Book of the Moment: Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Guardian of the Dead is the DEBUT novel from New Zealand author, Karen Healey.


Seventeen year old Ellie Spencer is definitely just an average girl living in the fogs of New Zealand. Tall, with no amazing skin or body, just average, Ellie isn't the type to get jaw stopping stares. Unless it's when she puts her bad ass Tai Kwan Do skills to test when she decides to help her friend, Kevin, with the fight scenes in the play he is in. But when she starts going to these practices, brooding and quiet Mark Nolan, suddenly has an interest in her. Yet, Ellie feels like he is hiding something big. Something about Ellie, Kevin, and the land they stand on itself.

There have been a string of killings across New Zealand and the culprit is called the Eyeslasher because  the murderer leaves distinguished mark on each of the victims by taking their eyes. When hearing that the Eyeslasher might be heading south where Ellie is, Ellie is basked into strange happenings. An old man thrusts a Bible into her hands saying it will save her soul, an eery red headed woman is all of a sudden interested in Kevin, and Mark Nolan seems to appear everywhere Ellie is. Could the Eyeslasher be linked with all three of these things?
With romance, thrilling action, and lots of deception, Ellie is carried off in a journey that she never thought could be real and discovers that there is more to her homeland of New Zealand than meets the eye.


When I picked up this book, I was a little uneasy about it. I wanted to read a book by a debut author and so I just decided to give it a try. In the beginning everything seems like a just any other girl at a boarding school but when Mr. Mark Nolan enters the picture, everything changes! And I mean EVERYTHING! This book has mythology and a feel of paranormal. It's eery and different and nothing like I've ever read before. I loved all the New Zealand culture that is wrapped in this book. The Maori mythology has tales that I have never heard. And since they are involved in this book, you get a fun little cultural history lesson. There is a glossary in the back if you get confused by some of the Maori terms. I wish I had known before I finished the book, but oh well!

This is a book to watch out for and definitely a good read!

I give it a 4 out of 5 CHEWS!


***This is the second book I'm reading for the Once Upon a Time reading challenge hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings! This book is covering mythology! Go check out Stainless Steel Droppings and check out her challenge. There is a challenge for everyone and it is super fun!***

Follow Friday: May 27, 2011

  

Q. How many books do you read in a week? And in what format do you read them, or listen to them?

I read from 1 to 4 books and I usually manage to finish a book on Sundays which are my lazy days. But since it's summer and there will be no homework except for reading Great Expectations and The Odyssey for my Advanced L.A. class, then I'm pretty sure I am going to get  A LOT of reading done this summer. Especially, on the poolside with my sunglasses and bathing suit in tow! Fun, fun.

Waiting on Wednesday: May 25, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the 'Breaking the Spine' link above will take you straight to her post and link widget. (Special note: The nifty button above comes from Lindsay at The Violet Hour. Isn't it pretty?)

This week's Waiting on Wednesday isssss....

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Publication Date: May 31,2011



Goodreads Blurb:

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.



As of now, there is exactly 5 days, 15 hours, and 59 minutes until this fabulous sounding book comes out!  This just sounds so romantically fantastic that I am just dying to read this! It has Greek mythology woven into this book so that is a HUGE plus. I'm a big fan of the Greek so this book is super exciting for me! Only a few more days until it comes out!!

Eeeeeepp! :D

Teaser Tuesdays May 24,2011

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

My Teaser:

                   "My skin prickled. It was probably a trick of he distance and the dim light, but for that brief moment, her eyes were dark from corner to corner, with no pupils or iris at all."                ~p.g. ?  "Guradian of the Dead" by Karen Healey 



Sadly I don't have time to write my Top Ten Tuesday for today. :(

Book of the Moment: Summer and The City by Candace Bushnell

Summer and The City is the second book in the Carrie Diaries series by highly acclaimed author, Candace Bushnell.

Carrie Bradshaw is finally out of her old hometown of Castlebury and is now struttin the streets of New York City. Having gotten into The New School writing program, Carrie finally feels like she might have what it takes to be an accomplished writer. She is now also the roommate of the fabulous Samantha Jones and in that is a blooming and tight friendship. With Samantha by her side, Carrie gets to know the people of the city that never sleeps. Especially the men. On meeting Bernard, a highly acclaimed playwright, Carrie delves into an interesting romance with him. But the thing is...he's 35...and she's 17. But will that stop Carrie? Not. A. Chance.
Carrie beings to form friendships, one being a certain intelligent and tough red head we all love...
But with all these blossoming friendships and meeting all these people, Carrie begins to realize the nature of the city. Because New York City is a wild town and you will either turn out on the top...or sink lower than the subways. Can Carrie stand a chance?
Summer and The City continues Carrie's story on how this one girl becomes one of the generations most influential icons!

After reading The Carrie Diaries last week, I just had to read what happened next in Carrie's journey! I have to say this book was better than the first because you finally get to see Carrie in her true habitat! Carrie once again grows and matures through out this book and learns a thing or two about life and men. I love how Miranda and Samantha were in this book. You get to see the early stages of  those two and it's so much fun.
I had a great time reading this book and I can't wait for the third book to come out! I'm sure we will hear about the sweet and lovely Ms. Charlotte...Eeeep!!!

I give it a 4 out of  5 CHEWS!

Book of the Moment: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

13 Little Blue Envelopes is a charming little treat of a story written by the author, Maureen Johnson.

Ginny has received 13 little blue envelopes from her Aunt, the first one envelope containing 1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket to England. But the thing is...her Aunt has been dead for a while now...
Upon receiving these little envelopes, Ginny decides to take on her Aunts proposal of adventure through out Europe. Ginny is not allowed to open all the envelopes at once but must open the next envelope each time she finishes a task her aunt has set out for her. Her journey through Europe begins in England where she meets one of her Aunt's friend, Richard. From there she begins each task, some mortifying yet she learns something from each one. She also learns a little bit about her Aunt every time she reads one of the letters, feeling just a little bit more connected to her every time.
She then meets Keith, a comical hooligan whose play Starbucks: The Musical is just as whimsical as himself. Encounters with him almost end in near disasters but that doesn't stop the kindling feelings she has for him. And she knows it's bad since she probably won't ever see him again...
She travels to Scotland, Amsterdam, Rome, and just about every other fascinating country in Europe. And each place she lands in, brings surprises, memories about her aunt, and tidbits that she never knew existed in her aunt. After learning all these things about love, life, and herself, what will the last envelope contain? Will it solve this mystery of why her aunt sent her on this journey? Or will Ginny figure it out for herself.
Find out in 13 Little Blue Envelopes!

I've always seen this book at my local library but never thought twice to pick it up. But recently, I read a book review for this book and it just sparked my excitement on reading a book about love, travel, and self discovery all packed in one book. It was just my kind of thing! I thought this book was charming and different, something I have never read before! Traveling through Europe and experiencing all this is definitely something I want to do when I get older now. To look back on your life when your old and to know you had this experience would be amazing! Mmmm...well I shall dream of this...
However, I thought the character of Ginny was very bland. I feel like she had no personality! She was just very plain to me. The only time you get a peek at what she's really like is when she is writing a letter to her best friend. But the exciting background and fun in the story made up for it! I loved Ginny's love interest Keith and thought he was especially wacky. If I ever met someone like that, he would definitely be a keeper! I mean, you don't just meet a guy who is man enough to wear a kilt everyday!
This book was a fun, charming, and a fresh read and I promise you, no matter how old you are, you will want to have an adventure like this! I can't imagine who wouldn't!

I give it a 4 out of 5 CHEWS!

Book of the Moment: Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Infinity is the first book in the Chronicles of Nick Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Nick Gautier is just a poor kid that lives in the urban areas of New Orleans with his single mom. His dad is in jail and all Nick is trying to do is keep his scholarship to his esteemed private school and not bash the heads of the bullies while trying not to become the bloodthirsty criminal his father was. But one night, when he gets shot by his supposed friends, he meets Kyrien, an ancient warrior whose battle skills are more macho then Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris combined. After this little what you call, "eye opening experience", Nick begins to realize his world isn't what it seems. Turns out there are such things as zombies, demons, werewolves, and everything you could imagine. But what part does Nick have to play in this? Everyone knows he's going to be one day be very powerful but for what side? The good...or the bad? While trying destroy what is almost becoming a zombie apocalypse caused by a stupid video game( I know...weird), Nick must try not to get grounded or get kicked out of his school. This is kind of a hard job for a 14 year guy whose mom makes him wear Hawaiian shirts to school. Ya...very hard...
Can Nick do it?

When reading the summary book, I got very excited to get my hands on it! It looked bad ass and action filled. But through out reading it, I wasn't exactly disappointed, just very confused. This book talks about gods and goddesses but which gods and goddesses? You hear a lot about Artemis who is a Greek goddesses but then you also hear about gods that you have never heard about. Is this book a Percy Jackson esque book with Greek myths mixed in? Or is it all sorts of gods and goddesses from different religions? It's all super confusing for me. The book kind of just leaps into a different action induced problem to the next that seems just a little too much for just one night! This 464 page book all revolves around just the span of just 3 days. And most of the action happens in one night. Don't get me wrong, I did like this book somewhat, but I would've liked it better if it had been more thorough. I was confused most of the time and I really wish there were more explanations. Maybe the author was going for a mysterious vibe but if that was the case, it wasn't working. The book was just a little too mysterious that it became confusing.

I will read the next book which is called Invincible because I do want to know what happens. But I'm going to have to recommend this book to guys mostly. I think guys usually just like the action packaged kinda books. So this book is defiantly a guy read but the ladies are more than ok to read them. Just be prepared for a total guy point of view and a HELL of a lot of action.

** This has also covered ONE of the five books I have to read for the Once Upon a Time reading challenge from Stainless Steel Droppings . Since I'm doing the the Quest the Second challenge, Infinity has covered my mythology sections! Four more books to go!**

I give it a 3 out 5 CHEWS.                         

Follow Friday: May 20, 2011

  

Q. It's circle time. Time for us to open up and share. Can you tell us FIVE quirky habits or things about you? We all have them...

1.) I can't read a few books at the same time. I just can't! I already go through so many books that if I read more than one, all the characters get messed up and it's all confusing. I have to just focus all my attention on book at a time.

2.) I don't care how hard it rains, I will always be outside for it. Worried about ruining my hair? Pshhh...I just say it brings out my natural waves.

3.) I am obsessed with horoscopes and zodiac signs. OBSESSED. I will check mine like every week and I will blame any one's stubbornness on being a Taurus. Or if they are too emotional, I'll blame it on them being a Pisces. And if I'm a little bit over my curfew, I just tell my mom that my inner free spirit can't help it and that it's because I'm a Sagittarius. Blame it on the Sagittarius -ness.

4.) I have this weird thing were if I'm really bored in my class I start to play this game to see if any of my classmates are secretly mind readers. I'll think in my head "If you can read minds, sneeze now." And well hey, if they sneeze, then I usually assume they can read minds. Ha...

5.) I've never had meatloaf or have had a bloody nose. It's weird... I've also never been skiing when I live in the most skiing obsessed state...I've also never seen Lord of the Rings. There are a lot of weird "nevers" when it comes to me...

Book of the Moment: The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell

The Carrie Diaries is the story of the iconic Carrie Bradshaw BEFORE Sex and The City, by the amazing writer, Candace Bushnell.

It senior year for Ms. Carrie Bradshaw and she is STILL yet to have an official boyfriend and to feel like she is an actual writer. Senior year just looks another year down the boring drain of high school. But then Sebastian Kydd moves back into Carrie's life, causing cases that Carrie never would have seen her self in before. He has a bad boy swag and looks that could kill and slowly, Carrie seems to realize that maybe this little bad boy may have the hots for her...
With a new cast of characters and problems that eventually make Carrie, Carrie, Ms. Bradshaw discovers that sometimes the oldest of friends can betray you and that you must believe in your self in order to always reach the top. This is the story of how one of the most influential characters of our century came to be.

Admit it. We've all seen at least ONE episode of Sex and The City. I mean, to live and breath in this world, everyone has at least seen or heard of Sex and The City. Some people in this world say that Carrie Bradshaw is even as influential as Obama. Some say maybe even more influential.

I am definitely going to admit that I have seen MORE than a few episodes and have watched both the movies in joy! I love Carrie Bradshaw and it was awesome to know that she was created first by the author Candace Bushnell. With out her, there would be no Sex and The City. GASP. How could the world revolve with Ms. Bradshaw? Hopefully, we will never find out.

I loved reading about Carrie's origin and how she eventually came to New York to start her buzzing single lifestyle! Carrie wasn't the popular girl per say, but more of the intellectual girl that would "go places" later in life. And indeed she did. Carrie is a smart ass, different, and relatable to any girl! Then there is Sebastian Kydd...
Oh Mr. Kydd. I also got to see how Ms. Carrie acquired her taste for men and what her preferences were long ago! And let me tell you...they were dirt bags.

You can also see Carrie grow and mature through this book because of the choices she makes. The good and the bad.

I admit that I thought the book was kind of slow in the beginning but then it picked up towards the middle and totally captured me! It's in first person narrative, so that also helps. This book was easy to read and I had so much fun doing so! Plus the ending of this book is probably one of the best endings I have EVER read. It was so good! Just a few sentences wrap up so many little surprises and fun.

This book is definitely worth reading. especially to all of those legions of Sex and The City fans!

I give it a 5 out of 5 CHEWS.

Waiting on Wednesday: May 18, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the 'Breaking the Spine' link above will take you straight to her post and link widget. (Special note: The nifty button above comes from Lindsay at The Violet Hour. Isn't it pretty?)

This week's Waiting on Wednesday issssss.....

   Passion by Lauren Kate

   Publication Date: June 14, 2011



As of now there is literally 27 hours, 6 days, and 16 minutes until the widely fan induced excitement in the form of the book, Passion by Lauren Kate will be released! I can't flippin wait to read the third book in the Fallen series because the last book, Torment, left you off in SUCH a big cliffhanger! I was so mad and excited at the same time, but hey, that's what cliffhangers are for!!

Here is a little summary and tid bit from the author!

"Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series."


Um...so...yay yay yay yay! rewriting history? Chasing after your true love? More freakin romance??? Ahhhhh...sounds so good!

I can't wait to see how everything plays out and I DEFINITELY can't wait to see what happens to Luce and Daniel! Will there be a happy ending? I sure hope so...

So what are your guys Waiting on Wednesdays? :)



Once Upon a Time Reading Challenge

I was browsing through the ultra cool blog, A Little Sun Shy and I came across one of her newest posts talking about a new challenge she was participating in. It is the 5th Annual Once Upon a Time challenge and it is being hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings. I just had to check it out! So there are a bunch of different challenges you can take but they all revolve around reading something fairy tale-ish like or mythology and such. I picked the Quest the Second because I wanted to be uber cool and read 5 books in the genres that are part of the challenge. The genres being folklore or fantasy or mythology or fairy tales. These are some of my favorite genres so of course I have to join!

You can go to Stainless Steel Droppings website and check it out for your self! It's definitely something  fun to try out!

Teaser Tuesdays and Top Ten Tuesday: May 17, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!


My Teaser:

        "Just like me, I think. I'm masquerading as a regular girl, but somewhere inside me there's a star, waiting for someone to give me chance."

                    ~ p.g. 160 "The Carrie Diaries" by Candace Bushnell

Today I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

1.) Vic from the Evernight Series. He is just so chill and easy going. He reminds me of a guy version of me!

2.) Mason from the Vampire Academy series! Awww this guy was just so adorable! I loved him! Guys need to be more like him! :P

3.) Sydney from Blood Promise and Spirit Bound. I love her personality and how she stays so true to herself. I can't wait to read about her in the upcoming book, Bloodlines!

4.) Walt from the Carrie Diaries. I'm reading this book right now and I just love Walt! He is just so gay and fabulous! Ha!

5.) Ian from The Host. He doesn't become one of the main character till towards the end of the book but I still did love him. Sure he choked Melanie but I think he was the nicer one out of him and his brother.

6.) Magnus Bane from The Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series. Another gay guy and I LOVE HIM. He reminds me of Adam Lambert (who I adore BTW)!

7.) Finnick from The Hunger Games series. Awww...Finnick... :(  I think Finnick actually shed some light on this series and that was really good since these books are oh so serious!

8.) Miles from Torment. It was interesting to see another love option in Torment and he was just so darn adorable that I had to put him on here!

9.) Mags from Catching Fire in the Hunger Games series. Aww Mags. She made the ultimate sacrifice just to save Katniss and Peeta. And She was an old woman. So, so bittersweet.

10.) Church the Cat from the Mortal Instruments series.

Tee hee :)

Book of the Moment: What Happened to Goodbye? by Sarah Dessen

What Happened to Goodbye is the amazing Sarah Dessen's newest novel written in Dessen's classic graceful writing!

Mclean Sweet has moved a total four time in the past two years with her restaurant saving dad. Her dad is assigned a job all over the country to rehabilitate restaurants that are are not doing so well and McLean has joined him ever since her mother cheated and then remarried to another man. At each school McLean takes on a different persona, from typical cheerleader, drama queen, to a student council all around "make the school a better place" type gal. But then McLean moves to Lakeview where her dad's newest challenge is Luna Blue, a place with wicked fried pickles, but is now going down the plumber.  All of a sudden, McLean some how actually goes by her real name for once and is starting to meet people that she actually cares about. Top on the list being Dave, the smart boy-next-door.  But is McLean willing to show her real self? Even when she doesn't even know who her real self is? After going through so many persona's, whats the point in being yourself? And there is always the fact that she could move anytime because of her dad's job, so whats the point? But McLean slowly discovers that maybe there is more to this new place this time and that maybe, just maybe, she truly is finding her self.

After actually seeing Sarah Dessen in person (OMG!!!) I was head over heels excited to start reading this book! This book is written in Sarah Dessen's true to form graceful and very realistic writing. It always surprises me how much her books can relate with me in any situation! It's so freaking realistic that it could happen to anyone! But it's definitely not in that boring realistic way that some books can be like. It's the kind of real that you can connect with and when you know that you will never have a vampire boyfriend or wake up to find out your a Shadowhunter, you can know that these situations are real. And maybe the happy ending is something you could strive for because it's actually something that could happen.

I absolutely loved the character McLean. She is like so many of the teen girls today, who are just trying to find an identity. Although her situation isn't as bad as one of Sarah Dessen's previous books, Dreamland (SO GOOD!), it's something that could happen to any girl. And that's why I like this book. I love how in the end McLean was able to figure her self and life out and come back strong. We need that in everyday lives!

This is the kind of book you would recommend to your daughter and her daughter and her daughter and so on and so forth. You learn so much from them! And it so good that it's not like one of those lame "coming into your teens" type book.

This was a terrific read and once again, I fall in love with yet, another one of Sarah Dessen books. I recommend this to all book lovers!

I give it a 5 out of 5 CHEWS!

Book of the Moment: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither is the first in Lauren DeStefano's eery and creep- tastically amazing Chemical Garden Series.

16 year old Rhine Ellery lives in a not too pleasant modern world where males die at the age of 25 and females die at 20. Because of this, the world is being torn apart from bombing scientific labs set on trying to find a cure for this epidemic to young girls from the age of 12 or 13 and up, being captured by the Gatherers to be married off in polygamous marriages to wealthy and powerful men. Rhine is one of these unlucky girls and her along with two other girls are married off to the worldly clueless and fragile Linden. Although Linden loves Rhine, all Rhine wants to do is escape and go back to her twin brother. She has a even better reason to escape when she finds out disturbing secrets that are behind her creepy father in law and the house she lives in. There is also the fact that Rhine is having forbidden feelings for the kind and humble servant, Gabriel, which as it grows, becomes even more dangerous for the both of them. But does one want to escape a place that seems impossible to do so? Or will the seduction of the idea of a "normal" life and wealth suck Rhine in? Find out from Lauren DeStefano's first book, Wither!

This book was creepy from the first page I read. It has the creepiness that is sort of eery but in a way that makes you want to read more. Kind of like a good creepy. DeStefano's writing is beautiful and her descriptions and ideas are something you would never imagine. The content in this book seems impossible to the generation like us because it is one that is so dreary and scary! However, even though this book was good, I felt like the middle part of this story was very slow moving. I'm glad I read till the end though, because the ending leaves you off, wanting to find out what happens next. But the end did end abruptly for my taste. The ideas of this book was something I could never contemplate and it is definitely one a kind and original! My complaints are small and to the point of just that the middle was a little slow moving but that's it! It's an interesting book to read and if your up to reading something that is haunting and eery, then definitely pick up this book! Like I said earlier, It's a creep TASTIC read! Oh yes I said that.

I give it a 3 out of 5 CHEWS!

Sarah Dessen Book Signing Sum Up!

Oh my god, I still have jitters from breathing in the same room as the beloved Sarah Dessen. I just came back from the local bookstore where she was having her signing and I am STILL flippin out that I met her! I even raised my hand to ask a question! My questions was somewhere along the lines of,

 " your books are usually all different from each other, different plot lines and situations like for example Dreamland. Dreamland is different from any of your other books but I was also wondering how you get your inspiration to write up all these character's problems and how they eventually deal with them."

However, I did NOT sound all professional like this because I was stuttering a little bit and just the fact that Sarah Dessen was looking straight at me, made my mouth turn to mush. Well, it wasn't that dramatic but I was still flippin out in my head. But she was so kind at responding and really went deep on answering my question. She said something that I really liked and it was, again, somewhere along the lines of,

" I don't create situations to put my characters in. I create characters that have some kind of problem they have to deal with, but I really just create the character. Not the situation. The character just feels these problems on their own."

I know that's a little confusing, but I really wish I had a button in my head that could record everything she says, word for word, so that it actually sounds graceful like how she said it. Because I make what she said sound like crap and in truth she is SO AMAZING!

I love how she talked about how she was just a normal teen girl who married her high school sweetheart, who really just has a normal life is North Carolina. But she talked about how she can channel different people and different personalities into her writing so she can experience what her character experiane. Sarah Dessen was so kind, humble, and very funny about everything! She made sure every question she answered was thorough and very well answered! When I went up to get my book signed she said that she loved my question and she even joked that hopefully we don't get red eyes in our picture (which we sort of did, if you look closely!). She then proceeded to sign my book and was just so pleasantly talkative. It wasn't one of those awkward speechless moments like I had when the band Hey Monday signed my poster and I just stuttered my way through the line like some idiot. Ya. Nothing like that!

I absolutely LOVE Sarah Dessen and I hope all of you guys go to her What Happened to Goodbye? Tour if it's in your hometown! It's definitely worth it! :)



Me with my new signed copy of What Happened to Goodbye?

Sarah Dessen's autograph and personalized message! YAY! :)

Are any of you guys going to one of Sarah Dessen's book signings for her new tour?

Waiting on Wednesday: May 11, 2011

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the 'Breaking the Spine' link above will take you straight to her post and link widget. (Special note: The nifty button above comes from Lindsay at The Violet Hour. Isn't it pretty?)

 This week's Waiting on Wednesday isssss....

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Publication Date: August 23, 2011

I seriously can not wait for this book! I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE the Vampire Academy series and I was so sad to finish that whole series. However, when I found out Richelle Mead was making a spin off series with the Alchemist, Sydney (love her), I about did a freaking cart wheel in my tiny little room!

From what I know so far, Sydney who is a human but is also an Alchemist so she knows about the Vampire world, is going to be the main character in this series. It will not be set in the middle of no where in Montana like the previous books, but instead in the state of sunny California! Eddie Castile, Jill Mastrano, and the BELOVED Adrian Ivashkov, will all be in the series!! ADRIAN??? Yes! I felt so bad for him in Last Sacrifice so I'm super excited for him to be in the new series! I just felt like his journey just ended abruptly while Rose and all the other characters had a good final ending in the book!

I wonder what love matches will go on with these new set of characters?

I'm about to do a cart wheel again, I'm so freaking excited...ahhh...

So what you guys Waiting on Wednesdays? :)

Twitter

    

I have just done the deed that I thought I would NEVER EVER do...
I got a Twitter.
WHAT!?
I promised my self that I would never get a Twitter because 1.) I'm a Facebook gal, 2.) I have no freaking idea how it works, and 3.) I have no freaking idea how it works....
Must I repeat it again? But then I saw that so many book bloggers had them so I finally convinced myself to join the fun. Eh, why not? So if you guys could help me out, follow me on Twitter and I'll be sure to follow back! And it wouldn't hurt if you guys could throw in little tidbits on how this whole Internet craze works for the clueless like me...

Thank you! :)

Teaser Tuesdays and Top Ten Tuesday: May 10, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

My Teasers:

        "They have seen how we destroyed the world. If I could see everything, as the clouds do, would I swirl around this remaining continent, still so full of color and life and season, wanting to protect it?"

         ~ p.g. 145 "Wither" by Lauren DeStefano

 

Today I'm participating in Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

                     This week's Top Ten Tuesday is Top Ten: Jerks In Literature


1.) Gale Hawthorn from The Hunger Games.Ugh if you have read the whole series, you would know why. Stupid jerk.









2.) Micah Bayer from The Demon King. Anyone who tries to force someone else to marry them is definitely a jerk.

3.) Victor Dashkov from The Vampire Academy series. This guy let his own daughter die for his own stupid and evil deeds! Dad of the year for sure...







4.) Massie Block from The Clique Series. I read these in middle school, but this girl is a complete bitch!









5.) Draco Malfoy from The Harry Potter series. Pretty self explanatory.









6.) Aphrodite from Marked. Ugh another stupid bitch. Don't we all love them...hmmm








7.) Drake from Gone. This guy is like 15 and he is freaking PURE evil. He makes the hair on the back of neck raise. Egh!









8.) Kyle from The Host. Ya so when someone attempts to kill you...they are always a jerk...








9.) Ty from  Stolen. Ty is what I would call a lovable jerk. Sort of. I mean he is kidnapper after all but it is hard not to love him...








10.) President Snow from The Hunger Games. Prez. Snow is probably one of the most HATED jerks in literature right now! I mean WHAT A JERK! Having kids killed just for the heck of it. Mean jerk :P

Book of the Moment: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Hex Hall is the first in the mysteriously hilarious and fun Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins.

Sophie Mercer found out she was a witch at the age of thirteen when she changed her hair to purple. Now, three years and nineteen schools later, her mom and her mysterious dad whom she has never met finally draw the line and send her to Hex Hall after a what you would call, a magical Prom mishap. Hex Hall is basically a reform school for witches and warlocks, faeries, and shape shifters. Already on her first day, she finds out her roommate is school wide hated and only vampire, she gets on the bad side of the most popular and powerful witches at her school, and somehow manages to even develop a minuscule crush on the arrogant bad boy, Archer Cross. While Sophie is trying to adjust to her new life, mysterious attempts at killing are happening to some of the more powerful witches and Sophie dreads to believe it might be linked to best friend/vampire/roommate. While trying to survive her new school she must try to unravel this mystery and also learn to use her witchy powers to her ultimate best!


I freaking LOVED this book! Just reading the first page sucked me in! Every page at least earned laughter from me and I loved Sophie's witty, funny, and spunky personality. She has the typical teen angst that most YA book characters have but Sophie has her own personality and charm. I loved reading through her point of view! One of my favorite lines was,
"Or maybe they were staring at me as I tried to discreetly wipe sweat from between my breasts without appearing to get to second base with my self. Hard to say."

Ahaha...that one made snort. Yes. SNORT. A very untypical thing of me! I loved how comfortable Sophie was as she made fun of her self but not in such a negative way. It was like she was confident enough to know she doesn't actually suck. I love her attitude and just really, everything about this book! I also loved reading a different kind of paranormal-ish book but this time it was about witches! I'm so used to vampires, witches, and Shadowhunters ( oh my!), that having a witch point of view was kind of nice! I loved the humor, the mystery, and the romance in this book and I can't wait to read the next book, Demonglass! Hex Hall is definitely a MUST READ! :)

I give it a 5 out of 5 stars!