Waiting on Wednesday

The Mark
by Jen Nadol
Release Date: January 19th 2010

Sixteen-year old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she pointed it out taught her she shouldn't do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to keep her secret. How does the mark work? Why her? Most importantly, if you know today is someone's last, should you tell?

Hey, Where are the reviews?

I should have a really good excuse for the lack of reviews on my blog the past few weeks, but I don't. Yes, I have been really busy, but I normally find time to read even when I am busy! I think I am in a little bit of a reading slump. Ever have those?

Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery! And I am thinking about moving "The Hunger Games" up on my reading list, because I think it will be the perfect "recovery" book! I do have a review that I need to post, so I'll be posting that really soon!

In the mean time, be sure to join my current contest!

Also, I am a little sad that I haven't received "Candor" yet... I guess I was under the impression that when you pre-order from Amazon.com that you will receive your item on the release date (or at least close to the release date)... but apparently that doesn't apply to every item. In this case, "Candor" wasn't even shipped until 3 days AFTER the release date, so I haven't received it yet... *sad face* I'll have to be sure to pay more attention to that in the future!

Waiting on Wednesday

Hearts at Stake: House of Drake
by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry, Alyxandra Harvey
Release Date: December 22nd 2009

The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.

I never get tired of Vampire stories.

Contest: Blue Plate Special

I had so much fun with the last contest that I couldn't wait to have another one! This time I am hosting a give away of a new young adult novel by Michelle D. Kwasney called "Blue Plate Special"

Blue Plate Special
By Michelle D. Kwasney

Three young women, Madeline, Desiree, and Ariel—who narrate alternating chapters—may live in separate decades, but they struggle with issues that transcend time and place. Madeline is worn down by caring for her alcoholic mother and has been teased since childhood for being overweight. Angry, foul-mouthed Desiree will do anything to avoid her neglectful mother and the unwanted advances of her mother’s boyfriend. And sensitive Ariel struggles with the pressures of taking AP classes and coping with a domineering boyfriend. As the girls’ individual stories progress, the truth unfolds that they are actually three generations of one family. And when the tales ultimately intersect, present-day Ariel’s breakthrough is also a triumph for her mother and grandmother. Beautifully written and impossible to put down, BLUE PLATE SPECIAL offers a fresh look at familiar topics, while also imparting a powerful message about self-respect, empathy, and forgiveness. A perfect choice for mother-daughter book clubs!

Click HERE for more information about "Blue Plate Special"

Contest is open to US Residents only, and will end on October 6th.
It's simple to enter! You must comment with your email address.

Ways to earn extra entries
+2 For being a Follower (old and new)
+1 Follow me on Twitter
+1 Link to this contest (The sidebar on your blog will work)

Candor and Gift Card Winner!!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered my first contest! Between all of the entries, and bonus entries, there were over 500 to tally up!!! WOW! You guys are awesome! I had a lot of fun with this contest, and I plan on having another one really soon!!!

And now... the one lucky winner of "Candor" by Pam Bachorz and a $15 Amazon Gift Card is........

#438 Anna Moore

Congratulations! I have sent an email your way...

(Note: I used random.org to pick the winner)

In My Mailbox #8

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at the Story Siren!

I call myself a huge fan of Maureen Johnson... but truth is, I have yet to read all of her books! I hear people talking about how "Girl at Sea" was their favorite out of all of Maureen's books, so I've decided I should get it next!!

I probably wont have many more "In My Mailbox" posts for awhile. I need to catch up on the books that I already have, and since the Christmas shopping season is quickly approaching, I will be pretty busy. It's the only time of the year that I actually work hard. Hopefully I will still be getting books over the next few months, but it will probably only be a few. However, right after Christmas I will probably go crazy buying new books! My wishlist has over 300 books! I wish that I could get them all!

Girl at Sea
By Maureen Johnson

Sometimes you have to get lost.

The Girl: Clio, seventeen, wants to spend the summer smooching her art-store crush, not stuck on a boat in the Mediterranean. At least she'll get a killer tan.

The Mission: Survive her father's annoying antics. Oh, also find some underwater treasure that could be the missing link to a long-lost civilization.

The Crew: Dad's absentminded best friend Martin, his scary girlfriend Julia, her voluptuous daughter Elsa . . . and then there's Aidan, Julia's incredibly attractive, incredibly arrogant research assistant.

What's going on behind Aidan's intellectual, intensely green eyes, anyway?

As Clio sails into uncharted territory she unveils secrets that have the power to change history. But her most surprising discovery is that there's something deeper and more mysterious than the sea—her own heart.

50!!!

When I started 2009, I made a goal to read 50 books this year. It's the middle of September and I've just finished my 52nd book! Surprisingly I thought 50 books would be a huge challenge, and figured when December rolled around, I would be struggling to make it to 50. But I finished way earlier than expected!

Next year I am going to set my goal to 100 books! So exciting! Since I usually read a few books a week, it should be no problem reaching 100.

Not to mention, when January rolls around I usually read about 25 books just in that month. January is my best reading month!

New Bookcase!!!

Do you remember a while ago, when I complained a little bit about how I couldn't find a decent bookcase, for a decent price, that also met my small space needs? But then CSN Office Furniture came to the rescue and introduced me to their site, and offered me a lovely bookcase for review? Yeah... that just might have been the highlight of my summer!

I remember being amazed by their HUGE selection! They literally have something for everyone, and actually have several things that would help with my small space/too many books issue, including several options for hanging book shelves, which I know I will be buying some of those soon, since I am now officially out of floor space! My other bookcase sits in my closet... MY CLOSET! What a horrible place for a bookcase!

Oh, did I mention FREE SHIPPING?

So I am happy to introduce my NEW bookcase... it took up my last bit of of floor space, but at least it's not in my closet!

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A view of one side of my room, showing my new bookcase! Pretty much all my floor/wall space is taken up, except that tiny little spot between my new bookcase and my bed. I do have wall space still available though! I've pretty much filled the new bookcase up already! I had books stacked on the floor that I forgot I even had! I've already packed about 100 books onto this bookcase. I have an almost empty shelf down towards the bottom, but I am sure I will fill it up really soon. (Note, if you notice the back is different on the bottom than it is on the top, it's because my dad accidentally put it on backwards, it isn't supposed to look like that. I didn't think it was neccisary to have my dad take it apart and flip it over. After all, once I pile books on it, you won't even be able to see the back!) That's my Kitty, Aphrodite, in the picture. She had a summer hair cut not to long ago. That's why she looks like a lion :P

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My First Shelf is my "Books To Read" shelf. I somewhat have them in order according to when I plan on reading them. The book laying on top is what I was reading when I took this picture. That's usually where I have my "currently reading" book. I have My little Tulsa snow globe in front of the PC Cast books, since that's where the books are based. I can't wait to read these... mostly because I used to live in Tulsa :P

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My Second Shelf: These are all books that I have read this year. The shelves are high enough that when I get more books I can stack them pretty high.

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My Third Shelf: My Harry Potter vs. Twilight shelf. (Plus a Maximum Ride book, but I've moved it. My friend borrowed the rest of my Max books, so I had to move it somewhere where they will all fit... I need to house all of my series books together, in order) Actually, it's more like my JK Rowling vs. Stephenie Meyer shelf, since I have the Host there too. One of them needs to release another book soon, so that I can put it where the Max ride book is.

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My almost empty shelf: Which Aphrodite currently likes so lounge on. I'll rotate books from my "to read shelf" down to this one as I finish reading them.

My bottom shelf: Daughters of the Moon, and Gossip Girls. I read the entire Daughters of the Moon series in January. But I haven't read all of the Gossip Girls yet.

Also, after I took this picture, I put bookends on the very top of the bookcase, and now have another row of books on the top :)

All in all, a wonderful bookcase for a cheap price! I had a great shopping experience through CSN Office Furniture, and I know I'll shop with them again soon!

I wanted to try and put it together myself, so that I can give an accurate review on the proccess of putting it together... but I woke up one morning to see that my dad went ahead and put it together for me. But I'm positive that it's something that I could have probably managed to put together :)

I am extremely happy with this bookcase!

Waiting on Wednesday

Forgive My Fins
by Tera Lynn Childs

Release Date: May 2010

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

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I love mermaids, so I am really excited about this!!!

In My Mailbox #8

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi over at the Story Siren!

I haven't read "Hunger Games" yet, but if it's as good as everyone says it is, I know I will need "Catching Fire" at the ready! Luckily it just came out on Sept 1st! I think I am going to start this series right after I finish up the "Uglies" series!

Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2)
by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Contest Alert Friday!

I found some more wonderful contests going on in the YA blogosphere! They can all be found in my sidebar... be sure to check them all out!

Here is a list of what I just added:

• 3-2-1 contest (3 winners! Ends Sept. 13th)

• Win "Snap" (Ends Sept. 10th)

• Win 3 books, winners choice... Vampires, Werewolves and Fairies! Oh my! (Ends Sept. 13th)

• Win "As You Wish" and signed bookplate (Ends Sept. 14th)

• Win your choice of ANY book to pre-order (Ends Sept. 14th)

• Win "Rampant" (Ends Sept. 14th)

• Win "Jessica's Guide to Dating the Darkside" (Ends Sept. 16th)

• Win 10 books and a $10 B&N Gift Card! (Ends Sept. 18th)

Review: "Pretties" by Scott Westerfeld

Pretties (Uglies, #2)
by Scott Westerfeld
Published: November 1st 2005
370 pages
I give it:

Description: Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong.
Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that somethings wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.
Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

My Thoughts: Westerfeld has done it again! I really really enjoyed "Pretties", probably even more than I enjoyed the first one.

Now that Tally is "pretty", she has pretty much forgotten her ugly past, and the promise she made to the new smokies. But her new pretty world is turned upside down when some "ugly" party crashers come to remind her of her promise to them.

There is a new guy who has captured Tally's heart. His name is Zane, and he is probably the most unique pretty in the city, as he has somehow managed to hold onto a little bit of his old self, even if he doesn't quite remember who he was when he was ugly. He and Tally embark on an adventure together, to be able to gain control of their minds, be independent thinkers, and escape the city together.

I wish we would have seen a little bit more of the smokies, especially more of David in this second novel. Hopefully they will have a bigger appearance in the third novel "Specials". However, we do meet an entirely different group of people out in the wild, that throws a wrench into the plot, and I hope we get to know them a little bit better in the next novel, and thanks to Westerfeld's cliffhanger endings, I am dying to read more!

It's complicated, but for some reason I want to live the life of a pretty. I guess I can relate with Peris the most in this book. I'd love to play tricks, and go on a little bit of an adventure, but personally, I think I'd be content with living in a city where all I had to worry about was what fun thing, or what party I was going to go to next, while the lesions on my brain force me to be "pretty-minded" all the time. It is, however, a world that has achieved world peace and is disease free! How bad can THAT be?

But then on the other hand, I guess your freedom and sense of self is completely gone. While you do get to make your own choices, they seem to be pretty limited, and you aren't ever allowed to leave the city.

I wonder if I am the only one who thinks this way after reading these books?