A small break...

Hi, how is everyones holiday season going so far? I hope well....

Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone one know that I will be taking a short break from doing Memes....I have been busy with work and Xmas shopping, etc that I haven't been on the computer too much. I do have posts planned but not my daily memes that I try to do. As you may have noticed, I missed yesterday and was going to do today but have just about energy right now to type this to you guys.

So I apologize and hope to be back on track after the holidays or possibly even before. Remember, I have already done quite a few posts are scheduled to post all the way thru the end of December, but I just didn't get the memes included.

So check back often and until next time, Have a good "read"...

Reading slump

I was trying to read "Rebel Angels" the other day by Libba Bray, but I just couldn't get into it. I absolutely loved "A great and terrible beauty" so I was excited to start the second book to the series. But....I could almost tell from the very first page that it just wasn't clicking with me this time. The story wasn't flowing, I couldn't stay focused.

So after about 30something pages I just gave up on it. This was one long book (over 500 pages) so I didn't want to waste time getting into such a big book if I wasn't feeling it now. So, I put it aside and hope to be able to read it at a later date. I mean, how could I LOVE the first book and at least not like A LOT the second book, right??

After this happened I was kind of bummed and didn't really want to start a new book. But I made myself and so grabbed a short book this time determined to finish it even if I don't like it, because I hate not finishing books (which is a topic for another day). And guess what?! It worked, because the book I am reading now I actually like.

So what do you do when you get into a reading slump? What do you do to get back into reading?

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

Not into a book?

I just posted how I couldn't get into Libba Brays "Rebel Angels" and so I just set it aside for later reading. I really hate not finishing a book, but like I heard someone else say (Jessica from Beauty equals Hate), there are too many books out there to waste your time on a book that you don't like. I whole-heartily agree with her about that. I have so many to be read books on my bookshelf alone, that I don't have time spending on a book that I don't care for or that I can't get into to. I understand some books have a slow start to them, so I will vary on how many pages I will read before I abandon the book.

So what about the rest of you? What do you do if you are reading a book that just isn't doing it for you? How far do you read before you decide that this just isn't a book for you? Do you set it aside to try again later? completely dismiss it and either sell it or donate it? Or do you make yourself finish it? Regardless of whatever you do I am curious to know WHY you do that?

Until next time, Have a good "read"....

RUINED by Paula Morris

Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(from Goodreads)
Rebecca couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to spend the year while her dad is traveling. She's staying in a creepy old house with her Aunt Claudia, who reads Tarot cards for a living. And at the snooty prep school, a pack of filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda. Then one night, in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to talk to Rebecca, and to show her the nooks and crannies of the city.

There's just one catch.

Lisette is a ghost.

A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle.

As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend -- and as she slowly learns to trust Anton Grey -- she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?


OK, it took me a few tries to continue this book and read it through to the end. It wasn't that it was horrible or anything, but I just couldn't get into it. It seemed to be jumbled, different things going on but not enough explanation on them.

I felt as if I was only getting part of an explanation on something. I understood where the story was moving towards, but I believe that some of the things that were in here didn't have to be because it didn't add anything to the story. It was just there.

As for the character...I felt as if you didn't really get to know the characters. There wasn't enough background on them and what was happening in the present day wasn't enough to get to know them either.

I liked though the history of New Orleans and learning how important family and blood lines are. I also liked the whole ghost story and curse thing, I just wish the story was better executed and was more in depth.


View all my reviews

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies. But now Cassie is dead. Lia's mother is busy saving other people's lives. Her father is away on business. Her step-mother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia's head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way—thin, thinner, thinnest—maybe she'll disappear altogether.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the National Book Award finalist Speak, best-selling author Laurie Halse Anderson explores one girl's chilling descent into the all-consuming vortex of anorexia


Another book about eating disorders and another book that I really enjoyed.

This story was about Lia who is anorexic. It follows her thoughts about what she feels in regards to her life, her family and her ex-best friend Cassie.

Lia's parents are divorced and she is currently living with her father, his new wife and their daughter Emma. Lia's mother is a doctor and is very blunt on the way that she says things and in Lia's eyes is very controlling.

I believe this is part of the reason why Lia became anorexic and this is why she is currently living with her dad and his family. But living with him doesn't begin to solve her problems.

The story opens up with Lia recently coming home from a stay at a hospital for eating disorders and finding out that her ex-best friend, Cassie, has died. She doesn't know the details or even the simple fact of how she died. All she knows is that Cassie called her cell phone the night she died 33 times, and that Lia didn't answer. She didn't answer because she didn't know what Cassie could possibly want after not talking to her for months. Now after finding out that Cassie called her the night she died and that she could of maybe helped her, she feels awful, guilty.

Add this to her eating problems and you have one messed up girl. Lia has all these thoughts/voice in her head that tells her that she is fat and stupid, etc and she listens by not eating and manipulating the people around her to think that she is fine.

The book takes you through the few months of Lias life after Cassie dies. It takes you inside her head and the battle she has within herself as well as the battle she has with her family about her health. Tension builds through the book until the very end when everything explodes.

Lia is a hurt, sad, confused, angry girl. She just wants people to see her, to understand her, to pay attention to her. Her mother works all the time and is controlling and her father is always away and breaks a lot of his promises to her. I felt so bad for her because she just didn't realize that people do see her, that they do care about her. It was almost like she refused to see it or believe it because she only wanted to continue her destructive behavior.

It took a lot of pain and heartache but in the end Lia and her family finally started seeing things.

View all my reviews

Check them out!! (4)

This is a weekly meme where I highlight different book vloggers. I spend a lot of time watching book vlogs on You Tube and there are a lot of awesome people on there that I want to share with everyone. A lot of them you may already know because they also have book blogs, but in case you aren't familiar with them. You should "Check them out!"

Amber from Amazing Book Reviews is another young girl that does really good reviews.



Until next time, Have a good "read"....

Waiting for Wednesday (6)

Waiting for Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. This is a meme where you post an upcoming book that you are eagerly awaiting.

Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

Published: February 15, 2011

(from Goodreads)

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

SNITCH by Allison van Diepen

Snitch by Allison van Diepen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(Goodreads.com)

In a school run by gangs, staying out was harder than joining. We knew who our friends were, and were careful what we said. If people thought we were haters, it would only be a matter of time....

Lines are clearly marked at South Bay High School. It's mixed territory for the Crips and the Bloods, which means the drama never stops.

Julia DiVino wants none of it. No colors, no C-Walks -- it's just not her thing.

But when Eric Valienté jumps into her life, everything changes. Lines are redrawn. And then they're crossed.

This book is about a girl named Julia, who lives with her dad in Brooklyn. Julia is smart and knows what she wants with her future, but sometimes knowing what you want is enough.

At Julias HS there are gangs everywhere; it is almost a way of life there, but Julia wants no part of the gangs. Her and her friend, Q, know exactly what they want out of life and being in a gang is not one of the things they want. Julia and Q see strictly black and white when it comes to gangs and they know there is no good reason to join one. That is until Julia gets mixed up with the new kid, Eric.

When Julia starts talking to Eric she can tell that he is a smart kid and one that knows what he wants also for himself in the future. She strongly believes that Eric wouldn't join one of the games, but he isn't like that. Or so she thought...

After Julia and Eric had been together for about a month Eric comes to school all beat up and Julia finds out that it is because he was jumped into the Crips. Julia can't believe that Eric would do this knowing how she feels about gangs, and so she feels she has no choice but to end it with him.

But soon after Julia finds out something that could really hurt Eric and she tells him for fear of the pain he is surely to suffer. Little did Julia realize what a bad move that would be on her part, and the question of friends and what they will do for each other comes into play.

Julia must make some decisions about who she is, what her feelings are and about how far you would go for friends.

Eric is another loyal BF and what you find out about him may or may not be a shocker.

Each chapter in this book starts at a new time. It doesn't flow from one thing right into the next, but I think that is what made this such a quick read. This book doesn't go into too much detail unless it has to.

There is some mature content in this book and I would say it should be for kids 15+.

View all my reviews

THANKSGIVING GIVEAWAY!!

Thursday is Thanksgiving so I am hosting another giveaway. This giveaway will be for one of the remaining book bundles I have left.

Bundles:

• Disenchanted Princess by Julie Linker and If I have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince? by Melissa Kantor
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Positively by Courtney Sheinmel
• Perfect You and Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
• Vampire Beach bind-ups 1& 2 by Alex Duval and Prom Nights from Hell by various authors

What you need to do:

Post a comment on here or on my You Tube channel stating what you are thankful for this year. That is it, pretty easy...

Saturday I will add up the total of everyone that commented and then use Random.org to pick the winner.

Also, I have a giveaway running for the 200th subscriber to my You Tube channel. I am only 2 away (last time I checked). So when I reach that I will giveaway another bundle from what is remaining, finding the winner the same way...Random.org.

So leave a comment and have a great Thanksgiving!

TEASER TUESDAY (9)

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"When I fall into bed somebody starts beating on my chest with a baseball bat. I try to take my pulse, but my heart is hammering too fast." pg. 206

Guest Reviewer (6)

Priscilla from the Readables does awesome reviews! Check this one out and then go and subscribe to her channel...

I'm a Santa to someone....

I am excited again....for the second time today...LOL! I just received an email letting me know who my "santee" was for this years "Book Blogger Holiday Swap". This is my first year to do this and since I love buying for others this is going to be so much fun!

I do not have to mail out my gift(s) until December 7th the latest, which I don't see as being a problem. Well, hopefully not, as I just ordered something off of eBay that I think she will (hopefully) really like, but with Thanksgiving this coming up week, I know that will throw the mail off. Hopefully, not that off though...

They listed a few books that they were interested in getting and also a fun something that they like to "collect", so it is going to be hard deciding what book(s) to get. I think I will leave that up to my daughter since she likes to make decisions.

How many of you are doing a swap this year? What is for? Family, work, a blog? Let me know and share with the rest of us. Are there any swaps out there for others to join, also pertaining to books, that we may not know about? Can't wait to hear back from everyone.

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

HUNGER by Jackie Morse Kessler

Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler

      My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(Goodreads.com)

“Thou art the Black Rider. Go thee out unto the world.”

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she’s been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

Traveling the world on her steed gives Lisa freedom from her troubles at home: her constant battle with hunger, and her struggle to hide it from the people who care about her. But being Famine forces her to go places where hunger is a painful part of everyday life, and to face the horrifying effects of her phenomenal power. Can Lisa find a way to harness that power — and the courage to battle her own inner demons?

2011 Debut Author Challenge

I am excited to be participating in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge this coming year. This will be my first Debut Author Challenge and I can't wait to discover many new authors (or at least new to the YA genre). If you want to find out more about this challenge and/or sign up please visit Kristi's page (who is hosting this) over at The Story Siren.

So far my list of books I plan to read for this challenge are:

• Warped by Maurissa Guibord
• XVI by Julia Karr
• Across the Universe by Beth Revis
• A touch mortal by Leah Clifford
• Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
• Haven by Kristi Cook
• Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

and I sure there will be others.

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

Internet shopping...

Well, I admit it. I have a problem...and it is called internet shopping! I have been having this problem for quite some time now and have talked vaguely about it on some of my You Tube videos, but this is crazy!

These websites keep emailing me with all these deals that I just can't help myself. And now, Amazon offered me a free month trial to their Amazon Prime so now I get FREE two day shipping! Of course, I probably won't continue with it because it is $79/yr! I know that Amazon offers so much more than just books and so it makes it worth it if you are using their site a lot, but anyway....

So, monday night I finished up my Christmas shopping for our daughter (that is when I stumbled upon the free trial at Amazon) and being half asleep and excited at the same time for this new opportunity to spend even more money, I bought myself a "few" books, which I will be getting tomorrow since it is FREE 2-DAY SHIPPING....Yay! (and no, I am not getting paid to talk about Amazon)

It is just so easy to add things to your cart and hit the "checkout" button. All your credit card info is already stored on there so you don't have to do any extra work.

Does anyone else have this problem with internet shopping? Do you find yourself being sucked into every "free trial" out there just to spend money that you don't really need to be spending? Tell me about if you do so I don't feel as if I am the only one with this problem.

Until next time, Have a good "read"....

AND THE WINNER IS......

So, I reached 50 followers and I am doing my giveaway as I said I would. I have 5 different bundles of books that the winner gets to choose from and I have said what they are along with who the winner is in this You Tube video. (Dylan; dmfriend25-YouTube channel name)!!

I used random.org to pick the lucky number and then my daughter counted to 44 in the order that Blog spot had my followers listed.

I am excited to have reached 50 followers and I am excited to be doing this giveaway. I will also be having another giveaway with the remaining 4 bundles of books that I have next week for Thanksgiving. I will do another post about that giveaway later.

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

Waiting for Wednesday (6)

Waiting for Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. This is a meme where you post an upcoming book that you are eagerly awaiting.

XVI by Julia Karr

Published: January 6, 2011

(from Goodreads)

In the year 2150, being a girl isn’t necessarily a good thing, especially when your sixteenth (read sex-teenth) birthday is fast approaching. That in itself would be enough to make anyone more than a little nuts, what with the tattoo and all – but Nina Oberon’s life has taken a definite turn for the worse. Her mother is brutally stabbed and left for dead. Before dying, she entrusts a secret book to Nina, telling her to deliver it to Nina's father. But, first Nina has to find him; since for fifteen years he's been officially dead. Complications arise when she rescues Sal, a mysterious, and ultra hot guy. He seems to like Nina, but also seems to know more about her father than he’s letting on. Then there’s that murderous ex-government agent who’s stalking her, and just happens to be her little sister’s dad.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What a difference from the last Sarah Dessen book that I read! The last one that I read (Keeping the Moon) was too chic-lit for me, but this one, wow!

This book is about a girl, Caitlyn, who is trying to find herself, but instead ends up in a troubled relationship with a boy that is not somebody she would usually be attracted to.

This book is about getting to know yourself, about love, loss, pain...it is about so much.

Caitlyn is the main character and I really related to her. Her older sister, Cass, leaves home when she is 18, with nothing but a note. This of course crushes their parents and throws Caitlyn into a world of emotions.

Caitlyn wants to be who she wants to be. She doesn't want anyone telling her anymore who she should be and she doesn't want to live in her sister Cass's shadow anymore either.

This confusion that Caitlyn is feeling pushes her into the arms of a troubled teen. When Caitlyn first starts seeing Rogerson she feels she can be anybody. That she can re-create herself because they are just getting to know each other, but it isn't til a few months later, after she has fallen for Rogerson, that she realizes that there is a huge problem in their relationship. Caitlyn feels as if she doesn't talk about it then it isn't real and so she keeps quite about what is going on.

I thought that Caitlyn was a sweet girl, who was very confused and wasn't sure about her place her life. She also was a very lonely girl that just wanted to people to notice her for who she was, not what they wanted her to be.

Her best friend, Rina, was a strong character and supportive and caring of Caitlyn. I also believe that she was your typical "cheerleader" type. The pretty one who dates the jock and goes to all the best parties.

I felt that Rogerson was scared and weak and confused. I believe that what was happening was his way of dealing with his problems. I don't condone it by any means!!, but I think that if he wasn't having the problems he was having that the problems with Caitlyn and himself probably wouldn't have happened.

Caitlyn's parents were so great! They were extremely supportive and caring. But they didn't see as much as they should have because they were dealing with Cass leaving.

This was a very touching story about a very serious issue that I don't believe is addressed enough. I commend Sarah for tackling this issue and coming away with an excellent book.

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TEASER TUESDAY (8)

Hi all! Before I give you your teaser for today, I wanted to apologize for not posting yesterday. It was a busy day/night with me working and then doing some Christmas shopping for my daughter that I was just exhausted when I was done with everything. I didn't even read, and I ALWAYS read before bed time. So anyway...

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"My sister Cass ran away the morning of my sixteenth birthday. She left my present, wrapped and sitting outside my bedroom door, and stuck a note for my parents under the coffeemaker." pg. 1

SOLID by Shelley Workinger

Solid by Shelley Workinger

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book is from self published author Shelley Workinger and it is the first in a series.

I give this book a 3/5* because I feel that it could have been longer. But let me start with the good points.

The idea of the story I really liked. Kids that have special abilities because their chromosomes were messed with while they were still in their parents stomachs. And this was all done without the parents knowing about it.

I liked the characters. Clio, is the main character, and she is a witty and sarcastic girl. I seem to be drawn to characters like that. LOL!

Then there is Bliss, but I couldn't gather too much from Bliss unfortunately.

Miranda was outspoken and not shy. She wasn't afraid to voice her opinions or insert herself where she wasn't wanted, and because of this she was kind of annoying.

Jack, was another one from their little "group" and him and Clio had a thing going. I feel that that happened a little to quick for me and Jack was the "perfect" person. Athletic, smart, kind, etc. That was almost annoying too. Oh, and he had no special abilities, or at least that we know about right now.

Then there is Garrett who is a loudmouth. Another annoying character, although that is what he is supposed to be in this book.

All in all, I like the plot and the characters, but I didn't care for how quick the story went by. It was as if everything was only touched upon. Nothing was built up so there was no climax or anticipation of anything. And by the synopsis you would think that the story would be mostly about the special abilities that these kids have acquired, but it does quite the opposite. It only briefly touches upon that and focuses more on the kids becoming friends.
Hopefully the next book is more in depth about everything and hopefully we get to know more about the kids and the abilities that they have.

Until next time, Have a good "read"....


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SOME GIRLS ARE-Courtney Summers

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


OK, this was a good book, but I think that it could have been better. I wanted to give it 3.5* but I don't think I can on here....anyway...

The book is about a girl, Regina, who gets bullied daily by her ex-best friends, because the "leader" of the group believes that she did something against her, so she makes her life hell every day...

At first it seemed good, and the story kept building and building but when the climax happened at the very end it kind of fell flat to me. It was too abrupt. Too sudden, and then that was it.

Overall, it was a good book, I just wish there was a little bit more to the ending.

The characters weren't bad either. Regina, the main character, started off as a follower and a bully herself, but ended up being bullied and by the end of the book she learned some things about herself and changed her ways.

Anna, the "queen bee", the "leader", of the group of girls who Regina used to hang out with is just a Bitch! A snob who has everyone doing her bidding. I have known girls like that in school myself.

Kara, is also in the group and she seems to be the one who should be "leader" by the way she opens her mouth (another bitch, but worse then Anna, I think!) and does all this stuff to Regina. Kara is the one who started it all. And probably to get back at Regina for when Regina treated her like crap. Still, it is sad to say that there are really girls like Kara out there.

Michael, is the kid who's life Regina group of friends made a living hell. Regina being the one to do most of the stuff to him because Anna told her to. But Regina didn't feel bad about doing it either. Until that is, the same things are being done to her and she understands what Michael went through. The "relationship" that happens between Michael and Regina is one, that believe it or not, happens more often then not.

Liz, is another girl that was bullied by this group of girls and who relishes in what is happening to Regina, until things go too far.

These girls are out to kill. They live to ruin peoples lives and like I said above, it is sad that there are actually people like this out there.

All in all a good book, although I wish the ending could of been a bit different. Maybe if it didn't end so quickly.

View all my reviews

Check them out!! (3)

This is a meme where I highlight a certain book vlogger. I spend a lot of time on You Tube and have met a bunch of wonderful book people there and I wanted to introduce more people to them.

So check them out!!

Breaking down slowly does a lot of book hauls, book reviews and has just started updating her progress on NaNoWriMo....She is so sweet, you have to check out her channel...

Signed books up for Bid....

I was on Twitter just browsing through what people had to say, as I am still trying to figure out the whole Twitter thing, and I seen that The Story Siren tweeted about a website that is auctioning off some signed books. I thought that was pretty interesting and so I headed over to see what there was and ended up bidding on a book. The starting prices are not bad ($5 for a PB, $10 for HB, except for Will Grayson, Will Grayson which starts at $20 because it is signed by BOTH authors)....anyway, you should check it out (here) and bid because it ends at the end of the month....

So, I do not own any signed books and this would be the first one that I own, if I win. I never before cared about having a book signed because I just wanted to read the story.

How many of you have books that are signed by the author(s) and why do you have them? I am just curious to know...

Until next time, Have a good "read"....

Waiting for Wednesday (6)

Waiting for Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. This is a meme where you post an upcoming book that you are eagerly awaiting.
So this is another book that I am eagerly awaiting....

Weight of Bones by Janet Gurtler

April 1, 2011

(from Goodreads)

Tess is the exact opposite of her beautiful, athletic sister. And that’s okay. Kristina is the sporty one, Tess is the smart one, and they each have their place. Until Kristina is diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly Tess is the center of the popular crowd, everyone eager for updates. There are senior boys flirting with her. Yet the smiles of her picture-perfect family are cracking and her sister could be dying. Now Tess has to fill a new role: the strong one. Because if she doesn’t hold it together, who will?

Janet Gurtler tests the bonds of sisterhood in this moving debut that readers of Jodi Picoult and Sarah Dessen will savor.

This book sounds so good! I can not wait until it comes out!

BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES-Laurie Faria Stolarz

Blue Is For Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I feel like I am being too generous with my ratings lately, but every book I am reading I have truly liked.

I was debating on whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars, but I decided to give it 4 because of the suspense that was in this book.

I thought at first that the book was moving a bit slow, but when I reached about 100pages things started to pick up for me, and I really liked the ending.

This book is about a girl named Stacey, who is just your typical girl, except that is a hereditary witch. Not a witch like in paranormal books, but like WICCA.

The story takes place in a boarding school and centers around Stacey and her 2 friends Amber and Drea. From the beginning of the book Stacey is having nightmares about her roommate and best friend, Drea, that are the same each night. On top of having the nightmares she is also having an issue that accompanies those nightmares. This issue threw me for most of the book because I couldn't understand why it was in the book. What did it have to do with anything? Until the very end did it come together. Stacey also has premonitions (her nightmares) and this is what the story is about.

Stacey is trying to figure out what her nightmares mean exactly when creepy things start happening to Drea. Now Stacey is more determined then ever to figure out her nightmares and protect Drea at all costs.

The characters in this story are great. Stacey is just your typical girl. She isn't the "popular" girl or the "athletic" girl. She is just a girl with a crush, difficulty with subjects at school and a few friends (and oh yeah, she is a witch). She is also a brave and determined girl.

Drea is Stacey's roommate and friend, and she is the girl that every guy wants and every girl hates. When stuff starts happening to Drea she is annoyed at first, then scared and then angry and then scared again. She is the type of girl that knows she can get whatever she wants from the guys and the girl that thinks they all belong to her.

Amber is their other friend. I love Amber. She was my favorite character. She is quirky, over the top. She is sarcastic and witty. She has a teddy bear backpack and she paints ducks on her eyelids. : )

There are a few other characters in this book also that the book centers around, as the possible suspects, but I won't get into them here. Just know that they are very good characters also.

This book is definitely a suspense filled, who-dun-it book. The only thing that I didn't really care for in this book, is the lack of action. I wish more intense things would have happened. But regardless, it kept my interest and has me looking forward to reading the next book in the series, White is for Magic.

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Small IMM/Book Haul

I got three books in the mail today. I wasn't sure on the two that I got from B&N, but I kept hearing good reviews on them so I went ahead and purchased them.

• Aimee by Mary Beth Miller (eBay)
• Beastly by Alex Flinn (B&N)
• Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler (B&N)

(Our puppy, Neko and my recent purchases. Had to show off one of our dogs)

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

BOOK BLOGGER Holiday SWAP!!

I stumbled across this awesome swap! Deadline for sign ups is November 19th so head over there to get signed up.... Book Blogger Holiday Swap!


I just signed up for it and am excited to shop for my "Santee".....

KINDLE giveaway!!!

OK, I wasn't going to post any more today, but this was just too good to pass up!

Sparkling Reviews is doing a giveaway of a Kindle when they reach 500 subscribers (which they did, but the contest is open to the 18th of this month), and then if they reach 1000 subscribers by then they will include a $50 GC to Amazon PLUS.....a second winner will receive a $150!! (yes, you heard right, $150) GC to The Book Depository! So what are you waiting for?? Head over to Sparkling Reviews to follow them and enter this amazing contest!!!

Until next time, Have a good "read"....

New book to check out!! (THE UNIT by Ninni Holmqvist)

I was browsing B&N and came across this book, The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, translator Marlaine DeLargy. This is a dystopian novel about people who don't have children or other family and who don't contribute to society, and so they are sent to live in special "units" where they undergo "experiments" for the good of humanity. In the end they eventually end up donating organs to those in need. This sounds very good!

Ninni Holmqvist lives in Skåne, Sweden. She made her debut in 1995 with the short story collection Kostym [Suit] and has published two further collections of short stories since then. She also works as a translator. The Unit marks Holmqvist’s debut as a novelist.

Marlaine Delargy has translated novels by Åsa Larsson and Johan Theorin, among others, and serves on the editorial board of the Swedish Book Review. She lives in Shropshire, England. (from Reading Group Guides)

Check out Reading Group Guides for a short Q&A with Ninni.

Until next time, Have a great "read"....

Some new things...

So, I have been thinking and I have decided to try and implement a few different or added things to my blog. I know I have the meme's that I do Mon-Fri and I do my reviews, but I want to start adding other "stuff"...but I don't want to clutter each day up with stuff.

I love to talk and I love to share things I have discovered or things that make me excited but I want to be able to space this stuff out and not have like 10 posts in one day!

Then with my work schedule and just taking care of the house, the kids and the animals, not to mention my You tube channel and time to read, of course,  I have to find the time to do more on here. And that is where I run into the problem of having multiple posts on one day and maybe just the one or none on other days.

I have a note book where I am going to write down things I want to talk about or share on here with you and hopefully that will keep me on track and help me to space posts out.

Please let me know over the course of the next few weeks how things are coming. What your opinions are or if you want to see things differently, any tips, etc.

Thanks! and until next time, Have a good "read"....

TEASER TUESDAY (7)

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"I know I haven't been brave about dreaming. I know my subconscious side is probably picking up on the fact that I'm scared to death." pg. 129

BREATHLESS by Lurlene McDaniel

Breathless by Lurlene McDaniel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


OMG! Another 5/5* book....

Before I even picked up this book I was a little disappointed because of how thin it was (165pg), and I thought I wouldn't get much out of it. I mean, c'mon, how much can you really get out of book that is less then 200 pgs? Especially a book that is about such a serious subject?

So, reluctantly I picked up the book and started reading it. Once again, the pages flew by without me noticing because the book was that good!

This book is about a teenager named, Travis, who is a champion diver for his HS. Diving and being in the water is something that Travis lives for. He practices hard to be where he is and who he is. But before school starts again for the next year an accident puts Travis in the hospital. Now the accident wasn't life threatening, but after running some tests (not sure what prompted them to do the tests), the doctors discovered that there was something else going on that was most certainly life threatening.

Because of an accident, Travis finds out that he has bone cancer, and what continues is about what Travis has to give up, sacrifice to try and beat the odds and survive the big "C".

This book had a bunch of great characters in it. You had Travis, the main character, who was so brave and only until the end, did he remain strong.

Then there is Emily, his younger sister who sticks by Travis throughout his ordeal and who, in the end, ends up doing something huge and unselfish and very surprising!

There is also Darla, Travis's girlfriend, who I completely admire. Darla was such a strong and loyal girlfriend. Sticking with Travis throughout everything he went through, when she could have easily had walked away. But no, she stayed and did nothing but try and make Travis happy. She did everything for Travis.

And then you have Cooper, Travis's best friend. Cooper was also loyal, but at the same time confused by what Travis asks of him. (Travis asks favors of all three of the other characters but can they do what he wants?)

This book makes you question so much. To me, the main question being, how far would you go for someone you love? Also, what is the right and wrong thing to do in a situation like this?

If you haven't, you need to go out and get this book! Yes, it is short, but it definitely delivers!

View all my reviews

Guest Reviewer (5)

This weeks guest reveiwer is Anna from Book Reviews by Anna. Her reviews are so good! After watching this video you should go and subscribe to her channel....



Until next time, Have a good "read"...

THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH-Carrie Ryan

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another book that gets 5/5*!

This book is a dystopian novel and it is also about zombies. Although in this book they call them the "Unconsecrated".

The story starts off in a small village that is surrounded by a forest named, The Forest of Hands and Teeth. The people of the village make sure that they never approach the fence that surrounds their village, separating it from the forest, unless they want to suffer dire consequences.

The story also centers around a girl named Mary who doesn't want to entirely live by the rules of the village. Since birth the children are taught that there is nothing beyond the fence and the forest where the unconsecrated are. They are taught about God, and that The Sisterhood decides what is right and what will happen in the village.

There are also certain rituals that the village takes part in every year, which I find quite interesting.

Mary, though, has heard stories from her mom about a world past the forest and has grown to believe in the stories so much that she does nothing but daydream about them. Until one day when something horrible happens to their village and the only way for Mary and her friends to survive is to flee and hope that there is something past the forest like Marys mother has told her.

On their journey of survival they come face to face with death and they discover things about themselves that they wouldn't have realized if they didn't have to face such scary and intense stuff as they have.

This story was very well written. The story flowed so nicely that before I knew it I was already 100 pages in. I like the idea for the story and they way that Carrie makes her zombies or unconsecrated.

The characters were also nicely done. You see how, Mary especially, develops and she is a strong character, which I like, but not too strong. She does what she has to when the time comes, but yet you still see that she is scared just like the rest of them.

I cannot wait to read "The Dead Tossed Waves" next!

View all my reviews

GLIMPSE by Carol Lynch Williams

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was amazing! I absolutely loved it and could not put it down! I finished this book in 2 hours...

This is a story about sisters, Lizzie and Hope, who live with only their mother, since their father died when they were younger. Lizzie is now 14, I believe, since it doesn't really say and Hope is a year younger.

Hope walks in on Lizzie attempting suicide and catches her just in time (not a spoiler) and so Lizzie is admitted into a psychiatric hospital.

The story basically takes off from there...

Hope is trying to figure out why her sister would want to kill herself. Her and Lizzie are like the best of the friends. They share a room and everything else with each other and Hope is really confused, sad and angry about this.

Lizzie's mother on the other hand, seems to be hiding something and although supportive and there for Lizzie, by visiting her at the hospital and visiting with the doctor when requested, she keeps telling Hope not to say anything. Not to offer any information.

You start to get a feel that something isn't right, that their mother is up to something and by the end of the book you are in for a big shocker!

This is a deep, but quick read and I highly recommend it. This books is written in verse but you get used to right away.

I also recommend NOT reading any reviews on this book (amazon, etc) because I read one (forgot what website) and it gave away why Lizzie attempted suicide. Even though I already knew I still loved the book, but if you don't know it makes for an even bigger "WTF??"

View all my reviews

A whole bunch of giveaways!!

I was going through my millions of books and pulled some that I really didn't think that I would be reading. There was a point when I first started buying books that I was buying anything that remotely looked interesting and was a bargain, but when I actually thought about them, I came to terms that I wouldn't actually read them because they weren't really my kind of books. So I thought other people would enjoy them and love them more then I would.

I posted a video on You Tube asking if anyone would be interested in them or if I should just donate them to the library and I was surprised on how many responses I got that I decided to just go ahead and do a bunch of giveaways.

The books that I am including in the giveaways are:

Bundle 1: 13 little blue envelopes by Maureen Johnson and Two-way street by Lauren Barnholdt

Bundle 2: Disenchanted Princess by Julie Linker and If I have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's my Prince by Melissa Kantor

Bundle 3: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Positively by Courtney Scheinmel

Bundle 4: Perfect You and Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

Bundle 5: Prom Nights from Hell by Various authors and Vampire Beach 1 and Vampire Beach 2 bind ups by Alex Duval

The giveaway is going to go like this:

• When I reach 200 subscribers on You Tube
• When I reach 50 followers on this blog
• For Thanksgiving (I will post a video that you will need to comment on about what you are thankful for)

and then I haven't figured out the other two yet.

For Christmas I am going to definitely do one, but that one will be with a current, hot best seller.

So please spread the word about these giveaways and comment and become a follower on here, and comment and subscribe to my You Tube channel.

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

MEG CABOTS new series....

I was excited to see a new series coming out by Meg Cabot. The reason being because I just can't get into her other books. They seem too chick-lit for me, which just don't do it for me. Except for "Jinx", which I heard was really good and not like her others?? I still have to read it to see if it appeals to me....

Anyway, I was reading blogs the other day and discovered this new series by Meg Cabot coming out in April, 2011. The cover is so not like her other books that it immediately caught my attention and I love it!

This new series is about "The Myth of Persephone, Darkly Reimagined". Sounds really good, huh? I can't wait to read this book!

Have you ever discovered a book or a series that you love that is by an author that you previous didn't care for? Have you discovered a book or a series that was so unlike an authors previous or recent writings that you made sure to check out more of their books? If so, please comment below and let us know.

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

Fragment Friday (4)

Fragment Friday is hosted by Book Chic Club. It is a new meme that I am going to be doing now and I am really excited about it.

You take either your current read or a favorite book and you read just a fragment of it and hopefully draw others into the story and intrigue them enough so they will go out and get the book.

The SOULSTICE by Simon Holt (review)

Soulstice by Simon Holt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another 5/5! This book was just as good as the first book!


In this second book to the trilogy, Reggie is visited by a character in the first book who we are not expecting. She greets this meeting not too happily and after this person proposes that she help in a certain way, she is even more weary of what is actually going on. But in the end she decides to help and is thrown into a mess because of it.

Also, in this book, Reggie decides to continue going into peoples fearscapes in the hopes freeing of them from their nightmares and reuniting them with their bodies.

The Kassner twins play a big part in the first and middle parts of the this book, we learn what Eben is really up to and we get to enjoy the great writing in this book also. The descriptions and details in this book are just as good as the first.

There are some surprises and twists and the ending is so good! I was actually a little disappointed when I thought it was going to end a certain way, but then it did a twist and I ended up being very happy!!

View all my reviews

Check them out!!

This is going to be a new post that I will be doing on Thursdays. I have a had a separate page for this, but I will no longer be using it. I don't know how many people actually check out the other pages and so I decided to add this as a weekly thing.

So, Check them out!!

Anna from Book Reviews by Anna does book reviews. She does a very good job and I really enjoy watching her videos. Here is her latest review on Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garci and Margaret Stohl...

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

Waiting for Wednesday (5)

Waiting for Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. This is a meme where you post an upcoming book that you are eagerly awaiting.
So this is another book that I am eagerly awaiting....

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Publication Date: January 11, 2011

(from Amazon)

Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.

Have to read this...

I don't know about you, but I am forever perusing YouTube, blogs and the online bookstores trying to find the next best book. Even though I have TONS sitting on my shelves waiting to be read, I just can't seem to get enough.

I spend more hours online looking at different websites/blogs then I probably actually do reading. Why I find the strong urge to have to do this daily I do not know, but I know that it is a craving that I have to fulfill each and every day or I obsess over it and get nothing done. LOL!

So, today during one of my perusals on YouTube I came across cadlvideos reviewing the book Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams. This book was published in June of 2010, so it is a new book, which surprises me that I haven't heard of it yet. This book is also written in verse and contains 496pgs.

After hearing the review I am very excited to read this and can't wait to get my hands on it!

(from B&N)

In one moment

it is over.

In one moment

it is gone.

The morning grows

thin, grey

and our lives-

how they were-

have vanished.

Our lives have

changed

when I walk in

on Lizzie

my sister

holding a shotgun.

Twelve year old girl Hope's life is turned upside down when her older sister Lizzie becomes an elective mute and is institutionalized after trying to kill herself. Ever since their dad died Hope and Lizzie have relied on each other from a young age. Their mother is a reluctant and unreliable parent at best, who turns tricks to support the family. Throughout the course of this lyrical and heartbreaking narrative readers and Hope discover that the mother is prostituting Lizzie and it’s up to Hope to bring the truth to light to save her sister.

Until next time, Have a great "read"....

THE DEVOURING by Simon Holt

The Devouring by Simon Holt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I LOVED this book! The writing style, the characters, the story...I loved it all.


This was definitely a scary story and the descriptions and details in this book is what did it for me. Yes, this book is a YA book, but Simon knows how to be description enough w/out going over the top because it is a YA book.

I could definitely see this story play out in my head like a movie and I would watch it again and again!

Reggie is big sister to Henry who is possessed by a Vour (or demon). Vours feed on your fears and push your spirit out of your body and into a world called the Fearscape, where you live in your worst nightmares, while the Vour uses your body how he wishes.

There is only one day a year that a Vour can possess your body and that is the Sorry night (December 22 or 23rd), but once it has taken hold it is very hard to get your body back.

Upon finding out what has happened to Henry, Reggie and her best friend Aaron set out on finding Henry's soul and bringing it back to his body.

I really liked the characters also. Henry was your typical little brother, but he was also vulnerable and scared of many things, until the Vour overtook him, and then he turned into a cold and manipulating kid. At the end of the book Henry became brave and stood up for himself and his sister.

Reggie also changed through out the book from being the quiet, obedient older sister, looking out for her younger brother and trying to protect him from the truth of things, to being braver then she has ever been before and forcing Henry to face reality.

Aaron, Reggie's best friend, also turned from the fraidy cat into a brave person also.

This book was filled with action and suspense, terror and horror.

If you haven't read it you have to definitely check it out!

The next book in the series is The Soulstice which I am reading now and then Fearscape, which I need to buy still.

View all my reviews

FALL into FANTASY GIVEAWAY!!

Casey from the bookish type  is doing a giveaway on Firelight by Sophie Jordan and Paranormalcy by Kirsten White. What an exciting and awesome contest! All you have to do is fill in the form on her blog here and that is it. You can get addtional entries by doing certain things, such as, blogging about the contest (as I am doing), tweeting about it, being a follower, etc. Contest ends November 15 so hurry over to her blog and enter!

Until next time, Have a good "read"...

TEASER TUESDAY (6)

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should be Reading

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The old lady's head flopped to the side, her hair tumbled from her face, and her blank, unblinking eyes stared into Reggie's own. Her face had contorted into a rictus of terror. (pg. 54)

And the winners are..............

So, today is Tuesday and I said I would judge the costumes today of those who entered my Halloween contest.

I didn't get a whole lot of entries, but that is OK, maybe next year there will be more. I thank the people that did enter and I really liked everyones costume, but since I can only afford to send books to 2 winners right now I had to do some thinking and choose only 2.

The two categories I had were "original" costume and "scary" costume, and I was surprised to only have 2 people dress up in something scary. When I think of Halloween I think of witches and goblins. : ) But anyway, back to the winners.

This person I thought could have entered both categories since she put this together herself and only bought the "supplies" needed to complete her look, but I chose to make her the winner in the "scary" category because that is definitely what she is!

Nikki is a Zombie and did an excellent job putting it together! I love it!! Definitely scary and she did all that herself....Great job Nikki!



And the winner for the original costume was Vanessa who was a Roller Derby Girl. Nice costume Vanessa. Love how you put it together and look like a real Derby girl!





So there you have it. The two winners for my first Halloween costume contest. I will be contacting the winners and getting their orders placed this week.

Hope everyone had a great and safe Halloween!

Until next time, Have a good "read"....

Guest Reviewer (4)

This weeks guest reviewer is Lea Ivy from Beautiful Reader (her youtube channel) and her blog.



Until next time, Have a good "read"...