I'd like to welcome this weeks Guest Reviewer, Gina from Book Dragon's Lair. Thank you!
********************** From Amazon.com... "This tale based on a true story about a charming penguin family living in New York City's Central Park Zoo will capture the hearts of penguin lovers everywhere. Roy and Silo, two male penguins, are "a little bit different." They cuddle and share a nest like the other penguin couples, and when all the others start hatching eggs, they want to be parents, too. Determined and hopeful, they bring an egg-shaped rock back to their nest and proceed to start caring for it. They have little luck, until a watchful zookeeper decides they deserve a chance at having their own family and gives them an egg in need of nurturing."
Two male penguins in New York City Central Park Zoo hatch an egg. Yes, two males. The book is cute but simplistic. It is a "picture book" geared for kindergarten and I can see why some parent's are in an uproar. I also don't see what the big deal is. Male and female Chintrap penguins look the same so if you see a couple, there is no way to tell it is male/male. The two boys did all the mating rituals that the other couples did, there is no way the zookeeper could have been mistaken.
You can only assume that the pair stayed together through more than one breeding season, otherwise why would they try to hatch a rock. Only after seeing the boys try this, did the zookeeper help. He gave the pair an unhatched egg from another couple that did not do well when taking care of two eggs. He DID NOT take another couple's egg from them, but instead relieved them of having to care for two eggs and possibly losing both.
Full color, short & simplistic, looks to be a bit bigger then legal size paper. I don't know what kind of media happened during/after the hatching, but really, no matter what your view on this is, the penguins are together, the zookeeper did a good thing and baby Tango survived when maybe she would not have. We should not throw away our children (the egg) when there is another option for them.
Edited to add picture & publish info, "Wow, a comment already!", and... This book is for my banned/challenged category of the 999 challenge. I picked it because it was a children's book and I just love children's books. The librarian my children had in elementary school would not have taken this out of the school library but she may have placed it with "penguin" instead of the picture books. Usually the kindergarten kids stayed with the picture books. This is what she did with a Holocaust picture book.
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Gina, thank you again for such an awesome review! I love being able to add a bit of diversity of literature for my future students to read. Thank you!
Please visit Gina and share some book love over at Book Dragon's Lair. Check out her original review too!
This week's guest reviewer is Sandy from Pirate Penguin's Reads! Welcome Sandy!
********************* Synopsis:When a mandatory course forces Fiona to “try the knot” with super-jock Todd Harding, she’s convinced life could not possibly get any worse. Until moments later, when her long-time crush is paired with her arch-enemy (otherwise known as Todd’s obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that’s nothing compared to her best friend’s fate – a year with the very shy, very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer. A series of hilarious pranks and misunderstandings leave Fiona wondering: is there something her supposed “best friend” hasn’t told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than a deep voice and an awesome music collection? And perhaps most intriguing of all, is it possible that Todd Harding could actually have a heart – and a brain – beneath his pretty-boy exterior? The idea of being forcibly "married" to someone you hate for one year is a rather scary thought isn't it? This is precisely what happens to Fiona Sheehan, our geeky, sarcastic, I-don't-give-a-crap-about-you-think-of-me! main character. Paired up with her "husband" Todd Harding, a popular male cheerleader, Fiona doesn't think it could get any worse — but of course it does — when Todd's gorgeous cheerleader girlfriend gets Gabe Webber, Fee's long-time crush for a partner. With her diploma dangling in the process, Fee's stuck with Todd and forced to endure one year of "holy" (hellish) matrimony. Within the first few pages I was hooked; Fiona had such a strong, witty personality that it was hard to ignore her (which basically means I couldn't put the book down!). In high school, everyone's guilty of being judgmental and Fee's no exception. She makes quick judgment calls on everybody she knows but Todd calls her out on it. The bantering and pranks between these two were hilarious! Whenever Fiona was especially snarky, she reminded me a little of Jessica Darling (who is the queen of snark). I kept laughing out loud when they'd have their fights. Every character had a great personality, even the minor ones like Sam, the little girl Fiona babysits. The added element of a surprise romance made the story even more enjoyable. But when it comes down to it, A Match Made in High School is really about Fiona learning to see people for who they are and not what they seem to be (a high school lesson that everyone learns at some point). Kristin Walker managed to create this funny, wildly entertaining story with a good lesson to be learned. This is easily one of my favorites of the year and definitely pre-order worthy:) ********************** Thank you Sandy for such a wonderful review. Please visit her at Pirate Penguin's Reads and read her original review. I'm definitely taking your advice and putting this on my TBR list!
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. Wow! Big week for books!
For Review:
From Penguin: "Talk to Me Like I'm Someone You Love"
From Disney-Hyperion: "Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior" and "Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword"
From Bloomsbury: "The Sky is Everywhere"
From Penguin: "The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott" and "Girl in Translation"
Once Every Never (Once Every Never #1) by Lesley Livingston (Penguin Canada 7/14/2011) Love Story by Janenifer Echols (MTV Books 7/19/2011) Pearl by Jo Knowles (Henry Holt and Co. 7/19/2011)
The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt (Wendy Lamb Books 7/19/2011) Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker (Bloomsbury 7/19/2011) Ripple by Mandy Hubbard (Razorbill/Penguin 7/21/2011)
Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1) by Janenifer Estep (Kensington Publishing Corp. 7/26/2011) Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White (HarperTeen 7/26/2011) Everblue (Mer Tales #1) by Brenda Pandos (Obsidian Mountain Publishing 7/31/2011)
Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer (Philomel 7/26/2011)
Wildefire (Wildefire #1) by Karsten Knight (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 7/26/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for July 14th- 31st feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
I'd like to welcome Sandy, from Pirate Penguin's Reads, as this week's Guest Reviewer!
*********************
From Amazon.com...
"For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment. But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen — and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life." When I received Hush Hush in the mail, I was ecstatic! I've only heard good things about this book and once I read the excerpts on Simon & Schuster, I knew that I had to read this book.
I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed. Hush Hush delivers the enticing story of Nora Grey, a no-nonsense sophomore who gets paired up in biology class with Patch, the mysterious and arrogant bad boy that we all hate (and love... even if we don't want to admit it). With his dark eyes and mocking smile, Patch both thrills and terrifies Nora... unwilling to let him affect her, Nora tries to counteract her growing attraction by everything she can to stay away from him. But Nora can't push Patch out of her thoughts because after meeting him, scary things start happening and Nora can't shake off the feeling of someone's eyes watching her every move. Her paranoia increases when she realizes that whenever something bad happens, Patch has the habit of always being there, waiting for her with a mischievous smirk. Despite her better judgment, Nora finds herself falling for Patch... but soon discovers that Patch's secrets are darker and graver than she ever imagined-and that now she plays a part in his dangerous game.
I loved Hush Hush. I couldn't put it down, not for a second! I enjoyed watching Nora verbally spar with Patch; he was probably the most maddening, evil, infuriatingly conceited character I've ever come across. But that didn't stop me (or Nora) from finding him quite alluring... I understood why Nora wanted to simultaneously smack him in the face while wanting to fall into his arms; you can't help but like Patch, despite his roguish ways. His unpredictability was what kept me turning the pages... As for Nora, I found her to be a great character and it was funny to see how Patch affected her. She went from cool and collected to hot and bothered the moment Patch entered the room! Their attraction was sizzling, and Patch just made it scorching. So if you're looking for a dark, edgy romance with shots of mystery in between, Hush Hush is the book for you! I'd definitely recommend this novel to anyone who wants to get their pulse racing, whether it be from fear or swooning. Patch will make sure of that for you.
****************** Sandy, thank you so much for such an awesome review! Please visit Sandy at Pirate Penguin's Reads and share some book love! Please view her original review as well!
It has, literally, been forever since I have done an IMM. I've been swamped with homework and last week we took my daughter to her first concert (post on that to come later). It was a blast! Here are the books I have received over the past month. Special thanks to Random House, HarperTeen, Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster, Penguin/Speak, Shelley Workinger, Janenifer Echols, and Ednah Walters.
Review Every Little Thing in the World by Nina de Gramont She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott Promises to Keep by Charles De Lint The Forever Crush (Pink Locker Society) by Debra Moffitt Dark Eden (ARC) by Patrick Carman Flawless (ARC) by Lara Chapman Tighter (ARC) by Adele Griffin Wake Unto Me (ARC) by Lisa Cach Moonglass by Jessi Kirby Bitter End by Janenifer Brown The Lucky Kind (ARC) by Alyssa B. Sheinmel Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) (ARC) by Sarah Mlynowski Wildefire (ARC) by Karsten Knight The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (ARC) by Michelle Hodkins We'll Always Have Summer by Janeny Han Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook Bite Club by Rachel Caine Ordinary Beauty by Laura Weiss (2 copies- one for giveaway) Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky (2 copies- one for giveaway) Forgiven (ARC) by Janet Fox Nocturne (ARC) by Christine Johnson Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn Betrayed (signed) by Ednah Walters Everfound by Neil Shusterman Kiss of Death by Lauren Henderson Tighter by Adele Griffin (2nd copy) The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook Passion by Lauren Kate
Swag Betrayed by Ednah Walters(signed) bookmarks Sabine and Kisri by Moira Rogers (signed) bookplates Bitter End by Janenifer Brown (signed) bookplate and bookmark, plus bracelet (not pictured)
Gift Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Signed Love Story by Janenifer Echols Settling by Shelley Workinger (NOTE: I'm blurbed!!)
Other Goodies The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt (book and signed poster) A giveaway is going on now for a poster just like this one!
Starcrossed Book Trailer
And I just had to share a brand new book trailer I saw yesterday. I just read Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini and it was beyond amazing!! If you haven't added this book to your goodreads list, do it NOW! This book just jumped into my top 3 of this year so far. Check out the UK book trailer!
What did you get in your mailbox this week?
*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.
"If you enjoyed 'Across the Universe,' you'll hands down devour 'A Million Suns.'" — Miss Remmers
Release Date: January 10th, 2012 Publisher: Penguin Challenges: 75+ Challenge
"Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision — no more Phydus, no more lies.But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. "
After the whirl wind that was my experience with "Across the Universe, " I was super excited to receive a copy of "A Million Suns" from Beth Revis' publisher. Beth also sent me some awesome bookmarks and cool bracelets to hand out to students. The students are LOVING the swag and it really helped promote the novel — more so than my constant plugging.:)
While it took me a while to remember all the twists that were revealed in "Across the Universe, " once I caught on (with a bit of help from Michelle Ball — Hooked to Books) I found myself enveloped in the story and characters once again. I read the first four chapters and then had to put the book down to focus on school but this weekend, as the semester ended, I read the rest of the book in one sitting snuggled up in a blanket with hot chocolate into the wee hours of the night. It's been such a long time since I've been able to do that and I enjoyed every minute of it.
This time around Amy is on a journey to find clues left behind for her while Elder struggles to maintain order on Godspeed. I loved the intricate levels of the ship descriptions and enjoyed the alternating perspectives. I felt like "A Million Suns" and so many more levels (no pun intended) and much more revelations than before. If you enjoyed "Across the Universe," you'll hands down devour "A Million Suns."
-Visit Beth around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
To the FTC, with love: ARC received from Publisher
It has been a crazy month since we moved so I am extremely behind on IMM. This isn't everything from the past month but it's most of the books/swag. Hopefully soon I can get back on track and do them each week again: ) Sorry for the picture overload in this post!
Special thanks to HarperTeen, Penguin, Bloomsbury, Little Brown, Random House, and Sourcebooks. And, big hugs to Deb Caletti for taking the time to sign my books, Jeri Smith-Ready for sending me a signed copy of Bad to the Bone, Nancy Holder and Erin (love you both!), Angeline Kace, Michelle Zink, and Sophie Jordan for the other goodies this week!
Signed Books
Review Audition (ARC) by Stasia Ward Kehoe Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink The Power of Six (ARC) by Pittacus Lore Supernaturally (ARC) by Kiersten White Love Story by Janenifer Echols The Carrier of the Mark (ARC) by Leigh Fallon Don't Breathe a Word (ARC) by Holly Cupala The Fox Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson Vanish (ARC) by Sophie Jordan Sweet Venom (ARC) by Tera Lynn Childs The Dream Catchers by The Predicteds by Christine Seifert Glow (ARC +2 HB copies) by Amy Kathleen Ryan Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evens Hades by Alexandra Adornetto Sweetly by Jackson Pearce Melody Burning (ARC) by Whitley Strieber The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor The Shattering by Karen Healey … and adorable towel from Little, Brown!
Purchased A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells Birthmarked by Caragh M O'Brien The Fledgling Handbook 101 by P.C. Cast
Purchased (Signed)
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead Wings by Aprilynne Pike Spells by Aprilynne Pike
Gifted (Signed) Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (and signed bookplate)
From Ash to Nash Tour (got signed) Across the Universe by Beth Revis Hourglass by Myra McEntire The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Swag Firelight and Vanish cards and stickers from Sophie Jordan Descended by Blood bookmarks (signed) by Angeline Kace Card from Deb Caletti
Deb Caletti (Signed) When I worked with Deb Caletti on the Stand Up Against Abuse feature she was kind enough to sign all of the books I had by her! The Fortunes of Indigo Sky Honey, Baby, Sweetheart The Six Rules of Maybe Stay The Secret Life of Prince Charming The Nature of Jade
Something that didn't come IMM!
I got a new car!! It's a 2011 Kia Soul (Alien color!) and I absolutely love it. Technically this is my very first car that's just for me (okay.me and my 3 year old, ha!) But if you are thinking"ya know, this car makes me think of a hamster" you would be correct! It is the car that was featured on the VMAs and I adore their commercial!
What did you get in your mailbox this week?
*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.
I survived the cold this week. Aberdeen was, according to CNN, the third coldest place in the nation on Friday. Brr! I spent New Years Eve at school attending a jazz dance (which was awesome) and returned to Northern Minnesota the next day. That was a lot of driving. I saw "The Blind Side" with my mom tonight — such an inspiring movie. Wow!
I just finished "Some Girls Are" and plan on writing the review later today (Monday). This week, while I didn't get a chance to formally review anything, I did have two quick giveaways (Congrats to Sharon and Esme), I posted my Privacy Policy, along with my latest Award. I also posted all of my recaps: December Wrap Up, Books Read in Fall 2009, End of Fall 2009, Guest Reviewers, and Hello 2010.
Sandy was this week's Guest Reviewer — donating her review of Hush Hush. Please share some book love and visit her at Pirate Penguin's Reads.
My holiday campaign to collect Guest Reviews ends today (my Sunday Salon was late...) — we acquired 44 reviews! Thanks to everyone who has donated! I will post later today (after I go to bed and wake up again) who won the $25 Gift Certificate.
I gained three followers this week and now have 37 amazing followers. Welcome and Thank you!
This week I am so excited to begin Bloggiesta! I've compiled a Twitter list of all the participants who have Twitter and I'm really excited about it. I spent a lot of time on it so I hope people use it. Overall, I'm just really excited to start Bloggiesta. I'll be starting a day early, as I'll be driving on Friday for five hours and unpacking everything. If you haven't joined in yet, check it out at @Maw Books, there's still time!
From my insane list that there's no way I'm going to finish, I'd like to finish "Girlfriend Material," "Sea Change," and "Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single." My list of books to read/things to do during break:
Read "Inside Out"
Read "Elmer, the Christmas Elf"
Post all the Guest Reviews I've received for My Holiday Book Review Campaign
Finish "The Source of Miracles" (Review)
Read "Lucifer Rising" (Review)
Read "Comfort Living" (Review)
Read "I Used to Know That" (Review)
Read "Some Girls Are" (ARC — Goodreads Winner)
Read "The Van Alen Legacy" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Love You, Hate You, Miss You" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Truly, Madly: A Novel" (ARC — Goodreads Winner)
Read "Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Sea Change" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Jumping off Swings" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Before I Die" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Embellish" (Review)
Read "Gone" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Cracked Up to Be" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "How to Buy a Love of Reading" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Oh.My.Gods." (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Dark Places" (Library — Momma Remmers)
Read "Nothing But Ghosts" (Library — Momma Remmers)
It's BlogFest time! This is hosted by A Journey of Books and it gives bloggers a chance to share their love of BOOKS! If you'd like to see the other blogs hosting a giveaway just USE GOOGLE.
Now, for this giveaway I wanted to offer up some of the most highly anticipated releases of the fall. Please note that this will be pre-ordered for you so the arrival of the book will depend on the release date of the book you choose.
One lucky winner will receive one of these books from The Book Depository. Please check the LIST to make sure they ship to you. Rules: Must be at least 13 to enter. Name and email must be provided. Winner will have 48 hours to send me their address. Enter by filling out the form below. This is open INTERNATIONALLY and the giveaway ends Sunday night. I'll announce the winner on Monday.
Next stops for the BlogFest giveaways. 39 Curling Up By The Fire 40 Cuzinlogic 41 Dasef's Book Central 42 Delaney Diamond — Sweet & Sensual Romance 43 Desperado Penguin
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!
It's been a while since I had time to do an IMM but it's finally here! Special thanks to Random House, Candiewick, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Scholastic, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Macmillian, Harlequin, Kristie Cook, Kari Townsend, and David Goodberg. Thank you all for the fabulous books over the past few weeks!
Review The Iron Queen (ARC) by Julie Kagawa Future Imperfect (ARC) by K. Ryer Breese I Will Save You by Matt de la Pena The Back Door of Midnight by Elizabeth Chandler The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie Selected Shorts and Other Methods of Time Travel by David Goodberg Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian Sister Mischief (ARC) by Laura Goode Blink & Caution (ARC) by Tim Wynne- Jones What Comes After (ARC) by Steve Watkins The Field and the Forge by Henry H. Neff The Anti-Prom (ARC) by Abby McDonald Wish by Joseph Monnington Teenage Waistland by Lynn Biederman The Fortune of Carmen Navarro by Jane Bryant The Piper's Son (ARC) by Melina Marchetta Small As An Elephant (ARC) by Janenifer Richard Jacobson When the Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler Rage (ARC) by Jackie Morse Kessler Wildthorn by Jane Eagland It Started With a Dare by Lindsay Faith Rech The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused by Kari Lee Townsend (not pictured)
Picture Books Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama Tell Me the Day Backwards by Albert Lamb Tangled: The Junior Novelization by Irene Trimble (not pictured) A Dazzling Day by Devin Ann Wooster Tangled: Read Aloud Storybook by Christine Peymani
Won Where She Went (ARC) by Gayle Forman and a $15 B&N and $25 Applebees giftcard that I won from Kristie Cook!
Added Late XVI by Julia Karr
What did you get in your mailbox this week?
*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristie at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.
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.
Today is Top 10 Book Covers of 2011!
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi HarperCollins (November 15th, 2011)
Why: This cover is beautiful! It's one you have to see in person to truly see the beauty of it. I think the girl really shows a strong personality — which is exactly what Juliette is. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini HarperCollins (May 31st, 2011) Why: I fell in love with this cover from day one and it is another one you have to see in person. The shimmer effect some of these newer books have is just incredible! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: How do you defy destiny? Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood.. and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history. As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.
Divergent by Veronica Roth Katherine Tegen Books (May 3rd, 2011)
Why: This cover screams"powerful" to me and that perfectly describes this book. I can't imagine a better cover for this title. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.
Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle Patrice Michelle (June 27th, 2011) Why: Isn't this so pretty? Everything about this cover drew me in — the colors, the trees, the girl, the dress — all perfect! Plus I really think it fits the vibe of the book. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate… until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.
After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.
Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young Balzer & Bray (June 21st, 2011)
Why: I really like the golden look of this cover. I know some people are turned off when a person is on the cover but I like it. I like having a glimpse at a character and this was another cover that I felt showed off the theme of the story. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten…
Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.
Love Story by Janenifer Echols MTV Books (July 19th, 2011) Why: I admit it, I'm a hopeless romantic. If a guy and girl are on a cover being all"cutie patootie" together, it grabs my heart. This is one of many of these covers but this one was my favorite"couple" cover. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines.
For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter.. so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?
Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter.. except this story could come true.
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey Penguin (December 8th, 2011)
Why: Who wouldn't think this is beautiful?? The colors are amazing and the way the dress turns into flower petals. so pretty! Even the text is so nice and detailed. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger
Lenzi hears voices and has visions — gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker — someone who can talk to and help lost souls — and that he has been her Protector for centuries.
Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.
Wither by Lauren DeStefano Simon & Schuster (March 22nd, 2011) Why: The detail work that went into this cover is outstanding. Each part has significance to the story (which is a big perk to me) and it just gave off that"dystopian" look. Another book you gotta make sure to see in person! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.
Hourglass by Myra McEntire Egmont (June 14th, 2011)
Why: This cover really makes you think. It's so unique and I do love the color (obviously!). Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:One hour to rewrite the past.. For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past. Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes New American Library (March 1st, 2011) Why: Beautiful!! I never thought I'd love a cover that was mostly black with just a touch of color, but wow, this one is perfect! The girl is gorgeous (and that hair, OMG), and the black flowers really make the red dress pop out. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams. As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.
Tomorrow's Topic — Top 10 Book Boyfriends!
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!
BBPON: March 7th-11th Join here: http://pacomediagroup.com/
I remember hearing about this conference last year but I decided to wait till this year to attend. I'm really excited to check it out and hear from all the great speakers!
List of SpeakersSue Grimshaw - Random House Publishing Group Jennifer Bonnell- Penguin YA Editor Lindsey Rudnickas – Netgalley Kristen Lamb – WANA Consulting Don Dauria- Samhain Publishing Kate Lied – Bloomsbury Publishing Ariel Tachna – Dreamspinner Press Danielle Poiesz – Book Country
Wednesday – March 7th – Full Schedule
Panels – Opening Day Where do Books Come From: Review Copy Distribution – Netgalley – Goodreads – Publisher Blogs: Tor.com, Romance at Random, USA Today Book Blog – Review Guidelines: Don’t be Overwhelmed
Thursday – March 8th – Full Schedule
Panels – Working with Authors Approaching Authors – The Creative Process for Authors and Bloggers – What Authors look for in Reviews – Publishing: The Options Authors Have Now – Should Authors Review? Genre Discussions: Category Romance – GLBT – Inspirational – More TBA
Friday – March 9th – Full Schedule
Panels – Industry Day What PR Departments do – Working with Private PR Companies – Blogging’s Role in “Traditional” Media – Building a Relationship with Publishers – Obligation to Publishers: What are the Expectations?
Saturday – March 10th – Full Schedule
Panels – Young Adult Focus – Online Safety – Keeping Social Media Social – Review Guidelines: Defining Your Blog Negative Reviews: Fallout and Fears – Finding Independent Presses and Mis-use of the Term – To Review or Not to Review Self-Pub What Bloggers Want: Don’t make Publishers Read Our Minds – Book Blogging as a Business?
Sunday – March 11th – Full Schedule
Panels – Time Management – Online Organization Specialist – Writers Block: Creativity Coach Covers: How Important are They? – Graphic Novels: Reading and Reviewing – Meet Your Local Book Store – Blogger Manifesto 2012
True by Erin McCarthy Published: Penguin (May 7th, 2013) Reading Level: New Adult ebook edition: 222 pages Rating: 5 of 5 stars Summary: When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job… unbeknownst to Rory.
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…
Review:
I really enjoyed this story. It was cute, light, and fun. First we meet Rory, who doesn't have a lot of experience with guys. She's very focused on school and is super smart. She gets really uncomfortable when put in certain social situations and her roommates make it their goal to help her.
In comes Tyler. Tyler is the bad boy. He's the complete opposite from Rory, it seems. They meet a few times and while they may feel some attraction, they both know they have nothing in common. But Rory's roommates won't stop obsessing about Rory's love life. They want her to let loose and have fun so they recruit Tyler to help her out of her shell.
Over time the two do connect and see their similarities. Tyler may be a"bad boy" but he's a nice guy and very protective of Rory. It's easy to see that his feelings for her run pretty deep. But things don't stay good for long and Tyler finds his horrible past coming to bite him. He works really hard to try to take care of his siblings because of his terrible mother, but it puts a ton of pressure on him.
Rory and Tyler must find ways to deal with these issues. Some aspects of this book were a bit predictable but I still really enjoyed it and didn't put it down while reading. I am excited to read more from Erin and I hope she writes more NA titles.
The Proximade Award was given to me by Sharon at Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews a couple weeks ago. Thank you, Sharon for this awesome Award!
The Proximade Award is given to blogs that invests and believes in the Proximity — nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.
Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award
I choose for my eight bloggers to recognize...
Sheila from One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
Esme from Chocolate and Croissants
Sandy from Pirate Penguin Reads
Gina from Book Dragon's Lair
Jasmyn from Jasmyn's Stuff
Leslie from That Chick That Reads
Scarlett from From the Heart
and... of course, Sharon from Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews
Please visit these blogs and share some book love!:) Thank you Sharon for such a great award!
I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler (Sourcebooks Fire 5/1/2011) Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready (Simon Pulse 5/3/2011) Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires #10) by Rachel Caine (NAL Hardcover 5/3/2011)
Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth (Katherine Tegen Books 5/3/2011) Everfound (The Skinjacker Trilogy #3) by Neal Shusterman (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 5/3/2011) So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti (Viking Juvenile 5/3/2011)
But I Love Him by Amanda Grace (Flux 5/8/2011) Bitter End by Janenifer Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 5/10/2011) What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (Penguin Young Readers Group 5/10/2011)
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs (Walker Books for Young Readers 5/10/2011) Tighter by Adele Griffin (Knoph Books for Young Readers 5/10/2011) The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel (Knoph Books for Young Readers 5/10/2011)
Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott (Simon Pulse 5/24/2011)
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 5/3/2011) Die for Me (Revenants #1) by Amy Plum (HarperTeen 5/10/2011) The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski (EgmontUSA 5/10/2011)
Flawless by Lara Chapman (Bloomsbury 5/10/2011) The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux 5/10/2011) Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 5/23/2011)
Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1) by Josephine Angelini (HarperTeen 5/31/2011) Blood Magic (The Blood Journals #1) by Tessa Gratton (Random House Books for Young Readers 5/24/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for May 1st-31st feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
I am super excited to be a stop on the tour for EASY by Tammara Webber. I knew when I first spotted this book that I would love it and it is truly one of my all-time favorite books. It didn't surprise me at all to hear that it was picked up by Penguin. If you are interested in a New Adult title, you gotta pick this one up!
Tammara Webber’s TOP 5 YA Novels:
The Truth About Forever
Please Ignore Vera Dietz
If I Stay/Where She Went
Lea ving Paradise
Graceling
Easy by Tammara Webber Publisher: Berkley Trade (November 6th, 2012) Reading Level: New Adult Paperback: 310 pages Rescued by a stranger. Haunted by a secret Sometimes, love isn’t easy… He always saw her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…
The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.
Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a paperback copy of EASY.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US Only and ends November 16th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Next Tour Stop Monday, November 5th — GONE WITH WORDS blog (http://www.gonewiththewords.com/)
This week was an amazingggg book week! I got 2 huge packages from HarperTeen, and books from Scholastic, Penguin, Spencer Hill Press (Thanks Kate!), Tor, St. Martin's, and a surprise from Jordan Deen!
Review Wanted (ARC) by Heidi Ayarbr Dreamless (ARC) by Josephine Angelini (!!!!!) Darkness Before Dawn (ARC) by L.A. London Hemlock (ARC) by Kathleen Peacock Until I Die (ARC) by Amy Plum The Lost Code (ARC) by Kevin Emerson Sweet Evil (ARC) by Wendy Higgins Destined (ARC) by Aprilynne Pike Vesper by Jeff Sampson Havoc by Jeff Sampson Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake Lenobia's Vow by P.C. and Kristin Cast A Confusion of Princes (ARC) by Garth Nix Never Fall Down (ARC) by Patricia McCormick All the Right Stuff (ARC) by Walter Dean Myers Fall From Grace (ARC) by Charles Benoit Trafficked (ARC) by Kim Purcell Perception (ARC) by Kim Harrington Minder (SIGNED) by Kate Kaynak Half Moon (SIGNED) by Jordan Deen
Purchased The Fault in Our Stars (SIGNED) by John Green
What did you get in your mailbox this week?
*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.
