Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #55


This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is.

Deception by C.J. Redwine


Series: Defiance #2
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: August 27, 2013

Check out my review of book one, Defiance, here

Warning: The below summery might be a bit spoilery if you haven't read book 1!!!


Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive. 

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.


What are you guys waiting on this week?
Link me up!!!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Return Blog Tour Stop


Hello awesome peeps!  Today I am a tour stop on the Return Blog Tour, hosted by the awesome Enchanted Book Promotions.  This book looks so kick-ass, and I just had to sign up!  So today I have an awesome excerpt and giveaway for you guys!! :)


Return
by Charity Santiago
Series: Lady of Toryn #1
Pages: 272
Release Date: May 2011
by Charity Santiago

Goodreads / Purchase
For the last three years, eighteen-year-old Ashlyn Li has been running from her destiny. A free-spirited ninja, Ashlyn would rather loot an abandoned city or challenge a fiend to battle than assume leadership of Toryn, her father's kingdom. However, when a series of attacks reunite Ashlyn with the friends who helped her save the sun three years ago, she discovers that her kingdom is at war and her father has presumed her dead.

Suddenly Ashlyn is faced with not only fulfilling her birthright, but also making sense of her feelings towards two very different men- Drake Lockhart, the enigmatic vampire who captured her heart three years ago, and Vargo, the charismatic assassin who was once Ashlyn's sworn enemy.

Will Ashlyn ascend the pagoda and become Lady of Toryn?


~Excerpt~

"I never thought I would see her again," Drake continued. His lips were close to her ear, stirring the damp strands of her hair with his breath. "But she came to me one night, three years later, out of the rain, as much a walking contradiction as she'd ever been."
Ashlyn's throat tightened.
He was talking about her, sweet Drago, he was saying all that stuff about her. She'd spent a month with Drake before, in close proximity, and he'd never said this much during those entire four weeks, much less in a single conversation. And what he was saying now…? If she hadn't already been pretty much collapsed into his arms, it would have happened, and probably with a bunch of drama and swoony fluttering, too. "What seems impossible," Drake said, his fingers brushing across her palm with obvious reluctance as he let go of her hand, "becomes possible in the smallest, most trivial moments. The girl that I remember has become a woman I cannot forget. Her strength has united a kingdom once thought lost. Her passion has awakened the hearts of heroes unsure of their purpose." "Her stupidity caused the war in the first place," Ashlyn said uncomfortably, folding her arms across her chest. Instead of utter elation at his words, she felt like a child receiving a precious gift that was completely undeserved, and as much as she wanted to let him console her, there was no way to deny the truth of the situation. When she met Drake's gaze, his blood-red eyes were solemn, and he raised a hand to cup her face, brushing his thumb across her cheek to remove the last traces of her tears. "You can run from your destiny, Ashlyn, but it will find you regardless," he said.


~Giveaway~


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Monday, February 25, 2013

US vs UK #7





US vs UK is a meme hosted by Book Passion for Life.  In this meme, I will post a US and UK cover from the same book, and you guys will vote which one you like best.


_________________________________________________


The Score:
US: 5 UK: 0 Draw: 1

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

  VS   



My Vote:

I think I like the UK cover better, if I'm honest.  It's more kick-butt, and I think it has more to do with the story, because if I'm not wrong, the main character gets banashed to an island and has to support herself.  To me, the US version is kind of plain - but I do like it.



Links: Goodreads / Purchase

Which cover do you like best?
Leave a comment to vote!

__________________________________________


Last week's winner was...US!
Click here to view last week's covers!!!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

In My Mailbox #50



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.


FOR REVIEW:



Falling for You by Lisa Schroeder (from Simon & Schuster)
Wake by Amanda Hocking
Lullaby by Amanda Hocking
(from St. Martin's Press)


BOUGHT:


The Town (Movie)



What did you guys get this week?
Link me up!!! :)

Saturday, February 23, 2013

{Review} Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath
by Anne Greenwood Brown
Series: Lies Beneath #1
Pages: 303
Release Date: June 12, 2012
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers (an imprint of Random House)

Goodreads / Purchase
Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans and absorb their positive energy. Usually, they select their victims at random, but this time around, the underwater clan chooses its target for a reason: revenge. They want to kill Jason Hancock, the man they blame for their mother's death.

It's going to take a concerted effort to lure the aquaphobic Hancock onto the water. Calder's job is to gain Hancock's trust by getting close to his family. Relying on his irresistible good looks and charm, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter Lily. Easy enough, but Calder screws everything up by falling in love--just as Lily starts to suspect there's more to the monster-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined, and just as the mermaids threaten to take matters into their own hands, forcing Calder to choose between them and the girl he loves.

One thing's for sure: whatever Calder decides, the outcome won't be pretty.


*A copy was provided by Random House for review purposes*

I haven’t read many mermaid books, and I’ve certainly never read a mermaid book from a guy’s point of view, so I was a bit nervous to start this book.  I had seen some not-so-great reviews, and I was kind of worried I wasn’t going to like it.  The beginning of this book, I will admit, was a train-wreck.  The idea was really good, but the staging was atrocious, and everything was so lucky, and gosh…but after that it got so much better.  The whole idea for this book wasn’t water-tight, but it was decent, and the writing was absolutely superb and, once I got about a fourth into the book, the staging started getting better and it was awesome from then on.  I really loved the story line and how the romance grew, and I loved the situation and how it looked like there was no way out.  One thing that I really loved was the ending.  People, if you are a writer and want to write a good ending, follow Anne Greenwood Brown.  The ending was everything it should be: fast-paced, thrilling, interesting, and everything should be explained and there shouldn’t be any loose ends.  I will admit that I thought I had the whole ending figured out and I was expecting it to go as I thought it would, but no, Greenwood had to pull that!  Gosh, what an awesome ending.  It was so perfectly done, all bad situations were averted, and everything worked out perfectly.  The simplicity and believability of it all was just superb, and this is one of the best endings I’ve ever read.

Usually the books I read have the girl as the main protagonist, but this one had a boy, and, to be honest, I really enjoyed reading from Calder’s point of view.  He seemed like a pretty cool guy – nice, smart – but he definitely had a dangerous streak, so that made it interesting.  I especially liked Lily though.  She was a lot stronger as the supporting character than most girls are as main characters.  One thing that I really liked was that she was smart – smart and defiant.  I liked that she kind of suspected what Calder was before she found out, that she was strong and smart enough to figure it out.  That doesn’t usually happen.

This is my first mermaid/guy POV book I’ve ever read, and it was awesome.  What with the ending, solid cast, and really cool idea, I can’t wait to read the next book and find out what happens with Calder and Lily.  One thing though: if this book is about a guy mermaid, why is there a girl on the cover?


4 pink flowers

Friday, February 22, 2013

{Review} Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging
by Louise Rennison
Series: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson #1
Pages: 247
Release Date: April 13, 2000
by HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase

There are six things very wrong with my life:

1. I have one of those under-the-skin spots that will never come to a head but lurk in a red way for the next two years.

2. It is on my nose

3. I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room.

4. In fourteen days the summer hols will be over and then it will be back to Stalag 14 and Oberfuhrer Frau Simpson and her bunch of sadistic teachers.

5. I am very ugly and need to go into an ugly home.

6. I went to a party dressed as a stuffed olive.

In this wildly funny journal of a year in the life of Georgia Nicolson, British author Louise Rennison has perfectly captured the soaring joys and bottomless angst of being a teenager. In the spirit of Bridget Jones's Diary, this fresh, irreverent, and simply hilarious book will leave you laughing out loud. As Georgia would say, it's "Fabbity fab fab!"


Oh my gosh, what a laugh!  Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much when I’m a book.  This book was absolutely and awesomely outrageous.  The things that happened to this poor girl were just hysterical, and the things she did were just crazy.  She was absolutely nuts!  The writing wasn’t that superb, and the story line was choppy, but the author was writing from the perspective of an absolutely insane, British, teenaged girl, so that’s to be expected.  I absolutely loved reading about all the trouble that Georgia got herself and her friends into, and it was a great laugh!

How many of you have seen the movie Hanna?  Anyone?  Well, I have, and I absolutely love it!  It’s about this really kick-ass girl who sets out to kill her mother’s murderer.  But there is a girl character in the movie (gah, I can’t remember her name) who is 14, British, and absolutely crazy, and the whole time I was reading this book I was thinking, “Georgia is just like this girl”.  Seriously though, if Georgia was a real girl, we would be best friends.  Her sarcastic and easy narration was so fascinating, and there is really never a dull moment with her.  And she definitely loves a laugh!  She was definitely a unique character, and I really can’t wait to see what trouble she gets herself into next!

For some Americans, the use of British terms in this book might throw you off a bit, but it was so awesome for me because I lived in Scotland for 10 months, and all these terms and things I remember, and it was like jumping back into the past.  Only I never met anyone there who was as crazy as Georgia Nicolson.


4 pink flowers

Favorite Quotes Ah la Georgia:

“I have a three-year-old sister who may have peed somewhere in my room.”

~Page 3

“I went to a party dressed as a stuffed olive.”

~Page 4

“Looking through the old family albums.  I’m not really surprised I’m ugly.  The photos of dad as a child are tarrying.  His nose is huge – it takes up half of his face.  In fact, he is literally just a nose with legs and arms attached.”

~Page 17

“He says, ‘Look Georgia, you’re a young woman now [what was I before? a young horse?] and I don’t think there should be any more secrets in our house…”

~Page 115

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Follower Appreciation Giveaway: A Whole Lot of ARCs!!

Hi everyone!  So today I've decided to do a huge, awesome, amazing giveaway for you all, my awesome followers.  I really appreciate you guys following my humble little blog, commenting, entering giveaways, and just being all-around good sports. SO, today I am going to reward you for being a bunch of awesome people.  Below is a whole lot of books you can win!  Just please remember that they are all ARCs, and a mixture of 2012 and 2013 releases.


Prize Pack #1




Prize Pack #2




Prize Pack #3



Prize Pack #4





Giveaway

~There will be 4 winners
~Giveaway ends on March 22, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.
~This giveaway is US/CAN

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THANKS FOR ENTERING AND MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!!!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #54


This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is.

Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender


Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: October 2013

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.


What are you guys waiting on this week?
Link me up!!!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Pieces Blog Tour Stop


Hello all!  Today I am participating in the Pieces Blog Tour, hosted by the awesome Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours!  Today I am scheduled to do a review, excerpt, and giveaway, so let's get started!!!!




Pieces
by Michelle Davidson Argyle
Series: The Breakaway #2
Pages: 300
Release Date: February 14, 2013
by Rhemelda Publishing

Goodreads / Purchase
Staying in love can mean running away...

Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her...until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie-in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.



*A copy was provided by Rhemelda Publishing for review purposes*

Wow, what a book.  *Deep breath*.  This is the sequel to The Breakaway (which I absolutely loved) and carries on the story perfectly.  One thing that really surprised me was the way Argyle chose to take this story, but, I must admit, I prefer it to the alternative.  I think it made for a much more interesting book, and I loved how she manipulated the characters and the story to make it a thrilling, heartbreaking read.  The writing was flawless, the story line was flowing, and the staging was perfect.   I can sometimes guess where the story line is going in books, but in this one I couldn’t figure it out.  I really enjoyed the ending as well, and I loved that it was a happy ending for Naomi, and I definitely didn’t see that twist coming.

Even though there are two guys in this book, there isn’t really a love triangle.  I kind of don’t really like either guys.  But I did really like the main character, Naomi, and the fact that she didn’t go between the two guys.  Jesse was definitely an appealing character in The Breakaway, but not so much in this book, and that’s because Argyle didn’t want her readers to like him.  Finn was a really nice guy, but I’m still not a fan.  I can’t explain why – but I think if there was a reason it would be that he was trying to make a move on Naomi.  Even though Argyle wrote that he wasn’t trying to steal Naomi away, I still kind of felt like that, so I’m not his biggest fan.

This series is one you will not forget, I can pretty much guarantee it.  I haven’t heard of any other books like these, and it was really interesting to read, and also suspenseful and thrilling in it’s own way.  Argyle has really outdone herself!


4 pink flowers



~Excerpt~



There were always dragons, but never as dark as the ones before her now. She stood in a burning valley so hot that ash fell from the sky like slow-drifting snow. The dragons had started the fire, their scales blackened, skin peeling, their eyes hard as diamonds. She watched four of them land in front of her. Thick smoke curled to the darkening sky.
“I want to leave!” she screamed, but their only response was to open their mouths and breathe flames at her. She didn’t feel the pain, but when the fire cleared and she held out her arms to see the damage, she saw her skin was like dragon skin—black and peeling in jagged pieces. Falling to her knees, she grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at the dragons. Their mouths turned up in sneers, showing their pointed, blood-stained teeth.
You read too many fantasy novels, she could hear Jesse’s voice in the back of her head.They don’t love you, her mother said.Remember why you fell in love with him.She stopped at the memory of that last set of words, trying to remember who had said them to her. The dragons moved closer, and then she remembered it was Finn who had said the words. She saw the saltshaker on the table as he pushed it around in circles.With a start, she sat up in bed, realizing all the journal entries were still fresh in her mind. She had finished reading them hours ago and then stumbled into the bedroom to find Jesse already asleep. She had crawled in with him and drifted off, but the nightmares made her toss and turn. Jesse stirred beside her now, his toned arms reaching out for her. Morning sunlight fell across the bed.“You alright?” he asked, pulling her close.
“I think so.” Lying back down, she snuggled into him. He smelled like spicy soap from his shower earlier. She took in a deep breath, savoring the feel of him holding her.Remember why you fell in love with him.Shut up, Finn!She wanted to scream the words into the silent bedroom, but couldn’t. She loved Jesse because he loved her. It was that simple. He sacrificed things for her. He wanted to make her happy, and she wanted the same for him. She had left everything to be with him.A knock on the front door made Naomi jump. It frightened her to think of who might knock on their door so early in the morning. Jesse stirred again, mumbling something she couldn’t understand.
“You want me to get it?” she asked, almost afraid to wake him.Groaning, he sat up and blinked. His hair had dried in spikes. “Where the hell is my phone?” he asked. “Why are the curtains wide open?”He was always cranky when he was woken up too early. “I wanted to look at the stars as I fell asleep.”Turning to her, he blinked again. The sun made his green eyes pale. “How did that go, then? Last night? Did you read it all?”“Yes.”“And?”She looked away. “I was so tired I’m not sure how much of it stuck.”“It’s all in your head now. You can start sorting through it and face it all.”“Yeah, I guess so.”Another series of knocks. Jesse cursed and got out of bed. He was in his boxer shorts, and pulled on a pair of sweats before grabbing his phone off the dresser. He walked out of the bedroom. Curious, Naomi slipped out of bed and peeked down the hallway as Jesse looked through the peephole. She asked herself if she cared that he had lied to her about his parole, that he was a fugitive. Did it matter? Her stomach clenched.“What is it?” Jesse asked, opening the door a crack. His body blocked her view of whoever was on the other side. There was an answer. A man’s voice. A shudder went down Naomi’s spine.
“No,” Jesse said, “she’s here.”



~Giveaway~

~There will be one winner
~Giveaway ends on February 23, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.
~This giveaway is INT

a Rafflecopter giveaway


~Follow the Tour~

February 18
Wonderland's Reader  >> Review both
Some Like It Paranormal  >> Review Pieces + Promo
The Bookmark Blog  >> Review Pieces
Nothought2small  >> Review Pieces + Promo
Booking It With Hayley G  >> Review both
My Life is a Notebook  >> Promo
Always YA at Heart  >> Review both + Promo
Book Loving Mom  >> Review both
Just a Booklover  >> Review Pieces + Promo 
Enticed by Books  >> Review Pieces

February 19
- Basia's Bookshelf  >> Review Pieces + Promo
Shiirleyy's Bookshelf  >> Review both 
BookPics  >> Review Pieces + Promo
I Talk Books!  >> Review Pieces
Emily's Crammed Bookshelf  >> Review Pieces + Promo
Read My Mind  >> Review Pieces + Promo
Wake Up at Seven  >> Review The Breakaway + Promo
The Anfractuous Bookaholic  >> Review Both + Promo

February 20
The Book Belles  >> Review Pieces
YA-Aholic  >> Review Pieces
Ed and Em's Reviews  >> Review both
Book Sniffers Anonymous  >> Review Pieces + Promo
ReadingDiva's Blog  >> Promo
Pieces of Whimsy  >> Review both
Fiction Fervor  >> Review both
Oh, The Books You'll Read!  >> Review both
Reader Girls  >> Review both + Promo 

February 21
BoundbyWords  >> Review Pieces + Promo
A Backwards Story  >> Review Pieces + Promo
Jenuine Cupcakes  >> Promo
For The Love Of Film And Novels  >> Review both 
Book Briefs  >> Review both + Promo
Always Lost in Stories  >> Review both + Promo
JennReneeRead  >> Review The Breakaway
Defiantly Deviant  >> Review Pieces
Shelfspace Needed  >> Review both + Promo

February 22
Unforgettable Books  >> Review Pieces + Promo
Vampandstuff  >> Review both
SIK Book Reviews  >> Review both
A Reader's Devotion  >> Review Pieces 
Sparkles and Lightning  >> Review both
Novel Nerd  >> Review both
Paranormal Indulgence  >> Promo 
Stuck In YA Books  >> Promo
The Bookmark Blog  >> Review Pieces 

February 23
The Teen Book Guru  >> Review Pieces + Promo
In Which Ems Reviews Books  >> Review Pieces + Promo
My Crazy Book Obsession  >> Review both + Promo
Insomnia Of Books  >> Review both
Turner's Antics  >> Review both 

Monday, February 18, 2013

{Review + Giveaway} Who Done It? by Jon Scieszka

Who Done It?
An Anthology
Collected by Jon Scieszka
Pages: 352
Release Date: February 12, 2013
by Soho Teen (an imprint of Soho Press)

Goodreads / Purchase
A star-studded anthology with a devilish hook, whose proceeds benefit 826nyc: the fabulous literacy non-profit founded by Dave Eggers.

Can you imagine the most cantankerous book editor alive? Part Voldemort, part Cruella de Vil (if she were a dude), and worse in appearance and odor than a gluttonous farm pig? A man who makes no secret of his love of cheese or his disdain of unworthy authors? That man is Herman Mildew.

The anthology opens with an invitation to a party, care of this insufferable monster, where more than 80 of the most talented, bestselling and recognizable names in YA and children’s fiction learn that they are suspects in his murder. All must provide alibis in brief first-person entries. The problem is that all of them are liars, all of them are fabulists, and all have something to hide...


*A copy was provided by Soho Press for review purposes*

What a crazy book. What an outrageous, hysterical, cheesy, fantastic, ingenious book! This is the first anthology I’ve ever read, and wow was it awesome! The idea was so funny, and I loved the ending of the book when the verdict was given. The idea of a cheese-loving, gas-producing, book-bashing, author-hating editor named Herman Q. Mildew being knocked off because everyone hated him was absolutely awesome. The authors who participated in this book were just awesome, and I loved their individual stories. The more unbelievable, the better, I think was the motto for this book. I will admit that after about 150 pages I got kind of tired of reading the different alibis and kind of skipped to the authors I’ve actually read before, but other than that this book was completely cool.

Since there aren’t really any characters in this book (well, except Mildew himself) I’m going to instead discuss my favorite authors from this book and their little lines of laughs (if that makes any sense):
“It would have been quite good, though, wouldn’t it? Excuse me, I mean it would have been quite good. Someone else has, apparently, beaten me to the punch—or gunshot, hanging, stabbing, defenestration, or whatever method was used.”

~Page 29, Steve Brezenoff


“The fork I was holding came dangerously close to stabbing him in the throat, but I’m a lady and ladies don’t do such things. They just dream about them.”

~Page42, Jen Calonita

“This looks bad, I know.
All this blood.
On me.
But I assure you, this is not Herman Mildew’s blood;
or if it is, he placed it there voluntarily;
or if not, it was stolen from him by a person or persons unknown and then planted on me as the most likely suspect.

~Page 67, Larry Doyle

“Who’s making the accusation, anyway? Scieszka? Now, there’s a murderer. I’m not accusing anyone of anything, or course, but I will note that Scieszka is bald, and that a 2004 study by Harvard University found that men with male pattern baldness are seven times more likely to kill literary editors than men with full and plush heads of hair. So allow me to submit to evidence Exhibit A, my majestic puff of hair. You can’t deny my puff. It wasn’t me.”

~Page 131, John Green

Lisa: Check Yahoo mail.
Laura: Can’t. On a run.
Lisa: Eeew. Stop being so athletic and check your email. Immediately.”


Lisa: Well, you’re just going to have to kill him. Come over when you’re done with your run, and I’ll let you borrow some of my rat poison. You can bake him a cake or something.
Laura: Why do I have to be the one to kill him? Why can’t you kill him? You’re the oldest.
Lisa: God, you love reminding me of that, don’t you? It’s only two years! It’s not like you’re 23. We’re both in our mid-thirties.
Laura: I’m still in my early thirties.”

~Page 257 & 258, Lisa and Laura Roecker

And now is my favorite alibi of the entire book! I couldn’t stop laughing!!!

“Ahem. I’m here to offer my alibi.
No, HERE. In front of the line. Quit motioning the people standing behind me forward! …No! Person-so-tall-I-can’t-quite-see-your-face, don’t you dare cut in front of me! He was—I am—oh, for the love. Fine. Just a second.
NOW I’M STANDING ON A FOOTSTOOL. YOU CAN’T IGNORE ME. IT IS MY TURN.
What do you mean my alibi isn’t necessary? Don’t you wave dismissively!
…I—excuse me? I must be hearing you wrong. Did you say I’m too short to be a suspect? No, no, your exact quote was, ‘Someone as adorably wee as you couldn’t possibly have committed such a heinous crime.”
…You’ll never doubt I’m the murderer again! Even though I’m not! But you should at least do me the dignity of suspecting me! YOU. ME. NOW. I’m gong to leap over this counter and show you exactly how murderous I can be!
Well, just as soon as someone brings me a stepladder so I can actually climb over the top to strangle you.”


~Page 327, 328 & 329, Kiersten White


What a laugh! What a funny book! Gah! You guys really have to read this one!!!


4 pink flowers





~Giveaway~

~There will be one winner
~Giveaway ends on February 27, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.
~This giveaway is US/CAN


a Rafflecopter giveaway

THANKS FOR ENTERING AND MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!!!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

In My Mailbox #49




In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.



FOR REVIEW:


Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch (from Scholastic)



BOUGHT:

 


Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Hurt Locker (Movie)


WON:



Then You Were Gone by Lauren Strasnick


What did you guys get this week?
Link me up!!! :)

Friday, February 15, 2013

{Review + Giveaway} Revel by Maurissa Guibord

Revel
by Maurissa Guibord
Pages: 339
Release Date: February 12, 2013
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Goodreads / Purchase
There’s an island off the coast of Maine that’s not on any modern map.

Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn’t her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia’s not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night.

Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it’s Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water’s edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.


*A copy was provided by Delacorte Press for review purposes*


“I tried to tell you it dangerous here.”
“I thought you meant like rocks and big waves, Gran.  Not whatever this is.”

Yep, that about sums it up!  This book has one of the most original and unique ideas I’ve ever read.  I don’t know if there’s another book out there quit like this one.  The writing really drew me in, and it was so eerie and eloquent, and I couldn’t stop reading.  I really liked how the story line and events flowed together, and how the author let the readers learn the secrets of the island as Delia did.  I really love all the twists and turns in this book, one in particular.  I’m not going to go into too much detail, but there was kind of a double twist, and I saw the first one coming, but not the second one, so I’m really glad that Maurissa Guibord took it that step farther.  Really the only thing I didn’t like about this book was the ending.  In my opinion, the ending is supposed to be thrilling, interesting, and tie up all the loose ends.  Guibord set the book up perfectly for an awesome ending…and then just whimped out.  She could have totally done a thrilling ending, and I’m not sure why she didn’t, but the option was there, and it didn’t happen.  Also, towards the end of the book, there was a way too-easy solution to a certain problem (not going to go into detail), and that really kind of annoyed me as well.

There was kind of a semi love-triangle in this book, but I liked how it worked out.  Delia didn’t go between the two guys, she just stuck with one, and I really appreciate that.  She was attracted to one in the beginning, then met another, and stuck with him, so she wasn’t, by any means, playing them.  Even though Sean was pretty nice, I was Team Jax, and I’m glad with the choice she made.  Delia was strong, smart, nice, and not what she seemed to be.  Jax I didn’t feel like I got to know well enough, like he wasn’t as developed as Sean.  But, other than that, he was a pretty solid character.

I’m pretty sure there is going to be a sequel to this book, but if there is I think I would read it.  The writing, idea, and story line completely pulled me in in this book, and I can’t wait to see what Maurissa Guibord comes up with next!



3.5 pink flowers




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