In My Mailbox (83)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This Week I Got:



For Review:
Beautiful Dead: Summer by Eden Maguire
Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
Daughter of Xanandu by Dori Jones Yang
Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis

Bought:
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Entangled by Cat Clarke

Timeless by Alexandra Monir
Tempestuous by Lesley Linvingston

Stop in the Name of Pants by Louise Rennison
Spanking Shakespeare by Jake Wizner
I Know It's Over by CK Kelly Martin
Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfruend
The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

Party Princess by Meg Cabot
Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot
Princess in Love by Meg Cabot
Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot
Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot
Sand Dollar Summer by Kimberly K Jones
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Girl V. Boy by Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur

What did you guys get this week?

Fragment Friday (14) - Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales

It's FRIDAY. Which means it's time for Fragment Friday! Fragment Friday is hosted by James of Book Chic. Fragment Friday is where you read excerpts of your favorite books or what you are reading now. I chose Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales this week, an absolutely fabulous, hilarious book that I actually chose to do my Forensics Speaking piece from this year :)

Waiting on Wednesday (84) - Fins Are Forever

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Fins are Forever

Tera Lynn Childs

Coming July 1st from Katherine Tegen Books

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mer girl, true, but signing the renunciation paperwork 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, 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 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 dreams?

I am so excited for this book! I absolutely LOVED Forgive My Fins, and I cannot wait to dive back in to this awesome world and see where the characters' lives lead them. When I closed Forgive My Fins, I wanted more, and after reading the description of Fins Are Forever I don't think it could get much better!

Winners!

I have some more winners to announce!

Prom and Prejudice...

Kayla! whose dream prom dress would be purple

Loser/Queen...

Book + KeyChain: Lisa R

Book: Angelica

Congrats! Your prizes willl be mailed shortly.

Interview with James Dashner

James Dashner is the author of The Maze Runner series, The 13th Reality Series, and The Jimmy Fincher Saga. James was born and raised in Georgia, but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his family. After several years working in finance, he is now a full-time writer.

Where did you get your idea for The Maze Runner?

This story came pouring in one night when I was trying to go to bed, and the inspiration came from two books that I had read and loved when younger. Lord of the Flies by William Golding and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.

Who has been your favorite character to write in The Maze Runner?
Probably Minho. He’s irreverent and says what he thinks.

Do you know how each book will end before you begin?< Yes, definitely. I know some authors have the method of letting their characters take them wherever they want, but I don’t work that way. To me, the end of a book is what matters the most, and the story should build toward it the entire way. Things change, for sure, but the basic plot is always settled in the beginning.

Which of your published works has been your favorite to write?

I think The Maze Runner will always be my favorite. It was so different and strange and the possibilities were endless. It’ll always be my favorite.

Do you see yourself writing more YA in the future?

Absolutely!!!!! I love it, and I’ll never stop.

------

Thanks so much James for stopping by. You can find James online at:
Website/Blog | Twitter

In My Mailbox (82)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I got:

Review:
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce's world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed 'brat' has trained into one of three groups-Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms.

Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember. As a Huntress, her purpose is clear--to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing's going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade.

 When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce's troubles are just beginning. Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn't like following orders. At first she thinks he's crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don't always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth.

 Her partner confuses her; she's never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace. As Deuce's perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy... but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she's ever known.

Love, Love, Love: Language of Love and Cupidity by Deborah Reber and Caroline Goode
Two sweet stories about finding your one true love.



In Language of Love, Janna is quickly adapting to life in Seattle as a high school exchange student from Hungary. Or at least Julian, the cute boy she met in a coffee shop, thinks she is. The truth is, he overheard Janna using a phony accent, and now she’s stuck playing the part….Will Julian want to be with the real Janna? Or will she discover that lies don’t always translate to love?

 In Cupidity, high school is the single worst place to find a boyfriend. And Laura Sweeney is no exception. She hasn't had a date since...well, ever. So Laura needs guidance. A proven "get the guy" strategy. Luckily she knows exactly the expert to call. He's a matchmaking mastermind who actually has the bow and arrow to prove it. Let's just call him...Cupid.

Book Mooch:
Hacking Harvard by Robin Wasserman

It's the ultimate challenge: breaking into the Ivy League.


The hack: To get one deadbeat, fully unqualified slacker into the most prestigious school in the country.


The crew: Eric Roth -- the good guy, the voice of reason. Max Kim -- the player who made the bet in the first place. Schwartz -- the kid genius already on the inside...of Harvard, that is. Lexi -- the beauty-queen valedictorian who insists on getting in the game.
The plan: Use only the most undetectable schemes and techno-brilliant skills. Don't break the Hacker's Code. Don't get distracted. Don't get caught. Take down someone who deserves it.
The stakes: A lot higher than they think. They've got the players, the plot, and soon -- the prize.It's go time.
What did you guys get this week?

Sinful by Sara Dailey and Staci Weber (T2T Tour)

Sinful
Sara Dailey and Staci Weber
Publisher: Mundania Press
Release Date: November 16, 2010
Pages: 232
Source: Copy for Review/Tour

Rating: 3 stars

After the death of her mother, seventeen year old Elizabeth Carrington is starting over. In a new city, at a new school, with a dad she hardly knows, it isn’t going to be easy. Trying desperately to find her way and cope with her unceasing grief, she finds herself surrounded by a force so compelling, so comforting, so captivating that she can’t deny its presence and soon fears that if it were to leave her, she might lose her very self. But is it all really happening or has her wavering sanity finally found its breaking point?

Michael’s role in this world has been the same for centuries, but now something is different. He is inexplicably drawn to an intriguing stranger so alluring that he can’t force himself to resist her. Is he willing to risk everything to be with her, even falling?

A dark force, hell bent on destroying any chance of happiness for his arch nemesis Michael, is lurking in League City, TX, and there is no limit to his need for vengeance. How far will he go to seek revenge for his sworn enemy’s betrayal?

Caught in a clash of good versus evil, Elizabeth soon finds herself in the crosshairs of a battle that has been brewing since long before she was even born.

So there were some really lovely things about Sinful, as well as some things I was not as crazy about. It was a very quick read.

The characters were my favorite part of the book. While many of them were cliched, they were still very well developed. Lauren was a ton of fun. Elizabeth was a bit shallow, but she really had her moments where I really enjoyed her as a character. I thought Jason was a ton of fun - and I loved how he was nice and off the beaten track of hot popular guys who can tend to be ultra jerks.

The overall plot arc was great, but I had some issues with it. Parts of it seemed very rushed and took place over the span of a few pages, but felt like they could last several chapters. Other parts seemed to almost drag on, instead of merely ending. The plot was fairly predictable, but the little things kept you guessing which was super nice. 

Elizabeth and Michael's almost instantaneous love bugged me. Elizabeth meets Michael and almost instantly she's proclaiming her love for him. Then he uses the pet name "Love" for her, and it was just a bit too cheesy for my liking.

The second half of the book was the redeeming factor for me. I was a bit iffy on Sinful until the second half, where the plot really picked up and moved on from the focus on more lovey-dovey type situations.

Sinful is a book with a great cast of characters with some flaws in the plot. The overall arc is great, but some of the stepping stones along the way weren't quite right to me. The story definitely gets better in the second half of the book and has an addicting quality that makes you want to keep reading.

Fragment Friday (13) - Clarity by Kim Harrington

It's FRIDAY. Which means it's time for Fragment Friday! Fragment Friday is hosted by James of Book Chic. Fragment Friday is where you read excerpts of your favorite books or what you are reading now. This week is an upcoming release that is super stellar: Clarity by Kim Harrington! :)

Bloodborn by Karen Kincy Cover Reveal!

I am super duper excited to be able to share Bloodborn by Karen Kincy's cover with all of you! Now, I absolutely loved Other (See my review) and book 2, Bloodborn comes out this September and I am counting down the days 'til it is out.

Here's a bit about Bloodborn (via Goodreads):

It isn’t working. The doctor said it would, but it isn’t, even though I keep taking the pills, and I keep seeing Dad sneak into the bathroom and count how many are left. As if I would stop taking them. As if I would let myself become a beast.

 

Brock Koeman lost his brother to werewolves. Now he’s in danger of losing himself. Bitten by a werewolf at sixteen, he fights the transformation, taking the excruciating pain as a punishment for his mistakes. With the help of a risky drug called Lycanthrox, he’s managed to stay human for two full moons. But he knows he can’t last much longer.
Hungry for revenge, Brock vows to kill the silver wolf who bit him. But Brock’s ex, the fiery Cynthia Lopez, still cares about him enough not to let him do anything suicidally dangerous—never mind that Cyn gets her thrills from danger herself. Together again, the heat between them rekindles, but Brock feels like a beast beside her beauty. He can’t stay with her; he can’t ignore the werewolves howling outside his window. When he hunts down the pack, Cyn doesn’t sit on the sidelines. She’s right beside him as they get taken hostage and start running with the werewolves, the police hot on their tails. Brock has to get a grip on who he truly is—before the wolf within kills him, or someone else does.

NOW! The cover...

Isn't it fabulous?

Waiting on Wednesday (83) - Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Anna Dressed in Blood
Kendare Blake
Coming September 2011 from TOR

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Ya, so this book sounds absolutely ah-mazing! Since I first read the description, I have wanted it, so I am counting down the days until September so I can rush out and get this book! :)

In My Mailbox (81)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.



People mentioned:
Dani
Gail

Clarity by Kim Harrington
Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers
The Opposite of Amber by Gillian Philip
Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
Rosebush by ichele Jaffe
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Blog Tour: Head Games Playlist + Giveaway

Keri Mikulski teaches writing and resides at the Jersey Shore with her family, where she plays a ton of pick-up basketball and worships Derek Jeter from afar. A three-sport athlete back when she was in school, Keri took enormous pride in her lucky game day scrunchies and half-top Nike Air Jordans. Find out more at http://www.kerimikulski.com/.

I asked Keri this question: Can you share 5 or so songs you think relate to Head Games?

Thanks so much for having me, Erica! :) You gave me a great idea to include a playlist on my blog. :)

THE HEAD GAMES PLAY LIST


1. You Belong with Me – Taylor Swift






2. Shot – LMFAO (basketball shots :))




3. Fifteen – Taylor Swift

4. Hot and Cold – Katy Perry








5. We Are the Champions - Queen










Keri's book, Head Games, hit stores on January 6th! Here's a bit about it :)


Taylor is calm, cool, collected, and ferocious on the basketball court. A total all-star. Not so much in real life. She may be tall, gorgeous, and an incredible catch, but just try telling her that!

And lately, Taylor doesn't know which way to turn: The summer showcase game is almost here. Her BFF Hannah roped her into a fashion show (eek!). And she can't decide between Zach - the super-popular, super-tall, super-off-limits basketball dynamo and Matt - the sweet boy from her math class (who may just be dating her BFF's older sister). It's enough to make any girl's head spin!

Can Taylor strike a pose, land the boy of her dreams, and win the game?


Leave a comment on this post, because thanks to Keri, one lucky commenter will be receiving a $10 iTunes giftcard!

Blog Tour: Head Games by Keri Mikulski

Head Games
Keri Mikulski
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: January 6, 2011
Pages: 272
Source: ARC for Review

Rating: 5 stars

Taylor is calm, cool, collected, and ferocious on the basketball court. A total all-star. Not so much in real life. She may be tall, gorgeous, and an incredible catch, but just try telling her that!

And lately, Taylor doesn't know which way to turn: The summer showcase game is almost here. Her BFF Hannah roped her into a fashion show (eek!). And she can't decide between Zach - the super-popular, super-tall, super-off-limits basketball dynamo and Matt - the sweet boy from her math class (who may just be dating her BFF's older sister). It's enough to make any girl's head spin!

Can Taylor strike a pose, land the boy of her dreams, and win the game?

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this book! I started reading, and I ended up reading Head Games in one sitting. The story was so fun and the characters were so easy to connect with. I felt like this book could take place anywhere, I could definitely see it happening in my high school on any given day.

Head Games was written really well. After about the first five pages where I had a bit of uncertainty, I was hooked. I fell in love with the story and loved it. While the story was somewhat predictable, it was so fun to see how it all unfolded.

Taylor was a character that I think everyone can relate to in some way or another. Because of her height, she's cast off a bit. Everyone has something about that that causes others to poke fun at them for. In addition to that, she's thrown into so many situations, and I definitely found myself thinking I was a lot like Taylor. She, like me, has a bit of an issue saying no to people - and I could relate so well to all the situations she's in. Taylor's best friend, Hannah AKA Banana, was a ton of fun! She was quirky and I absolutely loved her. Matt was such a sweetheart. 
 
I do wish the cover had a face on the girl, as I feel it looks very awkward cut off at her nose like that. I really like the cover otherwise, but I am constantly thinking what is her face like? I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It's a fast read that is a ton of fun and absolutely adorable. It was a book I really got involved in and would be laughing hysterically at different events or yelling at other characters.
 

Waiting on Wednesday (82) - He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!



He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott
Coming June 7, 2011 from Simon and Schuster.

Ally Ryan, come on down to the Jersey Shore and forget your troubles!

Have you recently been humiliated in front of your friends and family at your former best friend's birthday party? Was your almost boyfriend partly responsible for that humiliation by withholding some vital information about where your estranged father is? Did you come home to find said estranged father sitting on your stoop?

If so, then it sounds like you could use a vacation! The Jersey Shore is the place to be. Your mother may be living with her boyfriend of only a few months, but at least the stunt Shannen pulled has put some of your friends back in your court. Even so, you're still angry and what better way to get over Jake than to blow off some steam with local guy, Cooper? People will hardly recognize your new attitude, but the old one wasn't getting you anywhere, so who cares!

Jake Graydon, an exciting opportunity is waiting for you in the service industry!

Are your grades so low your parents have grounded you for the summer? Did you the girl you really like unceremoniously leave you behind? Would you rather eat dirt than see your friends again? Then a job at the local coffee shop is just the ticket! Surprisingly, Ally's father is the new manager so you get to be reminded of her nearly every day. Maybe it's time to start flirting with your best friend's ex or even taking school a bit more seriously. Especially when you finally see Ally and she's hanging around with some loser and it's couldn't be more clear that she is over you.

Have a great summer!

I am so so looking forward to this one! I am a huge fan of Kieren Scott's books - and loved the first one some insane amount. I can't wait to hear where the story goes next :)

2011 Reading

This is the post I'm using to track my 2011 reading. I'm really hoping to read at least 150 books, but we'll see how it goes :)

1. Head Games by Keri Mikulski
2. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
3. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
4. Sinful by Sara Dailey and Staci Weber
5. Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell
6. The Opposite of Amber by Gillian Philip
7. Clarity by Kim Harrington
8. Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
9. Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
10. Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
11. Language of Love by Deborah  Reber
12. Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
13. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
14. Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang
15. Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
16. Sleepless by Cyn Balog
17. Wither by Lauren Destefano
18. Jealousy by Lili St Crow
19. Encalve by Ann Aguirre
20. Suspicion by Kate Brian
21. Scandal by Kate Brian
22. Vanished by Kate Brian
23. Ominous by Kate Brian
24. Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
25. Scars by Cheryl Rainfeld
26. 50/50 Monologues for Student Actors by Mary Depner
27. Defiance by Lili St Crow
28. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
29. So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti
30. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson
31. Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
32. Rise by Stefne Miler
33. Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
34. Flawless by Lara Chapman
35. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
36. The A Circuit by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka
37. Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
38. Intertwined by Gena Showalter
39. Abandon by Meg Cabot
40. Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
41. Fairy Bad Day by Amanda Ashby
42. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
43. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
44. John Belushi Is Dead by Kathy Charles
45. How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain
46. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
47.. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
48. Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley
49. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
50. The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan
51. Spinning Out by David Stahler Jr
52. Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley
53. Stealing Bases by Keri Mikulski
54. Blood Ties by Mari Mancusi
55. The Very Thought of You by Rosie Alison
56. Fakie by Tony Varrato
57. Love Story by Jennifer Echols
58. The Survivors by Amanda Havard
59. Foiled by Taylor Morris
60. Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa
61. The School For Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer
62. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
63. From Willa, With Love by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
64. Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
65. Between by Jessica Warman
66. Misfit by Jon Skovron
67. Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evans
68. Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
69. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
70. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
71. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
72. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
73. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
74. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
75. All Together dead by Charlaine Harris
76.  Blowout by Taylor Morris
77. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
78. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris
79. Tunnel Vision by Susan Shaw
80. Dead in the Family by Susan Shaw
81. Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
82. Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delany
83. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
84. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
85. Vintage Veronica by Erica S Perl
86. Stay With Me by Paul Griffin
87. Skyship Academy by Nick James
88. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
89. Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
90. Fantasy: An Artist's Realm by Ben Boos
91. Swords: An Artist's Devotion by Ben Boos
92. The Postmortal by Drew Magary
93. Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff
94. Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen
95. My Not-So-Still Life by Liz Gallagher
96. Legend by Marie Lu
97. Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
98. The Espressologist by Kristina Springer
99. Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
100. After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel
101. Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
102. Fateful by Claudia Gray
103. Supernaturally by Kiersten White
104. Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
104.5 Dubliners by James Joyce (I only read about half of it for class, as that was all I was required)
105. Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov
106. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
107. Translations by Brian Friel
108. Disgrace by JM Coetzee
109. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
110. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
111. The Radleys by Matt Haig
112. Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
113. The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
114. Audition by Stasia Ward Kahoe
115. Ashfall by Mike Mullin
116. Dark Companion by Marta Acosta
117. Past Perfect by Leila Sales
118. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
119. Prized by Caragh O'Brien
120. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
121. Eon by Alison Goodman
122. The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees
123. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by AS King
124. In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton
125. Nightspell by Leah Cypess
126. A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford
127. If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
128. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
129. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
130. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
131. Saving June by Hannah Harrington
132. Firelight by Sophie Jordan
133. Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt
134. Dark Mirror by MJ Putney
135. Witch's Brew by Heidi R Kling
136. Arcania by Liz Maverick
137. The Rites and Wrongs of Janice Wills by Joanna Pearson
138. Austerlitz by WG Sebald
139. Scored by Lauren McLaughlin
140. A Flight of Angels by Rebecca Guay
141. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
142. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
143. Fury by Elizabeth Miles
144. Mercy Lily by Lisa Albert
145. The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen
146. Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne
147. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
148. Cupidity by Caroline Goode
149. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
150. Purge by Sarah Darer Littman
151. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
152. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
153. First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci
154. The Orange Houses by Paul Griffin
155. Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
156. The Edumacation of Jay Clark by Jay Baker

ReReads:
1. Private by Kate Brian
2. Invitation Only by Kate Brian
3. Untouchable by Kate Brian
4. Confessions by Kate Brian
5. Inner Circle by Kate Brian
6. Legacy by Kate Brian
7. Ambition by Kate Brian
8. Revelation by Kate Brian
9. Paradise Lost by Kate Brian
10. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
11. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
12. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
13. If On a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
14. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
15. Sea by Heidi R Kling

Winners!

I have a bunch more contest winners to post :)

The winner of Night School is LISA
The winner of Entice is Katie
The winner of Matched is Erin
The winner of The Lost Saint + Nail Polish is Dani
The winner of a Lost Saint nail polish is Samantha

Congrats to the winners!

In My Mailbox (80)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This Week I Got:

Won from RandomBuzzers:

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Torment by Lauren Kate

Trade:
Butterfly by Sonya Hartnett

As of January 1st, I am on a book buying ban. I'm limiting my book buying this year, mainly due to the mass of books I bought last year and didn't read. I'm going to try not to spend over $30 each month and in a challenge with a few friends, and that way I figure I can read everything I buy this year and put a huge dent in what I didn't read last and meant too :)

What did you guys get this week?

Elizabeth Eulberg's Event + Win Prom and Prejudice

So on December 27th, I was lucky enough to go to Elizabeth Eulberg's event up in Portage with my friend Ashley! It was quite fun! I had been dying to go to one of Elizabeth Eulberg's events for awhile, but it seemed every time she had one in the area, something came up. So to my surprise I finally was free when her event was!

Ashley and I got there early, bought our books, and ran to get something to eat. By the time we got back to the event, mostly everything was filled up so we sat really close to the front on the side, which was pretty cool! Elizabeth read a little snippet of Prom and Prejudice, complete with different character voices - which were absolutely awesome! Elizabeth then answered some questions like about how she went about modernizing the book and in that question came up Collin (based over Mr Collins in Pride and Prejudice) and his little weather rant. I found this to be just hilarious!

There were a ton of people in the signing line, so Ashley and I kind of hung to the back and sat down, waiting for the line to die down a bit. Little did I know, but Heidi from YA Bibliophile had been sitting next to me! Once I figured this out we chatted until the line was shorter. I had read her blog, but I guess I just hadn't realized she lived in Wisconsin, which was pretty rad!

I picked up an extra lovely shiny signed copy of Prom and Prejudice and one of YOU lucky people are going to get it. This will be open to US/Canada only (I promise to have an international contest semi soon!) and will be open until January 22nd :)

Waiting on Wednesday (81) - Outside In by Maria V Snyder

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Outside In by Maria V Snyder
Coming March 1st, 2011 from Harlequin Teen

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In.

I have been looking forward to this book since I read Inside Out! I love the world, characters, and just basically everything about it. Inside Out has started out a little slower for me, but ended with some huge wow factors so I'm hoping Outside In will simply blow me away as the action can start right away!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief
Markus Zusak
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 14, 2006
Pages: 550
Source: Read For Class

Rating: 4 stars

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

The Book Thief was a book that I had been hearing about for ages. I had heard an enormous amount of praise for it, and had been meaning to get to it. My YA Lit class gave me an excuse to read it and I really did enjoy it. I didn't find it amazing or anything, but certainly a book worth reading.

I loved Death being the narrator. I thought this was so unique and made the story so much better. I loved how the past, future, and present were sort of woven into one. If any other character had narrated, I really don't think the book would have been as powerful and moving.

The story was different than what I was expecting. But I really liked where it went. I loved the color imagery that Marcus Zusak used throughout the book*. The Book Thief was extrodinarily well written - one of the best written books I have ever read.

I think the thing that kept me from loving it was the length. There were so many times where nothing really happened and the story was slower. That's okay on occasion, but I felt these passages were too frequent for me to truely love it.

The Book Thief is a truely powerful book. It demonstrates the power of words and their impact. It will make you think a lot, and even after you finish the last page, the ideas and words will still be turning in your head.

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*It was super fun - in my YA Lit class we actually got a day where we got to pick one example of color imagery and paint it however we wanted on these huge sheets of posterboard!

Other people who have reviewed The Book Thief
Ticket to Anywhere The Book Thief was acutally Gail's #1 read of 2008!
Bookmarked Reviews
The Boston Bibliophile

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

Prom and Prejudice
Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher: Point
Release Date: January 1, 2011
Pages: 231
Source: Purchased

Rating: 5 stars

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

I loved this book. I am a diehard Pride and Prejudice fan, so this modern adaption was super fun! I fell in love with Prom and Prejudice from the very first page, and had issues putting it down until I had finished. With the last page, I was left feeling all giddy and happy. The ending was so perfect, and I loved it. This is definitely one of my top books of 2010!

Elizabeth Eulberg did something really neat with Prom and Prejudice - she kept with the classic story up to a point, then went off in her own direction. This kept the story fun, because if she had tried to keep to Pride and Prejudice's story 100%, I don't think it would've worked as well. I thought the setting was super clever - Longbourn Academy.

The characters were just so fun! Collin had to be one of my favorite characters of the book - he obviously based off dear Mr Collins and at one point he just drones on and on about average weather temperatures. It was so funny! So many times throughout the book he is just droning on and is clearly oblivious to the fact no one cares Lizzy was a really great character as well - she was so likable. I fell for Darcy right away, like it should be :) Lydia is still Lydia, annoying and immature. She was super funny in this book - with her attempts to be the center of attention. Lydia is Jane's sister and if I were her, I would just want to melt into the corner and never been seen again.

This book is so much fun! I suggest you stop reading this review, run to the book store this moment, and grab a copy! I got it, and wanted to read straight through. I fell asleep with it in my lap the first night, and finished it the next day. I'm embarassed to say, I still haven't read Elizabeth Eulberg's first novel, The Lonely Hearts Club, but after this book it will definitely be one of the next books I read! I can't wait to see what Elizabeth Eulberg has in store for readers with her next book!

Top Books in 2010 You May Have Missed

So there are so many huge titles each year and they're great, really. But there's always those titles that don't get quite as much as much attention and are super awesome. All of these are among my top books of 2010!

1. Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

I absolutely LOVED this book. I begged a friend to borrow an ARC before it was out, and then reread it again once my pre-ordered copy showed up on my doorstep. It was such a moving book and I still am thinking about it, months later. It most definitely did not get the attention it deserved I don't think - but I was super happy when it was just announced that Harmonic Feedback was a Cybils Finalist!

2. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

This book is super wonderful and I think got hidden in the shadows a bit. It was one of the best fantasies you will ever read. It will grab your attention and keep it until you finish. Between the world, characters, and plot - this is a book not to miss. <3

3. Salvaged by Stefne Miller

Salvaged was definitely a book that snuck up on me! I had it, heard about it, but hadn't read it right away. A good friend told me it was amazing, so of course I read it very shortly after that. I regret not picking it up the day I got it! It was amazing and was very different from other books you read. The little things like the fact that Jesus was an actual character in the book pushed it above and beyond other books and made me love it even more!

4. Knightley Academy by Violet Haberdasher

Knightley Academy was a book that I thought looked good, but I wasn't 100% certain what I would think about it. I read it and became hooked. I am now pining away for book 2. This book is so fun, and would definitely be super great for someone hesitant to read, because I would say this book is comprable to Harry Potter in the sense of the adventure and way you get caught up in it!

5. Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Mistwood is another wonderful fantasy. Fantasy books are my favorite ever, and I love when I find the absolute great ones. Mistwood was one of those. I looked forward for it for months, and I loved when I read it. It was so original and kept me guessing!

6. Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman


Where the Truth Lies was a book I wasn't expecting to love to the extent I did. Where the Truth Lies is a companion novel to Breathless, a book I sadly did not finish, but I thought it looked good. I was blown away by the amazingness of the story. The writing was beautiful and it was instant love.

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What books do you think people may have missed and are those "rare gems"?

In My Mailbox (79)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

This week I only got 1 book for review.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

What did you guys get?

2010 Wrap Up!

In 2010 I Read a grand total 116 Books. This is a decrease since last year, which kind of makes me sad. I haven't had as much time for reading lately, but next year I'd really like to read at least 150 books!

2010 Debut Author Challenge Wrap Up
26 Debuts Read This Year, 7 2010 Debuts were also read last year. I own 13 more debuts that I did not get to reading this year.

Favorite Cover of 2010:
Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman - I adore this cover so so much. Since the day I saw it, it has been instant love! Runner ups for favorite covers would be Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick, Salvaged by Stefne Miller, and Sea by Heidi R Kling.

Books I Wish I Had Gotten To In 2010:
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupula
Hearts At Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
The Candidates by Inara Scott
Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
Nevermore by Andrea Cremer
The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
Sleepless by Cyn Balog
My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
Jealousy by Lili St Crow
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
The School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer

11 Books I'm Really Excited For In 2011:
1. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton (I've read this one already, and you all need it ASAP!)
2. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
3. Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
4. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
5. The Next Gallagher Girls Book (No Idea of The Title Yet)
6. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
7. Clarity by Kim Harrison
8. The Eternal Sea by Angie Frazier
9. So Much Closer by Susane Colsanti
10. Arrow by RJ Anderson
11. Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

2011 Resolutions!

I am so good about making plans and getting hyped up about them, but then tend to slack off from time to time. So in 2011 I have a handful of resolutions I hope to keep for the New Year! :)

* Read 150 Books - I know I can do it. I only read 116 boooks this year, but I spent way too much time on the internet and also just being lazy.

* Be More Social - I used to be great about commenting on other people's blogs and chatting up posts. I still do read all the posts, but forget to comment a lot of the time. I want to start to comment more again!

* Schedule Blog Time - I really need to block off some time each week, I'm thinking on Sundays, to plan out the week and do any blog maintenance that needs to be done. I'd use this time to schedule posts, write any reviews for books I read the previous week that aren't already written, email in review links, and more. I think this will really help me stay more organized.

* Get In Shape - This is pretty much non-blog related, but I'm posting all my resolutions. I figured if I posted them all on the blog, I can't lose my list :). I really need to get back in shape, I used to play sports and dance a lot, but now all I have is show choir, which is about 3 hours of dance a week at most.

* Eat Healthier - Again, non-blog related, but I have been eating horrible lately, and really need to get back to eating much healthier. I've been doing better lately, like not drinking much soda or anything. I need to learn to start cooking more vegetarian meals for myself, instead of just grabbing a snack out of the cupboard.

Loser/Queen by Jodi Lynn Anderson Giveaway!

Loser/Queen by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Cammy Hall is what anyone would describe as a loser. She lives with her grandparents and has adopted their way of life… right down to the comfortable shoes and early bedtime. And can she help it that she actually likes to knit?

At school, her skills with knitting needles and some yarn go completely unappreciated: people like Bekka Bell reign while Cammy and her best friend, the fearless Danish exchange student Gerdi, watch from the sidelines. Cammy’s used to being an outsider; after years of humiliating moments, her goal is simply to fly under the radar. Then she suddenly starts receiving mysterious text messages that lead her right to all the embarrassing secrets about the most popular kids in school. Cammy never expected to be able to climb up the high school food chain, and the agenda of the texter may be questionable—but how can she possibly give up the chance to be Queen?

There will be 2 winners. One winner will receive a copy of the book and a little keychain featuring the bunny from the copy and a second winner will receive a copy of the book. Open to US/Cananda only and open until January 22.

Top Ten of 2010

2010 was such a great year. I look at myself - and I see these miraculous changes and also just marvel at everything I accomplished this year. 2010 was also a great year for books. I fell in love with so many, and I can hardly wait to see what 2011 will bring in terms of books! Without further ado, here is my top 10 books of 2010!

10. Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

I love Pride and Prejudice, and was so happy with the fun modern retelling Elizabeth Eulberg did with Prom and Prejudice. It was the perfect setting with absolutely fun characters. All the classic characters are there, and it was fun to pick out the little references true Pride and Prejudice fans would understand.

9. Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman

This book really was a treat! I had thought it sounded good, but was a bit unsure, as Breathless, the book Where the Truth Lies is a companion novel too, was one I did not like and could not even finish. I fell in love - I loved everything about this book and could reread it over and over. I finished it, and the first thing I did was order a finished copy so that I could be sure to have a shiny copy there for me!

8. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

This fun read took me a bit to get into. It wasn't until about 70 pages in that I got absolutely hooked. Until that point, it was good, but not amazing but then something clicked and it was instant love. I devoured the rest of this book in an airport waiting for my flight to board. Not only is the story and characters great, but the book itself features fun things like receipts from the road trip and postcards! How rad!

7. Forget You by Jennifer Echols

So I am a major Jennifer Echols fan - her book Going Too Far remains one of my all time favorites. Forget You was such an emotional read and was one I burned straight through. Forget You features yet another perfect Echols guy and a full cast of great characters. I love the stories Jennifer Echols comes up with and her writing is absolutely beautiful!

6. Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

I have a major thing for spies, and Ally Carter has turned this fun series in to a must read series! This series keeps getting better and better, with Only the Good Spy Young being my favorite book so far! I love the action Ally Carter has in her books and the fun characters. The characters never get old. I love how Ally Carter has you questioning all sorts of characters and the motives of others all the time, only to change your opinion about 8 times before the book is over. <3>

5. The Iron King and The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

These books are so fun! I have always love faeries, but after reading The Iron Fey books, I fell even harder for them. The new spin Julie Kagawa put on her fey, was absolutely fascinating. Then, add in the epic love triangle that is going on - ya, and you have a book that is to die for. The third book in this series is fabulous, and I am absolutely dying for the fourth book

4. Salvaged by Stefne Miller

Salvaged was a complete and utter surprise! I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I started reading, except that I had heard it was good from several people. I fell in LOVE with it. The writing was pure magic - the story was so beautifully written. The romance was one of the most adorable things I have ever read in my life! Riley, the guy, was the perfect guy that I totally wish was real - I even named my fishie after him.

3. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss - how can I even explain this book? This book has PARIS, BOYS, HUMOR, and MORE! That right there about sums it up :) This book is pure love and you will devour it from page 1 to the end! Stephanie Perkins is definitely an author to watch, and I can't wait to see what her next book, Lola and the Boy Next Door turns out to be like!

2. Sea by Heidi R Kling

Sea was a book I was dying to have since I heard what it was about, and even more after I saw the drool-worthy cover! From the first page, I fell in love with this touching story about hope after disaster. Heidi is working on a fantasy next, so after reading her realistic story, I can't wait to see what she can do with a fantasy world! The romance between Sienna and Deni was so real - and that was my greatest fear when I began reading, that the romance wouldn't be real. :)

1. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

This was a book that I love in every way. From the world, the story, the characters, to NORTH, I loved every moment. It honestly is the best fantasy I have read in nearly 5 years. Alexandra Bracken is one talented author and I cannot wait to see what she comes up to next. She's had little details about her new book she's working on, and it looks super fabulous - so I can only hope the world is gifted with more Alex Bracken awesome soon!

I also wanted to mention some books I really enjoyed, but just didn't make the top 10 list, but without further ado, some Honorable Mentions:
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
Everlasting by Angie Frazier
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

What books did you guys really enjoy in 2010?