Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Review: Starters by Lissa Price

I just wanted to let you know that my review of

 is now available. Please follow this link to see how I rated it and what I thought of it :)

Waiting on Wednesday #10 and Winners announcement!!!

Happy Wednesday everybody!!! Those of you who have followed my giveaway's progress should know that today is the big day!!! YES, TODAY the winners get picked! Aren't you all excited?? I sure am!

I know it will be a really happy day for two of you and I'm super anxious to learn who the lucky winners are!! But before I go off to Rafflecopter and click the fortune buttons, I'd like to thank all of you who participated in my giveaway for the past two weeks! It was fun reading your comments! I'll make sure to throw another giveaway soon :))

So, with all that said, I think it's now time to announce the two lucky winners!

(drum roll....)

Winner #1 is Karen Senoo

and....

Winner #2 is Ning Zhu @ReadingbyKF

Congratulations to both of you!!! I will send you an e-mail requesting some information. Please respond in the next 2 days. If you do not, I'm afraid that I will have to pick another winner. So don't stall, please :))

Awesome, and now onto



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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.


My pick this week is:


Title: Temptation
Series: The Solitary Tales #3
Author: Travis Thrasher
Expected publication date: April 1st, 2012

Summary: The third book in the Solitary Tales series for young adults, Temptation follows the soul-wrenching twists of Chris Buckley's journey as he heads deeper into a darkness that threatens all he loves best.

As a reluctant student at Harrington High's summer school, Chris meets a fun-loving senior girl who offers a welcome diversion from Chris's past. Soon Chris no longer searches for the truth about the town of Solitary. He no longer tries to pierce its shadows. He no longer questions his role in its mysteries. He makes a new choice: he runs. What he doesn't realize is that he's running the wrong way-and is very close to being beyond any choices at all.


Why I'm waiting on it: OMG, because I loved book 1, Solitary!! It was amazing! If you haven't read it, I sure recommend you to do so! It's mysterious, captivating and would totally blow your mind!!! You can check out my review here  I know the cover seems very plain, but there's meaning behind the thorny rose and the red color of the title. *wink wink*

So how about you? What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: GRAVE MERCY

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!! I just logged into my e-mail this morning and guess what was in there??????? An e-mail from NetGalley telling me that I got the exclusive 55-day long opportunity to read the book for free!!!Isn't that just FREAKIN' AMAZING????????? I sure think it is!!!!!!!! The punctuation marks should mean enough :)))
Anyway, for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, scroll down, please :)


The #3 Spring 2012 Kids' Indie Next List pick!
  
Escaping from the brutality of an arranged marriage, seventeen-year-old Ismae finds sanctuary at the convent of St. Mortain. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts -- and a violent destiny. She will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death -- yet in order to claim her new life, she must be willing to take the lives of others. But how can she deliver Death's vengeance against a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?
  

"With characters that will inspire the imagination, a plot that nods to history while defying accuracy, and a love story that promises more in the second book, this is sure to attract feminist readers and romantics alike."
~Booklist, starred review
  
"Fiction and history coalesce in a rich, ripping tale of assassinations, political intrigue and religion in 15th-century Brittany...A page-turner--with grace."  
~Kirkus, starred review
  
"Rich in historical detail, well-realized characters, political machinations, and enticingly prickly scenes between Ismae and Duval, LaFevers's complex tale incorporates magic both sparingly and subtly. This powerful first volume of the His Fair Assassin series should attract many readers."
~Publishers Weekly, starred review
  
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 
9780547628349 ~ Pub Date: 4/3/12

If you want to read a free excerpt of Grave Mercy, please follow the banner on the left hand side. There's also a cool book trailer :) 

And like always, let me remind you that my giveaway is ending tomorrow. So if you want to have a chance to win an awesome book of your choice, go ahead and enter the rafflecopter !!!

Monday, February 27, 2012

Top of the Pile on Monday Morning #9

Right, so I'm late again posting this, but it's still Monday, so it should count.

Here is a quick recap of my reading last week, and the links to my reviews:


Review of PURE by Julianna Baggott
Review of SOLITARY by Travis Thrasher
Review of MY ENCHANTED LIFE by Laura Eno


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"Top of the Pile on Monday Morning" is a weekly MEME hosted by Vanya D. here on YA Story Teller. It features up to three books that I plan to read for the week.


I am hosting this new MEME, featured every Monday. If you want to participate, you need to do the following things:

1. Either grab the button or paste the MEME in your post;
2. Tell us about the books you're planning to read this week. Include a picture of them. A blurb (or summary) is not necessary, though if you feel like it, you may certainly share it. Please make this a realistic choice, as we wouldn't want to see repeating titles.
3. Let us know why you chose those books exactly.
4. Follow your host, and register in the links below this post.
 Thanks!!!

This week I'm going for the following titles:

Book #1:
Title: Starters
Series: Starters #1
Author: Lissa Price

Summary: Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .


Why I want to read it: Because the cover is beautiful and the story sounds good. I just hope the length doesn't weigh me down.

Book #2:
Title: The Nightmare Garden
Series: Iron Codex #2
Author: Caitlin Kittredge

Summary: Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no Necrovirus. And Aoife isn't going to succumb to madness because of a latent strain—she will lose her faculties because she is allergic to iron. Aoife isn't human. She is a changeling—half human and half from the land of Thorn. And time is running out for her.

When Aoife destroyed the Lovecraft engine she released the monsters from the Thorn Lands into the Iron Lands and now she must find a way to seal the gates and reverse the destruction she's ravaged on the world that's about to poison her.


Why I want to read it: I requested it from Networked blogs because it sounded great. I hope that it wouldn't matter that I haven't read book 1 yet. *sigh*

Book #3:
Title: A Dead Red Heart
Series: none
Author: R.P. Dahlke


Summary (actually it's an excerpt, there's no summary available for this title): Following the sound of the blender into the kitchen, I jiggled the pharmacy bag under my dad’s nose.
He turned off the blender. “That our meds?"
I was having a hard time keeping a straight face. He was dressed in a dazzling green polyester slacks and a white shirt with a big collar. The seventies were all over the pages of Vanity Fair and Vogue, but somehow the retro look didn't quite translate to sixty-eight-year old men with thinning gray hair and jug-handle ears. I cringed at the matching lime green suit jacket hanging on the back of the chair.
I put the bag on the table, drawing out one small bag for him and another for his buddy, Spike.
“Okay. Heart meds, Lasix, arthritis pills, and Spike’s crazy pills.”
“He can hear you, you know.”
I looked down at the small brown Chihuahua, his tail beating an uneven rhythm in time to some inner demon. When he lifted a lip and snarled, I said, “And not a minute too soon, I see. When do you think the vet will take him off the Prozac?"
My dad uncapped the bottle and tipped out a pill. The dog's ears went up in trembling anticipation. “He’s much better, don’t you think?”
I studied the floor trying to find something kind to say about our resident Cujo, then got an eyeful of my dad’s shoes. He followed my stare down to his feet. "White for summer, right? They're already patent leather so I don't have to polish ‘em. Lucky for me, huh?"
I worked my lips around the laughter bubbling up, imagining my father in retro style leisure suit, escorting his latest squeeze to a potluck at church, or better yet –a funeral and its wake. I slid a glance at the blender looking for a reasonable topic of conversation, but since the frothy blue concoction might or might not have Viagra as its key ingredient, I blurted, “You need a haircut!”


Why I want to read it: honestly? Well, I just joined the WLC review team this month and the rules state that I have to review at least one book per month to stay on their team. This one seemed the shortest, yet the most interesting of the lot, so I grabbed it :)) Let's hope it's a keeper :)

How about you? What will you be reading this week??

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Review posted: Solitary

I just wanted to let you know that my review of "Solitary" by Travis Thrasher is up here .

Please check it out and let me know what you thought of it.

And don't forget to enter your name in my giveaway for a chance to win a book of your choice!! Just click on the button below and it will redirect you. Have fun!! :))

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Friday, February 24, 2012

Follow Friday #5

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Follow Me Friday is a book meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. #FF is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort
between bloggers. In order to join in the fun, all you need is well . . . A book blog :)

And this week's question is:

Activity!  Take a Picture or Describe Where You Love To Read The Most!

Well, as it happens, I already wrote a post like that a couple of weeks ago. :( I'm gonna be repeating myself, but oh well...

I love nature, and find the most tranquility when I'm surrounded with grass, trees, flowers and the like. So, I'd love to find myself in one of the places below with a book in hand:








Or, if the weather isn't good for a day out, or I just don't feel like moving much, I'd take a cozy window seat instead :)))


How about you? Where do you like to spend your reading hours??

Oh, and a quick reminder! Don't forget to enter your name in my giveaway for a chance to win a book of your choice!! Just click on the button below and follow the rafflecopter ;)


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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Dystopian Novels: what's their deal?

Happy Thursday everybody! The weekend is nearly here, and I know we're all waiting for it. The work/school escape is always welcome, is it not? :)

So I thought that today I'll write about dystopian novels: what they are, why we like them so much, where they came from?


Wikipedia defines 'dystopia' thus:

A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian, as characterized in books like Brave New World, Nineteen Eighty-Four, The Iron Heel. Dystopian societies feature different kinds of repressive social control systems, various forms of active and passive coercion. Ideas and works about dystopian societies often explore the concept of humans abusing technology and humans individually and collectively coping, or not being able to properly cope with technology that has progressed far more rapidly than humanity's spiritual evolution. Dystopian societies are often imagined as police states, with unlimited power over the citizens.

Of course, titles like "Matched", "Divergent", "Inside Out", "The Hunger Games", "Delirium", "Gone", "Shatter Me" and many many others, are more to our taste than good ol' "Brave New World" with its naked people and what not. They all tell of societies after an apocalypse, a war, a world collision, a catastrophe of some sort. Any calamity that has the power to turn the world upside down.

They always talk about the constraints placed by the governing minority over the general populace. They always make us feel like we are living in a utopia, because there is no destruction around us, because there's relative freedom to do what we please. They always make us think that we could have it much much worse.

And indeed we could.

But we don't want to live in a world stripped of sun light, or lacking the much necessary breathing oxygen, or featuring monsters that come out at night. We don't want to live in hunger and constant fear that if we do something outside of the norm we'd be humiliated, sent far from our family or simply killed.

But we like to read books about people who are able to find a way to cope with unfathomable circumstances. People who infiltrate the ruling government and mess it up to such an extent that it works no more. People who are bold and brave, who love and want to live a life that they'd never known existed.

People like you and me who know that if they give up or give in they'd lose the only thing they have - themselves.

They may be just fictional characters, but they inspire us to take charge of our lives, so that when we look back we'd be happy with what we'd accomplished throughout the years.  They teach us to stick together behind the right cause. They teach us to be strong, to face the hardships face on. To blend when we must and to rebel when we must.

It's why we love them, why we read them, why we cry and laugh with them.

I have a theory why dystopian fiction became so popular. I think it has to do with December 12th and the supposed end of the world. Or perhaps they're inspired by the deterioration of our society....

What do you think??

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #9


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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.


One title this week, again.


Title:Infamous
Series: The Chronicles of Nick
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Expected publication date: March 13th, 2012

Summary: 
The world has fallen in love with Nick Gautier and the Dark-Hunters. Now Nick’s saga continues in the next eagerly anticipated volume...

Go to school. Get good grades. Stay out of trouble. That’s the mandate for most kids. But Nick Gautier isn’t the average teenager. He’s a boy with a destiny not even he fully understands. And his first mandate is to stay alive while everyone, even his own father, tries to kill him.

He’s learned to annihilate zombies and raise the dead, divination and clairvoyance, so why is learning to drive such a difficulty? But that isn’t the primary skill he has to master. Survival is.

And in order to survive, his next lesson makes all the others pale in comparison. He is on the brink of becoming either the greatest hero mankind has ever known.

Or he’ll be the one who ends the world. With enemies new and old gathering forces, he will have to call on every part of himself to fight or he’ll lose everyone he cares about.

Even himself.

Why I'm waiting on it: Well, just look at the cover, read the summary and tell me you won't be waiting on it!! I haven't read the previous two installments of this saga, but I've read really nice things about the author and the series and I'm waiting to clear my schedule a bit so I could sit down and start with book 1

So how about you? What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Oh, and let me remind you all of my awesome giveaway that's going on until the 29th!!! Don't forget to sign up!! The button that will lead you to it is in the top left hand side bar, and the prizes are, well... you should see for yourself :)))

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Review: My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno

Have you ever felt like your mind's going to explode if you read one more heavy mystery? Or that the next superb thriller could be too much for your psyche?
That's exactly how I felt and still kind of feel after a marathon of mystery, thriller, horror and the like. So, I realized I was in a need of reading something light and cheery. Something that would remove the emotional residue and let me breathe again. That something came to be a book with the title "My Enchanted Life" by author Laura Eno. I read it in one breath and was quite satisfied with it. Check out my review by clicking on the image below :)

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Also, today will be dedicated to writing my guest post for a friend's (Daydreaming Star) blog. The theme she set was "Series" - anything about them. I'll keep you informed when the post will appear on her blog so you could read it and comment!! :))

Have a superb day and don't forget to enter in my giveaway!! The red button at the top of the left side bar should redirect you to the proper page!!! Awesome books to win, so don't forget to come back every day till the 29th!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Top of the Pile on Monday Morning #8

Okay, it's that day of the week again. The new day, the first day, the Mon-day. The jolly weekend is over and we have to go back to school/work/whatever again. Last week was shorter for me, but not for a good reason. I got a cold that nailed me to the bed on Friday, and I was only able to get up after 1pm!!! It was horrible, and thank God I'm feeling much better today!

So, I know I posted 3 books on my last week's reading list, but I only got around reading 2 of them. Not because I didn't want to read A third book, just not the one I'd picked. Unfortunately, it was a Netgalley review book, so I had to apologize for declining it (after I'd accepted it). But, it just wasn't for me. I honestly couldn't read it.

Well, with all that said, here are the links to my reviews of the other two books:



Review of THE NEW DEATH AND OTHERS by James Hutchings
Review of BLEED FOR ME by Michael Robotham


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"Top of the Pile on Monday Morning" is a weekly MEME hosted by Vanya D. here on YA Story Teller. It features up to three books that I plan to read for the week.


I am hosting this new MEME, featured every Monday. If you want to participate, you need to do the following things:

1. Either grab the button or paste the MEME in your post;
2. Tell us about the books you're planning to read this week. Include a picture of them. A blurb (or summary) is not necessary, though if you feel like it, you may certainly share it. Please make this a realistic choice, as we wouldn't want to see repeating titles.
3. Let us know why you chose those books exactly.
4. Follow your host, and register in the links below this post.
 Thanks!!!

This week I'm going for the following titles:

Book #1:
Title: My Enchanted Life
Series: None
Author: Laura Eno

Summary: An American teen finds herself thrust into a world she never knew existed in England's magical community of Wode Gate. While dealing with gnomes, a cranky dragon, murder and mayhem, Emma tries to cope with her unwanted duties as Sentinel and fights to get back home again.
She finds that things aren't always what they seem, people aren't who they pretend to be, and someone wants her dead. The king of the underworld wants her too, but he may be the least of her problems as Emma struggles to control her powers—while losing her heart to a demon.


Why I want to read it: I got this one from R2R on Goodreads group Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy. I'm already 20+% in and so far it's a very nice light read.

Book #2:
Title: Solitary
Series: Solitary Tales Book 1
Author: Travis Thrasher

Summary: His Loneliness Will Soon Turn to Fear.... When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents' divorce, a school full of nameless faces--and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together. Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother's unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time. This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin--and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.

Why I want to read it: Well, I got it from Netgalley to review, and the summary sounds intriguing :)

Book #3:
Title: Pure
Series: Pure
Author: Julianna Baggott

Summary: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.


Why I want to read it: I've seen this book around, heard some really good things about it. And I was so happy when my Netgalley's request was approved!!! Yay!! I get to read it this week!!!

How about you? What books are you reading this week??

Oh, and a quick reminder!! My giveaway is still running!!! You have time till the 29th to sign up for a chance to win a book of your choice!! Just check out the list here Have fun y'all!!!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Follow Friday #6

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Follow Me Friday is a book meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. #FF is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort
between bloggers. In order to join in the fun, all you need is well . . . A book blog :)

And this week's question is:

I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What's the most unique character name you've come across?

My answer:

I don't know. I think Hermione was unique. And the high fantasy names are almost all unique. And how about Julie Kagawa's Ashallyn' Darkmyr Tallyn?  I sure haven't seen that one anywhere else :)

How about you? What's the most unique name you've seen in the book world?

Oh, and don't forget to stop by and enter my 100 followers giveaway!! Just click on the button below :)) Have fun!!!


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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Author interview: Greg Logsted

Hello, hello my lovely stalkers! Everyone who follows my reviews knows exactly how much I was moved by "The Stuttering Tattoo". If you haven't yet read my review, check it out  here . Honestly, I was so amazed by this book that I went ahead and contacted the author, Greg Logsted and asked for an interview. Guess what? He agreed, and now you can meet him as well!!! Isn't that awesome??

He was amazing, and answered all my questions in no time!! Scroll down to see what he had to say about his absolutely stunning book!!!

Hello Greg, thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and to answer my questions. I know that every book has its own story – a journey that it goes through until it is finished, polished and on the shelves. What's the story behind “The Stuttering Tattoo”? How did it come into being?

Vanya, first of all, thank you for inviting me to your blog and THANK YOU for the great review you gave The Stuttering Tattoo!
I guess with Stuttering the idea came to me from some of the mysteries I used to read as a teenager. I was a huge Spencer For Hire fan back then and even though I can’t recall any of the plotlines, what I enjoyed most about those mysteries were the characters. If you have good characters the mystery is almost secondary. If you’ve ever read a Spencer For Hire novel I think you’ll find some similarities with my characters in Stuttering.

Your characters sound so real the entire time, like you've known them personally for years. How did you manage to accomplish that? Did you use real time people as models, or were they all created by your imagination. 

They mainly sprang from my imagination. I’m a very slow writer; a good day for me is maybe two or three pages. I think the fact that I write so slow keeps me from getting off track. Also, most of my characters are just different aspects of my own personality so it’s just a question of keeping them all straight in my head. That’s not really as scary as it sounds.

There was this one character that came out of nowhere, but played a great deal of a role. I'm talking about Hank/Mike. How did he come to life? What's his story?

Sometimes a character can even surprise the writer. Hank was one of those “surprise” characters but I really felt like Steven needed a mentor besides his father and Carlos, someone who would be an older and wiser version of himself. Hank filled that mold.

Steven and Becky were obviously struck by a mutual interest right from the beginning. It played a major role even though it kind of remained in the background throughout the whole novel. Was it hard to base a novel on a romance that didn't feel tangible at all?  

No, not at all. It was very similar to my high school romances. They were all very mysterious to me and left me basically clueless.

Where did the idea of the 37 and the tattoo come from? And why did we only see the tattoo on Becky and not on Sam for instance?

I had this old retro surf shop t-shirt I used to wear and one morning I showered, got dressed and brushed my teeth. Then I read my t-shirt in the mirror. It had a big 37 in the surf shop address. For some reason it really stuck in my head. You know how that happens sometimes? You’ll look at something and it just seems wrong for some reason but you can’t figure it out? It just festers in the back of your head. Well, it hit me about an hour later and I laughed and then sent a text to a couple of friends: “Greg’s rule number 37. If you can read your t-shirt in the mirror…you have it on inside out!” When I was thinking of an idea for a tattoo this episode was still fresh in my mind. The reason for why you sometimes see the tattoo and sometimes you don’t refers back to the title.

Carlos, my favorite character, was quite complex. He was a hilarious, concerned friend on one page, and a cold-blooded killer on the next. Was it hard to capture all his nuances when he wasn't really the protagonist?

I found Carlos very easy to write. For some reason he just flowed onto the pages for me. I truly enjoyed writing him – perhaps I enjoyed it a little too much. (channeling Carlos) You got a problem with that?

And one final question. The title had nothing to do with anything in the book. Or at least I thought so. But I think I figured out the meaning of it. Can you give us a little insight about that? Or is it top secret??? :)

Not top secret at all but I did want a title that made people think. A stutter is something that comes and goes, that’s here one moment and not the next. So there’s your clue.
Thanks again, Vanya! I love your blog. Keep up all the hard work.

I thank you too, for your time and trouble!! I sure will be waiting for your next amazing book!!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #8 and Book Tag!!!

OMG I RECEIVED A BOOK TAG!!!
I've never been tagged before, so that feels kind of weird LOL




Book Tag Rules:
1. You must post the rules.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create ten new questions to ask the people that you have tagged.
3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them!

Questions from Maghon @ Happy Tails and Tales

1. What’s your favorite quote from a book-or just a saying of some sort?

There's this one from a book I read last week that kind of stuck in my mind. It goes like this (backstory: a guy is supposed to fix a wall for this wealthy family. The woman asks him how long it's gonna take. He says): "Two weeks give or take a week or two." 
2. Who’s your favorite best friend of a character in a book and why-basically the support group LOL? (example, I LOVE Emma, who is Kaylee’s best friend in the Soul Screamers series by Rrachel Vincent cuz she is a totally awesome friend)

I think Hermione Granger is the bestest bud on fiction earth :)

3. What’s the most important to you, the plot, the characters, or the writing style?

Okay, I say all of them, because without a plot I'd just skip around or leave the book altogether. Without a good writing style, I'd be distracted and totally annoyed. Without strong characters - well, what's there to read??

4. Since we are all ladies… who do you prefer, the good guy or the bad boy?

Truth is, the bad boy is always a good mushy person on the inside. So definitely him :)) Although, sometimes the good guy turns up bad too LOL Perhaps that's why I can't pick between Will and Jem or Nash and Tod.

5. What is it that makes you want to blog about books?

Many reasons for that: my passion for books; keeping tags on my reading; my desire to share my opinions on books and of course connecting with people with similar interests :)

6. since I can never chose, name your top 5 (or whatever number you want) authors?

Oh, that's easy: 
1. Cassie Clare
2. Rachel Vincent
3. Robin Hobb
4. J.K. Rowling
5. Tahereh Mafi
6. too many others LOL

7. Also, since I can never chose, what’s your top 5 (or whatever number) series (or stand alone books)?

Hmmm, another easy one:
1. TMI
2. TID
3. Soul Screamers
4. Harry Potter
5. Perfect Chemistry
6. that list can go on forever, so let's just stop on 5, shall we? ;)

8.  I am also stealing from Karla, but who are your top 5 book boyfriends & what series are the from ( so I can also stalk them too LOL )?

Hahahaha, stalking book boyfriends is awesome!
1. Jace Herondale - TMI
2. Noah - The unbecoming of Mara Dyer
3. Carlos Fuentes - Rules of Attraction
4. Cricket Bell - Lola and the Boy Next Door
5. Carter - Sophie&Carter

9.  If there was one book, that you could read over and over again, what is it?

Any of the books/series I mentioned above. Although, Harry Potter is my most favorite of them all.

10.  tell me something you want me to know about you (try for it not to be about books)… example: I’m a serious animal lover and advocate… I have just decided not to finish vet school and to open up a nonprofit to help both animals and children… it’s a long story with a complicated description, but I want to HELP both animals and kids, especially the handicapped of both :)

Well, I love spending time in nature. Mostly places untouched by human hand. Like meadows in the middle of forests with clean water springs and such :)) Does that count? 

And I guess now I've got to tag 11 (un)fortunate people LOL. Okay, here goes:

1. Sara @ http://uponalovestory.blogspot.com

2. Jessirae @ http://jessiraelloyd.blogspot.com

3. Anna @ http://www.literaryexploration.com

4. Anna @ http://bookstobrightenyourmood.blogspot.com

5. Carly @ http://fictionfascination.blogspot.com

6. Sarah @ http://www.thebooklife.com

7. Jennifer @ http://somelikeitparanormall.blogspot.com

8. Jessi @ http://www.otherwhere.co

9. Chelsea @ http://booksturnbrains.blogspot.com

10. Kristin @ http://growingupya.blogspot.com

11. Alison @ http://www.alisoncanread.com

Okaaay, now the questions. That would be the hard part I guess.

1. When the tension in a book is too much to handle, what do you do?
2. Where do you like to read? Your most favorite place?
3. Is there a book that made you cry with real tears in some scenes and laugh heartily in others?? Which one?
4. Do you have a page limit when choosing your books?
5. While reading, what else do you do?
6. Since Maghon asked mainly about boys, I'm gonna turn feminist. So, who is your most favorite heroine and why?
7. If you receive a book for review, but half-way through you decide that no matter how hard you try it doesn't grab your attention, what do you do?
8. Do you write negative reviews if you really don't like a book? What would you say?
9. If a book's cover looks really hideous, but you've heard nice things about the story, would you read it?
10. What would you do if you come home and find your most favorite book chewed by your dog?

Whew!!! Exhausting!! All book questions, so that should be easy for you ladies :)))

Now onto my WAITING ON WEDNESDAY



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Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog post by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights releases we're eagerly awaiting.


This week, I'm limiting myself to just one title.


Title: Pure
Series: Covenant
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Expected publication date: April 3rd, 2012

Summary: 
There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Why I'm waiting on it: Well, to be honest, I haven't read the first book or the prequel, but I like this author and I hear really good things about this series. So I thought, I'd just read them all when Pure comes out. This way I won't really have to wait for anticipation ;)

So how about you?? What are you waiting on this Wednesday?????????

Oh, and let me remind you all of my awesome giveaway that's going on until the 29th!!! Don't forget to sign up!! The button that will lead you to it is in the top left hand side bar, and the prizes are, well... you should see for yourself :)))

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

My 100 Follower Valentine's Day Giveaway

Good morning everyone! And happy Valentine's Day!! Even if you are single, this is still a day to celebrate the love you have for yourself and the people around you!!! I hope you are just as good at expressing it as I am. Because I am throwing a GIVEAWAY!!!! Yay!! No, it isn't a special Valentine's Day giveaway. Technically, it's more like 100 follower giveaway started on Valentine's Day, because I've got so many awesome people following my blog, I thought they deserved a prize!!! New followers are not only welcome, but also deeply appreciated.





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Alrighty, so before you enter your name, I'd like to let you know what the prizes are and how this whole event will be organized. First, here are prizes: a book of choice from the Book Depository per winner. So yes, TWO winners :)) And yes, the giveaway is INTERNATIONAL as long as the Book Depository ships to your country. Also, I am providing a list of novels I am willing to pre-order should the winner request one of those.

Okay so here's the list of novels that are already out: 

















And these are the books eligible for pre-order: