Must Read Monday (3)

Must Read Monday is a new meme hosted by Jenna at Fans of Fiction. The idea is to create an acrostic poem about a book in the chosen category of the week.

This week’s category: Romance

Days before her procedure
Everything starts to fall apart.
Lena is haunted by
Indecision when she meets Alex, but then
Romance blossoms,
Infections of amor deliria nervosa
Unveil the truth, and Lena
Must figure out where she belongs.

I chose Lauren Oliver's Delirium this week. It is also a dystopian, but has a huge romantic concept, since the basis of the book is that love is a disease. It is an amazing book. Definitely a favourite.

Read my review here.
Add it to your Goodreads shelf here.

Feel free to try out this new meme! It's fun and a great way to introduce blog followers to new books.

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publish Date: January 11, 2011
Genre: YA, sci-fi
Pages: ebook
Series: Across the Universe
1. Across the Universe
2. A Million Suns (January 10, 2012)
3. Untitled (expected pub 2013)

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

From Goodreads

The number one thing I loved about this book was the way it was written from two different points of view: Amy’s and Elder’s. They each had their own distinct voice and I rarely caught myself having to flip back to figure out whose head I was in. As characters, Amy and Elder were both awesome. I found myself quickly feeling sympathy for them and their situations. Especially poor Amy. I just wish she would have looked on the bright side of things some of the time.

The story was interesting, exciting, and kept me reading. I wanted to uncover more secrets about Godspeed. Actually, I really just wanted to learn more about Godspeed period, be it the secrets or how it has been operating as a community for a few centuries. I loved how the promise of new land was just beyond the horizon. But then there were the murders. Amy wanted so much to find the killer that she was almost too serious for me. However, the mystery and suspense of the novel made it pretty appropriate.

The secondary characters were also really well written. Harley was my favourite, and I’m sure he’s loved by many other ACROSS THE UNIVERSE readers. I wish we’d had more of him. Doc and Eldest were both very interesting characters. Doc always seemed very conflicted, especially about following orders. Eldest was… well Eldest was a handful! He was menacing and confusing, but was really only looking for what was best for his people. I didn’t like him overall, but I kind if understand where he was coming from.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is a magical science fiction novel that explores not only the promise of new life on a new planet, but also the intricacies of running a small city within a metal box. It looks mostly at the politics of life and what leaders have a right to do for, and to, their people. Mix that with mystery, suspense, and some romance, and you get a great novel that is hard to put down.

Teaser Tuesday (33)

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've got a teaser from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for you! I haven't got very far in because it's midterm time at school, so I haven't done much reading. Here's my teaser:

A few hours later, I am dressed in what will either be the most sensational or the deadliest costume in the opening ceremonies. I'm in a simple black unitard that covers me from ankle to neck. Shiny leather boots lace up to my knees. But it's the fluttering cape made of streams of orange, yellow, and red and the matching headpiece that define this costume. Cinna plans to light them on fire just before our chariot rolls into the streets.

I'm really excited to get into the story and see what all the fuss is about! I know tons of people who have read this, both bloggers and friends, and they've all loved it. I know I'm in for a treat.

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

Must Read Monday (2)

Must Read Monday is a new meme hosted by Jenna at Fans of Fiction. The idea is to create an acrostic poem about a book in the chosen category of the week.

This week’s category: Paranormal

Something about
Him
Is
Very different from
Every other
Roaming wolf.

**********

Love
Is the only thing they
Need, but
Grace is losing
Everything that makes her
Real.

**********

For Sam, he has lost the
Only thing that matters.
Right now is time to
Engage in finding the
Vaccine,
Even if he
Ruins himself.

OH. WOW. I did not give myself an easy one this week! I had to pull on every creative string in my body to get this out of me! Ha.

I used Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy. These are my absolute favourite paranormal books, so of course I had to use them! I tried to make each one relevant to each book without spoilers, and actually have it make sense. I think I did a pretty good job!

Add them to your Goodreads shelf here.

Feel free to try out this new meme! It's fun and a great way to introduce blog followers to new books.

UK Cover Reveal: Until I Die by Amy Plum

Amy Plum decided to tease us all and tell us that the UK cover of UNTIL I DIE, second book in the Revenants series, was revealed on some unnamed blogs. Then said: "Go find it!" Thankfully, Goodreads is on the ball and I was able to find the cover there, and it's beautiful. Like, pretty amazing. Take a look:

I love the swirly swirly-s everywhere, just like on the cover of DIE FOR ME. And it's got another amazing dress. Here's the first one, so you can compare:

Now that I look at the side-by-side, I think I still like the first the best. The red just pops! And I like the background in DIE FOR ME better. Either way, I still think the cover of UNTIL I DIE is pretty amazing, and I can't wait until it comes out so I can read it! It's due for release May 3rd, 2012.

What do you think of the cover? Have you read DIE FOR ME? What did you think of it?

1 Year Old!

I realized yesterday that I've been blogging for a year now! I actually missed my own blogoversary, which was on October 12. So it's been a year and 10 days! But really, who's counting? ;)

I can't believe it's been a year that I've been blogging... one whole year and:

- 200+ posts
- 425+ followers
- 900+ comments
- 40+ reviews
- and lots of fun times!

Unfortunately, I'm broke like crazy right now, so I won't be celebrating with a giveaway or anything, and I'm really sorry for that. I'd love to be able to give something away, but I'd also like to buy groceries...

The main reason for this post is to thank all of my awesome followers for sticking with me, whether it's been 1 year or 1 month. I value and appreciate all of you! I hope that myself and my blog lives up to your expectations.

I can't wait to see what the next year brings!

Review: Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong

Title Industrial Magic
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Random House
Publish Date: October 26, 2004
Genre: adult, paranormal
Pages 493
Series: Women of the Otherworld
4. Industrial Magic
For a list of all books in the series, click here.

**WARNING: Some spoilers if you haven't read books 1, 2, and 3 yet!**

Synopsis:
Think your in-laws are scary? Try meeting Paige Winterbourne’s potential father-in-law: CEO of the Cortez Cabal, a multinational corporation…and the supernatural equivalent of the Mafia. Lucas Cortez has devoted his life to ruining the Cabals, though that doesn’t stop his father from expecting him to take over the family business someday. Benicio’s favorite ploy is to appeal to Lucas’s quixotic ideals by asking him to investigate Cabal cases of injustice.

After years of failure, Benicio finally has the perfect case: a teenage witch attacked and left for dead. Refusing will be difficult enough for Lucas…near impossible for his new witch girlfriend. Paige and Lucas soon discover that the young witch wasn’t the first Cabal teenager attacked.

When the infighting among the Cabals threatens to let the killer continue his spree, Paige and Lucas decide it’s up to them to stop him. The chase takes them on a cross-country hunt through the supernatural world, where allies can be found in the strangest places, including a celebrity necromancer, a wise-cracking Celtic deity, a pissed-off ghost, a half-mad clairvoyant, and a group of vampires who’d really rather be in an Anne Rice novel

From Goodreads

As book 4 in the series, I found this one to be pretty different from the others. I’m not usually a fan of murder mysteries, but that’s basically what this story was. I think I enjoyed it because I knew the characters and because of the paranormal element. It definitely wasn’t my favourite of the Women of the Otherworld series, but I did like it.

Paige is a really great narrator. Even though she’s so young (only 23!), she’s already had to deal with so much. She’s way more mature than anyone this age, but she still has a big heart and believes in the best of everyone. Add to that combination: Lucas. He’s awesome, and perfect for Paige. Together, they make a Cabal-fighting, badass team. All of the other characters that helped them along the way - Jamie, Cassandra, Aaron, etc. - were really great additions to the cast of supernaturals.

The story itself kept me intrigued and interested. I definitely wanted to know if they’d find the killer and what would happen to him. I was really worried that people I liked were going to die in this book. I couldn’t figure out who would die or live, and it was killing me! There was a great mix of suspense, romance, mystery, excitement, companionship, and more, throughout the novel. All of it balanced out perfectly and made for a great read.

Waiting on Wednesday (39)

"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'm waiting on a couple books this week:

Legend by Marie Lu
Publication date: November 29, 2011

Synopsis:
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: Another dystopian that sounds awesome. I love that it sounds like it has a lot of action. Should be a very interesting read!

Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton
Publication Date: February 14, 2011

**WARNING: SPOILERS!**

Synopsis:
Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: I can't wait for this sequel! I absolutely LOVED Angelfire and am so excited to see where Courtney takes her characters next! See my review of Angelfire here.

What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Must Read Monday (1)

Must Read Monday is a new meme hosted by Jenna at Fans of Fiction. The idea is to create an acrostic poem about a book in the chosen category of the week.

This week’s category: Dystopian

Wed unwillingly
Images of her brother
Time is ticking
Help where she least expects it
Everything feels wrong
Rhine must escape

I used Lauren DeStefano's WITHER for my first MRM post. It's an awesome book, definitely one of my favourite dystopians. You can read my review here.

Feel free to try out this new meme for yourself! It's fun and another great way to introduce blog followers to new books.

Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Half-Blood
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publish Date: October 18, 2011
Genre: YA, mythology
Pages: 281
Source: From publisher for review
Series: Covenant
Daimon (prequel)
1. Half-Blood
2. Pure (April 2, 2012)
3. Deity (November 6, 2012)
4. Untitled (expected pub 2013)

Synopsis:
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi--pure-bloods--have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals... well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1: Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

From Goodreads

First and foremost, I’d recommend you read the prequel DAIMON before even thinking of starting HALF-BLOOD. It gives you the full perspective of how Alex got to where she is at the beginning of HALF-BLOOD. It is also a great introduction to Alex as a character. Check out my review here.

Now onto HALF-BLOOD. It really starts out great. That much action in the first few pages is enough to catch my attention, for sure! After that, life gets pretty tough for Alex as she deals with what happened to her mother, how close she is to being kicked out of the Covenant, and returning to the Covenant campus after being gone for 3 years. I think because I read the prequel, I connected a bit better with Alex. From page 1, I already knew what she was going through and I felt for her. That sentiment only continued as the story went on and she had to deal with more and more crap.

I liked a lot of the characters. I love how Alex fell right back into step with Caleb, her best friend from before she left the Covenant. Whenever he was around, it seemed like Alex could relax a bit and have some fun. He also proved to be the most loyal best friend a girl could have. I love him for that, and everything else. Then of course, there was Aiden. I don’t even know what to say about him. He was really tough on Alex overall, but I know he was just making sure she’d be ready to attend the Covenant in the Fall. He was looking out for her and doing what he thought was best for her. Although I liked him, I have to say I didn’t fall as in love with him as I would have liked. He was a really great love interest in this story. And then, Seth. He seemed like an ass in the beginning, but really he was just brutally honest. Ok, he was sometimes an ass, too. But he really developed as a character throughout the story, and I’m excited to see more of him in the next book.

The storyline is exciting to start out, then gets pretty subdued for the first half of the book, until we start getting lots of info and surprises thrown out at us. Then Alex sulks for a while as some other stuff happens, before she does some dumb stuff, and there’s an exciting climax. Vague, I know but necessary. Looking back, the book is laid out nicely, in terms of pacing, but when I was reading it seemed like there wasn’t much happening. I think it’s because Alex doesn’t do anything until the end, except train and attend parties. But when stuff starts going down at the end, it just keeps going and I didn’t want to stop reading.

HALF-BLOOD has a great set of characters that grow throughout the story. Although I had some issues with the pacing, the story is perfect for the beginning of a series, allowing room for the characters and storyline to grow. Jennifer L. Armentrout is a promising debut author that I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on in the future.

Thanks so much to Spencer Hill Press for the ebook review copy!

In My Mailbox (32)

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 was home this week and took a trip to Chapters with my best bookie buddy. We bought a few books, and also swapped some we thought the other would like. Here's what I got this week:

Bought
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (paperback) {Goodreads | Book Depository}

Borrowed
Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins {Goodreads | Book Depository}

I'm so so excited to read SILENCE and see where Becca Fitzpatrick takes the story next. And since CLOCKWORK ANGEL just came out in paperback, I figured there was no better time to pick it up. My friend lent me her copies of the second and third Hunger Games books because she finally gave me back my copy of THE HUNGER GAMES for me to start reading. I can't wait to read all these awesome books!

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Character Interview: Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Today, I'm very excited to have the main characters of Augusta Blythe's debut novel, WINTERBORNE, with me on the blog answering a few questions. I really enjoyed her story and writing, and posted my review here in September. Before we meet Loie, Mia, and Andreas, here's some more information about WINTERBORNE:

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls' intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

From Goodreads

Interview

If there was a soundtrack to your life right now, what would it be?
Mia:  I'm going to go with Born This Way.
Loie:  Lady Gaga?
Mia:  Um, yes.  What's wrong with that?
Loie:  Don't you think that's more of an underdog song?
Mia:  (blankly)  It's about being beautiful and perfect and being a queen, not the drag kind.  What's more Mia than that?
Loie:  Okey doke then.  No Air sums it up nicely for me.  I'm hoping for something a little more up tempo next term.  How about you, Andreas?
Andreas: I think Teenage Dream is a good choice, the Glee version.  I'm fairly certain Darren Criss is one of us.  He has way too much charisma for a basic human.

What’s your biggest fear?
Mia: Getting mauled by a pack of hellhounds stands out for me at the moment.
Loie: That's a good one.  I'm going to go with losing everyone I love.  It seems more of a reality for me than most people.
Andreas: Ancients returning to the human world.  Some of them are big and bad and not so keen on sharing.

What was it like growing up together, almost like sisters?
Mia: Almost like twins, really.  It's like having another half of me walking the earth.  And we can read each other's thoughts, another twin thing.  I wish we had a magic ring and I could turn into an animal and she could turn into a body of water.
Loie: Okay, reality check.  We're not the Wonder Twins no matter how badly you want it.  (pauses)  It's having someone who's been in your life every step of the way, who knows all your secrets and flaws, and still loves you.
Mia:  Aw, you're so sweet.

Talk to me about Andreas...
Mia: I'm not talking him up too much.  Why sound the alarm that there's a hot, available British guy wandering the streets of Salcey Ridge?
Loie: (rolls eyes) Puh-leeze.
Mia:  Oh c'mon.  Like you don't think he's hot?
Loie:  Like he's available.
Andreas:  May I ask why I'm 'wandering the streets'?  You make me sound like a homeless madman.
Loie:  You are kinda homeless.
Mia:  And you could be a madman, too soon to tell.
Andreas:  (shrugs)  Point taken.

If you could live anywhere on earth, where would it be?
Mia: Bora Bora looks pretty good to me.  A hut on stilts over the ocean.
Loie: You in a hut?  Doubtful.
Mia:  Okay, a very large hut with multiple rooms and levels.
Loie: Anywhere, as long as it's as far from Salcey Ridge as possible.
Mia:  Bora Bora would fit the bill.  You can live with me!
Loie:  You and I squeezed into a hut over the ocean far from humanity?  
Andreas:  I smell a sitcom.
Loie: And will you be joining us in Bora Bora, Andreas?  British boy makes three.
Andreas:  It's my beloved English countryside, I'm afraid.  Its beauty is unsurpassed by anything I've seen in America.
Mia:  I beg your pardon.
Andreas:  We're discussing places, not people.
Mia:  Discussion over.

Thanks for being with us today and answering all of my questions! It was a blast learning about you!

**********

To learn more about Augusta Blythe and WINTERBORNE, make sure you visit Augusta's blog here. You can buy your own ebook copy of WINTERBORNE at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, iBookstore, or OmniLit. Did I mention it's only $0.99 USD?

LANEY Giveaway Winner!

I just want to say a quick thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway, as well as a BIG thank you to Joann for answering some of my questions and offering up 2 ebook copies of LANEY to give away!

I've chosen two winners through random.org. The winners are:

Vicky
and
Ruth Blanco!

I've given Joann both of your email addresses and she will be emailing you your ebook copies! I hope you both enjoy the story!

If you missed the interview post, check it out here.
If you want to read my review of LANEY, you can do so here.
And if you want to grab yourself a copy of LANEY, go to Joann's website here for links.

Teaser Tuesday (32)

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 weekend I started reading Across the Universe by Beth Revis on my Kobo. I'm not far in yet, but I'm definitely intrigued! Here's my teaser:

The dreams weave in and out of memories.
The only thing keeping the nightmares from engulfing me is the hope that there couldn't possibly be a hundred more years before I wake up.

This is pretty close to the beginning, where Amy is cryogenically frozen on the Godspeed for 300 years as she travels to a new planet with her parents. She's trying to figure out how she can possibly be conscious...

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

In My Mailbox (31)

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.



Here's what I got this week!

Gifted
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff {Goodreads | Book Depository}

Bought
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky {Goodreads | Book Depository}

Thanks to Clara at The Wannabe Knight for the RAK of The Replacement! I kept seeing this on the shelf, and I actually almost picked up the paperback a couple weeks ago. Good thing I didn't! I can't wait to read it. I've heard it's amazing.

I'm super super excited for the other two books. I've been waiting for A Beautiful Dark to come out, so I knew I had to pick it up. Awaken is one I've been looking for but could never find on the shelf, so I went ahead and bought it online.

What's in your mailbox this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (38)

"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.




There are several books I'm looking forward to, and they're coming out within the next two weeks!

Devoted (Elixir #2) by Hilary Duff
Publication Date: October 11, 2011

**Warning about spoilers!**
Synopsis:
Since Sage was kidnapped, Clea has no way of knowing if he is alive or dead. And even though she has only just discovered they were soulmates, she feels like a part of her is lost forever. What’s worse, she can’t even turn to her best friend Ben—because every time she looks at him, all she sees is his betrayal.

But waiting for something to happen is not an option, so Clea is ready for action. Suffering through dreams of seeing Sage with another woman, she makes an uneasy alliance with Sage’s enemies and sets out to be reunited with Sage...in this life or the next.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: I read Elixir in the spring and actually enjoyed it. The writing wasn't fantastic, but the story was pretty good. I'm excited to see where it goes next.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Publication date: October 18, 2011

Synopsis:
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: Maggie Stiefvater. That is all.

Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles #3) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Publication Date: October 18, 2011

**Warning for spoilers!**

Synopsis:
Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: It's the third in the series. I loved the first one, but didn't think the second one was as good. Hopefully this one is better and that I enjoy it!

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Publication Date: October 18, 2011

Synopsis:
Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune, and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble... and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, steampunk meets romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

From Goodreads

Why I want it: Even though the synopsis is long, it sounds like a really interesting book. It's a steampunk romance about zombies. I think having those three words in the same sentence is reason enough to read it. And look at that cover!


What upcoming releases are you looking forward to?

Author Interview and Giveaway: Joann I. Martin Sowles

Today I'm excited have author Joann I. Martin Sowles on the blog answering a few interview questions about her debut book Laney. I read and reviewed Laney in August. You can see my review here. Before we get to the interview, here's a bit more information about the book:

Synopsis:
In a small college town in Northern California, Laney Alexander leads a regular, uneventful life-that is, until the charming and alluring Oliver Knight enters her world. Who is this gorgeous and mysterious stranger? Or, rather, what is he? As Laney's sophomore year of college begins, so does an unbelievable adventure-including a love she didn't know she longed for. She soon learns that Oliver is not ordinary, nor is the rest of his family, including a sister who openly hates her and a brother who will stop at nothing for revenge. As she fights for her life, and Oliver's love, Laney discovers that the fictional world of vampires isn't so fictional after all. Nobody is safe, especially Laney, Oliver's most important priority, and he will stop at nothing to protect her. With her mortality at risk, and a commitment revealed that she, without a doubt, knows she wants, Laney's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn...

From Goodreads

Interview

Describe your book in five words.
Romantic, suspenseful, intriguing, paranormal, Vampires

What made you want to write a story about vampires?
That’s simple, I have an obsession. LOL! I’ve always been fascinated with vampires so it was just natural for me to write about them.

Where did you pull inspiration from for the main character, Laney?
Laney didn’t come from any one place. She developed over time, and after reading and ton of vampire stories. It seemed the more I read the stronger her character got, and at some point I felt that I needed to get her out of my head and into her own world.

How many books will be in the series? What can you tell us about the next book in the series, Darkness?
I do not have a set amount of books for the series to tell Laney’s story, but I do know there will be at least 4. In Darkness secrets will be revealed, hearts will be broken, and lives will be lost.

This or That?
Early bird or night owl? I’m a major night owl.
Coffee or tea? Tea.
Beach vacation or camping? Beach vacation!
Harry Potter or Twilight? Ooh, this is a tough one…I love the Twilight series but I’m going to have to choose Harry Potter.
Paper books or eBooks? Paper books for sure! eBooks are great but there’s just something about an actual book that makes me very, very happy.

Thank you for the interview and to all who have taken the time to stop by and read it. I invite all of you to visit my website where you can view the first 3 chapters of both Laney & Darkness.
~ Joann I. Martin Sowles, www.brookehavenvampires.com

**********
Thanks for being with us today, Joann!

Giveaway!
Joann is also offering up two ebook copies of LANEY for me to giveaway!

Giveaway Details:
Fill out the form below
Open to anyone 13 years of age or older
Open internationally
No need to be a follower or spread the word, however both are appreciated!
Giveaway ends Monday, October 10, 2011 at 11:59PM EST

The winners will be chosen by random.org and emailed. They will have 48 hours to respond to my emails or I will chose another winner(s). I will announce the winners on my blog on October 11.

In My Mailbox (30)

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.



This is what I got in my mailbox over the last two weeks:

Won/Gifted
Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston {Goodreads | Book Depository}
Won from Tynga's Reviews and Penguin Canada
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter {Goodreads | Book Depository}
RAK from Misty at Bookaholics Book Club

For Review
Ember by Carol Oates {Goodreads}
Thanks to Omnific Publishing for the ebook review copy!

Yeah, it's been a slow couple of weeks, but that's okay. I have a lot of books to read and less time than before to read them. Darn school keeping me busy. But either way, I'm super excited to have these books, and I know there's a few more on the way. So expect another IMM from me either next weekend or two weeks from today!

What did you get in your mailbox this week?