The Sunday Salon- August 25, 2013

The Sunday Salon
The first week of school was a success! They're all so cute and are already adapting to the routines!  Here's hoping for a great year!  On Friday, I'll be flying out to Disneyland to run in 2 races!  I'll be celebrating my birthday on Sunday.  I can't wait!
I finished and reviewed the following books last week:

The Assassin and the Dessert (Throne of Glass #0.2) by Sarah J. Maas












I fulfilled items in the following challenges last week:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 44
2013 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 35
2013 Quick Fix Challenge: 20

I am currently reading On the Island by Tracey Garvis- Graves and up next is The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle.

Book Review- The Assassin and the Dessert

I just finished reading The Assassin and the Dessert (Throne of Glass #0.2) by Sarah J. Maas.

From Goodreads:

The Silent Assassins of the Red Desert aren’t much for conversation, and Celaena Sardothien

wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s not there to chatter, she’s there to hone her craft as the world’s most feared killer for hire. When the quiet is shattered by forces who want to destroy the Silent Assassins, Celaena must find a way to stop them, or she’ll be lucky to leave the desert alive.

This was the second novella in the Throne of Glass series.  In this story, we learn more about how Calaena came to be the great assassin she is today.  We learn about how she goes to the Red Dessert to train with the Silent Assassin and the master.  She befriends a sweet girl and there was a slight dusting of romance (not even sure you could really call it that.)

There was a twist at the end, but I had figured it out earlier so it came as no surprise.  The novella was definitely interesting enough and I look forward to reading the third one!

I gave it a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 44
2013 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 35
2013 Quick Fix Challenge: 20

*FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from a friend.

In My Mailbox- August 19, 2013

MONDAY

Wait For You- J. Lynn, Jennifer Armentrout--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










TUESDAY

The Chaos of Stars- Kiersten White--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










THURSDAY

I’ve Got Your Number- Sophie Kinsella--from Bookmooch











FRIDAY

Unbreakable (Legion #1)- Kami Garcia--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










SATURDAY

The Assassin and the Dessert (Throne of Glass #0.2) by Sarah J. Maas--borrowed from friend

The Sunday Salon- August 18, 2013

The Sunday Salon
Well, the first day of school is tomorrow.  We had Meet the Teacher on Thursday.  I always forget how tiny the kids are at the beginning of the year!  Here's hoping for a great school year!

I finished and reviewed the following books last week:

Wait for You by J. Lynn











I fulfilled items in the following challenges last week:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 43
2013 ARC Reading Challenge: 24
2013 Mammoth Book Challenge: 3

I am currently reading The Assassin and the Desert (Throne of Glass #0.2) by Sarah J. Maas and up next is On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves.

Book Review- Wait for You

I finished reading Wait for You by J. Lynn, Jennifer Armentrout for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

First off, I have to say that for some reason, I thought this was a Young Adult book.  It is NOT.  It definitely New Adult.  Which is fine (and a genre I'm enjoying!) but I just want to make sure that if any mother is reading this, I would not advise teens to read it.  There are lots of explicit sexual scenes.

Okay.  That being said.  I really enjoyed this book.  I was engaged right away and couldn't wait to read about Avery and Cam.

Avery is a great main character.  I knew right away what her secret was, but it was even more horrible than I thought.  And Cam.  Yum!  A player turned good-boy.  Cam and Avery's connection was there, right off.  I loved that Avery didn't just jump into a relationship with him like so many female characters seem to do.  And I loved that Cam waited her out.  They just clicked and were such a sweet couple.

But it wasn't all a romance story.  It dealt with a very serious topic.  I won't give it away but it broke my heart the way that Avery's parents dealt with the issue.

I want to get my hands on Trust in Me, which is a novella, and then Be With Me, which comes out next year!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

Wait for You will be released on September 3, 2013.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 43
2013 ARC Reading Challenge: 24
2013 Mammoth Book Challenge: 3

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

In My Mailbox- August 12, 2013

WEDNESDAY

Starry Nights- Daisy Whitney--review for an Around the World ARC Tour











THURSDAY

Awaken (Abandon Trilogy #3)- Meg Cabot--received from friend

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)- Katie McGarry--received from friend

This is W.A.R- Lisa Roecker & Laura Roecker--received from friend

The Boy from Ilysies (Libyrinth #2)- Pearl North--received from friend











SATURDAY

Relativity- Cristin Bishara--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

Battle Magic (Circle Reforged #3)- Tamora Pierce

The Sunday Salon- August 11, 2013

The Sunday Salon
I'm so, so sad that summer is over.  It went by way too fast.  I ran in 4 races this weekend in 39 hours so I'm exhausted.  It's going to be a loooong week.

I finished and reviewed the following books last week:

Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell

Alienated by Melissa Landers











I fulfilled items in the following challenges last week:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 41, 42
What's in a Name? 6 Challenge: Party or Celebration
2013 Embarrassment of Riches TBR Reading Challenge: 5
2013 Quick Fix Challenge: 19
2013 ARC Reading Challenge: 23
2013 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 34

I will be starting Wait for You by J. Lynn, Jennifer Armentrout.

Book Review- Alienated

I just finished reading Alienated by Melissa Landers for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi

series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book.  I liked the idea--that alien students participate in an exchange program and predictably, one of the aliens falls in love with the girl he staying with.  But there's something about the whole anti-L'eihr thing turned me off a little.  It was almost like there was too much anti-L'eihr problems for me to really love it.  And some of the writing was a little corny, especially in the romance scenes.

I did really like the main characters.  I loved that Cara was super smart and feisty.  I loved that even though she wasn't really interested in the beginning, she still stuck up for Aelyx.  Aelyx grew on me.  He seemed to get over his L'eihr personality (or lack of one) a little quickly but I brushed that off. 

I liked reading about the L'eihr world.  It was interesting to read about this created world and how the aliens are different from humans.  It was an intriguing take on what other-worldly life could be like.

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 42
2013 ARC Reading Challenge: 23
2013 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 34

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

What's in a Name? 6-- Challenge Completed!

What's in a Name? 6 Challenge

Here's How It Works
Between January 1 and December 31, 2013, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title: Deep down True, The Girl Below, The Diva Digs up the Dirt
2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title: Loose Lips Sink Ships, The Knife of Never Letting Go, Breadcrumbs
3. A book with a party or celebration in the title: A Feast for Crows, A Wedding in Haiti, Cocktail Hour under the Tree of Forgetfulness
4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title: Burning for Revenge, Fireworks over Toccoa, Catching Fire
5. A book with an emotion in the title: Baltimore Blues, Say You're Sorry, Dreams of Joy
6. A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title: The Book of Lost Fragrances, The World We Found, A Discovery of Witches

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.

Other Things to Know

• Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
• Books may overlap other challenges.
• Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
• You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
• You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order.

On January 1, I'll publish 7 posts, each with a Mr. Linky (one for each category and one for your wrap-up post), on this blog so you'll have a place post links to your reviews (bloggers) or leave comments (non-bloggers) as you finish up each category. You'll be able to find these posts during the year by clicking on the button in the sidebar. (I'll create those links on January 1.)

Tip: If you're ever struggling to find a title to match a category, check out what other people have read so you can get ideas or be inspired. And remember to be creative.

Up or Down: Shut Up by Anne Tibbets
Something You'd Find in Your Kitchen: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Party or Celebration: Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell
Fire: Fever (The Chemical Garden Trilogy #2) by Lauren DeStefano
An Emotion: Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland
Lost or Found: The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston

Book Review- Ralph's Party

I just finished reading Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell.

From Goodreads:

Meet the residents of the London brownstone on 31 Almanac Road who together weave a tangled
web of romance. Ralph, a ne'er-do-well artist, suddenly realizes he's head over heels in love with his new flatmate Jem, the most fun and sensible girl he's ever encountered. Unfortunately, Ralph's best friend, Smith, has already won Jem's affections, although Smith has not entirely given up his passion for the femme fatale, Cheri, who lives upstairs. Across the hall, Karl and Siobhan have been happily unmarried for years, until Karl gets a smashing job as a London rush-hour DJ and momentarily gets tempted into Cheri's cozy lair. These six star-crossed tenants become more enamored, and more confused, as the story progresses-until their true destinies are revealed on one crucial night-the evening of the extravaganza that is . . . Ralph's party. This wonderfully hip new novel was an instant popular success when it was first published in England, and American readers are sure to be captivated by the debut of a talented new writer.

I was expecting this to be a cute British chick-lit story.  Instead there were times that I was grossed out and felt that there was over-sharing involved. 

I just couldn't really get into the story.  I didn't care much about the characters or what was happening.  At first, I got confused about which was with which character but at the end you could see the connection of all of them.

I have a couple of other books by this author on my bookshelves.  Hopefully I'll like them better.

I gave this book a rating of 2/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 41
What's in a Name? 6 Challenge: Party or Celebration
2013 Embarrassment of Riches TBR Reading Challenge: 5
2013 Quick Fix Challenge: 19

*FTC Disclosure: I bought this book

In My Mailbox- August 5, 2013

MONDAY

Tumble & Fall- Alexandra Coutts--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

Fire With Fire- Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivan--review for an Around the World ARC Tour










FRIDAY

The Assassin and the Pirate Lord (Throne of Glass #0.1)--borrowed from a friend
          

Halfway Hexed (Southern Witch #3)- Kimberly Frost--Bookmooch

After Eden (After Eden #1)- Helen Douglas--review for an Around the World ARC Tour

Alienated (Alienated #1)- Melissa Landers--review for an Around the World ARC Tour