Review: Spells

Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Published by Harper Teen

$16.99 (hardback)

Genre: YA

359 pages

FTC: I borrowed this book from a friend. I will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:
Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life--and especially her boyfriend, David--to return to the faerie world.
But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice--a choice that could break her heart.

My thoughts:
I fell in love with the first book in this series, Wings, last summer. Since it had been a year since I read the first book in the series, I was having trouble remember exactly what happened at the end of the book. Spells throws you right into the book and doesn't do a little summary of the last book.
I was actually really disappointed in this book. I felt like most of what was going on really wasn't necessary and could have been cut in half. There really wasn't any action in the book. It was mostly Laurel fighting (and failing) to keep her feelings for Tamani under control.
One thing I love about this book is the faeries. I think they way Pike created faeries is very unique and beautiful. I love how they are actually plants, how they bloom each year and have different powers. There are no evil or dark faeries. They are simple and beautiful. If Stephenie Meyer was to write about faeries, I would see them being something like this. Pike and Meyers writing styles are very similar which is good and bad.
I plan on going on with this series, but I really hope that the next book picks up a little more and continues with the original story plot. I kinda wish that this book would have been a short story novella thing and the next book been out in its place. Kind of like Julie Kagawa did with Winters Passage.

My rating: 7/10

Book blog follow/hop!

It's friday! You know what that means. It's Book Blog Hop/Follow Friday!!!

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jen over at Crazy For Books

This weeks question is: Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year?

My answer is going to have to be Julie Kagawa and Brandon Mull. Both of those authors have wrote books that had me hooked after the first one. Both created worlds that I wish I could visit, and characters I wish I could meet. I love everything about these two authors books and I plan on reading everything Julie and Brandon write.

Follow my Book Blog Friday is hosted over at paranormal junkie

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
Follow our Featured Bloggers -http://theauthoress-amelia.blogspot.com/
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

My Soul to Save

My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

published by Harlequin Teen

$9.99 (paperback)

Genre: YA

279 pages

FTC: I borrowed this book from a friend. I will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.

So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn't wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can't cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad's ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend's loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld--a consequence they can't possibly understand.

Kaylee can't let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk.

My thoughts:
I'm so torn about this series. I like it and at the same time I don't. I think it's a cool idea and a pretty neat plot, but at the same time I feel like it is incredibly repetitive. The same problems and conversations are always happening, like they are on  cycle mode. I also felt that the main problem in this book could have easily been solved. As easy as removing contacts from your eyes.
All that being said, I do actually enjoy these books while I'm reading them. They are fun, sexy, little books that keep the reader engaged through most of the book. The romance between Nash and Kaylee is turned up in this book and has you falling in love with Nash even more. How can you not love him? He's sweet, caring, loyal, and not to mention gorgeous (anyone else picture him looking like Chace Crawford?)
While this series isn't at the top of my TBR pile, it is in there and I fully intend to keep going with this series until the end. However many books that might be.

My rating: 8/10

Forbidden Sea

Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson

published by scholastics

$17.99 (hardcover)

Genre: YA

FTC: I received this book from the publisher with the full understanding I'd provide an honest review for no compensation

What it's about:
When, one stormy night, a mermaid comes to take Adrianne Keynnman's sister, Cecily, down into the depths of the sea, Adrianne knows she must fight with every ounce of her strength to protect her little sister. On land, Adrianne toils away, trying to eke out a living for her mother, sister, and aunt, after a tragic accident stole her father. Now, life takes a strange and frightening turn as Adrianne's dreams are filled with the mermaid's singing.
When it becomes clear that it isn't Cecily the mermaid wants, Adrianne wonders how she can protect her family from their superstitious island community as the mermaid attempts to lure her into the sea, night and day.

In this powerful tale of heartache and redemption, a girl born on land must choose between the promise of an underwater paradise and her loyalty to those she loves.


My thoughts:
I don't know what I was really expecting with this book, but it wasn't what I thought. The book takes place in...well we don't know. The date is never given, but it was set in a time when cars aren't around, or electricity. I actually really like historical type books so this was not a bad thing. The other thing I wasn't expecting is there is very little time spent in the book when Adrianne is actually with the mermaids. Most of the book is spent avoiding the mermaids and complaining about the horrible, good for nothing aunt. Oh man that character got me so worked up and angry during most of the book. I just wanted to slap her, but that was the point of her character.
This was a really well written book, with great descriptions and lovely characters, and it caught my attention, but it wasn't fantastic. It wasn't actually really about mermaids, but about being happy with who you are.

My rating: 7/10

Book of the Week (5)

Book of the Week

This is a weekly thing I'm doing in order to show more love to a book I think deserves a little more attention.

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk

published by ROC Fantasy

$6.99 (paperback)

Genre: adult paranormal

368 pages

What it's about:
Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user--maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they offload the cost onto an innocent. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster--and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is.


Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune--and the many strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magical offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown back into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic.

Now, Allie's out for the truth--and the forces she finds herself calling on will overturn everything she knows, change her in ways she could never imagine...and make her capable of things that powerful people will do anything to control.

Why?
I love Devon Monk's books. For starters, me and Devon live in the same city and she bases the books in Portland which is only a short 40 minutes away. That's always exciting for me. Her writing style is easy to follow and she gives great discriptions of everything so it's very easy to see and picture. Plus being an Oregonian herself, she gets the settings and understands the people (no one in oregon wears raincoats. Something a lot of people get wrong).

A Kiss in Time

A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

published by Harper Teen

$8.99 (paperback)

Genre: YA

371 pages

FTC: I borrowed this book from the library. I will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

Talia fell under a spell... Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic...

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.

I awakened in the same place but in another time-- to a stranger's soft kiss.

I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.

now I am in dire trouble because my father, the kind, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!

Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels...The Good news: My parents will freak!

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all--even time?

My thoughts:

Oh the cheesiness!!!! It's a good thing I like cheesey because this book is full of it. How can it not be though? Being based on the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty means it has to be cheesey, there is no way around that.

This is the second Alex Flinn book I've read, the other being Beastly. This book is just like Beastly. Has the same tone, voice, ideas, all of it. If you've read Beastly and liked it, then you'll like this book.

That's really all there is to say about it. It's very Disney and cheesey and adorable.

My rating: 8/10

Iron Daughter

Today I went to Borders to pick something up for my contest I'm going to be having in September (yes that's right, a contest! yay!) and while I'm cruising through the YA section, I happened to find copies of The Iron Daughter by Julie kagawa out on the shelves already. Super shocking knowing the book doesn't come out till August AND my Borders never puts books out on time anyways. They are always late.

Anywho, I snooped around online and it seems that just like with Linger, bookstores are putting out Iron Daughter when they get them in. If you are like me and can't wait to pick up this book, I'd go check my local Borders/Barnes and Noble or whatever else you have near you. :)

Fun book title quiz thingy

I found this little book title quiz/game thingy over at Jessheartsbooks. Looked like a lot of fun so I decided to do it as well!

The aim is to fill this in using only the titles of books you have read so far this year. Or, if that's too tricky, pick from the entire of last year's reads.

I’m only using books from this year so this should be fun! Here we go!

Describe yourself: Insatiable

How do you feel: Beastly
Describe where you currently live: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Tallulah Falls
Your favorite form of transportation: Between the Bridge and the River


Your best friend is: Meridian

You and your friends are: Beautiful Creatures


What’s the weather like: Tempest
You fear: The Demons Librarian
What is the best advice you have to give: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Thought for the day: Lips Touch Three Times
How I would like to die: Fallen
My soul’s present condition: Ruined

For Keeps

For Keeps by Natasha Friend

published by Penguin Group

$16.99 (hardback)

Genre: YA

267 pages

FTC: I borrowed this book from the library. I will not be compensated for reviewing this book

What it's about:

For sixteen years, Josie Gardner and her mom, Kate, have been a team. It's the Gardner girls against the world, and that's how Josie likes it. Until one day, in the ped food aisle of Shop--Co, they run into the parents of Paul Tucci, Kate's high school boyfriend-and the father Josie has never met. If Mr. and Mrs. Tucci are back in town, it's only a matter of time until Paul shows up.

Suddenly Josie's mature, capable mother regresses to the heartbroken teenager she was when Paul moved away. Meanwhile, Josie's on the verge of having her first real boyfriend, while her free-loving best friend, Liv, begins yet another no-strings-attached fling.

When Josie learns some surprising truths about Paul Tucci, she finds herself questioning what she's always believed about her parents--and herself.

In For Keeps Natasha Friend tells a fresh, funny, smart story about what happens when a girl gets the guy she always wanted adn the dad she never knew she needed.

My thoughts:

I picked this book up at the library and started reading it even though the girl on the cover reminds me of Miley Cyrus and it's not the typical type of book I normally go for. By the end of the first 5 or 6 pages I was already hooked. I ended up walking out of the library with the book already half way finished. I just couldn't put it down.

The best part of the whole book really is the writing style. There is just something about it that dragged me in and captivated me. The story plot itself isn't all that interesting and there really isn't a whole lot going on in the story besides a girl freaking out about her father, but this book was great! The characters were all so funny and interesting. My favorite being Liv. She's the down-to-earth, crazy, I don't give a crap what anyone thinks, signature dance move is the flight attendant type of person. Between her and the mother, they are what makes the book so great.

For Keeps really is a great book because of the way it was written and for the fantastic characters. Plus the authors last name is Friend, how awesome is that???

My rating: 10/10

Blog Hop and follow friday!

It's friday!!!! well, in a few hours it will be. That means its blog hop time! I love fridays.

This weeks question from Crazy For Books is TELL US ABOUT THE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING!

hmmm ok, well I just finished a book and I haven't decided which one I'm going to read next. I'm either going to read The Demons Lexicon by Sarah Reese Brennan or Spells by Aprilynne Pike. I'm a major mood reader so I'll read the first chapter of each and see which one sounds best right now.

I'll be doing follow friday too but it's not up yet.

Follow friday is hosted by Parajunkie.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1.Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2.Follow our Featured Bloggers - toreadornottoread-vampangel.blogspot.com/
3.Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4.Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5.Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6.If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7.If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

Blog layout

The website I get my blog background from is having some issues right now. This means my lovely layout is going through some changes for the next couple days. Right around now it's staying plain and white. It'll be back up soon :)

When I'm not reading

When I'm not reading is a weekly meme hosted by the Unread Reader.

When I'm not reading, I'm at concerts. Music has been a big passion of mine for years and concerts are the biggest high I think a person can have. Last nights concert was Adam Lamberts at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland OR.

The really cool thing about the Crystal Ballroom is that it was built in 1914 and held dance competitions all the time. They built the floor with springs in it. Yes, springs! So when you are on the 3rd floor and the whole concert starts jumping, the floor jumps with you. This is a big reason why it's my all time favorite concert hall. Jumping floors = priceless.

So anywho, the concert was last night. While waiting in the line that wrapped around the building twice, Adam came out, signed stuff, took pictures. Unfortunately, I was on the wrong side of the building. *sigh.* The thing I love about Adam, is that middle aged women turn into 12 year old fan girls around him. It's hysterical. Most of the sold out crowd was middle aged women. To make a long story short, I MET ADAM LAMBERT!!!! After the show, Adam came back out and signed autographs for the fans. I was too lame to ask him for a picture though. He kinda makes me speechless :)

I won't lie, I'm madly in love with him. haha. This is Adam when he was signing stuff after the show. He was about 6 inches away from me and I was freaking out.

This is my signed ticket. I wish I would have bought the poster for him to sign, but I ran out of money. :)

What does everyone else do while not reading?

Waiting on Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Halo by Alexandra Adornello

Genre: YA

Release date: August 31st 2010

What it's about:

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.

Is love a great enough power against evil?

Why?
I fell in love with this cover. I'm even thinking about doing a painting of it, it's just that gorgeous. The story line sounds interesting. I'm always a sucker for forbidden love stories.

Book of the Week (4)

Book of the Week (4)

This is a weekly meme I'm doing to shine a light on a book that I think deserves a little more attention.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

published by Scholastics

$7.99 (paperback)

Genre: Middle Grade

351 pages

What it's about:

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite...

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient lawes keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken-Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good--powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

Why?

This is a series my sister's students were always talking about, so she read them and then told me I HAD to read them. Fablehaven #1 grabbed my attention pretty fast and it didn't let go, not even after I finished the 5th and final book in the series. If you like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, then you have to read Fablehaven. They are fun, gripping books that blew my mind. Especially book 4. yikes. I have my reviews for these books in my review page and I have my meeting Brandon Mull post in the archives.

The Ghost and the Goth

The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

published by Hyperion

$16.99 (hardback)

Genre: YA

281 pages

FTC: I bought this book and will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

The Ghost

It's not my fault that I was born with it all--good looks, silky blond hair, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing. My life isn't perfect, though, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks--could there be a worse fate? As it turns out, yes--I'm starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. To top it off, the only person who can see or hear me is Will Killian, TOTAL loser boy, and he refuses to help!

I need to get control of my afterlife, and fast, before I'm dead AND gone for good. If I can get Will to talk to me, I might have a chance. But that means trusting him with my secrets...and I don't trust anyone, living or dead.

The Goth

My mom thinks I'm crazy. My shrink wants to lock me up. Basically, my life sucks. And that was before the homecoming queen started haunting me. Alona Dare was a pain when she was alive; dead, she's even worse.

Yeah, I can see, hear, and touch ghosts. With just a few weeks of school left, all I want to do is graduate and get out of here, find some place with less spiritual interference. But with a dead cheerleader who won't leave me alone, and a violent new ghost who wants me dead...I'm screed.

Alona and I might be able to help each other...if we can stop hating each other long enough to try.

Yeah, right.

My thoughts:

I loved it!!!

I had heard lots and lots of great things about this book and I saw the cover (yes that's right, I judge books by their covers) and I knew I was going to love this book.

My 12 year old cousin read the book before I was able to get my hands on it and didn't like it. That left me a little nervous about the book. Then I started reading it and realized why she didn't like it. There are a few sexual jokes and I don't think she understood them. Then most of the story plot involved high school life and what it's like, and she didn't understand that one yet either. Me, having understood both of these, liked the book for what it was.

I loved everything about it. The writing was fantastic. Both Alona and Will had distinct voices and the character growth was awesome to read. Both those characters were great and I couldn't stop rooting for them to hook up. Will cracked me up with how he was always staring at Alona's legs. Don't know why, I but I thought it was funny. Both of them sounded like actual teenagers. They spoke and swore like teens do and if I didn't know any better, I would have thought the book had been written by a teen.

So instead of me gushing about the book for a long time, I'm just going to finish it with "this book is awesome, read it!!!"

My rating: 10/10

Meridian

Meridian by Amber Kizer

published by Delacorte Press

$16.99 (hardback)

Genre: YA

305 pages

FTC: I borrowed this book from the library. I will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:
Meridian has always been an outcast. It seems that wherever she goes, death and grief follow. On her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family's home--and though she's untouched, Meridian's body explodes in pain.

Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she's a danger to her family and is hustled off to her great-aunt's house in Revelation, Colorado. There she learns the secret her parents have been hiding for her entire life: Meridian is a Fenestra, the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead.

It's crucial that Meridian learn how to transistion human souls to the afterlife--how to help people die. Only then can she help preserve the balance between good and evil on earth. But before she can do that, Meridian must come to terms with her ability, outsmart the charismatic preacher who's taken over Revelation, and maybe--if she can accept her sworn protector, Tens, for who he is--fall in love. Meridian and Tens face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos. But together, they have the power to outsmart evil.

My thoughts:

I thought this was a pretty good book, but not super fantastic. The plot was different and edgy and had the reader wondering what is going on.

The romance between Meridian and Tens was not the sweep you off your feet kind of romance, but it was pretty cute. They were both put in a situation they didn't want to be in and find comfort in each other. Them falling in love certainly seems to happen very fast and had me a little confused for a while until near the end when certain things were clearified.

The hardest thing for me to follow in this book was the writing. It jumped around a lot and I would have to go back a few sentences and try to figure out what I missed the first time around. This became frustrating after a while because it was a constant in the book. This is what really hurt the book the most.

Bottom line: most of the time, if a book keeps me wanting to read and I have a very hard time putting it down, it's an automatic 10/10. This book did not have me reading till all hours of the night, but I did think about it when I couldn't read it. That to me says that it is a pretty good book.

My rating: 8/10

When I'm not reading (1)

When I'm not reading is a weekly meme hosted by The Unread Reader.
Okay, this week I drove 7 hours with my mom and my younger cousin Sophie and we headed to Cali to visit family. While in Cali we did things like see Eclipse (for the 4th time), go book shopping (spent too much money), and today we went to a casino! I FINALLY GOT TO GO GAMBLING!!!!! It's the first time I've been to a casino since I turned 21 back in May. The even cooler part? I won $50. yeahhhh!!!!!! Now I get to go buy more books or save up for a Vegas trip with my friend Jason. Who knows? All I know is casinos can be fun. Don't worry, I won't turn into a major gambler ;)

Hop and Follow Friday! (3)

It's friday! That means it's book blog hopping and following. Personally, it's one of my favorite days for blogging :)






Blog hop is hosted by Crazy For Books and Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee

Question for Blog Hop:
RIGHT THIS INSTANT, WHAT BOOK ARE YOU DYING TO GET YOUR HANDS ON (PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE)?

There are so many books I'm dying to get my hands on. I'm going to go with a book that's already out and say Voices of Dragons. It always has a huge waiting list for it at my library and I'm insanely broke so I can't buy it. I've found out lately that I actually really like dragon stories.

The Devouring:Sorry Night

The Devouring: Sorry Night by Simon Holt

published by Little Brown and company

$7.99 (paperback)

Genre:YA Horror

231 pages

FTC: I borrowed this book from a friend. I will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

The Vours: evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the eve of the winter solstice.

When Reggie reads about the Vours in an old, mysterious journal, she assumes these are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.

My Thoughts:

I decided to do as the book cover told me and read this book at midnight. It made this book all the more creepy. It was sort of like the movie/book IT by Stephen King. The Vours come after kids who are freaked out on Sorry Night. Oh, and there are evil clowns in it. *mumbles* stupid evil clowns...

If reading this during the day, it would sort of ruin it. It is meant to be read late at night and it makes it freaky. Some of the elements that make it freaky are the normal type things for example: blood, evil clowns, giant spiders and so on but the writing itself gets to you. The whole book is messing with your mind. Sort of how scary PG-13 movies do it. They freak you out with mind tricks and suspence.

The Devouring had me going "oh holy crap on toast" throughout the whole book and left me wanting a copy of the next book. It's a short, creepy book that you would probably only read if you wanted to give yourself the heeby geebies.

My rating: 9/10

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

$17.99 (hardback)

Release date: August 31st 2010

What it's about:
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!

-- from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

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 in his 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 Allan 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.

Why:

It's about Edgar Allan Poe and a mysterious boy. I'm already hooked.

In my Mailbox

In my mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

I got lots of stuff this week. It's very exciting! I got a library card this week! I didn't have one before because it is expensive to get one if you live outside city limits. Thanks to my lovely Aunt and Grandmother, I now have one!!!!!!!!!

Books I got for review:
Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund
Blue Fire by Janice Hardy
The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block
Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

(Big shout out and thanks to Harper Collins for sending me all these books!)

Library books I got:
A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
Cloud Watcher by Lilith Saintcrow
Fire Watcher by Lilith Saintcrow
*For Keeps by Natasha Friend
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Soulless by Christopher Golden
Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher

* means I've read it and review will be up sometime soon

What did everyone else get?

Linger

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

published by Scholastic press
$17.99 (hardback)

Genre: YA
362 pages

Release date: 7/13/2010

FTC: I received this from the publisher with the full understand that I will provide an honest review. I am not being compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

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

The loss.

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

The linger.

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

My thoughs:
I love this series, I really, truely do. This series is more about characters and relationships than anything else. If you are looking for an action packed adventure, this is not the series for you. If you want a fabulous, complicated love story with the supernatural thrown in, this is a must read!


At the end of Shiver, we are left knowing that Sam has been cured and him and Grace can be together, even when it's cold out. Now Sam has to learn how to be human all the time. How is he going to balance out what he wants to do in his life and helping the wolves? Especially a new wolf like Cole, who is nothing but trouble.

Linger really had two different plots, one was the Sam/Grace plot and the other was the Cole/Isabelle plot. The book was pretty evenly split between the two different plots and yet it all mushes together and creates this whole seperate plot.

The new edition to this series is Cole, the messed up, ex druggie. I don't know what I think about his character. For almost the whole entire book I really disliked him. He was too angry and full of himself and it drove me crazy. It wasn't until the end of the book did my opinion of him start to change, but not by a lot. My friend who also read the book thought Cole was the best character in the book, so maybe I'm just being lame about not liking him.
Maggie's writing is so beautiful. She writes like she has a melody going through her head the whole time. It's very flowy and calm. Plus music is a big thing in this book with Sam's character. Music is always important in everything Maggie writes.
The boys in this book felt like they were whining a lot. It is understandable and didn't really bother me, but I do hope that with the next book this will stop. This is why I love the girls in the book. They are both sort of the take charge, don't worry about anything type people. I love those types of characters.
The end of this book is almost as bad as Shivers. Leaves you going WHAT? I NEED MORE! Then when you realize you have to wait a year for the next book to come out, you'll be just as upset as I am.
My rating: 10/10. I love these books!

Book of the Week (3)

Book of the Week (3)

This is a weekly post I'm doing in order to give more attention to books I think deserve it.

Storm Born by Richelle Mead

published by Kensington publishing

genre: Adult paranormal romance

$6.99 (paperback)

361 pages

What it's about:

Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who does a brisk trade banishing spirits and fewy who cross into the mortal world. Mercenary, yes, but a girl's got to eat. Her most recent case, however, is enough to ruin her appetite. Hired to find a teenager who has been taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie comes face to face with a startling prophecy--one that uncovers dark secrets about her past and claims that Eugenie's first-born will threaten the future of the world as she knows it.

Now Eugenie is a hot target for every ambitious demon and Otherworldy ne'er-do-well, and the ones who don't want to knock her up want her dead. Eugenie handles a Glock as smoothly as she wields a wand, but she needs some formidable allies for a job like this. She finds them in Dorian, a seductive fairy king with a taste for bondage, and Kiyo, a gorgeous shape-shifter who redefines animal attraction. But with enemies growing bolder and time running out, Eugenie realizes that the greatest danger is yet to come, and it lies in the dark powers that are stirring to life within her...

Why?

I'm sure everyone has heard of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series and possibly her Succubus Blues series, but have you heard of this one? All of Richelle's books are fantastic, but after thinking about it for awhile, I realized this is my favorite series of hers. It's the only one that I have read twice. Unfortunately this is also the series that takes the longest for books to come out. If you like adult fiction, and like paranormal, you HAVE to read these books!

My Hunger Games Cast

Well I had a lot of fun doing my VA cast pick, so I decided to do one for Hunger Games.

Alexandra Daddario as Katniss

I know she was Annabeth in Percy Jackson, but she is not my Annabeth. She is my Katniss. I think she is absolutely perfect for this role. Gray eyes, dark hair, knows how to fight. She's perfect. She even used a bow and arrow in PJ.

Jeremy Sumpter as Peeta

Everyone seems to want Alex Pettyfer as Peeta, but Alex will always be my Jace Wayland and no one else. Jeremy has the cute boy next door look that you can't help but adore. He is perfect for the sweet and innocent Peeta.

Skandar Keynes as Gale

Gale needs to be tall, skinny, dark hair, a fighter, yet someone who obviously cares a lot about his family. That's Skandar. I don't think any of the cast should be hollywood gorgeous, it just doesn't fit.

Robert Downey Jr as Haymitch

I think this picture says it all.

Elle Fanning as Prim
umm yeah, she just looks right.

Ariel Winter as Rue

This is pretty much how I image Rue looking like. Just with more ringlets and a little shorter hair.

Miranda Richardson as Effie

hahaha oh I think this picture is perfect. Just make the hair pink and that's Effie. If Miranda can't be Effie then I'd go with Kristen Chenowith

Adam Gregory as Finnick

ok ok, I know Finnick isn't in Hunger Games, but I think this guy is perfect for the role. He seems to be someone that people want as Gale too and I can see that as well. He'd actually make a great Gale...

Normally I'm not a huge fan of fan made trailers, but this one is really good. Here is the link to the youtube page for it because it doesn't fit right on my page. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKaB744-Fk0&feature=player_embedded

Captivate

Captivate by Carrie Jones

published by Bloomsbury

$16.99 (hardcover)

Genre: YA

273 pages

FTC: I did not receive this book from the publisher and will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

Zara and her friends thought they'd solved the pixie problem. And they did--sort of. The pixies are all locked away, deep in the woods. But the king's needs grow stronger each day that he is in captivity, while his control over his people weakens. And it's enough to draw a new king into town. Astley claims he is different. He claims there are pixies who can live peacefully with humans, that it doesn't have to be all violence and nastiness all the time. Zara wants to believe him...until Astley also claims that she is fated to be his queen.

There is no way Zara would ever turn pixie. And she's got good friends who will make sure of that. Besides, she and Nick are so in love they're practically inseparable. But when the very thing Zara wants to protect most is exactly what's at risk, she is forced to make choices she never imagined...

my thoughts:

This book really surprised me. I thought it would be sort of a bubble gum type of book. That nothing bad would ever really happen to the characters. Sort of like in Twilight (don't get me wrong, I adore the series, but they are bubble gum). I felt that Need had been a little cheesey and didn't expect to really like Captivate, but I did.

There is really only one new character in this book and that is Astley. I pretty much fell in love with this character. He is the exact opposite of what all the other pixies are and I liked the contrast. I found Astley's and Zara's relationship far more interesting than Zara's and Nick's. I think that Astley is far more likable than Nick and I'm rooting for him.

The one thing that drove me really nuts in this book was how much Nick and Zara say "baby." It was constant and it really drove me insane. They are a couple that I would never want to be around just because of how much they say that. They really need to think of other pet names for each other.

This series took a turn for the better that I really didn't see coming. I like the change and am intrigued by what could happen in the next book.

My rating: 8.5/10

Follow book blog and hop!!

It's friday! That means blog hop and follow! I really do love finding new blogs on fridays. It's fun to see how everyone runs their book blogs.

Here is the link to the blog hop. I have no idea how to grab her logo with the lovely little picture on it so I'll just post the link.
http//www.crazy-for-books.com/

This week's question: Tell us about some of your favorite authors and why they are your favorites!

My answer: My favorite authors are the ones when I read my first book of theirs, I finish it in one sitting and then I go and buy everything they own and love them all. My favorite authors (besides Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling) are Kim Harrison and Richelle Mead. I own everything these authors write, I have all the audiobooks that are available of their books, and I never get sick of them. I can hear their stories all the time.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - www.theunreadreader.com
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

Books to movies

Okay, so by now I'm sure everyone has heard of/seen/possibly even read the classic books that are being released with vampire/zombie/sea monsters in them. Like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Sense and Sensability and Sea Monsters, Romeo and Juliet and Vampires and this list could go on.

Well did you know that some of these are being turned into movies? Yeah...movies.

Here is some upcoming books to movies.
*Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (being produced by Tim Burton)
*Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Has Natalie Portman in it)
*House of Night
*Vampire Academy
*Breaking Dawn parts 1 & 2
*The Host (Looks like all of Stephenie's books are going to be movies)
*The Hunger Games
*Bronze Horseman
*Wings (Miley Cyrus as Laurel?)
*Beautiful Creatures
*Forest of Hands and Teeth
*Maximum Ride

There are also rumors that Tim Burton is going to be remaking Wizard of Oz and that it's going to have Angelina Jolie as the Wicked Witch. I'm hoping this is truly just a rumor.

The ones with * next to them have been confirmed. All of these have pages on IMDB.com but most are still just showing up for people with IMDB pro.

Hope everyone wants to watch lots of vampire movies next year. haha.

The Hollow

The Hollow by Jessica Verdays

published by Simon Pulse

$17.99 (Hardcover)

Genre: YA

528 pages

FTC: I borrowed this book from a friend. I am not being compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:
When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead...and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey has never felt so desperately alone. Then she meets Caspian, a gorgeous and mysterious stranger who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.
Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her--one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian as well as her own sanity.
My thoughts:
Before I started reading the book, I went and read a few reviews for it. Most people didn't seem to really like the book, so I didn't have huge expectations for it.
The first 150 pages of the book are completely about Abbey and how she is mourning the death of her best friend. This was very sad but well needed. In this first section there are some pretty corny parts that had my eyes rolling but once you hit about half way, the book changes and becomes a little more serious.
I borrowed a friend's ARC copy of this book, so I don't know if this is how it was for all the books, but the book was double spaced with a bigger font than normal. It made me feel like I was reading a very long term paper. After a while you get used to the odd spacing but it really should have been single spaced. Takes less paper that way.
If you make it past the first half of this book and get over the fact Abbey likes to talk to head stones, it gets a lot better. I really enjoyed the second half of the book and want to see more of Abbey and Caspian together. I need answers to the unanswered questions!
The Hollow was slow paced and corny at parts, but I really enjoyed the book. This book was just setting up everything so the next book can be even better. I have a feeling it will be a lot faster pace with more twists and turns. I have real hope for the next book.
The Haunted (book #2) comes out in October.

My rating: 8/10

Waiting on Wednesday (3)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Release Date: Dec. 2, 2010

Genre: YA

What it's about:

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna--and readers--have long awaited?

Why?

I've been hearing lots of fantastic things about this book. I mean lots and lots of great things about it. I'm always a sucker for romance stories and think this one sounds like it's going to be brilliant.

Vampire Academy Movie

Big news you guys! Vampire Academy is being turned into a movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, a movie!

I'm a huge fan of these books (and anything Richelle Mead writes actually) and I really hope they do not mess it up.

There is a facebook page already set up for the movie and you can post comments to the producers on there. The producers have asked for people to only post comments on there and not to send them tons of emails about it because they are already bogged down with them. Here is the link to the FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Official-VAMPIRE-ACADEMY-Movie/132065663494472

Oh, and the producers are actually reading the page and asking questions of their own. Pretty awesome really.



Now I have a few choice Picks for people I'd like to see cast into the movie.

Logan Lerman as Christian. I'm not just saying this because Logan is one of my biggest celeb crushes, but I really think he would fit. He's tall, skinny, dark hair and can be very cocky but incredibly charming at the same time.



If Logan doesn't work. Then I'd say Tom Felton with dark hair and an american accent would also work.

Ashley Benson as Lissa

From Pretty Little Liar to vampire princess. I think she would work pretty well. She's blonde, she's cute, and she can play sweet but also be a fighter at the same time. That's what's needed for Lissa's character.




Ben Barnes as Dimitri
Umm this is one I'm not too sure about but everyone thinks he's perfect. I love Ben in Prince Caspian and think he has the right look for Dimitri. What I'm not too sure about is if he can pull off the badass vampire killer thing.

Odette Yustman as Rose

I had a really hard time trying to think of who would be a good pick for Rose. Picking who plays her is going to be incredibly hard and I do not envy the casters job to try and pick her. Odette is someone a few people online thought would be a good pick. I think she has the right looks and could work if they could figure out a way to make her look younger.

For Adrian I like either Xavier Samuel or Alex Pettyfer. Yes I know Xavier is from Eclipse but come on, Riley was hardly in it and who cares if he's a twilight actor. But if I remember corectly, Adrian is not in the first book and will not be cast.


Who does everyone else think should play in the movie?

Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

published by scholastic

$17.99 (hardback)

Genre: YA

391 pages

FTC: I borrowed this book from a friend. I will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow Distric 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol--a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueed an urest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

My thoughts:

This book is awesome. That's all you need to know. This whole series is something I believe everyone should read. It's right there next to Harry Potter and Twilight.

My rating: 10/10!!

**Note**
Borders is doing some get together stuff for the upcoming release of Mockingjay, the third and final *sob* book in the Hunger Games trilogy. They are also selling a bunch of HG stuff. More information is here:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_mockingjay?cmpid=SL_20100705
I won't lie, I'm excited to buy the HG game.

Book of the Week (2)

Book of the week is something I decided to do to show off books I think deserve a little more attention.

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

published by walker

$16.99 (hardback)

Genre: YA

276 pages

What it's about:

When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother's funky old-world coffeehouse, she leaves him a cup of hot coffee and some snacks to tide him over. This simple act of kindness quickly turns her life upside down when the vagrant, Malcolm, claims to be an angel on break between missions and won't leave until he rewards her selflessness. Katrina is convinced that while Malcolm might be pretty adorable, he's also a little bit crazy. but whether she believes him or no, Malcolm is determined to fulfill her deepest wish for true happiness. So what happens when you lie to an angel about what you most desire?

Why?

This was honestly one of the cutest books I have ever read. I fell in love with the book the second Malcolm came running into the gym. It was so funny and embarrassing for Katrina that you couldn't help but love Malcolm for it. This book is such a fun summer read and it'll have you going "awww" and "oh I can't believe that just happened" throughout the whole book. You can see my full review for it here: http://mustlovelabradors.blogspot.com/2010/01/coffeehouse-angel-by-suzanne-selfors.html

Follow My Book Blog Friday

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list

2)Follow our Featured Bloggers -
supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com

3)Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.

4)Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

5)Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

6)If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

7)If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!