Spring Blog Carnival Hop & Giveaway!

I love spring. You want to know why I love spring, I love spring because where I live, I deal with snow and cold 6-8 months out of the year, and when I say cold, I mean really really cold. minus 35-40 degree celcius. Which is pretty freaking cold. So when spring shows it's beautiful face, I get pretty excited.  Which is why I am really excited to be part of the Spring Blog Carnival taking place this week (May 1st-8th) Hosted by:

Candace's Book Blog                                                                                        
Reading Angel
Pure Imagination
The Book Swarm

They are going to be doing a lot of cool things this week. This is not only a hop but also a challenge, so check out their blogs for more info on the challenges.



I read one of the most amazing books this year, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta (My Thoughts), and I would really love to buy it for you. I would also like to buy you a book of your choice (It has to be under $15.00).  So TWO books could be yours. 

What's the catch:

• You need to leave a comment telling me what's been the most AMAZING book you've read this year so far.
• You need to tell me what book you would like me to send you in addition to Jellicoe Road*.
• This contest is open internationally BUT I am sending from the book depository so please check here to see if they ship to your country. 
• You DON'T need to be a follower but I would appreciate it if you took some time to look at my blog and follow if you like what you see.
• Plese leave an e-mail address in your comment so I can contact you when and if you win.
• Contest closes at midnight of May 8th. I will announce the winner on Monday May 9th, I will also send the winner an e-mail and they will have 48 hours to get back to me, before I chose another winner.
• Winners will be selected using Random.org.  

*If you have read Jellicoe Road, you can still enter, You can chose something else from the book depository as long as it's under $10.00.

Be sure to check out everyone else who is taking part in this giveaway hop-Linky list can be found at the bottom of this post- for more chances to win.






If there are any questions let me know.

Good Luck Everyone!

Book Blogger Hop (10) Follow Friday (9)

The Books Blogger Hop is hosted by Jen at Crazy for Books.

This weeks questions is:

"Summer is coming quickly - what 2011 summer release are you are most looking forward to?"

We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han. It came out this week and I'd been waiting all  year for it's release.  I feel a little bit like a broken record going on and on about this series, but I love it. My favourite summer read.



 

Follow Friday is hosted over at Parajunkee's View

This weeks question is...

If you were stocking your bomb shelter, what books would you HAVE to include if you only had space for ten?

Only 10 books. Uhh.

1) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.                         
2) The BDB in one giant volume by JR Ward

3) Jellicoe Road Melina Marchetta                                   
4) The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

5) Dirty by Megan Hart                                                    
6) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

7) The Hunter's Moon by OR Melling                               
8) Public Secrets by Nora Roberts 

9) Dreamland by Sarah Dessen                                       
10) Prince of Magic by Anne Stuart.

I have no idea if this list is true. But Meh.

 

My Thoughts: Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan







This isn't going to be much of a review, as I did not finish Iron Witch because I did not like it. I got terribly bored with it, and had to put it down. I tried a few times to pick it back up, but wouldn't get very far before I had to stop again.  I contemplated even posting a "review" but here I am...

I was looking forward to this book. I thought it was going to be excellent, and I was so terribly disappointed. I did not like the way the story moved. I found it very slow, painfully so. I don't know if there was anything that I myself enjoyed about this book.  Usually there is something, but not in this one. I got bored. The characters were annoying and not very likable. The one thing that I found interesting was Donna's mother and her mysterious message to Donna. But even that prospect could keep me reading.

I will maybe finish this book someday. Little by little. But not now.

Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers.
But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?




I had been dreaming of reading this book for a long time before I did. I would see it at the bookstore and see it's GORGEOUS cover and I would want to buy it but I would always walk away. I wanted to wait for the paper back to come out. I am SO disappointed that the covers for this series have changed. Let me tell you. The original covers are so beautiful they really are, if the new cover would have been the cover that Nightshade would have been released with I would not have looked twice at it (I'm sorry if that is rude). To me the new covers look cheap and poorly thought out.  But that's enough of a tangent.

This book has already received a ton of reviews and everyone loves it. And they should. It was really good. The synopsis found on the book is a little misleading, but that's ok. Andrea Cremer wrote a really great book. Her writing style is engaging and light. I didn't feel bogged down with big words and mangled sentences. The story and the writing flowed beautifully.

The plot was great. I would get stressed out a little when as a reader, I would figure something out, that eh protagonists wouldn't know about for a while. I would often catch myself yelling "Open your eyes". I'm silly like that. I loved the shifters and their lore. The idea of Keepers and Guardians was new to me and it intrigued me.

I loved the two wolf packs-The Banes, and The Nightshades- I loved how loyal they were to each other and I loved how they could come together and form a new pack (sort of). I loved how they were not thrilled about the idea, and how the would bicker back and forth. I liked Calla, I thought she was a great protag. I would get annoyed with her when she would submit to Ren when she should have held her ground (she's also an alpha), I liked Ren-even more then Shay- I thought he was cocky but sweet at the same time. He was loyal to his pack and he was fair. I didn't like it when he was get all alpha type and dominate Calla. I liked Shay, but I totally thought he was a wimp. I thought he whined a lot and did not take things like a man. He was such a suck. It's funny now. 

I am totally sucked into this series and I am really looking forward to Wolfsbane I can't wait to see where the story and these characters are heading.

Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: White Cat by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Again, I was late on the Holly Black phenomena. I had heard about her and her books but I hadn't read any of them before picking up White Cat. I wasn't all that interested in reading this story, I was not all that excited about the crime family scenario and I was confused about curse workers and such (the blurd did not grab my attention). But never the less I was at the library and decided to give this one a go. I'll be honest it took me a while to get into the story, and I didn't love it the way a lot of people did. I thought it was ooook.

I liked Cassel-I actually liked him a lot- I thought he was funny and clever (he whined a lot at times but that's understandable) I liked his friends (a lot of other readers didn't), but Daneca and Sam added to Cassel's character well. His grandfather I was not a fan of in the beginning but he grew on me, probably when he saved his grandson's life.

I did not like the family dynamics. I mean really? One brother holding Cassel down while the other kicks the crap out of him just to prove to your "boss" that you can. That annoyed me. I kept thinking that his brother's really needed to grow a pair. I almost felt sorry for Anton and the way he was losing his memory but that sympathy went out the window midway through the book. Philip. Forget it. He was a grade A jerk. He was awful to his wife, to his brothers, to everyone. He was my least favourite character by far. Their mother on the other hand was real hoot. I found her to be kind of funny, in a "did she really just do/say that?" kind of way. I look forward to reading more about her.

The White Cat-Lila- I don't think I really liked her. I don't know. It's the mob thing, needing to prove your strong enough. I don't like that kind of character. Lila was like that, it made me roll my eyes a time or two. But that's just me.

I loved Holly's writing though. The story was fun and the way she describes things is fabulous. I think even my hating Cassel's Brothers was due to her writing. All in all I plan on reading Red Glove (maybe not right away), but I am curious about what's in store for Cassel and his family, even Lila, because the end had me laughing my head off. Oh Mom, really?

Happy Reading Everyone.

Book Blogger Hop (9) Follow Friday (8)

Book Blogger Hop hosted by Jen at Crazy for Books.

This week's question:

"If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?"

Oh for sure. I love reading books from authors that I love. I've done it with a lot of my romance authors like Rachel Gibson. I also did it with Jodi Picoult, after The Pact I wanted to read everything, now I limit myself to one a year due to the intense stress I suffer from her books. Currently I am in search of anything by Melina Marchetta, Jellicoe Road was so amazing that I want to know what else this woman can dish out. 

Follow Friday is hosted over at Parajunkee's View.

This weeks question is...

What is on your current playlist right now?

Right now I am listening to:

Adele

Panic at the Disco

Joshua Radin

MoZella

City and Colour.

And many more but we need to keep this short.



INVINCIBLE SUMMER book trailer

I don't usually post book trailers, because in all honesty I usually don't like them. But this book trailer for Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz is actually REALLY good. I'm actually kind of bummed that I didn't read this when I had the chance. I'll have to wait till the end of my book buying ban to grab this one. Ugh.

Happy Reading Everyone!

From Book to Movie (7)

I love cheesey romance!!! I've seen the Something Borrowed series around for a very long time. But I've never read them. I don't know why. But I think I'll read this one, because I want to and the movie looks really cute. This one is out May 6th, 2011. Happy Reading Everyone!

BDB Bookclub Challenge-Dark Lover

So it's that time. The first BDB bookclub challenge hop. YAY!

There is nothing I love more then talking about my love for the BDB.  Ashley asked some great questions and I am eager to answer them.  SO here we go, lets talk about book #1, Dark Lover.

1. On a scale from 1-5, what would you rate this book? Briefly tell us why.

5!!!!!!!!! I loved this book.  I love the introduction into the new world.  I loved how complex it is and I love the writing and creativity. It’s awesome!!!

2. What did you think of the alternating point of views (Darius, Beth, Butch, Wrath, Marissa, Mr. X, Havers...)? 

 I liked the alternating points of view.  The only one I did not like was Mr. X.  I was so engrossed with the rest of the story, that the segments with the lessening society bored me.  I don’t want to get to know them, I hate them. Haha.  But  the rest I really enjoyed.

3. What did you think of the new language Ward created? (i.e. Shellan, Princeps, Doggen, etc.) Did it help pull you into the story or distract you?

The new language is so creative.  I think it’s amazing that she was able to come up with a whole language, a whole society. The glossary was really handy, if I didn’t remember what something meant I would just go look it up.  It was great.

4. We all know that this series is Paranormal Romance -- and we all know that's the good stuff, however, did you feel that Beth and Wrath moved a little too quickly in the beginning? How did you feel about these events given what had happened to Beth the night before? 

That didn’t really bother me, I barely thought about it. It made sense for things to move so quickly because the race is pretty sexual.  Also Wrath knew what Beth was going through. Those two were meant for each other.

5. What did you think of Zsadist's surprise signing abilities?

Ahhhhh Z.  Love him, didn’t when I first read this book. Actually that’s a lie, I totally loved him.  His singing just proves that even things that are broken can be beautiful.  Sigh, I can’t wait till we get to his book.

6. How about that offer Havers made Zsadist in the end? Did you think Zsadist would do it? Do you think Havers punishment for this incident (or lack thereof) was fair?

I was not impressed with Havers, and I was sad when I thought that Z was going to do it, I was like nooooooooo, I liked you and now you are going to be destroyed. But The BDB are loyal, it’s crazy, and amazing.  I am not a fan of Havers, and I really wish he would have gotten a more severe punishment.

7. What did you think of Darius' decision to come back from The Fade, but never again know his daughter? What would you have done given the same choice?

I can’t wait to keep going, I love Darius, and I love who he becomes, and that is ubber spoiler-y so sorry.  So I cannot say more. I was devastated when he actually died. So heartbroken.  If he would have lived, he could have known his daughter. I think he would have been a really awesome male. Even though I totally love him now, and would totally miss who he was,  I would have liked to know Darius then.

8. Compare the Brotherhood Books (on first impression) to other vampire series that you've read. Is is better or worse and how so? 

When I first started reading the BDB there wasn’t anything like it. Not really.  Now though, there are so many. The Midnight Breed Series by Lara Adrian although good, came out afterwards and I feel I kind of think it’s a rip off.  Don’t get me wrong I like the series, and I like her stories, I just don’t think they’re very original.  I find the BDB pretty original (maybe I’m wrong) I did real paranormal before them, but nothing like this, and nothing as good.

If you want to know more about this bookclub/challenge go here.

Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Kaeleigh and Raeanne are 16-year-old identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for Congress. Everything on the surface of their lives seems Norman Rockwell perfect, but underneath run deep and damaging secrets.

Kaeleigh is the good girl-her father's perfect flower, something she has tried so hard to be since she was nine and he started sexually abusing her. She cuts herself and vomits after every binge, desperate to feel something normal. Raeanne uses painkillers, drugs, alcohol, and sex to numb the pain of not being Daddy's favorite. Both girls must figure out how to become whole, but how can they when their world has been torn to shreds?



I know I'm late on the Ellen Hopkins band wagon but Oh. My. Goodness. Identical was an AMAZING book, and I don't know why it took me so long to read. It had been on my book shelf for a couple months and finally I decided to pick it up and read it. I wasn't sure about it being written in verse, I didn't know if I was going to have a hard time with that or not. But honestly is was fine. It read like a book, not a poem, but the verse writing gave it the effect it needed. I didn't like the book in the beginning, because I was royally disturbed by it's content. But as I continued to read, the writing took over and I fell in love.

The plot is utterly disturbing, and completely heartbreaking. Kaeleigh is a sweet girl who is being exploited and abused in the worst possible way, and she has no way to deal with it, no one to talk to, no one to tell. Her mother is a absent politician (who I felt sorry for, but by the end I hated her so much, I wanted to scream), Her sister, her twin Raeanne knows what's happening to Kaeleigh but seems almost mad, jealous (its messed up I'm telling you). Raeanne deals with the dysfunctions of home life with drugs, alcohol and sex. But the life that these two girls have, the family they have, it's amazing that one of them isn't already dead.

The end.... I was totally SHOCKED!!! For those of you who have read this book, I was totally not expecting what I got. Usually I am good and figuring out how things are going to work out, but not this time. I found myself going "What?" and rereading what had happened. Totally worth it boys and girls. If you have not read this book, read it.

One thing though, I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of 16, at the back of the book it says 14 and up, but I DO NOT AGREE. The content is heavy, not just the drugs, and alcohol, but the sex and abuse is not necessary for kids to read. Wait a few years. It'll be better for you and your mental state if you wait.

This is a must read, I promise you will not be disappointed.  I am planning on reading a few more by Ellen Hopkins, although I will not be reading the Crank series, I hate drugs with a passion, it hurts my soul how destructive they are, and I can't put myself through the heartbreak that I am sure can be found in that series.  But she has a few more that I will read, and I will be sure to tell you all about them. 

Happy Reading Everyone!

My Thoughts: We'll Always Have Summer by Jenny Han

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

E-arc received from publisher.







It was July of last year that I started blogging. I really wanted a place to talk (gush) about the books I had read, to share about them. I have friends who are readers but none of them were into the same things as I was. I finally decided that I was going to blog after I read Jenny Han's Pretty series.  I finished The Summer I Turned Pretty and It's Not Summer Without You in a day. Two books in ONE DAY, for me that's insane. But I was in love and couldn't stop. I loved these two books and now that I've read We'll Always have Summer I love the whole series.

I don't want to spoil anything at all.  But the last installment to the Pretty series is about tough decisions and getting answers, it's about not giving up, and letting go, it's about love that won't let go and love that will last forever. It's wonderful.

I again finished this one in one day (Han's writing does that to me). Even if this book's plot sucked (it didn't, just so you know) it wouldn't have mattered because the writing is fantastic. Jenny is brilliant at describing everything, you can almost smell the ocean and feel the sand under your feet. You can feel what each character is feeling, the heartbreak and the joy. It's not overwhelming though, it's refreshing. 

That is how I would describe this book, this whole series. Refreshing. I love the characters. This is where I feel I could get really spoiler-y so I'm not going to talk much about this. But... No I can't. Ask me later and I'll tell you. 

I will tell you this, for me the perfect theme song for this books is 'Someone Like You' By Adele. It's a perfect song for this story. 

This is a perfect summer read, full of romance and tension and beauty. It's wonderful. I'm sighing just thinking about it. 

So that is what I have to say about We'll Always Have Summer. I loved it. Jenny will be stopping by later next month to talk about her favourite summer reads, and I'll be announcing a mega give away in a month or so, so stay tuned. 

We'll Always have Summer is out later this month.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Book Buying Ban 2011

Hello There,

Right now on my shelf there are about 40 books that I have not read.  40! That's insane. I should have no 40 unread books on my shelf. Some of them I've had since Christmas, some from even before. So sad.  So I am imposing on myself a book buying ban.  I am not allowed to buy a single book (for myself) until I have read 20 of the unread books on my shelf. Cut that 40 down in half. I don't want to get out of control with the buying and then never read the books. I started this a few days ago and I am hoping to have all 20 read by the end of June. Three months, I can handle that.

Some of the books I plan on reading:

Red Glove-Holly Black
Halo- Alexandra Adornetto
Identical-Ellen Hopkins
The Book Theif-Markus Zusak
The Unwritten Rule-Elizabeth Scott

and 15 more. So wish me luck.

Happy Reading Everyone!

How Big is Your RAK

What better way to celebrate the month in which I was born then to take part in Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) hosted by Book Soulmates! This is an awesome program and everyone should check it out! I buy loads of book! It's insane. And I absolutely love giving presents. So I am rather excited about this event! I have a kabillion (about 30) books on my wish list so if you would like to see my full list, go here!  You can also check out a smaller more condensed version of my wish list if you follow the link at the top of the page (in the navigation bar). 

Happy Reading Everyone!

Many Books in a Year: March

Hello All,

I'm still counting. If you are new to Many Books in a Year you can find an explanation here. basically I'm counting the books I've read. I wanted to know how many I get through.
So in March I read five books, one novella and listened to one audio book and stopped listening to an audio book because it bored me.  So this year I have read a total of 23 books I believe.

1) I am Number Four by Patticus Lore
2) We'll Always have Summer by Jenny Han (My Thoughts coming soon)
3) City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Audio Book)
4) Stay by Deb Caletti (My Thoughts)
5) City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
6) Friendly Fire my Megan Hart (Novella)
7) Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione (My Thoughts coming soon)

School is March was insane, and won't get much better for another couple of weeks. So hopefully I will be reading a little more. I can't wait for school to be done so I can read without guilt! It's gonna be awesome!  Yes it is.

Happy Reading Everyone!