I am "stealing" this from The Story Siren. If you want to find out more about it in my blog. Anyway, these are books I got this week at the bookstore, library, and in the mail, of course. This week I went to the Oak View Library Sale in Sioux Falls, and after hearing all of Sheila's stories at One Person's Journey Through A World Of Books I was somewhat prepared for the hot mess that was "The Sacred Library Sale." It reminded me slightly of BEA (on obviously a much smaller scale) — there were SO many people pushing and shoving for books! Used books! Books with broken spines, missing pages, and YEARS of germs all over them! It was fantastic! I think I did rather well for myself. At $2 a bag I spent $6 on a trunk full of books! I'm very excited to put them add them to my classroom or private shelves! For Review: Won:
From the library: Purchased from the library sale:
"The Clique: Massie"
"Gossip Girl: Would I Lie to You"
"Notorious: An It Girl Novel"
"Lucas"
"Dial L for Loser: A Clique Novel" (three copies)
"PS I Loathe You: A Clique Novel"
"Gossip Girl: You Know You Love Me"
"Gossip Girl: Nobody Does It Better"
"SPEAK" — VERY EXCITED
"Perfect"
"Vampire Academy"
"The Little History of a Star"
"Spells and Sleeping Bags"
"The Au Pairs"
"Cut Back: Impact Zone"
"Princess in Waiting"**
"666: The Number of the Beast"
"The Princess Diaries"**
"This Lullaby"
"The Book Thief"
"L8r, G8r"
"What Girls Learn"
"Dr. Franklin's Island"
"The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle"**
"Teen Idol"
"Hunger"
"Goddess Boot Camp"
"Donorboy"**
"Jason's Gold"
"I Was a Teenage Fairy"
"Princess in Love"**
"Tangerine"
"The Ransom of Mercy Carter" — I ADORED this novel when I was younger. I was going to name my daughter Mercy I loved it so much!**
"Frostbite: A Vampire Academy Novel"
"The House Next Door"
** — Books I read as a middle/high school student
Before we entered the Sacred Library Sale
After the Sacred Library Sale: Three Bags Later I'm practicing the "guilty" look I'll be giving my fiance when he gets home from work!
This year we wanted to add to the excitement of Top 10 lists by making it an event! Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Rachel from Fiktshun & Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and and I are hosting a top 10 week where everyone can join the fun! You can check out this post for more information. Each day you add your top 10 list to the linky (below), you get an extra entry into the giveaway for a $50 amazon gift card! Just remember, each day will have a linky for THAT Top 10 topic and your list has to be for that top 10.
First, we wanted to do a little wrap-up for the year! 117 Books Read! 36,776 pages read! 435 posts this year!
My goal for this year was 100 books so next year I'm bringing that up to 110!
Today is Top 10 Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2012!
Why: I've had Divergent on every single list this week so it's obvious that I'm dying to get my hands on this book! Can't.wait!! Add it to Goodreads Summary: One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
Onyx by Janenifer L. Armentrout Entangled Publishing (May 2012) Series: Lux #2 Why: Does anything by Janenifer even need an explanation anymore? Hot guys, wonderful plots, kick-butt heroines, it's all there! And look at that *points to cover*.yeah… who can resist him?! Add it to GoodreadsSummary:No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…
Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins Hyperion Books (March 13th, 2012) Series: Hex Hall #3
Why: I adored the first 2 books in this series and I can't wait to find out what happens next. Sophie is one of my favorite female characters of all time! Add it to Goodreads Summary: Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted.
Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.
Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?
Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready Simon Pulse (May 1st, 2012) Series: Shade #3 Why: This series has a special place in my heart! I'm so sad to see it end but I know Jeri will not disappoint.Add it to GoodreadsSummary: No other love has burned so bright
Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced that she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves… even if that means betraying her own heart.
Why:Starcrossed was awesome and I really need to read this book! There were so many questions that have to be answered and I can't wait to see how it all plays out! Add it to Goodreads Summary: As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.
As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore Dial (May 1st, 2012) Series: The Seven Kingdoms #3 Why: I read Graceling and Fire a long time ago and have been checking on this book for over a year! I was so excited to see the cover and a release date, YAY! Add it to GoodreadsSummary: Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past. Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.
Why: Hourglass was a whole book of greatness and I know this one will be just as good. And, I do <3 me some Kaleb!! Add it to Goodreads Summary: A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking…
Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?
Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devestating results.
Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough…
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver HarperTeen (February 28th, 2012) Series: Delirium #2 Why: Love the storyline that goes along with this series and Delirium really left me needing more! I plan to read this one very very soon! Add it to GoodreadsSummary: I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, pushing aside thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school, push, push, push, like Raven taught me to do. The old life is dead. But the old Lena is dead too. I buried her. I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame.
Fever by Lauren DeStefano Simon & Schuster (February 21st, 2012) Series: The Chemical Gardens #2
Why: Another very unique dystopian and I really want to get my hands on this book to find out what happens to Rhine and Gabriel! Add it to Goodreads Summary:Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion. But danger is never far behind.
Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago―surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.
The Two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine's twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous―and in a world where young woman only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can't seem to elude Rhine's father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion… by any means necessary.
Deity by Janenifer L. Armentrout Spencer Hill Press (November 8th, 2012) Series: Covenant #3 Why: *see answer above*: ) Actually, there is another book, Pure, coming out before this one, but I read it as soon as it entered my door so now I must have Deity.like.NOW! Add it to GoodreadsSummary: (Not available yet)
A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young Balzer + Bray (June 26th, 2012) Series: A Need So Beautiful #2
Why: Really loved A Need So Beautiful and the interesting plot in this series. It was another book that left me with a ton of questions that I gotta know the answers to! Plus, Harlin *swoon*. Add it to Goodreads Summary: Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.
After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose affect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.
Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really? Yes, I know that was 11: ) There are so many more books too! I tried to highlight books in a series here but below are a few stand-alone books I can't wait for…
If I Lie by Corrine Jackson Simon Pulse (August 28th, 2012) Add it to Goodreads
Breaking Beautiful by Janenifer Shaw Wolf Walker & Company (April 24th, 2012) Add it to Goodreads
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry Harlequin Teen (August 2012) Add it to Goodreads
Something Like Normal by Trish Doller Bloomsbury (June 19th, 2012) Add it to Goodreads
The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt Simon Pulse (July 10h, 2012) Add it to Goodreads
Don't forget to link each day! Signing up & then linking your Top 10 posts early you EXTRA entries into the $50.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. The last day to share your posts is January 8th, 2012. The winner will be picked using Random.org and announced during the week of the 9th, 2012. Good Luck! NOTE: this is the SAME Linky on each of the Co-Hosts Blogs, so please only enter your Name, Blog Name and URL once. Thanks!
Never to Sleep (Soul Screamers 5.5) by Rachel Vincent (Harlequin 1/1/2012) Irises by Francisco X. Stork (Arthur a. Levine 1/1/2012) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Janenifer E. Smith (Poppy 1/2/2012)
Darkness Falls (Immortal Beloved #2) by Cate Tiernan (Poppy 1/2/2012) Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook (Simon Pulse 1/3/2012) Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (Simon Pulse 1/3/2012)
Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer (Philomel 1/3/2012) Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala (HarperTeen 1/3/2012) Pretty Little Liars: A Pretty Little Liars Collection (HarperCollins 1/3/2012)
Dreaming Awake (Falling Under #2) by Gwen Hayes (NAL Trade 1/3/2012) Charmfall (Dark Elite #3) by Chloe Neill (NAL Trade 1/3/2012) Dragonswood by Janey Lee Carey (Penguin Young Readers 1/5/2012)
Love? Maybe by Heather Hepler (Dial 1/5/2012) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Dutton Juvenile 1/10/2012) A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis (Razorbill 1/10/2012)
Jessica Rules the Dark Side (Jessica #2) by Beth Fantaskey (Harcourt Children's Books 1/10/2012)
Cracked by K.M. Walton (Simon Pulse 1/3/2012) Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (HarperCollins 1/3/2012) The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams (Simon & Schuster 1/3/2012)
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer (Feiwel & Friends 1/3/2012) Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1) by Amanda Hocking (St. Martin's Griffin 1/3/2012) A Witch in Winter (Winter Trilogy #1) by Ruth Warburton (Hodder Children's Books 1/5/2012)
Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe (Omnific Publishing 1/10/2012) Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom (Disney Hyperion 1/10/2012) The Gathering Storm (The Katerina Trilogy #1) by Robin Bridges (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 1/10/2012)
What books are you most excited to read?
If you know of any other new releases for January 1st-15th feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John Publisher: Dial Books (April 12th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Source: ARC Tour Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sixteen-year-old Luke Dorsey is sent on a cross-country tour to promote his bestselling spiritual self-help guide accompanied by his agnostic older brother and former girlfriend, Fran, from whom he learns some things about salvation.
Review:
I'm a sucker for a road trip book so when I saw the cover for this one, I knew I had to read it. I think that due to the fact that I was strongly focused on the cover, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with this book. The summary doesn't tell us a lot so I didn't know how focused it would be on spirituality.
Luke Dorsey is sort of an overnight success. He is very young but is already super famous among book lovers. He has difficulty dealing with this success and is mostly amazed at the way people treat him. Due to his popularity, he is sent on a book tour to promote his story.
Matt, Luke's brother, is supposed to act as his transportation from one signing to another. It's easy to see from the beginning that these brothers are not similar. Matt is a bit irresponsible and not at all prepared for a trip. He is more than willing to use funds from the publisher to take care of whatever is needed for the trip and even with that, they have several missteps along the way.
Soon, they are not only dealing wtih the stresses of travel, but bringing Matt's girlfriend and her sister (who just happens to be Luke's ex-girlfriend) Fran. This creates a bit of drama, but at the same time they learn a lot about themselves and each other.
Luke was a funny character. His writings were hilarious as well. There was just something about him that I liked immediately. He seemed like a typical, awkward young boy. He was funny without meaning to be sometimes just because of how he reacted to his brothers antics. It was a nice touch for this book.
I don't typically read a lot of books with religious topics. Not because I don't like them, but mainly because they can get preachy or, boring.to be honest. This book wasn't at all boring. Antony John's writing really kept the story flowing nicely. But, this book does have a lot of religious talk and internal dialogue. This may be something that most people enjoy, but it brought the book down a bit for me.
Recommended: Road trip fans looking for something funny with a religious meaning.
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Make sure to check out my character interview with Alex, and enter to win a signed copy of Thou Shalt Not Road Trip! Ends 4/28.
Today kicks off The Teen Book Scene book tour for Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John. One of the characters, Alex, is here today to share her wisdom about road trips.
Antony John has been kind enough to offer up a SIGNED ARC of Thou Shalt Not Road Trip so be sure to sign up below!
Questions to Alex 1. What advice would you give to someone who was planning a road trip with their boyfriend/girlfriend and members of their family? Do bring deodorant, beverages, energy bars, and a sense of humor. Do not bring too much baggage—I’m not talking about suitcases, either. Emotional issues, it turns out, get magnified by close (read: claustrophobic) living conditions. And it’s hard to get away from everyone when you’re stuck in a car all day. And if someone has forgotten deodorant, well.. things get ugly really fast. 2. What's the coolest"fun-fact" you learned while traveling? That the mid-point of Route 66 is in Adrian, Texas, and there’s even an excellent café there (imaginatively named the MidPoint Café) to mark it. Order the ugly crust pie for dessert. You won’t be disappointed. 3. What would you say is the biggest difference between you and Fran? I’ve always been able to shut out distractions. If people suck—hi Mom and Dad!—I ignore them. If something is holding me back, I cut it loose and move on. If I want something very much, I can focus like a laser beam. Unfortunately, sometimes the distractions actually matter, and I guess I’ve made a habit of overlooking them too (sorry, Fran). 4. Tell us one thing about you that people may not get from reading the book? I care. Deeply. About almost everything. Even my pet betta fish, which my lab mates are kindly babysitting for the entire summer. When I get back in a few weeks, I’m going to bake them an organic carrot cake as a thank you. (I’m assuming the betta fish will still be alive.) 5. Who really surprised you the most on the trip? That’d be Fran. When you grow up with someone, you figure you know her. We’ve had our share of terrific moments, and fights, and resolutions, and through it all I’ve come to know who she is. Or rather, I thought I knew who she is. But actually, Fran feels things in a way I don’t. She feels the weight of things, the importance of the truthfulness of things, the need for the world to make sense. I almost wish for her sake that she didn’t, as it made this trip pretty hard for her, to be honest. But I admire her for it, all the same. Which is more than I can say for some people..
Thanks so much for having me along today, Jessica, and a hi to your readers!
Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John Publisher: Dial Books (April 12th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Sixteen-year-old Luke Dorsey is sent on a cross-country tour to promote his bestselling spiritual self-help guide accompanied by his agnostic older brother and former girlfriend, Fran, from whom he learns some things about salvation.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED ARC of Thou Shalt Not Road Trip.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter.
Name and email must be provided.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US/Canada only and ends April 18th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers (March 20th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 448 pages Source: Author/Publisher Rating: 4 of 5 stars Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance…
When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.
Review:
Michelle Zink is a master of beautiful, flowing language. I've always enjoyed the way she describes people and places. It is so clear and detailed. A Temptation of Angels is about Helen Cartwright, a young girl who has her world turned upside down on night when her parents are murdered. With few belongings, and a note from her mother, she follows instructions that lead her to the house of 2 strangers. This is where she meets Griffin and Darius.
She has no idea what's going on and Darius, the older of the brothers doesn't seem too pleased with her arrival. Soon she gets a much better understanding of who she is, what her parents were trying to protect, and what she will have to do in order to stay safe.
Helen was a pretty strong character. I was amazed at her ability to remain calm under stressful situations. This is a historical novel so she seemed very composed and poised most of the time. Then there were times where her emotions showed — like when she was with Griffin, or when she would become stubborn when listening to Darius and his demands. While she does make a few silly, and dangerous, decisions, she was enjoyable to get to know.
Darius is hot-headed, bossy, and difficult. He knew how to push Helen's buttons but in a way, that helped her become so much stronger. Griffin was the sweet, gentle brother. There was immediate chemistry between Helen and Griffin and I enjoyed watching their relationship form. Then there is another young man from Helen's past that truly makes her question what is right and wrong. I won't spoil it, but I liked this character and I felt he really brought a lot to the story. In a lot of ways he helped me to better understand Helen as well. I am curious to see where this"triangle" goes.
The plot and world-building of this story is very complex. Most of this book did seem to be focused on setting up the world these characters live in. We get to know the paranormal creatures, history, and powers involved. For this reason, the beginning was a bit slow for me. There is a large chunk of it dedicated to explaining the history and current situation Helen is faced with, which was needed, but got a little tiring. But, by the middle I was hooked on this story and excited to see what would happen.
A Temptation of Angels was a great beginning to this paranormal story involving fantastic world-building, a steamy romance, and a heroine seeking justice for her family.
Recommended: Paranormal/historical fans looking for a new series with a complex format and great characters.
