In my Mailbox: (#16)

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:

Graffiti Moon, by Cath Crowley (Huge thanks to Random House Children's Books for sending me a finished copy.  You're great!!)

Waking Storms, by Sarah Porter (Thanks to Harcourt Children's Books for sending me this wonderful book!!)

One Moment, by Kristina McBride (Thanks EgmontUSA)

SWAPPED:

Perception, by Kim Harrington (Huge thank to Kali Skittles.  You're the best girl!!)

BORROWED:

Switched, by Amanda Hocking

Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor

Between, by Jessica Warman

Vesper, by Jeff Sampson

Trial by Fire, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Cover Reveal: Timekeeper

Timekeeper
by Alexandra Monir
#2 in Timeless
Release Date: December, 2012
Number of pages: -----
Format: Hardcover


I ADORE THIS COVER!  The guy isn't so handsome, but the girl is GORGEOUS and  this cover is just superb!

The Timeless series:

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK OF THIS GORGEOUS NEW COVER? LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW, I LOVE THEM!! :0b>

Waiting on Wednesday (#24): When You Were Mine

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:

When You Were Mine, by Rebecca Serle

Add on Goodreads

In this intensely romantic, modern recounting of the greatest love story ever told, Romeo’s original intended—Juliet’s cousin Rosaline—tells her side of the tale. What’s in a name, Shakespeare? I’ll tell you: Everything.     Rosaline knows that she and Rob are destined to be together. Rose has been waiting for years for Rob to kiss her—and when he finally does, it’s perfect. But then Juliet moves back to town. Juliet, who used to be Rose’s best friend. Juliet, who now inexplicably hates her. Juliet, who is gorgeous, vindictive, and a little bit crazy...and who has set her sights on Rob. He doesn’t even stand a chance.     Rose is devastated over losing Rob to Juliet. This is not how the story was supposed to go. And when rumors start swirling about Juliet’s instability, her neediness, and her threats of suicide, Rose starts to fear not only for Rob’s heart, but also for his life. Because Shakespeare may have gotten the story wrong, but we all still know how it ends….

Release Date: May 1, 2012

In my Mailbox: (#15)

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:

Devine Intervention, by Martha Brockenbrough (Thanks to Arthur A. Levine Books)

Elemental, by Emily White (Thanks to Spencer Hill Press for sending me two copies.  *GIVEAWAY ALERT*.  ONE COMING SOON!!)

The Wild Queen, by Carolyn Meyer (Thanks so much Harcourt Children's Books!  I am so excited to read this book and I love this cover!)

Timeless, by Alexandra Monir (Thank you, Alexandra Monir, for sending me this book.  I adore this cover and I can't wait to read it!)

BORROWED:

Fever, by Lauren DeStefano (So excited!!)

Fallen in Love, by Lauren Kate (Love this cover!)

Cover Reveals: Heaven, The Madness Underneath, Guardian & Burn for Burn

Heaven
by Alexandra Adornetto
#3 in Halo
Release Date: August 21, 2012
Number of pages: 384
Format: Hardcover


Bethany, an angel sent to Earth, and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier, have been to Hell and back. But now their love will be put to its highest test yet, as they defy Heavenly law and marry. They don’t tell Beth’s archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, but the angels know soon enough, and punishment comes in a terrifying form: the Sevens, who are rogue angels bent on keeping Beth and Xavier apart, destroying Gabriel and Ivy, and darkening angelic power in the heavens.

The only way Bethany and Xavier can elude the Sevens is to hide in the open, and blend in with other mortals their own age. Gabriel and Ivy set them up at college, where they can’t reveal their relationship, and where there is still danger around each corner. Will Bethany be called back to Heaven – forever – and face leaving the love of her life? 



I actually really like this cover.  I think it's very good.  The colors work together nicely and I like the idea behind it.

The Halo Series:

The Madness Underneath

by Maureen Johnson

#2 in Shades of London

Release Date: January 2, 2013

Number of pages: ------

Format: Hardcover

I'm not really a big fan of this cover.  I think the first one was much better, but as long as what's between the covers is good then I am willing to overlook that fact ;p

The Shades of London series:

Guardian

by Heather Burch

#2 in Halflings

Release Date: September 1, 2012

Number of pages: 272

Format: Hardcover

I actually like this cover.  It's pretty much the same as the first book only different colors but it works all the same! :)

The Halflings series:

(To see my review of Halflings click here.

Burn for Burn

by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Release Date: September 18, 2012

Number of pages: 288

Format: Hardcover

The start of a brand-new young adult trilogy about three very different girls who overcome their differences and band together to seek revenge on those who have wronged them, uncovering a supernatural secret about what brought them together and why in the process. Each book will rotate back and forth between the perspectives of all three characters. 

I really like this cover, and this book looks really good.  I'm glad Jenny Han is branching out and I can't wait to read this book!

Which are your favorites and which are you most excited about??

Review: The Gathering

Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkness Rising #1
Pages: 359
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5/5


Summery:
Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island. 

Until now. 

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet. 


Review:

To be honest, I have no idea why I waited so long to read this book.  It was amazing!

I loved this book!  I just loved it.  Everything about it was perfect: the action, the writing, the story line, everything.  Although it kind of started off slow I was kept interested because Kelley Armstrong is such a good writer and she captures your attention on page one and keeps it throughout the whole book.  The story line was really good.  It was a perfect combination of chic-lit and paranormal.  The social and paranormal and mystery parts of this book went together perfectly, and I've never read a book that has that combination and it actually WORKS!  And the worst thing is that Kelley Armstrong put the biggest cliffhanger EVER at the end of this book.  HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?!?!?  The ending was amazing though, and really completed an already amazing story.

*swoon**swoon**swoon*  Can you guess who I'm swooning over.  Come on, just take a wild guess!  Well I'll tell you.  Rafe.  *swoon**swoon**swoon* (Sorry, just the mention of his name makes me swoon again).  I LOVE RAFE!!  So nice and sexy and totally hot.  I. love. him.
I also really liked Daniel, but not the same way.  He was the best friend anyone could possibly hope for, and I'm so glad Kelley Armstrong didn't make it into a love triangle because it worked so much better with him being Maya's best friend.  Usually in books like these with that kind of situation it's turned into a love triangle, but if Armstrong had done that, I probably would have given this book like 2 stars, so I'm so glad she didn't.
And, last but not least, I loved Maya.  She was so strong and kick-ass and just perfect.  I loved this cast of characters.

But seriously, if I don't get my hands on the second book in this series I WILL EXPLODE!!

Kick-Butt Characters Blog Hop

I always think that a good cast of characters is crucial to a book.  And no author writes good casts like Maria V. Snyder.  She is one of my favorite authors ever.  She has published 9 books, and out of all of them I've read 5 and LOVED them.  She never disappoints with her characters and always has a kick-ass female character and a super-sexy, swoon-worthy, kick-ass male character that you can't help falling in love with and dreaming about at night.

This great hop is hosted by Damaris @ Good Choice Reading and Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Stop by and follow them!! :)

The Rules:

1. There will be one winner. 
2. Giveaway ends on March 28, 2012 @ 11:59 p.m.
3. Must be a GFC follower
4. Must be 13 or older.
5. US resident.  If you're not, no entry (sorry).
6. Fill out the form.

The Prize:

One winner will receive an arc edition of the book below.  If you have any questions or comments, don't be shy, comment below :)

Storm Glass, by Maria V. Snyder

Fill out the Rafflecopter below and you're done! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (#23): Defiance

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:

Defiance, by C.J. Redwine

Add on Goodreads

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her. 

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared. 

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. 

Release Date: August 28, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: (#18)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Anyone can do it.  You just have to do is:

 (1): Grab your current read.

(2): Open it to a random page.

(3): Share 1 or 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!! 

(4): Make sure you also mention the author and title.

The Gathering, by Kelley Armstrong

Add on Goodreads

#1: "After Serena died, there'd been long days and evenings, just the two of us, grieving, and sometimes he'd hug me, and that was fine because I knew it was just comfort.  But I didn't feel like I could do the same back without a really good excuse or he might take it the wrong way."

#2: "I rose onto all fours and crawled away from him, sweeping aside dried sticks and dead leaves and anything else that might crackle.  As I moved, I kept looking up into the trees.  I couldn't help it.  My gut instinct didn't just say to run, it said where to run.  Up."

What's your teaser this Tuesday??  Link me up!

Elemental Reality Winner!

The winner of Elemental Reality is:

 

Samantha @ PaperCuts

 

 

Review: Shattered Souls

Author: Mary Lindsey

Pages: 326

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 4/5

Summery:
Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Review:
I have mixed feeling about this book:  On one hand, I loved it.  On the other, I hate it.  And on the third (What?!  There's a third hand?! :P) it creeped me out.

First off, I have to say that the idea was really good.  The society that Lindsey created was very good.  The story line was great, the staging was great, and the writing was great.  There wasn't a dull moment throughout the whole book and the story flowed together perfectly.

The characters are big problem in this book:  they're all screwed up.  Lenzi is cheating on her boyfriend and lying to him about it.  Alden keeps things from Lenzi because she "can't handle it."  And Zak is a screwed-up jerk.  I really, really hate the characters in this book.  You are supposed to respect the female main character, but how can you do that when she's cheating on her boyfriend?!  Alden, as the male main character, should be irresistible.  I, however, found myself being repulsed by him treating Lenzi like she's weak.  I have no idea why Lindsey would portray females as weak.  Plus, Alden is a creep who is "turned on by fear and pain".  What?!  Zak, I would have to say, is my favorite character, and that's just because I feel bad for him.  Honestly, I don't know why he didn't just dump Lenzi's ass.  Maybe Lindsey was trying to portray him as noble and caring, but he came across as dumb and clingy.

I don't know.  For me, this just wasn't a great book.  Even the cover is creepy.  It looks like the designers cut a model in half and threw rose petals over her.  *shiver*

Giveaway: Veiled by S.B. Niccum

Morning!

Ok, so this is a book I received for review a while ago but I don't think I'm going to read it so I decided to give it away so that someone else can read and enjoy it. :)

The Rules:

1. There will be one winner. 
2. Giveaway ends on March 31, 2012 @ 11:59 p.m.
3. Must be a GFC follower
4. Must be 13 or older.
5. US resident.  If you're not, no entry (sorry).
6. Fill out the form.

The Prize:

One winner will receive a SIGNED paperback edition of the book below.  If you have any questions or comments, don't be shy, comment below :)

Veiled, by S.B. Niccum

Fill out the Rafflecopter below and you're done :)

In my Mailbox: (#14)

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:

Slated, by Teri Terry (Thanks Orchard Books!)

Stolen Away, by Aleyxandra Harvey (Thanks Walker Childrens!!)

BORROWED:

Pandemonium, by Lauren Oliver

Partials, by Dan Wells

Divergent, by Veronica Roth

The Girl of Fire and Thorns, by Rae Carson

What did you guys get in your mailbox?? :)

Review: A Beautiful Dark

A Beautiful Dark
by Jocelyn Davies
Series: A Beautiful Dark #1
Release Date: September 27, 2012
HarperTeen

Goodreads / Purchase

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites--like fire and ice--Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move--only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine."A Beautiful Dark" is the first book in a captivating trilogy by debut author Jocelyn Davies.

I will admit that the only reason I bought this book is because I adore this cover.  I mean, look at it.  It's spectacular.  Unfortunately, what's between the covers isn't as good.

To be honest, for half of the book I felt like I was reading a chic lit book.  It was all social, school, drama, all that, and the Skye making a spark of electricity here and there.  It wasn't really paranormal until the last 100 hundred pages.  And for the other 200 there was absolutely nothing going on: no action, no building, only going to school and sneaking peaks over shoulders to look at the new boys.  That was it.  There was good writing, but not really a story line.  And I mean that literally: this book was pointless until the last 100 pages.  Although I did enjoy the ending, I wish the whole book had been like it.

Usually when an author has a male character that is confidant and kind of full of himself, I love him because the author also writes him as sexy.  In this book, Asher was that guy.  Only I didn't like him.  At all.  Davies didn't take the time to develop him AT ALL.  He wasn't sexy, he wasn't kick-ass, just stuck up and annoying.  Really the only thing I liked about him was the fact that he was on the rebels' side.
The other boy in Skye's life is Devin.  I didn't like him either.  Although he was kind of nice in the beginning, he slowly turned into a jerk and he wasn't sexy at all.  And I hated the side he was on.
I didn't really like Skye either.  She wasn't particularly kick-ass or strong.
To be honest, Cassie was my favorite character, and that's because she actually had personality.  I've noticed that none of the characters are very developed.  They're just kind of there.

I will read the second book but I def won't buy it.

2 pink flowers