Earn Points, Get Books | Random Buzzers

 

I just recently became an Ambuzzador, which is this really cool reviewing program they have going on and I realized that not many people talk about Random Buzzers so I decided tell people about its awesome-ness.

What is Random Buzzers?
Random Buzzers is this wonderful teen book site ran by Random House Publishers. It has tons of stuff going on like featured authors and book sweepstakes, but the best part has got to be the opportunity to do stuff to earn points to order books from the store.

How do I join?
All you have to do to join Random Buzzers is fill out a short form to ensure that you have a wicked username and meet the age requirements.

You mentioned points, how do I earn the so called points?
There's so much you can do to quickly earn points. They have quizzes, polls, and fun surveys for you to answer or you can submit stuff to gallerys. You can even complete easy activities like following them on Twitter to earn massive amounts of points!

  

What others stuff can I do on Random Buzzers?
You'll never be bored with Random Buzzers. You can join and comment on forums, review books, answer the Question of the Day, or even become an Ambuzzador like I did!

Keturah, you make Random Buzzers sound extravagant! I really wanna join, do you have a referral link?
Thanks so much for asking! As a matter of fact I do! Here it is------> INVITE. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin

Summary from Goodreads

     Phoebe finds herself drawn to Mallory, the strange and secretive new kid in school, and the two girls become as close as sisters . . . until Mallory's magnetic older brother, Ryland, shows up during their junior year. Ryland has an immediate, exciting hold on Phoebe, but a dangerous hold, for she begins to question her feelings about her best friend and, worse, about herself. Soon she'll discover the shocking truth about Ryland and Mallory: that these two are visitors from the faerie realm who have come to collect on an age-old debt. Generations ago, the faerie queen promised Phoebe's ancestor five extraordinary sons in exchange for the sacrifice of one ordinary female heir. But in hundreds of years there hasn't been a single ordinary girl in the family, and now the faeries are dying. Could Phoebe be the first ordinary one? Could she save the faeries, or is she special enough to save herself?

EXTRAORDINARY was less than extraordinary to me. Phoebe was a wonderful character in the beginning of the book, but was too easily led astray by Mallory. She was way too much of a pushover and just totally ignorant of the power Mallory and Ryland had over her. Her lack of a backbone made for a very boring plot and made most chapters feel like fillers. Mallory was a very good and easy person to hate. I admit that my feelings for her were kind of conflicted because she did show a bit of compassion. Ryland was not an attraction to me at all in the story. He seemed strange enough that even a Daredevil's senses would've been tingling. He was six years older than her and always treated her like a child. He was way worse than Mallory because it was obvious that it was a game to him in the start. Benjamin was a very good love interest, but I would've liked him better if he had been included from the very beginning of the story. EXTRAORDINARY was not what I expected, but it was certainly not what I wanted.

Night School (Blood Coven Vampires, #5) by Mari Mancusi

Summary from Goodreads

     After their parents' shocking revelation about their fae heritage and an attack on their lives, the McDonald twins are forced to hide out deep in the Swiss Alps at Riverdale Academy, a secret vampire slayer training facility. And with no way to contact their vampire boyfriends for rescue, they're going to have to play nice with the locals.

But when Sunny starts acting strange, Rayne realizes that there's more to fear at Riverdale than getting staked by the student body-leading to a showdown in Fairyland that may cost the twins their lives.

Filled with funny quips and interesting banter, Night School was a cool addition to the Blood Coven family to read. It was short and to the point, but overall an awesome story. Rayne and Sunny have two different personalities and make every chapter humorous and energetic. It certainly is unlike any vampire book or series I've ever read. Rayne is the most unique vampire/vampire slayer/fairy princess ever. I also like that it includes all kinds of fairy tales. It was surprising and brought back a lot of memories. I was a bit crestfallen when I realized that it was a book in a series. I had read the first book, but not any of the others. I was worried I would be lost having missed 3 books. I had no reason to worry because Rayne updated me at the beginning of the book. Usually, I find these decals annoying, but I definitely grateful for them this time! In fact, I think I will go back and read the other books just because I want more of Rayne and Sunny!

Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy #1) by Kristin Cashore

Summary from Goodreads

    Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.

    When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

    With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Sometimes when I read a book over, I find it to be only a flipping through of the best parts, but this time I read the book again. I also found the story to be all the more fascinating. I captured and remembered moments that were to awesome to be flipped through. I also noticed that Katsa reminds me of the lead female in another series that I just recently finished. They have similar names and and even more similar personalities. Katsa and Katniss are alike in the way that they fight to survive, in the the way that they refuse to be controlled and in the way they are totally oblivious to the men that love them. Although similar to Katniss and The Hunger Games, Katsa and Graceling are wonderfully unique in its own way.
    Katsa is an independent, strong girl and she is very hurt to be saddled with her particular talent, or grace. I love the way handles the fact that she is a killer and that she recognizes that she is not in control. She identifies the problem and goes to solve it and doesn't just sit around whining about it. But here is where Po comes in. I think Po had a lot to do with Katsa's remarkable growth in the story. He had a great grace also and has seen more than Katsa. He pushes her to acknowledge that she is always in control and he inspires her to set out the journey to finally finding herself.
    There is one thing that is unique to Graceling and it is the thing I've had the most difficulty understanding. Katsa's refusal to marry. I am one of those girls who dreams of a big white wedding and to me, when Katsa had a man like Po, I don't see why she wouldn't want to marry him. She claims to be at risk of losing herself if she marries him, but I don't think that is what marriage is. In the end, Graceling deals with the situation gracefully, but I still think that Po gets the short end of the stick.

Tantalize (Tantalize #1) by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Summary from Goodreads

CLASSIFIED ADS: RESTAURANTS SANGUINI'S: A VERY RARE RESTAURANT IS HIRING A CHEF DE CUISINE. DINNERS ONLY.

APPLY IN PERSON BETWEEN 2:00 AND 4:00 PM.

     Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her parents are dead, and her hybrid-werewolf first love is threatening to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. Then, as she and her uncle are about to unveil their hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef.

    Can Quincie transform their new hire into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Can he wow the crowd in his fake fangs, cheap cape, and red contact lenses — or is there more to this earnest face than meets the eye? As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms, and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who’s playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything? TANTALIZE marks Cynthia Leitich Smith’s delicious debut as a preeminent author of dark fantasy.

I read the second book in this series without knowing it because, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they have nothing to with each other. With Tantalize, there were things that I liked about it and thing that I didn't. I liked the beginning. I liked Quincie's character as a strong and reliable person. She also smart, but to a point. I gradually started to think dislike her when she blatantly started to ignore certain things. To me, at least one perpetrator was obvious. She drank wine and started to change and hangout with him. There was more suspicious thing going on than flirting. She was just horribly naive. I then thought that she had a good relationship going for her too, even if he was going to have to leave, I mean they'd come up with a solution and they do or I imagine they do with the ending. Overall, Tantalize had a gullible lead character and was vague in romance, but at least it was a decent mystery.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Summary from Goodreads

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,

And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor

Shall be lifted - nevermore!

-- from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

      At once an homage to one of America's greatest writers and a page-turning psychological mystery that is equal parts horror, humor, and romance, NEVERMORE is the story of Varen -- a Poe-fan and Goth -- and Isobel -- a cheerleader and unlikely heroine. When a Lit. project pairs the two together, Isobel finds herself steadily swept into Varen's world, one that he has created in his notebook and in his mind, one where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel slowly learns that dreams can be much more powerful than she'd ever expected, and that pain and despair come in all sorts of shades. As labels of "Goth" and "cheerleader" fade away, she sees more in Varen than a tall, pale outcast, and a consuming romance is braced against the ever-clearer horror that the most terrifying realities are those within our own minds.

     When Isobel has a single chance to rescue Varen from the shadows of his own nightmares, will she be able to save him -- and herself?

Mysterious, scary and heartbreaking, Nevermore has exceed all expectations. Ridiculously researched, this book brings incredible life to Poe's melancholy poems and questionable death. Isobel, a blonde cheerleader defies all stereotypical status quos. She is not at all stuck-up and has her own thoughts. She is not thrilled to be working with Varen at first, but he quickly grows on her. The minute he wrote his phone number on her hand was the moment that connected them forever. Varen hides behind a hard mask and I enjoy seeing him open up to Isobel and them defy the odds.
     The most unexpected and memorable parts of the book were the most gruesome. Bird eating Nocs and phantom men are the least of Varen and Isobel's problems. I was expecting paranormal, but Kelly Creagh's writing is extraordinary. The effort and time put into the book really shows through in the narration. My tip, though? Read all the poems, even when you're tempted to skip through them, because you'll miss some really important parts.

Jane by April Lindner

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 384

Publisher:

Publication Date: October 11, 2010

Summary from Goodreads:

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, an iconic rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer, and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance. But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is tested by a torturous secret from his past.
Part irresistible romance and part darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.

Why I Read This: The summary interested me and I had never read Jane Eyre. I had tried but I couldn't understand the dialogue and get into it. The version, more modern, kept me intrigued until the very last word.

My Review: I loved this Jane. I just couldn't get into the other one and I got bored not understanding the words. I knew of Jane's stoic nature, but hardly of anything else. This book for me really wasn't a remake but an introduction. It was like being at a symphony, seeing the orchestra after only listening to it on your iPod. Jane is her usual stiff self, but I had a better understanding of her. It broke my heart to hear of how her mother treated her and to imagine experiencing that type of obvious favoritism.

There was always a sort of grudge that I held with Jane Eyre and Jane. I did not like the age difference at all. I just can't get connected with that because when I was reading Jane Eyre, I always imagined him as wrinkly and old and the opposite of Nico. I got over the age difference very easily because I got the understanding that it was no different from Edward and Bella. Jane was young in age, but had a maturity that made her relationship real and not a grown man dating a child.

Nico was likable after I understood. He had a strange aloof way about him and was forward with Jane and more or less knew how to be with Jane.

I really don't know how to describe him except that I think it was Jane and their relationship that made him a memorable part of the book. Another thing was Jane's relationship with Maddy. I just loved it and was very glad that they got along. I know how hard or awkward it is when a parent starts to date again and I was worried that they wouldn't get along. I finished this book in one setting and there wasn't a minute that was wasted. April Lindner made me truly enjoy a classic and everything from their meeting to their break-up was enjoyable and maybe, just maybe, inspired me to retry Jane Eyre.

The Strangers Outside by Vanessa Morgan is being turned into a movie!

The Strangers Outside by Vanessa Morgan is being turned into a movie! The images of that film have now also been used for the music video of Alex Corbi’s latest track Avalon. It's also the first time that parts of the film has been shown. Here's the video.....

Avalon By Alex Corbi

Summary: A family returns to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they’re being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, they will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.

Fun Fact: The cat in the movie is Vanessa's. He’s called Avalon and apart from being one of the stars in the film, he has his own online cat cartoon series at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.

For more information about the book and movie go to http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com/.

The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Format: Paperback, 374 pgs

Summary From Goodreads:
Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

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.

                                              

My Thoughts:
     The Hunger Games has been described as obsessive, brilliant, and jarring. in my opinion, it was indescribable. I wasn't too interested in this series at first, *don't hit me*, because I thought that it would be too "actiony." The thing is that it was too "actiony".... and I loved it! Katniss is one the most kick-butt female leads I've ever read about. I knew what she was going to be like when she stepped up for her sister, even then she continued to surprise me. I was not at all disappointed.
     The real reason for my disinterest was that I assumed there would be no romance, which I can't live without, but in walks sweet, muscled, bread-boy Peeta . He is totally in love with Katniss and she is annoyingly unaware of his affections. I haven't read the rest of the trilogy, but I look forward to the day that I do. All the buzz on Twitter has been about Mockingjay. The Hunger Games encompasses the best of love and romance and action and survival.