Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

I cant even believe how much I loved this book. I have not had a book keep me up until dawn for a while but this book did it! I just loved it. Everything about it. Sophie Jordan has written a young adult book that is exciting, empowering, and enticing! The reader cant help but fall head over heals for Will (the sexy hunter) and empathize with Jacinda's situation.

Jacinda is Draki. She is the descendant of dragons. The Draki can shift between human and dragon form. Her pride has lived in the mountains, hidden by the mist. Jacinda is a fire-breather, the first one in hundreds of years. This makes her a precious commodity to her pride. Property. Jacinda is tired of being told what to do and having her path chosen for her (including her future mate, Cassian).

When Jacinda, in an act of rebellion, sneaks out to fly at dawn (they are forbidden to fly unless under the cover of nightfall) and is almost caught by hunters. Her mother forces her to flee the pride with her sister in tow before her punishment can be carried out. Adapting to the human world is difficult for Jacinda, she hates that her her draki spirit is fading. Then she sees a familiar face at school. The hunter who let her go. She knows that he is dangerous but he is the only thing that awakes the draki inside her. But dating a hunter is impossible. How can she ever let down her guard when it could not only cost her her own life but risk the only secret that has protected her kind.

This book is so amazing. The whole time Jacinda is torn between giving her mother and sister the normal human life they both crave and refusing to let her inner draki die. I think it is great to read about such a strong character. Jacinda is determined not to lose the only part of her that truly makes her happy. And on a lighter note could Sophie have written Will any hotter? I think NOT! He is probably the best male love interest I have read in a while. Oh and just to give those of you who have not read it yet another teaser. Will has a few secrets of his own....

Read it ASAP I promise you will love it. Warning it is a series so be prepared for a gut wrenching cliffhanger!!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Smart Chicks Kick It Tour

So tonight was the Smart Chicks Kick It stop in Pasadena, CA! This is my first event since my relocation but it certainly wont be the last. I already have a few more planned in the next month. Which I will post here as well :) I had a great time. Here are some of my pics from the event!
Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely series) and Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers series) kick of the event!
Alyson Noel (Immortal Series) announces NYT Best Seller status!

Rachel Cain (The Morganville Vampires series) talks about new book Ghost Town!

Rachel Vincent (Shifters and Soul Screamers series) introduces herself.

Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures series)
Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures series) laughs as Margaret Stohl jokes.
Margaret suggests that their contributions to the Beautiful Creatures series is represented by their respective sizes...lol Poor little Kami!!! hahaha
Turns out that Beautiful Creatures may be hitting the big screen!!!!
Who will play what roles? Margret ponders whether to let this slip...
ok......Margaret will be playing Ethan and Lena while Kami plays the roles of everyone else! lol You have to admit that it would be interesting lol
Mary Pearson talks about bringing "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" to the big screen! 
Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely series) talks about new book out soon!
Kelly Armsrtong announces her YA series has been signed on through book 9!!! I had only knew of 6!!! Woo Hoo!!!
Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods series) tells us who she would Marry, Shag, and throw off a cliff from Alyson Noels' Immortal series


Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia at the signing table :)
I freaking love Beautiful Creatures and I cant wait until Beautiful Darkness comes out Oct 12th!!! Meeting these two was a definate highlight!
Alyson and I laughed about our last signing together. The power outage situation in Chicago...safe to say things were much brighter this time. Cant wait for Night Star!!!
Rachel Caine and I. I brought the Ethernal Kiss anthology for her to sign!
Melissa de la Cruz  and I. I have her series on my to Read list for sure :)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

Blue moon was a great follow up to Evermore. Now that Ever is an Immortal she is eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities. Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning and then he begins to pull away from Ever. As if that wasn't strange enough, her best friends abandon her as well. The only one who seems to still be interested in her is Roman, the new guy, who Ever hasn’t quite figured out yet. Why is this happening?

Ever is determined to save Damen and Summerland may be her only hope for answers. Summerland can be difficult to navigate but luckily Ever has Rayne and Romy are there to guide her. Ever may not have known what she was looking for but she finds out much more then she planned, secrets that Damon never shared about his past.

Ever wants to set things back the way they were...but will that mean she has to go back to before the accident that killed her family? Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must chose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives or staying in the present and saving Damen.

This book was a lot more emotional then Evermore. I even cried at a few parts involving her sister...I won't give it away. The ending is not what I would have hoped for but that just makes Shadowland (book 3) that much more enticing. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the first book

Monday, September 13, 2010

Evermore by Alyson Noel

I really enjoyed this book. It has a similar aspect as the book Fallen (which I adored). Ever is dealing with the loss of everything she has ever known or cared about, her mom, dad, sister, dog, home, friends, boyfriend etc. Her life is turned upside down after a car accident kills her whole family. Now ever is living with her aunt in California. Despite her huge loss Ever does gain a gift (not that she sees it that way). Ever is now psychic. She can see auras (a colorful glow a person gives off that let her know how they are feeling), but that’s not the worst of it. Ever can hear peoples thoughts and even learn a person's life story simply by touching them. Ever is forced to shut herself away from everyone to quiet the noise in her head until Damen comes along. He somehow is able to break through the noise and silence it.

Damen is gorgeous, exotic, wealthy and Ever is immediately drawn to him despite his mysterious nature. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. As the secrets come out Ever will discover just how close her and Damon are and what really happened the night of the accident that killed her family.

I was really glad that I didn't know what Damen was going into the book because I loved finding out when Ever did. I even found myself laughing out loud when Damen refutes her first guess. I finished this book in a little over a day. This series is worth a read!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Sophomore Switch by Abby McDonald

Tasha, an American party girl is looking for a quick escape from her suddon fame over, "The Hot-Tub Incident," So when the the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program at Oxford presents itself she jumps at the chance. The only catch is that it has to be an even switch. Someone else will be taking her place at U.C. Santa Barbara. Not just location but classes as well. Lets just say Tasha was not prepared to dive headfirst into feminist theory.

The British half of the exchange, studious Emily, experiences her own culture shock when she reaches sunny California. Emily has never cut loose and it seems like that is all her exchange mate ever did. In order to get by in each others lives the girls begin talking. Giving each other tips on fitting in, finding love, and figuring out who they really are. Tasha and Emily not only find themselves but they also find each other.

I loved this book because it took a good look at all the standards that are placed on women. Some are placed there by society, men, even ourselves. Should we be the perfect, proper, modest woman or is it ok to act on passion....That is what I took away from this book. Ok, now this sounds like a self-help book review but seriously I really enjoyed it. The book was fun with a few empowering moments. Its also got plenty of boy drama and a little heat if you know what I mean...lol Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

W...W...W... Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

1. What are you currently reading? 












2. What did you recently finish reading?












3. What do you think you’ll read next?












What are your answers?

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

New Release Tuesday

I cant wait until this one arrives in my mailbox!!! 

Happy Release Day Sophie!!

With her rare ability to breathe fire, Jacinda is special even among the draki—the descendants of dragons who can shift between human and dragon forms. But when Jacinda’s rebelliousness leads her family to flee into the human world, she struggles to adapt, even as her draki spirit fades. The one thing that revives it is Will, whose family hunts her kind. Jacinda can’t resist getting closer to him, even though she knows she’s risking not only her life but the draki’s most closely guarded secret.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Follow Friday

It is Follow Friday again and I am participating from my new location in California!!!! I have been in the the process of moving to California this week so I have been very busy and therefore slacking on my posts. My stack of new to-read books is starting to over take my bookshelf. If you have any suggestions on which one I should read first let me know. Check out this post to see the books I am deciding between.

So if you are stopping by on your blog hop please Follow me. Then leave a comment somewhere in the blog with your blog info and let me know you are a new follower and I will return the follow! I cant wait to hop on over to your blog and check it out. Even if you are not a new follower please leave a comment somewhere on the site and I will be sure to return the favor ;) Have a great weekend!




Monday, August 30, 2010

New Release Tuesday

This is an awesome week for YA novels! I will have to lock myself in my room in order to read all of these books. I cant decide which one to read first. Any sugesstions??

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.

As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

Nevermore by Kelley Creagh

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it.

Unraveled by Gena Showalter

For once, sixteen-year-old Aden Stone has everything he’s ever wanted:
A home.
Friends.
The girl of his dreams.

Too bad he’s going to die...Since coming to Crossroads, Oklahoma, former outcast Aden Stone has been living the good life. Never mind that one of his best friends is a werewolf, his girlfriend is a vampire princess who hungers for his blood, and he’s supposed to be crowned Vampire King – while still a human! Well, kind of.

With four – oops, three now — human souls living inside his head, Aden has always been “different” himself. These souls can time travel, raise the dead, possess another’s mind, and, his least favorite these days, tell the future.

The forecast for Aden? A knife through the heart.

Because a war is brewing between the creatures of the dark, and Aden is somehow at the center of it all. But he isn’t about to lie down and accept his destiny without a fight. Not when his new friends have his back, not when Victoria has risked her own future to be with him, and not when he has a reason to live for the first time in his life...

The Haunted by Jessica Verday

After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with by the bridge where her best friend drowned - the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead - Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, determined to leave the ghosts of her past behind.

Abby throws herself into schoolwork, perfume-making and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be able to help her get over Caspian once and for all. But Abbey is never going to truly be able to move on from Caspian and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side: for Caspian is a Shade and Abbey is his destiny. The two are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow and the famous legend that binds their fates - a legend whose true ending and dark truths they are only just beginning to guess...

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods.

Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.


Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Wierd as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Cover Love!

I just came across this cover and I was immediately drawn to the book. Unfortunately is not out until July 12th 2011. After reading the synopsis I immediately added this to my to-read list and placed in on my calendar so that I wont miss this book when it comes out next year :)

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Someone’s been a very bad zombie.

Super-smartie Kate Grable gets to play doctor, helping out her high school football team. Not only will the experience look good on her college apps, she gets to be this close to her quarterback crush, Aaron. Then something disturbing happens. Kate finds out that the coach has given the team steroids. Except . . . the vials she finds don’t exactly contain steroids. Whatever’s in them is turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless, flesh-eating . . . zombies.

Unless she finds an antidote, no one is safe. Not Aaron, not Kate’s brother, not her best friend . . . not even Kate . . .

It’s scary. It’s twisted. It’s sick. It’s high school.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Shadow Hills eBook Release, Blog Tour, and Street Team Update!

Shadow Hills is available on eBook today!! So for all of you Kindle and Nook owners (ebook readers) now you can grab your eBook of Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus! Let me say that if you have been waiting to read this book you are missing out. I loved it. See my review Here. To purchase your ebook of Shadow Hills visit Barnes and Noble or Amazon. Happy Reading!!!

And speaking of Shadow Hills…..the Shadow Hills Street Team website is still under construction. BUT the anticipation is starting to drive us all crazy so Anastasia has decided to post the first challenge. If you haven’t already filled out the form on her website to be a part of the street team then head on over and do it now. There is a link in her most recent post here.

Once you are all signed up you should receive your first mission via email. I will be heading over to my mailbox soon to check for mine. I hope to be at Adriana status soon and then I will be moving up to Toy…wondering what I am talking about? Visit Anastasia’s site and read Shadow Hills ;)

Also...
Dont miss the Shadow Hills Blog Tour
(As the dates pass I will try to update to direct links)

1. August 23rd - The Undercover Book Lover
2. August 24th - I Just Wanna Sit Here & Read
3. August 25th - I Heart Monster
4. August 26th - Aaron's Books
5. August 27th - Brooke Reviews
6. August 28th - Karin's Book Nook
7. August 29th - Tinas Book Reviews
8. August 30th - Anna's Book Blog
9. August 31st - Ellz Readz
10. September 1st - The Serpentine Library
11. September 2nd - The Book Vixen
12. September 3rd - Mundie Moms
13. September 4th - Notes in the Margin
14. September 5th - The True Book Addict
15. September 6th - The Story Siren
16. September 7th - Reading with Tequila
17. September 8th - A Fanatics Book Blog
18. September 9th - Only Sexy Books Allowed
19. September 10th - Tales of a Teenage Book Lover
20. September 11th - ReaderGirls
21. September 12th - Daisy Chain Book Reviews
22. September 13th - Confessions of Bookaholic
23. September 14th - The Fiction Enthusiast
24. September 15th - Presenting Lenore
25. September 16th- DJ’s Life in Fiction
26. September 17th - Red House Books
27. September 18th - Shut Up! I'm Reading
28. September 19th - Chick Lit Teens

Mockingjay is Here!!!

Happy Mockingjay Day! It is finally here! I know what most of you will be doing for the next couple of days. I had mine shipped to my new address in California so I wont even get mine until next week so dont tell me who ends up with Katniss. *oh please let it be Peeta* Happy Reading!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis

Heather Davis’s debut was not disappointing. I thought it was entertaining and fast paced. I would have liked some more relationship development between the main character Shelby and her love interest Austin but I still enjoyed the story.

Sixteen-year-old Shelby has had her fair share of boy troubles recently and it is her most recent tryst that has lead to her Father and step-monster totally overreacting and banishing her to a brat camp for the summer. Luckily she at least gets to select the camp but if she screws it up she will be sent to Red Canyon—aka boot camp from hell! So Shelby is off to the artsy Camp Crescent. The level of cheesiness is off the charts at this camp but Shelby starts to overlook that when Austin Bridges appears on the scene.

Austin is cute, charming, mysterious, and the son of a rock star….who could ask for more? Shelby soon starts to realize that Austin may be hiding a secret that she never dreamed possible. Even worse is that Shelby is the only person he trusts to help him keep his secret which means Shelby’s history of getting into compromising situations is far from over.

Heather Davis delivered a great debut novel. Things don’t wrap up as well as the reader usually expects but that just makes it more realistic (well as realistic as a werewolf book can be). I also think that a certain scratch could leave room for a second book which I would defiantly pick up but I have not heard if there is another one planed. If anyone knows, leave me a comment with details so I can add it to my to-read list. Happy reading!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino

While this book was very well written I found it hard to get through. I am usually pretty good at picking books that I will enjoy which is why most of the books I read/review get such high star ratings but this one was simply a bad choice for me. Don’t misunderstand, I think that the story was well thought out and interesting enough it was just not my taste. I don't have anything negative to say about the book. I was just kind of bored reading it.

The story focuses on the life of the Wicked Queen from the Snow White fairy tale. What could have made the Wicked Queen “wicked”? Where did the mirror come from and who is the man in the mirror who speaks to the Queen? These are the questions that will draw the reader into this book. The story takes place hundreds of years ago, it is not a modern retelling of the story. This is literally another side of the Snow White story that Disney produced in 1937. The characters were good and it held pretty true to the classic story near the end. I recommend that anyone who is thinking about this one pick it up and read the first few chapters in the store just to make sure you are going to like it. It is very "Disney" I hope that explains it.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

I finished City of Glass and I have to say that The Mortal Instruments is one of the best series I have ever read. City of Bones crushed me a little with the news that Clary and Jace were really brother and sister. I was stubborn though and I refused to believe it. I immediately ran over to pick up City of Ashes. City of Ashes was even more exciting then the first book in the series. It was in that book that I realized why everybody is always raving about Magnus Bane. He is a very….sparkly character. I of course was also driven crazy by the end of that book when Jace “lies” to Clary and says he will just be her brother from now on…You are killing me Cassandra Clare!

City of Glass picks up right after City of Ashes. Clary’s mother is still in her magically induced coma but now, thanks to Madeline, Clary knows how to save her and the only one who can help her is in Idris. The reader hears a lot about Idris in the previous books but we are never really introduces to it until this book. Despite Clary’s reasons for wanting to go to Idris Jace is determined to prevent her from going. Jace fears that Clary’s heightened Shadowhunter abilities will make her desired by the Clave. After an unexpected demon attack Jace manages to succeed in leaving Clary behind but ends up bringing Simon with instead. Let’s just say that the new Inquisitor is not too pleased to see a vampire come through the portal and he has some plans for Simon.

Jace may have succeeded initially but Clary being the determined person she is creates her own portal and ends up in Idris with Luke anyways. Shortly after arriving in Idris Clary meets a new tall dark haired boy who seems strangely familiar. Sebastian quickly offers to help Clary in her pursuit for the warlock who can help her cure her mother. Valentine is still moving forward with his plans to attack the Clave and Idris. He has the sword and the cup and now he just needs the mirror. The only way to defeat his demon army may be for Shadowhunters and Downworlders to work together. Putting aside there differences and petty jealousies may prove to be impossible. Only Clary seems to hold the key to uniting them against Valentine.

City of Glass is action packed and laced with declarations of love *squeal*. I can’t wait to continue this series with City of Fallen Angels which is scheduled to release April 5, 2011. At least I will have Clockwork Angel to tide me over in the meantime and I only have to wait 2 more weeks for it!
Related Posts with Thumbnails