All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Title: All These Things I've Done

Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 88% or B+
Buy It: Amazon

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.

My Thoughts::
I'll let you know right now why I didn't jump on this book the first chance that I got, and that is that I wanted to listen to the audio book..and that's a bit daunting. It takes a lot for me to just concentrate on sound, so I had to be ONLY listening to the audio book to actually comprehend it.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this book. I know that I like it...but I feel a bit mislead as well. Sometimes I forget what the book it about, and am surprised or confused when certain things in the book don't or do happen. That wasn't the case here. I read the summary before read, and even during because of the confusion. So much emphasis is put on Anya being torn between the illegal lifestyle her family lives, and the safe route, but this barely came up at all until the end. During the entire book Anya was actually dead set against that lifestyle. Thankfully for me, I'm used to forgetting what a book is supposed to be about, so this didn't bother me much.

Zevin did a great job of creating this new world for us to learn about. Though, that is the key word: learn. We didn't get to learn about this future, we only got to be told about it, barely any explanations were given. I do have hope though, this IS only book one. In the next book the problems from above will probably be corrected. I just get so excited about future societies, that I expected a whole bunch out of this book.

One thing Zevin did perfectly? Our lovely characters and their development. Somehow, we get to meet at least 5 characters that grow and develop throughout the story, and we love them all! Characters are always my biggest complaint in books, but I have none here.

I both read and listened to the audio of this book. I absolutely loved the speaker. She perfectly captured Anya's voice in my opinion. The transistions and conversations between characters were easy to follow and just plain excellent. Her voive was clear and very understandable which is exactly what I look for in an audio book.

Overall I think that there were a couple of weak points that will be addressed in the next book, but it was a very enjoyable reader nevertheless. I would recommend this book to fans of books set in the future and chocolate lovers of course!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota--and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life.…

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.

Gone by Lisa McMann

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she’d made her peace with it. But she can’t handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He’s amazing. And she’s a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves—she has to disappear. And it’s going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life—and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she’d ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out....

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.
the loss.

Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf while denying the ties of a human.

the linger.

For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life is a constant struggle between two forces--wolf and human--with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now. Click the links to enter them. I will hold my own contest each month.

Win a copy of The Near Witch HERE. Ends 10/30

Win a copy of Article 5 HERE. Ends 10/31

Win a copy of Fury HERE. Ends 10/31

Win a copy of Silence HERE. Ends 10/31

Win a copy of Crossroads HERE. Ends 11/2

Win a copy of Beautiful Chaos HERE. Ends 11/4

Win a copy of Anna Dressed in Blood HERE. Ends 11/5

Win a copy of Next Door Boys HERE. Ends 11/7

Win a copy of Damage HERE. Ends 11/8

Win a copy of Dark Inside HERE. Ends 11/8

Win a copy of Frost HERE. Ends 11/8

Win a copy of Everything We Ever Wanted HERE. Ends 11/9

Win a copy of Graffiti Moon HERE. Ends 11/20

Book Trailer+Giveaway: Destined

In case you're stuck in the dark ages, and haven't been keeping up with the House of Night Series, here's a book trailer for the newest book titled, Destined.

Did you like it? If so, today's your lucky day! I was given the opportunity from Zeitghost Media to hold a giveaway for a copy! Check below for how to enter!

 

To Enter::

• 1 (one) person will win and receive a copy of Destined sent from Zeitghost Media.
• Giveaway ends November 5th at midnight. Winner will be announced on the 6th. I will email the winner, and if within 48 hours they don't reply with their address, a new winner will be chosen.
• Must be 13 years or older to enter
• US/Canada only

 ENTER HERE

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Title: Sweetly

Author: Jackson Pearce
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 84% or B
Buy It: Amazon

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone -- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. 
Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

My Thoughts::
For some reason this book took me incredibly too long to get into. I was under the impression that this was some sort of retelling of Hansel and Gretel, so I kept looking for similarities and only finding little. By the middle of the book, I realized that I was a bit off and was able to read the rest of the book in one sitting.

Once I saw what the story was about, I got really into it. There was a lot of mystery surrounding several areas, and I honestly had no clue what the answers to my questions would be. Information was revealed slowly, but not in a way that made the book boring or stretched out. It was very timely and kept me at the edge of my seat. I can usually predict endings or parts of what will happen, but this time I wasn't able to. Pearce twisted and turned my theories into something unimaginable, and I had to gasp each time a new piece of information was revealed, and of course at the big reveal in the end.

Ansel played a much smaller and insignificant part of the story, and that disappointed me. There were so many points where I thought he would make a wrong turn, or piss me off with a decision, but he never did anything of interest. He was just too darn perfect. I would rather hate a character than feel nothing or be annoyed by them. Gretchen, on the other hand, was just about the only character that we get to know in entirety. At times she seemed a little blind at what was going on, and at others she seemed paranoid. This was inconsistent for her character but I believe it made her character more unpredictable, which was a good thing. Ooooh and Samuel...enough said. He's your typical swoon worthy, loner type.

Overall I was impressed with the thought and ideas put into this book, though the characters could have used some work and originality. I would recommend this book to lovers of big twists on classic fairytales or just enjoys a good climatic mystery.

Waiting on Wednesday

The books that I am waiting on this week are...

Above World by Jenn Reese-- February 14th

 Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony’s survival is in doubt. The Kampii’s breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people.

But can Aluna’s warrior spirit and Hoku’s tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt—growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains—here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true.

Revived by Cat Patrick-- May 8th
 
As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Read During Halloween

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's top ten is....

 Top Ten Books To Read During Halloween. In no particular order....

1. Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan
2. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
3. The Devouring by Simon Holt
4. Ash by Malinda Lo
5. Wake by Lisa McMann
6. Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
7. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
8. Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
9. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
10. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my small part of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop! I signed up on I Am A Reader, Not a Writer.

The Hop is going to last from October 24th to October 31st. Check out the bottom of this post for the list of all of the other blogs participating!

My Giveaway::

I decided to go with a bit of a paranormal read, so I am giving away a copy of Lily Dale: Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub. Here is a summary..

Calla thought that her boyfriend breaking up with her in a text message was the worst thing that could ever happen to her. But just two weeks later, her mother died in a freak accident, and life as she knew it was completely over. With her father heading to California for a new job, they decide that Calla should spend a few weeks with the grandmother she barely knows while he gets them set up.

To Calla's shock, her mother's hometown of Lily Dale is a town full of psychics--including her grandmother. Suddenly, the fact that her mother never talked about her past takes on more mysterious overtones. The longer she stays in town, the stranger things become, as Calla starts to experience unusual and unsettling events that lead her to wonder whether she has inherited her grandmother's unique gift. Is it this gift that is making her suspect that her mother's death was more than an accident, or is it just an overactive imagination? Staying in Lily Dale is the only way to uncover the truth. But will Calla be able to deal with what she learns about her mother's past and her own future?

To Enter::

• 1 (one) person will win and receive a copy of Lily Dale: Awakening.
• Giveaway ends October 31st at midnight. Winner will be announced on the 1st. I will email the winner, and if within 48 hours they don't reply with their address, a new winner will be chosen.
• Allow about 3 weeks to receive your prize.
• Must be 13 years or older to enter
• US only

ENTER HERE

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz

After their beautiful yet brief bonding ceremony in Italy, Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force are forced to separate. To fulfill the Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler travels to Alexandria to search for Catherine of Siena and the Gate of Promise. But Schuyler quickly discovers that everything she believed about the Gate to be wrong. Meanwhile, Jack makes the difficult decision to return to New York to face his twin and former bondmate, Mimi. But instead of a bitter reunion, he is faced with a choice for which there is no good option.

Mimi, with a most unexpected travel companion in Oliver Hazard-Perry, jets off to Egypt, too, to search for Kingsley Martin, her long lost love. With all roads leading to Hell, Mimi learns that not all love stories have happy endings. But she'll have to put her own feelings aside if she's going to save her crumbling Coven.

Far from You by Lisa Schroeder

Lost and alone...Down the rabbit hole. Alice thought she knew
what solitude was:
Her mother—gone.
Her father—remarried with a newborn
daughter.
Now...
Trapped
in the icy embrace
of a deadly snowstorm,
Alice faces the true meaning of loneliness.
But hope
may not be as far away
as she thinks....

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now. Click the links to enter them. I will hold my own contest each month.

Win 3 books by Adele Griffin HERE. Ends 10/23

Win a copy of Dead of Night HERE. Ends 10/24

Win a copy of The Heavenly Surrender HERE. Ends 10/24

Win a copy of The Beginning of After HERE. Ends 10/25

Win a copy of Hooked HERE. Ends 10/25

Win a copy of Possess HERE. Ends 10/26

Win a copy of The Near Witch HERE. Ends 10/30

Win a copy of Article 5 HERE. Ends 10/31

Win a copy of Fury HERE. Ends 10/31

Win a copy of Silence HERE. Ends 10/31

Win a copy of Crossroads HERE. Ends 11/2

Win a copy of Anna Dressed in Blood HERE. Ends 11/5

Win a copy of Next Door Boys HERE. Ends 11/7

Win a copy of Everything We Ever Wanted HERE. Ends 11/9
Win a copy of Graffiti Moon HERE. Ends 11/20

The Shattering by Karen Healey

Title: The Shattering

Author: Karen Healey
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 86% or B
Buy It: Amazon

Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers.

As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year's Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most.

As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

My Thoughts::
When I got the offer to read this book, I couldn't help but to take it right away. I really enjoyed Guardian of the Dead and a lot of the culture that it brought to the table. As usual, I thought it took forever for me to finally get to it.

I mentioned on a recent review about how authors have been using the same traits in characters or other aspects throughout their other books. With this author it is the Maori and New Zealand culture as well as the myths that go along with them. Like I said, this isn't a huge problem. I love learning about new cultures, and this book offered it thoroughly.

The book really blew me away more than I expected it to. I had normal expectations, but I wasn't super pumped to read it. Even though I enjoyed Guardian of the Dead, I expected it to be completely different. So, before I know it, this book isn't just about a girl grieving about her dead brother, but an entire town conspiracy that involves....witches. Or at least witchcraft. Yes, you read that right. All of you are getting to know how much I've been enjoying them, and that was like my sprinkles on this book cupcake.

When I started reading, I didn't really like the characters. They seemed a bit boring and I thought that I would tire of them quickly, making the book hard to get through. But after two go-arounds for each character, I couldn't get enough. I always love it when books change perspective because I feel like I get to see all sides of the story. It's also nice to know some things that other characters don't, but would be really great if they did.

Overall I think The Shattering brought a lot of interesting things to the table, and served me a mystery with a heart wrenching twist thrown in at the end. I would recommend this book to fans of the Maori culture, or just enjoy a good puzzler of a mystery that you won't guess right away.

Winter Town by Stephen Emond

Title: Winter Town

Author: Stephen Emond
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 75% or C
Buy It: Amazon

Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off.

Garden State meets Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist in this funny and poignant illustrated novel about opposites who fall in love. 

My Thoughts::
After reading Happyface by the same author, I was able to read a short excerpt from this book and automatically got very curious. Unfortunately when I received it for review, it had to go to the bottom of my review pile, because I like to play fair and read books in the order that I receive them. But I read as fast as I could and finally got to it.

Once again our main character is an artist. Now, here is something that I've been noticing after reading several books from the same authors, most of their main characters have the same traits in each book, for Emond, it's the quiet artistic type. I'm not exactly complaining here, because I like that kind of character, but it does seem kind of lazy on the author's part. Besides the double vision I got, I really enjoyed Evan's character. He was nice and sweet, but also had a good amount of humor and teenaged angst to make him more interesting. Usually when books have more than one narrator, they switch chapters back and forth between them, but instead the first half is Evan, and the second half is Lucy's. I found this very cool because we don't automatically get to learn Lucy's motives and feelings, we have to wait for them.

I usually read books with a very strong plot, and that focus less on character development, but this book had the opposite. I found myself bored, but cared greatly about the characters and the eventual outcome. Though, I don't think that this is enough to carry a book.

Overall, Winter Town wasn't a very interesting read, but managed to capture part of my heart with it's characters. I would recommend this book to readers who like a simple sweet winter read, or just like seeing art in books.

Waiting on Wednesday

The books that I am waiting on this week are...


Insurgent by Veronica Roth-- May 28th

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. 


Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. 

After the Snow by S.D. Crockett-- 2012

2059. The snow begins to fall. Only the few are prepared. A new ice-age has begun.

Born after the snows, fifteen-year-old straggler kid Willo Blake has never known a life outside hunting and trapping in the hills. When his family mysteriously disappears, leaving him alone on a freezing mountain, Willo sets off into the unknown to find them.

Meanwhile, across Britain, outlawed followers of survivalist John Blovyn are planning an escape to the fabled Islands talked of in a revolutionary book.

When Willo meets an abandoned girl on his trek across the hills, his world collides with outlaws and halfmen on an epic journey that leads him to the new world of the city - a place where the dog spirit inside his head cannot help him.

It is a journey of betrayal and violence. A journey of awakening love and humanity. A journey that changes everything he ever thought he knew.

Top Ten Tuesday: Titles and Covers that Enticed Me to Buy

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's top ten is....

Top Ten Books That Whose Titles Or Covers Made Me Buy It

1. Gone by Michael Grant
2. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
3. Sisters in Sanity by Gayle Forman
4. Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles
5. Paper Towns by John Green
6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
7. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
8. Under the Dome by Stephen King
9. Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
10. You, Maybe by Rachel Vail

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Acquired: Borrowed
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 96% or A
Buy It: Amazon

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My Thoughts::
I'll be the first to admit it. I was a little apprehensive to start this book. I loved The Mortal Instruments Series soooooo much, and even though these new Infernal Devices books would have the same ideas involved, I wasn't sure if I'd love them as much with Jace and Clary. But I went into the book with an open mind and put my confidence in Cassandra Clare to whip out another great novel.

The entire plot was very intriguing. Right from the beginning I was wrapped up into what was going on. This author really knows how to suck somebody into a story. There were a lot of different little aspects of the book that when combined, made it even better. I can sense a lot of story and mystery that was involved in this first book, that will be explored in the next one. The clockwork angel for example, and Will's mysterious past that we only get a glimpse of and what makes for the incredible cliffhanger at the end. And of course, there was the pretty huge twist during the climax of the book, which I won't spoil.

I shouldn't have worried about liking the characters, because that wasn't a problem at all. Tessa was incredible, but not TOO incredible, you know what I mean? Frequently we meet characters that believe they are soooo flawed, but everyone loves them. Tessa was flawed, she knew it, but she didn't try to make me feel sorry for her, and they were actual flaws. No one looooooved Tessa because she is so amazing, but they did appreciate and like what she brought to the table. Do I even have to mention how much I loved Jem? Ahhhhh, time to swoon. Sadly, Tessa seems to be going for the bad boy, Will. Not a problem there, he is pretty swoon worthy in his own right.

Overall Clockwork Angel was an amazing start to a new series. I found myself looking for connections between the two series, which was a little bothersome because I read the first 3 books a while ago, anyone want to compile a list? I would recommend this book to those who loved the Mortal Instruments, or just anyone who wants a fresh view of  London during Queen Victoria's reign.

Winner: My Life Undecided

And the winner of My Life Undecided is.....

Ricki @ Reading Challenged

Congrats Ricki! I have already e-mailed you. If you don't reply within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

Nothing this week, but I'm expecting some things next week! 

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now. Click the links to enter them. I will hold my own contest each month.

Win a copy of After Obsession HERE. Ends TODAY

Win a copy of Unforgettable HERE. Ends TODAY

Win a copy of The Vision HERE. Ends 10/16

Win a copy of Beautifully Broken HERE. Ends 10/16

Win Touch of Frost HERE. Ends 10/16

Win a copy of Witchlanders HERE. Ends 10/16

Win a copy of Wedlocked HERE. Ends 10/17

Win a copy of Slide HERE. Ends 10/19

Win a copy of Virtuosity HERE. Ends 10/19

Win a copy of Always a Witch HERE. Ends 10/19

Win a copy of Remembrance HERE. Ends 10/20

Win a copy of Afterlife: The Academy HERE. Ends 10/20

Win a copy of Unleashed HERE. Ends 10/21

Win a copy of Forbidden HERE. Ends 10/21

Win 3 books by Adele Griffin HERE. Ends 10/23

Win a copy of Dead of Night HERE. Ends 10/24

Win a copy of The Heavenly Surrender HERE. Ends 10/24

Win a copy of The Beginning of After HERE. Ends 10/25

Win a copy of Possess HERE. Ends 10/26

Win a copy of Crossroads HERE. Ends 11/2

Win a copy of Anna Dressed in Blood HERE. Ends 11/5

Win a copy of Next Door Boys HERE. Ends 11/7

Win a copy of Graffiti Moon HERE. Ends 11/20

To the Cinema! #7

This post is similar to a Waiting on Wednesday post, but will only feature MOVIES that I am excited about releasing. I will include trailers for your viewing pleasure. I'll probably only do this monthly so it doesn't push out reviews that I need to post.

Trespass

Jack and Jill

New Year's Eve

Night World No. 2 by L.J. Smith

Title: Night World No.2

Author: L.J. Smith
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Acquired: Borrowed from friend
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 80% or B-
Buy It: Amazon

Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters — they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World

In Dark Angel, Gillian is saved from drowning by her guardian angel. Only visible to Gillian, Angel will fulfill her heart's every desire. But when Angel starts making strange and sinister requests, Gillian must question who he truly is and where he came from.

Armed with a wooden stake, martial arts, and the will to resist a vampire's mind control, Rashel struggles to avenge her mother's death in The Chosen. Then she meets Quinn, her soulmate, who is part of the world she has vowed to destroy.

Hannah receives notes warning her of incredible danger in Soulmate. But if death is her destiny, is the Lord of the Night World's love strong enough to save her?

My Thoughts::
I was under the impression that you didn't have to read these volumes in any particular order, so I just jumped in on volume two so I could check it out. The volume included three books called Soulmate, The Chosen, and Dark Angel. I'm going to review the volume as a whole instead of each book separately.

All of the books carried out some common themes, especially the idea of soulmates. Now, in literature I don't really mind this concept, but it was absolutely pounded into the books. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at certain points because the cuteness and loveyness was bordering on cliched romance. And nothing bothers me more than that. I'm all for love stories, I really am, but when you add the soulmates element it destroys the getting to know you time which makes the relationship seem fake and unrealistic. Though, when I got past those few bumps, I had to "awwwww" at some parts.

I really liked the whole Night World concept. Most books and authors are forced to limit themselves to one or two types of otherworldly creatures, but everything can exist in these books. One of my favorites would have to be witches. I've been seeing them more lately in books and I can only hope that they are making a comeback. The rest of the supernatural beings are sort of explored as well, but we mostly just get a taste of vampires.

Overall I think the ideas in the books were good, but the romance elements were a little weak. I would recommend this book to someone who loves hardcore, head over heels, soulmate love, or someone who just wants a taste of the supernatural world.

Waiting on Wednesday

The books that I am waiting on this week are....

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid-- July 10th

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie-- June 5th

Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky. She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal. And Jena is wasting away. To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives. Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one. Someone like Jena. But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization. Maybe she doesn’t have nine lives after all. Maybe she really only ever had one.

Winner: Contest Craze Zombie Challenge

And the winner of the Zombie Survival Contest Craze Mini-Challenge (copy of Witches of East End) is.....

Rebecca V from Lost in a Bookstore!

Congrats Rebecca! I have already e-mailed you. If you don't reply within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for My Life Undecided HERE. Ends 10/16.

Top Ten Tuesday: I Could Read Again For the First Time

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's top ten is....

Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again For The First Time. In no particular order...

1. The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
2. Gone Michael Grant
3. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
4. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
5. Looking for Alaska by John Green
6. Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
7. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
8. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
9. Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster
10. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

Title: Girl Parts

Author: John M. Cusick
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Acquired: Borrowed
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 86% or B
Buy It: Amazon

David and Charlie are opposites. David has a million friends, online and off. Charlie is a soulful outsider, off the grid completely. But neither feels close to anybody. When David’s parents present him with a hot Companion bot designed to encourage healthy bonds and treat his “dissociative disorder,” he can’t get enough of luscious redheaded Rose — and he can’t get it soon. Companions come with strict intimacy protocols, and whenever he tries anything, David gets an electric shock. Parted from the boy she was built to love, Rose turns to Charlie, who finds he can open up, knowing Rose isn’t real. With Charlie’s help, the ideal “companion” is about to become her own best friend. In a stunning and hilarious debut, John Cusick takes rollicking aim at internet culture and our craving for meaningful connection in an uberconnected world.

My Thoughts:
My friend bought this book almost a year ago and ever since it has been in the back of my mind waiting to be borrowed. Fortunately, for our yearly reading competition she chose it for me to read, so I didn't have to ask for it, and had a very good reason to read it.

The two main characters in this novel were so very different. Not only with their lifestyle and activities, but with their beliefs. Seeing how different they are also makes us realize how similar their problems are. Neither of them can connect themselves with other people, and that's what the novel is showing. A solution to our increasingly unconnected world. I loved both of these characters for extremely different reasons, and they both turned out very differently than I expected in the end.

The whole concept of this book was really interesting and original. I love reading books that are taking place in the future because the smallest details to the largest details can be completely made up and not be explained. It also gives the author a chance to "invent" some new things that they'd love to exist. So even the slower parts of the novel were interesting because it was full of new technology and talked about a world that doesn't exist to me.

Overall I think Girl Parts inserted good characters into an interesting world with a great storyline. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves books about the future or just likes to read about a love triangle...even if the girl isn't "real".

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged.

Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods.
Won't you come inside?

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now. Click the links to enter them. I will hold my own contest each month.

Win a box of books HERE. Ends 10/11

Win a 2012 book of your choice HERE. Ends 10/13

Win a copy of My Life Undecided HERE. Ends 10/13

Win a copy of Shrouded Secrets HERE. Ends 10/14

Win a copy of After Obsession HERE. Ends 10/15

Win a copy of Unforgettable HERE. Ends 10/15

Win a copy of Beautifully Broken HERE. Ends 10/16

Win Touch of Frost HERE. Ends 10/16

Win a copy of Witchlanders HERE. Ends 10/16

Win a copy of Wedlocked HERE. Ends 10/17

Win a copy of Slide HERE. Ends 10/19

Win a copy of Unleashed HERE. Ends 10/21

Win a copy of The Heavenly Surrender HERE. Ends 10/24

Win a copy of Graffiti Moon HERE. Ends 11/20

Book Trailer+Giveaway: My Life Undecided

In case you haven't heard of the book My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody, here is a book trailer to show you how fantastic it looks!

Did you like it? If so, today's your lucky day! I was given the opportunity from Zeitghost Media to hold a giveaway for a copy! Check below for how to enter!

To Enter::

• 1 (one) person will win and receive a copy of My Life Undecided sent from Zeitghost Media.
• Giveaway ends October 15th at midnight. Winner will be announced on the 16th. I will email the winner, and if within 48 hours they don't reply with their address, a new winner will be chosen.
• Must be 13 years or older to enter
• US/Canada only

ENTER HERE

Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

Title: Circle of Fire

Author: Michelle Zink
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Acquired: Received free for an honest review
Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: 88% or B+
Buy It: Amazon

With time dwindling but her will to end the Prophecy stronger than ever, Lia sets out on a journey to find the remaining keys, locate the missing pages of the Prophecy, and convince her sister Alice to help--or risk her life trying. Lia has her beloved Dimitri by her side, but Alice has James, the man who once loved her sister--and maybe still does. James doesn't know the truth about either sister, or the prophecy that divides them. And Alice intends to keep it that way.

There are some secrets sisters aren't meant to share. Because when they do, it destroys them. This stunning conclusion to Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy will make saying good-bye bittersweet for readers.

My Thoughts::
I remember when I started this trilogy. It was near the beginning of my Sophomore year and I read it because I was allowed to choose any fiction book to journal about, and I chose Prophecy of the Sisters. Then during my Junior year I read Guardian of the Gate, and now...my Senior year, I finished it off by reading Circle of Fire. It's hard to believe that I've been thinking about these books for that long!

One thing that I really like about trilogies and series, is that the characters get a chance to grow over time and it seems natural. Instead of them becoming suddenly different, we get to see the transition. That's what we got with these books. Character growth over time will ALL of the characters, not just one or two. Speaking of the characters, I can honestly say that I loved them all. No exceptions. Even if they were "bad" or "evil", I still loved them. They just came across so real and I could understand their motives.

I feel like the story flowed perfectly. They weren't just randomly split into three books, I can see why they were split up the way they were. This last book details the last leg of the journey and it was so amazing! I really felt like I was trying to figure out the prophecy with them the entire time. At certain points, I thought I had, and I few times I was right! The last book went above and beyond where the other two went. I suppose this was because we finally learn everything about the prophecy, and which side wins in the end. This was one of the best unconventional mystery books that I've ever read. Because this mystery wasn't easily predicted, it was a brain teaser infused with history.

Overall I had a great time reading this trilogy, so I am both happy and sad that it's over. The characters were real and developed perfectly, and the setting is just remarkable! I'd recommend these books to anyone who enjoys history, romance, mysteries, or prophecies.

Waiting on Wednesday

The books that I am waiting on this week are....

This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summer-- June 2012

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.

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe-- January 24th

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Left My Mouth Hanging Open

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's top ten is....

Top Ten Book Endings That Left Me With My Mouth Hanging Open (because of the cliffhanger or because it the ending was MINDBLOWING, etc.) In no particular order...

1. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock
4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
5. Lies by Michael Grant
6. Soulstice by Simon Holt
7. Unbelievable by Sara Shepard
8. Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
9. Sins of the Mother by Tara Hyland
10. Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

September in Review

I read 10 books this month (you can check them all out in read in 2011 page)

I reviewed 5 :
Josefina's Sin by Claudia H. Long
Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey
Dark Parties by Sara Grant
Ashfall by Mike Mullin
Sins of the Mother by Tara Hyland

I reviewed 2 movies this month:
Life as We Know It
Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Challenges so far:

I listened to 3/6 audio books for the 2011 audio book challenge

I read 60/100 books towards my personal goal

Blog Changes:

I added a button for RAK. I also changed my blogger photo for the first time since I started blogging to a cute little icon that matches my blog.

Overall:
I got behind on my reading but caught up at the last minute, unfortunately I still haven't listened to another audio book, but I have one in my possession. I held a good amount of giveaways this month and boosted my follower count to almost 400!

This month I hope to get passed 72 books read and listen to an audio book.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a post where I tell you the books that I received this week either by buying them from the bookstore, going to the library or from my mailbox. In My Mailbox was inspired by Alea and turned into a meme by Kristi.

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

Jill MacSweeny just wishes everything could go back to normal. But ever since her dad died, she's been isolating herself from her boyfriend, her best friends--everyone who wants to support her. And when her mom decides to adopt a baby, it feels like she's somehow trying to replace a lost family member with a new one.

Mandy Kalinowski understands what it's like to grow up unwanted--to be raised by a mother who never intended to have a child. So when Mandy becomes pregnant, one thing she's sure of is that she wants a better life for her baby. It's harder to be sure of herself. Will she ever find someone to care for her, too?

As their worlds change around them, Jill and Mandy must learn to both let go and hold on, and that nothing is as easy--or as difficult--as it seems.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

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.

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (Audio Book)

The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Still, there’s a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

Suddenly, Waverly’s dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable – a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizon’s leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.

Contest Saturday

Here are some contests that are currently going on right now. Click the links to enter them. I will hold my own contest each month.

Win a copy of Dark Mirror HERE. Ends 10/4

Win a copy of Reckless HERE. Ends 10/5

Win a copy of Eve HERE. Ends 10/6

Win a copy of The Faerie Ring HERE. Ends 10/7

Win a 2012 book of your choice HERE. Ends 10/13

Win a copy of Shrouded Secrets HERE. Ends 10/14

Win a copy of After Obsession HERE. Ends 10/15

Win a copy of Unforgettable HERE. Ends 10/15

Win a copy of Beautifully Broken HERE. Ends 10/16

Win a copy of Wedlocked HERE. Ends 10/17

Win a copy of The Heavenly Surrender HERE. Ends 10/24

Win a copy of Graffiti Moon HERE. Ends 11/20

Win the Crank Trilogy HERE. Ends UNKNOWN

Win a copy of J'Adore New York HERE. Ends UNKNOWN