Cover Crazy Thursday - 6/30

Cover Crazy is hosted by Tawni at The Book Worms.

I have a few covers I am crazy about today. These are also books I can't wait to read! Here they are...

This one is just simply stunning, I think.



When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.

Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives

One word: Sexy.



Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?

Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .

From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes

I love the way this one is designed. Plus, I love the dress!




When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

Glass Houses - Rachel Caine

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

I can't believe I am just now reading this series. Why did it take so long to let the awesomness of the Morganville Vampires escape me?!

Claire Danvers is a sixteen-year-old college freshman. Yes, young, but she is incredibly smart and gifted. She is a little quirky and a very cute character. I think she does well for her age. When she goes to Morganville for college, all she wants is to study, get good grades, and prepare for a better college. Little does she know that in Morganville she is going to find nothing but trouble and an enormous secret about the town: that Morganville is run by vampires.

I really enjoyed this. It was a light read (for me) even if it had some darker moments when the plot thickened. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, which is The Dead Girls' Dance.


What I give this book:

The Hunger Games Movie

Is anyone else excited about this?! I know I am!!




I really like her as Katniss. When I saw the picture of her blonde, I was hesitant, but here I think she looks fantastic. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif


Here is the link to some of the cast set to play in the movie adaptation of the book. Some of them I can picture, others not so much.

The Hunger Games Cast

The Hunger Games Cast 2

In case you don't feel like clicking throught the pictures from the link, these are the characters so far...

Katniss Everdeen - Jennifer Lawrence
Peeta Mellark - Josh Hutcherson
Gale Hawthorne - Liam Hemsworth
Effie Trinket - Elizabeth Banks
Mrs. Everdeen - Paula Malcomson
Cinna - Lenny Kravitz
Primrose Everdeen - Willow Shields
Seneca Crane - Wes Bentley
Thresh - Dayo Okeniyi
Rue - Amandla Stenberg
Marvel - Jack Quaid
Glimmer - Leven Rambin
Caesar Flickerman - Stanley Tucci
Haymitch Abernathy - Woody Harrelson
Claudius Templesmith - Toby Jones
President Snow - Donald Sutherland
Cato - Alexander Ludwig
Clove - Isabelle Fuhrman
Tribute Boy (District 3) - Ian Nelson
Tribute Girl (District 3) - Kalia Prescott
Tribute Boy (District 4) - Ethan Jameson
Tribute Girl (District 4) - Tara Macken

True Blood!

So....

Anyone else excited about True Blood? Sunday night was the premiere of season four. Any thoughts about this season's start?

I know a lot of people are huge fans of the book series, and I am sad to say I have only read the first book so far. I do want to get all of them though.

And now for your viewing pleasure... (it is obvious what team I am on here ;) )

...


...


...




ERIC NORTHMAN!!

I REALLY want this cup!

Waiting on Wednesday - 6/29

I really like this idea, and this is a meme done by quite a few book review bloggers, and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Waiting On Wednesdays shows books that I am stoked about and can't wait to read!



Beautiful Chaos
Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
October 18, 2011

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.



Escape
Barbara Delinsky
July 5, 2011

Emily Aulenbach is thirty, a lawyer married to a lawyer, working in Manhattan. An idealist, she had once dreamed of representing victims of corporate abuse, but she spends her days in a cubicle talking on the phone with vic­tims of tainted bottled water—and she is on the bottler’s side.

And it isn’t only work. It’s her sister, her friends, even her husband, Tim, with whom she doesn’t connect the way she used to. She doesn’t connect to much in her life, period, with the exception of three things—her computer, her BlackBerry, and her watch.

Acting on impulse, Emily leaves work early one day, goes home, packs her bag, and takes off. Groping toward the future, uncharacteristically following her gut rather than her mind, she heads north toward a New Hampshire town tucked between mountains. She knows this town. During her college years, she spent a watershed summer here. Painful as it is to return, she knows that if she is to right her life, she has to start here.



Perfect
Ellen Hopkins
September 13, 2011

Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.

Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body—no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run—on the field and off—Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never understand.

Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?



The Hidden
Jessica Verday
September 6, 2011

A love that knows no bounds

Abbey knows that Caspian is her destiny. Theirs is a bond that transcends even death. But as Abbey finally learns the full truth about the dark fate that links her to Caspian and ties them both to the town of Sleepy Hollow, she suddenly has some very hard choices to make. Caspian may be the love of her life, but is that love worth dying for?

The Nature of Jade - Deb Caletti

Since being diagnosed with Panic Disorder, Jade DeLuna is trying her best to stay calm, and visiting the elephants at the nearby zoo seems to help. That’s why Jade keeps the live zoo webcam on in her room, and where she first sees Sebastian.
When she finally meets him, their connection is immediate, and soon Jade is drawn into Sebastian’s life with his son and his grandmother on their Seattle houseboat. Even though the situation is complicated, Jade hasn’t felt this safe in a long time.
Until she learns that Sebastian is hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what is right, and what feels right. . .

I don't know why, but for some reason I could just not get into this one. It may just be the writing style, or maybe I'm not in the right mood. I had hoped for better to be honest. The summary sounded really great and promising, but perhaps it is just not for me.

I hope that if I pick up another book by this author, it will pull me in better. I have heard good things about her other novels, so maybe they are different?

Maybe in the future I can try to read it again and give it a better rating.

What I give this book:

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. You can visit her fantastic blog here.

These are the rules (anyone can participate):

- 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 I am currently reading The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti.

[from p. 57]

"I search off in the distance, hoping to see a red jacket. My heart thumps around at the thought of actually seeing and maybe talking to the real him."

Torment - Lauren Kate

Hell on earth. That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students -Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous. What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else? The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.


This one didn't have as much of a slow start as Fallen, and I can honestly say I can't wait to read on in Passion (and I will explain why). I did like this one better than Fallen, even if I have a few complaints. I will get those out of the way first.

The one thing that drove me batty is being in the dark about things just as much as Luce. Of course, I guess this is a good way to keep a reader interested. Another thing is that there was another love triangle (ugh - more Luce and Daniel!), but that is my personal preference. In some aspects it left me confused because of the things I still don't know, but I am hoping that Passion will answer a good bit of things for me, which is why I can't wait to read it.

I loved the moments between Luce and Daniel (yes, call me a sap) and that maybe their love isn't always picture perfect, even with it being fiction and him being an angel, with this it makes a little easier to relate. He was gone a good bit of the book, but it made the few moments they had together better for me. Although, I would have to say that her whining about things could have been played down a little.

I loved her new friends in this book, Shelby and Miles. They were fantastic. Shelby is sarcastic, sometimes a bit harsh, but also funny and still a reliable friend. Miles is also a great and loyal friend (who has a thing for Luce naturally and obviously from the get-go). You'll just have to read for yourself. ;)

Ultimately, I just hope that the next in the series will finally unlock a lot of the questions Luce (and myself!) has about her past, about Daniel, and well, pretty much everything.

What I give this book:

TGIF!

TGIF is a meme hosted by Ginger (who also made the way cool TGIF graphic) at GReads.

This week she asks:

Summer Love: Where is your ideal place to take a summer vacation & get lost in a book?

I would have to say that my favorite place to vacation is in Edisto, SC. I fell in love with it the first time I went and have since dreamed of going back. It is a nice, quiet beach with beautiful beach houses. I loved sitting there with my book cracked open, getting lost in the story and being able to hear and smell the ocean (without having to get in - I do not like sea critters!). My favorite non-vacation summer reading place is either on a porch swing (lying down of course) or in a comfy outdoor chair, usually in the evening when it is cooler.

Be sure to check out Ginger's blog (link above)!

The Body Finder - 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 that 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 the 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 (Goodreads)


Oh. My. God. This book had my stomach fluttering, heart racing, and on the edge of my seat. It's part thriller, part romance and part supernatural. I loved every bit of it and could not put it down. I really liked how it told Violet's story, but also had parts from the killer's POV. Creeeeeptastic!! I was almost paranoid sitting by myself here on the couch reading this while everyone else was asleep.

It was a ride going through these things with Violet: her ability to sense the dead and those who have killed (from murderers to animals), the twisting serial killer aspect, and the ever evolving relationship between her and her best friend since childhood, Jay (totally fell in love with this boy). I liked her because she wasn't overly whiny/needy/damsel-in-distress but she wasn't too stubborn/cold/hard-headed either, she had just the right attitude at just the right moments. She was well developed and had just the right amount of maturity for someone at her age with her ability. She wasn't flawless, but she was just right.

Jay was great. I don't know where to begin with this one. He is Violet's childhood friend and one loyal friend at that. It was a lot of fun reading as Violet discovered her feelings for him. I didn't think it was overly cheesy, though some you could see coming, but it was realistic in the way things developed. I think that this part, with me being a romance lover, was my favorite part. It made giddy and excited and even impatient wanting them to become more than friends.

The serial killer part truly freaked me out. His bits were creepy and chilling. There wasn't any goriness, thank goodness, there needn't be any, it was haunting enough without it.

All in all this is another novel I will probably not keep my mouth shut about. It was unique, thrilling and well written, with the characters being well developed and interesting. I loved this book hands down, and I'm sure I will love the next book in the series as well (VioletandJayOMGcan'twait!).

What I give this book:

The Email Poet - Douglas C. Turner

I just wanted to take a moment to spotlight this wonderful collection of poems by Douglas C. Turner. Normally I just do novels (fiction, chick lit, YA, etc.) but this collection is quite exceptional.

In this honest and enlightening collection of poems, the reader experiences the visceral sensation of seeing, feeling, and witnessing what the author Douglas C. Turner wants to convey. Each poem is a testament to a life that has embodied many diverse ups and downs, from Douglas' early years to the present day. All of these works are intended to bring light, better understanding and, hopefully, another step towards a peaceful life in the world! The reader just may find a moment of tranquility, which can replace pain and suffering, by reading these inspirational poems. Douglas C. Turner lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina. The motivation behind his writing is his two daughters and his wonderful grandson. Douglas lives his daily life with the strong values that he has learned over time. He uses his experiences to help others connect and find the true meaning of life, which is all about learning how to smile and handle adversity with love and compassion. (Amazon)


Here is one person's review of this fantastic collection (also viewable on www.amazon.com):

Email Poet is a wonderful journey. The author's poetry has so many wonderful and unique facets to it. Mr. Turner leads you on a journey of his life experiences. His pains, joys and thoughts, dreams are expressed throughout his humble words. This book is very fresh in it's design. You will want to turn the pages to read more and find yourself completely done with the book. I am giving this a five star review because I know this book will be an ultimate hit for any ages or types of people. It is not exclusive and can be relatable to anyone. (Stacey Watts, author and reader)

I personally really enjoyed this collection. It is one of those that will take you on an emotional journey, with ups, downs and in-betweens.

Cover Crazy Thursday

Cover Crazy is hosted by Tawni at The Book Worms.

This is my first Cover Crazy, so I hope you enjoy!

I LOVE this cover! Out of all the covers of the Wicked Lovely series, this one is my favorite. It is chilling and beautiful at the same time. You can read my review of this novel here

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

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

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

Whoa. I feel absolutely breathless. Just having finished this novel, I feel as if I have just went through a whirlwind, just sitting here on my couch.

First of all, I love Katniss. She is an unbelievably strong girl, who feels that since her father's death it is her duty to take care of her family. Sometimes she can be a bit headstrong, stubborn, and seemingly emotionless, but ultimately she is a fighter and a survivor in a world that mostly knows hunger and pain.

With The Hunger Games, it will take an emotional toll on you, from the characters you love to the ones you hate, the ones you pity to the ones you wish you could get to yourself. Filled with hope, loss, pain, love, the need to survive, and learning what's really in your heart, it is very thrilling and takes you on an exciting journey that will linger in your mind even after you have finished reading.

I would definitely recommend this book to others and it will probably be one of those books I won't be able to stop talking about for some times. I urge anyone to pick up this book as I feel they won't regret it.

What I give this book:

Waiting On Wednesday - 6/22

I really like this idea, and this is a meme done by quite a few book review bloggers, and hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Waiting On Wednesdays shows books that I am stoked about and can't wait to read!

First up...

Overbite
Meg Cabot
July 5, 2011

Meena Harper has a special gift, but it’s only now that anyone’s ever appreciated it. The Palatine Guard—a powerful secret demon-hunting unit of the Vatican—has hired her to work at their new branch in Lower Manhattan. With Meena’s ability to predict how everyone she meets will die, the Palatine finally has a chance against the undead.

Sure, her ex-boyfriend was Lucien Anton­escu, son of Dracula, the prince of darkness. But that was before he (and their relationship) went up in flames. Now Meena’s sworn off vampires for good . . . at least until she can prove her theory that just because they’ve lost their souls doesn’t mean demons have lost the ability to love.

Meena knows convincing her co-workers—including her partner, Über-demon-hunter Alaric Wulf—that vampires can be redeemed won’t be easy . . . especially when a deadly new threat seems to be endangering not just lives of the Palatine, but Meena’s friends and family as well.

But Meena isn’t the Palatine’s only hope. Father Henrique—aka Padre Caliente—New York City’s youngest, most charming priest, has also been assigned to the case.

So why doesn’t Meena—or Alaric—trust him?

As she begins unraveling the truth, Meena finds her loyalties tested, her true feelings laid bare . . . and temptations she never even imagined existed impossible to resist.

This time, Meena may finally have bitten off more than she can chew.
(Amazon)

I loved the first book in this series, Insatiable. You can read my review on this here.

Bad Taste in Boys
Carrie Harris
July 12, 2011

Someone's been a very bad zombie.
Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steriods are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town . . . and stay hormonally human. (Amazon)

Simply said, this one just sounds cute!

Not enough time...ugh!

I am still hoping to reach my 100 books for my 2011 reading challenge this year. It really is just that though, a challenge. Sometimes it is difficult squeezing in reading time in between work, a 3-year-old, a husband, and housework! I won't be giving up that easily though. ;)

I have began reading The Hunger Games today (and I know I am getting a late start on the craze). I have heard a lot of great things about this series, so I am hoping I won't be disappointed, though I am sure I won't be.

Evermore - Alyson Noel

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

This was an excellent book, hands down, and I can't wait to purchase the next book in the series, Blue Moon.

I could not imagine having to live in Ever's world, knowing everything about everyone - their thoughts, their past, their feelings. Ever is also in a deep amount of pain. Then, meeting Damen changes everything. It was pure joy/torture reading on and on trying to figure out what exactly Damen was. The book kept me hooked trying to unlock the secrets. I very much enjoyed reading this, and do recommend it. Riley, was an enjoyable character as well, and I won't say who or what she is, but she had a bit of mischievousness about her that made it fun.

On the downside, there were a few instances that reminded me of the Twilight Saga, but it wasn't enough to keep from enjoying the story. I'm still intrigued to find out what is going to happen with Ever and Damen. What can I say? I'm a sucker for love!

What I give this book:

Fallen - Lauren Kate

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story. (BarnesandNoble.com)

This is a tough one. I would say for about the first half of the book, I took it slowly. It was a slow start and I could easily put it down and just read it casually. However, when things picked up, it threw me in! I was literally reading late into the night, wanting to know what was going to happen next. One moment, I was just reading lightly, learning about Luce, the school she was at, her friends, and her obsessing over Daniel. The next, my eyes were glued wanting to know more and more and more.

One thing I did not like: it didn't open up into the really good stuff until toward the end. Once I really was drawn into it, it was cut off, with a cliffhanger naturally, to set things up for Torment. At the same time, I'm glad it didn't give absolutely everything away at once or too soon, but maybe a little sooner would have been okay.

All in all, I did enjoy this one, even if was the slow reading at first or the can't-tear-myself-away reading at the end.


What I give this book: