I had starred this post awhile ago — like in April at Good Books and Good Wine and have been meaning to put together a post. I can now cross this off my endless To Do list!
I did okay (read 24/100) — but I'd like to have done much better. I look forward to reevaluating where I stand later on in the year!
Read On my TBR List
100. Hate List by Jennifer Brown 99. Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix 98. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly 97. Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix 96. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Claus 95. Forever by Judy Blume 94. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale 93. Tithe by Holly Black 92. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott 91. Wings by Aprillynne Pike 90. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green 89. Angus, Thongs And Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison 88. Marked by PC And Kristin Cast 87. Maximum Ride series by James Patterson 86. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 85. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson 84. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak 83. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli 82. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot 81. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen 80. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin 79. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 78. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen 77. Evernight by Claudia Gray 76. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman 75. Life As We Knew It series by Susan Beth Pfeffer 74. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston 73. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 72. Alana: The First Adventure series by Tamora Pierce 71. Stardust by Neil Gaiman 70. Unwind by Neil Shusterman 69. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech 68. Paper Towns by John Green 67. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles 66. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith 65. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 64. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon 63. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell 62. Blue Bloods series by Melissa De La Cruz 61. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous 60. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 59. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt 58. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen 57. Eragon by Christopher Paoloni 56. Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine 55. The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith 54. Fallen by Lauren Kate 53. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett 52. The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot 51. Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke 50. Number The Stars by Lois Lowry 49. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding 48. The Maze Runner by James Dashner 47. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares 46. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 45. The Summoning series by Kelley Armstrong 44. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 43. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson 42. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card 41. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones 40. Wake series by Lisa McMann 39. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 38. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume 37. Looking For Alaska by John Green 36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 35. A Great And Terrible Beauty series by Libba Bray 34. His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman 33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 32. Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare 31. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain 30. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr 29. Forest of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan 28. Holes by Louis Sacher 27. The Outsiders by SE Hinton 26. The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger 25. The Princess Bride by William Goldman 24. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 23. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank 22. Uglies series by Scott Westerfield 21. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia 20. Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder 19. Book Thief by Markus Zusak 18. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carlson Levine 17. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead 16. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 15. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 14. Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery 13. The Giver by Lois Lowry 12. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare 11. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 10. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis 9. A Wrinkle In Time series by Madeline L'engle 8. Graceling series by Kristin Cashore 7. Percy Jackson And The Olympians by Rick Riordan 6. Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan 5. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen 4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee 3. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer 2. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling 1. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
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!
Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (August 16th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 336 pages Source: Publisher Series: Perfect Chemistry #3 Rating: 5 of 5 stars Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks—whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the next thrill.
Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.
Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?
Review: What can I really say about this series when I'm sure you have all heard how epically awesome it is? If you haven't picked up Perfect Chemistry, do it! This series is one of my all-time favorites and I'm amazed at how Simone Elkeles tells a story. Chain Reaction is packed with passion, danger, and characters you will quickly grow to love.
Chain Reaction introduces us to the youngest of the Fuentes boys, Luis. Aww, Luis is just such a heartwarming character. One of the best things about this series is that we never have to say goodbye to the previous characters. Their stories carry onto the next books flawlessly even though the focus is on a different character. So if you are a fan of Alex and Carlos, don't worry, they are in here as well.
Luis was always the good Fuentes boy. He's smart, determined, and hopeful when it comes to his future. To Luis, nothing is more important than his family and we can easily see the love he has for his mother and brothers. The chapters alternate from Luis's point of view to Nikki's. This is something I really enjoyed throughout the series because sometimes books add too many POV's and it all gets confusing. Simone keeps readers' attention right where it should be.
Nikki has been hurt badly in the past by a boy from the wrong side of town. She has closed herself off from boys in an attempt to keep from getting hurt again. If there is one thing she knows, it's to never date a gang member. But Luis comes in with his unique personality and changes her way of thinking about guys in general. Maybe things are more complicated than they seem when it comes to the gangs. On one hand Luis seems like a typical teenage boy, and on the other he comes off as much more mature and level-headed. For Nikki, it is the first time someone gets through the walls she has built around herself and it scares her.
Of course, like Simone's previous books in this series, the gang is never far away and it seemed that even though Luis wants nothing to do with them, they are after him. The way Simone is able to represent the life of a gang member never fails to amaze me. You can feel the danger and the fear of the characters. The conflict and drama seems so real that it's impossible to not have your heart racing as you read.
As Luis and Nikki try to build their relationship, it seems that danger is always lurking nearby and Luis can't let Nikki get hurt. He is all too familiar with what the gang can do when they don't get their way.
Chain Reaction couldn't have presented a better conclusion for this heartpounding, fiercely romantic series. Simone Elkeles delivers a forbidden romance story in a way I have never witnessed before. Full of intriguing characters, action-packed drama, and alluring romance, the Perfect Chemistry series should not be passed up! You will have no choice but to fall in love with the Fuentes boys.
Yes, it's true. The End is HERE! Don't be afraid. We have prepared for this and have all the necessary tools for survival. Want to know more about THE END? Check out this link to Epic Reads. I am the blogger for the UNEARTHLY series by Cynthia Hand. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of the series. I even wrote my very first letter to a character in my review of HALLOWED. HALLOWED and UNEARTHLY were both amazing books and I was super excited to get my hands on BOUNDLESS. Even though it is the end *tear!* I will never forget this series! Today I have an interview with the lovely Cynthia Hand. Be sure to check out the giveaway below for a chance to win UNEARTHLY and HALLOWED!
1. What originally inspired you to write about mythology?
Actua lly, it was a single verse I remember puzzling over in the Bible, years and years ago, something about the Nephilim, the children of angels and men, and how they were the “heroes of old, men of renown.” I was like, whoa, that’d be a lot of pressure, to know that you’re part ANGEL. So when I was writing about Clara, and I knew that she was something supernatural, that verse came to mind, and angels seemed perfect for the story I wanted to tell about destiny and free will.
2. What has been the most surprising thing a fan has done for you? I am always so thrilled when a fan has come a long way just to meet me. There was also a fan who made me a necklace with little charms for each of my book covers, which was so wonderful and sweet.
3. How do you feel now that the series is wrapping up? A little nostalgic and teary, truth be told. It’s hard to be at the end. But I’m also excited for the big wide world that’s opened up in front of me, and all that I could write.
4. Clara is such a strong character. When you first started writing this series, what were the most important qualities you wanted her to have?
Well, first of all, I wanted Clara to be flawed. I wanted her to have a lot of room for growth over the course of the series. And I wanted her to have doubts, about herself, about her purpose, about everything. She wonders if she’s a coward, but when push comes to shove, she can be incredibly brave—that sort of thing. I wanted her to love the people around her—her mother, her brother, her friends, deeply and truly, but also for her to struggle sometimes with being selfish, and having to overcome that selfishness. And, maybe most of all, I wanted her to have a good sense of humor, so that we could laugh as we went down the hard roads together.
5. Readers have strong feelings of either being Team Tucker or Team Christian. I know this is difficult, but if you were Clara and had these two hot guys after you, who do you think you would choose? Hmm, if I was Clara.. I think I’d go with Christian, because I would believe him if he looked at me with those gold-flecked eyes and said we belonged together! Seriously, though, I think I would probably do the good-old pros and cons list, and go with Christian, because his pros list would convince me over the cons. And then I’d throw out the list and ride off into the sunset with Tucker. But then I might like to FLY off into the sunset with Christian. ACK! I don’t know!!!!! Poor Clara!!!!!
Boundless by Cynthia Hand Publisher: HarperTeen (January 22nd, 201 3) Re ading Le vel: Young Adult Hardback: 438 pages Series: Un earthly #3 The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.
Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her.. even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California — and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.
As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one.. With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.
In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.
Prize:
1 winner will get a Hardcover copy of UNEARTHLY and HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand.
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 February 6th.
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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The wonderful Shelley Workinger is here today to talk about her new book Settling (book #2 in the Solid series). I am a huge fan of this series and can't wait to see what Shelley has in store for the readers next.
If you'd like to try to win a copy, she has offered up a signed copy for one lucky winner. Open internationally!
There is so much in a name! Both in fiction and in real life, I find that names often tell stories in themselves.
In the “Solid” series, I definitely wanted to give some “shout-outs” to friends and family members, but I tried to limit those to bit parts so that no one could take the fictional flaws of his or her “Solid” counterpart as a personal insult. Of course, you know what they say happens when you try to make plans! Some of those “cameos” took on lives of their own and are about to blow up into larger roles, so I can only hope my friends are still my friends after their like-named characters start to, well, drift.
As for the main characters, instead of being named for someone, their names stand for something. “Jack” just suits Jack – it’s the most obvious, as some readers have pointed out, because he’s a jack of all trades, but master of none. He says himself how he tries to learn a little about everything, but he’s the only one on campus to have no super ability – yet. And his last name speaks of his soul – Vallard is a combination of valiant and bard, as he’s Clio’s knightly poet.
With Jack, readers learn who is right away, but for some of the characters who stay more peripheral for awhile, the names themselves are spoilers of sorts. (Do not continue reading if you haven’t finished “Solid.”) Alexis, for example, is the “x factor” of book one – the person the bad guy doesn’t see coming and that even Clio and her friends don’t pick up for a long time, but readers might’ve gotten a feeling about because the “x” was right there in the name. Similarly, Janet is a derivative of “Janus,” the two-faced God of Roman mythology.
Clio is the one exception to my keep-main-character-names-impersonal rule, which really is only fitting as her character becomes more and more the exception to every campus rule as the series evolves. Clio – “Calliope” – is named after my daughter, Calliope, whom we call Clio because so many people can’t pronounce it (yes, we get a lot of Cal-ee-o-pay, like a rodeo clown, just like the character complains about in “Solid”). And of course we hope she can get past the butchered pronunciations to appreciate the mythical and musical beauty of the name and why we chose it!
There are several new characters introduced in “Settling,” and their names have those same varying levels of significance – one that just fits, one that revolves around a letter, one that’s odd and awkward, and one that reflects exactly the person within. And there are also some more shout-outs to fantastic readers as a small way to show how grateful I am for their praise of my series and support of my work!
Settling by Shelley Workinger Publisher: CreateSpace (July 4th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 242 pages Series: Solid #2 At the beginning of the summer, Clio Kaid was one of a hundred teens brought to a secret Army installation. But it was no ordinary camp and they weren’t ordinary kids…
Soon after learning they were the products of a secret genetic experiment, the teens began developing super-abilities ranging from bounding lightness to blocking heaviness; blinding brilliance and the ability to vanish. These same gifts made them targets of a psychopath in officer’s clothing, and they found themselves fighting for their lives.
Picking up where “Solid” left off, Clio and her friends realize that they aren’t ready to go home; they’re determined to stay on campus and continue their journey of self- discovery. But someone doesn’t feel the same way and will do anything to drive them away – even kill.
Friendships will be tested, abilities will evolve, and more secrets will come out as the teens race to stop the killer before he sets his sights on one of them…
Prize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Settling by Shelley Workinger.
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 International and ends July 1st.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Find Shelley Workinger Goodreads | Solid Series | Facebook | Twitter To purchase Settling keep an eye on this page on amazon. The book will be available on July 4th. You can also go to the series website and click"giveaways" to see the book deal for July. Buy Settling in the month of July, get a free ebook of Solid (Kindle or.pdf). You can email your receipt to Shelley from that giveaway page.
Kristie Cook is here today to show us the brand new covers for her Soul Savers series, Promise and Purpose.
Leave a comment below telling us what you think about the new cover and enter for a chance to win some awesome swag!
Can you talk a little bit about the old covers vs. the new covers and how the change came about?
The old covers are pretty. The new ones are gorgeous. ‘nuff said. Haha! Okay, I’ll be serious. The old covers are symbolic, but no one gets the symbolism until I explain it, so it’s pretty much lost on everyone. And for some reason, the flowers seem to give the impression that the books are Young Adult, but they’re not. I also didn’t know how to carry the look out through the entire Soul Savers series. I’d hoped to find a professional cover artist by now who could take my vision and turn it into art and I did – author Brenda Pandos. She did an amazing job and we now have a theme to work with for the rest of the series.
What’s your favorite thing about the new covers?
Oh, so not fair. I love everything about them. One thing that’s important to me is not giving the reader a pre-conceived idea of what the main characters look like. I want the reader to take the basics I give them and make them their own. But I still wanted people on the covers, so I’m really happy with how the people are there, but not. The whole scene for each one just really encapsulates the stories. What’s your favorite thing?
It’s amazing that each book has some additional content; can you talk a bit about those changes and how it’ll impact anyone who’s already read the first two books in the series?
Promise – By the time PROMISE went to publication, it had been manipulated a lot, always in the best interest of the story. But in my heart, I always felt a little dissatisfied with it because, for me, it wasn’t “what really happened.” The order of events was changed up and scenes were altered or deleted when they shouldn’t have been. One scene has a change that isn’t huge but comes up in future books, the events have been returned to the order in which they really happened and a scene that had been deleted is now back in, providing some character insight that I think is much needed. There are some other minor changes, too—bringing back a sentence here or there that had been deleted and getting rid of others that shouldn’t have been added.
Purpose – The changes in PURPOSE are much less extensive than those in PROMISE. When I first wrote the books, they were actually one book and the middle section, the bridge between the two, was a series of letters Alexis had written Tristan on each of their anniversaries. Although she couldn’t send them, this was her way of keeping him updated on her and Dorian’s lives – and also bringing the reader up to speed. When I split the books, I took the letters out and tried to weave those things into the story. However, a lot of readers have the wrong impression of what Alexis had been like over the years and why she’s such a mess in the beginning of PURPOSE. The reason is not what everyone seems to think! I haven’t put the letters back in, but I’ve made some tweaks to the first few chapters to give the reader a better understanding of the past and the present. I may post the letters on my website or blog one of these days.
For the last year, I’d had a secret fantasy to go back and make all these changes. With the new covers and a few other additions – such as adding an excerpt of the next book – we had to obtain new ISBNs, which is basically the new bar code that says “this is a different book.” Since we have to go through all that anyway, we figured we may as well make it worth it. So my publisher let me fulfill my fantasy. Isn’t she awesome?
If you’ve already read PROMISE and PURPOSE, you don’t have to read the new releases to understand the future books. The one change in PROMISE that comes up in later books isn’t major enough to throw you into a big state of confusion if you haven’t read it. But if you’re up for reading them again, I think you’ll get a better grasp of Alexis and Tristan and what motivates their behavior in these two books. Also, PURPOSE has an excerpt of DEVOTION, Book 3, at the end.
When will we be able to purchase the books with the new covers and content? And for those of us with eReaders, when will they be available for download?
They’ll go live on Kindle hopefully by early next week and on Nook about the same time. It might take a week or two before they’re up on the other ereaders. They’ll be available in paperback format on my publisher’s store website ( http://www.readourwrites.com/ ) and Amazon in the next week or so and on other retailer sites in a month or two (sorry, but those guys just take longer to update their sites).
And lastly, can you go over some dates with us? For the novella, Genesis and the third book in the Soul Savers series – Devotion? When will we get a chance to see those covers and when will they be available for purchase?
GENESIS comes out October 28, 2011. The cover will be revealed later this month. I can’t wait!
DEVOTION comes out February 10, 2012. I expect the cover to be ready to share in September or October. I know it will be gorgeous, too.
Kristie, Thanks so much for stopping by both — A Life Bound By Books & Confessions of a Bookaholic — and for sharing the new covers with everyone. We can’t wait to re-read the first two books and the new content and to read Genesis & Devotion!
Thank you so much for having me! It’s always a pleasure to visit both of you and all your followers. I can’t wait to hear what you think. And seriously – what is your favorite thing about the new covers? Fill out the form and enter to win a Soul Savers Series swag pack. Two chances to win – one on each blog — here and at A Life Bound By Books!
Kristie has another giveaway going on over at her blog. Be sure to visit, check it out and enter to win some amazing prize packs! ~USE GOOGLE~
Kristie is giving a lucky winner a Soul Saver Series swag pack! Two chances to win — one here and one on Lisa's blog!! So enter here and over at A Life Bound By Books!
Now, are you ready to see the new cover?!?Promise (Soul Savers #1)
OLD COVER
NEW COVERTo see the cover of Purpose (Soul Savers #2) check out A Life Bound By Books.
GiveawayPrize:
1 winner will receive a Soul Savers swag pack.
Rules:
You must be at least 18 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 August 22nd.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
I think the new covers fit the story perfectly! I can't wait to see what the next cover will be like. I think that now people can glance at the cover and get an idea of the story. Plus, it doesn't look YA anymore (especially Promise!). Great job Kristie and Brenda!! Now I'll have to add these to my collection!!
Devotion by Kristie Cook Publisher: Ang'dora Publishing (February 10th, 2012) Paperback: 374 pages Reading Level: 17+ Adult Source: Author (Thank You!) Series: Soul Savers #3 Rating: 5 of 5 stars With powerful abilities gained from the Ang’dora and Tristan back by her side, Alexis thinks she’s ready for the next challenge—protecting her son from what appears to be the inevitable. But she has so much to learn about her powers, her new world and the people in it. Nothing is what it seems to be on the surface, including the Amadis. Having believed the secret society to be definitively good and righteous, she discovers she couldn’t have been more wrong.
Power-hungry politicians comprise the council and make impossible demands. A traitor lurks among them all, inciting trouble that could destroy the Amadis and, ultimately, humanity. The Daemoni wreak havoc in the human world, with the ultimatum that they’ll continue attacking innocents until Alexis and Tristan are expelled from the Amadis’ protection. The couple’s own society begins to shut them out. But that’s not all.
There’s a secret. A big one. And faith and hope in Alexis and Tristan will be restored if she can uncover the truth in time.
But the search for answers leads only to the discovery of more betrayals by those closest to Alexis. Her devotion is put to the test—devotion to her husband, to her family, to her people and to her beliefs—leaving her to question whom she’s fighting for and why she should even bother. But if she won’t fight … who will? Review: Ah, and the epicness continues! If you haven't read the first 2 books in this series, run and do that! Then come back and read this review.: ) This series continues to amaze me. I'm not sure how Kristie keeps up with it all because this series creates such a complex world. The characters, the history, the action — all written with amazing clarity and creativity.
In Devotion, Tristan returns to us! Er, I mean Alexis. They have a moment to be a family and to be happy at last. But that time is brief. Alexis is going through a wide range of emotions. She is dealing with a new power that she isn't able to completely control, and there is a possibility that someone close to her could be betraying her. As she struggles to deal with the person she is now, and the good and bad of having her husband by her side, she discovers more about the Amadis and what could happen to her family. The last thing she wants is for them to be ripped apart again so she fights with everything she can in order to stop what most see as inevitable.
Devotion brings in a lot more characters (I'M ONE OF THEM!). Most of them are political-types who are not open to change within their rules. Then there are a few that are just insanely hot and awesome (ME! Or, at least the fictional me that is insanely hot and awesome). There is a lot of back and forth struggle and Alexis is in the middle of it all. One thing I love about this series is that Alexis truly takes the lead. Tristan is there, but he's more of a support for her. Alexis is the one with the power (as it should be!) and she is the glue holding everything together. Another great thing about this book was that it isn't all sunshine and roses for Alexis and Tristan once they are together. They argue and struggle with how to settle into married life.
And I can't review this book without mentioning Owen. (Did I mention that I get to interact with Owen.yes, me, the character, in the book, with my friend Lisa… ). Poor Owen has a lot to deal with in Devotion. I'm begging Kristie for a spin-off with him and his favorite faeries (me and Lisa!).
The Soul Savers series grabs you and refuses to let go! I guarantee a few sleepless nights, racing hearts, and inappropriate fantasies while reading these books. This is the perfect series for paranormal fans who want to plunge into a world featuring a struggle between good and evil, an insanely strong heroine, and a plot that will keep you guessing.
Recommended: Adult readers. Anyone who loves paranormal and a really smokin' hot romance.
Bite Club by Rachel Caine Publisher: NAL Hardcover (May 3rd, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 340 pages Series: The Morganville Vampires, #10 Rating: 4 of 5 stars After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.
There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare—knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other—or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire—accompanied by her friends and frenemies—to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville.
Review:
Rachel Caine is one of the few authors who can keep a series interesting after so many books. I would give anything for this series to be a tv show. Wouldn't that be perfect!? In Bite Club there is a new activity in Morganville and Shane can't wait to get involved, but once he does, he doesn't want to let go. He gets obsessed with the idea of fighting vampires. Soon, Shane is going against Michael, Eve, and even Claire. They are surprised by his actions and try to find out what exactly is the purpose of this new fighting between humans and vampires. We have seen in the past that Shane has anger issues and thinks he can tackle anything. But this time his anger is out of control. He is struggling to deal with the things going on around him and the things that still haunt him from his past. Unlike with the other books, Bite Club gives us a chance to see from his POV. This was a perfect addition to this story because he was a central character and we really needed to see what was going on in his mind. Then Claire becomes determined to find out who is behind the fighting ring and what their plans are. With the support of Eve she goes on a mission to find out what's going on. Myrnin is as great and eccentric as he's always been. He plays a big part in this book as well so it was nice to get to know him even better. He's still one of my all-time favorite characters! Claire really shows even more maturity and strength in this book. It's really obvious how much older she is now. She is very capable of taking care of herself and as we see in this book, Shane doesn't need to worry about keeping an eye on her. She's really able to take charge and get things done on her own. Rachel Caine has created such a brilliant series that never fails to keep me at the edge of my seat. Her creative story lines and engaging characters make me feel like I am a resident of Morganville myself! If you haven't picked up the Morganville Vampires series yet, do it! I guarantee it will be a series you won't be able to stop reading till the very last word.
Recommended: People looking for a long paranormal series. Perfect for people who enjoy watching characters mature and change over time. Morganville will grab you and refuse to let go!
Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 1st, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 399 pages Source: Publisher Series: Shade, #3 Rating: 4 of 5 stars 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 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.
Review:
Reading this series has been such a journey for me. I first read Shade when it was just released and it was the book that helped me decide to be a blogger. It just grabbed me so quickly and I was blown away by Jeri Smith-Ready's talent. I'm sad to see this series end but I can't wait to read more from her.
If you've read the first few books, you know that Logan has been gone for a while, but not really.: ) I enjoyed when he would reappear. It was hard to finally let him go. Many, many tears were shed!
Aura has grown so much throughout this series. She seems much better prepared to deal with drama and the craziness of her existence. She seemed ready to face things head on and really figure out what created the shift that caused people to see ghosts. Her and Zachary visit Newrange in Ireland in order to see why it was significant that their parents happened to be there during such a critical point in time. The time that lead to their births and the shift.
I loved seeing where this plot ended up. I never felt like I knew what was coming. It was so well thought-out and explored. Shine really gave Aura her moment where she fought for what she knew was right, no matter who ended up by her side. Yes, we do get the romance but it doesn't interfere with the reason behind the plot. It was just a bonus to it all. It did take me a bit longer to get into the story, compared to the first book, but that's sort of typical for the end of a series.
I really hate seeing these characters go. It's hard to find a series where you really connect with everyone on some level. Jeri Smith-Ready is fabulous in every way and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. This series was build upon such a unique premise, I'm sure she has something else surprising up her sleeve.
I am a huge fan of the Morganville Vampires series! The 13th book, Bitter Blood, was just released yesterday and I have a FABULOUS prize pack you can win!
It's also time for the Morganville Mayoral Elections!
Rachel Caine will be hosting a video contest on her website (http://www.morganvillevampire.com ) in which fans can submit their endorsement ads for their ideal Morganville Mayor! Go there and VOTE, or submit your own video!
1. I'm sure the election is an exciting time in Morganville. What do you feel are important qualities needed in the next Morganville mayor? I think what the vampires are looking for is someone who will sit quietly on the town’s council and do what they’re told … but I feel that Morganville needs something more than that. Definitely, the new mayor will need to have good survival instincts, crazy diplomatic skills, and clothes that don’t show bloodstains.
2. Can you share with us some strengths and weaknesses of each political party (Human vs Vampire)? Well, the humans seem to be disorganized and separated on key issues, such as mixed-party marriages (though to be fair, the vampires have some divisions as well). Of course, the humans will definitely bring out voters in big numbers this time around, since the candidates are so polarizing. Mostly, they’ll probably be out to vote against Monica Morrell. On the vampire side, I think their complacence may well be their undoing …
3. What can you tell us about the new TV show that makes its appearance in Morganville in Bitter Blood ? You know how many ghost-hunter reality shows there are now? A lot. And this is yet another one, desperately seeking some creepy, blurry footage and barely-credible hauntings to boost their ratings … and they’ve come to the wrong place, because Morganville’s going to give them a whole lot more than they ever bargained for. However, the ghost hunters are going to stir up a lot of trouble in the ghost world, bringing back some unquiet spirits that are both harmful and helpful. They’ll also give our most recent Glass House ghost some serious problems!
4. Which character do you think will surprise readers the most in Bitter Blood ? Well, to absolutely no one’s surprise, Myrnin will continue to be unpredictable … but for the first time, you’ll get his point of view, and it’s a delicious slice of crazy. So hopefully, that will deliver some thrills!
5. Each book in the Morganville series is so full of action and drama! What are some things you've learned along the way that enable you to keep writing such a complex series? The biggest thing is to let the characters drive not just the action, but the consequences of the action … it’s the story of how they deal with what happens, not just what happens. It’s tough to allow your characters to grow and change and become new people, because it’s a bit scary, but in a long-running series I think that’s key.
6. Do you think there is a chance this series will someday be a TV show? Because honestly, that would ROCK!: ) I WISH! That would indeed be awesome and fun, but right now, it appears that TV is a little be scared of vampires. They’ve been so scarily successful that there’s a feeling among the show-buyers that people might be over them, and the last thing a TV network wants is a show nobody will watch. Of course, it’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy to say, “Nobody watches vampire shows anymore,” and then not put any on TV, but there you go. These are the times in which we live. But it’ll change again. Vampires always come back. (cue dramatic music) Thanks for hosting me today, and for your support of the series! And remember: vote!
Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine Publisher: NAL (November 6th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 404 pages Series: The Morganville Vampires, #13 For years, the human and vampire residents of Morganville, Texas, have managed to co-exist in peace. But now that the threat to the vampires has been defeated, the human residents are learning that the gravest danger they face is the enemy within…
Thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town’s human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. But college student Claire Danvers isn’t about to take sides, considering she has ties to both the humans and the vampires.
To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville looking for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news… or worse.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a prize package that including: A signed copy of BITTER BLOOD, a Morganville Coffee Mug, an election t-shirt, and a tote bag.
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 22nd.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Where Is YA going? It’s been a long time since Harry Potter. Even though we’re all storming movie theaters to see the first half of Deathly Hallows, from the books that are coming out now you’d think the whole series was ancient history. Judging by what is hitting the shelves, you’d think a YA book can’t be good unless it has a love-triangle or a death within the first ten pages, and then it has to drag us over hot coals as it resolves its torturous, dark conflicts, finally ending with a dreary whimper. Do you know what I’m talking about? How did we leave behind the exciting and the innocent to get here in just a few short years? For me, the young-adult genre’s latest revolution is losing that essence that made me fall in love with it in the first place. I hate to see it go, and I’m desperate to find a way to bring it back to its roots. I remember I was a counselor at a sports camp the day Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released. The post office had to send two trucks to deliver all of the pre-orders, and we had to suspend activities because everyone wanted to read. I’ll tell you what, you’ve never been around a happier group of people in your life. Even the counselors were reading it, and everyone was just smiling ear-to-ear, delighted and enthralled. We all gasped at how dark the story had become, but now it still seems so innocent and playful. Even finishing Dealthy Hallows, most people felt charged, ready to jump for joy. Right toppled wrong! Something had been accomplished! Let’s compare that to Mockingjay. When you see people reading Mockingjay, don’t you have to start looking at them like they’re about to invade the Capital? “Good luck! I’m praying for you!” Your eyebrows scrunch up with concern, and they nod as if to say they’re willing to make a sacrifice for the greater good by reading this book. No matter how much you loved it, I don’t think there’s anyone out there who can describe the ending as “happy.” Instead, Collins leaves us with an ambiguous message about what it was all for, that being left alone is the best we can hope for. Where’s the feeling of triumph, of joy? I understand that life can be hard, but is a happy ending really too much to ask for? YA has long been the playground of authors, allowing them to delve into issues that are too sticky for adult fiction. But instead of using the swings or the slide, they’ve chosen to start releasing the worst demons they can devise, and now the books they’re publishing are filled with pent-up traumas and emotional horrors beyond what most of us could ever expect to live through. A quick look at recent and upcoming releases tells us exactly what we’re in for. Matched is about an oppressive regime dictating who people love. Wither is about an abducted girl who is stripped of her freedom and forced to marry someone. Torment… well I think the name says it all. I’m not saying any of these are bad books, but yikes, makes me glad to be living in the real world! For those of you who can sympathize with me here, people who miss some of the youthful exuberance and sense of exciting discovery that constitutes their vision of YA, let me pose an alternative. If you’re in the mood for something a little lighter, a little more innocent, you may find some refreshment in my Powerless series, which is just about to release its third book! The story is about a fifteen-year-old girl named Mira Ipswich who discovers she’s the only one in the world without a unique, magical power. Despite her limitation, she’s got to find a way to co-exist and make friends, and the larger arc of the series is her attempt to reunite her family. There are hardships, to be sure, but as long as they keep hope in their hearts, the possibility for a bright future remains. I’d like to close with a heartfelt thank you to Jessica for graciously providing me with this space. I’m excited about holding a giveaway on “Confessions of a Bookaholic,” and I hope we all keep reading to our heart’s content! Jason Letts is the author of the Powerless series. You can find out more at his website: www.powerlessbooks.com
Powerless: The Synthesis by Jason Letts Published: May 30th, 2010 Reading Level: Young Adult Series: Powerless, book #1 Mira Ipswich couldn't have ever known the startling difference that separates her from the rest of humanity. But when she discovers a strange anomaly in the midst of her seclusion, her parents are forced to reveal she exists in a world where everyone is imbued with a wondrous natural gift. Everyone except herself that is. Accompany Mira as her attempts to fit in among peers and understand her inconceivable condition embroil her with the dangerous forces threatening her homeland. Protected by nothing more than her imagination and ingenuity, you'll never find a superhero more like you.
The first book in the Powerless series is the tale of Mira’s turbulent and perilous entry into the world around her. And once she’s a part of it, nothing will ever be the same again.
The story is already raking in the awards. It's won the Webb Weaver 2010 Writer's Competition, the judges proclaiming they were"entranced by the writer's ability to bring together this unlikely group of kids," and that the book could"be a hit in the YA book world." The story is a roller coaster ride, filled with diverse characters, lots to discover in an ever-expanding world, and a story full of hopes and aspirations. If you like stories with plenty of dramatic twists and spirited intensity, it'll have you falling in love with a brand new series and begging for more!
Giveaway Prize:
3 winners will receive an ebook of Powerless: The Synthesis.
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 International and ends December 5th.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Find Jason Letts Jason Letts / Twitter / Goodreads / Blog
Purchase Powerless: The Synthesis Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Ebook version is available through Amazon for $0.99! USE GOOGLE to read chapter one for free. For an extra entry into the contest answer this question in the comments below. If you could choose, what individual superpower would you want?
Deity by Janenifer L. Armentrout Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (November 6th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 360 pages Series: Covenant, #3 Rating: 5 of 5 stars " History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time."
Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner… and so is Aiden.
If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time"training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.
But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed… and destroyed.
Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate…
Review:
Goodness! Just when you think that a series couldn't POSSIBLY get better, it does! Janenifer L. Armentrout has managed to create, not just a book, but an entire world that surrounds these characters where they grow, change, and deal with complex issues they must overcome in order to survive. The Covenant series draws in the reader immediately and I swear there could be a bright pink elephant danging in my house and I wouldn't have noticed.
Poor Alex. Yes, she has a lot to deal with but what better way than to have 2 hot guys to help you along the journey? Seth is infuriating but I love him. I can't help but swoon at his antics and enjoy the intense connection he shares with Alex. On the other hand, Aiden is super strong and devoted. He remains the"strong and silent" one but when Alex needs him there is nothing that can get in his way. It's seriously like having the best of both worlds!
I won't give too much away with the plot but I will say that I never know where one of Janenifer's books will lead me. This one seriously had me gasping by the end. I couldn't believe the turn of events (AT ALL!) and was screaming at the book. Yes, this may mean I'm nuts, but that's just what these books do to me! I actually have to make myself slow down and read them so I won't miss any small details.
Alex has grown leaps and bounds since the first book in this series and it was incredible to see her change as her powers and fate come into focus. Everything with the Council comes to a head and she is forced to deal with even more issues. This book had one of the most outstanding climaxes ever! But now I have to deal with the withdrawals till I can get my hands on Apollyon.
If you haven't started this series, ARE YOU LIVING UNDER A ROCK? DO IT! I promise you will love it and, lucky for you, you have 3 fabulous books in the series already available to read.
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1. Your bio says you love vampires, werewolves, magick, and all things creepy. Can you tell us what creature of the night you would choose to be and why? I’d likely be a shapeshifter and hopefully not one tied to a single form… this way you could fly, crawl, slither, run with wolves, swim with sharks, get the skinny on any creature you could imagine – from THEIR point of view. Cool.
2. The first book in the Skinned series, Under My Skin, has been out for a few months now. What has been the most surprising part of this experience? That people I’ve never met have read it, but those I work with every day haven’t.; ) 3. Where do you think your passion for the paranormal came from? I blame my mother and her love of horror films… hmmm… but then there’s my dad and his love of sci-fi and Star Trek. Let’s just say I’ve been doomed since birth. 4. What would you like potential readers to know about the Skinned series?
If you’re looking for a slightly skewed take on paranormal fiction, something that mixes lore and urban fantasy with dry sarcasm, you might want to try the Skinned series. 5. Book 2, Second Skin, is set to come out in 2011. Do you know how far this series will go, and do you have any other book plans in the works? There are three books planned for the series, Second Skin will be out in 2011 and the final book, Skin of My Teeth, will be out in 2012. I have other projects, more YA paranormals and an edgy YA contemporary.
Under My Skin by Judith Graves Publisher: Leap Books (March 27th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 328 pages Series: Skinned, book #1 All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life…
Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.
But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.
A normal life? Now that's the real fairytale.
Find Judith Graves Judith Graves / Goodreads / Twitter Purchase Under My Skin Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
In June (of 2010), I looked into what books I had read from Good Books and Good Wine 's list of Top 100 YA Books and challenged myself to see how many I can read before the end of the year. Well, as it is now the end of the year, I thought I should look at my progress, or lack of progress. I only read three. Yes, only three. I've decided to give myself another year to finish this challenge. Last time, I only had a few books actually in my possession, now I have more than ten. Hopefully this year will go a bit better than the last six months. Here's the list: Previously On my TBR List 100. Hate List by Jennifer Brown 91. Wings by Aprillynne Pike* 76. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman* 73. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 71. Stardust by Neil Gaiman 67. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles* 56. Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine* 55. The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith 54. Fallen by Lauren Kate* 48. The Maze Runner by James Dashner 43. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson 42. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card 40. Wake series by Lisa McMann* 38. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume 36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 31. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain* 30. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr 24. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson* 22. Uglies series by Scott Westerfield* 21. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia* 17. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead* 13. The Giver by Lois Lowry* 11. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee* * — Currently on my bookshelf What do you think? Can I do it?
I find that many times students find a series that they like and they begin to read the books but aren't sure which book is next in the series. Here I have listed and will continue to list several popular series; after clicking on a series title the subsequent novels will be listed in the order in which they were written.
Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter Published: St. Martin's Press (April 24th 2013) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 400 pages Series: Shadow Falls, #5 Summary: Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:
When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all… and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same.
Review:
*sigh* I'm so sad to see this series end. Although there will be a spin-off, I'll really miss Kylie, Lucas, and Derek. Usually it's so common to see a series fall apart after a few books but that isn't an issue with this one. I never once debated putting any of the books down or not continuing on with the series. C.C. Hunter did a tremendous job piecing together this world and, in the end, allowing each character to grow and find their own peace.
In this book, Kylie finally knows what she is and what exactly being a Chameleon means. As the book starts, Kylie is coming back to camp after leaving in order to find out more about herself and her family. She knows where her place is now and she looks forward to facing her reality.
I felt that Kylie showed amazing strength and courage in this book. She knows what issues she will face with Lucas and I loved that she doesn't always just fall back in his arms. She really shows how a strong, confident girl can stand up to people and make someone work for their love. Lucas really has to prove to her how much he loves her.
I was wondering how everything would come together for this final book and I was so pleasantly surprised. We still have some twists and turns but I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. For once, after finishing a series I felt sad to see it end, but still completely satisfied with the results. I won't go into too much detail in case you haven't read the previous books but as someone who reads a lot of books, and a lot of paranormal, I'd really suggest picking up this series. Each book is a nice, well-formed read with an engaging plot and outstanding characters we learn to love with each page. I definitely plan to read more from C.C. Hunter!
Last week I looked into what books I had read from Good Books and Good Wine 's list of Top 100 YA Books. Now I'm going to challenge myself to see how many I can read before the end of the year.
Here's the list:
Previously On my TBR List
100. Hate List by Jennifer Brown 91. Wings by Aprillynne Pike* 76. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman 73. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 71. Stardust by Neil Gaiman 67. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles* 56. Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine 55. The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith 54. Fallen by Lauren Kate* 48. The Maze Runner by James Dashner 43. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson 42. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card 40. Wake series by Lisa McMann 38. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume 36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett 33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 31. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain* 30. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr 24. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 22. Uglies series by Scott Westerfield* 21. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia 17. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead 13. The Giver by Lois Lowry 11. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee*
I'd like to read all of these by December 31st, 2010. * — Currently on my bookshelf
I am so happy to be part of the 12 days of Morganville Madness tour! The Morganville series by Rachel Caine was one of the first I picked up, and even after a few years, I still find myself hooked to this series. I am featuring the 10th book in this incredible series, Bite Club, and Rachel is here to tell us a little about it. Be sure to sign up below for a SIGNED copy of Bite Club and a Black Dawn bookmark.
Tour Stop #10 – BITE CLUB 1. What kicked off the concept for this book?
You know, it seemed pretty obvious to me that Shane had anger issues to work through, and that he’d jump at the opportunity to join up with people who promised to provide a way to fight vampires. And that it would go badly, somehow.
2. Which character do I think stood out in this book, and why? I think this was Shane’s book, through and through; it was also the first time I ventured into his point of view, because I knew that what he was going through wouldn’t be nearly as understandable if we just say what Claire saw. We needed to feel how he felt about it. And luckily, he had a lot to say. 3. Five things I loved about writing this book:
A. Changing POV. After 8 books written exclusively from Claire’s POV, this was a great way to break free and experiment. B. This was a seriously dramatic turn of events – Shane, suddenly beginning to turn on his friends, and lose control of his temper. And his friends doubting him. C. Fencing! I love fencing. D. I really enjoyed finally pitting Shane and Claire against Bishop in a cage match. E. Oh, hey, Mr. Bishop! Where you been? 4. Five things I didn't love about writing this book
A. Mr. Bishop. Man, that guy is no fun to write. B. Shane’s descent into Angry Shane was difficult for me, since it contrasted so sharply with his usually snarky, funny tone in my head. C. It’s surprisingly difficult to write a bunch of ‘roided-up angry people in groups, too. I just don’t know that many of them in real life. D. I wanted more fencing. MORE. E. There is no E. 5. If I could do this book over, what would I do differently, and why? I would probably make Michael a little edgier, but I was intending to save that for the future. 6. Favorite quoted passage from the book Myrnin sent a message through the portal — well, more of a rock with a note tied to it, which rolled across the floor and scared Eve into a scream before the portal snapped shut. Eve kicked the rock resentfully with her thick black boots and glared at it, then the wall. Claire, who was coming down the steps, gave her a what-the-hell kind of look. "Your boss," Eve said, and reached down to grab the rock,"needs to figure out texting. Seriously. Who does this? Is he actually from the Stone Age? 7. What I learned from this book I need to go to the gym more. A lot more. 8. Fun research moment
I ended up Googling all kinds of strange stuff for some reason, including fencing videos, which rekindled my love of movies with swords. Win!
Short Review I wanted to share a short version of my review. The full review will be posted later today.
I'm not sure how Rachel Caine is able to keep this story flowing so well. There are so many series out there that seem to lose their spark after a few books. That is not the case with the Morganville series! The characters are so spectacular that you can't help but want to know what will happen to them next. Claire continues to change and grow, and the rest of the Glass House is just so darn entertaining that it makes you wish they were part of your group of friends. Yes, even though Michael is a vampire: ).
Bite Club by Rachel Caine Publisher: NAL Hardcover (May 3rd, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 340 pages Series: The Morganville Vampires, #10 After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.
There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare—knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other—or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire—accompanied by her friends and frenemies—to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Bite Club by Rachel Caine.
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 only and ends May 13th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
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Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble Next Tour Stops April 30: LAST BREATH (Book 11) http://www.literaladdiction.com/ MAY 1: BLACK DAWN (Book 12) http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/
Today is the second day of"Indie Reviews", a feature where I give short mini-reviews of all the Indie/N ew Adult titles I've read lately. I'll have 3 days of books that received a 4 star rating from me.
Because of Low by Abbi Glines Add to Goodreads
This is book 2 in the series but I haven't read the first one. I really enjoyed this story. Low was a wonderful character and I really felt bad for her. I loved her best friend Cage (hot!) and Cage's roommate Marcus. It was nice that these books all contain the same group of characters. I didn't feel lost even though I hadn't read the first story. I hope to read more from this series soon. There were times when I was frustrated by some lack of communication going on, but overall it was a really enjoyable read.
This series was picked up for publication, I believe, so it has a new cover now.
Charade by Nyrae Dawn Add to Goodreads This was an interesting story because the main character, Cheyenne, pays the guy, Colt, to be her boyfriend for a while. Cheyenne wants to get back at her ex and Colt just wants to be able to take care of the bills since his mother is sick. I enjoyed Colt the most in this story. No, he wasn't perfect, but he tried to do everything for his mother. He just didn't plan on falling for Cheyenne. Nothing really surprised me with this book but nevertheless, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing where the journey took them.
Clash by Nicole Williams Add to Goodreads This is another title that has a new cover because it was picked up for publication. This is book 2 but I skipped book 1. I tried a sample of the first title but it just didn't grab me. I ended up trying this one out and loving it. Jude and Lucy were a great, typically, teen couple. A few parts were frustrating because of miscommunication between the two but I still enjoyed following their romance. They are dealing with a long-distance relationship now and there is a bit of adjustment going on. I do hope to read the third book in the series soon.
The Perfect Game by J. Sterling Add to Goodreads Loved, loved, loved the first part of this book. Cassie and Jack were amazing and had such a cute story. Both characters were likable and I enjoyed the sports angle the story had. This book really had a good college vibe. Then, near the end, Jack makes a hugely, stupid decision and it was just … odd. I didn't believe he would do something like that without much thought. Some parts after that were kind of predictable but it just really took a wrong turn for me. Prepare to be angry at these characters if you read this. Overall, I'm glad I read it and truly enjoyed the first half of the book beyond belief! Book 2, The Game Changer, comes out soon and I do plan to read it.
Down to You by M. Leighton Add to Goodreads This is another title that has been picked up. Notice a trend here? Olivia was a nice character. She is far from perfect but I enjoyed her. Then we meet Cash and Nash. Cash is the bad boy, Nash is the good guy. She knows which one she should want to be with but that isn't the case. I will say that this book throws you quite a curveball. I didn't expect that twist. On the other hand, there were still a few things that just didn't make sense to me. Like, how do you end up in bed with a guy and you're not sure which twin it is? Hmm. Up to Me is the next book in this series. I'm honestly not sure if I will read it. I don't have a strong pull to do so (unlike some other series I read) so who knows. Either way, this one is a fun story with a crazy twist and I know a ton of people who really loved it.
V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram Add to Goodreads This is such a funny story. Val"V" is a virgin who has dis aster strike as the entire school (and beyon d) start s giving her a hard time for her choice to wait till marriage. Instead of hiding away, she starts a campaign to supp ort her cause and she's pretty surprised by how many people end up helping her with it. Then, we throw in a rocker bad boy, Kyle, who is hellbent to destroy her plan and it all creates a wonderful ly, fan tastic read. The interactions be tween V and Kyle were amazing. I loved how spunky V was and how she never backed down f rom Ky le. It was a little rushed at the end, I wanted more! But regardless, I'd definitely reco mmend this one. Great story with terrific characters.
Bad Rep by A. Meredith Walters Add to Goodreads Another great New Adult read. It may be based on the traditional set up we've seen 100 times — girl meets bad boy, falls for him, issues ar ise, blah blah. but it was well written and enjoyable. This story does involve some *gasp* cheating… which is kind of a turn off for me but it didn't ruin Jordan's ch aracter. He wa s a bit more"nice" than I expected from the cover and summary th ough. I didn't really get the bad boy vibe as much as we see in other stories. Maysie was what I'd vie w as the traditional college co-ed, trying to survive school, make money, and have some fun. This may not be one that sticks out to me a s a f avorite but I'm still glad I took the time to read it.
Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine Add to Goodreads Who doesn't love rockers?? This is one of my all-time favorite rocker books. Lane broke up with Noel 4 years ago and, through her job, they end up reunit ing. Eventually, she has to go on the road with him and she learns that even though Noel has changed, he still wants only her. I loved this co uple. The whole"rock star" vibe is very much in this story as well. I am a sucker for books where we get to go on tour with the characters. HOT. T here were times where I was frustrated with the characters but all-in-all, I'd definitely continue with this s eries and see what happens to Noel's band m ates.
Foolish Games by Leah Spiegel Add to G oodreads This was a cute story about some friends following around a bad (yes, more ba nd guys) but it takes a huge twist. Joie is pulled into a plot to help the bands reputation and it ends up risking her life. Hawkins, the love interest, was wond erful. Joie and Haw k ins have a lot of chemistry together but they also were never afraid to speak their minds. T his book also involves a stalker and I loved the whole mystery of it. I thought it was very well-written even though there were times where I just wanted them to tell the frea kin' cop s! I do plan to read the next books in this series and I love that they are based on the same characters. I really want to see wh ere they end up.
Settling by Shelley Workinger Publisher: CreateSpace (July 4th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Source: Author Series: Solid #2 Rating: 5 of 5 stars
At the beginning of the summer, Clio Kaid was one of a hundred teens brought to a secret Army installation. But it was no ordinary camp and they weren’t ordinary kids…
Soon after learning they were the products of a secret genetic experiment, the teens began developing super-abilities ranging from bounding lightness to blocking heaviness; blinding brilliance and the ability to vanish. These same gifts made them targets of a psychopath in officer’s clothing, and they found themselves fighting for their lives.
Picking up where “Solid” left off, Clio and her friends realize that they aren’t ready to go home; they’re determined to stay on campus and continue their journey of self- discovery. But someone doesn’t feel the same way and will do anything to drive them away – even kill.
Friendships will be tested, abilities will evolve, and more secrets will come out as the teens race to stop the killer before he sets his sights on one of them… Review: This series gets better and better! Settling picks up from where Solid left off. Clio and her friends are still at the Army camp trying to find out what abilities they may have due to the experimentation done on their mothers.
While Settling does have drama and suspense, much of that is from the friendships between Clio and the rest of their close group. Clio seems to break away and it's not completely clear as to why. She seems to just simply be a teenager struggling with all the changes going on around her.
Beyond what Clio may be going through, attacks are still occurring at the camp and no one knows who is responsible. We also get introduced to a new character that had me blushing like crazy!! Wooahhh, can't wait to see what happens next with that little plot! Settling doesn't focus as much on what's going on with Clio's friends as Solid did but we still get a chance to see Garrett (who is awesome!), Jack and the rest of the gang. It just seemed that this book gave Clio a chance to make mistakes, learn, grow, and turn into who she truly is.
This series is so unique and engaging! Settling is a quick read but one that you won't be able to put down. I can't wait to see what Shelley Workinger comes up with next for this group of friends! The ending of Settling makes it impossible to not read the rest of the series!
