Top Ten Tuesday

A meme by the Broke and the Bookish    

Top Ten Books I Think Would Make Great Book Club Picks

1) Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants- This would be great for an all girls book club but guys can read it too if they want. I won't discriminate. I think there is tons you can talk about in this series. Also you have the whole series to read, so it can last awhile. 

2)Sea by Heidi R. Kling - This book was emotional and touching. That seems like a requirement for a book club, in my opinion anyway. In all seriousness this was a fantastic book and I think all ages can enjoy this one and the message behind it. 

3) Harry Potter - I'm on book two right now! I would love to be in a book club right now to discuss this. There are so many things to talk about. No wonder there is conventions all out Harry Potter.

4)To Kill A Mockingbird- This is a timeless book. I fell in love with it last year. This is a book everyone should read and going that in a book club would be a great idea!

5)Divergent - I couldn't stop talking about this book when I finished it. There was so much going on and so much to discuss. I think I should start a book club, and use Divergent.

6)Little Women- This is a book that all ages can read and enjoy. Mom's and daughters. I read this one when I was 10 and enjoyed it! Maybe I didn't understand it all but I did love it. There's a ton to discuss in this novel too. 

Used the movie for the cover because this is my favorite movie EVER. 

7) Pride and Prejudice - or any Jane Austen novel for a girl book club. Mostly just because I love Jane Austen and could read Pride and Prejudice a MILLION times. 

Only 7 today. This was a hard list to come up with. 

What is you list? Leave it below!

Review: Tempest

Tempest 
By Julie Cross
Source: Publisher for Review


Summary: The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Review: Time travel, adventure, romance, and action, Tempest had everything you could want in a book. That was the best part about this novel. It can appeal to everyone. Whether you are looking for a romantic book, a science fiction one, or an action- mystery, you can find elements of it all in Tempest. Another great thing, it appeals to both guys and girls. The narrator, Jackson, is a guy and while girls are usually fine reading from either gender, it seems like guys are usually more picky. So no matter what you are looking for to read, there's a good chance you will be able to find it in Tempest. 


Each character had there own personality and made the story more intresting to read. When you are able to connect with the characters it always makes a great book even better. My favorite, other then Jackson, has to be Holly. First we meet the 2009 Holly who is in collage, then after Jackson finds himself stuck in 2007 you see how Holly was in 007.  You can see how she's changed, in 2007 she's a teenager in high school a big difference from the one in collage. Then there was Adam who is a super smart geek, and I LOVED him. How he would ramble nonsense about time travel trying to figure out the science. The characters are what made Tempest such a great read. 


There was a few times throughout the novel that I was a bit confused. Mostly because I forgot to look at the beginning of the chapter to see what year Jackson was in. There were other times were I got confused with what other characters knew and how the time travel worked. Most of the time I would keep reading and catch on, so that wasn't such a big problem. 


When I first started reading Tempest, I didn't know it was going to be a series. I thought it was going to be a stand alone book. I'm very glad I was wrong. Tempest sets up this world of time travel that I just can't get enough of and can't wait to read more! 


--Danielle

In My Mailbox (67)

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I know this is a little late today but the only book I got this week, I got today.  This morning I finished the first Harry Potter novel and I'm borrowing them from my cousin, and since I had to go out anyway I picked up from her...

Yay! I'm excited! Loved the first one, I'll have a kind-of review/thoughts post on it sometime this week. 

What did you get in your mailbox?

Oh and make sure you check out my post below. It has information about my plans for February and I'm still looking for another guest post or two, to balance out the interviews. 

Also, make sure you check out the giveaway for the signed copy of For Always! (Here) 

Finals Are Over and Plans for February (A Week of Awesomeness)

Well I just threw my away but that sounds like so much more fun. I should try that...

Anyway, my finals week is over. I survived (hopefully) and I should be back to blogging daily (or almost daily) again! My classes for next semester hopefully won't take up to much of my time. They are suppose to be the easier classes but we'll see. 

Now I also wanted to let you know what I have planned for February! I'm going to let you in on a little secret, February is my favorite month. Why?  Well it has Valentines Day, My Birthday (the 16th), Presidents Day (aka: a day off of school) and usually snow (crossing my fingers). When makes this February even better is, I (hopefully) get my drivers license! you know, if I don't fail.   

Anyway, I thought I should do something fun for February so I planned a week of awesomeness. 

I sent out the emails in the beginning of January and almost everyone has said yes! So far the list includes:

Authors:

Danielle Sibarium (For Always) 

Keria Cass (The Selection) 

Cate Tiernan (The Immortal Beloved Series, The Sweep Series) 

Melissa Jensen (The Fine Art of Truth or Dare)

Bloggers: 

Harmony from Harmony's Radiant Reads 

Alissa from The Grammarians Reviews 

Katie from Katie's Book Blog

Also, if anyone is interested in doing a guest post. I could actually use one or two more of those. Just sendd me a DM on twitter (@withabook) or email me at withabook@gmail.com

Here's a button if you want to spread the word: 

</p><p class="separator" style="clear: both; "><center><a href=" http://withabook.blogspot.com/"><img src=" http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/withabook/weekofawesomeperfectsize.jpg" /></a></center></p><p class="separator" style="clear: both; ">

ALSO

In more news, I have finally started using my tumblr. so you should start following me. http://danieriley.tumblr.com/

Danielle

Finals = bad blogging

I'm sure you noticed I've bee slacking on the post everyday thing I had going on. I just wanted to let you know that is because I have finals this week. Teachers like to assign a ton of work right before the semester ends. It's no fun.

Hopefully I'll be back in full swing on Friday, with posting everyday. Next semester class should be much easier and a ton less work. (hopefully) But in the meantime I'm sorry for not blogging.

I know what you thinking, I should have scheduled posts but I don't like doing that. I prefer writing them up as I go and most of the time the posts I schedule don't post anyway. (blogger does hate me, I swear!)

Anyway, until Friday....

Danielle

In My Mailbox (66)

IMM is hosted and created by The Story Siren.  


Okay I got some AMAZING books this week. I would do a vlog but I feel horrible. So this week all you get are pictures, but they are pictures of some incredible books that I can't wait to start!

love love love love love loved Across the Universe, can't wait to see what will happen next!

Cate Tiernan is one of my favorite authors and this is the sequel to Immortal Beloved. Can't wait to start this one. :)

13 Little Blue Envelopes, Girl At Sea and every other Maureen Johnson book has been incredible. This one should be no exception.

What did you get in your mailbox? 

Review: Shatter Me

Shatter Me
By Taherah Mafi
Source: Bought

Summary:
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. 

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. 

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

Review: Flawless.  Exceptional. Perfect. Brilliant. Outstanding. Wonderful. Breathtaking. Amazing. Incomparable. If I keep going I’m going to run out of adjectives but this just shows how much I am in love with Shatter Me. This is the first book I read in 2012, and I have no doubt it will be one of the best. (though it came out in fall of 2011). I just can’t see much else topping Tahereh Mafi’s debut, other then her sequel for Shatter Me (hopefully).

First the writing is fantastic, new and different. I’ve never read any story told quiet like this one. The author uses crossed out words to express the thoughts of the main character. I loved how they showed what Juliette actually means opposed to what she actually says.

“Please don’t let go of me put me down.”

I have to admit, in the beginning I did find this a bit confusing and annoying however once I got use to it and the story sucked me in, I started to love it. It gave Shatter Me a unique feel and lets you into Juliette’s head.

Another part of Taherah Mafi’s writing that I adored was the fact she could put so much detail in quick short sentences. It was poetic. While I’m not a huge fan of poetry I did enjoy this in Shatter Me.

“Why can he touch me?

Why would he help me?

Does he remember me?

My skin is still steaming.”

and

“It takes 5 years to walk to the elevator. 15 more to ride it up. I’m a million years old by the time I walk into my room.”

Lines like these and so much more can be found in the pages of Shatter Me. The writing haunts you, the plot attacks you. Once you start this novel you won’t think about anything else.

Now, it wasn’t just the writing and plot that I loved in Shatter Me. I also loved its complicated villain in Warner. While you just can’t help but hate him, there are also lines and actions that make you feel sorry for him. Sometimes you just can’t help but think, ‘maybe he’s not that evil’. Complicated villains like that make the best stories. Another character I couldn’t help but love was Juliette. At times she was a damsel in distress and other’s she was able to hold up her own. Characters that are always perfect are and fallow the book are not fun to read about.

If I have yet to persuade you to read Shatter Me, just go do it. This is one book that you do not want to go pass up. 

--Danielle

P.S. This might look like one of my longest reviews ever, but in reality its actually not that long...

Waiting On Wednesday

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine < Check it out  

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time." 

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen year old Samantha wishes she was one of them… until the day Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. 

Jase can sense that his beautiful neighbor is missing something in her sterile home, and as the two fall fiercely in love, his family makes her one of their own. 

But when the bottom drops out of Sam's world, which perfect family will save her–and will her perfect love survive? 

Set among the haves and have-nots of a coastal New England town, My LIFE NEXT DOOR captures the angst, the heartache, and the raw-nerve emotions of first time love—and biting loss.

Release Date: June 14th 

I'm a sucker for cute romance novels like this one. I already see myself purchasing this one the day it comes out. The summary sounds fantastic, and even with the Kissing on the cover I actually like this one! (Which is really surprising, I usually hate covers with people making out on them)

Goals for the rest of the week: 

Shatter Me review tomorrow 

Tempest review on Friday (I had a few tests to study for and haven't finished this one yet)

Top Ten Tuesday:Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read YA

A meme by the Broke and the Bookish   


Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read YA

I thought this one would be pretty easy since I actually do this most of the time. I lend YA books to my grandma all the time and she likes most of them, and don't usually read YA. Yeet I just couldn't think of much today. My brain is acing like mush. 

1) City of Bones - The writing in this series is just fantastic and I bet anyone will be able to appreciate it. Also the story is just so different that it captures you from the start. 

2) Uglies by Scott Westerfield - This is a novel that I also think any one could enjoy because of its writing a different plot. This is a series I was addicted to for the longest time. I've also lend it to many people who don't usually read YA. 

3) The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle - I actually have not read this one yet, however I feel the need to recommend it because my mom actually picked this one up and enjoyed it. This is weird because she hates every YA book I've asked her to read. So this must have some special quality that everyone can enjoy. 

4) The Frog Princess  by E.D. Baker - This series is a light heart-ed fairy tale. Yet everyone that I've given this to read has fallen in love with it. (Besides my mom, but you can please everyone)

5) Divergent by Veronica Roth -  Obviously you have to know this is my favorite book of all time now. I still can't get it out of my head. The expertly crafted story, the action, mystery and romance. This book has it all and everyone should read it. Whether YA is your usual thing or not. 

6) Any Sarah Dessen Novel - Now these are typical YA romance novels yet they have more in them. You have to like romance novels to enjoy these but if you're a fan of Emily Griffen or Sophie Kinsella these are book for you. 

7)Daughter of Smoke and Bone - This novel doesn't really focas on the teenager aspect. Actually there's no parent issues or anything like that. That's why I believe this is a book for everyone (who likes fantasy anyway). 

8) Shatter Me - This novel was so poetic and has dystopian and paranormal in it. You get the best of both words. Also it is another book that isn't a typical Teenager novel with parent, relationship and friend issues. Everyone should read Shatter Me. 

That's it for my list today but leave some recommendations below, I'd love to see some more!

--Danielle

In My Mailbox (65)

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For Review:
Tempest by Julie Cross 


Bought:
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins


Library: 
The Nine Lives of Chloe King: The Chosen 
Love and Other Things I'm Bad At by Catherine Clark




What did you get this week? 
Oh, and while you are here, you should check out my giveaway for a signed copy of For Always here!

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Lola and the boy Next Door

By: Stephanie Perkins 

Summary: Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood. 

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Reviews: It is official, Stephanie Perkins is one of my favorite authors. I just can't get enough of her stories. First, we had Anna and the French Kiss which was this fantastic contemporary romance novel. Now there is the companion novel Lola and the Boy Next Door. At first I had some doubts that it would not be as perfect as Anna was, well I should not have even spent a second wondering that. Lola and the Boy Next Door was even BETTER then Stephanie's first novel.

You don't have to read Anna and the French Kiss to understand Lola but I really recommend it. Seeing Anna and St. Clair again had to be one of my favorite parts of this novel. They were just so cute and happy. Yet the story is about Lola and Cricket who have to be the cutest next door couples ever. I loved how everyone in the novel had there own special talent. Lola could design anything, Cricket could invent anything. Even the secondary characters had talents, one of Lola's fathers could bake some incredible sounding pies, Cricket's sister was a Olympic bound figure skater, and even Lola's boyfriend had a band.

Now Lola as a character was head strong and didn't care what anyone else thought of her. I wish I had the guts to wear whatever I want without thinking what someone else might think. Yet, there was things about her that I just didn't really like. She did some stupid things, and I just shook my head thinking, 'Lola what are you doing?'. Yet there would not be a story with out that, and it was things that typical teenagers would do too. 

Between the romance, characters and story line you just can't go wrong with Lola and the Boy Next Door. If you've read Anna, this should be the next book you pick up. I can't wait to see what Stephanie Perkins does next in her next book Isla and the Happily Ever After.  Hopefully we get some more Anna, St. Clair, Lola and Cricket all in one book! 

**Oh and I have to say, Stephanie Perkins comes up with the best character names ever. St. Clair, Lola, Cricket, and Isla, I wonder what she'll come up with next...

--Danielle

Waiting on Wednesday (City of Lost Souls)

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine < Check it out  

LOOK! It's a pretty pretty pretty cover. I'm in love. Best yet in the series. 

And Jace? *swoon* 

Oh this should just speak for it's self. Do I really need to write anything else? Really? 

Well for those who don't know, this is the 5th book in the Mortal Instruments Series, which I demand all of you read right now. 

I'm not a huge fan of her prequel's to these books, so I hope this one is just as good as the first four. Who knows maybe it will be to drawn out. It is the 5th book to something that was SUPPOSE to be a trilogy. Sometimes it just goes wrong after 3, hopefully this won't happen to Cassandra Clare. 

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book

A meme by the Broke and the Bookish  


1) Jenny Han - This is the author of The Summer I Turned Pretty. I loved this series SO MUCH yet it doesn't seem like she is publishing anything else sometime soon. 


2) Amanda Howells - Her first novel (and last) was The Summer of Skinny Dipping. I have to say this is one of my favorite book EVER. I'm dying for something else by Howells. Supposedly there was suppose to be a sequel but the release date it was suppose to come out on has already passed. Not sure what is going on with that...

3)Anastasia Hopcus - This awesome author wrote Shadow Hills which I devoured. I really hope she writes some more (preferably a sequel to Shadow Hills)

4)Stephenie Meyer- Come on, Stephenie you need to finish Midnight Sun. Just suck it up! Also a sequel to the Host would be really nice. 

5) Harper Lee - author of To Kill A Mocking Bird, which is such an amazing and epic novel AND her only one. I wish she would have written more.

6) Suzanne Collins- author of the Hunger Games. I know has a middle grade series too but I would love to see if she has anything else up her sleeve in the YA department. 

7) Scott Westerfeld - Uglies is another one of my favorite series. I need something new from him! (That's not a Manga) 




............That's all I can think of for new but I guarantee there are many more. 

Giveaway: For Always (Signed!)

*Sigh I don't know why all my Monday posts say Sunday on them. I SWEAR I've been posting every day. Blogger is just out to destroy my resolutions for this year.*

Hey guys, guess what? This is my first giveaway for 2012! Exciting right?

Well what am I giving away? Just one of my favorite books of 2011..

The author was kind enough to give me a SIGNED copy to giveaway to you, my lovely followers! 

Here's the summary of For Always: You never really get over your first love. Such is the case for fourteen-year-old Stephanie Barrano, self-proclaimed misfit and death magnet. A freshman in high school, Stephanie is befriended by Jordan Brewer, a hot, in-demand senior, who pulls her from the outer circle of obscurity into the realm of acceptance. Jordan quickly works his way into Stephanie’s heart. He’s her everything. And the only person she trusts with the truth about her father’s death. But he won’t act on the strong feelings he has for her. Stephanie vows to wait for him, knowing in time she’ll win his heart. 

Two months before her eighteenth birthday, Jordan serves as an impromptu prom date. After sharing a magical evening, Jordan leaves Stephanie with the promise of a future together. Then tragedy strikes. Jordan not only shuts Stephanie out, he also blames her for what happened. Feeling broken and beaten, will she try one last time to get through to Jordan or will she lose him forever?


You can also find my review HERE

Okay, now to the part you are waiting for...How to enter!

• The contest ends on February 14th 
• Fill out this FORM to enter. 

Also, Danielle will be stopping by on my blog that day so make sure you come and check that out too!

Good Luck! 

In My Mailbox (64)

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Bought: 

These classic's are just so pretty! I would love to have them all, so as I see them up. You'll actually never believe where I found this one, in American Eagle! Which is a clothing store for everyone that doesn't know. I've never seen anything but clothes and jewelry in there. 

Borrowed: 

This one is borrowed from my cousin and I've decided to finally read all the Harry Potter books (since I've had a slight obsession with the movies lately). Also I'm in the Harry Potter reading challenge. I'm really excited to finally be reading these novels!

What did you get in your mailbox?

--Danielle

Review: The Lucky One

The Lucky One
By: Nicholas Sparks
Summary: When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the dirt during his third tour of duty in Iraq, his first instinct is to toss it aside. Instead, he brings it back to the base for someone to claim, but when no one does, he finds himself always carrying the photo in his pocket. Soon Thibault experiences a sudden streak of luck—winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat that kills two of his closest buddies. Only his best friend, Victor, seems to have an explanation for his good fortune: the photograph—his lucky charm. 
Back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t seem to get the photo—and the woman in it—out of his mind. Believing that she somehow holds the key to his destiny, he sets out on a journey across the country to find her, never expecting the strong but vulnerable woman he encounters in Hampton, North Carolina—Elizabeth, a divorced mother with a young son—to be the girl he’s been waiting his whole life to meet. Caught off guard by the attraction he feels, Thibault keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate and all-consuming love affair, the secret he is keeping will soon threaten to tear them apart—destroying not only their love, but also their lives.


Review: The second I finished The Lucky One I swore I would never read another Nicholas Sparks novel again. Am I going to go through with this? Probably not. I have a small huge addiction to romance novels like these. Where you cry and want to hit the author in the head with his book (preferably a hard cover) for making you go through that heart ache. While this was not the saddest Sparks book, the ending did get me for a little bit. (If you read the book you know what I mean).

I've only read a few books by Nicholas Sparks and while it was not his best I did enjoy it. Once you get into the story it is hard to stop. You just want to see these character happy and together. However, The Lucky One was very predicable. I knew what was going to happen from the very beginning. The basic love story, guy meets girl and they fall in love with some twists and complications. Yet, can you really ever have to much of that story line? Maybe, but maybe not. I've only been reading them for a few years but I have yet to get sick of them.

One thing The Lucky One did have that I really enjoyed was the antagonist. He was Elizabeth's ex husband and one of the narrators to the story. He was a more complicated person and while at times you hate him so much, (and probably want to hit him over the head with a hard cover book too) you also have the times when you think he isn't so bad and you feel sorry for him. Complicated villains and antagonists like that are my favorite to read about and are always in the best stories and novels.

One of the reason I picked up The Lucky One is because it is coming out in the movies April 20th. This is part of the reason I finally picked this one up. It had been sitting on my shelf and I thought, why not? I had my ups and downs with the novel, I did enjoy it. The story makes you smile, cry and gasp in surprise. Sometimes you just need a novel like this one. IF you are going to see the movie, I suggest reading this one.

Here's the trailer (with Zac Efron *swoon*) :

Review: The Nine Lives of Chloe King 1 & 2

The Nine Lives of Chloe King
Volume One: The Fallen
Volume Two: The Stolen
By: Celia Thomson
Pages: 256
Source: Bought from library book-sale

Summary: Chloe King was a normal sixteen-year-old girl.

She did her homework and got good grades, but she wasn't afraid to ditch class sometimes to hang out with her best friends. She slept at home, but otherwise avoided all human contact with her mom. The usual stuff.

Then she fell from San Francisco's highest tower, and her life changed. For starters, she died. And then, she woke up.

Now Chloe's life is anything but normal: Suddenly guys are prowling around her, she's growing claws, and someone's trying to kill her.

Luckily for Chloe, she still has eight lives to go.

Review: Now I've come to find that readers and bloggers tend to watch a huge amount of ABC Family. Maybe that's just the people I follow on Twitter, but it does seem like a huge amount. Anyway, on ABC Family there was this T.V. show that was called The Nine Lives of Chloe King. I became addicted to the show and while I was shopping I came across this novel. How could I pass it up? 

While I loved the show, the book was only so-so. You never really get a good feel for the characters, you don't get into their heads and learn what makes them tick. I'm very big on having good characters that you get to know and can relate to. With Chloe and her friends I felt like they were lacking there. Another problem I had is with the plot, at first I just couldn't get into it. It took half the book for me to get into the story. 

Now with the problems I did have, by the time I was half way done with the first book, I became addicted. It became impossible to stop reading. It did get very intense and was so different from the T.V. Show. You get to learn much more about the paranormal creature Chloe is, a decedents of cats. This is a nice different thing from the usual Vampires and were wolfs. 

I will be reading the next and final book in the series. (I have it on hold at the library right now) If you are a fan of the T.V. Show I do suggest checking this novel out, it clears up some loose ends. Plus there is much more Alyec. 

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed
by Cynthia Hand
Source: ARC from Harperteen
Release Date: January 17th 2012

Summary: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning. 


Review: If you've been following my reviews for awhile I'm sure you remember the raving I did about Unearthly. When HarperTeen sent me the sequel, I worried at first if it will be able to compare with the debut by Cynthia Hand. Usually sequels don't really do anything for me, however there is no arguing that Hallowed was a great edition to Cynthia Hand's series. Actually, I think it might have been even better then Unearthly. 

First, I have to say that Cynthia Hand's writing is still incredible. There is no denying it. The words just flow together perfectly and you can always picture what she describes. Hand also creates these in dept characters who are more then they seem. I personally love villain's  that are complicated and you can never really understand them. You find that in Hallowed. 

Also, the love triangle in Unearthly. Do you remember that? I do. It just got so much more complicated in Hallowed. Why? Well due to the fact that Cynthia Hand made me fall in love with Christian. Now we have these two perfect guys that you now (after reading Hallowed) see both sides too. They both have there up's and down's. I won't tell you which team I'm on you should read the book and decide for yourself. 

Now I will wait till 2013 till the final book in the series. (Well unless the waiting kills me first). 

Waiting On Wednesday

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine < Check it out 

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Summary: Taylor's family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then Taylor's dad gets devastating news that changes everything. Her parents decide that the family will spend the summer together at their old vacation home in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend. . . and he's much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they’ve ever been before. But all of them are very aware that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.

**This is one that wasn't on my list yesterday. (I made sure of it!).  This is by the author of Amy and Rodger Epic Detour which is one of my favorites. I can't wait to read more by Morgan Matson. 

This comes out on May 8th 2012

***Oh and I PROMISE there will be a review tomorrow. I know it's been awhile. 

Top Ten Books I'm Excited To Read in 2012

A meme by the Broke and the Bookish 

1) Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver - AHHHHHH. I'm dying for this book. Delirium was FANTASTIC and with the biggest cliff hanger ever and I just NEED TO KNOW what happens next. 

2)A Million Suns by Beth Revis - Across the Universe was just so good! It was different and intense. One of the few Sci-Fi books that I have read. After A Millions Sun's I'll be able to add another to that list. 

3)Insurgent by Veronica Roth- This should be self explanatory since it was my favorite book of 2012. I can't think of a better book. I just hope the sequel is just as good. 

4) Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - Don't judge a book by its cover? ummm well about that... This cover is just so pretty it drew me in, but I have to admit the summery sounds just as good to! Can't wait to get this one! 

5) The Selection by Kiera Cass - I've been watching Kiera's youtube video for awhile now and I actually got to meet her a BEA last year. I can't wait to read her book! (And look at that beautiful cover!)

6) For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund - I adored Diana's novel about Unicorn's. I can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeves. 

7) City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare- Number 5 in the Mortal Instruments series and I can't believe that I"ve been following these since number one. This is one of my favorite series, and I can't wait for this one. (Can you really ever have enough Jace? Nope.)

8) The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead - More Adrian? Yes, please! I need more of this series, I'm so glad Mead decided to do a spin-off series because I was not ready to let go yet. 

9) The Fine Art of Truth or Dare - I have a huge soft spot for cute romance novels like this one. Ans the tagline mention's Anna and the French Kiss, one of my favorites. 

10) Out of Sigh, Out of Time by Ally Carter - YAY, more Gallagher Girls! A school for spies, whats better then that? I'm sure everyone at one point has pictures going to a school like this. I love getting to live it through Cammie. 

Challenges for 2012

Guys, I swear I posted this on MONDAY! I have no idea why it says Sunday. *Sigh* blogger, you're making it look like I already lost my post everyday goal. 

Host: www.thereadingfever.blogspot.com 

Why: Like Penelope (the owner of The Reading Fever) I've never read the Harry Potter books. One of my goals for 2012 was to do this so when I saw this challenge how could I resist? 

The challenge:

Read all seven books in the Harry Potter series during 2012.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone  post HERE

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

• The challenge will run from January 1st, 2012, to  December 31st, 2012. Books read before or after this time frame do not count. You can join anytime until the challenge ends.
• Books can be in any format: Print, ebook, audiobook, etc..
• You do not have to review the books to participate, although you are more than welcome to. If you choose not to review, you can also do the following and still be eligible for prizes:
• Answer the discussion questions each month
• Create a post talking about each book after you finish (any topic)
• Just update your kickoff post after each book
• Those without blogs can leave a comment with their thoughts/review/review link.
• Because this is open to those who have already read HP, old reviews will be accepted. Whether you have read the books within the challenge time frame is on the honor system, so please be honest!
• Be sure to leave the relevant links in each linky to be entered into the drawings for prizes (more on that below).

Challenge #2

I'm going to try and read 100 books in 2012. This shouldn't be to hard, I'm just worried about keeping track of it all. Hopefully this forces me to use Goodreads, which I don't use to it's full potential. 

If you look in the left side bar, I put a widget to keep track of the number. 

What are your challenges for 2012? 

--Danielle