Winners

I've had a few giveaways in the last few weeks that I haven't gotten a chance to announce the winners. So I'm going to do all the previous giveaways in this one post.

Winner of Back to the Stacks Giveaway-a-Thon:

#11 Kapri (Book Fanatics)

Congratulations Kapri, you will receive an ARC of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan and Swag

Winner of Guess The Book Cover:

#181 Grace (Words Like Silver)

Congratulations Grace, you will receive an ARC of Between by Jessica Warman (if you live in the US)

or an Amazon.com $10 giftcard (if you're international)

Winner of 400 Followers Giveaway (US portion):

#17 Heather (Proud Book Nerd)

Congratulations Heather,  you will receive an ARC of As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott, ARC of The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, an ARC of After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel, and an ARC of Fracture by Megan Miranda

Winner of 400 Followers Giveaway (International portion):

#31 Gwenyth (Rants N Scribbles)

Congratulations Gwenyth, you will receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card

I will be emailing the winners within the next 24 hours. You will have 48 hours to respond before I pick a new winner. Congratulations and thanks to everyone for entering!

In My Mailbox (Vlog)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Here is my In My Mailbox for the week (in vlog form). I hope you enjoy:





For Review:
Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Bloodborn by Karen Kincy
The Death Catchers by Jennifer Anne Kogler
Snapped by Laura Griffin

Traded:
(Ruby from Ruby Reads)
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Torment by Lauren Kate
The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Entwined by Heather Dixon

(Lena from Addicted to Novels)
Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Bought:
According to Jane by Marilyn Brant
Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
Stork by Wendy Delsol
After Midnight by Lynn Viehl
Loser Queen by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
The Flappers Vixen by Jillian Larkin
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston
Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty
Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty
Vanished by Meg Cabot
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Gravefinder by Melissa Marr
Friday Mornings at Nine by Marilyn Brant

Back to the Stacks Giveaway-a-thon

This lovely event is hosted by Andrea at Loud Words and Sounds and Kyleigh at Find a Bookmark. It's a giveaway-a-thon that celebrates the return to school. There will be a ton of prizes from 8am to 8pm that a few blogs are giving away-so stay tuned!

I am the last blog scheduled for the giveaways!

Here is what one person will win:

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan (ARC)

And some SWAG

To Enter:

You must live in the US

Leave a comment below with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win)

+1 follower of my blog, Smitten With Books (put +1 follower in comment)

GIVEAWAY ENDS: SUNDAY, AUGUST 21ST AT NOON (CST)

If you didn't already go to the other blogs for the giveaway-a-thon here is the list

(They are giving away some awesome prizes)

Autumn & Kari @ From the TBR Pile

Danya @ A Tapestry of Words
Kyleigh @ Can't Find a Bookmark

Leilani @ Leilani Loves Books

Mike @ The Subtle Chronicler

Morgan @ Smitten With Books

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Publication Date: September 7, 2009
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
In an explosion of his own making, Lucius blew his arms off. Now he has hooks. He chose hooks because they were cheaper. He chose hooks because he wouldn't outgrow them so quickly. He chose hooks so that everyone would know he was different, so he would scare even himself.


Then he meets Aurora. The hooks don't scare her. They don't keep her away. In fact, they don't make any difference at all to her.


But to Lucius, they mean everything. They remind him of the beast he is inside. Perhaps Aurora is his Beauty, destined to set his soul free from its suffering. Or maybe she's just a girl who needs love just like he does.

I really enjoyed this novel. The chapters switch between Aurora and Lucius's points of views which created a nice effect. Aurora has just lost her mother to cancer, and is starting at a new school. Lucius has just blown up his house along with his arms, and is starting new at the same school. While everyone treats Aurora with friendliness, Lucius is treated with contempt because of his hooks. Aurora is the only one who is nice to Lucius, who doesn't care about his appearance. Together they make a pair who understand each other and see the beauty that is hidden deep inside.

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed the story and the switching points of views, and I loved the character of Aurora. She's not one to judge on looks and she truly has a great personality and doesn't give into peer pressure.

Will I reread it?
I bet I'll come back to this book in time. It was cute and a nice fast read which I always like when looking for a pick-me-up. I recommend to fans of Beauty and the Beast.

Eve by Anna Carey

Eve by Anna Carey (ARC)
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
Versions: hardcover, kindle

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


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

Eve by Anna Carey is a brilliantly written novel that sticks with you after hours of reading. Eve is happy at school with her two best friends especially now that she's graduating from her all-girls school. She even receives the award for being one of the best students. But one night a rebellious girl that Eve's never really liked tells her the truth about the graduates. At first she doesn't believe that her whole life's been a lie, but when she see's for herself what they do to the graduates, she knows she needs to leave. So she sets off on a long journey to Califia, where she'll be safe from the hunters and police. On the way she meets Caleb who shows her what life and love truly is.

I've read numerous dystopian novels, so much that now I'm kind of sick of them. They all have the same formula and morals to the stories. The formula includes: a female character who has been lied to her whole life, then she usually escapes, meets a boy who teaches her what life is really about, usually they fall in love...etc. I'm not saying every dystopian novel has this formula but many do, including Eve. So I guess I was a little disappointed once I finished the novel-which ends the same as every other dystopian novel does.

Will I reread it?
Yes, when the sequel (yes, there will most likely be a sequel) comes out I'll reread Eve. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy Eve because I did, I just felt a sense of Deja Vu while reading the novel.Caleb is also a great character-very strong and exactly what Eve needs.

Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley

Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley
Publication Date: June 9, 2011
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Willow has spent most of her life as her mother's sidekick in a popular Las Vegas hypnotism show. So when she and her mom move back to their sleepy southern hometown to start over, she thinks she's in for a life of quiet normalcy. Except that her new life turns out to be anything but, when she kinda sorta hypnotizes Quinton, the hottest guy on the football team, to fall madly, deeply, head over heels in love with her. But what started as an innocent way to make her best friend, Max, jealous soon gets way out of hand, and Willow begins to wonder if the mind-and more importantly, the heart-is something you can really control.

I really enjoyed Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley. It starts out with Willow and her mom moving back to their hometown after nine years of living in Las Vegas. She finally gets to see Max again. Even though they kept in touch, it's not as good as seeing him in person. But what she does see is how much he's changed and her growing feelings for her best friend. But as a ploy to impress people turns into a huge mess when Willow hypnotizes a few people who need her help. She has to figure out a way to fix her hypnotizing problems and still find a way to get Max to look at her in a new light.

This was a really cute read. Willow's a great character. She has flaws, is somewhat insecure and is portrayed as being very real. Even though Willow rang true through out the story, I would have to say Max was my favorite character. He was so caring and considerate.

Will I reread it?
I bought this one on my kindle and am sure I'll be returning to it in the near future. I really enjoyed the idea of hypnosis as the major theme in the novel-which is very unique. The characters were also great and the writing was outstanding.

Princess Bookie Contest Craze Buttons

Princess Bookie is at it again. Contest Crave this year is going to be held in October and I can't wait. I created two buttons for the contest she is hosting over at her blog. You can find more information HERE

So what do you think?

R.A.K

After much thought, I have decided to participate in Random Acts of Kindness hosted by Book Soulmates for the month of August.

And to those who participate, Isalys and Vanessa, are graciously giving away a $20 Amazon.com gift card. You can go HERE for more information about the giveaway.

HERE IS MY R.A.K. WISHLIST (in case you're curious). I hope everyone has a wonderful August and keep in mind that every random act of kindness changes some persons world.

Saturday Swap (8/6)

Saturday Swap is hosted by Ruby at Ruby's Reads. It's a new meme to connect book swappers with other book swappers. This meme is posted on the first saturday of each month.

Here are the books I have to swap:


paperback:

• The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

arcs:

• Nocturne by Christine Johnson
• Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey 
• Eve by Anna Carey
• Demon Princess Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowen
• The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa
• Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart
• Across the Universe by Beth Revis
• Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen
• Hourglass by Claudia Gray
• Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian
• Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Please note: All these books were stored in a non-smoking house, but I do have pets (dogs and cats)

By trading, we are both in charge of our own shipping costs for sending the books to each other-we can talk about this more when you email me

HERE IS MY WISH LIST

If you're interested please email me here: smittenwithbooks (at) hotmail (dot) com

If you have a book that you think I might enjoy but isn't on my wish list-feel free to email me no matter what. I will accept anything (arcs, hardcover, paperback)

smittenwithbooks (at) hotmail (dot) com

Last Day for Giveaway Entries

Today is the last day to enter my 400 followers giveaway. So make sure you enter by midnight tonight. Enter HERE

And tomorrow is the last day to enter my Guess The Book Cover giveaway! So make sure you enter by midnight tomorrow. Enter HERE

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week.

Waiting on Wednesday

This is a weekly meme to show upcoming books you're pining for. It's hosted by Breaking The Spine. For more information or to link to your waiting on wednesday, go here.


This one Time with Julia by David Lampson
Publication Date: February 2, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill


Summary (from goodreads):
The story of Joe, a boy who can fall in love but can't grow up.


After Joe's parents died, he stopped growing up. He doesn't know where his money comes from. His diet consists primarily of cheeseburgers from McDonald's. He plays basketball on the level of a pro, but he has only ever played on the streets.


Then his brother disappears, and Julia shows up. Joe falls in love with Julia as quickly as his twin brother, Alvin, did. And like Alvin did before him, he runs away with Julia to her parents' hotel. There he's so blinded by her seductive, dysfunctional family that he can't see the truth of his brother's disappearance...until he accidentally stumbles upon Alvin's killer.


This story sounds so haunting and when I read the summary, it sent chills down my spine. What are you waiting for?

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (ARC)
Publication Date: November 8, 2011
Versions: hardcover

Summary (from goodreads):
Emily is sick and tired of being a middle sister. So when she gets an assignment to describe what she's change about a classic novel, Emily pounces on Little Women. After all, if she can't change things in her own family, maybe she can bring a little justice to the March sisters. (Kill off Beth? Have cute Laurie wind up with Amy instead of Jo? What was Louisa May Alcott thinking?!) But when Emily gets mysteriously transported into the world of the book, she discovers that righting fictional wrongs won't be easy. And after being immersed in a time and place so different from her own, it may be Emily-not the four March sisters-who undergoes the most surprising change of all. Lauren Baratz-Logsted's winning confection will appeal to fans of Little Women as well as anyone who enjoys a modern twist on an old favorite.

I'm sad to say that this wasn't my favorite novel. I was hoping that I would love it, but Emily, the main character, irritated and frustrated me. Emily is the middle sister, and she always gets left out and always gets the worst things. So when she is assigned to change one event in a novel, she chooses Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. She picks up the book and starts to re-read it but suddenly gets sucked in to the past. Emily is now the middle child of the March family and gets treated with indifference which irritates her. To get back to her life she has to save Beth from dying. But will she end up saving herself along the way, as well?

Like I stated, Emily wasn't my favorite character. She is supposedly supposed to be a freshman in high school but acted like a 6th grader with her attitude. The story didn't ring true to me in a way, which I hoped it would. But it was really cute, and half way through I started to enjoy it more.

Will I reread it?
Probably not but I don't want to discourage anyone else from taking a chance on Little Women and Me. I would recommend to fans of Little Women and classic novel retellings.