Final Thoughts on Blogging in 2011

My final thought on blogging in 2011. In June I decided that I wanted to start a blog. It was a total spur of the moment decision. I can't even remember when or why I started visiting book blogs but it was some time around May or June of this year. There was a whole world out there full of book lovers like me that I hadn't realized existed. There is one thing that upsets me about starting a blog so quickly. I just picked a name and didn't give it too much thought. Technically, I could change it but I'm not willing to do so at this point. When I first started out I had no idea what I was doing. There is still a lot I would like to learn but I have come a long way from that night in June when I first started my blog.

Why did I start a blog in the first place? I wanted to create a place where I could talk about books. I had read so many great and not so great books but there was no place I could go to discuss what I had read. Apparently ranting and raving to friends and family who haven't read the books I have just makes them get this glazed over look in their eyes. Or they just stare at me with an impatient look on their face that screams hurry up and finish so I can get on with my life. I'm kidding, mostly. But now I have a place to write reviews, gush over gorgeous covers, babble about lovable or villainous characters, and just rant about what I have read.

I haven't always been able to blog everyday like I wished I could, which I feel guilty about sometimes. When I am away from the computer and relaxing, I'm always thinking in the back of my mind I should be working on the blog. But in order to have piece of mind I have decided that it just isn't possible for me to dedicate all of my free time to blogging. Because if I did I would never get any reading done and then my blog would kinda be pointless and it wouldn't be fun and that's not something I want my blog to turn into. I don't want it to feel like a chore to create posts. Though I must say I'm in total awe of the bloggers that are not only able to post everyday but have several different amazing blogs operating at the same time, you know who you are.

Besides creating a blog I also attended a couple book signings. I'm not sure why it never occurred to me to go to author events before but it just never had. My first event was for Melissa de la Cruz. I am a fan of The Blue Bloods series and I was super excited to be able to meet her and learn about the inspiration behind the series. My second event was the Dark Days tour with Claudia Gray, Kiersten White, Jocelyn Davies, and Amy Garvey. I had such a great time and I was able to get a ton of my books signed. My first review was for Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler. I still feel as though my reviews need a little work but that can be fixed in the new year. I joined my first meme(Swoon Thursdays) in September which I have really come to enjoy being a part of.

I have discovered so many great blogs that I have started stalking regularly. Sometimes I comment sometimes I don't since at times I find it hard to articulate what I want to say and Great Post! just sounds kind of generic. But I am truly grateful for all the bloggers who dedicate so much time to writing such wonderful posts. And because of them I have been introduced to books that I might never have discovered otherwise.

Overall I have had a really fun time with my blog. I have enjoyed becoming part of the blogging community and have come to appreciate all the comments I get from my fellow bloggers. I hope to see everyone in the New Year and happy blogging to all.

Awesome Cover!

I have never really highlighted covers on the blog, but that changes today! I saw the really gorgeous cover of Before I Wake (Soul Screamers #6) and knew I had to write a post gushing over its loveliness. Why do I like it so much? Hmm...the dress color of course. I'm a huge fan of the color pink and this cover totally caught my eye. Plus I really like how the dress gets all wispy at the ends and contrasts with the black background. The girl is positioned a little odd but I can forgive that since the rest of the cover is so pretty!

♥ Click on the link to hear what Rachel Vincent has to say about the cover of Before I Wake.

Swoon Thursdays (13)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot new meme called SWOON #YABound IF you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading . Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

This week mine is from Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

"For a moment I just let myself enjoy the kiss, just let myself relish the feel of his hot mouth on mine, the feel of his hard, muscled body pressed against mine." Kiss of Frost SWOON #YABound 

Review "Smokeless Fire" Samantha Young

, 

Smokeless Fire (Fire Spirits #1)

Samantha Young

Publication Date: October 21, 2011

Publisher: CreateSpace

ebook

Goodreads

Summary:

     Ari feels trapped, she's heading for a future, business school, that she doesn't want. Her best friend Charles's life has spiraled out of control after a tragic accident on Ari's 16th birthday. Though Ari's life has been anything but ordinary lately her life is about to get even crazier. Ari soon discovers she is not human, she is one of the Jinn. Finding out out she is Jinn turns Ari's life upside down. But she will have to adjust quickly in order to protect those that she cares about.

Review:

     This is one of those books where I'm finding it difficult to write a review. Not because I didn't like it but because I liked it so much. I will try my best to write a meaningful review. When all I want to write is: This novel is amazing go out and get it quickly. The main character Ari is about to turn 18 and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. I found it easy to identify with her since I felt the same way right after high school. Eventually the choice is made for Ari when she finds out she is Jinn. The drastic changes in her life freak her out but she's strong enough to deal with the changes and move forward. She learns how to use her Jinn abilities and is eager to protect the people she loves. One thing I didn't like about Ari was the way that she dealt with Charlie. He has changed drastically and is really into drugs. He hurts her time and time again and yet she keeps forgiving him and trying to get the old Charlie back. It was annoying, I wanted to yell at her and tell her to move on, but it also shows that she is unwilling to abandon someone that she cares about so deeply.

     

     Along with learning she is Jinn, Ari gets a new bodyguard named Jai. What can I say about him, he's tall very hot with olive skin and bright green eyes. Jai can also be sarcastic, arrogant, and tries to keep everyone at a distance. I enjoyed the the few chapters that were from Jai's POV. It allowed me to not only see how he really felt about guarding Ari but about Ari herself. Jai has a rare ability thanks to his mixed blood that makes him very good at what he does.

     

     I loved the originality of this novel. I have never read about Jinn before, have you? Samantha Young is able to create worlds that suck you in and make you want more. There is plenty of action and just enough romance to keep the reader turning pages as quickly as possible to see what is going to happen next. This isn't the first novel of hers that I completely devoured. The idea of the 7 Kings of the Jinn and their father Azazil was new and it was easy to follow along as things were explained. Plus there were tons of new creatures in Smokeless Fire and I loved learning about all of them. What fun would it be if there was not some kind of trouble. The Kings are at war and Ari is right in the middle of all the danger.

Cover: 

     I absolutely love this cover. The girls green eyes are so vivid that they completely draw you in. Plus I also really like the swirling colors surrounding the girls face along with the fire rising from the bottom of the cover.

Update on Heroine Tournament!

♥ ♥  Update  ♥ ♥ 

Unfortunately Rose lost her second match in the YA Sisterhood's Heroine Tournament. Yes my FAVORITE heroine is out of the tournament. It was a close match all day. Which I might say was kinda crazy! But in the end  Alex and the #HalfBloodLegion won out! Since I pretty much had an eye on this match at all times I'm extremely exhausted. Hope everyone had fun and can't wait for the next matches. 

Oh and if you follow me on twitter thanks for putting up with all my quote tweets and #TeamRose tweets.

PS If the post sounds a little crazy remember I am really really tired. If it sounds coherent then never mind.

It's That Time Again: Rose vs Alex

Rose Hathaway, Vampire Academy Richelle Mead

Voting is underway for the YA Sisterhood's Heroine Tournament and it is once again time to show your support for the amazingly awesome Rose!

Why is Rose my favorite? Well she is dedicated, loyal, fierce, and all around awesome. Rose put others above herself in order to do the right thing. She can kick butt when she needs to but she also knows how to use her brain to get out of a difficult situation. In other words Rose is an amazing heroine who I have loved reading about. And I mean that, I have re-read the series several times. Plus she has Dimitri Belikov on her side. I'm definitely not going to go against him. I think I need to share some of my favorite Rose quotes.

♥ "I was crushing on my mentor. Crushing on my older mentor. I had to be out of my mind. He was seven years older than me. Old enough to my...well, okay, nothing. But still older then me."  Vampire Academy 

♥"Hey, I don't want to make you cry before the trip. It won't be any fun if I've already broken you before we even hit the slopes." Frostbite


♥ “By the way, my name's Rose Hathaway. I'm seventeen years old, training to protect and kill vampires, in love with a completely unsuitable guy, and have a best friend whose weird magic could drive her crazy.
Hey, no one said high school was easy.” Frostbite

♥ “No one had ever called me unnatural before, except for the time I put ketchup on a taco. But seriously, we'd been out of salsa, so what else was I supposed to do?” Blood Promise

♥ “Juliet had it easy; she never had to kill Romeo.” Last Sacrifice


♥  “When I saw you fall..." "You thought, 'Wow, she's a loser.” Vampire Academy

She sounds amazing doesn't she? That's because she is.

If you want to check out the advocate for Rose click on her pictures on the right.
Go here to vote in the Ya Sisterhood Tournament of Heroines.
POLLS WILL BE OPEN FOR 24 HOURS AND WILL CLOSE AT 12:01AM EST ON DECEMBER 24th

Swoon Thursdays (12)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot new meme called SWOON #YABound IF you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading . Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

This week mine is from My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent.

"He leaned closer, teasing me with a short kiss, his mouth open just enough to invite me in. Just enough so that I missed his lips the moment they were gone".--My Soul to Keep SWOON #YABound

End of the Year Giveaway @Books Obsession

Ashley at Books Obsession is having an End of the Year Giveaway! There are some amazing prizes up for grabs. For all of the details on how to enter head over to Books Obsession. Happy Entering!

Review "Fox" Parrisha Martelly

Fox (The Vendetta Series #1)

Parrisha Martelly

Publication Date: August 3, 2011

Publisher: CreateSpace

Paperback 133 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     After 20 year old Fox's father, Levictious is kidnapped she volunteers to go find him. Her father is the leader of the House of Lords, a group that protects Pandora's Box. Each year the Box picks a new person who is either destined to find and open the Box or die trying. The new chosen has taken Levictious in hopes of getting to Pandora's Box. Fox, her best friend Onyx and the very secretive Falcon head to Fairhollow, where it is believed Fox's father is being held. Along the way the three meet up with some of their allies a group of Fae. Will Fox be able to find her father before it's too late? 

Review:

     The main character Fox, was one that I felt I could understand. She is a loner not by choice but because those in her town are afraid of her.  Fox is a very likable lead, she's strong yet not closed off even though others fear her, she still goes out of her way to help those that need her assistance. Fox as the heir to the House of Lords is a warrior, one of the best. I enjoyed learning about Fox's back story which made me like her even more. There are parts of Fox's past that are sad yet most of her childhood was filled with happy memories of her and her father.

     They guys that accompany Fox on her journey are quite different. Onyx is very open and outgoing. He's always joking and keeping things light even though the situation they are is dangerous. Falcon on the other hand seems very closed off, quiet and angry. He doesn't want to interact with either Fox or Onyx. Falcon wants to get the job finished and be done and doesn't feel as though opening up and talking is a requirement for this job.

     I was really intrigued by the world that Parrisha Martelly created in Fox. We learn more about each character as the story progresses. Such as why they are they way they are.I really like it when a book surprises me with the twists and turns that it takes. I did have a few issues with this book. First, I wasn't sure when this book takes place. There is no mention of time which was a little confusing. My other issue was that it was too short. I would have liked it to be longer, only because I really enjoyed the story that I was reading. My issue with its length had nothing to do with the development of the novel. 

     Overall I really liked this novel and its story line. The characters were quite entertaining and I am really looking forward to learning more about this world.

Cover:

     I think Fox has a really appealing cover. It's simplistic and yet very eye catching. The girl on the cover looks sad and vulnerable and as a reader I want to know why.

Why (5)

This week the question I asked myself was: Why do YA novels have so many love triangles?

Since this question popped into my head I had to ask myself how I felt about love triangles. I realized for the most part I don't mind them. Love triangles always have readers wondering who is the character going to select. I feel as though it adds to the tension in the novel. As I'm reading I ask myself who should the character choose? Who makes the better fit with the lead? And who do I want to see them with? I love thinking about this as I read wondering if my choice will be right. I also think it has something to do with picking sides. Readers get to say they are Team A or Team B and they have someone to rally around as the story continues. I also read more quickly so that I can find out who the lead will eventually end up with.

Of course there are also issues with love triangles that can get annoying. If the lead takes forever to choose someone that can lead me, the reader to say enough already. Pick someone and stop leading the other character on. Or perhaps if the lead does not pick the person we have been rooting for them to be with I tend to feel let down. Though I must say that hasn't happened too often. Another downside to a love triangle is that sometimes even though the character selected the person that was right for them, someone always gets hurt. After getting to know these characters it's always sad when they inevitably end up getting hurt.

Love triangles can have both good and bad sides. What are your feelings about love triangles? Do you love them, hate them or do you really not mind them?

Swoon Thursdays (11)

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot new meme called SWOON #YABound IF you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading . Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

In honor of Kaylee's win in the Heroine Tournament I decided to post more SWOON moments from Soul Screamers. It was really hard to choose so I found three I really liked.

"I tilted my head for a better angle and kissed him back, loving the feel of his lips on mine, his hand at the back of my neck. My fingers found his chest, trailing lightly over his shirt to feel the firmness beneath." 

"He pushed aside the neckline of my T-shirt, and his lips closed over the point of my shoulder, sucking gently. Nibbling just a little. My hand tightened around his biceps. Not stopping him. Not urging him. Just...waiting."

"My breath hitched, my heart pounding as infant flames of longing licked lower, deeper."

Review "Drink, Slay, Love" Sarah Beth Durst

Drink, Slay, Love

Sarah Beth Durst 

Publication Date: September 13, 2011

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Hardcover 385 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     Pearl is a vampire and not your average friendly nice to humans type of vampire. She's slightly evil, can't go out in the sun, and has a fondness for blood. One night as Pearl is getting getting a snack from her favorite source, Brad, she is staked through the heart by a unicorn. Yes, I said unicorn. After the unicorn incident. Pearl starts to change. Not only can she go out in the sun but her conscience is slowly developing. Which is a problem. Her parents plan to exploit Pearl's new ability. They have decided she will be the one to get humans for a feast they are planning to honor the Vampire King of New England. Pearl's family is not a group you would want to disappoint. As Pearl's conscience continues to grow she will have some important choices to make. The decisions she makes could not only endanger her but also the new friends that have come into her life.

Review:

     The main character Pearl is a 16 year old who comes from a family of evil vampires and she is no different. Which was something I enjoyed because she was different from other characters I have read about. As her conscience develops Pearl learns to see humans differently. It's a new experience for her one she never thought would happen. I found Pearl to be very enjoyable. I loved all the attitude she threw around even though she was conflicted throughout the novel she kept her sarcastic attitude. Her family on the other hand are cruel and eager to use Pearl's new ability to their advantage. At times I feared for Pearl because it seemed as though her family was capable of anything including killing her if she didn't follow orders. 

     The friends that Pearl makes are not by choice. They start following her around in school and friendships develop as the novel progresses. Evan and Bethany are two humans that Pearl meets while going to school for the first time. Evan is the hot boy next door type of guy who goes out of his way to help Pearl navigate her way through her new school. Bethany is completely adorable. She is the personification of bubbly, and latches  on to Pearl from the second they meet.

     I found this story to be very exciting. The fact that Pearl was a bad girl turned good by way of unicorn stabbing was very original. I wanted to read quickly so I would know what choices Pearl was going to make. I also needed to know what was going on with that unicorn. Drink, Slay, Love was fast paced but is filled with a tension that insists you read on. My overall impression of this novel is that it is a great book filled with amazing characters.

Cover:

     I really really liked this cover. I love the red bottle with the drop of blood sliding down the side. Simplistic but very eye catching.

Today is the day! #TeamRose

***Update***

I'm excited to announce that Rose won her first match!

But unfortunately Nora did not win hers. She lost out to Alex from Half-Blood. Hopefully she will have better luck next time.

Rose from Vampire Academy

Voting has officially begun for Rose's first match in the Heroine Tournament. Match 12 Rose (seed 7) vs Clara (seed 26).  I am super excited to see how my top pick does in the tournament.

Why is Rose my favorite? Well she is dedicated, loyal, fierce, and all around awesome. She can kick butt when she needs to but she also knows how to use her brain to get out of a difficult situation. In other words Rose is an amazing heroine who I have loved reading about. Plus she has Dimitri Belikov on her side. I'm definitely not going to go against him. I think I need to share some of my favorite Rose quotes.

♥ "I was crushing on my mentor. Crushing on my older mentor. I had to be out of my mind. He was seven years older than me. Old enough to my...well, okay, nothing. But still older then me."  Vampire Academy 142


♥ " 'When I saw you fall...' 'You thought, 'Wow she's a loser.' " Vampire Academy 250-1


♥ " 'Hey, I don't want to make you cry before the trip. It won't be any fun if I've already broken you before we even hit the slopes.' " Frostbite, 47

Nora from Hush Hush

Another one of my top picks has a match today, Nora. I think Nora makes a great heroine because of the way she deals with the supernatural elements that have taken over her life. She refuses to give up and keeps fighting for what she believes is right. Plus she is feisty when she needs to be.Then there is Patch. Who am I to go against the very hot Patch? I should also add some Nora quotes.

♥ " I nearly chocked. He's joking, I told myself. No he's insane. I had no experience dealing with lunatics, and it showed." Hush Hush, 37

♥' "I don't care what you like. I'm not going out with you. Not on a date. Not alone.' " Hush Hush, 76

Obviously you do not have to vote for Rose or Nora (it would be awesome if you did) but I would encourage everyone to have fun throughout this tournament and remember be nice. Voting ends 12:01 EST on December 13th.

If you want to check out the advocates for these heroines click on their pictures on the right.

In case you need the link. Go here to vote in the Ya Sisterhood Tournament of Heroines.

Why? (4)

This week the question I asked myself is: Why is it easier to write a review for books I disliked than it is to write a review for a books I really liked? 

I've thought about this question over the past week and I have finally come to a conclusion. When I'm writing a review for books I enjoyed I tend to want to write things like: It was awesome, what a great book, amazing characters, and what a well developed world. As great as those statements may be a review they do not make. I find it exceedingly difficult to pin point exactly why I'm still thinking about the book I just read days after I finished reading. And then getting those thoughts coherent enough to write a review is sometimes a nightmare. Because it always ends the same I LOVED that book! Again too short and not very informative. This is something I really need to work on.

On the other hand I know exactly why I didn't like a book. For example the plot was underdeveloped, the characters were flat, or the ending was completely horrid. The bad issues tend to stick out in my mind. It's easy for me to rant on and on about why the novel I just finished left me underwhelmed. I think it has something to do with being disappointed. I wanted the book to be really good but in the end it just wasn't. And that disappointment inevitably leaks out into my reviews. I try to make sure I don't go over board and turn my review into a book bashing, that's just rude and not where I want to go. But I won't say I liked something that I didn't.

What I need to do is develop a type of outline that all my reviews follow. That way good or bad I will always know what I am going to write about.

Does anyone share these same issues? Or is it easier for you to write a raving review over a review for a novel that just wasn't very interesting.

The ladies at YA Bound have created a hot new meme called SWOON #YABound IF you want to join in here's what you need to do.

All you need to do is pick up the book you are currently reading or just finished reading . Find what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding and your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Then shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag  #YABound, post in the comments, or grab the awesome button from YA Bound (above) and share it on your blog!

This week I choose two SWOON moments from Soul Screamers Volume One by Rachel Vincent because it was just so good.

My mouth opened beneath his, and his kiss went deeper as I drew him in, suddenly ravenous for something I'd never even tasted.-- Soul Screamers SWOON #YABound

 This time I kissed him, taking what I wanted, delighted and astonished by his willingness to let me. Soul Screamers SWOON #YABound

Review "Dark Seeker" Taryn Browning

Dark Seeker (Seeker #1)

Taryn Browning

Publication Date: October 4, 2011

Paperback 287 pgs

Goodreads

Summary:

     As a Seeker 17 year old Janie Gray has a job to do, take down the undead in Baltimore which includes vampires and daychildren. When Janie is out on a routine hunt she meets Kai, who is not what he appears. Though he seems to be like those she hunts, Kai is different. As Janie goes about her job she realizes that more and more teenagers are being attacked and Janie has to try and figure out why. As Janie tries to unravel the mystery that is Kai, she grows closer to him than she ever could have imagined. What will Janie do when she discovers the secrets that Kai has been hiding?

Review:

     I thought that Dark Seeker was an interesting novel. The idea of a girl out fighting the bad guys was a concept I had read about before. But luckily, Janie was a character all her own. She was witty, sarcastic, passionate about her job, and very likable. At first Kai was a mystery but as the story progresses we learn more about the puzzle that is Kai. I found myself engrossed in the novel, wanting to more know more about Janie and her world. Janie has strong friends and family around her to give her support as she risks her life to fight off the evil in Baltimore.  I was quite entertained as I found out more about the two main types of enemies, vampires and daychildren. Dark Seeker is an action packed novel with twists and turns that will keep you reading til the end.

     I did have a couple issues with Dark Seeker. I felt as though I didn't learn enough about the Seekers or Janie's Cherokee ancestry. I would have liked to know more about the Seekers and how they came to be. In places I was slightly confused because I didn't feel like I had enough background information to understand what was going on. Also I thought that the connection between Janie and Kai's relationship developed too quickly for me. Normally I don't mind the whole instant love, but somehow I just had a problem with this one. 

     Overall, Dark Seeker was a good book and I am interested to see where this series leads. 

Cover:

     I like the image of the girl on the cover. She looks mysterious like she should be out hunting down the bad guys. However, I think that the knife looks odd and out of place. I would have liked the cove better without it.

Review: "Tempest" Julie Cross

Tempest (Tempest #1)

Julie Cross

Publication Date: January 17, 2012

Publisher: ST. Martin's Griffin

ARC 334

Goodreads

Summary:

     Tempest is the first book in the Tempest trilogy by Julie Cross. 19 year old Jackson Meyer has the ability to travel back in time. He's not sure why is able to time-travel, he just knows that he can. After his girlfriend, Holly is shot and presumably killed Jackson jumps back in time. Jackson soon finds out that he is stuck. Unable to get back to his own time he sets out to find a way to save Holly from being killed in the future. But the people that shot Holly are looking for him and the find him in the past. As he goes about trying to change the future, Jackson learns a few things about himself along the way. What Jackson discovers about himself has drastic effects not only for him but for those around him.

Review:

     One of the reasons I really enjoyed this book was that I was able to see Jackson develop throughout the novel. At first he seems to be your typical 19 year old guy. He has a girlfriend but isn't ready for anything serious. But as the story progresses he begins to grow up and realize what is important to him. I also liked finding out why Jackson was able to time travel. He deals with learning that everything he knew about his past isn't exactly true in a mature way. He does fall to pieces he gathers all the pieces about himself and tries to figure out how this will help him save Holly.

     I did have a couple issues with Tempest. At times I was slightly confused by the specifics of Jackson's time traveling. Once I understood it, it was easier to grasp what it meant for him to use his abilities. The other issue I had was with the ending. It wasn't bad by any means it just had me saying, Seriously! He just did what? And I have to wait forever to find out how this decision effects him. 

     Tempest was a fast paced read with twists and turns that had me wondering what would happen next. It kept me entertained from beginning to end. I loved that this book was set in our world but there were people with the ability to time travel living among us. I say if you like time traveling get yourself a copy of Tempest when it comes out in January.

Cover:

     I think the cover is quite compelling. It had me asking myself several questions. Why is she falling? And will he be able to save her?