*REVIEW* Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Synopsis:

Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until 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!

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)

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

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!

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:



<br /><center><a href="http://karensaddictions.blogspot.com/2010/07/ultimate-reviewers-challenge-sign-up.html"><img src="http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab77/Lena1xoxo/urcbutt.png" /></a></center><br /><br />
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)

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!

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

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!

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

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)

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

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 Incarceron by Catherine Fisher:

Finn crouched. Saliva welled in his throat as he picked up the crystal. Inside it an eagle spread wide wings. It was the same as the mark on his wrist.

The Maestra had stopped and turned, her face white. "I hope it destroys you." pg. 91

Very intriguing! I'm only about 30 pages in so far, can't wait to figure out what's going on. What are you reading? Leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday so I can check it out! Happy Reading! *XOXO*

Harry Potter MANIA!

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)

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)

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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*

Waiting on Wednesday (#10)

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

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)

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)

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

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*