Smitten With Books

Read-a-Thon: CANCELLED!!!!!

2011-10-06T19:47:00.000-05:00

Under much consideration, I have decided to cancel the Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon. Only ten people signed up total (including myself) and I don't think it would be worth it with just that amount of people.

I'm so sorry to everyone who was looking forward to it, and for telling you guys so late. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and if you want to join a read-a-thon, My Shelf Confessions is hosting the Wonderfully Wicked Read-a-Thon from October 21 to October 23. If you want more info go here.

Recreate A Cover Contest (Princess Bookie)

2011-09-28T23:37:00.001-05:00

Right now I'm really busy with school and I just got a new job (my first job) so I'm pretty busy. But I took some time out of studying to recreate a cover for Princess Bookie's Contest Craze. I love doing these, and so I came up with a cover design for: Everneath by Brodi Ashton.

Here is the original cover:

And then here is the cover I created (I hope you like it!):

photo credit: http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=boy%20and%20girl&order=9&offset=48#/dzpjcl

I hope everyone is having fun with Contest Craze!

Prizes for Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon

2011-09-23T19:03:00.000-05:00

Here are the prizes for the Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon (this list may change at any time):

1.) Pure by Julianna Baggott (ARC) + swag
2.) Fracture by Megan Mirandad (ARC) + swag
3.) Across the Universe by Beth Revis (ARC) + swag
4.) Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (paperback) + swag
5.) Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston (paperback) + swag
6.) Never Bite a Boy on the First Date by Tamara Summers (paperback) + swag
7.) Dark Guardian #1: Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne (paperback) + swag
8.) $10 Amazon.com e-gift card
9.) $10 Amazon.com e-gift card
10.) $10 Amazon.com e-gift card

Here are the blogs signed up to do mini challenges for the Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon (this list may change at any time):

1.) Memrie @ DarkAngel88
2.) Alexa @ Pages of Forbidden Love
3.) Jess @ From Me to You...Video, Photography, & Book Reviews
4.) Zoey @ Zoey's Uncreatively Titled Blog

The Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon starts on October 7th at 5pm (central time) and will end on October 9th at 11:59 pm (central time). This will be a 55 hour event with many giveaways and mini challenges. For more information and to sign up to participate go to this BLOG POST. To participate, all you have to do is add your blog link to the linkey on the BLOG POST. And if you want to host a mini challenge during this read-a-thon you can fill out the form on the BLOG POST.

Thank again everyone! I will be posting further information about the Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon when the date comes closer.

Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon Sign Ups

2011-09-19T19:14:00.001-05:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and Read-a-Thons are one of my favorite blog events. So, I am putting them together and hosting the...

Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon

October 7th - October 9th

This read-a-thon will start on October 7th at 5pm (central time) and will end on October 9th at 11:59 pm (central time). This will be a 55 hour event! I hope everyone signs up and has a wonderful time.

There will be lots of giveaways and mini-challenges!

Rules:

1.) Sign up using the linkey below with your name and blog

ex: Morgan @ Smitten With Books

2.) You must create a starting post (on October 7th) before you start the read-a-thon stating which books you hope to get through.

3.) You must create an Update post after each day. There will be 3 total (one for Friday night, one for Saturday Night, and one for Sunday night). The one for Sunday night will also be the read-a-thon ending post where you can state which books you have read.

4.) You don't have to read Halloween influenced/scary books. You can read anything you want, but if you want to stick around the Halloween theme, go ahead!

You can also create a blog post right now, letting everyone know you will be apart of this read-a-thon!

Just grab the button and post it in your blog post or on your sidebar. Here is the Scaredy Books Read-a-Thon button:

I will be hosting many mini challenges where you can win books and swag. I am also giving the opportunity for those interested to host mini challenges on their own blogs. I just ask that those of you who do sign up to host a mini challenge on your blog, to please supply the books, swag, or giftcards for the mini challenges.

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Sign up using the linkey below to participate in this read-a-thon! Thank you everyone who participates and/or hosts a mini challenge on their own blogs. I really appreciate it. I will be updating about the read-a-thon when the date becomes closer!

Contest Craze Mini Challenge: Top 5 Books

2011-09-17T16:44:00.000-05:00

Contest Craze (Hosted by Princess Bookie) has finally started and today marks the day for the first mini challenge!

2012 Releases That I'm Most Looking Forward To

1. The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

This is the third novel in The Body Finder series. I can't wait to find out how Violet and Jay's relationship continues!

2. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

This is the second novel in The Delirium series. The ending of Delirium had a super duper cliff hanger so can't wait to see how everything pans out.

3. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

I love Kimberly Derting (see number 1) and am excited to read a book that isn't in her Body Finder series.

4.) In Too Deep by Mandy Hubbard (written as Amanda Grace). I'm in love with Mandy's You Wish novel, and haven't gotten an opportunity to read any of her other published work. I think I'll kick it off with this one.

5.) Dangerous Boy by Mandy Hubbard. I love bad boys and this sounds like a bad-boyish novel, so what's not to love? Very excited for this release, out in the summer of 2012.

Squeaky Books Giveaway! Birthday Bash 2011!

2011-09-15T11:17:00.001-05:00

I'm hosting a contest as part of

Enna Isilee's Birthday Bash 2011

Presented by Squeaky Books

From August 22nd until September 22nd Enna Isilee at Squeaky Books is having a HUGE bash to celebrate her birthday! There’s a giveaway nearly EVERY DAY, tons of author interviews, and guest posts from a bunch different YA book bloggers. And I get to host a contest!

I get to give away a copy of Plain Kate by Erin Bow! Entering is simple, just fill out the form (with optional bonus entries). You have until September 21st at 11:59 MST to enter. All winners will be announced on Enna Isilee's birthday (September 22nd) on Enna Isilee's blog (Squeaky Books). And today, Ennalee interviewed Erin at Squeaky Books. You should totally go check it out.

Want to know more about Plain Kate? Click here!

Without further ado, enter to win! Click below.

Open To US Only
Click here to enter

Snapped by Laura Griffin

2011-09-13T18:18:00.000-05:00

Snapped by Laura Griffin
Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Pocket Star
Versions: paperback kindle
Received from: publisher

Summary (from back of book):

Sophie Barrett thinks she's lucky to be alive.

She may be dead wrong.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, Sophie Barrett walks into a nightmare. A sniper has opened fire on a college campus. When the carnage is over, three people-plus the shooter-are dead and dozens more are injured. Sophie escapes virtually unscathed. Yet as details emerge from the investigation, she becomes convinced that this wasn't the random, senseless act it appeared to be. No one wants to believe her-not the cops, not her colleagues at the Dephi Center crime lab, and definitely not Jonah Macon, the homicide detective who's already saved her life once.

Jonah has all kinds of reasons for hoping Sophie is mistaken. Involving himself with a key witness could derail an already messy investigation, not to mention jeopardize his career. But Sophie is as determined and fearless as she is sexy. If he can't resist her, he can at least swear to protect her. Because if Sophie is right, she's made herself the target of a killer without conscience. And the real terror is only just the beginning...

This was my first Laura Griffin book, and it won't be my last. Sophie works as a secretary at the Dephi Center crime lab. But she wants a more meaningful and important job, so she visits a college to take a few classes. While in the parking lot, a person shoots from the top of a tall building, killing people. They think the shooter is a man who has done crime before, but Sophie knows the truth. And they choose not to believe it, especially Jonah-who she has hot chemistry with. Will they be able to stop the person from killing more people...or will Sophie have to take things into her own hands?

Lauren Griffin writes well, and her stories are full of action packed scenes. I really enjoyed reading about Sophie's story. And Jonah is hot! I couldn't help smiling whenever he entered a scene, and Sophie felt the same way about him. They have a lot of chemistry that continues to build until it explodes.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I really enjoyed this novel. I will also watch out for other Laura Griffin novels so I can continue with this author's great sense of style and voice. I recommend to fans of Stephanie Plum.

UPDATES

2011-09-12T15:39:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to take the time to let everyone know a few important things...

1.) Reviews will be a little slow for the next week or so-I started college three weeks ago and am still getting used to the change from highschool. I have a lot of studying to do and a lot of reading in textbook form (even though I'd rather read novels). So just keep that in mind.

2.) All prizes were shipped out today-whoever has won a recent contest/giveaway will soon receive their prizes. But, I won a giveaway three weeks ago. I know, I'm sorry-read 1.) again.

3.) I have recently joined Romancing The Book to be a reviewer. I love my blog, Smitten With Books, but I also love romance novels (for older audiences) so I decided to review for another wonderful blog so I can read and review them as well. You can go over there and see my reviewer page HERE

I hope everyone is having a wonderful start of the school year!

Bright, Young, & Luxe Giveaway Hop!

2011-09-10T15:52:00.013-05:00

Today, September 10th, is the start of the Bright, Young, & Luxe Giveaway Hop! This event is hosted by Lea from (LCs Adventures in Libraryland) and Tiffany from (For Those About to Read...) There are 14 blogs participating in this wonderful event and each giveaway revolves around Bright Young Things and/or The Luxe (historical young adult romance novels).

The Bright, Young, & Luxe Giveaway Hop runs from September 10th to September 20th so make sure you visit all the blogs before then.

One person will win:

Hardcover Copy of The Vixen by Jillian Larkin

Rules:

Must live in the US

Must be 13 years or older

Ends September 20th

To Enter: Leave a comment with your name and email address
If you are a follower of my blog place +2 in the comment as well

Here are the other blogs that are participating as well:

I hope everyone enjoys this giveaway hop!

The Predicteds Tour: Teenage Garage Sale

2011-09-09T07:01:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to be apart of The Predicteds by Christine Seifert blog tour which is hosted by The Teen Book Scene

Christine is here with us to do a Teenage Garage Sale post. For those of you who don't know, a Teenage Garage Sale is an author guest post about items you'd find at their garage sales/items from their teenage years. So take it away Christine...

If you happened upon a garage sale filled with memorabilia from my teen years, you'd find plenty to laugh at. Come on in and take a look around:

1. A Toni home perm
I was a teenager in the late 80s and spiral perms ruled the world. Salon perms were the best, but home perms were cheaper. The only problem was the horrible smell and the awful feeling you got when your scalp began to burn. Price: $8.99 (Warning! May cause your hair to fall out of your head.)

2. My awesome stretch pants and oversized shirts
Before leggings were called leggings, they were stretch pants (or stirrup pants if they had those weird foot stirrup thingies), and we wore them all the time in the 80s. Big, baggy shirts were the best, preferably in neon colors. When the early 90s hit, we swapped the neon cotton for worn-out flannel. Price: $25 (Hey, these are collector's items.)

3. My cassette collection
Before CDS, we had tapes, which we played on walkmans and ghetto blasters. I didn't have an extensive music collection, but the ones I had, I loved to death. Favorites included Whitney Houston, Madonna's True Blue album, El DeBarge (won it from a radio station), Bon Jovi, and Poison. I listened to all of them a million times. Price: FREE! (You'll never find a place to play these things.)

4. My Judy Blume book collection
I've always been an avid library patron, but I had a few books that I owned and cherished. Judy Blume was a childhood favorite. Blubber (I read it until the cover ripped off) and Superfudge were my absolute favorites. Even after I grew into a be-permed and neon-clad teen, I turned to these books often. They are still comforting to me. Price: On Display Only (I couldn't bear to part with those.)

5. My swimming suit
I've always loved to swim. Back in 1988, when I was in junior high, I spent every glorious summer day at the pool. My swimming suit was basically my uniform. I got a new one every year (a beginning-of-summer rite of passage), but I was in love with the one from 1988: It was a purple one-piece with black polka dots, but it had a section cut out of the middle. It was almost a bikini, which made me feel very sophisticated. How I loved that thing. Price: Seriously? You want to buy my old swimming suit? Gross.

6. My 80s-tastic hair assessories
I don't have long hair anymore, but when I did, I spent a lot of time selecting just the right hair accessories. Scrunchies were an absolute necessity; they were especially good for holding side pony tails. Primary-colored clips were really popular for a while (they basically looked like the clips you use to keep your potato chips fresh.) You wore them on one side of your head, so you looked like you had a giant plastic tumor. Banana clips were awesome because they showcased perms so well-it looked like a beautiful curly horse's mane down your back. All of this required loads of hair spray. Price: $1 (This stuff will come in hand for your next 80s-themed party).

7. My Cabbage Patch Kids
Okay, so I wasn't a teen when I got my first Cabbage Patch doll. I was probably six. It was the year that everybody was fighting for these ugly little dolls (which were later featured on stamps), and I didn't think I'd get one. And then there it was, under the Christmas tree, my very own baby from the cabbage patch, complete with a birth certificate. Her name was Inessa Bella. She had red hair and wore a beautiful yellow dress. I still have her. Price: $10 (Just give her a good home. She lives in a box in my basement now.)

8. My Kmart name badge
I got my first job when I was sixteen. I was a checker at Kmart. I was pretty impressed with myself. I mean, running the cash register felt so grown up! I saved my name badge because it was the beginning of my working life. Years later, I still credit that job with teaching me a lot about what it means to be a part of a team. Price: $2 (I won a customer service award, indicated by the name tag, so I have to up the price. This is valuable, people!)

9. My friend Camille
The primary staple of my teen years was my friend Camille. She's still my bff even though we live a thousand miles away from each other. I know you can't really sell a friend at a garage sale, but the garage sale wouldn't be complete if you didn't get a chance to see Camille, truly the most important force in shaping my teenage self. You should go up to Camille and ask her about the real dirt on me. Price: Priceless

Thank you so much Christine, you make the 80s sound like so much fun! I grew up in the 90s and am still living my teen years but I will always remember those snap bracelets and plastic chokers.

The Last Rising Release Day Blitz+Giveaway!

2011-09-06T19:21:00.001-05:00

Today is the day- release day for

The Last Rising by Rachel Firasek

And to celebrate we have

a release day blitz

going on and

a live Twitter party at

6pm central

7pm eastern time-

join us live on Twitter

with hashtag #lastrising

Check out all the sites participating in the release day blitz!

Roxanne's Realm

www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com

Keeping Up With The Rheinlander's

http://mnmrheinlander.com

Babsbookbistro

http://www.babsbookbistro.net/blog

Cocktails and Books

www.cocktailsandbooks.com

Back of the Book Reviews

www.backofthebookreviews.com

Theresa Stillwagons' Blog

http://tstillwagon.wordpress.com

Pearls Cast Before a McPig

http://mcpigpearls.blogspot.com/

Books from the Purple Jelly Bean Chair

http://booksfromthepurplejellybeanchair.blogspot.com

The Book Nympho

http://thebooknympho.blogspot.com/

Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger

Twitter Party Help 6pm central 7 pm EST

http://www.frequentreaderblog.com/

Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess

http://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com/

Smitten With Books

www.smittenwithbooks.blogspot.com

Romancing the Darkside

http://romancingthedarkside.blogspot.com

Reading Between the Wines Book Club

http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

Secrets of a Book Lover

http://secretsofabooklover.blogspot.com

Just One More Paragraph

http://tweezlereads.blogspot.com

Aobibliosphere

http://aobibliosphere.blogspot.com/

Freda's Voice

http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com

Martha's Book Shelf

http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/

Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

Http://www.hopelessbibliophile.com

The Magic Attic

theawesomemagicattic.blogspot.com

My Bookish Fairy Tale

http://www.kristenhaskins.blogspot.com

Romancing the Book –

http://www.romancing-the-book.com

Paranormal Opinion

http://paranormalopinion.blogspot.com

Books and Needlepoint

http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/

Beverly @ The Wormhole

http://wormyhole.blogspot.com

Erotica For All:

http://eroticaforall.co.uk

CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book One

Title: The Last Rising
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-28-2
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-937044-29-9

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-rising/

Book Description:

After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.

About the Author:

Rachel Firasek grew up in the south and despite the gentle pace, she harassed life at full steam. Her curiosity about mythology, human nature, and the chemical imbalance we call love led her to writing. Her stories began with macabre war poems and shifted to enchanted fairytales, before she settled on a blending of the two.

Today you’ll find her tucked on a small parcel of land, surrounded by bleating sheep and barking dogs, with her husband and children. She entertains them all with her wacky sense of humor or animated reenactments of bad 80’s dance moves.

She’s intrigued by anything unexplained and seeks the answers to this crazy thing we call life. You can find her where the heart twists the soul and lights the shadows… or at www.rachefirasek.com .

Rachel Firasek is so wonderful that she's also hosting a giveaway! Here are the prizes:

3 ebook winners will be chosen

1 goddess pendant winner-US Shipping Only

The form is the same on every blog so please only fill out the form once! And good Luck!

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Winners

2011-08-21T14:47:00.001-05:00

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)

2011-08-21T09:19:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-20T20:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-18T16:11:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-15T17:52:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-07T21:00:00.003-05:00

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

2011-08-06T21:15:00.000-05:00

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)

2011-08-06T20:38:00.001-05:00

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

2011-08-04T19:39:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

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

2011-08-03T13:04:00.000-05:00

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.

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

2011-07-28T22:09:00.000-05:00

Love Story by Jennifer Echols
Publication Date: July 19, 2011
Version: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
She's writing about him. He's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines...

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter...so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter...except this story could come true.

This is my favorite Jennifer Echols book so far--it seems that whenever she comes out with a new novel, it ends up on the top of my "favorite" list. Love Story starts out with Erin in a creative writing class in college. She has written a romance short story about "Hunter", a stable boy, who she knew when she was younger. But when the class is switching stories, Hunter walks in and he ends up reading Erin's story. He knows it's about him. And then Hunter's stories start to revolve around Erin. Together they drive each other crazy with their seductive words. But Can Erin ever forgive Hunter for taking away her inheritance?

I really enjoyed this book. It had a love/hate relationship as well as a "friends starting to fall for each other" theme. And since those are two of my favorite relationship statuses-it was a definite favorite. Hunter is a great character. He's cute and treats Erin so well, even though she doesn't notice it. But, when I first picked up this novel and Hunter walks into class and reads Erin's story which he's in--I almost died. I was so embarrassed for Erin.

Will I reread it?
Absolutely. I recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed Jennifer Echol's previous novels.

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2011-07-25T19:06:00.000-05:00

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger (ARC)
Publication Date: September 5, 2011
Versions: hardcover, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Let me just say that Shut Out is even better than The Duff. For 1.) this was such a surprise because I love The Duff by Kody Keplinger and didn't think anything could top it and 2.) it was such a joy to read. Lissa and Randy have been going out for a year and he still puts the school's rivalry before her. Lissa has had enough, so she gets all the athlete's girlfriends together to make a pact to not have sex until the rivalry ends. Eventually it actually works, and Lissa discovers something about Randy that she never would have if not for the pact. But then there's Cash, who works at the library with Lissa. There's so much sexual tension between them that Lissa starts getting a little unsure about being able to keep her promise.

Lissa is a great character and had many similarities with Bianca, from The Duff. But I'de have to say that Cash is my favorite character in Shut Out. He's so caring and understands Lissa more than she knows. They had a little "past" together which left Lissa very confused. But together they are perfect and it was so fun reading about them progressing. Randy, on the other hand, is a jerk.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I definitely will. Just like The Duff, this one will stay on my shelf for some time!

Tempest on ARC Tour

2011-07-25T18:51:00.000-05:00

Hello, everyone. I just wanted to let you know that an ARC of Tempest by Julie Cross is available through Smitten With Books ARC Tours.

So if you want to join the tour, go HERE

And if you would like to donate an ARC to the tours, please email me here: smittenwithbooksarctours (at) hotmail (dot) com

Border's Closing Sale Haul (Vlog)

2011-07-22T19:22:00.000-05:00

Border's is closing soon so starting today (Friday, July 22nd) Border's is having a closing sale. Everything in their store is 10%-40% off the list price. So today I picked up a few books and wanted to share them with you.

Here is my vlog (I hope you enjoy it):

Smitten With Books ARC Tours

2011-07-21T23:15:00.000-05:00

Smitten With Books ARC Tours has re-opened! I retired the ARC tour site last year (when I was having some family issues and otherwise very busy). But now that it is re-open, it will stay that way.

Here are the books that are on tour right now:

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

If you want to join any of the tours, go to the tour site HERE

And if you would like to donate and ARC to Smitten With Books ARC Tours, email me here: smittenwithbooksarctours (at) hotmail (dot) com

Thank you!

Giveaway!

2011-07-21T17:07:00.000-05:00

I have made a beautiful collage of eight different Young Adult novels that will be coming out soon. I have taken a bit of each book cover and numbered them below. I got this idea from Enna Isilee at Squeaky Books. All you have to do is fill out the form with your guesses to which book is featured. This one is going to be pretty easy!

RULES

1.) Each guess that is correct equals one entry so if you get all of them right, you will receive eight entries total

2.) This giveaway is open international

3.) The last day to enter is August 15th

Good Luck!

What you can win:

There will be (1) winner for this giveaway

If the winner lives in the USA, they will win: Between by Jessica Warman (ARC)

If the winner is INTERNATIONAL, they will win: $10 Amazon Gift Card

LAST DAY TO ENTER: AUGUST 5TH

Author Post: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

2011-07-21T16:51:00.000-05:00

Today we have a very special guest. Lauren Baratz-Logsted has generously agreed to create a guest post for my blog, Smitten With Books. I hope you enjoy it:

MY UNLIKELY CAREER AS A YA AUTHOR

by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
I never set out to be a YA author – not that there’s anything wrong with that! It’s just that when I initially left my day job of 11 years back in 1994 to start writing seriously, the YA market was nowhere near the vibrant field we have today, plus I’d set my sights on writing the Great American Novel. Well, that didn’t work out so good, since my first efforts were all comedies and if the Great American Novel is anything, it’s never a comedy. But eventually I did start selling some books. In 2002, I sold the sixth of seven novels I’d written, a dark comedy called The Thin Pink Line, about a woman who fakes an entire pregnancy. Before long, I’d sold a total of five adult comedies.

Then in 2005, I got an idea for a new book. It was a serious book about a teen on the fast track for Yale who, on the eve of her senior year in high school and in an act she doesn’t even clearly remember afterward, loses her virginity and winds up pregnant all in one go. The book would be in diary format, mirroring the 40 weeks of a pregnancy, and would be about the character coming to terms with what has happened and trying to make the choice that is right for her. I was sure that it was another novel for the adult market, those being the only kinds of books I’d ever written, perhaps a coming-of-age story this time. But by the time I reached the 100-page mark, I realized something strange was going on. Previously, I’d always written in past tense but without even thinking about it, I was writing this book in present tense. The story, as a result, was so immediate. This wasn’t an adult reflecting back on something that had happened to her in the past. This was an authentic teen voice telling her story in real time. It was a YA novel, it was called Angel’s Choice, and it was published as a YA novel by Simon & Schuster in 2006.

There’s some current publishing wisdom that goes along the lines of that you shouldn’t try to sell meat in your fish market. The idea is that everyone should establish a brand and that you should give readers a steady diet of more of the same so they know what to expect. If I’d followed that wisdom, then if I wanted to firmly establish myself in the YA market, I should have followed Angel’s Choice with another earnest novel, right? There’s just one problem: I seem to be genetically incapable of writing books just because it’s the career-expedient thing to do. Rather, ideas come to me that excite me and I follow those ideas. So the next YA novel I wrote after Angel’s Choice was not a logical follow-up. Instead, it was a serio-comedic sort-of mystery called Secrets of My Suburban Life about a teen who, after her novelist mother is crushed to death by a stack of Harry Potter books, becomes involved in catching an online sexual predator. Did I follow that with another serio-comedic sort-of mystery? I did not.

In fact, no two of my YA novels are alike. I’ve done a contemporary re-visioning of the fairy-tale classic Beauty & the Beast called Crazy Beautiful, told in he-said/she-said fashion about a boy with hooks for hands and a gorgeous girl who meet on their first day at a new school; a serio-comedic novel, The Education of Bet, about a 16-year-old orphan girl in Victorian England who decides to impersonate a boy in order to get the exclusive education she desperately desires; and a dark suspense novel, The Twin’s Daughter, also set in Victorian England, about a teen who discovers that her gorgeous society mother has an identical twin who was raised in the poorhouse – murder and romance ensue.

Oh, and for my next meat-in-my-fish-market feat?

On November 8, Little Women and Me will be published. It’s about a contemporary teen, Emily March, who time travels into the 1860s opening of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel Little Women. Once there she discovers herself to be the fifth March sister, her age placing her right at the center of the other four March sisters in terms of birth order. Before long, Emily realizes that her purpose there is to do one of two things: keep Beth from dying or change the romantic outcome of the story so that the boy next door finally ends up with the right March sister.

I originally got the idea for Little Women and Me about a year and a half ago when my then 10-year-old daughter and her best friend were reading the original Alcott book for the first time. We were all talking about how sad it is when Beth dies and how crazy-making it is that Laurie winds up with Amy instead of Jo. That’s when the thought occurred to me: Hmm…what would happen if…? And that’s how Little Women and Me was born. I’m very excited about this book and I hope you will be too.

And now I’m off to work on another book that probably doesn’t make sense career-wise but that I will love writing and hopefully at least a few of you will love reading.

Thanks for having me, Morgan!

Thank you so much Lauren for the wonderful guest post.

You can view and buy Lauren Baratz-Logsted's books on Amazon.com HERE

Tempest by Julie Cross

2011-07-19T21:56:00.000-05:00

Tempest by Julie Cross (ARC)
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Versions: hardcover

Summary (from goodreads):
Jackson thought he had all the time in the world with Holly. Until time took him away from her...

Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy...who just happens to be able to travel through time. It's all just harmless fun until the day Jackson witnesses his girlfriend, Holly, get fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years, but it's not long before the people who shot Holly come looking for him. And these "Enemies of Time" will stop at nothing to recruit (or kill) this powerful young time-traveler. Jackson must decide how far he is willing to go to save Holly...and the entire world.

What can I say about this book...It was utterly heartbreaking and memorable. Jackson discovered two years ago that he can jump to a different time. Now him and his friend, Adam, are trying to figure out the dynamics and how it happens. But one night while at his girlfriend's, Holly's, house he witnesses her being shot. He accidentally jumps two years in the past and becomes stuck in 2007. While there he will meet Holly and Adam in the past and even see his sister, Courtney who died from cancer. But Jackson will also start discovering out what his father has worked so hard to hide. And it could mean life or death.

I loved this book. It will stick with you even after days of finishing it. The ending is sort of a"cliff hanger" and right now all I want to do is to find out what happens to Jackson and Holly. Jackson is a great character. Holly is a great character. And together they're purely a work of art. Their relationship is so unique but sad at the same time. I cried so many times while reading this book because the plot line is so heartbreaking.

Will I reread it?
Yes. It is probably one of the best books I have read since "The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins". I highly recommend it and am sure it will remain on my best reads of 2011 list. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Verity by Claire Farrell

2011-07-19T21:38:00.000-05:00

Verity by Claire Farrell
Publication Date: April 24, 2011
Versions: kindle

Summary (from amazon.com):
Sixteen year old Perdita Rivers has spent her entire sheltered life being told what to do. Lately, she's felt ready for a change, and the universe seems to agree. Her new best friend's brother is the boy of Perdita's dreams. Literally. Even though he plays hot and cold, she's sure there's more to it, but she's kind of distracted by the sense she's being followed-not to mention the rumors of wild animal sightings that seem to mean more to her new crush's family than they should. Perdy's on a mission to find the truth, but maybe the truth is the danger she should hide from, after all.

I really enjoyed this book. Perdita is sick of her dad and grandmother telling her how to dress and what to do. So to her surprise, when she confronts them about it-they give in and let her have more freedom. At school, Perdita only has two good friends and usually keeps to herself. But when the "mean girls" start making fun of the new girl, Perdita stands up to them. Amelia and Perdita soon become good friends, even though Amelia's brother acts weird around her. But even if he acts strange, she can't help but feel a connection between them. But when Perdita finds out what he's hiding, her whole world may change.

Perdita is a really great character. She's not cliche and not annoying, which is very refreshing. On the other hand, Perdita's best friend is annoying and does some stupid things. But the writing is amazing and the ending has an unforgettable cliff hanger that will have you pining for the sequel.

Will I reread it?
Yes. I will probably get to it very soon. I love "werewolf" stories and this is no different. I definitely recommend it to fans of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer.

400 Follower Giveaway!!!

2011-07-18T09:51:00.001-05:00

I have officially reached 400 followers. But I didn't get there by myself. I want to thank every single person who has taken some time out of their busy lives to follow, comment, and support my blog, Smitten With Books-so thank you!!!

USA Only Portion
For this giveaway, there will be two different portions. One is for USA only (because it's really expensive to mail right now). And one will be for International only (people who live in the USA cannot enter)

One person will win:
As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott (ARC)
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (ARC)
After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel (ARC)
Fracture by Megan Miranda (ARC)

To enter: Fill Out The Form Below

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International Only Portion

One person will win:
$20 Amazon.com Gift Card

To enter: Fill Out The Form Below

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You will receive one entry for filling out the form, but you can also receive more entries by doing the following:

+2 Follow My Blog, Smitten With Books
+5 Create a blog post to spread the word about the giveaway
+3 Tweet about the giveaway
+10 Add the 400 followers giveaway button to your sidebar and link it back to the giveaway

Ends August 4th

Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley

2011-07-16T18:37:00.000-05:00

Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley
Publication Date: January 1, 2008
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
The worst thing about having it all is having to deal with it all-th good, the bad, and the just plain weird. Like seeing more of my dad when he's on the cover of Business Week than I do in person. Like the surgeon whose schedule was too jammed with professional ballplayers to deal with my busted up knee...until he heard who my parents were and miraculously his calendar was wide open. Like the pseudo boyfriend who was more in love with my last name than with me.

Everybody thinks Syrah is the golden girl. After all, her father is Ethan Cheng, billionaire, and she has everything any kid could possibly desire, right down to a waterfront mansion, jet plane, and custom-designed snowboards. But most of what glitters in her life is fool's gold. Her half-siblings hate her, her best friend Adrian's girlfriend is ruining their friendship, and her own so-called boyfriend is after her for her father's name. Where her broken heart results in a snowboarding accident that exiles her from the mountains-the one place where she feels free and accepted for who she is, not what she has-Syrah must rehab both her busted-up knee, and her broken heart, and learn that she's worth her weight in real gold.

I really enjoyed this book. It makes you realize what you want in life and how sometimes you have to go against your parents wishes to make it happen. Syrah and Age are really good friends who both have passion for snowboarding. Syrah has always wanted to be a professional snowboarder but when she gets into a snowboarding accident-her parents cut her off and are no longer supportive of her love. When Age and Syrah start growing apart-Syrah will do anything to gain back her friendship even if it means breaking up with her boyfriend who she believes is dating her because of her parents and her money.

I've previously read Justina Chen Headley's other novel, North of Beautiful. Justina has really beautiful writing that she weaves into an interesting and life learning novel. I liked how Syrah cares about other people so much and wants to do better things in life. Age was also a really great character. And I love the whole premise of snowboarding-which usually doesn't take a main role in young adult novels.

Will I reread it?
I will probably pick this one up again. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who has read and liked Justina's previous novel, North of Beautiful.

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon Updates

2011-07-11T19:46:00.003-05:00

MINI CHALLENGE #3 hosted by Nikki at Wicked Awesome Book

For this mini challenge, you have to pick two characters from separate books that would be a good match. Here is what I came up with:

John from Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols and Eddie from Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

I think this couple would be perfect because they both have a lot of issues that they are dealing with. Eddie with her dad's suicide and John with "the bridge"-together they can support each other.

Day 2 Recap

I had a few errands to run so I didn't read as much as I wanted to. But I did finish another book. Here is the book I read on the second day:

Highland Captive by Hannah Howell

Day 1 Recap

So I didn't do as well as I would have liked and I didn't even read the books that were on my to-be-read list. But I read one! Here is the book I read on the first day:

Highland Barbarian by Hannah Howell

MINI CHALLENGE #2 hosted by Amber at The Musings of Almybnenr

participated directly at Amber's blog-very fun!

MINI CHALLENGE #1 hosted by Bailey at IB Book Blogging

Mini Challenge Question 1: What is your favorite type of myth (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc)?

Answer: I really like Roman mythology. It's always been interesting to me especially during school.

Mini Challenge Question 2: What is your favorite book with some type of mythology in it?

Answer: My favorite mythology book would have to be: Girl In The Arena by Lise Haines

STARTING POST

The Once Upon a Read-a-Thon has started (well it actually started seven hours ago) and I'm a little late with reading. I haven't read anything yet but I am hoping to read five books over the course of the next two days.

Here are the books I'm planning on reading:

1.) When Lightening Strikes by Meg Cabot
2.) Code Name Cassandra by Meg Cabot
3.) Safe House by Meg Cabot
4.) Sanctuary by Meg Cabot
5.) Missing You by Meg Cabot

I'm hoping to get through the whole (1-800 where are you) series by Meg Cabot. But we'll see...

Book Bloggers With Book Deals!

2011-07-10T18:51:00.000-05:00

I know many fellow book bloggers who want/are trying to publish their own novels (including myself). Publishing novels is not an easy task but recently I have come across a few bloggers whose books are coming out. This is truly exciting and I want to congratulate them for all the hard work they have put into their novels.

DJ from DJ's Life In Fiction
DJ has published his novel with Pendrell Publishing and is dated to be released on August 9, 2011. Here is some information about it:

Hunted by DJ DeSmyter
Publication Date: August 9, 2011

Summary (from the publisher's website):
Seventeen-year-old Lily Atwater has always kept to herself, living a lonely life with her workaholic dad. Not the most thrilling life, but it's quiet and ordinary, two things she's come to expect from living in Victor Hills, Michigan.

When kind and mysterious Alex takes refuge in her home, she is suddenly thrown into his world of werewolves, a world he wants to keep her safe from. But while the two of them grow closer, a relentless hunter continues his search, stalking the woods with hopes of catching the wolf that got away...

Lenore from Presenting Lenore
Lenore has published her novel with Simon and Schuster and is dated to be released in the fall of 2012. Here's some more information (taken from Lenore's blog):

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has acquired a YA novel called Level Two by Lenore Appelhans, in a joint acquisition with CBS Films. According to S&S, this is the first time the company has coordinated a deal so that an author received a simultaneous book and film offer. In Level Two, the liminal place between our world (Level One) and heaven, Felicia spends her days reliving her memories from the security of her pod—until she gets broken out by Julian, a boy she met on Earth. Appelhans writes the popular YA blog Presenting Lenore. Level Two will be published in either fall 2012 or spring 2013, with a 200,000-copy first printing.

I want to congratulate these two wonderful bloggers! I wish you the best of luck

What do you thing about Selling/Trading ARCs

2011-07-08T20:52:00.001-05:00

This has been something that many people have different opinions on. I see many bloggers around the blog-o-sphere trading arcs (advance readers copies) and have also seen some bloggers sell the arcs (gasp!) I can say that I have traded ARCs on my own blog (I am not being hypocritical). Here is what I think about the issue:

Do you think it is ethical to trade ARCs (advance readers copies)?
Yes I actually think this is okay. ARCs are pined for on every blog and I know many, many bloggers want to read them. But since there aren't a lot of them around-many book bloggers don't get the chance to read certain books until the publication date. And I'm not saying it's unfair to have to wait for the publication date-because it is fair. But trading ARCs gives other bloggers the opportunity to read their "waiting on wednesday" reads. And by shipping the book off to other people, they will most likely review the book on their own blog and spread the word even more. This will then publicize the book that much more.

Do you think it is ethical to sell ARCs (advance readers copies)?
No, I do not think it is right to sell the ARCs. I have an ARC of The Duff by Kody Keplinger and an ARC of Forget You by Jennifer Echols in my hands right now. On the cover of The Duff there is a circle sticker that says NOT FOR SALE. On the cover of Forget You (in very small letters) it states (in exact words): This advance uncorrected reader's proof is the property of Simon and Schuster. It is being loaned for promotional purposes and review by the recipient and may not be used for any other purpose or transferred to any third party. Simon and Schuster reserves the right to cancel the loan and recall possession of the proof at any time. Any duplication, sale or distribution to the public is a violation of law.

Yes that sounds very serious and I'm sure they are not happy about the selling of ARCs.

Do you think the trading/selling of ARCs makes the author's sales go down?
No, I do not. Personally whenever I read an ARC that I absolutely love-I go and buy a finished copy when it is available. I do this because the covers are usually different and I want a copy that doesn't have any mistakes or what not. An example of this is: Forget You by Jennifer Echols. The cover on the ARC is plain light blue but the cover on the paperback copy is gorgeous so I had to have it!

UPDATE Because of Trisha's Book Blog post, I have been looking through EBAY at what people are selling for ARCs. Selling them are bad enough but some of the prices are ridiculous!

What do you think about this topic? here are some other book blogs that have posted about this issue (you can click on the link and it will take you directly to their posts): Trisha's Book Blog and Confessions of a Bookaholic

Books in the Magazines (1)

2011-07-08T20:22:00.000-05:00

Besides books, I also love to read magazines. Among my favorite are: Seventeen, Teen Vogue, Writers Digest, and OK Magazine. And sometimes while reading these magazines, there are ads for books (popular YA books that are going to come out). I think this is great because 1.) it inspires more teenagers to pick up books 2.) magazines are starting to broaden with more intellectual topics instead of just fashion and 3.) the ads are very pretty to look at.

So I'm going to do a weekly/biweekly meme where I will take a picture of the book ad from a magazine and paste it into a post. I will also state what magazine, and month it is from along with what book is being mentioned. Sound good? You can join, too. All you have to do is link back to my blog and leave a comment with the link to your own post.

Magazine: Seventeen

Month/Year: April 2010

Books: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

2011-07-07T20:17:00.000-05:00

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
Publication Date: February 8, 2011
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City-shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was...

When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the live she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R. --before the recession--was as perfect as it seemed.

To tell you the truth, the main character really irritated me. Corrinne's a rich teenager who shops at all the designer stores and is planning to attend an expensive private boarding school with her best friend. But when her dad loses his job because of the recession, she finds out that she won't be attending her dream school and will be moving to Texas to live with her grandparents. Corrinne is not happy about the change, especially now that she's attending a public school. But through all the hard times, Corrinne meets a nice friend and a cute guy.

Like I said before, Corrinne really irritated me. She constantly acted better than everyone else, and said some of the stupidest things. But I see where she's coming from. Corrinne has lived the "rich" lifestyle her whole life so I can see why she acts so selfish when she no longer has money. The story line, even though very predictable, was also very interesting. I actually did enjoy the book even though I didn't like the main character.

Will I reread it?
No, probably not. I did enjoy it, but I don't think this will be on my "re-reading" shelf. But if you're looking for a fun book to read when your bored-it will entertain you for a few hours.

Mini Reviews: The MacLeods Book 1 + 2

2011-07-06T20:57:00.000-05:00

I've seen mini reviews around the blog-o-sphere several times but never have done one on my own blog. I feel that books deserve to have their own reviews-and that's where I still stand. But I wanted to review two highlander romance novels (which I loved). But since my blog is for young adult books-I'm going to put these two adult books in the same post.

Charming the Shrew (The MacLeods Book 1) by Laurin Wittig
Publication Date: October 30, 2010
Versions: kindle

Summary (from amazon):
The story of the stormy MacLeods of Assynt begins...

From award-winning author Laurin Wittig comes a captivating story filled with the passion, intrigue and magic of historical Scotland--where Catriona MacLeod, a sharp-tongued beauty, meets her match in a disguised Tayg Munro, fabled warrior of the king, and the man who vows to tame her with the power of his love. Passion flames into a union to be tested again and again. As Cat and Tayg fight to thwart a scheme that could topple thrones and destroy their homeland, they discover a love that will take everything they have to give...

I loved this book! Catriona is such a great character-she's not one of those girls who are shy and stable. She's very interesting and doesn't care what other people think. The chemistry between her and Tayg is undeniable and I loved watching them grow together even though Tayg doesn't want to get married and Catriona thinks she's better than him. This is a must for any highlander romance lover.

Daring the Highlander (The MacLeods Book 2) by Laurin Wittig
Publication Date: November 18, 2010
Versions: kindle

Summary (from amazon):
The story of the stormy MacLeods of Assynt continues...

Ailig MacLeod must become the chief of his clan in order to prevent Robert the Bruce, king of Scotland, from killing his traitorous oldor brothers and setting his clan to fire and sword. But his father refuses to step aside to make Ailig chief, and few in the clan believe that's a problem.

Morainn MacRailt vows never to marry again. One bad marriage to a clan warrior who never loved her was enough. But when Ailig returns home with an impossible task he convinces her to help him set the castle to rights. As she helps him maneuver the treacherous undercurrents, and open distrust, of the clan, she discovers he is nothing like the warriors she has known before.

As they work together to save the castle and the clan, passion flares, but their love is put to the test by a dangerous and uncertain future...

Morainn was a very different character than Catriana. Morainn is a little shyer but very respectable and honest. Ailig is very strong and knows what he wants-and will go after it. Their connection is immediate from the start and watching their first kiss turn into true passion was amazing. I loved this second book as much as the first.

The Book Blogger's Cookbook

2011-06-30T22:30:00.000-05:00

The Book Blogger's Cookbook compiled by Christy Dorrity
Publication Date: June 6, 2011
Publisher: Dorrity Publications
Versions: kindle
Received from: publisher

Summary (from amazon.com):
Great books, bloggers, and recipes meet in this fresh and unique cookbook that helps you experience books, not just read them.

Books were selected from the author's book review blog and paired with delectable recipes like "Fairy Touched Calico Brownies" from the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull, "7-Day Layer Dip" from Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall, and "I Hate Chocolate Cake" from Amanda Hocking's Switched. Mouthwatering photos complement every recipe.

The 2011 Book Blogger's Cookbook includes foreword by Amanda Hocking, authorof the USA Today Bestselling Trylle Trilogy and showcases over seventy reviews with links to book review blogs and author websites. Whether you're a food lover, an avid reader or a book blogger, there's something for you in the 2011 Book Blogger 's Cookbook.

I actually think this cookbook is a very good idea. I know whenever I read a book and they talk about a certain food (over and over)-I start to crave it. And now, foods stated in your favorite books, including: Wings, Shiver, Before I Fall, etc.-are compiled in this cookbook. Amanda Hocking starts the cookbook off with a note of endearment to book bloggers, which she has the utmost respect for. A very nice note that makes book blogging all the more worth it-it's nice to know that authors appreciate what we do every day.

Each recipe starts off with a picture of the book, and the book summary. Then comes the recipe with a delicious looking picture and very thorough instructions. And then the book bloggers come into play. A portion of their review is pasted after the recipe about their thoughts on the book. There are several book bloggers mentioned throughout (as well as a link to their blogs). Bloggers including: Tynga at Tynga's Reviews, Katie at Mundie Mom Book Reviews, Eleni at La Femme Readers, and many more.

I really loved looking through the cookbook at all the pictures and what book they're pictured in. This is a wonderful cookbook for book bloggers, and readers looking for some great novels to read.

And I couldn't help myself-I had to make the "Frozen Hot Chocolate" from Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I've read (and loved) Maggie's book and the Frozen Hot Chocolate was delicious!

A Need So Beautiful and Degrassi

2011-06-29T15:40:00.000-05:00

The cover of A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young is beautiful. The yellow is so pretty along with the girl. But every time I look at the cover I can't help but to think of Degrassi. I used to be (and still am) a pretty big fan and Anya MacPherson, a character on the show, looks exactly like the model on the cover of A Need So Beautiful.

I thought this was pretty cool and wanted to share it with all of you guys. Do you see the similarities?

Some Very Pretty Covers!!!

2011-06-23T21:41:00.001-05:00

I love covers, I really do. And from looking at Amazon.com at all the wonderful novels that will soon be coming out-I have seen many covers. I would love to brighten up your day from the prettiness of them.

A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran

2011-06-23T21:29:00.000-05:00

A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran
Publication Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Pocket
Versions: paperback, kindle
Received from: publisher

Warning: This novel and review may not be suitable for younger audiences because of graphic scenes

Summary (from goodreads):
In gritty, working-class london, she does what she must to survive...

When Nell Whitby breaks into an earl's house on a midnight quest for revenge, she finds her pistol pointed at the wrong man-one handsome as sin and naked as the day he was born. Pity he's a lunatic. He thinks her a missing heiress, but more to the point, he'll help her escape the slums and right a grave injustice. Not a bad bargain. All she has to do is marry him.

A notorious ladies man could take her from poverty to opulence...but at what price?

A rake of the first order, Simon St. Maur spent his restless youth burning every bridge he crossed. When he inherits an earldom without a single penny attached to it, he sees a chance to start over-provided he can find an heiress to fun his efforts. But his wicked reputation means courtship will be difficult-until fate sends him the most notorious missing heiress in history. All he needs now is to make her into a lady and keep himself from making the only mistake that could ruin everything: falling in love...

I really enjoy historical romance novels. But I've never read a book by Meredith Duran (even though she's one of the most popular historical romance writer)-and I was pleasantly surprised. Nell lives her life working at a tobacco factory for a few coins a week. She is poor and her family, especially her step brother, doesn't treat her well. Nell is a realist but part of her wishes she were rich and doesn't have to worry about earning enough to put bread on the table. One day her mom tells Nell to see her father, and she does-pointing a gun to his sleeping form.. But her father is dead and Simon St. Maur is the man she is pointing the gun at, who is also extremely naked. Simon soon has a proposition for Nell-she can have anything she wants...only if she becomes his wife.

Nell is probably one of my favorite female lead characters. She is truly strong and doesn't care about what other people think. Simon is the typical "alpha" man and they go very well together. He is very protective over her-which melted my heart. And even though the ending was predictable-I loved every second of it.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I know this will be one of the historical romance novels I will pick up in a few months when looking for a mood raiser. I really enjoyed this and hope you will give it a try.

This novel was sent to me by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review and no compensation.

Self Publishing and the Stereotypes that Go Along With it!

2011-06-19T23:58:00.000-05:00

There are two major ways to get your novel published-and that is either by Traditional or Self publishing. Going the traditional route is very hard-and almost impossible to get an agent and even if you have a great agent that is excited about your work-it doesn't mean you're going to get published. There are many reasons people decide to self publish. Some of them are money, not being able to get an agent, and having more rights. Self publishing isn't a negative thing. But there are negative stereotypes that go along with it.

For example:

1.) The book is a piece of poop which is why they didn't get an agent in the first place

First of all, you don't know if a piece of writing is "poop" unless you actually read it. And just because they couldn't get an agent doesn't mean their work isn't any good. Agents are very selective and mostly only take on work that they think will sell. But the manuscripts agents pass on-could be the next bestseller. You should read Amanda Hocking's blog-who self published many novels and now because of the books she has sold through amazon and other online booksellers, she has an agent and has just received a seven figure deal with a publisher.

2.) The price is low, which means the book isn't good

I know many people don't think this, but I used to. A few months ago I would search through amazon looking for more werwolf books. I found a lot, but some of them were only 99 cents. I was a little iffy, because why would they price the book so low? They do it for the readers! If they can make the price of the book low and still make profit, why wouldn't they?

3.) Don't buy it because there's no editing

I have to admit that reading through Amanda Hocking's My Blood Approves, it had a lot of misspelled words and structure issues. And because of that there are a lot of negative and downright mean reviews about it on Amazon. I know people can state their own opinions, but you shouldn't put author's down. I don't even think it took away from the novel either. I actually really enjoyed it. And self published authors do edit their work-a lot. Just because some people can't afford an editor-doesn't mean the book isn't good.

I'm not trying to put anyone down or categorize people in any way. I'm just stating what comes along with self publishing. And I feel it's wrong. But I shouldn't be talking because I was the same way-I never even looked the way of indie/self published books. But ever since I've read Lunarmorte by Samantha Young, My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking, and Verity by Claire Farrell-I have been looking for more and more self published books that I'll be able to cherish. I also see under many book bloggers "review policy" posts that they don't accept self published novels to review. I know some bloggers state that because they have enough books coming in the mail already. But I'm sure a few bloggers fall to the stereotypes that come along with self publishing. I just ask that the next time you upgrade your "review policy" that you think twice before you eliminate a whole group of authors just based on how they publish their novels.

My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking

2011-06-18T20:33:00.000-05:00

My Blood Approves by Amanda Hocking
Publication Date: March 17, 2010
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Teenager Alice Bonham's life feels crazy after she meets Jack. With his fondness for pink Chuck Taylors and New Wave, he's unlike anyone she knows. Then she meets his brother, Peter. Even though he can't stand the sight of her, she's drawn to him. Falling for two guys isn't even the worst of her problems. Jack and Peter are vampires, and Alice finds herself caught between love and her own blood.

I know a lot of people have different opinions on this novel. I felt it was well written and very interesting. One night Alice and her best friend are walking home after trying to get into a club, when a group of men start harassing Alice. But a boy, by the name of Jack, comes to their rescue and before long Alice starts hanging out with the mysterious Jack several times. Jacks not normal, girls look at him like they're hypnotized and he keeps a lot of secrets from Alice. Alice doesn't mind, though, because she likes being around him, it calms her. But then she finds out he's a vampire and that she's connected to their family. Before long, her whole view of the world changes.

Like I said earlier, there are a lot of mixed reviews about this book. Some people have posted very cruel remarks on Amazon.com which I thought didn't deserve it-no one deserves to be put down. Most of the negatives about this book are grammar, since Amanda Hocking self published this novel, the editing isn't the best. And I have to agree that it could have been better but it doesn't take away from the concept of the novel. The second concern is that it's a copy of Twilight. I saw the similarities when reading, especially at the beginning, but how can you not have similarities when the book is about vampires! There's only so many ways you can go with it.

Will I reread it?
Probably not, but I will gladly read and enjoy her other novels. Amanda has made it big and has a large fan base-and I can see why. Her writing captures the teenager voice and her characters are very interesting. I would recommend this to any "Twilighter".

Claire Farrell Interview-Author of Verity

2011-06-18T20:03:00.000-05:00

I recently discovered a new werewolf novel and fell in love with it from the first chapter. I bought the book at midnight (probably not the best idea) and stayed up until 4 am. I really enjoyed the story line and characters and can't wait until the sequel comes out. Here's a little information about Verity by Claire Farrell:

Verity by Claire Farrell
Published: April 24, 2011
Versions: kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Perdita Rivers has spent her entire sheltered life being told what to do. Lately, she's felt ready for a change and the universe seems to agree. Her new best friend's brother is the boy of Perdita's dreams. Literally. Even though he plays hot and cold, she's sure there's more to it, but she's kind of distracted by the sense she's being followed-not to mention the rumors of wild animal sightings that seem to mean more to her new crush's family than they should. Perdy's on a mission to find the truth but maybe the truth is the danger she should hide from, after all.

And then here's the interview from the wonderful author, Claire Farrell:

1.) When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Telling stories in one form or another has always been my idea of fun. It’s never been a choice; the stories pester you until you set them free. J

2.) What was your inspiration behind Verity?

Verity was probably the first novel I finished (years ago), and that was because I fell in love with the characters. It’s been rewritten a few times since it began. Werewolves are my absolute favourite paranormal creatures, and at the time I couldn’t find many y/a books in which the werewolf was one of the main characters, so I decided I had to write about them. I didn’t want the full-moon sort, and I set out to write a specific story, but it took on a life of its own.

I quite liked the idea of a reluctant werewolf, and I had to come up with why he was a werewolf which in turn led to the sister who desperately wanted to be the thing he despised about himself. I needed a girl to see the real him, someone who could discover herself in the process.

I did a lot of research on ancient werewolf legends because I wanted to see if any would fit in with the ideas I had. Some were dead-on, and I managed to fit them in without changing what I already had.

3.) Why did you decide to self publish your books?

I’ve always wanted to write, but the publishing industry never really interested me. Even the books on the bestseller lists in Ireland were never the sort I liked to write. I have never queried, and the idea of writing fiction as a job felt like an impossible dream. I don’t have the mindset or personality to write to a specific formula, or be bound by a contract, and the idea of writing a book under a time limit freaks me out, quite frankly. I knew that typical trade publishing wasn’t for me.

I kept writing, but not as frequently in my late teens and early twenties because of work and starting my own family. I had already written a couple of novels, but the thought of other people actually reading them didn’t occur to me so much.

By the time I started to hear about the new interest in ebooks, I had received a Sony ereader as a gift. I totally turned my nose up at it until I tried it, and you couldn’t pry it out of my hands. I put serious consideration into self publishing ebooks, and when Amazon allowed international writers to publish on their platform, I decided to group up some old short stories and publish them as a collection. I wanted to experiment, and it went so well that I realised it was absolutely for me. I haven’t regretted it once.

4.) What are the titles of your books that you have self published and where can you purchase them?

Verity is my young adult paranormal romance. Thirst and Taunt are book one and two in my urban fantasy (Ava Delaney) series. I also have three short story collections: One Night with the Fae, Sixty Seconds, and A Little Girl in My Room & Other Stories which are probably not suitable for younger readers. My ebooks should be available on Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony ebookstore, and Diesel. I’m working on paperback versions of Verity and Taunt.

5.) What genre do your books fall category to?

My published novels are urban fantasy and young adult paranormal romance; my published short stories are mostly horror and urban fiction.

6.) What are the positives of self/indie publishing?

You make all of the decisions, and sales reporting is quick and transparent. Complete creative control is a huge deal, and it means you aren’t relying on anyone else. For me, it’s a worthy sacrifice. If your book isn’t doing well, it’s because of something you did/didn’t do, and that’s easy to change. Everything is immediate and relatively simple. There’s a huge community of indie publishers willing to work together and help each other. There are no secrets. The best part is the feedback from readers. There will always be people who won’t read indie books, and that’s something I completely understand, but the amount of indie fans out there is kind of astounding. Like indie music, it is the fans who propel books to the top of the charts.

7.) What are the negatives of self/indie publishing?

You make all of the decisions. J You generally don’t have a team behind you, no marketing help, and no real platform at first. Any help you receive tends to come with a price. It can be scary trying to make the best decisions when you don’t have experience in publishing and marketing. Plus, it is a LOT of work. It’s not the easy way out. You're working against a bit of prejudice, and most writers don't have the full set of skills you need to publish a book, so hiring work can be expensive at first. It's a huge learning curve, and it's hard to get noticed amongst so many great writers.

8.) When is your next novel coming out?

I planned on releasing a new y/a book with a male protag, but as I’ve been asked when sequels are coming out, I think I should probably stick to my current series. I’m hoping to release the sequel to Verity next, possibly before Christmas.

Thanks again Claire for doing the interview. You can buy Verity on ebook at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Sony Ebookstore.

Spring Into Summer Read-a-Thon Updates

2011-06-17T13:37:00.002-05:00

I will be posting all of my updates throughout the next two days on this post so it won't fill up other people's blog rolls!!!

Report #1
1. Well, I didn't read as much as I hoped I would. But I was cleaning and catching up on writing. So this is when the real reading begins.

Total Books read: 0
Total pages read: 147
Books read since last update: 0
Pages read since last update: 82
Total Time Read: 2 hours 15 minutes
How I'm currently feeling: I feel ready to get down to more reading. I'm going to try to read through the whole night

2. I've only read Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley (and I'm not even done with it) but I'm enjoying it.

3. My favorite mini challenge was the story maker-it was really fun to read everyone's stories (a lot of them were very creative!)

4. My favorite thing about the read-a-thon is all the fun mini challenges

5. I think my least favorite thing about the read-a-thon would have to be probably not having enough time to read-but that's mostly my fault

6. I'm not on track to meet my goals, but I'm still determined to finish five books

7. Yes, I will be participating tomorrow. My new goal is to stay away reading the whole night!

Update #3:

Total books read:0
Total pages read: 65
Books read since last update: 0
Pages read since last update: 0
Total Time Read: 65 minutes
How I'm currently feeling: tired and like I want to read a lot more than I'm doing right now

Mini Challenge: For this challenge, I have to write 100 words or less into a story using the words: Shaman, Lime, Laser, and Goat. Sounds fun, right?

So here it goes:

Rick Shaman and Lester Goat have always been somewhat uncomfortable with each other. Most of that time was spent at family dinners with Shaman and Goat sitting across each other, making faces at each other while eating their peas. Their parents were talking about school transportation and maybe using the idea of carpool. Shaman made a face at that, not wanting to spend any more time around Goat. And Goat didn't look much happier, they both looked horrified while looking at their parents. But then they looked at each other and something changed on their faces-agreeing on something. They both nod their heads once before Shaman grabs a lime out of his lemonade and hands it under the table to Goat. Goat then places the lime on his spoon, aiming at his mom. Before letting it go, Goat looks at Shaman and smiles, Shaman smiling in return. Returning to his task, Goat lets the spoon fling the lime like a laser and lands directly on top of his moms head. She's startled with a shriek but Goat and Shaman continue to smile at each other-the start to a friendship.

Lol, okay that was pretty fun. I love writing so this task wasn't difficult at all. I hope everyone else is doing well on the read-a-thon. I wish you the best of luck!

Update #2:

Total Books Read: 0
Total Pages Read: 65
Books Read Since Last Update: 0
Pages Read since last update: 65
Total time read: 65
How I'm currently feeling: I'm feeling a little overwhelmed because I have to clean the house today and fill out my college forms so I hope it doesn't affect the read-a-thon

Mini Challenge: Here is my wordle-I've never done this before but it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed this mini challenge:

Sorry it's so small but whenever I tried to make it bigger-it gets blurry. I made this wordle by typing in my blog, Smitten With Books, website address

The Read-a-Thon has started (and I'm two hours late)-go figure!

2011-06-17T12:11:00.000-05:00

I didn't get much sleep last night (I couldn't fall asleep until four thirty) so I overslept but now that I'm awake-I am ready for the Spring into Summer Read-a-Thon.

These are the books I'm planning on reading:

1. Lunarmorte by Samantha Young
2. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
3. Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
4. Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
5. Need by Carrie Jones

This is my goal over the next thirty hours, I'm planning on reading these five books. I don't even know if it's possible but that's my goal.

How is everyone else doing on the read-a-thon?

Spring into Summer Read-a-Thon (I'm Participating!)

2011-06-15T16:11:00.000-05:00

I really enjoy doing read-a-thons. I've only participated in a few during the school year but now that school is out (and summer is finally here) I will have a lot more time to read. And let me tell you-I am planning on reading a lot (well hopefully).

This read-a-thon is hosted by SQUEAKY BOOKS-you can press on the link and it will take you directly to the information on her site about the read-a-thon.

The Spring into Summer Read-a-Thon will start 8 AM MST on Friday June 17th and will end at 8 PM MST on Saturday June 18th. So if you count all those hours up, there will be thirty six hours to read until you drop. Sounds like fun, huh?

And if I persuade you to sign up, when filling out the form, if you put my blog name in saying that I'm the one that told you about the read-a-thon-we will both receive five extra entries to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card.

You only have one and a half day to sign up-so go over to SQUEAKY BOOKS HERE.

Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes

2011-06-14T16:59:00.000-05:00

Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes
Release Date: April 30, 2002
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Lucy Sullivan is getting married, or is she?

Lucy doesn't even have a boyfriend. (To be honest, she isn't that lucky in love.) But Mrs. Nolan-a local psychic-has read her tarot cards and predicted that Lucy will be walking down the aisle within the year

Lucy's roommates, Karen and Charlotte, are appalled at the news. If Lucy leaves it could disrupt their wonderful lifestyle of eating take-out, drinking too much wine, bringing men home and never vacuuming. They might even have to-God forbid-clean up the apartment to lure in a new roommate. Lucy reassures them that she's far too busy arguing with her mother and taking care of her irresponsible father to get married.

And there's the small matter of no boyfriend. But then Lucy meets Gus, gorgeous, unreliable Gus. And she starts to wonder if he could be the future Mr. Lucy Sullivan. Or could it be handsome Chuck? Or Daniel, the world's biggest flirt? Or even cute Jed, the new boy at work?

Maybe the idea of Lucy Sullivan getting married isn't so unlikely, after all.

I really enjoyed this book, and by that I mean I loved this book. It was written so well and had a whole bunch of humor that made me laugh out loud. Lucy's probably my favorite female heroine because she's strong and knows what she wants in life. Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married by Marian Keyes starts out with Lucy's coworkers dragging her to Ms. Nolan to get their cards read. Lucy's very hesitant and doesn't believe in fortune telling but when Ms. Nolan announces that she'll be getting married before the end of the year-it freaks her out a little. Lucy's never had a very long relationship. But when she meets Gus-she wonders if he's the one. But then there's Daniel-whose bachalor status doesn't stop Lucy's roommate from going after him. Daniel and Lucy have been friends for a long time so Lucy starts wondering why he keeps asking her to do things with him-and why she's starting to like it.

The only flaw in this book, which isn't a major flaw, is Gus. His character is portrayed as being annoying and clingy. And he's always drunk or ditching Lucy. But Daniel-I liked Daniel. He's a guy that can take care of Lucy and put up with her charms. The scenes in the book fly past and by the last page, you'll be wishing Marian Keyes wrote twice as much.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I actually have read it around four times already because I really enjoy the book. I love Lucy's and Daniel's friendship as well as Lucy's parents who are a little eccentric. I recommend this book to any fans of Kristan Higgins.

Nightshade in Paperback out Today!

2011-06-14T16:44:00.000-05:00

I have some very exciting news: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer comes out in paperback today (June 14th, 2011). This is an exciting event for me because I only read Nightshade once, about a year ago (and it was the ARC copy from an ARC tour) so I don't remember what happened in the book but I did really enjoy it. So-now I'm thinking about going to Borders tomorrow to purchase my own marvelous copy.

Here's the paperback cover for Nightshade by Andrea Cremer:

I am absolutely in love with this cover-I like it way better than the hardcover/ARC cover even though that was very pretty, too. So everyone go out and buy Nightshade in paperback!

A New Favorite Author

2011-06-13T13:25:00.000-05:00

I am an avid reader and I have certain authors that I hold high. Rachel Hawthorne, Sarah Dessen, Elizabeth Scott, Courtney Summers, and Lisa McMann are among my favorites and whenever they release a new book, I am at Borders the next day. It takes a lot to make an author a favorite of mine, so I'm happy whenever I welcome a new writer to my to-be-read pile.

And I have added a new one recently. She is one of my top three favorite authors right now (at this time) and I can't get enough of her books. Her name is: Samantha Young and is the writer of the Lunarmorte series.

I love werewolves which is the basis of her trilogy and they are written so fantastically-I have reread them several times. I feel that Samantha Young is one of those special writers that come around only once in a while and she deserves to be praised.

Here is the first book of her Lunarmorte trilogy:

Lunarmorte by Samantha Young
Release Date: July 30, 2010
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Amidst the magical children of the ancient Greek gods lives a girl destined to bring their ancient war to an end.

Caia Ribeiro has lived a life of isolation and mystery since the death of her parents and her separation from her lykan pack at the age of seven. Returning ten years later under the supervision of the packs young leader, Lucien, Caia finds herself seduced by pack life and her enigmatic guardian. But when strange happenings lead to near exposure of their world Caia begins to realize Lucien and the elders have been keeping unforgivable secrets, leaving Caia to come to terms with the truth of her dark and unique heritage.

Scarcely given time to adjust to her new reality the war she believed stormed only on distant shores crashes on her doorstep forcing Caia to put aside her conflict with Lucien in order to save them all from an old enemy and his relentless pursuit.

Please give this book a chance, I am positive you will love it and soon find Samantha Young's writing to wiggle it's way into your heart. Here is the book on Amazon.com

Happy Memorial Day!

2011-05-30T11:58:00.000-05:00

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Memorial Day. I hope you find time in your busy day to read a great book!

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

2011-04-05T15:55:00.001-05:00

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers
Publication Date: December 21, 2010
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
From the author of Cracked Up to be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl's search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.

When Eddie Reeve's father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anything else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father's and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie's vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

I loved Cracked Up to be and Some Girls Are (Courtney Summer's previous books) and this one was no different. Eddie's father kills himself one night and she has no idea why he did it. She keeps looking for answers to explain his death but never seems to get anywhere. That is until Eddie goes to the warehouse where her father committed suicide to find Culler there. Culler was a student of Eddie's father. He respected him so much and would like to more than ever find out the mystery of his death as well. So Eddie and Culler go on an adventure, looking through his pictures and finding the places that they are taken of. But sometimes it's better not to know the truth...

Fall For Anything, just like her other books has the same sarcastic tone and heartbreaking story plot. I couldn't put it down even though I was reading it sometime in the middle of the night. And when I turned the last page and read the ending paragraph-I wanted more, I still do. And I know Courtney Summers will continue to impress her readers with future novels because she has so much talent.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I have actually been thinking about reading it soon. I find myself thinking about Eddie sometimes and find the urge to pick up the book again. I have to say, though, that Eddie's name was a major highlight of the book for me because I love girls names that sound like boys names. I don't know why, don't ask me, but I just do.

Smitten by Janet Evanovich

2011-02-19T20:42:00.000-06:00

Smitten by Janet Evanovich
Publication Date: July 25, 2006
Versions: paperback, kindle, audio

Summary (from goodreads):
Single mom Lizabeth Kane isn't exactly carpenter material-she's never picked up a hammer in her life. But she desperately needs the construction job that builder Matt Hallahan is offering. And even though he knows the trouble is ahead, Matt can't refuse Lizabeth's irresistible smile.

Matt Hallahan isn't exactly relationship material-he has always been to busy working on other people's houses to make a home of his own. And even though she knows better, Lizabeth can't stop thinking about the rugged carpenter.

Is the relationship Matt and Lizabeth are building solid-or more like a house of cards?

Lizabeth is very desperate to get a job. She has her kid to worry about-so she asks Matt if she can work for him-as a carpenter. Lizabeth doesn't have any experience in the field but something about her makes Matt give her the job. And before long he figures out why he lets Lizabeth work for him everyday-and that reason is he likes her, a lot. Matt isn't the relationship kind of guy, but will he be the right kind of guy for Lizabeth?

I really liked this romantic comedy. It made me laugh a few times including when Matt tells Lizabeth to paint trim for three days in a row because he doesn't know what else to let her do. Matt and Lizabeth together is right and cute. I would definitely pick up this book if you are a fan of fast and funny novels.

Will I reread it?
Yes, eventually I will be glad to pick this book up again. I hope you give it a try too because it brought me a lot of laughs and put a few smiles on my face.

XVI Book Tour: Interview

2011-01-12T09:57:00.011-06:00

Yesterday I posted my review for XVI by Julia Karr. And today since I am apart of Teen Book Scene's Book tour for XVI by Julia Karr-I will be posting my interview with Julia. I hope you enjoy it:

1. How did you come up with the plot line for your novel, XVI?

Answer: I had an initial mental image of my main character, Nina, and the setting, a bustling city in the future, where the government and media were unavoidably intrusive and homeless people were a contemptible inconvenience. Since I wrote XVI as a NaNoWriMo novel (National Novel Writing Month), the plot evolved quickly. More with my characters taking me where they wanted to go, as opposed to me figuring it all out ahead of time.

2. Are any of the characters in XVI based on yourself?

Answer: Not really. Although Nina and I share a few things. Our birthday is the same, we turned sixteen in Chicago and our mothers both died when we were teens. But, her life is definitely not what mine was!

3. What was the hardest thing about writing this book?

Answer. Hmmm... editing the original manuscript was the hardest. I had to change a lot, from Nina’s initial personality to the fate of certain characters. (Don’t want to give any spoilers here!) And - having to stop and go to work at my day job was tough. It always seemed to happen just as things were getting interesting!

4. What do you hope readers will take from reading XVI?

Answer: I think readers will take whatever they want. lol! I’d hope that they might think about media’s role in shaping how we view ourselves and others. And, that perhaps government intrusion doesn’t always keep us safe. I’m sure there’s a lot more. I can’t wait to hear discussions about XVI after its release.

5. What character did you most like to write about in XVI?

Answer: Well, I enjoyed writing them all - but, the two most fun characters to write were definitely Pops and Sandy!

XVI Book Tour: Review

2011-01-11T09:45:00.000-06:00

I was lucky enough to be included in Teen Book Scene's book tour for XVI by Julia Karr. I have two stops on the book tour. Today I will be posting a review and tomorrow make sure you come back for the interview with Julia Karr. So, here's the review:

XVI by Julia Karr
Publication Date: January 6, 2011
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world-even the most predatory of men-that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past-one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

When I first read the summary for this book-I was pulled in. I wanted to immediately get my hands on the book because the plot line is so unique. And after reading XVI by Julia Karr-it was just that, a very thrilling and exciting book with many twists and turns. I was pleasantly surprised. Nina is one of my favorite main characters because she is strong and has a great personality that most people will be able to relate to. I would definitely give this one a try!

Waiting On Wednesday

2011-01-05T11:00:00.001-06:00

This is a meme to show which book you are excited for to be released. It is hosted over at Breaking The Spine. For more information or to link your waiting on wednesday, go here.

Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer
Publication Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Philomel

Summary (from goodreads):
Betrayal, loss, pain, fear. How many trials can love endure and still survive?

I know this isn't the greatest summary but it's better than nothing. I absolutely loved Nightshade by Andrea Cremer and this book is the sequel! So 1) I know it will be great and 2) I don't know how much longer I can wait for this one. Isn't the cover beautiful?

In My Mailbox (vlog)

2011-01-04T20:01:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry I'm two days late for posting this but I haven't been feeling very good and I've been super busy-but I promised I would make one this week-so here it is: I hope you enjoy it!

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

Books Mentioned In This Video:

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich

To The Nines by Janet Evanovich

Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich

Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

Plum Lovin by Janet Evanovich

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

Finger Lickin Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Will Work For Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

The Lo-Down by Lo Bosworth

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

I wanted to thank every one the authors and publishers that have given me a lot of great books to read. I am very thankful to all of you and I appreciate your effort to reach out to me and my blog.

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

2011-01-04T19:01:00.001-06:00

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman
Publication Date: February 17, 2011
Versions: hardcover, kindle
Received from: Around The World ARC Tours

Summary (form barnes and noble):
When high school junior-Natalie--or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper--is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys inn her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected--especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?

Natalie is an advice columnist for the school newspaper-girls write to her and ask for her advice. And what she is proud of, other guys are disgusted with. They say she is just telling people what they want to hear and that she has no idea about what guys think. Natalie takes serious offense to this-and to prove to everyone, she disguises herself as a guy and goes to an all boys private school. They think she's weird at first and then things get more complicated especially as she starts to fall for her roommate.

This book was downright hilarious. It's a very light read that will be good to snuggle up to in front of the fireplace. I really loved how Natalie was brave enough to disguise herself as a boy-because I know I wouldn't be able to. Babe in Boyland is scary alike to She's The Man (a movie starring Amanda Bynes)-but since I loved the movie, this book was another success.

Will I reread it?
Yes-when I am looking for a laugh I will turn to this book any day. It is so fresh and keeps you turning pages. I definitely recommend it!

One For The Money by Janet Evanovich

2011-01-03T18:38:00.000-06:00

One For The Money (Stephanie Plum No. 1) by Janet Evanovich
Publication Date: August 26, 1994
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle, audio

Summary (from barnes and nobles):
Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash-fast-but times are tough and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.

Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is hot water-wanted for murder.

Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight-and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man.

Stephanie is a very fresh and hilarious character that will make anyone laugh. She has recently just gotten divorced to her cheating husband and lost her job for lingerie buying. So the only thing left for her to do is to get a job for her cousin Vinnie. The job as a filer for his company was already filled so Stephanie insists that she can be a Bounty Hunter. And her first victim is: Joseph Morelli. They had a thing back in grade school when he played choo choo with her, and in high school when she lost her virginity to him and then a few years later she ran into him with a car. But Stephanie is positive that she will bring him in and get her 10,000 dollars-but Morelli won't give up without a fight.

This is one of my favorite books of all time just because it is so humorous. There are a total of sixteen (so far) in this series and I am on book two right now-so look out for a lot more reviews of this series. Throughout the book, Stephanie and Joe have a hate/love relationship especially when he chains Stephanie naked to the shower, when he throws her keys into the garbage and when he tries to seduce her. But Stephanie has a mind of her own and isn't afraid to say whats on his mind.

Will I reread it?
Yes, like I already said, this is one of my favorite series and it is a must for any reader. I wasn't much into mystery books until I picked up this one-and I'm sure it will have that effect on many more.

Top Ten Books of 2010!

2010-12-31T21:31:00.000-06:00

I can hardly believe another year has gone by and one with lots of great books. I hope all of you have read some spectacular books that have come out this year-I know I have. So here are my top ten favorites of 2010:

1.) Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

2.) Matched by Ally Condie

3.)Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

4.) You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

5.) Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

6.) Gone by Lisa McMann

7.) Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

8.) Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

9.) The Duff by Kody Keplinger

10.) Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Sorry About The Distance

2010-12-31T20:37:00.000-06:00

I owe each and every one of my followers an apology because I have been very distant this past month and I have hardly posted any reviews, giveaways, or weekly memes. I know most bloggers don't believe in saying sorry to their followers for taking a little break from blogging but I think I need to because you have all been so great and have stuck with me-so thank you.

And from now on you can expect lots of posts (especially today) and come back on Sunday because I will be posting a vlog for In My Mailbox!

Black Wings by Christina Henry

2010-12-20T12:23:00.000-06:00

Black Wings by Christina Henry (ARC)
Publication Date: November 30, 2010
Versions: paperback, kindle
Received from: Book It Forward ARC Tours

Summary (from goodreads):
As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It's a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package.

Maddy's position may come with magical powers and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.

Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.

Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell...

This was a very interesting novel-interesting in a good way, though. I'm not really that much into reading about monsters including gargoyles and demons but the author played out this story very well. Maddys job is to help people, move on into the afterlife. But it can sometimes be a tricky job especially that Maddy is running low on money. And when Gabriel moves into her apartment-she can't help feeling a pull to him even though more and more demons are starting to show up. Could it have anything to do with him?

Gabriel is one of those characters that every girl will swoon over-with his bad boyish looks and behaviors. I also liked the connection between Gabriel and Maddy, it was interesting to see how they grew together. I always like reading about a kick butt main character who is strong-so that part I really enjoyed.

Will I reread it?
Probably not, but I do recommend this one to anyone looking for an action packed book. It drew me in and I know it will have the same effect on many others.

2011 Debut Author Challenge!!!

2010-12-04T22:50:00.000-06:00

Yes, this year (2011) I will be participating in the Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren. Throughout this year, whenever I read other blogs posts about the challenge or what books they have read for it I was itching to sign up but decided to wait until the 2011 challenge started. And if you want to join you should go to The Story Siren to sign up.

Here are the rules (created by Kristi):
1.) You have to read at least 12 from YA/Middle Grade authors
2.) Anyone can join (no blog required)
3.) You can join at anytime
4.) This must be the authors debut that comes out in 2011

So there you have it. I am very excited to get started (even though I have to wait until January). Here are the twelve or more books I am shooting for to finish by December 2011.

1.) XVI by Julia Karr
2.) Across The Universe by Beth Revis
3.) Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
4.) Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
5.) Entwined by Heather Dixon
6.) Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
7.) Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
8.) Bumped by Megan McCafferty
9.) Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
10.) Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
11.) After Midnight by Lynn Viehl
12.) Countess Nobody by Lynn Bonasia
13.) Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I learned in Southern Belle by Crickety Rumley

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

2010-12-04T10:34:00.000-06:00

The Lost Saint (Dark Divine #2) by Bree Despain
Publication Date: December 28, 2010
Versions: hardcover, kindle, audio
Received from: publisher

Caution: This is the second book in this series and if you have not yet read: The Dark Divine-then this review may contain spoilers.

Summary (from goodreads):
Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger-in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her-not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to The Dark Divine.

Grace who now has the werewolf curse is training with Daniel to be the next "Hound of Heaven". He makes sure though that she doesn't get taken by the wolf. But when Gabriel comes to town-Daniel knows how dangerous it is to train Grace and stops immediately. Grace is very upset that no one believes in her so she takes confinement in Talbot-who is also an Urbat. He actually wants to train her and isn't keeping secrets from her as Daniel is. But the longer she trains with Talbot-the more Daniel and Grace's relationship gets more complicated.

This was a great sequel and I praise Bree Despain for making it so interesting and leaving us with a cliff hanger ending (I am almost certain that there will be a third Dark Divine novel). But I will have to state that I was very angry at Grace for most of the novel because she was spending more time with Talbot than her own boyfriend-she was just really annoying in this novel. And at times I could hardly continue-because she made some super dumb mistakes.

Will I reread it?
Yes, even though Grace got on my nerves-this sequel was excellent. I truly recommend this to anyone who has currently read The Dark Divine by Bree Despain. And if you haven't-please do. This series is very unique and will pique anyones interest.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and no compensation.

Winner of The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

2010-12-01T17:08:00.000-06:00

I finally picked the winner (sorry for the delay-I've just been super duper busy!) And I know all of you are dying to get your hands on this book-so I am very for all the other followers who didn't manage to snag it.

But without further ado...

Mrs. DeRaps

Congratulations, you have won an ARC of The Lost Saint by Bree Despain and a nail polish that matches the models on the cover.

I am emailing you as we speak so we can get your prize shipped to you as soon as possible. Thanks again everyone for taking their time out to enter.

Last Day to Enter Giveaway for The Lost Saint by Bree Despain ARC and Nailpolish

2010-11-22T13:08:00.000-06:00

This is the last day that the giveaway for an ARC of The Lost Saint by Bree Despain and matching nail polish will be open. I will be picking the winners tomorrow so make sure you enter before midnight tonight.

Go HERE to enter!

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah Maclean

2010-11-22T13:04:00.001-06:00

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah Maclean (Love By Number #2)
Publication Date: October 26, 2010
Versions: paperback, kindle

Caution: This is the second book in this series and if you have not yet read: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake-then this review may contain spoilers.

Summary (from goodreads):
Since being named "London's Lord to Land" by a popular ladies magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps-only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious women he's ever met!

The daughter of a titled wastrel, Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though she is used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father's recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother's birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks.

But the lady must be wary and not do anything reckless and foolish...like falling madly, passionately in love.

I have read and reviewed Sarah Maclean's two other novels: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (the first book in this series) and The Season (which is more of a teen novel). They were both wonderful and Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord is just as stunning. Nicholas St. John is now known to be the most sought after bachelor after his brother, Gabriel, marries. The only problem is that Nicholas doesn't want a wife or to love any women. And he is pleased when he goes out of town-trying to find someone-but then ultimately runs into Lady Isabel. She is persistent, and strong which drives Nicholas mad. And he will do anything in his power to make Isabel want him.

This book is probably not recommended to a young audience due to it's descriptive scenes-but the characters were extraordinary with their persistence and strong attitudes. I didn't think it was possible but-Nicholas may well be the best of the two twins which made me enjoy this novel even more.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I loved this plot line, the characters and all the dialect. Sarah Maclean does a great job with all of her novels and I am pleasantly surprised with this one as well. I definitely recommend this to any historical romance fan who loves bad boys.

ARC Tours

2010-11-16T14:34:00.000-06:00

I have been doing Smitten With Books ARC Tours and am continuing to run the site. I have just added four new books that will be starting on tour on Monday-so if you would like to sign up for any of these books, go to the site here.

These are the four books I have just added on tours:

1.) The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
2.) Drought by Pam Bachorz
3.) Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell
4.) Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

So if you want to sign up for any of them make sure you go to Smitten With Books ARC Tours. And if you don't want to sign up for the tours but have an extra ARC that you would be willing to donate, please email me here: smittenwithbooksarctours (at) hotmail (dot) com

Thanks so much!

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2010-11-16T14:26:00.000-06:00

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Publication Date: September 12, 2007
Versions: hardcover, paperback, audio

Summary (from goodreads):
With his first foray into teen literature, acclaimed author Sherman Alexie packs a punch in this absorbing novel about a Native American boy searching for a brighter future. At once humorous and stirring, Alexie's novel follows Junior, a resident of the Spokane reservation who transfers out of the reservation's school--and into a nearby rich, all-white farm school--in order to nurture his desire to become a cartoonist. Junior encounters resistance there, a backlash at home, and numerous family problems--all the while relaying his thoughts and feelings via amusing descriptions and drawings. Having already garnered a National Book Award for Young Adult Literature, this moving look at race and growing up is definitely one to pick up.

Junior lives on the reservation with his parents and goes to school with all the other indian's that live there. No one really likes Junior due to his odd looks and the different activities he participates in. But Junior is sick of going to school on the reservation and wants to go to a school with more opportunities. The school he decides to attend is full of people who at first don't understand him but the longer he sticks it out-the more the kids start to admire his bravery.

This is one of the most funny books I have ever laid my eyes on. Sherman Alexie is full of wit and humor which he added graciously to this book. I laughed out loud at least every other page. The plot is truly interesting and will hold your attention.

Will I reread it?
Probably not, but I did really enjoy this book. And if you want a great laugh-I definitely recommend this because that is exactly what you will get. Full of hilarious cartoons, and witty humor-The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a wonderful novel.

Giveaway: The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

2010-11-15T18:03:00.000-06:00

I am very pleased to have been given an extra ARC of The Lost Saint by Bree Despain and blue nail polish which matches the model's on the cover. So thank you so much Egmont for sending an extra so I can give one lucky reader a copy.

Here is what one lucky person (who lives in the United States-I'm very sorry to the international followers who want to enter, but I am low on money right now) will win:

An ARC of The Lost Saint by Bree Despain and one bottle of The Lost Saint nail polish

How To Enter:
1. Leave a comment below with your name and email address
2. If you are a follower of my blog, Smitten With Books, put +1 in the comment as well
3. You can also make a blog post linking and letting everyone know about the giveaway - and if you do, put +4 in the comment as well

Thank you everyone who takes their time out to enter! The winner will be chosen on November 22nd so enter before then.

Top Five Favorite Covers

2010-11-15T16:56:00.000-06:00

Covers are a huge part of the book-especially when it's the first thing you see when you pull a book off the shelf. And I am a huge cover fan-I will occasionally just hold the book in my arms and admire the colors and images on the cover. There have been some books that I have especially loved their art and I want to share my top five favorite book covers with all of you.

(By the way: these covers are not listed in any particular order)

1. You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

The pink color of this cover just pops and I love the cupcake theme which goes very well with the plot line. Whenever I look at this one-my childhood comes back to me and the bright colors cheer me up.

2. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

This cover is really soft with its lighter tones and fits very well with the book. I love how intimate their pose is even though they are barely touching. Also the eyebrow piercing kicks up the cover a little bit to show a bad side to the female character.

3. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

I love the color purple and this cover is filled with it. The girl on the front looks very powerful and strong and the flowers make it so beautiful. Every time I look at this one-it takes my breath away.

4. Matched by Ally Condie

This cover is so much prettier in person (although I've only seen the ARC copy)-but I love everything about it. The green is absolutely delightful and the girl in the bubble ties in with the story very well.

5. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

I've always admired this cover because it's unique. And the purple is so pretty against the girls pale skin. And I love the toenail polish which stands out on her pale skin and dark background.

So there it is-my top five favorite book covers. And please feel free to make your own post on your blog with your top five favorite book covers and leave a comment with the link. I will make sure to check it out!

Signed Copy of You Wish by Mandy Hubbard Winner!

2010-11-13T21:37:00.000-06:00

I just used random.org to pick the winner of a signed copy of You Wish by Mandy Hubbard. I loved this book (and I really mean loved) so I hope you enjoy it as well.

And without further ado, the winner...

Naiche

Congratulations, I am sending you an email as we speak-so please get back to me as soon as possible. Thanks again to everyone who filled out the form, thanks to Mandy Hubbard for donating the copy, and thanks to Teen Book Scene for letting me host the giveaway in the first place.

Anne of Green Gables by L .M. Montgomery

2010-11-10T20:29:00.000-06:00

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle, audio
Other Books in the Series:
   Anne of Avonlea
   Anne of the Island
   Anne of Windy Poplars
   Anne's House of Dreams
   Anne of Ingleside
   Rainbow Valley
   Rilla of Ingleside

Summary (from goodreads):
When Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl, Marilla exclaims, "But we asked for a boy. We have no use for a girl." It's not long, though, before the Cuthberts can't imagine how they could ever do without young Anne of Green Gables--but not for the original reasons they sought an orphan. Somewhere between the time Anne "confesses" to losing Marilla's amethyst pin (which she never took) in hopes of being allowed to go to a picnic, and when Anne accidentally dyes her hated carrot-red hair green, Marilla says to Matthew, "One thing's for certain, no house that Anne's in will ever be dull." And no book that she's in will be, either.

If I had to pick one book that I completely adore and go to from time to time, I would have to say that this is at the top of the list. Anne of Green Gables is about the Cuthberts who have decided to adopt a boy to help out with the farm work. But along the way something goes awry and a girl named Anne comes home with Matthew instead of the awaited boy. At first Marilla isn't pleased especially when Anne gets into so much trouble-but soon Marilla finds an attachment to her. What adventures will Anne get into next?

Anne is one of those characters that everyone likes, with her red hair, freckled face, and skinny physique. And she gets in lots of scrapes including bad cooking, dying her hair, breaking a slate over a boys head, and much much more. I can never put this book down without wanting to pick it right back up. And if you are one of those people who love romance, there is some in this book-a love/hate relationship which progresses through the different books in the series.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I already have and probably will a lot more times. This is one of those memorable books that you can't stop thinking about. And if you aren't much into reading-there is also very good movies based off of the books starring Megan Follows-which I highly recommend.

I Owe An Apology

2010-11-09T21:22:00.000-06:00

I have been absent for about three weeks. And I really want to apologize for that-these last few weeks have been really rough and I've hardly been at home so therefore I didn't have my laptop. And I also wanted to let you know that I am going to post a lot more reviews, interviews, giveaways and other cool things. So thank all of you for not giving up on me yet.

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard Book Tour + Giveaway

2010-10-23T12:32:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Teen Book Scene, I had the privelege to participate in Mandy Hubbard's tour of You Wish (which is one of my favorite books of the year, and if you haven't picked it up I definitely recommend it). And for this tour I interviewed Ben who is one of the main characters in the book.

I hope you enjoy it:

1. Hey Ben, can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hey Morgan! I’m sixteen, and a sophomore at Enumclaw High School. I hate math. Mostly because my teacher is a Nazi. I love stupid jokes. And camping. And Pizza.

2. What kind of activities do you participate in outside of school?

I spend all my spare time at the Motocross track. I have totally tricked out Yamaha. Don’t tell anyone, but I just mastered a back flip. I’ll probably go pro after I graduate, but for now, I’m taking it easy.

3. So Ben, what is the one thing you look for most in a girl?

A sense of humor! It’s kind of a buzzkill if she doesn’t laugh at my laffy-taffy jokes.

4. Can you tell us a little bit about your girlfriend, Nicole? (How long have you been going out?)

Nicole and I have been together for three months. She’s really sweet, and pretty deep—she loves reading and poetry. You should see her room—her book cases look like they exploded. She’s really shy—or at least she used to be—but she seems to be warming up to people more quickly these days. Kinda cool to see her come out of her shell. She’s not so into the outdoors, though, so I don’t torture her with the track.

5. Do you and Kayla, your girlfriends best friend, hang out a lot?

At school, yeah. We have math together. She cracked a really lame joke on the first day of school, and now it’s like a competition between us.

6. What is the one thing you most admire in Kayla?

She’s not afraid to be different. Most girls are way too desperate to fit in. Kayla’s not like that.

7. What is one birthday wish you always wanted to come true-but never did?

I want to meet Travis Pastrana. The dude is a legend and totally fearless.

And also for part of the tour-I am hosting a giveaway for a signed copy of You Wish by Mandy Hubbard to one lucky winner who lives in USA/Canada (sorry to the international followers). So please fill out the form below to enter!

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Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

2010-10-09T13:49:00.000-05:00

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian (ARC)
Publication Date: September 1, 2010
Versions: hardcover

Summary (from goodreads):
Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.

But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not where there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you want to sleep with yourself-but only in secret, with nobody every finding out.

Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices-and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

I've heard so much great things about Siobhan Vivian's previous novels, but I have never had the opportunity to pick one up. So I was really happy to have received this novel because it sounded like a great story line. Natalie is the smart girl in school, who is running for student council president. But Mike, the unresponsible immature popular jock, is also running. And Natalie can't stand Mike or any of his other annoying friends. But when Natalie finds a confidant in Mike's friend-one who she never thought she would want to spend time with-her whole life turns upside down especially when she finds out her best friend has been keeping secrets from her.

I really loved Natalie's personality throughout the novel, she was brutally honest and very strong. I loved that she told Mike how she really felt about him and how even though she knew something was wrong-she did it anyway. Natalie's best friend, however very annoying, was well played out as well as a great parallel to Natalie.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I probably will pick this one back up in a couple years. I loved the story line and I hope you will also give Siobhan Vivian's novels a try. I will have to read her other books as well.

Waiting On Wednesday

2010-10-06T18:46:00.000-05:00

This is a meme to show which book you are excited for to be released. It is hosted over at Breaking The Spine. For more information or to link your waiting on wednesday, go here.

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones
Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: St. Martins Press

Summary (from goodreads):
A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper.

Charley sees dead people. That's right, she sees dead people. And it's her job to convince them to go into the light. But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she's been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

I think this sounds really good and I love me some paranormal romance! I hope that February rolls around soon enough... What are you waiting for?

The New Covers of The Boyfriend List Series by E. Lockhart

2010-10-05T17:00:00.000-05:00

They have recently came out with new covers for the very popular Boyfriend List series by E. Lockhart. It truly is an amazing series which is also quirky and cute. I definitely recommend it if you haven't picked these books up yet.

Here were the original covers:

And then here are the new covers (with the girl on them):

So which ones do you like best? I really can't say because I adore the frog, penguin and marshmallow man but I always like the visual of the main character and the new covers are very pretty. But if I had to pick, I would probably say the original because they stand out!

I Got a New Blog Layout!

2010-10-04T21:17:00.000-05:00

Yes, you have read correctly, I have finally gotten a different blog layout/design. But I didn't do it on my own, the wonderful Jan from twoscoopz has created this wonderfully beautiful design so I owe it all to her. Thank you so much Jan! I just can't believe that every time I look at my blog I will see this piece of art-I'm sorry for rambling so much.

And, if you're looking for a new blog layout, or just want a different banner or button then please consider using Jan as your designer-she is truly a creative and talented person that will not let you down. Her prices are also very reasonable and she listens to what you want.

Here are also some of the other blogs she has designed:

Sara from The Hiding Spot

Fantastic Book Review

These are some of my two favorite blog designs which have both been created by Jan at twoscoopz-you should also click on the links to check their full layouts out live.

So if you want to go learn more about her designs or pricing you can go here.

What do you think of it?

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

2010-10-04T15:45:00.000-05:00

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Publication Date: August 17, 2010
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Lyn is a neo-gladiator's daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules-and the GSA-can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn's seventh father, he also captures Lyn's dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him...For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haine's debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence-a modern world that's disturbingly easy to imagine.

At first I thought this author copied The Hunger Games just from the title: Girl in the Arena. And that is exactly why I picked it up because I would love to read a different kind of version of The Hunger Games. But to tell you the truth-it wasn't very similar but had a lot of unique characteristics that lead it to be a good book. Lyn has had a total of seven gladiators as fathers-and Tommy, is her favorite. But when Tommy has to fight a well known great fighter-Lyn can see his worry so she lends him her dowry bracelet for good luck. Dowry bracelets can only be held by their fathers and if another man touches it then you are set to get married-according to the Gladiator Sports Association. So it comes to a surprise when Uber, Tommy's competitor, kills him and puts on Lyn's bracelet. She either has to marry him, even though she's never wanted to be a glad wife or fight him...

I can definitely say that this is the first gladiator book that I have ever picked up to read. But I loved all the characters that Lise drew up in the book-Lyn being my favorite. She didn't care what she looked like and even cuts off all of her hair in one of the scenes. I thought she was very strong and loyal and I loved all her quirky characteristics and snappy attitude.

Will I reread it?
I might have to, the plot line keeps you turning pages and the love (yes there is some love) was well played out and realistic. I urge you to pick this book up and give the world of gladiators a try if you haven't done so already.

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green Blog Tour

2010-09-25T15:18:00.000-05:00

I am lucky enough to be able to participate in The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green blog tour. So for the blog tour I am going to review the book which was given by me from the publisher to review. So here it goes (I hope you enjoy it):

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green (ARC)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: September 1, 2010
Versions: paperback
Received from: publisher

Summary (from goodreads):
In a world where nothing is certain, a little magic couldn't hurt...right?

When Erin Channing's favorite aunt dies, Erin is bequeathed a pink crystal ball and a set of weird instructions. Granted, Aunt Kiki (aka Aunt Kooky) always lived "outside the box." But ow Erin and her two best friends are convinced that the pink crystal ball holds the key to their future-or at least the key to getting dates...

Consider Your Fate to Be Sealed...

Absolute value is not unlimited; let the planets be your guide to the number. There are sixteen ways to die, but four of them you will never see. The future belongs to you alone. Other voices will be disappointed. One rotation is as far as you can see. Only uncertainty lies beyond.

I really liked how cute and fun this book was. The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green is very refreshing and a great read. Erin Channing is amazed when her aunt Kiki dies. Aunt Kiki, was always fun and different, hence the nickname Aunt Kooky. But Erin loved her just the way she was. And now she can't believe she's dead-and neither can her mom. But when she receives a pink crystal ball-her life will get even weirder.

I loved the main character-Erin-she reminds me of when I was her age because of the whole boy situation. This book is perfect if you enjoy fun reads that aren't too challenging but equally entertaining. I recommend this book to any age group-and I know a lot of people will enjoy this read.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I probably will. I loved the plot line and the title which is truly unique. I also loved reading about the girls experiences with the pink crystal ball which were really funny and exciting. I found myself wondering what was going to happen next. I look forward to future releases from Risa Green.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and no compensation

Waiting On Wednesday

2010-09-22T15:44:00.000-05:00

This is a meme to show which book you are excited for to be released. It is hosted over at Breaking The Spine. For more information or to link your waiting on wednesday, go here.

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber
Publication Date: December 28, 2010
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Summary (from goodreads):
Celeste Parker is used to hearing scary stories about werewolves--Legend's Run is famous for them. But when, after an unnerving visit with a psychic, she encounters a pack of wolves and gorgeous, enigmatic Brandon, she must discover whether his transformation is more than legend or just a trick of the shadows in the moonlight. Brandon may be Celeste's hero, or he may be the most dangerous creature she could encounter in the woods of Legend's Run.

The bestselling Vampire Kisses author, Ellen Schreiber, weaves together psychic predictions, generations-old secrets, a town divided, and the possibility of falling in love with a hot and heroic werewolf--the perfect formula for what happens...once in a full moon.

Doesn't this one just take your breath away? I want to read it right now but unfortunately it doesn't come out until December. What books are you waiting for?

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

2010-09-21T18:28:00.000-05:00

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers (ARC)
Publication Date: September 14, 2010
Versions: paperback, kindle, audio
Received from: Star Book Tours

Summary (from goodreads):
Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance-even her closest friends-and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions-for Hell-and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he's as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn't get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay...for all of them.

I really enjoyed the summary on the back of this book. I thought it would be about a girl and a bad boy (my favorite plot line). But unfortunately it went way farther than that. Frannie is a senior in high school, has curves in all the right places, and is struck by Luc the second she lays eyes on him. Luc can't help but to feel an attraction for Frannie, either. Luc came to mark her for Hell and to get her to go on the bad side. But once Gabriel is sent to stop Luc from taking Frannie-he knows she's too good to give up. And as Frannie battles with her attraction for both of them, she can only make one decision...

Luc's and Frannie's "relationship" seemed very rushed. It was love at first sight and they couldn't think right around each other-which is very cliche. I did like Luc as a character because he's a bad boy with a good and caring side. But Frannie on the other hand...she was a little annoying and too swoony. I prefer main characters to be more independent but I did understand where she was coming from.

Will I reread it?
No, probably not. And I hate to sound like I disliked this book because I didn't. I really enjoyed Lisa Desrocher's writing and how she played out each scene. I recommend this book to people who enjoy fallen angel stories and love triangles.

In My Mailbox

2010-09-20T19:10:00.000-05:00

Okay, I know I haven't done this all summer but I really want to get back into this meme. It is fun to share what you receive in the mail and passes the word of books around. In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

And instead of doing vlogs (video blogs) like I used to do-I decided to just snap a few pictures because it's a lot easier and a lot less stressful. But don't fret if you are a vlog lover, because some may just show up every couple sundays.

Enough mumbling...here is what I got in the last few weeks:

(from left to right)

Elixir by Hilary Duff (ARC-from publisher)

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh (hardcover-from publisher)

Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire (ARC-from publisher)

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines (paperback-bought)

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers (ARC-from Star Book Tours)

Real Live Boyfriends by E. Lockhart (ARC-from book trade)

The Aristobrats by Jennifer Solow (paperback-from publisher)

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green (ARC-from publisher)

Haint Misbehavin' by Maureen Hardegree (Bound Manuscript-from Adrianne Ambrose)

Mockingjay KeyChain (I bought this from Borders)

Mockingjay Bookmark (I bought this from Borders)

Signed "What I Learned From Being a Cheerleader" Stickers (I will be giving these away on my blog soon so keep an eye out)

What I Learned From Being a Cheerleader by Adrianne Ambrose (paperback-from author)

I wanted to thank every one the authors and publishers that have given me a lot of great books to read. I am very thankful to all of you and I appreciate your effort to reach out to me and my blog.

Anna and the French Kiss Recreate a Cover Contest Entry

2010-09-19T00:10:00.000-05:00

Cindy over at Princess Bookie, is at it again with her fun Re-Create a Cover Contests. And since I am really looking forward to this book-I decided to participate. It was so much fun and I hope you all like what I created (this is probably the best one I have done so far)!!!!

Here it is:

And if you want to join in on the fun-go here. And leave a link in the comments to your entries because I would love to see them.

Crave by Melinda Metz

2010-09-18T23:14:00.000-05:00

Crave by Melinda Metz (ARC)
Publication Date: September 21, 2010
Versions: paperback, kindle
Received from: Book it Forward ARC Tours

Summary (from goodreads):
Shay has had a rare blood disorder since she was born. In fact, her mother married one of Shay's doctors, Martin, who left his world-renowned leukemia research to try and figure out exactly what the disorder is and how to cure it. When she turns seventeen, Martin begins to give her new blood transfusions that make her feel the strongest she has ever felt. But she also has odd visions where she sees through the eyes of a vampire. At first, she thinks she must be imagining the visions, but when she begins to see Martin's office in them, she knows she has to check it out. That's when she finds Gabriel, a sexy, teenaged vampire, imprisoned in Martin's office. The connection she has built with Gabriel compels her to set him free. But when he kidnaps her in an attempt at revenge on Martin, their lives become deeply intertwined. She doesn't know the half of it.

For some reason, I couldn't connect with Shay (the main character). She was just so...different but I looked up to her for standing her ground and going after what she wants. Shay has always had a special blood disorder, and every doctor she visits has no idea what's wrong with her. Then she goes to Martin, and eventually her mom even gets married to him. Every two weeks or so, Shay needs to receive blood transfusions to stay alive. And Martin has perfected a new type of blood and when Shay receives it-she can see visions of someones past-their life story. His name is Gabriel and Shay can connect to him in a deep level. The new blood makes her feel so much more alive and before she knows it...she finds him held captive in Martin's office. The only problem is that he's out for revenge.

Is it just me or is Gabriel a pretty sexy name? I mean there are a lot of books now a days with the name Gabriel-and for some reason I end up swooning after the character. And that's exactly what I did with Crave. The book was written really well-so I give Melinda Metz a lot of props for that. It was also very interesting and unique. I can say that I have never read a book about a blood disorder before-but I loved the story line and reading about Shay's struggles.

Will I reread it?
Maybe? I don't know, but I recommend this to any supernatural book lover. I really enjoyed it and I hope a lot more people will jump on the Melinda Metz bandwagon (because I did).

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

2010-09-13T23:00:00.000-05:00

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann (ARC)
Publication Date: February 8, 2011
Versions: hardcover, kindle, audio
Received from: Around The World Tours

Summary (from goodreads):
The community of Cryer's Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany's empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on...until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly-and deadly-local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

There is one word to describe this book: WOW. It was so unique and compelling-it kept me turning pages. Kendall, a sixteen year old girl, has OCD. She goes to school early everyday to straighten out the desks, blinds, and waste basket. And Nico is the guy she can tell everything to...until he disappears-just like Tiffany did. She can't believe he is gone and when Jacian-a new student at school, comes to town and is mean and negative all the time-she can't help but wonder if he has something to do with Nico disappearing. But when she starts to hang out with him and his sister more, she starts to realize that Jacian isn't as arrogant as she thought.

This book took me through a whirlwind of events, some funny, some swoonworthy, and some downright freaky. I loved Lisa McMann's Wake series-and was also blown away with Cryer's Cross. And for those of you who are getting discouraged-there is a romance that takes place.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I loved every single page of this book. I couldn't put it down and when I did -I couldn't stop thinking about it. I cannot wait to see what else Lisa has in store for all of us.

Waiting On Wednesday

2010-09-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

This is a meme to show which book you are excited for to be released. It is hosted over at Breaking The Spine. For more information or to link your waiting on wednesday, go here.

The Desires of the Dead (The Body Finder #2) by Kimberly DertingPublication Date: March 15, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins

Summary (from goodreads):
The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret...but her relationship and possibly her life as well.

I absolutely loved the Body Finder by Kimberly Derting and can't wait to see what this sequel has in store for us. What are you waiting for?

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2010-09-07T18:31:00.000-05:00

Delirium by Lauren Oliver (ARC)
Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Versions: hardcover
Received from: Traveling ARC Tours

Summary (from goodreads):
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love-the deliria-blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: she falls in love.

This is one of those books that you can't stop thinking about after you read it. The different scenes keep roleplaying in my head all day. It was so well written and well worded, everything was just right (all the parts fit together like a puzzle). There were so many problems with the curse deliria (otherwise known as love) in the past, there were so many suicides and deaths, that the scientists decided that love was an illness. And they have found a way to cure everyone when they turn eighteen. Lena is counting down the days until her operation-she can't wait to be cured. But then during her examinations she discovers a boy with golden leaf hair and is drawn to him. He teaches her about everything, and even though it's forbbiden-she hangs out with him. And soon she finds out what their society has really turned into.

This is one of those books that everyone is looking forward to, and it has a right to be that way-this book is amazing. It can easily be compared to The Hunger Games, The Uglies series, and Matched. Event though this book is well over 400 pages, I found myself wishing it wouldn't end.

Will I reread it?
I will have to run out and buy my very own copy when the release date strolls around. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for an outstanding read. I am crossing my fingers for a sequel in the near future.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

2010-09-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh (ARC)
Publication Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Atheneum
Versions: hardcover
Received from: publisher

Summary (from goodreads):
Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due-so unfair-on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he'd rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing inhis journal, she can't help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allen Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

I really enjoyed the dark feeling that the tone gave off throughout the book. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh is about a girl named Isobel, who is popular and on the cheerleading squad, who gets paired to be partners with Varen. Varen is weird and everyone knows it. But when Isobel starts hanging out with him more and more, she starts to feel drawn to him and what's in his notebook. Will Isobel be able to put their differences (and friends) aside to get to hang out with Varen more?

This book had a lot of conflicts, involving friends, Varen's attitude and just Isobel in general. But I enjoyed reading how Isobel got through those conflicts which helped her grow. Varen, also was a great character who was a typical "emo". And for some reason I am drawn to those kind of people, so I felt myself kind of crushing on him.

Will I reread it?
I don't know because it's a very long book. And if you don't trust me, go out and buy it when it is released. I recommend this book to any vampire or poem lovers. Kelly Creagh wove a lot of poem elements throughout the book which was very enjoyable and fresh. I look forward to future releases by this author.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and no compensation

Winners of the Mockingjay Countdown Event!

2010-09-04T18:02:00.000-05:00

I first wanted to thank everyone for all their support and participation in this event, it was so much fun to host but took a lot of time and energy. I apologize in advance for not picking the winners earlier, but I was really tired and had to catch up on some of my reading, and don't forget that so many of you entered that I had to tally all the entries before using random.org to choose the winners.

And guess who were the winners?

Day 1 Winner

Kaila won:

A paperback copy of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Inspired Gale backpack charm (made and bought from Cold Hands Warm Arts)

Day 2 Winner

Brooke won:

A hardcover copy of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games inspired Peeta backpack charm (made and bought from Cold Hands Warm Arts)

Day 3 Winner

Sarah won:

hardcover copy of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games inspired Katniss Charm Bracelet (made and bought from Cold Hands Warm Arts)

Congratulations to all of you, I have emailed you for your address so I can send your prizes out as soon as possible.

350 Followers and a big thank you!

2010-09-04T17:52:00.002-05:00

I have officially reached 350 followers, and to understand why that is such a big deal to me-I will tell you about my blogging experiences. When I first started to blog, I would look to other blogs as inspiration and to help me get through the tough times. And there would occasionally be that one blog that had 350 or more followers, and I would see them as being the "big, important" blogs. I always wished I could be one of them and here I am now. I am just amazed by everything and am so grateful for all of you.

And as the title says: THANK YOU! I truly appreciate all your lovely comments, follows, and blogs. And since I just had that huge Mockingjay Countdown Giveaway Event-I will not be doing a 350 follower giveaway but there will be a 400 follower one-so watch out!