Read Your Own Books Read-a-Thon

Monica at the Bibliophilic Blog is hosting a read-a-thon called Read Your Own Books Read-a-Thon. And it starts tomorrow so if you haven't already signed up, make sure you do so here. This read a thon starts from 9 AM August 13th and ends at 9 AM August 16th.

I have been wanting to reread a lot of books and I just haven't gotten around to doing it. So I decided that for this read a thon, I will be able to reread those books that I have been craving about for a long time. Here are the ones I hope to get read over this three day period:

1. Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
2. Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty
3. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
4. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
5. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
6. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
7. According to Jane by Marilyn Brandt
8. Forget You by Jennifer Echols
9. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
10. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Yes, ten books is my goal and I really hope I get through most of them. Expect updates each day saying what I read and how many hours or minutes I read that day. And if you are apart of this read a thon, make sure you come back tomorrow because I am hosting a mini challenge on my blog and I will be giving away a copy of Firelight by Sophie Jordan.

Watch Out for An Upcoming CSN Product Review

When a representative from the many CSN stores contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in doing another product review from their site-I was really excited. CSN has over a hundred online stores with a ton of products including bedroom furniture sets, bookcases, fishtanks, and much much more.

This time around I am trying to decide on a few different things. I am redoing my bedroom and since my books are overflowing on my bookcase, I was thinking about getting a larger one that would be able to hold all of my books.  And I really liked the look of this one when I was searching:

You can buy this bookcase here. The bookcase I have right now only has four shelves so this one would hold a lot more and then I would have less books hanging around in unwanted places.

Or I was thinking about purchasing a fish tank for my Betta Fish. I just got him and I've been researching online about the fish for awhile and they say it needs a lot more room than the one gallon glass bowl I purchased for it. And the fishbowl is supposed to be about 78-80 degrees and right now it is only at 72. And a one gallon tank is too small to heat without the concern of cooking the fish-so I wanted to get a bigger fish tank. Here is the one that I really like:

You can buy this tank here. I like it a lot and it is 12.5 gallons so I think Edward (my fish) would like it a lot better. And maybe I could even get another fish that go good with Betta's because I know they fight with most fish.

But then I was thinking about getting something for my cat. I would love to get her a cat tree and I was looking around and really liked this one:

You can buy this cat tree here. I love the hammock so I thought it would be great for her.

The tough thing about these product reviews are that there is so much to choose from. What do you guys think I should get?

Waiting On Wednesday

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.


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

Summary (from goodreads):
Corrinne Corocoran's upscale Manhattan life is perfectly on track-until her father announces he's been laid off and she's shipped off to Broken Spoke, Texas, to live with her grandparents. All alone in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the glamorous life she's supposed to be living. But as she grudgingly adjusts-making new friends and finding romance along the way-this city girl begins to realize that life without credit cards and shopping sprees may not be as bad as it seems...


In this sparkling debut that flawlessly balances romance and humor, readers will grow to love sharp and sassy Corrinne as she goes on her totally reluctant but completely irresistible journey of self-discovery. 


This one sounds super cute and I love books about girls having very glamorous lives and then having to go to a farm. I can't wait for this one to be released. What are you guys waiting for?

When Lightning Strikes (1-800-Where-R-You) by Meg Cabot

When Lightning Strikes (1-800-Where-R-You) by Meg Cabot
Publication Date: January 9, 2007
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Jess Mastriani was misunderstood by her teachers and had a crush on the local bad boy, but that didn't mean she was trouble. But trouble found her when she survived a lightning strike and discovered that a newfound talent had been bestowed upon her.


Now, whenever she sees a picture of a missing child, Jess knows exactly where he or she is when she wakes up the next morning. Reuniting lost children with their desperate parents is one thing, but Jess must choose whether to use her power for good...or for evil.

Jess is one of the most hilarious and strong characters I have ever read about. Meg Cabot captures her voice perfectly while making the book fun to read and also suspenseful. Jess is a short girl (only at five feet) who literally punches anybody who disses her brother or friend. So when some dumb jock calls her friend fat, Jess can't help but beat him up. But her friend takes the comment to heart and makes them walk home from school in a soon to be thunder storm. Even though that the cutest guy from detention asks her if she wants a ride, she declines it so she doesn't ditch her friend. But then during the thunder storm, Jess gets hit by lightening and it gets trapped inside her. Now she can wake up and know where missing people are.

Jess in detention is overall my favorite part in the book, because she's as tough as the guys. And one guy (who Jess has a serious crush on) takes notice. But their age difference gets in the way-so will Jess be able to persuade him to give their relationship a try?

Will I reread it?
I'm thinking about doing so right now. I loved every second of this book. And I am so glad this is a five book series-so Jess's story can continue.

Losing Faith Re-Create A Cover Contest

Princess Bookie is holding another Re-Create A Cover Contest and this one is for the book: Losing Faith by Denise Jayden. I've only done one other create a cover contest and I had a lot of fun with it so I decided to do it again.

Here is my cover:

I hope you like it. And if you want to join in on the fun-you can go here. But hurry up because only the first fifty to link in the link box with their entry will be able to participate. And the winner will receive a signed copy of Losing Faith, Signed Bookmarks, and a Poetry Journal.

Tutored by Allison Whittenberg

Tutored by Allison Whittenberg (ARC)
Publication Date: December 14, 2010
Versions: hardcover, kindle
Received from: Around The World Tours


Summary (from goodreads):
Wendy Anderson and Hakiam Powell are at opposite ends of the spectrum-the social spectrum, the financial spectrum, the opportunity spectrum, you name it. Wendy lives in an all-white suburb of Philadelphia, where she's always felt like the only chip in the cookie. Her dad, who fought his way out of the ghetto, doesn't want her mingling with "those people." In fact, all Wendy's life, her father has told her how terrible "those people" are. He even objects to Wendy's plan to attend a historically black college. But Wendy feels that her race is more than just the color of her skin, and she takes a job tutoring at an inner-city community center to get a more diverse perspective on life.


Hakiam has never lived in one place for more than a couple of years. When he aged out of foster care in Ohio, he hopped a bus to Philly to start over, but now he's broke, stuck taking care of his cousin's premature baby for no pay, and finding it harder than ever to stay out of trouble. When he meets Wendy at the tutoring center, he thinks she's an uppity snob-she can't possibly understand his life. But as he gets to know her better, he sees a softer side. And eventually-much to the chagrin of Wendy's father and Hakiam's cousin-they begin a rocky, but ultimately enlightening, romance.


This edgy story about a star-crossed couple features strong African American characters and sparkles with smart, quirky dialogue and fresh observations on social pressures and black-on-black prejudice.


I really enjoyed Hakiam and Wendy's love/hate relationship throughout the whole book. They were so different and their lifestyles were so different but they also had a lot in common. Wendy's dad is stuck on her having a better life. But all Wendy wants to do is go to a historically black college, but no one seems to understand that. So when Hakiam walks into the tutoring building to sign up for classes, he thinks Wendy is just some rich girl that wants to be white. But when he gets to know her, he starts to realize that her life isn't as perfect as it seems.


This plot line was very similar to Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. And since I loved Perfect Chemistry, I immediately liked this book and it was overall a great read. Allison Wittenberg is a great writer and brings up risky topics but she does so in a fun and real way.


Will I reread it?
I don't know, but I loved all the characters and what they had to go through in their everyday lives. I hope Allison Whittenberg will come out with some other novels because I have a feeling they will be just as good or maybe even better.

Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie (ARC)
Publication Date: November 30, 2010
Versions: hardcover, audio
Received from: Around The World Tours

Summary (from goodreads):
In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.


Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one...until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared follow-between perfection and passion.

This is one of those books that make you think a lot, and from the beginning you know it is going to be a hit. Cassia experiences the most amazing day of her life-the Match Ceremony-where her perfect match will be presented before her. Cassia is surprised that her best friend, Xander, was the one chosen-but she realizes that he is perfect for her. But when another face shows up on the screen, Cassia can't help but to be curious. And she asks herself why whenever she looks at him, she gets ideas into her brain. Ideas, the Officials would not approve of.

Matched by Ally Condie is like a mix of The Hunger Games and The Uglies. I felt that the capital was just as demanding and it was also set in the future. That being said, it didn't feel like a reread of The Hunger Games or The Uglies series-it was very refreshing and brilliantly written.

Will I reread it?
Yes, I cannot wait until this book is released so I can buy a finished copy. I love the cover, it is so gorgeous and I hope for a sequel (crossing my fingers). Thank you Ally Condie for this amazing read.