Teaser Tuesday (9)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two (2) "teaser sentences from somewhere on that page

*Be careful not to include spoilers! (be sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others)

*Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

 

I just started a new book, Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. I downloaded it through the wonderful Galley Grab program that Simon and Schuster has.

 

 

Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives--and the way they understand each other so completely--has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending.

 

 

And here's your teaser (keep in mind this is an ARC, everything is subject to change):

 

"Seeing you, being with you every day but not being able to do anything - it's like cancer. It's like this cancer growing inside my body, inside my mind." (pg. 241 of the eGalley)

 

I'm not very far in this book yet, but I'm liking it already. And I'm not going to lie, the synopsis gives me goosebumps - I have a feeling this book is going to make me cry. This book will be released on June 28, 2011; you can pre-order it from B&N/Amazon. Can't wait to read everyone's Teaser Tuesday posts. Make sure you leave a link for me in the comments - unfortunately unless they get the comment bug fixed I might not be able to comment back to you. :(

 

 

 

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard

Order from B&N/Amazon - Available June 1, 2011

Synopsis from BN.com:

The spell was simple...

Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.

What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

Review: I received this book as an ARC for review through the publicist and I was extremely excited to dive into it after reading the synopsis. Also, I absolutely fell in love with the cover of this book. I think it’s so gorgeous, one of the best I’ve seen so far this year!
I loved the characters in this book. Victoria “Tori” Warrick finds out on her 17^th birthday that she is a witch. Not just any witch, an extremely powerful one for which a prophecy foretold was coming. A revelation such as this would be enough to overwhelm anyone and at first Tori is extremely resistant to using her new-found powers. Throughout the book we really see her grow and mature, slowly embracing the magic that was handed down to her from her ancestors. I really enjoyed seeing her become more confident and she certainly was a great deal stronger than she gave herself credit for. Christian Devereux is a bit of a mystery at the beginning but we quickly learn more about who and what he is. Tori and Christian are drawn to each other almost immediately and I liked how their relationship developed slowly. It turns me off when a book has it’s main characters profess their love for each other within the first couple chapters, so I was glad that this book wasn’t like that. Their relationship grew slowly which made it very believable; you couldn’t help but want them to be happy together. You’ll see as you read the book though that Tori and Christian’s won’t come easily (and that’s all I’m saying about that!). All of the supporting characters added a lot of depth and mystery to the story, especially Tori’s friend Gabriel, and Christian’s brother, Lucian. I think you’ll definitely see why I loved the characters so much when you read the book.
I liked the author’s writing style; it really sucked me in and I had trouble putting this book down! The only real complaint I had was that within the same chapter, even within a few paragraphs, the point of view would change from Tori, to Chrstian, and then to Gabriel. It got a little confusing at times. I prefer when a book sticks with one character for a chapter, or at least uses a page break before moving on to another character. I can say though that at least you get a good idea of what everyone’s thinking at a specific moment in time when you jump around to different characters; you aren’t left wondering what the other person was thinking/feeling at that intense part of the book.
I found this book to have a unique storyline, despite the fact that it involves the usual supernatural creatures. Tori’s having inherited the “black blood” from her ancestors and the fact that the blood kind of had a mind of it’s own was really interesting. My favorite part of the entire book was the ending. I can’t even describe how amazing it was, it had my blood pounding and I refused to put the book down until I finished it. It stayed with me for awhile after I had flipped the last page. Definitely the most intense scene I’ve read in a long time!
To finish out my review, I'd like to share one of my favorite quotes from the book:
"A wise friend once told me 'you are who you are.'" Victoria traced a line from the scar on the corner of his eyebrow across his cheekbone. "I know what you are, but I also know who you are too. And the 'who' is the part that defines us."
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The characters were amazing and several scenes had me on the edge of my seat, desperate to find out what happened next. I am hoping that there will be a sequel because I want more Tori and Christian! This is definitely one book that you don’t want to miss this year.

My rating: 4/5 stars

Just A Quick Note...

Ok, so I'm STILL having problems commenting on most blogs. Getting extremely frustrated, because all of these great people are leaving awesome comments on my site and I can't even comment back at them! :( I really hope Blogger gets this fixed quickly, it's been about a week now. I just wanted to let you all now that I tried to go through my comments and at least follow the people who are following me now from the last Follow Friday, but I still can't comment you guys back. Just so you know though, it seems like the comment boxes that open in a new window (like mine) work. Those are the ONLY ones that actually log you in so you can comment (for some reason). So if you're frustrated about not getting any comments, you can always go into the "Comments" section on Blogger and change it to make it pop-up in a new window. That seems to work. Just wanted to let everyone know I'm not avoiding/ignoring you, I simply can't leave any comments!! Here's hoping it gets fixed ASAP!

Dream - A New Book Giveaway Site!!

A new book giveaway website called Dream is going to be launching soon. Basically it's a place where publishers and authors can give away books to book lovers, in exchange for a review and spreading the word about the book on social networking sites. I don't know about you, but I am pretty excited about this - it sounds like it could be a really great thing! It hasn't launched yet, but you can sign up here and by entering your email you will be kept informed about when it will be up and running! So make sure you head over there and do it ASAP! Please spread the word to fellow book lovers you think might be interested too.

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop (10)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View

This week's question: How many books do you read in a week? And in what format do you read, listen to them?

Answer: I would say my average is around 2. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I have a 3 year old son, so I don't always get to read as much as I would like. I sneak it in whenever I can though! The format I usually choose is print books, because I prefer it (either paperback or hardcover). I just love having a book in my hands. I occasionally use my Nook, but that's mostly for NetGalley and Galley Grab selections.

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly event hosted by Crazy For Books

This week's question: What book-to-movie adaptation have you most liked? Which have you disliked?

Answer: I would say as a whole, book-to-movie adaptations almost never go well. At least in my opinion. I guess it's because as readers we have specific visions in our minds about what the environment would look like and what our favorite characters would look like. Then when they film the movie, they cast people that make us go "HUH?". And it just kind of ruins our nice little mental images. I would say my favorite book-to-movie adaptation is The Notebook - it definitely still tugged at the heartstrings and the love between the two leads was very believable (perhaps because they actually were dating?). My least favorite? Well, that maybe a tie. The Twilight movies I don't care for so much. Loved the books, the movies are not so great; that being said, I still plan on seeing Breaking Dawn because I've seen the first three. Just not that impressed with it. I think the absolute worst book-to-movie adaptation was My Sister's Keeper. They should NEVER have changed the ending that drastically. The ending in the book was a shock and made me cry for hours. The movie ending was just predictable; still sad, but who didn't see that coming. That whole thing just ruined it for me.

I can't wait to read everyone's responses!! Just a side note, my GFC and commenting abilities are not working currently STILL! So I won't be able to comment until they get that fixed - hurry up Blogger/Google! I'll also be gone all weekend, to return on Monday afternoon. So I promise to get back to everyone when I get back (if it's fixed of course).

Trouble With Blogger

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that I'm getting all of your comments and I keep TRYING to comment back on your blogs, but I'm one of the "lucky" ones being affected by the current issues. I can login on my computer, but not on my iPhone. And I can't comment on anyone's blog posts right now - it won't let me login to do so. So sorry if I haven't gotten back to you yet, as soon as it's back up and running I will be back in action! Hopefully it's before Friday, because that afternoon I'm leaving and won't be back until Monday afternoon - going on a float trip in Tahlequah, OK! Therefore I won't have much time/access to my blog until I get back.
Hopefully Blogger will get everything back up soon! Also I hope Twitter fixes their problems too...it's been a bad day for technology, at least for me!

Waiting On Wednesday (5)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It is a place for us to show which upcoming releases we're just dying to read!

 

I didn't realize this book was coming out so soon until today. I was checking out all of my fave authors' webpages and looking and B&N and got so excited! My Waiting On Wednesday pick is...Hit List (An Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Novel) by Laurell K. Hamilton. It goes on sale June 7, 2011 (you can pre-order it from B&N/Amazon).

 

 

The only synopsis I could find was the VERY small one on BN.com:

Word has leaked to Anita Blake that hit men are headed for St. Louis- and that she, Jean-Claude, and Richard are the targets.
But if you're familiar with the Anita Blake series already, you don't really need a synopsis. I'm so in love with the characters, and even though the series has taken a SERIOUSLY smutty turn about 10 books ago (or more) I will always want to read more. I especially love Jean Claude and Asher!

So what's your WOW pick for this week? Make sure you leave a link in the comments to your post so I can check it out!!

 

Teaser Tuesday (8)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two (2) "teaser sentences from somewhere on that page

*Be careful not to include spoilers! (be sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others)

*Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

 

Currently I'm reading Bloodspell by Amalie Howard (on sale June 1, 2011 - pre-order from B&N/Amazon). Here's the synopsis, courtesy of GoodReads:

 

The spell was simple …

CRUENTUS PROTECTUM. Defend the Blood.

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds—much less one that reveals she’s a witch with unimaginable power.

What’s more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own …

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood’s deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?

 

And if the synopsis wasn't enough to make you want to run out and buy this book, then here's your teaser! Keep in mind though, this is from the ARC and is subject to change in the final copy!

 

"And the clincher, her words - you are not meant for me. She'd taken them straight from his head, straight from the laws that bound him." (pg. 118 of the ARC, will probably differ in final copy)

 

I'm about 1/3 of the way through the book so far. I feel like it started out kind of slow (to me at least), but now the story has really got me hooked! I'm reading every chance I get just to see what happens next!! And seriously, how gorgeous is the cover? I absolutely adore it! I'd love to see your teasers too, so make sure you leave a link in the comments to your Teaser Tuesday post so I can check them out!

 

 

 

 

And The Person Cast To Play Cinna In The Hunger Games Movie Is...

Lenny Kravitz!!!

I don't know about you, but I'm psyched! And yes, I realize I picked a really old picture of him, but it's sexy so I went with it. Nothing wrong with a little eye candy! Anyway, Lionsgate and the filmmakers working on The Hunger Games movie (working title - Artemis) have confirmed that Lenny Kravitz will be playing the role of Cinna, Katniss' stylist in the story. I personally think he is perfect for the role. He's not exactly who I pictured while reading, but to tell you the truth I really didn't picture any specific actors for Cinna. I would just like to say overall I think the casting director is doing a FABULOUS job on this movie. In my opinion, they've really nailed everybody and I don't have very many complaints. The only thing I still can't really get behind is Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. While I agree that he's a good actor, I had a different face in my mind, both while reading the books and when I heard about the movie being made. Hugh Laurie - you know, the guy from House? He would have been PERFECTION as Haymitch, but apparently they did approach him about the role and he already had other obligations. Boo! I'm sure Woody will do a fine job though; I have really high hopes that this movie is going to be fantastic!

So what do you think about Lenny Kravitz as Cinna and are you overall pretty happy with the casting decisions so far?

Huge Giveaway On Lauren DeStefano's Blog - Wither and Fever ARCs!!

I'm almost sure most of you have read Wither by Lauren DeStefano by now. Me, I OWN Wither, but I haven't read it yet. Just a situation where I have way too many books to read for review so I have to keep putting it off. But I really want to read it, I hear so many wonderful, AMAZING things about it! Well if you loved Wither and can't wait to get your hands on the next book in the Chemical Garden series, Fever, then here's your chance! Lauren DeStefano is hosting a giveaway on her blog. It includes one totally personalized ARC of Wither and a much anticipated ARC of Fever, both going to one winner! Are you drooling yet? If you want to enter (and I'm sure you do!), then just click *HERE*! Good luck to everyone!

In My Mailbox (3)

In my mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, where we get to share the wonderful books we received this week!

Wow, so it's been a LONG time since I've done an IMM post. I've gotten tons of book since the last one (which I think was in February), so I have no intention of listing everything I've received since then obviously. I'll just stick to this week. The first five I'm going to mention I received through Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab program. They always have some AWESOME books on there for us lucky bloggers and this month is no exception. So without further ado:

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma: Seventeen-year-old Lochan and sixteen-year-old Maya have always felt more like friends than siblings. Together they have stepped in for their alcoholic, wayward mother to take care of their three younger siblings. As defacto parents to the little ones, Lochan and Maya have had to grow up fast. And the stress of their lives--and the way they understand each other so completely--has also also brought them closer than two siblings would ordinarily be. So close, in fact, that they have fallen in love. Their clandestine romance quickly blooms into deep, desperate love. They know their relationship is wrong and cannot possibly continue. And yet, they cannot stop what feels so incredibly right. As the novel careens toward an explosive and shocking finale, only one thing is certain: a love this devastating has no happy ending. On sale June 28, 2011 (pre-order from B&N/Amazon)

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott: Ally Ryan, come on down to the Jersey Shore and forget your troubles!

Have you recently been humilated in front of your friends and family at your former best friends birthday party? Was your almost boyfriend partly responsible for that humilation by withholding some vital information about where your estrangerd father is? Did you come home to find said estranged father sitting on your stoop?
If so, then it sounds like you could use a vacation! The Jersey Shore is the place to be. Your mother may be living with her boyfriend of only a few months, but at least the stunt Shannen pulled has put some of your friends back in your court. Even so, you're still angry and what better way to get over Jake than to blow off some steam with local guy, Cooper. People will hardly recognize your new attitude, but the old one wasn't getting you anywhere, so who cares!
Jake Graydon, an exciting opportunity is waiting for you in the service industry!
Are your grades so low your parents have grounded you for the summer? Did you the girl you really like unceremoniously leave you behind? Would you rather eat dirt than see your friends again? Then a job at the local coffee shop is just the ticket! Suprisingly, Ally's father is the new manager so you get to be reminded of her nearly every day. Maybe it's time to start flirting with your best friend's ex or even taking school a bit more seriously. Especially when you finally see Ally and she's hanging around with some loser and it's couldn't be more clear that she is over you.
Have a great summer! On sale June 7, 2011 (pre-order from B&N/Amazon)

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt: On the last day of her junior year, Hannah's boyfriend Ryan dumped her. Facing a summer of loneliness, Hannah turns to her best friend Ava for comfort. Ava does what BFFs do: she stays by Hannah's side...until it's time for Ava to head up to Maine for the summer. Also left behind is Ava's boyfriend, Noah, who's such a great guy he gets Hannah a job at the diner he waits tables at. Slowly, Hannah comes out of her funk thanks to Noah's good conversation and their fun times at the diner. But things get complicated when their friendship turns into attraction--and one night, into a passionate kiss. The novel opens on the first day of senior year; the day Hannah is going to see Ava, Ryan, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, everyone is paired up once again, but not the way you might think... On sale July 12, 2011 (pre-order from B&N/Amazon)

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder: Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.
The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last. On sale June 28, 2011 (pre-order from B&N/Amazon)

Wildefire by Karsten Knight: Every flame begins with a spark.
Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm. On sale July 26, 2011 (pre-order from B&N/Amazon)

Aaaaaand finally, a book I'm sure you're all familiar with. I was lucky enough to win a copy from one of Fiktshun's fabulous giveaways. So here's my copy of City Of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare, complete with the bonus letter from Jace to Clary, yay!





The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.
Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other one.
When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels. On sale now, purchase from B&N/Amazon

I'm dying to see what all of you guys got in YOUR mailbox this week, so make sure you either tell me in the comments or leave a link to your IMM post!!



 

The Gray Zone by Daphna Edwards Ziman

Purchase this book from B&N/Amazon

Synopsis from GoodReads: A terrified single mother must travel through hell and back to clear her name and protect her children from their maniacal father. Kelly Jensen is only six years old when she witnesses her mother's murder and her father's wrongful conviction. Thrown into foster care, Kelly is both abused and neglected, and by age fifteen she is a runaway, relying on her street smarts to become a master at identity theft. Kelly accepts the marriage proposal of a man who she thinks can offer her a better life, only to fall victim to his vicious enslavement. Years later, estranged from her husband and struggling to support her children, Kelly becomes a suspect in the murder of her lover, a congressman. Defence attorney Jake Brooks finds Kelly irresistible, and his obsession leads him to risk his own career to help her. Together, the two uncover a sordid link among immoral foster care parents, high rollers in Vegas, politicians, Kelly's husband, and law enforcement itself. Kelly ultimately takes fate into her own hands - in the grey zone that exists outside the black-and-white world of the legal system.

Review: I received this book as an ARC from the publicist (thank you so much!); I found out about it from Shelf Awareness. The mystery/thriller genre was my first love as far as books go, so I was really excited to start reading this.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Kelly was so dynamic and mysterious. Her knowledge of stage make-up leads her to become a master of disguise, easily transforming herself into other people in order to get information or execute part of her plan. It's obvious to see how her rough childhood shaped her into the person she became. The death of her mother, for which her father was imprisoned, the abuse of her foster family, and her marriage to a man that she thought would save her from it all, but who only dragged her farther into her own personal hell. As a result she puts up walls and trusts only a few. She is such a strong individual, choosing to escape her powerful husband to keep her and her children safe. I really liked Jake Brooks too. He comes off as a blood thirsty defense attorney, but underneath it all he's also kind and caring. He also had good instincts, somehow convinced that Kelly did not kill Porter, his best friend, even though she made a pretty good suspect.
I thought the story was very well written, the author got me hooked in just a few chapters. There was a lot of suspense and mystery that had me trying to guess what would happen next. A few parts made my heart pound, wondering what direction the book would take. I really enjoy books that don't have obvious major plot points, I like the element of surprise and the shock when I wrongly guess the twists and turns.
The only thing that didn't really work for me in this book was the romance between Jake and Kelly. Porter, who happened to be Kelly's lover and Jake's best friend, had just been brutally murdered and yet they seem to move on pretty quick. On Jake's end, I would think your best friend's lover would be off limits, especially since he just passed away. Kelly makes a comment that she didn't expect to fall in love with Porter, but she had; I don't think I would be getting over the death of someone I loved so quickly. Don't get me wrong, I really wanted Jake and Kelly to get together - eventually. In my opinion though, they didn't even spend enough time together to really get to know each other well enough, to be able to say they loved each other.
I thought the issue of abuse of foster children was handled really well. It's horrifying to think that anyone could harm a child, especially to foster children who have already been dealt an unfortunate card in life. To think that people take the so called "bad kids" just so the government will give them more money is appalling, and I imagine a lot of these kids are abused when the foster parents don't know how to handle them or don't want to try. This book makes me want to do something, to help out these kids that have been through so much. It would be amazing to become a foster parent, but even something as simple as participating in Big Brothers/Big Sisters (you can request to be paired with a foster child if you wish) would do a lot of good.
Overall this was a great read, very well written and kept me on my toes the whole way. If you like a good mystery, some suspense, and a little romance thrown in for good measure then you will definitely enjoy this book. So make sure you add it to you list of books to read this year, you won't want to miss this one!

Rating: 4/5 stars

If you would like to learn more about the author, Daphna Edwards Ziman, you can check out her webpage here

Weekend Question (2)

Weekend question is a weekly meme hosted by Liz at Cleverly Inked

This week's question: Are you a rereader?

Answer: Yes I am, with certain books and series. The ones that really suck me into their world and have wonderful characters, I love to revisit them again and again. There are very few books that I do this with though. Honestly, the one series that I have read several times (maybe 4 times I would say) is the Twilight series. Mostly just the first book, because I think it's the best one. I also read Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton (book 1 of the Anita Blake series) a couple of times. A book from my childhood that I remember reading SO much, like at least 50 times, was Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. It was such a wonderful story and I enjoyed it each and every time I read it. Only very special books get reread though...having said that, I don't get rid of my books though. I keep them all, because even though I may not reread them, they are still special to me.

I would love to hear your answers, so make sure you leave me a link to your post in the comments!!

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop (9)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee's View

This week's question: It's circle time! Time for us to open up and share. Can you tell us FIVE quirky habits or things about you? We all have them...

Answer:

1) I still have my baby blanket that I've had since I was born and I sleep with it every night. The crazy thing is, it doesn't embarrass me at all that people know. But it is weird as I assume most people DON'T do this (haha), so there ya go.

2) I'm better at video games than ALMOST any guy I know. And I'm VERY proud of that fact! Most guys get pretty mad when I beat them...oh well, they'll get over it ("Anything you can do, I can do better...")

3) I'm super scared of being home along at night. Which is every night, since my husband works 3rd shift. Well, I have my 3 year old son with me, but I doubt he's going to be much help against a crazed psycho killer with a machete. I think maybe it's all of the crazy books I read, makes my imagination WAY too vivid!

4) Sometimes I think about things in the world that we don't know about. And deep down I hope that things like vampires, werewolves, faeries, etc. really exist. I mean, in the books they're so secretive most of the time that humans don't even know they're there. So that could happen in real life, right? I said right? Hello, anyone with me.....?

5) I am VERY particular about my books. I have a really hard time getting rid of any of them (and I haven't for quite a while). But the quirky thing is how good of care I take of my books. I don't bend a single page or mar the cover. When I get done reading a book, you won't even be able to tell I opened it. I like to keep them looking like new, because I really treasure each and every one of my books and I get kinda mad when a cover gets bent or a page gets stained or ripped. This makes loaning books to anyone extremely difficult...I only trust a small few. Am I alone in this?

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly event hosted by Crazy For Books

This week's question: If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what place would that be?

Answer: I had to think a while about this one. I'm going to have to go with the world from the Anita Blake vampire hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Specifically, Jean Claude's place beneath the Circus of the Damned. Who wouldn't want to go there for a day? Be surrounded by hot guys, especially Jean Claude - he's always been my favorite! Then he wouldn't have to put up with Anita's crap, at least for a day. I also wouldn't mind getting close to Asher...or Jason...or Richard...well the list goes on. With as many near-death experiences as Anita has I wouldn't want to spend too much time there, but one day would be SO nice.

Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner

Purchase this book from BN.com

Synopsis from BN.com: Vaclav and Lena seem destined for each other. They meet as children in an ESL class in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Vaclav is precocious and verbal. Lena, struggling with English, takes comfort in the safety of his adoration, his noisy, loving home, and the care of Rasia, his big-hearted mother. Vaclav imagines their story unfolding like a fairy tale, or the perfect illusion from his treasured Magician’s Almanac, but among the many truths to be discovered in Haley Tanner’s wondrous debut is that happily ever after is never a foregone conclusion.
One day, Lena does not show up for school. She has disappeared from Vaclav and his family’s lives as if by a cruel magic trick. For the next seven years, Vaclav says goodnight to Lena without fail, wondering if she is doing the same somewhere. On the eve of Lena’s seventeenth birthday he finds out.
Haley Tanner has the originality and verve of a born storyteller, and the boldness to imagine a world in which love can overcome the most difficult circumstances. In Vaclav & Lena she has created two unforgettable young protagonists who evoke the joy, the confusion, and the passion of having a profound, everlasting connection with someone else.

I received this book as an ARC through Shelf Awareness. I immediately wanted to read it, because it sounded like such a sweet story, but it goes a lot deeper than just a romance between two people. Vaclav and Lena were first forced together when they were young, neither one really having any friends. Their imperfect English held them back from fully connecting with the American kids they went to school with. However, when they were together, they knew that the other would accept them unconditionally. It was easy to how much Vaclav adored Lena and that he would do anything for her. It was obvious that Lena cared for Vaclav as well, but her shocking and appalling home life made her extremely introverted; it was as if she had a wall up, even around her best friend, Vaclav. I could sense that there was something darker going on in Lena's home life that wasn't coming to light at the beginning, something more awful than just being left to fend for herself all of the time. My heart broke when Lena disappeared from Vaclav's life. She was his world, his sun and she was simply ripped away from him. No goodbyes, no finality. Just left to wonder if he would ever see her again.
The first part of the book went between telling the story from Vaclav and Lena's perspectives. I liked that, as it was nice to get a glimpse into what both of them were going through (although like I said, Lena remained somewhat of a mystery). The middle of the book takes place 7 years later and it is split up into two parts: Lena's story and Vaclav's story. This gives a lot more insight into Lena's life, especially in the time when she was very young, before she even met Vaclav. I think the sweetest thing is that even after all of that time, Vaclav still said goodnight to Lena, every single night. He was afraid that if he stopped doing so something bad would happen to her. Even after all of the time they spent apart, she was still the last thing he thought about before he went to bed.
Each section of the book is split up into little chapters. I liked the cute, descriptive chapter names (you'll see what I mean when you read it!) and I loved how short the chapters were. They were each like little stories all in their own. The last part of the book reveals a lot of answers I had been waiting for the whole time and that is why I'm not going to go into too much more detail about the book.
I do want to share one of my favorite quotes from the book (however, keep in mind that I read the ARC, so things might be different in the finished copy):

"Vaclav had already known that she was sitting there before he even saw her. He had felt her looking at him, He had known it was her, had to be her, because he felt, suddenly, the compulsion to turn and look at that bench, to look in her direction, like there were magnets in his eyes and she was a supermagnetized hunk of some other planet, just fallen to earth."

This was a wonderful book, showing how love can withstand space and time. It also shows how childhood can shape a person, for better or worse. I definitely recommend giving this book a chance; it's a fairly quick read, especially since I couldn't put it down, and it was impossible not to feel for the characters and fall in love with them.

My rating: 4/5 stars

You can check out Haley Tanner's webpage *HERE*

New Info On The Hunger Games Movie - See Jennifer Lawrence As Katniss!!

So somebody got a hold of the first picture we've seen of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. I was excited about the Hunger Games movie before, but now I'm REALLY excited! She looks fantastic, exactly how I pictured her in my head while reading the books. I got this information from The Hob, so I won't post the picture here. If you'd like to see the picture, click *HERE*. I promise, you definitely won't be disappointed!!! Also, apparently EW.com is going to be officially releasing this picture (and hopefully additional pictures) at 6:30 ET tonight. So make sure you check it out! Now I just can't wait to see the how the rest of the cast will look in the movie!

UPDATE: Entertainment Weekly just confirmed that the picture is real and there's a short article accompanying it. Check it out now on the Entertainment Weekly website *HERE*

Waiting On Wednesday (4)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It is a place for us to show which upcoming releases we're just dying to read!

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.
With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.

I heard about this book awhile back and I just can't wait to read it! It sounds absolutely amazing and seriously, how gorgeous is the cover?? I am so in love with it, definitely one of my favorite covers of the year so far!

So if you want to pre-order it (which I suggest you do!), you can do so here: B&N/Amazon. It will be released June 14, 2011. Also, if you want to read more about the author, Nova Ren Suma, you can check her page out *HERE*

What books are you waiting for?? As always, I would love to check out your Waiting On Wednesday posts, so make sure you leave a link to you post in the comments!!

 

Teaser Tuesday (7)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read

*Open to a random page

*Share two (2) "teaser sentences from somewhere on that page

*Be careful not to include spoilers! (be sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others)

*Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

 

I had every intention of doing my Teaser Tuesday post early, but I've been SO sick today with the worst migraine of my life. Spent most of the day trying not to toss my cookies, so reading/blogging was the furthest thing from my mind, sadly. Luckily I'm feeling almost 100% better now, and I'm currently reading an ARC I received from the wonderful Marissa DeCuir (thanks again, my new friend!). The book is called The Gray Zone by Daphna Edwards Ziman, and you can check out the synopsis below, courtesy of GoodReads:

 

 

A terrified single mother must travel through hell and back to clear her name and protect her children from their maniacal father. Kelly Jensen is only six years old when she witnesses her mother's murder and her father's wrongful conviction. Thrown into foster care, Kelly is both abused and neglected, and by age fifteen she is a runaway, relying on her street smarts to become a master at identity theft. Kelly accepts the marriage proposal of a man who she thinks can offer her a better life, only to fall victim to his vicious enslavement. Years later, estranged from her husband and struggling to support her children, Kelly becomes a suspect in the murder of her lover, a congressman. Defence attorney Jake Brooks finds Kelly irresistible, and his obsession leads him to risk his own career to help her. Together, the two uncover a sordid link among immoral foster care parents, high rollers in Vegas, politicians, Kelly's husband, and law enforcement itself. Kelly ultimately takes fate into her own hands - in the grey zone that exists outside the black-and-white world of the legal system.

And now for your teaser!

"I live here now" the woman replied in her thin voice. "But your husband touched my heart; he was a very special person." (pg. 91 of the ARC)

If you would like to buy this book, you can do so here: B&N/Amazon. Also, if you would like to visit the author's page (Daphna Edwards Ziman), just click *HERE*

As always, I would love to check out your teasers too, so make sure you leave a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in the comments!!

The White Devil by Justin Evans

Purchase this book from BN.com

A fierce and jealous ghost . . .
A young man's fight for his life . . .
The Harrow School is home to privileged adolescents known as much for their distinctive dress and traditions as for their arrogance and schoolboy cruelty. Seventeen-year-old American Andrew Taylor is enrolled in the esteemed British institution by his father, who hopes that the school's discipline will put some distance between his son and his troubled past in the States.
But trouble—and danger—seem to follow Andrew. When one of his schoolmates and friends dies mysteriously of a severe pulmonary illness, Andrew is blamed and is soon an outcast, spurned by nearly all his peers. And there is the pale, strange boy who begins to visit him at night. Either Andrew is losing his mind, or the house legend about his dormitory being haunted is true.
When the school's poet-in-residence, Piers Fawkes, is commissioned to write a play about Byron, one of Harrow's most famous alumni, he casts Andrew in the title role. Andrew begins to discover uncanny links between himself and the renowned poet. In his loneliness and isolation, Andrew becomes obsessed with Lord Byron's story and the poet's status not only as a literary genius and infamous seducer but as a student at the very different Harrow of two centuries prior—a place rife with violence, squalor, incurable diseases, and tormented love affairs.
When frightening and tragic events from that long-ago past start to recur in Harrow's present, and when the dark and deadly specter by whom Andrew's been haunted seems to be all too real, Andrew is forced to solve a two-hundred-year-old literary mystery that threatens the lives of his friends and his teachers—and, most terrifyingly, his own.

Review: I received this book as an ARC through Shelf Awareness. I thought it sounded interesting (I love a good ghost story), but I wasn't prepared for how much I would like this book! It was such a pleasant surprise; a book full mystery, intrigue, romance, and humor. Twists around every corner. Just like I like 'em!
When this book started out I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. The beginning is a little slow, with the main character Andrew getting adjusted to life at the esteemed Harrow school. His parents made him aware that this is his last chance; if he gets in trouble at this school they will cut all ties with him. He's kind of bitter for being sent to Europe, away from everything he knows into a very unfamiliar culture, but he also doesn't want to disappoint his parents so he tries his best. I definitely felt bad for Andrew, I can't imagine being sent overseas to a school where I didn't know anyone and where the things they say and do are very different from her in America. He's definitely singled out right away and some of the guys pick on him. On his tour through the building, he gets a weird feeling in the basement, an eerie feeling of someone else being in there with them. This is not the last time he feels this way throughout the book.
Piers Fawkes is the headmaster for Andrew's house, but is more interested in getting drunk than anything else. He's in process of writing a play about Lord Byron, the poet (who attended Harrow 200 years ago); he gets the shock of his life when he notices that Andrew, the American transfer, is a dead ringer for Lord Byron. Andrew is alerted about the play by the only girl at the all-boy school, Persephone Vine. She doesn't think he'll get the part of Byron, what with his very American accent, but she's intrigued by him because he's different. When one of his fellow housemates dies and Andrew starts seeing a ghost, Fawkes becomes more and more interested in him. With his feelings for Persephone growing along with his fear of the ghost that keeps visiting him, Andrew must find out what the ghost wants before it's too late.
I have to say, I loved the characters. They were very well developed; while the story mainly focused on Andrew's point of few, occasionally it switched to another character (most often Fawkes). Sometimes when books do this it really puts me off and irritates me. I thought it was well done here and the different points of view really enhanced the story. I really loved Persephone, she was such a tough chick. She didn't take any crap from Andrew or anybody else; I guess to be the only girl in an all-boy school you'd have to be tough and be able to take the mostly unwanted admiration and leers from the boys. I thought Fawkes was a great character too. I didn't like him too much at first, but when he became more involved with Andrew (after he confided in him about the ghost) I really started to see another side of him. That he actually was capable of caring about someone else's well-being.
I really liked the mystery of this book. Some of the twists I had figured out, some caught me completely by surprise. The main point is it kept me reading; when the story picked up it really took off and it was impossible to put down! And I'm not a huge fan of history but I liked learning about Lord Byron. I kept wondering how much of it was truth and how much fiction, so I looked him up just to see. It seems as though the part about Byron having relationships with other boys while at Harrow is true. There are also some question as to whether his relationship with his half-sister, Augusta, went beyond just being siblings. If you're interested in learning more about Lord Byron, you can click here. It's very interesting stuff!
The only thing I guess I didn't really like about the book was the ending. It seemed so abrupt that I just sat there thinking "Aww, is that it?" I guess I just expected more from the ending after the huge build-up to it. However, I still really enjoyed this book, more than I ever would have guessed. Even if you're not a huge fan of history (because I'm not), please give this book a chance. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised as well.

My rating: 4/5 stars

If you'd like to learn more about the author and his other works, please visit Justin Evan's page.

Daimon: A Prequel To Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Purchase as paperback, eBook (Nook or Kindle), or read for free HERE

For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals--pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards… and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that’s a good thing.

But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return--the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her.

Review: After reading so much about Half-Blood and "patiently" waiting for it to be released (September, WHY do you have to be so far away??), we were all graced with Daimon, which is the prequel to Half-Blood. I knew Daimon was going to be a free eBook, but I chose to buy it for my Nook. I definitely was not disappointed!
We are introduce to Alexandria "Alex" Andros, a half-blood. A half-blood is the child of a god and a mortal; they are very valuable because unlike pure-bloods, they can see daimons in their true form. For years Alex and her mom lived at the Covenant, with Alex training to one day fight the daimons. One day, however, her mom insists that they must run away and never come back. Alex has no idea why, but she trusts that her mom knows what is best for both of them.
Alex certainly doesn't fit in well in the mortal world. She tries her best to fit in and act normal, but when you're a trained fighter and know of the true evil in the world, you view everything differently. I felt for her, because she desperately wants to return to the Covenant to continue her training and be with people who understand her. And to have no idea why you can never return to your friends would be tough to bear; obviously she can't talk to her mortal friends about her previous life. So basically she has to keep everything bottled up inside, and besides her mom she has no one to confide in. Her mom seemed like a very loving, caring person and I'm sure she had a very good reason for leading them away from that life - and I'm DYING to know why!
Daimon was a great novella, plenty of action and humor throughout. It was like buying a full novel and reading the first few chapters then having it abruptly cut off. You turn the page thinking there must be more, PLEASE let there be more! But alas, we have to wait until September to buy Half-Blood to see what happens. I know some people don't like cliffhangers (and this one's a doozy, trust me), but it only adds to the suspense and makes you want to read Half-Blood that much more. Even if you aren't sure if you'll like it or not, what do you have to lose? It's FREE! Or if you're like me, support the author and buy the eBook ($0.99) or the paperback ($3.99). See above under the picture for the links. I promise, you won't be disappointed, so go check it out now!!

My rating: 5/5 stars

You can check out the official website for Half-Blood *HERE*. Also, if you would like to pre-order Half-Blood from BN.com, you can do that *HERE*.