Waiting on Wednesday- February 29, 2012

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

Cursed
by Jennifer Armentrout
Publication Release Date: September 18, 2012

From Jennifer Armentrout's website:

Dying sucks and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he’s a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she’s more than interested. There’s just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she’s willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?

But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she’s not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life.  For real this time.

In My Mailbox- February 27, 2012

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


TUESDAY

Masque of the Red Death- Bethany Griffin--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










SATURDAY

I Still Dream About You- Fannie Flagg--Bookmooch

The Sunday Salon- February 26, 2012

The Sunday Salon

My friend and I ran in the Tangled Family 5k for the Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend.  This was the first race I had ever run in last year and we cut off almost 6 minutes from our time last year!  Not bad.  We stopped to take pictures with characters so I just stopped my timer when we got in line and luckily each line was only about 1 minute.  We are determined to do the half marathon next year!  Up next is our 10k at the end of March.  Next weekend I have to run 4.5 miles to train!

I finished and reviewed the following books in the past week:

 Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin













I fulfilled items in the following challenges in the past week:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 18, 19
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 16, 17
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 4
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 16, 17
2012 Mammoth Book Challenge: 2

I am currently reading Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult and up next, if I don't get any tour books, is Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale.

Book Review- Masque of the Red Death

Early this morning, I finished reading Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

I had high hopes for this book because I saw some great reviews and it had a higher rating on Goodreads.  I should have known I wouldn't like it.  For some reason, I often don't like books that others raved about.

I hate writing negative reviews.  I really do.  I know that authors put sooo much hard work into their books and so I hate writing anything critical about them.  But I didn't really like anything about this book.  I couldn't stand any of the characters.  Araby was incredibly boring and uninteresting and I never found myself caring about what she was doing or what was happening to her.  And there was a love triangle, which I usually enjoy because I either feel so strongly for one of the guys or am torn because I love both of them.  But in this story, I didn't like either of the guys.  I thought they were both jerks and while Will's only redeeming quality was his love for his younger siblings, Elliott didn't have any good qualities.  Blah.

And the plot.  It as just so dark and gory and there was nothing that I found myself liking about it.  There was a big twist at the end but I really don't think it was well done.  It was too far fetched and not believable. 

Yeah, so I was truly disappointed in this book.  The ending leaves off like there will be a sequel, but if there is one, I won't be picking it up.

I gave this book a rating of 2/5.

Masque of the Red Death will be released on April 24, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 19
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 17
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 17

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

Waiting on Wednesday- February 22, 2012

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

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)
by Richelle Mead
Publication Release Date: June 19, 2012

From Goodreads:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age-old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

Book Review- Illuminate

I just finished reading Illuminate by Aimee Agresti for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.

I'm not sure how I feel about Illuminate.  On one hand, I really liked the idea and plot of the story.  On the other hand, I never got totally invested in it.

I was intrigued about how these high school kids got an amazing opportunity to be an intern at a place like the Lexington Hotel, but I was immediately suspicious.  And the whole plot evolved from there and was good.  But I felt that it was too long.  I thought that some of the plot dragged a little and I found myself not really caring about picking up the book to read more. 

The characters were okay.  Haven was a good heroine but there wasn't really anything special about her.  There was nothing I disliked, but nothing that really had me pulling for her.  And the same went for Dante.  If there was one character I liked more than the other, it was Lance.  I liked that he was the geek-turned-main man.

There was something about the writing that made it seem choppy.  I don't know if it was the wording or the timing of the story or what, but it seemed choppy and jumpy.  And there were some things that were never answered that I think needed to be answered to make a full story.  For example, Haven was abandonded as a child...by whom and why?  And just who is writing the mystery book?

So while this book may be thoroughly enjoyed by lots of readers, it was just an okay book for me.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

Illuminate will be released on March 6, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 18
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 16
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 4
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 16
2012 Mammoth Book Challenge: 2

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

Please vote for me!

Last June, I got married to my wonderful hubby at Disney World.  It was truly a fairy tale come true!  I have now been named as a finalist in the Disney Wedding Blog Awards in the category of Best Dressed Wedding Party!  We would be so honored if you would vote for us here!  (we are currently in 3rd place out of 5 by 167 votes!)  Thank you so much!

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In My Mailbox- February 20, 2012

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


TUESDAY

Never Slow Dance with a Zombie- E. Van Lowe--Bookmooch

The Savage Grace (Dark Divine #3)- Bree Despain--from publisher for review

WEDNESDAY

The Poison Eaters and Other Stories- Holly Black--PaperbackSwap

The Sunday Salon- February 19, 2012

The Sunday Salon

I ran 4 miles yesterday and it really wasn't too bad.  I felt much better afterwards than I did when I ran the 2 miles on Thursday!  I don't get it!  We have the Disney Princess 5k on Saturday!  Can't wait!  We ran this last year and it was the first time I had ever run and we had a blast!  I work for Disney so I have pics with most characters, but we've been noticing at other races that they have more unique characters out so we've decided to not worry about our time and just run from character stop to character stop to see if there are any characters out that I don't have yet.

Anyways, any runners out there have any advice?

I finished and reviewed the following books in the past week:

The Marked (Delcroix Academy #2) by Inara Scott

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I fulfilled items in the following challenges in the past week:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 16, 17
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 14, 15
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 14, 15
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 3 

I am currently reading Illuminate by Aimee Agresti  and up next (if I don't get any more tour books) is Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult.

Book Review- The Alchemy of Forever

I just finished reading The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Seraphina has been alive since the Middle Ages, when her boyfriend, Cyrus, managed to perfect a method of alchemy that lets them swap bodies with any human being. Sera ran away from Cyrus years ago, when she realized that what they were doing--taking the lives of innocent people--was wrong. She doesn't want to die, so she finds young people who are on the brink of death, and inhabits their bodies.

For some reason, I was a little put off when I first started reading this book.  I don't remember exactly what it was, but I certainly wasn't excited about sitting down to read it.  But then tonight, I had some more time so I sat down and got so into it that I finished the rest of it all in one sitting!

The plot of this story was pretty unique--the idea of being able to just take over another person's body so easily to become an Incarnate.  And it was sooo creepy.  The beginning of the book had me think that it was going to be completely dark, but it actually wasn't. 

Seraphina was just okay for me at the beginning but I really got into her as Kailey.  I liked that she had developed heart and a conscience over the years of taking over the body.  But Cyrus--what a jerk! 

The only real issue I had with the book was that Seraphina took over Kailey's life so easily.  Yes, there were a couple of times that her friends noticed that something was different, but I think that if a new soul really took over a person's body, they wouldn't have any recollection of anything so converstaion would be difficult and speech patterns and things like body movement would  be different.  But once I got over that it was easy to really get into it.

The ending was a nice little twist.  I kinda saw it coming in that I saw the outcome but not how it came to be, if that makes any sense. 

I checked and Goodreads shows that there is a sequel coming out next year and I look forward to reading it!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 17
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 15
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 3 
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 15

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

Waiting on Wednesday- February 15, 2012

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

A Perfect Blood (The Hollows #10)
by Kim Harrison
Publication Release Date: February 21, 2012

From Goodreads:

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth--a would-be creator is determined to make his (or her) own demons. But it can't be done without Rachel's blood, in this latest blockbuster by a "New York Times"-bestselling author.

In My Mailbox- February 13, 2012

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


MONDAY

The Marked (Delcroix Academy #2) -Inara Scott--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










THURSDAY

Someone Else’s Life- Katie Dale--review for a Teen Book Scene Tour

FRIDAY

Explorer X-Beta- L.M. Preston--from author for blog tour

Illuminate- Aimee Agresti--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

The Alchemy of Forever- Avery Williams--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

Book Review- The Marked

I just finished reading The Marked (Delcroix Academy #2) by Inara Scott for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

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


I read the first book in the series last year and LOVED it, so I couldn't wait to read this one.  Unfortunately, while I did enjoy it, for some reason it didn't grab me as much as the first one did.  I can't really put a finger on why and there's nothing I disliked about it but it was just another book to me.
 
That being said, I still loved Dancia.  I loved that she was herself and kept up with what she believed in.  But they boys--Jack and Cam.  Neither of them are appealing to me.  Jack turns into a complete jerk.  And Cam just doesn't do it for me.  I think he's a good guy, but there's still something that I can't put my finger on that makes me not trust him.  And the secondary characters of Esther and Hennie (and even Catherine) make the story even better.  I like that they are coming into their powers.
 
So this was just another average of the good books to me.  But I think (or at least hope) that there is going to be another book in the series.  I mean, I guess it kinda sorta wrapped up at the end.  But there is still tons that I want to know about and lots more that I think could be written.  And I want to read it!
 
I gave this book a 3.5/5.
 
The Marked will be released on April 3, 2012.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 16
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 14 
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 14
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

The Sunday Salon- February 12, 2012

The Sunday Salon

Not too much happened this week.  Still training for the 10k.  I ran 3.5 miles yesterday, the farthest I've done yet and surprisingly, I felt okay after it..better than I had when I ran the 2.5 miles during the week after school.  Maybe its because I get tired teaching so I get really tired running after that but since I ran the long distance on a Saturday, it wasn't bad.  There's no way I'm getting up to go running before school though.  I'd have to get up at like 5:45 and that is NOT happening.  We'll see how I feel next week when I have to run 4 miles!

I finished and reviewed the following book in the past week:

The Selection by Kiera Cass


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I fulfilled items in the following challenges in the past week:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 15
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 13
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 13

I am currently reading The Marked (Delcroix Academy #2) by Inara Scott and up next is The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams.

Book Review- The Selection

I just finished reading The Selection by Kiera Cass for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
 
Okay, I'm going to be honest right up front.  I love The Bachelor tv show.  Yup, it's horrible, but I do!  I love the drama and the catty girls but still have hope that love with work out in the end (yeah, I know the probability is low....oh and I can't stand Ben this season.  Yuck!)  Anyways, when I read the summary, I immediately thought of the tv show and knew that I HAD to read it.  And I'm so glad it did!
 
It read just like a reality love show, yet set in a different time.  I'm not quite sure if it's considered dystopian, but it's set in the future after wars and the country now has another name and a king.  But the whole aspect of drama and catty girls and the hope that love works out in the end is still there.
 
I love, love, LOVED America!  Fiesty and funny and honest (well, most of the time).  So down to earth and always keeping herself real.  And I found that I liked Maxon too.  He turned out not to be so stuffy and a pretty sweet guy.  But Aspen, the guy from back home and America's ex--I didn't care for him too much.  I didn't really get what America saw in him.
 
The whole book had me so enthralled.  No, it's not deep or anything.  But oh my!  I was just hooked! I really thought this was going to be my first "5" rating of the year (or only since I've only had one in each of the past two years) but unfortunately, something happens towards the end that I didn't like.  I get that yes, it's needed for the story line but I would have been perfectly happy with this scenario not happening at all and for the book to end like I hoped it would.  But my rating didn't drop too far.  The last page says that it's the end of Book One, but I can't find anything about the second book which makes me think that it's not coming out for a while and that makes me sad because I don't want to wait!  I want to read it NOW!
 
I gave this book a rating of 4.5/5.
 
The Selection will be released on April 24, 2012.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 15
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 13
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 13
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

Waiting on Wednesday- February 8, 2012

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

Divergent
by Veronica Roth
Publication Release Date: February 28, 2012 (Paperback version since I still haven't gotten my hands on a copy yet)

From Veronica Roth's website:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

In My Mailbox- February 6, 2012

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


MONDAY

Hooked- Catherine Greenman--PaperbackSwap

Love Sucks! (Bite Me #2)- Melissa Francis--PaperbackSwap

Nocturne (Claire de Lune #2)- Christine Johnson--PaperbackSwap











THURSDAY

Succubus Revealed (Georgia Kincaid #6)- Richelle Mead--PaperbackSwap

Keep Holding On- Susane Colasanti--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










FRIDAY

One Pink Line- Dina Silver--from author for review

The Selection- Kiera Cass--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

Lone Wolf- Jodi Picoult--review for a Crazy Book Tour