Waiting on Wednesday! Marie Lu Edition :)

 

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

 

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.

Releases January 29, 2013

 

 

What are you waiting on?  Feel free to share in the comments below. 🙂

 

2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Challenge Guidelines…

 

***This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013***

+ Anyone can enter! You don’t have to be a blogger, as long as you review the book you’ve read! (On your blog, Amazon, Goodreads or Shelfari!)

+ Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that’s been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2012 or earlier! NO  2013 ARCs or 2013 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!

+ You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood suits you.

+ When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2013 TBR PILE Reading Challenge.

+ You can move up levels, but no moving down.

+ Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

+ On the 20th of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will be a unique theme, and include a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from that month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of your choice from The Book Depository. It’s open to INTERNATIONALS. The giveaway will be open until the next wrap up post goes up! (i.e., the entire year).

+ If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice – we will be checking.

+ December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you’ll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway for a box of books.

You don’t have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in the giveaways!

My Level:

21-30 – A Sweet Kiss

My Books:

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

I’m coming back from a 3 month blogging vacation and have moved from Blogger over here to WordPress.  So hi to all those new-to-me peeps who happen to stop by!

What I’ve Read:

What I’m Currently Reading:

What I Plan to Read:

Yup, I’m just now getting around to reading Harry Potter.  Have the first 2 books read and I’m about 200 pages into the 3rd book.  The writing is getting so much better!

New Blogging Goals

I’m back blogging after a couple month vacation.  To keep it fun for me I’ve decided to come up with some goals for myself.  Do you have goals for your blog?  What are some of your goals?  What do you do to prevent blogger burnout?

My Goals:

• Get my reviews for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets written and posted.
• Only post when I have a review or something to post about – to prevent blogger burnout.
• Try to visit and comment on at LEAST 10 blogs a week.
• Re-build my readership.
• Clean up my google reader…it’s VERY scary right now

Feature Friday

 

Q: What writing device or trick most irritates you when reading a book? For example, if an author employs an omnipotent narrator that is sometimes considered bad form.

 

Here is my list of devices that peeve me off when it comes to books (hopefully this makes sense, I’ve been up all night working)….

 

1. Unlikeable main characters – I’ve read a couple of library books recently (of a couple of recent YA releases) and I was really irritated by the fact that the authors wrote there main characters unlikeable.  I have to connect on some level with the characters and it bothers me when a main character is completely unrelate able much less like able.

 

2. Can’t tell who’s speaking – A few weeks ago I started a book where I could never tell who was speaking.  It seemed to be alternating POV but I’m not 100%, needless to say I was not able to continue on with the book.

 

3. Insta love – Yeah no.  I’ve been know to get rid of books that feature insta love.  It could be the “best story ever” but if there is insta love it’s out the door.  I see red when I come across it.  NOBODY meets and falls MADLY TRULY DEEPLY in love in the span of a paragraph.

 

Well those are my top 3, what about you?

 

What are your thoughts on a possible Charitable Auction?

This morning while I was trying to figure out what to do with the excess books I have on my bookcases and through out my house I had a small “brain child.”  I just realized that we are heading into the season of giving and then I started thinking about how I could give.  Then that thought turned into wouldn’t it be cool if I (if anyone else likes the idea and wants to team up I’m game) could come up with an event that Book Bloggers could participate in? The it came down to what hasn’t been done (at least as far as I know anyway) in the book blogging community?  There are TONS of Giveaway Hops and Giveaways so those kind of got pushed to the side.  Then the more I started thinking about it the more I thought that it could still be a Giveaway but in addition to a cool prize you get to help someone else out too. Like a charitable auction maybe?  An unconventional giveaway 🙂  Bid on a prize and the winner’s winning bid goes to their choice of charity or library?!

Then that turned into IF I were to do something like this how exactly would it work?  Would it be strictly bookish related things or could the items be anything?  How would I “advertise” the event (since I’m starting over and I’m a small fish in a great big pond)?  Would anyone out there even want to donate items?  Is it even a good idea to being with?  And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  I’ll spare you the full length novel diatribe of questions I came up with.

So what are your thoughts bloggers?  Is this something that you would participate in?  Is this something you would consider donating too?  Let me hear it peeps! 🙂

Have a great day!

The 25 Follower Giveaway!

It’s giveaway time!  This is the first one that I’ve held since I came back to blogging so I’m kind of excited about it 🙂  I hope you are as well?!  For this giveaway I am going to do an Adult prize and a YA prize since I know that everyone has different reading tastes.

Adult Prize

 

 

A pre-order of Lover at Last (out March 26, 2013)

 

 

YA Prize

 

A pre-order of Prodigy (out January 29, 2013)

 

 

Rules:

 

1. You do NOT need to be a follower, though it is really cool if you want to become one.

 

2. Open to where ever The Book Depository ships too… YEAH INTERNATIONAL!

 

3. MANDATORY – Please leave your email address and the answer to this question (What 2013 release(s) are you most looking forward too?) in the comments section below.

 

4. Contest ends November 15 at 11:59 pm cst

 

5. Winner will be drawn by random.org and will be posted on November 17.

Stacking the Shelves #4

 

Hosted by Tynga of Tynga’s Reviews.

 

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

 

This week I’m short on time.  I’m off to my grandma’s today for her 70th birthday and I’m casting on my next knitting project….a sweater for myself.  So I’m going to only show you the books that I purchased this week.  Next week will be a MASSIVE Stacking the Shelves.  It will be the week of Holy Library Holds Batman!  Have a great weekend everyone!  Please feel free to leave me links to your posts in the comments below 🙂

 

Bound Books

 

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

 

 

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

 

BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY…
THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she’s ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she’s not the same girl anymore. And she’s ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won’t stop until they each had a taste.

 

 

 

Book Review ~ Spider’s Bite (Elemental Assassin #1) by Jennifer Estep

Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep

 

 

Book Stats:

 

Reading Level: Adult

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Format Reviewed: E-book

Publisher: Pocket Books

Release Date: January 26, 2010

 

Series: Elemental Assassin #1

Source: Personal Purchase

 

My name is Gin, and I kill people. They call me the Spider. I’m the most feared assassin in the South — when I’m not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.
Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I’m battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction…especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

Why I Read this book?:  I had been wanting to read this series for a long time.  I saw that The Book Vixen was co-hosting a read along for this series and though I’m not actually participating I decided to start reading this series.

What I Liked about this Book?:  I loved pretty much everything about this book.  I really was sucked in from the first line “My name is Gin, and I kill people.”  It’s catchy and it had me extremely excited to see what was going to happen next.  Gin is a very like able character even though she has a pretty despicable job.  The host of secondary characters were really great too.  Besides Gin I loved her makeshift family very much – Fletcher, Finn Sophia and Jo Jo, and in my opinion bring a little something extra to this story.

I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Donovan Caine and Gin.  He’s a straight laced cop in a police force pretty much owned by Mab Monroe, one of the villains of the book.  Gin did something in the not so distant past that Caine can’t seem to see past and that mixed with his morals makes the whole relationship VERY interesting.

The action in this book was AMAZING!  Right from the very first couple of pages through the end it was an action roller coaster.  One thing that really attracted me to the story initially was that the REAL bad guy wasn’t obvious.  You think you have it figured out and then things change and you weren’t even close.

Overall, I’m really kicking myself that I’ve waited as long as I have to start reading this series.  Gin is an AWESOME heroine who has her own set of issues.  I can hardly wait to see how Gin and her family grow through the rest of this series.  If you haven’t started this series yet I definitely recommend Spiders Bite.

What I didn’t like?: At time’s I thought there was a little bit too much detail when Gin was doing her thing.  That was really the only fault that I could find with the book and it was only on a couple of occasions.  Other than those occasions I can’t really think of anything else that I didn’t care for in this book.

Rating: 5/5

 

Book Review ~ A Brush of Darkness (Abby Sinclair #1) by Allison Pang

A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

Book Stats:
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format Reviewed: E-Book
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Series: Abby Sinclair #1
Source: Personal Purchase

The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.
Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.

Why I read this book?: I saw a review for this book on Mindful Musings and decided that it was something that I wanted to try.

What I liked?: Abby Sinclair! She’s just full of awesome as well as piss and vinegar. Abby is the TouchStone to the Protectorate and is suddenly put in charge when Moria, the Protectorate, goes missing. I also enjoyed all the mystery that was included in the book. When Moria goes missing more disappearances are brought to light AND THAT is when things get a little crazy. Oh and let’s not forget all the humor that is through out this book as well. I really enjoyed the host of secondary characters as well. Especially Phineas, the horny little unicorn.

What I disliked?: I didn’t really care for Brystion. I don’t know what it was exactly about him that I didn’t like but it definitely had an impact on my overall feel for the book. As a result of me not really liking Brystion, I really did “feel” the romance between Abby and Brystion. I also didn’t care for how Moria really let Abby down. I didn’t really like how certain characters in the book treated Abby at the beginning of the book and then had a complete turn about at the end either.

Overall Impression: I really enjoyed this book. It’s chock full of humor and mystery. This book from what I can tell is classified as a Paranormal Romance but to me it read more like an Urban Fantasy. It just didn’t read like a PNR, if that makes sense at all.

Rating: 3.75/5