Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday Wordle- September 29, 2010
Waiting on Wednesday- September 29, 2010
Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely #5)
by Melissa Marr
Publication Release Date: February 22, 2011
From Melissa Marr's website:
The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.
Aislinn tends the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.
Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the faery courts, and in the final conflict, some will win…and some will lose everything.
The exhilarating conclusion to Melissa Marr’s New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Teaser Tuesday- September 28, 2010
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:
~pg 8, The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (ARC)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Mailbox Monday- September 27, 2010
Mailbox Monday: Here's what came in my mailbox this week
Venom (Elemental Assassin’s #3)- Jennifer Estep--Pocket Book Blog Tour
THURSDAY
Baggage Claim- Tanya Michna--Bookmooch
FRIDAY
Haunted Honeymoon- Marta Acosta--from publisher
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Book Review- Cryer's Cross
I just finished reading Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann for an Around the World ARC Tour.
From Goodreads:
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.
Ok, this book is just plain weird. Very weird. And creepy.
I really got into Kendall's character. I have mild OCD myself and so I could completely relate with her. And I felt her pain over Nico.
I was completely sucked into the story. I read it pretty much all in one sitting. I was confused sometimes though, because before some chapters there was a half a page of writing that what I took was the thoughts of the person who kidnapped Tiffany and Nico. But that writing was weird and I couldn't understand it all. But it just helped to suck me in even more.
I kept trying to guess the ending. But I couldn't. I was completely shocked by it. And I have to say that I didn't really like it. It was too weird for me. I don't know, it was just odd. But I have read where a bunch of other reviewers liked it, so I would advise giving it a try.
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
Cryer's Cross will be released on February 8, 2001.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 130
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 98
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 93
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
From Goodreads:
Ok, this book is just plain weird. Very weird. And creepy.
I really got into Kendall's character. I have mild OCD myself and so I could completely relate with her. And I felt her pain over Nico.
I was completely sucked into the story. I read it pretty much all in one sitting. I was confused sometimes though, because before some chapters there was a half a page of writing that what I took was the thoughts of the person who kidnapped Tiffany and Nico. But that writing was weird and I couldn't understand it all. But it just helped to suck me in even more.
I kept trying to guess the ending. But I couldn't. I was completely shocked by it. And I have to say that I didn't really like it. It was too weird for me. I don't know, it was just odd. But I have read where a bunch of other reviewers liked it, so I would advise giving it a try.
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
Cryer's Cross will be released on February 8, 2001.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 130
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 98
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 93
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
Book Review- Halo
I just finished reading Halo by Alexandra Adornetto for an Around the World ARC Tour.
From Goodreads:
Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.
When I first read about this book, I didn't think I wanted to read it. I'm not into religious books and unfortunately I have made the mistake of reading a couple and they annoyed me. But after reading a couple of reviews, I decided to give it a try. And I'm glad that I did. Yes, the whole book has an overall religious theme--afterall Bethany and her brother and sisters are angels. But it wasn't really shoved in your face and it didn't seem goody-goody.
For the most part, I liked the characters. I liked reading about how Bethany got used to the human world and our everyday sayings and doings. And I liked that she seemed like a normal teenage girl. She wanted to experience life and made some mistakes. And for the most part, I really liked Xavier. I have never been one to like the bad boys so the fact that Xavier is so good sat well with me. The only part that I didn't like was when he found out that Bethany was an angel and became way too overprotective. It was a little over the top. And I didn't like that Bethany just allowed it. But other than that, I thought they made a cute couple.
The plot was okay. It was intersesting, but predictable. Nothing really shocked me and there weren't any surprises. The ending did leave off on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Hades.
Oh, and the fact that a seventeen-year-old wrote this book shocked me. I knew the author's age before I started reading it and I expected the book to read like a teenager had written it, but it didn't. I would never have guessed she was so young. What a talent!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 129
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 97
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 92
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
From Goodreads:
When I first read about this book, I didn't think I wanted to read it. I'm not into religious books and unfortunately I have made the mistake of reading a couple and they annoyed me. But after reading a couple of reviews, I decided to give it a try. And I'm glad that I did. Yes, the whole book has an overall religious theme--afterall Bethany and her brother and sisters are angels. But it wasn't really shoved in your face and it didn't seem goody-goody.
For the most part, I liked the characters. I liked reading about how Bethany got used to the human world and our everyday sayings and doings. And I liked that she seemed like a normal teenage girl. She wanted to experience life and made some mistakes. And for the most part, I really liked Xavier. I have never been one to like the bad boys so the fact that Xavier is so good sat well with me. The only part that I didn't like was when he found out that Bethany was an angel and became way too overprotective. It was a little over the top. And I didn't like that Bethany just allowed it. But other than that, I thought they made a cute couple.
The plot was okay. It was intersesting, but predictable. Nothing really shocked me and there weren't any surprises. The ending did leave off on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Hades.
Oh, and the fact that a seventeen-year-old wrote this book shocked me. I knew the author's age before I started reading it and I expected the book to read like a teenager had written it, but it didn't. I would never have guessed she was so young. What a talent!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 129
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 97
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 92
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
The Sunday Salon- September 26, 2010
I had a pretty busy week this week so I didn't get a lot of reading done. I had a softball game, Kory and I went to Mickey's Not-So-Scary at the Magic Kingdom (I love this--its trick or treating and adults get to do it too..I love candy!), and Thursday was Open House at school. I only had 6 parents come which is an all-time low. And all of my parents showed up for Meet the Teacher at the beginning of the year, so I was expecting a bigger turnout. Oh well.
I finished and reviewed the following books this week:
I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 128
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 96
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 91
I am currently reading Halo by Alexandra Adornetto and up next is Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Contest Winner- Low Red Moon
Zia
has won a copy of Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin! Please email your address to me at belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com by Monday at 2pm and I'll have your book mailed out to you!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday Firsts- September 24, 2010
~Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.
~Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.
~Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title & author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)
~Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (ARC) (ISBN 978-0-312-65626-3)
Friday Finds- September 24, 2010
Here are my finds for the week:
The Scorch Trials- James Dashner
The Maze was only the beginning...Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more Variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.
In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety... until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.
Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, much of the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated--and with it, order--and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim... and meal.
The Gladers are far from done running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Thomas can only wonder--does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED? (From Goodreads)
Ripple- Mandy HubbardLexi is cursed with a dark secret. The water calls to her, draws her in, forces her to sing her deadly song to unsuspecting victims. If she succumbs, she kills. If she doesn’t, the pain is unbearable. To keep herself and those she cares about safe, she shuts herself off, refusing to make friends or fall in love—again. Because the last time she fell in love with a boy, he ended up dead.Then Lexi meets Cole. Against her better judgment, she finds herself opening up again, falling in love when she knows she shouldn’t. But when she’s offered the chance to finally live a normal life, she learns that the price she must pay to be free of her curse is giving him up.
In Ripple, Mandy Hubbard spins a sea-ravaged tale of melancholy beauty, and the choices one girl makes between land and waves, love and freedom, her future—and her heart. (From Goodreads)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Book Review- Out for Blood
I just finished reading Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey for an Around the World ARC Tour.
From Goodreads:
Hunter Wild is the youngest in a long line of elite vampire hunters, a legacy that is both a blessing and a curse at the secret Helios-Ra Academy, where she excels at just about everything. Thanks to her friendship with Kieran Black, Hunter receives a special invitation to attend the coronation of Helena Drake, and for the first time, she sees the difference between vampires that must be hunted and vampires that can become friends—or even more. When students at the academy fall victim to a mysterious illness, Hunter suspects they are under attack from within. She will need someone she can trust to help her save the future of Helios-Ra . . . help that shockingly comes in the form of Quinn Drake, a drop-dead gorgeous vampire. Who said senior year would be easy?
Ok, so I have to be honest. I remembered loving the first two books in The Drake Chronicles but I couldn't remember why. I didn't remember much of the plot or any of the characters, just the overall feeling of liking it. And once I dove into this third installment into the series, I immediately remembered why. The story and the characters are just fun!
I love the characters. Once again, this story goes back and forth between two characters, a male and a female. There starts off with tension between the two and ends up with a romance. Throw in humor and kick-butt characters and that's my kind of book!
I had half of this book figured out, and half not figured out. I figured out the illness pretty early on, but not who was behind it. That came as a complete shock to me at the end. And I read in the interview in the back of the book that there will be another book in the series about Quinn's twin brother Conner, and I can't wait!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
Out for Blood will be released on December 21, 2010.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 128
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 96
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 91
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
From Goodreads:
Ok, so I have to be honest. I remembered loving the first two books in The Drake Chronicles but I couldn't remember why. I didn't remember much of the plot or any of the characters, just the overall feeling of liking it. And once I dove into this third installment into the series, I immediately remembered why. The story and the characters are just fun!
I love the characters. Once again, this story goes back and forth between two characters, a male and a female. There starts off with tension between the two and ends up with a romance. Throw in humor and kick-butt characters and that's my kind of book!
I had half of this book figured out, and half not figured out. I figured out the illness pretty early on, but not who was behind it. That came as a complete shock to me at the end. And I read in the interview in the back of the book that there will be another book in the series about Quinn's twin brother Conner, and I can't wait!
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
Out for Blood will be released on December 21, 2010.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 128
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 96
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 91
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.
Wednesday Wordle- September 22, 2010
Waiting on Wednesday- September 22, 2010
Cryer's Cross
by Lisa McMann
Publication Release Date: February 8, 2011
From Lisa McMann's website:
When a second student goes missing - someone close to Kendall’s heart - the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall’s not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing, calling out to her and pleading for help, she fears she’s losing her grip on reality. But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school - messages that could only be from the missing student who used to sit there - Kendall decides that crazy or not, she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t act on her suspicions.
Something’s not right in Cryer’s Cross - and Kendall’s about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Teaser Tuesday- September 21, 2010
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:
~pg 11, Out For Blood by Alyxandra Harvey (ARC)
Monday, September 20, 2010
Mailbox Monday- September 20, 2010
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
Out For Blood- Alyxandra Harvey--review for an Around the World Tour
Crate & Peril- J.D. Warren--PaperbackSwap
Who’s That Girl?- Alexandra Potter--Bookmooch
SUNDAY
Ballad- Maggie Stiefvater--PaperbackSwap
Lament- Maggie Stiefvater--PaperbackSwap
Halo- Alexandra Adornetto--Review for an Around the World Tour
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Sunday Salon- September 19, 2010
Kory and I flew out to Denver for a friend's wedding. I was a bridesmaid. We had a lot of fun!
The guy who owened the wedding place (and was also the event planner, DJ, and meat carver) was a complete jerk. One of the other bridesmaids and I had brought in a spread for us to eat while we were getting ready, and we included wine and champagne. When I got it set up, the guy came in and started taking the bottles. I started joking with him and asked if he was taking my bottles. He glared at me and said "You can't have these here." I asked him why not. He sarcastically replied "Where in the USA can you bring alcohol in?" And I told him that I have brought wine in for a the wedding party to drink while we were getting ready other times before and he told me that he would provide us with drinks. He listed off some wines and when I asked for a certain kind which is the only kind the bride and another bridesmaid and I drink he said no, threw up his hands and said "Go ahead and drink it. Everything else is out the window anyways." The wife of one of the groomsmen brought in beer for the guys to drink while they were getting ready and she got yelled at as well.
Then later in the day, the mom of the bride told the guy that there were supposed to be 14 tables and started yelling at her and telling her she only told him 10. I was standing there the night before when she said 14 and when she pulled out her list that she had emailed him, it was for 14 tables. There were other incidents throughout the night as well. I just can't believe the guy was so rude. He's in the service business. He should be accomodating on such a special day, and nice as well!
Anyways, we ended up having a blast and the bride and goom looked so happy!
I finished and reviewed the following books this week:
I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 125, 126, 127
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 93, 94, 95
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 88, 89, 90
I am currently reading Out For Blood (The Drake Chronicles #3) by Alyxandra Harvey and up next is Halo by Alexandra Adornetto.
Book Review- Trance
I started and finished Trance by Linda Gerber on the plane ride home from Denver today for a We Love YA! tour.
From Goodreads:
It begins with a subtle vibration, a tingling.
There is time to take only one breath.
The trance begins.
When it is through, Ashlyn is certain of two things:
Someone she knows is about to die.
And she is powerless to stop it.
This was an engaging story. I pretty much engulfed it in a little over an hour on the plane. The premise isn't really new but I still enjoyed it all the same. I felt so bad for Ashlyn. I could feel her pain and her guilt. And I loved Jake! He was such a great male character and so there for Ashlyn.
I get the feeling that this might be a beginning to a series, or there at least might be a sequel. The ending was definitely left on a cliffhanger and I want to know what Ashlyn sees in her last trance!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
Trance will be released on October 14, 2010.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 127
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 95
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 90
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of We Love YA! tours.
From Goodreads:
There is time to take only one breath.
The trance begins.
When it is through, Ashlyn is certain of two things:
Someone she knows is about to die.
And she is powerless to stop it.
This was an engaging story. I pretty much engulfed it in a little over an hour on the plane. The premise isn't really new but I still enjoyed it all the same. I felt so bad for Ashlyn. I could feel her pain and her guilt. And I loved Jake! He was such a great male character and so there for Ashlyn.
I get the feeling that this might be a beginning to a series, or there at least might be a sequel. The ending was definitely left on a cliffhanger and I want to know what Ashlyn sees in her last trance!
I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.
Trance will be released on October 14, 2010.
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 127
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 95
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 90
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of We Love YA! tours.
Book Review- Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Stories of Paranormal Love
I finished reading Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love edited by Tricia Telep on the plane ride home from Denver today for a Book It Forward ARC Tour.
From Goodreads:
If you can possibly thirst for more mysterious metaphysical accounts of love, Trisha Telep has organized some of the greatest and most thrilling tales of paranormal paramours since The Eternal Kiss. She presents the acclaimed literary talent of thirteen unique authors, creating a collection of stories that will undoubtedly capture the imagination of every soul who dares to read them. Werewolves, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and fallen angels drive the plot of these riveting romances.Kiss Me Deadly includes the exceptional writings of several authors, including: - Sarah Rees Brennan (faeries) - Becca Fitzpatrick (angels) - Caitlin Kittredge (witches) - Karen Mahoney (vampires: sequel to story from The Eternal Kiss) - Daniel Marks (ghost kids) - Justine Musk (sorcerers) - Diana Peterfreund (unicorns) - Michelle Rowen (demons) - Carrie Ryan (zombies) - Maggie Stiefvater (werewolves) - Rachel Vincent (banshees) - Daniel Waters (zombies) - Michelle Zink (gothic ghosts)
This was one of the better anthologies that I have read. In fact, there was only one story that I didn't like--the one by Daniel Marks, a pseudonym of an adult urban fantasy author. I just couldn't follow that story. It confused me and I never really connected with it.
I think my favorite story was Familiar by Michelle Rown. I liked the main character and the plot. And I love the way she writes.
And I liked Fearless by Rachel Vincent. I'm not positive, but pretty sure that this was sort of a prequel to the Soul Screamers series. It was about an old girlfriend of Nash's, before he met Kaylee.
Unfortunately, I read an ARC and the story by Becca Fitzpatrick wasn't in there. I would have liked to have read hers.
Overall, a fun book with lots of great authors.
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
This book fulfilled an item in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 126
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 94
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 89
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tours.
From Goodreads:
This was one of the better anthologies that I have read. In fact, there was only one story that I didn't like--the one by Daniel Marks, a pseudonym of an adult urban fantasy author. I just couldn't follow that story. It confused me and I never really connected with it.
I think my favorite story was Familiar by Michelle Rown. I liked the main character and the plot. And I love the way she writes.
And I liked Fearless by Rachel Vincent. I'm not positive, but pretty sure that this was sort of a prequel to the Soul Screamers series. It was about an old girlfriend of Nash's, before he met Kaylee.
Unfortunately, I read an ARC and the story by Becca Fitzpatrick wasn't in there. I would have liked to have read hers.
Overall, a fun book with lots of great authors.
I gave this book a rating of 4/5.
This book fulfilled an item in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 126
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 94
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 89
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Book It Forward ARC Tours.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday Wordle- September 15, 2010
Waiting on Wednesday- September 15, 2010
Falling Under
by Gwen Hayes
Publication Release Date: March 1, 2011
In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.
Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.
Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.
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