In My Mailbox (12) SPECIAL EDITION

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we get to post about the books we recieve each week through publishers/authors, our own purchases, contests, and libraries!

   Why has this IMM been deemed special? To me it truly is special. Take a minute and look below... Good? So let me explain where I won these books. Dreamland came from Hafsah @Iceybooks, The Death Cure was my choice of book that came from Aylee @ Recovering Potter Addict and Divergent as well as My Almost Epic Summer AND a handmade card (that almost made me cry because it was so sweet) AND the swag came from Diana @ The Lovely Getaway (you know what I orginally was expecting from her? Just Divergent... she sent everything else as EXTRA! What did a do to deserve a friend like her?). Thank you ladies so so so much! It all came on one day and I was so overwhelmed (in the best way) that I was estatic. I cannot express my thanks except by a virtual hug (go below to recieve your hug :D)

For Review (won all):

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Dreamland by Alyson Noel

My Almost Epic Summer by Adele Griffin

So here is the giveaway hosts hug (and anyone else who wants one!):

So enough about me... What did you get in your mailbox this week??

Thanks for reading!

Making it to the TBR List (9)

Ever read a rave review? Did it make you want to run to the nearest bookstore or library? Tell us about those books that have made it to your To Be Read list. Hosted by The Bookworm is Here!

SIDE NOTE: If you want to participate - feel free! The more the merrier, just link back here :) Thanks!


My Pick is one everyone knows.....

Anna and the French Kiss
By Stephanie Perkins
Published December 2nd 2010 by Dutton
372 pages

"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, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), 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. "- Goodreads

   Yes, yes! I know I know... why did you pick such a popular book? Everyone has read it! Well everyone except me. I'm pathetic. Most reviews I've read say it was really good and I can't help myself... Etienne St. Clair just is so, perfect sounding? Sigh, I don't blame you for shaking your head and saying "your so behind girl." I know I am, does it count if I admit it?

Have you ever read this book, is it good? Would you be interested in it? Recently what book has made it to yourTo-Be-Read list?
Thanks for reading!!

Interview with author Michelle Madow

I'm excited to introduce to you, the author of the incredible Remembrance, Michelle Madow! Thanks Ms. Madow for coming on my blog! I'm going to be asking her a few questions and at the end of this post there will be a picture & blurb for her book Remembrance and an image of the second gorgeous cover of Vengeance!! Here is my review for Remembrance. Ok, lets get started!

Contact her at:

Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Website - Blog

Q:

I know how Remembrance came to be by reading your blog but since its such a unique experience behind it, care to share with the readers? How did you come up with the story?

A:

Remembrance was inspired by Taylor Swift’s "Love Story" music video. In the video, Taylor sees a guy while walking through campus, and the moment their eyes connect, the scene flashes to the two of them dancing at a beautiful ball dressed in clothes that appear to be from around the year 1815. It’s magical to watch, and the video is so amazing that it gave me chills. I watched it over and over again, and a story pieced together in my mind about a girl reincarnated from Regency Era, England, who doesn’t realize it until her soulmate transfers into her school and triggers her memories to gradually return to her. I started to write, and ended up with Remembrance!　

Q:

Ah, the video gives me the chills too... it is magical! Great idea! So, did writing Remembrance present any specific challenges for you?

A:

　
The biggest challenge I had while writing Remembrance was learning how to balance writing a novel and getting my homework done for college. If I wanted to finish writing the book I knew I had to write a certain amount of words every day. I decided that 1,000 words was a good number, and did my best to write 1,000 words daily. To do that I had to make sacrifices, like spending a little less time with my friends every day. But it was definitely worth it, and I had a completed first draft by the end of the school year.

Q:

A truly amazing accomplishment.. thank you for your sacrifices :) Are there any more stories brewing for you? Anything we can look forward to?

A:

　On December 8, 2011, I’m releasing the second part of the Transcend Time Saga—a short story taking place right after the events of Remembrance, called Vengeance. It will be told from Chelsea’s point of view. You can check it out here on Goodreads. The final part of the Transcend Time Series will be a full novel, and will come out at the end of 2012.

Q:

Wow, lots to look forward to! Are you a night owl or early bird?

A:

I am a total night owl!

Q:

Me too! For fun, try and describe yourself in a sentence :)

A:

I love reading and writing young adult books, and am pursuing my dream of sharing the stories I write with people all over the world.

Thank you so much for interviewing me on your blog!

Remembrance is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and The Book Depository.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions :D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Here is her book(s) Remembrance and Vengeance (aren't they gorgeous!?)

Remembrance (Transcend Time Saga #1)

By Michelle Madow

Goodreads Page

"New Hampshire high school junior Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she seem to get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, the pair of them soon find that fighting fate isn't going to be easy."-Goodreads

Vengeance (Transcend Time Saga #2)

By Michelle Madow

Goodreads Page

"The short story that takes place right after the events in Remembrance."- Goodreads

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And finally here is the video that started it all!

Thanks for reading everyone and I hope you enjoyed it!!

                                       

Review for The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski

The Sweetest Thing
By Christina Mandelski
Published by EgmontUSA 
Source: Ebook copy
352 pages          

In the world of Sheridan Wells, life is perfect when she's decorating a cake. Unfortunately everything else is a complete mess: her mom ran off years ago, her dad is more interested in his restaurant, and the idea of a boyfriend is laughable.

But Sheridan is convinced finding her mom will solve all her problems - only her dad's about to get a cooking show in New York, which means her dream of a perfect family will be dashed. - Goodreads

      I have to say that I didn't love The Sweetest Thing but I did love one character, and that one character haunted me in choosing three stars. But nevertheless, this book had a certain charm to it and I enjoyed reading it. If you like contemporary reads with a good amount of romance, this is a book to look into.

    I'm admitting it. I really did not like Sheridan Wells. As a main character I think she could have done better. I know, I know, maybe some will appreciate the more 'realistic' version but for me I just didn't connect enough with her. Maybe it was because I found her to be a bit of a brat, tempermental, and very whiny. Considering what happened I should be sympathetic right? but really, she has lots of people that love her, a best friend that truly cares for her and talents. Sheridan could be a lot worse off. I just kept on getting annoyed with her throughout the book and wanted to scream at her "Give it up!" refferring to the times (almost every single page) when she mentioned her mother. Ugh. That was annoying, she was so naive with hope! I may sound like I hated this book and her but I didn't really. I just disliked her a bit, plus I really didn't like her dad for most of the book. The other characters, likeNanny, the love interest (one of them) and the bakery workers... I liked them all. But especially did I like her best friend. Yes, here it comes. Jack. Romance between them? You'll have to read to find out! But I just adored him; his personality, the way he acted, the way he felt, his humor and wonderful actions. I just loved Jack! He was my favourite character... now I just have to find a real version of him.

    The descriptions in this book were awesome, I could see the yummy and beautiful cakes that Sheridan made. I could see the town in all its glory. Great writing throughout the book. The plot is not slow and its not fast. It's strolling through the park speed: enjoyable. I loved the romance in this book, I mean the main issues are with family but I'm a romance girl. Suffice to say, my needs were met. The whole book, like I said before, has a charm to it.

   The only problem that I had with this book was Sheridan and a few other characters but other than that it was a good book! I recommend it to those looking for lighter, stand alone, romance, "sweet" books that will help get your mind of things. The Sweetest Thing will accomplish that!

Excerpt:

Jack's eyes bug out, and he slaps a hand on the table. "What? Are you kidding me?"
I look at his angular face and scowl. "Do I look like I'm kidding?"
Why in the world does he look so happy?
"That's awesome! I love that channel!" he grabs my hand and waves it in the air, making a whooping noise. I yank my arm back and glare at him.
"What's wrong with you?" he asks.
"He says we have to move. To New York City. Both of us." Jack's mouth snaps shut.  Yeah, that got him.
"Well, maybe you won't have to. Hopefully, you won't have to." He looks worried.
"Oh. I'm not moving. I don't care what he says."

{Not so} Waiting On Wednesday (20)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to showcase unreleased novels that we're waiting for.

What am I waiting for? Well a lot of books but I decided to pick a book that was released last Wednesday!! Here it is:

Deadly Cool
By Gemma Halliday
Released October 11, 2011 by HarperTeen

"First I find out that my boyfriend is cheating on me. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And now he’s depending on me to clear his name. Seriously?
As much as I wouldn’t mind watching him squirm, I know that he’s innocent. So I’m brushing off my previously untapped detective skills and getting down to business. But I keep tripping over dead bodies and I’m still no closer to figuring out who did it. And what’s worse: all signs seem to point to me as the killer’s next victim.
I really need to pick a better boyfriend next time."-Goodreads

Why am did I choose it? Read the blurb. Done? Examine the cover. Done? See my point? Awesome blurb that leaves me wanting desperately (!) to find out what happens PLUS the cover is drop dead (total accident in the pun) gorgeous! That girl is beautiful and those eyes? I would love this sitting on my shelf!

Have you read this book or seen reviews? I havent seen too many, so tell me if its good! What are you waiting for or are not? Share links and I'll visit :)

Review for Remembrance by Michelle Madow

Remembrance (Transcend Time Saga #1)
By Michelle Madow    
Published by Dreamscape Publishing
Source: Won an Ecopy from Xpresso Reads
314 pages

"New Hampshire high school junior Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she seem to get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, the pair of them soon find that fighting fate isn't going to be easy." - Goodreads

   As much as I wanted to absolutely love this book, I have to say it was a bit cliche and at times I was rolling my eyes but I really think this was a special book in its own way because the concept is amazing - I am fascinated now by reincarnation! So even though I didn't love love it, I'm sure there are people that would!

  As a main character Lizzie did an awesome job, I mean sometimes I wanted to remind her gently that we got the point that she has Drew in her head but she is a very strong girl. I mean with a boyfriend like Jeremy and an outspoken best friend like Chelsea, that girl needs to be strong willed! She is on the quieter side but still  has some sass and I loved how she thought for herself instead of relying on other people. She was a very realistic character and had realistic teenage reactions (like with the bad grade - I would know, that's what I worry about too!) So I could easily relate to her.

  Drew was a total hottie, to put it blunt. After you understand why he had the mood swings it makes sense (he hates her than loves her to bits etc.) I loved how sweet he was! He really cared about Lizzie and stuck up for her. He just outshined Jeremy on so many levels. I understand that Jeremy was different before and I wish he was still that guy... but in this book, he wasn't. And I disliked it strongly, which I think I was supposed to do. He just was mean and disrespectful of Lizzie. Chelsea for some reason, I didn't like either even from the beginning. I liked her friendship with the MC but I didn't see enough of that friendship in action. All the secondary characters were distinct and well crafted.

  Ok, so I admit, I was so in it for the plot. I mean a reincarnated couple? Love it! Totaly romantic setting that was based on Taylor Swifts Love Story (one of my fav songs?!) Love it! Both those elements came to life in this book, the plot went by in a nice even pace and hooked me after a few pages. The ideas were well executed, I knew nothing about this topic and now I can say I know a little! The flashbacks were timed at the right moments and made it believable. This book is a romantics dream come true, at least it was for me. I mean it definitely falls into the category of 'love at first sight' but it makes sense since they knew each other and fell gradually in love in the past already!

  I recommend it to those who love sweet romances and the concept of past lives. Michelle Madow, great work on your first novel!

P.S. I just have to mention the cover... absolutely LOVE it! I mean the girl is beautiful but that mask? Sigh, I would love to have that mask!! That cover is gorgeous and really sets the mood for the story!

Excerpt:

"No way! I'm totally a chocolate girl," she said, laughing. "Now try and guess Lizzie's."

"Strawberry," he said without a second thought.

Surprise flashed across Chelsea's face. "Lucky guess," she said, looking at me in annoyance. She seemed to get over it a second later and returned her attention to Drew. "I bet your is ... coffee. Since you're a New Yorker and all. But let Lizzie try, too."

"Vanilla," I went with my first instinct. A moment later I realized that I should have guessed something that I knew couldn't be right so I wouldn't irritate Chelsea, but it was too late.

He looked at me, showing no emotion. "You've got it."

Review for The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer #1?)
By Michelle Hodkin
Published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 
Source: Read Online
452 pages

"Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong." - Goodreads

   Just to clarify, readers, if I had a half star rating system, this book would have recieved 4.5 stars but since I don't, I had to round up. I didn't fall-on-my-face love it but I couldn't bear to give it a four stars because it was such a different, unique story!

   This book is written through the viewpoint of a girl who calls herself Mara which I really enjoyed. Since she has no memory of what occured during 'the accident' and strange things are happening to her (hallucinations, nightmares, killing thoughts) she is understandably confused, thus as the reader we are confused with her. And as the revelations are revealed we are as shocked as she is. To my utter surprise I actually liked Mara. I mean I had this nagging feeling that I shouldn't like her (for some reason) but ended up incredibly absorbed by her thoughts. There are always those few personality traits that are less than desirable but as a whole she is a well written character. But I have to admit, yes here it is coming, I was in it for Noah Shaw. You've probably all have heard, that if for nothing else, read this book because of him. Do I agree? Uh, yah! At first I have to admit I didn't fancy him too much but by the end I was totally crushing on him. British accent, handsome, smart, troubled,  mysterious, confident, and somewhat of a loner he made me want to slap that cockiness off of his face but then what to melt in his arms. Both were extreme emotions. So, yes, he lived up to the hype. The conversation between those two were so witty and I squeeled with joy at the chemistry between them!

   The plot, which would be impossible to describe, was so interesting - packed with mystery - that I was absorbed. In the beginning I wasn't too gung-ho about it but it started to really pick up. In short, the plot will keep you guessing as well as turning pages. Now, here is a warning to all of you (that I wish I would have got): It ends in a cliffhanger. Yes you heard that, this is NOT a stand-alone. As soon as I read that last word, my mouth dropped and I screamed at my computer screen. I did not expect that to happen and it to be the end of the book. MAJOR cliff hanger. I want to know more!

   So, is all this hype really deserved? I have to admit that I am not crazy in love with the book, but I can't shake the feeling that this book was in some way special. It's like nothing I've read before. That is why, I am recommending it to those of you who like heated romance, major suspense, some thriller, lots of mystery, and a book that will leave your mouth hanging open in surprise (like mine did).

Check out the trailor:

 Excerpt:

  My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something. A pseudonym. A nom de plume, for all of us studying for the SATs. I know that having a fake name is strange, but trust me - it's the most normal thing about my life right now. Even telling you this much probably isn't smart. But without my big mouth, no one would know that a seventeen-year-old who likes Death Cab for Cutie was responsible  for the murders. No one would know that somewhere out there is a B student with a body count. And it's important that you know, so you're not next.
Rachel's birthday was the beginning. This is what I remember.

Free excerpt

Making it to the TBR List (8)

Ever read a rave review? Did it make you want to run to the nearest bookstore or library? Tell us about those books that have made it to your To Be Read list. Hosted by The Bookworm is Here!

SIDE NOTE: If you want to participate - feel free! The more the merrier, just link back here :) Thanks!


My Pick this Week is:

Lola and The Boy Next Door
By Stephanie Perkins
Published by Dutton, September 29, 2011
338 pages

"Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door" - Goodreads

    Wholly smokers! Really liking the sound of that plot! And I've heard so many good reviews I don't know if I could say no to this cute looking book! I adore books like this with unique characters and romance centered themes not to mention awesome covers :) It's definitely on my TBR list!

Have you ever seen or read this book? Would you be interested in it? Recently what book has made it to yourTo-Be-Read list?
Thanks for reading!!

Interview with author Janette Rallison

I'm excited to introduce to you, one of my favourite authors, Janette Rallison! She is going to bear with me on my first author interview.... I think that deserves a round of applause *claps* Thanks again Mrs.Rallison for coming on my blog! I'm going to be asking her a few questions and at the end of this post there will be a trailor for her new book Slayers under the pen name CJ Hills and a few links to my reviews! Ok lets get started!

Janette's Blog ~ Website ~ Goodreads Page ~ Twitter ~ Facebook



Q:

You are the author of many books including my favourite My Fair Godmother. Is there any one in particular that was a challenge?

A:

I guess that depends on what you mean by a challenge. All's Fair in Love, War, and High School went through at least six revisions because the adults who read the book had a sort of knee-jerk reaction to a character who was a popular cheerleader. Apparently most people hate that sort of character on sight, so I had to keep reworking her. And then when my editor was happy with her, his boss wanted to cut the book from 250 pages to 200 pages because she said kids wouldn't read a book that was over 200 pages. That required even more changes.

Just One Wish only had three revisions but it was a hard book for me to write because I kept crying during it. I cried when I researched kids with cancer, I cried when I wrote the scenes, and I cried during every revision. I don't ever want to write another book with cancer in it. I'll stick with fairies, dragons, and romance. That's much easier to write.

 

Q:

I cried when I read it! I can't imagine trying to write it. I hear Slayers has just been released, can you describe what it's about for us?

A:

Slayers is about kids who have superpowers to fight dragons--which comes in handy since dragons are coming back to the world and they aren't the nice friendly dragons of Eragon. They're the sort that happily munch on people. Tori, the main character, doesn't realize why she's always had a fascination with dragons until she goes to dragon camp. Then when she finds out that dragons are real and she's supposed help fight them, she is less than thrilled by her new role as superhero. She has to learn what her power is before the dragon lord attacks.

It's an action adventure story instead of my usual romantic comedy, which is why it's under the pen name CJ Hill. Janette Rallison fans will like it too though, because there is still enough romance and comedy to make it a fun story.

 

Q:

Wow sounds amazing! Can't wait to read it :) So, are there any more brilliant stories brewing for you? Anything that we could be looking forward to?

A:

I have a fun time-travel dystopian novel coming out Sept 2012 called Erasing Time. I also just finished the first draft of a paranormal romance. One wouldn't think it would be a lot of fun to write a book with flesh-eating scarabs, but it really was.

Q:

Flesh-eating scarabs? Sounds very interesting! I'm excited to learn more about Erasing Time too! What fall release are you excited to read?

A:

Ally Condie's Crossed, and Christopher Paolini's Inheritance.

Q:

Crossed is on my list too! For randomness, what is your favourite treat to eat?

A:

Chocolate. Mmmmmm.

Q:

We got that in common! Who doesn't love chocolate? Lastly, just for fun, try to describe yourself in a sentence!

A:

It's funny you ask, because I always have to come up with a blurb about myself every time I write a book and I never know what to say. But here goes anyway:

I am the mother of five awesome children, eighteen good books, and more stray cats than a normal person should have.

Awesome answers! Thank you so much again for letting me interview you! It was a pleasure to have you here! As promised here are a few links to my reviews as well as a blurb and trailor for her newest release Slayers!

Just One Wish ~ My Fair Godmother ~ My Unfair Godmother ~ How to Take the Ex Our of Ex-Boyfriend

Dragons exist. They’re ferocious. And they’re smart: Before they were killed off by slayer-knights, they rendered a select group of eggs dormant, so their offspring would survive. Only a handful of people know about this, let alone believe it – these “Slayers” are descended from the original knights, and are now a diverse group of teens that includes Tori, a smart but spoiled senator’s daughter who didn’t sign up to save the world. The dragon eggs have fallen into the wrong hands. The Slayers must work together to stop the eggs from hatching. They will fight; they will fall in love. But will they survive? - Goodreads

 

Here is the book trailor:

Thanks for reading everyone, I hope you enjoyed my first author interview!

Review for Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

Waterfall (River of Time Series #1)
By Lisa T. Bergren
Published by David C. Cook
Source: Personal Copy
352 pages

"In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another."- Goodreads

"It's about time!" your all probably saying, am I right? I know, I have raved about this book, its about time I write my review. But the thing is, I don't know if I can do it justice or not. I mean I loved this book so much, I want to get across how great it was.  I'm trying to hold back my Oh-My-Squee of joy here, I promise I will try my best not to go all fan girl on you!


We follow Gabi as she gets thrown back in time to the fourteenth century. The author wastes no time in getting us to the interesting parts. That's right. She ends up right in the middle of a battle with her sister Lia no where to be found. Scary right? Does she break down? Uh, no. Gabi throughout the book even when she makes a few face-palming mistakes, always stuck up for herself and was a kick-butt herione! SHE ACTUALLY HAD A BRAIN! Gosh, I know it was amazing! I was like, "Yeah, go Gabs!" Her sister Lia was quite the character too, she is pretty tough! I wouldn't have the guts to do the things she did. Even though some things are hard to believe I didn't care because I was so absorbed in the story.


Now those were the girls, how about these Italian hotties? Like a fellow reviewer said, that word is plural, people! Plural!! Meaning more than one hottie in the mix! I loved these guys (except for the bad ones of course), I mean can they get any more manly? Lisa really knows how to create em, plus they are so respectful of Gabi. Marcello and Luca captured my heart. Both are so swoon worthy, its incredible! This book definitely packs some great romance in there! For romance lovers like me, this is the book for you!


The plot and setting no doubt reeled me in. I am a sucker for time travel, and to Italy? Yes, please! The historical elements were expertly done and not to mention engaging. I was so wrapped up in the story I had 14th century on my brain for days! This book is mentioned as Christian fiction but to tell you the truth it had only a few lines regarding God. The descriptions were so vivid, the characters so in depth, the romance so heart pounding, and the plot so engaging, how could I not love this book?


I highly recommend this book to those who love romance, time travel, suspense, adventure and much more! I cannot wait to read Cascade! Lisa Bergren you rock!


Are you not convinced? Well then I shall convince you to read this book! Check out the trailor and these three glowing reviews for it :) Plus read the excerpt!

Small Review ~ Logan E. Turner ~ Aylee

 Excerpt:

He began counting the dance, turning me at count five and seven. I moved with him, without hesitation, and the eight count found my left hand in his, at chest level, and my right hand above my head, facing him. Our mouths were inches away from each other. "I believe you have this mastered, m'lady," he said, still not releasing me, still staring into my eyes.
"I believe you have taught me well, m'lord," I returned, staring steadily back at him. Oh my gosh, I thought. I so wanted him to take me into his arms and kiss me for all I was worth. I had never been kissed like that. And in that moment, I was clear on who I wanted to be the first.
I turned away when no matter what cost cascaded through my mind.
It could cost a great deal. For me. For him.
"Lady Betarrini?" he asked. "Gabriella," he said, dropping his tone, in such an enticing manner, I nearly turned.

International Giveaway: Raven by Nuayma Jeggels

Well, readers, guess what? I told you there'd be more giveaways! Woo-hoo! BUT I cannot take credit for this one because the wonderful author of Raven (The Violet Jewel #1), Nuayma Jeggels, contacted me and asked if I could host a giveaway for her book! A book filled with epic fantasy and zombies! How great is that? Thank you Nuayma for allowing me to give 3 ebooks to my awesome readers! Lets get started:

Rules/Steps:

1.) This is an international giveaway!

2.) 3 ebooks (your choice format) are up for grabs

3.) Contest ends October 21

4.) To enter, leave your email address in the comments :) That's it!

5.) Random.org will pick 3 winners whose email address will be forwarded to the author so she can ask them what format

Your probably chanting right now, "Show us the book! Show us the book!" Alright, here it is:

Follow Nuayma

Twitter ~ Goodreads  ~ Website

A girl, a coma, a Plague, and an empty grave. When Shardaie wakes up, she doesn’t know who she is, why she can’t understand emotions, why she has been unconscious for nearly nine of her thirteen years, or why the dead just won’t stay dead. The only clue to her past is a locket, but the Plague, which finally stretches its unnatural hand to her village, forces her to leave and to learn to protect herself. But everything has a cost: the protection against the undead reveals a secret that Shardaie and her classmates just don’t want to accept, and at the end, Shardaie realises that some secrets shouldn’t be revealed. Secrets have the power to destroy, and the power to change her view on humanity for ever. - Goodreads

Want to read it? Just leave your email address below!
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May Random.org be with you *snort* I know I'm lame :)

Review for 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

13 Reasons Why
By Jay Asher
Published by Razorbill                     
Source: Library
Library Challenge
288 pages

"Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list."- Goodreads

Why did I give it five stars? The honest answer? Because it touched my heart. This book opened my heart as well as my eyes to just how everyones actions can affect the life of a person. This is not a happy or even mellow book, it's pretty deep so if you go into reading this don't blame it for that.

We go along with Clay as he listens to the casettes made by Hannah and we discover it right along with him. He is one of those boys who has a good reputation and generally tries to stay out of trouble. Clay had a crush on Hannah which made this so heartbreaking to read. Why? Because as soon as Clay found out what was actually going on in her life, he wanted to help her. . . But he was too late. It's not that before he ignored her it was just that he never really got up the nerve to talk to her. Anyways, bottom line he really cared about her and as he listened to the tapes, his emotions came through to me as the reader and I felt what he was feeling. Raw and and intense emotions. Even though Hannah is not there physically I really connected with her character. Some people have said her reasons for ending her life were stupid but everything affects people different, right? So I sympathized with her and I loved her to bits. I understood the way she reacted, not to ending her life, but to the things that transpired. Poor girl. Then there are the other characters or should I say the other 13 reasons why, and each one of those people became an imprint in my mind. They were well rounded and each had their own unique personality.

The plot in my eyes was briliant. Cassete tapes? Yeah, I really liked that idea. This is such a tragic story but it is so beautifully crafted. The auther really made it realistic and thoughful. All of these things could absolutely happen. The message I got out of it: be careful what you do because actions can never be undone, and they might just have a snowball effect in someones life. This is a suspense novel because the author Mr. Asher got you turning pages furiously to find out more and what happened to whom and so forth. He really knew what he was doing, he hooked me into a story. The events are well plotted, the scenarios are well described and the characters shine.

I recommend this to anyone. But don't read it if your not into sad stories and don't hate on Hannah because just think how you would have felt. This is a suspenseful and beautiful novel that talks about a sensitive subject. My hat is off to Mr. Jay Asher, he did a wonderful job!

Excerpt:

Hello, boys and girls. Hannah Baker here. Live and in stereo.
I don't believe it.
No return engagements. No encore. And this time, absolutely no requests.
No, I can't believe it. Hannah Baker killed herself.
I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why.
What? No!
I'm not saying which tape brings you into the story. But fear not, if you recieved this lovely little box, your name will pop up . . . I promise.
Now, why would a dead girl lie?
Hey! That sounds like a joke. Why would a dead girl lie? Answer: Because she can't stand up.
Is this some sort of twisted suicide not?
Go ahead. Laugh.
Oh well. I thought it was funny.
Before Hannah died, she recorded a buch of tapes. Why?
The rules are pretty simple. There are only two, Rule number one; You listen. Number two: You pass it on. Hopefully, neither one will be easy for you.

Waiting On Wednesday (19)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine to showcase unreleased novels that we're waiting for.

What am I waiting for?


Article 5
By Kristen Simmons
Release Date: February 14, 2012 by Tor Teen

"New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC have been abandoned. The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.There are no more police — instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior — instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested don’t usually come back. 17-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. That life in the United States used to be different. In the three years since the war ended, Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the Federal Bureau of Reformation. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And what’s worse, one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved." - Goodreads

Why Am I Waiting For it?

I've seen it around and wow what a summary!! That last sentence got me... I'm hooked already :) I love futuristic settings and conflicted love stories!

What are you waiting for? Share links and I'll visit :)

In My Mailbox (11)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where we get to post about the books we recieve each week through publishers/authors, our own purchases, contests, and libraries!

What's in My Mailbox? Lets see...


      

For Revew:

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Now I'd like to hear what was in your mailbox! Leave links :) I'll visit!

Winner of Falling In To Books Blog Hop!

Hey readers and bloggers! Yes the winner has been contacted and will have 72 hours to respond... if not I'll have to pick another winner D: So without further a do the winner is.......

Entry #46

Andrea Williams
*Confirmed*

But thank you to EVERYONE who entered... I set a new record on my blog for 120 entries... that's mind boggling! Wow, you guys are awesome and I truly wish I could give something to each of you!

Congrats Andrea and I hope to hear from you soon!
Stay tuned for more giveaways :D
Thanks for reading!

Falling In To Books Blog Hop Giveaway CLOSED :(

Hey everyone... sorry to announce that the Falling In To Books Blog Hop is over D: If you didn't get a chance to enter, DO NOT despair for as soon as I reach 100 followers I will hopefully be having a giveaway *crosses fingers* ! I have no idea what that will be but it will be ah-some :) THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ENTERING MY GIVEAWAY and for doing all those extra things, you guys are amazing!! Everyone gets a virtual hug :D

Now I will be announcing the winner tomorrow if no technical issues arise!! So please stayed tuned to see who wins Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley! If in the case I do not post a winner it is because of a really sorry excuse. Well, in truth it's a short story. Want to hear it?



Sheesh. Fine. I won't tell lets just say it involves me and my best friend..... Yeah, the cat was right, my story's not at all enthralling.

Anyhoo, make sure to check back for reviews, giveaways, memes and so much more!!
Thanks for reading, xoxo!