The Reader Bee: November 2012

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Giveaway: Legend by Marie Lu & Prize Pack!

Hey guys!

So today I'm hosting a giveaway thanks to the wonderful Big Honcho Media and Penguin! There is a great prize pack up for grabs, so keep reading to see what's up for grabs, and to enter this awesome giveaway!
About Legend:

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, 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.

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, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Add to GOODREADS!

Buy a copy: B&N | Amazon

About Prodigy:

Prodigy is the long-awaited sequel to Legend, the must-read dystopian novel for all YA fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Divergent by Veronica Roth. A brilliant re-imagining of Les Miserables, the series is set to be a global film sensation as CBS films have acquired rights to the trilogy.
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June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—-June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

Add to GOODREADS!

Pre-Order your copy today! B&N | Amazon
(In Stores January 2013)

About the Author:

Marie Lu writes young adult novels, and has a special love for dystopian books. She likes food, fighter jets, afternoon tea, happy people, electronics, the interwebz, cupcakes, pianos, bright colors, rain, Christmas lights, sketches, animation, dogs, farmers' markets, video games, and of course, books.
She left Beijing for the States in 1989 and went off to college at the University of Southern California. In her past life, she was an art director in the video game industry, but now she writes full-time.

Visit the Official Site

Visit the Author’s Official Site

Like Legend the Series on Facebook

Moving on to the GIVEAWAY!

One winner will receive the awesome prize pack full of the goodies listed below:

· A copy of Legend by Marie Lu

· A limited Edition Prodigy Flashlight

· A limited Edition Prodigy T-Shirt

Sounds awesome, right??? So what are you waiting for? Scroll down below and enter NOW for you chance to win this awesome prize pack!

Good luck!

Giveaway Rules:

* Must be 13 or older to enter giveaway.
* ONE winner will be chosen to win Legend and the Prize Pack
* Winners will be contacted via email, and have 24 hours to respond
* Giveaway will end Sunday, November 19th, 2012
* By entering this giveaway, you agree to the terms listed above.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 12, 2012

Noteworthy New Releases - 11/12 - 11/18

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday #90 - A Darkness Strange and Lovely

A Darkness Strange and Lovely
by Susan Dennard

Publication Date: July 23rd, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins

Add to Goodreads
Available for Pre-order: Amazon

Following an all-out battle with the walking Dead, the Spirit Hunters have fled Philadelphia, leaving Eleanor alone to cope with the devastating aftermath. But there’s more trouble ahead—the evil necromancer Marcus has returned, and his diabolical advances have Eleanor escaping to Paris to seek the help of Joseph, Jie, and the infuriatingly handsome Daniel once again. When she arrives, however, she finds a whole new darkness lurking in this City of Light. As harrowing events unfold, Eleanor is forced to make a deadly decision that will mean life or death for everyone. (Goodreads)

I really enjoyed reading Something Strange and Deadly earlier this year. The ending from the previous book has definitely left me curious for this book. I NEED to know what's going to happen next! I can't wait to get my hands on A Darkness Strange and Lovely. :) Isn't the cover awesome?!

What are you Waiting on this week???

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

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Easy
by Tammara Webber

Publication Date: November 6, 2012
Publisher: Berkley Paperback
Pages: 310
ISBN: 9780425266748

B&N | Amazon | Goodreads

(Mature Young Adult/ New Adult)

A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy. (Goodreads)

This novel is in the New Adult genre, and has mature content.

Easy by Tammara Webber is a book that had somehow never managed to cross my radar. But once I discovered the book, it started popping up everywhere! I knew I needed to read the book to see what the fuss was about. I am SO glad that I did!

I really adored this book, for many reasons. First, it reminds me of two other novels that I fell in love with this year; Beautiful Disaster and Pushing the Limits. All of these books have a good girl heroine that falls in love with the bad boy, who isn’t exactly a bad boy at all. I love these types of novels. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I just can’t seem to get enough of them.

The main character in the story, Jacqueline, has been through quite a bit in the past few weeks of her life. Her boyfriend of many years, who she followed to college, has broken up with her. Then she is assaulted by her ex’s frat brother, and for the first time ever, failing one of her classes. Just when she thinks she has hit rock bottom, reality sets in. With the help of a stranger, the same stranger that saved her, she manages to get her life back on track. I really liked Jacqueline. I felt a connection to her that I didn’t exactly expect at first. While I didn’t agree with all of the decisions she made throughout the novel, I still found her to be a very likeable character.

Our love interest in the story is Lucas. I love Lucas. He is so mysterious and complex. I never knew what to expect from him. Burdened with events from his past that forever changed his future, Lucas has his own secrets to keep. But even with his own issues, he is there for Jacqueline. I love the relationship between the two of them. Lucas is definitely swoon-worthy.

This novel starts off with a bang, and just keeps going. The storyline was definitely engrossing, and it kept me hooked to the pages. I found the storyline to be very realistic. While some of the contents are very disturbing, I feel that it’s good for girls to read this and to know that sexual assault is not ok.

Overall, I really love reading books of this type at the moment. Easy has definitely earned a top stop of my ‘Favorite’ list. I can’t wait to read it again. And again! I hope that you enjoy it as well.

Happy Reading!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Noteworthy New Releases * 11/5 - 11/11 *

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Weekly Book Haul #20

Purchased:

Finale - Becca Fitzpatrick

The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

For Review:

Prodigy - Marie Lu

Destiny Rising - L.J. Smith

Phantom - L.J. Smith

e-ARC's:
Easy - Tammara Webber
Undeadly - Michele Vail
Sacrifice - Cayla Kluver
Dualed - Elsie Chapman

Hey guys!

It's been a while since I've done a Book Haul post.
So here are a few of the books I've gotten of the pas few weeks.
I've already read and loved Mara Dyer #2, and I can't wait to get into Finale.
I am SO excited about all of the eArc's I found.
I can't wait to get started on the rest of them!

What new books did you get this week??

Friday, November 2, 2012

Review: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Mystic City
(Mystic City #1)
by Theo Lawrence

Publication Date: October 9th, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780385741606

B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself. (Goodreads)

Mystic City is a novel about a post-apocalyptical Manhattan. Most of the city is under water due to global warming, and two rival families rule the city. Aria Rose, who is the youngest daughter in the Rose family, finds herself engaged to Thomas Foster, son from the rival Foster family, after an event that took parts of her memory. No one is telling Aria anything, so it’s up to her to find out exactly what is going on.

Poor Aria, you have to feel bad for the girl for what she’s been through. To top that off, since the novel is from her point of view, we have NO idea what’s happened. All we know is that there are a lot of secrets, and that no one is telling poor Aria anything. The author did a really great job at keeping me confused throughout the novel. Aria was a great heroine. Even through the confusion and the fear, she kept her head, and stood her ground. I love her for that.

There are two love interests in the story. One is with Thomas, the young man that Aria is engaged to, but does not remember; who is also the son of the rival family in the city. Then there is Hunter. Aria has no idea who he is, but feels a strong pull towards him. Hunter has secrets of his own, secrets that could get him killed if the wrong person found out. I love his love for Aria. He really cares, and only wants to keep her safe. Swoon!

Aria’s family is full of people that you are going to love to hate, especially her parents! They give the word dysfunctional a whole new meaning. Without giving much away, I will just say that they are one of the worst families I have had to read in YA to date.

The storyline was very creative for the story. I found it to be believable because it’s something that could definitely happen in our world due to global warming. The author did a really great job with the descriptions of the city after it had been flooded and rebuilt. I definitely had a clear imagine in my mind of how the city would have looked.

Overall, I thought that Mystic City was a really interesting read! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, Renegade Heart, to see what is going to happen with Aria, Hunter and the rest of their crew!