Books I got for Christmas

I seriously hit the jackpot this Christmas. I got a TON of books from my family and friends.

by Gena Showalter (one of my favorite authors!):

• Heart of the Dragon
• Jewel of Atlantis
• The Vampire's Bride
• Nymph King
• Heart of Darkness (although this is by other authors, I wanted it for Gena's part)

Shannon Hale's Books of Bayern Box set (The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, and River Secrets)

Cinda Williams Chima box set (The Warrior Heir, The Wizard Heir, and The Dragon Heir)

by Kresley Cole:

• No Rest for the Wicked
• Dark Desires after Dark
• Kiss of a Demon King
• Dark Needs at Nights Edge
• Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night
• A Hunger Like No Other

by Kerrelyn Sparks (from my sis):

• How to Marry a Millionare Vampire
• Vamps in the City
• The Undead Next Door
• Be Still My Vampire Heart

by Jennifer Armintrout:

• Queene of Light
• Child of Darkness
• Veil of Shadows
  

• Vampire Academy and Frostbite by Richelle Mead
• City of Bones and City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (my mom didn't get the 2nd books because they were out lol)
• Oh.My.Gods by Tera Lynn Childs
• Elphame's Choice by P.C. Cast
• Dhampir by Barb and Jc Hendee
• Insatiable Desire by Rita Herron
• The Stepsister Scheme by Jim C. Hines
• The Mermaids Madness by Jim C. Hines
• Goblin Quest by Jim C. Hines
• Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory (my sis got lucky b/c I just won a copy in a giveaway so she got my extra copy)
• Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz
• My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

Books from my friend:

• Killer by Sara Shepard
• Wild Blue Under by Judi Fennell
• Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Books I bought myself for Xmas (there was a sale I couldn't resist):

• Goddess of the Sea by P.C. Cast
• Storm Born by Richelle Mead
• Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead
• Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
• In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell

Well, I have a lot of books to read...lol. The B. Dalton and Walden Books at my mall are both closing (so yeah, now my mall has NO bookstores wtf) and they were having closing sales. Everything in B. Dalton was 40% off and most books in Walden's were 30% off. I shopped online this year but my friend wanted me to help him shop for his family...I am soooo glad I went or else I wouldn't have known about the sale. I immediately called my mom and told her about it and she went a little book crazy for me heh. The bad thing about it though is now if I want to go to the book store I have to drive through a tunnel (tunnel traffic is terrible) and it takes at least 30 minutes (as long as traffic isn't bad)...ugh. On another note...............

I MADE OUT LIKE A BANDIT THIS YEAR!
ah I love my family :)

Books Read in December

5 Stars

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl 5/5
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater 5/5
The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay 5/5
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund 5/5
In Over Her Hear by Judi Fennell 5/5
Truly, Madly, by Heather Webber 5/5

4.5 Stars

Fallen by Lauren Kate 4.5/5
Need by Carrie Jones 4.5/5
Oh.My.Gods by Tera Lynn Childs 4.5/5
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent 4.5/5
Wild Blue Under by Judi Fennell 4.5/5

4 Stars

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore 4/5
Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by R.J. Anderson 4/5
The Dragons of Ordinary Farm by Tad Williams, Greg Swearingen, and Deborah Beale 4/5
The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason 4/5
The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason 4/5
Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne 4/5
Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne 4/5
Killer by Sara Shepard 4/5

3.5 Stars

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom 3.5/5
Darklight by Lesley Livingston 3.5/5
Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason 3.5/5
Evernight by Claudia Gray 3.5/5

3 Stars

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell 3/5
Fate by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 3/5
Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis 3/5

2 Stars

Zombie Blondes by Brian James 2/5

That is 25 books read in the month of December, although I am almost positive I have read more and just forgot to keep track of them...oh well.

**UPDATE**
I just remembered I read Evernight by Claudia Gray...added it to 3.5 stars
also just remembered I read Never Cry Werewolf...added it to the list

Book Review: Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

• Mass Market Paperback: 305 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; Original edition (February 2, 2010)

Lucy Valentine is as smart as can be, as single as you can get, and so not qualified to run a matchmaking service. But when her parents temporarily step down from the family business, Valentine, Inc., it’s Lucy’s turn to step up and help out—in the name of love.

Plus, her rent is due.

Here’s the problem: Lucy doesn’t have the knack for matchmaking. According to family legend, every Valentine has been blessed by Cupid with the ability to read “auras” and pair up perfect couples. But not Lucy. Her skills were zapped away years ago in an electrical surge, and now all she can do is find lost objects. What good is that in the matchmaking world? You’d be surprised. In a city like Boston, everyone’s looking for something. So when Lucy locates a missing wedding ring—on a dead body—she asks the sexy private eye who lives upstairs to help her solve the perfect crime. And who knows? Maybe she’ll find the perfect love while she’s at it…

This book is a fun read and yet not at all what I imagined. When I read the synopsis of the book I thought that it would be an enjoyable read without much substance. As far as substance goes I was completely wrong. It wasn't just a book about matchmaking. There was mystery, murder, and romance and I want MORE! I absolutely LOVED reading it. I can't wait for the next in the series to come out. Each character really brings something to this book and it will be interesting to see what happens with them all next.I definitely recommend this book.

5/5

I received this book after winning it at Librarything.com Early Reviewers. Any opinions I express are my own and are not influenced by anyone else.

Mari's Big Christmas Gift Giveaway to Readers

Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead
Blue Bloods (complete 4 book series) - Melissa De La Cruz
Morganville Vampires (complete 8 book series) - Rachel Caine
Morganville new trade paperback (containing first two books in the series)
Shadowland AUDIO BOOK (Immortals series) - Alyson Noel
Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson
How to Ditch Your Fairy - Justine Larbalestier
Gentlemen - Michael Northrop
Ransom my Heart (Princess Diaries) - Meg Cabot
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (book 2 of Ally Carter's Galagher Girls series)
Rampant - Diana Peterfreund

There are a lot of ways to get entries into this contest. Winners will be announced January 15.
enter HERE

Curl up with a Book and a Nook! Contest

Click here to enter Curl Up with a Book…and a Nook Contest

Turning 50 to 100 Contest

Star Shadows Creative Concepts is having a contest! She has 51 followers right now and her goal is to reach 100 followers by January 20th. When she hits 100 (or more hopefully) followers by Jan. 20 2 or more people will win a January new release shipped directly from Book Depository. So head over to her blog and become a follower so you can be in the running to win! Please mention that I referred you (Raelena at Throuthehaze Reads). Thanks and good luck!

enter HERE

Page Turners mini Contest week 4 entry

This is my entry into the Week 4 mini contest at Page Turners. To participate head over HERE

Day 8:12 Blogs of Christmas at Princess Bookie

First Winner Gets : Firespell, Pefect Chemistry, Leaving paradise, Beautiful Creatures, Hush Hush and Along For Ride)

Second Winner Gets: Anxious Hearts, Jekel Loves Hyde, Hex Hall, Something Like Fate and Little Miss Red

Third Winner Gets A Mystery ARC

Each Winner Will also Get a bunch of swag including Sea, The Cougar Club, The Debs, Bad Blood, bookmarks

enter @Princess Bookie
ends Dec. 31

Book Review: Wicked by Sara Shepard

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (June 2, 2009)

In idyllic Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four very pretty girls just can't help but be bad. . . .

Hanna will do anything to be Rosewood's queen bee. Spencer's digging up her family's secrets. Emily can't stop thinking about her new boyfriend. And Aria approves a little too strongly of her mom's taste in men.

Now that Ali's killer is finally behind bars, the girls think they're safe. But those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. And they should know by now that I'm always watching. . . .

I have to say that I actually read this book over a month ago...I just haven't been able to bring myself to write the review for it because I don't even know what to say about it. It was not a bad read. It was not a good read. I guess I am just disappointed with it after the first four in the series were so good.

SPOILER (maybe?)

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A is back. I know right? It was exasperating for this scenario to basically repeat itself. When I discovered that A was back my first reaction was "COME ON!" and that is never good. It was still a decent book but I just could not get past that. Aside from that the girls continue to have serious boy problems and lots of other drama. It feels like there are plenty of problems but never resolutions. I will definitely continue reading the series because I HAVE to know what happens. I am hoping that the next will be better.

2.5/5

Dark Faerie Tales Book Blowout!

Book Selection:

• Death’s Mistress
• Firespell
• Bone Magic
• Wicked Enchantment
• Lips Touch
• Inked
• Ash
• Rampant
• Leviathan
• The Maze Runner
• Kitty’s House of Horrors
• Deadtown
• Spellbent
• Bitter Night
• Blood Cross
• My Soul to Save
• Darklight
• Shades of Midnight
• Beneath the Skin
• Hallowed Circle
• Bleeding Violet
• Captivate
• Fade Out
• Finding the Lost
• Boneshaker
• Scorched
• Tempted
• Demon Bound
• Confessions of a Demon
• Tainted
• Torn
• The Seven Rays
• Betrayals
• Shadowland
• The Tear Collector
• The Everafter
• Ruined
• The Midnight Guardian

There will be:

1 Grand Prize Winner (4 Books)

1 First Place Winner ( 3 Books)

1 Second Place Winner (2 Books)

1 Third Place Winner (1 Book)

Giveaway ends Tuesday, January 5th at 11:59 PM EST
to enter head over to Dark Faerie Tales

Give Up the Ghost Trailer and a contest

I just read this book in November and loved it! I gave it 5 stars and highly recommend it.

Megan Crewe is having an End of 2009 Giveaway:

Prize #1:
3 books- Fortune's Folly, Wondrous Strange, and Lament

Prize #2
A 3 chapter critique of a novel manuscript

for details on how to enter head over to Megan Crewe's Blog

Books Read in November

5 stars

Untamed by P.C. Cast Kristin Cast
Chosen by P.C. Cast Kristin Cast
Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter

4.5 stars

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Hunted by P.C. Cast Kristin Cast
Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz
White is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Silver is for Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz

4 stars

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Red is for Remembrance by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Sword of Darkness by Kinley Macgregor
Knight of Darkness by Kinley Macgregor
Red Fire by Deidre Knight
Red Kiss by Deidre Knight
The Book of Scandal by Julia London
You are so Undead to Me by Stacey Jay

3.5 stars

Secret Society by Tom Dolby
How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
Bones of Fairy by Janni Lee Simner

3 stars

Un Lun Dun by China Mieville
A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
The Stolen One by Suzanne Crowley

Great Contest at Princess Bookie!!

Cindy is having a Thanksgiving giveaway! The contest will be up in a few days but you can get a headstart on entry points by blogging about it. She always has AMAZING giveaways so I know that whatever the prizes are they will be good. While you are there you should become a follower (if you do then please let Cindy know I referred you by mentioning my blog link please)

check it out HERE

Happy Holidays Swag Contest!

Michelle Zink is having a swag contest. Here is the swag up for grabs:

$25 Hot Topic gift card

$15 iTunes gift card

Rose t-shirt

Black-and-white checkered scarf

Gothis choker

Set of earrings including the awesome rose ones!

Candle

Signed Prophecy of the Sisters locker poster

Prophecy of the Sisters locker magnet

Prophecy of the Sisters bookmark

Kazoo

August Rush DVD

Music & Lyrics DVD

Edward Scissorhands DVD

Tons of candy including a mini-gum ball machine, Mentos, a King-size KitKat, bag of Lindt white chocolate truffles, and MOAR!

And my favorite! The BOOKS!

Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle Trilogy including a Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing (timeless!)

Tamora Pearce’s Terrier and Bloodhound, the first two books in the Bekka Cooper series (magical!)

Lisa Mantchev’s Eyes Like Stars (brilliant!)

Prophecy of the Sisters audiobook narrated by the incomparable Eliza Dushku

enter HERE

Brizmus Blogs Books Giveaway!

There will be 2 winners

here are the prizes:
-one lightly used copy of Hush, Hush
-one lightly used copy of Evermore
-one lightly used copy of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
-one used copy of the City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clark
-one lightly used copy of the Over the Holidays
-lots of surprise goodies - books and swag and all sorts of things!

There are tons of ways to get extra entries!
The giveaway ends December 18

enter at Brizmus Blogs Books

Creative Contest at Princess Bookie

There are 3 parts to this contest:

Part 1: Design a rating system with butterflies for Girl On A Mission@Only Sexy Books Allowed
Winner receives an ARC of Magic Under Glass

Part 2: Design a rating system with cupcakes for Cindy @Princess Bookie
Winner receives a mystery ARC

Part 3: Blog about this contest
Winner receives an ARC of Betraying Season

for more info and to enter go HERE

Book Review: Unbelievable by Sara Shepard

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; Reprint edition (November 25, 2008)

Four pretty little liars' charmed lives have turned into living nightmares.

Emily's been shipped off to Iowa to live with her überconservative cousins. Aria's boyfriend is behind bars—because of her. Spencer's afraid she was involved in Ali's murder. But Hanna's fate is far worse: She's clinging to life in the hospital because she knew too much.

If these girls don't start listening to me, Hanna's going to look like the lucky one.

In this fourth installment of the Pretty Little Liars series we finally learn who A is...and you will never guess who it is. Someone is arrested for Ali's murder as well. The author keeps you guessing throughout the whole book and even with the arrest it still leaves you unsure. So many people had a motive to kill Ali it really could have been just about anyone. There are hints that the DeLaurentis' maybe have a family secret and I have my own theories about that.

The girls have gone through some changes in this installment. Emily's parents accept her for who she is after she ran away but now that she has what she wants she no longer seems sure that what she wants is Maya. Hanna was in a coma and when she awoke she was missing a chunk of her memory...including who A was. She also didn't remember her fight with Mona or her budding relationship with Lucas. Spencer actually bonds with her sister but then suspects her of a heinous crime. Aria moves in with her father and Meredith but still resents Meredith. She also discovers some shocking information about the "Jenna incident."

These novels have me hooked and I can't wait to continue reading as more and more secrets are unraveled.

4/5

Noobie Kindle Giveaway!

Lisa McMann

Book Review: Perfect by Sara Shepard

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (May 27, 2008)

In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four perfect-looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem.

Aria can't resist her forbidden ex. Hanna is on the verge of losing her BFF. Emily is freaking out over a simple kiss. And Spencer can't keep her hands off anything that belongs to her sister.

Lucky me. I know these pretty little liars better than they know themselves. But it's hard keeping all of their secrets to myself. They better do as I say . . . or else!

Perfect is the third book in this amazing series. Once again I have to point out the smooth transition from one book to another. So far this has been my favorite of the three books I have read. Perfect is gripping and kept me on my toes the entire time. The question of "who did it?" just kept bouncing around in my head. One minute I think I have figured out who it is and then next thing I know I'm onto someone else. Just about everyone seems like a suspect.

The girls have been dealing without a lot of emotional stress and pain throughout the previous books and Perfect is no different. Quite of a bit of the pain comes from the girl's parents. It is shameful the way some of the adults are more childish than the children. If they would just show their kids some love, attention, understanding, and forgiveness the way a good parent should then maybe their lives wouldn't be so messed up.

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I have to warn you to be sure to have the fourth book, Unbelievable with you when you read Perfect. It ends at a very suspenseful, cliff hanger type moment and you will want to IMMEDIATELY read the next one. Unfortunately I have to wait until this weekend to read it and it is KILLING me!!!

5/5

previous reviews:

Pretty Little Liars (book 1)
Flawless (book 2)
Pretty Little Liars Challenge

Box of Books Birthday Bash Giveaway at My Overstuffed Bookshelf

so far the prizes in the box are:

Demon's Kiss by Maggie Shayne (used)
Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian (used)
Dead Sexy by Amanda Ashley (used)
Water Witch by Deborah LeBlanc (used)
Mind Game by Christine Feehan (used)
Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell (new)
Ginger High by Melkissa Burmester (used)
Wicked Games by Kathleen Lawless (Hardback-used)
Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke (Hardback-used)

There is also an envelope filled with bookmarks. When she hits 150 followers she will add 2 more books, 200 followers she will add 2 more books, etc.

The giveaway ends November 27
enter at My Overstuffed Bookshelf

Contest at The Eclectic Reader!

Win The Running Vixen OR Shadowland OR Captive of Sin

The contest ends November 30.

enter @The Eclectic Reader

Fallen Giveaway

at Read This Book ends November 25 (open worldwide)

ENTER

Coming Soon: Skin Game by Ava Gray

SKIN GAME by Ava Gray
Berkley Sensation (November 3, 2009)

A beautiful fugitive—wanted dead or alive.
Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target’s strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist—anything she wants… for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father’s murder; with deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerard Serrano’s inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.

A hit man who never misses the mark.
Reyes has nothing but his work. Pity for Kyra, he’s the best and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He’s been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash—and bring her back to face Serrano’s “justice.” Dead will do, if he can’t locate the loot. He’s never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce heat and her outlaw heart. So Reyes has a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.

Just Released: Possess Me At Midnight (The Doomsday Brethren, Book 3) by Shayla Black

Doomsday Brethren Series, Book 3 — Ice’s story
Publisher: Pocket Books
ISBN-10: 1416578463
ISBN-13: 9781416578468
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
Release Date: October 27, 2009

As a mysterious dark cloud drains the life of her beloved brother, Doomsday Brethren leader Bram, Sabelle Rion can think of little else. Still, every time she meets Ice Rykard’s intense green gaze, her body aches with need for the sexy warrior. Their attraction is explosive, incredible—and forbidden. As dangerous as he is unpredictable, Ice is her brother’s sworn enemy. But as Bram weakens, a more sinister force is gaining power. Evil Mathias and his ruthless Anarki army are on a bloodthirsty hunt for the Doomsday Diary. Sabelle must guard the potent book with her life—and Ice vows to protect the beautiful witch with his. Duty demands that Sabelle deny her lover’s fiery call of possession and mate with a man who can sway the magical Council against the impending rebellion. With the fate of magickind hanging in the balance, will she forsake the burning desires she can’t ignore or turn her back on her people for the courageous man she can’t resist?

Awesometastic Giveaway @The Book Pixie

Here are some of the prizes:

~Prizes~

There is a lot for the winners to choose from and more books may be added later:

• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (HC)
• Signed! Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee McKenzie (HC) (Donated by C. Lee McKenzie)
• Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater (PB)
• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (PB)
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore (PB)
• Signed! Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle (PB)(Donated by Marissa. Thanks!)
• ARC of Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle
• ARC of Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
• ARC of Candor by Pam Bachorz
• ARC of Hold Still by Nina LaCour
• ARC of Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith
• ARC of Secret Society by Tom Dolby
• ARC of Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Contest ends November 16

enter @The Book Pixie

Big Box Challenge @Princess Bookie

There is a contest at Princess Bookie. Here are the ways to enter:

Option 1:
Recreate One Of The Book Images in a post on your blog or include the link to your post. Be Creative. Have fun. Take A Picture, Make A Picture. Include yourself, include others, be creative.

Option 2: Make Your Own Cover Based On The Title Of The Book. Be creative.

Option 3: Recreate Something Like Fate. Be Creative! I love love love this cover.

Suprise contest @Princess Bookie

In honor of Dewey's memory and the Read-A-Thon Princess Bookie is having a mini challenge in which you need to name 8 of your favorite things (not all books)

1. My dog Domino
2. My boyfriend
3. Owls
4. Cupcakes (nom nom)
5. books Books BOOKS!!
6. Super Mario 3 (Super Nintendo Rocks!)
7. the beach at night
8. Cranberry juice

Book Review: Flawless by Sara Shepard

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (February 19, 2008)

Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is making her sick. And their most horrible secret yet is so scandalous that the truth would ruin them forever.

And why shouldn't I tell? They deserve to lose it all. With every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message I send, I'll be taking these pretty little liars down. Trust me, I've got enough dirt to bury them alive.

Flawless picks up where Pretty Little Liars left off. It is a seamless transition from one book to the next which I found relieving. I hate reading a sequel and having to rehash everything that has happened and all the characters. There is just a little of that but not much....just enough for a reminder without making it boring.

In this book all the girls attend Ali's funeral and finally share with each other that they have been getting weird messages from someone called "A." The police have reopened the case and are treating Ali's death as a homicide. Of course all the girls are freaked out wondering who would have done such a thing. At the funeral they see Toby and Jenna who are people they (and especially Ali) have wronged. Toby keeps popping up in places so the girls eventually believe that "A" must be Toby taking revenge. The result of their suspicions and Toby's own guilt over his past ends tragically.

Flawless also delves deeper into each girls secret and why they have become the people they are. They all have family problems...Hanna and Spencer's parents barely give them the time of day which makes them feel worthless and unloved, Emily's family is controlling and her mother is racist, and Aria's dad has put her in an impossible position that has damaged her relationship with her mother. All the girls have relationship issues as well. Hanna gets dumped by her boyfriend Sean, Aria had an affair with a teacher and now likes Hanna's ex Sean, Emily is coming to grips with the fact that she like Maya (the new girl), and Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend and is sneaking around with him. Oh the drama of it all.

Flawless is a great continuation of the series. I wouldn't bother reading if you haven't read Pretty Little Liars...you would just be confused.

4.5/5

Book Review: Pretty Little Liars

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (August 21, 2007)

Gossip thrives amid the Mercedes-Benzes, mega mansions, and perfectly manicured hedges in the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Behind their big Gucci sunglasses, beneath their perfectly pressed Polos, everyone has something to hide, especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna. Spencer covets her sister's gorgeous new boyfriend. Aria is having an affair with her English teacher. Emily is infatuated with the new girl at school. And Hanna is using some ugly tricks to stay beautiful. Deeper and darker still is a horrible secret the girls shared since sixth grade-a secret they thought safe forever.

Then the girls start receiving threatening messages signed by someone named "A." Could "A" be Alison, the ultra popular girl who disappeared 3 years earlier? Alison was their best friend. She knew everything about them. But if Alison isn't "A," who is? And how could anyone else know so much about the bad girls they were and the bad girls they've become? Suddenly, their secrets-the big ones, the little ones, even the long-buried ones-no longer seem so secret. Suddenly nothing is safe in Rosewood.

When I first read the book description It immediately made me think of the movie Jawbreaker. You have an HBIC (that's Head Bitch in Charge FYI), the HBIC's lackeys, terrible secrets, etc. Really though, once I started reading I realized the similarities pretty much ended there.

Alison is the type of girl who has to be the best. She puts her friends down and makes them feel guilty to make herself seem like she is better than them. She is controlling and manipulative. How can these girls want to be her friend? Well, I have been friends with someone similar to her before. I look back now and see it as a toxic relationship. My excuse for being her friend? She is fun and popular...I am not. Pretty much the same answer Alison's friends give. When you get to the root of it insecurity is the underlying reason. Everyone of these girls has low self esteem and feels insecure about some aspect of their life which enable a person like Alison to do the things she did.

Finally, one of the girls (Spencer) stands up to Alison and Alison leaves the slumber party they were having that evening. That was the last time Alison was seen. Nobody knows what happened to her and although her friends are upset over the disappearance they are secretly relieved. Now Alison can't control them by using their secrets against them.

Cut to 3 years later. All the girls have grown apart. Aria had moved to Iceland but has just moved back. Hanna has transformed herself from chubby nerd to skinny and popular. Emily is finally discovering she is not happy with being the person her parents want her to be. And Spencer wants what her sister has (her parents attention and for them to be proud of her, oh, and her sister's boyfriend). Out of nowhere they start getting texts, notes, etc. from "A" who threatens to reveal their secrets (old and new). Each girl is cowed into doing what "A" tells them because they fear the truth getting out there, especially the "Jenna thing" (which I won't explain because I don't want give away too much of the story).

I had some trepidation about reading this book because it didn't seem like my type of book. I am so glad I joined the Pretty Little Liars Challenge or I never would have given this book a chance. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read the rest of the series. The book doesn't really end. It just kind of leaves you hanging so in my opinion not reading the rest of the series just is NOT an option. I HAVE to know what happens!

My Rating: 4.5/5

Book Trailer: Hold Still by Nina Lacour

New Author Challenge 2010

guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome

For more info about the challenge, and to sign up head over to Literary Escapism

My goal is 25 new authors

1. Marta Acosta
2. Ann Aguirre
3. Mark Henry
4. Katie MacAlister
5. Jim C. Hines
6. Cheryl Brooks
7. Rachel Gibson
8. Bree Despain
9. Amy Brecount White
10. Alexander Gordon Smith
    
11. Melinda Wells
    
12. Nicole Peeler
    
13. Addison Fox
    
14. Kate Cann
    
15. Rachel Hawkins
    
16. Julie Kagawa
    
17. Patrick Carman
    
18. Lisa Mantchev
    
19. Jeri Smith-Ready
    
20. Jill Myles
    
21. 
    
22. 
    
23. 
    
24. 
    
25. 
    

Pretty Little Liars Challenge

Hosted by Trisha of Trisha's Book Blog

Guidelines:

- This challenge is to read all of the Pretty Little Liars series. You can not count books that you have read prior to the start of this challenge. Sept. 24, 2009. Challenge closes Dec. 31, 2010.

Here are the books:

*Pretty Little Liars
*Flawless
*Perfect
*Unbelievable
*Wicked
*Killer
*Heartless (January 19th,2010)
*Twisted (2010)

If you complete the challenge then you will be entered to win prizes. There will be 2 winners. One will win the entire Pretty Little Liars series and the other will win the first 4 books in the series (signed).

Join the challenge HERE

Book Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless (Book 1 in the Parasol Protectorate series) by Gail Carriger
373 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Released: September 29, 2009

Synopsis:

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart? SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

My Thoughts:

Despite being a spinster (due to her swarthy complexion, large nose, and being a bluestocking) Alexia Tarabotti is strong willed and is a force to be reckoned with....oh, and she has no soul. Having no soul makes her a preternatural. She is the opposite of werewolves and vampires (who have an overabundance of soul) and can nullify their powers when in physical contact with them. I love Alexia's wit and that she is a strong woman who doesn't sit on the sidelines.

I enjoyed Lord Macon and Professor Lyall (the Alpha and Beta werewolves in the story) very much as well. The romance between Lord Macon and Alexia kept the story interesting even though it was a little predictable at times. I missed Professor Lyall's character in the book...he seemed to disappear for awhile which surprised me because I thought he would be more present. I am hoping that in the next book in the series he will be featured more prominently so that we may learn more about him.

In the beginning of the book there were some things that were confusing because of the lack of explanations (mostly about people). I felt that had there been more descriptions then I would have had a better start. However, I did enjoy the book and thought it was a fun read. I am excited for the next book in the series, Changeless. One final thing I definitely have to point out is the gorgeous covers of these two books. They are some of the most beautifully done covers I have seen.

MY RATING: 4/5