Clockwork Angel ARC Giveaway @ Reading Teen

Reading Teen is having an awesome giveaway of the much anticipated Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. Winner will be announced by Friday so hurry and enter. Please mention that your were referred by THROUTHEHAZE. Thanks!

enter HERE

WINNER!

Conratulations to Khelsea @ Once upon a review for winning the ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater! I have emailed you and you have 24 hours to respond before I pick a new winner. Thank you everyone for wishing me a Happy Birthday and for all the great book recommendations!

**Giveaway Reminder**

Just a reminder that the giveaway for an ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater ends tonight at 11:59 pm EST.

enter HERE

Book Review: The Darkest Lie by Gena Showalter

Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: HQN Books (June 29, 2010)

Amazon Description:

Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie—until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn't remember the beautiful female, much less wedding—or bedding—her. But he wants to…almost as much as he wants her.

But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free. A future with her might mean ultimate ruin. Especially as Gideon's enemies draw closer—and the truth threatens to destroy all he's come to love…

******************

The Darkest Lie is the newest book in the Lords of the Underworld series and is Gideon's story. First I must say I absolutely love the cover. Even though it does not resemble Gideon (who is described as having blue hair and lots of piercings), it FEELS like Gideon. I think it is actually my favorite cover out of all the books. Also, Lucien's story has been my favorite for a long time but Gideon's story is so awesome that he has now taken Lucien's place. Reading The Darkest Lie is interesting because Gideon can speak nothing but lies or he will experience excruciating pain because he is the Keeper of Lies. So you sort of have to decipher his meaning throughout the book. Scarlet (Keeper of Nightmares) is a prisoner in the Lord's dungeon and she is claiming to be Gideon's wife from before the Pandora's box debacle, except he has no memory of this. So the question is, did some god/goddess mess with his memories? While Gideon and Scarlet deal with their problems, Aeron leads a rescue mission in hell and Strider scores one for the team by nabbing an enemy. This series just gets better and better. Gena Showalter really knows how to deliver the goods. Only problem now is that I am going to go crazy waiting for the next book in the series which happens to be Amun's story.

5/5

Waiting on Wednesday #4

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Sacrifice (Mortal Path Book 2) by Dakota Banks

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Eos (August 31, 2010)

A demon's enslaved executioner--a ravager of lives and souls--Maliha Crayne has been reborn, willing to sacrifice her immortality for a chance at freedom ... and salvation. Now she has an opportunity to prevent the death of thousands to help balance the countless lives she has obliterated over the centuries. To do so, she must locate and destroy an evil cabal of madmen in possession of a weapon of unspeakable power--and survive the immortal assassins who are now after her blood. But it means reverting to the old ways and surrendering once more to the darkness.

Swagbucks.com

Most of you have probably heard of Swagbucks by now. It is a pretty popular program that A LOT of people participate in. It is super easy to do. If you do searches on your computers (like google or yahoo) then you might as well earn points towards gift cards (or whatever you like in their store) by using the Swagbucks search. Just get the toolbar thingy installed and you will be earning points in no time.

I always get Amazon gift certs...they are 450 pts. Believe me, you earn points quickly and it's not like you have to go out of your way to do so. I have earned over $80 worth of Amazon gift certs, which I have used to buy people presents and fuel my book buying addiction.

Signing up for Swagbucks gives you an extra 10 pts in my giveaway for the ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater. I urge the people that have signed up to give it a try and earn some points, and if you have not signed up you should try it out too so you can earn gift certs :)

sign up HERE

Waiting on Wednesday #3

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Unraveled (Intertwined #2) by Gena Showalter

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (August 31, 2010)

For once, sixteen-year-old Aden Stone has everything he’s ever wanted:

A home.

Friends.

The girl of his dreams.

Too bad he’s going to die...Since coming to Crossroads, Oklahoma, former outcast Aden Stone has been living the good life. Never mind that one of his best friends is a werewolf, his girlfriend is a vampire princess who hungers for his blood, and he’s supposed to be crowned Vampire King – while still a human! Well, kind of.

With four – oops, three now — human souls living inside his head, Aden has always been “different” himself. These souls can time travel, raise the dead, possess another’s mind, and, his least favorite these days, tell the future.

The forecast for Aden? A knife through the heart.

Because a war is brewing between the creatures of the dark, and Aden is somehow at the center of it all. But he isn’t about to lie down and accept his destiny without a fight. Not when his new friends have his back, not when Victoria has risked her own future to be with him, and not when he has a reason to live for the first time in his life...

Throuthehaze Birthday Giveaway!

2 weeks from now I will be turning 25 (a quarter century old GAH!). So to celebrate I am having a giveaway!

One winner will receive an ARC of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

US only

Please leave all entries in ONE comment.
You must do at least one of the following:

+1 Recommend a book
+2 new follower
+3 old follower
+5 blog post about the contest
+2 sidebar post
+10 sign up for swagbucks with my referral link:
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/Throuthehaze

Be sure to leave links...I will be checking to make sure entries are valid!

Giveaway ends on my B-day June 25 at 11:59 p.m. EST

YA Book Club @ The Fabulous Fictionistas

"Fiction me this, fiction me that. Who's in love with a good paperback?"

Kelley's Corner has a new YA Book Club called The Fabulous Fictionistas!

In honor of this she is having a giveaway on her blog for a $15 Barnes & Noble gift card. All you have to do is follower her blog and make a post about her new book club.

Book Review: Wanted by Sara Shepard

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen; 1 edition (June 8, 2010)


Description from Amazon:

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.

****************************

Amazing ending to this series! My guess as to what happened was right, and yet not right...which was awesome! I love the twists and turns in this book. I hate when I figure things out early on in a book, so this book gets an A++ for keeping me on my toes. I'm still reeling from everything that happened. There are a few things I would have liked cleared up (like about Wilden), but I guess they weren't really important in the scheme of things.When I first picked up this series I honestly was not expecting much, but it has turned out to be one of my favorite series. It's sad that this is the end, but Sarah Shepard has a new series coming out in January called The Lying Game...I can't wait to read it! Of course there is also the new TV show based on the Pretty Little Liars series on ABC Family to check out.

5/5

Book Review: Heartless by Sara Shepard

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (January 19, 2010)


Description from Amazon:

Four gorgeous girls are telling very ugly stories.

First Emily, Aria, Hanna, and Spencer claimed they found a dead body in the woods behind Spencer's house, only to have it vanish without a trace. Then, when the same woods went up in flames, they swore they saw someone who's supposed to be dead rise from the ashes. And even after all that, the pretty little liars are still playing with fire. Call me heartless, but it's about time someone shut these liars up for good. After all, nobody likes a girl who cries wolf—least of all me. . . .

***************************

This is Book 7 in the Pretty Little Liars series. The secrets are inching closer and closer to being revealed finally. This book definitely will make you question what you think you know. "A" has a way of twisting everyone's perceptions and creates distrust and spreads insecurities like wildfire. I think I have an idea of what may be going on, and I can't wait to find out if I am anywhere close to being right. There were some shockers in Heartless that I was NOT expecting at all...some seriously juicy secrets revealed and/or alluded to. Readers of the series won't be disappointed with this book.

5/5

Book Review: Killer by Sara Shepard

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen (June 30, 2009)

Description from Amazon:

In picture-perfect Rosewood, Pennsylvania, ash-blond highlights gleam in the winter sun and frozen lakes sparkle like Swarovski crystals. But pictures often lie—and so do Rosewood's four prettiest girls.

Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily have been lying ever since they became friends with beautiful Alison DiLaurentis. Ali made them do terrible things—things they had to keep secret for years. And even though Ali was killed at the end of seventh grade, their bad-girl ways didn't die with her.

Hanna's on a mission to corrupt Rosewood's youth, starting with a very attractive sophomore. Aria's snooping into her boyfriend's past. Spencer's stealing—from her family. And pure little Emily's abstaining from abstinence.

The girls should be careful, though. They thought they were safe when Ali's killer was arrested and A's true identity was finally revealed. But now there's a new A in town turning up the heat. And this time Rosewood is going to burn.

*********************************

This is book #6 in The Pretty Little Liars series. Apparently "A" is back with a vengeance. The girls thought their ordeal was finally over now that Mona was gone but they were wrong. Some interesting things happen in each of the girl's lives. I found Spencer's issues to be particularly interesting. With all the stuff that has gone on I think that I would have had a mental breakdown. These are some pretty resilient girls...even though at times I think they are obtuse. How many times are they going to fall for these deceptions. You would think by now they would have learned not to believe everything "A" has written or had them see. But then again, if I were in their situation maybe I wouldn't be thinking so clearly about that either. This book was a great read that gets the readers a little closer to finding out the truth.

5/5

Upcoming CSN Stores Review

Recently I was contacted by CSN Stores to do a review of one of their products! If you have never heard of CSN Stores you should definitely check them out. You can get just about anything you can think of from there including a bed, bookcase, cookware, etc. Actually, they have 200+ stores online to shop from! Not to mention their prices are awesome. A lot of their items have free shipping as well!

Since Father's Day is coming up I decided to review something that would be great for dads. I know it's perfect for mine! He helped pick it out. I can't wait to get it! When I do I will review the item here and tell you what my dad and I think about it.

The Memory Company Dallas Cowboys Desk Clock

Dallas Cowboys not your team? They have other teams too!

Trailer: My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

Book Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (July 20, 2010)

Description from Amazon:

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.
***********************

The book starts off painfully slow and extremely depressing. After about 100 pages in things pick up (although it is till a downer) and the story gets interesting. Cole is the most interesting character in this book in my opinion. He wants to be a wolf and chose to be one which throws Sam for a loop because he can't see how anyone would want that...to lose themselves. Grace's parents are actually acting like parents, but it's too little too late so instead of seeming like caring and concerned parents they just come off as jerks...I mean, come on, her own father almost killed her by forgetting her in a locked car out in the heat...yeah. The whole thing that is happening to Grace (which I won't reveal...no spoiler) was unexpected and the ending had me holding my breath in anticipation. I am really hoping that there will be a lot more Cole in the next book and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I won't have to go out and get a prescription for Prozac to read it....seriously, because this one was THAT depressing.

4/5

Book Review: Perchance to Dream: Theatre Illuminata #2 by Lisa Mantchev

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends; 1 edition (May 25, 2010)

Description from Amazon:

We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY

But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

*****************************

This is the second book in the Theatre Illuminata series by Lisa Mantchev. I have mixed feelings about this book although I still give the book a pretty good rating. I truly enjoyed Eyes Like Stars more than this one. I found Perchance to Dream a bit schizophrenic as far as the story goes. It is difficult to tell what is really happening or what is being imagined, etc. Although I believe it is really MEANT to be that way because Bertie apparently does not have a firm grip on reality herself, I found it a bit tedious. The love story part of this book leaves me feeling unsatisfied as well. Regardless of all that I still found it a good read mostly because it is so descriptive. There are scenes written so vividly I can picture it perfectly in my mind, especially the Sun and Moon part close to the end.

4/5

Waiting on Wednesday #2

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Demon from the Dark by Kresley Cole

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (August 24, 2010)

A DANGEROUS DEMON SHE CAN'T RESIST . . .

Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he's pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.

A MADDENING WITCH HE ACHES TO CLAIM . . .

Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving.

TRAPPED TOGETHER IN A SAVAGE PRISON . . .

In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

STEAMPUNK: Wear it

Etsy is a great online marketplace to buy awesome handmade items...including everything you coudl think of to dress Steampunk!

Beautiful Jewelry

Gun to fight off airship pirates

Stylish hat

Chest harness: Functional and Fashionable

Steampunk Staple: Goggles

STEAMPUNK: Read it

definition of Steampunk:

a genre of science fiction set in Victorian times when steam was the main source of machine power.

Pastworld by Ian Beck
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti
Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Changeless by Gail Carriger
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

There are lots of Steampunk novels out there, especially now that the genre has become so popular. You can easily find book guides through google if you really want to get into the genre and find some good reads.

The Selling of ARCs

Prepare yourselves for my ranting...

Here is a convo I had with an ebay seller:

me:
I was just wondering if you were aware that selling an ARC is illegal.

them:
It is not illegal to sell ARCs. I would not do it if it were illegal. It is illegal to make copies of copyrighted materials and sell those copies. It is not illegal to sell a book or an ARC. Indeed, ARCs for major authors can be found in many major second hand booksellers like the Strand Bookstore in New York City and Housing Work Books. It is not illegal to purchase those books and to resell them just as it is not illegal resell any book that a person owns.

me:
Actually it is illegal. The publishers and author do not make money from ARCs. That is why NOT FOR SALE is listed on the covers of ARCs. Selling one is actually stealing from the publishers and author. Selling a used book is different because at one time the publishers and author made money for the sale of it. It costs publishers A LOT of money to send ARCS out...all for the purpose of spreading the word about the book...not so those fortunate enough to get a FREE copy can go off and sell it for a profit.

How can anyone think selling an ARC isn't illegal when it says right there on the cover NOT FOR SALE???? There are a lot of highly anticipated ARCs on ebay right now listed by people who are abusing their privileges. It is one thing to use an ARC in a giveaway or even swap with someone, but when you line your pockets with money for selling an ARC you are STEALING.

Ridiculous...

Rant over.

Books Read in April/May

2 months worth of books read in this post because I completely spaced and forgot to do a post for April

5 Stars
The Darkest Passion by Gena Showalter
Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull
Secret Life of a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
Forbidden Nights with a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Hourglass by Claudia Gray
Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward
Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward
Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward
Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward
Lover Mine by J.R. Ward
Closer by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

4.5 Stars
Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn Kenyon
White Cat by Holly Black
Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon
One Silent Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
The Vampire and the Virgin by Kerrelyn Sparks
Battle of the Network Zombies by Mark Henry
Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready
Stargazer by Claudia Gray
Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon

4 Stars
Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman
Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman
Gentlemen Prefer Succubi by Jill Myles
Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter
Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

3.5 Stars
My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent
The Dream-Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Upon the Midnight Clear by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Evermore by Alyson Noel
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

3 Stars
Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward

2.5 Stars
Shadowland by Alyson Noel
Tempt Me with Darkness by Shayla Black

That is a total of 46 books read in April/May

Waiting on Wednesday #1

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


The Darkest Edge of Dawn (Charlie Madigan, Book 2) by Kelly Gay

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (August 31, 2010)

It takes a strong woman to keep the peace in a city of endless night. . . . Deep beneath Underground, a cunning bid for power and revenge has begun—one that threatens to make Atlanta the new battleground in the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. The powers of hellish Charbydon have the upper hand after plunging the city into primordial night. And under the cover of darkness, a serial killer targets the most powerful Elysians in the city, the angelic Adonai. For Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner Hank, tracking deadly predators is all in a day’s work . . . but this case will test the limits of their strength and friendship as it draws them into a deadly world of power plays, ancient myths, explosive secrets, and a race against time that risks all that Charlie holds dear.