Addicted 2 Novels

Birthday Giveaway

2012-01-31T07:11:00.000-06:00

WOOHOO, it's my birthday and what better way to celebrate than to host a giveaway? I decided to celebrate it "Hobbit style" by giving away your choice of any YA book. YIPPIE! Let's talk rules for a second, shall we?

*To enter, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Extra entries will be rewarded to followers, tweets, etc.
*You must be at least 13 and up to enter this giveaway. If you are under the age of 18, please make sure you have your parent's permission prior to entering.
*This giveaway is open to international participants provided The Book Depository delivers to your area. Be sure to check and make sure they do before you enter!
*This giveaway will end February 29, at midnight CST.

That's it. Now, lets get this party started!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Better Know A Blogger Sign Ups

2012-01-30T07:08:00.001-06:00

During the Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge, Karen, Tiger, and I host a feature called Better Know A Blogger. Basically, we interview and feature bloggers on our blog. If you would like to be featured, all you need to do is sign up. With the large amount of people that signed up last year, we went ahead and decided to add a couple rules:

*Due to the amount of bloggers that signed up last year, we are putting a cap on the number of bloggers we'll be featuring. This will be on a first come, first serve basis.

*If you sign up on Addicted 2 Novels, please do not sign up on For What It's Worth nor All-Consuming Media. Since there is a cap, we want as many different bloggers to be featured as possible.

That's it! If this sounds like something you'd like to participate in, please fill out this form. I'll contact you with the interview questions as soon as possible!

LOOOOVE Y'ALLLLLL!!!!!

XOXO,

In My Mailbox...Sort of

2012-01-29T07:44:00.001-06:00

I originally planned on posting my ALA books from last weekend, but I thought I'd do something a little different. Instead, I am posting the books that I donated to the Houston Public Library, aka "Friends Warehouse."

Carrying that to the car and into the center? Not so much fun. I think I bruised my bottom.

I'm not posting this because I want people to think "Oh Lena! You're such a good person!". No. If I wanted attention, I'd video tape myself dancing the funky chicken naked and post it on YouTube.

The reason I'm posting this is because there has been so much negative energy flying around the internet about ALA and bloggers. While I understand where everyone is coming from, I also think that instead of spending all that time being angry and arguing with each other, maybe everyone should spend it doing something good. I get it. Certain things piss me off, too. When I see someone wearing a brown belt and black shoes, I want to run up to them and scream "No! Fashion faux pas, much?!", then tweet about it and tag Joan Rivers in the process. The thing is, what does that solve? Nothing. What's done is done and while everyone is entitled to their own opinions, hurting someone else's feelings only creates another problem. There shouldn't be a librarians vs bloggers, bloggers vs bloggers, elephants vs bloggers war. We're all doing this because we love books and want to share that love with others, right?

There is so much hatred in the world, it's insane. Instead of adding to that, maybe we should all turn that negative energy into something good. Volunteer to help others, donate things to Goodwill or a shelter or donate books you know you won't read again to the library. So many people in the world are worse off than the rest of us that we forget how fortunate we are. I guess what I'm trying to say in my own hippy way is make peace, not war.

Love me or hate me for it, but that's how I feel.

3rd Semi-Annual Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge

2012-01-27T07:31:00.003-06:00

It's that time again! For those who don't know, Karen from For What It's Worth, Tiger from All-Consuming Media, and I host a challenge called the Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge. Throughout the month of February, we're challenging Bloggers and Reviewers to write as many reviews as possible. At the end of the month, 2 lucky bloggers will win the prize packs listed below. Remember, each review is an entry and the only way you can enter is to link your reviews!

Ready for the rules?

*You must have a blog.
*These must be real reviews, meaning more than just a couple of sentences describing the book. We'll be checking to make sure you're posting legitimate reviews!
*All reviews must have been posted for the first time during the month of February 2012. You can't just enter all your old reviews.
*No one review can be entered twice on the same blog. That doesn't mean you can't post the same review on each one of our blogs (for a total of 3 entries per review), just not the same review twice on the same blog.
*On Addicted 2 Novels and All-Consuming Media, this contest will be open to US participants only. On For What It's Worth, the URC is open to international participants.
*Contest ends March 1st, midnight, CST.
*Rules and regulations are subject to change depending on current situations. Don't worry, you'll be informed.

Feel free to post a button on your blog. Aren't they adorable? Special thanks to the amazing Sandy at Scribing Shadows for designing our awesome banner and buttons!! *hugglessquishies*

<center><a href="http://addicted2novels.blogspot.com/p/february-2012-ultimate-reviewers.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Addicted 2 Novels" src="http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab77/Lena1xoxo/URCbutton2012.png"/></a></center>

Lets talk prizes. This time, there will be two winners. The first place winner will receive 5 highly anticipated ARCs and the second place winner will receive 3. The prizes from Karen, Tiger's, and my blog vary so be sure to sign up/link up on each of our blogs. Here are the prize packs being offered at Addicted 2 Novels:

First place will win...

Second place will win...

What are you waiting for? Sign up, grab a button and start writing those reviews!

THIS SECTION IS FOR SIGN-UPS ONLY! The links page will be listed starting February 1st. All links to reviews on this page will be voided and not count towards the prize pack drawings!

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-25T07:32:00.001-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Dangerous Boy by Mandy Hubbard.

Summary: "Harper’s new boyfriend Logan Townsend is everything she never knew she always wanted—tall, muscular, with tousled brown hair that falls effortlessly around his face. But what’s most exciting about Logan is that he’s exhilaratingly dangerous, and dating him allows Harper to say, “buh bye” to her good-girl past and “hello” to newfound adventure.

There’s only one problem with Harper’s otherwise heart-stopping romance: Logan’s twin brother Daemon. Harper knows he’s a bad seed, but she tries to look past his dark, icy stare and his chilling demeanor. After all, he and Logan are a package deal.

Then cow bones start appearing in people’s mailboxes, a flock of birds show up dead, and all of the cars in the senior parking lot are given flat tires—and covered with blood-red handprints. Logan insists that Daemon isn’t involved—sure, he’s had some trouble in the past, but they moved to Harper’s quiet northwest Washington town so that they could both start over.

Harper desperately wants to believe Logan, but the more he tries to protect his brother, the more she wonders what she isn’t being told. Now, Harper must unearth the hidden secrets of the mysterious Townsend brothers’ history if she and Logan are to have any hope of a future. But learning what brought Logan and Daemon to town won’t put just her heart in jeopardy... She’s playing with her life."

Why I Can't Wait: Hello? It's written by Mandy Hubbard so you know it's going to be good! The summary sounds a bit eerie, and I love it. Cow bones in people's mailboxes?

*Shudders*

The cover. While it's not my favorite cover, I still think it speaks volume. It says I'm creepy yet still fashionable. Needless to say, this novel addicted is EXCIIIIIIITED!

Expected publication: August 30th 2012 by Razorbill

Review : Gossip Girl Psycho Killer

2012-01-24T07:26:00.000-06:00

Title: Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer
Author: Cecily von Ziegesar
Published: October 3rd 2011 by Poppy
Source: Received from the publisher for an honest review

Summary: "Welcome to New York City's Upper East Side, where my friends and I live, go to school, play, and sleep-sometimes with each other. It's a luxe life, but someone's got to live it . . . until they die.
So begins Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer, a re-imagined and expanded slasher edition of the first groundbreaking Gossip Girl novel, featuring all new grisly scenes and over-the-top gore by #1 New York Times bestselling author Cecily von Ziegesar.

Just as in the original story, Serena returns from boarding school hoping to make amends with her BFF Blair Waldorf--things just haven't been the same since Nate Archibald came between them. But here's where our dark tale takes a turn: Serena decides that the only way for her to make things right with Blair is to eliminate Nate. If that means killing him, well, c'est la vie. Her attempted murder doesn't go unnoticed by Blair, however, who isn't about to let Serena kill whoever she wants-not when there's Cyrus Rose and Chuck Bass and Titi Coates and everyone else who's ever irritated Blair to get rid of first . . . .

American Psycho's Patrick Bateman has met his match in Manhattan's newest, most fabulous trendsetting serial killers, Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen."

First line: "'I'm watching Dexter reruns all morning in my room so I wouldn't have to eat breakfast with them', Blair Waldorf told her two best friends and Constance Billard School classmates, Kati Farkas and Isabel Coates."

Thoughts: The best way to describe Gossip Girl, Psycho Killer is when Dexter meets the Upper East Side. After all, the book was influenced by the hit show. While there's no real complexities to the overall story, it's still a fun read for anyone who's a fan of the series or even the CW show.

For those who have read the previous Gossip Girl books, the story follows the same story line as the first book. The only difference is instead of playing mean girl games that could break even strongest person, they just go ahead and kill them off. Slept with my boyfriend? That's okay. I'll just shove this super shiny knife through your heart, and we'll call it even.

Even though this book didn't have a lot of depth, I still found it to be a fun read. It won't break your heart or make you think, but the overall absurdity will make you laugh. I don't really know whether or not the author will continue with this parody, but if she did, I'd check them out. It's a fun companion to the series I'm sure fans will enjoy.

Rating:

ALA Midwinter

2012-01-20T07:41:00.002-06:00

Hey Guys! ALA Midwinter starts today! I'll be travelling with my good friends Ginger from GReads, Jess from Gone With The Words and Sarah from Story Bound Girl . I'm super excited about the event/authors but even more excited about hanging out with all of my favorite blogger friends!

Will you be there? If so, I'd love to see you! Shoot me an email at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com. We'll grab coffee, cupcakes and high-five all over the convention center.

(I know we're not going to the Book Fair, but I thought this picture was too ironic and cute to pass up.)

Love you guys!

XOXO

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-18T07:13:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pic is Flirting In Italian by Lauren Henderson.

Summary: "Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!"

Why I Can't Wait: I'll admit, the summary doesn't reveal much but what it does say makes me want to tear into this book like it's going out of style. Italy? Yes! Italian boys? YES! Long hot nights? YES, YES, YES!!! Plus, the cover's super cute. There's nothing better than riding on the back of a scooter with a hot guy. :-)

Expected publication: June 12th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Review: Bittersweet

2012-01-17T12:41:00.000-06:00

Title: Bittersweet
Author: Sarah Ockler
Published: January 3rd 2012 by Simon Pulse

Summary: "Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last…"

First line: "Three years ago... It was the biggest competition night of my life, but all I could think about was the cheetah bra.

Thoughts: No one writes contemporary novels like Sarah Ockler. Bittersweet offers readers a range of teenage angst, family drama and frustratingly good romance that will have your heart melting one second and screaming the next. Just like a cupcake, it's sweet, delicious and something you'll want to savor till the very end.

Hudson use to be the type of girl that knew what she wanted. Now she's not so sure. She spends most of her days hiding behind her cupcakes and dreaming of what could have been. Luckily, this situation doesn't last forever.

After a crash collision (literally) with Josh Blacktorn (Hottie plus hockey star), Hudson's life begins to change. Suddenly the things that seemed so impossible might be within reach. When life offers you a second chance at persuing your dreams, do you take it or continue living in the 'what could have been'?

Hudson is the type of character anyone can easily relate to. She's down to earth, funny and awkward all rolled into one confused teenage girl. I loved the scene when she first meets Josh. Her reaction and their conversation is probably the best description of shy-girl-meets-cute-boy I have read in quite some time. Adorable! Plus, she's a family girl. You can tell her loves her family through and through, even if they sometimes take advantage of her. Her relationship with her little brother is precious. I love that the little guy is a CSI nut! Cute, cute, cute!

One of my favorite characters in the book is probably Hudson's best friend Dani. Geez, at times that girl had be laughing out loud! She's the type of character that reminds you of your very own best friend, and no one rocks more than your BFF!

Onto boys. Hudson encounters her school's entire hockey team, so there are lots of boys in this book. The main two, Josh and Will, are both equal parts hottie and swoon-worthy. If I had to chose my favorite (which is really hard), I would probably go with Josh. I tend to fall harder for the guy that's first introduced in a book. Yes, I'm that kind of walking stereotype! Plus, I swooned over each and every conversation he had with Hudson. It didn't matter whether they were talking about cupcakes or skating or the weather, I loved them all.

Overall, I would highly recommend Bittersweet for any contemporary fan and even paranormal fans looking to be introduced into the wonderful world of contemporary literature. If you've ever let go of a dream and wished so badly for a second chance, read about Hudson's story. It's so good, you'll be smiling until your lips fall off!

BONUS: Each chapter begins with a cupcake description that best suits that chapter. YUM!

Rating:

In My Mailbox

2012-01-15T07:00:00.005-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Krist at The Story Siren. SUPER excited about the books I got this week. Ch-ch-check it out!

For Review:
*The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting (goodreads/amazon)
*Girl Meets Boy: Because There Are Two Sides To Every Story by Kelly Milner Halls (Editor) (goodreads/amazon)

Trades:
*The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg (goodreads/amazon)- Thank you, Sarah!
*Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer (Not pictured. Thanks, Stacy!) (goodreads/amazon)

Bought:
*Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (Already read and LOVED!)(goodreads/amazon)
*The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (Signed! Giggidy!) (goodreads/amazon)
*Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey (goodreads/amazon)

Won:
*$25 Barnes and Noble Giftcard (not pictured). Thank you so much Bailey and Miranda Kenneally!!! You guys rock my socks off!

I also got my street team kit from Holly Cupala this week. Thanks, Holly! Be on the look out for giveaways coming in the very near future.

***Special thanks to Harper Teen, Chronicle Books, Sarah at Escaping Through Books , Bailey at IB Book Blogging, Miranda Kenneally, and Holly Cupala!***

Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts below, and I'll be sure to drop by (unless the Texans are playing, in which case, I'll drop by after :-P )!

XOXOXOXOXO!

Review: Cinder

2012-01-13T13:53:00.000-06:00

Title: Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1)(goodreads/amazon)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Published: January 3rd 2012 by Feiwel & Friends
Source: ARC courtesy of the publisher for an honest review

Summary: "Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

First line: "The screws through Cinder's ankle had rusted, the engraved cross marks worn to a mangled circle."

Thoughts: First of all, I have to say that I love retellings of stories I grew up with. Now, add a dystopian take on it, and you have a book that's made of win. In Cinder's case, it brought back memories of the classic tale, but adds it's own modern twist. It's strange, full of drama, and most importantly, good!

I'll admit, when I first started reading Cinder, I had a difficult time relating to the story. At times, I even had difficulty following it. After all, I don't live with cyborgs so how am I to know what they look like or how they function?

As the story progresses, however, you begin to see that cyborgs aren't just half human-half machine beings, but second class citizens. Some people even look at them with disgust. In Cinder's case, even though she is one of the best mechanics around, people still look down on her because of her half mechanical nature. She can't even count on her "family" with the exception of one of her younger step sisters. Then, one day, Prince Kai wanders into her store, and her life changes. Whether for better or worse, you'll have to read it to see.

My favorite thing about this book has the be the creativity and imagination Meyer uses to weave her story. No one out there can argue that this book isn't 100% original. Meyer thought outside the box, and the story really paid off.

I loved the idea of using a futuristic China as the setting. China's a beautiful country and definitely somewhere I'd love to visit one day. I will say I would've liked to see more description as far as the setting goes. You know it's China because they're in "New Beijing", however, they could've been anywhere in the world. What makes this place New Beijing? Heck, what makes it different than where I live? I really hope the sequel answers these questions for me.

Let's talk about romance. The romance factor is definitely there, but it's also light. After all, this is just the first book. You can't throw all your chips in one hand! I adored Prince Kai and found him very lovable. He's not necessarily swoon-worthy, but he definitely has potential.

Overall, I really enjoyed Cinder's tale. I will admit that I saw the ending coming, though it doesn't take anything away. Folks, there is a cliffhanger so prepare yourselves for that. I very much look forward to Cinder's sequel and any other books written by the fabulous Marissa Meyer.

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-11T07:19:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Glitch by Heather Anatasiu.

Summary: "In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy."

Thoughts: Did someone say dystopia? I love the concept of chips being implanted to keep humans from having destructive emotions. It's kind of like Across The Universe meets Delirium. Sweet! And did I just read that there's a love triangle? Dude! I haven't read about a good love triangle in a long time. Plus, I'm totally loving the cover! It's pretty basic, but the text used for the title and the colors are gorgeous.

Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by St. Martin's Press

Review : A Million Suns

2012-01-10T07:08:00.000-06:00

Title: A Million Suns (Across The Universe #2)(goodreads/amazon)
Author: Beth Revis
Expected publication: January 10th 2012 by Razorbill
Source: ARC courtesy of the publisher for an honest review

**Warning: Will only contain spoilers if you have not read Across The Universe."

Summary: "Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship."

First line: "Elder: 'This isn't going to be easy,' I mutter, staring at the solid metal door that leads to the Engine Room on the Shipper Level of Godspeed."

Thoughts: Holy freaking cow, is this book frexing GOOD! Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Seriously, this is what I looked like staying up half the night to finish it:

A Million Suns takes off roughly three months after Across The Universe ends. Elder is now Eldest, but still prefers to be called Elder. If you thought he had problems in Across The Universe, you haven't seen anything yet. As you remember from the ending of the first book, Elder took all the ship's passengers off Phydus, however, there's still the mystery of whether or not he'll go against his beliefs in order to keep peace on the ship. You see, dear friends, when people have the freedom to think, their minds begin to wander. Think about how you'd feel if you spent your whole life on a spaceship knowing that's it. There isn't life for you beyond those confined walls. Now multiply that by the hundreds, possibly thousands, and you'll have an idea of what Elder has to deal with. Of course he has other LARGER problems to worry about (one being Amy), but really, you have to read the book to see for yourself.

Now, Amy. Being as she was the only one not born on the ship and looks completely different from everyone else, she is automatically labeled a freak. She has to be careful not to expose herself or else she could get hurt. Then, a mystery lands right in Amy's lap where uncovering it could be the key to finding freedom beyond Godspeed.

Out of both characters, I have to say that my personal favorite is Elder. I mean, the poor kid gets thrown into running the ship during the worst time ever, and yet he still has the guts to stand up for what he believes in. Most people would crap in their pants and at times, maybe he almost does, but overall, he's a great leader. I felt more invested in his story's than Amy's. He developed more as a character, and I really appreciated that.

The romance and tension between the two is hotter than ever. There were moments where I wanted to throw the book against the wall due to my frustrations at Amy. I understand why she doesn't want to have a relationship with Eler, but COME ON! Girlfriend, you obviously have feelings for him. Life's too short, so go for it! Though it's tense between the two, the chemistry still leaps through the pages, taking hold and never letting you go. Sure it's not perfect. It'll make you smile one minute and angry the next, but at least it's grand!

It's really hard for me to write this review of A Million Suns. Each chapter unfolds a new, more dangerous mystery, and thus containing small spoilers all leading towards a very shocking ending. What I will say is please be sure to have enough time to read this in one sitting. It's addicting and if you don't finish it the same day/night you started it, you'll regret it. Believe me, even after I finish it, spent the entire next ~~day~~ thinking about everything that happened and what might happen next. It's one of those books you don't just read, but live and breathe in. I cannot recommend this book enough. Fair warning: Once you finish it, any other book will hardly compare. Really, it's that epic.

Needless to say, I can't wait to read the third and (*tear*) final book. While I don't want this amazing trilogy to be over, I need to know what happens next, and how it will all end. I NEED IT, BETH! AHHHHH!!!!

Umm, that was awkward. Just read the book. That is all.

Rating:

Winners Galore!!!

2012-01-06T07:33:00.000-06:00

I have a TON of winners to announce. I apologize for taking so long, but the holidays are normally a crazy time for me. Anyway, without further ado, the winners!

The Shadow Falls (Signed Born At Midnight and ARC of Awake At Dawn) Giveaway Winner is Donnas!

The Love Love (Love & Leftovers and Lovetorn) Winner is Melissa Paz!

The Catching Jordan Winner is Brenda Demko!

The December Dystopia Giveaway Winner is anncleire!

The Sisterhood of Heartbreakers Winner is Lecea!

The Sisterhood of Heartbreakers Swag Winner is Kristen!

Congrats to all the winners!!! I have emailed each one of you. Please respond within 72 hours or a new winner may be selected. If you did not receive an email, feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com.

To those who didn't win, no worries! I'm always hosting plenty of giveaways, therefore, you will always have another chance to win. :-)

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

Cinder Book Trailer

2012-01-05T07:02:00.000-06:00

Y'all, I am so excited about the release of Cinder by Marissa Meyer. My review will be posted shortly, but just to let you guys know, it is GOOD!

For those who haven't heard, Cinder is a retelling of the classic story Cinderella, only with cyborgs and other craziness I can't explain. There's a gorgeous prince, an evil step sister, a not so evil step sister, and plenty of twists that will make your head spin.

And if that doesn't get you excited, check out the awesomeness that is the Cinder trailer.

What'd you think? Leave your comments below and be sure to check Marissa's blog for tour dates, blog tour dates and other goodies!

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-04T07:23:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker.

Summary: "Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life.

Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now.

Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?

Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to."

Why I Can't Wait: Is anyone else loving the cover as much as I am? It's so cute, and I love how the heart wraps around the entire picture. EEP! Okay, so I'm slowly becoming a huge Melissa C. Walker fan. Lovestruck Summer was a cute, fast read, and Small Town Sinners was intense! Plus, I got to meet her in Austin, and she is AMAZING! Melissa? I love you. :-P

Anywho, you guys know I'm a total sap when it comes to love stories, and all my favorite ones are told in alternating points of view. Plus, I love novels where they take you back to the past, then to the present and so on. And hello? This book is perfect for Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti fans? Win!

Expected publication: May 22nd 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Review : Everneath

2012-01-03T07:08:00.000-06:00

Title: Everneath (Everneath #1)
Author: Brodi Ashton
Expected publication: January 24th 2012 by Harper Collins / Balzer + Bray
Source: ARC courtesy of the publisher for review

Summary: "Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..."

First line: "I was picturing his face- a boy with floppy brown hair and brown eyes- when the Feed ended."

Thoughts: I think one of the best and worst feelings in the world is when you receive get a book you've been dying to read, and upon finishing it, you immediately want to read it's sequel. Best because YAY, you just read a fabulous book! Worst because UGH! You have to wait over a year for the sequel. Be warned because for me, Everneath is that type of book.

What originally drew me to Everneath is it's enticing cover. Just look at it! The smoke, the fiery red dress...who wouldn't love it? Of course, with beautiful covers, you also have to be a bit weary and question whether or not the story is as beautiful as the cover. How many times have you read a story where the cover was gorgeous, yet the story fell flat? Plenty, I'm sure. Luckily, this is not the case when it comes to Everneath. After reading the very first line, I was completely hooked into the story. Every time a chapter ended, I had to, no, NEEDED to know what would happen next. And from my previous statement above, it's obvious that in my case, this needing never went away.

Now, read the summary very carefully. A girl being sucked into and escaping the Underworld, only to have a smoldering guy try and lure her back as his queen? Ring any bells? That's because Everneath is loosely based around the story of Hades and Persephone. Of course, Ashton adds in her own flare, plots and "catches" if you will, making it all the more interesting.

A great tale can only be so if the writing is amazing, and Ashton's is incredible. I loved how she went back and forth between the present and the events that led up to Nikki's sudden disappearance. It lures you in, daring you to keep reading and guessing what will happen next. The pacing, at times, can be a little slow and the storyline somewhat repeatative, but overall, the story will hook you.

Moving on, it's time to profess my love for Jack. Yes he's flawed but oh my gosh, does he make up for it! His love for Nikki was as real as the sky. I felt his passion leaping out the pages and wanted to hold on to it for as long as possible. At times, his and Nikki's chemistry and their story even brought tears to my eyes. It's so sweet, pure and genuine. One can only dream of such an epic, undying romance!

All in all, I would recommend Everneath to those who love greek mythology and lovers of love stories. I will admit that the story is somewhat similar to Meg Cabot's Abandon, but that shouldn't draw you away from it. I'm positive that Everneath will be a hit and cannot (I repeat, CANNOT) wait to see what Ashton has in store for us next!

Rating:

Review: Legacy

2012-01-02T08:19:00.000-06:00

Title: Legacy (goodreads/amazon)
Author: Molly Cochran
Expected publication: December 20th 2011 by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Source: ARC provided by publisher for review

Summary: "When her widowed father dumps 16-year-old Katy Jessevar in a boarding school in Whitfield, Massachusetts, she has no idea that fate has just opened the door to both her future and her past. Nearly everyone in Whitfield is a witch, as is Katy herself, although she has struggled all her life to hide her unusual talents. Stuck at a boarding school where her fellow studens seem to despise her, Katy soon discovers that Whitfield is the place where her mother commited suicide under mysterious circumstances when Katy was just a small child. With dark forces converging on Whitfield, it’s up to Katy to unravel her family’s many secrets to save the boy she loves and the town itself from destruction."

First line: "I was sixteen years old when I discovered exactly who- and what- I was."

Thoughts: When I first read the summary for Legacy, I had to have it immediately. I mean, written in bright pink letters above the summary is "The Darkness is coming"... how awesome is that? Very foreboding! And while Legacy isn't one of my favorite reads, it's still quite a good one.

First off, I have to say that magic plus boarding school always equals out to win. The story is about a girl named Katy who's father abandons her at Ainsworth School. Ainsworth nor the town is not exactly what it all seems. And Katy's family legacy lives deeper inside Ainsworth than she could have ever possibly imagined.

I really enjoyed Katy's character. She's a genuinely good person and even though the other students and towns people weren't exactly welcoming, she still helped out and was there for anyone when they needed her. I liked watching her progression into accepting her family's legacy and the magic behind it. And I loved that even though other students claimed this or that about her mother, she still had faith that her mother was a good person. Additionally, I'd like to add that I loved her power of viewing past events by touching certain objects. Those were probably my favorite scenes. Interesting indeed!

Katy's grandmother and aunt were also a hoot. It's sweet how they constantly told Katy about how Ainsworth women always married for love and followed their hearts, even if it ended up in tragedy. They also loved Katy and accepted her immediately as one of their own, though her father spent years keeping Katy away from them. I love books with a good family behind them, and that's what Katy's family and even Hattie offers it's readers.

Now, let's talk about Peter. To be fair, I truly believe plenty of girls will easily fall for Peter. He's the brooding type, with a kind heart at his core. Personally, I found him to be a little bland. It just seemed too typical that he hated Katy (for all the right and wrong reasons), but couldn't help his attraction towards her. What these attractions were based on, I have no idea. It was insta-hate-love, if that makes sense. Hate-love at first sight! While the story was interesting, the romance between the two fell a little flat. The chemistry between them didn't leap through the pages, so I never really felt it.

Also, in the beginning, the pacing went by extremely quickly. I flew through the first 100 pages without even realizing it. Then, somewhere in the middle, where the story should have been more intriguing and mesmerizing, it kind of deflated. The story began to feel a little repetitive. I would have liked to see more action, especially when it came to the Darkness. Plus, the story also became a little predictable. Sure there were a couple shocking revelations, but mostly, I saw a lot of things coming.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by Legacy. It's a fun new witch series to add to the YA community. I very much look forward to reading it's sequel, especially after reading the epilogue. Molly Cochran truly is a fantastic story teller and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

Rating:

Happy New Year & In My Mailbox

2012-01-01T07:29:00.000-06:00

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. 2012 is going to be a great year, and I look forward to spending it with you guys!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program. In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. While I didn't get much this week, I'm very, ridiculously excited about what I did get. Ch-ch-check it out!

For Review:
*Partials by Dan Wells (goodreads)
*Slide by Jill Hathaway (goodreads)

**Special thanks to Harper Teen. Y'all rock my world!

That's it for me! Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts below, and I'll be sure to drop by and say hello! :o)

Top 11 Books In 2011

2011-12-29T07:40:00.001-06:00

As 2011 comes to an end, I thought I'd share with you guys my favorite top 11 books of 2011. In no particular order...

I cannot put into words how much I loved, loved, loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. From the fantasy, to the romance and the overall story telling, I engulfed every single page of this brilliant novel. If you only read one book for the rest of your life, make it this one!

I've got two words for you: Cricket Bell. LOVE HIM! Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins was one of the most anticipated books last year, and it's no wonder. No one writes contemporary novels like Stephanie Perkins, and no one can create such swoon-worthy guys.

Divergent by Veronica Roth is by far one of the best dystopian novels I've read since The Hunger Games. I absolutely love strong heroines, and they don't get stronger than Tris. Plus, if you've noticed the banner on the top of my blog, I kind of have a thing for Four.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman is the follow up to her bestseller If I Stay. If you want a truly touching, heartbreaking story, I suggest you start with If I Stay and follow it with Where She Went. And for those who have read both, I'm sure you agree that Adam's story in Where She Went is not only touching but, well, beautiful.

I cannot recommend The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern enough. Do you know how many copies I purchased over the holidays/in general as gifts? Five, and every single one of them LOVED it (Read it already, Karen!). Oh my goodness, I love the details the author puts into every scene, every stage and every character. Le sigh, how I love thee.

Holy moly, is Enclave by Ann Aguirre's world scary! This book is jam packed with action, adventure, twists and turns. If the world ever ends, please don't let it be like Enclave!

When I first picked up Across The Universe by Beth Revis, I didn't know what to think. Spaceships just really aren't my thing. At least, not until Across The Universe. I loved the alternating points of views and all the shocking secrets that were slowly unveiled. Fair warning, if you have yet to read Across The Universe, you might also want to get your hands on A Million Suns once it releases. Trust me, it is (if this is even possible) 100 times better than Across The Universe, and Across The Universe is out of this world!

Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have ) by Sarah Mlynowski is, to say the least, LMAO hilarious! I haven't laughed so hard while a reading a book in, well...ever? Seriously, if you need a good laugh, then you need this book.

If Shiver had a baby with Lament, The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater would be the outcome. It's absolutely breathtaking. I love Maggie's writing and The Scorpio Races is just further proof of what a genius she is. I will never look at horses the same way!

Hourglass by Myra McEntire. Holy freaking moly, this book is amazeballs! I mean, I haven't read a time traveling novel this good since The Time Traveler's Wife. AND OH EM GEE, is Michael SA-WOOOOOOON worthy! <3 And last, but certainly not least...

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready is the sequel to her amazing novel, Shade. I had to wait a year for this book, and believe me, it was worth it. And wow, Zachary? Without spilling any spoilers, I'll just say he steams up this novel a bit. Few, I'm fanning myself just thinking about it!

And that's it, folks! There's my Top 11 books for 2011. Thanks for tuning in, and feel free to leave links to your posts or comments below. :-)

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-12-28T06:31:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst.

Summary: "In a desert land where serpents made of unbreakable glass fly through the sky and wolves made of only sand hunt within storms, Liyana is destined to be a vessel, to sacrifice herself so that her clan's goddess can inhabit her body... but her goddess never comes."

Why I Can't Wait: First off, I have to mention how freaking GORGEOUS the cover is! I just love the colors and mysterious smoke. Next, the summary. Even though it's a bit vague, it still has me dying to read it. And finally, it's Sarah Beth Durst! While I haven't read Drink, Slay, Love (Shame on me!), I have read Enchanted Ivy and really enjoyed it. Thus, my long wait till Vessel's September release.

Expected publication: September 11th 2012 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

In My Mailbox

2011-12-27T07:00:00.032-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. In case you missed my post yesterday, HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!! Now, let's get this show on the road!

Traded For:
*Partials by Dan Wells (goodreads)
*Switched by Amanda Hocking (goodreads)

Gifted:
*The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (goodreads) (THANKS, BAIlEY! You're such an awesome friend, and I can't wait to see you at ALA midwinter!)
*Unearthly- Australian edition by Cynthia Hand (goodreads) (THANK YOU SO MUCH, SANDY! I have been hunting down the Australian edition of Unearthly all year, and Sandy got it for me. You're the best! And btw, this picture doesn't do the cover justice)

*I also got a note and Temptation of Angels magnet from Michelle Zink. Y'all, she's so generous and amazing. Thank you so much, Michelle!

But wait, there's more. A few weeks ago, I tweeted about how my boyfriend wrapped up this giant tv sized Christmas gift for me. Well, inside was his old playstation and various other things for "weight", a pillow for "protection", and this:

I can't believe it! He actually got me an iPad with two Marc Jacobs cases! HE ACTUALLY KNOWS ME! Needless to say, I love him like whoa.

***Special thanks to Stephanie, Lyndsey, Bailey, and Sandy.

Happy Holidays!!!

2011-12-26T16:40:00.000-06:00

I know I'm totally late and lame, but HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! I hope it was as amazing and wonderful as every single one of you are. May you over eat and all your wishes come true. 2012, here we come!

Cover Reveal : Chosen Ones

2011-12-22T07:23:00.001-06:00

Whenever Entangled Publishing asked whether or not I would like to participate in their cover reveal, all they told me was that the cover is gorgeous. I'm never one to past up a fabulous opportunity, but holy cow, were they right. First off, let's talk a little about the book.

The book is called Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt and is the first book in Truitt's Lost Souls series. It's a dystopian (EEEP) novel about a girl name Tiffany who lives in a compound after the fourth World War. Clearly, I'm not going to do this book justice, thus, the summary:

"What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?

Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?"

Le sigh. Sounds amazing, right. Hold on...wait. It's finally time to reveal the cover. Are you ready?

1...

2...

3! TA DA!

Ahhh, so gorgeous!!! You can click it to see a larger version of the cover. Special thanks to Danielle at Entangled Publishing for giving me and all the other bloggers this opportunity. Be sure to add Chosen Ones to your TBR list!

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-12-21T07:28:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Gilt by Katherine Longshore.

Summary: "In the Tudor age, ambition, power and charismatic allure are essential and Catherine Howard has plenty of all three. Not to mention her loyal best friend, Kitty Tylney, to help cover her tracks. Kitty, the abandoned youngest daughter of minor aristocracy, owes everything to Cat – where she is, what she is, even who she is. Friend, flirt, and self-proclaimed Queen of Misrule, Cat reigns supreme in a loyal court of girls under the none-too-watchful eye of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.

When Cat worms her way into the heart of Henry VIII and becomes Queen of England, Kitty is thrown into the intoxicating Tudor Court. It’s a world of glittering jewels and elegant costumes, of gossip and deception. As the Queen’s right-hand-woman, Kitty goes from the girl nobody noticed to being caught between two men – the object of her affection and the object of her desire.

But the atmosphere of the court turns from dazzling to deadly, and Kitty is forced to learn the difference between trust and loyalty, love and lust, secrets and treason. And to accept the consequences when some lessons are learned too late."

Why I Can't Wait: You guys, I cannot tell you how obsessed I am with the Tudors. I remember learning about them in high school and being completely memorized with the story of Henry VIII and his six wives. Oh, and how I loved when Showtime finally turned it into a tv show! Henry Cavill, rawr!

After reading the summary for Gilt, I now want nothing more than to get my hands on this goodie. I mean, seriously! Look at the cover! Did you read the summary? I love that it's all told through the eyes of Catherine's best friend. And though we all know how the story will end, aren't you still curious to see what happens inbetween? I SURE AM!

Expected publication: May 15th 2012 by Viking Juvenile

10 HarperTeen eBooks for $0.99 Each?!?!

2011-12-20T07:23:00.003-06:00

I'm not one to advertise on my blog, but I had to share this incredible deal with y'all. HarperTeen is promoting 10 eBooks for $0.99 each! Seriously?! I mean, look at this list:

*Unearthly by Hand, Cynthia
*Vesper by Sampson, Jeff
*Hereafter by Hudson, Tara
*Bumped by McCafferty, Megan
*The Unidentified by Mariz, Rae
*The Poison Diaries by Wood, Maryrose
*Entwined by Dixon, Heather
*Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Mlynowski, Sarah
*Withering Tights by Rennison, Louise
*Lucky by Vail, Rachel

To find out where to purchase these goodies, CLICK HERE.

I've only read a few of these, but they rocked my world. I'll definitely taking advantage of this deal and hope you do, too! HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO US!!!

Review: Kiss Crush Collide

2011-12-19T07:43:00.000-06:00

Title: Kiss Crush Collide
Author: Christina Meredith
Expected publication: December 27th 2011 by Greenwillow Books
Source: ARC courtesy of the publisher for review

Summary: "Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.

With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry, Sarah Dessen, and John Green."

First line: "'Leah!' My mother rolls her eyes, sounding completely exasperated as she steps down the three thick stone slabs at our front door, her heels clacking."

Thoughts: Y'all know there is nothing I love more than a fabulous YA novel, with enough romance to make my heart burst. I thought Kiss Crush Collide would be that novel, but sadly, it just fell short. Really short. We're talking I-struggled-to-finish-it short.

Where to begin.

I really did not enjoy the overall flow to the story. The narration of the story jumped everywhere. One minute, she was talking about herself, the next her family, then her boyfriend, back to her sisters, back to herself, etc, all within just a few short pages. It was like listening to a 4 year old on a candy high try and tell you a story. Needless to say, it made the book quite strenuous to follow and the characters difficult to connect with.

The dialogue...well, what dialogue? Every so often, Leah or one of her sisters or mother would say one line then stop. End of conversation until the next page. I don't think anyone really had any real conversations that lasted more than a minute. Aren't high school girls suppose to be chatty? Aren't people in general suppose to be chatty? I guess not in the world of Kiss Crush Collide.

The romance was unbearable. It wasn't romance. It was pure teenage lust. After barely speaking with Porter (someone who is not Leah's boyfriend), she finds herself making out with him and "doing things she only did with her boyfriend after waiting 11 or so months". Really? Porter's practically a stranger to her, and she runs off with him to do naughty things? And please, do not even get me started on how many times her breast (which are bigger than her sisters') started falling out of her top. That is not something teenagers nor anyone outside a Harlequin romance novel should discuss.

And finally, Leah. I cannot put into words how much I disliked the main character. I felt like she was far too snobby and conceited. She constantly spoke of things such as her family's wealth (her dad buys them each a car for their 16th birthday, but she doesn't drive it), how smart she and her sisters are, and how no one gives her a chance even though, when someone tries to speak with her, she comes off agitated, rude and snippy. I would love to say she grows through out the story, but that would be a lie. She pretty much stays the same irritating character.

I'm sorry guys, but I can't hide my disappointment when it comes to Kiss Crush Collide. The cover is so gorgeous and with the way the summary is described (how it's comparing the book to such things as Perfect Chemistry and John Green), I really thought I would fall in love with it. Sadly, that's not the case at all. From the beginning to the end, I struggled with it. I kept hoping it would get better, but it didn't. I even found myself speed reading through the majority of the book, just to finish, and I hardly ever do that. Personally, I wouldn't recommend this book. If you're looking for a fabulous contemporary novel, look for titles by John Green, Sarah Dessen, Simon Elkeles, Gayle Forman or Jennifer Echols.

Rating:

In My Mailbox

2011-12-18T07:00:00.002-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I should really call this edition of IMM the "Covers Edition" because I am completely in love with each and every one of these covers. AHH, ch-ch-check it out!

*Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey (goodreads)(Thanks, Stacy!)
*Before You Go by James Preller (goodreads
*52 Reasons To Hate My Father by Jessica Brody (goodreads) (LOVE JESSICA BRODY!)
*Montrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama (goodreads)
*Of Poseidon by Anna Banks (goodreads) (AHHHHHHH!!!!)
*Fracture by Megan Miranda (goodreads)
*All These Lives by Sarah Wylie (goodreads) (Kind of reminds me of Imaginary Girls.)
*The Raft by S.A. Bodeen (goodreads)
*Struck by Jennifer Bosworth (goodreads) (AHHHHH!!!!)
*Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver (goodreads) (I think I just peed in my pants. How I've missed you, Lena...not me.)

***A extra special thanks to Macmillan, Farrar Straus and Giroux, HarperTeen and Stacy over at Urban Fantasy Investigations.***

And that's it! I had some technical difficulties a couple weeks back and could not comment on many of your blogs. For that, I am sorry. Everything is fixed now, so feel free to leave a comment below. I'll be sure to drop by and leave you some love as soon as I can (AKA after the Texans game!).

Interview and Giveaway With Sisterhood of Heartbreaker's Author Lynn Weingarten

2011-12-16T07:18:00.001-06:00

Y'all, I cannot tell you how excited I am to have Lynn Weingarten on my blog today. I really enjoyed reading her first novel Wherever Nina Lies, and today, Lynn's here to talk about her upcoming novel The Sisterhood of Heartbreakers. Without furthur ado, here's Lynn!

1. How did you come up with the idea for The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers?

A friend of mine was reading a book about how to pick up girls and I read it because I was curious. In the book there are groups of guys who go around together doing this and I was thinking it would be fun if there was a group of girls who did the same thing, only with a little magic involved.

2. If there was a SSoH when you were in high school, do you think you'd be apart of it?

Ha! No, I don't think so. But if there had been a Secret Sisterhood of Ridiculous Dances or a Secret Sisterhood of Hanging Out at Lizzie's House I would definitely have been a member of those.

3. Who is your favorite literary couple?
Lily and James Potter.

(YES! I think I just fell in love with you!)

4. Will The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers be a series or a standalone?

There will be a sequel, which I am right now in the process of revising. Just before starting to answer these questions I changed the line, "somewhere in Canada" to "in a bathroom in Toronto." Yup!

(HAAAAH! What are they doing in the bathroom? *raises eyebrows*)

5. Any advice for girls who have had their hearts broken?

Listen to loud music and scream along, hang out with friends, read some sad books, read some happy books (but no love stories!), watch stupid TV, find a dog to play with, get a million hugs, eat candy, eat healthy stuff, get enough sleep.

AWESOME advice! Lynn, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions for us. Be sure to check out The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers when it releases December 27, 2011!

Want to win an ARC of SSoH? Well you're in luck! One person will win an ARC of SSoH, as well as a signed swag pack courtesey of Lynn and another person will win a signed swag pack! All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

This giveaway is only open to US participants and will end December 31st and midnight CST. As always, extra entries will be rewarded to followers, tweeters, etc. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-12-14T06:28:00.017-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is The Selection by Kiera Cass.

Summary: "For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined."

Why I Can't Wait: First off, the cover? GORGEOUS! I love all the blue, the dresses, and the way all the girls are positioned. Next, the summary sounds absolutely amazing. I love the concept of being selected to marry the Prince and being torn from your possible true love. It kind of reminds me of the movie Ever After for some reason. Nonetheless, I cannot wait to read it!

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by HarperTeen

Review: Stolen Away

2011-12-12T13:14:00.001-06:00

Title: Stolen Away (goodreads/amazon)
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Expected publication: January 17th 2012 by Walker Childrens
Source: ARC provided by publisher for review

Summary: "For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them."

Thoughts: I don't know how Alyxandra Harvey does it, but yet again she has written another adventurous and addicting novel. I just couldn't put it down! From the enticing characters to the nonstop action and even the humorous dialogue, Stolen Away simply stole me away.

The story is written from two separate points of view. First off, you have Eloise. Her story is interesting in the sense that her Aunt Antonia is not only human but also the wife of the fey king, Strahan. In this story, the fey king only rules for 7 years before passing on the crown. Not Strahan. He wants to rule forever and Antonia is the only one who can stop him.

With that said, Eloise doesn't even know faeries exists. At least, not until she meets the handsome and charming Lucas. He may dress a little funny, but he sure can take Eloise's breath away. It turns out Lucas is Eloise's protector and after Eloise's aunt is captured, they must travel to Faerie and rescue her. What I love about Eloise is that even though she knows the dangers that await her in Faery, it doesn't stop her from wanting to rescue her aunt and save her friends. She's probably the most gentle out of all the characters, but can still be tough when she needs to be.

My personal favorite character, though, has to be Jo. The other half of the story is told through her point of view, and let's just say she's wild like a firecracker! I loved her witty and snarky comments. She had be bursting out laughing on several different occasions. Plus, I think I also enjoyed her romantic relationship more than I did with Eloise and Lucas. Jo and said character (sorry, no spoilers!) just had more passion between the two of them. Where Eloise and Lucas were sweet, Jo and said character were hot. To me, the spicier it is, the more I love it (this applies to food and books!).

Overall, Stolen Away is an interesting take on the Faery realm. It offers readers two separate boys to fall in love with and two heroines to cheer for. Double the pleasure, double the fun, right? I would highly recommend this to fans of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series and Harvey's Drake Chronicles.

Rating:

Giveaway: Catching Jordan

2011-12-09T07:19:00.001-06:00

Want to win a copy of Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally? I don't blame you! It's an incredible book, and I'm so happy and honored to be giving it away today.

Thanks to Sourcebooks, I have one copy to giveaway to one lucky participant today. To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

*This giveaway is only open to US and CA participants.
*Extra entries will be rewarded to followers, tweeting about the giveaway and commenting on my review of Catching Jordan.
*This giveaway ends December 30 at midnight CST.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Extra special thanks to Sourcebooks for sponsoring this giveaway. You guys rock my socks off!

Review: Catching Jordan

2011-12-08T13:41:00.001-06:00

Title: Catching Jordan (Goodreads)
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Published: December 1st 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Copy sent by publisher for review

Summary: "What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate."

First line: "I once read that football was invented so people wouldn't notice summer ending."

Thoughts: From the moment I picked up Catching Jordan, I knew it was going to be a cute read. What I wasn't expecting was how funny, clever, witty and overall incredible it'd be. I loved it from the very beginning and never wanted it to end. I'm not kidding, for an entire day, my life was consumed with all things Catching Jordan. I reread my favorite scenes, quoted my favorite lines and fangirled to anyone who would listen to me on Twitter. Yes, I loved it THAT much!

Jordan is your typical high school girl, except for the fact that she's the quarterback for one of the best high school teams in Tennessee. Her life is consumed with football, especially considering her father, the great Donovon Woods, is the quarterback for the Titans. Too bad her father's constantly telling her to do something else and doesn't approve of her football dreams. Luckily, her teammates and brother do.

Enter Ty. He just moved into town from Texas and *gasps*, is a better quarterback than Jordan. Jordan earned her spot on the team. There's no way the coach will just give it to Ty, right? And to top things off, for the first time ever, Ty is igniting a passion inside Jordan she didn't think existed. What's a girl to do?

First off, I have to tell you how much I absolutely adored every single guy in this book. A girl playing football will 99.9 percent of the time cause some sort of ridicule from her peers. In this case, Jordan's teammates and friends were always supportive and always had her back. I loved, loved, loved how devoted and loyal they were. Sure, the majority of them were total manwhores, but as far as friendship goes, they're solid.

Also, I love how incredibly strong Jordan is. She knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to fight for it. There were times where she wanted to just give up, yet never did. If she was a guy, she wouldn't have to deal with all the ridiculous trials and tribulations these colleges and "haters" put her through. And regardless of all those things, Jordan still fought for what she wanted. Needless to say, she had my girl power mojos working overtime!
Oh, and swoon-worthy males. Though there's two guys you can easily fall in love with, my personal favorite was Sam Henry. Oh my goodness, I could not get enough of him. Whenever I need a good laugh, I think about this one scene between him, Jordan and "Jerry Rice". He's sweet, funny and extremely charming. At times, he can be a jerk, but he's the best kind of jerk (if that makes any sense).

For fans of Jennifer Echols, Simone Elkeles and Kay Cassidy, you are going to LOVE Catching Jordan. It kind of reminds me of a football version of the movie Mean Girls, only with less mean girls and more hunky guys! If you're looking for a funny read that'll capture your heart from the very first page, this is the book for you.

Rating: 5 stars (Sorry, I'm writing this at work and don't have my fishbowls saved to this computer!)

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is The Thing About The Truth by Lauren Barnholdt.

Summary: "Sixteen-year-old Kelsey Romano has always been one of the most popular girls at Concordia Prep. But after a disastrous breakup and her subsequent meltdown (um, destruction of school property, anyone?) she's kicked out of Con Prep and shipped off to Concordia High School, for good.

Seventeen-year-old Isaac Brandano has been kicked out of more prep schools than he can name. But now that his father's State Senate campaign is pushing a public school agenda, Isaac finds himself enrolled at Concordia High.

Kelsey and Isaac are destined to hate each other. And at first, they do. But when they are forced together on the creation of a new school club, sparks begin to fly. Then the club's critical event turns into chaos. Now Kelsey and Isaac must retrace their steps and figure out how and why everything got so got screwed up, who was to blame, and how they can move forward.

This new novel from fan-favorite Lauren Barnholdt showcases--through a sweet and sparkly narrative--how the last person you expect might just be the one who changes your life forever."

Why I Can't Wait: HUGE Lauren Barnholdt fan here. I absolutely loved Aces Up and Sometimes It Happens, so needless to say, I cannot freaking wait for her next book. I'm loving the summary. If you know me, you know I love a good love-hate relationship! The only thing I'm not so sure about is the cover. While it's nice, the girl looks...bored? Annoyed? Maybe this has something to do with the story, so I guess we shall all wait and see!

Expected publication: July 10th 2012 by Simon Pulse

In My Mailbox

2011-12-04T11:05:00.002-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I'M SOOOO EXCITED! AND I JUST CAN'T HIDE IT! Seriously, everything I received this week is on my wish list, and I'm ever so grateful. Ch-ch-check it out!

For Review:
*Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally (Keep your eyes open for a giveaway soon!)
*Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Trades:
*Eternal Starling (signed!) by Angela Corbett (Thanks, Viven!)

Gifted:
*The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner (Signed and personalized!). Super, super, gigantic thanks to Catie who not only gifted me with The Death Cure (the last book in one of my favorite trilogies!) but also got my copies of Matched, Crossed, and Everneath signed. Seriously, so many fabulous authors live in Utah!

**Special thanks also to Sourcebooks and TorTeen. **

And that's it for this edition of In My Mailbox. Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts below, and I'll be sure to visit your blog ASAP!

XOXO

December Dystopia Giveaway

2011-12-02T07:18:00.001-06:00

This December, I'm celebrating dystopia in a big way. As you know, I'm a huge fan of dystopian novels. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite genres, and what better way to ring in the new year than to give one away? This month, I'm giving away any dystopia novel of your choice, whether it's a current release, a pre-ordered copy, a sequel, etc. Whatever your little heart desires!

Need some ideas and inspiration? Here's a small list of possible prizes:

*Across The Universe by Beth Revis
*A Million Suns by Beth Revis
*Wither by Lauren DeStefano
*Fever by Lauren DeStefano
*Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
*Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
*The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
*Delirium by Lauren Oliver
*Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
*The Hunger Games or Catching Fire or Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
*Matched by Ally Condie
*Crossed by Ally Condie
*Divergent by Veronica Roth
*Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I'm sure you get the point. The sky is the limit!

*This giveaway will be open to international participants (provided The Book Depository delivers to your area) and will end December 31st at midnight CST.
*You must comment below, and let everyone know your favorite dystopian novel.
*You must be at least 13+ to enter or have a parent email me permission.
*Extra entries will be rewarded to followers and tweeters!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated novels. This week, my pick is Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti.

Summary: "Between Noelle’s struggles at home and the bullying she endures at school, all she wants is to get away from her small town. Noelle’s been nursing a crush on cute, wealthy Julian Porter for ages, but can’t imagine a guy like him could ever fall for a girl like her. When things heat up between Noelle and Julian, she has to decide whether she can be her true self with him."

Why I Can't Wait: To all you Susane Colansanti fans out there, you know how well she can capture teen angst and romance. To be fair, her books are either hits or misses to me, but this one definitely sounds like a hit. It's not the most original story, but still sounds like a very touching and heartfelt read. And the romance sounds super cute, too! I love it when the rich, hot guy falls for the underdog! Plus, like all of Miss Colansanti's books, the cover is adorable. Needless to say, this is high on my "want, gimme, gimme" list. :)

Expected publication: June 14th 2012 by Viking Juvenile

Teaser Tuesday: Cinder

2011-11-29T07:14:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. The rules are simple!

The rules are simple:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share 2 “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

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

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

This week, my teaser comes from Cinder by Marissa Meyer. Cinder is amazing, and I hope you enjoy this teaser as much as I do!

"Cinder barely heard him above the blankness in her mind. With her heartbeat gathering speed, her retina display scanned his features, so familiar from years spent watching him on the netscreens."-Page 6

Review: All These Things I've Done

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

Title: All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1) goodreads/amazon
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Published: September 6th 2011 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Source: Copy provided by author for honest review

Summary: "In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.
Engrossing and suspenseful, All These Things I've Done is an utterly unique, unputdownable read that blends both the familiar and the fantastic."

First line: "The night before junior year- I was sixteen, barely- Gable Arsley said he wanted to sleep with me."

Thoughts:If Meadow from The Sopranos ever had to live during the time of prohibition, All These Things I've Done would be her story. This novel offers a different take for fans of dystopia. The world may not have ended, but with chocolate and coffee being illegal, it might as well have!

The story revolves around Anya, a daughter in the notorious Balanchine family. Her parents are gone, her grandmother is bedridden, and her eldest brother is not capable of taking care of anyone, let alone himself. It's all up to Anya to take care of the family. She knows this and accepts it. One of the things I love about Anya is though her life is tough, she never once cowers to it. She might be part of the Balanchine family by name, but that does not determine nor define who she is. The best way I can think of to help really describe Anya and her ideals on the family name is from this quote:

"Our birthright was to be Balanchines, but our birthright does not have to be violence and death."

Courageous, independent, headstrong, and overall amazing. These are things that describe her. As far as well-written, strong main characters go, Anya is top notch and quite frankly, one of the best, most diverse protagonists I've read about in quite some time. Needless to say, I heart her.

Moving on, if you've read the summary, you know that Anya's love interest is a little less than ideal. I think controversial and ultimately disastrous are the best ways to describe it. You see, dear friends, Win is the assistant D.A.'s son and remember, Anya's a mafia princess. What's a girl to do? Lie. Lie to protect your family and lie to protect yourself. And though their relationship is flawed in many, many ways, I couldn't help but fall in love with the both of them. In a strange way, they complete each other, and I absolutely adored watching their relationship blossom.

Oh, and for you drama lovers, there are plenty of scandals, betrayals, and other various naughty things that will engage you until the very end. I will admit, somewhere in the middle, the pacing ran a little slow for my taste. Don't fret, though. The pacing will pick right back up until the very end.

Oh, and the best part? While this novel is part of a series, it can also read as a standalone. That's right, no antagonizing cliffhanger that'll make you want to throw the book against the wall and scream bloody murder. Giggidy!

Overall, I really enjoyed All These Things I've Done and very much look forward to reading it's sequel. While the story is set in 2083, it very much reminded me of the prohibition era adding even more flare to the story line. For fans of contemporary literature and dystopia, I'd recommend checking this book out. It's kind of like coffee and chocolate: sweet, bitter, and unlike anything you've ever experienced.

Rating:

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-24T11:59:00.000-06:00

This is just a quick post to wish each and every one of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Gobble gobble, till you wobble!

*NOM NOM NOM*

And because Thanksgiving is all about sharing what you're thankful for, I am very thankful to have met so many wonderful people in the blogging community. You guys are like a second family to me, and I could not ask for better friends.

An extra, extra thank you to Karen, Tiger, Cynthia, Sherry, Jen D., Ginger, Jess, Sarah, Julie, Sandy, Catie, Andrea, and anyone else I've had the pleasure of knowing on a more personal basis. You guys are my besties, and I love y'all like whoa.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Fated by Alyson Noel.

Summary: "It’s a young adult supernatural novel and it’s a completely new world. This book is going to be set in the Southwest, most likely New Mexico. So it’s going to have a very different atmosphere, landscape and feel, and it’ll explore the ability to walk through the Upperworld and the Underworld and to walk amongst the dead. It’s about a 16-year-old girl, who starts suffering the symptoms of what appears to be a psychotic break. But her grandmother recognizes it for what it is: her heredity ability—her father had it as well—to walk between the Upperworld and the Underworld."

Why I Can't Wait: I'll admit, Alyson Noel's books are either hits or misses with me. I really enjoyed Evermore and Blue Moon, but then her next few books were so-so (though I still need to read Everlasting). It's not that she's not a good writer (she's fabulous!), it's just that the characters became a bit...annoying? Anyway, I'm still a fan, thus my pick for the week. I seriously think Alyson was blessed by the cover gods because every single one of her covers are beyond beautiful. This one is actually one of my favorites. Fated is the first book in her new series and from what I can tell, it sounds amazing! Can't wait!!

Expected publication: May 22nd 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin

Love Love Giveaway

2011-11-22T08:48:00.000-06:00

Do you love love? Well, this is the giveaway for you! I'm giving away an ARC of Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay AND an ARC of Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani. Giggidy!

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is only open to US participants and will end December 13th. If you are an international participant and have a US mailing address I can mail the prize to, feel free to enter. As always, extra entries will be provided to followers and tweeters.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

In My Mailbox

2011-11-20T06:00:00.005-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Y'all, I can't tell you how excited about the books I got this week. Ch-ch-check it out!

*Try Not To Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard (LOVED The Secret Year!)
*Life Eternal (Dead Beautiful #2) by Yvonne Woon
*The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

***Special thanks to Disney Hyperion and Lexa over at Pages of Forbidden Love***

Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts below, and I'll be sure to stop by and say hello. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!!

Psst...Thursday = Thanksgiving!!! :D

Review: Saving June

2011-11-18T10:23:00.000-06:00

Title: Saving June
Author: Hannah Harrington
Expected publication: November 22nd 2011 by Harlequin
Source: ARC courtesy of Shanyn from Chick Loves Lit

Summary: "‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again."

Thoughts: Beware, there may (most likely) be a great deal of fan-girling. Enter at your own risk.

Have you ever seen or heard of a book and think to yourself, "This is something I'm going to love!"? Well, Saving June was that book for me. From the second I read the summary, I knew this was something I desperately needed to get my hands on. What I wasn't expecting was how all-consuming, borderline obsessive I'd becoming. Heartbreaking, adventurous, and just plain beautiful, Saving June is one of those books you won't soon forget.

The story revolves around Harper and how she deals with her grief over her sister's suicide. Her father's practically non existent, her mother is barely holding on by a thread, and to top it off, her overbearing Aunt Helen is always around. Harper can't understand why her perfect sister would end her life so rashly and not even leave a note behind.

Then, Harper does the unthinkable. In order to truly set June free, Harper, her best friend Laney, and the mysterious yet obnoxious Jake all embark on a road trip to California. Their goal, to cast June's ashes in the one place she truly wanted to be. And along the way, they endure their fair share of political rallies, crazy exes, and of course, music.

Harper is by far one of the best, most well developed characters I've read about in a very long time. She's snarky, witty, beautiful, and broken. Her soul sings, even if she thinks no one is listening. Every time she got into an argument with any of the other characters, I couldn't help but smile or laugh from her clever remarks. Even though she's clearly in pain and needs to grief, she always puts her friends first. Needless to say, and please excuse my language, but Harper is a badass with a heart of gold.

Oh, and of course, there's Jake. Charming, honest, cocky, and oh so dreamy Jake. From his grin, to the way he always has something to say about music, it's no surprise how easy it was for me to fall head over heals in love with him. Swoon-worthy is an understatement. If more boys like Jake Talon existed, this world would be a better place. I loved how the mystery of how he's connected to June, and why he agreed...no insisted in going on this journey with the girls unfolds. And I promise you, every time he says anything about music (and it will be quite often), it will make your heart go pitter-patter. While everyone wants or wished they could have saved June, he may be the only one can really, truly save Harper.

“It's just nice, I guess. Knowing that someone else can put into words what I feel. That there are people who have been through things worse than I have, and they come out on the other side okay. Not only that, but they made some kind of twisted, fucked-up sense of the completely senseless. They made it mean something. These songs tell me I'm not alone. If you look at it at that way, music... music can see you through anything.” This quote pretty much sums it all up. See what I mean by heartbreaking yet beautiful?

Overall, I cannot put into words how much I loved Saving June. It's definitely one of my favorite reads in 2011...wait, no, ever, and I can't wait to read whatever Hannah Harrington has in store for us next. If you're a fan of Morgan Matson's Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, you are going to love this book. Music lovers, book lovers, lovers of lovers, you must get your hands on Saving June immediately. Like I said, it's hard for me to explain to you how wonderful and amazing this book really is. You're just going to have to experience it for yourself.

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-11-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated reads. This week, my pick is Miracle by Elizabeth Scott.

Summary: "I sat there and wondered again why I'd lived…

Megan is a miracle. At least, that’s what everyone says. Having survived a plane crash that killed everyone else on board, Megan knows she should be grateful just to be alive. The truth is, she
doesn’t feel like a miracle. In fact, she doesn’t feel anything at all. Then memories from the crash start coming back. Scared and alone, Megan doesn’t know who to turn to. Her entire community
seems unable—or maybe unwilling—to see her as anything but Miracle Megan. Except for Joe, the beautiful boy next door with a tragic past and secrets of his own... All Megan wants is for her life to get back to normal, but the harder she tries to live up to everyone’s expectations, the worse she feels. This time, she may be falling too fast to be saved…"

Why I Can't Wait: Okay, anyone who knows me knows I'm a HUGE Elizabeth Scott fan. She writes some of my favorite contemporary books, and I just adore her. Secondly, did you see who was quoted on the cover? JAY ASHER!!! Ahh, love him too! Le sigh. The cover looks amazing (haunting, yet beautiful), and the summary sound even better. I WANT THIS ONE BAAAAAAD!

Expected publication: June 5th 2012 by Simon Pulse

Teaser Tuesday: Stolen Away

2011-11-15T07:10:00.001-06:00

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey.

"And when he kissed me, I felt as substantial as sugar. Everything went sweet, went fiery, went sharp as lightning."-Page 68

Oh Miss Harvey, you sure have a way with words. Le sigh.

Review: Love & Leftovers

2011-11-14T07:06:00.008-06:00

Title: Love & Leftovers (goodreads/amazon)
Author: Sarah Tregay
Expected publication: December 27th 2011 by HarperCollins Children's Books
Source: ARC courtesy of publisher for review

Summary: "My wish
is to fall
cranium over Converse
in dizzy, daydream-worthy
love.

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "vacation" has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? can you even know it until you've lost it?

Love and Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl’s journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole."

Thoughts: When I first heard about Love & Leftovers, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The title alone hooked me in. And though there are a few enjoyable moments, I just felt like the story fell a little flat to me.

Let's start off with the first half of the book. The pacing ran a little slow for my taste. Though it's written in verse, the author uses a lot of explanations, even for situations that played little to no relevance in the overall story. Also, in my opinion, the first half of the book should not be called Love & Leftovers. Oh no, what it should really be called is Lust & Cheaters. I felt like the main character, Marcie, spent the majority of her time feeling sorry for herself. Obviously she has a lot of reasons to be upset. There's the problems between her parents, the fact that she had to leave all her friends and move across the country, and also the fact that her mom is in a constant depressive state. Nonetheless, I would have liked to have seen Marcie turn a bad situation into something good.

Then she meets J.D. He brings her donuts, talks to her and actually seems to like her. The thing is, she's still dating Linus back home. She thinks she wants to break up with him, but doesn't want to do it through an email or over the phone. Apparently the best solution is to spend more time with J.D. and ignore the problem all together. I have to say, the relationship between J.D. and Marcie grew rather quickly and out of nowhere. Personally, I never felt any real connection with them. I mean, other than physical attraction, what did they really have? Did they even really know each other? It didn't seem like it.

Now, the second half of the book? That's where the fun begins. Eventually Marcie has to pay for her crimes, and this is when it happens. Though I did feel bad for Marcie, I was ultimately pleased with how the story turned out. There's confrontation, drama, betrayal, and even a bit of redemption. I started to finally enjoy Marcie's character. She finally turned that bad situation around! I may have struggled with the first half of the book, but I easily breezed through the second half. I still have one vital question I feel was left unanswered, but since this is a standalone, I guess I'm left in the dark.

Overall, I did enjoy Love & Leftovers, but I didn't love it like I originally thought I would. Fans of Lisa Schroeder and contemporary YA should still check it out, if only for a few of the beautifully written verses. It's a quick, sometimes sweet-sometimes bitter, yet easy read you can easily finish in a couple hours.

Rating:

In My Mailbox

2011-11-13T09:08:00.000-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's book time! Let's get this party started!

*Tempest by Julie Cross
*Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
*Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2) by Jennifer Estep

EEP! So many goodies. Special thanks to Lindsay at Lindsay Writes and Jessica at Jessica's Bookshelf.

So, what's in your mailbox, eh?

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-11-09T07:10:00.010-06:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund.

Summary: "Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.

But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—-one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it."

Why I Can't Wait: For those of you who don't know, I'm a huge fan of Diana Peterfreund's. Rampant and Ascendant are two of my favorite books, which actually turned me into Team Unicorn instead of Team Zombie. If you haven't read any of her book, you should. They're beautifully written, and no one writes frustratingly good romance like her. I absolutely love the cover for For Darkness Shows The Stars. Plus, a dystopian retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion? SOLD! It sounds amazing, and I cannot wait to read it!

Expected publication: 2012 by Balzer + Bray

Teaser Tuesday: Saving June

2011-11-08T09:25:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. The rules are simple!

The rules are simple:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share 2 “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

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

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

This week, my teaser comes from Saving June by Hannah Harrington

.

"'And if he puts on Bowie's early stuff and starts sweet-talking, dammit, you run. You run as fast as you can.'

He winks at me, and I blush as I realize what he's implying."-Page 81

*Sigh* I'm seriously loving this book! Anywho, feel free to leave links to your Teaser Tuesdays below. I'd love to see what you're reading and how it's going!

XOXO

Review: Touch of Power (Healer #1)

2011-11-07T08:57:00.000-06:00

Title: Touch of Power (Healer #1)
Author: Maria V. Synder
Expected publication: December 20th 2011 by Mira
Source: ARC courtesy of publisher for review

Summary: "Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life..."

First line: "The little girl wouldn't stop crying."

Thoughts: To simply put it, I loved Touch of Power! It's not just a pretty cover, but a fabulous fantasy novel, which had me on the edge of my seat till the very end. Betrayal, adventure, scandal, romance and magic? Yes, please!

A plague has hit the Fifteen Rhelms, greatly decreasing the population, and healers are being blamed. Avry has spent the last few years constantly on the run. If anyone finds out that she's a healer, they will have her head. With that said, it's Avry's natural instinct to help heal others, especially children. She can't help it, and eventually gets caught. After all, you can only run so long before any sort of hunter catches you.

Enter Kerrick. Him and his merry group of men save Avry from certain death, and whisks her off into the forest. There, they seek shelter in a cave, and spend each day hiking further towards the mountains. Why did these men save Avry, you ask? Well, they need her to heal someone who has the potential to bring peace to the Fifteen Rhelms. The thing is, the person they ask Avry to save is the last person on earth she's willing to. On top of that, Avry is constantly being hunted by those loyal to the kings and queens from other rhelms. How long can she keep running before she gets caught?

First off, I have to (HAVE TO) tell you how much I loved and adored Avry. Her sarcasm and dry sense of humor had be giggling even when I probably shouldn't have been. She's just one of those incredibly moral, sound, and overall good people you wished was real. With that said, if you've read any of the books in Synder's Study trilogy, you'll notice that Avry's character is very much like Yelena. Both are independent because they have to be, and snarky because they want to be. Even their abilities to heal are very similar, with the way they take it into themselves and such. Still, just because they're similar does not mean it takes away from the story. If anything, it's nice since I really like the Study series.

The dialogue between every single character is impeccable, especially the conversations between Avry and Kerrick. I love the love/hate relationship they develop. It seems like they both like playing that little game called cat and mouse.

“...things happen that are out of your control.'
Kerrick gave him a tight smile. 'You mean I'm not omnipotent?'
'You're not even semi-potent.'
'Is that even a word?' Kerrick asked.
'He probably means you're impotent,' I offered.”

Sigh. Nonetheless, the dialogue is very entertaining, and just plain fun to read.

The author also does a fabulous job of developing all the secondary characters. I love the description she uses, giving them personality and each an important role in the overall story. My personal favorite out of all of them has to be Belen. He's like the papa bear in the group, always looking out for everyone. He even puts Kerrick back in his place, even though Kerrick is his superior.

Oh, and lets not forget the action and romance. While Kerrick did very much remind of of Valek from the Study trilogy, I couldn't help but love him. I'm not going to lie, I hated him at first. He's stubborn and at times unbearable, but oh my goodness. I don't know if it's his brooding, tortured nature, but there is just something simply sexy about him. The chemistry between him and Avry is undeniable. Needless to say, he's of the swoon-worthy sort, and I would gladly spend days with him in any of his hidden caves. AND THE ADVENTURE! I swear, there's so much action in this book, you can't put it down...ever. It's filled with jaw-dropping cliffhangers, crazy revelations and stunning magic, both evil and beautiful.

Filled with a cast of charming characters, a romance to die for, and a bad ass heroine, Touch of Power will have you believing in magic and cheering till the very end. The book does leave room for a sequel, but still left me very much satisfied with the overall ending. I cannot recommend nor talk about this book enough! It's simply marvelous and even if you're not a fan of fantasy novels, I still recommend checking it out. In my book, Maria Snyder is a fantastic writer and can do no wrong. No one weaves a story the way she does, and I cannot wait to read what she has in store for us next!

Rating:

In My Mailbox

2011-11-06T07:33:00.000-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I cannot tell you how super excited I am about the books I got this week. SQUEEEEE!!!

*The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
*She's So Dead To Us by Kieran Scott
*Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Special thanks to Krystal and Shannon at Stalking The Bookshelves for trading with me!

As always, feel free to leave links to your IMM posts in the comments below, and I'll be sure to drop by! Have a super Sunday everyone!

XOXO

TGIF!!!

2011-11-04T10:02:00.001-05:00

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous Ginger over at GReads! This week's question is...

Gateway Books: Which particular books opened you up to a new genre?

That's easy. The book that really opened me up to anything (and reading in general) is none other than the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

My mom bought me the first book, waaay back when I was in 7th grade. At first, I was mad. I mean, come on, mom, I asked for the latest pair of Doc Marten sandals, not a book! Then I cracked it open and was hooked. It's not this childish, fluffy, magic filled book people who haven't read it think it is. It's a world, a life style and speaks to so many people in such different ways. It's easy to fall in love and care for all the characters. I never thought I'd enjoy a book about witches, wizards, magic, and crazy creatures. Needless to say, whenever the next book came out, I wanted it immediately. I even went to the midnight Harry Potter parties at Barnes and Noble and stayed up all night to finish them. This led up to my college years, then came the movies, and now, I'm in my twenties, waiting for The Deathly Hallows 2 to come out on DVD. *Sigh* I will cherish this series ALWAYS.

Now, the book that got me into the gushy love stories, with a paranormal twist is...

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Good gravy, how easy is it to fall in love with this story and with Sam? When it first came out, I just happened to be in the YA section at Borders and was immediately drawn to the cover. I picked it up and thought "Lets give it a go." Holy crap, was I in for a ride. This is the first book that ever got me to heart-break-gushing-like-a-freaking-waterfall cry. I cannot tell you how much I love this book and how it tore me up, then fixed me.

And lastly, the book that got me hooked on contemporary YA is...

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. I read this book in a few hours and loved it so much, I read it again. The next day, I bought every Jennifer Echols book I could find (which ended up being The Boys Next Door and The Ex-Games) and ate them up. Seriously, in my book, Jennifer Echols can do no wrong. I truly adore her.

That's it, folks! I hope you guys have a wonderful, romantic, magical weekend, filled with books and endless wonder. :)

XOXO

Winners Galore!!!

2011-11-03T08:42:00.000-05:00

WOOHOO, it's time to announce some winners, and boy howdy, are there a lot! For everyone that entered my Box of ARCs, Blogoversary and Tess/Stick giveaways, thank you so much for all your support. Alas, it is time to announce the winners:

The winner of Prize Pack A in the Box of ARCs giveaway is...

TEE!

The winner of Prize Pack B in the Box of ARCs giveaway is...

LISA!

The winner of Without Tess and Stick is...

April X!

And finally, the Blogoversary winner is...

Erin B!

Congrats to all the winners!!! I'm in the middle of sending each and everyone one of you emails now. Please respond back within 72 hours or a new winner may be selected. Prizes will be mailed out to you sometime next week.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-11-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Innocent Darkness (The Aether Chronicles #1) by Suzanne Lazear.

Summary: Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

Why I Can't Wait: What first drew me to the book, of course, was the cover. I was super excited to see the cover reveal on Suzanne's blog and fell in love with it instantly. Then, I read the summary. Whoa. Steampunk is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres and though the concept sounds a bit Vampire Diaries to me (Elena must die for the curse to be broken!), I still love it. Plus, FAERIE?! EEEP! I love the fey! Sadly, it looks like we have a really long wait until the release. *Wails*

Expected publication: August 8th 2012 by Flux

Review: Graffiti Moon

2011-10-31T10:10:00.000-05:00

Title: Graffiti Moon
Author: Cath Crowley
Expected publication: February 14th 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Netgalley

Summary: "Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes."

Thoughts: When I first read A Little Wanting Song, I immediately fell in love with Cath Crowley's writing. She just has a certain finesse that makes her stories not only easy to read, but easy to fall in love with. Graffiti Moon is no different. It's more than just an adventure novel, filled with hi-jinks and romance, but a novel filled with enough raw emotions to break your heart and mend it all over again .

For those who've read A Little Wanting Song, you know that the story is told through two points of view, with a little song "break" every so often. The reason I mention this is because Graffiti Moon is told the same way, but with poetry instead of songs. Though the story is mainly told through the eyes of Lucy and Ed, you also get glimpses into the lives of Leo, aka Poet, Jazz, and the other secondary characters. Personally, I love this aspect of the story. So often, you only get insight into the lives of the main characters, or even just one character. Not in this case. Everyone is dealing with some problem, whether it's a break up, family issues or just the need for adventure.

Just as the book says, you also get that Nick and Norah adventure, except replace the band with a graffiti artist. The only difference is you know who Shadow (the graffiti artist) and Poet are from the start. Nonetheless, it's quite entertaining. I love the description Crowley uses to describe Shadow's walls. She makes them sound so beautiful, yet painful. They each have a story behind them, which also adds a nice little touch to the story. And Leo's poetry! Oh, how I loved those little poems he writes. There's so much pain behind Shadow and Poet's eyes, yet they still stay strong. I don't know about you but I love a strong guy with a sensitive heart, and there's not just one, but TWO in the story. Double the romance, double the sighs.

Lucy and Jazz are also a fun pair. They're so different, yet alike. They have that kind of best friend relationship everyone dreams of having. Plus, they always have each other's backs and genuinely care for one another. Lucy is the artist who doesn't care what other people think about her, even if they think she's weird. She'll gladly lay down on the sidewalk and draw pictures using the sky as her background. I love this about her. AND SHE'S TOUGH! If you're a guy, be sure to stay away from her "arse". You'll see.

All in all, I loved every single minute of Graffiti Moon. I normally don't like reading books on my computer, but I couldn't pull myself away from this story. I read it at work, at home, and even on my phone at the Post Office. For fans on Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, you are going to LOVE Graffiti Moon. Cath Crowley is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!

Rating:

In My Mailbox (or is it?)

2011-10-30T07:12:00.002-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I'm going to call this edition the "Oh crap, how am I ever going to read all of these in time? *panics* " issue. Which, I guess is better than a "Ugh, I have nothing to read, my feet stink, and socks fit me funny" edition. Anywho, I am RIDICULOUSLY, OH EM GEE, I THINK I PEED MY PANTS, IS THAT JAY ASHER (?!?!?!), excited about all the books I got in the mail this week. Some of these are repeats, and for those of you who follow my blog, you know which ones. Thus, expect an epic giveaway very soon...around the holidays, perhaps.

Enough with my nonsensical rant and onto the books!

For Review:
*Bewitching by Alex Flinn (LOVE BEASTLY AND ALEX FLINN!)
*Hallowed (Unearthly dos) by Cynthia Hand
*Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (AHHHH!!!)
*Lovetorn by Kavita Daswani
*Everneath by Brodi Ashton
*Forbidden by Syrie and Ryan James (sooooo excited about this one!)
*Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
*Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
*The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

Oh...the fun's not over yet...

For Review:
*Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles Tres) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (one of my fave series!)
*My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody (Don't fret, Karen, I'm sending it to you this week)
*A Million Suns (Across The Universe Dos) by Beth Revis (I looked liked THIS when I saw this in my mailbox.)
*Saving June by Hannah Harrington
*After The Snow by J.D. Crockett
*Everything You Need To Survive The Apocalypse by Lucas Klaus

I also got a very cool Across The Universe poster, however, my little Dexter decided to drag it off the counter and roll around in it. Thus, poster wrinkles.

And that's all, folks!

***Special thanks to HarperTeen, Macmillan, the very awesome Shanyn over at Chicks Love Lit, Amanda at Letters Inside Out, and my mom and dad, for always making me dress up on Halloween.***

Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts below. I'll be sure to drop by, say hello, and possible eat Halloween candy during the process.

Oh, and before I forget...

XOXO!

Review: The Faerie Ring

2011-10-29T20:42:00.000-05:00

Title: The Faerie Ring
Author: Kiki Hamillton
Published September 27th 2011 by Tor Teen / Macmillan
Source: Copy sent by publisher for review

Summary: "Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…"

First line: "You wouldn't be here pickin' pockets, would you?"

Thoughts: Part historical fiction, part folklore, The Faerie Ring offers readers a glimpse into what life was like in London, during the 1800s, but with the fey. I kind of have mixed feelings about this book. While I easily fell in love with the concept and setting, at times, the story itself did not meet up to my expectations. The Faerie Ring offers everything a reader can ask for (action, robbery, scandal, romance, etc), however, in my case, it does take a while to get there.

The pacing in the first half of the book ran relatively slow for my taste. Though there's plenty of action, nothing ever really happened. Things were mentioned and said, a little bit of history here, a little bit more there, but that was it. Also, some of the events felt a little unbelievable to me. An example of this is when Tiki breaks into the Royal Palace. How does one, especially a thief, break into the Royal Palace without being caught? Though crazier things have happened, surely someone would have noticed the out of place girl dressed as a boy. And that's another thing I had an issue with. As teenagers, teen girls have certain unmistakable features that distinguish them from boys. In this book, everyone Tiki (as a thief) encounters views her as a boy, unless her hair happens to fall out or something. If they were younglings, I would completely understand, but has young men and women? No.

Furthermore, maybe it's just me, but I really did not enjoy the dialogue in this book. I guess it's because I was trying so desperately to picture these Victorian London characters chatting, but ended up reading their dialogue as slang. Maybe it's because I'm gangsta, fo' sho', but I just couldn't grasp my head around this. I've read other reviews, and no one else seems to have an issue with it, which, again, makes me believe that it's just me.

With all this said, lets talk about the second half of the book. Right when I was about to give up, the book takes a complete 180 turn, lures me in and traps me. Finally, something beyond "eat, sleep, steal" happens! Secrets are unraveled and oh em gee, are they good. And the fey! Finally, the fey make an appearance! At this point, I loved how every piece of information slowly beings to make sense. It's quite brilliant, really.

Moving on, I want to discuss the two main characters in this book. As the heroine, Tiki rarely ever felt bland or boring. And though she's a thief, she also has her reasons why. Her actions are rarely selfish, and I cherished how she took care of the other kids. There's nothing I love more than a strong female character. Plus, there's the added mystery bonus of what her markings mean. Now, the other character that kept me reading was Rieker. How funny that he always seems to be there when Tiki needs him. There's something about him, a quality, that makes him hard to ignore. It's a combination of his charm and fearlessness. Though there isn't a lot of romance in this book, I still enjoyed the the encounters (even the not so romantic ones) between Tiki and Rieker. They're like a Victorian Bonnie and Clyde, only not evil.

Overall, while I didn't love The Faerie Ring, I did enjoy it. Kiki Hamilton created this lush, wonderful world, filled with intrigue and mystery. The premise is great, and there's a fabulous story to be told. All you just have to give it a chance.

Rating:

Interview with Jennifer Bosworth, author of Struck

2011-10-27T08:59:00.000-05:00

Y'all, I cannot tell you how excited I am to have Jennifer Bosworth on my blog today. Her highly anticipated debut novel, STRUCK, comes out May 8th 2012. Till then, lets learn a little more about her and her fabulous book.

1. In 140 characters (aka Twitter length), how would you describe Struck to someone who hasn't heard of it?

Teenage lighting addict + apocalyptic earthquake in L.A. + whacko doomsday cults + enigmatic boy with sinister secrets = STRUCK

2. I'm sure you get this a lot, but how did you come up with the idea for Struck?

I like to ground everything I write in reality, and there are so many bizarre true stories about what happens to people when they’re struck by lightning. Lightning can wipe out people’s memories. It can pick them up and move them. It can leave strange, red markings that actually look like lightning on your body. There was even a woman who had multiple sclerosis who was struck by lightning and cured completely. And then there are the human lightning rods, people who attract lightning again and again. The man who held the record for the most lightning strikes drove around with a bucket of water in the back of his truck at all times, so he could put himself out if he ended up on fire. So, in the end, the original inspiration for STRUCK was what is really possible, and the possibilities seem endless.

3. Storms and lightning: Love them or hate them?

Love. Definitely love. Unfortunately, in Los Angeles, where I live, it hardly ever rains, and lightning only strikes a handful of times every year. But I do love a good storm. If I were ever actually struck by lightning I might change my opinion about that.

4. Love triangles: Love them or hate them?

It depends on if they’re done well. On the one hand, they can provide an extra level of tension and conflict. On the other, they’re often contrived from Twilight and The Hunger Games and end up feeling forced. Love triangles are always suspect now, in my humble opinion.

5. Who's your favorite literary couple?

My all time favorite is Eddie Dean and Odetta Holmes/Detta Walker/Susanna Dean from Stephen King’s “Dark Tower” series. An ex heroin junkie and a woman with no legs and three personalities fall in love in a dying parallel dimension to earth, where they must become gunslingers. It really doesn’t get more messed up than that.

6. Quick, the world is ending and you need to evacuate. What three things would you take with you?

Big knife, big gun, and my vicious miniature pincher. She only weighs 13 lbs, but I’m pretty sure she’d rip someone’s throat out if they tried to hurt me.

7. If you were in a bookstore and saw someone contemplating between Struck and another book, how would you convince them to get Struck?

I would say, “It’s like Stephen King’s THE STAND, but in Los Angeles.” No one can resist a King comparison.

Yes, I totally agree. No one can resist a Stephen King comparison! :) Jennifer, thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions.

I leave you guys with the cover of STRUCK, the summary and a few links. Be sure to check it out in May!

"Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities, populated by millions of homeless. Downtown is a wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the attendees drawn to the destruction by a magnetic force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power in the wake of the disaster, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing prophecies. They know she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the worse storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but he’s hiding a more sinister truth. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must unleash the full horror of her strength to save them all."

*Jennifer Bosworth's Blog
*Follow Jennifer on Twitter
*Add Struck to your Goodreads list

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-10-26T07:38:00.022-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated novels. This week, my pick is Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin.

Summary: "Death is impossible and living is impossibly hard for seventeen-year-old Araby Worth in Bethany Griffin‘s The Masque of the Red Death, a sexy, post-Apocalyptic reimagining of Poe’s gothic horror story of the same name.

The year is 1870 and a deadly virus has decimated the population of North America. Masked corpse-collectors travel the streets, removing the bodies before the contagion can spread. Though Araby tries to escape it all with drugs and parties, even at her most intoxicated she can’t forget her brother’s death-or her guilt for causing it. But things begin to change when William, the fascinating proprietor of the club where she searches for oblivion, and Elliott, nephew of the insane dictator, enter her life. One wants her heart, the other her name. Convinced that he has won over his uncle’s army, Elliott believes that having Araby on his arm will charm the populace into supporting a new government. After all, her father is the inventor of the mask which prevents the spread of the plague-for those who can afford it.

In return, Araby asks that he make protective masks available to all citizens, which could save the lives of Will’s young siblings, whom she has come to care about. But nothing is what it seems. A new contagion called the Red Death is sweeping the city. The revelation that Araby’s father may have created the new virus in his laboratory puts Araby’s life in danger. The mob wants her. The rebels want her. And both boys want her. In this two-book series, what and who Araby chooses may just decide the fate of humanity."

Why I Can't Wait: I know, I'm a total cover whore, but I actually added this to my TBR list prior to the cover being reveled. Nonetheless, what a gorgeous cover! Spooky yet beautiful, and it kind of reminds me of a sexier version of Anna Dressed In Blood. And I love that this is a reimagining of Poe's Masque of the Red Death. The way the story sounds makes it seem equally as riveting, terrifying and thrilling as the classic. Oh, and it's a two book series? HALLELUJAH! I don't know about you guys but I get burned out on trilogies and never ending series after a while. OOOOOH DANG, CAN'T FREAKIN' WAIT!

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by HarperCollins Children's Books

Trailer + Giveaway: Destined (House of Night #9) by P.C. and Kristin Cast

2011-10-25T21:51:00.000-05:00

When it comes to tricks or treats, I always choose treats. With that said, it's giveaway time!

The awesome and amazing Tara over at Zeighost Media has given me the opportunity to give away yet another amazing book, and I'm pretty sure a ton of you guys are extremely excited about this one. Unless you've been living under a rock, P.C and Kristin Cast's bestselling House of Night series has it's 9th installment being released this week, and here's your opportunity to score a copy. First off, let's talk about/check out the summary.

***If you have yet to read the other books in the House of Night series, this summary will contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.***

Summary: "In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.

But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what's destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series."

Wow, watch out Zoey and Stevie Ray! Now, what book wouldn't be complete without the trailer? Ch-ch-check it out:

Is it just me or does this trailer look like something you'd see on the CW? Wait, what were we just talking about? Oh yeah, a giveaway!

One lucky US or CA winner will win a copy of Destined by P.C. and Kristin Cast. All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Extra entries will be rewarded to people who watch the trailer and/or tweet about the giveaway.

This giveaway will end November 5th. I will contact the winner on the 6th, and the winner will have 24 hours to email me their mailing information before another winner is chosen. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com.

Be sure to check out the House of Night website, where you can watch more trailers and find out more about your favorite characters.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Review: The Night Circus

2011-10-25T10:14:00.001-05:00

Title: The Night Circus (amazon/goodreads)
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Published: September 13th 2011 by Doubleday

Summary: "The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart."

First line: "The circus arrives without warning."

Thoughts: Are you looking for a book you can get lost in, with loads of imagination, a cast of lovable characters and heartbreaking betrayals? Look no further. The Night Circus is everything I love about reading and so much more. It's one of those books you easily fall in love with within the first couple of pages. Sometimes, when I'm bored at work, I sign into goodreads and begin rereading all the my favorite quote. And regardless of how many times I read and reread The Night Circus, it still continues to take my breath away.

Welcome to the lush, magical world of Le Cirque des Rêves, where nothing is as it seems. From the black and white flames, to the wishing tree, and garden made of ice, everything seems so surreal. That's probably because it's not an illusion, but real, actual magic. Since childhood, Celia and Marco have shared a secret and a curse together, one that might tear them all apart.

It's really difficult for me to explain The Night Circus without spoiling it. Every detail is essential to the overall story, and I would hate to ruin it for anyone. The entire world that Morgerstern built is filled with extravagant details, I sometimes felt as though I was there, watching Celia and Marco "perform". It's not an action-packed book, but a visionary one. I cannot tell you how easy it is to fall in love with Morgenstern's writing. It's, for lack of a better word, quite elegant. Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book, which will further show you how beautiful her writing truly is:

“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows that they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.”

*le sigh*

Now, this book is told through several different points of view and in third person, and I know some people prefer first person, but I guarantee this does not take anything away from the story. In fact, it adds to the overall plot. You'll see. Also, every so often, the author begins to describe a "challenge" or new exhibit to the readers, not through the eyes of the characters, but through the eyes of a spectator. That spectator is you. Think of it as an added bonus, because what better way to visualize something than having the author describe it as if YOU were there, participating with the other characters and not just reading about them seeing it? Truly spectacular. Something I do recommend,while reading this book, is to pay close attention to the dates. The characters will jump from being 5 years of age to 29 in a heartbeat so, again, pay attention!

I also want to talk about the romance between Celia and Marco for a second. I will agree with others that it's not as epic as I thought it would be, but it is quite lovely. Would I have liked to see more of it? But of course! I'm a romance cheerleader! Nonetheless, it's still pretty grand.

Overall, I recommend The Night Circus to every single one of you. While it is not considered a YA novel, it very well could be. There is some sexual content, but not enough to where teen parents should worry. After reading this book, I now know why there's so much hype about it, and why Summit has already reserved the movie rights. Believe me, you just have to experience it to truly understand.

Rating:

Giveaway: Shadow Falls Duo

2011-10-24T09:13:00.000-05:00

Woohoo, it's time for another giveaway. And with Halloween just around the corner, I'm thinking the perfect kind of giveaway is a paranormal one...

Thus, I give you the Shadow Falls giveaway. Here's what you can win:

*A signed copy of Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls #1) by C.C. Hunter
*An ARC of Awake At Dawn (Shadow Falls #2) by C.C. Hunter
*Signed discussion guide of Divergent by Veronica Roth
*Awake At Dawn bookmark
*Signed Cryptic Cravings by Ellen Schreiber bookmark
*Hexbound by Chloe Neill bookmark
*Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs bookmark

To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway is only open to US participants and will end November 12th at (you guessed it) midnight. Extra entries will be rewarded to followers and for tweeting about the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com.

Good luck, everyone!

Review: Spellbound

2011-10-21T10:16:00.000-05:00

Title: Spellbound
Author: Cara Lynn Shultz
Published: June 28th 2011 by Harlequin Teen

Summary: "What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else."

Thoughts: I'll be honest. Due to mixed reviews, I've put off reading Spellbound. It seemed like one of those hit or miss books, especially since the bloggers I follow and love either loved or hated it. Well, I'm so glad I finally picked it up and gave it a go because I fell head over heels in love with it. My only complaint is having to wait next year for the sequel!

Spellbound is about an age old cursed, where two lovers are doomed to fall in love over and over again, just to have it all end suddenly and tragically. The story starts off with Emma Conners, New York's latest teen to hit the scene and newest victim of Vincent Academy's gossip mill. Emma's life has been one catastrophe after the next. From the beginning, you know how hard life has been for Emma and only wish her good things to come. I have to tell you how much I enjoyed reading about Emma's life prior to Vincent Academy. Now, because this *IS* a book based around a curse, you know her path will be rocky. You just don't know how rocky it'll be.

On her first day at Vincent A., Emma meets Brendan, the local band boy aka hottest guy in school, aka the one Emma will clearly fall in love with. From the moment Brendan turns around to defend Emma, they're both instantly drawn to each other. Normally, I'm not a fan of insta-love, but in this case, I absolutely loved it. The connection and romance is very similar to that of Luce and Daniel from Fallen by Lauren Kate. The only difference is you don't have to wait 300 pages for them to finally admit their feelings to one another. Oh, and when Emma and Brendan finally make that move, it is STEAMY! Wowza!

And the history behind the curse! I love it when the who, what, where, whens and whys are shared subtly, yet perfectly. I loved hearing about Lord Archer's tale and everything leading up to this. THANK YOU, CARA LYNN SHULTZ, FOR ANSWERING ALL OF MY QUESTIONS! As an avid reader, I know how rare this is, and by the end of the book, I found myself satisfied, excited and a little giddy.

Now, I will say the plot line is a little predictable. I saw the outcome coming from a mile away. Still, to me, this didn't take away from the story. There's just so much going on, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I would have liked to see more witchcraft, though. This element felt more like something that was discussed and brushed to the side, which also made the book feel like more like a contemporary novel. What little magic that was in the book felt more like coincidence rather witchcraft. I mean, the book is called Spellbound after all. I'm assuming Shultz is saving the magic for the sequel, Spellcaster, coming out next year.

Overall, the best way I can find to describe Spellbound is that it's part Gossip Girl, part Fallen. It's an easy read and quite addicting. If you're a fan of either series, I'm sure you'll fall in love with Spellbound the same way I did. It's not flawless, but it's definitely what I needed!

Special thanks to Netgalley, HarlequinTeen, and work (for being so slow, I read this on my computer in 2 days!).

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-10-19T07:42:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated reads. This week, my pick is Undeadly (The Reaper Diaries #1) by Michele Vail.

Summary: "The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...

Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper-and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath.

Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.

Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with.

To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly-against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally."

Why I Can't Wait: I'm a HUGE fan of debut authors, especially ones that write about anything paranormal, so when I stumbled across this, I knew I had to add it to my list. I absolutely love the cover. It's simple, yet dark, and gorgeous! Plus, the summary sounds different than other books I've read. In a way, it kind of sounds like a mix between Kelley Armstrong's Darkest Powers series and Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey. With that kind of combination, you really can't go wrong.

Expected publication: February 28th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

The Scorpio Races

2011-10-17T09:43:00.000-05:00

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Expected publication: October 18th 2011 by Scholastic Press
Source: Courtesy of the publisher for review

Summary: "It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen."

First line: "It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die."

Thoughts: AMAZING! The Scorpio Races is everything I hoped for and more. There's so much action and emotion that it'll make your head spin. Who knew a book about killer horses could be so entertaining, yet heartbreaking, all at the same time?

In traditional Maggie fashion, The Scorpio Races alternates from Sean's point of view, to Puck's and back again. Sean is the reigning champion of the Scorpio Races and, in a sense, a horse whisperer. He has the most experience with the capall uisce, pronouced KUP-all OOSH-ka (i.e. Irish for "water horse"), and the person to summon when trouble arises. Sean also works at the horse ranch for Benjamin Malvern, who I can best describe as the Donald Trump of Thisby. Like most people who work around animals, he loves horses, especially Corr, a capall uisce he broke and trained for the races. Corr, in a way, is Sean's best friend and his only comfort during the races.

Kate "Puck" Connelly has lived on Thisby her whole life. There are people that leave the island, but Puck's not one of them. Even after her parent's death, she can't imagine leaving the island. It's been a struggle, but luckily she has her brothers, Gabe and Finn, to help her out. Then, some startling news shifts Puck's world, and she must enter the Scorpio Races. No girl has ever entered the races before, and she knows of the dangers it possesses. After all, it's the capall uisce that took Puck's parents, as well as the lives of many others.

The dynamics between both characters is unlike any I've ever read before. Both are filled with so much pain and suffering, it hurts. All I kept thinking throughout the book was "Why can't these kids just catch a break?"...and I kept also wondering why these people would live on an island that breeds man eating horses, but that's a whole other story. With all this said, I absolutely adored every moment Sean and Puck shared together. From the first "Keep your pony off the beach", to the advice and the friendship and possibly something more, I couldn't help but fall in love with them. The love they have for their horses is undeniable, as is their chemistry. You want them both to come out on top, one way or another.

For all you Maggie Stiefvater fans, please keep in mind that while The Scorpio Races is packed with emotion, the romance is minimal. This does not take away from the story. In fact, I personally think it adds a certain flair to it. I also think too much romance would have ruined/taken away from the story (and I'm a romance lover!). This book definitely has more action than the other books, and more death, too. You never know who the next capall uisce victim will be, which is quite thrilling. The best way I can think to describe this book is if Ballad and Shiver had a baby, that baby's name would be The Scorpio Races.

Plus, I also think Maggie has a personal vendetta or grudge against boys named Thomas. You'll see what I mean.

Overall, I was captivated and loved every second of The Scorpio Races. While at ALA this past year, I ran into Maggie, and she told me that The Scorpio Races is her favorite book that she has written thus far. I can completely see why. This book offers something for everyone. All I want to do is find a cliff on a beach somewhere and watch killer horses go ballistic. From a distance, of course...and while inside a protective cage they can't enter. This is, by far, one of my favorite 2011 reads, and I can't wait to see what else Maggie has in-store for us. There's a reason she's one of my favorite authors, and The Scorpio Races is just further proof of how brilliant she really is.

Wow, I'm totally girl-crushing on Maggie Stiefvater right now. With that said, I highly recommend this to everyone: teens, adults, boys, girls, elves, ligers, everyone! But please, make sure you have enough time to finish this in one sitting. Somehow, it packs more of a punch if you do. That and you will not want to put this down, not for a second!

Rating:

In My Mailbox

2011-10-16T09:26:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It's not about the quantity, but the quality, and I'm so excited about the books I got this week! :D

Borrowed:
Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (THANKS, KAREN!!! *hugglessquishies*)

For Review:
*Love And Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

**Special thanks to my BBB, Karen from FWIW and HarperTeen**

Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts in the comments below, and I'll be sure to drop by, and leave you some love! Have a fabulous Sunday, y'all!!!

Blogoversary Giveaway Part Deux

2011-10-14T08:39:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! As part of my Blogoversary, I am giving away a copy of Without Tess by Marcella Pixley and Stick by Andrew Smith to one lucky US winner.

The rules are simple. All you have to do is fill out the form below. As always, extra entries will be rewarded to followers and people who tweet about the giveaway. This giveaway will end at the end October 31st, and the winner will be announced shortly after.

Also, if you haven't entered yet, one grand prize winner will receive any YA book of your choice!

Go forth, enter and be merry!

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-10-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Bitterblue (The Seven Kingdoms #3) by Kristin Cashore.

Summary: "Book 3, tentatively titled Bitterblue and currently in progress, is a companion book to both Graceling and Fire and takes place in the seven kingdoms eight years after Graceling. Bitterblue will tie all three books together in some way. Bitterblue is the sixteen-year-old protagonist, and Katsa, Po, Giddon, Helda, and other characters from Graceling will be part of the fabric of the book. Plenty of fighting still to come!"

Why I Can't Wait: I have been waiting for this book for (after this year ends) years! I absolutely love Graceling and Fire, but more importantly, Po. Oh my gosh, when it comes to this book, there is nothing I won't do to get my hands on it. Out of everything, and I mean everything, coming out next year, THIS is my most anticipated read. I really thought Bitterblue was coming out this year and was truly devastated when it did not. Seriously, if you follow me on Twitter, I'm sure you remember my rant about when the freaking fireflies Bitterblue would be released. I really could go on and on about how much I want this book, but I'm sure you'd rather I end this post now...

PO, PO, PO!!! *dies*

Expected Publication : May 1st 2012 by Dial

Review: Vituosity

2011-10-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Virtuosity (amazon/goodreads)
Author: Jessica Martinez
Expected publication: October 18th 2011 by Simon Pulse

Summary: "Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?
Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall...."

First line: "The balcony felt cold under my cheek."

Thoughts: Virtuosity is a wonderfully told novel, that gives reader's a glimpse into the rigorous world of competitive classical music. What sets this book apart from others, however, is the strong, emotional pull you'll feel towards each of the characters. It's not just a book about music and competition, it's also about falling in love for the first time and doing the right thing, even if it means letting go of your dreams.

Carmen is the lead contender in the Guarneri competition. She's been training for this competition as long as she can remember, and when you're expected to win, a certain level of stress is bound to follow. With that said, since Carmen's first performance, she has been taking anti-anxiety drugs to help her perform. They calm her, but in doing so, she doesn't feel a thing.

Then, along comes Jeremy. Sarcastic, arrogant Jeremy, who teases Carmen and even accuses her of stalking him/checking out the competition (even though she kind of was). And isn't it funny how someone can fall in love with the one person they're not suppose to? Jeremy is Carmen's biggest competition and after hearing him rehearse, she knows he's going to give her a run for her money. And the scariest part? Carmen doesn't know this yet, but her mother (the one who pushes her constantly, and even encourages her to take the anti-anxiety medication) will do anything to make sure Carmen wins. So, in the end, is Carmen in this for herself or for her mother?

What I loved about this book is the raw, deep emotions. Carmen is really struggling with what she thinks she wants, and what her mother wants for her. I've noticed that in a lot of books that focus around competitive dancing, music, etc, the person tends to just give up what they once loved doing. I never understood that. If you've worked hard at it and at one point loved it, how can you let it go so easily? In Virtuosity's case, even though you don't know what will happen and what Carmen will do, you also know that she's too passionate about playing the violin to let it go. Whether or not she wins is a different story.

I loved how strongly Carmen felt towards her medication. She always knew there was something wrong in taking it, but struggles with what her head and heart are telling her. There's just so much that happens in this book that goes beyond the competition. Needless to say, if you're a fan of emotional reads, you'll enjoy this one.

Oh, but Carmen's mother! That woman is infuriating! Carmen's mom is the type of mom that lives her dreams vicariously through her daughter. It's so frustrating because you can't tell whether or not her mom truly cares about her. It's all about the competition and all about winning, regardless of how it's affecting Carmen. And the secrets! Holy moly, the secrets her mother is keeping from Carmen. I will not tell you what they are for spoilers sake, but they are horrible in the best kind of way!

And then there's Jeremy. What is it about a cocky guy that makes him so irresistible? Maybe it's because deep down, you know there's a sweetness to him? Every excursion between Carmen and Jeremy, even if they were embarrassing or humiliating, was just amazing. It's not hard to fall in love with Jeremy. In a way, it's inevitable. I loved how you can tell he truly cared about Carmen and wants the best for her, but is also conflicted because he wants to win the Guarneri so badly. They're both going through the same emotional roller coaster, so it's like experiencing the whole thing in two-folds.

Overall, , Virtuosity is one of those books, even if you've never played an instrument in your life, you can easily fall in love with. If you have pursued music, whether in band, piano or orchestra, you'll relate to what Carmen is going through. Though, I must say, the Guarneri is way more exhilarating and intense than any solo/ensemble or region band competition (yes, I use to play the french horn!). For fans of Courtney Summers, Holly Cupala, and YA contemporary literature in general, you'll want to read Virtuosity immediately. But please, make sure you have time to finish it in one sitting. Believe me, once you start, you won't be able to stop.

Review: Eve

2011-10-10T10:06:00.000-05:00

Title: Eve
Author: Anna Carey
Published: October 4th 2011 by HarperTeen
Source: ARC courtesy of publisher for review

Summary: "The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life."

Thoughts: Eve is one of those books you're either going to love or hate (as are most dystopian novels nowadays). Luckily, it my case, I really enjoyed it. It's not just a pretty cover, but also one of those unforgettable reads that will have you thinking about it for days after it ends. It's what I call a triple threat: addicting, fast paced and action packed.

Imagine The Handmaid's Tale mixed in with bits and pieces of The Hunger Games. That's really the best way I can find to describe this book. I'm not saying Eve's as good as The Hunger Games (is there anything out there that really is?), but it does have some of my favorite aspects about it. Running in the woods, the hunt for survival, fear of getting caught, and unforeseen love. I love the concept of what teenage girls are used for after they leave the Academy. Don't worry, no spoilers, but if you've read The Handmaid's Tale, you'll have an idea. It just makes the book all that much more real and horrifying. I mean, this book is set in 2032, 21 years from today. All these things are possible, though I hope that's not the case.

One thing that did shock me was the fact that this book had a King. America was built on the foundation of a democracy, not a monarchy. I know that times change, but I can't imagine, even 21 years from now, even if the whole world is plagued with diseases, that we would have a King. This made the book a little unrealistic to me. Though I know fear does strange things to people, it also bothered me that the adults in the book weren't more sympathetic. Only one person felt guilty about how they were treating the surviving teens and children, both boys and girls? Maybe we'll see some sympathizers in the sequel? I sure hope so.

Oh, and lets talk about the romance. I absolutely loved the connect between Caleb and Eve. He was sweet from the start and just so amazing. I loved how their relationship grew from fear of the unknown to something more. Even after he found out who Eve is and why troops are hunting her, he never once betrayed her trust. Caleb was always there for her, and really, isn't that what you want out of the love interest? His dreadlocks did scare me at first, but I grew to love them.

Overall, Eve takes you on a journey into a new world where nothing is as it seems. Of course, since it's dystopia, expect to see a cliffhanger at the end. The story will have you falling in love and breaking your heart, all at the same time. For fans of Wither and The Hunger Games, I would recommend checking out Eve. Like I said, it might not be for everyone, but I thought it was fabulous and cannot wait for the sequel.

Rating:

In My Mailbox + Weekly Recap

2011-10-09T08:22:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Y'all, I know I say this often, but I am ridiculously, super excited about the books I got this week. I feel like Santa came early! Yaaaay, ch-ch-check it out!

For Review:
*Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
*When The Red Sea Is Rising by Cat Hellison
*Life Is But A Dream by Brian James
*Gossip Girl Psycho Killer by Cecily von Ziegesar

PBS:
*The Royal Treatment (Princess For Hire #2) by Lindsey Leavitt

**Special thanks to Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, Harlequin/Mira, and Paperbackswap**

Quick recap:

*If you haven't heard, my blog turns 2 this month! Don't forget to enter my Blogoversary giveaway, where you can enter to win any YA book of your choice!
*Woohoo, My Life Undecided + book giveaway over HERE! Jessica Brody is made of win, so you definitely don't want to miss this chance!
*The Box(es) of ARCs giveaway ends TOMORROW!! Go forth and enter before it's too late!
*What did I pick for my WoW this week? You'll have to see to find out!
*Check out my review of Past Perfect by Leila Sales. The cover makes absolutely no sense to the story, but it's one you shouldn't miss!

And that's it! Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts below, and I'll be sure to leave you some love. I hope you guys are having a fabulous weekend, filled with sunshine and lollipops...

And rainbows, everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together. Sorry, I couldn't resist! :D

XOXO

Review: Past Perfect

2011-10-07T09:26:00.000-05:00

Title: Past Perfect
Author: Leila Sales
Published: October 4th 2011 by Simon Pulse
Source: ARC courtesy of publisher for review

Summary: "All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it…"

First Line: "There are only three types of kids who get summer jobs at Colonial Essex Village instead of just working at the mall, like the normal people do."

Thoughts: Cute, cute, cute, Past Perfect is so freaking cute! Oh Miss. Sales, you've done it again, capturing my heart within just a few words and pages. From the very first chapter, I knew I was going to love this book. Call it insta-love or whatever, but it's true.

Chelsea has worked at Essex Historical Colonial Village every summer since she was a kid. That's right folks, she has to dress up in old Colonial clothing, walk around in the heat and answer questions like "Where's the bathroom" and "Don't you get hot wearing those?". Now, normally most of the other kids from school work at the mall over the summer, however, this summer, Chelsea's ex decides to work at Essex. Nice!

So every year, the kids from Essex and the kids from the Civil War Reenactment battle it out in a prank war that doesn't end till the end of summer. This year, Chelsea is chosen as the Lieutenant for Essex, which means she'll be more involved than ever. And it probably doesn't help that Chelsea starts to fall for one of the Civil War boys. Scandal, love, humor and more! Seriously, could you ask for anything else?

First off, I have to tell you how much I love Leila Sales' writing. It just flows so smoothly and is filled with humor, randomness and all around goodness. I love how entertaining it is, even when it's just a scene between two people talking. And is it just me or are all her characters lovable? Even if you want to hate them, you can't. I love that! Each one of them play a role in the story and whether funny or endearing, they're all fantastic.

Now, Past Perfect does not have a lot of romance, but that doesn't draw take away from the story. If anything, it adds a certain sweetness to it. It makes you fall in love with whatever encounters Chelsea has with Dan. Believe me, Dan is easy to fall in love with. He's so adorable, I just want to pinch his little cheeks off!

Overall, if you're looking for a light, fun, charming read, I would highly recommend checking out Past Perfect. It will sweep you off your feet and have you laughing till the very end.

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-10-05T08:55:00.000-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is The Language of Impossible Dreams by Sarah Ockler.

Summary: "Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life...and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last..."

Why I Can't Wait: Ever since I read Twenty Boy Summer, I have been a huge fan of Sarah Ockler. She knows how to write amazing contemporary novels, with real meaning, raw emotions, and just the perfect amount of romance. The Language of Impossible Dreams sounds like one of those books that will have your heart melting well before the last page. The cover isn't my favorite, but it's still cute. I love the little coffee hearts. Yay, can't wait!

Expected publication: August 7th 2012 by Simon Pulse

Trailer + Giveaway: My Life Undecided

2011-10-04T09:59:00.001-05:00

Today, courtesy of Tara from Zeitghost Media, I am giving away a copy of My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody. All I've heard are good things about this book, and I'm so excited to be hosting this giveaway. For those who have not heard of My Life Undecided, here's the summary:

"PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life."

Come on, a blog allowing readers to decide the blogger's next move? Brilliant! If you're not excited now, check out the book trailer:

And now, it's on to the giveaway. One lucky winner will receive a copy of My Life Undecided. To enter, please fill out the form below and leave a comment letting everyone know whether or not you'd let other people make your decisions for you. An extra entry will be given to those who watch the book trailer. This giveaway is open to US and CA participants only and will be open till October 15th. After that, the winner will be contacted for their mailing information. If the winner does not reply back within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Good luck, everyone! And special thanks to Tara and Macmillan for allowing me to host this giveaway!

2 Year Blogoversary Giveaway

2011-10-03T08:42:00.016-05:00

That's right folks! This month, Addicted 2 Novels turns 2 years old. *TEAR* It feels like only yesterday when I was trying to come up with a name for my blog and hated it immediately. Le sigh!

First off, I wanted to thank all of you guys who have followed me and supported me these past 2 years. Y'all rock my socks off, and I can't tell you how much all this means to me!

An extra special thanks goes out to two of my favorite people in the world, Karen at FWIW and Tiger at All-Consuming Books.

Karen, you were one of my first blog buddies and quite simply one of the sweetest, kindest, funniest people I know. I remember when I only had 10 followers, and you were one of them! You introduced me to emoticon poo! I can't wait till ALA midwinter so we can finally hang out and high-five and all that good stuff.

Tiger, I've known you before blogging and when we were die hard Rathers. You are the Dark Queen for life, and I hope Niall (pronounced Neil, not Nile) comes and showers you with his uhh, darkness? *AWKWARD* You make me laugh so much and just simply brilliant. I know you're going places, and I can't wait to tell people "Hey, I know her! She pressured me to read Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels series, and introduced me to the Beast Lord, rawr!"

And to everyone else, especially all you Texas peeps and everyone I met at ALA and signings, thank you so much for blessing me with your friendship. I love y'all like whoa.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Through out the month of October, I'll be hosting giveaways, interviews and more, so be sure to stay tuned. The grand prize will be any YA book of your choice, even if it's a preordered copy. YAY!

All you have to do to enter is follow the instructions for the rafflecopter form below. Extra entries will be given to those who "prank tweet" my Karen. This giveaway is open to international participants (provided The Book Depository delivers to your area) and will end November 1st at midnight, EST. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 72 hours before a new winner is selected.

Good luck, everyone, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

In My Mailbox

2011-10-02T10:02:00.004-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I'm seriously having one of the best weekends ever. Not only did I get to meet some awesome authors, listen to fabulous panels, and hang out with even more fabulous bloggers/friends, I also came home to a house filled with goodies! Ch-ch-check it out!

For Review:
*Without Tess by Marcella Pixley (Goodreads)
*Stick by Andrew Smith (Goodreads)
*The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark (Goodreads)
*Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer (Goodreads Super excited about this one!)
*Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey (Goodreads Love Alyxandra Harvey!)
*Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby (Goodreads Looks uber cute!)
*The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers (Goodreads)
*Going Underground by Susan Vaught (Goodreads)

Trade:
*Beautiful Days (Bright Young Things #2) by Anna Godbersen (Goodreads)

Bought and got signed at the ATBF:
*Vanished (Firelight #2) by Sophie Jordan (Goodreads)
*Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan (Goodreads)
*Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson (Goodreads)
*Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson (Goodreads)

Phew, I think that's it. I also got a bunch of books signed while I was at the ATBF. Needless to say, my shoulders, arms, legs, body, brain, etc are all sore, sore, sore! But boy, was it worth it!!!

**Special thanks to Macmillian, Farrar, Strous and Giroux, Feiwel and Friends, Bloomsbury, Walker Books, and all the fabulous people, authors and bloggers who worked or volunteered at the ATBR. Extra special thanks to Ginger, Sarah, Jen B., Jen D., Steph, Jess, Kristin, Christin, Yara, Katie, and anyone else I forgot who hung out with me, waited in line for me or just gifted me with your presence. You guys rock my socks off, and I'm sad we didn't get to spend more time together.**

Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts in the comments below. I'll be sure to stop by and leave some love on your blog as soon as possible.

Oh, and one more thing...GO TEXANS!!! :D

Austin Teen Book Festival Tomorrow!!!

2011-09-30T06:53:00.004-05:00

Y'all, I cannot tell you how excited I am about the Austin Teen Book Festival tomorrow! Not only do I get to see all those awesome authors listed in the poster, but I also get to hang out with some of my good friends and blogger buddies! Seriously, if you guys (bloggers) weren't there, this whole event wouldn't nearly be half as fun!

Though I'm most excited about hanging out with my buddies, I also must talk about the amazing panels they have in store for us tomorrow. Take a look:

PEN FATALE features Gabrielle Zevin (All These Things I've Done), Mary Pearson (The Fox Inheritance), Jessica Brody (My Life Undecided), Alyson Noel (Everlasting), and Alexandra Adornetto (Hades); moderated by Margo Rabb (Cures for Heartbreak).

ALTERNAWORLDS (fantasy) features Scott Westerfeld (Goliath), Maureen Johnson (Name of the Star), Jonathan Maberry (Dust & Decay), and Brian Yansky (Alien Invasion); moderated by Rosemary Clement-Moore (The Splendor Falls).

REAL LIFE IS MESSY (edgy fiction) features John Corey Whaley (Where Things Come Back), David Levithan (Every You, Every Me), Melissa Walker (Small Town Sinners), Coe Booth (Bronxwood), and Geoff Herbach (Stupid Fast); moderated by Varian Johnson (Saving Maddie).

I HEART LOVE STORIES (realistic/romance fiction) features Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry), Stephanie Perkins (Lola & the Boy Next Door), Jenny Han (We’ll Always Have Summer), Jennifer Zeigler (Sass & Sensibility), and Christina Mandelski (The Sweetest Thing); moderated by Cristina Garcia (Dreams of Significant Girls).

SUPERNATURAL SUSPENSE (fantasy) features Heather Brewer (Vladimir Tod), Jackson Pearce (Sweetly), Tera Lynn Childs (Sweet Venom), Sophie Jordan (Vanish), and Andrea Cremer (Wolfsbane); moderated by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Blessed).

Did you almost just faint, too? Because I sure did.

Tonight, at the Alamodraft House in Austin, they are doing a special screening of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, followed by an exclusive Q&A with David Levithan himself. A portion of every ticket purchased will be donated to the APLFF (Austin Public Library Friends Foundation). If you know me at all, you know how much I love, love, love David Levithan and Nick and Norah. SOOOOOO EXCITED!!! AHHH!!!

If you plan on attending any of these events, please tweet me at @Lena1xoxo, let me know, and we'll meet up! If anything, we can high five or something.

I hope to see you guys tomorrow at the Palmer Events Center. Till then, who are you most excited to see? ;)

Review: Bunheads

2011-09-29T07:30:00.002-05:00

Title: Bunheads
Author: Sophie Flack
Expected publication: October 10th 2011 by Poppy
Source: ARC courtesy of publisher for review

Summary: "As a dancer with the ultra-prestigious Manhattan Ballet Company, nineteen-year-old Hannah Ward juggles intense rehearsals, dazzling performances and complicated backstage relationships. Up until now, Hannah has happily devoted her entire life to ballet.

But when she meets a handsome musician named Jacob, Hannah's universe begins to change, and she must decide if she wants to compete against the other "bunheads" in the company for a star soloist spot or strike out on her own in the real world. Does she dare give up the gilded confines of the ballet for the freedoms of everyday life?"

First two line: "My name is Hannah Ward. Don't call me a ballerina."

Thoughts:Have you ever watched the movie Centerstage? Remember the character Maureen? She was the best dancer at ABA, but then started dating a college guy and questioned her life choices. If someone wrote a book from her point of view, this would be her story.

Hannah Ward has dreamed of being a ballet dancer since she was 4 and has been dancing for the Manhattan Ballet since she was 14. She lives, breathes and eats ballet. After years of being in the background, Hannah is dying to be in the spotlight. She will do anything to get noticed this year, even if it means going to extra yoga classes and never going more than a few blocks from the safe house that is the Manhattan Ballet.

Enter Jacob. He is a handsome musician Hannah meets at her uncle's restaurant one night. To Hannah, it is a breath of fresh air to talk to someone who isn't apart of the company and is just, well, normal. But with Hannah's busy schedule, does she have time for a boyfriend? And even though she really likes him, how long will he stick around if she keeps blowing him off for ballet? Is this even the life she wants anymore?

I never realized being a ~~ballerina~~ ballet dancer was so brutal. Rigorous is the best word I can find to describe it, but that hardly does what they do justice. While the book was interesting and I enjoyed reading about Hannah's trials and tribulations with dancing for the Manhattan Ballet, I felt like some of the subplots were a bit repetitive. Though I understand that her life is repetitive, it would have been nice for the author to throw in some sort of twist, surprising the reader and making the story a little bit less predictable. I did, however, enjoy reading about how challenging it is having friends within the ballet and outside of it. Can you really call the other ballet dancers your friends when they would easily stab you in the back to be in the spotlight? Drama, you got to love it!

Another thing I would have liked to see is more romance in the book, even though I understand that a huge part of the novel was based around Hannah not having time for a relationship. Jacob and Hannah's instant connection was sweet, but a little disappointing. I would have liked to see their relationship develop more, maybe go on more dates or maybe more kissing or just something. Anything! Also, Jacob's character was a little stereotypical for my taste. Understanding musician who is also a student at NYU and a bit of an artist himself? Been there, done that. Personally, I would not consider Jacob swoon-worthy, mainly because he is just too boring. As far as romance goes, Bunheads fell a little flat in that department (but I don't think this book was meant to have much romance in it anyway).

Still, whether you're a dancer and even a "pedestrian", this is an interesting book for anyone who has ever questioned their dreams and choices. It's also quite addicting, as it only took me two days to finish it. I may not have loved this book, but I did like it and recommend it to anyone who has ever dreamed of being in the spotlight.

On a side note, in the author's notes, it says that Sophie Flack danced for the New York Ballet from 2000-2009 and is currently studying English at Columbia. All I have to say is wow. How incredible is that? Sophie Flack truly is a superstar!

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-09-28T08:27:00.002-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby.

Summary: "Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment."

Why I Can't Wait: What first drew me to this book, if I'm being honest, is that adorable cover. It screams "Read me! I'm cute, I swear!" But then I read the summary, and I just have a feeling that this is one of those quick, easy reads you can easily fall in love with. Plus, the romance sounds promising!

Expected publication: February 28th 2012 by Walker & Co

Review: The Survival Kit

2011-09-27T09:17:00.007-05:00

Title: The Survival Kit (amazon/goodreads)
Author: Donna Freitas
Expected publication: October 11th 2011 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Source: ARC provided by publisher for review

Summary: "When Rose’s mom dies, she leaves behind a brown paper bag labeled Rose’s Survival Kit. Inside the bag, Rose finds an iPod, with a to-be-determined playlist; a picture of peonies, for growing; a crystal heart, for loving; a paper star, for making a wish; and a paper kite, for letting go.

As Rose ponders the meaning of each item, she finds herself returning again and again to an unexpected source of comfort. Will is her family’s gardener, the school hockey star, and the only person who really understands what she’s going through. Can loss lead to love?"

First line: "I found it on the day of my mother's funeral, tucked in a place she knew I would look."

Thoughts: If the director of P.S. I Love You ever decided to write a book, but instead, wrote it about a daughter losing her mother, The Survival Kit would be that book. I cannot put into words the emotional roller coaster this book has put me through. With lovable characters, heartbreaking circumstances and a subtle romance that blooms as the seasons change, The Survival Kit is the perfect book for anyone who has ever lost someone they love.

The book starts off with the day of Rose's mom's funeral and spans out for an entire year. Rose has not been the same since her mom died. Her father, while still a good man, drinks his pain away, while her brother's off in college, leaving Rose in charge or herself and her dad. Though the picture frames that once held memories of a happy family are now bear, everything still reminds Rose of her mother. She can't even listen to music without bursting into tears.

Throughout the book, the reader will witness as Rose blossom into such an amazing young lady. I love how ever single detail in this book plays a role into a story, especially music. With the way the author spins it all together and slowly starts incorporating music into Rose's life, the only way I can describe is that it's breathtaking. It's like watching a sad movie where you know it's about someone else or that it's not even real, but you get so completely lost in it that it ends up feeling like your own story. It's not the easiest read, but it is wonderful.

One thing I loved about this book is that every single character is as lovable as the next. They're all so caring and wonderful. There is not one character in this book I would kill off if I could, and that says a lot. This book focuses on family and loss, so it was nice that while all the characters have their part in the story, their roles are not overbearing.

And the romance between Rose and Will? Amazing! Plus, get this, it actually develops! You know how I love that. It's not an epic romance, but for this story, it's perfect. It's subtle yet sweet. Even though sometimes being around one another can be painful (with the lost of Rose's mom and Will's dad), they still somehow find happiness in one another. It's beautiful, yet complicated and all around fabulous.

From the peonies, to the kites, to the music and more, this book will captivate it's readers until the very end. For anyone who has ever lost anyone and even for those who haven't, I would highly, highly recommend checking out The Survival Kit. I'm upset that it hasn't received as much press as it should, but from one reader to another, you must check this out. If you love a good contemporary novel that revolves around loss and hope, this is the book for you!

Rating:

Winners!!!

2011-09-26T09:43:00.003-05:00

I apologize about taking so long, as football season tends to be a bit intense for me, but I finally have some winners to announce. YIPPIE! Here we go!!!

The winner of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone ARC is....

Leslie from Working For The Mandroid!!!

The winner of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone final copy is....

Melissa!!!

The winner of the Little, Brown Box of books giveaway is...

Sierra from Happily Never Ending!!!

And the winner of Dreamland by Alyson Noel is...

Katie!!!

Congrats to all the winners. I have emailed each and every one of you. Please respond back within 72 hours or a new winner will be selected. Thank you so much to everyone who participated in all the giveaways and made them such a success. If you didn't win, don't fret. There will be plenty of giveaways during the month of October, so stay tuned!

In My Mailbox

2011-09-25T08:17:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I didn't get a lot this week, but I am excited about the books I did get. Take a look, as Dexter models some books for you.

For Review:
*Frail (Dust #2) by Joan Frances Turner (I haven't read Dust yet, but I guess I should!)
*The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
*Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Trades:
*Steampunk!: An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories Edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant (SUPER excited about this one! I mean, it has stories from Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray and Holly Black! OH MY! :D)

And that's it! Special thanks to Penguin, Harlequin Teen, TorTeen and Angela!

Oh, and if you're wondering why Skittles is never in any pictures, that's because he hates it. In fact, it took me about a dozen tries to get a decent picture of him. See?

So there ya go. Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts below, and I'll do my best to drop by and leave you guys some love! Have a fabulous rest of your weekend!!! :)

Box of ARCs Giveaway

2011-09-22T08:16:00.006-05:00

Hey guys! Make room on your bookshelves because it's time for another giveaway. This time, I'm giving away two prize packs filled with recently released/soon to be released ARCs to two lucky winners. That's right, 2, 2, 2!!! TWO! I know, insane! First off, lets take a look at what you can win:

Prize Pack A:

*an ARC of Dark Eden by Patrick Carman
*an ARC of Dark Passage by M.J. Putney
*an ARC of The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
*an ARC of The Plague Year by Edward Bloor

Prize Pack B:

*an ARC of The Apothecary by Maile Meloy and Ian Schoenherr
*an ARC of Eve by Anna Carey
*an ARC of The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
*an ARC of Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer

To enter, please fill out THIS FORM. This giveaway is only open to US participants, however, if you are an international participant and have a US address I can ship to, feel free to enter! And as always, extra entries will be rewarded to followers and people who spread the word (b/c I love y'all like crazy!).

The Box of ARCs Giveaway will end 10/10 at midnight CST. The winners will be announced via email and on my blog and will have 72 hours to reply before a new winner is selected. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-09-21T08:37:00.001-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It features each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr.

Summary: "Faery Tales and Nightmares is a collection of short stories.

Current Table of Contents:
"Where Nightmares Walk"
"Winter's Kiss" (Fairy Tales)
"Transition" (Vampires)
"Love Struck" (Selchies)
"Stopping Time" (WL World)
"Old Habits" (WL World)
"The Art of Waiting"
"Flesh for Comfort"
"The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King" (WL World-ish, the short story that started the series)
"Cotton Candy Skies" (WL World)
"Unexpected Family" (WL World)
"Merely Mortal" (WL World)"

Why I Can't Wait: Anyone that knows me knows what a HUGE Melissa Marr fan I am. I love her and her writing. Whenever the Wicked Lovely/Faery Courts series ended, I was incredibly pleased, but also sad because well, it ended. Now, I'm super, ridiculously excited that not only does this anthology include some short stories from the WL world, it also includes other new worlds and tales. EEEEEEP!!! CANNOT WAIT!

Expected publication: February 21st 2012 by HarperCollins

Review: The Girl of Fire and Thorns

2011-09-20T08:13:00.007-05:00

Title: Girl of Fire and Thorns
Author: Rae Carson
Published: September 20th 2011 by HarperCollins Publishers
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Summary: "Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic, are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do."

First line: "Prayer candles flicker in my bedroom."

Thoughts: Holy cow, The Girl of Fire and Thorns totally blew me away. From everything I've heard about it, I knew I was going to enjoy it, but nothing could have prepared me for this. In so many words, this novel completely took my breath away.

The story starts immediately off with Elisa's wedding day, which, ironically, is also the day of her sixteenth birthday. She has never met Alejandro (her husband) before, and must leave her home the following day, to travel to Joya d'Arena, where her husband rules as king. Who doesn't dream of being whisked away by a handsome king and ruling by his side? Elisa, that's who.

Elisa is the bearer of the Godstone, a jewel blessed by God, which only happens once in a blue moon (please excuse the irony). Each bearer is destined to lead an extraordinary life, but Elisa feels like she may be an exception. Even so, Alejandro keeps Elisa a secret. Because if word got out that not only is she married to the king, but is also the bearer of the Godstone, then there will be people out to get her...and all hell will break loose.

What I love about this book is, even though it's kind of huge (over 400 pages), there is never a dull moment. The action scenes are amazing. They're so detailed and vivid that I felt like I was watching Prince of Persia, rather than reading a book. Fires, swords, terror and pain, oh my! Oh, and the fantasy element in the book? Pretty freaking amazing. Also, I loved that Elisa! Though scared and completely out of her element, she is not afraid to help those in need. She doesn't even think about the consequences and jumps right into the action. You got to love a brave heroine!

I also love that Elisa is not your cookie cutter skinny, perfect princess. She's a little chubby and not as beautiful as her sister, but to me, that makes her more real. And I love the way she owns it instead of starving herself to be as thin as other girls around her. Those pastries she eats sound delicious! I'd be hanging out with the bakers, too, for promises of coconut treats!

Lastly, I will say that even though there's plenty of action in this book, it also deals with a great deal of emotions. Neglect, love, heartache, confusion and pain will all play a part. Sometimes, I wanted to scream. Can nothing go right for this girl? Then other times, I squeed with joy. Needless to say, it's a bit of an emotional roller coaster. It might not be sunshine and lollipops, but it is stunning.

Overall, if you're wondering whether or not The Girl of Fire and Thorns lives up to it's hype, wonder no further. It's beautiful cover and originality will make you pick up the book, but it's enchanting premise will hook you till the very end. What a fantastic novel by an amazing debut author. I can't wait for the sequel (and there better be one!).

Rating:

Review: Carrier of the Mark

2011-09-19T09:01:00.005-05:00

Title: Carrier of the Mark (goodreads/amazon)
Author: Leigh Fallon
Expected publication: October 4th 2011 by HarperTeen
Source: ARC provided by Inkpop for review

Summary: "Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction."

First line: "Flames engulfed the boat, and my lungs ached as dark, noxious smoke filled the air."

Thoughts: There is nothing worse than a book with a striking cover, but disappointing story. Thank goodness this is not the case! When I first heard of Carrier of the Mark, I thought the premise sounded intriguing, plus I loved the cover. What I wasn't expecting was how addicting and life consuming this book would be. Badass characters, with amazing powers, instant connections and Irish folklore that'll make your head spin? Whoa!

The story revolves around Megan, a normal teenage girl who just moved to Ireland with her father. Things are so different for Megan here, but luckily, the students at her school are extremely welcoming. She instantly becomes friends with a girl named Caitlin and soon begins to find her place. With all that said and done, lets heat this up a little.

From the first second Megan lays eyes on Adam DeRis, she instantly feels connected to him in a way she never has before. Everyone warns her about Adam, and his other siblings Aine and Rian, but Megan can't seem to stay away from them. Soon, Megan will begin to realize that she's connected to the DeRises in a way she never thought possible. Their tale goes as far back as time, and so do the deaths of those who came before them. Is Megan and Adam's love fate or a tragedy waiting to happen?

One thing I loved about this book is how the author doesn't waste time introducing the reader to the love interest. I hate it when you read a book and have to wait at least 100 pages before any sort of spark happens. Luckily, this is not the case. You could feel the chemistry shooting off the pages, even if all they were doing is awkwardly looking at each other. With the way the story and characters are written, it's easy to fall in love with Adam or even Fionn and Rian.

Speaking of the characters, I have to tell you how much I loved each and every one of them. While the story mainly revolves around Megan, the author also gives you background information on the other characters, too. You have no idea how refreshing this is to me. In my opinion, this just makes the characters all that much more real and also makes the story come alive. I felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book.

Now, while I loved the romance between Megan and Adam, I did feel like it came off a little Twlighty. Maybe it's the instant all consuming love, their intensity towards one another or the forbidden factor, but for some reason, at times, Megan and Adam became Bella and Edward to me. Even Aine came off a little like Alice. This in no way takes away from the story, but merely something I wanted to point out. The story is still very much unique, but some of the subplots and moments were not.

Also, was anyone else confused by the Carrier gene/Marked thing? For some reason, I'm still confused by how someone becomes a Carrier and Marked. It's explained in the book several times, and maybe I'm just clueless, but nevertheless, I still don't get it. Maybe the sequel will remedy this? I hope so.

Overall, if you're looking for an alluring, captivating and all around beautiful story, I would highly recommend checking out Carrier of the Mark. For three days, outside of work, I lived, breathe, drank, ate Carrier of the Mark and am sure you will do the same. For fans of Twilight and even the kids show Captain Planet (yes, I'm THAT old!), you are going to love this book!

Rating:

In My Mailbox

2011-09-18T07:22:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. I'm super, super excited about the books I got this week. I had to break it down to several pictures, but ch-ch-check it out!

For Review:
*Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows
*Everneath by Brodi Ashton
*The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

Trades:
Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

Bought:
*The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

So you can't really see what's sitting next to The Night Circus, thus, a close up:

Isn't it cute?! Thanks, Wastepaper Prose!

Finally, the books I bought from Borders on my very last trip there, ever. :( Sorry about the poor picture quality. It looked better when I took it with my phone, lol.

*Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
*Real Live Boyfriends (Ruby Oliver #4) by E. Lockhart
*How It Ends by Laura Wiess
*Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
*The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
*Viola In Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani
*Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
*Eternity by Heather Terrell

And that's all, folks! Feel free to leave links to you IMM posts in the comments below, and I'll try to visit all your fabulous blogs! I hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend and Happy Football Sunday!

**Special thanks to Harper Teen, Balzar & Bray and Borders (I shall miss thee).**

XOXO

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

2011-09-16T08:41:00.004-05:00

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door (goodreads/amazon)
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Expected publication: September 29th 2011 by Dutton

Summary:"Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door."

First Line:"I have three simple wishes."

Thoughts:Lola and the Boy Next Door is quite frankly one of the BEST books I've read in a long, long time. From the writing, to the lovable characters and even all the silly antics, I adored every minute of it. My only complaint is that I never wanted it to end! Really, it's that good.

Lola is a costume designer in the making. One of her dreams is to create the perfect Marie Antoinette costume to wear at the high school dance. One perfect night with her awesome older rock star boyfriend. Perfect indeed.

Then, the day Lola has been dreading for years has finally happened: The Bell twins have moved back into the house next door. You see, something happened between them a couple years ago, and Lola has been trying to forget it ever since. The thing is, the more she sees Cricket and the more time she spends with him, the more she begins to feel that same connection she felt so long ago. What's a girl to do when everything you ever wanted came a few years too late?

First off, I have to tell you guys how much I love Lola. She's quirky, knows what she wants and isn't afraid to get it. Her life is in costume and as you know, kids in high school ~~can be~~ are brutal. But so what? The only opinions that matter are from the ones you hold dear. And even when life begins to, well, suck, Lola still holds her head up high. Lola's dads are also equally amazing. You can tell that they both truly love Lola and would do anything for her. They only want whats best for her, and really, those are the best kinds of parents. It means they're doing their job right. Plus, for some reason, I found a lot of their scenes hilarious.

Now, I have to say this because it needs to be said, but I hated Lola's boyfriend Max. From the beginning, he rubbed me the wrong way. Of all the characters in the book, he came off extremely childish (even though he's in his twenties), conceited and well, pompous. His rage terrified me. If I could, I would jump in the book and slap him across the face. Seriously, I hated him that much.

Of course, with that being said, I have to tell you how much I loved, loved, loved Cricket. He is basically the perfect swoon-worthy boy that every single girl dreams about. Sweet, thoughtful, corky, imaginative and oh, so amazing. If I could bottle him up and take him with me everywhere, I would. To be honest, he made the book for me. *Sigh* Why can't all boys be like Cricket?

Hilarious, fabulous and every other "ous" you can think of, Lola and the Boy Next Door will have you up for hours till you reach the very last page. It's one of those books you rush to finish, then read again so you can savor every moment. In fact, Lola now sits with my "go to" books (the ones I read when I need something I know will be good), sitting next to Saving Francesca, Shiver and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. In fact, I loved it so much that I loaned it out to a couple of my best friends, and you know what? After they finished it, they preordered it, so if you don't believe me, believe them. Preorder it, run out to the book store the day it releases, whatever it takes, make sure you read Lola and the Boy Next Door as soon as possible! You definitely don't want to miss it!

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-09-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Struck by Jennifer Bosworth.

Summary:"Mia Price is a lightning addict.

She’s been struck so many times she’s lost count. She can’t sleep, she’s covered in veiny red “lightning scars,” and repeated strikes have even stopped her heart on occasion. Still, Mia can’t resist a storm.

That's why Los Angeles, where it never rains, is the perfect place for her to find peace . . . until a massive earthquake devastates the city.

Now Mia finds herself struggling to hold her family together in a strange and terrifying new version of Los Angeles. The beaches have become massive tent cities populated by millions of homeless. Downtown is a wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the attendees drawn to the destruction by a magnetic force they cannot deny.

The blind prophet of a doomsday cult called the Church of Light, who predicted the earthquake with frightening accuracy, says a storm is coming to usher in the end of days, and only his Followers will be saved. Mia’s traumatized mom has become obsessed with the Church of Light, while her younger brother Parker is desperate to join a second doomsday cult called the Seekers. But Mia is the one both cults need.

The Seekers are recruiting people with an energy-based power they call the “Spark,” and Mia has it stronger than most. They claim the false prophet of the Church of Light will bring about the end of the world, and they are the only ones who can stand against him.

But without Mia on their side, they will fail.

Mia’s lightning addiction is both the key to saving the world . . . and destroying it."

Why I Can't Wait:Umm, dystopian world with a bad ass main character, with some kind of lightning obsession/possible power? This one sounds like a winner. A lot of dystopian books seem so similar lately, but this Stuck, sounds so different and unique and amazing. Plus, I love the cover! Lena wants!!! Lena wants it baaaad! :P

Expected publication: May 8th 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR

Dreamland Trailer + Giveaway

2011-09-13T20:41:00.004-05:00

Dreamland is the third installment in Alyson Noel's Riley Bloom series, a spin off inspired by her bestselling Immortals series. To help celebrate the release tomorrow, Tara from Zeitghost Media and Macmillan have given me to opportunity to giveaway a copy to one lucky winner, but first, a little bit about Dreamland.

Summary: "Riley’s finding that the afterlife can be a lonely place when all you do is focus on work. So she goes to the place where dreams happen, hoping to find a way to contact her sister, Ever. She meets the director, who tells her about the two ways to send dreams. As a Dream Jumper, a person can jump into a dreamer’s dream, share a message, and participate. As a Dreamweaver, an entire dream can be created in a studio and sent to the dreamer. But Dreamweaving was outlawed decades ago, and the studio was boarded up. Thinking it’s her only way to reach out to her sister, Riley goes in search of the old studio. There she finds a ghost boy, who’s been creating and sending nightmares to people for years. In order to stop him and reach out to Ever, Riley is going to have to confront and overcome her own fears."

And, of course, the awesome trailer:

Amazing, right? Now, on to the giveaway.

To win a copy of Dreamland, all you have to do is watch the trailer and fill out THIS FORM. This giveaway is only open to US and CA participants and will end 9/25 at midnight CST.

Links:
*Alyson Noel on Macmillan
*Fan Alyson on Facebook
*Alyson's Website

**Special thanks Tara from Zeitghost Media and Macmillan.**

Good luck to everyone, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

XOXO

Hades Winner

2011-09-12T08:54:00.003-05:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Hades giveaway. Now, without further ado, the winner of Hades by Alexandra Adornetto.

With 53 participants and the help of random.org, the winner is...

Kayla Bouy!!!

Congrats! I have emailed you and passed your information on to the publisher. You should receive the book within the next 6 weeks!

If you didn't win, you can still purchase Hades online. Plus, there are tons of giveaways ending this week, so be sure to enter those, too!

XOXO

In My Mailbox

2011-09-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Technically, I didn't get a lot in the mail, but I did hit up a few Borders and found some amazing goodies. I seriously can't wait to crack all of these open! Ch-ch-check it out!

For Review:
*The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas

Bought:
*It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han (Because my homie Ginger swears by these books!)
*We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han
*Overbite by Meg Cabot
*The Dark And Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (FINALLY!)
*My Soul To Steal by Rachel Vincent (Still must find If I Die...)
*Almost Final Curtain by Tate Hallaway

***Special thanks to Farrar Straus Giroux (aka Macmillan).***

And that's all, folks! Feel free to leave links to your IMM posts in the comments below. I leave you now with my little man...

TGIF!!!

2011-09-09T09:08:00.005-05:00

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks! And this week's question is... Books to Television: Which books would you love to see made in to a TV series? or movie?

Ooooh, nice! I'm going to do two different genres, fantasy and contemporary. Let's start with fantasy. One of the best books I've read in quite some time is Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

If this book was made into a movie, it would somehow be a mix of Lord of the Rings and Romeo and Juliet. They would have to find a phenomenal director because the graphics and stunts, costumes and characters would have to be perfect in order to truly capture this book.

Plus, check out the awesome third trailer to the book. Can't you picture it as a movie trailer?! The Brimstone one is my favorite thus far, but still. EEP!

If you can't tell by now, I love this book like whoa.

And my contemporary pick would be Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins.

I don't care if they turned it into some ABC Family Movie of the Week. As long as they cast the perfect Cricket, we're square. I could easily crush on a real life Cricket. This book is so easy to fall in love with, as would the movie. Can I be an extra in it, please?

That's all I have for now! I hope your Friday is flying by quickly, and you guys have a safe, fabulous weekend!

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-09-07T07:14:00.002-05:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases each blogger's most anticipated reads. This week, my pick is This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers.

Summary: "It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.

As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?"

Why I Can't Wait: I WANT THIS BAAAAAAAD!!! Seriously, Courtney Summers is one of my absolute favorite authors. I've read everything she's written, and have five starred/ loved them all. Not only do her stories get better and better, so do her covers. I mean, look at that! Creepily beautiful? Is that even a real phrase? It is now!

Expected publication: June 2012 by St. Martin's Griffin

Trailer + Giveaway: All These Things I've Done

2011-09-06T21:51:00.003-05:00

All These Things I've Done is the latest dystopian novel (the first of three), written by acclaimed author Gabrielle Zevin. This book focuses on a girl, living in a world where chocolate and coffee are illegal. I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd survive 5 minutes! In order to get the full impact of this book, you have to read the summary.

"In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family."

Woo, if that doesn't get your blood flowing, check out the awesome trailer!

Wow, I'm in love! Now, it's on to the giveaway!

In honor of the release of All These Things I've Done, and courtesy Macmillan and Zeitghost Media, I am giving away a copy of this fabulous book to one lucky winner! Excited yet? Cause you should be!

All you have to do to enter is a) watch the trailer and b) fill out THIS FORM. This giveaway is only open to US and CA participants only and will end September 18th. The winner will be chosen at random, notified via emailed, announced on my blog and receive their prize shortly after.

Links:
*All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
*Trailer URL
*See Gabrielle on tour this fall
*Gabrielle's website

***Special thanks to Tara at Zeitghost Media and Macmillan books for All These Things They've Done! ***

Review : Frost

2011-09-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

Title: Frost (goodreads/amazon)
Author: Marianna Baer
Expected publication: September 13th 2011 by Balzer + Bray
Source: ARC from publisher for an honest review

Summary: "Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school starts with a cruel shock: Frost House, the cozy Victorian dorm where she and her best friends live, has been assigned an unexpected roommate—eccentric Celeste Lazar.

As classes get under way, strange happenings begin to bedevil Frost House: frames falling off walls, doors locking themselves, furniture toppling over. Celeste blames the housemates, convinced they want to scare her into leaving. And although Leena strives to be the peacekeeper, soon the eerie happenings in the dorm, an intense romance between Leena and Celeste’s brother, David, and the reawakening of childhood fears all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. But does the threat lie with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind…or in Frost House itself?

From debut author Marianna Baer, Frost is a stunning and surprising tale of suspense that will have readers on the edge of their seats."

First Line: "Before I lived there, before any of this happened, I imagined Frost House as a sanctuary."

Thoughts: Normally, I'm not a huge fan of ghost stories, but this one amazed me. Creepy, eerie and addicting, Frost is one of those books that will haunt you days after you've already finished it. Be sure to check your closet, lock all the doors and windows, and have your night light ready because the fun is just about to start.

It's Leena Thomas' senior year, and she couldn't be more thrilled. Not only is it her last year of high school, but she also gets to live in Frost House with her 2 best friends. Out with the dorm drama and in with the family closeness! But, as you know, not everything ever turns out the way you want it to. Celeste Lazar, drama queen extraordinaire, broke her leg over the summer and with dorms being too much for her to maneuver around, she is placed into Frost house and becomes Leena's roommate. Not cool.

On the bright side, Celeste's gorgeous brother David has just enrolled into their school and with Celeste's broken leg, is around quite often. Bow chicka bow wow! Totally kidding, but the chemistry is there and pretty amazing. The only thing is, David is extremely protective of Celeste and the closer David and Leena become, the more Celeste pulls away yet demands attention. Oh, drama...how I love it so!

To top it all off, bazaar things begin to happen at Frost house. From broken vases, to torn clothes, and even pictures falling off the wall, something just doesn't feel right. Celeste blames Abby, Abby becomes defensive, and Leena starts making up excuses like the wind, even though it hardly makes sense. The roommates begin to divide, secrets about the Lazar family begins to unfold, and soon, Leena will begin to question whether Celeste is doing all of this for attention, whether her best friend is really that callous or if the truth is more frightening than anything she could possible believe.

One thing I loved about this book is how the relationship between David and Leena blooms. It wasn't just an insta-love type of situation. They actually got to know each other and develop a relationship rather than jump head first because it feels right. With so many "love at first sight" books out there, it's a breath of fresh air to find a book where the romance feels real and solid rather than just using fate.

Also, the story telling is phenomenal. Even when nothing was happening, I found myself completely engulfed in the story. I actually stayed up till 4am just so I could finish it. It's one of those books where even though there's the backdrop ghost story, there's also a great contemporary novel mixed in, too. I would have liked to see a little bit more of the creepy factor, but there was still enough to keep me interested and invested. The character development is sensational. You never know who to trust, and let's face it, life stinks when your friends become your enemies.

I do have a couple complaints, though. As far as the ending goes, it felt a bit rushed and left me somewhat unsatisfied. I felt like the questions I had where not answered. Instead, ended a bit vaguely, making the reader come to their own conclusion. Some people love these kinds of endings, but personally, I don't care for them. I'm just the type of person that loves concrete answers as oppose to the abstract. Also, Leena...oh sweet girl, you're spelling your name wrong! Silly complaint, I know, but from one Lena to another, I simply must share it.

Overall, for those who love ghost stories and even for those who don't, I recommend checking out Frost. If you are a fan of detailed characters, real life problems with a handful of paranormal activity, this book is right up your ally. Watch out for roaches, broken glass and backstabbing because all this and more is headed your way!

Rating:

Books For Trade!

2011-09-05T19:17:00.006-05:00

Hey ya'll! I have some books I would love to trade for something else. If you're interested in trading, please email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com. Here's the list...

ARCs:

*Blood Wounds by Susan Beth Pfeffer
*Dark Eden by Patrick Carman
*The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
*Eve by Anna Carey
*Going Underground by Susan Vaught
*The Girl's Guide to Homelessness by Brianna Karp
*My Name is Mina by David Almond
*Damned by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
*Dark Passage by M.J. Putney
*The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
*You Are My Only by Beth Kephart
*All The Earth, Thrown To The Sky by Joe R. Lansdale
*Dumpling Days by Grace Lin
*The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
*Tankborn by Karen Sandler
*Wildwood by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis
*Frost by Marianna Baer
*Goliath by Scott Westerfeld
*A Plague Year by Edward Bloor
*Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman

Wist list:

*Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
*The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
*Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
*Stolen Nights by Rebecca Meizel
*Slide by Jill Hathaway
*Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale
*Love And Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
*Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
*Everneath by Brodi Ashton
*Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
*The Survival Kit by Donna Freitas
*The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
*Truth (XVI, #2) by Julia Karr
*Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
*The Death Cure by James Dashner
*Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen
*The Calling by Kelley Armstrong
*Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
*Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr
*Balthazar by Claudia Gray
*Catching Jordan by Miranda Keanneally
*There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
*Audition by Stasia Kehoe
*Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst

So, I know my wist list is long, but kind of difficult. I'm always open to suggestions, but fair warning, I have a lot of books, so I might be a little picky.

Thanks for taking a look at my list, and be sure to email me if you're interested in trading!

XOXO