Book News & Bibliophilic Fun (1)

This is a new thing I am starting the blog that will feature new book news and fun book stuff like cover releases and contests.

Cover Releases


The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater


Silence (Hush, Hush, #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick


Virtue by Amanda Hocking


Sacrifice by Laura J Burns & Melinda Metz


If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5) by Rachel Vincent


Soul Thief (Demon Trapper's Daughter, #2) by Jana Oliver


Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala

Giveaways





One Year Blogoversary Giveaway @ The Bookish Snob (HERE) (5/31)


Win Stupid Fast @YA Addict (HERE) (5/30)


Win My Life Undecided ARC @ Princess Bookie (HERE) (5/30)

Other Stuff


Free Pretty Buttons @ Parajunkee's View


Once Upon A Read-A-Thon (HERE)


Dark Days of Supernatural app (HERE)


SYNC YA Literature in Your Earphones event HERE

Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany

Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: February 2011
Pages: 304

Summary From Goodreads:
Nothing's simple when you run with werewolves. Jess Gillmansen thinks she's seen it all but her eyes are about to be opened to even more danger and a reality far more paranormal than she's suspected. With Jess' realization that the Rusakovas' mother is still alive and imprisoned, the group's choices become harder and trust more important. Lines are drawn and relationships change as the broken Rusakova family struggles to reunite to free their mother - and those who Jess thought to be normal people show themselves to be much, much more..


Plot: Pietr, Jess, and the gang are back again in this action-filled sequel to one of my favorite books of all time. Everything is so much more complicated with everyone. The Rusakovas are trying to cooperate with the CIA and free their mother and tensions are getting high. Jessica's plan of letting Sarah have Peter is continually backfiring on her, especially since Pietr has been awfully withdrawn in the last few months. Dealing with a dangerous new beau and a friend's secrets, Jessica's world comes crash down around her.

Characters: I just don't know what to say about this book. It almost became one of those books that I didn't write a review about because it made me speechless. There is just so much more in this segment that made it just.....Wonderful. Jess is the same girl, but with way more problems. Pietr is avoiding her and less avoiding Sarah's kisses. The Mafia, the CIA, and even her family is hiding things from her, important things and Jess feels as if she is drowning. I love Jess and the way that she handles things and Pietr. She just has a way about her that screams, relentless heroine. She has plenty of problems in this book, and I never hear a bit of panic in her voice. she deals with things efficiently and swiftly and still carries herself strongly even when her heart is breaking. Have I mentioned how much I love her?
Another person that I love is Pietr. Although I spent a lot of time while reading questioning what had eaten his brain. He is just so......frustrating! Ignoring Jess and hurting her like that was just wrong. I hated him for a very good portion of the book, but knew inside that Pietr was doing what he thought was best. Hasn't he ever seen Twilight? Ugh, boys.

Overview: My review is sooooo inadequate to describe the beauty of this book. I loved the parts where Jess let out her inner Twi-hard and talked about Twilight. I giggled at those parts. Another person that I found myself liking more was Max. At first I thought that him and Jess were going to be something, but then I realized they were just becoming closer. Not as lovers, but as siblings. I adored their sweet interactions. I also liked the welcoming that Tatiana, the Rusakova's Mother, gave Jess. It made me tear up. There were just so many elements that made this book......the best. *insert wistful sigh here* Also just a hint, the ending...almost made me get my pitchfork. Low blow, Shannon, low blow. -_-

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through the World of Books.

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Jealousy (Strange Angels, #3) by Lili St. Crow

Jealousy  (Strange Angels, #3) by Lili St. Crow
Format: Paperback
Pages: 316
Publisher: Razorbill

It's a good thing Dru Anderson is fast. Because the sucker chasing her isn't slowing down—and he won't rest until he has tasted her blood and silenced her heart . . . Dru's best friend, Graves, and her strange and handsome savior, Christophe, are ready to help her take on the ultimate evil. But will their battle for Dru's heart get in the way of her survival?


Why I Read This: I read this because Lili had me hooked from the first book. It has become one of my favorite series and I would have been crazy to miss this one.

Plot: Dru is at the new schola and feels alone even surrounded by dhampir boys and Graves. She worries about Christophe and when and if he's coming back. She has her own personal guard and is getting the training she needs and everything is finally going fine.....or is it? With the Red Queen clawing at her back, will Dru ever settle in one place?

Characters: Dru is as kickbutt and independent as ever in this book. She faces so many trials and never lets them see her sweat. She deal brilliantly with being a Sevocha and teenage girl, juggling with two boys. Her and Graves relationship grows, but when something happens to Graves and Christophe pops back up, Dru is more confused than ever. I love how each book, especially this one, Dru matures and learns new things showing us how normal, but unique, she can be! I can relate to Dru's way of being surprised when new info is unveiled. You think you know everything about something or someone, then the rug is yanked out from under you and you are lost again. Dru, though, takes everything in stride and inspires me at every turn!

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What are you Reading is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through the World of Books.

Finished

Currently Reading

Next In Line

What Are You Reading?

If I Have A Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince by Melissa Kantor

If I Have A Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince by Melissa Kantor

Format: Paperback
Pages: 283
Publisher: Hyperion Paperbacks

Summary From Goodreads:
Wicked stepmother? Check. Evil stepsisters? Check. Miserable life? Check.

Lucy Norton’s life has all the makings of a Cinderella story. Her dad’s always away on business, leaving Lucy with her cruel stepmother and bratty stepsisters. She’s burdened with chores, and has a hard time fitting in at her new school. So when she sees Connor Pearson, the star player on the varsity basketball team, Lucy hopes her destiny has finally changed. With everything else going on in her life, doesn’t she at least deserve to get the handsome prince?

Melissa Kantor’s enchanting novel proves that sometimes the happy ending isn’t quite the one you’d expect. Lucy’s about to discover the truth about finding her real Prince Charming… and finding herself.


Why I Read This: The title was interesting and asked a reasonable question.

Plot: Lucy Norton plays Cinderella in this heartbreaking and love finding book. Lucy has just recently acquired a stepmother and two step-sisters who coincedently turn out to be wicked. One day, when footbLl star, Conner Pearson, starts to notice her, Lucy takes a short trip to Happily Ever After Land. Enjoying the fame of being the quarterback's girlfriend, Lucy tries to find time for her art and deal with the Wickeds at home. When she begins to feel out of place with Conner, Lucy finds happiness when she finds out that her Prince lies in another.

My Opinion: This book had a lot of parts of action that broke my heart. Her stepmother treated her really badly and had me almost wanting to cry with her. I found it weird that Conner started to pay attention to Lucy in such short notice. From the description on the back of the book, I though Conner, "the Prince" had a deep dark secret that Lucy had to find out, but it turns out the secret had nothing to do with Connor, but everything to do with @@@. I was lead on to believe that Conner would have an epiphany or something and they would continue to be together. In the end, I was happy for the change, but disappointed that @@@ was not featured more.

Waiting On Wednesday: The Beginning Of After

This week's WoW is

The Beginning Of After

By Jennifer Castle

It will be published on September 6th 2011 by HarperTeen.

Summary from Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all, there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel's life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss, a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.

Fans of emotionally true and heartfelt stories, such as Sarah Dessen's THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER and IF I STAY by Gayle Forman, will fall in love with Jennifer Castle’s incandescent debut novel...a heart wrenching, surprisingly witty testament to how drastically life can change in the span of a single moment. (Goodreads)

Why I’m Waiting: I usually try to stay away from the really heavy stories because I get emotional, but this one sounds like the perfect one to ease me into them. I am looking forward to seeing how Laurel and David navigate their feelings and get through the tragedy together.

Teaser Tuesday: Clockwork Angel

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all. (Goodreads)

"Will was utterly silent as they made their way down the corridor, witchlight sconces throwing their shadows against the far walls in spindly patterns."

~Page 336, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own “Teaser Tuesdays” post, or share your “teaser” in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Teaser Tuesday: Immortal Beloved

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past. Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead. Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy. (Goodreads)

“Obviously, if Reyn hadn’t even been born then, he couldn’t be the marauder from my memory. But I would swear that the raider had looked exactly, exactly, like the current Reyn.”

~Page 215, Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own “Teaser Tuesdays” post, or share your “teaser” in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!