Waiting on Wednesday (115) - Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne

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!

Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne
Coming December 20, 2011 from Simon Pulse

Hannah can't wait to sneak off for a romantic weekend with her boyfriend, Colin. He’s leaving for college soon, and Hannah wants their trip to the lake house to be one they’ll never forget.

But once Hannah and Colin get there, things start to seem a bit...off. They can't find the town on any map. The house they are staying in looks as if someone's been living there, even though it's been deserted for years. And Colin doesn’t seem quite himself. As he grows more unstable, Hannah worries about Colin’s dark side, and her own safety.

Nothing is as perfect as it seems, and what lies beneath may haunt her forever.


What are you guys waiting on?I think this one sounds awesome! When I was in NYC for BEA I got the opportunity to go to S&S for the blogger preview type dealy, and the lovely ladies at S&S told us about this one, and frankly, it cannot come out fast enough.

Giveaway + Trailer: Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

I am super excited to have a giveaway of Hades today along with it's super fabulous trailer to share! Hades it Halo #2, and it sounds super wonderful!

Bethany and Xavier are even closer since battling Jake Thorn and his evil influence (in Halo) and Beth and her angel siblings must still protect Venus Cove from the Dark Forces.


When a party game – a séance – inadvertently releases Jake from the Underworld, he disguises himself and tricks Beth into taking a ride on his motorcycle. When the highway opens up and swallows them, Beth learns too late that she’s now a prisoner in hell. What happens to angels there? As her archangel brother, Gabriel, her sister Ivy, Xavier, and her best friend, Molly search for her, Beth must weigh Jake’s bargaining for her freedom: one night with him, and she will be released back to Earth.


Can Jake be trusted in this wager? And is he also using Beth to engineer the fall of the archangel Gabriel? Xavier has already lost one love – when Jake tricks him into thinking that Bethany is dead, his grief and anger result in a betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if he is so good after all.


It will be up to Beth to use everything she’s learned about her powers as an angel – and about love – to free herself and those she loves from the clutches of Hades.

Link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkmZ2OolNAw

See Alexandra Adornetto on tour this Fall: http://www.facebook.com/penfataletour

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraAdornetto

Macmillan page for the book & author: http://us.macmillan.com/hades

Fill out the following form to enter. It is open until September 11 and US/Canada only.

The Postmortal by Drew Magary

The Postmortal
Drew Magary
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4 stars

John Farrell is about to get "The Cure."
Old age can never kill him now.
The only problem is, everything else still can . . .

Imagine a near future where a cure for aging is discovered and-after much political and moral debate-made available to people worldwide. Immortality, however, comes with its own unique problems-including evil green people, government euthanasia programs, a disturbing new religious cult, and other horrors. Witty, eerie, and full of humanity, The Postmortal is an unforgettable thriller that envisions a pre-apocalyptic world so real that it is completely terrifying.

The Postmortal was a cool read that was something that felt like it could be so real in the not so far off future. With its thought-provoking premise, readers will be sorry to miss The Postmortal.

The Postmortal had a really cool design . First, off it spans over the period of many years so it's divided into sections because of that. Then, the actual book itself is a mix of writings from John, blog posts from others, facts about the changing world and how the Cure is affecting things, and other things like that. It really broke up the story, and I really liked that constant change.

The Postmortal had a bit of a slower start to it, then the story picked up and I really enjoyed it. The end slowed down a bit again, and it just got a bit long.

I really liked Katy. I thought she was a wonderful character, and while she was only in a very brief section of the book, that was one of my favorites parts. She was so free. Polly was another character I really admired - she was the grounding of the book I felt. she was so sensible, and even when things got out of her control, she was still just this great character.

The relationship between John and Allison really just didn't feel that real. I felt like that with Sonia and John too. There was no lead up, it was just this all of a sudden relationship and it was very unrealistic to me.

The Postmortal is definitely a book I would recommend to all. With its intriguing premise, it was a very thought provoking read that I simply didn't want to put down.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Are On The Top Of My TBR List For Fall

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. Each week features a different topic, and you make a top ten list about it. This week is the Top Ten Books That Are On the Top Of My TBR List for Fall.

This week is DEFINITELY a hard one! There are so many awesome sounding books coming out this fall.

I'm starting out with a few awesome books that I've already read that YOU all should read:

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracy
Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

All 3 of those are absolutely brilliant, so you should all check them out! They're all September releases which release in like a week or two :)

Now for books that are actually ON my TBR Pile.

10. Past Perfect by Leila Sales

I loved Leila's debut, Mostly Good Girls. In fact, I loved it so much that I did my forensics piece this last year  and competed with a snippet from Mostly Good Girls. So I am quite excited from another book from the wonderful Leila Sales.

9. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

This one has one of the most gorgeous covers I've seen in a while and has a premise that sounds like it will be absolutely brilliant as well!

8. Vengeance by Kate Brian

The LAST Private book. This series has been my like guilty pleasure for years, seeing it come to an end is like so weird.

7. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

Books with music make my life!

6. The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

This book sounded amazing and then I saw the cover and fell even more in love with it. I THEN saw the book trailer and wanted it even more!

5. Eve by Anna Carey

Dystopian? Check. Gorgeous Cover? Check Sounds Brilliant? Check. Ya this one sounds all-around brilliant. Can't wait!

4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

This book sound so brilliant and is SO pretty.

3. The Reckoning by Lili St. Crow

LAST BOOK IN THE STRANGE ANGELS SERIES! This series is like my addiction. I love it and I love Christophe <3 <3

2. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

This one sounds SO brilliant, and the cover is hauntingly beautiful. I have fallen in love with Kimberly Derting's other 2 novels, and this one sounds even MORE amazing than the other 2 masterpieces she has out!

1. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Ya...I've been waiting on this book since I finished Anna LAST summer. Enough said?

What books are on the top of your TBR list for fall?

Sweet Venom 2 Title Hunt

So, I am SUPER excited to be a part of Tera Lynn Child's title hunt for Sweet Venom 2. The letter over at The Book Cellar is...

S

I can't wait to visit all the blogs and see what the title is!


The entry form will be up at Tera's blog, http://teralynnchilds.blogspot.com/, so be sure to head over there!


What are the prizes you can win, may you ask? 


FIVE signed copies of Sweet Venom and a grand prize $50 bookstore gift card, and  the hunt is open internationally. 


Tera will explain more of the details of how to do the hunt on her blog, so make sure to head there :) How fun is all of this?!?

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #6)
Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: April 28, 2006
Pages: 324
Source: Bought

Rating: 3 stars

Spiked with a frothy fusion of romance, mystery, and fantasy, this bestselling series sends the supernaturally gifted cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to New Orleans, where she has to deal with the legacy of one of her own family and a host of potentially dangerous characters.

This was definitely my least favorite book in the series thus far.

The last 30 pages or so picked up a lot, and had a lot of fun action, but before that it was quite slow. And by slow, I mean I was rather bored. It still was a fast read, but merely because I was waiting for the fast paced action I've come to know and love with these books.

I was not as crazy about the newer characters in this book either. Quinn plays a much bigger role in this book, and I really can't say I am a big fan of him. I did really like Amelia, but she was probably the only new character I really liked. As for the old characters, I still love 'em :).

This is a super awesome series, but this was a lull in the middle for me. Regardless, I am eager to pick up book 7, and start reading again about the next tale of Sookie and the others.

In My Mailbox (113)

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:
Without Tess by Marcella Pixley
Tempest by Julie Cross
The Radleys by Matt Haig

Won from Katie:
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Won from YA Contemps:
Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
A Time of Miracles by Anne-Laure Bondouz
The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen
The Kid Table by Andrea Seigel

Bought:
The River by Mary Jane Beaufrand

What did you guys get?

Interview with Jessica Warman

I am super excited to have Jessica Warman by the blog today for an interview! I am a huge fan of Jessica Warman's books, her book Where the Truth Lies was one of my Top Books of 2010 and I reviewed Between earlier this month.

Jessica Warman is the author of Breathless, Where the Truth Lies, and Between. You can find her on her website http://jessicawarman.com/.

If you could have lunch with one of your characters, who would you choose?

Definitely Richie! He’s based very heavily on my husband (except for the drug dealer part!), so I know we’d have a great time!


If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

That’s an easy one. I would go to Greece and run the marathon. Not a marathon; the marathon. That’s definitely a lifelong dream of mine.

If you could go back in time for one day, where would you choose?

Hmmm. Okay, I’ve got it. Before my husband and I started dating, we were good friends. One night during our freshman year of college, when we were both 18, we stayed up all night talking outside our dorm. At the time, he had a girlfriend and I had a boyfriend. (Scandalous, I know!) All we did was talk, but I can remember leaving him around dawn and thinking with absolute certainty that I wanted to spend as much time as possible with him, as soon as possible. I was beyond giddy with excitement. I’d love to re-live that night.

Which is harder for you to write: The first line? or the last line?

The first line. The last line generally comes to me when I’m still working on the early parts of the novel. I might not know what comes between the middle and the end, but I generally have a good sense of that final line and the image I want to leave in the reader’s mind.

Could you tell us 5 random facts about you?

1. I live in the woods, and my house gets horrible cell reception. I love it, because sometimes when I’m having a conversation with someone and I don’t want to talk anymore, I can just hang up on them with impunity and blame it on the bad signal.

2. I am the opposite of a hoarder. I loathe any form of clutter, and am constantly throwing stuff out to avoid too much accumulation of stuff. For the first year we lived in our house, we didn’t have any living room furniture. It was great. Sometimes I’d go into that empty room, sit down on the floor, and just relax… it was like my version of a padded room.

3. When I was in college (I think a junior), I took a bet that I could live exclusively on cheese puffs until I developed scurvy. (The disease that sailors used to get from lack of vitamin C.) I lasted about a day and a half. It wasn’t a very good experience.

4. I was Mikhail Gorbachev (the leader of the Soviet Union in the 1980’s) for Halloween in the third grade.

5. I love pickled eggs and have been known to consume them by the half-dozen.

Do you have any routines you like to follow while you are writing?

I need to have absolute silence when I write. I typically have to set an alarm for a few hours later, because it’s common for me to get so caught up in the story that I completely lose track of time. When I’m close to being finished with a book, or sometimes when I’m starting one, I like to spend three or four days at a hotel, locked in my room with the “do not disturb” sign up, writing all day long. It’s bliss.

Thank you so much for stopping by Jessica!


Thanks Jessica for stopping by!

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse #5)
Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: April 25, 2006
Pages: 295
Source: Bought

Rating: 4 stars

When she is not waitressing or preoccupied with her own amorous adventures, telepath Sookie Stackhouse is tracking down a serial killer of shapeshifters. Her sleuthing is partly altruistic, but she's also trying to save her were-panther brother, Jason, who has become the chief suspect in the crime.

Sookie's got just a month, before the next full moon, to find out who wants her brother dead - and to stop the fiend! Sookie Stackhouse enjoys her life, mostly. She's a great cocktail waitress in a fun bar; she has a love life, albeit a bit complicated, and most people have come to terms with her telepathy. The problem is, Sookie wants a quiet life - but things just seem to happen to her and her friends. Now her brother Jason's eyes are starting to change: he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. She can deal with that, but her normal sisterly concern turns to cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population. She afraid not just because Jason's at risk, but because his new were-brethren suspect Jason may be the shooter. Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks - unless the killer decides to find her first.

I love this series -  it is just too much fun to read. With it's fun action and plot, it's a sure win. I love that it's not just one supernatural creature either -  you have vampires, werewolves, shifters, faeries, telepaths, the list goes on and on. I always find books like that so much more fun.

I watch the show, True Blood, which is based on the books. On the show there are certain characters, like Tara, that I absolutely can't stand. I am pleasantly surprised to find that Tara actually is an alright character in the book and not an annoying, shrieking character that adds nothing to that plot that I find her on the show. I've found so many of the characters to be much more personable in the books, like Pam. I love Pam on the show, but she's even funnier in the book.

So, does anyone else watch True Blod and has read the books and noticed this at all with some of the characters??

Tour: Interview with Karen Kincy

Today Karen Kincy has stopped by the blog for an interview to promote the release of Bloodborn! Karen Kincy is the author of Other and Bloodborn. Visit her at her website, http://www.karenkincy.com/.


If the characters from Bloodborn got stuck on a deserted island, who would fare the best? The worst? And who would be the one to get them off the island?

Randall, the werewolf who bit Brock, would fare the best on a deserted island. He grew up in Los Angeles in a dangerous neighborhood, and now spends most of his time on the run as an outlaw member of the Bitterroot pack. Survival skills? Check. Street smarts? Check. Ability to change into a wolf at will? Check. I know Brock would hate hearing this, but he would fare the worst on the island—just because he doesn’t know how to control being a werewolf yet, and he would be too obsessed with getting revenge on Randall. The one who would get them all off the island would have to be Brock’s ex-girlfriend, Cyn, who’s definitely the most inventive of them all. She might not look like it, being a tiny and petite person, but she’s much tougher than Brock thinks.


If you could have lunch with one of your characters, who would you choose?

Winema, the Alpha of the Bitterroot Pack. She’s been leading that pack ever since the previous Alpha, John Skerry, froze to death in the northern wilderness of Yukon Territory in Canada—if you remember your Other factoids. She’s defended her pack against hunters, a serial killer, overzealous police, and anyone else who threatens them. I’m sure she would have many tales of badassness to tell.


If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Tough one! I’ve traveled, in this order, to Canada, England (at the airport), France, Germany, and Switzerland (on the train). I loved walking down medieval cobblestoned alleys, standing in the center of cathedrals, and shopping for German beetle-shaped bread, Parisian chocolates, and Breton buckwheat crepes. I would like to go to England—not just a five-hour layover at the Heathrow airport—and explore some of the castles, manor houses, and villages. Ooo, maybe a tour of places in Masterpiece Theatre.

If you could go back in time for one day, where would you choose?

Tempting… let me think. If it were one day in my own life, I’d go back to my first day in France and tell myself not to try to go backwards through the gates in the metro tunnels. No, seriously, it was embarrassing and involved a giant backpack and horrified onlookers. If it were one day at any time, I’d love to visit Ancient Rome, maybe with a jaunt down to Egypt to have a chat with Cleopatra.

Do you have any writing rituals you like to follow?

I like to have my desk tidy, my book soundtrack playing (or an acceptable substitute radio station), my distracting websites closed. If it’s nice weather outside, I like to take the bus to a little park by the Sammamish River and sit beneath the sweet-perfumed linden trees and write on a picnic table with my trusty blue netbook, which I have named Monstre. On a book-geeky side note, I had an epiphany when I realized what Marcel Proust was talking about in his In Search of Lost Time (aka Remembrance of Things Past) when he eats madeleines with linden tea. I bought some of these cakes to test the theory, though I wasn’t brave enough to brew the flowers in a tea.

Which is harder for you to write: The first line? or the last line?

The last line! It’s fun tinkering with first lines, choosing different seeds that will grow different stories, but once I’m nearing the end, I start trying to think of that perfect sentence that will resonate with the reader. It isn’t always easy, since I consider the whole story before adding the cherry on top. My first lines usually never change, but the last ones have changed quite a lot between drafts.

Thanks Karen for stopping by! You can find her on the web at her website, Twitter, and Facebook.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch
Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Hyperion Books CH
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Pages: 288
Source: Publisher

Rating: 5 stars

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
 
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

The Near Witch was a phenomenal read. It was an epic tale filled with a marvelous cast of characters. I found The Near Witch to exceed all expectations I had for it, and become an instant favorite.

I was not expecting it to be a historical, fairy tale type read. I was expecting something modern, then I cracked it open and was so pleasantly surprised and it made me love the book 10 times more. The plot was so original. While I found the actions of certain characters to be fairly predictable, I loved seeing how the plot would unfold and figure out the mystery of who was behind everything.

The writing was absolutely beautiful and simply enchanting. This was probably about my favorite thing about the book. I would credit The Near Witch with being one of the more gorgeously written books I have ever read.

I loved the moor. I felt like it almost felt like a character of its own. The beautiful descriptions and the tales about it made me feel like the moor was right outside. The other characters were quite fabulous as well. I really liked Lexi. I loved that she was this kick-ass  awesome, strong girl who wasn't just going to let guys boss her around.  Cole was also quite wonderful and what a hunk! Though, probably one of my sole complaints for the book was that I wish I had learned his real name.

The book was filled with so many little rhymes and songs that were from the town of Near that were part of the book that were very catchy and those were a lot of fun. They kept playing through my head over and over, on a sort of repeat as I read the book.

This book was one of the best debuts I have read in quite a while. I found it enchanting from page one to the last and the characters were just marvelous. After a book like this one, I am highly anticipating future works from Victoria Schwab.

Cover Reveal: Eternal Starling by Angela Corbett

Isn't that just gorgeous? Eternal Starling's cover was revealed a few days ago, and I couldn't help but to post about it! If you haven't heard about Eternal Starling by Angela Corbett, here's a bit about it:

A love so strong, even eternity can’t separate them.

Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966 Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison, Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men.

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.


Doesn't it sound great? It's out this December! I know I cannot wait.


What are your guys's thoughts on the cover?

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse #4)
Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: October 31, 2004
Pages: 291
Source: Bought

Rating: 4.5 stars

When cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse sees a naked man on the side of the road, she doesn't just drive on by. Turns out the poor thing hasn't a clue who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric the vampire--but now he's a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life.

This series gets better and better with each book I think. They plot becomes more and more developed, and everything just comes along nicely it feels like.

The plot in this one was buckets of fun. There was SO much going on. With each book, I become more and more addicted to the books. They are no masterpiece in the writing department, but I really find the writing developing more with each book along with the plot getting more twisty and turny with more and more going on.

The characters are just wonderful, and I love the mass of new characters that got introduced in this one. I continue to love Eric and Alcide. Those two rank up in my top 3 characters along with Arlene, who always just cracks me up.

I would really recommend this series. It's a great one to read, that you simply will not be able to put down!

Waiting on Wednesday (114) - Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

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!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Coming February 7, 2012 from Harper Teen

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—nicknamed The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms eventually will. In this dystopia, even the very air she breathes could kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild, dangerous—a savage. He’s also her only hope.

Perry needs Aria, too. She alone holds the key to his redemption. And their unlikely alliance will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Debut author Veronica Rossi is accumulating fans from all over the globe—the book has already sold to more than twenty countries. It’s not surprising that foreign rights for this title have been flying off the shelf. It’s a tantalizing romance in any language.

Um, hello book that I desparately want and will do lots of crazy things to get! I am in love with everything about this book that I know so far - the cover is absolutely STUNNING!

What are you guys waiting on?

Top Ten Books I Loved But Never Wrote A Review For

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish. Each week features a different topic, and you make a top ten list about it. This week is the Top Ten Books I Loved But Never Wrote A Review For

All of these were from before I was reviewing, with the exception of the Megan Chase series. If you read the blog, you have probably heard me rave about them throughout time :)

The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson - This one is a historical fiction that is absolutely brilliant. You will fall in love with the brilliant story with page 1, it is pure awesome.
Echorium Sequence by Katherine Roberts - This is a sequence of 3 books that is a high fantasy trilogy. I absolutely love the story.

Spellfall by Katherine Roberts - This is a book I found randomly back in like 2001, and I still reread them today. It is a brilliant fantasy-esque book that takes place half in the real world and half in a world through a portal. It is a great story.

Nobody's Princess / Nobody's Prize by Esther Freisner - I love greek mythology, and this book follows the epic story of Helen of Troy. I love these 2 so much.

Megan Chase series by Stacia Kane - I don't really know why I never reviewed this series - I read it and fell in love with it. It's absolutely brilliant, and I love rereading it.

T*Witches Series by Randi Reisfeld and HB Gilmour - This series is AWESOME! Don't let the horrible Disney Channel movie "based" off it score you away from these books. I pull these out all the time, at least once a year for a reread. They are stellar. *Note to all* If you haven't seen the horrid Disney Channel movie of this DON'T. It will make you sad.

Harry Potter by JK Rowling - Need I say anything?

The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray - I love historical fiction. and I love fantasy. This book mixes BOTH. Which automatically makes it epic. Then you mix that with strong heroines and an epic plot and you have a trilogy made of win.

Major Crush by Jennifer Echols - This was the book that got me hooked on Jennifer Echols's books.  I picked this up on the "New Fiction" shelf at the library shortly after it came out, and I have been a huge fan ever since, where I count down the release days til her books come out.


What books you would be on your list?

Bloodlines Giveaway

So I have an ARC, an extra bag and a Bloodlines tattoo lying around so I figured, why not do a giveaway. I apologize for the bad picture, my camera is like all sorts of awful. For those of you who don't already know about Bloodlines, here's a bit about it: 

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

I can't wait to read Bloodlines, I need to read Last Sacrifice first though :) I'm one of "those people" who haven't gotten around to reading Last Sacrifice yet. I preordered it MONTHS before it came out, it showed up, and I didn't want the series to end. 

Anyways, fill out the following form to enter. Open until US/Canada only and ends September 15

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris

Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse #3)
Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: May 29, 2003
Pages: 274
Source: Bought

Rating: 4.5 stars

Things between cocktail waitress Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill seem to be going excellently (apart from the small matter of him being undead) until he leaves town for a while. A long while. Bill's sinister boss Eric has an idea of where to find him, whisking her off to Jackson, Mississippi to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. When she finally catches up with the errant vampire, he is in big trouble and caught in an act of serious betrayal. This raises serious doubts as to whether she should save him or start sharpening a few stakes of her own ...

I really really enjoyed this one! I think it was my favorite in the series thus far. Like the other ones in the series, the action was hopping and the characters were just marvelous. It was another un-put-down-able read from Charlaine Harris.

I loved the plot in this one - it was fun to be somewhere other than Bon Temps. I love seeing what Sookie and the others will find themselves having to figure out next.

I loved the characters in this one - the new characters were super fun. Bubba made another appearance in this one, and I think he is a fun character, despite being a little creepy with his cat obsession. Alcide was a new character in this book, that I hope comes back in every book from here on out - I absoltuely loved him and I am not strongly Team Eric / Alcide. I love both of them quite a lot, and there was quite a bit of both of them in this one.

I would really suggest this series. It really is not the best written or anything like that, but the plot and characters make up for the lapse in other things. They are just a ton of fun to read!

In My Mailbox (112)

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:
Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
Bronxwood by Coe Booth
Underdogs by Markus Zusak
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
The Fox Inheritance by Mary E Pearson
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Won from Melina:
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

From Alyssa:
Wish by Joseph Monninger
Girl to the Core by Stacey Goldblatt
Kindred by Tammar Stein
The Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas
Dancing With Ana by Nicole Barker

Bought:
The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind
Head Games by Keri Mikulski
But I Love Him by Amanda Grace
Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn

What did you guys get?

Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delany

Bargains and Betrayals (13 to Life #3)
Shannon Delany
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: Pages: August 16, 2011
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher

Rating: 4.5 stars

Locked away at Pecan Place, Jessie finds her situation to be even more dangerous than she feared. While she struggles to maintain her sanity and discover answers about the group that seems less and less like any legitimate government agency, Pietr fights to keep their relationship alive. But very aware that his mother’s time is running out, Pietr makes a deal he doesn’t dare tell Jessie about. Because the deal Pietr’s made could mean the death of far more than his tenuous relationship with the girl he loves.

Bargains and Betrayals was a book I was highly anticipating after Secrets and Shadows. I thought everything was set for the ultimate 3rd book, and it would all just go. It was! Bargains and Betrayals was everything I had hoped for and more.

I pretty much read this one in one sitting - I didn't want to put it down. The story was absolutely addicting. Bargains and Betrayals definitely took a different turn from the prior 2 books. There are alternating perspectives - told from both Jessie and Alexi's points of views. At first, I wasn't sure what I thought of this. It turned out to work marvelously, and I really enjoyed getting to know Alexi better, a character that I didn't feel like I knew too well before this book.

The plot was utterly addicting. There was so much going on. It was so much action, and I just kept hoping no one would interrupt me while I was reading so I could continue with my reading, to figure out what would happen next.

I really enjoyed the characters in Bargains and Betrayals. I loved the little bigger of a role Sophie played in this one, I think she is just too fun of a character. I also really love Max! I also liked Jessie a lot more in this book - I thought she really grew a lot throughout the course of the book.

Shannon Delany sure ends with a punch, as Bargains and Betrayals ends with the most painful ending in the series yet. The wait Destiny and Deception will be a long one indeed. This is an absolute must read!

This is cross-posted from YA Books Central. See my review on YABC's site here.

Bargain Books (3)

Bargain Books is something I've started to post on the Friday's I don't post From the Back of My Shelf :) (And just a note, the books won't appear in a reader as of now, so you have to click the link to see the book- In the future that should change!)

Tour: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Here Lies Bridget
Paige Harbison
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: January 18, 2011
Pages: 219
Source: Publisher

Rating: 3 stars

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.
 
And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough….

Here Lies Bridget was a book I was super looking forward to - I loved the idea of the premise and it was from Harlequin Teen, which is one of my absolute favorite imprints. The majority of the book just didn't do it for me, but I absolutely loved the last 50 pages and the growth they brought with them.

The first half really just didn't do it for me. It was simply Bridget going through life being a snot to everyone and treating everyone absolutely horrible, and I really did not like her as a character. I am not a fan of shallow, conceited, witchy characters. The next chunk was reliving her being a witch, with a few touching scenes thrown in. I liked that section a wee bit more, but not much. The last 50 or so pages I really enjoyed - while it was really predictable as to what would happen, I thought it was super sweet and cute.

Besides Bridget, there were quite a few characters I really liked - particularly Liam and Meredith. I thought both were such good souls and before that last chunk, it was the scenes with them that I was looking forward too.

While it started out on a bumpy ride, I really did end up liking Here Lies Bridget. It wasn't my favorite read or one I would be jumping out of a chair to go get, but the ending was really sweet.

Cover Rating: B - I like this cover, I like the layout. It's super fresh and fun.

#Torchat Today!

This month TOR Chat on Twitter is YA Themed and it is TODAY! The chat will be this afternoon, from 4 – 5 PM Eastern. Just check out the hashtag #TorChat and see what our authors, as well as fans and bloggers, think about the current state of YA!

Three fabulous authors will be at the chat:

Kiki Hamilton (@KikiHamilton)
Lisa Desrochers (@LisaDez)
Kendare Blake (@KendareBlake)

Now, from those 3 I have only read Personal Demons but I am super looking forward to Kiki Hamilton and Kendare Blake's books The Faerie Ring and Anna Dressed In Blood and Lisa Desrocher's second book, Original Sin!

The chat will be loosely moderated by Tor editor Melissa Frain (@frain), and fans are invited to follow or join in on the chat using the Twitter hashtag #torchat.

I know I will be there! See ya guys there! :)

Tour: Tunnel Vision by Susan Shaw

Tunnel Vision
Susan Shaw
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date: August 16, 2011
Pages: 272

Rating: 2 stars

On her way home one evening, Liza has to force her way through a group of men in a train underpass. She doesn’t think anything of it, but when her mom is shot dead moments later, Liza’s world turns upside down. Even worse, Liza was really the target. Only hours after her mother’s death, Liza is nearly killed again and she and her dad are placed in the witness protection program. Leaving everything she's ever known behind, Liza and her dad pick up and move, never staying in one place for long. It's too big of a risk—and Liza's worst fear is realized when she gets recognized. The would-be killer is still on their trail, so all Liza ad her dad can do is keep running. Unsure whom to trust and where to go, they're just trying to stay alive.

Tunnel Vision was an interesting read. There were some really great things about it, but in the end I found the things I didn't like more overpowering than the good things.

I really disliked Liza. I thought she was super whiny and annoying - she was 16, but acted like a 6 year for about the first half of the book. From there on out, while I was still not a huge fan, she got slightly better. I really liked the characters that played a smaller role like Hanna and Cassie, though I really wish they had been developed more. So many of the characters in this book felt very 2D to me.

I absolutely loved the idea of the premise, but I wish Shaw had done more with it. I felt that the book was simply a flat line instead of expanding into bigger and more exciting things. This book was just full of unbelievable circumstances. I found so much of it hard to believe - I mean, I'm willing to bend reality of bit but so much of it was just too coincidental and there was absolutely no explanation.

I really did enjoy Shaw's writing style. Tunnel Vision was a fast paced read, and I did read it all in the same day.  This book came to no conclusion. I finished the book, with absolutely nothing happening. The plot ties hadn't been tied up, nothing like that.

While there were some great things about it, I would recommend picking up Tunnel Vision from the library or borrowing from a friend.

Waiting on Wednesday (113) - The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

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!

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers By Lynn Weingarten
Coming December 27, 2011 from HarperTeen

When her boyfriend breaks up with her on the first day of sophomore year, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life. Enter three stunning girls with a magical offer Lucy can’t refuse. All she has to do is get a guy to fall in love with her in the next seven days, and then…break his heart and collect one of his brokenhearted tears. As the girls teach Lucy how to hook a guy (with the help of a little magic), she quickly discovers how far she is willing to go—and who she is willing to cross—to get what she wants.

Ya, so I'm kinda loving the sound of this one, like a LOT! I absolutely cannot wait to read this one!

What are you guys waiting on?

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Heroines

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Broke and Bookish. Each week features a different topic, and you make a top ten list about it. This week is a freebie, so my list is about my Top 10 Heroines! I missed this topic as I didn't participate when I was going on, but without further ado, here is my list

10. FIRE (Kristin Cashore)

I loved Fire as a character - she was so strong! And I felt that she was such a well developed character allowing her to keep growing.

9. CAMMI MORGAN (Gallagher Girls)

This girl may be deemed the "chameleon" but I love her spunk and all her awesome spy skills.

8. ATTIE (Salvaged)

Attie has all sorts of insecurities after her accident, yet she manages to overcome them. I haven't had an accident, but the insecurities are something I definitely have not managed to overcome yet, so I applaud Attie, regardless of her being a fictional character.

7. GEMMA DOYLE (Gemma Doyle Trilogy)

Gemma is awesome - she has these awesome powers, yet stays true to herself. She doesn't let it get to her head. She is so strong in a time when women really were so repressed, and doesn't just go with the "status quo"

6. JANE EYRE

She is probably the best, true character in all of literature.

5. DRU (Strange Angels)

Well, she's a paranormal creature fighter. Has survived evil vamp dude. Has to kill her zombie father. Juggles 2 boys. AND has had tons of attempts on her life, all while remaining super awesome.

4. ELIZABETH  BENNETT (Pride and Prejudice)

She may be a bit silly in her prejudice, which you know starts the whole story, well that and Darcy's pride =P but still she's a strong women AND ends up with DARCY. Win Win. She lives the life she wants, and won't settle for any less.

3. Ellie (ANGELFIRE)

Ellie is a kick-ass reaper slayer? Do I need to say more?

2. NANCY DREW

I spent years polishing off at least 1 Nancy Drew book a night, I still have over 200 of her books in a box in my closet. I fell in love with the mysteries and they kept me reading.

1. HERMIONE GRANGER

No lie, until I was like 14 I wanted to be her. I still totally do. I grew up rereading Harry Potter so much that I have gone through numerous copies of several of the books. She is just kick-ass and wicked smart.

What are your guys's top heroines?

Foiled by Taylor Morris

Foiled (Hello, Gorgeous #2)
Taylor Morris
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Release Date: April 14, 2011
Pages: 224

Rating: 4 stars

Mickey's thrilled to have some female friends for a change. But things get a little too close for comfort when her mom goes and hires Lizbeth to work at the salon. Mickey's worried that Lizbeth is stealing her thunder. After all, Lizbeth is everything Mickey isn't-outgoing, bubbly, and quick-on-her-feet. But when Mickey tries too hard to outshine her, things backfire in a hair-raising way!

This book was so cute! It was the fun mishaps and mayhems of a twelve year old girl. I was instantly transported back to when I was that age, and I remember going through so many of the same things, just not in a hair salon.

While this may be book 2 in the series, it is definitely not necessary to read them in order. I read Foiled before I read Blowout, and they both made perfect sense.

I loved Mickey's story. I definitely experienced so many of the same things when I was her age, and still today I find myself in those situations. I loved the message that it also told along the way. All the bumps in the road for Mickey led to an ultimatum that she realized, and it helped her grow closer to others.

I really enjoyed Morris's writing style. It really made Foiled fun to read. The characters were also a joy. I loved Jonah and Eve. Both of them were just really great characters.

I would definitely recommend this one! After reading Foiled, I am super excited to check out other works by Taylor Morris. I loved her writing style and this story was just too cute.

Cover Rating: A-  I think this cover is just too cute, just like the inside of the book :)

WINNERS!

I have 2 winners to announce....


The Jennifer Echols Prize Pack winner is....

Christy

The Shamra Chronicles Winner is ...

Indigo

Congrats! You both should have received emails from me :)

Interview with Taylor Morris

I am very excited to say that Taylor Morris has stopped by The Book Cellar for an interview today! Welcome Taylor :)

Taylor is the author of the Hello, Gorgeous series, BFF Breakup, Total Knockout: Tale of an Ex-Class President,  Class Favorite and Original Divas.

If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be?
I don’t mean for this to be all about HELLO, GORGEOUS, but I would spend the day with Mickey from the series. I need someone to help me style my hair in simple and fabulous ways. As I write the series I’m obviously getting more and more into good hair and am often trying out new styles, but I’d love to have someone like Mickey showing me exactly how to do it.

Should mayhem happen and your hair got highlighted a funky color, what color would you want?

Good question! I’ve always kept my hair color pretty tame but jumping to something funky sounds like a great idea. Since I’ve always wanted to be redhead, I think I’d go for a big, bright, true red.

If you had to choose one of the stylists are Hello, Gorgeous to do your hair, who would you choose?
Hmmm, this is a tough one. Chloe, Mickey’s mom, would style me to perfection. Devon would give me a funky cool retro ’do, like gorgeous finger waves or pin curls. Giancarlo would not only entertain me with his witty banter while he styled me, he’d also give me an unexpected look that even I hadn’t thought of.

I think I’d choose Devon, for a fun rockabilly look, something I wouldn’t do every day but that would really stand out.

What are 5 random facts about yourself?
I grew up in Texas with chickens, horses, donkeys, cows, dogs and cats.

I like scary movies but am often afraid to watch them.

I get anxiety before I begin a new book; sometimes even when I begin a new chapter.

I’m jealous of my friends who are good photographers.

I watch more reality TV than scripted shows.

Did you have a playlist you listened to while writing Blowout and Foiled?

I used to listen to music as I wrote but I’ve started doing that less and less. I’m finding it distracting especially since writing the HELLO, GORGEOUS series is so fast and furious—I really have to hunker down and concentrate on the story.

What is a book you read recently and loved?

ENDLESS SUMMER Jennifer Echols. Oh, I love it so much! It’s actually two books in one: “The Boys Next Door” and its sequel “Endless Summer.” I love a good summer romance. This is one of those books you don’t want to end and guess what? Just when you’re feeling that way, you’ve got another book to go!

Thanks Taylor for stopping by the blog. You can find Taylor on the web at her website, blog, and goodreads. Also, make sure to check out my reviews of Blowout, which went up earlier today, and Foiled, which is going up tomorrow.

Blowout by Taylor Morris

Blowout (Hello, Gorgeous 1)
Taylor Morris
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Release Date: April 14, 2011
Pages: 224

Rating: 3.5 stars

Now that she's had her thirteenth birthday, Mickey's finally old enough to work at her mother's super glam hair salon-Hello, Gorgeous! And true to the old cliche about people confiding in their hair stylists, Mickey starts getting an earful right off the bat. Customers love talking to her because she's so empathetic, but what happens when she starts getting overly involved in their dramas?

Blowout was a cute read, and a promising start to the series. I love the setting at the salon for so much of this book, it really makes for a fun read. Blowout is a fun read that you will simply breeze through.

I was not crazy about the choices Mickey was making in this one so she could ride the train to popularity. Stealing, telling people about private conversations at the salon? This was not the Mickey I had met in book 2, Foiled. Same goes with Lisabeth, she was an absolute monster to Mickey in this one, and I was just astounded. These 2 things aside, I really loved all the characters. Eve and Jonah are 2 characters that are particularly wonderful.

Mickey made some mistakes, but I did like that she went through amends to fix the, though some of those weren't the most honest choices either.

Blowout was a cute read, but definitely not my favorite. I much preferred Foiled to this one. These are the sort of books you read when you don't want to think a ton, but want a cute book to keep you entertained!

Cover Rating: A- I love the covers for this series. They are simply too cute! I love the design, the colors, and the actual picture itself :)

In My Mailbox (111)

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:
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep (Goodreads | Amazon)
Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien (Goodreads | Amazon)
Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter (Goodreads | Amazon)
In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton (Goodreads | Amazon)
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (Goodreads | Amazon)

Teen Book Scene ARC Tour:
Tunnel Vision by Susan Shaw (Goodreads | Amazon)

Bought:
Wildefire by Karsten Knight (Goodreads | Amazon)

Trade with Alex:
Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach (Goodreads | Amazon)

Won:
Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson (Goodreads | Amazon)
Super Cool Swag from Josephine Angelini

*Books I Forgot In the Vlog*
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger (Goodreads | Amazon)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Goodreads | Amazon)
Super Awesome Towel! (I feel I should say that this is a BOOK related towel - it came in a package with the above 2 books)

What did you guys get? Let me know :)

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse #2)
Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: April 26, 2002
Pages: 279
Source: Bought

Rating: 4 stars

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of real bad luck. First, her co-worker gets murdered and no one seems to care. Then Sookie is attacked - and poisoned - late one night by some weird and apparently mythical beast. She only survives because the local vampires roll up and graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it). But in return the blood-suckers need a favor.

Which is why Sookie ends up in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire, on the condition that her undead friends don't do anything, well, vampiric while she's there. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly...

I am absolutely loving reading these books, it is just so much fun - I couldn't put this one down. I didn't find the plot as exciting in this one as I did in the first one, but it was still quite exciting.

As I said in my review of Dead Until Dark, I'm a huge fan of True Blood, the TV series based off the books. I know it's just a show based off them, but I still like to compare. Differing from book 1, Living Dead in Dallas differentiated a lot more from the book with the TV show, which made it a lot more fun for me to read, as I definitely didn't know how things were going to play out.

I am super intrigued to see the roles some of the new characters are going to play. Like Tara and Portia, they seemed to turn up more and more towards the end of the book, so I'm curious to see if they'll turn up again in the next one. I really also like Pam as a character, I love her sense of wit and humor. I am so totally Team Eric!! There was so much more Eric in this book than in book 1, so I was happy :)

This is a book I was really recommend. This series is totally one of my new guilty pleasure series.

Cover Rating: C+ I guess they have their charms about them, but I am really not too much of a fan of the covers for this series.

From the Back of My Shelf (3) : Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

From the Back of My Shelf is a bi-monthly event, that happens on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month where you pull a book from the back of your shelf (with a 2009 release or prior) and review it. It's a way to read some of those books that have been gathering dust while new books came out. Feel free to join in and participate, and link your reviews up in the Mr Linky below. Check out more in my intro post here here.

Dead Until Dark
Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: May 1, 2001
Pages: 292
Source: Bought

Rating: 4 stars

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life--and one of her coworkers checks out...Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea. A fun, fast, funny, and wonderfully intriguing blend of vampire and mystery that's hard to put down, and should not be missed.

I have been watching True Blood on TV since season 1 came out, so I figured it was time to read the books that inspired the amazingness of that show. I really enjoyed Dead Until Dark -  I didn't find the writing or anything super spectacular, but the plot was a lot of fun.

I loved the plot. It was a lot of fun reading, as I already knew a lot of what was coming from the show. I  already knew who was behind the murder and what not, but the show leaves out so many little details that it was quite cool to read and see all those things.The writing wasn't my favorite thing, but I feel like the plot made up for it.

It was a ton of fun to all play compare and contrast with the show, and see what the show kept what the show changed. I was surprised how much the show stayed true to the book, at least for this book so far.

I really liked the characters. I wasn't too crazy about the romance between Sookie and Bill - it felt so OK now we're gonna be together after meeting right now? It built slower after that, but right off the bat, I thought it was quite rushed. I really liked Sookie's character. She is just so fun and quirky. Arlene is another character that I really just love, despite the smaller role she plays. I love Eric, there was only little snippets of him but I thought he was just a marvelous character.

I would suggest reading this one. The beginning was a bit slower but after a certain point I didn't want to put it down! With it's enticing plot and fun characters, Dead Until Dark is one you won't want to miss.

Share YOUR Reviews Below :)