery though. I thought I knew who Sutton's killer was, and then I would think it was someone else. And the book definitely leaves you on a cliffhanger. But almost not in a good way. Usually I feel like while there might be a cliffhanger in a book, I feel like there is also some resolution in the book. But there wasn't really any in this book at all. Nothing was really determined. But that won't stop me from picking up the next one!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: S
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 5
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 4
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 3

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Mailbox Monday- January 17, 2011

Mailbox Monday: Here's what came in my mailbox this week

MONDAY
Mini Shopaholic- Sophie Kinsella--PaperbackSwap
The Darlings Are Forever by Melissa Kantor-- surprise book for review from publisher

Here Lies Bridget- Paige Harbison--review for a Book It Forward ARC Tour










TUESDAY
Cracked Up to Be- Courtney Summers--PaperbackSwap











THURSDAY
Hunger (Gone #2)- Michael Grant--PaperbackSwap

Book Review- My Invented Life

I read My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman for a blog tour for The Teen Book Scene back before the end of last year.

From Goodreads:

With Roz and Eva everything becomes a contest—who can snag the best role in the school play, have the cutest boyfriend, pull off the craziest prank. Still, they’re as close as sisters can be. Until Eva deletes Roz from her life like so much junk e-mail for no reason that Roz understands. Now Eva hangs out with the annoyingly petite cheerleaders, and Roz fantasizes about slipping bovine growth hormone into their Gatorade.

Roz has a suspicion about Eva. In turn, Eva taunts Roz with a dare, which leads to an act of total insanity. Drama geeks clamor for attention, Shakespearean insults fly, and Roz steals the show in Lauren Bjorkman’s hilarious debut novel.

When I read the description of this book, I thought it would be right up my alley.  Unfortunately, it just wasn't.

First of all, the characters.  The main character--Roz--got on my nerves.  Her way of talking and think just got annoying.  And enough with her invented life scenarios (yes, I know this is the title of the book, but we got it).  While I don't have a younger sister, I think if I did have one, and she was like Roz, we would not be close at all. A lot of the things she said and did were immature.  My favorite character was actually Eva.  Yes, I know she was standoffish, but there was just something about her that made me sympathize for her.  And I think she was a pretty normal teen that is an older sister--wanting her privacy.  And I didn't get Andie or Nico at all.  Andie was hot and cold,  cool in an eccentric way one minute, and just odd the next.  And I didn't find any appeal in Nico at all.  But I definitely like Jonathon.  I have a lot of gay guy friends and I could see a lot of them in his character.

Next, the writing.  All of the Shakespeare, olden days talk got old quickly.  At first I thought it was neat, but then it was just too much.  I was part of the theatre crowd in high school and college and no one talked like that.

But I do have to say that I like the way that it covered teen sexuality.  Like I said before, I have a lot of gay friends.  I have known some who came out when they were adults, and some who came out as teens, before I knew them.  Luckily all of my friends have supportive parents.  But I know that's not always the case.  And I know some of the guys came from a high school where being gay was completely accepted and others who were outcast.  And that's so wrong.  I think that there needs to be more books like this that bring light to being a gay/lesbian teenager and that everyone needs to be who they truly are.  They shouldn't feel scared to let their feelings known and I can't wait for the day when everyone has the right to love and marry whomever they want and be accepted for it!  Bravo to Lauren Bjorkman for shedding light on this very important issue!

I gave this book a 2.5/5.

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of The Teen Book Scene.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Sunday Salon- January 16, 2011

The Sunday Salon

I went to my first bridal show as an actual bride today.  It was so much fun.  I went with a girl who is going to be one of my bridesmaids.  AND she is getting married on July 22 and I'm going to be one of her bridesmaids.  Fun times!  And at the end, I won a $50 gift card to Macys.  Wohoo!

I finished and reviewed the following books this week:

Sounds Like Crazy by Shana Mahaffey

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:

2011 A to Z Challenge: M
2011 100+ Reading Challenge:4

I am currently reading The Lying Games by Sara Shepard and up next is Mercy by Rebecca Lim.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Book Review- Sounds Like Crazy

I read Sounds Like Crazy by Shana Mahaffey for a Pump Up Your Book Tour.

From Goodreads:

Though she doesn't remember the trauma that caused it, Holly Miller has Dissociative Identity Disorder. Her personality has fractured into five different identities, together known as The Committee. And as much as they make Holly's life hell, she can't live without them.

Then one of those identities, the flirtatious, southern Betty Jane, lands Holly a voiceover job. Betty Jane wants nothing more than to be in the spotlight. The rest of The Committee wants Betty Jane to shut up. Holly's therapist wants to get to the bottom of her broken psyche. And Holly? She's just along for the ride...
 
This was such an interesting book.  The book was written in such a way that I felt like you could really get inside Holly's head and see what was going on.  I felt so bad for her.  And yet it was so intriguing to read about how she lived her life through different identities. 
 
And the Committee (as the different identities are called) are a hoot!  My favorite was Ruffles, an overweight woman who was constantly eating Ruffles potato chips.  I felt like she was the protective personality. 
 
This was such a deep book, yet there were still humorous moments.  And while I don't want to give anything away, it definitely captures you towards the end when you realize just why Holly has all of the identities.

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge:4

*FTC Disclosure: I was sent this book a part of Pump Up Your Book Promotions for a honest review.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Mailbox Monday- January 10, 2011

Mailbox Monday: Here's what came in my mailbox this week

THURSDAY
The Lying Game-Sara Shepard--review for an Around the World Tour
Staying at Daisy’s- Jill Mansell--from publisher












SATURDAY
Fall for Anything- Courtney Summers--surprise book for review from publisher

Sunday, January 9, 2011

The Sunday Salon- January 9, 2011

The Sunday Salon

Another busy week of wedding planning.  Well, I shouldn't say "planning".  More like looking things up online that I want.  I'm having a hard time finding invitations.  I went to a Disney Wedding Open House a couple of months ago and they had this glass cabinet of EVERYTHING in my colors (victorian lilac and silver/gray).  It was perfect!  But when I went back to sign the contract this past week, none of it was there.  They gave me some sites that they probably came from but I can't find them  Blah!  But I did buy my wedding dress today!  Yay!  And 3 of my 5 bridesmaids bought their dresses today too!

I finished and reviewed the following books this week:
Entice by Carrie Jones
Starstruck by Cyn Balog
These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf













I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:
2011 A to Z Challenge: B, G, J
2011 100+ Reading Challenge1, 2, 3 
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 1, 2, 3
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 1, 2 

I am currently reading Sounds Like Crazy by Shana Mahaffey and up next is The Lying Game by Sara Sheppard.

Book Review- These Things Hidden

I read These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf for a Star Book Tour review.

From Goodreads:

Allison Glenn tried to hide what happened that night...and failed. The consequence? Five years in prison. Now she's free. But secrets have a way of keeping you caged...When Allison is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult in her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces the whispered rumours every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn - shy, quiet Brynn - who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her. But then Allison is released, and is more determined than ever to speak with her sister. Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.

This book seemed so mysterious and that's what immediately grabbed my attention and made me want to read it.  And it kept my attention throughout the whole book!

This book reminded me a lot of books by Jodi Picoult.  It is about a topic that is moral in nature and has to do with issues in todays society.  And there were also some twists and turns in the book.

I can't really write a review without giving away anything so to read more, and read spoilers, highlight the words below.

For a while I couldn't figure out what the crime that Allison had committed was.  And then once I found that out, the surprises kept on coming!  And I'm not sure I really predicted any of them, except that I figured Brynn was involved somehow.  The only thing I had a problem with is, the whole twin thing.  Its so hard for me to accpet that some women don't know they are pregnant and that those around them can't figure it out.  Especially a girl who is skinny and active.  The way pregnant women walk and carry themselves completely changes.  But even if a girl does hide that she's pregnant and doesn't gain that much weight, I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that she could hide being pregnant with TWINS!  She would completely show!  There is no way to hide that!  I mean, I know that it makes for a good plot and all, but its so unrealistic.

That being said, I really enjoyed it!  I have The Weight of Silence by this author in my TBR pile and I really look forward to reading it!

I gave the book a rating of 4/5.

These Things Hidden will be released on January 18, 2011.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: G
 2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 3
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 3

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Star Book Tours.

2011 YA Contemporary Challenge


What is contemporary? It's the genre wherein the events can happen in real life at the present time. The characters in the novel can be present in real life.

Goal: To read a minimum of thirteen young adult contemporary novels published in 2011.

Rules:

- All contemporary books must be in the Young Adult genre

- Books have to be published in 2011

- Open to everybody. Please fill in the form to enter.

- You can join whenever you want

- If you want to enter with your blog link, you have to post about the challenge.

- Link your reviews of 2011 Contemporary books in the MisterLinky below.

  1.   Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors 
  2.  The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
  3.  The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
  4.  Then I Met My Sister by Christine Hurley Deriso
  5.  The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski
  6.  Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
  7.  The Rivals by Daisy Whitney
  8.  Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
  9.  Winter Town by Stephen Emond
  10.  Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
  11.  Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Friday, January 7, 2011

Friday Fill-In- January 7, 2011

Friday Fill-In

1. It's 2011; I am getting married this year!
2. I like pickles.
3. Thankfully I have my fiance, family, and friends in my life.
4. Love is one of the best things in life.
5. I am so excited to be getting married!
6. I am glad the Gators won the bowl game.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to dinner with Kory and the Goldsteins at Unos, tomorrow my plans include taking Bella to the vet and going to an arts and crafts fair and Sunday, I want to buy my wedding dress!

Friday Finds- January 7, 2011

Here are my finds for the week:


The Demon Trapper's Daughter- Jana Oliver
The Demon Trapper’s Daughter is a Young Adult novel about Riley Blackthorne, a 17 year old trying to make her way in a futuristic Atlanta plagued by marauding demons and scheming necromancers. With each passing day, Atlanta is becoming the latest battlefield between Heaven and Hell.

Enter the Demon Trappers, whose mission is to keep the Hellspawn at bay. Riley’s father, Paul Blackthorne, is a master demon trapper and she hopes to follow in his footsteps, but there’s never been a girl in the Atlanta Guild. No surprise, she’s not welcomed with open arms. So Riley has a lot on her plate: Heaven and Hell are taking too much of an interest in her, the demons keep trying to kill her and there’s those boyfriend issues to sort out. (Jana Oliver's website)



So Much Closer- Susane Colasanti
Scott Abrams is the love of Brooke’s life. He just doesn’t know it yet. So when his family moves to New York City the summer before senior year, Brooke has no choice but to follow Scott. It’s her last chance to prove to him that they’re meant to be together.

But the city is full of surprises that Brooke never expected. Ever since a painful family trauma, she’s been closed off to her parents, to her friends, and even to herself. Now, inspired by the thrilling energy of the bustling and creative city around her, Brooke starts to explore her talents and become someone she never dreamed she’d be.

So what will she do when her greatest dream of love finally comes true . . . and instead, she wants something more? (Susane Colasanti's website)

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Book Review- Starstruck

I finished reading Starstruck by Cyn Balog for an Around the World Tour.

From Goodreads:

Gwendolyn "Dough"  doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.

At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.

But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?
 
I am kind of torn on this book.  The first probably two-thirds of the book really had me interested.  I really liked Gwen.  I found her funny and real.  She did seem a little too hard on herself sometimes though. 
 
The plot had me intrigued.  I knew something was going on with Wish, but I just couldn't figure out what.  And I liked that he still liked and cared about Gwen even though she had changed so much from when he had last seen her.
 
But what got me was the ending and the explanation about Wish.  For some reason, I just don't buy it.  Or like it.  In fact, it seemed a little cheesy to me and it turned me off.  I don't want to give too much away but I just didn't like it.  Oh well.
 
I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

Starstruck will be released on July 12, 2011
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: B
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 2
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 2
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 2
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Mailbox Monday- January 3, 2011

Mailbox Monday: Here's what came in my mailbox this week


MONDAY
Starstruck- Cyn Balog--review for an Around the World Tour
Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate #2)- Gail Carriger--PaperbackSwap
Honeymoon of the Dead (Garnet Lacey #5)- Tate Hallaway--PaperbackSwap
The Goddess Test- Aimee Carter--for review from publisher

Fallen Angel- Heather Terrell--review for Teen Book Scene












TUESDAY
These Things Hidden- Heather Gudenkauf--review for Star Book Tours











FRIDAY
Wishful Thinking- Alexandra Bullen--surprise book for review from publisher

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Book Review and Giveaway- Entice

I am a bad blogger!  I was supposed to have this review posted on Wednesday!  Sorry!

I just finished reading Entice by Carrie Jones.

From Goodreads:
Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever.

But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead.

Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned...she's Astley's queen.
 
Okay, so I have to admit it.  I didn't really remember what happened in Need and Captivate.  And unfortunately, Entice didn't really give a lot of back story.  I started to remember a little as I read on, but not a lot.
 
And I remember that I liked Nick but I don't really remember why.  But I certainly know that I love Astley!  Oh man, can I have a pixie king like him (although he'd definitely have to be one of the good ones!)  And Zara is a great kick-butt female character. 
 
This book was a little slow to start off, but then the action got going.  And the end definitely leaves you wanting more and wanting to know what is going to happen next! (And I'm totally Team Astley!)
 
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: J
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 1
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 1
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 1
 
*FTC Disclosure: This book was given to me for free by Bloomsbury USA for a honest review.
 
I also have one copy of Entice to giveaway!  US street addresses only, no PO Boxes or international addresses.  To enter, fill out the form HERE.  The contest ends on Sunday, January 9th at 11:59 PM.
 
There are some great and fun sites for all you Need series fans!!
http://www.facebook.com/BloomsburyTeens
http://www.facebook.com/NeedPixies

The Sunday Salon- January 2, 2011

The Sunday Salon

Happy New Year!  I can't believe its already 2011!  It's been a crazy month and a half.  Getting my new puppy Bella, and then getting engaged 2 weeks ago.  Fun but crazy!  Kory and I are thinking about getting married on June 11 which is so soon but since we'll be getting married at Disney, they do most of the planning so it will get done.  We meet with the Disney wedding planners on Tuesday so we'll know for sure then. 

I didn't do a Sunday Salon last week, so this will be for two weeks worth.

I finished and reviewed the following books the past two weeks:
Steel by Carrie Vaughn
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I fulfilled items in the following challenges the past two weeks:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 157, 158, 159 
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 122, 123, 124 
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 111, 112, 113
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 41

I am currently reading Entice by Carrie Jones and up next is Starstruck by Cyn Balog.