In My Mailbox (25)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



I "accidentally" went to Chapters this week. Actually, I got together with my friend Jen, and it's tradition to go, so we went ;). I've gotten pretty good at holding back and not buying anything, but this time I decided to invest in a few books I've been wanting to buy for a long time. Check out what I got:

Bought
Abandon by Meg Cabot {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Entwined by Heather Dixon {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Spells (Wings #2) by Aprilynne Pike {Goodreads | Book Depository}

So I was counting down to and waiting for both ABANDON and ENTWINED. I'm so excited that I know have them and can read them when I want to! (Chances are it won't be for a while still, because I have a long TBR list! I'm sure most of you do as well.) I bought Spells because it was a marked down hardback copy. I did the same thing when I bought Wings (it was marked down to $4.99). I have yet to read Wings, but it's coming up on my list! It's about 2nd or 3rd in line haha.

What did you get this week?

Review: Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Daimon
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publish Date: May 10, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 62 (ebook)
Series: Covenant
Daimon (prequel)
1. Half-Blood (October 18, 2011)
2. Pure (April 2, 2012)
3. Deity (expected pub November 2012)

Synopsis:
For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that’s a good thing.

But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her.

From Goodreads

DAIMON (pronounced DEE-mun) is the prequel to Jennifer's debut series. The first book, HALF-BLOOD, is one book coming out in the Fall that I'm really excited about. Last time I had the opportunity to read a prequel to a book, I ended up reading it after reading the book itself. I thought the prequel was cute and could see how it was useful to read before starting the book. This time, I read the prequel before the book (DAIMON before HALF-BLOOD). It’s definitely made me want to read HALF-BLOOD even more than I wanted to before.

DAIMON is a really great intro into the world of the Gods and their descendants. It gives us a peak at the main character, Alex (Alexandria), and the way she’s living her life. Very quickly, I found myself having an emotional attachment to Alex, probably because of the trouble she runs into (and if that’s not an understatement, I don’t know what is!). We get a glimpse at her relationship with her mom, and how she’s unhappy with the fact that they have to live among mortals. Most of all, there are a lot of questions raised about WHY they have to live among mortals.

So far, I like Jennifer’s writing style. She puts a lot of humour in her writing, mostly in the form of sarcastic comments from Alex. One of my favourite lines:

I was so going to kick a Covenant Instructor in the face if I ever made it back there alive.

pg. 54

That is one line of many that made me laugh out loud. There’s definitely no shortage of them, and that’s what I like about her writing. At the same time, Jennifer also knows how to take things down a notch and make it serious and emotional when it needs to be, by including a good amount of detail without having it be overwhelming or drawn-out.

If you’re planning on reading HALF-BLOOD when it comes out in October (or before, if you have an ARC), I highly recommend reading DAIMON first. It is a great way to introduce us to the characters, and to Jennifer’s writing. And it ends exactly where HALF-BLOOD starts, which makes you want to pick up HALF-BLOOD right after finishing it!

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




I have two books that I'm waiting on this week!

Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
Publication Date: August 2, 2011

Synopsis:
Will Elise’s love life be an epic win or an epic fail?

At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:

As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn’t exactly on everyone’s must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise’s beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince’s best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.
From Goodreads

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Publication Date: August 2, 2011

Synopsis:
The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.
From Goodreads

I knew I had to read EPIC FAIL as soon as I saw the title. I mean, come on. A book called EPIC FAIL? That just sounds totally awesome. And it's also a retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice!

I've been following Victoria Schwab for a long time (mostly on Twitter). I can't wait to see her book on the shelf and be all excited and happy with her! I have an egalley of THE NEAR WITCH, but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Teaser Tuesday (24)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

This week I'm reading Karsten Knight's debut novel, Wildefire! I had an egalley of it, but it wasn't working with my Kobo, so I popped into my local Chapters on Saturday night and it was shelved already! (It just came out today, technically.) So I grabbed a copy to continue reading. Here's my teaser:

The scream was certainly human - female, more precisely - but it stretched into an octave that Ash didn't even know she was capable of hearing. It penetrated her eardrums so startlingly that she couldn't help but clamp her hands over her ears. The wail infiltrated even her deepest recesses, and her body transformed into a human tuning fork.

"Are you okay?" Colt asked.

"Okay?" she started to ask. Hadn't he heard it too?


So, it's a bit longer than 2 sentences, but I had to get the whole feel for the part out. I hope it whet your appetite! This is such a good book so far. I love the way Karsten set it up, where each chapter is a day. Gotta get back to reading it!

Feel free to share your teasers with me. I'd love to see what you're reading!

In My Mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



Last weekend I didn't get to post an IMM because I was in Oshawa for Maggie Stiefvater's FOREVER tour. I picked up a few books there, even some to give away! Here's what I got... I'm warning you it's a long one!

To give away:
Two copies of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (one signed)
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater keychains
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton swag (bookmarks and postcards)

Bought:
Wildefire by Karsten Knight {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (signed) {Goodreads | Book Depository}
It's a Book by Lane Smith {Goodreads | Book Depository}

Won
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (UK paperback) {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Won on Twitter
Thanks to Maggie for sending me a signed and doodled copy!

For Review:
Imperium by Nicholas Olivo {Goodreads}
Thanks to Nicholas for the review ebook copy!

Phew! That's a long one with a large variety of stuff! Make sure you check out my Forever giveaway here to win some of the stuff in the first picture. It's open until the end of the month and it's international! (Psssttt! There's under 50 entries so far!)

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Cover Reveals

I LOVED Lauren Oliver's DELIRIUM when I read it at the beginning of the year. It was one of the first dystopians that I read, and loved the way she created a different take on love. Check out my review here. Just recently, the cover for the second book in the series, PANDEMONIUM was released. Check it out:

I think the cover looks awesome. The one thing that bugs me is that it matches the special edition and ebook versions of DELIRIUM, but not the original hardcover. See what I mean?

Either way, it looks beautiful. You can check out Pandemonium on Goodreads here.

**********

I am a fan of Kelley Armstrong's writing, although I haven't read half as much of her stuff as I should have. I've made my way through the first three books in her Women of the Otherworld series and have the next two sitting on my shelf; I have her Darkest Powers trilogy waiting on my shelf; and I have a signed copy of her newest YA, The Gathering, waiting to be read as well (I won this copy through Indigo Teen Blog's twitter). So, I'm a fan, but I'm a busy fan, haha!

Just recently, the cover for the second book in her Darkness Rising series and sequel to The Gathering, called The Calling was released! Check it out:

It really goes well with the first book in the series. Both highlight the earring and have an interesting colour. The purple looks great. Here's the first to compare with :

Click here to visit The Calling on Goodreads and add it to your shelf.

**********

Lastly, DREAMING AWAKE, the second book in the Falling Under series by Gwen Hayes, has a cover! Like the Kelley Armstrong series, I haven't read Falling Under yet, but it's sitting on my Kobo and I hope to get to it soon! I absolutely love the cover for the first book, and the second is pretty cool, too:

Here's the cover for Falling Under to compare with:

I like how the colours seem inverted. The first had black flowers and a red dress, while the second has red flowers and the dress is black and white. One of the things that always caught my eye is the curls in her hair. I love the way they're spread out around her head.

You can add DREAMING AWAKE to your Goodreads shelf here.

Book News

Jennifer L. Armentrout's Adult Book Deal

Jennifer announced on her blog yesterday that she has a new 3-book deal for an adult urban fantasy series! It sounds really awesome. It's about demon-hunters, fallen angels, and Nephilim. Right up my alley! Here's the blurb:

Between the pissed off creatures that want demon-hunter Lily Marks dead and the fallen angel who just … wants her, Lily is about ready to trade in forever for a comfy job in a cubicle farm.

Mortal enemies, the fact that Lily and Julian are civil to one another is enough to have her thrown out of the Sanctuary. Even she can build a laundry list of why getting close to him is career suicide, but she can’t shake her not-so angelic stalker or how he brings her dangerously close to ecstasy.

As if Lily already didn’t have enough problems, the hits just keep coming. Blindsided when a traitor is discovered working from within the Sanctuary, Lily is shocked to find he's determined to get her kicked out. Her relationship with Julian provides the perfect fuel for suspicion, and she quickly finds herself being hunted by well, everyone. Her only hope is to discover the real traitor before she loses everything—and she'll need Julian's help. That is, if Julian is really there to help her … or destroy her.

Yeah, being a Nephilim isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.

The blurb is taken from Jennifer's blog.

It's due for release in March 2012. Check out her post where she announces the book deal here. While you're at it, go here to add it to your Goodreads shelf!


Karsten Knight's "Twins"

Also yesterday, Karsten Knight announced that his debut novel WILDEFIRE (July 26, 2011) will have two sequels! Here's the info:

Book #2: EMBERS AND ECHOES (Summer 2012)

Book #3: AFTERGLOW (Summer 2013)

I'm reading Wildefire now and I love the writing. Ashline is a kick ass character so far, and I can't wait to read more. I've heard that WILDEFIRE ends in a pretty big cliff-hanger, so I'm happy to hear that there will be more than one! Check out Karsten's blog where he makes the announcement here. Go to Karsten's author page on Goodreads here to add the whole series to your shelf.

Exciting stuff going on! What do you think of this news??

Waiting on Wednesday (27)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!
I first heard about it from PageTurnersBlog.




My Waiting on Wednesday this week:
Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
Publication Date: July 21, 2011

Synopsis:
Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she's ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

From Goodreads

I still have yet to read any mermaid/siren stories even though I've talked about how I'm super interested to read one! Still, I'm going to add this one to that list, because it sounds really really awesome. I love the colour of her dress on the cover (I can only imagine what it will look like in print), and the little bit of something on her calves is so subtle you barely notice it, but it still makes you wonder (click the picture to see it better).

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to this week?

Giveaway: Signed Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

As you may have read, I had the awesome opportunity to travel down to Oshawa to attend one of Maggie Stiefvater's stops on her FOREVER book tour. I thought of you all when I was there, and picked up some extra swag and asked Maggie to sign a copy of FOREVER for one of you to win!

Here's what's up for grabs:

There will be two prizes!

1. A signed copy of FOREVER, along with a Forever keychain and a Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton postcard.

2. A hardback copy of FOREVER, along with a Forever keychain, a signed Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton postcard, and a Blood Magic bookmark.



Giveaway Details:
- Fill out the form below
- Open to anyone 13 years of age or older
- Open internationally!
- Earn an extra entry by spreading the word (Twitter: @pamgreen89, FB, sidebar, etc.)
- Contest closes Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 11:59 EST

The winners will be randomly selected and emailed. They will have 48 hours to respond to my email or I will choose another winner (or winners). Winners will be announced on my blog on August 1st.

While you're here, you can check out my review of FOREVER over here!

Author Event: Maggie Stiefvater

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to travel down to Oshawa, ON (about 4 hours from where I live in Ottawa, ON) to attend one of Maggie Stiefvater's FOREVER tour stops! It was a very exciting weekend for me because I never ever thought I'd get the chance to meet Maggie. It was also my very first book signing!

The event was held at Chapters Oshawa. By the time we got there, everything was set up and there was already a handful of people there. Maggie had already dropped off the sharpie'd guitar that was to be given away at one of her Canadian stops. Doesn't it look awesome? (I unfortunately did not win. Mega bummer.)

Soon enough, Maggie was up on the stage! She talked about a lot of stuff like: hotel showers, blueLoki, meeting wolves in Hungary, unenthusiastic British school kids, and where she was when she heard Linger debuted at #1 on the NYT bestseller list last year. It was amazing being there and listening to her talk about her experiences rather than just read about them online. She was very funny and seemed like she was having a good time talking to us all.

The book signing came next. Since there were a lot of people, my friend Jen (who was awesome enough to come with me) and I wandered over to meet Tessa Gratton, author of Blood Magic and Maggie's critique partner, and asked her to sign our copies of Blood Magic. We chatted with her for a little while. She was really awesome to talk to.

We hung back to the end of the line, so that we wouldn't have to worry about being rushed when we got up to meet Maggie. My starstruck moment happened when we got up to get our books signed and Maggie looked at me and said "I know you from online...". I'm almost positive my heart stopped for a second. I mean, I was super excited to be meeting Maggie at all, but the fact that she knew me blew me away. We talked for a bit, got our books signed and picked up some swag. It was such an awesome experience.

We hopped off the stage, and then Tessa hopped on up so that Chapters Oshawa could get a picture of the two of them. I missed the picture, but was able to catch this, which I think is much better than what the "picture perfect" pose would have been: (It's worth it to click the picture and see the full size hehe)

I'm SO happy I had the opportunity to go to this event and meet Maggie (and Tessa)! I never thought she'd ever tour anywhere near me, so I knew I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by. My signed copies of the Wolves of Mercy Falls are all sitting safely on my shelf now, and oh my, they are beautiful! Maggie even drew a wolf in mine when I asked!

I also got an extra copy of Forever signed, as well as picked up some extra swag! Do you want to win it? Visit this post for more information on how to enter!

Big thanks go out to Chapters Oshawa for hosting, Maggie Stiefvater herself, and my friend Jen for joining me! This is something I'll remember for a long time!

Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Forever
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publish Date: July 12, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 386
Series: Wolves of Mercy Falls
1. Shiver
2. Linger
3. Forever

Synopsis:
The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stiefvater.

then.

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.

now.

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.

forever.

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.

From Goodreads

***Warning, SPOILERS if you haven't read SHIVER and LINGER yet!***

I feel like such a disappointment for not having reviews for Shiver and Linger, the previous books in this series, but in my defence, I read them before I started blogging and reviewing books. I promise to review them someday. That said, I feel I should warn you about the gushing I am about to do about Maggie and her writing. (For an example, see my review of Lament, Maggie’s debut novel).

I loved the prologue: the little snippet of Shelby’s mind. It had me wondering throughout the novel who it was that Shelby had encountered and what kind of consequences it would have for the characters. I was also really excited to see that Cole and Isabel were back as narrators again, because I love both of their voices, especially Cole’s. Their experiences and relationships both past and present are so drastically different from Sam and Grace, that it adds a whole new level to the story. I’m always excited to see “Cole” or “Isabel” at the beginning of a chapter. That’s not to say that I don’t love the Sam and Grace parts. I absolutely, 100% feel connected to them and their relationship. I feel what they feel, and it’s frequently heartbreaking (you’ll see why).

That’s one of the things I love about Maggie’s writing. She makes you feel what her characters feel, whether it’s anger or love or jealousy or nostalgia. Also, her writing has a way of grabbing your attention and holding it with her captivating lines that flow so easily. To add to that, there’s the poetry and lyrics, the quick chapters and changing viewpoints, the plot line! Roll all of that up into a nice little package (or a book and call it FOREVER), and you’ve got a story that people can’t - and don’t want to - put down.

On another note, I won’t lie to you and say I didn’t cry. I cried several times. It was that silent, tears welling up in my eyes before falling, crying. So be prepared. It’s the last in the series, so of course it’s a roller coaster of emotions.

That being said, I need to talk about the ending (no spoilers!). Starting about 50 pages from the end, everything started to snowball. It was really a great climactic ending, I loved it. It was after that that disappointed me. Since it was the last of the series, I was expecting more of a “where they go from here” type roundup, but it kind of ended abruptly. That was the only thing that I didn’t really enjoy.

All in all, I’m really happy this book is finally out and that I know how the series ends! On the other hand, I’m so so so sad to see it end. I wish we could hear many more stories of the Wolves of Mercy Falls. But I’ll take what I can get, which is - just like everything else Maggie - awesome.

Look! The Book Depository is promoting it on their buttons! Go grab yourself a copy!

On My Wishlist (15)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

On My Wishlist this week:

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Publish Date: December 22, 2009

Synopsis:
A Prodigal Son

A Dangerous Love

A Deadly Secret

Grace Divine—daughter of the local pastor—always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared and her brother Jude came home covered in his own blood.

Now that Daniel's returned, Grace must choose between her growing attraction to him and her loyalty to her brother.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, she learns the truth about that mysterious night and how to save the ones she loves, but it might cost her the one thing she cherishes most: her soul.

From Goodreads

This just sounds like one of those great YA paranormal reads with that romance that we all love! And I think that cover is gorgeous, the purple and white make a really good contrast. I love how you can see the purple nail polish on her toes, too. I've heard lots of great things about this series, and it definitely sounds like one I want to read.

What's on your wishlist this week?

Teaser Tuesday (23)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

I've been slowly reading Acadia, Book I: The Lost King and the Goddess of Time by Ali M. Naqvi for a little while now. It hasn't been slow going because of the story, only because of my lack of time. I'm planning to finish it before I pick up another book. And so, here is a teaser from this epic story for you!

The cold air ripped through him like if he was riding a storm, taking away the warmth from his clothes, but it didn't bother him at all, rather curiosity and concern were the only things on his mind.
Damont halted on the hill that overlooked the town and the tower before the sea, but then felt as if his heart had just stopped beating at what he was witnessing...



This is very reminiscent of Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein. It has that epic journey feel to it. So far as I've gotten, Damont hasn't left for the big voyage yet, but I'm just getting to that part. I hope it's an exciting one!

Feel free to share your teasers with me. I'd love to see what you're reading!

Review: Passion by Lauren Kate

Title: Passion
Author: Lauren Kate
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publish Date: June 14, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 420
Series: Fallen
1. Fallen (review)
2. Torment (review)
3. Passion
4. Rapture (expected pub Spring 2012)

Synopsis:
"Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

From Goodreads

**Warning, SPOILERS if you haven’t read FALLEN and TORMENT yet!**

I loved the way this was written!! At the end of TORMENT, Luce runs off into the Announcers, and PASSION picks up right where that left off. The whole book takes place over several millennia as Luce jumps back, trying to piece together Daniel’s curse and their relationship. It was really awesome reading about all of the different lives and cultures of Luce’s past lives. My favourite part, though, was how it was written from both Luce AND Daniel’s points of view. Up until now, it’s always been Luce’s POV. Seeing things through Daniel’s eyes - his past, his feelings, Luce - was really awesome. It enables us to learn so much more about him and his and Luce’s relationship.

There aren’t many new characters in this book, excluding the minor ones in Luce’s past lives, other than Bill. I want you to find out for yourself who and what he is, but he spends a lot of the book with Luce, helping her on her journey. He was the comedic relief in a more-or-less very serious book. Although he pushed Luce hard, he also helped her. He was a fun character to get to know, even though we really didn’t get many details about him.

I’m really happy that I’m enjoying this series! I hate when I start a series and love the first book, then don’t like the second. ‘Cause then I’m disappointed, but I still want to read the next because I figure it has to be better since the first was good. But that’s not what’s happening with this series! I’ve loved each book more and more! I think I can actually classify this one as my favourite so far. I can’t wait to see what Lauren Kate has in store for us in book 4, Rapture!



Make sure to check back at the beginning of August. I'll be participating in the Summer Giveaway Hop hosted by Kathy at I Am A Read, Not A Writer, and you could win a copy of PASSION or another fabulous YA novel!

In My Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that gives bloggers a chance to share what books they've received in the last week. It's hosted by The Story Siren and you can find out more info about it here.



I got a lot of books for review this week! I hope I find time to read them all because they're all books I'm excited about reading. Here's what I got:

For Review from NetGalley
Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Available October 11, 2011
The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Available September 6, 2011
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Available September 27, 2011

For Review
Her Dark Destiny by Dave Ferarro {Goodreads}
Angelfall by Susan Ee {Goodreads
Thanks to the authors for the ebook review copies!

I hadn't checked NetGalley in a while and when I did and found out these three books (three I'm counting down to on my sidebar) were available for review, I requested them immediately. I didn't even give a thought to my ever-growing TBR list! I just knew I had to have them, and now I do! I can't wait to jump in.

As for the copies I got for review from the authors, you should definitely check them out on Goodreads! They both sound like really good books! One's an angel story (which I love) and one is a post-apocalyptic story, with vampires, werewolves, etc., and sounds kick-ass.

What did you get this week?

On My Wishlist (14)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where you list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

On My Wishlist this week:

The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs
Publish Date: March 29, 2011

Synopsis:
Linda Davis’ local fabric shop is a place where women gather to share their creations: quilts commemorating important events in their lives. Wedding quilts, baby quilts, memorial quilts each is bound tight with dreams, hopes and yearnings.

Now, as her only child readies for college, Linda is torn between excitement for Molly, and heartache for herself. Who will she be when she is no longer needed in her role as mom? What will become of her days? Of her marriage?

Mother and daughter decide to share one last adventure together a cross-country road trip to move Molly into her dorm. As they wend their way through the heart of the country, Linda pieces together the scraps that make up Molly’s young life. And in the stitching of each bit of fabric the hem of a christening gown, a snippet from a Halloween costume Linda discovers that the memories of a shared journey can come together in a way that will keep them both warm in the years to come...

From Goodreads

I saw this book when I was at the bookstore last week. It looks like a really cute story about a mother and daughter's bond. I think it would be an emotional read as they travel across country together. As much as my mom and I have our moments of disagreement, having a trip like this with her would be amazing. I can only image what it would be like. And since we probably won't ever do something like this, I'll have to live vicariously through this book.

What's on your wishlist this week?