The Paperback Princess (no longer running)

What's Going On?

2011-02-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

I know you must of realized my lack of posts. That's because lately, for me, blogging has become a chore. I haven't been reading for enjoyment anymore, and reviewing books just isn't fun anymore, but a lot of pressure. I feel like I am not giving this my all, so I am going to stop blogging for a while. I don't know if I will just take a break or end the blog permanently, but I just can't have this up and running right now. If I come back, I want to be able to blog for my love of reading again, instead of just reading to blog.

And thank you to everyone who has followed and commented on The Paperback Princess. :)

-Morgan

P.S. I will keep and update my Goodreads.

In My Mailbox #37

2011-02-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

Red Moon Rising by Peter Moore (thank you Hyperion!)

Sleepless by Cyn Balog

(been wanting to read this one forever!)

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

That's what I got this week! Leave a link to your mailbox! :)

Solid

2011-02-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

Title: Solid (Solid #1)

Author: Shelley Workinger

Release Date: July 9, 2010

Publisher: CreateSpace

Length: 223

Rating:.5

Summary:

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except the living, breathing, human products of his work. Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed “open-book” military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes - its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air ‘athletes’; ‘indies’ as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance. While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems…

Review:

Solid was a book with an extremely different, interesting premise. Clio find's out she was affected by a chromosomal drug before she was born, which she now finds out gives her super-human powers. So she, along with military kids from around the United States, are brought to a campus where they will discover not only friendships, but many hidden secrets.

Solid was a book that had parts that I liked, and parts that I didn't like. I loved the characters personalities, but their friendship seemed rushed. The main character, Clio, was someone that I would like to be friends with. Smart, funny, and sweet. Same goes with Jack. I really enjoyed their relationship. The other characters like Bliss, Miranda, and Garrett were great additions, because they all had very different personalities that made the story entertaining.

The plot was pretty slow, but then the ending was filled with a lot of plot. The ending was a good part, because most of the questions I had were answered. But I'm hoping that in the next book, Settling, there will be more plot and more character development. I'd like to see where Jack and Clio's relationship goes. Thank you, Shelley, for sending this to me!

Happy reading!

City of Ashes

2011-02-01T21:25:00.000-08:00

Title: City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)

Author: Cassandra Clare

Release Date: March 25th, 2008

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Length: 453 pages

Rating:

Summary:

As readers of series starter City of Bones already know, teenager Clary Fray is a Shadowhunter, a demon slayer who has the gift of spotting Downworlder werewolves, vampires, and faeries. She is also an adolescent in an abnormally dysfunctional family: Her mom is in a magically induced coma and her father is probably insane and undoubtedly evil. All of which places Clary in situations that would challenge even the most talented average American girl.

Review:

Before I get started, let me just say that I didn't expect City of Ashes to be better than City of Bones. But I was SO. WRONG. City of Ashes was 10 times better than the first book, and I am hoping it will just get better and better.

So I'm guessing that if you're reading this, you've also read City of Bones. In this book, Clary is dealing with being a Shadowhunter, having her mother in a coma, realizing her father is evil, and learning that Jace is her brother. I think one of the reasons why this book was better than the first is because of all the twists. There was so much information building up in the plot; I just couldn't read enough!

Clary really grew in this book. Stronger, wiser, more aware of what was happening. I have to say that I liked her more and more with each chapter. Jace was a lot more open, you got to see into his feelings a bit more, which made him seem more human and less of a cold Shadowhunter. And the other characters like Luke, Valentine, Simon, Isabelle, Alec, and Magnus were great! This series has the best cast of characters- I love reading about all of them!

I need to read City of Glass! I can already tell that it will be amazing!

Happy reading!

In My Mailbox #36

2011-01-30T17:08:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

-BOUGHT-

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

(Didn't realize this was a companion novel. Should I read Bleeding Violet first?)

-FROM A BOOK SWAP WITH FRIENDS-

Miles to Go by Miley Cyrus

My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald

Tell Me a Secret

2011-01-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

Title: Tell Me a Secret

Author: Holly Cupala

Release Date: June 22, 2010

Publisher: HarperTeen

Length: 256 pages

Rating:

Summary:

Tell me a secret, and I'll tell you one…

In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own. Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own.
In this powerful debut novel, stunning new talent Holly Cupala illuminates the dark struggle of a girl who must let go of her past to find a way into her own future.

Review:

Tell Me a Secret was a story of a girl's journey. A journey through some really tough things like death, pregnancy, and her family falling apart.

Five years after Miranda (Rand's) sister (Xanda) died, she finds out that she is pregnant. At first this is not bad since she knows she has a supportive boyfriend, friends, and family. But soon all of that disappears. Her boyfriend breaks up with her, her friends are no longer speaking to her, and her mom is acting like Rand is dead to her. Soon she is going through this experience alone, afraid of what the future holds.

I immediately felt for Rand. Her mom was horrible, her friends were lying to her, and her boyfriend didn't even listen to what she had to say. And on top of that, she doesn't have her sister with her. Throughout the story, Rand misses her sister more and more, wishing that she could have Xanda's support. Right from the beginning I was rooting for Rand, thinking "She has to find someone who is there for her" and "I hope she gets a happy ending- she deserves it. No one deserves all this unhappiness." Holly Cupala is amazing. Her writing just makes you feel good. There's a great message within this book. Even in the darkest times, we can find light. That's what made this book so beautiful; even when Rand was at her saddest, she had the light- her baby.

Tell Me a Secret was an amazing book. I don't know any other way to describe it. I'm very much looking forward to more of Holly Cupala's writing.

Happy reading!

Hush, Hush

2011-01-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

Title: Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush #1)

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date: October 13, 2009

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Length: 391 pages

Rating:

Summary:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Review:

Hush, Hush was everything I expected, and then some. Everything was just pure awesomeness straight from the beginning to the end.

I love the paranormal-angel books. I always end up loving them. Hush, Hush was no exception. I loved the characters to bits! Vee was hilarious, Nora was a great protagonist, and Patch was very mysterious. (sometimes a bit annoying when he got too mysterious). I also loved all the mystery in the story. Who was following Nora? Why did she always feel like someone was watching her? In the end I was left shocked. Becca Fitzpatrick is one of those authors whose books keep on building and building until the end and then *BOOM!* It's done and you need to read more. So right now I am dying to read Crescendo. I need to know what's going to happen with Nora and Patch!

So, in short, I was completely satisfied (and very much blown away) by Hush, Hush. Expect a Crescendo review very soon!

Happy reading!

Not That Kind of Girl

2011-01-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

Title: Not That Kind of Girl

Author: Siobhan Vivian

Release Date: September 1, 2010

Publisher: Push

Length: 322 pages

Rating:.5

Summary:

Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things. But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.

Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

Review:

Natalie goes by the rules. Get up, go to school, get straight A's, go to student council, go to bed. So when she becomes student council president and gains an enemy, her friends past comes back with unfortunate news, and an old job is brought up again in a whole new way, Natalie's life starts unraveling.

Not That Kind of Girl was different from what I expected. I'm not sure what I really think about it. You know what this book felt like to me? It felt like a situation where you go to a friends house, and they are watching their favorite show. You've never seen the show, so you just silently watch, without any attachment to the story whatsoever. That's what Not That Kind of Girl felt like. A show that I was just watching because I was bored, not because it interested me. That might sound a little harsh, but that's how this book was for me.

The characters were okay, but I didn't really feel anything for any of them. I did however, like Spencer. She added a spark to the story, and I found her the most interesting to read about, always wondering what she'd do next. Some of it was really crazy, but it made me sympathize for her because she seemed so lost.

So unfortunately, I didn't really like this book. But it did entertain me, which you have to admit, is a very good thing every once in a while.

Happy reading!

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

2011-01-22T16:43:00.000-08:00

Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Author: Rachel Cohn, David Levithan

Release Date: October 26, 2010

Publisher: Random House

Length: 240 pages

Rating:

Summary:

“I’ve left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.” So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

Review:

Dash and Lily are both having pretty crummy holiday seasons. Lily's parents are in Fiji, and Dash is lonely and bored. He is, until he see's the red moleskin notebook at The Strand. Thus beginning an adventure of dares and unexpected friendship.

This book was a surprising treat. From the dares to the characters, I was pleasantly surprised. Espcecially on the characters, which I think made this book shine. Lily, although quite irritating to me at the beginning, grew on me like an annoying but loving sister. She was quirky, and a big animal lover. (which I can relate to!) Dash was "snarly" and "finicky" but extremely witty and very interesting to read about. (I liked his chapters the best.) But my favorite character was

Boomer. He was just so exuberant and funny!

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares will definitely hold a special place in my hall of most enjoyable books. Not only was it entertaining, but it held important values like friendship, family, and the love of words.

Bloggiesta Goals

2011-01-21T21:19:00.000-08:00

Yay! Super excited when I heard about Bloggiesta! I really need to tackle some blog stuff. Bloggiesta is hosted by Maw Books Blog. Here's my goals:

• Write reviews.

• Write backup posts.

• Write guest posts.

• Set up some author interviews

• Clean up all my tabs

• Clean blog, improve look.

• Update Random Buzzers, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.

• Clean out unwanted blog subscriptions.

• Find a blogging buddy :) :) :)

• Fix up review layout, and the way I review.

Very excited to begin!

(P.S. Already started with getting a blog signature! *Cheers*)

WINNER!

2011-01-21T10:54:00.000-08:00

Thank you for everyone who entered! I loved reading all your craziest dreams!

They were all pretty wild, that's for sure! :-)

Winner of the ARC of Falling Under is

*drum roll please...*

KAILIA SAGE!

(Blog: Reading the Best of the Best)

Congrats! :)

Sea Change

2011-01-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

Title: Sea Change

Author: Aimee Friedman

Release Date: June 1st, 2009

Publisher: Point

Length: 290 pages

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science. . .and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate. There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship. . .and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

Review:

Sea Change was, in one word, enchanting. First off, the cover is gorgeous! I love the swirly design on the sides and the color combination. Second, the book was just amazing in every way!

The setting was the best part, I think. I loved everything about it. Sea Change made me want to pack up my bags and and take a ferry straight to the docks of Selkie Island. The warm weather, the beautiful ocean, the airy, classy beach houses. The setting made this book an inviting, comfy beach read. I kind of regret reading it during the winter because now I want it to be summer very badly!

The characters were another great part of this book. Miranda was a logical person. She didn't believe in all the Selkie Island mermaid/sea monster stories. But she starts to wonder if the myths are real after she meets Leo. I really liked Leo. He was sweet, smart, and caring towards Miranda. And although he is mysterious, like he might be hiding something, Miranda soon falls for him. They had a really great relationship, like something just instantly clicked between them. The other characters, like Miranda's mom, Delilah, Cece, and T.J. All of them were pretty annoying. Miranda's mom was kind of two-faced. Motherly, and then one of the spoiled "summer people." But these characters weren't annoying to the point of ruining the book, but actually adding something to the book.

The ending of Sea Change was a little infuriating, but in a completely good way. Aimee Friedman left the reader hanging, with Leo and Miranda's relationship full of possibilities, but also with Selkie Islands mysteries untold. I loved this book, and I recommend reading it as soon as possible!

Happy reading!

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June

2011-01-18T19:07:00.000-08:00

Title: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June

Author: Robin Benway

Release Date: August 3rd, 2010

Publisher: Razorbill

Length: 282 pages

Summary:

Three sisters share a magical, unshakable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone’s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they’ll always have each other.

Because there’s one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

Review:

At the beginning of the book, we meet three sisters who are going through 2 big situations; their parents divorce and moving. And to make matters even more stressful, they find out that they all have secret powers. April can see the future. May can disappear. And June can read minds. But it's not all fun and games. The future brings confusion and uncertainty. Disappearing makes it hard to show your real feelings. And reading minds makes your mind full of other peoples crazy thoughts. Now April, May, and June have to learn to work together, despite their differences, to make the future right.

I liked reading a book about sisters. I have a sister, so I understand the bickering and annoyance, but also the instinct to protect your sister from trouble. April, the oldest is protective, always looking out for her younger sisters. May, the middle sister, was sarcastic but bottled up the most feelings. And June, the youngest, was energetic, but also the one living in the shadow of her sisters. I liked all of them because they each represented parts of a sister's relationship.

I think Robin Benway really knows how the teenage mind works. The teenagers in this story were funny, realistic, and very true to real life. I think this book was more than "supernatural." It wasn't like they got powers and then all of the sudden vampires and werewolves popped up. No, it was 3 sisters, living in the real world, trying to cope with everyday problems plus powers. It was kind of refreshing, like a contemporary/paranormal mix. I'm excited to read more of Robin Benway's books!! I give this book:

Happy reading!

Hi, Nice To Meet You!

2011-01-16T16:30:00.001-08:00

Happy Sunday everybody :)

I feel like you might not know me as well as you should.

For a blog to be enjoyable, shouldn't you know the blogger on a deeper level than them just writing things?

I feel like none of my followers have gotten to know me that well.

So, here's some things about me:

Hi, my name is Morgan and I am a 13 year old 7th grader who likes to read and write.

I decided to start a blog so I could share my love of books with others.

My hobbies are basketball, volleyball, scrapbooking, being with my friends and family, cooking, baking, swimming, and shopping!

Speaking of shopping, I like to buy my clothes from American Eagle, JCPenney, Hollister, and Aeropostale.

I like the colors Tiffany Blue, Pale Mint Green, and Chocolate Brown. I live in Washington, home of Starbucks, (which I'm addicted to). My favorite foods are Kraft Easy Mac and Pad Thai. My favorite animals are horses, dogs, and dolphins.

I am super silly, a tad bit immature (when I'm with my friends), a chatterbox, pretty smart, creative (with stuff like scrapbooking and making cards), and pretty high-strung. (when it comes to stuff like school).

I have 1 bestest, best friend, but a handful of really good friends. I used to wear glasses but now wear contacts. I have a little sister, Kylie, and a cat named Joey. (remember my Friends confession?)

I love my parents and my little sister (despite our constant bickering)

And, finally, I love having this blog! I have to say I've talked to a lot of super nice bloggers, and have made a couple of blogging-friends.

So that's a little more about me!

But I'd like to know more about my followers! So feel free to ask questions are say a couple things about yourself!

Thanks for reading this, everyone! And nice to meet you :-)

In My Mailbox #35

2011-01-15T12:33:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Let's get to it:

Crave by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

That's what I got this week! Leave a link to your mailbox! :)

Wicked Lovely

2011-01-14T17:54:00.000-08:00

Title: Wicked Lovely (Wicked Lovely #1)

Author: Melissa Marr

Release Date: June 12th, 2007

Publisher:HarperTeen

Length: 328

Summary:

All teenagers have problems, but few of them can match those of Aislinn, who has the power to see faeries. Quite understandably, she wishes that she could share her friends' obliviousness and tries hard to avoid these invisible intruders. But one faery in particular refuses to leave her alone. Keenan the Summer King is convinced beyond all reasoning that Aislinn is the queen he has been seeking for nine centuries. What's a 21st-century girl to do when she's stalked by a suitor nobody else can see?

Review:

I have to say Wicked Lovely was a bit disappointing It was a good story, but didn't do anything for me. You know the feeling, where you just don't click with a book? That's how I felt with Wicked Lovely.

I'm not saying that the book was bad. It had my favorite paranormal creatures; faeries! I love reading about them, which drew me to this book. The main character, Aislinn, grew up seeing faeries all around her. How cool is that?! But for Aislinn, it was more of a curse. Faeries are cold and "wicked", while some are kind and "lovely." But Aislinn doesn't see much of those kind.

Until Keenan comes along. Keenan, The Summer King, feels that Aislinn is the answer, the Key, to restoring the Summer Kingdom, although he has another girl in his heart. But Aislinn isn't interested in becoming Queen. She just wants to be with Seth. ( I liked him the best. Team Seth!) It's some-what of a love/want triangle, with Aislinn stuck right in the middle. These characters, (also including Donia, Beira, Niall) were really interesting because of their hearts, thoughts, and actions. Keenan was so friendly, Seth was so protective, and Aislinn was just trying to keep hold of her life. Donia was also a great addition. She showed Keenan's vulnerable side, and she was really caring and nurturing. I'm not sure what the next book Ink Exchange will be like, considering the new characters, but I'm hoping I will click with it more.

Happy reading!

A-Z Reading Challenge

2011-01-13T16:30:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! How fun does this challenge sound? All you have to do is read 26 books this year, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet! It's being hosted by Stephanie at The Thoughts of a Book Junky. She is not only having tons of giveaways for this challenge, but she is giving everyone swag just for joining!! You can read the entire list of rules and sign up here.

Italic means I both read it and reviewed it.

Here's my book list!:

A- Across the Universe by Beth Revis
B- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
C- City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
D- Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
E- Entwined by Heather Dixon
F- Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
G- Goddess Boot Camp

H- Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
I- I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
J- Jane by April Lindner
K- Kick by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman
L- Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
M- Matched by Ally Condie
N- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
O- Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
P- Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Q- Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch
R- Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
S- Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves
T- The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June by Robin Benway
U- Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
V- Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
W- Wake by Lisa McMann
X- XVI by Julia Karr
Y- You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Z- Zombie Vs. Unicorn by Various Authors

I'm really excited for this challenge!! :)

Giveaway: Falling Under

2011-01-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

I promised more giveaways! :-)

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams. As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

-Fill out the form

-Must be 13 years or older

-U.S. Addresses Only

-Ends January 20

Falling Under is a gripping, dark romance.

*Good Luck*

CONTEST CLOSED!

Resolutions + Award

2011-01-10T14:06:00.001-08:00

Happy Monday! As of 10 days ago, we are in a new year. Maybe it's just me, but I love new years. New beginnings, fresh starts, a clean slate. It feels like there is a world of possibilities for everyone. One of many things New Years comes with is resolutions. I like resolutions because they keep me focused on the things I want to achieve. Here are my blog resolutions:

Be more consistent. My blogging isn't very good on consistency. I can go 5 days in a row, doing good, when all of the sudden I don't blog for three days. This happens quite often, and I want it to stop. So, I'm thinking that the best way to stay consistent is to try to blog something once a day, and when I don't, just stop for one day, then go for it again. So I will try to keep 1 day breaks in between those 5-day-posts, instead of three days. (Did that make any sense?) :-)
Comment more! I'm pretty sure this is on everyones list. The thing with me is I will read 6 reviews, but only comment on two. Which I guess isn't fair in the long run. A lot of the time, I just don't have anything to comment on. But I don't want to be the person who goes on every single review, and just comments "great review!" It's nice, but gives no feedback whatsoever. On that note, I will comment more, but will not be a "great review!" commenter.
Read (a lot) more. I started this blog because I would read 4 books in a week, but then would be left with nothing else to read. I would read all these good books, and have no one to share it with. Now both of those problems are solved, but I stopped reading as much! Which is really crazy, but the truth. So be prepared for way for reviews coming from me!
Giveaways! I need to host much, much more giveaways! So far I have only held one, my 100 Follower Giveaway, and it was a lot of fun! So I already have some books I want to giveaway, but for better efficiency, I am going to use Google Docs. One problem, I have NO idea how to use them. I've tried multiple times but it doesn't make any sense! If anyone can help me with that, it would be greatly appreciated! (Just send me an e-mail~found in my "Contact" tab.)

So those are my resolutions/blogging goals. If anyone else has made a post with their goals, leave a link! I'd love to read them! Before I go, I just wanted to thank Cheree from Justified Lunacy. She gave me the Stylish Blogger Award. Thank you so much Cheree!!! :-)

Happy reading!

In My Mailbox #34

2011-01-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I only got one book this week, but that's okay with me because I got a LOT of books last week.

So, this is what I got:

Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr

(won from the wonderful Melina at Reading Vacation)

So this is the final book in the Wicked Lovely series, and I am actually reading the first one right now. So far I like it and the review will most likely be up tomorrow (I'm really close to finishing it!)

What was in your mailbox this week? Leave a link! :)

Book Blogger Hop #18

2011-01-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

"What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

A book that influenced me was Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. It gave me a new outlook on life, and I read it during a year that was really difficult for me. It was a book that left me happy and realizing that I was going to live through the things that were bringing me down.
(really short answer, I know, haha)

Have a great weekend and happy reading!!

Falling Under

2011-01-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

Title: Falling Under

Author: Gwen Hayes

Release Date: March 1, 2011

Publisher: New American Library

Length: 324 pages

Summary:

Review:

I was SUPER excited to read Falling Under. It was described as a dark romance. I think that is a pretty fitting description of this book. A dark romance that is a little scary, has dark humor, and that kept me reading.

Theia has weird dreams. She feels transported to a different place, and even when she tries to convince herself that it was just a dream, evidence pops up. The biggest confirmation to her dreams was when she went to school and saw the new student, Haden Black. She'd seen him before, in her dreams. The relationship between Haden and Theia was irritating. Every time they got closer, he'd just push her away. But it was the kind of relationship that I was rooting for the entire time. Of course I was curious to see how these two very different people could be together.

Theia is quiet, sweet, and loving. Haden is arrogant, a big flirt, and pretty tortured inside. What they did have in common was they were both stubborn, and they both wanted each other. On that note, this book was a little... lust filled. Not that much that it was uncomfortable to read, but you have to have a certain level of maturity to read some of the scenes without it feeling inappropriate. It wasn't filled with it either, just in some scenes.

I felt that the plot was pretty slow, but I kept on reading because I wanted to know what would happen next. Every time the chapter ended, I was like, "One more chapter!" and before I knew it, I was finished. The book felt pretty finished, but I still have a lot of questions. Hopefully Gwen Hayes has a sequel in the works. But if not, I am perfectly content with the ending, it was finished very nicely.

I give Falling Under:

Happy reading!

DupliKate

2011-01-03T06:30:00.001-08:00

Title: DupliKate

Author: Cherry Cheva

Publisher: HarperTeen

Length: 242 pages

Summary:

Getting into Yale has been Kate Larson’s dream for years—and being overworked and under-rested is the price of admission. But when she opens her eyes after falling asleep on her keyboard one night, she comes face-to-face with, well, herself. Meet Kate’s computer-generated twin. Kate doesn’t know why she’s here or how to put her back where she belongs, but she’s real. And she’s the last thing Kate has time to deal with right now. Unless. . .could having a double be the answer to Kate’s prayers? In this hilarious second novel, Cherry Cheva introduces a character who has been granted the wish of every overscheduled teen everywhere—for there to be two of her. But as everyone knows, you should be careful what you wish for...it just might come true and wear all your clothes and steal your boyfriend.

Review:

DupliKate was a light, fun read! I hadn't heard of this book at all until a few weeks ago. I was at the library when I was drawn to the bright, colorful cover of DupliKate. Then when I picked it up a few days ago, I couldn't put it down!

Kate is a high-strung, busy, high-school senior. With the stress of homework, SAT's, college applications, extra curriculars, and a social life, no wonder she can barely think straight. Right when Kate is about to reach her breaking point, a big (and slightly crazy) miracle happens. Kate's SimuLife game character comes to life- right from her computer! At first, Kate thinks all this stress has made her gone insane, until she realizes that her prayers have been answered. A second her= more time to focus on writing her college paper.

I LOVED this book for two big reasons. One, the characters. I enjoyed all of them, and that might be because they remind me of people I know in real life. Kate was that girl who seems really busy all the time, but is funny and sweet. Paul was the guy that was cute, got good grades, was a jock, and just "all-around perfect." Jake was the sarcastic, sometimes annoying, but overall lovable guy in class. And Rina was the over-excited, super-happy, funny girl that has more to her than you'd think. Second, I loved the humor! Cherry Cheva writes for Family Guy, so I knew that this book was going to be really funny! And, it was! Every chapter had me laughing out loud, and it was probably the funniest book I've read in a long time.

I give DupliKate:

5 Crowns

Happy reading!

In My Mailbox #33

2011-01-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got over winter break!:

Orphan of Destiny by Michael P. Spradlin
Burning Secrets by Clare Chambers
When I Was Joe by Keren David
Violence 101 by Denis Wright

The Secret Journeys of Jack London: The Wild by Christopher Golden
Kick by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman
Blast From the Past by Meg Cabot
Vampire Crush by A.M. Robinson

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn
Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland
Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft
The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan

Emily the Strange: Dark Time by Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner
The Six Crowns: Trundle's Quest by Allan Jones
Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey
Plague by Michael Grant

The Trust by Tom Dolby
Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me by Kristen Chandler
The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway
Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Entice by Carrie Jones
Style by Lauren Conrad

Thank you to the wonderful Kristi from The Story Siren for sending me all these awesome books! (Except Style, I got that for Christmas!)

So that's what I got for winter break! Leave a link to your mailbox :) And HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You

2010-12-31T14:43:00.000-08:00

"Hello everyone! I am still on my blog-break, but as I said, I am still going to post some things. By that I mean the books I've read but haven't reviewed yet. And possibly an In My Mailbox. Thanks for staying with me everybody :)" -Morgan

Title: I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls #1)
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion
Length: 284 pages

Summary:
The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women lives up to its name. Not only does this exclusive boarding school teach advanced language skills and correct deportment; its students also master the arts of tapping phones, hacking into computers, and spying in public places. At school, second-generation Gallagher Girl Cammie Morgan has impeccable credentials: She is fluent in 14 languages and able to kill an assailant in seven different ways. But recently life has dealt Cammie a card that she never anticipated: She has fallen in love with an ordinary boy who knows nothing about her exotic double life. A truly covert romance.

Review:
What an awesome concept for a book! Teenage girls who just happen to be spies. On that alone, I started reading. Right from the beginning, Cammie was a fabulous main character. Funny, relatable, hardworking, and loyal to both her friends and her mom. Ally Carter did a great job of making the life of a teenage spy seem both familiar and fun. For example, the classes. Countries of the World, Covert Operations, Ancient Languages, Culture and Assimilation, and Protection and Enforcement. Each and every one seemed 1 Million times more exciting than my regular classes at school. But being a spy isn't all fun and games. Cammie has to go on really hard missions to test her skills. And, she has to stay a chameleon, and blend in with her surroundings. That is, until Josh see's her. I really liked seeing Josh and Cammie's relationship grow. It was a simple, cute romance. But things don't look very bright when Cammie has to hide the fact that she's a spy. This book was fun to read, and kept me turning the pages, wondering what Cammie's secret would get her into next. The next book is Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy, which I'm looking forward to reading. I give this book: 4 CROWNS.

See You Soon

2010-12-26T12:32:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I bet you've noticed that I'm not blogging as much. That's because I've made a decision to take a little break. It won't be long, I plan to end the break 2 weeks into January (the 15th) and I might post a little in between that time. But look forward to an improved Paperback Princess in 2011. I just really need to have school be my main focus right now. Everyone, have a great start to the new year, and I will see you soon.

-Morgan

Book Blogger Hop #17

2010-12-24T10:32:00.001-08:00

Even though it is canceled this week, I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas Eve :)

I've been taking a little vacation from blogging- but expect much, much more from me in 2011! hope everyone has a great Christmas!! :)

Happy reading and Merry Christmas :)

Teaser Tuesday #20

2010-12-21T18:22:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Here's my teaser:

"I walked straight past the big wooden tables and squishy armchairs in the front section, past all the bookshelves and study rooms, and holed up in one of the back computer carrels. There, I googled the hell out of schizophrenia, hallucinations, delusions, multiple personality disorder, and anything else that might explain me having a vision of a clone that I could talk to and touch."

-pg. 45, "DupliKate" by Cherry Cheva

There's my teaser! Leave a link to yours :)

Sorry For the Lack of Posts

2010-12-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been posting as much! I've been busy with christmas stuff. But I have finished all my wrapping and baking, so I am ready to hit the books and the posts!

Hope you all have a nice week! :) And be sure to stay tuned for more posts!

In My Mailbox #32

2010-12-18T13:31:00.001-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

Let It Snow by various authors
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
(for 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge)

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian

That's what I got this week! Leave a link to your mailbox :-)

Book Blogger Hop #16

2010-12-17T20:18:00.000-08:00

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books.

"What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?"
EXTREMELY tough question. But I would have to say characters. I say this because, even when a plot is slow/not well written, the characters could save it and make it a better book. Plot is very important, but sometimes characters top it.

Wow, short answer. :/
What do you think? Leave a comment!

Just for Fun

2010-12-16T17:28:00.000-08:00

Still in the middle of reading books. So, I have just a fun little post/quiz/tag to give you.

1. Favorite childhood book?

My favorite childhood book was Shirley Barber's Fairy Collection by Shirley Barber. Or "Mandy" by Julie Andrews Edwards (a.k.a. Mary Poppins!) I also really loved the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park.

2. What are you reading right now?

Right now I am reading "I'd Tell You I'd Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You" by Ally Carter and "Prisoners in the Palace" by Michaela MacColl.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

"Dash & Lily's Book of Dares" by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.

4. Bad book habit?
Sometimes I don't finish books when they get too boring :(

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library?

Um, a lot, lol. "DupliKate" Cherry Cheva, "Twenty Boy Summer" by Sarah Ockler, "Far From You" by Lisa Schroeder, "Not That Kind of Girl" by Siobhan Vivian, "Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy" by Ally Carter, and "Sea Change" by Aimee Friedman.

6. Do you have an e-reader?

Nope, but that would be cool! :) I would love the Nook Color so I could actually read by NetGalleys!

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

One book is defiantly my first choice, but I'm always reading two.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?

YES! Now I happen to read faster, choose different genres of books I would of never chosen, and I really enjoy books more than I used to.

9. Least favorite book you read this year (so far?)

Probably either "The Boyfriend List" by E.Lockhart or "Confetti Girl" by Diana Lopez. And it's very sad because I really wanted to like them. Same with "Little Miss Red" by Robin Palmer.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year?

Oh, this is an easy one. "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins, "Beautiful Creatures" by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, "The Iron King" by Julie Kagawa, and "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone?

7.5/10 times. Depends on what I've heard about the book and if I think it sounds interesting enough.

12. What is your reading comfort zone?

In the YA category, probably Realistic Fiction or most Paranormal. But as I said before, it really depends on my interest level.

13. Can you read on the bus?

Yeah, although I don't have much experience considering I don't ride the bus.

14. Favorite place to read?

In my bed, all comfy & cozy with my blankets and 10 bazillion pillows. Or in Hawaii. (Mostly because everything is better in Hawaii.)

15. What is your policy on book lending?

Here's my policy: I lend it to you, you read it, then give it right back.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

No. First day at Kindergarten during Library class, the librarian said, and I quote, "Books have feelings. Would you like to be folded?" That kind of stuck to me.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books?

See #16. Then add "or written on?"

18. Not even with text books?

Not unless they are the used ones I would buy at Hastings or something.

19. What is your favorite language to read in?

English. If I was bilingual, then, my answer would be a little different. (FRENCH!)

20. What makes you love a book?

If it has a lovable main character and it least 1 cute guy (lol) + a stare-for-10-minutes-straight-worthy cover, and good writing that makes the plot work, then I will love it. (Yes, I realize that I'm picky.) But I've actually read a couple books that meet these expectations, so, it's not impossible.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book?

I'm inspired to recommend a book when it makes me feel like I am watching an absolutely amazing movie with an ending that leaves you throwing popcorn at the screen demanding for more. So, it least you know recommendations from me won't leave you disappointed.

22. Favorite genre?

YA! Also known as Young Adult, and Teen.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)

Those scary/horror ones. I really wish I could read stuff like that, but I get scared very easily.

24. Favorite biography?

Hmm... my favorite biography is "The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and Friendship" by Jeffrey Zaslow. It makes me feel all happy inside (:

25. Have you ever read a self-help book?

Uh, does that American Girl book "The Care & Keeping of You" count? If it does, then, yes.

26. Favorite cookbook?

"The Pioneer Woman Cooks" by Ree Drummond. DELICIOUS!!!!!!! :D

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

Don't tell me, I know this one!! Oh, yes. "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli. Or "Paint The Wind" by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Those are a couple of my favorite books.

28. Favorite reading snack?

Goldfish and chocolate milk. Awww yeahhhh.

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience.

Ugh, Twilight. Couldn't read it at school without boys coming up to me and saying "Oh! Are you Team R-Patz?" or something like that. For the record, I think it's kind of messed up that those boys would even knew that.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book?

Mostly all the time. There are only those select few people that when I read their reviews I'm like "WHAT?!?!?" But, I always try to keep in mind that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, blah blah blah. lol. :)

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?

Again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But also, sometimes I do feel bad, but that's only when I really wanted to like the book. Writing anything negative just makes me feel mean :/

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?

Read #19.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?

"The Host" by Stephenie Meyer. I usually don't mind a big book, but holy-moly. The Host is HUGE.

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?

Twilight, when I first got it. I purchased it based on hype, and I was nervous on whether or not it would live up to that hype.

35. Favorite Poet?

Emily Dickinson or Edgar Allen Poe, when talking about beauty or being really poetic. On the fun side, Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?

Usually 5 or more. It all depends on the selection. I'm trying to cut back and just get 3 at a time.

37. How often have you returned book to the library unread?

Sadly, a lot more times than I would like to admit.

38. Favorite fictional character?

That's a toughie. I like the whole Harry Potter gang, the Hunger Games gang, The Clique girls, Meghan Chase, along with Ash and Puck, the whole Beautiful Creatures gang, (I could go on and on so I will leave you with those select favorites.)

39. Favorite fictional villain?

LORD VOLDEMORT!!!!!! (whoop! whoop!)

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?

Usually just what I'm reading at the time. I'm not much of a "coordinate your book with your location" kind of girl.

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading.

Probably a week. Or the time before I couldn't read. (But, then again, my parents were reading to me, so....)

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. I just couldn't get through it. And besides, that book was out of my comfort zone, (a.k.a. zombies) so I could sort of see it coming. But I'm going to pick it up again soon.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

So many things. To name a few: TV, my sister, good smells coming from the kitchen, the computer, cute boys (just kidding), and that deep regret you feel when you haven't finished your chores or homework.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

Harry Potter 1-7. (I realize The Deathly Hollows has not come out yet, but from the trailer I know it's going to be amazing!) Also, The Clique. One of the cutest movies ever and it stayed so true to the book.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation?

The City of Ember. Great book, but I'm sorry, Mr. Director-Producer-Person. What was with the oversized animals?

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?

$50.00. Good times.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it?

Always. Even when I know I want to read it, I can't help the urge to double-check.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

Either it's not clicking with me, or I have a lot going on in my life. (Like mid-terms or test time.)

49. Do you like to keep your books organized?

Uh-huh. I mix it up every once in awhile. I go from spine color to book height to alphabetized either by author or title.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?

Keep 'em if they were awesome, give them away if I would never-ever read them again.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

Unless they are avoiding me, then, no.

52. Name a book that made you angry.

Angry with disappointment? "Beautiful Creatures". (I know, I can feel your shock.) Even though it was one of my favorite books, they killed off one of my favorite characters. Same with "The Summer of Skinny Dipping" by Amanda Howells.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

Twilight.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

"Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer". I really really REALLY wanted to like this, but I didn't :(

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

If we are talking series, my pleasure reading would come from The Clique [by Lisi Harrison] or the Main Street [by Ann M. Martin] series. Or, skimming through my favorite parts from the Harry Potter or Twilight series. If we are talking genres, then anything YA/Paranormal.

That was fun! You should fill it out! Be sure to leave a link if you do! (or have!)

Teaser Tuesday #19

2010-12-14T19:14:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Here's my teaser:

"I'm not sure how it happened, but at some point between one P.M. and six forty-five, the sophomore class from the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women morphed from a group of spies-in-training into a bunch of teenage girls. It was pretty scary."

-pg. 58, "I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You" by Ally Carter

So far, I'm enjoying this. I love the idea of teen spies :-)

Unearthly

2010-12-13T06:22:00.001-08:00

Title: Unearthly (Unearthly #1)
Author: Cynthia Hand
Publisher: Harper Teen
Length: 435 pages

Summary:
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what it is, though, isn't easy. Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place--and out of place, at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make--between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?
Another 2011 debut down!* Cynthia Hand knows how to write a great angel novel. It was suspenseful, romantic, mysterious, and funny.

The characters were fabulously written. All of them were so well developed and had their own story. Clara was a really good main character. She was strong and confident, but also nervous and unsure of her purpose as an angel. My favorite character was Tucker. He was so sweet, funny, kind, and thoughtful. Plus, he was a cowboy! :-) I also loved all the other characters like Christian, Jeffrey, Angela, and Wendy. They were all so different and each of them were really fun to read about.

My favorite element of the story is the setting. The mountainside of Wyoming. I loved it all; the mountains, lakes, ski slopes, restaurants, forests. I love anything countryside, because it makes me feel at home. On that note, my favorite part of the book was in the summer when Tucker showed Clara around Wyoming. Oh my gosh, it was so much fun to read- it made me all happy inside!

The beginning and the ending were both a bit strange. The beginning was weird because I wasn't quite used to the whole angelic-vision thing. But a few chapters later, I got it, and it started making a lot more sense. The ending was weird only because it felt unfinished. But I think that's because there is going to be a sequel. (Which I'm really excited for!)

Overall, I loved this book. Despite the length, it was a pretty fast read. Mostly because I couldn't put it down :)

Happy reading!

*Although it is not 2011, so I cannot enter this review into the challenge, I will still count it as a book I've read for the challenge (just for me to keep track)

You Wish

2010-12-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

Title: You Wish
Author: Mandy Hubbard
Publisher: R azorbill
Length: 284 pages

Summary:
Kayla McHenry's sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla's secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin' do.
Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year's supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla's wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend's boyfriend.

This is such a cute book! I loved the idea of it, and it was fun to read. It sort of reminded me of 16 Wishes, a really adorable Disney Channel movie. I loved a lot of things about this book, so let's get to it.

First off, I just have to say that this book is awesome because it is set in Washington, which is where I live. Mandy Hubbard mentions the Puget Sound, and WSU (Go cougs!). I'm not sure why, but I just found this small fact extremely cool.

Second, the characters were so funny and real! I really liked the MC, Kayla. She's not a big fan of pink, is sarcastic, but was a big-time girly girl as a child. That reminds me of all my friends, and me :-). My favorite character was Ben though. He was really funny and he did motocross, which I think is awesome. Kayla's best friend Nicole was okay, but I didn't really like her that much. She just didn't seem as genuine as the others. The other characters were wishes, so..

THE WISHES! All of them made me laugh! There was a lifetime supply of gumballs, a life-size My Little Pony, and a real life Raggedy Anne, or, just Anne. She was funny, because she didn't really have any experiences other than being a doll/child. But my favorite wish would have to be Ken. He was hilarious! Like when he kissed his biceps, or bought "Muscle Milk." But without the funniness, the story would still have a pretty big message. For me, it was somewhere along the lines of "Don't forget your past" and "Don't grow up too fast."

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Everyone should read this. It's an adorable book with lots of heart.
Happy reading!

In My Mailbox #31

2010-12-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman
Looking for Alaska by John Green
(won from Danna at the Friendly Reader)

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
SO EXCITED TO READ THIS!!!!! :-)

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
(Around the World ARC Tours)

Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
(for 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge)

That's what I got this week! Leave a link to your mailbox :-)

Book Blogger Hop #15

2010-12-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books.

"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs? Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"
I love ALL of it! Especially when the blogger seems truly interested in what their doing, and they seem to be having fun with each post. Then you feed off that energy, and enjoy their blog more. But personally, my absolute favorite thing would probably be the book reviews. The core of book blogging. :) But author interviews/guest posts are exciting too, because they're like book royalty! I've only had one author interview, with Susane Colasanti, and I about dropped dead I was so excited! And I always love giveaways- who doesn't?

Leave a comment on what your answer is- until then, happy hopping! :)

City of Bones

2010-12-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Length: 485 pages

Summary:
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

I think Holly Black explained City of Bones the best when she said it was, "Funny, dark, and sexy." That's exactly what I think about this book. I know that I am probably the last person in the entire blogosphere who hasn't read this. But I finally did, and I am very satisfied.

Right from the beginning I was immersed into the world of Shadowhunters. I love the idea of demon hunters. It's just so original! I was a little confused by all the stories and rules that came with being a Shadowhunter, but soon everything started making sense and fitting together.

The characters were amazing! Clary was such a great protagonist. She was relatable, brave, and smart. She had such a big heart, and she wanted to help everyone. She was also headstrong, but she always stood up for herself, and the ones she loved. Jace was my favorite character because his sarcasm was hilarious! I hadn't read a funny book in quite a while. But Jace was also sad and tortured by both his past and himself. I loved Clary and Jace's relationship, because they were always butting heads. But you could tell how much they cared for each other. But as the plot thickened....

The plot! The ending! My head is still spinning. I did not see any of it coming. SO many secrets and clues and lies. All of it made a great ending. It has me aching to read City of Ashes. But it will have to wait until I tackle my TBR list. *sigh*
Happy reading!

Mistletoe

2010-12-08T13:58:00.001-08:00

Title: Mistletoe

Author: various authors
Publishing: 2006, Scholastic
Length: 219 pages

Summary:
Glittering white snowflakes. The handsome blond ski instructor. The sparkle on a cashmere skirt. Hot cocoa and kisses in front of a crackling fire. The holiday season is the ESSENCE of magic...and romance. Four of today's bestselling teen authors -- Melissa de la Cruz (THE AU PAIRS), Aimee Friedman (SOUTH BEACH), Hailey Abbott (SUMMER BOYS), and Nina Malkin (6X) -- bring us delectable tales of love and lust and holiday cheers (and tears) in this one-of-a-kind collection that teens will devour faster than a plate of Christmas cookies.

Sadly, I was very disappointed by Mistletoe. It wasn't as entertaining as I hoped it would be, and it didn't get me into any sort of christmas spirit. Mistletoe consists of four different stories. I will explain each one in order of favorite to least favorite.

"The Christmas Choos" by Melissa De La Cruz: This one was my favorite because the characters were instantly relatable and the story has fun to read. But it was lacking something, and I think that was the reality-factor. It felt like some of the stuff they said and did weren't something the reader could relate to.
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Breakup" by Hailey Abbott: This one was actually pretty good. But the story just went too fast. That might just be because it's a "short story", but I still wish the characters were better developed. If only this and The Christmas Choos could mix together- it would be extremely better! This is also the one I was looking forward most to reading, but it didn't meet the expectations the summary (on back cover) set.
"Working in a Winter Wonderland" by Aimee Friedman: This one was cute, but really un-relatable for me. The characters seemed fake, the conversations seemed disingenuous, and the ending, though happy, was kind of off.
"Scenes From a Cinematic New Year's" by Nina Malkin: Ugh!- I was happy when this one was over. Though the concept was really interesting, the story itself was really confusing to me and I didn't like the characters, conversations, or plot.

So as much as I wanted to like Mistletoe, it just didn't click with me. I can't say that I would recommend this for anyone, because there wasn't anything I really liked about it.

Happy reading!

Teaser Tuesday #18

2010-12-07T11:39:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Here's my teaser:

"He led her past stalls bright with sparkling glass and others adorned with tin saucepans clanking in the light breeze. They stepped over a boy sitting on a makeshift display of used boots laid out on the curb. He shivered in his tattered coat; Liza wished she could buy him some hot chestnuts."

-pg. 113, "Prisoners in the Palace" by Michaela MacColl

So far, I'm really liking this book! I've always had a thing for historical mystery/romance. It's fun to transport to a different time.

Be sure to leave a link to your teaser! :)

Angelfire

2010-12-06T17:21:00.001-08:00

Title: Angelfire (Angelfire #1)
Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Publishing: 2011, Katherine Tegen Books
Length: 453 pages

Summary:
When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul. A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once. While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.
Yay! My first 2011 debut!* I'm always pleasantly surprised with debuts. And Angelfire was no exception. This book was dark, funny, and action-packed.

Ellie was living the normal life of a teenager. That is, until, she turns seventeen. Then in pops Will, a mysterious guy who claims to be her Guardian. And right when things couldn't get weirder, she is attacked by a reaper! Soon she finds herself consumed with memories, secrets, and the ability to fight- with swords. Is she really what Will says she is- a reincarnation of an ancient Preliator?

This book was IN-TENSE. Not just because of the fight-scenes. The characters definitely helped out. The main character, Ellie, was a fantastic heroine. She was tough and determined, but also sweet and compassionate. Will was my favorite character. Stubborn, tortured, and really lovable. And the supporting characters like Kate and Ellie's parents added so much to the story- and I loved every moment of it!

The plot was pretty slow for the first 100 pages. But once I got into it, I couldn't stop reading!! Throughout the middle, the action kept me reading. But towards the end, the romance kept me reading (more like flipping rapidly through the pages). I was pretty confused at the beginning because a lot of information was being dumped onto me. But it only took me a couple chapters to understand everything.

This has to be one of the most interesting books I've ever read. (In a completely good way). I give it:
Happy reading!!!
(Thank you Star Book Tours for sending me Angelfire!)

*Although it is not 2011, so I cannot enter this review into the challenge, I will still count it as a book I've read for the challenge (just for me to keep track)

In My Mailbox #30

2010-12-05T17:20:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
(Star Book Tours)

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Goddess Boot Camp by Tera Lynn Childs

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

That's what I got this week. Leave a link to your mailbox :)

Book Blogger Hop #14

2010-12-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books.

"What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

As uninteresting as this is, I actually have enjoyed all hyped-up books. Including the Twilight Saga (to the horror of my friends). For me, Twilight isn't the best book, but I liked it and Stephenie Meyer kept a good job at keeping the reader interested. But the thing is, I don't like the Twilight hype. "Robsten", the movies, the merchandise. It's all great for the fans and Miss Meyer, but it just kind of annoys me. I don't have anything against it thought. I actually quite enjoyed New Moon :)

And the only book I've ever had trouble reviewing was a non-hype book. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen. I have no idea why, since I LOVE Sarah Dessen's writing, but something just didn't click with me and Lock and Key. I had such a hard time writing it because I hate writing negative reviews. I understand everyone has their own opinion, but I always feel kind of harsh.

HAPPY HOPPING! :)

'Tis the Season

2010-12-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

Title: 'Tis the Season (Main Street #3)

Author: Ann M. Martin
Publishing: 2007, Scholastic
Length: 195 pages

Summary:
Christmas is coming to Camden Falls, and Flora and Ruby don't know how to feel about it; it's their first Christmas without their parents, and the memories are both happy and sad. Luckily, Flora and Ruby are surrounded by people who care about them -- from their grandmother Min to their friends Olivia and Nikki, who are dealing with challenges of their own. There's also an unexpected visitor: Flora and Ruby's aunt, whose presence promises to shake things up. It's going to be a Christmas that nobody ever forgets....

This is book 3 in one of my absolute favorite Middle Grade series. I'm re-reading it for the 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge, and it has been really fun. In 'Tis the Season, it's Flora and Ruby's first Christmas in Camden Falls, and without there parents. For Nikki, it's the first Christmas without her alcoholic dad, and the first time she feels safe. And for Olivia, it's the first Christmas with her parents struggling to keep their jobs, and the first Christmas that she might not get much presents.

I love this book because not only does it talk about issues like alcoholism, Alzheimer's, and losing jobs to the economy, but it's also sweet, heartwarming, and cute. These two girls who have lost their parents, along with there friends who are going through pretty big problems themselves, decide that for Christmas, they aren't going to focus on their issues. Instead, they are going to give back to the community. They have a toy drive, and they find more happiness in that than if they got presents for themselves.

I recommend this book as a little holiday pick-me-up, when you need some comfort and smiles after shoveling the snow :)

Happy reading!

Infinite Days

2010-12-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

Title: Infinite Days (Vampire Queen #1)
Author: Rebecca Maizel
Publishing: 2010, St. Martin's Griffin
Length: 308 pages

Summary:
Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.

Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her new found life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm?

Wow. Just... wow. Best vampire book in the world. And one of the best book's I've ever read. I was extremely doubtful that I would like Infinite Days. It just seemed like the idea of it was too big and complicated for it to work. But, Rebecca Maizel turned those doubts right around- because the story was amazing! I couldn't believe it was a debut.

Lenah has been a vampire queen for the past 500 years. But with help from her closest friend, and an ancient ritual, Lenah wakes up one day as a human. A 16 year old human girl. But after Rhode's death, she is left alone and confused. Until she meets Tony. Soon they become best friends. But then Justin comes in the picture, and stirs things up a bit.

The characters in this book were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Each one so lovable, interesting, and unique. It's hard to say who my favorite character was, but in all honesty, it was probably Tony. He brought humor into the story, and he was they type of person I'd want as a friend. Really loyal and funny. Lenah could of had many personalities. But I'm glad that Maizel chose someone I could relate to. Which is very hard to do since Lenah is 500 years old. But even though she was an evil, heartless person when she was a vampire, you could still relate to her when she turned human. I think it's mostly because of her big heart. And Justin was the one that I enjoyed reading about the most (even though he's not my favorite character). I enjoyed reading about him because he was such a sweet and accepting person- and he cared about Lenah SO much.

The plot was really fast paced, I almost felt like it was too fast, but it worked. The story was getting a little slow... and then *BAM!*, the climax. It was all pretty action-packed until the ending, which by the way, was amazing!!! (I'm using that word too much, lol) I'm really pumped for the sequel, Stolen Nights. I give Infinite Days:

Happy reading! :)

Teaser Tuesday #17

2010-11-30T13:46:00.001-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Here's my teaser:

"A sudden pain lanced through her right arm. She shrieked as the images fell away and she spun upward, breaking the surface of consciousness like a diver breaking up through a wave."

-pg. 185 & 186, "City of Bones" by Cassandra Clare

That's my teaser! Happy Tuesday! :)

Secret Santa

2010-11-28T15:00:00.000-08:00

Title: Secret Santa

Author: Sabrina James
Publishing: 2007, Point
Length: 345 pages

Summary:

Noelle, a hopeless romantic, just knows that her gifts have to be from her senior crush! And geeky Froggy thinks the game is the perfect way to get super-popular Celia to fall for him...except she thinks his gifts are from Jake, the school's resident bad boy, and starts to crush on him! Romantic mishaps abound, but all is revealed the night of the Winter Dance, where there's more than one surprise waiting under the mistletoe!

What a great start to the Holiday Reading Challenge! Secret Santa was cute, sweet, and it gave me that warm & fuzzy holiday feeling.

In Secret Santa, you jump from character to character: Noelle, Froggy, Celia, David, Conner, Simon, Lily, and Shawna. As the back cover says, "A game of Secret Santa has everybody guessing."

Will Froggy get Celia, or will Celia get Jake? Will Noelle get Charlie or will Amber stand in the way? My favorite character had to be Froggy. Not only was he sweet, but just the way he was to Celia made me love him to bits. And then my favorite Secret Santa was Noelle's. The gifts she received were so sweet and romantic- they made me want to have a Secret Santa!! And the ending made me get all giddy and left me very happy and very satisfied.

The whole book was about presents, crushes, and getting into the christmas spirit. Everything great about Christmas was in this book: love, mistletoe, kisses, presents, happiness, joy, everything. This book definitely got me in the Christmas spirit, and I'm excited to read another holiday book!

I give Secret Santa:

Happy reading!!

There's a lot to celebrate today :)

2010-11-28T11:16:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! :)

Yay!! It's my *13th* birthday today!!

And what better way to celebrate than..... getting an award!!!

Thank you so much to Jude from "...It's Like a Whirlwind Inside of my Head..." for giving me the "Life is Good" award.

Wow, this is my FIFTH blog award!! But technically my third because I got three of the same award. (Check the "About Me" tab for my other awards).

Thank you so much!!! :)

In My Mailbox #29

2010-11-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl
(Thanks Novel Novice and Chronicle Books!)

"London, 1838. Sixteen-year-old Liza's dreams of her society debut are dashed when her parents are killed in an accident. Penniless, she accepts the position of lady's maid to young Princess Victoria and steps unwittingly into the gossipy intrigue of the servant's world below-stairs as well as the trickery above. Is it possible that her changing circumstances may offer Liza the chance to determine her own fate, find true love, and secure the throne for her future queen?"

So that's what I got this week. Leave a link to your IMM!! :)

Book Blogger Hop #13

2010-11-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books.

"What is your favorite book cover?"

Ugh!- This is tough. There are SO many amazing book covers out there. So, I'm going to put three. :)

1) Entangled by Cat Clarke, 2) Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley, 3) Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

First, I love the cover for Entangled mostly for the creme color with the pop of red. I also like the swirly design. Second, I LOVE Where I Belong for one big reason: It's REALLY CUTE!!! And I love the girl's dress. And lastly, I love Wolfsbane because it's so magical looking! Mysterious, paranormal, and pretty; all in one gorgeous book cover.

So what is your favorite book cover? Leave a comment! :)

P.S. What's with the new layout? It's time for a change- so I mixed it up with a nice christmas layout. Like it?

Happy Turkey Day! gobble, gobble

2010-11-25T15:54:00.001-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very happy and family-filled Thanksgiving.

May it bring you joy and an extremely full stomach.

Enjoy the 3 F's: Food, Football, and Family.

(And yes, you may have noticed my Peanuts picture, and you may remember I used one for Halloween. I'm starting a tradition.)

-Morgan :)

Teaser Tuesday #16

2010-11-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

Here's my teaser!:

"My thoughts festered inside me. I could not sleep. My mind slid away from the reality of the empty bed beside me and curved my thoughts into lyrics, my fingers imagining the frets they would press to find the tune."

- pg. 165, "Linger" by Maggie Stiefvater

That's my teaser! Leave a link to yours! Happy Tuesday! :)

In My Mailbox #28

2010-11-20T18:52:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

Mistletoe by various authors
and

Secret San ta by Sabrina James

(both for 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge)

Duplikate by Cherry Cheva

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

So that's what I got this week! What's in your mailbox? Leave a link! :)

2011 Debut Author Challenge

2010-11-20T14:01:00.000-08:00

SUPER DUPER excited for this challenge! I came into the 2010 Debut Author Challenge this year a little late, so I didn't get much books accomplished. This year, I promise, will be different.

2011 Debut Author Challenge participant information:
* The objective of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit! I encourage readers who can read more than twelve to do so!
* Anyone can join. You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States.
* You do not have to have an blog written in English to participate.
* You can join at anytime. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

Qualifying books:
* Books must be a Young Adult or Middle Grade novel.
* This must be the authors debut with a release date in 2011.
* If an author has a previous novel published under adult fiction/nonfiction or children's fiction/nonfiction, they can still qualify for the challenge if they are releasing their YA or MG debut.

RED #: Read it! Click for review!

Here's my (very, very long) list!:

Warped by Maurissa Guibord
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
XVI by Julia Karr
Timeless by Alexandra Monir
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Vesper: A Deviant's Novel by Jeff Sampsen
The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
The Trouble With Half a Moon by Danette Vigilante
Choker by Elizabeth Woods
Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
Rival by Sara Bennett-Wealer
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen
Haven by Kristi Cook
The Visconti House by Elsbeth Edgar
Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
So Shelly by Ty Roth
Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach
Wither by Lauren DeStefano
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Popular by Alissa Grosso
Clarity by Kim Harrington
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Illegal by Bettina Restrepo
The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
The Returning by Christine Hinwood
The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
The Coven's Daughter by Lucy Jago
Future Imperfect by K. Ryer Breese
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Die for Me by Amy Plum
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Jane Jones: Worst. Vampire. Ever. by Caissie St. Onge
Vicious Little Darlings by Katherine Easer
The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Possession by Elana Johnson
Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris
Wildefire by Karsten Knight
Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray
Populazzi by Elise Allen
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Broken Wings by Helen Landalf
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
Flawless by Lara Chapman
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
Queen of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet
Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
Dead Rules by Randy Russell
A Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
My Un-Fairy Tale Life by Anna Staniszewski
Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

That is quite a list! I'm excited to get started!!! Anyone else participating?

Book Blogger Hop #12

2010-11-19T14:19:00.000-08:00

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books.

"Since Thanksgiving is coming up next week, let's use this week's Hop to share what we are most thankful for and what our holiday traditions are!"

Yay! I love Thanksgiving and am thankful for SO much. First, I am thankful for my friends and family. They all love me so much, and they make everyday fun. They always have my back and are very supportive. Second, I am thankful for this blog, and the blogging community. I remember when I first started my blog, and I was like, "No one will ever read this." But in just a matter of months, I have 167 followers in counting! All my followers are my friends and they make everyday so special with something as little as a comment. (Which never get old!) And lastly, I'm thankful for life, which might sound kind of cheesy, but it's the truth. I try to live every day to the fullest, and in return I've had many happy, great days!

I love Thanksgiving, mostly for the food. :) But also, I love how all my family can finally get together. Some of my relatives live in Montana, so I don't get to see them that much. Our traditions are pretty normal. We have mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, cranberry dressing, salad, rolls, and corn. And then we relax- stuffed with food- with some football. Once we feel rested, we have a Wii tournament. (Mostly bowling, and then tennis-my specialty). And once we burned off some calories, we have pumpkin pie! And then we also celebrate my birthday (November 28th). I'm really excited to do next week's In My Mailbox with my birthday books!!

What are you thankful for? And what's your Thanksgiving traditions? Leave a comment or link! Happy Thanksgiving! :)

HARRY POTTER!!!!!!

2010-11-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! So I'm sure you all know that the movie premiere is TONIGHT!!!
And I'm sure that all of you are excited! I (sadly) cannot go because I'm having a sleepover at my friends house. (And she- believe it or not- HATES Harry Potter).

So, just to keep you entertained until tonight, I give you: The Harry Potter Puppet Pals!!!

Hope you enjoyed it! I've always loved this and haven't met any Potter-Lover who doesn't enjoy it. Leave a comment if you've seen this or if you are a first time potter puppeteer.

Have a happy reading, wizarding, movie-going, Butter-Beer-Drinking, Owl Shopping, and Voldemort Slaughtering day!! :)

Wanted

2010-11-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

Title: Wanted (Pretty Little Liars #8)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publishing: 2010, HarperTeen
Length: 259 pages

Summary:
In Rosewood, majestic estates sprawl for acres, and Tiffany toggle bracelets dangle from every girl's wrist. But not all that glitters is gold, and the town harbors secrets darker than anyone could imagine—like the truth about what really happened the night Alison DiLaurentis went missing. . . .

Back in middle school, Ali plucked Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer from obscurity and turned them into the beautiful, popular girls everyone wanted to be. Ali was the best friend they ever had. But she also made them do terrible things and taunted them with their worst secrets. Now, three years later, all their questions about Ali have finally been answered and they can put this awful chapter of their lives behind them. Or so they think.

Not every story has a happy ending, especially when four pretty little liars have done so many wicked things. In the dramatic conclusion of Sara Shepard's bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer could get everything they've ever wanted—unless A has one more horrifying twist in store.

Wow! I always feel blown away at the end of each Pretty Little Liars book, but Wanted topped them all! If you read my review of Heartless, you would remember that I said, "The ending [of Heartless] literally felt like the ending to the entire series, so I bet Wanted will be full of twists!"

And I was correct. Throughout Wanted, the reader gets to learn about Ali's secret (and surprising) past. If you think you know Ali, Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily like the back of your hand, think again. This time around, all the girls grow a lot, and are put in the biggest situation. Ali, who we think we know from what the flashbacks, ends up being a lot more complex than what we thought. Hanna tries to regain her "popular" status, Aria finds a boyfriend who might not be as loyal as she thought, Spencer tries to find a happy medium with her family, and Emily falls for someone who reminds her of a long-lost-love.

I loved the plot for Wanted. I deeply, deeply wish that I could give out spoilers because there was just SO much to say!!! So much crazy things happened but all I will tell you is that if you haven't read the Pretty Little Liars series, go and read it! And you need to read all the way to Wanted because the ending is amazing, fantastic, and absolutely scary and it left me COMPLETELY paranoid!!

I give Wanted, (and the whole entire Pretty Little Liars series):

Happy reading!!

Barbie: All Dolled Up

2010-11-15T15:19:00.000-08:00

Title: Barbie™ All Dolled Up

Author: Jennie D'Amato
Publishing: 2009, Running Press
Length: 121 pages

Summary:

Barbie™ All Dolled Up is a dazzling celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Barbie™ doll. Fully illustrated and featuring three-dimensional replicas of rare memorabilia, this unprecedented book truly brings Barbie to life in full-color, and fabulous style. With the full support of Mattel, the publication of All Dolled Up is a highlight among nationwide Barbie events and marketing initiatives being staged for the anniversary.

In five decades, the influence of Barbie on girls and the world of fashion has never faded. Now devoted collectors, baby boomers reminiscing about the doll’s classic beauty, moms still dreaming of the pink Corvette of the ’80s, and children just discovering her will relive the magic of Barbie through key eras in her development—her debut in 1959, the Mod Era of the late ’60s, the big, bold ’80s, the Totally Hair ’90s, and up to today. Original doll packaging, Barbie comic books, designer’s sketches, and an official fan club membership card and welcome letter are among the rare Barbie ephemera that have been reproduced. The narrative combines historical detail with contributions from moms, daughters, and fashion celebrities including Diane Von Furstenburg, Christian Dior, Versace, Armani, Bob Mackie, and Vera Wang. It’s Barbie doll’s birthday and no one wants to be left out of the party!

I was at Barnes & Noble the other day, and I was looking in the discount book section when I came across this book. I immediately ran up to my mom shouting "LOOK AT IT! CAN I BUY IT?!?!?!"

Barbie is probably the most well known name in the world. When you say "Barbie", it's bound to spark a conversation. For example, whenever someone at my school says Barbie, it least one person ends up singing, "I'm a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie World!" But Barbie is also a role model for girls everywhere; she brings imagination, hope, and perspective into a little girl's life, allowing her to dream about what it would be like to be a charismatic, glamorous, successful, intelligent adult.

Barbie: All Dolled Up covers everything Barbie. Her movies, clothes, designers, creator (Ruth Handler), publicity, magazine, books, and friends (Skipper, Ken, and Midge to name a few). I grew up with Barbie, so this book is already close to my heart. I grew up with Barbie movies like:

I still love Barbie in The Nutcracker and Barbie as Rapunzel (I have them on VHS). For me, these are the "classic Barbie movies", which, I guess they are since they were the first Barbie movies. Since I have a 6 year old sister, I still frequently watch Barbie movies, which in my opinion, have gotten a little annoying. It might just be because they aren't from my "generation." But still, Barbie is still sweet, brave, clever, and someone to look up to. And then the dolls I grew up with are:

I'm not sure that's the exact mermaid I had, but I remember the crown, mirror, and swirly tail. (But if that's not the one, it was something along the lines of this one.) And then, the Jewel Girl Barbie. I had the exact same one but Barbie had brown hair, a lime green jacket, blue/green swirly pants, and this huge poofy blue skirt that I remember drawing on because it was too "plain."

Barbie has evolved so much, to fit each generation. She went from classy and poised,

to fun and very, very pink.

This book was a joy to read, and I recommend it to anyone who loves Barbie, or who wants to go back in time to a simpler, care-free place that is childhood :)

Happy reading!!!

Enchanted Ivy

2010-11-14T13:11:00.000-08:00

Title: Enchanted Ivy
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publishing: 2010, Margaret K. McElderry
Length: 310 pages

Summary:
What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton. Sweet!Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princeton's—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.This is the first Sarah Beth Durst book I've read, and I am extremely happy I did. Enchanted Ivy was a story woven with humor, secrets, and enchantment. I couldn't stop reading as Lily got deeper and deeper into the secrets and worlds of the Princetons.

Lily was just going to Princeton for her grandfather's reunion. She never dreamed that she'd get the chance for an early scholarship! Soon she is off on the search for the Ivy Key, and along the way she uncovers secrets that may be dangerous to both Lily and her family. With help from the cute, mysterious, were-tiger, Tye, she discovers the magical Princeton, full of talking gargoyles, dragons, unicorns, and blood-drinking trolls.

Sarah Beth Durst knows how to write a romantic, funny fantasy. She made everything both magical and realistic, which is extremely hard to do. I couldn't stop reading! And the story never got boring. Even though Lily got in a LOT of situations, I never thought it was too much. The plot was fast, fun, and interesting.

I recommend Enchanted Ivy for people who like fantasy, humor, and cute boys who can turn into tigers. :)
Happy reading!

In My Mailbox #27

2010-11-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week:

Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst
(review will be posted tommorow)

Wanted by Sara Shepard

Raised By Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Search For WondLa: Audio CD by Tony DiTerlizzi
(Thank you Simon & Schuster and Pulse It!)

For fun and (maybe) for review!:

Barbie: All Dolled Up by Jennie D'Amato

What's in your mailbox this week?

Book Blogger Hop #11

2010-11-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books.

"If you find a book that looks interesting but is part of a series, do you always start with the first title?"

Yes, and I always have. I always feel really lost and out of place if I don't. Especially if it's one of those series that have a LOT happening in each book. (Like Pretty Little Liars). And this also applies when shopping. I don't pick a book in a series that is #5 just because I like the cover. I buy #1, or whichever one I am on, regardless of covers or things like that. The only time I have ever read a book out of place was when I was around 8, and I got book #3 in The Clique series. For one, I didn't even realize it was a series, and I liked the color combination. (I loved how simple it was back then, lol.)

So, do you start with the first title? Leave a comment or a link!

Happy reading and hopping!

Radiance

2010-11-09T10:14:00.001-08:00

Title: Radiance (Riley Bloom #1)
Author: Alyson Noël
Publishing: 2010, Square Fish
Length: 178 pages

Summary:
Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she's summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn't just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She's been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can't quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he's never met Riley...
Riley is still adjusting to her new death in the Here & Now, and she's finding it hard to get used to it. After all, she only got to live 12, short years! But then she gets the oppurtunity to go back to the earthplane... sort of. She becomes a Soul Catcher, along with her loyal, sweet dog Buttercup, and the dorky, strange boy Bodhi.

I loved the cover of Radiance, so that's what drew me in. What kept me reading was the imaginative and magical Here & Now, and the spunky, feisty, relatable main character, Riley. I loved the Here & Now because you could manifest anything you want. If you wanted to live on the beach, in the jungle, or in the city, you could! Just imagine exactly what you want, and you get it. That's how I want the afterlife to be like.

Riley was a really great character. I am twelve, like her, so I could relate to how she thinks about things. She likes to play Rock Band, she has crushes, and she loves dogs! Bodhi was your not-so-average "Dorky Boy." I liked reading about him because he seemed like the lovable kind of dorky, and he wasn't what you thought he was in the beginning.

The plot went by really fast, and it almost seemed like a short story. But it was well written, and interesting. Riley grows and learns a lot through her experiences, both about herself, and life (or death). And she started out a little whiny (which is understandable, if your life was taken away from you) but realized that maybe even death can be an adventure.

This is my first Alyson Noël book, and I'm excited to read Shimmer and The Immortals series. I give Radiance:

Happy reading!

In My Mailbox #26

2010-11-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I only got one book this week, but I couldn't be more happy about it!

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Can't wait to get started!!! (:

Happy reading!

Book Blogger Hop #10

2010-11-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books.

"What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?"

My feelings on losing a follower is both sad and sort of inspiring, as wierd as that sounds. It's sad, because I'm losing a follower (no-brainer), but also, I sort of feel like I'm doing something wrong, and that people aren't enjoying my blog. It's also inspirational because I try to think of ways I can improve my blog to get that follower back, or just to have more people stop (or hop) by.

And yes, I do stop following blogs, but only for one big reason. They stop posting. I understand that sometimes they are on vacation, too busy, or unable to get to a computer. But if it's been a month or something, and there is no sign of them doing anything, I stop following. Same if they say that they are taking a break. If I still really like that blog, I bookmark it, and then come back a few weeks later to see if anythings happening. The reason I stop following for these reasons is because I don't like blogs that aren't doing anything to clutter up my updates box.

So what do you do? Let me know by leaving a comment!

Happy hopping, reading, and following!

Shiver

2010-11-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

Title: Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publishing: 2009, Scholastic
Length: 390 pages

Summary:

the cold. Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why. the heat. Sam has lived two lives. As a wolf, he keeps the silent company of the girl he loves. And then, for a short time each year, he is human, never daring to talk to Grace...until now.

the shiver. For Grace and Sam, love has always been kept at a distance. But once it's spoken, it cannot be denied. Sam must fight to stay human—and Grace must fight to keep him—even if it means taking on the scars of the past, the fragility of the present, and the impossibility of the future.
For a few months now, all I would hear about Shiver was how amazing it was. And despite all the great things I heard about it, I never sat down and read it. But a few days ago, I was in a reading slump, not enjoying anything I was reading, so I picked up Shiver.

Shiver was the most heart-wrenching, beautiful story I've ever read. I was completely hooked from the very beginning, and I could not talk about anything other than this book. (Seriously, ask my friends.) The characters, plot, writing, ending- everything was perfectly done and satisfying.

The characters were very well created. Let's start with Grace. She's smart, kind, and loving. I liked her because she would do anything for Sam. I also felt bad for her, because her parents barely cared for her at all. And then, there's Sam. I could go on and on about how sweet he is, or how much I enjoyed reading about him, but the biggest thing that comes to mind is: If I could marry a fictional book character, I would marry Sam. Their relationship was the best and most enjoyable thing I've ever read. And I know I said that about Evernight, but Shiver beats Evernight by a long shot.

The plot was really interesting. I love when books go back and forth between characters, and this book told both Sam and Grace's side of the story. Whenever it was Sam's chapter, the reader got a glimpse into the life of a wolf, and his sad past. On Grace's chapters, the reader gets to know her crazy and unique best friends, Olivia and Rachel, and her lonely life at home. When they're apart, Grace and Sam are two incomplete people. But when they find each other, it's like they become one, whole person, which I know sounds really cliche, but it really does sum up their relationship.

The writing was beautifully, beautifully written. Maggie Stiefvater created this wonderland of a world in tiny, average Mercy Falls. Every page was a treat to read, and the ending, although satisfying, left me sad that the story ended. But, that's what sequels are for, right? I'm going to get my hands on a copy of Linger as soon as possible. If you haven't read Shiver yet, get up and GO READ IT! You won't regret it, I promise.

I give Shiver:
Happy Reading! :)

Teaser Tuesday #15

2010-11-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading.

Here's my teaser:

"They're adorned in glittery green rhinestones, shimmery turquoise and aquamarine powders streaked across their eyelids. Dragonfly girls. Their hair is all the same, long and streaked, spiraling down their backs to where the tiny strings holding their tops on are knotted tightly. Their skin glows under the neon lights- amber, ebony, cream- like shined metal, flawless and smooth."

-pg. 108, "Sisters Red" by Jackson Pearce

I realize this teaser is a little longer than it should be. But this paragraph was so descriptive, and it was really fairytale-like, which I love. Be sure to leave a link to your teaser!

Happy reading!

2010 Holiday Reading Challenge

2010-11-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yay! It's (almost) that time of year again. The time full of presents, family, cookies, snow, and love. Why not celebrate the holidays with a reading challenge?

Nely from All About {n} is hosting the 2010 Holiday Reading Challenge. (See post here.)

Challenge Requirements:

1- Challenge will start Monday, November 15 and will end Friday, December 31.

2- You can read anywhere from 1 to 5 books for the challenge and, of course, if you're like me, you are more than welcome to surpass that number.

3- And now, here's the clincher... they must be holiday related books. That's right, the holiday doesn't really matter, but it would be more "jolly" if your choices were Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.

4- The size of the book does not matter, nor does the genre. It is also okay for the book to overlap with other challenges. The only thing I ask is that they are not children's books. YA is okay. And so are re-reads. I for one tend to read the same books every Christmas - they are tradition.

5- To sign up - leave a link back to your challenge post. There will also be a post for review links as well as one for challenge wrap-ups.

6- And.... there will be goodies. That's right, we'll call them presents. At the end of every week that the challenge is running I will choose one winner from the review links. Meaning the more books you read, review and link up, the more chances you have at winning a "present".

My Book List:

Let It Snow by various authors
Ex-mas by Kate Brian
Mistletoe by various authors
Secret Santa by Sabrina James
Kissing Snowflakes by Abby Sher
Sun-Kissed Christmas by Katherine Alice Applegate
Startling Joy by James C. Schaap
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Treasury by various authors
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
A Very Dairy Christmas by Sylvia Hysen
Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul
The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn
The History of the Snowman by Bob Eckstein
Grace by Shelley Shepard Gray
'Tis The Season by Ann M. Martin
Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright
The Christmas Chronicles by Tim Slover
An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller
A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid
Very Merry Cookie Party by Virginia Van Vynckt
Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook by Betty Crocker
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
Over the Holidays by Sandra Harper

Be sure to join in the fun! Happy reading!

WINNER!!!!

2010-11-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

Remember that giveaway I had October 2nd? You know, the one to celebrate my 100 followers? It brought in 43 entries, and 53 new followers! Thank you all SOOOO much! Everyone who congratulated me, entered, followed, blogged, tweeted- you all ROCK!!!

And the winner is......

ISCELA P.!!!! (Lovely Little Love)

I've sent you an e-mail, and if you don't respond in the next 48 hours, I will pick a new winner. Thank you so much, everyone!
I will start doing more giveaways- they're a lot of fun!

Have a great day, and happy reading!

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!
My outfit is pretty interesting.
A Perry the Platypus shirt (from Phineas and Ferb), some orange/black leggings,
a pink tutu, nerd glasses, green/blue socks, zebra sneakers, and a pom-pom hat.
I call it my "Goofy Goober" outfit. (Thank you, Spongebob.)
What's your outfit? And what's your favorite candy? (Mine is either Twix or Crunch.)
HAVE AN AWESOME HALLOWEEN! BOO!

Evernight

2010-10-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

Title: Evernight (Evernight #1)
Author: Claudia Gray
Publishing: 2008, Harper Teen
Length: 327 pages

Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in. Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. "I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would." But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

This is the best vampire book I've ever read! It was romantic, funny, mysterious, and fast-paced. What more could you ask for in a vampire novel? Evernight takes you on Bianca's journey through the prestigious Evernight Academy. It wasn't her choice to come there, but it was her choice to stay. After meeting Lucas, she decided that maybe Evernight isn't as bad as she thought. But Lucas holds just as much secrets as Evernight.... and Bianca.

I had NO idea this book was about vampires. Not until about half way through the book. It goes to show that I should of read the prologue because they mention vampires, so..... yeah. Anyway, apparently, our narrator, Bianca, grew up knowing about vampires and her fate, but the author never gave us any clues what-so-ever until the answer was right in our faces. And for that, I have to say I LOVE Claudia Gray. She took foreshadowing and turned it up a notch. Just thought I should mention that.

So, I think this book was relatively slow until the vampires started popping up. That's when she really started her relationship with Lucas, for me. Bianca and Lucas have taken 1st place on my favorite couple list. They have the dangerous, yet sweet and loving relationship that makes any YA novel so much more enjoyable. I liked Lucas better from the start, though. At the beginning, Bianca was this spineless, whining, pretty annoying girl who didn't take risks or believed she could have a decent time at Evernight. Then Lucas changed all that. Once she stopped focusing on herself and on someone else, she really grew into an amazing, loving heroine.

The plot was fast paced, just the way I like it. I had a really hard time putting this book down, and it didn't really help that I didn't get a lot of time to read. But, when I finally finished it, I just sort of stared at the book, trying to understand everything that happened. Not that it was confusing, but because I didn't have Stargazer with me, and the book left me with TONS of questions. So, I'll be reading that soon.

I highly recommend Evernight, and give it my highest honor:

Happy reading!

In My Mailbox #24 (HAPPY HALLOWEEEN!!!)

2010-10-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Here's what I got this week!:

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
(LOVE this cover!)

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Radiance by Alyson Noel
Won from Confessions of a Bookaholic (Thank you so much Jessica!)

That's what I got this week! What's in your mailbox?

Speechless Right Now

2010-10-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

Please, humor me and say this isn't amazingly cool.
Just found this while searching the web, and apparently I've been blind to how rad and stellar bookcases are these days.

This one is pretty awesome, too. If you're reading this Santa... *nudge, nudge*

Teaser Tuesday #14

2010-10-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
My first Teaser Tuesday in 2 weeks. Hmm. :/ Well, let's get to it.

Here's my teaser:

"Lucas turned to me, and I let my head loll to one side so that we were face-to-face. The way he looked at me- intent, serious, filled with longing- made me hold my breath."

-pg. 161, "Evernight" by Claudia Gray

Oooh, I like that teaser :)
I'm really enjoying Evernight, and I'm almost finished... I think I might have an idea of what's going to happen!

Leave a link to your teaser, and I will go check it out!

In My Mailbox #23

2010-10-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

The Candidates by Inara Scott

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

The Lost Queen by Frewin Jones

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

Spell Hunters by R.J. Anderson

Solid by Shelley Workinger + Solid Bookmark
(Thank you so much for the book, Shelley!)

That's what I got this week! What's in your mailbox?

Book Blogger Hop #9

2010-10-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy For Books.

"Where is your favorite place to read?"

My favorite place to read is on my bed because I have lots of pillows and blankets, and my room is really bright and sunny, so it's a great place to read. I make sure I'm wearing comfy clothes too, lol. My second favorite place is at Hotels, especially in Hawaii when I could just walk onto the beach and read. *sigh*

So what's your favorite place to read?

Happy blogging, hopping, and Friday-ing... (:

Catching Fire

2010-10-17T17:44:00.001-07:00

Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)
Author: Suzanne Collins
Length: 391 pages
Publishing: 2009, Scholastic

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.

Dare I say this is better than the first book? Catching Fire had all the action, romance, and awesomeness of The Hunger Games.

Catching Fire picked right up where The Hunger Games left off. Katniss finally feels safe for both her, her family, and Peeta. But of course, The Capitol had to interfere with that. This book was a lot more violent, I think, but in a completely good, entertaining way. Suzanne Collins is so good at what she does, being able to craft a story about kids killing each other, but still having heart.

Peeta and Katniss's relationship grew a lot, too. It was no longer just for the camera's. I think this was the "Peeta" book. The reader get's to go deeper into what Peeta thinks and how he feels, which is what I kind of wanted.

Everyone whose read The Hunger Games, you will not be disappointed by Catching Fire. It's The Hunger Games x 100!!! I give Catching Fire:
Happy reading!

The Paperback Princess (no longer running)

What's Going On?

In My Mailbox #37

Solid

City of Ashes

In My Mailbox #36

Tell Me a Secret

Hush, Hush

Not That Kind of Girl

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Bloggiesta Goals

WINNER!

Sea Change

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June

Hi, Nice To Meet You!

In My Mailbox #35

Wicked Lovely

A-Z Reading Challenge

Giveaway: Falling Under

Resolutions + Award

In My Mailbox #34

Book Blogger Hop #18

Falling Under

DupliKate

In My Mailbox #33

I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You

See You Soon

Book Blogger Hop #17

Teaser Tuesday #20

*Sorry For the Lack of Posts*

In My Mailbox #32

Book Blogger Hop #16

Just for Fun

Teaser Tuesday #19

Unearthly

You Wish

In My Mailbox #31

Book Blogger Hop #15

City of Bones

Mistletoe

Teaser Tuesday #18

Angelfire

In My Mailbox #30

Book Blogger Hop #14

'Tis the Season

Infinite Days

Teaser Tuesday #17

Secret Santa

There's a lot to celebrate today :)

In My Mailbox #29

Book Blogger Hop #13

Happy Turkey Day! *gobble, gobble*

Teaser Tuesday #16

In My Mailbox #28

2011 Debut Author Challenge

Book Blogger Hop #12

HARRY POTTER!!!!!!

Wanted

Barbie: All Dolled Up

Enchanted Ivy

In My Mailbox #27

Book Blogger Hop #11

Radiance

In My Mailbox #26

Book Blogger Hop #10

Shiver

Teaser Tuesday #15

2010 Holiday Reading Challenge

WINNER!!!!

Happy Halloween!

Evernight

In My Mailbox #24 (HAPPY HALLOWEEEN!!!)

*Speechless Right Now*

Teaser Tuesday #14

In My Mailbox #23

Book Blogger Hop #9

Catching Fire

Sorry For the Lack of Posts

Happy Turkey Day! gobble, gobble

Speechless Right Now