Teaser Tuesday (18) Lies Beneath - Anne Greenwood Brown

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week my teaser is from...

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

"She enjoyed teasing me. A trail of happy satisfaction burned like pink fire, then spun out of her like a pinwheel. It was a magnet that lured me to her. My hand involuntarily reached forward. She came closer, no realizing the motivation behind my gesture, and shocked me by weaving her fingers through mine. I watched-horrified, spellbound-as the pink shimmer crept from her fingertips, across the top of my hand and over my wrist. My forearms hummed and heated until warmth pushed up my arm and broke across my chest, finally bursting through my lips with a sudden, surprising laugh."

Page 134, this is from and Advanced Readers Copy and is subject to change when the actual book is released

I am truly enjoying this book. It is more than I expected it to be. If you like mermaids this will probably give you a different view of them but it is still a terrific read so far. 

Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful people over at The Broke and the Bookish

This week the list is Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks.

Hmmm...I've never been apart of an actual book club, I've done a few online book club type things so I'll give this a shot but I'm not sure I would take my picks and run to your book club and say "We need to read these"

1. Stay by Deb Caletti

2. The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

3. Between - Jessica Warman

4. Forbidden - Tabitha Suzuma

5. Divergent - Veronica Roth

6.  Trafficked by Kim Purcell

7.  Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

8. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

9. Purity by Jackson Pearce

10. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Some of these haven't been released yet and I haven't read the early copies of those books, but based on the premise and the blurb attached to the books I think that they would make good discussion books. I look forward to seeing your picks!

Review: Never Have I Ever - Sara Shepard

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up

• Hardcover: 320 pages

• Publisher: HarperTeen (August 2, 2011)

Sara Shepard, the author of the Pretty Little Liars novels, has followed up those top-selling fictions with an even more artfully knotted series. At its center is a murdered narrator whose long-lost identical twin sister Emma is serving as a stand-in detective to find the killer. In the second episode of their hunt, the pair discovers new clues, but they know that as they search for the killer, he or she is watching their every move, waiting for the right moment to end it all. Editor's recommendation.

My Thoughts...

I loved the first book and dropped everything to read this one. I loved Emma and Eathen. They strike me as so cute. The other thing that I really liked was getting a closer look at the Twitter Twins. I felt like we got the quick introduction to them in the first book, but this one we really got to see who they were and what they were about. I enjoy the mystery and suspense in these books and I really am having a hard time waiting for the next. 

I have to say that Emma has to be one of my favorite characters. She has been dropped in an impossible situation, and while she is scared and doesn't really know who around her she can trust she is making the best of things. As much as I don't want to see this series end because I truly enjoy it, I really need to know what happened to Sutton. I picture her laying somewhere dead, and I really want to find out what happened, and I want her to get the goodbye she deserves from her family. I also really want to see what would happen if Sutton's parents found out what happened and that Emma isn't really Sutton, would they love the girl that they have thought was there daughter? Would they accuse her of planning all of this? There is so many options for where this series will go that I really can't wait to see what turn we will take. 

I give this one 5 stars and I hope that if you guys haven't started this series yet that you do soon, It is truly a great read. I haven't watched the TV show that was inspired by these books, but I have heard good things about it. 

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

all links go to goodreads =o)

Review:

Various Positions - Martha Schabas

Starters - Lissa Price

Bought:

Thirst 04 - Christopher Pike

Bright Young Things - Anna Godbersen

Beautiful Days - Anna Godbersen

Everneath - Brodi Ashton

From Bad to Cursed - Katie Alender

I had a great book week and hope you guys did too!  I look forward to seeing what you go in your mailboxes!

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodink

• Reading level:
 Ages 14 and up

• Hardcover:
 464 pages

• Publisher:
 Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (September 27, 2011)

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

My Thoughts...

I loved it, I hated it, I need more of it. This book hooked me, and all I wanted was to figure out what was going on. I felt for Mara who at times seemed as clueless as I felt. I couldn't imagine waking up in a hospital with no idea what happened to put me there. At times I thought Mara has to be crazy! But somewhere along the line everything kinda falls into place. And Noah! Oh Noah how I love you. I really need a Noah of my own. I have to admit I am still a little confused by this book, every time I think I have my head wrapped around what Mara is doing it slips away. I really can't wait for the next book I have to see what happens next, I have to learn more about Mara and I really want to read more about Noah. Again I'm sorry for such a short vague review but this is yet another book that I would rather you guys read and get the details for yourselves. I don't want to say the wrong thing and risk ruining something for you. Just know that it is a great read that will leave you wanting more. I give this one 4.5 stars!

Follow Friday (17)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee, & Alison Can Readevery week we all get together to answer a question and find new blogs that we enjoy. This weeks question is

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

Usually I avoid contemporary at all cost. Its just something I can never see myself getting into. I tend to like my books to have some sort of paranormal aspect to the story. I am however working very hard to to read more contemporary books this year. I  feel like I should be expanding my reading choices and that includes starting some contemporary books,

Shelf Love (01) - Spellbound Series - Cara Lynn Shultz

Ok so I'm going to be doing a new feature on the blog. Every Thursday I'm going to pick a series and display their covers all together just to show how great they would all look sitting on the shelf. Since most of my reading is done with E-Books, I don't have an impressive shelf at home to display all my pretty books. So this will be my chance to make a pretty shelf of my own.  If you guys feel like joining in and showing off great cover sets to series you love just leave a comment below and I'll come check it out =o)

This week I'm going to have to go with Spellbound Series by Cara Lynn Shultz

I absolutely love both of these covers and if I had a nice pretty impressive bookshelf in my home I would love to see these two sitting next to each other. I'm glad they kept with the same theme of the first cover, floating stuff, girl wandering about and some type of architecture, and that really pretty font. 

Tell me what you think of these covers, love them? hate them? don't really care?  Or just show me what covers sitting on your bookshelf you love.

Review: Supernaturally - Kiersten White

• Reading level:
 Ages 13 and up

• Hardcover:
 352 pages

• Publisher:
 HarperTeen (July 26, 2011)

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.

My Thoughts...

I love Evie! I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first.  I kept guessing at what was going to happen and almost every time I was wrong. Watching Evie try to navigate a normal life while being anything but normal was at times entertaining and at other frustrating. I think I fell a little more in love with Lend too. This series seems to have a little bit of everything, love, excitement, action, and mystery. Its all there and all well done. I really can't wait for more. I finished this with a huge desire for the next book. 

Sorry for such a short review but I am terribly afraid that I will spoil something and would hate to ruin anything for anyone else. Just know that this was a great book and you should read it =o)

I give this one 5 stars!

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is...

Thumped by Megan McCafferty

THE CONCLUSION TO ONE OF THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT NOVELS OF LAST YEAR 

It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day! 

Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances. 

To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants. 

The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous: 

Tell the truth.

I loved Bumped, I really can't wait to see how it all ends. I also can't wait to add this one to my shelf. I love the cover for this one and the cover for Bumped. They will look great next to each other on my shelf. 

Teaser Tuesday (17) - Partials - Dan Wells

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week my teaser is from...

Partials by Dan Wells

"I'm going to tear myself away and find Marcus. Give him a kiss for me, said Xochi. Tongue? Not too much, I don't want to seem easy."

I am not all that far into this book, but I LOVE it. When I read these lines I couldn't help but to laugh out loud. 

Top Ten Favorite Female Book Characters

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful people over at The Broke and the Bookish

This week the list is a freebie list. Meaning we can pick anything we want or an old list that we didn't get the chance to participate in. This week I have chosen to do my Top Ten Favorite Female Book Characters.

1. Harmione Granger - How can you not  <3 her? She might not have been the chosen one BUT without her I don't think Harry would have been as great as he was. She was a great character and I just love her!

2. Rose Hathaway - She kicks ass and takes names! Through everything she stayed true to herself and even through any fear, or hurt she pulled through and stayed kick ass! 

3. Katniss Everdeen - I <3 Rose, and I heart Harmione, but Katniss is like gold! Her will to survive is something that no one could take away from her. She fought for the ones she loved , for herself, and for the rest of the districts. 

4. Gwen Frost - Snarky, funny, insecure and terrific. The fact that she isn't perfect makes me love her. She is scared and feels overwhelmed but yet she continues to step up and do what has to be done. 

5. Katy from Obsidian - How could you not fall head over heels in love with this girl. She hangs out with Aliens! and the best of the best she is a book blogger! I love her attitude and her book geekery! Katy makes me smile and for that I <3 her.

6. Alex from Half-Blood - Alex was fun and quirky but still managed to do what she needed to do. She was strong and focused, yet at times scared and vulnerable. She ran the gambit of emotion well and even when I would have expected her to fall apart she held it together.

7. Tempest from Tempest Rising - Come on! She is a mermaid for peets sake, that alone is grounds for unconditional love lol. She was a great character, confused and feeling alone but always thinking of those around her. She never came off as selfish or unthinking and I just couldn't get enough of her. 

8. Tessa - Tessa, Tessa, Tessa, lets start by saying I wish I could be you for just a little while. I would love to be able to spend some time with Will and Jem, but not even just that, even being afraid of her powers she doesn't hesitate to use them to help protect the people she cares about. She seems fearless and like someone I would love to have as a friend. 

9. Riley Blackthorn - Want to talk about kick ass, Riley just has crap heaped upon her non stop but she is still kicking and still trying to unbury herself. I love her attitude and whit. 

10. Anna from Anna Dressed In Blood - Anna may just be one of my favorite characters of all time. I loved that she chose not to hurt Cas, and the change that comes over her when she is going to hurt someone. I would love to be a character in that book for one day just to get the chance to get to know Anna. <3 her so much!

Review: Eve - Anna Garvey

• Reading level:
 Ages 13 and up

• Hardcover:
 336 pages

• Publisher:
 HarperCollins (October 4, 2011)

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her. 
Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.

My Thoughts...

I knew I wanted to read this but I was still a little apprehensive. I was however quite pleased at the end. Eve ended up being a very strong character even though the way she was raised should have made her weak. She overcame her fears, and really grew as a person. But she also made mistakes and at times I wanted to smack her. Arden was pretty awesome too, I really want a friend like Arden. Caleb made me smile. He was pretty awesome. This book had plenty of action and adventure, and kept me flipping the pages. The one thing I hope we get to see in the next book is a little more of WHY the world is set up the way it is. I just kinda feel like we walked into it but never really heard about how it ended up this way. I'll cross my fingers. But until then I give this one 4 stars!

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

all links go to goodreads =o)

Review:

Slide - Jill Hathaway

Partials - Dan Wells

Pretty Crooked - Elisa Ludwig

Bought:

Hallowed - Cynthia Hand

The Alchemy of Forever - Avery Williams

Review: A Beautiful Dark - Jocelyn Davies

• Reading level:
 Ages 13 and up

• Hardcover:
 400 pages

• Publisher:
 HarperTeen (September 27, 2011)

On the night of Skye's seventeenth birthday, she meets two enigmatic strangers. Complete opposites;like fire and ice;Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair and aloof. Their sudden appearance sends Skye's life into a tailspin. She has no idea what they want, or why they seem to follow her every move only that their presence coincides with a flurry of strange events. Soon she begins to doubt not just the identity of the two boys, but also the truth about her own past.
In the dead of a bitingly cold Colorado winter, Skye finds herself coming to terms with the impossible secret that threatens to shatter her world. Torn between Asher, who she can't help falling for, and Devin, who she can't stay away from, the consequences of Skye's choice will reach further than the three of them could ever imagine.

My Thoughts...

This book was pretty good from start to finish. My only complaint was the ending, I'm not a huge fan of a cliff hanger. Skye was a pretty cool character, she seemed to be very non accepting of the things going on around her. All while trying to learn to accept it. In the end though I feel she did accept everything and that she made the right choice. Asher and Devin were both hott hott hott. While I liked both of them for different reasons I am firmly team Asher. He is more my type of guy. The story here kept me flipping the pages, but I would have liked some resolution, the cliff hanger ending has me wanting more, but at the same time I would have liked a nice neat resolved story. Either way the story was great and this book was well worth the read. I give this one 4 stars!

Follow Friday (16)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee, & Alison Can Read every week we all get together to answer a question and find new blogs that we enjoy. This weeks question is

Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

I took a very very long drive to walmart at 12:00am for the release of the last Harry Potter book. We fought through herds of people just to get a look at a guy standing on a pallet full of books trying to get people to line up and the people were having none of it. In the end it took us like 2 hours of total chaos but I got my books and proceeded to lock myself away from the world until I was done so that nothing got spoiled!

Review: Fateful - Claudia Gray

• Reading level:
 Ages 14 and up

• Hardcover:
 336 pages

• Publisher:
 HarperTeen (September 13, 2011)

Eighteen-year-old maid Tess Davies is determined to escape the wealthy, troubled family she serves. It’s 1912, and Tess has been trapped in the employ of the Lisles for years, amid painful memories and twisted secrets. But now the Lisle family is headed to America, with Tess in tow. Once the ship they’re sailing on—the RMS Titanic—reaches its destination, Tess plans to strike out and create a new life for herself.
Her single-minded focus shatters when she meets Alec, a handsome first-class passenger who captivates her instantly. But Alec has secrets of his own. He’s in a hurry to leave Europe, and whispers aboard the ship say it’s because of the tragic end of his last affair with the French actress who died so gruesomely and so mysteriously. . . .
Soon Tess will learn just how dark Alec’s past truly is. The danger they face is no ordinary enemy: werewolves exist and are stalking him—and now her, too. Her growing love for Alec will put Tess in mortal peril, and fate will do the same before their journey on the Titanic is over.
In Fateful, New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray delivers paranormal adventure, dark suspense, and alluring romance set against the opulent backdrop of the Titanic’s first—and last—voyage.

My Thoughts...

This book was oddly enchanting. I read this book because I had to see how this was going to work. I loved Tess, who never gave up and who tried to the end to help people that didn't care if she lived or died. She also spent a lot of time try8ing to talk herself out of caring for a many solely based on station. While I understand why, it upset me to no end. Just about ever aspect of Tess's servant life upset me. I loved that this was set on the Titanic, it is something everyone knows and was rather well done. The only thing that I was disappointed about was that I didn't feel enough time was dedicated to the sinking of the ship. But all in all I really enjoyed it. Great characters, story, and setting. There was drama, danger, love, and excitement, just enough of everything to make it great. I hope all of you give it a try. I give this one 4 stars!