Mistress of the Library

Darkness by Joann I. Martin Sowles

2011-10-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, Laney Alexander was living a carefree life, that is, until she was thrown into a world full of creatures only the imagination thought possible. Now, after surviving a terrifying night, Laney and Oliver are lying low at Julz's place, relieved to be in each other's arms once again. But fate seems to have other plans...

Julz is not happy to have visitors in her home and emotions run high. Laney is pushed to her limits as she watches Carter fight for his life and her relationship with Oliver becomes strained as she discovers secrets about Julz that could tear them apart.

As she reaches her boiling point, disaster strikes and her life is shattered. Laney must come to terms with what has unfolded. Will she lose her way and let the darkness consume her or will she find her light in Oliver?

Secrets will be revealed. Hearts will be broken. Lives will be lost. Darkness will fall.

I am going to start this blog off by saying what a TERRIBLE blogger I have been lately! I read this book months ago, but due to some chaotic bumps in the road that is my life, I am just now finding the time to get this review posted. I'M SORRY!!!! Ok, now on with the show.

Many of you may remember when I reviewed the first book in this series, LANEY, I started off a bit worried that I was getting another version of TWILIGHT. Thankfully (and happily) I was quite surprised by Joann's twists and turns that took LANEY down it's own path. I was left feeling like there was quite a few mysteries left at the end of the book, subtle hints that I thought she had given on where this series was going. So when Joann sent me DARKNESS, I tore into it, eager to find out if all the crazy assumptions and guesses I had made were correct…….

But once again, she only gave me breadcrumbs of information, not really saying that there is a hidden plot, but very carefully eluding that there is something even more important going on that we don't know about yet.

With that said, I must proclaim loudly that I HATED Oliver through this one (I wanted to smack him for all the possessive and domineering crap he was pulling on Laney AND everyone else). But it was Carter, Kiera, and Felix that really stole the show in this book. Each of them really got to tell more of their own story this time instead of being Laney's supporting cast. I really enjoyed getting to know the other characters, seeing into some of their past, getting tiny glimpses of their (possible) futures, but more than anything I loved that it wasn't just the Laney and Oliver show.

So, I leave you with this, if you liked LANEY, you are going to be thrilled with DARKNESS. And if you're anything like me, you're going to notice all the tiny hints that Joann is weaving in. I know she has something BIG she is working up to and if I'm right about any of my hunches, this is winding up to have one heck of a finale. So stay tuned and keep reading, it's going to get interesting.

One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

2011-05-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it's not as if Noah is anything more than a friend….

But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I've opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences.

I have to start by admitting that I chose this book solely because of the cover. I didn't read what it was about, who the author was, or look at anything else besides the cover. I am happy to say, that the cover did not let me down! I got sucked into this book immediately and didn't put it down until I was finished, which took all of 3 hours.

The storyline itself was, though a common enough idea, very unique and the characters were very well written. I enjoyed the little details that were added, that although they didn't really pertain to the story, added a life to the characters that helped bring them to life.

I look forward to reading more from this author and can't help but wonder if she will continue with these characters, turning One Hundred Candles into a series, or exactly what new, unique novel she will give us next.

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

2011-04-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: t's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

From the second I read the blurb about this book I was intrigued, and now, 3 hours after starting it (and finishing it) I can honestly say that the blurb did not do it justice.

This book was amazing!! There was this constant underlying mystery to solve, a who-done-it with very few clues. The story was so unique and well-written that from the moment I picked it up, I couldn't put it down! I was torn through emotions just as the main character, Kate, was. Constantly wondering what was coming nest. I think the second book to this series will be even more exciting than the first and I cannot wait to read it! A round of applause for Aimee Carter, brava!

In My Mailbox

2011-03-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

I know I have been MIA again lately and I apologize, it has been a rough last couple of weeks for me as most of you who know me already know. I would love to rant and vent right now and tell you all about my troubles, but this blog is not about me and I don't want to drive away the few followers I have.

Instead I am going to tell you the books I have gotten in the last few weeks, some of which I have already devoured and posted reviews of. (I'm playing catch-up tonight and posting as much as I can for you!) I will say that it has been a great couple of weeks for me reading-wise. I have SCORED at both of my libraries, as well as the one in Fort Dodge. Here is what I have brought home!

Just a Quick Note

2011-03-04T21:52:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to write this note quick to answer a question that I have been asked a lot lately. A few of my followers not only read this blog, but are also my friends on GoodReads, Shelfari, or We Read (on facebook). They have noticed that I have had Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev and Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler in my "currently reading" pile for longer than it should have taken me to read them. They want to know what it is that is making me take so long with these two books. Is there something about them that is hard to get into? Are they super long? Are the dull or uninteresting?

The answers to all of those is this:

No there is not a darn thing wrong with either of these books. In fact, it is the complete opposite. I adore Lisa Mantchev's books. I found Eyes Like Stars to be the greatest read in a bubble bath, let your relaxed mind fill with the brilliant images that she so beautifully writes in explicit details. In fact, I loved it so much, that I was sad when I finished it and agonized by the wait for Perchance to Dream, which wasn't released for months after finishing Eyes Like Stars.

So when I received my Librarian's ARC of Perchance to Dream, I vowed that I would not finish it before the third book was either released or I had a Librarian's ARC in my hands. So I have not let myself read more than a few pages or (once in a while) chapters before I force myself to put it down again. I will be finishing it sometime this summer, as So Silver Bright is set to be release September 13, 2011.

As for Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler, most of you have read my review of her brilliant and emotional novel, Hunger, the first in her Horsemen of the Apocalypse series. This novel was such an original, unique, and emotionally gut-wrenching masterpiece, truly a book that every teenage girl should read to show the dark side of eating disorders. I cannot say enough great things about this novel, and with that in mind, could not wait to get my hands on Rage, the second book in this hard-hitting series.

Once I got Rage from Netgalley, I started reading immediately, devouring the first few chapters so quickly that I had to stop myself. I knew that I was going to immediately want the third book, Loss, which doesn't come out until 2012.

So as much as it pains me, I have put this book down for a couple of months. I would love to be able to read a couple of pages or chapters like I am doing with Perchance to Dream, but I believe that with this brilliant a writer, this amazing of a story, and this horribly long time before the next book, I just can't trust myself not to devour it in one sitting and be left with this hole inside of me that only the rest of the series can fill.

So that, ladies and gentleman, is why I have had those two books on my "currently reading" list for a heck of a lot longer than it should have taken me to read them. I hope that this answer not only satisfies your curiosity, but piques your intrigue enough to make you check these two books (and their respective series) out and maybe find the joy and wonder in them that I have.

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

2011-03-04T21:21:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help…

I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, when I picked up the first book in the Mercy Thompson series, Moon Called, it took me almost a month to get into. I thought it was too slow, too adult (for me I mean, I don't like a lot of adult books because I find that they have way too much sex, swearing, or needless violence and gore), and just plain dull. I forced myself through it, but had no intentions of reading the rest of the series.

I then got another series by Patricia Briggs in at my library, the Alpha and Omega series. I took this one home hoping and praying that it would be better than Moon Called. It definitely was. I devoured the two books that are out in that series and was DYING for more!! So I knew if I wanted more from Patricia Briggs, I had to go back and read the rest of Mercy's series.

I got book two, Blood Bound, and was sucked into it immediately. I stopped reading after a couple of chapters just so that I could run to my library and get the rest of the series that was out. In a matter of days I had read Blood Bound, Iron Kissed, and Bone Crossed. I waited in agony for the release of Silver Borne, not waiting for my library book supplier to send it to me, but searching it out on release day. After reading it in a mere couple of hours, I started the torturous wait for River Marked.

The week before it was set to be released we received a box of books at the library. In that box, much to my hearts content, was River Marked. I think I scared half the people in the library when I screamed in delight. I raced home to start my favorite book-reading ritual of putting my kids to bed, filling the bathtub with bubbles, turning off my cell phone, and sinking into the world inside the pages.

It took me about a day to read River Marked, only because I had to force myself to go to bed that night AND get up and go to work the next day. (Oh how I wanted to call in sick so I could stay in bed and read this book!) I will start out by saying that a lot of the characters that you would normally find in a Mercy Thompson book were absent through most of the book. While you got to see them a little in the beginning and at the end, the majority of the story involves only Mercy and Adam Hauptman (her boyfriend/fiance/pack leader). But despite the missing characters and the change of scenery (not once in this book is Mercy working at her garage!), this book brought in a whole new element. River Marked dives further into Mercy's indian heritage than any of the previous books. It brings in brand new characters, evolves old relationships to new levels, and introduces a bad guy that we have never seen the likes of before. It was a little slow at first, but it starts building your anticipation and emotions from the get-go, ending with your adrenaline pumping, your palms sweaty, and your heart racing with each page. Once again, Patricia Briggs has outdone herself, creating yet another brilliant rollercoaster ride in River Marked, the sixth book in the Mercy Thompson series. And while I don't recommend this series for younger teens or middle schoolers, older teens and adults will love this series, it's ramshackle cast of characters as well as the action and adventure of these heart-pounding stories that make this series a must read in my opinion.

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

2011-03-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.

Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything.

The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

It was about two years ago, I was still pretty new to being a librarian, when we received a box of teen books from our book supplier. In that box was Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr. The cover was intoxicating, drawing me to it like a moth to a flame. I took it home that night and within mere hours had devoured ever page. It was only after I read Ink Exchange that I found out it was part of a series, the second book in the series to be exact. I immediately had my library director order Wicked Lovely and when it arrived, I devoured it also.

I waited (impatiently) for Fragile Eternity followed by Radiant Shadows. I became an uber-fan of Melissa Marr, joining her fan forum, Rath and Ruins, traveling over 6 hours to go to one of her signings, and have since bought almost every anthology that she has a story in. Needless to say, I was heartbroken when I learned that Darkest Mercy would be the final book in this series. I was terrified that she would end the series with some things unfinished, too many questions left unanswered. I worried that she would kill off many of the characters I had fallen in love with over the years. Darkest Mercy, I was afraid, was going to be a huge let-down and leave me highly upset.

I was shopping in Wal-Mart the weekend before Darkest Mercy was set to be released, and I wandered into the book section as I always do. As I walked the aisle browsing the covers and titles of the same books that had been there the last few times I was there, I saw a cover that was familiar to me peeking out from behind another book. I moved the book in front to see what had caught my eye. Low and behold to my shocked and awe-struck eyes was a copy of Darkest Mercy. Of course, it went straight into my cart, into my car, and home with me. I went straight to my bathroom when I got home, started a bubble bath, and got in the tub with the book. I lay in that tub for three hours (adding more hot water when necessary of course) and read the entire book from cover to cover.

It is with great joy and relief that I tell you now that I was wrong to be worried, stupid to have ever doubted Melissa Marr's ability to write a brilliant story, and I am completely, utterly, ridiculously speechless with Darkest Mercy. Not only did Melissa Marr tied up every single loose-end, but she filled this story with absolutely brilliant scenes full of action, adventure, emotion, adrenaline, and heart-wrenching details, down to the very last page. I am in awe of how she put in twists and surprises that not only did I never see coming, but I couldn't believe were happening even as I read it.

Melissa Marr is truly one of the most brilliant, original, unique, thought-provoking, and addictive writers I have ever had the pleasure to not only read, but also meet. I can tell you that, without a doubt, her books are some of the best out there and you should DEFINITELY get your butt out there and get them if you haven't already. I also recommend that you go to one of Melissa Marr's signings to meet her, she is honestly one the the most entertaining, honest, and caring authors out there and deserves all the support and adoration that her fans feel for her and her work. Give her a chance if you haven't already, you won't be disappointed I assure you.

A Kiss Before the Apocalypse by Thomas E. Sniegowski

2011-03-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Generations ago, angel Remiel chose to renounce heaven and live on Earth. He found a place among ordinary humans by converting himself into Boston P.I. Remy Chandler, but he can never tell anyone who he was or that he still has angelic powers. Remy can will himself invisible, speak and understand any foreign language (including any animal language), and hear the thoughts of others. All these secret powers come in handy for a private investigator, especially when the Angel of Death goes missing and he's assigned to find him.

As he gets deeper into the investigation, he realizes this is not a missing persons case but a conspiracy to destroy the human race and only Remy has the powers to stop the forces of evil.

I'm not sure why I picked this book to read, I saw it when I was browsing books on Amazon and decided to get it from a nearby library and try it out. I have always like the Dresden series by Jim Butcher and was hoping that this was something kind of similar.

While it wasn't too similar to Dresden to feel like a copy, it was similar enough in the dectective/investigation sense that I enjoyed it. Where Dresden has its wizards, magic, and Bob, Remy Chandler's character has angels, investigations, and Marlowe. Marlowe is by far the best supporting character in this series. He is Remy Chandler's dog, who Remy can understand and talk to, tugging at your heart with his love for Remy and his wife, Madeline. While I thought that story felt a little rushed in spots, I wasn't let down by A Kiss Before the Apocalypse and look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

2011-03-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

Kimberly Derting's debut novel, The Bodyfinder, was such an amazing, brilliant, orginal, unique book that I had ENORMOUSLY high hopes for Desires of the Dead, the second novel in this series. The Bodyfinder was such an original concept, had wonderfully realistic and relatable characters, and was such a great mystery that I never saw who the bad guy was coming.

I went into Desires of the Dead expecting it to be as-good, if not better, than The Bodyfinder. Unfortunately, even though the characters were still amazing and the story was still brilliant, I felt that she all but hit us over the head with who the bad guy was going to be. I didn't have that same oh my gosh moment that I had at the end of The Bodyfinder. I just felt like I knew who it was the whole time. And that really left me with a feeling of being let down and disappointment. I don't know if Kimberly Derting is planning a third book in this series, but if she is, I will definitely read it hoping for the greatness that she had in The Bodyfinder. I can't say that I hated Desires of the Dead, but I can't say it was even in the same league with The Bodyfinder. I pray that she will not be a one-it-wonder letting me down more and more with every book like a few authors I have read. I have to believe that Kimberly Derting will come back next time with a story that will make me eat my words from this review and have me back kneeling at her feet screaming "We're not worthy" Wayne's World-style.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

2011-03-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Grace Divine—daughter of the local pastor—always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood.

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul.

I went into The Dark Divine with no expectations or even knowing what it would be about. I picked this book out because the cover drew me in. (I'm completely a cover-picker when it comes to books and authors I haven't heard of before. While most people think that is horrible and wrong, I can honestly say that I have yet to pick a bad book out when cover-picking.)

I started this book and immediately wanted to put it down. I just didn't get where it was going, I didn't understand what the big deal was about Daniel, and I didn't like that there was a big secret that I wasn't being told. But I ran a hot bubble bath and forced myself to keep reading. In the warm embrace of my tub I read for two hours, not only finishing the book, but enjoying every minute of it. Once I got further in to the story I was rewarded with bits and pieces of the secret, enough to tease me and make me want more. I started to really connect with the characters, feeling what Grace was going through and longing for her to find the answers for us both. My only complaint about this book was that I didn't have the second book, The Lost Saint, to start immediately after. I can't wait to see where this story heads in book two. Bree Despain really caught my attention and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston

2011-03-04T19:52:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: "I don't love Sonny Flannery."

That's the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn't know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that's hidden deep underneath New York City.

But Kelley's not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she's got to find out who's after his magick—and how to use her own. She's got to uncover who's recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She's got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she's got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he's around Kelley.

The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous strange andDarklight come to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston's ravishing urban Faerie trilogy.

When I first picked up Wondrous Strange almost a year ago, I was just coming off of reading Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely series and doubted anything could be as good. I was completely surprised when I loved Wondrous Strange just as much, but in a completely different way. I loved the Shakespeare that Lesley Livingston brought into this story, I loved the scenery of Central Park (somewhere I have never been, but could totally visualize through her amazingly descriptive writing), and most of all I fell in love with ever single character. I got Dark Light and expected it to let me down. There was no way she was going to write a second book that could compete with the awesomeness that was Wondrous Strange, but once again, she rocked my world. Darklight was even more brilliant than Wondrous Strange. I devoured it and have read it several times since.

Now Tempestuous comes along, and I again stupidly thought that there was no way it could get better than Darklight. And for the third time, I was wrong. Tempestuous brought in more action, more adventure, more chaotic emotions, and a rollercoaster ride of who's the bad guy all the way to the end. And while Darklight is still my absolute favorite, Tempestuous did not let me down or leave me hanging in anyway. I can't wait to see what surprises and brilliant visual creations Lesley Livingston has up her sleeve next. She is a BRILLIANT, AMAZING, and VISUALLY STUNNING writer and I know that anything she writes will be gold.

Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

2011-03-04T19:44:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Freak. That's what her classmates call seventeen-year-old Donna Underwood. When she was seven, a horrific fey attack killed her father and drove her mother mad. Donna's own nearly fatal injuries from the assault were fixed by magic—the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. The child of alchemists, Donna feels cursed by the magical heritage that destroyed her parents and any chance she had for a normal life. The only thing that keeps her sane and grounded is her relationship with her best friend, Navin Sharma.

When the darkest outcasts of Faerie—the vicious wood elves—abduct Navin, Donna finally has to accept her role in the centuries old war between the humans and the fey. Assisted by Xan, a gorgeous half-fey dropout with secrets of his own, Donna races to save her friend—even if it means betraying everything her parents and the alchemist community fought to the death to protect.

I wish I could say that I loved this book, I had my hopes up really high going in, only to be brought crashing down partway in. I thought the begininning started out really strong and I was reall excited to see where it was going to go. But then about halfway through it just seemed to lose steam, it started to drag on, and it lost some of it's magic, some of it's uniqueness. I was expecting something (I honestly was expecting a book about witches and magic, not alchemy and fae) and I just felt like, even though some elements were fresh and unique, a lot of elements had been done too many times before. I can say that I will read the next book in this series, if only to find out what secrets the alchemists are hiding from Donna and to see if Xan gets his wings back.

The Everafter by Amy Huntley

2011-03-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this - she is dead. And alone in a vast, dark space. The only company Maddy has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things she lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that, with these artifacts, she can reexperience - and even change - moments from her life.

Her first kiss.

A trip to Disney World.

Her sister's wedding.

A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and frightening truths about her life - and death.

I absolutely loved the concept of this book and the direction in which Amy Huntley tried to take it. Unfortunately, I found it lacking, though I can't really put my finger on what it was lacking. I really tried to like this book, it was like every chapter was a story in itself. But I found parts of it confusing at the beginning, like I was never told what was actually going on and I had to figure out the puzzle without all the pieces. So I have to say that this book wasn't great for me, however, I look forward to reading more by Amy Huntley, I think she has the potential to take her ideas and create magic with them.

The Revealers by Amanda Marrone

2011-03-04T19:28:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Jules has a rebellious streak, a massive crush on Connor, and the abilities of a Revealer witch. By day, she and her coven friends seem like typical high school seniors. By night, they have the power to make werewolves, vampires, and ghosts reveal themselves, so they can destroy them. It's not exactly cheerleading, but at least the girls know they're doing the world some good.

One by one, Jules's friends turn eighteen and are initiated into the coven's inner circle. And one by one, they are getting completely freaked out. Jules is the youngest, and though her friends are too scared tell her what's going on, something's clearly not right. As her birthday approaches, Jules realizes she's got to find out what's behind the shadows of her coven before it's too late to save her friends...and herself. But what she discovers may be too powerful for even the toughest witches to defeat.

This book, like Low Red Moon, was a quick, instant gratification read. I finished it in just a couple of hours and once again, did not really see the ending or the bad guy coming. I thought it was an original, well-written story with very real, easy-to-like characters. I am not sure if this book is a stand-alone or if this will be a series, but I hope it will be a series. I want to know what is next for these characters and I look forward to reading more from Amanda Marrone.

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

2011-03-04T19:24:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.Part murder mystery, part grief narrative, and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans. As breathless as Twilightand as spooky as Shiver, this is a book to be devoured in one sitting—by an acclaimed YA author making her paranormal debut under the pseudonym Ivy Devlin.

I went into this book not really knowing what it was about or even hearing any reviews of it. The cover just jumped out at me at the library and so I took it home and read it. It had a really good pace to it and I finished it in only a couple of hours. While the characters and storyline has been done before, I still enjoyed this book. I hate a book that I can guess the ending or the bad guy before they are revealed, and I am happy to say that I did not see who the bad guy was coming. All in all I would say that this was a good book for someone who wants a quick read with instant gratification.

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

2011-03-04T19:20:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new kid in school, and the two girls become as close as sisters . . . until Mallory's magnetic older brother, Ryland, shows up during their junior year. Ryland has an immediate, exciting hold on Phoebe, but a dangerous hold, for she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself. Soon she'll discover the shocking truth about Ryland and Mallory: that these two are visitors from the faerie realm who have come to collect on an age-old debt. Generations ago, the faerie queen promised Pheobe's ancestor five extraordinary sons in exchange for the sacrifice of one ordinary female heir. But in hundreds of years there hasn't been a single ordinary girl in the family, and now the faeries are dying. Could Phoebe be the first ordinary one? Could she save the faeries, or is she special enough to save herself?

I have to say, I was really disappointed in this book. I wasn't loving the characters, I found them to not have the depth or the life I was looking for in them. But the worst part was this secret that was talked about constantly through the book, though you don't find out what it is exactly until the end. Nancy really built up this secret so that the whole book really depended on it to be a great secret, and I found the secret to be weak and didn't live up to the standard that she wanted it to. I have read other books by Nancy Werlin and love her writing, but this book was a FAIL for me.

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

2011-03-04T19:15:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she

meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It started out really exciting and I thought "this book is going to rock", but then it really started to slow down, then drag, and just when I was about to give up on it, Cate Tiernan throws this huge curveball that I was hoping she would and barreled 90 miles and hour to the finish. Now granted, I was not impressed with the ending, but that was only because she leaves you hanging and dying for the next book. If the second book is as much of a rollercoaster as the end of this one, we're all in for a treat.

Elijah's Coin by Steve O'Brien

2011-03-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads:In every heart there exists the potential for good and for evil. The question is which we'll choose. Without the right principles and guidance, a traumatic experience can lead one down a barren path. If our view of the world is dark, then further experience will tend to reinforce that view, leading to more pessimism and fruitless or even destructive behavior. How does one break out of this cycle of negativity?

That question is at the heart of Elijah's Coin, a thoughtful fable about one young man's descent into a life of crime... until he discovers an unlikely mentor, who begins to teach him a new philosophy of life. It's a philosophy not so much of words as of deeds. The lessons, therefore, prove to be indirect and not fully understood until they are lived. The point is not to state what you believe but to become what you believe. In doing so, you will come to lead a fulfilling and prosperous life. You'll find that life is not about you but about others and that generosity is repaid in kind.

Elijah's Coin asks readers to reflect even as they are entertained by a fast-moving, suspenseful story. Ultimately, the book confronts the reader with the possibility — and the opportunity &mdash of inner change. Learn the message, then pay it forward.

I think that the description from GoodReads really sums up what this book is about nicely. I had a hard time not getting emotional during this book. I really felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. Tom was a wonderful, well-written character. I know that a lot of reviewers have said that this book was "preachy" but I found that, when remembering my own adolescence, that I could have really used this book when I was a teen. My hat goes of to Steve O'Brien for a great story that, in my opinion, has a chance at becoming a classic teen book for generations to come.

Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith

2011-02-11T11:41:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Quincie P. Morris, teen restaurateuse and neophyte vampire, is in the fight of her life -- or undeath. Even as she adjusts to her new appetites, she must clear her best friend and true love, the hybrid werewolf Kieren, of murder charges; thwart the apocalyptic ambitions of Bradley Sanguini, the seductive vampire-chef who "blessed" her; and keep her dead parents’ restaurant up and running. She hires a more homespun chef and adds the preternaturally beautiful Zachary to her wait staff. But with hundreds of new vampires on the rise and Bradley off assuming the powers of Dracula Prime, Zachary soon reveals his true nature -- and a flaming sword -- and they hit the road to staunch the bloodshed before it’s too late. Even if they save the world, will there be time left to salvage Quincie’s soul?

I have to say first off, that I ADORED Eternal and Tantalize and have been eagerly anticipating this novel which ties in characters from both books.

And I was not disappointed. Blessed is a PERFECT blending of the two books, bringing in a big dollop of Bram Stoker. It was BRILLIANT! If you haven't read the first two books, I highly reccommend that you get out there and check them out so that you are ready for Blessed.

Waiting on Wednesday

2011-01-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

So for my Waiting on Wednesday this week I have no cover art. Sorry! It's not available yet! But it should be coming any day now!

The book is Working Stiff, the first book in Rachel Caine's new series, The Revivalist! I am UBER EXCITED to read this book!

From GoodReads:A brand new adventure from the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling Rachel Caine, author of the Morganville Vampires and Weather Warden series ...
Bryn Davis is new on the job as a funeral director, but even she knows that once you’re dead, you ought to stay that way. But Fairview Mortuary has a hidden backroom business: reviving the dead for profit, at extortionate rates.
Finding out may cost Bryn more than her life ... it may just take away her death, too.

Wish by Alexandra Bullen

2011-01-23T20:28:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: For broken-hearted Olivia Larsen, nothing can change the fact that her twin sister, Violet, is gone... until a mysterious, beautiful gown arrives on her doorstep. The dress doesn't just look magical; it is magical. It has the power to grant her one wish, and the only thing Olivia wants is her sister back.With Violet again by her side, both girls get a second chance at life. And as the sisters soon discover, they have two more dresses-and two more wishes left. But magic can't solve everything, and Olivia is forced to confront her ghosts to learn how to laugh, love, and live again.In a breathtaking debut from Alexandra Bullen, WISH asks the question: If you could have anything, what would you wish for?

I really enjoyed this book, even though it made me cry a few times. (Those of you who know me know that I HATE to cry! lol) I really connected with the characters, enjoyed the storyline, and found the way Alexandra Bullen described the scenery, scenes, emotions, and characters very easy to visualize and fall in love with. I can't wait to read more from this author! Check out Wish if you haven't already! You won't be disappointed!!

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

2011-01-23T20:12:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history. With two trusty sidekicks in tow, he hatches a cunning plot to divest the fairyfolk of their pot of gold. Of course, he isn't foolish enough to believe in all that "gold at the end of the rainbow" nonsense. Rather, he knows that the only way to separate the little people from their stash is to kidnap one of them and wait for the ransom to arrive. But when the time comes to put his plan into action, he doesn't count on the appearance of the extrasmall, pointy-eared Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) Unit--and her senior officer, Commander Root, a man (sorry, elf) who will stop at nothing to get her back.

So I was really excited to get this book. My hubby and my boss said it was AMAZING. Sadly, I was disappointed with it. I really didn't like Artemis that much. I don't know if I will continue this series or not. I am hoping that, if I do read the next book, it will get better than this one was. I thought the book was really slow, pretty predictable, and sadly, nothing like the description of "Die Hard with Faeries".

In My Mailbox

2011-01-23T20:08:00.000-08:00

So in my mailbox this week I got books from both of my libraries! They aren't really ones that I was anticipating, but they look good none the less! I also got one book from NetGalley that I have been DYING to read!

In My Mailbox

2011-01-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

So this week for In My Mailbox I am a little short on material. Due to nasty winter weather (which I LOVE! Yay Snow!) I couldn't get to Fort Dodge to get any new books and neither of my libraries received any that I am waiting on. So I decided to pick up a series that I haven't read, but my Director, Denise, and my hubby both think I should read. So I am starting Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-01-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

This week has been really long and grueling for me, but just when I thought nothing good could come of it I got this!

This was given to me Ottilie Weber a fellow blogger, who herself was given this award TWICE! Check out her page! http://ottilieweber.blogspot.com/ Thank you so much to Ottilie! She really made my week!

There are 4 duties to perform to receive this award:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers (I'm taking this as recently discovered by myself, not brand-new blogs per say)
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

So, a random 7 things about myself

1) I am a total Star Wars freak.2) I cover all my books with the same plastic covering as I do the books in my library to keep them in good condition.
3) I have never seen an ocean.
4) When I was a little kid I wanted to name my first daughter Poptart Butterfly Peace.
5) I usually carry one book on me at all times, one in my car at all times, and just generally can't stand to not have one when I have a free second or a long wait.
6) I play the alto saxophone.
7) I have a 12 year old dog named Poodle who is half chihuahua and half terrier

The blogs I've chosen to award! Go Check them out!!

1)Babbling Flow
2)http://www.booklabyrinth.blogspot.com
3)For What It's Worth
4) Frenzy of Noise
5)My Overstuffed Bookshelf
6)Overflowing Shelf
7)Pirate Penguin's Reads
8)Reading or Breathing
9)The Thoughts of a Book Junky
10)The Diary of a Bookworm

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

2011-01-11T16:24:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: A hidden truth. Mortal enemies. Doomed love. Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

I got sucked into this book almost immediately. The storyline was pretty original, bringing new explanation to dragons. I could have used a little more action in it, but all-in-all I quite enjoyed it. Unfortunately, being the first book in a series, I was left hanging on a lot of unanswered questions. However, it only makes me want the next book even more. Hats off to Sophie Jordan, she really hit this one out of the park.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

2011-01-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.
When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.
A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.
While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Okay, so I SERIOUSLY LOVED this book! It was action-packed from start to finish and always kept me guessing. The characters were amazingly written and I just can't get over all the brilliance in this book. THe scenes were always exciting and really drew me in. I can't begin to say enough good things about Angelfire. If you haven't read it yet, GO GET IT! This is a BRILLIANT debut by Courtney Allison Moulton.

Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz

2011-01-09T10:39:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense things through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend.

Before either teen has a chance to fully grasp these abilities, an unresolved family tragedy resurfaces in Camelia's life, irrevocably changing everything she cares about...

Once again, Laurie hit a homerun. I ADORED this book! Deadly Little Games has all the mystery and pyschological warfare of the previous books, leaving me guessing as to who the bad guy was. As usual, I never knew for sure who it was until the final reveal. Hats off to Laurie Faria Stolarz, another great book!

Vixen by Jillian Larkin

2011-01-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.

Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?
Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .
Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .
From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.

Even though this book is not sci-fi/fantasy like I normally read, I highly enjoyed it! The era was really brought to life for me in the way Jillian described every scene, the language, and the characters. There was just enough mystery and action to keep me guessing. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

Bloody Valentine by Melissa De La Cruz

2011-01-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series. Also, witness the bonding of Jack and Schuyler.

I really like these little novellas that Melissa De La Cruz keeps putting out for this series. In this one we get to meet a character that is in Melissa's new upcoming series, get to see how Oliver is handling Schuyler leaving, and get to see Jake and Schuyler get bonded! It was great! I love how Melissa can pack so much information into these tiny little books. I can't wait to see what she's going to do next!

Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast

2011-01-03T22:55:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads:At the start of Awakened, the pulse-pounding eighth installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey has returned, mostly whole, from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey - or her relationship with her super-hot Warrior, Stark - ever be the same? Stevie Rae is drawn even closer to Rephaim, the Raven Mocker with whom she shares a mysterious and powerful Imprint, but he is a dangerous secret that isolates her from her school, her red fledglings, and even her best friends. When the dark threat of Neferet - who is coming closer and closer to achieving her twisted goal of immortality - and Kalona returns, what will it take to keep the House of Night from being lost forever, and what will one desperate girl do to keep her heart from being irreparably broken?

I have to start out by saying that still wish that they would have ended the series with Hunted. I liked the way it ended and could have been satisfied with them stopping then. I have read the books past number 5, but I have just felt that they lacked something that the first five books had. I started to get annoyed with some of the characters, one in particular I was seriously praying they would just kill him already!!
I started reading Awakened, expecting not to catch my attention like those before it. Happily I can say that, where in the last two books took me two weeks each to read, I finished this one in just a mere 24 hours.
It wasn't really that the book was so great that I couldn't put it down, but it was starting to pique my interests a little. I can't say that Awakened is a must read, but I do believe that the authors may be getting there second wind. I do, however, look forward to their next book. It'll be an amazing book if the Casts get their mojo going again.

In My Mailbox

2011-01-01T23:22:00.000-08:00

So I know I've been really slacking on my posts lately, I apologize. I have been in what I call a 'reading rut' and am having an insanely hard time finding books that I want to read.
However, this may be the week for reading! I received several books at the library and one for Christmas! So hopefully I will be a reading fool this week!!!! Here's what I got!

Matched by Ally Condie

2011-01-01T23:15:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

I am only 50 pages in to this book and I am putting it down. So far I have found it to be extremely boring and it has failed to pique my interest. I know this one has gotten a look of great reviews, but for me, it missed the mark by a long shot. I see no reason for this to be compared to the Hunger Games.

The Gift by James Patterson

2011-01-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: When Whit & Wisty were imprisoned by the wicked forces of the totalitarian regime known as the New Order, they were barely able to escape with their lives. Now part of a hidden community of teens like themselves, Whit and Wisty have established themselves as leaders of the Resistance, willing to sacrifice anything to save kids kidnapped and brutally imprisoned by the New Order.

But the One has other plans in store for them: He needs Wisty, for she is "The One Who Has the Gift." While trying to figure out what that means, Whit and Wisty's suspenseful adventures through Overworld and Shadowland lead to a jaw-dropping climax and conclusion: the highly-anticipated fulfillment of the heart-pounding opening prologue of book one... The Execution of the Allgoods.

All-in-all I didn't really enjoy this book. I really have nothing more to say about it then this:

James Patterson, in y opinion, is highly over-rated, over-paid, and irritating.

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

2010-12-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.
I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.
I AM NUMBER FOUR.
I AM NEXT.

I didn't know what I was going to think of this book at first, or if it was even something I really wanted to read. Now that I have read it, I am glad I did.

I enjoyed this book, though I fully believe that the next book in the series will be even better. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more action, I got a little sick of the love-story side of it. Sometimes a girl just needs a good aliens-bringing-the-end-of-the-world action, like Independence Day! (such a good movie) But all-in-all I liked this book, and I most definitely will read book 2 in the Lorien Legacies.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

2010-12-17T06:13:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but atleast she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Path hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.
Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

I have to start out by saying that, yes, I am a Patch girl. I LOVED him after Hush, Hush.

Which makes what I am about to say so hard..... I HATED Patch through this book!!! However, I think that was exactly what Becca Fitzpatrick was trying to make me feel. Crescendo is filled with twists and turns that not only keep you guessing, but keep the emotions and tensions running high. I adored this book, even though, once again, Becca Fitzpatrick leaves me screaming NOOOOOOO!!! at the end.

In My Mailbox

2010-12-12T07:16:00.000-08:00

So this week I FINALLY got books! Yay!!! I will be a reading fool again! Look for the upcoming reviews! I got four books in the mail, 1 book off Netgalley, and 1 book from the Fort Dodge Library!

Entice by Carrie Jones

2010-12-10T14:14:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out.
For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?
And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned. She's Astley's queen.

Once again Carrie Jones brings it all to the table and kept me hooked from the very beginning. I LOVE the Norse mythology she is bringing into the storyline and am ADORING this series entirely! Even though I am completely a Team Nick gal, I am slowly warming to Astley. The characters in this story are so well written and brought to life so much that I feel a connection to each and everyone of them. Most of all I am blown away by all the treachery and deceit in Entice. Hats off to Carrie Jones!

Waiting On Wednesday

2010-12-08T07:32:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads:Betrayal, loss, pain, fear. How many trials can love endure and still survive?

I really liked Nightshade (though HATED how it ended. Cliffhangers are a killer!) and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, Wolfsbane!

Bite Club by Rachel Caine

2010-12-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

Bite Club is the 10th book in the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. As most of you know, Rachel is my boss. As a special little gift she emailed me a draft of Bite Club.

Oh. My. Gosh!! I devoured this book in less than a day. Carpe Corpus (MV#6) has always been my favorite, but Bite Club went and blew past it! I would love to get into specifics about this book, but unfortuantely I don't feel that I am able to without getting into spoilers. What I can tell you is that this book made me yell at it, gasp, get scared, get angry, and even wind-up in tears. For those of you who are Morganville fans, be prepared for the best one yet! For those of you who are unfamiliar with this series, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!!!

In My Mailbox

2010-12-05T16:32:00.000-08:00

So I only got one new book this week, unfortunately I have been so busy that I haven't had time to go to Fort Dodge and get new books. Also, no new books have come in to either of my libraries! I did, however, get one new book at the beginning of the week. I also got a new one last week that I didn't get a chance to post! So here they are! And the reviews of both are up!

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

2010-11-30T21:06:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Elizabeth has a new job at an unusual library— a lending library of objects, not books. In a secret room in the basement lies the Grimm Collection. That's where the librarians lock away powerful items straight out of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales: seven-league boots, a table that produces a feast at the blink of an eye, Snow White's stepmother's sinister mirror that talks in riddles.

When the magical objects start to disappear, Elizabeth embarks on a dangerous quest to catch the thief before she can be accused of the crime—or captured by the thief.

Polly Shulman has created a contemporary fantasy with a fascinating setting and premise, starring an ordinary girl whose after-school job is far from ordinary— and leads to a world of excitement, romance and magical intrigue.

I stumbled upon this book at the library, never having heard of it or having any expectations. I will admit that I was solely drawn in by the cover. (Yes, I am a cover-picker, I admit it) But I was instantly drawn in to this book, loving the storyline, the characters, and the vivd images it brought into my head.

Polly Shulman does an AMAZING job of mixing legend, fairy tale, and modern day to create a brilliant and complex story that reminds me of the movie 'The Librarian'. (One of my FAVORITE movies) I suggest that if you are looking to try something new, give The Grimm Legacy a shot, it won't disappoint you!

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

2010-11-30T20:59:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads:The astonishing final novel in Richelle Mead's epic series!

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them.

So I just, at this very moment, finished Last Sacrifice, and I could not wait to post this review. I have been reading this series since the day the first book came out and can honestly say that I have enjoyed every book immensely.

I went through a succession of different emotions during the course of this book, starting and ending with disappointment that this was the final Vampire Academy novel. (Though I am looking forward to the new series and hope to see if Lissa, Rose, Dimitri, and crew show up now and again!) Last Sacrifice was a never-ending thrill ride from start to finish. It was overflowing with plots and conspiracies, tugging you in every direction all at once. I think every fan of VA will love the way that Richelle Mead wraps everything up, leaving nothing unfinished. Hats of to Ms. Mead and a huge thank you for a series that never let its readers down.

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

2010-11-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.
But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book, I had heard good reviews, but I was still disappointed by the let-down from Halo. But even after just a few pages, I knew this book was not going to let me down.
The characters were really enjoyable and really brought the story to life. I enjoyed the twists and turns, and especially liked the ending. I hope to see this become a small series, I really want to know what comes next.

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

2010-11-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings.

But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

So, if you're like me, then you've heard all the other bloogers raving about this book. I can honestly say that I have not heard a bad review of it yet.... until now.
I found this book to be agonizingly long with no real substance to it. By page 250 I felt like I was getting nowhere. I regret that I didn't like this book. After all the reviews I expected better.

Hey Everyone!

2010-11-19T09:18:00.000-08:00

So I just wanted to say hey everyone! I know I've been M.I.A. lately, but my laptop died on me and I am waiting on a new one. Unfortunately, the only time I really get to use a computer is at work and I'm not allowed to blog! So my review of Halo, Bite Me, Personal Demons, and Sea are all on hold for now. The worst part is that I have my In My Mailbox and my Waiting on Wednesdays all typed and scheduled, but I've been down so long now that I'm even out of those!

So I may be silent here for a little while longer, but I promise to make up for it as soon as I get my new computer!!!! In the meantime, I decorated a little early for Christmas, I hope you like it! And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Stork by Wendy Delsol

2010-11-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: Sixteen-year-old Katla has just moved from Los Angeles to the sticks of Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, she learns to her horror that she’s a member of an ancient order of women who decide to whom certain babies will be born. Add to that Wade, the arrogant football star whom Katla regrettably fooled around with, and Jack, a gorgeous farm boy who initially seems to hate her. Soon Katla is having freaky dreams about a crying infant and learns that, as children, she and Jack shared a near-fatal, possibly mystical experience. Can Katla survive this major life makeover and find a dress for the homecoming dance? Drawing from Norse mythology and inspired by The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, debut author Wendy Delsol conceives an irreverent, highly entertaining novel about embracing change and the (baby) bumps along the way.

So I read this book in anticipation of meeting author, Wendy Delsol, this coming Saturday. She is indeed from my home state of Iowa and will be signing Stork at both of my libraries this weekend. I didn't know what to expect with this book going in, but not far into I realized that it was right up my alley.
I loved Stork's originality in it's storyline, characters, and even setting. Not often does an author in the Teen/YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre stray from the typical vampires, werewolves, fae, spirits, etc. I really enjoyed the mythology behind it, as well as the intermingling of old and young characters. I found this book to be a really fun read and can't wait to read the next book in this series, Frost.
(Also, not to pimp my libraries, but if you are in Iowa and want to meet Wendy Delsol, she will be signing this Saturday, November 13th at the Pomeroy, Fort Dodge, and Rockwell City Public Libraries!)

Torment by Lauren Kate

2010-11-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

From GoodReads: How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

I really, really wish that I could rave on and on about this book, I mean, I had been expecting to rave about this book. Fallen was so amazing and wildly original that I was anticipating Torment to be AMAZING!!!
Boy, was I let down. It is my honest opinion that this book was basically just Fallen all over again, only this time on the West Coast. I was highly disappointed in it. Although, I will say that I am not giving up on this series. With the little smidges of clues that Ms. Kate gave us in Fallen and Torment, I expect all the answers to just explode in the third book, Passion, due out next spring.

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-11-03T05:25:00.000-07:00

This week's Waiting on Wednesday is the second book in the Horsemen of the Apocalypse series by Jackie Morse Kessler. If you read my review of the first book, Hunger, you will know that I ADORED this book. It was brilliant and I truly feel that every young girl should read it. It put eating disorders into a new perspective and really gave a voice to all girls suffering from anorexia. I am positive that the second book will be twice as brilliant and am anxiously awaiting it's release in April 2011. In the meantime, if you haven't read Hunger yet, GO BUY IT!!!!!

In My Mailbox

2010-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

So since I am still recovering from surgery, my In My Mailbox is only one book this week. Thank you to my wonderful hubby for running to get it for me!!!

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

So for Waiting on Wednesday today I have the second book from Kimberly Derting. I am sure that I am not alone in my need to have this book. Her first book, The Bodyfinder, was an AMAZING supernatural who-done-it. It kept me guessing through the whole book and didn't leave me feeling like I had known what was going to happen. I am EAGERLY awaiting Desires of the Dead.

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

2010-10-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.
Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

The second book in the Caster Chronicles, Beautiful Darkness lived up to the standard set by the first book in this series. Full of twists and turns, heart-wrenching emotion, and characters that you just fall for. In this book, Stohl and Garcia take us for an emotional rollercoaster ride as Lena tries to deal with the loss of Macon and pushes herself away from Ethan. There were scenes that made me want to cry with the characters. This book was amazingly written and I look forward to the third installment in this series.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

2010-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads:

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in ...more Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.
Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

I don't even know where to begin reviewing this book, the words to describe it won't come out right. I adored it. It was creepy, saddening, exciting, heart-poundingly brilliant. Mackie is so well written that I found myself feeling everything he was feeling from scene to scene. The hairs on my arms stood up from the eerie-factor of some of the scenes, especially the ones with the Morrigan in them. This book was descriptive and detailed in such a way that sometimes you felt like you were actually in the story too. It was an amazing book that I highly reccommend and will definitely read anything Brenna Yovanoff writes from here on out!

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

2010-10-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

So I started this book not really knowing what to think, I had read numerous reviews raving about it, but had to see for myself. So I started it one evening and by morning I had finished it. I loved it! The characters were strong and extremely well written, the story was new and fresh. I definitely think that if you are into Teen and YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy, this is a book for you! My only complaint about the book, the wait for the next one!!!! I will warn you now that this book ends with a MAJOR cliffhanger that will leave you begging for more!

Misguided Angel by Melissa De La Cruz

2010-10-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the five remaining gates that guard the earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.

Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Deming Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.
As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart.

I must start out by saying Melissa De La Cruz, you my dear, are a TEASE!!!!
This book was just a small taste of things to come. You get to see only bits and pieces of the big picture, ending in yet another of Melissa's, now famous, clif-hangers. I loved it! The story jumps from Jack and Schuyler to Mimi and Oliver, to scenes from past lives, to a new character (I won't tell you about her, you'll have to read to find out more!). As Misguided Angel bounces from storyline to storyline you pick up new pieces to the puzzle, and just when you think you will get some answers, the book is done! So once again, Melissa has hooked me for another book, and, as only Melissa De La Cruz can, has me counting the days until the next Blue Bloods novel.

Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

2010-10-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?
Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.
Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.
Join new and old friends from Camp Half-Blood in this thrilling first audiobook in The Heroes of Olympus series.

If you enjoyed the Percy Jackson series, then you will LOVE this book! I started this book at 8:30 p.m. one night and, literally, my hubby had to pry it from my hands at 1 a.m. and force me to go to bed!
In full Rick Riordan fashion, I couldn't put it down! The characters of Piper, Leo, and Jason were amazingly written, the story was intermixed with Roman and Greek mythology, and the twists and turns were unforseen. I strongly reccommend everyone check this book out! I promise that you will devour it!

YA SPOOKTACULAR IS HERE!!!

2010-10-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first ever YA Spooktacular event! I am UBER excited to be a part in the YA Spooktacular hosted by onceuponareview.com & frenzyofnoise.blogspot.com. I am proud to present Part 8 of Story 2: A Soul Laid Bare! You can begin this story at http://www.pageturnersblog.com/

So, now do you want to know how it works? Well, there are 2 spooky YA stories being told in 13 parts. Each part is written by a different author (some currently published, some aspiring) and posted on a different blog. At the end of each story, you will have a chance to enter to win a prize pack (there is one for each story and a separate one that's open internationally). To be eligible to win that story's prize pack, you must comment on each part of the story. There will also be Trick or Treats along the way for more chances to win! For all the rules, the full rundown of all the goodness as well as a list of all the story stops, go to http://frenzyofnoise.blogspot.com/2010/10/ya-spooktacular-starts-friday_17.html

Good luck and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

A Soul Laid Bare

Part Eight by Saundra Mitchell

Go to http://www.pageturnersblog.com/ to start the story!

Some air. She needed some air.

Shaking off the odd sense of dread that welled in her, Sami cut through the crowd to find the back door already standing open. It made sense— people should have been winding in and out, but for some reason, the wide lawn behind the house was deserted. A thin slice of silver moonlight filtered through the trees. For an awful, flashing moment, it looked like a veil of webs, as if spiders had descended every branch to cocoon the world.

"This is the part where you run away," Sami told herself. And yet, she walked into the cool night. Pulled on hooks and wires made of sensation, Sami swallowed hard when she came to a stop.

Something in that moment felt inevitable. Tremblingly inevitable— like seeing a perfect tower of cards, and knowing that it would fall. Not that it might, that it would, this minute, or in an hour, but there would be no stopping it.

And then, lightning coursed through her.

It struck, pale blue and racing her skin, searing her blood. It was agony, fire piercing her, filling her head full of fire and fury and... then it changed. It filled her, strange power crackling through her. Though she couldn't see her own eyes, she suspected they'd changed— just as Dylan's had, just as Mr. Cooper's had.

Then Mr. Cooper spoke. "Good and evil and undecided finally come together!"

Sami whirled to find him in the dark. Instead, she found Rosie, wound with a ribbon of violet stars. They pulsed around her head, a gothic halo. Her eyes were embers in shadow, glowing from a black depth.

"Well, I guess we know which one I am," she said sarcastically. She opened her hand. A swirling globe of those violet stars turned just above her palm. It pulsed with fire; just the look of it was dangerous.

With an easy flick, Rosie tossed it in the air— and at another point of the lawn, Dylan caught it. The moment he touched it, the stars shifted to scarlet. His eyes had turned, too, his whole body bathed in a crimson mist.

"You have to keep the balance, Sami!" Mr. Cooper cried.

Sami still couldn't see him. She turned, and only when she looked down, did she realize her feet no longer touched the earth. They all floated, just a few feet from the cool ground. Fog rolled beneath them, slowly marking out a triangle in mist. They stood on each point— but Mr. Cooper remained hidden.

Rosie stretched her arms, rippling in her tight costume. She turned her head, dark lashes fluttering as she opened her hands to present two new violet globes. This time, they sparked. And this time, she threw them hard— right at Sami.

Throwing her hands up, Sami screamed. She felt slicked, with sweat or blood, or something...it took her a moment to realize the lighting that swirled around her, soft lavender power, had risen up to block the blow.

Power churned inside her, and Sami trembled— how could Rosie already be so good at this? What awful thing did Dylan have in store? Trying to find some kind of defense in this madness, Sami called out to her friends- her friends.

"You're not evil!" She told Rosie. "You're not undecided. And I'm not good!"

Thunder crashed, a sound caught entirely between them. Sami squeezed her eyes closed, and when she did, she caught a glimpse of Tonya, of the Dark Man— and suddenly she realized there was someone else lurking in that dream, in those visions.

And that someone else was Mr. Cooper.

Need to know more? Can't wait to find out?

Then continue the story at http://thebookscoop.com/ and don't forget to comment here to be entered to win!!

Like Saundra Mitchell? Check out her website!

http://www.saundramitchell.com/

Also, don't forget to check out Story 1: Darkness

which starts at

http://www.frenzyofnoise.blogspot.com

In My Mailbox

2010-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

So I know I haven't posted any book reviews lately (oh I will! I have been reading a TON of good books lately!), but I had surgery and have been down on bedrest. Most of these posts were written and scheduled a head of time. I did stock up on more books before surgery and In My Mailbox this week were:

White Cat by Holly Black

2010-10-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.

Now I have been a Holly Black fan since Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside, I love her detailing and her ability to bring characters to life. In White Cat, true to her style, she has done it again. Cassel makes you feel every emotion as he goes through them, making you want things to go his way. I adored this book for it's originality and concept. (Also, I LOVE the fact that this book, unike so many in the Teen and YA genre, is written from a male perspective.) If you like strange twists and turns, as well as the supernatural, then White Cat is a book for you!

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-10-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

So this weeks Waiting on Wednesday is the third book in the Outcast Season series by my boss, Rachel Caine. I am DYING for this book! Excuse my language, but Cassiel is a total BADASS!!! I am eager to see where this book goes, especially following on the heels of the final Weather Warden book, Total Eclipse. I have been told by Rachel that Jo, David, nor Louis will appear in Unseen, but will be in the fourth and final Outcast Season book!

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-10-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

My Waiting on Wednesday this week is one that I have been waiting for since August of 2009! Needless to say that wait has not killed me, but it was torture! Iron Crowned, the third in the Dark Swan series by Richelle Mead. Now if don't know what I'm talking about, that's ok. While the Dark Swan series is not as well known as her Vampire Academy series, it does offer the same patented Richelle Mead action and adventure. However, I have to say, this is NOT a Teen or YA series! This IS AN ADULT SERIES! There is sex, there is swearing, and there is violence. The characters are strong and outspoken while still managing to capture you in their story. I for one, cannot WAIT ANY LONGER FOR IRON CROWNED!!

In My Mailbox

2010-10-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

So even though I am still reading some of the books from my last two In My Mailboxes, I got three more in the mail at the library this week that I just had to bring home. All are books that I have been anxiously awaiting and will devour as soon as possible!

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-10-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

My Waiting On Wednesday this week is one that I am DYING to get my hands on. I would sell my soul for and ARC of it! Deadly Little Games, the third in the Touch Novels, is my agonizingly, long-awaited pick of the week. I adore this series for it's ability to bamboozle me. By that I mean, in every book so far I would be like "that's the bad guy! I know it's them!" and everytime I would be wrong. Laurie Faria Stolarz is the master of unsolveable who-done-its. And I, for one, am going insane waiting for this book. If you haven't read this series, CHECK IT OUT! I promise you it will not disappoint you!!

Great Halloween Contests!!

2010-10-04T19:19:00.000-07:00

So, while getting in the holiday spirit, I stumbled across some great Halloween contests on some great blogs I follow! So check them out and enter to win!

Ravenous Reader's contest http://www.lushbudgetproduction.com/2010/10/contest-beautiful-darkness-and-swag.html

Courtney's contest http://courtney-allison.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-party-trick-r-treat-giveaway.html

Carol's http://carol-in-print.blogspot.com/2010/09/will-she-ever-stop-giving-away-arcs.html

Jessica's contest http://totalbookaholic.blogspot.com/2010/10/haunted-halloween-with-nancy-holder-and.html

And last but not least, the one that I myself and helping with... Tales From Under The Grave!!!!! Start at Once Upon A Review and follow the story from blog to blog, author to author! Participate in tricks and treats to win cool stuff! http://onceuponareview.blogspot.com/2010/09/tales-from-under-grave-ya-spooktacular.html

Redecorating

2010-10-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

So I admit, this post is completely non book related, but as you can see, Halloween is my FAVORITE time of the year! So in honor of Halloween I have changed the look of the blog a bit, redecorated if you will, but don't worry though, all the content will still be the same, just dressed in a different wrapping. Lol I have already bought my girls and I are costumes and am TOTALLY ready for the 31st to get here already! My oldest is going to be a sorceress and my youngest is a purple bat. I got a very Victorian dress that I will wear with a little top hat, cane, and stiletto boots, I thinking it's very steam-punk. Hubby is again going as a Sith Lord this year, though I don't think he ever tires of being someone from Star Wars, but then again, neither would I if there were more girls in it. Though one year I would really like to be an Ewok..... So, are you ready? I want to hear from each and everyone of you what you are going to be this year!

In My Mailbox

2010-10-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

It was another amazing week in library scores for me! I raided two libraries for the books that are In My Mailbox this week! Torment came from my library, the Rockwell City Public Library, Tattoos and Tequila I won from a fellow blogger, White Cat and Early To Death, Early To Rise came from the Fort Dodge Public Library. I am eager to dive into this pile of awesome!

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

2010-10-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Love can be a dangerous thing....
Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.
But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

Oh My Damn! I LOVE LOVE LOVED this book!!! I devoured it without even realizing it! I started it at 9p.m. last night in the bathtub and was a total prune at 11p.m. when I finally put it down. The story was AMAZING, the concept and characters was BRILLIANT, and I was shocked, appalled, amazed, breathless, and completely speachless when I finished it. I love how Hanna never ceased to make me laugh while also scaring the crap out of me at the same time. I give a thunderous standing ovation to Dia Reeves for her ability to make me see "the other side of crazy".

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

2010-10-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart...and clues to the secret of the Shift.

I loved the originality of this story and the attentions to detail that made this book a hit. The characters really came to life for me and I spent mch of the book with my heart in my throat. I cannot wait for more books in this series and would highly reccommend everyone check out this AWESOMELY emotional novel. Bravo Jeri Smith-Ready, bravo.

Tales From Under The Grave

2010-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

So I get to be a part of an AWESOME Halloween blogger event (Thank you Khelsea and Danielle!) called Tales From Under The Grave!

How it works:
Author 1 will start a paranormal story and it will be posted on blog 1. Then, author 2 will continue the story and be posted on on blog 2 (and so on until it is finished.) Each author will submit 200-600 words (their preference) and we will follow the story from blog-to-blog.
Each blog will have a trick or a treat at the end of the post and all the participants must complete every one to be entered into the Spooktacular contest. The contest will run October 22 and end October 31, with multiple posts added each day.
It’s trick-or-treat in blog form!

So stick around for more information!

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-09-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

So I am AGAIN late with my Waiting On Wednesday post! Ugh! Its been a horrible week, please forgive me! So without further ado-

From GoodReads: Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help…

All I can say about this one is, I LOVE MERCY!!!! Patricia Briggs has two series that I adore, Alpha and Omega and Mercy Thompson. Right now I am DYING as I wait for a new book for Ms. Briggs! So here I am counting the days to January 25th!!

The Eternal Ones by Kristin Miller

2010-09-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: What if love refused to die?

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.
In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

So this book too me a lot longer to get into than I would have liked, but it was WELL worth it! This book had a little something of everything, some action, a little adventure, some heartbreak, and a lot of romance. I found the characters to be written beautifully, the whole world brought to life in such vivid colors. I hope Kristin Miller has plans to turn this book into a series, I am really looking forward to reading more about Haven, Iain, and Beau!

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-09-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

My (again late) Waiting on Wednesday post! Defiance by Lili St. Crow, the fourth book in the Strange Angels series!
From GoodReads: Now that sixteen-year-old Dru's worst fears have come true and Sergej has kidnapped her best friend Graves, she'll have to go on a suicidal rescue mission to bring him back in one piece.

That is, if she can put all of Christophe's training to good use, defeat her mother's traitor, Anna, once and for all, and manage to survive another day . . .

I am UBER excited for this book! Lili St. Crow is the MASTER at leaving us hanging at the end of the book. I have cursed her name at the end of all three books so far, hating that I had to wait for the next book. She has brought the characters to life in such a way that you feel as though you know them. She has made you a part of Dru's world to the point where your heart races with every action-packed scene. The wait until April very well may kill me. If you haven't checked out this series, then you live under a rock! GET TO THE LIBRARY NOW AND GET THE FIRST THREE BOOKS!!!

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

2010-09-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.
As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

I have to start out by saying that this book, while not entirely original in it's story, was really enjoyable. I liked the characters, the visualization of the surounding, and most of all, the little twists and turns that the author threw in. I did find the plot a little bit like many other teen and YA books right now, however, I find that Rachel put her own spin on it enough to make it different enough that I still wanted to read it. I look forward to book two in the Hex Hall series and reccommend you give this book a read, it's worth the time!!

Siren by Tricia Rayburn

2010-09-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Seventeen-year-old Vanessa Sands is afraid of everything—the dark, heights, the ocean—but her fearless older sister, Justine, has always been there to coach her through every challenge. That is, until Justine goes cliff-diving one night near the family’s vacation house in Maine, and her lifeless body washes up on shore the next day.

Though her parents hope that they’ll be able to find closure back in Boston, Vanessa can’t help feeling that her sister’s death wasn’t an accident. After discovering that Justine was keeping a lot of secrets, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor, hoping that Justine’s boyfriend might know more. But Caleb has been missing since Justine’s death.
Soon, it’s not just Vanessa who’s afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes host to a string of fatal, water-related accidents in which all the victims are found, horrifically, grinning from ear to ear.
Vanessa turns to Caleb’s brother, Simon, for help, and begins to find herself drawn to him. As the pair try to understand the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance—and will change her life forever.
A seductive paranormal romance full of unexpected twists, Siren is certain to make a big summer splash.

I was really excited to get this book, it had been high on my TBR list. However, I was left disappointed. I thought that it dragged on and left me forcing myself to finish it. It just seemed that everything was lacking in some way. Emotional scenes made me feel nothing, action scenes didn't peak my excitement, and the ending didn't surprise me at all. I wish I had at least one thing that I could say that I really liked about this book, but the only thing that I can honestly say is that I doubt I will read the rest of this series when it comes out.

My Soul To Keep by Rachel Vincent

2010-09-19T16:06:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: WHEN KAYLEE CAVANAUGH SCREAMS, SOMEONE DIES

AND KAYLEE IS ABOUT TO SCREAM HER HEAD OFF...
Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.
Until something does.
Demon’s breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow, the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.
And when the epidemic hits too close to home, Kaylee will have to risk everything to save those she loves.

This is the third book in the Soul Screamers series and, in my opinion, is the best one of the series thus far. Though I enjoyed the first two books, I found that this one had more of everything, more action, more suspense, more emotion, and more twists. I wish I could tell you more about this book, but I feel that to elaborate more would give too much away. I will end with this... I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE REST OF THIS SERIES!!!!!

In My Mailbox

2010-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

So this week's In My Mailbox is brought to you buy The Fort Dodge Public Library! lol As you know, I am a librarian at two libraries. Unfortunately, both libraries are small town libraries with EXTREMELY limited budgets. So to "try before I buy" books for these libraries, I go to a nearby bigger city and get new releases from their library. The Fort Dodge Public Library has been lucky enough to have several foundations that fundraise and purchase books for them, giving them an OVERWHELMING book collection. This week in particular, I SCORED, getting not one, not two, but ELEVEN newly released books from my TBR list! By the time I post this weeks WoW on Sunday, some may have already been read and reviewed, but I am going to list them here anyway!

So needless to say, this week will be spent with a book in my hands every spare moment I get!!

Claire De Lune by Christine Johnson

2010-09-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

From GoodReads: Torn between two destinies?

Claire is having the perfect sixteenth birthday. Her pool party is a big success, and gorgeous Matthew keeps chatting and flirting with her as if she's the only girl there. But that night, she discovers something that takes away all sense of normalcy: she's a werewolf.
As Claire is initiated into the pack of female werewolves, she must deal not only with her changing identity, but also with a rogue werewolf who is putting everyone she knows in danger. Claire's new life threatens her blossoming romance with Matthew, whose father is leading the werewolf hunt. Now burdened with a dark secret and pushing the boundaries of forbidden love, Claire is struggling to feel comfortable in either skin. With her lupine loyalty at odds with her human heart, she will make a choice that will change her forever?

I was a little disappointed with this book. I expected it to be more somehow, and instead found myself being really annoyed with her mom, annoyed with the whining of her best friend, annoyed with Claire's internal whining, annoyed with who the bad guy turned out to be, and almost expecting more than what I got in the end. So while this was a book that I didn't enjoy, I will read the second book that is coming in this series. I think that Christine Johnson has a lot of potential to be an amazing writer that I will love and I hope she takes the next book and turns it into something awesome. But for now, I am left wanting from this story.

Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent

2010-09-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

So this week I started the Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent. I finished the first two, My Soul To Take and My Soul To Save, and am in the process of reading the third, My Soul To Keep.

From GoodReads: She doesn't see dead people, but…

She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.
Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next…

From GoodReads: “If she were going to die, I’d already be screaming. I’m a banshee. That’s what we do.”

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls for a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld — a consequence they can’t possibly understand. Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk....
I have to start off by saying that I loved the fact that Rachel wrote an original, interesting story. I mean come on, who else has wrote a book about banshees? Excuse me, I meant bean sidhes. lol
This story was new and fun with a sprinkling of emotional tear-jerkers. I enjoyed it a lot. My favorite character through both books was Tod. He was annoying, endearing, and loveable. I can't wait to finish the third book and look forward to the release of the fourth.

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-09-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

ARG! I am late on myWaiting On Wednesday post! Sorry!!!! Yesterday was kind of a day from Hades, so forgive me!
But without further wait, here is my Waiting On Wednesday pick!

Entice by Carrie Jones is the third book in the Need series. I LOVE LOVE LOVED the first two books and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Entice in December!

From GoodReads: Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that’s not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he’s been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it’s taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?
And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there’s that other small problem: Zara’s been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn’t just turned… She’s Astley’s queen.

Carrie Jones writes a thrilling take on pixies in this series, leaving you shell-shocked at the end of each book. The characters suck you into their story until you are twisted up inside about who is the good guy and who isn't. I, for one, am DYING to know what happens next! If you haven't checked out the Need series yet, I suggest you get on it!!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2010-09-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

So just this very minute I finished Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I honestly couldn't wait a second to jump on here and rave about this book. It has taken me a week to read it, only because I was not allowed to call in to work. Seriously. I was so wrapped up in this book from the moment I opened it that I very well could have called in to work so that I wouldn't have to put it down. However, hubby put a quick stop to that idea.

From GoodReads: Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: Jem, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa.
As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

So, how do I review a book that has left me speechless and gasping for air? I am sitting here right now with just a flash of words running through my head. Brilliant, beautiful, stunning, awesome, amazing, gut-wrenching, and heartache are but a few.
The story itself was beautifully told, it played out like a movie in my head with every scene scripted perfectly. The characters were mesmorizing and brought to life so well that I felt every gut-wrenching twist and turn right along with them. The plot thickened and twisted until I was being stunned into silence.
I cannot say enough great things about this book to even begin to give you an idea of how brilliant it was. Cassandra Clare is masterful in her detail and in this world that she brings to life . I can only bow before her awesomeness. If you have not read this book yet, RUN, DON'T WALK to the nearest store and BUY IT! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!

The Haunted by Jessica Verday

2010-09-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

Lately I have had the good fortune of reading the most wonderful, scrumptious books, and Jessica Verday didn't let me down with the second book in The Hollow Trilogy.

From GoodReads: After a summer spent reclaiming her sanity and trying to forget the boy she fell in love with by the bridge where her best friend drowned - the boy who must not exist, cannot exist, because she knows that he is dead - Abbey returns to Sleepy Hollow, determined to leave the ghosts of her past behind. She throws herself into schoolwork, perfume-making and her friendship with Ben, her cute and funny lab partner, who just might be able to help her get over Caspian once and for all. But Abbey is never going to truly be able to move on from Caspian and Caspian has no choice but to return to her side: for Caspian is a Shade and Abbey is his destiny. The two are tied not only to each other, but also to the town of Sleepy Hollow and the famous legend that binds their fates - a legend whose true ending and dark truths they are only just beginning to guess...

The first book, The Hollow, left me tear-streaked and gasping for air. I loved it, it was beautiful and captivating. So when I picked up The Haunted (I hunted EVERYWHERE for it on release day! Wal-Mart didn't have it, Target didn't have it, and I live in a small town! Finally, a near-by library had just gotten it in! Thank you Rita for giving me this book before it was even in your system! I LOVE LOVE LOVE you for it!!) I had immensely high standards. I expected it to move me in the same way The Hollow had....

While it didn't bring me to tears like The Hollow did, The Haunted did make me smile, laugh, blush, and gasp. The twists and turns in this book, while sometimes expected in The Hollow, were exciting and unforseen in The Haunted. All in all I would say that Jessica Verday turned up the heat in The Haunted and added a heaping spoonful of darkness, making this sequel a delicious success.

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-09-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

So I thought long and hard this week about my Waiting on Wednesday post. What book am I absolutely, 100% thinking about non-stop right now. Well, until yesterday, it was Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare and The Haunted by Jessica Verday. But as both came out yesterday and I ran out first thing yesterday morning to get them, that left me in a quandry. So I sat back down to put some more thought into it and came up with one that is really starting to creep into the back of my mind a lot......

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, the first and HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 1st book in the new Heroes of Olympus series. I have LOVED the Percy Jackson series and ADORED the new Kane Chronicles series, so with the upcoming release date (October 12th!!!), I figured now was a good time to allow myself to start obsessing.

From Goodreads: Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she’s his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids.” What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?
Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.

Ghost Town by Rachel Caine

2010-09-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

So my AWESOME boss, Rachel Caine, sent me an ARC of Ghost Town, the 9th book in the Morganville Vampires series. I finished the book over the weekend, but due to an EXTREMELY hectic schedule I have been unable to post a review on it until now.

FORGIVE ME!!! So, without further delay, I give you GHOST TOWN!!!!

From GoodReads: The fragile peace between humans and vampires in Morganville is in trouble, and when Claire takes drastic action, she's put under serious pressure to re-establish the barriers that keep the town residents inside, and wipe the memories of those who leave. But working with her half-crazy vampire boss Myrnin means that things don't always turn out as planned ... and as the people of Morganville begin acting strangely, Claire and her friends must solve the mystery and try to put things right. But one by one, her allies are turning on her ... even the ones she trusts most.

I must start out by saying that I devoured this book in mere hours. Rachel has pumped up the creepy factor in Morganville to 1000 in Ghost Town! If you thought the vampires in Morganville were devious, evil, kill-all-humans before, just wait until you see them now! This book has twice the random attacks, twice the RUN FOR YOUR LIFE moments, and best of all TWICE THE MYRNIN!!!!

For those of you out there with an undying love of Claire's super crazy boss, Myrnin, you will be excited to know that Myrnin is once again front and center for Ghost Town! But sorry guys, that's all the spoilery info I'm giving out today! Just trust me when I say that October 26th you need to RUN, not walk, to your nearest bookstore and get the newest addition to the Morganville Vampires! Rachel has,once again,out-done herself! Ghost Town was exciting, creepy, riveting, and,most of all, filled with Myrnin!!! My only complaint about the book, not enough Bob. lol

In My Mailbox

2010-08-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

This week's In My Mailbox is mostly due in part to my AWESOME, AMAZING, and SPLENDIFEROUS boss RACHEL CAINE! She sent me Total Eclipse and Ghost Town. Mockingjay I got from the library.

And because I have been dying to read all of these, the books from last weeks IMM have been put on the back burner! Needless to say I have already finished Total Eclipse and Mockingjay, and am a third of the way into Ghost Town! lol Reviews are already up and anticipate Ghost Town's review within the next day or so! If you haven't read Total Eclipse of Mockingjay, I suggest you go get them!!!

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2010-08-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

So I literally just finished Mockingjay and I am a TOTAL emotional wreck. So I will try very hard to write a spoiler-free, coherent review. (Even though my keyboard is being splattered with tears as I write this)

From GoodReads: My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

So I went into this book Team Katniss. I felt that Peeta and Gale, they were just putting undo stress on a girl who is already stressed out to the max. I felt that they should both just back off and give her some breathing room. If anything I was Team Cinna, seeing as how he was the only guy in life who cared about doing what was best for Katniss.
Now as I end Mockingjay, I am even more TEAM KATNISS!!! My God that girl is strong. Stronger than any person should ever have to be. Sure as expected, Mockingjay is FILLED with twists, turns, agony, betrayal, and love. It was an emotional rollercoaster that never stopped moving until the final page. I highly suggest that once you get to the last few chapters, you read it with a box of tissues. I bawled like a toddler with a skinned knee! But through the entire book my heart was breaking for Katniss. She endures situations that would bring the biggest hero to his knees.
I give my highest praise to Suzanne Collins for writing such an epic series. Hats off to you Madam, you are a literary master. (Although I think you owe me a box of Kleenex!)
To those who haven't read this series, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? To those of you who have read the first two books, but are waiting to get Mockingjay, GO BUY IT! IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH THE MONEY!!!

Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine

2010-08-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

So FINALLY, after weeks of anticipation, I devoured Total Eclipse byt Rachel Caine. I must say, I was NOT disappointed!

From GoodReads: Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin has defeated her longtime enemy and saved the world—again. But at what cost? Standing at the ground zero for the last attack, Joanne, the Djinn David, and the Earth herself have been poisoned by a substance that is destroying the magic that keeps the world alive.

Joanne and David have already lost their powers, but that's just the beginning. The poison that has seeped into the planet is destablizing the entire balance of power, bestowing magic on those who have never had it and taking it at critical moments from those who need it. It's just a matter of time before the delicate balance of nature explodes into chaos, destroying mankind—and every living thing on Earth—with it.

In true Rachel Caine form, this book never stopped bringing the action and heart-pounding scenes. Joanne is back in full attitude to battle Mother Earth herself. I couldn't put this book down from start to finish! Though I am sad that it's the final Weather Warden book, Rachel wrapped the book up in such a way that I don't see how anyone could be unsatisfied. My compliments to Rachel and a warm farewell to the characters I have enjoyed for so long.

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-08-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

Somehow I spaced off my Waiting on Wednesday yesterday! Arg! I'm sorry!!! So to correct the situation, allow me to post it now! This weeks waiting on Wednesday is one that I am UBER excited about and am actually going a little crazy waiting for.... Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr!! This is the fifth and FINAL book in the Wicked Lovely series! It isn't set to be released until February 22, 2011!!!

From GoodReads: The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful ...more The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.

Aislinn tends the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.
Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the faery courts, and in the final conflict, some will win…and some will lose everything.
The exhilarating conclusion to Melissa Marr’s New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.

This series is AMAZING and one of my FAVORITES!!! Melissa Marr is brilliant and brings these books to life so well that the characters become real. You feel every emotion with them and go through every scene like you are standing right there. If you haven't read this series, in my humble opinion, you're CRAZY! Get in the car RIGHT NOW, drive to the nearest library, bookstore, etc. and GET THEM!!! I swear you will not be disappointed!
As for me, I am going to suffer (not in silence though) until February when I can get my hands on Darkest Mercy!

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2010-08-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I had the chance to read the first two books by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. (Yes, finally, I know!) Upon finishing them I really must say that I can see why they are such a sensation.

From Goodreads: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

From Goodreads: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

The books were high voltage from start to finish, making me feel a whole range of emotions from laughter to tears. I've notice that people that read this series always seem to pick a team, Team Katniss, Team Peeta, etc. I've decided to be Team Cinna. Cinna is Katniss's stylist, who also seems to be the ONLY person in the Capitol with some inteligence. He is brilliant and stands by Katniss through everything. (And for those who have read the book, I LOST IT when that happened before the Quell!) I can honestly say that I enjoyed Catching Fire the best and I am definitely going to read Mockingjay when it comes out this week. Suzanne Collins is sure to make your heart race and the tears fall in the third installment of this series.

In My Mailbox

2010-08-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

So In My Mailbox this week is all books I got from the library. These are all books that I have either not read or started by didn't get into at the time, so I'm trying them again. Hopefully for some, second try is the charm!

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2010-08-21T05:59:00.000-07:00

So as I write this I can already hear the ustounded gasps that it will receive, but yes, until last night, I had not read Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. People have told me about it and I have thought 'yeah, maybe one day I'll read it'. So finally yesterday, I did.

My reasoning: So I admit I had a motive behind reading this book. I got an email on Thursday from a small collective of libraries in Iowa who (unbeknownst to me until Thursday) have held a mock Hunger Games at one of the colleges. They invite all libraries in Iowa to send a "tribute" team to compete in feats of knowledge and strength. Well of course, color me intruiged! I know that a lot of kids from my book clubs have read this (and it is one of my boss's favorite books) and that they would LOVE to go. I talked to my boss and we decided we HAVE to send a team!

So now I must recruit my 2-4 person team who have read the book and thought it may be slightly embarrassing if I was the only Teen Librarian there who hadn't read the books! lol Hence the reason I read it.

Sad isn't it? That I haven't read this phenomenon yet? Well I have now. Today I start on Catching Fire, of course that will be after work and after a nap since I was up until 1a.m. finishing Hunger Games. And just as an F.Y.I. I am not going to review this book quite yet. Since Mockingjay comes out very soon, I am going to wait and review all three books at the same time. So keep your eye out! (Also, if you are in 6th to 12th grade and want to be on my "tribute" team, let me know!)

The Wonderful Sarah McClung!

2010-08-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

So the wonderful Sarah McClung is having yet another contest! This one is full of awesome book ARCs and I am UBER excited about it! If you don't follow Babbling Flow blog, you're CRAZY! Sarah is one of the funniest chicks blogging! Check her out!!
http://babblingflow.blogspot.com/2010/08/arcs-arcs-arcs.html

The Versatile Blogger Award!

2010-08-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Here's how this award works:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)

4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

Thank you to Becky @ Breathless Books! http://breathlessbooks.blogspot.com/

7 Things About Me:
I am addicted to coffee with FAR TOO MUCH sugar and creamer.
I am a mother of two.
I have severe food and environmental allergies.
I will NEVER move out of Iowa.
I have never seen an ocean.
I have never left the country.
I want to travel the world once my kids are grown up.

I passed this award to:
Addicted 2 Novels
Aine's Realm
Karen's Addictions
Loony-Reads
Paperback Dolls
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥Princess Bookie♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
21 ♥ Pages: YA Book Reviews
Babbling Flow
Blog with Bite
BookHounds
Books Obsession
Confessions of a Bookaholic
Crazy Bookworm
For What It's Worth
Jaclyn Dolamore

Waiting on Wednesday

2010-08-18T06:13:00.000-07:00

This weeks Wating on Wednesday is the second Fallen Novel by Lauren Kate, Torment, which comes out on September 28th.
From Goodreads: How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

I am so excited for this book! I read Fallen and have been waiting for what seems like FOREVER for Torment. I finally can countdown the days until it comes out, and believe me, if my book company at the library doesn't have it to me the day of release, I am jumping in the car and driving to the closest bookstore to get it! So if you haven't read Fallen yet, I suggest you check it out!

Laney by Joann I. Martin Sowles

2010-08-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

In a small college town in Northern California, Laney Alexander leads a regular, uneventful life–that is, until the charming and alluring Oliver Knight enters her world. Who is this gorgeous and mysterious stranger? Or, rather, what is he?

As Laney’s sophomore year of college begins, so does an unbelievable adventure–including a love she didn’t know she longed for. She soon learns that Oliver is not ordinary, nor is the rest of his family, including a sister who openly hates her and a brother who will stop at nothing for revenge. As she fights for her life, and Oliver’s love, Laney discovers that the fictional world of vampires isn’t so fictional after all. Nobody is safe, especially Laney, Oliver’s most important priority, and he will stop at nothing to protect her. With her mortality at risk, and a commitment revealed that she, without a doubt, knows she wants, Laney’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn…

So I started this book and was instantly worried I wasn't going to like it. The first half was almost too much like Twilight for me. (And those of you who know me know that I am not a fan of Twilight) However, by the last half of the book I was hooked. The adventure and mayhem really started to get going and it was more like the Morganville Vampires than Twilight. The ending left off in such a way that I wanted to scream "NOOOOO!!!!" And I am now (impatiently) waiting for the next book. I think Laney was a good build up for this series and I am fully intending to read the rest of the Brookehaven Vampires series! But I have to say my favorite part of this book is the diversity. Not only is there vampires and werewolves, she also states that unicorns, leprechauns, and DRAGONS are real! Whoo-hoo!!! I love me some dragons! lol Joann I. Martin Sowles really started this series off with a bang! Laney, the first in the Brookehaven Vampires series comes out in October and I recommend you give it a read! (Also, I'm calling it now, I think the mysterious coven leader, D, is Laney's dad. Let me know if you think so too!)