Black and Blue Ink Reviews

Waiting on Wednesday- Under the Never Sky

2012-01-18T17:58:00.000-08:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Under the Never Sky

Author: Veronica Rossi
Release Date: February 7th 2012

Dystopia

Synopsis from Goodreads: Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—nicknamed The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms eventually will. In this dystopia, even the very air she breathes could kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild, dangerous—a savage. He’s also her only hope.

Perry needs Aria, too. She alone holds the key to his redemption. And their unlikely alliance will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

Debut author Veronica Rossi is accumulating fans from all over the globe—the book has already sold to more than twenty countries. It’s not surprising that foreign rights for this title have been flying off the shelf. It’s a tantalizing romance in any language.

Because I am a weird freak, I would like to point out that I enjoy reading books about cannibals. Ok, maybe enjoy is not the best word for it, actually it is probably the absolute worst word for it but I find the whole world and idea of cannibalism in FICTION of course just interesting. Its sort like reading about serial killers. It is hard and annoying and most of the time just plain disturbing to read about them, yet some part of it is intriguing trying to find out what goes in on in their minds. I know this is one I am going to be grabbing on its release date. And its is dystopia so it is bound to be amazing!!!

What do you guys think of this week's Waiting on Wednesday?

Monday's Question of the Day!: YA Pet Peeves!

2012-01-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

What is your #1 YA book pet peeve?

So I have a post coming up about this very subject that was loads of fun to write. Not really on pet peeves but more of stuff I feel have become hackneyed in the YA genre. This is more along the line on what annoys you about YA books. I know I know, it is tearing at your heart right now to have to search through your beloved genre for a flaw, but I think we all have one. But for the sake of anticipation of my upcoming post, I will just give a very very small one; and that is that NO ONE EVER HAS ANY HOMEWORK. Yes I know, petty as it is, it still irks me. I mean I am a senior in high school and with college apps, calculus, five other classes, and all the other stuff school thrust upon high schoolers, I find it so weird that all these teens have the time to go on week long expeditions and hang out and go on dates every single day of the school year, when most of us are lucky if we have an extra minute to breath now-a-days. And the fact that everyone's parents is so lax about everything. I mean when has it been that easy to just sneak out every night for a midnight rendezvous in the woods, or drive across your state on a weekday for some reason and your parents don't even mind. Anyone else ever annoyed by that...no, okay, but anyway these aren't my top YA pet peeves but they're definitely up there!

What are one of you guy's YA pet peeves?!!

Waiting on Wednesday- Cinder

2012-01-04T13:17:00.000-08:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer
Release Date: January 13th 2012

Science Fiction

Synopsis from Goodreads: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

YES! That's all I can say! My ALL TIME favorite genre in existence is Science Fiction. Not only for books but for tv, movies, everything, but sci-fi books really hold a special place in my heart and on my shelf. But they are SO rare to say the least in YA. And this book is the epitome of what I was really looking for. I mean really, cyborgs! When was the last time you read anything about Cyborgs, and Lunar people! Everything about this book sounds like it is going to be so interesting and futuristic and everything that I love about the sci-fi!!! This is definitely my kind of book!

What do you guys think of this week's Waiting on Wednesday?

Review: Stay With Me by. Paul Griffin

2011-11-29T17:04:00.000-08:00

Title: Stay With Me
Author: Paul Griffin
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 8, 2011
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Fifteen-year-olds Cece and Mack didn't expect to fall in love. She's a sensitive A student; he's a high school dropout. But soon they're spending every moment together, bonding over a rescued dog, telling their secrets, making plans for the future. Everything is perfect. Until. Until. Mack makes a horrible mistake, and in just a few minutes, the future they'd planned becomes impossible. In this stark new reality, both of them must find meaning and hope in the memories of what they had, to survive when the person they love can't stay. From award-winning writer Paul Griffin, Stay with Me is both heartbreaking and uplifting, filled with characters (both dog and human) that will forever change the way you look at the world.

Review: Real and heartbreaking to the core, Stay With Me by Paul Griffin is a showcase to teen romance and the struggles of the reality that some teens face on a daily basis. Stay With Me is truly a breathtaking novel that shows sometimes even the deepest love is not enough create a happily ever after.

There is really so much to say about this book but I'll try to keep it short. The romance in this book may seem to be a little quick, but I still felt the connection between the two main characters instantly. It may have started off as a simple attraction, but it did blossom into a very unique love. They are so devoted to one another, and they are definitely there for each other through thick and thin.

Mack and Cece both are and have been living hard lives for a long time, and when they finally find each other, they become each other's reprieve from the harshness of their lives. Mack has to be one of the most interesting characters I have ever ready about. Since the book is told from both Mack and Cece's perspective you get to a really know the character Mack. From how he sees the world, and how the world sees him.

To be honest, this book had me in tears in a lot of places for a lot of reasons. In a lot of places, I felt like the book got really open and raw with the feelings and emotions of the two main characters that I could connect to what the both of them were going through so well. The romance, the pain, the loss, the forgiveness, and all of the problems Mack and Cece were going through were laid out so vividly to the reader that I dare you not to shed a tear while reading this book.

Stay With Me is one of those books that I know is going to be with me for a long time. It is a novel that has really touched my heart and one that I know I will never get tired of recommending.

Recommendations: If you want a deep and captivating read that will make you smile and definitely have you shedding a few tears along the way, Stay With Me is a perfect read.

Overall: 5/5

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

If you liked the romance in Stay With Me, check out the romances of Simone Elkeles Fuentes Brother's Series:

Review: Fate Fixed by. Bonnie Erina Wheeler

2011-11-20T18:16:00.000-08:00

Title: Fate Fixed
Author: Bonnie Erina Wheeler
Publication Date: July 1st, 2011
Pages: 294
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: When Lexie Anderson’s mother suddenly announces she is marrying a Romanian immigrant, Lexie willingly leaves behind her busy life in Connecticut for her penance in “The Moose Capital of the World.” Small town living is strange enough, now Lexie must cope with her overbearing stepfamily monitoring her every move. They disappear into the woods at night and keep a strange secret locked in their shed. Her once calm mother is now having violent outbursts and Lexie’s little sister is hearing sinister sounds coming from the forest behind their new home.

Lexie’s biggest surprise comes when she discovers the boy she has been dreaming about since her accident is living in Maine. Despite Torin’s questionable reputation, Lexie cannot resist the physical and emotional attraction pulsating between them.

Animals and people in town are turning up dead and Lexie learns the strange new world she lives in has real life monsters. Just when she decides she wants to be with Torin forever, she must fight to protect her mother and sister from being harmed a formidable evil

Review: The dynamic paranormal duo of the werewolf and the vampire will never tire if there are books like Fate Fixed always bringing something new to the table. Definitely exciting and unexpectedly twisted, Fate Fixed was something new and fun to read.

As far as first impressions go, I was pretty sure main character Lexie had a good head on her shoulders after the first two chapters of the book, but after that, that impressions left immediately. She was an...interesting character. She of course is going through the usually teenage angst of having to move away from your friends and school when your mother remarries, but in some ways, I thought she was a little too trusting if you know what I mean. Of course I am so glad to see a girl freak out with the mention of a vampire, (I really think girls are becoming a little too comfortable when they see fangs pop out of their boyfriends mouths), but in a lot of areas, I was seriously questioning her judgment. I mean there has to be some boundaries for love at first sight.

So I think it is fair to classify this book as a paranormal romance, but in the beginning I was seriously having trouble with the romance. It was so, incredibly, and extremely rushed. I am all for the "love at first sight" aspect that characterizes paranormal romances, but the romance was way too fast for me to even be able to acknowledge it until 3/4 of the way through the book. Though I eventually was able to think of what they had together as a "romance" not just lustful infatuation, in the beginning it was sort of took away from the story.

Onto the more fun parts of the book, I have to say I found it a bit twisted. The book is told in alternating perspectives between the two main characters, and an anonymous wolf. I really read faster for the chance to read the wolf's part of the book as the story between the two main characters went along. It was so dark and cynical that I couldn't wait for this anonymous character to meet with the main ones for what I new was going to be an action packed confrontation.

I have to say that despite the fact that romance did through me off, I thoroughly enjoyed Fate Fixed. It is a great combination of a light read, yet one that will still keep you anticipating a great ending.

Recommendations: For those who (like me) will never get enough of vampires and werewolves, this books will definitely be a good read.

Overall: 3/5

Characters: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Cover: 3/5

If you like this book, check out the Hearts at Stake by. Alyxandra Harvey

Guest Post! Natasha Larry, author of Darwin's Children

2011-11-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

You guys may know that I recently read Natasha Larry's debut YA book Darwin's Children and absolutely loved it. Today I am lucky enough to have Natasha Larry doing the very first ever guest post on Black and Blue Ink! Read on and enjoy her story and how she became the author she is today!

How I Accidentally Became a Young Adult Author

One of the questions I get asked most often is: why do you write young adult paranormal/fantasy fiction? I never pictured myself a fiction author, not to mention a young adult author. I went to school to study History and considered myself a serious academic. The truth is that Darwin’s Children started as an adult series-a project that began because I’ve always been a comic book nerd. For the longest time, I couldn’t get it to work and nearly gave up on the project until something magical happened. I had a daydream and wrote it down immediately. That daydream later became the prologue of the first book and I haven’t looked back since.

The magic that happened was that Darwin’s Children became a story for young adults. I suppose it always should have been. My experience writing Darwin’s Children as a young adult novel was incredible and effortless. I literally felt like I was flying and was reminded of why I wanted to be a writer in the first place. I’ve always loved to read thanks to my father, and all people that love to read have that one author or story that seals the deal for them. For me, it was Judy Blume’s Superfudge.

I heard my 5^th grade teacher tell this story and ever since I’ve been a Blume-maniac. As a young girl, I don’t know how I would have known anything of the world were it not for her book: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. I loved the feeling of having a book as a best friend and that was when I started writing. It was all about discovery and coming into your own back then. As a kid I always wrote fiction, and then something terrible happened. I became an adult.

I stopped writing all together in Graduate school. Of course, I didn’t really stop writing. I probably wrote more in Grad school than at any other time in my personal history. I say I stopped writing because the dream was gone. I wrote because it was required and people sort of expected it from me. Comic books helped keep me young at heart, and I think that had a lot to do with why I wanted to write about super humans. Most people assume I’m influenced predominantly by the Marvel Universe, most notably, the X-Men, and when I first started writing Darwin’s Children, I was. However, my writing didn’t really take off until I started dreaming again and this didn’t happen until I expanded my reach into the DC Universe.

I remember sitting down to read a graphic novel entitled Kingdom Come by Alex Ross and Mark Waid. The novel deals primarily with the growing disconnect between old school superheroes (think Superman and Wonder Woman) and a new generation of vigilantes. Reading this book made me feel the way I felt when I was a kid reading Judy Blume. I know, I know. My fan boy buddies just died knowing I compared a comic book to Judy Blume. The important thing is that the feeling came back and I was able to dream. One line in particular stood out the most.

“The sheer force of Batman’s presence kindles a desperate ember of hope.”

Thank you Natasha for the guest post! It's great to hear that you continued to write through school. I know a lot of people who aspire to some day write novels, myself included, don't thing its possibly to do that and go to school and pursue an education. Glad to know its more than possible! I can't wait to read what's next for Darwin's Children!

Natasha's Links:
Website: www.natashalarrybooks.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/natashalarry

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4356316.Natasha_Larry
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Natasha-Larry/e/B0051BVEGW
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/natasha.larry1

Darwin's Children:
My Review

Goodreads
Barnes and Noble

Review: Darwin's Children by. Natasha Larry

2011-10-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Title: Darwin's Children
Author: Natasha Larry
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: June 8, 2011
Pages: 260
Genre: Supernatural
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts! Jaycie Lerner’s family isn’t the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie’s mom’s MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in ‘trainer,’ is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie’s godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything. As far as the rest of the world’s concerned, Jaycie’s on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie’s pediatrician father, but she doesn’t fit in with ‘normal’ kids, and she doesn’t really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there’s one thing she can’t control – and that’s her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of... Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

Review

The Previews
You know a great book when you can easily be captivated by the characters and setting alone and fall in love with it before the plot even really kicks in, and Darwin's Children is definitely that book. Super powers and super humans done in an incredibly different way, Natasha Larry combines the best of all the paranormal and supernatural world coupling it with a characters whose stories will pull at your heart strings, Darwin's Children is a book that I know will be stuck on my mind for a very long time.

In my opinion, I know a series is going to keep on getting better and better when the first book in the series can easily stand great as a stand alone title. And Darwin's Children is definitely one of those books. Jaycie Lerger was an interesting character from the start. I mean really, there are so many dishonorable and some might say sinister things a person could do if they had the power read and "alter" people's thoughts, but does Jaycie do any of these things, of course not. She has other intentions for her abilities, and I must say, though she may seem like she is holding back at times, she definitely knows how to bring it when the time is right.

Extended Version
Not just Jaycie, but the whole Lerner family was so captivating to read about. The background of Jaycie's trainer/substitute mother and her superhuman abilities was so fascinating. As well as that of Jaycie's father and godfather, who couldn't be more annoyingly cryptic all the time.

The plot of this book hit me more emotionally than I anticipated it would. Jaycie and her friend Haylee go through a rough roller coaster throughout their friendship and at times the book became hard for me to read just because of the raw and horrific emotions that emanated from both Jaycie and Haylee at different times of the book. This part of the book in my opinion, though heart wrenching, was written beautifully.

Darwin's Children has many layers to it, and they all lead up to a huge turning point in Jaycie's life. All throughout the book their is a foreshadowing to something big happening to Jaycie. And along this cryptic ride so much is revealed about the "super human" world that Jaycie and her family are a part of. The different abilities of each character are each so unique and interesting to read when they finally play out. The story as a whole unfolds perfectly. Everything seems is interwoven into a great plot that I can't wait to read more of!

I can already tell this series is going to be a favorite of mine. I'm ecstatic to know the journey of the Lerner family does not end here, and I am eager to read what direction the books will go hereafter.

Recommendations: Series lovers and stand-alone advocates alike will thoroughly enjoy this unique and, at times, heart wrenching supernatural novel!

Overall: 5/5

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

If you like this book, check out the Asleep series by. Wendy Raven McNair.

Review: The Hidden Sun by. J. Lloyd Morgan

2011-10-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

Title: The Hidden Sun
Author: J. Lloyd Morgan
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 8, 2011
Pages: 241
Genre: Historical/Romance
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Eliana and Rinan are in love. However, she is destined to become queen of Bariwon, obligated to marry the victor of a competition called the Shoginoc, while Rinan, her royal guardian, is forbidden to marry. Normally they could renounce their titles to be together, but these are not normal times. Abrecan, the malevolent governor of Erd, is determined to win the Shoginoc, thereby placing his easily manipulated son Daimh on Bariwon s throne. Can Eliana and Rinan find a way to be together without jeopardizing the peace they are so desperately trying to protect?

The Previews
Definitely the epitome of fairy tales of the modern time. J. LLoyd Morgan weaves together a intrigue filled plot with enough twists, characters, and romance to keep you engaged (and slightly confused) until the very last page.

This book right from the beginning reminded me of a modern fairytale. All the little quirks and schemes presented in true fairytale fashion and I definitely love the fact that the story was one that could bring back the classics of a fairytale, yet keep its own original plot to it. That being said, for me, the book read a lot like a series of short stories. The way I read it from the synopsis on various websites and on the back of the book, I thought I had a pretty good idea of how the story was going to begin, and I was ready to let the plot run its course. But that really is not how it went at all.

Extended Version
First off, if you read this book and are able to get through all the sections and differentiate each character the first time through, I greatly commend you. There were so many characters! And these weren't just supporting background characters, oh no, most of them were main characters. Which brings me back to the fact that I felt the book was more a collection of short stories all related and taking place in the same setting, but definitely individual stories in there own. It felt like the first part of the book was a very long prologue, to the main story. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just very unexpected.

Some characters in particular Sunshine for instance, who comes along later on in the story, was definitely a favorite of mine. One thing that I usually do not favor about historical books is the fact that the female characters don't seem to have the same tenacity as those of contemporary books, but Eliana and Sunshine definitely proved me wrong there. You ever need someone to help you out with your witty remarks, or prove to you that any girl could command a room of guardians as best as a man, these are the girls you call.

At some points the plot was lost to me. I felt like the pages and the characters were just going without any real relevance to a plot. So yes, at times it was a bit slow, but the plot does find its way back into the story and then you are back hanging off the edge of your seat waiting to find out what comes next.

The romance plays a big role in this book especially since there is more than one romantic intermingling going on. I adore the fact the book actually went against the typical "princesses and princes fall in love" romantic theme and made it a little more...forbidden. I mean really, who can resist forbidden romance.

And in the end everyone lived h... of course I'm not going to give that away, but I definitely recommend you give this book a go. Without a doubt something different regarding book format, and if you can keep up with the characters and are a fan of historical romance this book is the one to check out.

Recommendations: Those who were fans of the fairytales of back in the and of course all out there who just can't resists a forbidden romance, The Hidden Sun is the one to read!

Overall: 3/5

Characters: 3/5
Plot: 2/5
Originality: 3/5
Entertainment: 3/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Cover: 4/5

If you like this book, check out the Poison Study Series by. Maria V. Synder:

Waiting on Wednesday- Chain Reaction

2011-08-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Chain Reaction

Author: Simone Elkeles
Release Date: August 16, 2011 (Yes, yes I know, this book is ALREADY OUT! But since I am such a late procrastinating person, I didn't order it until two days ago so I am technically STILL waiting on this book!)

Contemporary Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads: Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father? Continuing all the steamy romance of the first two books, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Simone Elkeles gives fans one more satisfying taste of the irresistible Fuentes boys.

Damn, that cover is HOT to say the least! As you guys may or may not know, Simone Elkeles is one of my favorite authors ever. I find all of her books that I have read so far to be completely and utterly amazing in every way possible. I am love with both the first two Fuentes brother's books and I know I am going to absolutely adore this book as well. If you guys have not read any of Simone Elkeles books I recommend them like no other! They are incredibly fun to read!

What do you guys think of this week's Waiting on Wednesday?

Monday's Question of the Day: Don't You Just Love Spoilers?

2011-08-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

This meme was started by Eleni over at /- LA FEMME READERS -/. I always enjoyed answering and reading the responses to the questions she comes up with, so I decided to start some of my own!

Don't you just Love Spoilers?

Impulse answer is of course, no. I mean how annoying is it when you are reading a review of a book that you are about buy and you are getting all excited and anticipating going over to Barnes and Noble.com and pre-ordering this book that sounds so fantastic and just seems to be getting better and better with every word of this review and then then, you read...the line. The line that makes you click the back button on the "Place Your Order" page of BN.com. The line that kills all interest you once had in the book for you. The line that now reveals to you how this book that you were anticipating moments before is going to end, and all hope is lost. Maybe your experience with spoilers is not so dramatic, but I have to say they have really killed some books for me. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by. Libba Bray is the largest testament to that.

Yep, its going to be a while before I pick up one of those books but beside that point, I have a contradiction for you. I actually like spoilers...at times. Not spoilers that pretty much give away the entire ending of a book in one line, but spoilers that sort of tell what happens to a character halfway through a book. Or if I have a question about a character or a certain event that happens in a series that is not in the book I am reading, a good spoiler never hurt anyone. And I absolutely DO NOT like spoilers for all the reviews I read. Mostly if a book is getting really really boring and not going anywhere, I like a spoiler so I can see if its something I should continue reading, or if its time to drop that book and call it a "what could have been". So once in a blue moon on the rare occasion that I am actually looking for a spoiler, they are helpful, otherwise, I detest them, unless given fair warning of course.

What do you think of spoilers?

Past Monday Questions:
How do you feel about E-readers?
Love Triangles anyone?
Romance Novels!
Series of Stand-Alones?

Review: The Seven Rays by. Jessica Bendinger

2011-08-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

Title: The Seven Rays
Author: Jessica Bendinger
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: November 10, 2009
Pages: 330
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: THAT IS THE ANONYMOUS MESSAGE that Beth Michaels receivesright before she starts seeing things. Not just a slept-through my-alarm-clock, late-for-homeroom, haven't had-my-caffeine-fix kind of seeing things. It all starts with some dots, annoying pink dots that pop up on and over her mom and her best friend's face. But then things get out of control and Beth is seeing people's pasts, their fears, their secrets, their desires. The images are coming at Beth in hi-def streaming video and she can't stop it. Everyone thinks she's crazy and she's pretty sure she agrees with them. But crazy doesn't explain the gold envelopes that have started arriving, containing seeing keys and mysterious tarot cards. To Beth, it all seems too weird to be true. You are more than you think you are? But here's the thing: What if she is? The creator of Bring it On, Jessica Bendiner, brings her teen savvy writing to this paranormal romance, The Seven Rays.

Review: Like nothing I have ever read before, The Seven Rays is a unusual and elaborate story filled with fantasy and mystery going deep into a new world filled with mythical beings way different from your average vamp.

If I could sum of this book in three words, I would say it was just plain freaky. I can definitely guarantee that throughout this book there will be a bunch of "umm what"s and a ton of "huh"s and you will go back and read a lot of pages right after you finished reading them because somethings are just plain weird and pretty confusing.

Don't get me wrong people, I could not put this book down. It was just so unusual. I would try to find a better word to describe it but that seems to fit perfectly. It kept your interest all the way through because everything about this book was new and unique and downright freaky.

It all starts with the dots. Of all the paranormal and fantastical abilities out their Beth is lucky enough to see...dots. But first comes the dots, then comes people's entire lives flashing before her eyes. And now she knows she is crazy, except that there are mysterious letters she is receiving that are telling her otherwise.

Despite thinking she is crazy, Beth was strong. She was the kind of girl who did not wait for answers, she got off her butt and traveled across the country to go find them. She is slowly discovering that what she is able to do goes farther than just seeing dots. At times I really felt sorry for Beth. One by one people were abandoning her and she had no idea why. It was kinda sad the way the only person she could trust through all this was the typical "hottest guy in school"/"school's biggest player" . Usually not the kind of company you would like to keep going on a life changing cross country journey, but despite the cliches of the situation, he turned out to be a very likable character.

All that being said, I would have to say at a lot of parts the book were a bit confusing. I had to flip back a lot to previous pages to make sure I knew what the heck was going on, and even after that I still wasn't sure what was happening.

All in all I really enjoyed this book. It was so unusual and like nothing I have ever read before. Even though I can see how a lot of people might not like it as it was pretty confusing and seemed very...unfinished. Either way it is a book that will be on your mind long after you finish reading it.

Recommendations: This one is pretty hard to recommend because it all comes down to taste. It's really a different kind of book that is pretty hit or miss depending on the person. I will definitely say if you are looking for a freaky...and weird YA book, this one is for you!

Overall: 4/5

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Cover: 5/5

Review: So Much Closer by. Susane Colasanti

2011-08-09T20:21:00.000-07:00

Title: So Much Closer
Author: Susane Colasanti
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 241
Genre: Contemporary/Romance
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: When Brooke's crush, Scott, moves from their suburban town to New York City, she decides to follow him there. Living with her formerly estranged dad and adapting to a new school are challenging, and things go from bad to worse when Brooke learns that Scott already has a girlfriend. But as she builds her new life, Brooke begins to discover a side of herself she never knew existed. And as she finds out, in the city that never sleeps, love can appear around any corner...

Review: Funny, quirky, and cute in true Susane Colasanti fashion So Much Closer provides inside look into the girl psyche when it comes to a favorite subject of mine: guys. All of the extremes you have ever thought about going through when it comes to "getting the guy" pale in comparison to what Brooke decides to do. Though not my favorite Susance Colasanti book, it was still a light and fun read.

Not many girls would move cities their senior year of high school just to be with a hot guy. I mean you may have thought about it, but Brooke seems to be the only girl who would ever go through with it. I mean, you can't say anything about her lack of determination. Though in most people this characteristics would prove positive, in Brooke it definitely proved to be her destruction.

Unrequited ( or requited) love can always prove to have some detrimental effects on a a teenage psyche, but Brooke seems to take this to a whole 'nother level. I was just so surprised by the level of devotion (or obsession) she had with a guy whom she never really ever spoke too, yet had convinced herself that he was her soul mate. I can't really say that I liked Brooke much throughout the book. She seemed sort of ungrateful. And of course in some areas she deserved to be a little angry, but there were a lot of people that she really needed to cut some slack and not take for granted. I do think that by the end of the book she got over herself and I began to like her a lot more.

John by far was my favorite character. It is so great to read about a guy who doesn't fit the typical guy stereotype in books. By that I mean he wasn't a man of few words by any means. He spoke so unrestrictedly and confidently that I found myself looking forward to paragraphs and paragraphs of his ranty dialogue.

All in all this was a fun and light read but at points I found myself wanting to flip the pages a little quicker.

Recommendations: If you are looking for a light and different kind of contemporary romance, this might just be for you!

Overall: 3/5 Stars

Characters: 3/5
Plot: 2/5
Originality: 3/5
Entertainment: 3/5
Ending: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Cover: 3/5

If you like this, check out Take Me There by Susane Colasanti:

Review: Intertwined by. Gena Showalter

2011-08-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

Title: Intertwined
Author: Gene Showalter
Series: Intertwined #1
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Pages: 440
Genre: Paranormal/Romance

Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him: One can time travel. One can raise the dead. One can possess another human. One can tell the future. Everyone thinks he's crazy, which is why he's spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl—a girl who carries centuries-old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.Together they'll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger…but not everyone will come out alive.

Review: Fast-paced, emotional, and incredibly original, Intertwined is without a doubt the first book in a series that will do nothing but get better and better. Gena Showalter combines a voice-hearing teen, a vampire princess, werewolf body guard, and paranormal "other" to weave a story that definitely sucks you in from the very beginning and keeps you interested all the way through.

This book was such an interesting read for many reasons but a lot because of the simple fact that I have never read anything like it. There are so many pieces of the puzzle that the four of them are trying to figure out. And of course when one fits, there's always another that doesn't,if you get the analogy. But definitely through all of the time traveling, demon encounters, and forbidden kisses, they all know that this is all leading to something big...they just wish they knew what it was.

Speaking of forbidden kisses, this book is definitely filled with bunches of them. The pairings in this book are so perfect. Aden, the tortured soul (with 4 other tortured souls inside him as well) who sweet as can be is only looking for answers, and someone he can be himself around.
And they he meets Victoria and you can tell they are made for each other. The romance definitely develops oh so sweetly with pages of Aden and Victoria alone time where you can just feel the connection between the two from right off the page.

Riley is a whole 'nother story. He has this big brother protector feel to him. And even though Mary Ann is completely capable of protecting herself, it is good to have a nice hunk of a man shoulder to cry on. Especially if that man is sweet, thoughtful, and as crush-worthy as Riley.

The ending was a lot more than I was expecting. As I said the book was like this intricate puzzle, so I expected it to end with a significant piece of it being found...that wasn't the case. A huge curve ball that I never expected was thrown at the end that was better than any ending I could have imagined. It was such an unexpected twist that even the characters were thrown way off by it, which of course made it more fun to read. One thing was definitely true by the end of the book though, the time they all thought they had to figure this whole thing out, was running out.

Recommendations: Fans of Gene Showalter's adult series should definitely check out this book to see everthing Gene Showalter has to offer the YA world! As well as anyone looking for a paranormal read that will keep you guessing from cover to cover!

Overall: 5/5

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

If you like this book, check out the Soul Screamers Series by. Rachel Vincent:

Review: Graceling by. Kristen Cashore

2011-08-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

Title: Graceling
Author: Kristin Cashore
Series: The Seven Kingdoms #1
Age Range: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 7, 2009
Pages: 471
Genre: Fantasy

Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone. With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more!

Review: Graceling is definitely the book to read to satiate all your fantasy cravings and more. Where creatures of the "underworld" seem to dominate YA, Graceling brings us back to all we love about the realm of fantasy. Dynamic plots, to-die-for characters, and a story where every page is an epic adventure, Graceling is definitely my new love, taking me away into the seven kingdoms from cover to cover.

The storyline of this book was just way too original and intricate to have even one dull moment. Every detail about what is a Graceling and the seven kingdoms just sucked me even more into the book. The magnitude of the world Kristin Cashore creates in Graceling and how that plays around the plot was done fantastically.

I felt for Katsa early on in the book. It can't be easy to be born a killer, to be born only to cause pain, especially since she has a cruel man like her uncle encouraging her. But at the same time, for a woman so strong physically, I was surprised she didn't grow a backbone and stand up to her uncle but being feared by everyone would do that to a girl. But it was obvious she was so much better than that. And she did show that as she grew into the kind of woman she could be proud of.

I love a guy with confidence, and despite the fact that Katsa could pound him in a fight on his best day, Po didn't lose that confident swag about him. But he was definitely not a one dimensional character. There was still a deep vulnerability, a sense of being alone in the world that he and Katsa had in common. And you can see the subtle ways that both Po and Katsa let their guards down with each other. From the beginning I knew such a friendship could easily grow into something more.

What Katsa and Po had together was so beautiful. It was a different kind of romance. One that was built on a strong friendship. And eventually grew into the love they never thought they wanted, never thought they needed, never thought they would have. That was what made it so beautiful, the fact that they already truly knew one another, and loved one another as friends before they finally accepted the love they felt for each other as something more.

All in all this is without a doubt a must read. Beautifully woven characters, an adventured filled plot, and a romance as genuine as they come, Graceling is a fantasy lovers dream!

Recommendations: I recommend this book to all lovers and fantasy and even if you may not be a fantasy lover, this book is bound to change your mind!

Overall: 5/5

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

If you like this book, check out the Poison Study Series by. Maria V. Synder:

Waiting on Wednesday- The Chaos

2011-08-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Chaos

Author: Nalo Hopkinson
Release Date: April 17, 2012

Fantasy

Synopsis from Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Scotch struggles to fit in—at home she’s the perfect daughter, at school she’s provocatively sassy, and thanks to her mixed heritage, she doesn’t feel she belongs with the Caribbeans, whites, or blacks. And even more troubling, lately her skin is becoming covered in a sticky black substance that can’t be removed. While trying to cope with this creepiness, she goes out with her brother—and he disappears. A mysterious bubble of light just swallows him up, and Scotch has no idea how to find him. Soon, the Chaos that has claimed her brother affects the city at large, until it seems everyone is turning into crazy creatures. Scotch needs to get to the bottom of this supernatural situation ASAP before the Chaos consumes everything she’s ever known—and she knows that the black shadowy entity that’s begun trailing her every move is probably not going to help.

Well that's definitely something different. Don't you get tired of reading the same old things like: " main character Instantly feels an attraction to"; or "now main character has to deal with her new paranormal lifestyle". This book seems to be completely void of the YA cliches that have been annoyingly popping out EVERYWHERE. It is so refreshing to read such a unique synopsis. I love when I can genuinely say I have never heard of anything like this. And the characters are POC! Thank goodness for more diversity in YA!!!

What do you guys think of this week's Waiting on Wednesday?

Monster Review-a-Thon!!!

2011-08-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

Kate and Kristen from The Book Monster came up with the awesome idea to host a Monster Review-A-Thon! The review-a-thon runs from August 7-13 and the objective is to review as many books as you can between the 7th and 13th of August. I for one think this is a great idea since my to-review pile seems to be getting larger and larger by the day! And this review-a-thon is exactly what I need to push me to finally get all of those reviews up and posted!

My personal goal for the review-a-thon is to review 10 books. 5 mini-reviews of books I read a while back, and 5 regular reviews of books I read more recently.

Here's the list so far:

Intertwined by. Gena Showalter
Graceling by. Kristen Kashore
Past Midnight by. Mara Purnhagen
The Seven Rays by. Jessica Bendinger
Take Me There by. Susane Colasanti
So Much Closer by. Susane Colasanti
Vampire Kisses Series by. Ellen Schreiber
(the other three books will be whatever books I read from now until August 7)

If you want more details or would like to join the review-a-thon, check out Kristen and Kate's post here.

Devil's Kiss by. Sarwat Chadda

2011-08-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

Title: Devil's Kiss

Series: Devil's Kiss Book #1
Author: Sarwat Chadda
Publication Date: July 2009
Pages: 310
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis from Goodreads: As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy.Billi's cloistered life is blasted apart when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem, gorgeous and with a dangerous chip on his shoulder. He's ready to reclaim his place in Billi's life, but she's met someone new: amber-eyed Michael, who seems to understand her like no one else, effortlessly claiming a stake in her heart.But the Templars are called to duty before Billi can enjoy the pleasant new twist to her life. One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years — a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined.

Review: We all knew all fallen angels couldn't be good. Of course they all have to be drop dead gorgeous, but they are definitely fallen for a reason, and Devil's Kiss shows that there is certainly not a fine line between the good angels and those who have fallen, trying to make their ways back to heaven, not matter the cost.

I absolutely adored this book. Billy was such a powerful main character. She took what life has dealt her with and either tried her best do do something about it, or took it in and moved on. There are so many instances that I feel under any other circumstances another girl would have crumbled but not Billy. Sure she is the only 15 she knows who has been training since age 8 to be a demon killer, but she doesn't let this fact define her. She is still out looking for what ever girl wants.

The whole story plays out like a prophecy unraveling. The book is constantly changing directions. There seems to be an answer and then a curve ball is thrown at Billy that leads her to always have to choose between life and death, whether its her death or that of her love ones. But Billy was the type of character that I couldn't help but have absolute faith in. Though in some parts of the book she may have proved otherwise, she has a very wise head on shoulders and in the end will do what is best.

Basically Billy is in a battle with the devil... his brother actually, but still, things cannot end well. On the positive side of things, there is never a dull moment on that journey of hers. There are a numerous scenarios that the story could play out in, and in each one someone ends of up dead. But there are definitely a number of characters who throughout the book, I was hoping would suddenly turn over a new leaf and leave the dark side. But such a thing is definitely rare, especially when dealing with Fallen Angels.

Kay, by far definitely the character that grows most on me. In the beginning he had a cocky part of him (being psychic would do that to a person) that I hated, but after a while you can really see that in the end he felt a lot for Kay. But damn did he have to be so arrogant at times.

Pretty much I loved this book. It played out with so much suspense and twists and turns that there was definitely never a dull moment. Such a great range of characters from the good to the bad, and a sweet romance made this book an incredible read!

Overall:

Recommendations: Fans of Lili St. Crow's Strange Angels Series and Jana Oliver's The Demon Trappers Series will instantly fall in love with the characters and plot twists of Devil's Kiss!

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Cover: 5/5

Waiting on Wednesday- Pure

2011-07-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Pure

Author: Julianna Baggott
Release Date: February 8, 2012

Dystopia

Synopsis from Goodreads: A dystopian novel about a society of haves, who escaped an apocalypse in a futuristic dome-covered city, and have-nots, who survived the nearly destroyed outside world. The have-nots are almost entirely marked or mutated in some manner. PURE centers around the story of Pressia, a 16-year-old survivor with a doll’s head fused into her left hand, and Partridge, an unmarked Pure who has escaped the Dome to find his mother, certain that she has survived the cataclysm.

Yeah, umm okay, am I the only one who thought that synopsis was a little on the weird side. I re-read it about three times to make sure I had read the part about the hand and the doll's head correctly. Still, I think this is so far the book that I am now most excited for for 2012, yes I do probably say that for every WOW but this time I mean it! The weird synopsis has me so intrigued I cannot wait at all! I really want to read this book since the concept sounds so intriguing. The whole idea of haves and have-nots, and then all of the people have mutations. Kind of gets you wondering about what kind of mutations its talking about right . I am a HUGE fan of sci-fi so the whole futuristic dome society intrigued from the start. And would you take a look at that cover, what a beauty. I just think it matches the book title to PERFECTION. It seems so serene and well, pure, and it relates back to the whole domed city theme beautifully. I already feel hooked on this book and a I still have about a half a year to read it, still, if more books have weirdly interesting synopsis like this one, I be this excited for every single one of them!!!

What do you guys think of this week's Waiting on Wednesday?

In My Mailbox #18

2011-07-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is meme hosted by Kristi The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie!

Here are all of the books I received this week! I got all really awesome ones so I'm excited to sit down, relax, and read all day and night; sleep is so overrated.

Bought:

Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods #1) by. Melissa de la Cruz

Masquerade (Blue Bloods #2) by. Melissa de la Cruz

Revelations (Blue Bloods #3) by. Melissa de la Cruz

Van Allen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4) by. Melissa de la Cruz

I got the first 4 books in the Blue Bloods Series though I am pretty sure I have already read 2 or 3 of them. But since I completely forgotten all that goes on in the wonderful world of Blue Bloods, I decided to buy the whole series and re-read it!

Library Thing Early Reviewers:

Stay With Me by. Paul Griffin

I also received Stay With Me which I have to say I am most excited about. I have only read completely raving reviews on it and something about it reminds me of the Perfect Chemistry Series by. Simone Elkeles, so the hopes are definitely high!

Harlequin Teen Panel:

Past Midnight by. Mara Purnhagen

Harlequin Teen Panel was nice enough to send its members a copy of Past Midnight! I was very excited about this seeing as I have not heard a lot about this book at all. And considering all of the blogs I stalk, this is BREAKING NEWS (especially since I and many many others seems to love EVERY SINGLE book Harlequin Teen publishes). But that's is where good old goodreads comes in to reassure me that this one is definitely a winner!!!

Don't forget to tell me what you received in your mailboxes!!!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by. Carrie Ryan

2011-07-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #1
Author: Carrie Ryan
Publication Date: July 2009
Pages: 310
Genre: Dystopia/Romance
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

Review: Mystery, suspence, and sweet romance that will tear your heart to pieces (in the best and worst ways), The Forest of Hands of Teeth is a novel that truly transports you into a whole new world, where, even as a kid, everyday could be your last. Everyone is left with few choices, and for some, death is the best one.

In a world where every other civilization is gone and yours is the only one left, survival and continuation of the human race is the main priority. And the Sisterhood thinks that the best way of doing this is to keep everyone in the dark...about everything. To ask questions is to defy their way of life and to defy god. In a world so strict a girl like Mary can't help but defy, even when she doesn't mean to. Mary has always had questions, but when she is forced to make the decisions on whether her mother should be killed, or live a life of the unconsecrated (former humans turned savage monsters), either choice seems to be a wrong one.

This is when she really begins to wonder about life beyond the fences, and life past the forests. This is where the mystery comes in. I have to say I loved this book mainly because the main character Mary seemed to be so hopeful. Yes, maybe in a way slightly disillusioned, but none-the-less be the voice of reason for me, even if to others she was more of the voice of insanity. She could never just accept anything as law, or 'fact", she had to ask questions. And when people couldn't (or chose not to answer them) she went looking. Whether or not that was the safest route. Her questions and thirst for answers lead her straight into the place she has been taught to fear her whole life.

The romance in this book was, in a word, complicated. I mean, don't you just want everybody to be who they want to be with. But of course in any love quadrilateral, that can never be. To put it simply, everybody wants who they can't have, and if they do want them and have them, then the other doesn't want them. Does that make sense, of course not. But thats exactly how the romance in the book felt. Which is a large part of what made it so much fun to see play out.

All in all, this book was an incredibly fun and new read for me. I haven't really dabbled into the dystopia brook yet, but this book definitely makes me want to!

Recommendations: DYSTOPIA for the win! If are looking to get a taste of the latest YA dystopia trend, I most definitely recommend this book!

Overall: 4/5

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

7-Day Giveaway!!! The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

2011-06-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Hope you guys are having great summers so far! Today I have a giveaway and trailer for the book The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by. Catherynne M. Valente. Yes, you are right, that really is one of the best tittles for a book ever! And all you have to do to enter is fill out the form below!!!
Giveaway Ends in 7 days so make sure you enter!
And don't forget to check out the trailer for Catherynne M. Valente's new book below the form!

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn't . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

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Check out the authors blog and website!

Author's website & blog:

http://www.catherynnemvalente.com/

http://blog.catherynnemvalente.com/

Books on a Budget #2

2011-06-17T15:59:00.001-07:00

So for this week's Books on A Budget, I am going back to an old favorite of mine- AMAZON! I stopped shopping at Amazon a long time ago when I learned that I could find better prices for the books they had on sale on other sites. But once in a while Amazon has some incredible books for the greatest prices. And don't forget that with most of these if you spend $25 or more, you get FREE SHIPPING!

www.amazon.com

Some Great Deals You Can Get Right Now Are:

Shadowland by. Alyson Noel $4.00 Hush Hush by. Becca Fitzpatrick $4.00

Strange Angles by Lil. St. Crow $4.00 Take Me There by Susane Colasanti $3.60

Vampire Kisses: The Beginning by. Ellen Schreiber $3.85 Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne $3.60

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by. Beth Fantaskey $3.60 Blood Feud by. Alyxandra Harvey $4.00

Infinite Days by. Rebecca Maizel $4.00 Shadowspell by. Jenna Black $4.00

Graceling by. Kristin Cashore $6.80 Infinity by. Sherrilyn Kenyon $7.20

Hex Hall by. Rachel Hawkins $6.80 The Fallen 2: Aerie and Reckoning $4.00

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #1 by. L.J. Smith $4.00 Night School by. Mari Mancusi $4.00

Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend by. Katie MacAlister $4.00 Jealousy by. Lili St. Crow $4.00

These are only some of the great deals you can find on amazon.com right now. Click here to go straight to the bargain books section for more deals!!! Thanks for reading!!!

Review: Insatiable by. Meg Cabot

2011-06-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

Title: Insatiable
Author: Meg Cabot
Publication Date: June 22, 2011
Pages: 320
Genre: Paranormal
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper. But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them. Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.) But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for. The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own. And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future. . . . If she even has one.

Review: Insatiable is definitely on a different spectrum of what I have read form Meg Cabot, and it wasn't anything like I was expecting. Insatiable takes me back big time. Back to the time that vampires are still sexy creatures we know and love, but with an evil streak...kind of!

Poor Meena, she is cursed with the ability to know when the people she comes into contact with are going to die. I mean of all the curses in the world, this one seems to be one that would put a damper on pretty much every aspect of your life. And then she meets Lucien, the one guy she has liked in a while, and the best part is that she has no premonitions about his death...cause hes already dead.

I wanted more Lucien. I felt like he was more of a supporting character than anything else. He seemed pretty dominant in the beginning where we learn he is a descendant of the big bad Dracula himself, but then he sort of disappears until the end. And he was replaced by Alaric. Who I found to be oh so incredibly annoying. He of course is the epitome of the close minded vampire hunter who wants to exterminate all vampires and rid the world of evil blah blah blah.

The pace of the book was a little slow, with its great scenes and some parts that just dragged on. There is pretty much a three sided war going on. The good vampires, the bad vampires, and the vampire slayers. Of course the good vampires and the slayers are both trying to find the same killer, but far being it from either side to realize this and stop throwing daggers and stakes.

All in all, I felt that in some places the book dragged on, and in other places it was great. Though not my favorite book by Meg Cabot, I'm glad I read Insatiable sample of a different side of what Meg Cabot has to offer.

Recommendations: Definitely a different side of Meg Cabot novels that all her fans should explore.

Overall: 3/5 Stars

Characters: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Entertainment: 3/5
Ending: 3/5
Writing Style: 2/5
Cover: 4/5

Waiting on Wednesday- Incarnate

2011-06-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Incarnate

Author: Jodi Meadows
Release Date: January 31, 2012

Dystopia/Fantasy

Synopsis from Goodreads: NEWSOUL Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. NOSOUL. Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame? HEART Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.

Wow! If this does not sound like it is going to be thee book of 2012 I don't know does. I am slowly becoming an AVID, extreme, almost obsessive lover of dystopia novels; and from the synopsis of some new upcoming ones, this one definitely takes the cake and more. And with some fantasy added to it, this seems like it is definitely going to be a -fall off the edge of your seat while in the middle of the best part- kind of book. And look at that cover! Granted, I'm not sure exactly what it has to do with the novel, but I bet there is some super secret significance to the fact that she has a multi-colored three dimensional butterfly tattoo on her face. And in the end the cover looks super cool anyways so its all gooooooood!!! But as you can see, we all have another half a year to go before this one hits the shelves!!!

What do you guys think of this week's Waiting on Wednesday?

Monday's Question of the Day (on Tuesday...again)- Romance Novels

2011-06-14T16:03:00.000-07:00

This meme was started by Eleni over at /- LA FEMME READERS -/. I always enjoyed answering and reading the responses to the questions she comes up with, so I decided to start some of my own!

What do you think about romance novels?

You know the ones I am talking about. The ones with scantily dressed female models about to faint being held up by a muscular guy wearing an unusually low cut v-neck. Okay first, lets discuss these covers. Aren't they so hilarious. I mean what woman in her right mind (and right health of course) faints on a daily basis with no legit reason. And oh so coincidentally there is always a guy in tights and a white v-neck there to catch her. So yeah, I usually assume if the covers of these historical and contemporary romance novels are a reflection of the content of the book, I best not pick it up. But that is the total opposite of what I find is most of the paranormal romances I read. Sherrilyn Kenyon whom I would like to crown the Queen of all paranormal romances has a way of making her books not like any typical romance novel. With characters that are so incredible and strong and romance that is so sweet, coupled with kick butt action scenes, and actual dynamic plots; I think without Sherriyln Kenyon, the whole romance novel realm would be foreign to me. I seriously recommend her dark hunters series, if you have somewhat of a laughable mindset when it comes to romance novels, her books will surely change your mind. Anyways as a final thought, I find the covers of romance novels to be extremely funny most of the time, but some authors have really redeemed the genre for me.

How do you feel about romance novels? Do you like them, do you find the covers funny, or do you think they are a fun indulgence?

Maureen McGowan Giveaway Winners!!!

2011-06-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for one of Maureen McGowan's New Books!!!

And the winner of Cinderella Ninja Warrior

Jennie -un3xpected***

and the winner of Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer is

Misty Martin- mistyblue***

Congratulations to the winners!!! Please reply to the email I have sent both of you with the address you would like the books shipped to!!!

Thank you again to all who entered!!!

Review: Runaway (Airhead #3) by. Meg Cabot

2011-06-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

Title: Runaway (Airhead , #3)
Author: Meg Cabot
Publication Date: April 20, 2010
Pages: 310
Genre:

Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself. With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope... what's the point of even going on? But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to. Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved—since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed—this time, permanently? Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running.

Review: Runaway is the final book in Meg Cabot's Airhead Series. Meg Cabot raps up old ties and finally reveals the secret that is behind the infamous Stark Corporations.

I doubt this review is going to be able to completely convey the awesomeness of this series but I'm going to try my best to do just that. This book takes up a little later after the end of the second book in this series where Lulu, Nikki Howard, Em Watts are kidnapped by Brandon Stark and forced to live in one of his secluded vacation homes. No huge paragraphs pf introduction or anything like that, the characters get right to business as soon as I open the first page of the book. Em, Lulu, and Christopher think up a master plan so that Em, Lulu, and the Howard family will be able to escape the clutches of the Brandon Stark and stop Stark Enterprises (though they are not sure what about Stark enterprises they are actually stopping, but they were determined). What is revealed about Stark Enterprises was so shocking, I couldn't believe it until I read it over and over again.

I would like to say that Meg Cabot is the queen of character characterization...if that makes sense. There is no way that you can compare the individual personalities or the individual growth of any of the characters in this series with that of others. You have Em Watts the stubborn and headstrong "force model" who is in love with Christopher (he best friend turned boyfriend who she just dumped for a guy she hates), oh yes, life is going great for Em. And there's Christopher, whom I thought couldn't get more annoying at times, but he comes through in the end. I doubt there is anyway a person could hate Lulu, she is so naive it is laughable sometimes but I doubt Em could ever find such a die-hard best friend anywhere else. Even the supporting characters are so much fun to read about. Especially Nikki Howard, who is, to put it lightly, having a difficult time adjusting to life being "average looking".

Love is definitely in the air throughout the book. Sure Em is going through a "difficult" time with Christopher but she keeps hope alive no matter how stubborn she finds the male population to be. But not only is love in the air (kind of) for them, but EVERY single other character in the books has a love interest. There is pretty much romance on every corner, especially between characters you would never expect.

The ending wrapped things up perfectly and all loose ends were tied. But.. at the same time the ending felt the slightest bit lackluster to me. I have no idea why, but I was expecting a fight, heated confrontation, or maybe gunshots...okay maybe not that last one but still I wanted something just a little bigger. But at any rate I still loved the ending, it seemed perfectly fitting!!!

If my review didn't give it away so obviously, I would like to point out that I am completely in love with this entire series!

Recommendations: All Meg Cabot fans are extremely encouraged to check this entire series out because it is AMAZING!

Overall: 5/5

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

Review: White Cat by. Holly Black

2011-06-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

Title: White Cat (Curse Workers, #1)
Author: Holly Black
Publication Date: May 4, 2010
Pages: 310
Genre: Paranormal

Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: 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. Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

Review: Without a doubt, my favorite book of 2011...so far. White Cat is an unbelievable read that adds something to the paranormal spectrum that I never could have imagined. Every minuscule detail, character, and circumstance is related to this incredibly intricate plot. This books plot line gives new meaning to the saying, there's no such thing as coincidences.

Cassel, poor disillusioned Cassel comes from a family of "workers" these could be compared to that of a witch or warlock, except for the fact that the workers in Holly Black's White Cat's are specialized in specific things. As in there may be a memory worker who can transform or delete memories, or an emotion worker who can change the emotions of people. And Cassel is the only one in the family who is not a worker. Besides being the family leper, Cassel also has a secret buried that only his family knows about. He is a murderer. More specifically, he murdered his best friend when he was little. And that has torn him up to the point where he has accepted the fact that he is not a good person, so he decides to run with that. But when his sleepwalking "habit" gets him kicked out of school and having to move back in with his family, things take a turn for the bad...I mean the murderous mob assassination scheme bad.

Right from the beginning of the book I loved Cassal. It was so hard to imagine him killing anybody, let alone his best friend who he happened to be in love with. Sure, he is a master con artist, but that doesn't necessarily constitute murderer...does it. Cassal was one of my favorite characters in a long time. He is definitely a force to be reckoned with. He is so clever, what he figures out, what he is able to piece together from nothing more than a little evidence and a strong hunch, is unbelievable. With the schemes he comes up with, he would be a perfect candidate to work for the CIA or the Russian Mafia...scratch that last one.

The whole book is a mystery unraveling in itself, and you can tell that every little bitty moment, and detail of the book is just building until Holly Black springs up some major shockers.

I don't remember ever getting so into a book as I have this one in a very long time. It is just phenomenal. Something that I guarantee you have not heard of. And did I mention how clever I think Cassal is, you will be shocked with the things he is able to come up with. One thing that sort of made me sad in the beginning of the book is that I thought that Cassal was going to go through this whole journey all on his own. I was so happy when Holly Black gave him some backup in his journey, and I ended up loving the supporting characters as much as Cassel!

In the end, to say I recommend this book would most definitely be the understatement of the year. I am forcing you to relinquish all of your preferences when it comes to books, to me; and go and read this book immediately!!!

Recommendations: EVERYONE MUST READ THIS BOOK. It has everything a person could want in a book and more!!!

Overall: 5/5

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

Waiting on Wednesday- Soul Thief

2011-06-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Soul Thief (The Demon Trappers #2)

Author: Jana Oliver
Release Date: August 30, 2011

Paranormal/Supernatural

Synopsis from Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether. But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

Hurray for sequels!!! I think my last 3 Waiting on Wednesdays have been sequels and this one is definitely one that I am extremely excited for. It is the sequel to The Demon Trappers daughter which I read back in the beginning of the year and I absolutely loved it!! (You can read my review here if you want to hear more about it!) It was a really great book; it had the perfect mix of action, romance, drama, and it was fast paced so I never got bored. And the ending just had me wanting to read the sequel as soon as it came out! And I won't have to wait too long for this one since it comes out in August.

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Monday's Question of the Day (On Tuesday!) E-readers

2011-06-07T17:28:00.000-07:00

This meme was started by Eleni over at /- LA FEMME READERS -/. I always enjoyed answering and reading the responses to the questions she comes up with, so I decided to start some of my own!

How do you feel about E-readers?

Oh boy could I go on and on with this subject. But for the sake of time I will keep it short and sweet (kinda). I hate e-readers. I don't have one and I don't want one. Call me a conspiracy theorists, but I really believe that one day paper books will cease to exists and the libraries of a huge percentage of the book loving population will be replaced by 8'' by 6'' electronic books, which is not what I want AT ALL. And also recently about 2 or 3 of the borders in my city have been closed due to the recent drastic drop in sales and according to my local news, a great deal of those sales have been said to have gone towards E-books. I know a lot of people love their e-readers and love reading e-books but I really cannot look at a screen long enough to read one because the words will start to get fuzzy and my eyes will just shut down, so I'm not knocking you if you do love them, I just really don't. (Oh and for those of you who may be thinking that I shouldn't knock it before I try it, I have tried it and the I like them for reading manga, but I couldn't read a full book with one, but that's just me!)

What do all of you guys think about e-readers, do you like them, or do you think they will be the end of books as we know it (oh how I love being over dramatic!)???

Books on a Budget! #1

2011-06-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! So I’ve decided to start a new feature on my blog where every week or however so often, I will feature great YA (and some non-YA) books that I have either absolutely loved, or that I really want and where you can get them for unbelievable prices. You guys may not know this, but about half of the books I buy come from Barnes and Noble (since it's 10 seconds away) and the other half come from discount sites I have found all over the web.

Basically I will feature one of my favorite book buying sites and the amazing books you can find and their prices. I will link all of the books so you all can bookmark the site for future bargain hunting!!!

(Note: Just so you guys no, I will only be featuring books that are in New, Like New, or Great condition; just so you don't get a book that is completely falling apart!)

Thriftbooks.com
[All books include free shipping!]

Prophecy of the Sisters by. Michelle Zink $3.95

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-One good...One evil...Who will prevail?Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets. Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.They just know they can't trust each other.

Ghost Huntress by. Marley Gibson $3.95

In this new series, Ghost Huntress, meet Kendall Moorehead, a seemingly typical teen. When her family moves from Chicago to the small historical town of Radisson, Georgia, her psychic abilities awaken. She’s hearing, feeling, and seeing things that seem unbelievable at first, but with the help of the town psychic, Kendall is able to come to terms with her newly emerging gift. So, together with her new BFF, Celia, Kendall forms a ghost hunting team. They’ve got all the latest technology. They’ve got Kendall for their psychic. Now they’re going to clean up Radisson of its less savory spirits.The story is fiction. The science is real. Welcome to a new reality.

Magic Study by. Maria V. Snyder $4.95

You know your life is bad when you miss your days as a poison taster... With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better.... Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians. If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies....

Silver is for Secrets by. Laurie Faria Stolarz $3.95

"I'll make you pay . . ." School is over, and now Stacey, her boyfriend Jacob, and their friends have rented a beach cottage for the summer. No more stress, secrets, or stalkers. But then Stacey's nightmares return—predicting the cruel death of Clara, a mysterious girl with a secret. And now Jacob, the only one who understands Stacey's magic, is keeping secrets, too. Is he betraying Stacey's trust or protecting her from revenge and tragedy?

Swoon by. Nina Malkin $4.51

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge. And while Pen is oblivious to the possession, Dice is all too aware of Sin. She's intensely drawn to him -- but not at all crazy about the havoc he's wreaking. Determined to exorcise the demon, Dice accidentally sets Sin loose, gives him flesh, makes him formidable. Now she must destroy an even more potent -- and irresistible -- adversary, before the whole town succumbs to Sin's will. Only trouble is, she's in love with him.What do you do when the boy of your dreams is too bad to be true?

The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire by. Various Authors $3.95

There’s an allure to vampire tales that have seduced readers for generations. From Bram Stoker to Stephenie Meyer and beyond, vampire stories are here to stay. For those fresh-blooded fans of paranormal romance or for those whose hunt and hunger never dies, these stories have what readers want!

Betraying Season by. by Marissa Doyle $3.95

Penelope Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister, Persy. But when the dashing Niall Keating begins to court her, Pen can’t help being distracted from her studies. Little does Pen know, Niall is acting upon orders from his sorceress mother. And although it starts as a sham, Niall actually falls deeply in love with Pen, and she with him. Even if he halts his mother’s evil plan, will Pen be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot?

30 Guys in 30 Days by. Micol Ostow $3.95

Practice makes not-quite-perfect Claudia Clarkson just cut the cord from her high school love-you-forever boyfriend. Sure, she misses Drew. But with so many eligibles on her new college campus, why study ancient history? Problem is, Claudia's lived in la-la-loveland for so long that she's completely forgotten how to meet boys -- and how to flirt.Then her roommate proposes a solution: Meet one new guy every day for thirty days. Consider it "target practice" for when Mr. Perfect comes along. Claudia's game, but she definetely hasn't got game. In fact, Flirting 101 could be her toughest course to pass...

Shadowland (Mediator, Book 1) by. Meg Cabot $3.95

Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations. But the very first day at her new school, Suze realizes it's not that easy. There's a ghost with revenge on her mind ... and Suze happens to be in the way.

Faerie Wars by. Herbie Brennan $3.95

When Henry Atherton arrives at the house of eccentric old Mr. Fogarty, he comes upon crown prince Pyrgus Malvae, who has escaped the Faerie realm, where the Faeries of the Night want to kill him. Mr. Fogarty and Henry decide to help the prince return home. It's a complex situation, involving an evil demon, two avaricious glue factory owners, and Lord Hairstreak, leader of the Faeries of the Night, each with a personal agenda that will lead to taking over the realm. A subplot (Henry realizes that his mother, not his father, is having an affair with his father's secretary) is totally unnecessary, and there are discrepancies in the story and some awkwardness to slow things down. Still, there's enough solid adventure in the Faerie realm to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

So those are only a few of the great books you can find on Thrift Books, an all of them are either in New, Like New, or Good Condition! Hope you guys find some great books on the site, I know I have! Let me know if you guys like this feature! Have a great day everyone and Happy Shopping!!!

Review: Corsets and Clockwork: 13 Steampunk Romances by. Various Authors

2011-06-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

Title: Corsets and Clockwork: 13 Steampunk Romances
Author: (Various Authors) -click here for a complete list
Publication Date: March 23, 2011
Pages: 448
Genre: Steampunk/Romance
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Bestselling romance editor Trisha Telep brings an exciting new element to the fast-growing sub-genre of steampunk, which bends and blends the old and the new in increasingly popular dark urban fantasies. Young heroes and heroines battle evil, in various forms with the help of super-technological or supernatural powers, while falling in and out of love.

Review: From animatronic love, to cannibalism, World War 2 references, and back to our beloved vampires, Corsets and Clockwork has something for every book lover, each with some steampunk flavoring to add new excitement.

I love a good sample plate. Have you even been to a restaurant and asked for a sample dessert plate. Where they give you all kinds of variations of cheesecakes, sponge cakes, puddings, and pies to try out and pick what is to your liking. Well, that is exactly what this anthology was like; a sample plate, begging for the reader to pick their favorites and look into ordering something more from each author.

I think the steampunk genre is one that I will love to read more books on. Who would have thought one of my favorite genres such as science fiction, and my least favorite genre of historical could mingle and create an exciting, new, and extremely interesting mix. The short stories in this book are quick romances, but the amount of depth that is woven into these little stories is astonishing. Though they were short, I felt like I knew a lot of the characters much more than I would have expected, despite the length of these books, I felt like the characters were as developed as a 1000 page novel and so were their plots. The way the authors was able to map out the scenes really made it seems like each short story was it's own, yet they were all cohesive in the way they all had that steampunk commonality about them.

Of course, there were individual stories that I favored, and some that in my opinion were not so great. Among my favorites are The Cannibal Fiend of Rotherhithe by. Frewin Jones, Wild Magic by. Ann Aguirre, Code of Blood by. Dru Pagliassotti, Under Amber Skies by. Maria V. Synder (favorite), and Chickie Hill's Badass Ride by. Dia Reeves. As you can see I did like a lot of the stories in this anthology. They were a great introduction into a new and exciting genre, as well as an introduction to new authors whose books I am no extremely excited to read!

Recommendations: If you are ahead of the game and are already an avid steampunk reader, then I definitely I recommend this anthology to you for an extra steampunk treat. And if you are ready to jump right into the new (or new to YA) genre, Corsets and Clockwork is the perfect way to sample some great authors and the steampunk realm!

Overall: 4/5

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

Have You Ever Craved A Book?+ Waiting on Wednesday #23

2011-06-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

Um, yeah that is definitely a dumb question. I'm pretty sure ever single one of us has craved a book before. And I mean craveeee. You go to your TBR shelf and look for something to satiate your thirst for a new incredible read, but nothing seems to peak your interest, or sound like anything you are looking for. But this is a different craving. I'm not talking about craving a book that has weeks or even months to be released. I craving a book that doesn't exist.

Ok, I tried to make that a lot more ominous than it really is but to put it plain and simply, I really really really want to read a new book written by one of my favorite authors. But since I have not heard anything regarding a new book, I am stuck wanting so much to read something that doesn't even exist. Yes it is a horrible feeling. And who do I have to blame for this, Beth Fantaskey. I have only read two of her books: Jekel Loves Hyde and Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and I absolutely positively loved them. There is just something about those two books that separates them from every other paranormal romance book I have ever read. I don't know if this actually makes sense, but they aren't one dimensional. You know what I mean when it seems like the plot of a book is flying on only a single flat wave length. That is SO not the case with Beth Fantaskey's books.

There is just something about both of her books that makes me want to keep on reading them forever. Every page I am on my toes waiting to read what is going to happen on the next page, yet I am trying to preserve the page so that it doesn't end too soon. For me, that is really what makes the perfect read. And Beth Fantaskey has this down to a science!!!!

[All of this was written sometime last week and left floating in the file that is my blog DRAFTS, but today I, thanks to Goodreads, have made a BREAKTHROUGH, which I would like to present to you all in the form of a Waiting On Wednesday]

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Jessica Rules the Dark Side (Jessica #2)
Author: Beth Fantaskey

Release Date: January 9, 2012

Paranormal/Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads: When Jessica Packwood found out she was a Romanian vampire princess, she had the shock of her teenage life. Turns out that was the easy part. Now, married to Prince Lucius Vladescu, she has to claim her throne and convince a vampire nation she’s fit to be their queen. But Jess can’t even order a decent meal from her castle’s Romanian staff, let alone deal with devious undead subjects who would love to see her fail. And when Lucius is accused of murdering a vampire Elder and imprisoned without the blood he needs, Jessica finds herself alone, fighting for both their survivals. Desperate to clear her husband’s name and win his release, Jess enlists the help of her best friend Mindy Stankowicz and Lucius’s mysterious Italian cousin, Raniero Lovatu. But both of them are keeping some dark secrets. Can Jess figure out who to trust – and how to rise to power – before she loses everything, including the vampire she loves? Full of romance, mystery, and danger, the highly anticipated sequel to Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side shows that sometimes a princess has to earn her “happily ever after” – with a sharpened stake in hand.

Uh huh, uh huh; so what do we have here. What we have is a SEQUEL to Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by. Beth Fantaskey. A sequel, as in she is bringing back Lucius, Jessica, and the whole shebang back in another kick butt book. (And of course I already know it is going to be kick butt!!!). I cannot believe it. A week ago I was attempting to go back to my bookshelf and re-read one of my favorites and moping about the fact that this is last I will hear of these amazing characters and then BAM, goodreads hits me with this. I had no idea, no idea at ALL that there was going to be a second book, but it is so very very safe to say that I am absolutely beyond ecstatic about this fact. I can't wait at all!!! But really 2012!?! That is so far away, but I will endure! Does this mean we can expect a sequel to Jekel Loves Hyde? Oh, just extremely wishful thinking on my part!

What are you guys waiting for (or craving for) this Wednesday?

Review: Ten Miles Past Normal by. Frances O'Roark Dowell

2011-05-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

Title: Ten Miles Past Normal
Author: Frances O'Roark Dowell
Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Pages: 211
Genre: Contemporary/Coming of Age
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: Janie Gorman wants to be normal. The problem with that: she’s not. She’s smart and creative and a little bit funky. She’s also an unwilling player in her parents’ modern-hippy, let’s-live-on-a-goat-farm experiment (regretfully, instigated by a younger, much more enthusiastic Janie). This, to put it simply, is not helping Janie reach that “normal target.” She has to milk goats every day…and endure her mother’s pseudo celebrity in the homemade-life, crunchy mom blogosphere. Goodbye the days of frozen lasagna and suburban living, hello crazy long bus ride to high school and total isolation—and hovering embarrassments of all kinds. The fresh baked bread is good…the threat of homemade jeans, not so much. It would be nice to go back to that old suburban life…or some grown up, high school version of it, complete with nice, normal boyfriends who wear crew neck sweaters and like social studies. So, what’s wrong with normal? Well, kind of everything. She knows that, of course, why else would she learn bass and join Jam Band, how else would she know to idolize infamous wild-child and high school senior Emma (her best friend Sarah’s older sister), why else would she get arrested while doing a school project on a local freedom school (jail was not part of the assignment). And, why else would she kind of be falling in "like" with a boy named Monster—yes, that is his real name. Janie was going for normal, but she missed her mark by about ten miles…and we mean that as a compliment. Frances O’Roark Dowell’s fierce humor and keen eye make her YA debut literary and wise. In the spirit of John Green and E. Lockhart, Dowell’s relatable, quirky characters and clever, fluid writing prove that growing up gets complicated…and normal is WAY overrated.

Review: I have not really read many coming of age books before, but I am glad that Ten Miles Past Normal was one of my first. It definitely showed me a different side of YA books that seemed to deal with the typical issues that surround being a teenager in a different way...and on a farm.

Maybe because I am new to the whole Coming of Age genre but the beginning for me was pretty slow to get into. I know it is probably coming for coming of age stories to have a long buildup, but for me the character was sort of getting lost in some of the back drop of the story. But towards the middle the characters and plot seemed to pick up a lot more. Janie was the epitome of the confused and idealistic teenager. She was really struggling with the fact that she was an outcast, and throughout the book she is kind of going through this "I want to find myself and disassociate myself from being a farm girl" kind of phase. And she chose every typical teenager route in the book to do it. From joining a band, to breaking the law, Janie is on a mission to become "normal".

This book really focuses on how, for some, the teenage years is really a hard time and the struggle that some teenagers have in "finding themselves". There is focus on friendships, dating, family life, and school life that are all the makings of a coming of age YA novel. I did really enjoy some of the characters in this book. They really complimented one another well without there being just a bunch of supporting characters. That being said, there were parts of the book, mainly in the beginning, where I find the plot moving way to slow, and it seemed like it was just going to be a lot of descriptions before any characters or even a real plot line was introduced. But that was over once we were introduced to the characters Monster and Verbena who add some depth and fun to the story.

Despite some factors, I did enjoy this book. There is a real fun semi- love interest in Janie's life that I definitely found to be apart of most of the highlights in the book. All in all, I felt like this book had a lot to teach, and pretty much put into words a little bit of every teenagers story, told from the point of view of, as Janie would say, a girl on the farm. I felt like somehow, every teenager would be able to relate to what Janie was going through. And how she gets to be, or realize, who she is by the end of the book. It definitely is a book that is quirky, deep at times, and has a linking aspect that every teenager and most likely some non-teens will be able to relate to.

Recommendations: I feel like this book has a lot to offer a lot of teenagers, and for those of you out there like me thinking about picking up a coming-of-age book, this is a good one to try out.

Overall: 3/5

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Entertainment: 2/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Cover: 4/5

In My Mailbox #17 + First IMM VLOG!

2011-05-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is a bookish meme hosted by Kristi The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Hello Everyone!!! Hope you guys are having a great Sunday so far! I am doing another In My Mailbox this week and for the first time I decided to film it and do a vlog!!! I have also listed and linked everything down below too!!!

(That screenshot is HILARIOUS!)

Bought:

Graceling by. Kristin Cashore

Lord of Misrule by. Rachel Caine

Devil's Kiss by. Sarwat Chadda

Love on the Lifts by. Rachel Hawthorne

Take Me There by. Susane Colasanti

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by.Carrie Ryan

Silver is for Secrets by. Laurie Faria Stolarz

Swapped

(Paperback Swap):

Black Bird by. Kanoko Sakurakouji

Runaway (Airhead #3) by. Meg Cabot

For Review:

Cinderella Ninja Warrior by. Maureen McGowan (review)

Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer by. Maureen McGowan (review)

So Much Closer by. Susane Colasanti

Ten Miles Past Normal by. Frances O'Roark Dowell (not pictured)

Corset and Clockwork by. 13 Various Authors

I finally did my first vlog! This one was fun to film though, so I might do some more. Tell me what you guys think. Also don't forget to tell me what you guys got in your mailboxes this week!!!

Maureen McGowan Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty Giveaway [CLOSED]

2011-05-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! As a part of the Maureen McGowan blog tours I am hosting a giveaway for both of her books. They are both very interesting books and you can read a review of Cinderella: Ninja Warrior here, and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer here.

This contest is going to have two winners! One winner will win Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer, and one will win Cinderella: Ninja Warrior.

All you have to do is:

Fill Out the Form Below
The Contest Ends June 8th.
Good Luck to All that Enter!

Review: Cinderella, Ninja Warrior by. Maureen McGowan

2011-05-24T18:04:00.000-07:00

Title: Cinderella, Ninja Warrior
Author: Maureen McGowan
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
Pages: 320
Genre: Paranormal
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

Review: Cinderella Ninja Warrior is definitely what I call an incredible modern take on a fairy tale. I was engaged the whole time, and even though I know the story Cinderella and it is the basis of this book, that did not take away from the fact that this book is 100% original.

This book was a lot different from Maureen's other "pick your plot" book Sleeping Beauty, Vampire Slayer. The Cinderella plot of this book was evident but with the wizard and magical parts thrown in also, it created a much more intricate plot. There's the evil stepsisters we know and hate, and there's also a missing very powerful wizarding wand that is nowhere to be found. And of course a local "messenger boy" whom has his eye on a certain main character.

When I say the characters make the book, I really mean it. I loved the characters in this book. Not so much the evil step siblings and stepmother, but Ty and Cinderella really made the book for me. Everything between them seemed so natural. I mean there is a way to be charming and not make it seem like its some kind of player's act, and Ty does so very well in this book. I mean how could Cinderella not fall for him. He was just so gentlemanly without being too formal or boring, and he also had some wit to him that just makes him all the more of a great male character.

As with Maureen's book Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer, this one is also a "pick your plot" book and for some reason I loved it in this book so much more. I felt like even though I was making the decision for the book while reading, I didn't feel like I was losing the character in my decisions if that make sense. It was so much fun in this book because the romance was a bigger role, you got to make the decisions on how Cinderella and Ty went about their encounters. Because of this book, I think I am definitely going to be on the look out for more "pick you plot" kinds of books. I can still remember the instances where I was like contemplating for minutes over which route I should take. And then when I finished the book I went and took all the routes that I didn't choose. And it was just as much fun the second time around!

I definitely think this was an incredible "remake" of a classic fairy tale. It was engaging and fun to read, and the romance was incredibly sweet and believable. All in all, a very exciting book.

Recommendations:I definitely recommend this book to all to try out their first or maybe just another "pick your plot" kind of book. It is a very fun change of pace!

Overall: 4/5

Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

Review: Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer by. Maureen McGowan

2011-05-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Sleeping Beauty, Vampire Slayer
Author: Maureen McGowan
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
Pages: 320
Genre: Paranormal
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge. With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read! Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is an entirely new type of fairy tale–one that will keep today's kids guessing and offer them hours of magical fun.

Review: Reading the original tale of sleeping beauty was not as much fun as reading Sleeping Beauty, Vampire Slayer. This book definitely introduces some cool and definitely intriguing concepts to the story of Sleeping Beauty, completely transforming the traditional fairy tale into Maureen's own creation of kick-butt heroines and romance!

The book starts off with Lucette (sleeping beauty) being cursed by the Vampire Queen at birth. The curse states that if Lucette ever pricks her finger, she will never be able to wake up while the sun is up and every other person in her village will not be awake during the night, so she will be alone in the dark all of her life. But the fairy queen states that the curse can be lifted if after her 16th birthday, Lucette finds her true love. I thought this sounded like a very interesting plot. Especially since the village where they live has so many vampires, I knew that aspect was going to come into play. There were a lot of interesting ideas that were introduced throughout the book. And the interesting thing about this books is that Maureen has written it in a "pick your plot" kind of format. Meaning for most of the big decisions than Lucette has to make in the books, you get to choose which route she takes. I thought this was pretty interesting, but I also felt that I couldn't get to know Lucette better as a character because of it. I was making the decisions which was fun since the plot plays out how I want it to, but at the same time, not how the characters intended, so that part was a little iffy on my part, but since I went back and read the routes that I didn't originally pick, it was still fun to read about.

The characters to me were, pretty much, unmemorable. First lets begin with Lucette's parents (which I believe have somewhat of a verbally abusive relationship). I understand that there were trying to protect their child, but at times I felt that they were more of depriving and trying to control Lucette than "protecting her". And Lucette herself seemed to be sort of idle. Sure she wasn't the damsel in distressed type, but I also felt that she didn't think much for herself in the beginning of the book, good thing she really bucked up and become a more dominant main character in the rest of the books. Now the male characters in my opinion left a lot to be desired. They both start to play more prominent roles in the end of the book and I was glad that the character Alex was re-introduced. I really enjoyed his character at times, and thought he had a quick wit to him that brightened up the book and the fact that he was a vampire didn't hurt either. Tristan was also reintroduced in the beginning of the book and he fell a little flat to me. But of course, in order to break her curse, Lucette was going to have to make a choice between them.

All in all, I thought that this was an interesting book to read, mainly for the fact that it was sort of like reading 2 books in one. Of course the end result is going to be the same, its fun to read through all of the different ways the possibly get there. The plot idea was very interesting in this book, and though the characters were not my favorite parts of this book, the plot and the fact that this was a "pick your own adventure" book make up for it.

Recommendations: If you are in need for a new kind of book, I definitely recommend this one.
Overall: 3/5 Stars

Characters: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Originality: 3/5
Entertainment: 3/5
Ending: 3/5
Writing Style: 2/5
Cover: 4/5

Maureen McGowan Blog Tour Interview!!!

2011-05-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hello guys, long time no chat. Today Maureen McGowan is visiting Black and Blue Ink as a part of her blog tour promoting her two new books Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer, and Cinderella: Ninja Warrior. She is here talking about her writing career and these two new books that are probably a little different from the books you guys have read before... You can read a review of Cinderella: Ninja Warrior here, and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer here. Here's the interview!

Q: Hello Maureen, first off we would like to know, why choose fairy tales to recreate into Young Adult books.
A: Fairy tale adaptations actually chose me, but I LOVED the idea. A freelance editor came to me with the chance to write a proposal for the series. The only requirement was that the books include a choose-your-own-adventure element.
As soon as I started to brainstorm ways to make the classic stories more action packed and relevant to modern readers, I was hooked.

Q: Were Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty among your favorite fairy tales as a child?
A: When I was a child, I found fairy tales with witches very scary, so I mostly remember Sleeping Beauty being terrifying. Clearly I was a big ‘fraidy cat. And although I think everyone relates to the Cinderella story in some ways, (the idea of feeling oppressed as a child, and the chance to be dressed in magic clothes and swept away from your problems), I don’t remember loving the Cinderella story, either. Even as a kid I didn’t understand why she didn’t fight back or leave her stepmother. And I didn’t like the idea that the prince only fell in love with her because she was pretty and had a nice dress on—then needed a shoe to recognize her the next day.
In Cinderella: Ninja Warrior and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer, I set out to “fix” some of those problems. And I’ve clearly gotten over my witch phobia because I made my villains even meaner and scarier.

Q: Where did you get the idea for “pick your route” plot kind of books?
A: As I mentioned above, the idea was actually brought to me, and to be honest, I’m not sure I would have chosen to do it, otherwise. But once I started to plan the books, I liked the idea.
As a writer, and in life, we’re faced with decisions every day. And they aren’t necessarily right or wrong, just different. It was fun to think about how the same character’s story would unfold differently based on her choices.

Q: When you read, do you prefer, or would you prefer to read books that have the type of “pick you route” plot as your books do?
A: I haven’t read many, to be honest. I did look at a few after I was asked to write the Twisted Tales series, and although I thought they were fun, I didn’t like the “wrong choice—you die!”, or “you dummy, why did you agree to date him!” dead ends included in the books I sampled. I figured if my main character was smart, that she could get out of any trouble her decisions got her in to.

Q: What was your inspiration to write these books?
A: Mainly, I wanted to make the heroines stronger and the stories more exciting. I wanted heroines who could fight for themselves. I love the romance elements in fairy tales, but I didn’t want the books to be about the princes saving the girls. I wanted the girls to save themselves—and fall in love with their princes.

Q: Was Is important to you to change up the traditional fairy tale heroines or did you want to keep it somewhat the same?
A: The only elements I wanted to keep were the happily-ever-after endings. I think fairy tales promise happy endings to the reader and I wanted to deliver on that promise. So, while both Cinderella: Ninja Warrior and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer have other themes, both also contain the themes of good triumphing over evil and the magic of finding true love.

Q: Is there something you cannot begin writing without or something that keeps you going while writing?
A: I need to set goals for myself. And keeping track of my word count keeps me going. Also my fabulous critique partners. I’m not sure I’d get anything done without their support.

Q: What is your favorite part of being a writer?
A: I like making things up for a living. Creating characters and stories out of nothing, some days feels like pure magic.

Q: What are you favorite writers and/or books?
A: I have so many I could barely list them, but current writers in the YA realm whom I love are Carrie Ryan in the dark and twisty department and Eileen Cook in the light and hilarious department.

Q: Anything else you want your readers to know about you and your book???
A: While I think both of the stories include heroines who are better role models for modern girls than those of the traditional fairy tales, by no means are these “message” or “issue” books. If you pick up Cinderella: Ninja Warrior, or Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer, most of all you’ll have a fast, fun read.

I’d also like to invite readers to contact me. You can e-mail me through my website, or follow me on Twitter @MaureenMcGowan or on Facebook at facebook.com/MaureenMcGowanBooks.

Thanks so much for having me!

Maureen McGowan's two books Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer, and Cinderella: Ninja Warrior can be purchased at fine retailers everywhere.

Barnes and Noble
The Book Depository

Review: Manifest by. Artist Arthur

2011-05-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

Title: Manifest (Mystyx #1)
Author: Artist Arthur
Publication Date: August 1, 2010
Pages: 256
Genre: Paranormal
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City. But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener—and everything she'd ever want—except that he was killed nearly a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door—Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly, call themselves the Mystyx. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?

Review: Manifest, the first book in the Mystyx series, was an interesting introduction to a new series as well as a an exciting “who done it'” mystery that just keeps building and building until you have a whole list of who could be the killer.

First off let me say that I had high hopes for this book. And those hopes rested mostly on the characters that I thought would have something that made them stand out from the usually generic personalities of YA characters. Some passed those expectations and some didn’t. First off, Krystal is not your everyday character, and I liked that. Sure some may say she has a little bit of an attitude, but to expect her to be thinking about rainbows and the schools “hottest guy” every second is unrealistic. Her life has taken a turn for the unfavorable, so of course a little attitude is going to come off now and then, and going through life thinking you are a delusion ghost seeing crazy can’t help either. And as far as the other characters go…ehh. Meaning that I didn’t really find anything altogether that unique or memorable about them They all seemed to be fillers just so the plot could go a little smoother. Ricky at times proved to be a breath of fresh air, but his character too seemed a little in the background.

The plot in this book was one that grabbed my attention. It begins with Krystal meeting Ricky, the ghost in her bedroom, and then, after much negotiating, trying to figure out who killed him and clear the name of his friends. She finally succumbs to helping to try and figure out his killer when other complications come to surface. Like Ricky’s also dead girlfriend who doesn’t want to tell anyone what happened to her, even though it could probably help figure out who killed Ricky. And then Krystal starts talking to two kids from school, Sasha and Jake, and finds out that they are bear the same birthmark and have similar powers, and as they all group together to try to figure out Ricky’s killer, they learn very interesting things about their powers and their origins.

Figuring out who killed Ricky was a highlight because the plot kept on building and building. It wasn’t a mystery book where you just try to figure out who killed him from the beginning and that’s it, there are so many pieces to the puzzle that you have to try to put together and make a connection with before you can even barely narrow your suspects list. The mystery in this just got better and better

In the end, it is a book that I did enjoy. I would have loved to see Krystal’s romance blossom and be a bigger part of the story, but hey, that’s what a sequel is for!

Recommendations: If you are in need for a good mystery, this one is for you!

Overall: 3/5 Stars

Characters: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Originality: 4/5
Entertainment: 4/5
Ending: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
Cover: 5/5

Review: Betrayals by. Lili St. Crow

2011-04-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Title: Betrayals (Strange Angels #2)
Author: Lili St. Crow
Publication Date: November 17, 2009
Pages: 296
Genre: Paranormal
Rating:

Synopsis from Goodreads: She’s no angel . . .Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?) Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . . Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

Review: First order of business: Team Graves! Now that that is out of the way I can get on with the review. To put it simply, this book is a bone-fide work of awesomeness. Seriously, I find it amazing what Lili St. Crow is able to do with the plot and the different characters she throws into the mix. And not to mention fit in not only a romance but a love triangle!

Yes, of course the plot and the mystery is what makes up every great paranormal read, and this book was no exception by far. It was one of those books that doesn't need to have a million different directions and things going on for you to be totally engaged. Dru goes from the whole "life on my own take no prisoners lifestyle" to something completely different learning that you are the only ultra special svetocha in the world. Yep, imagine being told that you are and have been all your life a part of the very group of night crawlers that you have been hunting and killing since you were 3. But oh wait, you're precious, that's what they keep on telling her. Well, Dru doesn't feel very precious being thrown into an all boys delinquent school and being followed and told NOTHING at all about her circumstances. But that's okay, apparently everybody thinks Dru is a little too precious to know why she is so precious, why she is wanted dead, and why no one wants to tell her anything. But then again, if you were stuck in a delinquent male boarding school in hiding from a deranged 1 million year old vampire who wants your blood for power while the only two people in the world that you trust seem to be deserting you, you wouldn't want the details either would you...oh wait, of course you would!

Best part by far was the great range and distinctness of the characters. The new characters mixed in great with the book. But of course I couldn't forget my favorite character good o' Graves. All of my favorite parts of the books are the parts when he's featured. Though I was annoyed by him in the beginning when it seemed he and Dru were drifting apart, he quickly made up for it. And then there's Christopher, some exciting news about him is revealed and he still remains the mystery he was in the first book, but Dru has a few more leads into her getting to know what he's really all about!

I have to give Ms. Lili St. Crow props for busting out an engaging and exciting sequel to her equally fantastic Strange Angels. I can't wait for what the series has in store next!!!

Recommendations: If you read the first book do not do what I did I keep this book collecting dust in that TBR pile. It is an immediate must read!!!

Overall: 5/5 Stars!

Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Originality: 4/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Ending: 4/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Cover: 4/5

Monday's Question of the Day: Female vs. Male Perspective

2011-04-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

Do you prefer Female or Male Perspective?

I am really 50 50 on this one. I mean a large large majority (95%) of the books I read are written from a female point of view (with the exception of the books that are written in both perspectives). And its not like perspective is really something that is going to make me choose one book over another but I think there is just something different about reading a book from a girls POV. Maybe its because I feel like I can relate more to the characters, but I sort of think it is because (this is just my opinion of course) girls in general have a very different way of seeing certain topics and adjusting their heads accordingly to different situations (if that makes sense?). The way a girl would see a situation in a book can be a 180 degree turn from the way a guy would see it. I mean I have yet to even come close to deciphering the male mind and though great books like Beautiful Creatures that are written in male POV makes me want to check out some more books like that, books with a a girls POV have me questioning the judgment of the character a little less since I guess I "know where they are coming from". The female mind spectrum is light-years away from the males, but really I think I like both perspectives equally...almost!

What do you guys think about the two perspectives? Do you have a preference, or are you indifferent to the whole discussion lol? Let us know!!!

Waiting on Wednesday- Blood Magic

2011-03-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Blood Magic

Release Date: May 24, 2011
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Paranormal/Supernatural

Synopsis from Goodreads: This page-turning debut novel will entice fans who like their paranormal romances dark and disturbing. It's a natural next-read for fans of Stephanie Meyer, Carrie Jones, and Becca Fitzpatrick. But instead of mythical creatures, blood magic has everything to do with primal human desires like power, wealth, and immortality. Everywhere Silla Kennicott turns she sees blood. She can't stop thinking about her parents alleged murder-suicide. She is consumed by a book filled with spells that arrives mysteriously in the mail. The spells share one common ingredient: blood, and Silla is more than willing to cast a few. What's a little spilled blood if she can uncover the truth? And then there's Nick—the new guy at school who makes her pulse race. He has a few secrets of his own and is all too familiar with the lure of blood magic. Drawn together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick must find out who else in their small Missouri town knows their secret and will do anything to take the book and magic from Silla.

So, let me get this straight. This book thinks that it can just start off its synopsis mentioning some of my favorite authors and I am automatically going to click on it on goodreads and add it to my TBR list and use it in a Waiting On Wednesday??? Well of course! I appreciate the tactics. And I am so glad it did. This book sounds like it is going to be really good. A paranormal book tapping into the "primal human desires" how fun does that sound. And I am all about more political references in YA books. I think I am really going to like this one. The main character seems intriguing. I mean who isn't sometimes drawn to blood. It's going to be really something reading this book from that perspective!

What do you guys think?

CSN Giveaway!!!! [CLOSED]

2011-03-02T16:35:00.000-08:00

{Hello Everyone! I hope all of you guys are having an great week so far!!! The awesome people at CSN have offered me another chance to work with them which means you guys have the chance to win a $50.00 e-certificate to use on any of CSN's many different stores!!!

As you guys may already know CSN has so many different sites with every product you could imagine. From this unique Eames lounge chair to Luxe where you can find anything from the cutest shoes to handbags. And some of my personal favorite things that they have to offer Bookcases. They have some of the greatest and most affordable things on the web, and all of their sites makes it so easy to find exactly what you are looking for.

Now for the giveaway!!!

The giveaway is for a $50 CSN gift certificate to use on any of the CSN sites!

First off, the giveaway is for U.S and Canadian residents only. Sorry to all international readers!

(And their may be some international shipping costs that the gift certificate cannot cover for some Canadian addresses).

The contest runs until April 12, 2011. So you have over 1 month to enter!!!

Just Fill out The Form Below and You are Entered!!!

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Monday's Question of the Day: Love Triangles!

2011-02-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

What do you think of love triangles?

To be completely honest, I could do without them. I don't necessarily hate them, but I really don't like them very much either. There is just something about a book with a love triangle that has me putting it down more often than I would usually any other book. Ironically, some of my favorite books ever are those that feature love triangles. The thing with me is that I always end up completely liking one of the guys or girls, and despising the other person involved in the triangle. And when the main character starts going more for the person whom I am not rooting for, lets just say its time for me to put that book down for a while before I start yelling at it. One of the angles of the triangle always seems to have to ruin what the other two have in my opinion. That's pretty much the only reason. Which sort of annoys me since there seems to be an epidemic of love triangles in almost every single book coming out. I guess I am going to have to deal because I know I am not missing out on all of those great new books coming out!

So as you can see love triangles are something I feel pretty strongly about. LOL that sounded so serious I just had to laugh. Books with love triangles for me are either hit or miss; though in the end, I usually end up loving the book no matter who "wins".

So go ahead and comment your response to this weeks question. I really want to know what you guys think of love triangles since I know most people adore them.

Thank You!

Review: Dead is So Last Year by. Marlene Perez

2011-02-27T20:11:00.000-08:00

Title: Dead is So Last Year (Dead is...#3)
Author: Marlene Perez
Publication Date: May 4, 2009
Pages: 208
Genre: Supernatural
Rating: 8/10

Synopsis from Goodreads: Something very strange starts happening in Nightshade the summer that the eldest Giordano sister, Rose, gets a job working at Dr. Franken's research laboratory. People are starting to see double. Doppelgängers of Nightshade residents are popping up all over town. Daisy, Rose and Poppy think it's a coincidence, until the rumors start that their father, who disappeared several years ago, has been spotted in town. Meanwhile, Daisy's beau, Ryan is spending all of his time training for football, and like the other guys on the team, he's grown enormous almost overnight. Samantha Devereux's boyfriend's neck has doubled in size since school ended. Could the football players be resorting to extreme measures to win? Between summer jobs, sugar rushes, and beach parties, the Giordano girls get to the bottom of these mysteries and more.

Review: What else could happen in a city where werewolves roam free and invisible boyfriends (of the unimagined kind) are the norm; dopplegangers! Oh yes, it is said that everyone on earth has a exact body double somewhere out there, but in the city of Nightshade, dopplegangers seem to be popping up everywhere. Not the fun switch places in class kind of body-doubles. The, kind were one look and you kind of explode kind, nothing unusual for Poppy and her psychic family.

Could the concept of this book have been any more intriguing; Dopplegangers. Poppy and the rest of her family are still dealing with the paranormal blunders of the last book. Now they are seeing double. And to top it all off the Giordano's father has shown up back in town. But is it really their father, or another Doppleganger. This was the fun part of the book. Trying to figure out for myself whether I thought their "father" was the real thing or not. There's so much pulling in either direction. I felt so bad for the girls while they were going through this, but in the end...

The relationships in the series stayed strong, which is something I am definitely happy to see. The things that make these books different when it comes to the relationships is that they showcase how teenage relationships should go. (Not that I am against the love triangles, or the death will keep up apart plots now-a-days; those are great for fun, but when looking for realistic relationship examples this series is great). Relationships that help you out instead of add another checkpoint on the stress-o-meter!

This series is getting better and better in my opinion. I really didn't think that it would have such great plots in each of the book and still flow so well together. I really love the series and can't wait until the next book. I mean I really can't since this book decided to end in somewhat of a cliffhanger!

Recommendations: If you are looking for quick reads that can still hold your interest all throughout the series, these books are definitely for you!!!

Overall: 8/10

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality:8/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

Waiting on Wednesday #21- Once Every Never

2011-02-23T17:43:00.000-08:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Once Every Never
Release Date: July 1, 2011
Publisher: Penguin Canada
Paranormal/Supernatural

Synopsis from Goodreads: Clarinet Reid is a pretty typical teenager. On the surface. She’s smart, but a bit of slacker; outgoing, but just a little insecure; not exactly a mischief-maker… but trouble tends to find her wherever she goes. Also? She unwittingly carries a centuries-old Druid Blood Curse running through her veins. Now, with a single thoughtless act, what started off as the Summer Vacation in Dullsville suddenly spirals into a deadly race to find a stolen artifact, avert an explosive catastrophe, save a Celtic warrior princess, right a dreadful wrong that happened centuries before Clare was even born, and if there’s still time—literally—maybe even get a date. This is the kind of adventure that happens to a girl once every… never.

Yep, I picked this book mainly because it was by Lesley Livingston. That's all it really takes to have me obsessively pining for a book. That and of course Sherrilyn Kenyon's name, Shelena Shorts, Wendy Raven McNair, and a bunch of other authors on a book to get me to fall in love with it even before I read it. Oh yeah, my expectations are pretty high. Its sounds like its going to be amazing!!!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday?

Black History Month Poem!!!

2011-02-21T13:12:00.000-08:00

So in English this week we were all asked to create an original free verse poem to recite to the class. (A "break" assignment from the horror my teacher assigned us over this break). And I just started writing and eventually I came up with a poem that was, for me the epitome of what black history month is. I really liked what I came up with so I just wanted to share it. Though I dislike writing poetry so much; (I would much rather write an essay), this is what I came up with and I kind of like it!

Our Say

They Said.

The pains and woes of past plague

Would shape

Would define

Would make

Us.

Before Madame Walker crossed the mighty Delta

Showed her light shone bright.

Before the great Doctor preached new wisdom down broken

Atlanta streets.

Before the King, silenced the world as he walked across the moon.

They said.

Could they overcome, could it be done?

Here, Now

Standing two feet firm and proud.

We will not be moved.

As our roaring voices silence the ignorant echo heard worldwide.

We cannot be moved.

They said how.

They said why.

They said no.

We say yes.

by. Chioma

Tell me what you guys think!

Author Spotlight: Meg Cabot

2011-02-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

*Author Spotlights are a "series" here on Black and Blue Ink where I post any kinds of posts that have to do with great authors that I adore. They can be anything from an author interview, to plain

old author love*

Meg Cabot, one of my favorite authors EVER!!!! I figure I would get that out so you guys know before the introduction that you are in for some major author gushing. And this author spotlight gushing is dedicated to the one and only Meg Cabot. You know how you have a favorite author for different categories; it could be based on genre, post breakup authors, cozy hot chocolate rainy day authors, or the any day of the week authors. And then there is that dire question that I know would take any book lover extremely extremely long to answer: If you could only read one author for the rest of your life ...okay for a most a year, who would it be. For me it would definitely be Meg Cabot.

In my opinion Meg Cabot is the queen of series. I have yet to read a series or even one book by Meg Cabot that I have not absolutely loved. She has a way of appealing to the deep psyche of a girl's mind and portraying it impeccably through her characters and plot line. She creates characters I either want to be more like, or want to be best friends with. With plot lines that I hope to a part of ( hot guy+ motorcycle, who doesn't want to be apart of that plot line?!?), or plot lines that are so cool yet unnerving that I'm glad I just get to read about it (*cough Airhead cough*)

Meg Cabot is an author that just has the greatest talent in pulling the reader into every single one of her books. The way she combines paranormal and contemporary into the perfect mix, I doubt anyone can get tired of her books.

I am so glad I picked up the Mediator Series two years ago from my Barnes and Noble. Because if I had not and I had sprung for that Angel of Death Journal (which I ended up getting the next day anywaysss) I would have missed out on my favorite series and authors in the world!!!

Here are Meg Cabot's Links!!!!
http://www.megcabot.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11654.Meg_Cabot

Books Series!
Mediator
1-800-Where-R-You
Airhead

Manga Review: Bloody Kiss by. Kazuko Furumiya

2011-02-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

Title: Bloody Kiss
Author: Kazuko Furumiya
Publication Date: August 11, 2009
Pages: 192
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: 8/10

Synopsis from Goodreads: Kiyo is a struggling student who strives to become a lawyer and clear her father's name. When she inherits a mansion from her late grandmother, Kiyo thinks she's finally hit a streak of good luck. But she soon finds out that the mansion is already inhabited by a couple of vampires, including the handsome Kuroboshi, who seems to have his eyes set on Kiyo for his new vampire bride...

Review: Bloody Kiss is a funny, adorable, cute and quick manga read that will keep you smiling all throughout the book! This book is simply adorable. You have funny characters coupled with an cute line that inexplicably binds all of them together!

Something I found funny in this book that for some reason annoys me in other books is Kiyo, the main character's, easiness in accepting the fact that two vampires are living in her new house. Usually the main female protagonist is easy to go with the flow of the paranormal (which I find annoying for some reason) but Kiyo accepts it garlic necklace and all. Not because she expecting to find two hot vampires living in her house and that fact doesn't freak her out in the slightest, but because that's just her personality.

I did want a little bit more romance out of the book. But the cute budding romance made this manga a good read. Something I did find weird though was Kiyo's submissiveness after a while. I mean living with a vamp is okay, but letting him go on biting you all willy nilly doesn't see like it would be any girl's cup of tea, no matter how good looking. But that fact didn't overshadow the rest of the book. And really who doesn't want a hot guy chasing after you, even if he does want your blood.

This book was really cute, quick, and enjoyable. Not the most intricate plot line, but fun and enjoyable anyway!

Recommendations: Manga lovers will love this book. And those looking to being reading their first couple of manga's, this book is perfect for you!

Overall: 8/10

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 7/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Waiting on Wednesday #20- Starcrossed

2011-02-02T18:24:00.000-08:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

StarCrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini

Release Date: June 3, 2011

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

Greek Mythology/Romance

Synopsis from Goodreads: Set on the island of Nantucket, STARCROSSED tells the tale of Helen Hamilton, a young woman whose destiny is forever altered when she meets Lucas Delos and tries to kill him in front of her entire high school. Which is terribly inconvenient, not only because Lucas is the most beautiful boy on the island, but also because Helen is so achingly shy she suffers physical pain whenever she is given too much attention. Making matters worse, Helen is beginning to suspect she’s going crazy. Whenever she’s near Lucas or any member of his family she sees the ghostly apparitions of three women weeping bloody tears, and suffers the burden of an intense and irrational hate. She soon learns that she and Lucas are destined to play the leading roles in a Greek tragedy that the Three Fates insist on repeating over and over again throughout history. Like her namesake, Helen of Troy, she’s destined to start a war by falling in love. But even though Lucas and Helen can see their own star-crossed destiny, they’re still powerfully attracted to each other. Will they give up their personal happiness for the greater good, or risk it all to be together?

Doesn't it sound so cool. If they taught Greek Mythology like this in school, I know I would have payed more attention. I love reading books set around Greek Mythology, especially romance books. Sherrilyn Kenyon does this with her Dark Hunters Series and it remains my favorite adult romance series to date!!! This books sounds like it is going to be friggen amazing. I can't wait!!!

What are you guys waiting for this Wednesday?

Review: White is for Magic by. Laurie Faria Stolarz

2011-01-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

Title: White is for Magic
Author: Laurie Faria Stolarz
Publication Date: May 1, 2004
Pages: 301
Genre: Supernatural
Rating: 7/10

Synopsis from Goodreads: I'm watching you . . .A year has passed since Stacey Brown saved her best friend from a horrible death. Now she's having nightmares again, haunted by ghosts of the brutally murdered . . . and by a crazed stalker. As she desperately casts healing spells, a new student named Jacob enters her world. Beautiful and mysterious, he reveals that he is also having dreams. To stop a killer, they must join together. But can Jacob be trusted? Or will this new love cause her darkest dreams to come true?

Review: White is for Magic, the sequel to the first book in the series Blue is for Nightmares, is an interesting sequel that continues Stacey's journey as unintentional killer catcher.

I definitely thought this sequel was a little step up from the first book, but again the characters actually distracted me from the plot, and not in a good way. After what they had all been through in the first book, you would think that that experience would either strengthen their relationships, or at least give them a deeper understanding of what the next years of their lives could mean. But no. They completely dismiss the truth and what is in front of them. Ignorance is bliss I guess, but for a friend that is as distraught as Stacey, I would think they would be more sympathetic and knowledgeable, I thought wrong.

Stacey once again finds herself the victim of her own nightmares, but in this book, it is literally. As if having to see your best friend go through such horrible events from what is supposedly the safe haven of your dreams wasn't bad enough, now she has to go and see herself in the same position. And I hate to say it, but she was pretty much left on her own to figure out this one. The trauma is coming back at full force and Stacey feels more than alone. Even her new boyfriend Chad is dismissing her. But a new boy, Jacob, whom trusts her just as little as she trusts him seems to be the alone one that will believe her.

For me the book was like a "Who Done It?" movie. There are so many clues left and right in this book that let you make your own inferences on who you think it is. Each chapter something new is thrown into the bag of clues and you find yourself closer and closer to figuring out the mystery.

Recommendations: All those who enjoyed the first book will love this sequel!

Overall: 7/10

Characters: 5/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality:7/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Cover: 8/10

Review: Sloppy Firsts by. Megan McCafferty

2011-01-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

Title: Sloppy Firsts
Author: Megan McCafferty
Publication Date: August 28, 2001
Pages: 280
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 8/10

Synopsis from Goodreads: “My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don’t they realize that Hope’s the only one who keeps me sane? . . . I don’t see how things could get any worse.” When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad’s obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany’s lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?

Review: Few contemporary YA novels can hold my attention long, and I am glad to say this book definitely makes my top 10 YA contemporary books list. It was fun, attention holding, and REAL.

I have to admit, the first few pages of the book were a little slow getting into, but once all of the characters are introduced the story really starts to pick up. Jessica's best friend has just moved away and now she is stuck with pretty much no one. Until an unusual junkie (I used the term loosely...kind of) starts to take an interest in her and get her mind off her best friend. I can see how many people might see Jessica's character as annoying. She is headstrong, and very opinionated, and somewhat judgmental, but hey, she has a personality that adds something fun to the book when reading it from her perspective. And at least she has a distinguishable personality.

Jessica and Marcus. Marcus and Jessica. Imagine the top of you class and the lowest of your class together, and that is the what we have with Jessica and Marcus. But Marcus isn't all drugs and girls, he actually has a deeper side that has got Jessica all muddled up. Jessica is so much fun to read about when it comes to her deciphering her interest in Marcus, everything seems so calculated but at the same time she has no idea what she is doing, which makes it much more fun. And she is definitely take no prisoners when it comes to who she wants, or think she wants, or should not but really does want when it comes to Marcus. She's doesn't want to be another name on his list.

I really liked the way the book ended. I feel like if it was any other character besides Jessica, it would have been a lot different and their wouldn't be a need for a sequel for this book. But I am really glad there is, I look forward to seeing what else Jessica has to deal with in high school.

Recommendations: Calling all fans of contemporary novels, this ones for you!!!

Overall: 8/10

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality:7/10
Entertainment: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

2011 YA Book Challenge

2011-01-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

I am also participating in Jamie Loves YA's 2011 YA Reading Challenge. I am happy to say that I did complete this challenge last year, but I stopped recording the books after a certain period. Either I am very forgetful, or really lazy when it comes to recording books. I'll make sure to do better this year!!!

--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.

--The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.

--The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

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100+ Books In A Year Reading Challenge!

2011-01-16T14:35:00.000-08:00

Of course I have decided to do the 100+ books in a year challenge. I completely failed at this challenge last year since I stop recording the books I read after March, but I am determined to finish it this year. If you would like to join this challenge as well click here to head over to Book Chick City and sign up!!!
Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

• Rules - Read 100 or more books in 2011

• All books can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• Only print books and ebooks count (no audiobooks).

• You can join anytime.

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Black and Blue Ink Reviews

Waiting on Wednesday- Under the Never Sky

Monday's Question of the Day!: YA Pet Peeves!

Waiting on Wednesday- Cinder

Review: Stay With Me by. Paul Griffin

Review: Fate Fixed by. Bonnie Erina Wheeler

Guest Post! Natasha Larry, author of Darwin's Children

Review: Darwin's Children by. Natasha Larry

Review: The Hidden Sun by. J. Lloyd Morgan

Waiting on Wednesday- Chain Reaction

Monday's Question of the Day: Don't You Just Love Spoilers?

Review: The Seven Rays by. Jessica Bendinger

Review: So Much Closer by. Susane Colasanti

Review: Intertwined by. Gena Showalter

Review: Graceling by. Kristen Cashore

Waiting on Wednesday- The Chaos

Monster Review-a-Thon!!!

Devil's Kiss by. Sarwat Chadda

Waiting on Wednesday- Pure

In My Mailbox #18

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by. Carrie Ryan

7-Day Giveaway!!! The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Books on a Budget #2

Review: Insatiable by. Meg Cabot

Waiting on Wednesday- Incarnate

Monday's Question of the Day (on Tuesday...again)- Romance Novels

Maureen McGowan Giveaway Winners!!!

Review: Runaway (Airhead #3) by. Meg Cabot

Review: White Cat by. Holly Black

Waiting on Wednesday- Soul Thief

Monday's Question of the Day (On Tuesday!) E-readers

Books on a Budget! #1

Review: Corsets and Clockwork: 13 Steampunk Romances by. Various Authors

Have You Ever Craved A Book?+ Waiting on Wednesday #23

Review: Ten Miles Past Normal by. Frances O'Roark Dowell

In My Mailbox #17 + First IMM VLOG!

Maureen McGowan Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty Giveaway [CLOSED]

Review: Cinderella, Ninja Warrior by. Maureen McGowan

Review: Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer by. Maureen McGowan

Maureen McGowan Blog Tour Interview!!!

Review: Manifest by. Artist Arthur

Review: Betrayals by. Lili St. Crow

Title: Betrayals (Strange Angels #2)Author: Lili St. CrowPublication Date: November 17, 2009Pages: 296 Genre: Paranormal Rating:

Monday's Question of the Day: Female vs. Male Perspective

Waiting on Wednesday- Blood Magic

CSN Giveaway!!!! [CLOSED]

Monday's Question of the Day: Love Triangles!

Review: Dead is So Last Year by. Marlene Perez

Waiting on Wednesday #21- Once Every Never

Black History Month Poem!!!

Author Spotlight: Meg Cabot

Manga Review: Bloody Kiss by. Kazuko Furumiya

Waiting on Wednesday #20- Starcrossed

Review: White is for Magic by. Laurie Faria Stolarz

Review: Sloppy Firsts by. Megan McCafferty

2011 YA Book Challenge

100+ Books In A Year Reading Challenge!

Title: Betrayals (Strange Angels #2)
Author: Lili St. Crow
Publication Date: November 17, 2009
Pages: 296
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: