Waiting on Wednesday(3)

Weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Release Date: April 26, 2011

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld. -goodreads.com

Where Do You Read?

Today i wondered to myself.... where do other readers, like myself, like to curl up with a good book? Are you the type of person who can bust out a good story while walking your dog or do you have to be in a soft, comfortable space? Now, if you are anything like me you can read just about anywhere. In the doctor's office, waiting in line at the grocery store, or while listening to your professor lecture about The Civil War. But of course i have my one spot. That one place where your friends know they could find you night after night, nose buried deep in the pages of the newest NYT Best Seller. 

My Big Comfy Chair

I'm also a bit curious to other's bookshelves. To me, mine is almost like a work of art. My bookcase not only houses all of my precious novels, but also the smaller, fun to collect stuff too. I tend to find myself re-organizing my shelf too often. You think you have it all figured out, every book has it's perfect place. That is until your next shopping trip to your nearest BORDERS. Then, well, you've got to re-do everything just to find the perfect spot for those four brand new titles. I'm thinking maybe i should to a Bookshelf Tour VLOG soon. Hmmmm...

So readers, here's my challenge to you. Take a snap shot of your favorite reading spot. Take as many pictures as you like. It can be a dozen different places that you enjoy. I'd love to see where you store your stories as well. So go on! Hop to it!

On My Wishlist (1)

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City. This is where bloggers can share books they are dying to get their hands on. Whether it's a book that's already been published and is on shelves or is still hasn't released yet.

This week i'm going nuts just to read...

               

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

What's on your wishlist?

REVIEW: Hex Hall

                           

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Pages: 323-US Paperback Edition

Publisher: Disney Hyperion 

Released: March 2, 2010

My Rating: 5/5

Book Summary: On her 12th birthday, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. Three bumpy years later, after a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, she's exiled to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. By the end of her first day, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush  on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire on campus. Then when a mysterious predator begins attacking students, and Sophie's only friend is the number-one suspect, a horrifying plot begins to surface. Soon, Sophie is preparing for the biggest threat of all: and ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My Thoughts:

Talk about a fantastically fun read. I am still in shock at just how unbelievably enjoyable this story was. Out of all 323 pages i don't think i found one thing i didn't like. Is that even possible? To like absolutely word, every sentence, every character. Well obviously it is. Hex Hall had me reading when i was out to dinner, ignoring all family members. When i wasn't reading Hex Hall, i found myself wishing i was reading it.  

Sophie Mercer is one bad-ass character with a super kick-ass personality. She's oh so sarcastic and downright witty. And she sure as hell is not afraid to hold her tongue, even if it ends up getting her an entire semesters worth of detention. 

Hex Hall is just like any other high school. Full of the outcasts, the super-hot-oh-my-god-i-just-drooled-all-over-his-shirt-i-wish-you-were-mine boy, and the (insert b here)itchy clique of girls who like to torture anyone underneath their popularity. Even though this book is filled with magic and spells, it is completely relate able for the sheer fact that it still operates like any other high school. 

This is surely a book that will have you devouring it until the very last page. Who knows...maybe you will end up like me, where you had to dash to the bookstore the minute you finished the last word, just to buy the sequel.

In My Mailbox (3)

This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.

IMM is where you can showcase all your goods. This week...

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Chime by Franny Billingsley

What is in YOUR mailbox this week?

First Look at Harry Potter 7 Part 2

Follow Friday (3)

Weee! It's that time again. Time for another Follow Friday. This meme is hosted by parajunkee.com and well... it's where people can follow you! 

This week's question is..

"How did you come up with the name for your blog?"

The answer to that is pretty simple. Reading is something that is i LOVE. I love love love it. Without reading i would have money and lots of extra time on my hands. Reading is also my LIFE. A lot of my spare time is given to the stories upon stories that are on my bookshelf. Reading is really an escape for me. It's my best friend. Books are always there for you. They can teach you lessons that everyone else is too scared to or unwilling. Reading can take you to all those places you would love to visit. Paris...Italy...Boston, Massachusetts. It can also give you that really cute boy you've always dreamed about. So there you have it in a nutshell fellow readers. 

What's your story? 

Daily Dose Monday (1)

Daily Dose Monday is a meme hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly.

This is where bloggers can share photos of what they find inspiring.

REVIEW: Elixir

Elixir by Hilary Duff
Pages: 327-US Hardback Edition
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Released: October 12, 2010
My Rating: 3.5/5
Book Summary:Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before. 

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.


My Review:
Now most of you may be thinking the same thing i did when i came across this book... that it's just another celebrity trying to get into the writing world. For the longest time i would come across this title in bookstores, and just could not will myself to purchase it for the sheer fact that i deep down in my heart believed it would be no good. Finally decided one day to just go ahead and give it a shot. I mean, what could i really lose? A day or two worth of reading time? Well, i am very happy to report that i was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of the book. 


Hilary's writing style is absolutely fantastic, lyrical almost. She gives just enough description so that you can get a good enough picture of what's going on, but not too much description where you can't twist the world into your own. I know when a book is good if i can live the whole thing like a movie in my mind.  And i did just that. 


The characters are fairly likeable. Clea is a girl that although she lives this fantastic, ritzy lifestyle you can still relate to her emotions and feelings. A writer has done their job when you can sit and say to yourself "Wow, i know exactly how she feels." 


However there was just something missing from the story. Something that i can't quite put my finger on. I guess it was the lack of detail behind the actual plot line. I needed to know more. Elixir was a bit too jumpy for my taste. 


BRING ON BOOK #2! C'mon Hil, you can't leave us waiting for too long, i'm already starting to get ants in my pants.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (1)

Weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. 

Here's where you share what you've recently read, are currently reading, and what you're about to read.

Read:

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel 

Elixir by Hilary Duff

Haven by Kristi Cook

Currently Reading:

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

Going to Read:

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Over the last week or so i've also seen some pretty kick-ass movies. I AM NUMBER FOUR, Red Riding Hood, and Beastly. Despite reviews... all 3 were well worth the time and money! Now for you... What are YOU reading?

REVIEW: Haven

Haven by Kristi Cook
Pages: 401-US Hardback Edition
Publisher: Simon and Schuster 
Released: February 22, 2011
My Rating: 5/5
Book Summary: Violet doesn't understand why she feels drawn to the Winterhaven School. She just knows it's the right place for her. When she discovers the schools secret, it all makes sense: Everyone at Winterhaven has psychic gifts. For the first time in her life Violet doesn't have to hide her visions. She's always seen them as a curse, but now she can hone her ability and try to control it. But she's thrown completely off balance when she meets the most alluring-and most mysterious-boy in school. She's never connected with anyone the way she does with Aidan, and the intensity takes them both by surprise. But as their relationship deepens, she begins to have visions of Aidan's death-and sees that she's the one who's fated to kill him. Violet's never been able to prevent her visions from come true. But this time she'll do whatever it takes... even if it means sacrificing herself for the boy she loves. 


My Review:  
Holy mother of pearl. Haven by Kristi Cook has captured my heart entirely. Cook tugged at my heartstrings in such a manner that i caught myself believing i was Violet for more than half of the story. Try snapping yourself out of that daze! And i thank the stars that i didn't read this book in public, because i caught myself making comments aloud on more than one occasion. Haven had me reading into the early hours of the morning.. despite the early work days i had. Who needs sleep when you have Aidan and Violet!


Every character in this story was extremely loveable, including every single person in Violet's group of friends. At the end of the book, you see just how important it is to have good people in your life that will really do just about anything to help a you in need.


Violet is probably one of my new favorite female characters. She's magnetic. I couldn't help but want to know more and more about the girl with the psychic ability. Violet is someone who i would want as my best friend, whether i had 'gift's or not. And as for Aidan.. dismiss any male character that you have fallen for before, this is who it's all about.  Just reading his name throughout the story gave my stomach butterflies. I just sat there, sighing, wishing that i can one day find a man who compares to Mr. Gray. Hey Aidan, i am openly available when and if you ever decide to leave Violet. Would you like my telephone number or would my e-mail be more suitable?


But i must warn you ladies and gents, whilst reading prepare yourself for possibly the biggest twist in a story that you could imagine... because it will come. And it will come with a bang. A very welcomed twist at that. It was nothing i was expecting, but everything that i wanted. That turn in the story is what had me flipping page after page, for hours on end refusing to leave the chair until the last words were read. This book will not disappoint. 

In My Mailbox (2)

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

This was a pretty slow week in the way of books for me. Although the few that i did get, i am more then thrilled to read. 

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

  

For Review:

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Breathless Reads Contest

I have exciting news, book lovers. Beth Revis, author of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is hosting a contest. A supes exciting contest at that. And what is this marvelous giveaway that i'm speaking of? Well, it's a chance to win AUTOGRAPHED BOOKS from the Breathless Reads authors. 

Now i know you're probably wondering.. HOW DO I GET IN ON THE GOODS? It's easy peasy lemon squeasy. Just click here (or click the image above) and you'll pop over to Beth's blog, where she'll give you all the deets. You may commence jumping up and down.. right.. NOW. 

CROSSED Cover Reveal!

Finally! The cover has been released for this years much anticipated sequel, CROSSED. The follow up to book MATCHED, by Ally Condie. Now, for the ever so wanted book summary:

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia’s quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

-goodreads.com

The expected publication date is set for November 1, 2011.

Follow Friday (2)

Happy Follow Friday everyone!

"Who are you, the boy/girl instead of the blogger?"

Me (on the left) and my great friend Emily

Well, isn't this an exciting question. Alright, boys and girls. Here it is. I am a newly 21 year old nature lover named Heather. I love bookstores, incense, hot tea, yoga, Lord of the Rings, my cats, and numerous others. I work at an outdoor gear company called Moosejaw Mountaineering. Never heard of it? Perhaps you should visit our website. www.moosejaw.com On the daily i sell tents, sleeping bags, technical outerwear.. fun right? Everyday is a mini-adventure in that shop. I love rainy days. They are a wonderful to curl up in bed and crack open a good book. I am a newly acquainted Alex Pettyfer fan. He made my year in the flick I Am Number Four. I consider myself a fairly good amateur photographer. 

Who are YOU?

Waiting on Wednesday(2)

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

----------------------

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Release Date: July 26, 2011

Ashline Wilde never received an instruction manual on how to be a 16-year-old Polynesian volcano goddess. If she had, it might have contained helpful warnings such as:

Dreaming about your (thankfully) mortal boyfriend may cause your bed to spontaneously combust,
 Oven mitts should be worn at all times.

Instead, Ash has to learn these life lessons the hard way as her dormant powers erupt at the most awkward times. In the wake of a hometown tragedy, Ash transfers to Blackwood Academy, a boarding school nestled in California’s redwoods, where a group of fellow gods-on-earth have mysteriously convened. As if sophomore year couldn’t get any worse, her storm goddess older sister, the wild and unpredictable Eve, resurfaces to haunt Ashline. With a war between the gods looming over Blackwood, Ash must master the fire smoldering within her before she clashes with her sister one final time, which leads us to life-lesson #3:

When warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm. 

Squeel! I found out about this book through Karsten's blog.. and believe me with every bone in your body.. this is a blog you should check out. www.karstenknight.com --not only will you keep updated with the book and any book-happenings, but you can view his ever so hilarious VLOGS. Do yourself a favor, open a new tab on your browser... and visit him... NOW.

100+ Reading Challenge

I've since decided to partake in My Overstuffed Bookshelf's 100+ Reading Challenge. The goal of the challenge is to read AT LEAST 100 books in the year of 2011. Even though reading is a huge passion of mine, and i spend a lot of it doing so... it's still nice to challenge yourself to read as many books as possible. This will also get my booty in gear to READ MORE. 

So bloggers, how about you? How many books do you hope to have read by the end of this year?

Teaser Tuesday (1)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read 

Open to a random page 

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Haven by Kristi Cook

p. 18

"And then i saw him. Second row, third seat back. Gorgeous eyes. He looked at me strangely, as if he were surprised to see me, a steady gaze beneath a baseball cap pulled low over his brow."

REVIEW: Evermore

Evermore 
by Alyson Noel

5/5

Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch.   Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste… Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition.  He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets.  Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head.  She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is.  Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.
-goodreads.com

This book.... is.... great! Alyson has been one of my favorite authors for quite some time now, ever since i read her book Saving Zoe back when i was a rebellious teenager with a ton of (uneeded might i add) angst.

This book was one of THOSE books. One of those books that when you finish, after you've been diligently reading (starting from page 1 only a mere 5 hours before), you close the cover and say out loud to yourself "DAMN, that was.. i wonder what the hell happens next!" You can't even finish your train of thought because your mind is still in la-la land. I don't know how Alyson does it, but she's obviously doing something right.

There's two huge, how could you not notice them, emotions that Ever is experiencing in this book, the emotion of love and the emotion of grief, both of which can be extremely painful. And you feel that pain the entire book. I was literally sitting in my chair, grasping my heart and feeling it ache. I had so much overwhelming, raw emotion running through me the entire story that most of the time i actually believed i was Ever. I LOVE when a writer is able to do that.

Ever has lost both her mother and her father, her one and only sister and her dog all in one night. That is the most heart-wrenching experience that one could go through. Noel does wonders showing how Ever deals with these emotions, and how she finally accepts and understands what happened. When i had finished the book, i could not stop thanking the world that i still have both of my wonderful, lovely, adoring, parents. It really made me appreciate having them around so much more.

The connection between Damen and Ever is a simply beautiful bond. A bond that has kept them coming back together, life after life. Don't we all wish for that? Ok, well i know I wish for that. God, i am such a girl. Plus, it never hurts to throw in a super handsome man that will make any readers heart pitter patter.

In My Mailbox (1)

Whoo-hoo for my first In My Mailbox! Even though it's just a few books this week, the reviews on all 3 are nothing but great things. 

1. The Body Finder (The Body Finder #1) by Kimberly Derting

2. Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand

3. Haven by Kristi Cook

I've already begun Unearthly, and so far i have to agree with the rest of you bloggers out there... it's totally awesome. What's in your mailbox this week? Happy Reading!

This Just In!

For those Kimberly Derting fans out there, here's a special treat. Derting has decided to release the plot line and book cover for her upcoming dystopian, THE PLEDGE. 

Words are the most dangerous weapon of all.

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. 

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

 Sounds pretty damn awesome, eh? You could say i'm a little more than excited to get my hands on this. Now i know you're probably asking yourself.... when in the world is the release date?! Well good news.. according to goodreads.com the EXPECTED release is for November 15, 2011. Let's keep our fingers crossed, bloggers.

And if you are looking for more Kimberly Derting fun.. head on over to her blog kimberlyderting.blogspot.com and show her some much deserved love!

REVIEW: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss 

by Stephanie Perkins 

5/5

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home. -goodreads.com

Anna and the French Kiss is one of the most lovely and delightful books I've read in quite some time. This is the quintessential chick-lit for young adult readers. From page one i was thrown into a world filled with nothing but bursting emotion and French culture. 


Every character is loveable in their own unique way, which makes for a largely dynamic cast. Especially the undeniably gorgeous Etienne St. Claire. Talk about your absolute dream guy i wish i would of ran across when i was in high school. He's caring, smart, and has an accent that is to die for. What isn't there to love?


The way the relationship between Anna and St. Claire builds is what i think makes for a great love story. They slowly get to know each other from the inside out. It's a refreshing change from a lot of other stories out there, where the characters fall in love the first time they meet.


Wonderful. Absolutely genius is what Stephanie Perkins is. I cannot wait for her next novel, and hopefully.. that novel is soon!  

Follow Friday

Happy Follow Friday everyone!

Welcome to my BRAND SPANKIN' NEW BLOG! This blog hop is hosted by parajunkee.com. Now it's question time..

What embarrassing thing have you done on cold medicine?

To be honest, this is a tricky question. There's always that time at band camp.. but in all reality, i mostly make a fool of myself everyday. I don't really need cold medicine to do something outrageous and embarrassing. And i'm not really one to take medicine when i'm sick. I like to believe it will go away all on it's own!

DARKNESS BECOMES HER by Kelly Keaton

Cover Release!

This just in fellow book lovers! The much awaited third installment of the Caster Chronicles cover has been RELEASED! You may commence jumping up and down.... now.....

Just a small seven month wait ahead of us.. with a release date of October 18, 2011. And a long seven months i'm sure it will be for many of us, who have been ansty in our pantsies for the newest in the series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. 

YA Historical Fiction Challenge

It's amazing to me that it took me so entirely long to come across this challenge.. and a downright awesome one it is. This challenge is being hosted by YA Bliss. 

I myself am signing up for Level 2. Which means reading 10 YA Historical books in 2011. 

My Reading List:

1. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

2. I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

3. Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

4. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

5. Chime by Franny Billingsley

6. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

7. Wildthorn by Jane Eagland

8. Plain Kate by Erin Bow

9. Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

10. Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Waiting on Wednesday(1)

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

Release Date: March 29, 2011

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams,  Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever.  Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.”  Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either.  Or does she?  They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason.  As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas.  Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past.  Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…