Merry Christmas!

Here's to hoping that everyone has a wonderful (and safe) Christmas today! Today is all about (all religious beliefs & affliations aside) spending time with loved ones, family, and friends; the food and, of course, presents are great too, but never forget what the holiday season is really all about.

For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, then I wish you all happy holidays!

Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies #1) by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies #1)

byIsaac Marion

4 out of 5 Stars

Hardcover, USA Edition, 241 pages

Published April 26th 2011 by Atria

R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.

After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.

Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies is about being alive, being dead and the blurry line in between.

 

“I am Dead, but it's not so bad. I've learned to live with it.”
― Isaac Marion, Warm Bodies

I am actually surprised I enjoyed this book as much as I did. I am not really a fan of zombies; I have read one zombie novel previous to this one and hated it, and 'The Walking Dead' both bores/disturbs me, so I have no interest in watching it, unlike, it seems, everyone else I know. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because I felt like the last part of the book should have spent more time elaborating and explaining why exactly the changes going on are happening. In my opinion, it ju...moreI am actually surprised I enjoyed this book as much as I did. I am not really a fan of zombies; I have read one zombie novel previous to this one and hated it, and 'The Walking Dead' both bores/disturbs me, so I have no interest in watching it, unlike, it seems, everyone else I know. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because I felt like the last part of the book should have spent more time elaborating and explaining why exactly the changes going on are happening. In my opinion, it just sort of ended, and I feel as though there could have been more there especially since the book was not relatively long at all. The main character, R, is of course, our lead zombie. R is not his real name, however. In fact, he has no idea what his name was, or anything about his life previous to becoming a zombie. As previously stated, this book caught me by surprise. I never expected it to be such a heart-warming story, with a quite loveable hero. But can you really blame me? A zombie-romance? I have read my share of paranormal romances so it really shouldn't have made me cringe as much as it first did. However, I am glad I picked this up; I was able to finish it in less than a day.   The story line was definitely intriguing. I found myself fascinated with the world Marion created. What I found most interesting was how everytime R takes a bite of his meal's brain, he is hit by a rush of his victim's memories and glimpses of their lives. This plays a major role in the story, as R keeps seeing into Julie's (the love interest) boyfriend's memories throughout the story because he had, unfortunately, killed him. With my aversion to zombie tales, I was quite relieved to see that the book wasn't filled with shuffling zombies, crying out "Brainsss!" As I said, I really enjoyed this novel except for the ending. You're never really told what specifically is going on to the zombies to make them change. You know that it was all triggered by Julie and R, but the whole situation is never really elaborated upon. Overall, it was a great and quick read. Did it change my views on zombies? Eh, probably not so much. However, I do know I will be eagerly awaiting the release of the movie adaptation in February. Below, I am going to post the book trailer, along with the movie trailer. Enjoy! :D

Heartache in the World

My heart aches for the victims of the Connecticut school shooting and their families. Only an incredibly screwed up individual could do something like murder innocent children. It's just hard to comprehend how someone can perform such an atrocious act, and not just to children, but to any other human beings as well. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this tragedy, and I sincerely hope they get some justice and/or closure. It's such a difficult time for them, and I only hope that the media and press leave this poor people alone so they can grieve in their own way.

Waiting On Wednesday (#5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...
  

 

Star Cursed (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #2)

byJessica Spotswood 

Expected publication: June 18th 2013

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

 The first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles was just amazing! It honestly has to be my favorite witch related book so far. I devoured the book quickly and as a consequence, have been waiting ever so patiently for the next book. I just recently found out that the cover was released, and after seeing it, just couldn't control my eagerness. June 18th seems so far away, but know that when this book hits shelves, I will be be first in line to get it. Check out the first book, Born Wicked, below by clicking on the cover:

(Book 1)

Book Haul (#4)

 

All books shown above were picked up at a Goodwill near my university. After bringing all the books back to my dorm, I realized that nearly all of them have been turned into movies; though the only one I have seen is The Boleyn Girl, which is why I wanted to get the book. I have also already read Northanger Abbey, but I loved the book and didn't have my own copy so I definitely had to grab it when I saw it sitting there on the shelf :)

Every Day by David Levithan

Every Day by David Levithan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published August 28th 2012 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

In his New York Times bestselling novel, David Levithan introduces readers to what Entertainment Weekly calls a "wise, wildly unique" love story about A, a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, living a different life.

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan, bestselling co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.

“The moment you fall in love feels like it has centuries behind it, generations - all of them rearranging themselves so this precise, remarkable intersection could happen. In your heart, in your bones, no matter how silly you know it is, you feel that everything has been leading to this, all the secret arrows were pointing here, the universe and time itself crafted this long ago, and you are just now realizing it, you are just now arriving at the place you were always meant to be.”
― David Levithan, Every Day 

This is the first novel I've read by David Levithan, and after finishing it, I have to say that I will definitely check out more of his work.

GoodReads was advertising this book like CRAZY when this book first came out. I couldn't go anywhere on the website without it being shoved in my face, rather obnoxiously if I may add. So, upon one day stumbling upon the book on the shelf of my county library, I decided, "Why not?" GoodReads is obviously trying to get me to read this so it can't be all bad. And, it wasn't; I fell in love with the first few pages.

Every Day is about a character named A; A doesn't have a definitive gender, at least, not that A knows of. A wakes up in a different person's body everyday; sometimes as a girl, boy, thin, obese, straight, or homosexual; the possibilities are endless. This has been going on for as long as A can remember.

A pretty much accepts this life because there isn't any way to change it. It’s not something s/he can just turn on and off at will; it’s his/her reoccurring ailment. That is, s/he accepts this life, until s/he meets Rhiannon. And to make matters even more complicated, Rhiannon has a rather asinine boyfriend who basically treats her like dirt and she lets him.

I have to say, the whole concept of waking up as a different person everyday and being able to also access all their memories, is definitely a unique plotline. It is what I loved so much about this story. The characters also felt so real that is was hard not to love them or connect with them. Though, at one point, I was getting pretty annoyed with Rhiannon. At parts, she seems a tad judgmental when it came to A’s appearance. A specific example would be when he was a 3 or 400 pound boy. She kept looking at him oddly, and seemed ashamed to be seen with him in public. I guess I can sort of understand her situation; it must be hard to be with someone who is in a different person’s body every day, but A is still the same person inside. She seemed to have trouble seeing that at times when A was on the more unattractive side. For some reason it just irked me a bit.

Overall, the writing was wonderful! I didn’t expect to fall in love with this book like I did. Now, you are probably wondering why if I loved it so much, I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I can’t really explain why. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, I found I wasn’t as immersed in the story the closer I got to the end. The ending, don’t get me wrong, wasn’t bad. There probably wasn’t really any alternative to what happened that wouldn’t have completely changed the story. Another factor that could have paid tribute to me giving the book only 4 stars was the fact that A got a little creepy as the book went on. By creepy, I mean obsessed. He constantly thought of Rhiannon and wanted to see her, and would go see her, even if she didn’t want to meet; this interfered with the lives of the people s/he inhabited. I felt like that wasn’t really fair.

As I said, the book was good. I would recommend it to anybody. However, just a warning: the majority of the book is about romance. Yes, there is the sci-fi aspect, but the story itself pretty much revolves around A’s love of Rhiannon. So, if you are expecting some epic sci-fi novel, or are just not a huge fan of romance, then this is probably a book you should skip out on.

View all my reviews

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

So I think the title of this post pretty much says it all.

Yep, it's my birthday! Today I turned 19 and have been listening to all my friends and family tell me that I am now old. That's just what every girl wants to hear on her birthday right? Haha, well anyway, it's been a great day. I opened my door early this morning to be pelted with balloons and party poppers...it was definitely an interesting way to wake up lol.

I wish I could do a giveaway for you guys, but I am currently lacking in the money department right now (the joys of being a college student). So, I hope you guys will be just as happy with me telling you I will definitely be more active on the blog in the upcoming weeks. I have some reviews I am working on right now for you guys (on my birthday :P). I figured I would take a break from studying today and do something productive, yet enjoyable. So look forward to the things to come :)

Breaking Dawn Part 2: WHY???

Well November 16th was the day "twihards" (unlike myself) have been waiting for: the final movie in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga is released! I meant to post this the day I saw the movie, which was opening day, but just haven't had the time :(

To say I haven't been waiting for this movie, would be a small fib; I have been waiting for it, but not for the same reason most other girls my age are. I have just been waiting for it to be over. There, I said it! I am so tired of all the Twilight hype and am so glad it is coming to its end. If I ever have to look at Kristen Stewart's expressionless face, or hear Taylor Lautner's voice again, I will go insane!

Now, I may be a hypocrite; I am sitting here telling you all how much I don't like the movies, yet I see every one of them and own them all as well, so really, who am I to judge?

I do have to say that Breaking Dawn Part 2 was pretty awesome. However, that little twist they threw in there nearly gave me a heart attack. I won't go into detail about it because there may be some of you out there who have yet to see it, but for those of you who saw the movie and know what I am talking about, how did you feel about the twist? I HATED it!

My friend and I were freaking out! I have never been so emotional during a Twilight movie, and am quite ashamed at my reaction...it was pretty bad. The whole scene, I was just sitting there thinking, "What is this?! This didn't happen in the book!" My friend beside me was about ready to get up and leave; though it's a good thing we didn't.

Every other person thought that the twist was clever and brilliant. Well I disagree! And hopefully, I am not the only person out there who does. I think it was pretty cruel to trick us like that...but that's just me.

Waiting On Wednesday (#4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...
  

The Originals

byCat Patrick

 
Expected publication: May 7th 2013

A riveting new story from Cat Patrick, author of Forgotten and Revived.

17-year-olds Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey Best grew up as identical triplets... until they discovered a shocking family secret. They're actually closer than sisters, they're clones. Hiding from a government agency that would expose them, the Best family appears to consist of a single mother with one daughter named Elizabeth. Lizzie, Ella, and Betsey take turns going to school, attending social engagements, and a group mindset has always been a de facto part of life...

Then Lizzie meets Sean Kelly, a guy who seems to see into her very soul. As their relationship develops, Lizzie realizes that she's not a carbon copy of her sisters; she's an individual with unique dreams and desires, and digging deeper into her background, Lizzie begins to dismantle the delicate balance of an unusual family that only science could have created.

Why am I waiting ever so desperately for the release of The Originals?

Well for starters, I have become a HUGE fan of Cat Patrick. She had be hooked from her first novel Forgotten, and having just finished her last novel Revived only just a few days ago, I cannot express how much I love this author. Cat Patrick is extremely talented in my eyes. It has been quite awhile since an author has made me fallen so hard for a story and its characters. Everything she writes is amazing, and the covers of her novels? Well, they are pretty darn awesome. I am always drawn in by the beautiful covers.

So basically, waiting until May for this book is going to be pretty tough; going to have to read a lot of good books in the meantime to distract me from the anticipation.

Book Haul (3)

 

These are some books I have picked up over the weekend. I went a tad crazy this weekend, raiding library sales and GoodWill. The three books on the top row are ones I have already read, but didn't own. I either bought them because I really liked them, or I had some books in the series and wanted to complete the set :)

I also bought two other books within the last month, and they are:

Upcoming Reviews + College Update

Hey guys! I came home from college for the long holiday weekend and have actually found some time to squeeze in some reading, which I am very happy about. So, you can look forward to reviews for the following books to be up within the next few days, once I get the time to write them up :)




















Also, just to give you a little update on college life...

I have decided Pre-Nursing is not for me. Instead, I changed my major to something that I believe will make me very happy in life: English. I love English; it has always been my best/favorite subject in school, and obviously, I love to read. I am also always noticing grammar and/or punctuation mistakes in books. I had originally wanted to do something with English but kept hearing how there isn't much you could do with an English degree. And while that may to true, I am confident with my decision, and am looking forward to earning a degree in something that, may not be practical, but makes me happy. My plans are to become a book editor. I am more excited now than ever for the future, though I am aware of the work it will take to get to where I want to be.

But yes, that is pretty much it. If any of you happen to be involved in the publishing business, or just have any advice to give to someone who aspires to become an editor, feel free to comment below. This is something I really want and am willing to work hard for, so I would appreciate any help I can receive.

Talk you all soon.
Happy Reading! ;D

Waiting On Wednesday (#3)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...



                                    Spellcaster

                                  by: Claudia Gray

 
Expected publication: March 5th 2013

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed.

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. Shimmering with magic and mystery, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s new novel is sure to draw fans of the Hex Hall and Caster Chronicles series, and fans of the hit CW TV show The Secret Circle.

I am super stoked for this book! I am a big fan of Claudia Gray. Her Evernight series is one of my favorite series, and I really liked her other book Fateful. When I heard on GoodReads that she had a couple new projects she was working on, I got so excited! She is a talented author, and I look forward to reading anything she writes.

Spellcaster definitely sounds nothing like any of her other books, which is great! The cover and plotline instantly drew me in.

2012 Election

I just wanted to make a brief post on the 2012 US Presidential Election. It was a tough, and extremely close race and I often found myself in a panic whenever my candidate of choice was behind. Voting machines crashed, lines were long, and machines were also giving Romney votes in Pennslyvania when people were choosing Obama; not to mention that my state (Florida) is completely incompetent when it comes to these things. I mean serisously, 4 hours after polls closed, there were still people standing in line and holding up the count. We also can't make up our minds about whether we're going Democratic/Obama or Republican/Romney. I swear, everytime I saw Florida turn red, I had a mini panic attack lol. But in the end, it all comes down to who wins the most electoral votes. There are going to be those who are happy with the results, and those who are going to have a hard time accepting that their candidate lost, but hopefully everyone can learn to get along. I don't want to spark debate because I am so fed up with this political circus, but personally, I was estatic with the results; Obama gets another 4 years? YES!

So a quick congratulations to Obama on his re-election, and sorry that the Romney voters were let down. Hopefully everyone can look past their differences and do what is best for the country and its people. The job of the President is to look after us, whether they are Democratic or Republican; they are allowed their own beliefs, but it the end, their decisions should be based on what they believe is right for the country as a whole, not for themselves.

So America, welcome your 44th President of the United States of America: Barack Obama :D

Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned--to her old life, her family, her boyfriend--before she's banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance--and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time on the Surface draws to a close and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she is forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's queen.

"Everneath" is a captivating story of love, loss, and immortality from debut author Brodi Ashton

“I didnt tell him I'd thought of him every day. That even when every other memory had faded, he never left." - Nikki 

I had first picked up this book from the library, but didn't get around to reading it until about a month later. I was super busy at the time, and my roommate wanted to read it so I let her borrow it. While she read it, my roommate kept telling me how great it was and how I was "just going to LOVE it!" So, by the time I finally got aroud to reading Everneath, I had higher expectations than I had orignally had. Now, did the book live up to my sky-high expectations? ABSOLUTELY!

I loved this book from start to finish. I am so glad I read it, and think Ashton did an amazing job with this book. It had an extremely addicting storyline and went by at a fast pace. This book is espcially great for all those out there who love a new, modern take on Greek mythology because it was basically a retelling of the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice.

The timing and pacing of the events in the book were just right; not too fast, or snail paced. The reader gets to know and love Nikki more as the story unravels. Each character involved in Nikki's life has a deep connection with her; one that will affect her in a way that will move the reader. The story isn't just a love story; it also shows thse importance of family and friends.

The world building was also quite excellent. The Everneath sounded dark, and mysterious; a place no one would ever want to be trapped in. Ashton also did a great job with research in the original myth. Nikki Beckett was a strong heroine and definitely likeable. She wasn't one of those annoying, whinny protagonists you so often come across in YA novels. She was never selfish and always thought about others, especially here family and friends.

Now, let's talk about the perfectly wonderful Jack Caputo.

“Stay with me, Becks. Dream of me. I am ever yours.”

Before they became romantically involved, Nikki and Jack were firends. He was the kind of guy who knows he is attractive but doesn't really seem to care, or use it to act like a jerk. He had the perfect blend of good looks, personality, and charisma. He never gave up on Nikki, and always had the hope that she would come back and everything would be alright again. He was willing to risk everything for her when she finally came back. He was loyal, and wiling to fight for her because, he loved her; that's all there is to it.

The ending was good as well. It was SO SAD and HEARTBREAKING, but leaves us with so many questions and dying to get our greddy little hands on the next book. All in all, everyone should read this book. It was amazing, and has a bit of everything for everyone's individual tastes.

View all my reviews

Glitch (Glitch #1) by Heather Anastasiu

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

For the longest time, I have been eager to get my hands on this book and read it. The cover itself was incentive enough, but like they say, you can't judge a book by its cover. However, though the book itself did not WOW me as much as the cover did, I was not disappointed.

In Glitch, we meet Zoel Q-24 (aka Zoe). Zoe has been experiencing glitches in her "programming" for a while now. Glitching is dangerous to do in the Community, therefore Zoe must do her best to conceal her "anomalous" behavior- a phrase that is used a lot throughout the book. AS if glitching weren't strange enough, Zoe also develops some sort of secret power.

The world itself where Zoe lives was completely messed up, in all honesty. People were pretty much walking computers; they lacked feelings, emotions, personality, uniqueness. Everyone walked around in the same uniform, drone-like state of mind, oblivious to how wrong the whole idea was. They also lived underground and never seen the surface because those above them say it's unsafe. Apparently, according to the government, humanity had faced some sort of D-Day that wiped out everything and nearly everybody. The cause of this supposed "D-Day" was because people had feelings, which apparently are a bad thing to have in their eyes. Yet, the government themselves are complete hypocrites and liars.

Zoe tends to blame herself a lot for things that happen during the book so she is always carrying around this heavy load of guilt which was annoying at times. However, she is also very determined to try to save everyone from the unjust lifestyle they have been forced to live. Adrien was sweet and caring, and an overall great guy. Max was quick tempered, and too obsessed with feeling "passion". He also only cared about what HE wanted, regardless of whether or not it was the right thing to do. I didn't like him all that much.

Now, onto the dreaded love triangle. I adored Adrien even though he was slightly cheesy at times, but there is nothing wrong with that. Max on the other hand...yeah, he was a bit of a creeper. At one point he asks to see her genitalia, and I was just like, "WHATT?!" I mean, I get that he has never experienced all the emotions running rampant in his mind before now, but that was just...just no. I don't know what to say to that. Though when it comes to Max's true feelings, I found it hard sometimes to figure out if he truly had genuine feelings for Zoe or if it was just more of a lust type thing because he was the only other Glitcher he knew.

Overall, the book wasn't bad. I'm very interested to see where the next book Override (planned for release in Feb 2013) takes us. I recommend this book to anyone who loves dystopia, and tense reads. Though some parts were a tad predictable, I did come across a few surprises as well :)

View all my reviews

Kiera Cass releases cover of The Elite!

Kiera Cass, author of The Selection recently released the cover for the second book of her 'The Selection' series on her blog.

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending

I for one am very excited for this book! Unfortunately, it is not expected to be released until next April *sighs*

 

Waiting On Wednesday (#2)

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...



True (Elixir #3)

by Hilary Duff

 
Expected publication: April 16th 2013

The epic love story of Clea and Sage comes to its thrilling conclusion in the final book in the Elixir series by multitalented star Hilary Duff.

Following the harrowing events of Elixir and Devoted—and the ceremony that almost killed Sage—Clea faces a new reality: With Sage’s soul in Nico’s body, the love of her life looks an awful lot like her best friend’s boyfriend. Can Clea and Sage really be happy under these circumstances?

Clea wants to try to enjoy their new life together, but Sage is acting different—angry—and she struggles to keep her friends from finding out what has happened to him. Something is clearly haunting Sage, and Clea is losing control. Can she trust her friends with the dangerous truth, or will she have to risk losing Sage to madness?

I am REALLY excited for this book because Hilary's last book Devoted ended on an intense cliff hanger so one of my best friends and I are dying to read this book. April cannot come fast enough! Also, I really like the cover for this book. It's really pretty and I'm curious to see how it ties in with the story itself.

If you haven't already, you should definitely check out the first books in the Elixir series. Click on the book covers below to look them up on GoodReads :)



(Book #1)

(Book #2)

Princess in the Spotlight (The Princess Diaries #2) by Meg Cabot

No one ever said being a princess was easy.

Just when Mia thought she had the whole princess thing under control, things get out of hand, fast. First there's an unexpected announcement from her mother. Then Grandmère arranges a national primetime interview for the brand-new crown princess of Genovia. On top of that, intriguing, exasperating letters from a secret admirer begin to arrive.

Before she even has the chance to wonder who those letters are from, Mia is swept up in a whirlwind of royal intrigue the likes of which hasn't been seen since volume I of The Princess Diaries.

Meg Cabot does is again! She was able to create a story which I thoroughly enjoyed and had me laughing the entire time.

Princess in the Spotlight is the second volume of Cabot's Princess Diaries series. In this book, Mia continues to struggle with accepting the fact that she is the heir to the small European country of Genovia. Mia still doesn't want to become a princess, but she still has little say in the matter. She has begun some of her royal duties, such as being interviewed on a high profile talk show, and of course, continuing her princess lessons with her Grandmere.

To add to Mia's stress and anxiety, she learns her mother and Algebra teacher are going to have a baby! This of course leads to the marriage of Mia's mother and Frank. The couple wants a simple wedding done at the city court house. Unfortunately, once Mia blurted out the news on television, her Grandmere decided she was going to plan the wedding. SHe believes the mother of the only heir to Genovia's throne needs a fancy wedding.

But that's not all. Did I mention Mia has a new secret admirer? He goes by the screen name JOC-Rox, as in Josie from Josie and the Pussy Cats. Now Mia is determined to find who exactly is the boy who thinks she is the "Josiest girl" around. Could it be her secret crush Michael, who just happens to be her best friend's brother? I don't know...it's possible, but to find out, you'd have to read the book :-P

Also, since Mia's mother is getting married, her grandparent's from her mother's side come to town. Which is a big deal because apparently they have never left their small town in Indiana. WIth them, they bring along Mia's cousin Hank, who instantly stirs up interest at Mia's school.

I love the style of writing Cabot uses; they are all written in Mia's perspective as diary entries. It's easy to read, and flows. naturally as if a real teenager had written it.

The one thing that bothered me, however, was the fact that Michael created a video game that involved decapitating my favorite boy bands :( I believe level one was the Backstreet Boys, who are my favorite band ever! Then you moved on to 98 Degrees, *NSYNC, and the final level was Ricky Martin. I was horrified by this! (Yes, I am a dork :P)

Overall, this book was just as light and fun as the first one. I look forward to reading volume three.

The Princess Diaries (The Princess Diaries #1) by Meg Cabot

She's just a New York City girl living with her artist mom...

News Flash: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that's why a limo meets her at the airport!)

Downer: Dad can't have any more kids. (So no heir to the throne.)

Shock of the Century: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material.

Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmére, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne.

Well, her father can lecture her until he's royal-blue in the face about her princessly duty—no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind. But what's a girl to do when her name is Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo?

“Lilly says I have an overactive imagination and a pathological need to invent drama in my life.”
― Meg Cabot, The Princess Diaries

After rewatching Disney's film adaptation of Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries a few weeks ago, I had this strong urge to give the books a try. And I'm glad I did. I had always wanted to read the books that inspired the movies, but just had never gotten around to it.

Meg Cabot takes us into the world of fourteen year old, high school freshman Mia Thermopolis. Written as Mia's diary entries, the reader really gets to know Mia, and get into her mind; a mind that is full of amusing thoughts. I found myself laughing a lot while reading this book; partly because some of the things going on was ridculous, but largely due to Mia's personality. She tended to freak out about things quite a lot. Which, is understandable when you think about it. I mean, how would you react if you had just found out you were the heir to the throne of a small European country?

Mia doesn't believe she is princess material. She doesn't believe she has the beauty or the brains to pull off the job. Unfortunately, no one seems to care what she wants, which is to live out a normal (as normal as possible for her) life. Her Grandmere, however, won't take no for an answer. Since her father became sterile after heavy doses of chemotherapy to get rid of his testicular cancer, Mia is the only heir to the throne.

I really love the characters of the story. Mia is just so entertaining, though a bit extreme sometimes. I think she tends to overreact at times, but once again, she is going through a difficult time in her life. Not only did she find out she was heir to Genovia, but her mother is also dating her Algebra teacher (a class she is failing miserably in), and her Grandmere is rather scary. Grandmere is nothing like Julie Andrew's character in the movies. It took me awhile to adjust to the major differences. Of course, I expected differences, but I was still shocked, but also grateful the amazingly talented Julie Andrews did not have to portray the horrid woman in the book. In the book, Grandmere shaves her eyebrows and paints them on, and also has eyeliner tatooed to her eye-lids. Does that sound freaky or what?

I loved the diary entries and how Mia would write down notes in her diary. Most of them were math formulas. It was actually pretty funny: one of the formulas she wrote down was something I was currently learning in my College Algebra class, so when I read it, I was like, "That's so cool! Now I don't have to study!"

Overall, this book was a light, fun read. Definitely what I needed, what with college being so stressful; it was nice to sit back and enjoy this book. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the movies, but would tell them to be sure to seperate the books from the movies because they are completely different.

Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White

(5 out of 5 stars)

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be...kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Just have to start off by saying that my best friend and I just ADORE this series! It is probably one of our top favorites. After reading Paranormalcy, we both fell instantly in love with the story, and of course, it's quirky characters.

Supernaturally was one of those books I was dying to get my hands on. The first book had left me with so many different thoughts running amuck through my mind and I just couldn't wait to see what else was in store for our witty, amazingly-sarcastic protagonist Evie. One of the things that makes this series so enjoyable is Evie's personality. She was just as snarky and sharp tongued in Supernaturally as she was in the first book; and I absolutely love that about her! She makes the story so much more entertaining, though I personally believe even without her personality it would still be amazing, but it most definitely would not be the same. Her humor resonates throughout the entire book; I would start randomly laughing at something I read half an hour before because I just couldn't get past how funny it was.

Being the middle book in a series, Supernaturally starts off where the last book ended and leaves you with even more questions that you won't have the answer to until you read the next book. Very rarely do I come across a book that fills me with so many tense emotions. One minute I'm laughing, the next minute, I want to scream.

Normally my reviews would be much longer, but I read this book a little over a month ago, and have since then finished the last book, so I don't want to mix up the books. Look for my review for Endlessly soon. It will be much more detailed since it's still fairly fresh in my mind. And please, if you haven't already, check out this series! It truly is one of a kind, and pretty spectacular.

'The Casual Vacancy' Release + Blog Update

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.

Alright, so who else besides me is eager to get their hands on this book?! I have been patiently awaiting the day Ms Rowling would release a new book and at last, my wait it over! Unfortunately, I have yet to get my greedy little paws on a copy of this book. Being a brand new novel, it's only in hardcover and costs way too much than a poor little college freshmen like myself can afford *sighs*. But when I do finally get around to reading the book, you can all expect a review for it.

Sorry the blog has been lacking in activity the past few months. I had just begun college in the middle of August and have been adjusting to college life ever since. But now I feel inspired to get back into blogging, so expect good things to come! I will try to type up reviews for books I have read over the last few months and have them up here soon. So keep checking back for more updates! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (#1)

After browsing through the various book blogs I follow, I came across many that participate in the meme 'Waiting on Wednesday'. I read more into it, and decided that it sounds like a meme I can actually stick to on a regular basis, so today marks the first Waiting on Wednesday! It is similar to the post I made yesterday listing the books I am dying to read.

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This meme highlights some of the books whose releases bloggers are most anticipating this year.

The book whose release I am most excited for this week is...

Title: Dead Silence (The Body Finder #4)

Author: Kimberly Derting

Expected publication: April 16th 2013

No summary currently available on GoodReads












I cannot wait to read this book because Kimberly Derting is an amazing author. This series is one that my best friend and I really enjoy. The series is intense, mysterious, and her plotlines are always intriguing. Never have I read any of her books and been dissappointed. The main characters, especially Jay, are just...how should I put this? Awesome! Yep, they're awesome ;D April seems like so far away, but it will definitely be worth the wait.

Dying To Read!

Just thought I would throw in a little post showing you books that have recently come out that I am DYING TO READ and hope to read soon :-)

July 27

August 7

August 6

Also, be sure to go check out Ivy Book Bindings for an awesome giveaway!

http://ivybookbindings.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/150-follower-giveaway.html

A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan



It should have been a short suspended-animation sleep. But this time Rose wakes up to find her past is long gone-- and her future full of peril.Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose-- hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire-- is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes-- or be left without any future at all

Anna Sheehan proved with this novel that you can write a brilliant, innovative, first young adult fiction story without shiny vampires, werewolves or fallen angels.

If you're thinking this is just another attempt at a retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty, then STOP thinking that. This book is FAR from just another retelling. It is unique and special all its in own way.

Anna Sheehan tells a beautiful story. It begins with Rosalinda Fitzroy awakening from 62 years of stasis, a 16 year old in body & mind, frozen in time until she is found in a forgotten subbasement by her teenage savior. She is lost, confused , and terribly alone for everyone she has ever known is now dead and gone. This includes her first and only love. Xavier.

Sheehan has such an amazing way with words. She draws Rose with a subtle and sympathetic hand. Reading this novel, I could almost envision Rose waking up in this new world, so very alone and frigthened.

I LOVED the romance angles in this book. It's what made it really stand out for me. Sheehan writes the scenes between Rose and Xavier with a vivid hand that brings them to life. It was understandable as well, how Rose became infatuated with Bren. He was, indeed, her savior. He was also one of the few people she befriends throughout the whole novel. It was nice how despite confessing her attraction towards Bren and being some-what rudely rejected at first, they maintained a good friendship. I freakin' loved Otto! That little blue alien *sighs* I hope something happens between him and Rose on a future occassion. I could see a potential relationship from the first time they "spoke". I loved this conversation between them:

“Now I have a question," Otto wrote.
"Fire away."
"What do you see in him?"
"Apart from the obvious?"
"What’s the obvious? I’m afraid I’m not a teenage girl.” 

I loved how this book was more of a sci-fi than paranormal. The YA market is seriously lacking in decent, well-thought-out science fiction novels. At least, I haven't come across any recently until now. I cannot wait to see what Anna Sheehan writes next (sequel maybe?! ;)) and look forward to her next novel, whatever it may be about. I recommend this book to anyone. I'm going to leave you guys with some quotes I liked from the novel. I read in on my Kindle Fire and tend to go crazy highlighting quotes I like when I read on it lol

“Did you know I blush purple? Jamal’s teasing me about it."
"Is he reading this?" I asked, horrified.
"No."
"Sorry I made you blush."
"I’m not. Good night, Briar Rose."
"Good night, blue-skinned alien.” 

  ~~~~

“I haven't finished revisiting Sleeping Beauty. As a faerie tale, that one is rife with inherent difficulties. After all, the world doesn't stop just because one person is asleep.” 

Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1) by Kiersten White

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

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Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled wWeird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

I'm going to start off by saying this book was fantastic! Much better than I ever dreamed it would be, and I have been beating myself up wondering why I waited so long to read it.

The characters, Evie espeicially, were quirky, unique and lovable though I cannot understand her extreme obsession with the color pink :/ Evie's voice was funny, sassy, and endearing. Lend was absolutely one of the greatest boyfriends in the world. He was an incredibly original character (thank you Kiersten White for not making him a vampire or something cliche!). I was suspicious of Reth throughout the whole book, but my favorite character was Lish. I was so crushed at the end. I loved hher relationship with Evie; how Evie would rehash episodes of Easton Heights for her, and how Lish couldn't curse and when she tried too, all that would come out was "Bleep". It definitely made the story more entertaining whenever Evie picked up on Lish's habit.

This book was unlike any other YA novel I have come across yet. It had me hooked from page one with this quote:

I sighed. I hated vamp jobs. They think they're so suave. It's not enough for them to slaughter and eat you like a zombie would. No, they want it to be all sexy, too. And, trust me: vampires? Not. Sexy. I mean, sure, their glamours can be pretty hot, but the dry-as-bone corpse bodies shimmering underneath? Nothing attractive there. Not that anyone else can see them though.

What it was about this line that caught my attention is still a mystery to me. Perhaps it was the fact that I'm quite tired of vampires even though I do like them. Or maybe it was the little shimmering jab which automatically makes my brain think Twilight. But regardless, I was hooked by that first page and I never expected to be thrown on this wild ride of Evie's.

The plot was highly orginal, and throughout the book, the characters never lost appeal to me. Evie remained sassy and bad-ass, and Lend just adorably sweet (more so in the next book). I liked how series doesn't just revolve around one sole paranormal species. It's full of pretty much anything paranormal creature you've ever heard of, and even some you haven't.

Paranormalcy was a captivating first installment to a great series and I could not wait to read the second book once I finally finished. Since writing this review, I have fiished the second book so I will be putting up a review for that one soon as well. Now I' am dying for the third book!

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