Wednesday, November 30, 2011

"Waiting on" Wednesday


"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:


LIFE IS BUT A DREAM
By: Brian James
Published By: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Preorder the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: Alec and Sabrina are crazy in love. Problem is: Sabrina’s really crazy.

Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she'll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? Her decision may have fatal consequences.




Why it's wanted:

The premise of this sounds really intriguing - I'm curious to see how the story will play out!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday (5)



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there will be a new topic and a new list to make. Be sure to stop by the host blog to see all of the other blogs participating!



This week's topic:
Top Ten Books on my Winter TBR List


1. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver - I loved Delirium and can't wait to get my hands on this one!

2. The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges - I love history and Russia, so I'm very excited to read this debut.

3. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - This cover is gorgeous, and the premise for the story is very intriguing.

4. Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton - The first book in this trilogy, Angelfire, was one of my favorite reads of 2011. I need more Will! And Ellie too.

5. Illuminate by Aimee Agresti - Another debut book that could be read for the cover alone. Plus I really like the synopsis.

6. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand - I really enjoyed Unearthly and can't wait to see where the story goes next!

7. Illuminated by Erica Orloff - A retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a twist...yes please! I love the cover of this as well.

8. Arcadia Awakens by Kai Meyer - This debut novel definitely sounds interesting - it's set in Italy, full of Mafiya secrets and a paranormal twist.

9. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood - I love the premise of this. Plus, who can resist the pitch of Gemma Doyle meets Cassandra Clare?

10. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - I was sold from the title. And the synopsis makes it sound like a really fun read.



What made your Top Ten list? Please leave a comment or link to your blog!

Teaser Tuesday (19)



I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:



"Alden was right. These weren't just voices. Somehow this voice was making me bleed. It had entered my body. And now I was housing its soul."


p. 52 (ARC) from SHATTERED SOULS by Mary Lindsay


Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Review: Faking Faith by Josie Bloss



FAKING FAITH
By: Josie Bloss
Published By: Flux
Release Date: Nov. 8, 2011
Series: None
Pages: 240
Genre: Contemporary
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: After a humiliating "sexting" incident involving a hot and popular senior, seventeen-year-old Dylan has become a social outcast—harassed, ignored, and estranged from her two best friends.

When Dylan discovers the blogs of homeschooled fundamentalist Christian girls, she's fascinated by their old-fashioned conversation themes, like practicing submission to one's future husband. Blogging as Faith, her devout alter ego, Dylan befriends Abigail, the group's queen bee. But growing closer to Abigail (and her intriguing older brother) forces Dylan to choose: keep living a lie or come clean and face the consequences.




I first saw this book on another blog's Waiting on Wednesday, and just from reading the synopsis I was very intrigued. Faking Faith tackles issues from friendships and relationships to religion, making for an interesting and compelling read. When I had to put this book down one night, I spent the next day wondering what else would happen, and when I could read it again I kept turning pages until the end.

Dylan is an ordinary high school girl - she has her two close friends and secretly longs for the hottest guy in school. When he shows an interest in her, she quickly falls head over heels. Unfortunately, this leads to the loss of her two best friends and a sexting incident that lands her suspended from school. In her spare time, Dylan explores the internet and stumbles across the blogs of fundamentalist Christian homeschool girls. She finds herself drawn into this world, both because of how different they are from her and how strongly they hold these beliefs. Eventually Dylan creates her own blog under the name of Faith and begins growing closer to these girls. But when Dylan finally has the chance to meet Abigail (the girl behind one of the most popular blogs) and her family, Dylan finds more than she bargained for.

Dylan is such a real character, and I really enjoyed reading about her. She made a few mistakes that ended up costing her so much, and even though these weren't the smartest decisions I couldn't help but feel sorry for how everything backfired. After everything that happened, I could see the appeal of her losing herself in another world. Like Dylan, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the things some of these girls wrote on their blogs...even if I do have very different opinions and beliefs. Reading about Abigail's family was like entering another world. They are not Amish, but the lifestyle seems very similar. There were aspects of their family life that I loved - their closeness and the way that everyone worked together - but there were also things that bothered me, particularly about their father.

Then there was Asher. Asher, who had made mistakes (at least in the eyes of his family) that could parallel the ones that Dylan had made. I loved reading the interactions between these two. And let me tell you, if you think that a book so infused with religion can't have any kind of romance, think again. When I finished reading this book, I wished that there could be more - I would love to know how everything turns out for Dylan, Abigail, and Asher.

Faking Faith explores a variety of issues and presents two very different pictures of all of them. I enjoyed reading this book, but it made me think as well. I will look forward to reading more from Josie in the future!




It's Monday! What are you reading?



It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

Currently Reading:
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Planning To Read:
Remembrance by Michelle Madow




What are you reading this week?

Saturday, November 26, 2011

In My Mailbox (19)



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was started by Kristi at The Story Siren with some inspiration from Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. It features books or book-related things that have been bought, borrowed, won, or received in the mail. Be sure to check out The Story Siren for a list of all the other blogs participating!





For review:
Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and The Teen Book Scene!

Bought:
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi




Weekly Recap:


Happy Thanksgiving!

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Monday Reads
Teaser Tuesday: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Top Ten Tuesday
"Waiting on" Wednesday: Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday



What books did you get this week? Please leave a comment or link to your own IMM post!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday (18)

Book Blogger Hop


Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books. In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! So visit Crazy-for-Books to grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list there!

This week's question:

Coming soon!





Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Allison Can Read. Visit either of their blogs for complete rules of the following fun!

This week's question:

"It’s Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. so we want to know what you are Thankful for – blogging related of course! Who has helped you out along the way? What books are you thankful for reading?"

I actually made a post about this earlier today! I am so thankful for all of the great people I have met in the blogging community. In addition to that, I'm thankful for all of my followers and everyone who has supported me along the way. I feel certain that I will accidentally omit people if I make a list, but I will mention a few:

Cindy at Books Complete Me
Louise at Between the Covers
Andrea and Tevya at Reading Lark
Amber and Stacey at Page Turners Blog
Yara at Once Upon a Twilight
Cari at Cari's Book Blog
Jennifer at Novel Thoughts


And I'll stop there, because otherwise this list would go on forever.

As for books that I'm thankful for reading, two series come to mind, and I'm sure these will come as no surprise to anyone: The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, which has helped shape my thoughts and actions to this day, and the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, without which I would not have rekindled my love of reading and met some of my best friends.



What are your answers? Please leave a comment or a link to your blog!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!



In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I've seen many people on Twitter and on Facebook listing things that they are thankful for. Although I am thankful for many things in my life, today I wanted to take a few moments to list some of the things specifically related to books and blogging.

First, I am thankful for the blogging community, especially the YA community. This is such an amazing group of authors and bloggers, and I have met so many wonderful people in the past year at signings, conventions, and even on twitter. And then there are Houston bloggers who made me feel welcome in a new city from the very beginning. Thank you for all the recommendations, the book chats, and a year of great times!

Second, I am thankful for YA authors who write such great books. Thank you for telling the stories that need to be told or that let us readers escape from reality for an hour or two. Keep 'em coming, please!

Third, I am thankful for the followers and readers who support book blogs. Without your support it would be easy to get discouraged. So thank you for the comments and messages!

I could list so many individual people here, but I know that I would inadvertently miss someone, and I would hate to do that. But I will say one more thank you, and that is to Cindy from Books Complete Me, without whom I never would have started blogging. Thank you for all of the advice and support!

And so, with that, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!


"Waiting on" Wednesday


"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:


ILLUMINATE
By: Aimee Agresti
Published By: Harcourt Children's Books
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Preorder the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.

As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?

Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.




Why it's wanted:

This cover is absolutely beautiful! I'd read it from that alone. But the story also sounds very interesting and I'm curious to see how everything plays out.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Teaser Tuesday (18)



I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:



"'I loved him, and de Quincey murdered him, and the others of my kind helped and abetted him. I will not forgive them for it. Kill them all.'"


p. 192-193 from CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare


Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Top Ten Tuesday (4)



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there will be a new topic and a new list to make. Be sure to stop by the host blog to see all of the other blogs participating!



This week's topic:
Top Ten Authors I'd Love to Have at my Thanksgiving Feast


1. Terry Goodkind - He's the author of my favorite series (Sword of Truth) and I would love to hear more about his philosophies.

2. J.R. Ward - I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood books and would love to see what spoilers I could get out of her!

3. Mitch Albom - I think he would have a lot of reminders of what we could all be thankful for.

4. Stephenie Meyer - I'm sure this one comes as no surprise. I would love to meet the author that started it all.

5. J.K. Rowling - I would love the chance to meet her and to hear all of the details that didn't make it into Harry's books.

6. Jodi Picoult - I think it would be very enlightening and interesting to have conversations with her.

7. Suzanne Collins - I would love to hear how she created such a compelling trilogy.

I am cheating slightly for the last three - I realize these authors aren't alive, but I would still love to have dinner with them!

8. C.S. Lewis - His writings are wonderful and I would love the chance to talk with and learn from him.

9. Jane Austen - I would love to know more about the person who created Mr. Darcy.

10. William Shakespeare - I think he would be very interesting to talk to. Plus, maybe we could solve the mystery of authenticity in his plays!



What made your Top Ten list? Please leave a comment or link to your blog!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting



THE PLEDGE
By: Kimberly Derting
Published By: Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date: Nov. 15, 2011
Series: The Pledge (#1)
Pages: 320
Genre: Dystopian
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: S&S Galley Grab
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.




Dystopian seems to be the hot genre this year, and with all of the books on the market, it is easy for the stories to start sounding similar. However, Kimberly Derting has avoided this trap with a refreshing story full of intrigue, danger, magic, and romance.

In Ludania, everything is based on language. Your class defines your language, and you are not permitted to acknowledge someone of a higher class while they are speaking. Charlie, however, has spent her entire life hiding a dangerous secret: She can understand every language. She tries to go about her life as normal, but with members of the Counsel class insulting her and her friends, she finds it difficult. So when her friend Brooklynn suggests that they go to an underground club, Charlie readily agrees, desperate for distraction. Only there she meets a few people who will quite literally change her life - including the handsome, enigmatic Max. As the queen's oppressive regime tightens and the threat of war is imminent, Charlie will find herself in need of some unlikely allies and discover that not everyone is whom they seem to be...including herself.

As someone who loves languages, I loved the premise of this book. Almost everyone is naturally bilingual, speaking both Englaise (the common language) and their class tongue. But even beyond that, The Pledge doesn't follow the standard dystopian plot. Yes, there is an oppressive government, but because it is set in a fictional country ruled by royalty it doesn't seem like something that could happen in the US. Add all that to Derting's writing style, and I was hooked from the very beginning. The story is brilliantly crafted - I could figure out just enough to appreciate where things were going, but there were other surprises that I never saw coming. Also, even though the story is told mostly from Charlie's perspective, there are moments where we get to see some of the other characters' points of view. I loved these insights, and they made the story come alive that much more.

Then there were the characters themselves. Almost all of them were incredibly important in their own way. Charlie is an incredibly strong heroine, not one to easily give into others, and yet she has her moments of doubt that make her relatable. And then there is Max, who despite his mysterious air is incredibly charming. The chemistry between him and Charlie sizzles off the page. Even the queen, who is evil incarnate, has more than meets the eye. I have a hunch that things in the next book will be very...interesting.

The Pledge is a book that you will not be able to put down. The mystery, the characters, the writing itself...everything is captivating. I cannot wait to read more!




It's Monday! What are you reading?



It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
Faking Faith by Josie Bloss

Currently Reading:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Planning To Read:
Remembrance by Michelle Madow




What are you reading this week?

Sunday, November 20, 2011

In My Mailbox (18)



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was started by Kristi at The Story Siren with some inspiration from Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. It features books or book-related things that have been bought, borrowed, won, or received in the mail. Be sure to check out The Story Siren for a list of all the other blogs participating!



Bought:




Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly




Weekly Recap:


Gratitude Giveaway Hop

Review: In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

Monday Reads
Teaser Tuesday: Faking Faith by Josie Bloss
Top Ten Tuesday
"Waiting on" Wednesday: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver



What books did you get this week? Please leave a comment or link to your own IMM post!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Review: In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton


IN THE FORESTS OF THE NIGHT
By: Kersten Hamilton
Published By: Clarion Books
Release Date: Oct. 22, 2011
Series: Goblin Wars (#2)
Pages: 288
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon


Disclaimer: This summary may contain spoilers if you have not read Tyger, Tyger. To read that review, please click here.

Goodreads Summary: The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.




I really loved the first book in this trilogy, Tyger Tyger, not only because of the story but also because of the inclusion of poetry and musical references. I was very excited to be back in this Celtic-infused world and revisit some great characters.

In the Forests of the Night picks up shortly after Tyger, Tyger. Teagan is still trying to adjust to the news that she learned before, and this causes her to be much more cautious. Finn, however, is insistent that nothing has changed, and he wants to be with her as much as ever. But the problems associated with Mag Mell and Fear Doirich have not simply disappeared. Tea and especially Aiden are in as much danger as ever, but this time, they know exactly what they're up against. But Tea can only do so much to keep the goblins away from her family and friends, and soon she realizes that if she is going to defeat Fear Doirich she will have to take even more drastic action. In fact, she may have to give into the side of herself that she swore she never would...

So much of this book focused on the characters themselves and developing their relationships. Teagan and Finn had some incredibly sweet moments, as did Thomas and Roisin. I also enjoyed the dialogue between Abby and Finn. Abby and especially her Turtle cousins did a great job of adding humor to the story. Once again, Aiden has to be one of the most adorable younger brothers there is. I wanted to reach into the book and hug him more than once. Aside from the characters, the danger and suspense were quite palpable in this book, as was Teagen's internal conflict. I really appreciated as she grew into her own and did what was needed to take care of those she cared about, including the chimps at the zoo (yes, even Cindy and Oscar are back). Throughout this book there were plenty of twists and turns that kept me reading right until the end.

While I loved getting to know the characters better, I have to admit that I missed some of the world-building as well as the inclusion of poetry and music that was in the first book. In addition, I wished that there had been a bit more of a reminder about what had happened at the end of the first book; it took me some time to remember all of the details when I wanted to be immersed in the story instead.

Both books of the Goblin Wars have to be two of the most inventive stories in YA right now, and they are both rich with folklore, magic, poetry, and romance. I cannot wait to see how everything comes together in the next book!




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