My First Ever Contest :: Fade by Lisa McMann

1st :: I sincerely hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I sure did. It was my best one in a loooong time. I also hope everyone was safe, and will keep being safe on into the New Year. You know how people get this time of year.

2nd :: I have a MAJOR In My Mailbox to do tomorrow, lol. Loads of books in for me since my last IMM, and most came this past week! Yay!

3rd :: It's time for my official contest annoucement. It's my first ever contest, and I hope it does somewhat good. Lol.

Here's the deal.

The contest starts today, Dec. 26th 2009. You will enter to get a chance to be the ONE person to win ONE copy of Fade by Lisa McMann. This copy of Fade is brand new! I haven't read it, opened it or anything.

Can't you smell it now? The clean, crisp, untouched pages? *sighs dreamily*

Anywho, the contest will end one month from now, Jan. 26th 2010. Just TWO weeks before the third book in the series, Gone, comes out. I will announce the winner at least two days after the contest is over. So check your e-mails and the blog around Jan. 28th or so.

Now, there's more.

If, by chance, I manage to get 100 followers by Jan. 26th, the winner of Fade will also get a copy of Gone when it comes out. If I get 150 followers by Feb, 9th -the release date of Gone- one more person will win the sencond copy of Gone.

So, get 100 followers by Jan 26th, and one lucky winner gets Fade AND Gone. Get 150 by Feb. 9th, one lucky winner will a copy of Gone.

Sound good?

Now, let me make sure you get this.

If I don't have 100 followers by Jan. 26th, the winner of Fade won't win Gone, and the 2nd copy won't be up for grabs. :( BUT if I do get 100 by the 16th, and I get 150 by Feb. 9th I will choose one person from my 150 followers and give them Gone. BUT if I don't have 150 by that day, no one will get the 2nd copy. :(

And remember, I have to wait until Gone comes out to send it to you. So to the future winner of Gone, you'll have to wait at least two weeks for you copy of Gone.

Anywho, back to the Fade contest. It starts now, and it ends January 26th. Look below to see how to enter this contest.

To enter ::
Leave a comment with your name, e-mail and something that tells me that you really want this book.

That's it! Easy peasy!

BUT you can get extra entries ::
+3 for already being a follower
+1 for becoming a follower after this post
+2 for Tweeting, Facebooking or MySpacing about this contest, lol. Each gets +2 points, BTW, but you MUST leave links.
+3 for posting about this on your blog- whether it be an actual post or just on your sidebar. Links are also needed here.
+2 for following me on Twitter, either my personal or blogging account.
AND the biggest one of them all...
+5 for having the Gone countdown on your sidebar. I have it one mine, and you can get it on yours.

You can get LOADS for entries here, peeps! Seriously!

Now, if you do not feel comfortable posting your e-mail address, you can e-mail me at brttmclv(AT)aol(DOT)com. I hate to do it, but this contest is only for US residents. I'm kinda broke. :(

So breakdown:
Starts now.
Ends Jan. 26th 2010.
One copy of Fade.
One winner.
One way to enter.
Loads of ways to get extra.
A chance to win Gone.
And a chance to jump start my second contest.

I think this sounds good. Oh, and to follow me on Twitter ::

Personal - @brttmclv
Blog - @UltimateDumpees

Now enter, shout about it, and make me happy. Please? :) Oh, and if you have any questions just ask here or e-mail me.

Teaser Tuesday

Again, I've been slacking. I'm sorry. Real life drama happened. So did Christmas...and sadly, it's still not over. Lol. Shopping, shopping, shopping.

I loathe shopping now.

But I have good news on my return to my poorly neglected blog. I have a weekly feature to post and...*gasp* a contest annoucement?

Yes, I do.

First let's do Teaser Tuesday.

I am currently reading ::

Fade by Lisa McMann

Study hall is quiet. Janie only gets sucked into one dream, and it's a weak one. Not a nightmare. When she realizes it's a sex fantasy between two fellow seniors she really doens't want to see naked, she doesn't stick around. She pulls herself out of it.

Smiles triumphantly.

Lol, seriously that was what I flipped to randomly. I swear.

So now for my contest annoucement.

This is not the official post for it. I will post that next week, so keep your eyes opened, but this is what I'm planning on doing.

I have two copies of Fade. I won one along with a copy of Wake, and I bought one about a month ago. The one I bought has coffee stains on it, so that is SO not the one I'm going to give away, lol. But I am going to give away my second copy of Fade.

Why?

Well, I really want to have my own contest and I don't want two copies, even if one has a stain on it. Also because in less than 50 days Gone, the 3rd book in the series, will be coming out.

Now my contest won't be going on for 50 days, but if I manage to get at least 100 followers by the end of my contest, and at least 150 by the release date of Gone - Feb, 9th 2010, I will buy two copies of Gone- the winner of Fade will get one copy, and I will hold another contest starting the release date for the second copy.

Sound good? Maybe? It sounds good to me!

Like I said this is NOT the official post for the contest. I will post that soon though. I said next week but I might get too excited and do it tomorrow, lol. I do wanna try to wait until after Christmas is over though.

So look out for the post and it will have all the details on the contest.

Major Update!

Once again, I've slacked off. I didn't do a Teaser Tuesday or a Waiting on Wednesday. My bad. I've been busy. But I'm doing 3 weekly features in one today. Then I swear I will keep up from now on. Maybe even get some reviews done.

Maybe. Lol.



Teaser ::

I am currently reading -

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris.

"We have to wake them up," I said. "We have to get them out."

"The building's going to blow up," said Barry, trying to process the idea.

"The vamps won't wake up." Cecile the practical. "They can't."





Waiting On ::
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

April 20th 2010

Hunger for nourishment.
Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries’ coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani’s death.

Ani isn’t one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin’s plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

I really cannot wait to read this book. It's the 4th book in the series, and sadly, I didn't know it exsisted until recently. Not only does the cover look amazing (Like all the others) but it sounds really, really good. Judging by what she's done in the past, it's sure to be a good read.



In My Mailbox ::

I got 3 books this week. All I bought. Two literally came in my mailbox and the other I bought at a book store.














Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler
Finding the Lost by Shannon k. Butcher

I've read Dark Lover, but have been wanting to read it for a while. I've been wanting to read Kissed by an Angel, so I bought it. And Finding the Lost is the second book in my new fave series. It just came out in November, and I'm WAY super excited to read it.


FYI- In My Mailbox was started by Kristi from The Story Siren.

In My Mailbox :: Sooo late!

This is another sooo late weekly featurette thingy, lol. But I've had RL problems. It's all settled, and hopefully I'll be able to post up some over-due book reviews today!

I got six books this week. Woo-hoo! I bought 3 on Black Friday and got 3 as e-books from Barnes and Nobel. Haven't started those yet, but I will.

City of Bones (paperback) by Cassandra Clare

Born of Night (paperback) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Born of Fire (paperback) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

My Soul To Lose (eBook) by Rachel Vincent
Kiss Me Deadly (eBook) by Michele Hauf
A Kiss of Shadows (eBook) by Laurell K. Hamilton

I want everyone to know that I am very proud of these books, minus CoB. I have a bad habit of buying books that I've already read, instead of ones that I haven't read. But I have yet to read any of these books, except C0B. I just wanted that one, lol. So, I am very proud of myself and my purchaces.

And I have yet to try the eReader, but I'm hoping it won't confuse me to death.

FYI II- In My Mailbox was started by Kristi from The Story Siren.

Contests

Ending Dec. 25th - Major Holiday Blowout from The Bloody Bookaholic. Seriously, there are a billion prizes. Go enter now, and put my name for recommending you, please! I'll get an extra entry, and then you all might get a chance to win something from my upcoming contest.*winkwink*

Eding Nov. 30th - Major contest over at A Book Lover's Diary. There will be 4 winners, and there are some amazing books up for grabs. Go enter here!

Teaser Thursday!

I promised I would posted a Teaser today being that I missed Tuesday. It really did disappear.

So, for one time only, here is Teaser Thursday!

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

"Where are your clothes from this moring?" Jayne asks, eyeing us suspiciously.

Why do mother always notice things? Unlce Red's just sitting there with his tea, holding his cards, patiently waiting for Aunt Jayne to get her head back in the game. But Jayne's on to us. Any minute now, she'll cluck her tongue, let out a long sigh, and pick up the phone to call my mother and remind her what a horrible daughter she raised.

So the rules say to post two sentences from a random page, but that last paragraph was too cool, and soo very true.

I actually haven't started reading this yet, lol. I finished The Van Alen Legacy last night and was going to start 20BS this morning, but it was Turkey Day, and I was distracted by food and NaNoWriMo.

Swoon: The Story of the Reading of...

Guess what folks, I got to talk to Sin from the mega awesome book Swoon! Dice was there, too, but my question was for Sin, and he graciously answered it for me!

The Book Butterfly had Sin and Dice answer a few questions for their very loyal fans, and let me tell you, this was one awesome interview! The questions were great, as were the answers. Head on over there to read my question, Sin's answer and the others. I promise you it is worth it!


Oh, yeah did I mention that there is a contest going on for the book, too? Yep, so you can possibly win this awesome book, too! The contest ends on the 17th of December, and mor einfo can be found at the end of the Interview with Sin and Dice!


GO HERE **BEWARE THERE MIGHT BE SPOILERS IN THE INTERVIEW**

Now while we're on the subject of this book, I want to share a story with you. It's the story of the day I read this lovely book.

I read Swoon when I was moving this past summer. We didn't move far, but it's a bit out in the country, lol. Anyways, I had to get up super early (on a Saturday morning) to be at the house for when the cable/inernet guy showed up.

You all know how they are- "We'll be there between 7am and 12pm."

My mother made me get there at 7:20am, and the guy got there at 12:15pm!

Luckily, I had Swoon with me. I sat down in the empty house, in the middle of the floor, and started reading. I took a few breaks to get comfy on the floor, turn the plug in radio on, and go to the store to get a drink, but that was it. I was severly engrossed in this book by page one. Even when my butt started to hurt from the floor, I didn't move until I was in near tears from it! I couldn't take my eyes off the pages.

Now, I was still reading when the cable/internet guy got to the house. And boy, this guy was way hot! And he tried flirting with me! Tried being the key word. I was too far gone into my book to flirt baclk. He tried so hard, but I just could not find the time to put this book down and flirt with him. Which was a good thing because I have a boyfriend, lol. But still Swoon caught me, held me and didn't let me go at all!

So, I want to tell you all this: If you HAVE NOT read this book yet, go read it NOW! Right now! Seriously. This is the best book you'll read in a while.

I mean, who doesn't want to read about a bad boy named Sin?

Contests = Awesome!

Two contests...from the same blog. Yep, that's right. Today's contests are from A Passion for Books. Casey is having a contest for Fallen by Lauren Kate, and a contest for her 200 followers mark, where you get to choose your own book from The Book Depository.

Contest for Fallen :: Ends Nov. 29th

200 Follower Contest :: Ends Dec. 31st

Now go on over and enter both before they end!

2010 Debut Author Challenge

So, most of you may already know about the 2010 Debut Author Challenge that The Story Siren started, but I just now gathered my list! Yep, I'm getting in on the action. I'm set to read at least 15 books, but that list may go up.

Go to this post to sign up and this post to see what it's all about!

Here's some info straight from the post::

What is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge?

The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.* I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.

Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.

The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime! * I would like to limit the novels to those released in 2010.You’ll have to do all the research to make sure a novel meets the criteria for the challenge. I do have a few sites that can help with your search; 2010: A Book Odyssey, AuthorsNow & The Class of 2k10 (website to be launched).

Got it? It's easy, huh?

Now here's my list so far:
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Sea by Heidi R. Kling
The Mark by Jen Nadol
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
The Line by Teri Hall
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
Shadow Hills by Anastacia Hopcus
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Palace Beautiful by Sarah Deford Williams
Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Two In One!

First off, to all of the USA residents ::



Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all have a very happy Turkey Day with your loved ones, and eat lots of Turkey and/or Tofurkey. No, I would never forget the vegetarians of the world. I do hope that you all remember what this day is about, and be sure to give thanks to all that you have in life, because no matter how little you have, it's more than some others have.

I am certainly thankful to have such a great family and close friends in my life to keep me sane and grounded. I'm also thankful to have a job in this hard time. I'm also very thankful to all the years I got to spend with my grandmother before she passed.

And books. I am so grateful to have books, otherwise I'd be majorly bored all the time.



Now onto the second part of this post ::

I'm on a blog...and not my own, lol.

Just Your Typical Book Blog has this awesome weekly post thingy called Rock This! Thursday and, though Amber has been neglecting it, she's started it up again. She's been sending questions to other bloggers about their fave songs, bands and books about music the past few days. Her first post was today, and guess what? I was lucky number one.

Go check out Rock This! Thursday with Me- The Ultimate Dumpees. :)

Also, it's on my sidebar and I already psoted about it, but there is an awesome contest going on over there. So check that out, too!

Waiting on Wednesday

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.


An online friend told me about this book last night, and in like 10 words she summarized it, and made me extremely anxious to read it. She's already read it because she's lucky enough to managed a bookstore. She's always got the best book recommendations, and I sincerely thank her for this one!

The Body Finder comes out March 16th, 2010.



**Quick note :: I know I missed Teaser Tuesday, but I will do that tomorrow have a one time Teaser Thursday, lol. I'm still working on some reviews, too. Most are Adult Novel reviews but I managed to fit in a few YA Novels lately, so I'll add those first! Also I have been updating my 2009 Book List,a nd my Upcoming Reviews list.

Two Awesome Contests!

Today I have two awesome contests. One is awesome because it's from an author that most of you may know of. The other is awesome because it's from a blog that two friends of mine work.

First- Happy Holiday Swag from Michelle Zink!! Yep, the author of The Prophecy of the Sister's is holding a massive contest for a massive amount of stuff, lol. Go on over to her site to check it out and see what you could win. It ends November 30th.

Last but not least- 300 Followers Contest from Just Your Typical Book Blog! Amber and Cheryl run this fabulous blog, and they have reached 300 followers. Go on over and see what you can do to win. You'll love it there, I swear!! This also ends on the 30th of November.

Into the Shadow Review

Into the Shadow by Christina Dodd



Blessed—or cursed—with the ability to change into a sleek panther, and driven by a dark soul he’s accepted as his fate, Adrik Wilder abandons his family and his honor to pursue a life of wickedness. He excels at every vice, including kidnapping Karen Sonnet to use for his selfish purposes.

But Karen’s spirit and passion make him question the force of his family’s curse. And when a new evil emerges, Adrik must choose whether to enact revenge on his enemies and redeem his soul, or save Karen from a fate worse than death…



My Thoughts:
This was my fave book of the series! Everyone loves the bad boy. Everyone loves teh rebel. And Adrik is the rebel, bad boy. He's been gone from his family for years and at the end of the last book *START SLIGHT SPOILERS* it was announced that Adrik Wilder had died.

But he's not. *END SPOILERS*

Adrik is very much alive and is as feirce as ever. I really can't tryo to begin to tell you about this books because I know I'll get too excited and ruin it for those who haven't read it. That's how good it is. I feel like jumping up and down while telling all the juicy tid bits of the book, but I cannot do that, lol.

All I can say is that you all need to read this book. Read the series and read this book. It is fantastic.

Touch of Darkness Review

Touch of Darkness by Christina Dodd

The second book in the Darkness Chosen series follows middle brother Rurik Wilder. It all takes place after his oldest brother finds love and the first of four icons that will save their father from Hell and their family from the curse that has haunted them for centuries. He is an acrcheologist, a scarred former Air Force Pilot and, when he gives into his innder self, a fierce bird of prey.

He's also falling in love with a woman who holds a deep secret of her own.

Tasya Hunnicutt is a journalist who has followed Rurik on many digs not because she loves the history of his finds, but for her own reasons. Her family was murdered by a cruel family and she wants revenge. She wants to expose them and weaken them. But these murderes are not your average day Joe's. These men, this family holds a power within that makes them more than human.


My Thoughts:

I loved this book. I think archeology is the coolest thing, so the fact that Rurik was an archeologist made it much better for me, which says something because the book was fantastic by itself.

There was so much to this book besides the romance and the Varinski's. We learned a lot about Tasya's family and her culture, and we learned more about Rurik's horrible past. Of course, it had a semi-happy ending, but this book by far had one of the best adventures of the whole series.

In My Mailbox :: 11/16/2009

Sorry this is late, but I was busy yesterday. So here is my In My Mailbox!

I got three books this week. Two from the library, and one in the mail.

From the library:

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

In the mail:
Touched by a Vampire by Beth Felker Jones
(No idea where this came from, or why I got it. I think it's from a Christian publishing company, though.)

FYI II- In My Mailbox was started by Kristi from The Story Siren.

Photos from a Sad Sunday

Most of you may know that I like graphic art. I love editing photos and adding things to them to make graphics. But I also love taking pictures. Yesterday was the 3rd year mark of my grandmother's passing and my family got together at the river to spread her ashes.

I forgot my camera, so all I had was my cell phone to take photos with. I was annoyed at first, and then I got home with these pictures, and changed my mind. On my phone I have settings where you can change the lighting of the picture in case you are inside, outside, in flourescent, and yadda yadda. I used different settings to take the different pictures, and this is what I got.

Chat with Drew Doyon, the cover model for Hush, Hush

HEy Hush, Hush fans, this is your lucky day. If you follow @HushHushFan on Twitter or are on the Hush, Hush fanforum, you know what I am talking about.

If not, listen closley.

All week long Fallen Archangel and their forum have been having a blast with Cover Week for Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpartick. They've been giving away prizes like bookmarks, posters and a couple more books. They've talked to James Porto- the photographer, they talked to Becca, they talked to the Senior Designer, Lucy Cummins from Simon and Schuster and they talked to the cover boy himself, Drew Doyon.

And tonight at 10pm EST they are having a LIVE chat with him! Yes, he graciously agreed to be apart of their first ever live chat. The chat will take place on the site itself, under the tab LIVE CHAT.

The catch? It's only for forum members. Only the members will be given the username and passcodes to get into the chat. The info will be given on the forum itself a few hours before the chat. So if you want the chance to talk to Drew, ask him questions...go join the forum! It's a fun place, I promise!

Intertwined Sweepstakes

Contest!

Rex Robot Reviews is having their first contest! There will be at least 3 winners, so go on over and enter for your chance to win!

Enter Here

Secret Santa

Here's an amazing idea- Secret Santa for Book Bloggers. Sounds fun, huh? Let me explain a little.

Sign up before December 1st to get put on the list. You need to give your name, address, blog URL and a list of 10-15 books that you'd like to have.

You will be paired with another blogger. You will receive their info around the 10th of December. You will pick one book from their list and mail it to them by the 17th.

You have to e-mail Books Obsession when you send it out, and when you get your own gift.

The book, or books, you send out must be new or gently used.

Sound good? Well, you can go here to read more into and fill out the forum to join.

Yes, I did join myself. :)

*Credit for this idea goes to Kate.

Cover for Spells by Aprilynne Pike

*sighs* Isn't it pretty?

No! It's gorgeous! It's amazing, and it's perfect. I love it. I know you love it, too. What's not to love? Aprilynne graciously officaly posted it on her blog and everyone is freaking...in a good way. What's bad to freak out about with a cover this good? Huh? NOTHING!

Oh, here's her blog, Apparently Aprilynne! If you aren't following her, do so now. Like right now. *big grin*

Teaser Tuesday :: The Cupcake Queen

FYI:

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 “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!


I am currently reading The Cupcake Queen by Heather Helper. It's pretty good so far. I love me some cupcakes, so it kinda sucks reading it and not having any around. Ya know? Torture.


Here ya go ::

"That's pretty much my life during third period. Running errands. Developing candy-based theories about the people's personalities."


Suddenly, picking a flavor seems to hold a lot of weight. I decide on grape, my favorite.




I am only like 20 pages in and have yet to meet the person who is genuis enough to make said candy-based theories, but I'm excited to read more and see if my fave candy flavor is mentioned.

Contests!!

Here are a few. I figured I'd post a few at once instead of filling up my blog with post after post of contests, lol.

And Anything Bookish is having a great contest! If you win, you can get quite a few books. Go here for more info. It ends on Nov. 17th.

A Book Lover's Diary is also having a great giveaway! There will be four winners and they get to choose from a wide assortment of books. Go here for more info. It ends on Nov. 30th.

The Undercover Book Lover (Not Really) is having another contest. You could win a signed copy of A Map of the Known World! Go here for more inot. It ends on Nov. 14th.

Froggaritaville's Bookcase is giving away a copy of Hold Still. Go here for more info. It ends on Nov. 20th.

In My Mailbox :: 11/08/2009

So this is from the past two weeks, and not one.

From the library:

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

From a friend:

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Night World No. 2 by L.J. Smith

Bought/won/traded:
exit here. by Jason Myers

Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank

Elijah by Jacquelyn Frank

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Funny story about Shiver and Hush, Hush- Amber from Just Your Typical Book Blog sent those to me at the end of September. I got them at the end of October....

Yeah. The USPS was getting all kinds of hate from the two of us, lol. Also, I had already had a copy of Hush, Hush sent to me that I could keep. But at least, I got them and will send them back when I read Shiver. Thanks, Amber!

Has anyone read The Historian? I read it earlier this year. and it is amazing. I should write a review for it soon.

FYI II- In My Mailbox was started by Kristi from The Story Siren.

Update :: 11/08/2009

As some may know, I've been without the internet for a while. I also got sick with the Swine Flu and a severe sinus infection. This has kept me pretty much glued to my bed, lol. But I am gettign better, my internet is back on and there will be a few updates tonight.

I have updated the November Book Releases. There are not a lot yet, but if you have any to share, let me know by commening on this post!

I have a major In My Mailbox to do before I head to bed tonight, as well.

Also at least 3 reviews are coming. I cannot recall what all books there are, but there are at least 3 coming soon.

Lastly, I need to update my 2009 Book list and update my Currently Reading. I will also do that tonight.

Oh, this is the last thing: I'm scouting for contests! If you know any, let me know and that will save me a few. My list is getting low and I need to get it not-low again, lol.

I am extremely happy to see that I have more members than I had last time I checked. That makes me happy. And guess what? Now that I have a job, I can start giving away my own books. Heck, I've gotten a few in my mailbox latley and I might give one of those away. You never know!

Well, that's it for now. I'm going to start updating my lists and typing my reviews.

Review :: Scent of Darkness

Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd

Ann Smith loves her handsome, dynamic boss, Jasha Wilder, but her daring plan to seduce him goes awry when she encounters a powerful wolf who-before her horrified eyes-changes into the man she adores. She soon discovers she can't escape her destiny, for she is the woman fated to break the curse that binds his soul.








I know when most people think of an Adult Romance Novel, they think of raunchy sex scenes. That's not it. I love a good steamy scene, but I like the stories behind it too. I love the action and the true romance. With that romance, I like the reailty kind of romance. I hate reading a book where the couple falls head over heels in love for no apparent reason. That's a buzz kill.

Scent of Darkness is my type of adult romance novel. Ann doesn't give into Jasha's love plea even though she's loved him for years. She gets a backbone and makes him earn it. He earns it, of course, but I loved the novel long fight for her love. It's amazing.

Plus, this book has a major plot. The people have a history and Chritina Dodd makes sure you know what you should know.

The action was great. The romance was real. And the book was nearly perfect. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.

Review :: The Summoning

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for 'disturbed teens'. At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems...? Chloe realizes that if she doesn't uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse...? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret?



I started reading this right when I got my job and I found it hard to find the time to read. I almost, almost put this book down and decided to not read it but a friend of mine kept telling me it was a good read. So I picked it up one night...and read it all. I was so tired at work the next day but I could not stop talking about this book.

Thanks to me Toni and Lindsey will be reading this, lol.

This book was spectacular! The thing I loved the most is how well written and well hidden the mystery was. I could not for the life of me guess what was going on or who was behind it. I never would have guessed the big secret and the big shocker. I loved that the most. I hate books that are so easy to guess about. The Summoning is not one of those books.

I really cannot wait to read The Awakening. This book left with a cliffy and I'm itching to pick up the sequel. Luckily, I have it in my hands and I will read it soon.

** I know this review is kind of slack but I'm rushing to get ready for work, lol. I'll update it later with a good review.

Teaser Tuesday // Update

**So my internet is cut off for right now but I'll have it back on soon. Until then I'm steadily going to the library and my boyfriend's house. Just wanted to let everyone know what was going on!

Now, I am still reading The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong but I forgot it at the house! So today's Teaser Tuesday will be coming from ::

Scent of Darkness by Christina Dodd. I started reading this book this morning and so far, so good.

"Sarcastic?"
No. Disapproving. Like a nun."

Ann sat up stiffly. "I am no a nun."

He smiled. "I noticed."

I know most of my followers are probably YA readers but this one is from an Adult Romance novel. I love both generes, lol.

Honest Scrap Award

Yeah, uh huh, I got one! Go me!


Really, I got an award from B.A.M Book Reviews. Thanks so much ladies!

The Honest Scrap award is for bloggers who write from the heart. -I try, I swear.- The rules are to apss it on to 10 bloggers who you feel write from the heart as well. -Let's see if I know 10 bloggers well enough to know how they write, lol.- Then you write 10 honest thing about yourself. -Uh oh.-

10 Honest Book Boggers:

Just Your Typical Book Blog

LiyanaLand!

Sophistikatied Reviews

Bookworming in the 21st Century

Penultimate Page

Reverie Book Reviews (who's won it already but I want to mention her blog anyways.)

10 Honest Things About Me:

1.) I love olives and pickles...together. Yummy!

2.) I love the person who invented Chicken Teriyaki.

3.) I'd rather go to my fave take out place than a fancy restaurants most nights.

4.) I hate my job and I've only worked there for 2 days!

5.) I'm not all that fond of chocolate.

6.) I lie about my height on occasion. I don't like people to know I'm 5'2".

7.) I tell my boyfriend I hate his music and secretly listen to it when he's not around.

8.) I love Spongebob Squarepants.

9.) I love iCarly. Sam is hilarious.

10.) I'm a book nerd, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

In My Mailbox :: 10/22/2009

Obviously, it's not the picture I took but I'm dog tired and I don't think I can take a photo right now, lol. But this is what I got in the mail today.

Ecstacy by Jacquelyn Frank

I've read it and it was recently, but it was so good I had to buy it. So I did and it's here now. Yay! Look for a review for this when I get the time to re-read it.

FYI- Starting next week I'll post one IMM a week. I'll post a what I got through the week every Sunday. I doubt I'll post this Sunday but who knows, lol. If I get something, I'll post. If not, wait until next Sunday.


FYI II- In My Mailbox was started by Kristi from The Story Siren.

Review: Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Summary:

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

My thoughts:

Though the book started off kind of slow for me, I really enjoyed this book. It's a faery book, but it's a different kind of faery. Most faery books poke fun at the myths humans have about them, but this book pokes fun at those books who say they have it right. -I'll be shocked if anyone understands what I mean.- But this was an amazing books. It was really unique. The imagery that Pike conveyed was something that you'd only ever seen in your dreams. The way she describes the things the things she does, it's great.

I don't want to give away too many spoilers and secrets but one thing that I loved the most in this book was the way these faeries reproduced, lol. That might sound kinky or weird, but when you read the book and find out what kind of faeries these are you'll see what I mean. The whole thing is just...perfect. I never would have combined the two things that she did combine. Again, you'll understand what I mean when you read it.

And the romance(s). *winkwink* It's almost like The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, lol. I'm not sure if I'm Team Tamani or Team David. I'm torn but there is definitely some super romance in the book. Lots of tension. It's great. Can't wait to read about that in the sequel.

Overall this book was incredible. I'd recommend it to all faery lovers. I'd recommend it to all YA lovers, too. It's a great combination and a 5 start book. I cannot wait to read the second in this series.

Memorable Quote(s):

"Pollen?" (Laurel)

"Yeah, you know." He stared at his hands as if they had suddenly become very interesting." For...pollinating." (Tamani)

"Pollinating is for reproduction- sex is for fun." -Tamani

In My Mailbox :: 10/20/2009

Today I actaully got a book in the mail, YAY! A book that I have been waiting on since October 12th when they person sent it to me.

Burning Alive by Shannon K. Butcher

I read this a few weeks ago and fell.in.love. The story was amazing. The romance was hot. I laughed, I cried tears of joy and tears of heartbreak and I jumped up and down when the action got intense. I felt everything with this book. I am so happy I got to buy it. I'm going to read it again soon and you can expect a review for it after that second read.

*In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren!

Liyana Land is having an awesome contest....

Yes, another Hush, Hush contest but this one is the bomb. Liyana Land! is giving away all kinds of goodies and there is more than one winner.

Winner 1:One signed copy of Hush, Hush

Winner 2:One signed copy of the Hush, Hush audiobook

Winner 3:One signed Hush, Hush t-shirt (*squee!*)

Winners 4 - 8:Hush, Hush bookmarks and postcards

Awesome, huh? Now go enter!

Every entry counts!!

Oh, P.S. - That lovely header you see on Liyana's blog? I made that. *grins*

The Cupcake Queen Contest!

Another contest from The Book Butterfly and another great book. The Cupcake Queen is up for grabs!! As you may know, I grabbed this from my library yesterday. I haven't read it yet but I want to. The cover is so cute and it sounds like a great story.

So go enter here!