Book Fanatics

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Shrinking the TBR Pile #5

Shrinking the TBR Pile is a weekley meme that Ashley from What's Your Story? hosts. Ashley has created a fabulous way to read books from your TBR Pile. Just number all the books in your pile, then every week draw from a hat (or whatever you prefer) three numbers. The books that correspond to those numbers is what you read this week.

This week I chose 22 and 27.

Those correspond to:

#22

#27

350 Page Book 2011 Challenge

If you haven't noticed lately, it's time to signing up for challenges for 2011! I'm trying to sign up for as many as I can (Am I taking on too much? Yes.), but still only doing the ones that intest me and that I want to do.

Anyway, I'm doing the 350 Page Book 2011 Challenge hosted by Ashley at What's Your Story. To see original post go here.

The objective is to read as many books as possible that contain 350 pages.

The challenge will last from January 1st, 20110- December 31st, 2011.

The Guidelines:

· *This challenge does not have to only include YA, but it should be predominantly YA that means at least 75% of the books you read should be young adult fiction.

· * Each book MUST contain 350 pages or more.

· *Only physical copies and e-books will count toward the challenge. (Sorry, but audio books don’t have pages!)
Y YES, e-readers DO count! :)

· -You can add each book as you read them. You do NOT have to make a list.

This shouldn't be too much of a challenge for me, considering I prefer longer books to shorter. It will still be fun to see how many books I can read.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

In My Mailbox (48)

We have Kristi at The Story Siren to thank for hosting IMM every week.

I actually bought some books this week, for the first time time since the begginning of October, so I'm pretty excited.

Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John- The Challenge: Piper has one month to get the rock band Dumb a paying gig.

The Deal: If she does it, Piper will become the band's manager and get her share of the profits.

The Catch: How can Piper possibly manage one egomaniacal pretty boy, one talentless piece of eye candy, one crush, one silent rocker, and one angry girl? And how can she do it when she's deaf?

Piper can't hear Dumb's music, but with growing self-confidence, a budding romance, and a new understanding of the decision her family made to buy a cochlear implant for her deaf baby sister, she discovers her own inner rock star and what it truly means to be a flavor of Dumb.

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley- Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning...

When Emily Carson's parents die in a plane crash, she's left with nothing but her mother's last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: "Emily, please forgive me."

Now it's fall and Emily moves to New York City where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, Lipstick Apology is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.

Take Me There by Carolee Dean- Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.

But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He’s on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked.

Night Star by Alyson Noel- After fighting for centuries to be together, Ever and Damen’s future hinges on one final showdown that will leave readers gasping for breath. Don’t miss this explosive new installment of the #1 bestselling series that’s enchanted millions across the world!

Haven still blames Ever for the death of her boyfriend Roman, no matter how hard Ever’s tried to convince her it was an accident. Now she’s determined to take Ever down…and destroy Damen and Jude along the way. Her first step is to tear Ever and Damen apart—and she has just the ammunition to do it.

Hidden in one of Ever’s past lives is a terrible secret about Damen—a secret that illuminates new facts about her relationship with Jude, but that’s so dark and brutal it might be enough to drive her and Damen apart once and for all. As Ever faces her greatest fears about the guy she wants to spend eternity with, she’s thrust into a deadly clash with Haven that could destroy them all.

Now it’ll take everything she’s got—and bring out powers she never knew she had—to face down her most formidable enemy. But in order to win, she must first ask herself: is her own survival worth dooming Haven to an eternity of darkness in the Shadowland? And will learning the truth about Damen’s past hold the key to their future?

YA Historical Fiction Challenge 2011

For 2011 Sab at YA Bliss is hosting the YA Historical Challenge. I love historical fiction, so I'm super excited for this! There are so many great ones coming out next year (though they don't have to come out next year to be part of the callenge).

Historical fiction: tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional. Writers of stories in this genre, while penning fiction, attempt to capture the spirit, manners, and social conditions of the persons or time(s) presented in the story, with due attention paid to period detail and fidelity. (Wikipedia)

There are three levels:

Level 1: 5 YA HF books in 2011

Level 2: 10 YA HF books in 2011

Level 3: 15 YA HF books in 2011

I'm planning to get to level 1, but hoping to get to level 2. To see the original post go here.

What I've read:

Vixen by Jillian Larkin
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday: You Against Me

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Release Date: December 2, 2010

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.

I just think this book looks amazing. It has a unique description, not like anything

I've seen before.

What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Review: My Soul to Steal

My Soul to Steal
Rachel Vincent
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: January 1, 2011

YOU WANT MY SOUL AND MY BOYFRIEND?

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

I DON’T THINK SO.

Let me start by just saying that I love this series. It's one of those series that every time I start a new book in it, I get obsessed with it. I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about, and everyone has a series like that for themselves.

Anyway, I think every book in this series gets better. i started and couldn't put it down until I finished. It has such a unique plot, and I get pulled into the story every time.

I really liked Kaylee. She's very relatable, and, in my opinion, very sweet and compassionate. My only complaint would be that in My Soul to Steal, she got way too obsessed with Nash's ex, Sabine. I mean, way obsessed. It blinded Kaylee to see what was really going on. But, it wasn't entirely her fault. I would elaborate, but there would be spoilers.

I loved My Soul to Steal as much as the others in the series. It's a fabulous series, and if you haven't already read it, I would highly recommend it. The latest installment if fantastic, and I need to read the next one, like, now.

rating:

4.5 hearts

Monday, November 22, 2010

1st in a Series Challenge 2011

Previously hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog and Royal Reviews, the 1st in a Series Challenge is hosted by Kate at A Few More Pages this year.

Guidelines for the 1st in a Series Challenge 2011:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. If you're not a blogger, leave your information in the comments.

2. There are four levels for this challenge:

Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.

Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.

Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.

Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series. (I expect to get this)

You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. Any genre counts.

3. The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2011.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2011.

5. If you're a blogger, write up a sign-up post that includes the URL to this post so that others can join in. Feel free to use the button above. When you sign up in the Linky, put the direct link to your 1st in a Series Challenge sign-up post.

To sign up for this challenge, go here.

I've read: