Monday, January 31, 2011

Reading Reflections: January 2011

Books Read:
Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien (review)
Hexbound by Chole Neill (review)
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (review)
The Lost Saint by Bree Despain (review)
Across the Universe by Beth Revis (review)

Total Number of Books Read This Month: 5

Total Number of Books Read This Year: 5

Most Anticipated:
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Biggest Let Down:
If I had to pick, then I guess it would be Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien.

Favorite Read:
Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Highest Rank: 5 Butterflies

Lowest Rank: 4 Butterflies

Overall Reflection:
Great month of reading. Couldn't have asked for a better way to kick off the new year! I can honestly say that I was sad when each book ended. Birthmarked was a truly sad tale of a dystopain society and its desperate attempts to fix the monster it created. Hexbound was a great follow-up in the Dark Elite series! The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint have me really warming up to werewolves. :) Across the Universe was a truly amazing book, I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy! Seriously awesome month of reading! I was quite happy to meet my goal of 5 books this month! :)


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Across the Universe by Beth Revis


Book Summery:
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming. -goodreads.com
Book Trailer:


Book Review:
Just finished this book last night, and my mind is still reeling from it. I can honestly say that this is one of the best books that I have ever read. I'll admit, I was a bit hesitant at first. I mean, a book about a girl frozen in space? It didn't sound all that interesting. But trust me, this book is so much more than that! I will forewarn you that my review just isn't going to do this book justice. I don't want to hint at, or giveaway too much information! Some of what makes this book so great are the secrets that are revealed throughout the plot! For more information, check out Beth Revis' website (here) and the official book website (here). Even if you've read the book, at least check out the book website. It gives a detailed blueprint of the ship! :)

What I liked:
*The characters. Vivid, flawed, intelligent. This book is definitely character driven! A lot of character growth takes place as well! :)
*The world building. AMAZING. The story begins on earth, in the very believable future. Then you learn about the ship. Revis did an excellent job of acquainting the reader the ship and it's inhabitants.
*The mystery. There is some serious stuff going on, and it's a mystery as to who is doing it. Very suspenseful.
*The dystopian setting. I really don't want to elaborate on this too much. You'll see when you read the book!
*I just found out this book is a trilogy!!! I can not wait to read the other 2 books!!!

Favorite Quote:
"I am silent as death. How can someone without a beating heart, without lungs live like I do? I muse be dead. And this is my greatest fear: After 301 years, when they pull my glass coffin from this morgue, and the let my body thaw like chicken meat on the kitchen counter, I will be just like I am now. I will spend all of eternity trapped in my dead body. There is nothing beyond this. I will be locked within myself forever." (p. 32)

Cover Art Commentary:
Breathtaking! I love the faces opposing each other against a blanket of stars. Also, the cover is reversible. The other side contains blueprints of the ship. All in all, this is one fantastic cover! :)

Overall Rating:

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain



Book Summery:
Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung. -goodreads.com

Book Review:
Author Bree Despain steps it up a notch in her Dark Divine sequel The Lost Saint. The roles have changed. Now Grace is the one struggling with her now found powers, and Daniel tries to keep her grounded, reminding her not to give into the overwhelming urges of the wolf. At first, I didn't think I would like this role reversal. However, I was surprised to find that it gave the characters more versatility and complexity. I really enjoyed learning more about werewolf lore and history. What really makes this novel are the characters. I found Grace to be more independent and self-reliant. While she didn't always make the best choices, she followed through on her actions and relied more on herself and her own instincts. I felt like this was a big step up from the first novel. I found Daniel just a little disappointing, mostly due to his absence throughout the story. Gabriel is a most interesting addition. I find him knowledgeable and mysterious. I do hope we find out more about him further along in the series. Talbot is another intriguing character. I'm getting the sense that there is more to his story, and I am eager to find out! I did miss the focus on art in this one; but honestly, there was so much going on that I didn't feel like it detracted from the story.

Overall, I found The Lost Saint to be darker as a whole. There is plenty of mystery, secrets, and action to go around. There is definitely more emphasis on werewolves this time around, which ties in nicely. Fans of YA paranormal romance will be sure to fall in love with action-packed sequel. I am can not to read the next installment of the series!!!

Favorite Quote:
"I was almost through the door when Gabriel called after me. 'Remember Grace. If you let anger into your heart, it will push out your ability to love.' " (p. 263)

Cover Art Commentary:
I really love the colors. The light blue really pops against the black background. I think I might actually like this cover more than the first book, The Dark Divine. :)

Overall Rating:


Monday, January 17, 2011

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain



Book Summery:
Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes. The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul. -goodreads.com

Book Trailer:



Book Review:
For this review, I am going to do something different. Instead of melding everything together, I am going to piece it apart into two categories. What I liked, and what I didn't. Let me know if you like this format, or prefer the old one.

What I Liked:
*Grace. She is a gracious, sensitive character with curious instincts. She makes a great narrator for this story.
*Daniel. Despite everything that surrounds him, I found Daniel to be kindhearted, intelligent young man, who was a bit rough around the edges at times.
*The use of art and creativity as one of the main components of the storyline. Some of my favorite times where when Grace and Daniel were drawing and/or painting together, and sharing some serious conversation.
*Grace's family as a whole. They show the reader how she became the grounded, sensible, sweet, yet somewhat flawed character we are introduced to.
*The overall story. Lot's of action, with plenty of time for reflection. The mystery in this story kept me up, turning page after page.

What I didn't Like:
*Grace's interactions with her brother, Jude. Throughout the book I felt like Grace kept telling us what a generous, kind person he was, but I did not see this reflected in his behavior very often.
*Grace's best friend April. She seemed much more interested in Jude rather than Grace.
*At times, it seemed like Grace would be determined to find out an answer. Then when confronted with the person in question, she would back out, leaving her questions (as well as ours) postponed or unanswered. It really was my biggest pet peeve of the book.
*The End! I am dying to know what happens next!!!! :P

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read. If I had it available in my rating system, I would give this book a 4.5 rating. While I enjoyed the story and the characters, there were a few minor flaws (not an overwhelming amount), that kept this a 4 star rating. What I loved MOST about this book, was the portrayal of family. While not always perfect, they were there for each other, supported each other, and knew when to give each other space. I eagerly anticipate the next installment of the series...which I will begin right now! :P

Favorite Quote:
"I stood in the stream of hot water and let the head prick at the numbness under my skin, washing away the shock. That's when the tears came." (p. 244)

Cover Art Commentary:
I really like the colors of this cover. However, is it just me, or do those legs look reallllly skinny? Like too skinny?

 Overall Rating:


Saturday, January 15, 2011

HUGE Book Bundle

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.
-goodreads.com

Keeper by Kathi Appelt
To ten-year-old Keeper the moon is her chance to fix all that has gone wrong ... and so much has gone wrong.

But she knows who can make things right again: Maggie Marie, her mermaid mother, who swam away when Keeper was just three. A blue moon calls the mermaids to gather at the sandbar, and that's exactly where Keeper is headed - in a small boat. In the middle of the night, with only her dog, BD (Best Dog), and seagull named Captain. When the riptide pulls at the boat, tugging her away from the shore and deep into the
rough waters of the Gulf of Mexico, panic sets in and the fairy tales that lured her out there go tumbling into the waves. Maybe the blue moon won't sparkle with mermaids and maybe - Oh, no ... "Maybe" is just to difficult to bear. -goodreads.com

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson

Destiny Faraday makes a point of keeping her distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Her number-one rule: Don’t get attached. But one day, unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three of her classmates embark on an unauthorized road trip.
They’re searching for one fair day—a day where the good guy wins and everything adds up to something just and right. Their destination: Langdon, a town that Destiny’s unsuspecting companions hope will hold simply a day of fun. But, as Destiny says, “Things are not always what they seem.” Only she knows that Langdon holds far more than that—a deep secret she has never shared with anyone. -goodreads.com
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul. -goodreads.com

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

The non-stop sequel to The Dark Divine delivers an even hotter romance and more thrilling action than Bree Despain's first novel. Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She gave her soul to the wolf to save him and lost her beloved mother. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven. Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot - a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel begins to crumble. Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace becomes prideful in her new abilities - not realizing that an old enemy has returned and deadly trap is about to be sprung. -goodreads.com
Mistwood by Leah Cypress

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes. Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.
Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.
Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them. Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew. -goodreads.com

Tempest's Legacy by Nicole Peeler

After a peaceful hiatus at home in Rockabill, Jane True thinks that her worst problem is that she still throws like a girl - at least while throwing fireballs. Her peace of mind ends, however, when Anyan arrives one night with terrible news . . . news that will rock Jane's world to its very core.

After demanding to help investigate a series of gruesome attacks on females -- supernatural, ha
lfling, and human -- Jane quickly finds herself forced to confront her darkest nightmares as well as her deepest desires. And she's not sure which she finds more frightening. -goodreads.com

Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #3) by Chloe Neill

Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago's newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.
Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals-not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries-old master vampire. -goodreads.com
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.
Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again? -goodreads.com
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. -goodreads.com



Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?-goodreads.com
Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.
Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.
Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming. -goodreads.com
Source:
I won Keeper over from a contest hosted by The O.W.L. She has a fabulous blog, you should check it out!

The rest I bought (over time) with birthday money from my local indie bookstore. :)

Most Anticipated:
I can honestly say I am looking forward to ALL of these. I plan on reading The Dark Divine series first, then maybe Across the Universe! :)


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Hexbound by Chole Neill


Book Summery:
They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Turns out, even a little magic can turn you to the dark side. That’s why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big, werewolf-y secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago’s nastiest nightlife—including the tainted magic users known as Reapers.

Then Lily’s invited to a private meeting with Sebastian. He’s hot, powerful, and offering to help her harness the magic flowing in her veins in a way no one else can. He’s also a Reaper. Lily can’t hide her suspicions. But she’ll soon find out that the line between good and evil isn’t always clear…
-goodreads.com

Book Review:
Chole Neill has done it again! I found her second second installment of The Dark Elite series to be memorizing, enchanting, and action-packed. While I enjoyed Firespell (review), the majority of the book contained world-building and left us off with a huge cliffhanger ending. In short, it was a pretty good first-of-a-series-type-book, but left me wanting more. That's where Hexbound comes in. The story jump-starts on page one, and keeps going throughout the entire book. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I love Lily and her band of friends, supernatural and not. They're all great characters with vivid unique qualities. I still think there's more to Lesley than meets the eye...but that's another discussion all in itself. The mystery of the "rats" makes for a great plot, and meeting new adepts who help solve the mystery was a great way to introduce more vivid, lovable characters. Overall, Neill has won me over. I'll continue reading more of the series, as she releases them. I also want to finally pick up the Chicagoland Vampire series. If they're half as good as The Dark Elite series, I won't be disappointed!

Favorite Quote:
"Scout blew out a dramatic breath that puffed out her cheeks, grabbed Michael's hand, and pulled him down the hall. 'Fine. Have a hot make out session, But we're going to be like twenty feet down the hallway. I hope they get eaten by one of those headless horsemen.' She muttered. 'Or the Chicago version, anyway.'
As they walked down the hallway, I kept my glaze on them, still too nervous to look at Jason.
'What would that be exactly?' I heard Michael ask.
'What would what be?'
'The Chicago version of the headless horseman?'
'Oh, I don't know. Maybe a fangless vampire? Or-or a werewolf with mange?'
'We can still hear you!' Jason called out. 'And werewolves don't have mange!' (p. 18-19)

Cover Art Commentary:
Love the dark background with just a few highlights from Lily's "spark." Very fitting. Looks great next to Firespell, the first book in the series.

Overall Rating:

Friday, January 7, 2011

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien


Book Summery:
After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.
Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.
Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, Birthmarked explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code.
-goodreads.com

Book Review:
I had read a few mixed reviews of Birthmarked, but I honestly didn't know what I was in store for. O'Brien creates a solemn future, in which most of our natural resources are gone. People must work hard for small rations of protein and water, if you live outside of the Enclave, that is. The Enclave is a utopian society gone wrong. Within the first chapter, Gaia's life is turned upside down and she embarks on a journey to save her parents. Along the way, Gaia is transformed from a naive teenager to a strong young woman who quickly learns reality's harsh lessons and in turn, finds her inner strength. As most dystopian reads, the story can be depressing at times. O'Brien did a good job of keeping Gaia hopeful through countless hopeless situations. I enjoyed as a whole Birthmarked. A few things kept this novel from reaching a five star rating, at least through my eyes. I think the overall plot could have been a little fuller. There was a lot of action, which was enjoyable, but once something was discovered, I felt the characters were onto the next task at hand, instead of exploring the present situation fully. Also, I felt like ending was a bit anticlimactic. I would have liked to see the story go a bit future before its conclusion. However, these are minor issues and did not subtract from the story. Readers who enjoyed Margaret Atwood's The Handmaids Tale and Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games will be sure to enjoy Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien. For more info, check out the author's website.

Favorite Quote:
"'Once I'm gone, be careful who you trust. Use your wits, Gaia,' the woman said. 'Remember we're all vulnerable. Especially if we love someone.'" (p. 13)

Cover Art Commentary:
The best feature of this cover, are the colors. I like the somber blue and gray background with a hint of color. It resembles a chance for hope against all odds.

Overall Rating:

Monday, January 3, 2011

It's that time of year again...

My birthday! :) On a somewhat unrelated note, those cupcakes look delicious, even though they aren't real! :P


Sunday, January 2, 2011

Book Bundle

Hexbound by Chloe Neill

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Turns out, even a little magic can turn you to the dark side. That’s why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big, werewolf-y secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago’s nastiest nightlife—including the tainted magic users known as Reapers.

Then Lily’s invited to a private meeting with Sebastian. He’s hot, powerful, and offering to help her harness the magic flowing in her veins in a way no one else can. He’s also a Reaper. Lily can’t hide her suspicions. But she’ll soon find out that the line between good and evil isn’t always clear…
-goodreads.com

Matched by Ally Condie
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow. -goodreads.com
Shadowspell by Jenna Black

On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind? -goodreads.com
Choker by Elizabeth Woods
Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team, but they're not really her friends. Mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her, and avoiding the popular girls who call her "Choker" after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria. Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she has her BFF there to confide in. But just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect—including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger? -Simon and Shuster

Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson

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

The only one who escaped . . . And the one who could destroy them all.
Incarceron, the living prison, has lost one of its inmates to the outside world: Finn’s escaped, only to find that Outside is not at all what he expected. Used to the technologically advanced, if violently harsh, conditions of the prison, Finn is now forced to obey the rules of Protocol, which require all people to live without technology. To Finn, Outside is just a prison of another kind, especially when Claudia, the daughter of the prison’s warden, declares Finn the lost heir to the throne. When another claimant emerges, both Finn’s and Claudia’s very lives hang on Finn convincing the Court of something that even he doesn’t fully believe.
Meanwhile, Finn’s oathbrother Keiro and his friend Attia are still trapped inside Incarceron. They are searching for a magical glove, which legend says Sapphique used to escape. To find it, they must battle the prison itself, because Incarceron wants the glove too. -goodreads.com


Source: All of these were bought at my local indie bookstore.

Most Anticipated: Sapphique by Catherine Fisher. Though, I'll admit I'm a bit nervous. I've read mixed reviews of this. However, Incarcerion was so good, I just can't help myself! :P



Saturday, January 1, 2011

Year In Review 2010

Books Read in 2010:
Windfall by Rachel Caine 5/5
Firestorm by Rachel Caine 5/5
Thin Air by Rachel Caine 5/5
Gale Force Rachel Caine 5/5
Cape Storm Rachel Caine 5/5
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson 5/5
Firespell by Chloe Neill 4/5
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 5/5
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper 5/5
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper 5/5
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper 5/5
The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth 5/5
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher 5/5
Fallen by Lauren Kate 5/5
My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent 4/5
The Mark by Jenn Nadol 4/5
Original Sin by Allison Brennan 5/5
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab 5/5
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa 5/5
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane 3/5
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson 4/5
Shadowglass by Erica Hayes 3/5
Soulless by Gail Carriger 5/5
Changeless by Gail Carriger 5/5
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan 4/5
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier 4/5
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins 5/5
Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles 4/5
Succubi Like It Hot by Jill Myles 4/5
For Keeps by Natasha Friend 5/5
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott 5/5
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 5/5
Graceling by Kristin Cashore 5/5
Fire by Kristin Cashore 5/5
Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine 3/5
The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia 3/5
White Cat (The Curse Workers #1) by Holly Black 5/5
Dead in the Family (Southern Vampire Mysteries #10) by Charlaine Harris 3/5
Morpheus Road: The Light by D. J. MacHale 4/5
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher 5/5
Beastly by Alex Flinn 4/5
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kawaga 5/5
The Line by Teri Hall 5/5
Peeps by Scott Westerfeld 4/5
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins 4/5
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway 5/5
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting 5/5
Blameless by Gail Carriger 5/5
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler 5/5
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White 5/5
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 5/5
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson 5/5
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff4/5
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway 4/5
Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon 5/5
Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 5/5
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade 4/5
Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala 5/5
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer 5/5
Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram 4/5

Total number of books Read: 60

Books read from TBR list: 13Windfall by Rachel Caine
Firestorm by Rachel Caine
Thin Air by Rachel Caine
Gale Force Rachel Caine
Cape Storm Rachel Caine
Firespell by Chloe Neill
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper
Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Series Completed:
The Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs series by Molly Harper
The Graceling series by Kristin Cashore
The Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine
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