Teaser Tuesday- November 30, 2010

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:

"I sat frozen in my bed.  What the hell had just happened?"
~pg 159, The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block (ARC)

Mailbox Monday- November 29, 2010

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


MONDAY

Eat Prey Love (Love at Stake #9)- Kerrelyn Sparks--PaperbackSwap











TUESDAY

Night Road- Kristin Hannah—Library Thing Early Reviewers











SATURDAY

The Frenzy- Francesca Lia Block--review for a Book It Forward ARC Tour

Wither- Lauren Destefano- accepted publicist review request

Angelfire- Courtney Allison Moulton--review for an Around the World Tour

Entice- Carrie Jones--review for an Around the World Tour

A Drop of Red (Vampire Babylon #4)- Chris Marie Green--contest win from Alice Audrey

The Sunday Salon- November 28, 2010

The Sunday Salon

So I ended up picking Bella up on Tuesday.  Since I had the week off for Thanksgiving break, I wanted the extra couple of days together.  And she's so sweet!  We drove down to Miami and she was so good!  On the way down, when I was holding her, she was whimpering so I put her in her kennel and she went right to sleep.  On the way back, I originally had her in her kennel, but she started whimpering so I opened the door and she came out and curled up next to me on the seat and fell asleep.  And she did well with the other puppies.  She wasn't afraid at all.  She's definitely a wild child though.  She likes to chew on EVERYTHING!  And there are several times during the day where she just starts running around the condo for no reason!  And she kept trying to jump off the couch, which is too tall for her to do, so we finally lined the floor around the couch with pillows so she can jump off.  But she's so sweet!  When she's tired, she loves for me to hold her like a baby and fall asleep!

Sleeping on the way home from Miami

Loves being held like a baby



I finished and reviewed the following books this week:

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 153, 154
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 118, 119
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 107, 108

I am currently reading The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block and up next is Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley.

Book Review- A Touch Mortal

I just finished reading A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford for a We Love YA! Tour.

From Goodreads:

Eden didn’t expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.

And that’s only the beginning of the end.

Maybe it's just me, but I found a lot of this book confusing.  In the beginning, I had no clue what was going on.  Nothing was explained well.  And then when things were explained, there was too much new terminology for me to keep straight: Siders, Screamers, Fallen, Bound, Upstairs, Downstairs, Touch, dosing, storing, and so on.  And there were so many different characters that I had a hard time with them too.  I don't feel like we really got to know any of them.  And while I wanted to like Eden because she was trying to help the Siders, I never really did.  And I never felt sympathetic for her. 

This story was definitely action packed.  There was tons of action and it was very dark.  A lot of the story had to do with people who had committed suicide.  And it was pretty gruesome, especially towards the end. 

I'm not really sure what I expected from this book, but this storyline definitely wasn't it.  From the way the end of the story left off, I think there might be a sequel.  I think I will have to read the summary of the next book before I decide whether I am going to pick it up or not.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

A Touch Mortal will be released on February 22, 2011.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 154
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 119
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 108

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of We Love YA! tours.

Mailbox Monday- November 22, 2010

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

MONDAY

First Grave on the Right- Darynda Jones--for review from Reviewer Rewards

Once in a Full Moon- Ellen Schreiber--review for an Around the World Tour

The Lost Saint- Bree Despain--review for an Around the World Tour

Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires #6)- Rachel Caine--PaperbackSwap

Room- Emma Donoghue--PaperbackSwap

WEDNESDAY

Kitty Goes to War (#8)- Carrie Vaughn--PaperbackSwap

THURSDAY

Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2)- Ilona Andrews--PaperbackSwap

SATURDAY

Radiance- Alyson Noel--contest win from Forever Young (Adult)

A Touch Mortal- Leah Clifford--review for a We Love YA! Tour

Book Review- The Lost Saint

I just finished reading The Lost Saint by Bree Despain for an Around the World Tour.

From Goodreads:

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace’s relationship with Daniel is put in danger — in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her — not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to The Dark Divine.

I have a truly horrible memory when it comes to remembering plots of books and movies.  And while sometimes, once I start to read a sequel, it will all come back to me, unfortunately it didn't happen with this book. So after a couple of chapters I had to go look up a spoiler summary of the book.  And once I did that, I remembered why I had loved the first book so much.

This book was a roller coaster of emotions.  I loved Daniel and Grace together.  And then I didn't like Daniel because of his behavior and I was starting to like Talbot more.  There times I felt both hopeful and hopelss about Jude. Yeah, I was never sure which guy to trust and like.  It made for an intriguing and gripping story.

I don't think I enjoyed this book as much as I did The Dark Divine, but I think that's because Daniel and Grace's relationship was kind of strained in this book.  And I felt that there was a lot more action in the book and not so much a character driven storyline.  But that doesn't make it bad.  It definitely makes it a griping read and one that I couldn't put down.  And the end.  Oh boy, I definitely didn't see that one coming!  And how I want the next book now so that I can find out what happens next!

Once again the cover is absolutely gorgeous.  Both the cover for The Dark Divine and the cover for The Lost Saint are so totally striking. I just love the coloring!

I gave this book a rating of 4/.5

The Lost Saint will be released on December 28, 2010.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 153
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 118
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 107

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

The Sunday Salon- November 21, 2010

The Sunday Salon

I am so excited!  I got a puppy today!  I've been wanting a teacup yorkie for years and today I got one (well, I put my deposit down on her today.  I will pick her up next Saturday.  I didn't want to buy her and take her home, only to have to take her to a kennel when I go out of town for Thanksgiving.  I am going down to my Uncle's in Miami and they have 4 big dogs and I don't know how she'd do with them.)

Yesterday 2 of my friends and I were going to a local arts and crafts festival when we passed a grooming shop with lots of cute doggie clothes.  And as we were walking past, we saw a cute teacup yorkie in the window so we had to go in!  The puppy was a boy and I needed a girl since I want to litterbox train the puppy.  The boy was absolutely precious.  He was adorable and had such a fun and sweet personality.  The people who owned the shop said they bought the puppy from an elderly couple to sell and the elderly couple still had one girl left.  I told them that I was very interested so they said they would get the girl and bring her in today for me to see her.

So my boyfriend and one of the girls who went with me yesterday went to meet the puppy today.  And she's so cute!  She was really jittery at first and didn't want me to hold her but then the lady brought out a blanket and I wrapped her in it and held her for about 5 minutes and she was fine.  Then I put her back down on the ground and she turned around and crawled right back up on my lap.  She had me right then! 

My friend is thinking of buying the brother, but she's allergic to dogs.  We've read online that yorkies are hypo-allergenic but the girl was definitely shedding a little on me so we're not sure how my friend would do with the boy.  But she is going to try to convince her husband.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed!  It would so fun to have puppies that are brother and sister!

me and Bella!

Bella!

I finished and reviewed the following books this week:

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schrieber

I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:

2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 151, 152

2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 116, 117
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 40
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 105, 106

I am currently reading The Lost Saint by Bree Despain and up next is A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford.

Book Review- Once in a Full Moon

I just finished reading Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber for an Around the World Tour.

From Goodreads:

Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever.

Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves—Legend's Run is famous for them. She's used to everything in the small town until Brandon Maddox moves to Legend's Run and Celeste finds herself immediately drawn to the handsome new student. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight.

Her best friends may never forgive her if she gives up her perfect boyfriend, Nash, for Brandon, who's from the wrong side of town. But she can't deny her attraction or the strong pull he has on her. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run.

Psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf are the perfect formula for what happens . . . once in a full moon.

Okay, I'll admit it.  I'm one of those people who sometimes judges a book by its cover.  Or at least a cover can make me want to read a book.  And that's how this book was for me.  I just loved the cover--the colors and picture are beautiful to me.  Unfortunately, I couldn't say the same about the story.

There were so many times that I rolled my eyes in this book or put it down in my lap thinking "really??"  There were so many cheesy and corny lines.  It was almost written immaturely.  Like Celeste's thoughts of Brandon and love were something a younger teen would think and say.

And I don't feel that there was really any substance in the book.  Yeah, Celeste falls for a guy from "the wrong side of town" but having to hide it from her so-called best friends is not the greatest idea.  And we don't really get to know that much about what Brandon does when he's a werewolf.  The ending definitely left off at a place where it seems like there will be a sequel, but honestly, I'm not sure that I'll read it.  This is the first book by Ellen Schrieber that I've read, although I have all of the Vampire Kisses books in my TBR pile.  I sure hope they're better than this one.  Maybe tweens will like it better than I did.

I gave this book a rating of 2.5/5.

Once in a Full Moon will be released on December 28, 2010.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 152
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 117
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 106

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

Friday Fill-In- November 19, 2010

Friday Fill-In

1. Why does the week before a vacation at school seem sooo slow?
2. I want to see the world.
3. Thank you for being a friend.
4. Christmas is my favorite holiday because I love the festive-ness of it .
5. I am SO glad it's Thankgiving break.
6. I am not sure that we are always what we make up our minds to be.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include watching the Gators play football and then going to an arts and crafts festival with the girls and Sunday, I want to read and watch football!

Friday Finds- November 19, 2010

Here are my finds for the week:

Corsets & Clockwork- Trisha Telep, Maria V. Snyder, Tiffany Trent, Kiersten White, Jaclyn Dolamore, Tessa Gratton, Caitlin Kittredge, Adrienne Kress, Lesley Livingston, Dru Pagliassotti, Dia Reeves, Michael Scott, Ann Aguirre, Frewin Jones

A stunning anthology of the very best of steampunk that�s taking teen fiction by storm. Bestselling romance editor Trisha Telep brings an exciting new element to the fast-growing sub-genre of steampunk, which bends and blends the old and the new in increasingly popular dark urban fantasies. Young heroes and heroines battle evil, in various forms with the help of super-technological or supernatural powers, while falling in and out of love. (From the Constable & Robinson website)

The Book of Tomorrow- Cecelia Ahern

Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she’s ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with its own private beach, a wardrobe full of designer clothes, and a large four poster bed complete with a luxurious bathroom en-suite. She’s always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow.

But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever. Left with a mountain of debt, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country to live with Tamara’s Uncle and Aunt. Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gate house is a world away from Tamara’s childhood. With her Mother shut away with grief, and her Aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin.

When a travelling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. She needs a distraction. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. With some help, Tamara finally manages to open the book. What she discovers within the pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to its core.  (From Cecelia Ahern's website)

Wednesday Wordle- November 17, 2010

Here is a screen shot of my Wordle for the week (Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from words that is seen on my blog)

Waiting on Wednesday- November 17, 2010

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

A Touch Mortal
by Leah Clifford
Publication Release Date: February 22, 2011

From Leah Clifford's website:

Death isn't what Eden expected. Where the hell is her release? Her quiet ending? Not that Eden remembers the details of her final hours, but one thing is for sure--becoming a sider, trapped between life and death, was definitely not part of the plan...

For Eden, nothing seems to be coming easy. There's no way of telling what will happen when her fingertips graze human skin. The power that builds inside her, Touch, strips away morals and logic.

Some people only feel a high; others are overcome by their darkest thoughts.

But honestly there's not much time for her to worry about her effect on mere mortals. She's got her own drama. Somehow, word's gotten around that her Touch can kill her own kind. With desperate siders already camping out on her doorstep, the last thing Eden needs is the rumor to spread. Especially since it's true...

A TOUCH MORTAL is the first of a planned trilogy.

Teaser Tuesday- November 16, 2010

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:

"We were totally isolated---no hikers or campers were anywhere in sight.  The fire pit and a few flashlights were our only sources of light in the dark night."~pg 1, Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber (ARC)

Book Review- Tyger Tyger

Last night I finished reading Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton.

From Goodreads:

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right.

The goblins are coming.
 
I've read some great things about this book and was looking forward to reading it.  Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me.  I had a hard time getting through it. 
 
Normally I like books that are based in mythology, but I couldn't get into this one.  The story was confusing to me.  I couldn't follow the mythological story that went along with the plot in the book.  And then how that mythological story related to the actual plot was sometimes hit or miss for me as well.
 
 For some reason, I found some of the characters to be confusing and I mixed them up.  Who was who in the mythological story versus in the plot of the book.  Blah.  Too much thinking.  I did however like the two main boy characters.  Teagen was just okay for me.  She wasn't strong enough or sympathetic enough for me to really feel strongly about her.  But Aiden and Finn were great.  I like that Finn cared about Teagen and wanted to help her and her brother, even when he finds out the truth about them.  And Aiden was just too cute--so smart for a five year old!  I teach Kindergarten so I could easily picture this little boy in my head.  He was precious.
 
I recommend trying the book.  There are a lot of great things being said about this story and I wouldn't let my opinions sway you too much.
 
I gave this book a rating of 2.5/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 151
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 116
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 40
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 105

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free from the publisher for an honest review.

Mailbox Monday- November 15, 2010

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


MONDAY

Sounds Like Crazy- Shana Mahaffey--review for Pump Up Your Book Promotions










THURSDAY

The Ex-Boyfriend’s Handbook- Matt Dunn--from publisher

Win a copy of A Touch Mortal

Want to win a signed copy of A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford?  Want to have your name suggestion used in the second book?  Want to have your full name mentioned in the acknowledgements of the second book?  The check out the contest here!

The Sunday Salon- November 14, 2010

The Sunday Salon


I got a computer virus early on Thursday morning and I had such a difficult time getting rid of it.  Most of the websites gave the same advice, but it wasn't working (and each time I tried, I had to use this anti-virus scanner which took 8 hours each time!!!) Finally I came across a random thread that had the same advice but this guy at the bottom said that none of the advice worked for him, but he figured it out on his own and posted how.  I was a little afraid to try it, but I was frustrated so I did and thank goodness it worked.  Blah!  Now I am so behind on my book stuff!

I finished and reviewed the following books this week:

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Slayed by Amanda Marrone











I fulfilled items in the following challenges this week:
2010 100+ Reading Challenge: 149, 150
2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 114, 115 
2010 Debut Author Challenge: 39
ARC Reading Challenge 2010: 103, 104

I am currently reading Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton and up next is The Rapture by Liz Jensen.