Karen's Addictions

Manic Monday! (14)

2012-01-30T12:05:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight a book or two that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

The first book I'm highlighting this week is Incarnate by Jodi Meadows:

Synopsis:

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

This book sounds INCREDIBLE. I love the premise, it's fresh and not like a lot of the other books out there on the market right now. I'm super intrigued and cannot wait to delve into this world. What I have heard from people lucky enough to get the chance to read the ARC has ALL been positive which is really exciting. Can't wait!!

The second book I'm highlighting this week is Lenobia's Vow by PC Cast and Kristin Cast:

Synopsis:

The second in the enthralling new mini-series of novellas from the #1 bestselling authors of the House of Night, Lenobia's Vow tells the gripping story behind the House of Night's enigmatic riding instructor – and one of Zoey’s closest allies against evil

The House of Night is an international publishing sensation; with almost 12 million books in print, and an incredible 120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, the series has taken the world by storm. Now, the excitement continues as the Cast mother-daughter duo shares the back stories of a few of the House of Night's most important – and mysterious – characters. The second of the House of Night Novellas brings us Lenobia, the strong, beautiful horseback riding instructor, who guides Zoey through some of her darkest hours, and has a dark secret buried in her own past...

In a small southern town at the turn of the century, young Lenobia is developing into a beautiful young woman with ideas of her own. But when she is Marked as a fledgling vampyre, her world turns upside down, and she is drawn to the musical streets of New Orleans. There, she learns of the city’s dark underbelly, ruled by powerful black magic. As Lenobia experiences her first love – and loss – and discovers a passion for horses to sustain her, she must come face-to-face with Darkness itself. And she may not escape without scars.

I am completely addicted to the House of Night world and I can't wait to get my hands on this next juicy tidbit. I love that the Casts are doing these novellas, what a fabulous idea! Gives me something to look forward to in-between the HoN books.

Is there anything you're dying to get your hands on tomorrow? Hope you're all having a decent Monday! For my East Coast peeps at least, we're halfway done!! Enjoy your day and as always, HAPPY READING! *XOXO*

REVIEW Fins Are Forever

2012-01-30T08:14:00.007-05:00

Synopsis:

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up—Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

Tera Lynn Childs’s sequel to Forgive My Fins offers another tail-flicking romance with plenty of fun, sun, and underwater adventure.

I just ADORE this series! Another cute, fun, and magical story from the lovely Tera Lynn Childs. While I did like Forgive My Fins just a teeny smidge more, Fins Are Forever was a great sequel and shared some of the same wonderful characteristics that made Forgive My Fins such a pleasure to read.

Fins Are Forever picks up not long after Forgive My Fins. Lily is adjusting to her choice--instead of her plan to return to the sea and accept her role as Crown Princess Waterlily, she is instead focusing on getting accepted into college. Lily is in frantic cram mode with a looming SAT date and the stakes have never been higher. If she truly wants to enact change on the land that could protect her merkin below the sea, the first step is being accepted into college.

A major wrench is thrown into Lily's plans when Doe shows up at her doorstep, exiled and powerless. On top of her staying-human-now responsibilities, Lily will face one more task as the Princess of Thalassinia: She must help Doe overcome her hatred for humans. Chaos ensues as an unexpected event is triggered that forces Lily back into the sea, causing problems for her as she misses an important event on the land. Lily is also reunited with a childhood mer-friend, Tellin, who has an unexpected proposal for Lily... a proposal that could change everything.

Fins Are Forever is definitely worth a read. It's quick and easy and it surprised me a lot. Characters that I didn't care for much in Forgive My Fins really grew on me. The story moved quickly and I was left wanting more. Which THANKFULLY, I found out I won't have to wait all that long for! A third book in the series, Just For Fins, is coming out on July 3rd. Mark your calendars!

In the issue of fairness... I will divulge one thing that bugs me about this book. The cover. I get that the girl is supposed to look mermaidish... but to me, she kind of looks like a goth kid. I know that's being picky, haha. But I don't want to be too gushy! I just took off the jacket though while reading it cause the book itself was quite nice. Not as cute as the bubbly pink that came before it, but still nice to look at all the same.

Anywho... if you haven't checked out this series yet, do yourself a favor and get on it! You really won't be disappointed. Tera Lynn Childs's books are addicting in that can't-put-it-down way and I always seem to have a smile on my face at the end. What more could a girl hope for? Enjoy! *XOXO*

Fabulous CHALLENGE Alert!

2012-01-28T10:31:00.003-05:00

The fabulous ladies are back and at it again! Lena from Addicted 2 Novels, Tiger from All-Consuming Media, and Karen from For What It's Worth are hosting the third Ultimate Reviewers Challenge all during the month of February.

This challenge is awesome because all we bloggers have to do is what we should already be doing: writing stellar book reviews! Visit the blogs above for all the details on how to sign up and how to be eligible for prizes. Yep, I said PRIZES!! The ladies have prize packs set up that look amazing, you won't want to miss out! And with 6 winners being chosen, you have a really good chance of being selected as a winner! I know I don't want to miss out, and you shouldn't either. So check it out today! Good luck and HAPPY READING!! *XOXO*

REVIEW Forgive My Fins

2012-01-27T21:17:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

This book surprised me more than I thought possible. I had been putting this book off for AGES, bypassing it over and over for other books that I thought had to be way better. I'm not sure what influenced me to pick it up this time, but am I ever glad that I did! Forgive My Fins is a super cute, easy, and fun read that I highly recommend to anyone looking for a "feel good" book.

Forgive My Fins introduces us to Lily, a half-mermaid girl who is hopelessly infatuated with popular swimmer boy, Brody. Since Brody and his long-time girlfriend have broken up, Lily decides it's time to make her move. Besides, she's running out of time before her eighteen birthday. A birthday significant in that she needs to bond with someone to solidify her claim to the throne.

Throne? Huh? Yep! Our girl Lily is ACTUALLY not just any other mermaid... she's a princess, sole heir to the throne of Thalassinia. Finding her mate is vital to her world and she's convinced that Brody is the one for her. Determined to help her is Quince, obnoxious neighbor boy who clearly has an interest in Lily. Madness ensues when an accidental encounter creates a bond Lily could never have foreseen. I don't want to spoiler this book cause that would be tragic, but let's just say that Lily finds herself on quite a journey. A journey that shows her the truth about what lies in her heart, and where her loyalties ultimately lie.

This book is made of win. Grab it up if you haven't read it! It's fun, sweet, cute, and a super quick and easy read that I couldn't seem to put down. I finished it in a day. A WORK day, haha. And when I read hardcovers, I always take the book jacket off. Do yourself a favor and do the same because the book is simply adorable. It's impossible to not look at the happy pink shade and not smile.

I'm getting ready to crack open the sequel, Fins Are Forever. I'm hoping it's as magical as Forgive My Fins. I'm thinking it might be since I heard there's a THIRD book coming out this summer. Yay! If you haven't tried out this series, get to it. You won't regret it! Happy Reading!! *XOXO*

FUN FRIDAY (2)

2012-01-27T11:06:00.006-05:00

Happy Friday!! :) Welcome to the second edition of FUN FRIDAY where I reveal something about me, some personal tidbit that will allow my followers to get to know me better. I follow several blogs and I sometimes wonder who the bloggers REALLY are behind the words, so I thought it would be a cool thing to open up a bit and to reveal more about who Karen really is.

Today's tidbit: I really struggle maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For many years, I was living a life that wasn't truly fulfilling, so to make up for it... I ate. A lot. All the time and rarely anything anyone would consider nutritional. I ended up hating myself when I looked in the mirror because I hated how I had let myself go.

That all changed when I forced myself to make changes in my life. I got out of my unfulfilling existence and started actually LIVING again. I lost over 60 pounds without even really trying and became happier, healthier, and way more confident in the person that I was. I could do things again that I had been avoiding because being unhealthy makes you FEEL different. You're tired, sluggish, embarrassed at times! It's really no fun. Not that I'm saying losing weight will change your life over night because it doesn't work that way! But for me, it was one step in a life transformation that was WAY overdue.

Fast forward over a year later... I met and fell in love with my true mate in life. I could not be happier than I am in this relationship. The problem with this happiness? We got lazy. I'm sure we've all been there. You get in this fabulous relationship, start eating out a lot, spend evenings cuddled up on the couch instead of at the gym... before you know it, almost 30 pounds have creeped back on! Definitely not what I wanted, but that's where I'm at today.

Soooo... time to get back on the get healthy wagon. I joined a Biggest Loser Competition at work and hope to lose the weight I've gained by the end of the school year. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Recognizing that you struggle with something is often the first step in correcting it. Self-awareness is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Here's hoping I find some success again!

Hope you all have a smashingly fabulous Friday and WEEKEND! *XOXO*

REVIEW Bumped

2012-01-26T07:02:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents are forced to pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they are searching for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to bring Melody back to Goodside and convince her that “pregging” for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Soooo... Bumped was really, really interesting. I have a habit of not reading the synopsis before reading a book and I really wish I had this time because being thrust into that world unprepared was mega-confusing! But once I had a firm grasp on what was going on, I found I quite enjoyed the world that Megan McCafferty had created, a world extremely unique and different from any of the books I've read recently.

Bumped is the story of two girls, identical twins split up at birth who have grown up in vastly different worlds. Both girls are raised in an age where a virus has made it impossible for people over the age of eighteen to procreate. This has created a world where teenage girls are coveted for their "breedy bits" as they so lovingly call them. While one twin, Melody, is raised by parents who encourage and foster her to be the best candidate for "bumping", the other twin, Harmony, is raised in a strict religious community who abhors bumping for profit, or any bumping (or humping!) done out of wedlock. This religious community regularly arranges marriages for girls at the tender age of thirteen, when there is still plenty of fertile years ahead.

Harmony flees her sheltered world to save her sister from a life of sin... or at least, that's what she believes are her reasons but deep down, Harmony is harboring a major secret of her own. Harmony is mistaken for Melody at a most convenient time, a time that allows her to make a decision that will impact her life in more ways than she could possibly imagine. When the repercussions from Harmony's decision become known, will they have an impact on Melody? Will Melody bond with her twin and help her no matter the cost, or will she stay locked in a world that has lost the appeal she once thought it had?

So what did I think of it? Well, there are the goods... and then there are the bads. The goods: A unique story in an outrageous future world. When thinking about it, it's easy to see how such a world could be created. What WOULD happen if a virus wiped out reproductive capabilities to all but the adolescent population? I think the author does a wonderful job of showing how such a thing could escalate to the point where teenage girls are pimping out their wombs. I liked seeing Harmony and Melody come to realizations about who they really are, and what they really want. I can't wait to read the sequel to see where these revelations take the twins next.

The bads: For me, some of the language bordered on HIGHLY obnoxious. If I read the word "neggy" one more time, I might have thrown the book at the wall. And then there's the comfort factor... reading about girls as young as eleven having babies for profit was uncomfortable. I work with teenagers and teenage pregnancy is a major issue. Realistically, I know that this world is a total product of fiction and that of course the author is not promoting or condoning teenage pregnancy. But coming from my counseling background, there were moments I found myself cringing and wanting to slap some of these girls in the face!

That being said, I still really enjoyed this book. I applaud the author for creating such an unexpected world and I'm really looking forward to the sequel, Thumped, coming out April 24th. Consider reading Bumped before then... I scored the Kindle version for 99 cents! For 99 cents, you owe it to yourself to try it out. Happy Reading!! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

2012-01-25T10:17:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:

Bewitching can be a beast. . . .

Once, I put a curse on a beastly and arrogant high school boy. That one turned out all right. Others didn’t.

I go to a new school now—one where no one knows that I should have graduated long ago. I’m not still here because I’m stupid; I just don’t age.

You see, I’m immortal. And I pretty much know everything after hundreds of years—except for when to take my powers and butt out.

I want to help, but things just go awry in ways I could never predict. Like when I tried to free some children from a gingerbread house and ended up being hanged. After I came back from the dead (immortal, remember?), I tried to play matchmaker for a French prince and ended up banished from France forever. And that little mermaid I found in the Titanic lifeboat? I don’t even want to think about it.

Now a girl named Emma needs me. I probably shouldn’t get involved, but her gorgeous stepsister is conniving to the core. I think I have just the thing to fix that girl—and it isn’t an enchanted pumpkin. Although you never know what will happen when I start . . . bewitching.

Release date: February 14, 2012

*squee* I am SOOOOO excited for this one!! I REALLY enjoyed Beastly and I cannot wait to get into the mind of Kendra. (I just hope I don't picture her as Mary-Kate Olsen the entire time I'm reading it! Hahaha) She's definitely an intriguing character so I'll be gobbling this up ASAP! What are YOU waiting for? Leave me a link and I'll check it out! HAPPY READING! *XOXO*

REVIEW Frozen Fire

2012-01-24T10:57:00.003-05:00

Synopsis:

A paranormal thriller from Carnegie Medal winner Tim Bowler!

It starts with a phone call. I’m dying, a voice tells Dusty. Who is he and how has he gotten her cell number? Dusty wants no part of this strange boy . . . until he begins saying things that only someone who knows her intimately could say, things that lead her to think he knows the whereabouts of her brother, who disappeared over a year ago. Suddenly drawn in, Dusty very much wants to save this boy. Trouble is, she cannot find him. Part human, part spirit, he won’t let himself be found. He is too dangerous, he says. There are mobs of people who agree and who want to see this boy dead . . . and who will hurt anyone who stands in their way.

A gripping, hair-raising mystery about a boy not of this world, and a girl determined to protect him.

Well... I really wouldn’t call this a hair-raising mystery. Unless you’re like me, and you get to the end and you’re still not entirely sure what the heck all happened and what the point of the whole thing was. I think the premise of this book had potential, but it really fell way short of my expectations.

The story follows Dusty, a spunky teenager struggling with the disappearance of her brother two years ago. She receives a strange and spooky phone call from a mysterious boy, and finds herself thrust into a dangerous world of thugs, secrets, supernatural happenings, and just plain weirdness. The pacing is slow, the dialogue is boring at times, and the action is very spread out. I think the book is supposed to feel suspenseful, but all I felt was a desire for it to end.

I can’t really recommend this one as I was so disappointed with it the entire time I was reading it. I had grabbed this one off a shelf at Barnes and Noble, the cover appealed to me and it sounded like an interesting read. Really wishing I had researched it a bit before snapping it up. I can say though that although it felt like one of the slowest books, it didn’t take all that long to read. So if you’re still intrigued and would rather trust your own opinion on the book, it won’t take you longer than a couple days to get through it.

Best of luck! Hope you like it better than I did! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Bumped

2012-01-24T08:53:00.003-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Bumped by Megan McCafferty.

"I cannot thank you enough for all your efforts in keeping your EYES on the PURITY PRIZE." He traces an imaginary line from my neck to my ankles. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that you would have the opportunity to bump with Jondoe." (25% on Kindle edition)

This book is definitely unique. I'm not quite sure what to think about it so far, haha. I'm about a third in so we'll see how it goes! What are YOU reading today? Leave me a link to your teaser and I'll be sure to check it out!! :)

TBR Pile: You're Going Down!

2012-01-23T21:53:00.007-05:00

I've decided to join the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge! :)

I have WAYYYY too many books sitting on my bookcases... collecting dust, getting repeatedly passed over for bright and shiny new releases, feeling lonesome. It's pretty sad and it's time that I make a serious dent in the ever-growing pile. 2012 will be the year that I FINALLY stick to the resolution to get through as many of my TBR books as possible. Sound like something you could use too? Check out all the details below. But first... my goal for this challenge:

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (31-40 BOOKS)

Challenge Details:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.

2. As the hosts would like to see quality reviews linked up to the monthly wrap-ups, only bloggers can enter. Sorry about that!

3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)

6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.

7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

8. At the end of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you will get +1 entry.

9. If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - they will be checking ;)

10. December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL.

11. You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of them to be entered in giveaways!

Levels:
1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

Hosts:
Evie from Bookish
Nicole from All I Ever Read
Bonnie from Hands and Home
Donna from Book Passion For Life
Caitlin from WatchYA Reading
Rie from Mission To Read
Vicky from Books, Biscuits & Tea
Christa from Hooked On Books
Jenna from Fans Of Fiction
Angel from Mermaids Vision

Wrap-up POST Schedule:
January - Donna (Theme: Let It Snow + Book Cover Challenge)
February - Nicole (Theme: Un-requited Love/Love Gone Wrong + Advice Column Challenge)
March - Rie (Theme: Green or Pinched + Green Cover Challenge)
April - Bonnie (Theme: Easter + Mini Challenge)
May - Christa (Theme: MayDay - Disaster Books! + Cover Disaster Challenge)
June - Jenna ( Theme: Camping + Sentence Challenge)
July - Rie (Theme: International Day + Cover Comparison Challenge)
August - Angel (Theme: Summer Memories + Send Your Fav Character On Vacation Challenge)
September - Nicole (Theme: Life Changing Books + Mini Challenge)
October - Caitlin (Theme: Thanksgiving Theme + Share-A-Book Challenge)
November - Vicky (Theme: Spooky Halloween + Book Puzzle Challenge)
December - Evie (Theme: Xmas Bliss + Book Bachelor Challenge)

Good luck and as always, HAPPY READING!!! *XOXO*

Manic Monday! (13)

2012-01-23T12:34:00.006-05:00

REVIEW Where She Went

2012-01-21T08:33:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future - and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

I have to say, Where She Went was a complete and total surprise. I didn't read the synopsis before I started the book, so each step along the way was unexpected. And having the story told from Adam's perspective was refreshing, heartwrenching, and so enjoyable, there are hardly words to describe it.

Where She Went picks up several years after the conclusion of If I Stay and boy, have things changed! Adam has become a bonafide rockstar and has a sexy celebrity girlfriend to boot. Turns out, Mia hasn't been doing too badly herself. A prodigy at Juilliard, she ends up graduating early to head out touring on her cello.

We learn through Adam that Mia abruptly ended their relationship by the classic disappearing act not too long after heading to Juilliard... an action that has left Adam completely broken. His life has been spiralling out of control since on a whirlwind of anxiety, fame, and music industry obligations. A chance encounter reunites Mia and Adam for a single night--a night that gives the ex-lovers the opportunity to finally open up about past hurts, regrets, feelings, and possible future changes. Will this night give Adam and Mia closure? Or does fate have another plan for the two of them?

If you want to know the answer to the above questions, you're just going to have to read it! I can say that this book did what it's predeccesor failed to do for me: It hooked me emotionally. Adam's POV was riveting. And tears? Yep, this time I had them. I was moved and touched and overwhelmed with feelings, feelings I couldn't quite get to when reading If I Stay. I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend this book. 4 of 5 stars. Read them in order for the best experience, you'll be happy you did. Enjoy! *XOXO*

FUN FRIDAY: Superstitions (and upcoming GIVEAWAY news)

2012-01-20T13:14:00.008-05:00

Happy Friday!! :) I'm starting a new thing here on my blog entitled FUN FRIDAY where I will reveal something about me, some personal tidbit that will allow my followers to get to know me better. I follow several blogs and I sometimes wonder who the bloggers REALLY are behind the words, so I thought it would be a cool thing to open up a bit and to reveal more about who Karen really is.

Today's tidbit: I am highly superstitious. HIGHLY. One season, the Colts (I'm also a humongous football fan, but that's no secret!) started out undefeated for many, many weeks. That first week, I had used a specific spoon at work and since they won, I decided I couldn't wash that spoon and had to keep using it. I'm talking almost daily yogurts here, people. And it couldn't be rinsed off or it would lose the magic! Who could have predicted they would have won 13 games that year before losing. 13 games. 13 weeks!! Of using the SAME SPOON. It started to have visible nastiness on it and coworkers and friends threatened to steal it to wash it, it was that gross.

I attribute that amazing season to my dirty spoon. I can't help it. And I have weird rituals about almost everything. I have to use the same bookmark right now. It's a paper bookmark of Melissa Marr's Radiant Shadows. There's nothing special about it. It's not signed, it's not laminated, nothing. My cats have chewed on the corners and it's gotten wet and a little wrinkly in places. But I feel like I MUST use it with each new book or the book will suck. It's completely illogical, but it's just something I have to do.

I also wear the same necklace every day. My fiance bought it for me on our 5 month anniversary. The design on the charm matches the tattoo he has on his chest so I wear it daily to keep him close to my heart. That's not the strange part. The strange part is that the clasp LOVES to turn around and end up in front and every time this happens, I have to kiss the clasp and make a wish before turning it around to the back again.

What can I say? I'm an odd one. I could list more examples, but I think the above ones prove I have some weird superstitions. I think it's just something about me that adds to my charm. That's what I tell myself anyway! Do any of you have weird superstitions? If so, please leave a comment about them, I would love to hear them!

One last thing before I jettison off to what will hopefully be a fantastic weekend... GIVEAWAY NEWS!! I have reached 250 followers!! *tosses confetti* How very exciting. I'll be coming up with a giveaway to mark that accomplishment and hope to have it up next week so be on the lookout! Hope everyone has a smashingly fantabulous weekend! And as always, HAPPY READING!! *XOXO*

REVIEW If I Stay

2012-01-19T17:07:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces - to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful, Mia's story will stay with you for a long, long time.

If I Stay is an emotional book that gives readers an intimate glimpse into the life of Mia, a girl who literally watches as her existence hangs in the balance. Mia "wakens" outside of herself after a horrible car accident, an accident that strips her family from her forever. She gets to witness the aftermath of the accident in an out-of-body type of experience and it is through this that we learn Mia is faced with the ultimate choice: Does she stay, or does she go? The choice between life and death is an extremely difficult one as the life that Mia has known is gone.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a gripping read, I found it very difficult to put down. Mia's life unfolds before us through flashbacks that give us glimpses to the life she's led, the people she has lost, and the life possibilities that await her should she decide to stay.

While I enjoyed the book, and read it in a day since it's an easy and short read, I did find that the emotion in the story didn't grab at me the way that it seemed to for others who have read it. While I found myself touched and moved by the story, not once did I tear up. And for those of you who know me well, that is surprising considering everything seems to make me tear up! I just couldn't seem to get there with this book. I was invested, and I did keep flipping the pages, wanting to know what would ultimately happen, but I found that I didn't actually have a preference for the decision Mia would make. If she stayed, if she went, it didn't matter to me which way she chose. I think that fact alone is what made me rate it 3 of 5 stars.

All in all, I would still highly recommend this book as it's very different from many of the books out there right now. It definitely is thought-provoking and you will likely find it very hard to put down. I can't say grab the kleenex though, because I definitely didn't need any. But many, many others did so maybe have some nearby. You know... just in case. Happy Reading!! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

2012-01-18T14:31:00.005-05:00

Synopsis:

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

Release date: February 21, 2012

I'm really intrigued by this one! Love, heartbreak, betrayal, death... what's not to like? Being a counselor, I'm definitely interested to see Brie go through the five stages of grief. Here's hoping she finds a happily ever after--even if it's after the grave. What are YOU waiting for this Wednesday? Leave me a link and I'll check it out! *XOXO*

REVIEW Bloodrose

2012-01-17T21:34:00.002-05:00

Synopsis:

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.

Bloodrose is the final book in the Nightshade Trilogy by Andrea Cremer. Let me tell you... this book is a WILD RIDE! Full of action, heartbreak, love, loyalty and sacrifice, it will definitely keep you flipping the pages at a breakneck speed as the book rushes towards its conclusion.

Bloodrose continues the journey of Calla, Shay, Ren and the gang as they rush to gather the pieces that will help secure victory over the Keepers. This book is FULL of action around every corner, you will definitely not be bored with the pacing of this one! As the pieces come together, and war becomes inevitable, loyalties and relationships will be put to the test. Who will survive? And at what cost? The final battle is upon us... you will NOT want to miss it. And the ending has a surprise twist that will keep you on your toes.

So what did I REALLY think about the conclusion of this series? Without spoilering, I will say that in some ways, it met my expectations and left me with a smile on my face. But there is one event in the book that had tears streaming down my face, an event that muddied my love for the book because I feel that it made things too easy. And while many will consider the ending happy, I was left wanting more.

I'm sad to leave the Nightshade world behind. There are many characters I will continue to love and miss. But the series kind of lost its sparkle for me as it went through books two and three. Book one had a magic that can sometimes be hard to duplicate. That being said, I would still recommend this series to anyone who loves the wolfies. It's an entertaining and engaging series that you won't regret reading. Just choose your favorites carefully--remember that in war, there are always casualties. And as always... Happy Reading. *XOXO*

Book Blogger Confessions

2012-01-17T14:19:00.009-05:00

Book Blogger Confessions is a new meme created by Tiger at All-Consuming Media and Karen at For What It's Worth. Book Blogger Confessions gives participants the opportunity to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers. Check out their sites for more information.

This edition's question: Have you ever had reading/blogging slumps? How do you work through them or work around them?

Well, I had a MAJOR blogging slump... I was MIA for over a year and a half! My reasons stemmed from serious personal upheaval, but the result was the same: I checked out. Stepped away. Fell behind in posts, fell behind in reading, got overwhelmed, and then just completely fell out of the game. While I know that my experience is a little extreme, and it's unlikely that many of you fellow bloggers will fall off for as long as I did, I think many can relate to the common reasons some of us may become lackadaisical with our blogs.

Life happens. And sometimes, it happens at such a rapid rate, it's hard to find the time to devote to my blog. I have a very stressful job and in the past couple years, it's gotten more so as I have been forced to take on more responsibilities to carry the weight of some new team members who don't seem quite able to get into the swing of things. Days are long and when I get home, I have to force myself to not check out. A realization I've recently come to, hence my return to the blogosphere, is that more than ever, I NEED to carve out time for the things that bring me joy. Reading and blogging are two things that make me happy, that give me an escape, and I will not allow myself to drift so far from them again.

So for me, it's all about time management. Not everything is going to get done. That can be a hard thing to accept, as I tend to be type-A about certain things. But the reality is: I am only one person and I can only do but so much. I will find time to read, to blog, to do the things that make me happy, but there will be times where life interrupts and I have to be ok with that. Whether that means skipping a post, or not writing a review for a book that I didn't love, it's ok. And the reverse is true as well: I can put off the laundry for a night if I need some time to unwind, to blog my thoughts and to just be me. Balance. It's all about balance.

The answer to the reading slump is a whole lot simpler for me: Variety. Mix it up! Right now, for example, I'm reading Bloodrose, the third book in the Nightshade Series by Andrea Cremer. And honestly? I'm ready to tear my hair out! It's another super-predictable love triangle where I know the main character is going to choose the safe character that everyone is supposed to love but who I just can't seem to form a connection to. The way I plan on solving this is to read something COMPLETELY different. I'm going to take a break from the supernatural and PRAY that my next book doesn't have a poor love triangle--meaning, there's no chance the character is going to veer in any direction but the obvious one. Reading slumps are easy to break: ask a friend for a recommendation, visit Goodreads, go browse the shelves at your local library. ANYTHING that will help you find something different, something you hadn't considered. Often, it only takes one "different" book to snap me out of my funk.

But if that fails? Go back to a tried and true: Harry Potter. Or whatever YOUR Harry Potter is. If my reading slump is severe, that has always worked for me. I go back to a beloved series full of characters and storylines that feel like home. Those type of series remind me why I LOVE to read. They recharge my batteries and make me feel content again. Seriously. Try it. Find your Harry Potter. You'll never regret it. Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Bloodrose

2012-01-17T12:01:00.003-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer.

It happened in the space of a blink. Gabriel had just reached the deck and it dropped onto him--a shape descending like an ebony cloak. The panther screamed as it leapt from its hiding place on the other side of the roof. (pg. 208)

I'm liking this book a lot so far! It was hard to choose a teaser because I really, really don't want to spoil this book for anyone. Fans of the Nightshade Series, get this book NOW. Can't wait to see how it ends!! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Manic Monday! (12)

2012-01-16T11:26:00.007-05:00

Welcome to Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight a book or two that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

The first book I'm highlighting is Hallowed by Cynthia Hand:

Synopsis:

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Hallowed is the second book in the Unearthly Series. I've been holding on to Unearthly because cliffhangers drive me insane! Now that book two is coming out, I'm ready to dive into the series. Anyone read it? Thoughts?

The second book I'm highlighting is The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries, The Asylum by L.J. Smith, Kevin Williamson, and Julie Plec:

Synopsis:

The hunters become the hunted. . . .

Driven from their hometown of Mystic Falls, both Stefan Salvatore and his brother, Damon, arrived in Europe looking for a fresh start. But Samuel, a wealthy and cunning vampire, has other plans for them. First he ruined Stefan’s peaceful existence and now he’s framing Damon for the most gruesome murders London has ever seen.

United against their common enemy, Stefan and Damon are stunned when they realize that the source of Samuel’s rage lies in their past—tied up with the woman who forever changed their lives. Haunted by the memory of Katherine, the brothers find that their uneasy alliance is tested. Can they overcome their rivalry to defeat Samuel before he exacts his final revenge?

This book is volume 5 in the Stefan's Diaries series. This series is based on the show, and reveals the truth about what really happened between Stefan, Damon, and Katherine—and how the Vampire Diaries love triangle began. I'm addicted to all things Vamp Diaries so I can't wait to get my hand on this one!

Hope there are some things you're looking forward to! Happy Reading!! *XOXO*

REVIEW Wolfsbane

2012-01-15T21:11:00.004-05:00

Synopsis

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

First off, let me say that I LOVE this series. I have grown extremely attached to some of these characters and truly enjoy the world that Andrea Cremer has created. That being said, second books can be a little tricky sometimes. While I was pleased and quite happy by the end of Wolfsbane, there were some moments in the first half of the book that didn't quite meet up to my expectations.

The book begins basically where Nightshade ended, with Calla waking up after being taken captive by the Searchers. Turns out, these guys may be the good guys after all. Calla is given the opportunity to form an alliance that could possibly spare all of her loved ones she was forced to leave behind. Sounds easy, right? Ha!

We're introduced to a ton of new characters and while I did end up growing to like some of them, I have to admit I found them tiresome in the beginning. Only because of the frequent banter between them. I found it distracting to the story and would end up off of my train of thought. Other than that slight annoyance, I did end up getting to know, and quite like, the majority of the new arrivals.

I really don't want to spoiler this book for anyone, because if you liked Nightshade, you're definitely going to want to read this one. It's got a lot of action and some truly touching moments. There's a surprise that frankly isn't much of a surprise at all if you're paying attention as you read the book. I was a little disappointed with how quickly I sniffed that one out. But don't forget, there are the BOYS! While I was on the fence on the Team Shay/Team Ren debate at the end of Nightshade, I have to say that I slid a little bit more towards one side by the end of this book. One of the boys lost some magic for me, while one gained favor. Especially when I realized how much I missed his presence since he played a much smaller role this time around.

All in all, this is a great book. The last half definitely made up for the slightly disappointing first, so don't give up if you're not loving it in the beginning. And you'll want to get your hands on Bloodrose as soon as possible, because the ending of Wolfsbane will leave you panting for more! Enjoy!

In My Mailbox (19)

2012-01-14T13:53:00.006-05:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, borrowed, or bought this past week:

Won:
Leviathan by Scott Westerfield.
The crazy thing? I vaguely remember winning this a VERY long time ago. Like 2010 long ago and I can't remember where I won it from! It showing up in my mailbox this week was a total surprise. Thank you to whoever sent it!! :)

Bought:
Wolfbane by Andrea Cremer
Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Super excited to finish the Nightshade Series by Andrea Cremer!! I INHALED Wolfsbane in a day and just started Bloodrose. Reviews to come! And some Cassandra Clare? Yes, please! I've missed that world, ready to dive back in.

What did YOU get this week? Leave me a link so I can check it out! Happy Reading!! *XOXO*

The Return... of a Blogger

2012-01-09T10:01:00.005-05:00

Summer of 2010 marked a period of extreme upheaval in my life. I went through some major personal changes, which culminated in me losing touch with the things that mattered to me. I'm happy to say that things have turned around in unexpected, and truly fabulous ways. My life is completely unrecognizable from the one I was living before, and I could not be happier with where I am.

That being said, I want to get back to doing the things that I love and reading is something I had drifted from. I've gotten back on track with reading since this past summer and falling in love with books again has made me miss my blog something fierce.

So... I'm back. *tosses confetti* Getting back into the swing of things may take some time, but I'm super excited and stoked to make the attempt. Thanks to my followers who stuck around, I adore each and every one of you. 2012 is going to be a fantastic year, so happy you will all be with me each step of the way.

Author Interview: Andrea Cremer

2010-08-25T13:21:00.003-04:00

Andrea Cremer is the author of the soon-to-be-released book, Nightshade. Nightshade is the first book in a new and exciting series about werewolves. Andrea was amazing enough to let me interview her this month for the Ultimate Reviewers Challenge. Check out our interview and don't forget to enter the challenge... an ARC of Nightshade is included in my prize pack and you don't want to miss your opportunity to get your hands on this book!

Synopsis:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

What are your must haves when writing?

Coffee, coffee, and coffee.

Describe Nightshade in three words.

Seductive, thrilling, addictive.

What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your book?

At ALA someone asked me if Calla was born a wolf or human (since Guardians shift back and forth at will). I hadn't really thought about it - and I'd say it could go either way.

Who was your favorite character in Nightshade or who was the one you identified with the most?

They're all favorites - the character I identify with the most is Ansel, who is loosely based on my younger brother. Since my brother and I are a lot alike I really to that character.

What is a typical day in the life of Andrea Cremer like?

It really depends. During the school year my schedule is based around the classes I'm teaching. Right now, however, I'm on sabbatical so my days revolved around writing instead. I usually get up around 9 a.m. stumble through my apartment until I get coffee. Then I check email and blogs and twitter. After that I usually turn to writing whatever project I'm working on and I'll write through the afternoon, taking breaks to walk the dogs or eat. When my husband gets home we'll make dinner together, hang out, and play World of Warcraft. When I'm feeling motivated I also do yoga and go for runs.

What's next for you?

I just turned in Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) and once I have my editorial letter I'll work on revisions. Then it's onto Book 4, which doesn't have a title but is a prequel to the Nightshade series.

A HUGE thank you to Andrea for taking the time to answer my questions and for donating an ARC of Nightshade for the Ultimate Prize Pack! I have read Nightshade and absolutely loved it. To read my review, please click here.

(Credit for the photo of Andrea: Gina Monroe)

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

2010-08-25T12:23:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

I DON’T THINK SO.

Release date: January 1, 2011

*squee* I'm a couple books behind in this series but what I have read so far, I have loved! What are you waiting for? Leave me a link! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (18)

2010-08-22T18:14:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, borrowed, or bought this past week:

Won:
Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti
Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr (signed)

I won these books as part of a prize pack for being voted Friendliest Rather on the Rath&Ruins forum on the Wicked Lovely website. The award was part of The Marr Awards which were awards voted on by fans of Melissa Marr's work. Check out The Rath if you're a fan of the Wicked Lovely Series, you won't be disappointed!

Borrowed:
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
The Duff by Kody Keplinger
(both from my amazing brain twin, LENA!)
Intertwined by Gena Showalter from the fabulous KAREN!
Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov from my BFF, Cheryl.

Definitely a good week, made it nice coming home from vacation! So what did you get this week? Please leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

2010-08-18T15:44:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch an object and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case — but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother — who has supernatural gifts of his own — becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Release date: March 1, 2011

Wow. This one sounds AWESOME. I can't wait to read it! What are you waiting for? Leave me a link! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Dead Beautiful

2010-08-17T08:37:00.002-04:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon.

All of a sudden I felt an incredible urge to feel something more: pain, happiness, it didn't matter. In front of me the water was tenuously still, as if the night air were weighing down on it with immense pressure.

And then I saw something rise to the surface. It was round and long, and had what looked like a train of tattered clothes hanging off of it, lolling in the ripples of the water. Its surface was a sickly white. pg. 22

I'm definitely intrigued by this book so far! I JUST started it, can't wait to get further in. Leave me a link to your teaser! *XOXO*

REVIEW Clockwork Angel

2010-08-13T09:40:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

*squees uncontrollably* I am in love with Cassie Clare’s books. Seriously. In LOVE. I adore The Mortal Instruments Series and am unbelievably happy that she’s writing more books in it. And now? I’m also completely in love with The Infernal Devices. This new series is set in the same Shadowhunter world that The Mortal Instruments is, just quite a bit in the past. And Clockwork Angel, the first book in the series, will NOT disappoint you.

Clockwork Angel follows Tessa, an American girl who has just arrived in London, as she is thrust into a world that she never knew existed. She learns that she herself is part of this world thanks to an amazing ability she has... the ability to transform into another person. Unfortunately, she learns about her ability by being kidnapped and tortured by the Dark Sisters, two very scary and cruel women. Tessa ends up being aided in her escape by the Shadowhunters, gifted human warriors who fight evil.

Tessa stays at the Institute with the Shadowhunters so she can help them figure out what is going on with the clockwork creatures and the mysterious person behind it all, the Magister. In exchange, the Shadowhunters will help Tessa find her brother. Included in this group of Shadowhunters are Will and Jem, two teenage boys that Tessa finds herself drawn to as she delves deeper and deeper into their world.

I really can't say much else of the plot without spoilering and THAT would be a travesty because this book is AMAZING. I was completely engaged in the story and literally had to pry the book from my fingers at times. Cassie Clare has done it again! I don't think I realized how much I had missed this world until reading this book.

Things I can tell you: This book is action-packed! Definitely no yawning while reading this one. And the boys? RAWR. Two delectable choices. Though I am firmly on one side of the fence, I adore the other boy as well and when does that happen? The writing is beautiful and I love the descriptions... I literally felt as if I were there at times. And if you like mystery and intrigue, this one is for you! I have NO idea where the story is headed next and I love that. And Will? Wow. He is so intriguing and interesting, I have GOT to know what has happened in his past. I'm drawn to characters with layers and man, does he have some! All of the characters were great, really. I felt bonded to all of the Shadowhunters we meet. And who doesn't love Magnus? My only complaint is not more of him!

This book is a seriously great read. It will stick with you after you're done. I can't stop thinking about it and feel tortured that it's going to be so long before book two comes out! You MUST add this to your TBR pile if you haven't already. It releases August 31st so what are you waiting for? Pre-order!! You won't regret it! *XOXO*

Better Know a BLOGGER: Meet Taylor... The Library Lurker!

2010-08-12T09:50:00.000-04:00

Your Name: Taylor

Name of your blog? The Library Lurker. Check it out here!

Started when? January 2010

Number of followers? 166

What do you review? YA Fiction of all kinds.

How did you get the name for your blog? Well, I get most of my books from the library and I'm there a lot. When I was brainstorming ideas for a name, The Library Lurker just popped into my head. I did a search to see if anyone had used it for a book blog before, because surely it must have been taken, but the only link was to a blog that no one had ever posted on.

How would you describe your blog? My blog is a reflection of me. The colors that it is (bright green and purple) are two of my favorites. I don't have a ton of clutter on my sidebar because I like all of the focus to be on my actual posts and don't like things messy in real life. I have a loose schedule for my weekly post outlines because I can't stand not having a plan.

What kind of blogger are you? Very organized or fly by the seat of your pants? I'm a little bit of both. Like I said above, I have a loose outline of what I'm going to post in the near future, but if I think that something unscheduled is worth posting I won't hesitate to.

What is your favorite review or post from your own blog? Definitely my opinion post My Thoughts on Size in YA. It's the first time that I've ever really expressed my opinion about something like that on my blog, and I was proud of myself for actually posting it. I'm generally pretty reserved, so putting my opinion out there for others to criticize was huge for me.

Your favorite blog? I like all of the usuals (you know the ones!), and I also really like Katie's Book Blog, she's so nice! Erika of Moonlight Book Reviews started a little bit after me, and her blog is great! But really, any book blog is my favorite blog. I just love reading about books.

What are you reading right now? I'm planning on starting The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting once I get done with all this bloggy stuff. I'm really excited to read it!

Can you give me a picture of either your TBR pile or your bookshelves? This is my TBR bookshelf! That does include the books on top, but the books on the floor I've read, one pile is for giveaway/trade/sell, the others I'm keeping. Now I just need to go sign up for the event!

Taylor: Thanks again!

A HUGE thanks to Taylor for letting us interview her! Be sure to check out her site here. And if YOU would like to be featured on Better Know a BLOGGER, please email me at nflkaren(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

2010-08-11T09:47:00.001-04:00

Synopsis:

Someone’s been a very bad zombie.

Super-smartie Kate Grable gets to play doctor, helping out her high school football team. Not only will the experience look good on her college apps, she gets to be thisclose to her quarterback crush, Aaron. Then something disturbing happens. Kate finds out that the coach has given the team steroids. Except... the vials she finds don’t exactly contain steroids. Whatever’s in them is turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless, flesh-eating... zombies.

Unless she finds an antidote, no one is safe. Not Aaron, not Kate’s brother, not her best friend... not even Kate...

It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.

Release date: July 11, 2011

I love Goodreads! I saw the cover for this book on the site when a friend of mine added it to their TBR list and I was instantly intrigued. You have to admit, that is a sweet cover! Sounds like a fun read, can’t wait to check it out. What are YOU waiting for? *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Infinite Days

2010-08-10T09:12:00.000-04:00

Manic Monday! (11)

2010-08-09T09:02:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight a book or two that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

The first book I’m highlighting is The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller:

Synopsis:

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Definitely sounds interesting! Some early reviews on Goodreads have made me want to check it out for sure! The second book I’m highlighting is Aces Up by Lauren Barnholdt:

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old high school senior Shannon Card needs money. And lots of it. She's been admitted to Wellesley, but her dad just lost his job, and somehow she has to come up with a year of tuition herself. But Shannon's dream of making big bucks waitressing at the local casino, the Collosio, disappears faster than a gambler's lucky streak. Her boss is a tyrant, her coworker is nuts, and her chances of balancing a tray full of drinks while wearing high-heeled shoes are slim to none. Worse, time is running out, and Shannon hasn't made even half the money she'd hoped.

When Shannon receives a mysterious invitation to join Aces Up, a secret network of highly talented college poker players, at first she thinks No way. She has enough to worry about: keeping her job, winning the coveted math scholarship at school, and tutoring her secret crush, Max. But when Shannon musters up the nerve to kiss Max and he doesn't react at all, the allure of Aces Up and its sexy eighteen-year-old leader, Cole, is suddenly too powerful to ignore.

Soon Shannon's caught up in a web of lies and deceit that makes worrying about tuition money or a high school crush seem like kid stuff. Still, when the money's this good, is the fear of getting caught reason enough to fold?

This fun, sexy, recession-proof story is a bubbly summer read with surprising depth—great for fans of Sarah Mlynowski.

I want to read this one because it sounds very different from a lot of the books I’ve been reading lately. Can’t wait to check it out!

I want to throw out a mention of Winter Longing by Tricia Mills:

Synopsis:

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.

But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future… and a possible new love?

I’ve already read this book so I probably won’t pick it up right away, but I really, really enjoyed it and will DEFINITELY be adding it to my collection when money is flowing more freely, haha. To check out my review of Winter Longing, please click here. And as always, Happy Reading! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (17)

2010-08-07T17:48:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, borrowed, or bought this past week:

Borrowed:
Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel from my brain-twin LENA!
*I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
*Change of Heart by Shari Maurer
*Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
(*All borrowed from the fabulous KAREN!)

I didn't buy any books this week since I've been reading some truly fantastic books thanks to some amazing friends. Probably means I'll have a large order the next time I go to B&N, haha. So... what did YOU get this week? Leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

100 Follower Contest: WINNERS!

2010-08-06T00:55:00.007-04:00

It took me a few days to go through all the entries... a HUGE thank you to everyone who entered the contest! *hugs* And welcome again to my new followers!

And now... the WINNERS!! :D

*drumroll*

Allison

and

The Book Vixen

*tosses confetti*

An email will be heading to you both so please be on the lookout! If you don't respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

And if you didn't win, no worries! We've got a MASSIVE contest going on right now: The Ultimate Reviewers Challenge! Click on the link for details and get those reviews written!

Thanks again to all who entered! *XOXO*

Better Know a BLOGGER: Meet Em!

2010-08-05T22:38:00.006-04:00

It's time to meet... EM from Twisted Fates' Cafe!! :D

Your Name: Em

Blog Stats: Unique hits are between 30 and 80 a day.

Name of your blog? Twisted Fates' Cafe. Check it out here!

Started when? It officially became Twisted Fates in February of this year.

Number of followers? 60

What do you review? Everything. Really. Books (lately it's been mostly YA), movies, and music.

How did you get the name for your blog? When I asked Kim and Catie to join me as a group blog because I needed help, we sat around thinking of a name. Twisted because we're all weird. Fates because there is three of us, like The Fates. Cafe because we talk about all the things you'd discuss in a cafe (minus politics). Yes, we can be overthinkers. ^_^

How would you describe your blog? All the taste of entertainment without the fat? We're three crazy women tackling everything from light and fluffy reads to heavy hitting shows, action packed movies to tear jerking issues people can make a difference with. In other words, we review books, movies, and music, and feature band, author, and non-profit organization interviews and showcases. We try to be entertaining and amusing while being honest and forward. We provide our readers with opinions, facts, reviews, and features to keep them entertained, informed, and hopefully coming back for more of our quirkiness. Anything you'd want to discuss over a nice cup of Joe (or tea, if you're a tea person) you can usually find at Twisted Fates' Cafe.

What kind of blogger are you? Very organized or fly by the seat of your pants? Both? I have a schedule, everything is planned out. But the posts themselves only get written ahead of time when I'm in a very productive mood. I'll be ahead for two weeks and then spend a month writing posts as I go. Lol. My reviews get written a day or two after I'm finished with whatever I'm reviewing. But the rest of the post is usually last minute.

What is your favorite review or post from your own blog? I'll give you two because my absolute favorite is a review of a play. I reviewed The Pride, an amazing play, and that's my favorite because of how in depth I got with the review. My favorite book review is probably the one for The Body Finder. It's the most recent review I've posted and shows that I've grown leaps and bounds since I first started this silly reviewing business since I loved the book and didn't just gush about it the whole time. Lol.

Your favorite blog? Ya know, I don't read many because I'm always so busy working on mine or writing or reading. But I LOVE Shannon's blog because of her amazing use of alliteration, which I have a thing for. Check out Shannon's blog here.

What are you reading right now? Right now I'm reading The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff and Forget You by Jennifer Echols.

Can you give me a picture of either your TBR pile or your bookshelves? I have a TBR bookcase. The pictures don't catch the full beauty of it, but the top shelf has 57 books, middle shelf has 69 (yes, I found that amusing too), and the bottom shelf has 33 books (there is a stack of Comics also, but I've read those). All books waiting to be read.

Em: This was a lot of fun! Thanks. ^_^

A HUGE thanks to Em for the interview! Please be sure to check out Twisted Fates' Cafe to read more from Em and to meet her partners-in-crime, Kim and Catie. And if YOU would like to be featured on Better Know a BLOGGER, please email me at nflkaren(at)gmail(dot)com.

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

2010-08-04T18:49:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can’t find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and her school has only sixty-eight students—for every grade from kindergarten to twelve.

Now, strange things are happening in this claustrophobic town, and Maya's determined to get to the bottom of them. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. A year later, mountain lions start appearing around Maya's home, and they won’t go away. Her best friend, Daniel, starts getting negative vibes from certain people and things. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret—and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy: Her paw-print birthmark.

Release date: April 12, 2011

*squee* I saw the cover of this today on Goodreads and just had to post it! I am a huge Kelley Armstrong fan and I cannot wait for this new series! *happy dance* If you haven't read her Darkest Powers Series, I HIGHLY recommend it. So... what are YOU waiting for? Leave me a link and I'll check it out! *XOXO*

Ultimate Reviewers Challenge!

2010-08-02T00:20:00.002-04:00

The Ultimate Reviewers Challenge has begun!!! :D *squee*

Addicted 2 Novels, For What It's Worth, Tiger's All-Consuming Books and I are hosting this event. For details, click here. Basically, throughout the month of August, we invite ALL bloggers to post as many reviews as possible. Consider it a "back-to-basics" contest!

One of the best parts? It's super simple! All you have to do is sign-up on each of our blogs so we know you're participating, write a review anytime this month and then enter it in the Mr. Linky below. But first... check out our official rules.

Rules:

* You MUST sign up HERE. You can sign up any time. There's no deadline!
*These must be real reviews, meaning more than just a couple of sentences describing the book. We'll be checking to make sure you're posting legitimate reviews!
*No review can be posted twice on the same blog. That doesn't mean you can't post the same review on each one of our blogs though so make sure you link your review on all 4 blogs for the best chance of winning!
*The review must be written in August. No using reviews you've already written!
*You must be a blogger to participate.
*This contest will be international. There will be 4 winners total.
*Contest ends August 31st at midnight, CST.
*Rules and regulations are subject to change depending on current situations. Don't worry, you'll be informed if that's the case!

The Prize: At the end of the challenge, one lucky reviewer from each blog will receive the Ultimate Prize Pack. The prize packs are different, depending on the host. Here's a sample of the prize pack that will be given away here:

Books:
-Nightshade (signed ARC)
-Bones of Faerie
-The Unwritten Rule
-Beautiful Creatures (with bracelet and sticker)
-Something Like Fate
-The Iron King
-Things I Know About Love
-The Summer of Skinny Dipping

Swag:
-Sea bookmarks
-Radiant Shadows bookmarks and bookplates
-The Iron King bookplates
... and much, more more! We've got a TON of swag.

Throughout the event, we'll also be hosting mini-contests, interviewing some of your favorite authors and bloggers, and adding MORE books to the prize packs, so be sure to follow our blogs!

We would also be super grateful if you'd sport our button on your blog throughout the event. Snag it here:

So... what are you waiting for? Get linking those reviews! Best of luck to you all! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (16)

2010-08-01T23:44:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, borrowed, or bought this past week:

Given:
Nightshade ARC from the wonderfully generous Andrea Cremer. This ARC was given to me to include in the prize pack for the Ultimate Reviewers Challenge. Be on the lookout for an interview with Andrea that will be posted soon!

Borrowed:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare from my BFF LENA!

Bought:
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
Oh My Gods by Tera Lynn Childs
Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

So what did you get this week? Leave me a link and I'll check it out! *XOXO*

REVIEW Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

2010-07-31T23:34:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all rightuntil a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.

Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces... or else.

With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

This book was SO MUCH fun! I laughed and cringed and was completely and totally enthralled by this story. I devoured this book because I couldn't stand to put it down! I simply had to know what happened next in the story. I am totally in love with the world that Lish McBride has created and I am crossing fingers, toes, and everything else, that there will be a sequel.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer follows along as the main character, Sam, learns the truth about his identity. Turns out, he's a necromancer and now the biggest baddie in town wants to take him on as an apprentice. Douglas Montgomery is SCARY... and his motivation tactics could use some serious work. He decides to sway Sam's decision by threatening the people Sam loves and by sending a very unusual "message". A message that is oh-so-wrong, but very entertaining and funny for us readers.

The action keeps going from there as we watch Sam delve further into the supernatural world that is quite rampant in the Seattle area. Readers who love supernatural creatures will be happy to know that there is much more than necromancers in town. Witches, shifters, there's lots to keep you engaged. One of these other supernaturals is Brid, a young woman being kept captive by Douglas. Sam and her cross paths as they both deal with Douglas and his power-hungry ways. Will sparks fly between the two of them as they help each other deal? You've got to read to find that out!

I don't want to spoil the story by giving away much more. Let me just say that I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves witty and truly entertaining reads. I would love to sit down with the author over a cup of coffee and pick her brain, I am that in awe of this book. The characters were all SO likeable, you couldn't help rooting for them and frantically flipping the pages to see what happened to them next. And the humor... the humor! This book will have you laughing. I actually laughed out loud in public while reading this, it is that good.

My only caution is that this book is geared towards slightly older YA readers. There's definitely some stuff in the book that I wouldn't recommend for the younger crowd. But seriously... when this book comes out on October 12th, you NEED to get a copy. It is one of my faves of the year so far. To be honest, the synopsis and the cover do not do this book justice. I had lukewarm feelings about reading it when I first heard about it and saw the cover. Thank GOD I signed up for the tour on Around The World Tours though because I could not have been more wrong. I'll be buying my own copy so I can re-read it as soon as it releases... you should do the same! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Contest Update!

2010-07-30T22:12:00.003-04:00

I have surpassed 200 Followers since this contest began! To help celebrate, I'm adding another winner to the 100 Follower Contest. It's not too late to win the book of YOUR choice! Enter here! And thank you, thank you, thank you to my new followers. You all rock! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

2010-07-28T16:13:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

The first book in a dark, edgy new angel series about a girl who finds herself forced to choose sides in the battle between fallen angels, even if that means going against the boy she loves.

When Ellie Faneuil first sees Michael Chase she feels an instantaneous connection. But she does not realize how much they have in common, including the ability fly and to see what others are thinking - not to mention a taste for blood. Reveling in their new powers and their growing feelings for each other, 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 between fallen angels 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 tale of soul-mates, supernatural powers and a truth that will change Ellie and Michael's world forever.

Release date: December 28, 2010

I'm loving the angel trend going on in YA books right now. When I saw the description of this on Goodreads, I knew I had to check it out! What are you waiting for? *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

2010-07-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from an ARC of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride.

I opened the box, then quickly dropped it and scrambled up onto the counter, making very dignified shrieking noises.

"Ow, cut it out, you guys!" Her blue eyes popped open and swung around until they found me. "Ugh, so not cool. Really, Sam. You don't just drop somebody's head. Especially a friend's. Like being stuffed into a box and bounced around for an hour wasn't bad enough." pg. 49

This book is awesome so far. Funny, gross, so wrong, and majorly entertaining. Love it! I think I'll have a new appreciation for bowling ball bags after this book. If you want to know what I mean, you've gotta read this book! It releases October 12th, be sure to add it to your TBR pile! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Ultimate Reviewers Challenge: SIGN UP TODAY!

2010-07-26T20:28:00.003-04:00

It's almost time!! *squee*

Addicted 2 Novels, For What It's Worth, Tiger's All-Consuming Books and I are hosting an event called the Ultimate Reviewers Challenge. Basically, throughout the month of August, we invite ALL bloggers to post as many reviews as possible. Consider it a "back-to-basics" contest!

When the event begins, we'll each have a Mr. Linky on our blogs where you can post your name, the name of your blog, and a link to your review. At the end of the event, we'll each pick a winner and that person will win the Ultimate Prize Pack.

Rules:

*These must be real reviews, meaning more than just a couple of sentences describing the book. We'll be checking to make sure you're posting legitimate reviews!
*No review can be posted twice on the same blog. That doesn't mean you can't post the same review on each one of our blogs, just not the same review twice.
*The review must be written in August. No using reviews you've already written!
*You must be a blogger to participate.
*This contest will be international. There will be 4 winners total.
*Contest ends August 31st at midnight, CST.
*Rules and regulations are subject to change depending on current situations. Don't worry, you'll be informed if that's the case!

Here's a preview of one of the prize packs you could win:

Books:
-Nightshade (signed ARC)
-Bones of Faerie
-The Unwritten Rule
-Beautiful Creatures (signed ARC)
-Something Like Fate
-The Iron King
-Things I Know About Love
-The Summer of Skinny Dipping

Swag:
-Sea bookmarks
-Radiant Shadows bookmarks and bookplates
-The Iron King bookplates
... and much, more more! We've got a TON of swag.

We'll each keep you updated on the prize packs throughout the event since we're STILL adding books. Throughout the month of August, we will also be interviewing your favorite authors and bloggers so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

We would also be super grateful if you'd sport our button on your blog throughout the event. Snag it here:

Now, we do ask that you sign up for the event at EACH of our blogs. Please fill out the Mr. Linky below if you plan on participating. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible. YOU ALL ROCK!!! :)

*NOTE* Yes, I know the Mr. Linky says "Blog Fodder." Just ignore it. It should say Ultimate Reviewers Challenge. :P

In My Mailbox (15)

2010-07-25T14:49:00.002-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

ARC Tours:
My Worst Best Friend by Dyan Sheldon
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

Borrowed: (all from the lovely KAREN)
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Under My Skin by Judith Graves

What did you get this week? Leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

Recent Favorites!

2010-07-24T00:38:00.000-04:00

I was playing on Goodreads today and realized that it has been four months since I started tracking my read books on their site. I had joined back in October, but didn't really start using it until March 23rd. I was looking back through the books I've read since then and decided that I would come up with some favorites.

So... here are my 5 FAVORITE books that I've read in the past four months. In no particular order because that would be WAY too hard!

All of these books were 5 stars for me on Goodreads. To read the synopsis and my review, please click on the links below:

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

What are some of your favorites from the past few months? I'd love to know!! *XOXO*

REVIEW My Worst Best Friend

2010-07-23T22:35:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

The best-selling author of CONFESSIONS OF A DRAMA QUEEN takes a smart, funny look at friendship, staying true to your identity, and moving on.

Gracie and Savannah are best friends —and utterly unalike. Savannah is beautiful, outrageous, and irresistible to the opposite sex. Gracie is shy, smart, and would rather be studying lizards than meeting boys. Still, they’ve made a surprisingly great team, and (until now) it seemed as if nothing could come between them. But lately, Savannah’s talent for lying and manipulating is becoming harder to ignore. She’s fallen head over heels for an elusive college boy, and Gracie can’t help wondering: is her friend as confident as she seems? When Savannah gets between Gracie and her crush, the line separating best friend from worst friend is crossed.

My Worst Best Friend takes us on a journey with Gracie, a sweet and non-confrontational girl, who loves the outdoors, the environment, and spending time with her best friend, Savanna. Gracie is loyal and honest and bends over backward to be there for Savanna when needed... which is a lot. Because Savanna? That girl is full of drama! Savanna is outgoing, self-absorbed, and pretty clueless about how her actions affect others.

This book follows along as Savanna makes a choice that leads to a web of deceit-- a web that she pulls Gracie into, even though it makes her uncomfortable. As Savanna becomes more entrenched in the web of lies she has built, will Gracie get the nerve to stand up to her? Or will Gracie continue to put Savanna's needs above her own?

There were things about this book that I really liked... and there were some things that I really didn't. I had a problem with the way that Savanna treated Gracie throughout the entire book. The author does a fantastic job of painting a VERY realistic look at how a person like Savanna (completely self-absorbed, dramatic, and narcissistic) behaves in a friendship. I'm sure that we have all had a friend like Savanna before. But to be honest, Savanna takes it to such an extreme level, it's hard to feel any sympathy towards her. While I recognize that she is very unhappy in her home life, there truly is no excuse for the way she behaves with so little regard for others' feelings.

And then there's Gracie. Talk about being a doormat! I was practically growling under my breath at times while reading this. I just wanted her to take a stand already! I was happy to see some growth in her character by the end of the book. She had many fantastic qualities, but her passivity was beyond annoying at times.

The things I liked: The dialogue. I think the author did a great job. Sometimes you read a book *cough-HoN-cough* and you can tell the author is trying too hard to sound "young". I think Dyan Sheldon pulled this off quite well. It was a quick and easy read, and was well-paced. I didn't find myself getting bored like I sometimes do with a book without much action. And then there was Cooper. I found him quirky, intriguing, insightful, and sweet. I would have loved to read more scenes with just him and Gracie.

Overall, I liked this book. I didn't LOVE it... but it was a cute read. I think younger readers especially could find a lot to like about this book. If you're looking for an easy read about friendship and growth, this could be a great summer read. It's one of those books you can read in a couple days, reminisce about your past, and then put it on the shelf and forget about it. Hope you enjoy it if you pick it up! As always, Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Site Under Construction!

2010-07-22T01:02:00.002-04:00

I'm in the process of switching my layout to a 3 column design so please excuse the mess! I did want to send a major shout out to Three Column Blogger... the tutorials on their site made all of this SO MUCH easier. So kudos to them!

If you've got any suggestions for me about how to organize things here on the new 3 column design, I'd love to hear them! Thanks! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

2010-07-21T12:50:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

The Van Helsing family has been hunting vampires for over one hundred years, but sixteen-year-old Daphne wishes her parents would take up an occupation that doesn’t involve decapitating vamps for cash. All Daphne wants is to settle down in one place, attend an actual school, and finally find a BFF to go to the mall with. Instead, Daphne has resigned herself to a life of fast food, cheap motels and buying garlic in bulk.

But when the Van Helsings are called to a coastal town in Maine, Daphne’s world is turned upside down. Not only do the Van Helsings find themselves hunting a terrifying new kind of vampire (one without fangs but with a taste for kindergarten cuisine), Daphne meets her first potential BF! The hitch? Her new crush is none other than Tyler Harker, AKA, the son of the rival slayer family.

What's a teen vampire slayer to do?

Release date: October 5, 2010

I can't help it, I'm a total sucker for slayer stories. I blame it on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hehe. I like Amanda Marrone's books so I'm looking forward to this one. What are you looking forward to? *XOXO*

REVIEW Incarceron

2010-07-20T23:31:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.

Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.

Because Incarceron is alive.

This book was very, very interesting. I'm not going to lie... I was very confused in the beginning and it took me awhile to get into it BECAUSE I was so confused. But once I caught on to what was going on, I was completely sucked in to the story.

Incarceron is set in the future... a future where technological progress has been stopped by a King who believes that reverting to a simpler way of life is the only way to save humanity. There's no electricity, people travel by horseback, and arranged marriages are protocol once more. But this describes "Outside"... what's "Inside" is a lot more terrifying. Inside refers to the experiment that is Incarceron. Incarceron is a living prison... that has intelligence and plans of its own.

The story follows along as we watch Claudia, the Warden's daughter, deal with life on the Outside and an arranged marriage she desperately wants to avoid. We're also introduced to Finn, a prisoner captive in Incarceron who awoke one day in the prison with no memory of who he really is. He gets snatches of what he believes are memories of Outside and decides to lead a small group and himself to freedom after getting hold of a crystal key, a key that could unlock even more than his freedom.

Claudia also manages to obtain a crystal key from the Warden and quickly realizes that it allows her to contact anyone who has the matching key in Incarceron. As she speaks to Finn and becomes entangled in his quest for freedom, she begins to wonder who he might really be... could he possibly help her achieve freedom as well?

There are quite a few twists and turns in this story... and definitely some action! Once I got into the story, I was completely captivated and didn't want to put the book down. It's such a unique concept, different than anything else I've read recently. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something completely off the beaten path. I can't wait to read the sequel, Sapphique. These books were published a couple years ago in the UK, but Sapphique doesn't come out in the US until December. Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Ascendant

2010-07-20T12:34:00.002-04:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund. It is the sequel to Rampant. This is an ARC so the page number may be different in the book when it releases on September 28, 2010.

They'd follow me anywhere. Back to the Cloisters, to be chained and confined like Bonegrinder, or over to Cory, where they'd bow in turn and offer her their necks for slaughter.

All five zhis were shrieking inside my head--the three little ones in horror, the older male in the midst of its death throes, and the female--the female in fury. pg. 54

This book is sooo good so far. If you loved Rampant, I don't think this one will disappoint! What are you reading? *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (14)

2010-07-18T21:09:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Borrowed:
Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund from my BFF LENA!

Bought:
Sleepless by Cyn Balog
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

So what did you get this week? Leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

REVIEW Nightshade

2010-07-18T00:53:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Wow... this book was absolutely AMAZING. It's one of my favorite reads of the year and I would recommend it to anyone. Andrea Cremer writes a fantastic tale full of werewolves, mystery, loyal friendship and pack devotion, backstabbing, lies, and extremely hot boys. It's got something for everyone and it will keep you guessing and frantically flipping the pages!

Nightshade follows the story of Calla Tor. Her entire life has been mapped out by the Keepers and she is about to complete her union to Ren, an extremely sexy alpha wolf from a rival pack. Her union to Ren will unite her pack and his into a new pack that will be guarding a special place of interest to the Keepers. The problem? Calla has developed intense feelings for Shay, a human boy she saved from a bear attack. He has shown up as a new student at her school and is mysteriously a person of importance to the Keepers.

Calla saving Shay's life is in direct violation of one of the most important laws of her world. And now she has been ordered to protect Shay and they must spend a lot of time together... time that leads her to confessing many secrets of her world, secrets that could place both her and Shay in terrible danger. The more that Shay learns about Calla's world, the more questions that it raises for both of them. They begin to doubt everything that Calla has always been told... who is the real threat? The Keepers or the Searchers?

As the date of the union approaches, Calla is torn between Ren and Shay, between loyalty and love. Will she choose duty and responsibility? Or will she risk everything for the possibility of true love?

I don't want to say much more because spoiling this for anyone would be criminal. This book is absolutely incredible. I fell in love with Calla... how awesome it was to read about a strong and capable female protagonist. You can't help but root for her every step of the way. And Ren and Shay? RAWR! I'm usually firmly on one side of the "Team" fence but I'm torn on this one! And the writing... WOW. I was so engrossed in this story, it was hard to put the book down. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, Wolfsbane.

So if you couldn't tell, I freakin' adored this book. The characters, the love, the boys, the mystery, the action... everything about it. I HIGHLY recommend you go out and get this one as soon as it hits the shelves on October 19th. You will not regret it!

Also, be sure to check out my blog next month. As part of the Ultimate Reviewers Challenge, I will be interviewing Andrea Cremer! And she's so amazing, she's agreed to throw in a signed ARC for the prize pack for the contest. You don't want to miss out!

As always, Happy Reading! And thanks for stopping by! *XOXO*

REVIEW The Carrie Diaries

2010-07-16T22:43:00.004-04:00

Synopsis:

Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

The Carrie Diaries introduces us to a young Carrie Bradshaw, a character that many women have grown to absolutely adore thanks to the popularity of the Sex and the City TV show and subsequent movies. This book follows Carrie through her senior year of high school and we get to witness her deal with relationship and friendship drama, gain confidence in her ability as a writer, and take a huge step toward the future that we know is in store for her.

I have to admit that this is the first Candace Bushnell book that I have read and while I wanted to love it from the very beginning, I had a very hard time getting into this one. It took me ten days to read it, mainly because I couldn't read much at a time without getting bored. It got better as I got deeper into the book but it was definitely not what I expected.

Some of the good things: Carrie. I still love her. I had a hard time not comparing her to the Carrie Bradshaw on the TV show though and I know that's a mistake on my part since the TV Carrie is only loosely based on the Carrie from Candace Bushnell's novel. But the teenage book Carrie was great and watching her growth throughout the book was interesting. I hated the way she was with Sebastian and I think that's part of the reason the first half of the book was so rough for me. I have a hard time reading about girls putting up with crap like that. I am happy that Carrie learns to stand up for herself though. We get to see her become one step closer to the adult Carrie that we adore.

I also liked some of the friendships in the book, though not all of them! This book paints an unfortunately realistic look at the mean ways that girls will treat each other. Makes me beyond happy that I am far removed from the high school stage of life.

I would recommend this book to people who are avid fans of Carrie Bradshaw. It was interesting to get to see a glimpse into the childhood that created such an intriguing and relatable adult character. I would caution readers though that this book is definitely boring at times and really could be cut down a bit. While I don't regret reading it, I probably won't be re-reading this book anytime soon. I hope you enjoy it if you do read it! My favorite part was the ending... and a certain phone call. You'll know what I mean if you read it... *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

2010-07-14T11:52:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees...

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what it is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place--and out of place, at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make - between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Release date: January 4, 2011.

I stumbled across Unearthly by Cynthia Hand on Goodreads. It sounds very intriguing and I can't wait to check it out when it releases early next year. What are you looking forward to? *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Incarceron

2010-07-13T15:30:00.003-04:00

Harry Potter MANIA!

2010-07-12T19:24:00.002-04:00

For those of you who do not know, I am OBSESSED with Harry Potter. The books, the movies, all of it! The Harry Potter Series is the reason I started reading for fun again so it will always have a special place in my heart. Plus, it's just freaking awesome!!

I am in love with the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows so I decided to post it here in case you've been living under a rock and haven't seen it, hehe.

*squees* I think the last two movies are going to be AMAZING! Looks like they did a great job. I cannot wait to see it, November cannot get here fast enough!

So... if you're as insane of a Harry Potter fan as I am, you've got to check out the Harry Potter quizzes on Sporcle. One in particular, Harry Potter Top 200 is highly addictive. Have fun! And if you go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, please let me know how it is! I decided to wait until the Fall to try to avoid some of the crowds. Thanks! *XOXO*

Manic Monday! (10)

2010-07-12T16:34:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the tenth edition of Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight a book or two that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

The first book I'm highlighting needs no introduction:

Synopsis:

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past... and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves... and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love - the light and the dark, the warm and the cold - in a way you will never forget.

Wow. Just wow. Several friends of mine have already had the pleasure of reading this and I've heard nothing but good things! I can't wait to see where the story takes our dear Sam and Grace now. Yay for it being released a week earlier than predicted!

The second book I am highlighting is another one I am stoked about:

Synopsis:

His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus has been one of the books that I am most looking forward to reading and I am over the moon excited about it coming out tomorrow. What are you looking forward to? Happy Reading!! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (13)

2010-07-11T17:47:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Bought:
Watch Me by Lauren Barnholdt
Insatiable by Meg Cabot
Blue Bloods: Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz
Remember Me by Christopher Pike
The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith

I'm already inhaling the Blue Bloods companion book *squee* and can't wait to get into the others. What did you get this week? *XOXO*

Create a Cover: Tell Me a Secret

2010-07-10T22:05:00.004-04:00

Princess Bookie is hosting an AMAZING contest right now, so I decided to try my hand at my first EVER create a cover contest! Warning: my photoshop skills are not legendary... but I figured, "Why the heck not?" I suggest you decide to roll the dice as well! For details on the contest, please go here.

Here's my cover for Holly Cupala's debut novel, Tell Me a Secret:

Synopsis:

It's tough living in the shadow of a dead girl...

In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda's death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister's world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.

When two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears, Miranda is stripped of her former life. She must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister's demons and her own.

In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future.

I really want to read this book! If you do as well, head on over to Princess Bookie's website and enter the contest! Best of luck! *XOXO*

REVIEW Sea

2010-07-10T20:30:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

Still haunted by nightmares of her mother's death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father's relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother's plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn't do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.

But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn't think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts.

This book was very, very touching and was a nice break from the supernatural reads currently dominating my TBR shelf.

Sea follows Sienna, a girl who has not healed from her mother's tragic death, as she travels to Indonesia to help orphaned children who are victims of the tsunami that has ravished their world. Agreeing to go on this trip is a huge step for Sienna, who has been afraid of flying since her mother's plane crashed over the Indian Ocean. Since her mother's death, Sienna has not been herself. She has been unable to truly cope with her mother's death and her inability to move on has caused her to distance herself from the person that she used to be.

Upon Sienna's arrival in Indonesia, we're introduced to a culture very far removed from the United States. Heidi Kling, the author, does an amazing job making you feel as if you are right there with Sienna as she learns to cope and adjust to a world very different from the one that she is used to.

Sienna is quickly introduced to the orphans that she will be working with, the ones suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. One of the orphans, an older and very attractive boy, immediately catches Sienna's eye. As Sienna gets to know Deni, and we watch the relationship between them grow, we catch glimpses of the person that Sienna used to be. Could helping Deni cope with his situation help Sienna with her own? And will an adventurous, impromptu trip lead them to joy, heartbreak, or a bitter mix of both?

I really, really liked this story. It had a compellingness that kept me flipping the pages. I was completely invested in the characters and wanted to see where their story would take them next. It was beautifully written and well-paced. And the ending? I was smiling through my tears. It was very bittersweet, yet intensely hopeful. It was heartwarming to watch Sienna and Deni start to move on and heal from their tragic pasts. And they are both left with a great deal of hope for the future.

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a touching and emotional read. The characters are relatable, the writing is fantastic, and the story is extremely engaging. It was a nice change of pace for me, it could be the same for you. Happy Reading! *XOXO*

ULTIMATE REVIEWERS CHALLENGE!

2010-07-10T11:43:00.002-04:00

The Ultimate Reviewers Challenge is an event being hosted the entire month of August by me, Lena from Addicted 2 Novels, Karen from For What It's Worth, and Tiger from All-Consuming Books. We are so excited to put together this contest which is going to be super fun and that is going to help motivate everyone to put those reviews out! And the prizes? They will be AWESOME!

So how is it going to work? So simple! Throughout the month of August, all you have to do is post reviews on your blog and send us the link. We'll each have a Mr. Linky on our blogs for you to use. You can link your review on each of our blogs, but not enter the same review twice on the same blog. Each link to your review will be counted as an entry to win The Ultimate Prize Pack! The more reviews you post, the better chances you have to win. At the end of the month, we'll use randomizer and choose a winner from each blog. That means you have 4 chances to win!!

Because this is to celebrate all that you wonderful bloggers do, we will also be interviewing and highlighting fellow bloggers and some of your favorite authors. And maybe hosting a mini-giveaway or 2... or 3... or 4!

Complete rules, details, and sign-ups will be available soon so keep an eye out!

***HOW YOU (BLOGGERS AND AUTHORS) CAN HELP***

The point of this whole event is to promote your reviews and reward the bloggers who write them. Because while blogging is a lot of fun, writing/posting reviews and maintaining blogs can be very time consuming.

Since we do want each prize pack to be epic, and there's only so much the four of us can do, we're asking fellow bloggers and authors to help us by donating anything you can. Books, bookmarks, swag, half-eaten chocolate bars, whatever you're willing to part with!

For Authors: This is a Reviewers Challenge. Bloggers are indispensible in getting the word out about books... sometimes word of mouth and good reviews elevate a brilliant book that otherwise would have slipped through the cracks. Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) picks can whip up the book reading community into a frenzy of “I must have it now!” If you have anything you can donate, such as books or swag, please let me know!

For Bloggers: You'll be contributing to a great, fun-filled event. If you have any books, or are attending a signing event coming up and can donate something signed, that would be great! We’ll be sure to give everyone who donates a shout out and link to your blog! Also, if you do donate you are still eligible to enter, so no worries there!

Other Ideas: Do you have book related jewelry or crafts, etc. that you would like to donate? Again, we’ll be sure to spotlight you during the contest!

We know there are a lot of requests and challenges going on out there so Lena, Tiger, Karen and I appreciate anything you're able to do for this event! We want to make this a fun and rewarding experience for everyone!

Thanks so much... and GET EXCITED!! This is going to be an insanely fun event. Make it a competition with your friends to see who can post the most reviews in August! And if you want to help out by donating, please email me at nflkaren@gmail.com. And Happy Blogging! *XOXO*

Darkest Mercy Cover!

2010-07-09T15:33:00.003-04:00

For those of you who do not know, I am insanely addicted to the Wicked Lovely Series by the amazingly talented Melissa Marr. The fifth and final book in the series, Darkest Mercy, is set to be released on February 22, 2011. Melissa posted the cover on her blog today:

The cover isn't completely final, Melissa has said that the vines still need work but the rest is set and WOW, I absolutely love it! I have to admit, I wasn't loving the cover of the fourth book, Radiant Shadows, so I am STOKED to see a cover this beautiful. The sunlight? *squee* I hope that means a lot of yummy-good Keenan parts! Perhaps there is a happily ever after for Keenan and Donia after all? I CANNOT wait to get my hands on this book!!

If you've never checked out the series before, here are the books in order:

Wicked Lovely
Ink Exchange
Fragile Eternity
Radiant Shadows
Darkest Mercy

If you love the books and want to chat with fans of the series, please check out the Wicked Lovely website. Melissa frequents the site and spoils us rotten with snippets, spoilers, awesome book giveaways, and more! Plus, the fans are an awesome group of people. You'll make friends... guaranteed!

100 Follower Contest!

2010-07-08T21:51:00.003-04:00

I am sooo excited that I have over 100 Followers! *squees*

To celebrate, I am having a contest where YOU get to choose the book you win! Here's the details:

-Book will be ordered through The Book Depository so this contest is INTERNATIONAL! Woot! (provided that they mail to your country, of course)

-Choose whatever book you want, up to $15 USD.

-Because this is a contest celebrating my wonderful followers, you MUST be a follower to enter the contest.

Please fill out the below form to be entered to win. Contest ends 7/31 so enter today! Best of luck to you all... and as always, Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Loading...

Waiting on Wednesday (#10)

2010-07-07T12:29:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

The Vampire Diaries series has sold more than three million copies in North America and has inspired a hit television show that averages five million viewers per week—and fans continue to flock to L.J. Smith’s novels about love among vampires.

The powerful final volume of The Vampire Diaries: The Return offers readers the kind of romance, danger, and paranormal chills that they know only L.J. Smith can provide. In Midnight, golden girl Elena Gilbert is back from the Dark Dimension, having successfully freed her vampire boyfriend, Stefan Salvatore. Saving Stefan had an unlikely consequence: His brother, Damon, has become a mortal. While the trio reels from this latest twist, they must also deal with the demons that have infiltrated Elena’s hometown. Midnight takes Elena, Stefan, and Damon to their darkest moments yet...

Release date: March 15, 2011

I have to admit, I kind of hate the cover. Any thoughts on who the girl is supposed to be? Caroline maybe? *confused* I found the cover on Goodreads so I'm hoping it isn't the final one. I cannot wait for this book though!! The last one was AMAZING, especially if you're a Damon fan, which I happen to be. Happy Reading!! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Nightshade

2010-07-06T19:04:00.003-04:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Nightshade by Andrea Cremer.

I gasped as his body fitted against mine. Heat flooded my chest, my pelvis. I thought I would drown in it.

In the darkness of my mind's eye I could still feel Ren's embrace, but then the image blurred and instead of the alpha, Shay smiled back at me. pg. 235

Release date: October 19, 2010

I am absolutely in love with this book! Andrea Cremer's take on weres is unique and intriguing, the story is enthralling and the romance is truly sweltering. Make sure you grab this when it releases this fall! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Manic Monday! (#9)

2010-07-05T13:41:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the ninth edition of Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight a book or two that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

The book I'm highlighting this week is a book that caught my eye on B&N.com:

Synopsis:

Who—or what—is stalking the students at Oakhurst Academy?

In the wake of the accident that killed her family, Spirit White is spirited away to Oakhurst Academy, a combination school and orphanage in the middle of Montana. There she learns she is a legacy—not only to the school, which her parents also attended, but to magic.

All the students at Oakhurst have magical powers, and although Spirit’s hasn’t manifested itself yet, the administrators insist she has one. Spirit isn’t sure she cares. Devastated by the loss of her family, she finds comfort with a group of friends: Burke Hallows, Lachlann Spears, Muirin Shae, and Adelaide Lake.

But something strange is going on at Oakhurst. Students start disappearing under mysterious circumstances, and the school seems to be trying to cover it up. Spirit and her friends must find out what’s happening—before one of them becomes the next victim...

I haven't heard much about it and just happened to stumble upon it on the website. Looks interesting so I plan on checking it out! What are you looking forward to? *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (#12)

2010-07-04T23:09:00.002-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Borrowed:
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer from my BFF, LENA

Wow. Another VERY slow week... I blame being super busy. I plan on making up for it this week by a very motivated shopping trip to Barnes and Noble, hehe. For what it's worth though, I am LOVING Nightshade. Totally making up for a slow week! What did you get? Leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

REVIEW Magic Bleeds

2010-07-03T10:50:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for the magic. When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it rose.

Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.

When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family...

Wow... incredible... awesome... there are really no other words. This latest installment of the Kate Daniels Series was everything I had hoped it would be. And much, much more!

This book follows along as a new player comes to town, intent on destroying Atlanta. Kate is thrust into the middle of the action (as usual) and man, is there some action! This book is action PACKED and each scene is more emotional and riveting than the last. I literally had a hard time putting the book down because there weren't a lot of breaks in the action. And while that can sometimes make a book exhausting to read, not in this case. Each scene was written so well and the story was so compelling, you didn't want it to end.

In addition to the adrenaline of heart-pumping action scenes, this book was compelling because we got another glimpse into Kate's family... and the horror within it. Roland has remained a mystery to us, but getting to see the antagonist in this book, someone related to Roland and Kate, gives us an idea of just how awful and intimidating he is likely to be once he makes his appearance.

And of course... there's The Beast Lord. Can enough be said about Curran? His magnetism and allure jump off the page and ensnare you. I challenge you to read these books and NOT fall for him. It will not happen. I really don't want to spoiler anyone... but let's just say that Kate and Curran finally make a decision about their feelings for one another. A decision that creates so much heat, I could almost feel it radiating off the pages. RAWR. If you're a fan of them, you will NOT be disappointed.

So... if you've been reading this series, you NEED to read this book. It was my favorite in the series so far and that is saying something. These books are highly addictive and the writing and story keeps getting better and better. If you haven't checked this series out, Magic Bites is the first one. It took me a bit to get hooked, but once that happened, I haven't looked back. Enjoy! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (#9)

2010-06-30T23:30:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.

Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one... until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.

Release Date: November 30, 2010

This book sounds AH-mazing! I cannot wait to get my hands on it. What are you looking forward to? *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (#11)

2010-06-27T20:09:00.002-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Borrowed:
Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin from the lovely LENA!

Bought:
Dark Flame by Alyson Noel

I'm inhaling Low Red Moon and can't wait to sink my teeth into Dark Flame... it was a slow week, but a good one! What did YOU get? Leave me a link so I can check it out! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Manic Monday! (#8)

2010-06-21T12:34:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the eighth edition of Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight some books that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

The book I'm highlighting this week is a book I am completely stoked to get my hands on:

Synopsis:

In Alyson Noel's most darkly seductive Immortals novel yet, Ever fights for control of her body, her soul - and the timeless true love she's been chasing for centuries.

Ever is trying to help Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and acting recklessly, she poses the ultimate threat - exposing their secret world to the outside. As Ever struggles to keep the Immortals hidden, it only propels Haven closer to the enemy - Roman and his evil companions.

At the same time, Ever delves deeper into dark magick to free Damen from Roman's power. But when her spell backfires, it binds her to the one guy who's hell-bent on her destruction. Now there's a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, and no matter what she does, she can't stop thinking about Roman - and longing for his touch. As she struggles to resist the fiery attraction threatening to consume her, Roman is more than willing to take advantage of her weakened state, and Ever edges closer and closer to surrender.

Frantic to break the spell before it's too late, Ever turns to Jude for help, risking everything she knows and loves to save herself - and her future with Damen...

Yay!! I can't wait to read this book. Dark Flame is the fourth book in The Immortals Series and if you're a fan, I'm sure you're dying to check out the next installment in Ever and Damen's tale. Sounds like it's going to be a good one! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Summer Break!

2010-06-20T22:31:00.004-04:00

So... I've been VERY sporadic lately when it comes to posting. For those of you who are unaware, I'm a school counselor at a high school and the end of the school year is pure insanity. Thankfully, graduation was this weekend and I am now free for 10 weeks of SUMMER VACATION! *squee*

So expect a lot of posts as I catch up on things... thanks for sticking with me! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: The Carrie Diaries

2010-06-15T22:59:00.003-04:00

REVIEW Winter Longing

2010-06-12T01:03:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

A plane crash in Alaska takes
Winter’s first love away forever...

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.

But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future... and a possible new love?

Wow. This book was amazing. We're introduced to Winter, a teenage girl experiencing one of the greatest things of adolescence: First love. She's been in love with her friend, Spencer, for years and has finally gotten the nerve to tell him. He feels the same way and they share a passionate moment... the night before he crashes his plane and is taken from her forever.

We follow Winter along as she mourns the death of the only boy she has ever loved. We watch her struggle and work through the many stages of grief. I literally felt at times as if I was grieving with her, the writing and the story is that darn good. The emotion that this book will bring out in you is staggering. At one point, I had tears streaming down my face and had to put the book down to have a good cry. If that is not powerful and intense writing, then I don't know what is.

But before you decide to not read this because you think it is all doom and gloom, fear not... this story has hope, growth, love, forgiveness, and the possibility of new beginnings. You will fall in love with Winter and will find yourself rooting for her. I wanted so much for her to be able to let go of the past and to move forward in unexpected directions.

Through the despair of her loss, she just may find that it is possible to bond with someone unexpected and to find love again. And through reading this, you too may feel that any new beginning is possible. This book was fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an emotional, gripping read that will have you crying, laughing, and smiling as you travel through an intense experience with a likeable and highly relatable character.

Winter Longing releases in August. Don't miss out. Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (#8)

2010-06-09T21:41:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

New name, new town, new life. Nastasya has done it too often to count. And there’s no end in sight. Nothing ever really ends... when you’re immortal. But this time is different: Nastasya knows that this new town must hold her salvation—or her death.

Nastasya was born into darkness, and has embraced it her whole life. Four hundred years ago, a tragedy robbed her of her birthright, and she’s been living a lie ever since. Now, four centuries of exploring the depths and limits of dark power has left Nastasya feeling sickened unto death. If she continues down this road, she will end up as a very dark, twisted, evil thing—with unthinkable power. Or she can begin the long, painful road toward light, and reclaim the destiny that others tried to destroy.

They’re rare. You may have never met one, never sat next to one on a plane, never eaten in the same restaurant at the same time. But the Immortals are there. Have always been there. Will always be there. Moving among humans, playing out their own cursed fate. Sometimes subtly, sometimes with huge, sweeping implications for mankind. But no one will ever know. Except you.

Release date: September 7, 2010

This book sounds AMAZING! I cannot wait to read it! What are you waiting for? Leave me a link! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Magic Bleeds

2010-06-08T22:03:00.004-04:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Magic Bleeds, the fourth book in the highly addictive Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews. Beast Lord, anyone? RAWR!

Curran caught my arms and pushed them above my head. His left hand closed on my wrists. He kissed me with a low hungry growl, teeth nipping at my skin.

He strode off and I almost growled. I didn't want him to let go of me. The world reeled. I was light-headed, as if drunk. pg. 176

And that was all I could write that was PG enough for the blog! Hehe. Love some Curran? Grab this book NOW! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (#10)

2010-06-06T22:08:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Won:
Jane Slayre by Charlotte Bronte and Sherri Browning Erwin from Cinnamon of A Journey of Books

Bought:
The Karma Club by Jessica Brody
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer
Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko

What did you get this week? Leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (#7)

2010-06-02T22:19:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

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.

Release Date: March 2011

Wow. This books sounds awesome! I can't wait to get my hands on it next year! What are you waiting on? *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Manifest

2010-06-01T10:20:00.002-04:00

Manic Monday! (#7)

2010-05-31T15:42:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the seventh edition of Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight some books that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

Well, this week's Manic Monday is a little different... the book I'm highlighting actually comes out on Friday, but I wanted to promote it anyway:

Synopsis:

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

I know that the Twilight Series takes a lot of heat from people, but I have no problem admitting that I'm a fan. I'm very excited to get something new in the Twilight world. I'm planning a re-read of the entire series before the Eclipse movie comes out so the addition of this short story is perfect! *XOXO*

REVIEW Spirit Bound

2010-05-31T14:10:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him... forever.

Wow. This book was AMAZING. I am a huge fan of the Vampire Academy Series and Spirit Bound is another incredible volume in the fantastic world that Richelle Mead has created.

Spirit Bound picks up a couple months after the events of Blood Promise. We watch as Rose and Lissa graduate from St. Vladimir's Academy and move on to the next phase of their life at the Royal Court. A lot remains up in the air about their future... has Rose redeemed herself enough during her final guardian trials to have a chance of being assigned to Lissa? Or did her trip to Russia permanently alter her path?

Not long after getting situated at the Royal Court, Rose and Lissa embark on a journey that is as dangerous as it is illegal. Will they find the answers they seek with the aid of an unlikely ally? And will being outside of the magical wards that protect them at the Royal Court cost Rose her life, as Dimitri has promised countless times? And if she does survive and make it back to the Royal Court, what consequences will she face for taking the last member of the Dragomir line outside of safety?

These questions and more are answered as this book takes you on a nonstop ride of action and suspense. I found myself holding my breath at times, terrified to flip the page to see what would happen next. A dangerous journey, horrifying attacks, and ruthless enemies threaten all that Rose holds dear. And through it all, there's that nagging question... can she save the man that she loves? Or should she move on, as she has been somewhat trying to do?

Love, friendship, and loyalty are common themes in this book, as they are in the other Vampire Academy novels as well. I think a truly fabulous thing about this volume is the growth that we see in the character of Lissa. We see how much stronger the friendship and bond between Rose and Lissa has grown and we see Lissa willing to sacrifice as much for Rose as Rose has been willing to sacrifice for her. It truly feels that their friendship has attained a level of equality that was missing before. And Lissa performs an act that requires so much strength and courage, it is truly inspiring.

I don't want to say much else because it would be very easy to spoiler if I did. Just know that this book was incredible. If you're a fan of this series, you will NOT be disappointed. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, and I had serious thoughts about chucking the book at the wall, haha. Seriously. But I loved each and every emotion this book created in me. There's suspense, action, mystery, love, sacrifice, frustration, and heartbreak. Richelle's writing was phenomenal as usual.

I think my only real disappoint in this book comes from what, in my opinion, felt like an anticlimatic moment. I really cannot go into more detail here without seriously spoiling people, but something happened and it did not match my expectations at all, mainly because a character is not acting at ALL like I expected them to. I'm seriously hopeful that the final book, Last Sacrifice, will make up for my disappoint about that "situation". If only December wasn't sooo far away! *whine*

But really, even with the above situation, I loved this book. So go read it RIGHT NOW! You will love it... Happy Reading! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (#9)

2010-05-30T19:22:00.002-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Borrowed:
ARC of Winter Longing by Tricia Mills from my BFF and brain twin, LENA!

Bought:
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Mag Cabot
Big Boned by Meg Cabot
Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison
Early to Death, Early to Rise by Kim Harrison
White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison
Amy & Roger's Epic Tour by Morgan Matson
The Book of Dreams by O.R. Melling
Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien
3rd Degree by James Patterson
The Necromancer by Michael Scott
Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh
Magic Study by Maria Snyder
Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

I went just a teeny bit crazy on B&N.com this week, haha. I was forced to make an online order because my local store didn't have Magic Bleeds and I figured if buying one, why not buy more? Logic that completely stays true to my book addictive nature. If you can't be true to yourself, who can you be true to? :D

What did you get this week? Leave me a link! And as always, Happy Reading! *XOXO*

REVIEW The Iron Daughter

2010-05-28T09:05:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

The Iron Daughter, the second book in The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa is a fast-paced, action-filled story full of romance, betrayal, friendship, and heartbreaking sacrifice.

The story picks up where The Iron King leaves us, with Meghan accompanying Ash to the Winter Queen's realm. Readers will be unpleasantly suprised to see the change that has come over the Winter Prince. The good news: It doesn't take long to see the motives behind the change and readers will once again find themselves swooning over the dark and brooding prince.

An infiltration, murder, and theft by the Iron Fey forces Meghan and Ash to flee from the Winter Court and they subsequently go on an amazing adventure to stop the Faery war that is brewing between the Summer and Winter Courts. They are joined on this adventure by friendly familiar faces and we meet some new and interesting characters along the way. The action will keep you flipping the pages in a frenzy, dying to know what happens next. This is one of those books you will NOT want to put down.

An unlikely alliance tests our beliefs about the Iron Fey as we see the good they are capable of inside. And heartbreaking sacrifice will have you crying over the pages. The ending is bittersweet as we watch Meghan and Ash make a truly heartwrenching decision... will they choose Faery and the Courts they love, or will they choose to throw all of that away for the love they feel for each other?

This book is truly amazing and if you loved The Iron King, this installment will not disappoint. The writing is stellar, the story is moving and intriguing, and the characters are loveable and real. When this book releases in August, you will definitely want to get your hands on a copy. And then make sure you have a chunk of time to read because once you start, you won't want to put it down. Happy Reading! *XOXO*

RADIANT SHADOWS GIVEAWAY: WINNER ANNOUNCED!

2010-05-25T15:54:00.003-04:00

Sorry this was a day late! I meant to do this yesterday, but life decided that wasn't going to happen. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!

The winner of a signed copy of Radiant Shadows by the lovely Melissa Marr, chosen by random.org is...

*drumroll*

Donna!

Congratulations, dear! *tosses confetti* An email will be headed your way. Please respond within 48 hours or I'll have to choose someone else. Thanks again to everyone who entered! Another contest will be posted soon. *XOXO*

Crescendo: Prologue and Chapter One!

2010-05-25T15:25:00.003-04:00

I'm sure everyone has been posting about this today, but I just can't help it! I LOVED Hush, Hush soooo much. Patch? RAWR. Does not get much better than that boy! Couple a sizzling lit crush with an awesome story, amazing writing, and relatable characters, and you've got a book made of win.

The second book, Crescendo, hits the shelves on October 19th. Becca Fitzpatrick blessed her fans today by releasing a preview of the book. Check out the fallenarchangel site to read the prologue and chapter one. Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Shadow Kiss

2010-05-25T14:55:00.002-04:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title and author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Shadow Kiss, the third book in the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead. I'm in the midst of a re-read of the series since the fifth book, Spirit Bound, just came out last week.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I froze, unable to move or finish going for my stake. I forgot about what I'd been doing and completely lost track of the people and commotion around me. The world slowed down, everything fading around me. There was only Mason-- that ghostly, shimmering Mason who glowed in the dark and seemed like he so badly wanted to tell me something.

Suddenly, something slammed into my shoulder, and I stumbled forward. The world suddenly started up again, snapping me out of the dreamy state I'd just been in. pg 56

I sooo love these books! If you haven't tried this series yet, I HIGHLY recommend you do so right now. A unique take on vamps, friendship, love and deadly sacrifice... this series has it all! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (#8)

2010-05-23T14:51:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Won:
The Iron King signed by Julie Kagawa and a painted Grimalkin rock! I won this as part of the Team Ash/Puck Faceoff Contest. I received my goodies from Gail of Ticket to Anywhere. The Grim rock is one of the coolest things ever... huge thanks to Julie!

Wings signed by Aprilynne Pike. Aprilynne mailed out the prizes herself and boy, did she surprise me! I thought I had just won the book but with it came an awesome shirt, bracelet, temporary tattoos, and a button! What an awesome surprise! Much thanks to Aprilynne!

Bought:
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

A great week! What did you get? Leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (#6)

2010-05-19T22:27:00.002-04:00

Synopsis:

While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

Release date: October 19, 2010

I cannot wait to read this book!! Mainly because my BFF, Lena Beana, adored it and told me numerous times how AMAZING it is! Seriously, I have the texts to prove it, haha. Sounds super amazing and with a rec from her, I'm all about it! What are you looking forward to? *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: My Soul to Take

2010-05-18T22:41:00.004-04:00

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent.

My heart beat harder with every step she took. My hand curled around my glass until my knuckles were white. And that familiar sense of melancholy swelled into an overwhelming feeling of grief. Of dark foreboding.

Horror washed over me in a devastating wave of intuition. My throat closed. I choked on a scream of terror. My glass slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor. pg 14

I read the prequel novella, My Soul to Lose, and was very intrigued by this series. And Nash? RAWR. I love hot lit boys! What are you reading? Leave me a link! *XOXO*

Manic Monday! (#6)

2010-05-17T21:31:00.009-04:00

Welcome to the sixth edition of Manic Monday! Manic Monday is all about finding things to look forward to on Tuesday, because who loves Monday? And we all know Tuesday means NEW RELEASES!! So each Monday, I'll highlight some books, music, or movies that are coming out the next day. Just a little something to help you find that silver lining!

I've been naughty, missed two Manic Mondays in a row! *sheepish grin* But I couldn't pass up the chance to squee about this book coming out tomorrow:

Synopsis:

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him... forever.

I adore this series and CANNOT wait to scoop this book up tomorrow. Spirit Bound is the fifth book in the extremely popular Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead. What's going to happen now that Rose failed to kill Dimitri? And is it only me that finds bad-boy Dimitri just as hot as the good version? RAWR. And what will happen with Adrian? Must. Read. NOW!

I'm also excited to get this movie on DVD:

Movie Description:

All those stars, all those laughs! An all-star cast sparkles in this hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy from the director of Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries. Stories crisscross, collide and boomerang in this look at a day in the life of love. There's a proposal. Flowers that didn't get sent. A big far secret that's finally told. The "I'll show up and surprise him" that ended up surprising her. Fights, kisses, wrong turns, right moves and so much more. Whether new to love or through with love, you'll fall in love with this 19-star, funny-side-up celebration of romance.

I saw it in the theaters and really liked it. I'm a sucker for the romance movies so I was bound to find it enjoyable. Can't wait to get it on DVD!

And because I'm a TOTAL Gleek... the CD I'm looking forward to:

Yay for more music from Glee! I adore that show... awesome talent and quirky characters? Made of win!

Ok, that's it for this week! Hope Monday was kind to everyone! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (#7)

2010-05-16T23:22:00.004-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Won:
Dark Deceptions by Dee Davis from Dark Faerie Tales
Poison Study by Maria Snyder from Cherry Mischievous
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow from A Journey of Books

Bought:
The Six Rules of Maybe by Deb Caletti
Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert

It was an awesome week... much thanks to the amazing bloggers I won books from. It was awesome for them to all come in this week! I can't wait to read them! What did you get this week? Leave me a link so I can check it out! And as always, Happy Reading! *XOXO*

REVIEW Kiss of Death

2010-05-15T22:12:00.006-04:00

Synopsis:

A new chapter in the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires saga.

Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell...

This book was awesome, no other word for it. The latest installment in the Morganville Vampires Series packs the same punch as the books that come before it. It's got intense action, numerous adversaries, unlikely alliances, love, devotion, and loyal friendship. Looking for a book that you'll want to sink your teeth into? Look no further!

Kiss of Death follows our favorite foursome as they get to do the unthinkable: leave Morganville. Michael has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime, the chance to travel to Dallas to record some songs with a major company and Claire, Shane, and Eve are granted the right to accompany him. Only one small catch... they have to take an official escort and it's none other than major Morganville baddie, Oliver.

The road trip the characters are stoked about quickly becomes the road trip from hell as they deal with super angry rednecks, transportation going up in flames, and some renegade vamps from Morganville that are tired of following the rules. And just when it seems that things can't get any worse, a town is stumbled upon that has an infestation of vampires worse off than they've ever seen. Because what is worse than a normal Morganville Vamp? How about vampires that are absolutely insane with the illness that used to plague Morganville before the cure was developed? Yep, that's some scary mess!

The action is fast-paced and never ending in this book. Just when one situation seems to be resolved, another pops up, more terrifying than the last. I had a hard time putting the book down and was pleased to see some major growth from Claire. She's really maturing and growing up and I found myself feeling proud of her. Watching her story across the series has been wonderful. The other characters were as loveable as always, even Oliver. I think we're supposed to have some level of dislike for him, but I just can't seem to get there with him. I like him! Can't help it.

I highly recommend this book to others who have been reading the series. And if you haven't read any of them yet, go out and get the first one, Glass Houses. You won't be disappointed! Rachel Caine is a wonderful author and her books are always guaranteed to satisfy. Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Waiting on Wednesday (#5)

2010-05-12T22:18:00.003-04:00

Synopsis:

Kayla McHenry’s sweet sixteenth sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla’s secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin’ do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year’s supply of gumballs arrives. And a boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla’s wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride… but they MUST STOP. Because when she was 15? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her.

And Ben is her best friend's boyfriend.

Release date: August 5, 2010

Sometimes, you just need a light and fun read and this book looks to be JUST that. Reviews that I've seen from people who have already been fortunate enough to read it have all been favorable so I can't wait to get my hands on this book! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: Kiss of Death

2010-05-11T22:17:00.002-04:00

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Kiss of Death, the latest installment in The Morganville Vampires Series by Rachel Caine.

Oliver got in the front, turned, and drove a fist through the metal grating that separated the back of the squad car from the front. He peeled back the metal, grabbed Michael's arm, and said, "You can't help them by dying. You tried. We'll try again. This isn't over."

Michael was still tense, ready to fight, but Oliver held him there, staring him down, until Michael finally let go of Oliver's arm and held up both hands in surrender. His whole body slumped. Defeated. pg 148

I'm loving this book so far! Rachel Caine hasn't missed a step with this latest book, it's got the same great chemistry, action, and suspense that the previous books in this series have all had. If you haven't tried this series yet, what are you waiting for? Happy Reading! *XOXO*

My First Blog Award!

2010-05-10T22:13:00.004-04:00

I am completely thrilled and honored... I received my first blog award from the lovely Elizabeth of Swords for Fighting! To accept the Sunshine Award, you must link to the person who awarded it to you and then pass it on to twelve deserving bloggers. So here goes!

1. Lena of Addicted2Novels

2. Alaine of Queen of Happy Endings

3. Tiger of All-Consuming Books: Reviews by Tiger

4. Book Crazy Jenn of Book Crazy

5. Sarah of Book Reviews from Inside an Igloo

6. Cherry of Cherry Mischievous

7. Amanda Leigh of Not-Really-Southern Vamp Chick

8. Pixie of Page Turners

9. Jennifer of Reading with Tequila

10. Rhiana of Rhiana Reads...

11. Mavie of The Bookologist

12. Taylor of The Library Lurker

All of your blogs bring some sunshine into my day... *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (#6)

2010-05-09T21:40:00.005-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:

Won:
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy from my BFF and brain twin, the lovely LENA!

Bought:
Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
Hush by Kate White

I went a little crazy in Barnes and Noble this week, hehe. I'm trying to look shameful, but can't seem to manage it. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into some of these! *squee* What did you get this week? Leave me a link and I'll check it out! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

REVIEW Burned

2010-05-07T13:40:00.000-04:00

Synopsis:

When friends stop trusting each other, Darkness is there to fan the flames….

Things have turned black at the House of Night. Zoey Redbird’s soul has shattered. With everything she’s ever stood for falling apart, and a broken heart making her want to stay in the Otherworld forever, Zoey’s fading fast. It’s seeming more and more doubtful that she will be able pull herself back together in time to rejoin her friends and set the world to rights. As the only living person who can reach her, Stark must find a way to get to her. But how? He will have to die to do so, the Vampyre High Council stipulates. And then Zoey will give up for sure. There are only 7 days left…

Enter BFF Stevie Rae. She wants to help Z but she has massive problems of her own. The rogue Red Fledglings are acting up, and this time not even Stevie Rae can protect them from the consequences. Her kinda boyfriend, Dallas, is sweet but too nosy for his own good. The truth is, Stevie Rae’s hiding a secret that might be the key to getting Zoey home but also threatens to explode her whole world.

In the middle of the whole mess is Aphrodite: ex-Fledgling, trust-fund baby, total hag from Hell (and proud of it). She’s always been blessed (if you could call it that) with visions that can reveal the future, but now it seems Nyx has decided to speak through her with the goddess’s own voice, whether she wants it or not. Aphrodite’s loyalty can swing a lot of different ways, but right now Zoey’s fate hangs in the balance.

Three girls… playing with fire… if they don’t watch out, everyone will get Burned.

I absolutely adored this book! I don't think I had realized how much I had been missing the House of Night Series until I started reading it. This latest installment contains the same elements that make the other House of Night books so good: Drama, intrigue, loyalty, friendship, sacrifice, and love. You will definitely find yourself unable to put this book down!

The book picks up where the events of Tempted left us off. Zoey's soul has been shattered and she is trapped in the Otherworld, while Stevie Rae has imprinted with Rephaim, the big baddie of the Raven Mockers. The story switches between several POV's, giving us a broader picture of all that is going on in the House of Night world.

The amazing things about this book: The romance. Stark is swoon-worthy, risking everything to travel to the Otherworld to save Zoey. Heath performs an act of bravery, doing something extremely difficult, but necessary, to save not only Zoey, but the entire world. And then there's Rephaim. Watching him and Stevie Rae figure out their bond and feelings for one another is one of the true gems of this book. You find yourself falling for Rephaim and wanting to see only the good that is inside of him.

More goods: The friendships. They stay true and loyal in this book as we watch Aphrodite, Damien, and the rest spend countless hours researching how to help Zoey, and we see that Stevie Rae has a loyal group of red fledglings. The action. This book has got some SERIOUS action going on. You'll find yourself torn... what's going on across the world? What's going on in Tulsa? Each time the story switches back and forth between locations, you'll want to scream in a good way. The intrigue. Who is good? Who is bad? Who has the potential for both? What will happen when Stevie Rae's secrets are revealed? Soooo many questions, you'll be dying for more at the end of this book.

While I obviously loved this book, rarely is a book perfect. The dialogue still bothers me quite a bit. I found myself CRINGING each time Kramisha was speaking. And some of the things Stevie Rae said? Ick. I get that the authors are really trying to let us see the individual characters' voices and that they're trying to "speak teen"... but I work in a high school, and not all teens speak like that! I actually found myself really missing Zoey because at least I'm used to her "voice". She doesn't feature as prominently in this book and I'm hoping that will change for the next one.

Overall? Highly recommend this book! I think this series is getting better and better and that's impressive once you have reached book seven. I found this to be a super entertaining read that I couldn't stand to put down for a minute. If you're a HoN fan, scoop this one up today! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Teaser Tuesday: The Iron Daughter

2010-05-04T23:05:00.003-04:00

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Julie Kagawa. The Iron Daughter is the sequel to The Iron King and it releases on August 1st, 2010. I am reading the ARC through Net Galley so the page numbers are likely to be different.

"I don't know how long I stood there, hours or only a few minutes, when a shadowy figure slipped into the room. Though I could still see out, the ice made everything cracked and distorted, so I couldn't tell who it was."

"Even through my air-starved delirium, my heart leaped. Ash's silvery eyes peered through the wall separating us, as bright and soulful as ever. The torment on his face shocked me, as if he were the one trapped and unable to breathe." pg. 69

I am in serious love with this book. I'm well past this point now and let me tell you, this book is as amazing as the first. I can hardly stand to put my nook down! Be looking for my review once I've finished it. I'm trying to savor it but it's a hard thing to do when the book is this good! As always, Happy Reading!! *XOXO*

BOOK ADDICTION GIVEAWAY: WINNER ANNOUNCED!

2010-05-03T09:05:00.000-04:00

I want to take a moment to thank all of you who entered and made my first giveaway such a success... you all ROCK!

The winner of the random draw is...

*DRUMROLL*

The Book Vixen!!

Congratulations, dear! *tosses confetti* An email is headed your way, requesting your address. You have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Thanks again to all who entered! And don't forget to enter the Radiant Shadows Giveaway! *XOXO*

In My Mailbox (#5)

2010-05-02T20:14:00.003-04:00

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Here are books I've either won, been given, or bought this past week:
Bought:
The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Won:
The Dark Divine Nail Polish from The Story Siren!

I've already devoured Burned, review to come. But let me say... it was AMAZING! Stark is love. I can't wait to read The Carrie Diaries, especially when I keep seeing all these previews for the new SATC movie! *squee* And diving into Kiss of Death is going to be great, I've definitely missed the Morganville Vamps series.

I'm super stoked that I won the Dark Divine Nail Polish. It's such a beautiful color and matches The Dark Divine cover perfectly! I plan on painting my toes before I read the book, hehe.

So what did YOU get this week? Leave me a link so I can check it out! *XOXO*

Karen's Addictions

Manic Monday! (14)

*REVIEW* Fins Are Forever

Fabulous CHALLENGE Alert!

*REVIEW* Forgive My Fins

FUN FRIDAY (2)

*REVIEW* Bumped

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

*REVIEW* Frozen Fire

Teaser Tuesday: Bumped

TBR Pile: You're Going Down!

Manic Monday! (13)

*REVIEW* Where She Went

FUN FRIDAY: Superstitions (and upcoming GIVEAWAY news)

*REVIEW* If I Stay

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

*REVIEW* Bloodrose

Book Blogger Confessions

Teaser Tuesday: Bloodrose

Manic Monday! (12)

*REVIEW* Wolfsbane

In My Mailbox (19)

The Return... of a Blogger

Author Interview: Andrea Cremer

Waiting on Wednesday (17)

In My Mailbox (18)

Waiting on Wednesday (16)

Teaser Tuesday: Dead Beautiful

*REVIEW* Clockwork Angel

Better Know a BLOGGER: Meet Taylor... The Library Lurker!

Waiting on Wednesday (15)

Teaser Tuesday: Infinite Days

Manic Monday! (11)

In My Mailbox (17)

100 Follower Contest: WINNERS!

Better Know a BLOGGER: Meet Em!

Waiting on Wednesday (14)

Ultimate Reviewers Challenge!

In My Mailbox (16)

*REVIEW* Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Contest Update!

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

Teaser Tuesday: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Ultimate Reviewers Challenge: SIGN UP TODAY!

In My Mailbox (15)

Recent Favorites!

*REVIEW* My Worst Best Friend

Site Under Construction!

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

*REVIEW* Incarceron

Teaser Tuesday: Ascendant

In My Mailbox (14)

*REVIEW* Nightshade

*REVIEW* The Carrie Diaries

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

Teaser Tuesday: Incarceron

Harry Potter MANIA!

Manic Monday! (10)

In My Mailbox (13)

Create a Cover: Tell Me a Secret

*REVIEW* Sea

ULTIMATE REVIEWERS CHALLENGE!

Darkest Mercy Cover!

100 Follower Contest!

Waiting on Wednesday (#10)

Teaser Tuesday: Nightshade

Manic Monday! (#9)

In My Mailbox (#12)

*REVIEW* Magic Bleeds

Waiting on Wednesday (#9)

In My Mailbox (#11)

Manic Monday! (#8)

Summer Break!

Teaser Tuesday: The Carrie Diaries

*REVIEW* Winter Longing

Waiting on Wednesday (#8)

Teaser Tuesday: Magic Bleeds

In My Mailbox (#10)

Waiting on Wednesday (#7)

Teaser Tuesday: Manifest

REVIEW Fins Are Forever

REVIEW Forgive My Fins

REVIEW Bumped

REVIEW Frozen Fire

REVIEW Where She Went

REVIEW If I Stay

REVIEW Bloodrose

REVIEW Wolfsbane

REVIEW Clockwork Angel

REVIEW Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

REVIEW My Worst Best Friend

REVIEW Incarceron

REVIEW Nightshade

REVIEW The Carrie Diaries

REVIEW Sea

REVIEW Magic Bleeds

REVIEW Winter Longing

REVIEW Spirit Bound

REVIEW The Iron Daughter

REVIEW Kiss of Death

REVIEW Burned