Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Review & Giveaway: INFINITYGLASS by Myra McEntire

Infinityglass
(Hourglass #3)
by Myra McEntire

Publication Date: August 6th 2013
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781606844410

Source: From Publisher for Review


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last? (Goodreads)
Infinityglass is the final book in the Hourglass series by Myra McEntire.  Check out my review for Hourglass and Timepiece if you haven’t already done so!

Infinityglass picks up not long after Timepiece leaves off. The Hourglass crew is still on a mission to find the Infinityglass before its too late, and it’s literally a race against the clock. With the help of some awesome new characters, they may just find exactly what they are looking for.

As with the other two books in the series, Infinityglass is told from another characters point of view. This time it is through Dune, who we’ve met briefly in the previous books. Wow, Dune was such a great character! I didn’t really know what to expect from him, but he was wonderful!  Teamed together with Hallie, who is newly introduced in this book, they made such a wonderful pair. Dune is sweet and caring, and Hallie is sassy and snarky. They really did work perfectly together.

I also, once again, really enjoyed Poe in this novel. We were introduced to him in Timepiece, and I find him to be extremely mysterious. I think it would be really wonderful if there were to be a novel from his perspective. I loved him! And of course, we also get to see our most favorite characters from the previous novels as well. Michael and Emerson, Kaleb and Lily… they are all along for the ride!

The storyline worked well with the rest of the books in the series. There was a good bit of action, lots of questions answered and the ending wrapped up very nicely. I am actually sad to see this series come to an end. I may have been late to get on the Hourglass bandwagon, but I really enjoyed reading the series, and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to have started it.

Overall; Infinityglass is a great ending to this wonderful series.  If you haven’t checked the series out yet, you definitely should. It just gets better as it goes along. You will not be disappointed.

Happy Reading!


Books in this Series:



Hourglass | Timepiece | Infinityglass


About the Author:



Myra McEntire has had her nose in a book since she could hold one.  She was once caught reading in the shower (true story) and only stopped when her father disconnected the hot water heater.  She lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two boys.  You can visit her online at www.myramcentire.com or follow her on twitter at @MyraMcEntire


GIVEAWAY:

One lucky US winner could win:
1 Copy of Infinityglass
& 1 Infinityglass Poster!
Extra entries available! (optional)

Giveaway runs from 8/1/13 to 8/8/13.
You must be 13 or older to enter.
US entries only.
Winner will be contacted via email.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Waiting on Wednesday #114 - The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain

The Shadow Prince
(Into The Dark #1)
by Bree Despain

Publication Date: March 11th 2014
Publisher: Egmont



Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds. (Goodreads)

Did you know that Bree Despain had a new book coming out??
I sure didn't!

Until I discovered this last week on a few different WOW posts!
I love Bree Despain!

And I managed to snag an egalley of this from Edelweiss...
(It's still available to review, in case you're wondering.)
You're welcome.
;)

That's my pick for this week! What are you Waiting on??

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


Friday, July 26, 2013

Review: Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Timepiece
(Hourglass #2)
by Myra McEntire

Publication Date: June 12th 2012
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 325
ISBN: 9781606841457

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard was never supposed to be able to see ripples - cracks in time. Are his powers expanding, or is something very wrong? Before he can find out, Jonathan landers, the man who tried to murder is father, reappears. Why is he back, and what, or whom, does he want?

In the wake of Landers' return, the Hourglass organization is given an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the people who might carry the time gene, or time will be altered - with devastating results for the people Kaleb loves most.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Landers. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough... (Goodreads)
I was so excited to start on Timepiece just as soon as I finished Hourglass. Timepiece definitely did not disappoint! If you haven’t read Hourglass, or my review for Hourglass, you should definitely do so before reading this review.

Timepiece picks up soon after Hourglass ends. The book is told from Kaleb’s point of view, which worked well for me because I was intrigued by him in the first book. Getting into Kaleb’s mind was a very interesting thing. He was not at all what I expected. Tattooed and pierced, he is the ultimate bad boy. But underneath it all, he is such a caring soul. We get to see that in the way he treats Lily and Emerson, and even with Ava at some point.

We also get to see a lot more of Lily, Em’s best friend, in this book. I liked that she was one of the main characters this time around, as well as the love interest for Kaleb. Lily is a feisty little thing, I enjoyed reading her story more than I expected to. I love watching her explore and grow into her ‘ability’.  Also, she made such a cute couple with Kaleb!

We are also introduced to a few new characters in this novel as well; a few that I am seriously interested in. (Poe being the main one.)  I am curious to see what route McEntire is going to go with this character. And of course, there are a few characters that you are really going to hate! I always like a well written bad guy.

The storyline for the book was much the same for the first book. Timelines are changing, and the crew is still chasing the bad guy, trying to stop him before its too late and everything changes. This book did seem to have a bit more suspense than the previous book did and a bit more action as well. It definitely had me guessing!

Overall, I like this series more and more as I go along. The characters and the storyline just get better and better. I have already started the third book in the series, Infinityglass, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!


Happy Reading!

Books in this series:



Hourglass   |   Timepiece

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #113 - Panic by Lauren Oliver

Panic
by Lauren Oliver

Publication Date: March 4th 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins



Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most. (Goodreads)


LAUREN OLIVER!
Can I say I really love her books?
I can imagine that this is going to be amazing.
I can't wait to get my hands on it!
Whooo hooooo!

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.**

Monday, July 22, 2013

Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Hourglass
(Hourglass #1)
by Myra McEntire

Publication Date: June 14th 2011
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 390
ISBN: 9781606841440

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may also change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should've happened? (Goodreads)
I found Hourglass to be quite an interesting read. I’ll admit, I am a little late getting started on this series, but here I am. Just finished Hourglass, and am now moving on to its sequel, Timepiece. I’m excited to see what all is in store for this series.

The main character in the story is Emerson. I found Em to be a very interesting character. She’s short and snarky, full of attitude. She has definitely been through a lot in her short lifetime; the loss of her parents, the visions she sees that are becoming more and more frequent. In comes Michael, who was hired by Em’s brother, to help her with these visions. Em and Michael have a very intense relationship; there’s a pull between them that refuses to let them be a part.  In some ways, this came across as a bit rushed to me, but I think the author did this so that we could fully appreciate the impact of their relationship, how strong the drawl was between them. Regardless, I thought they worked well together.

The secondary characters in the book are really interesting. I especially enjoyed Kaleb, even though he was quite an emotional mess. I also really enjoyed Em’s bother and his wife, and even Em’s best friend, Lily. Em has a great support system around her, and although she doesn’t always make the best of decisions, she seems like a very strong young lady.

The storyline for the novel was very interesting, especially the time traveling aspect. I actually haven’t read that many time traveling books, so I am always a little intrigued by them. I am excited to read more in the series to see how in depth the author goes with the time travel. I’m curious!

Overall, if you enjoy books that deal with time travel, this book should definitely be added to you to-read list. I found it to be a very quick, enjoyable read, and I’m looking forward to reading more in the series.

Happy Reading!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Review: Crash by Lisa McMann

Crash
(Visions #1)
by Lisa McMann

Publication Date: January 8th 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 233
ISBN: 9781442403918

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

If what you see is what you get, Jules is in serious trouble. The suspenseful first of four books from the New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy.

Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

In this riveting start to a gripping series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa McMann, Jules has to act—and act fast—to keep her vision from becoming reality. (Goodreads)
I was so excited to finally read Crash. I absolutely love Lisa McMann! Her Dream Catcher series is one of the series that really made me fall in love with young adult books. Crash definitely did not disappoint!

The main character, Jules, is such a great character. She sees visions of the future. Not of just any future, but one part of the future in particular, and she’s determined to do whatever it takes to change the outcome of that vision. 

I really enjoyed Jules’ character. Not only is she a strong character, but she’s pretty snarky as well. I love her for that! I love Jules’ siblings as well. Trey and Rowan are a wonderful brother and sister to Jules. I really loved their strong relationship. While the relationship between Jules and her mom seems to be really strong as well, the one with her dad seems very brittle. I am hoping we can explore that more in the rest of the series.

The love interest in the story for Jules is Sawyer. I honestly didn’t know what to think of Sawyer at first, but the more I read, the more I fell in love with him. Such a great character and completely different than what I expected, once I got to know him.

The plot in the book has me curious. While we know that Jules’ has visions, we don’t actually know WHY she has these visions. (I am hoping that will be explained in the next book.) While that left me hanging just a little bit, I thought the book was still great. I idea of the visions popping up in such random places, it would be difficult to experience. But I felt like I was experiencing it right along with Jules.

Overall, if you love Lisa McMann, you should definitely start this series. If you have yet to check out a Lisa McMann story, you totally should! What are you waiting for? Do it, now!

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday #112 - Elusion by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam

Elusion
by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam

Publication Date: March 18th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen / Katherine Tegen Books



Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions. (Goodreads)

I just recently discovered this book via HarperTeen's 2014 Winter Catalog.
Holy Moley, this book sounds like it will be great!
Suspense, thrills, romance and virtual worlds??
Yes, please. Sign me up!

What are you Waiting for 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.**

Monday, July 15, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors Who Deserve More Recognition


Top Ten Authors Who Deserve More Recognition


1. Josephine Angelini - I looooooove reading Josephine Angelini's books. Her Starcrossed series is amazing, one of my most favorite series ever. I love the world and characters that she creates in her stories. I can't get enough of her writing. I need her to write more books, and soon! Hint, hint!

2. Michelle Hodkin - Seriously? Have you read her books? The Mara Dyer series is SO good. I am constantly recommending this series to people, and it constantly amazes me when people haven't read her books yet! Love her!

3. Tara Hudson - I love Tara Hudson's Herafter series. It is series that I always recommend to people that like ghost stories. So good!

4. Lauren Oliver - Ok, Lauren Oliver is pretty darn popular. But she is another one of my go-to authors when I'm recommending a book to people. I loooooove it when people read one of her books and report back to me that they love her as much as I do. I'm really glad to see people falling in love with her books. I love her Delirium series!

5. Lisa McMann - I adore Lisa McMann's writing style. She always manages to pull me into whatever book I am reading of hers. I always end one of her books wanting more. Check out her Dream Catcher's and Vision's series!

6. Stephanie Perkins - Ok, so most people in the book blogging world know of Stephanie Perkins. But it amazes me the people that still haven't read her books! I love Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door! Such sweet reads.

7. Aimee Carter - I LOVE Aimee Carter's Goddess Test series! I love reading about greek mythology, and her books always grab my attention. More people definitely need to read her books!

8. Katie McGarry - I adore Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits series. Katie has a way with bad-ass characters, and I just love reading her stories. I am currently waiting to get my hands on Isaiah's story, and I can't wait!

9. Jamie McGuire - Ok, I'm actually starting to see Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster around more and more. It always makes me smile when I see someone reading this series! Great books.

10. Anna Carey - This is definitely an author that I would like to see more people reading. I really enjoyed the Eve series, and how Carey keeps me guessing at every turn.


So, that's my list! If you haven't checked out some of these authors, I definitely think you should! I can't wait to see your list as well. :)


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Review: Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Shadow of the Mark
(Carrier #2)
by Leigh Fallon

Publication Date: July 9th 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780062128003

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Leigh Fallon’s Shadow of the Mark, the sequel to Carrier of the Mark, is a captivating love story set against the lush backdrop of Ireland.

Megan knew she was destined to be with Adam from the first moment she saw him and now they are determined to be together. But Megan and Adam are Marked Ones, and a romance between two Marked Ones is strictly forbidden…and could cause worldwide devastation.

Leigh Fallon’s Shadow of the Mark is a great choice for readers who love Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush. (Goodreads)
Shadow of the Mark is the long awaited sequel to Carrier of the Mark. I read Carrier of the Mark way back in the fall of 2011, and I’ve been super curious since then to see what is going to happen in this sequel. If you enjoyed reading the first book in this series, you are definitely going to want to pick up this sequel.

Shadow of the Mark picks up not long after where Carrier of the Mark leaves off. Megan is once again safe from the bad guys, but she still can’t be with her beloved. The relationship between Megan and Adam is one that any lover of ‘forbidden love’ will appreciate. It involves lots of drama and angst. The pull between them is so insanely strong, yet they know that they absolutely cannot be together. You have to feel bad for them for their situation, especially when they want is to just be together.

One of the things I love most about this series is the setting. Oh how I would love to visit Ireland. (One day!) The descriptions were written so that I could definitely picture what the author was describing. I loved reading all of the details of the setting. The story got off to kind of a slow start, but had a lot of action in the end. I was left with some questions, but I hope that we will get answers to those in the next book. I’m super curious to see where Fallon is going to take the series with the next book.

Overall, I found this to be a very interesting read.  If you like books that are based around mythology, you will definitely enjoy this read.  But be sure to check out the first book in the series, Carrier of the Mark, as well!

Happy Reading!


Books in this series:


 

Carrier of the Mark  |  Shadow of the Mark

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Club!

Hey guys!
I’m joining forces with three awesome ladies,
to bring something really exciting to the blog!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Club
is a book club that Kathy thought up based off the
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants novel.

The idea of the club is for these three wonderful ladies and myself
to read a book together,
share our thoughts with each other,
and then share on our blogs with our wonderful followers!
We plan to do at least 4 books a year.

I am so excited, I can’t wait to get started!

What do you think of Kathy’s wonderful idea?
Are you a member of a book club?
Share your experience!
I’d love to hear all about it.

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #111 - Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb

Witchstruck
(The Tudor Witch Trilogy #1)
by Victoria Lamb

Publication Date: September 24th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen



If she sink, she be no witch and shall be drowned.

If she float, she be a witch and must be hanged.

Meg Lytton has always known she is different; that she bears a dark and powerful gift. But in 1554 England, in service at Woodstock Palace to the banished Tudor princess Elizabeth, it has never been more dangerous to practise witchcraft. Meg knows she must guard her secret carefully from the many suspicious eyes watching over the princess and her companions. One wrong move could mean her life, and the life of Elizabeth, rightful heir to the English throne.

With witchfinder Marcus Dent determined to have Meg's hand in marriage, and Meg's own family conspiring against the English queen, there isn't a single person Meg can trust. Certainly not the enigmatic young Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, despite her undeniable feelings. But when all the world turns against her, Meg must open her heart to a dangerous choice.

The Secret Circle meets The Other Boleyn Girl in Witchstruck, the first book of the magical Tudor Witch trilogy. (Goodreads)

Oh my...

This book sounds like it would make for a really great read.
I really love witch stories, almost as much as ghost stories. ;)
I can't wait to check this out!


What are you Waiting for 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.**

Monday, July 8, 2013

Review: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More
by Sarah Dessen

Publication Date: June 4th 2013
Publisher: Penguin Teen / Viking Juvenile
Pages: 435
ISBN: 9780670785605

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer. (Goodreads)
I was so excited to finally purchase The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen. I have read quite a few of Dessen’s books, and have really enjoyed them all. Now that I have completed this book, I am can’t wait to get started on the rest of her novels that I haven’t yet read. Now, on to my review…

The main character in the story, Emaline, is such a headstrong young lady. (I love that Dessen always writes such strong heroines.) Emaline has so many decisions to make about her life now that she has graduated high school. Yes, her life is an emotional mess of confusion, and it only gets worse as the book goes along. But Emaline is surrounded by an amazing support system, and keeps a level head even through the worst. These types of characters make me proud; these are the characters that I love the most.

The love interest in the story is between Luke, Emaline’s high school sweetheart, and Theo, who has come to the island for the summer to work on a documentary. I don’t think that I would consider the relationships between Emaline and these boys as a love triangle. It was so much different than that. I liked Luke from the beginning, even though he made a few bad choices. Theo, on the other hand… Well, I liked him at first, but it just went downhill the more I read about him. Each boy had a different purpose in Emaline’s life. I feel that they both showed her how different life could be for her. In the end, I was really satisfied with the choice that she made for herself.

The relationship that Emaline has with her family is really heart-warming. Not only does she have a wonderful bond with her mother, but also with her dad, who is actually her adoptive dad and her step-sisters, who are so much more than that. I love that she was surrounded by so much love in her family. I also really loved her new found relationship with her half brother. He was super sweet.

The ending of the story took a completely different direction than I expected it to, and I loved Dessen all the more for it. I absolutely love the ending. It’s an ending that I am proud to have my teenage daughter read. You are definitely going to have to read the book to find out exactly what happens. The storyline is a great story that I think should be a recommended read for all teenage girls. It was a really great read, as all Dessen’s books are.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It would make a great summer/beach read. Of course, if you already love Sarah Dessen, you will definitely enjoy this book. Check it out!

Happy Reading!



Saturday, July 6, 2013

Weekly Book Haul #30

For Review:
Shadow of the Mark - Leigh Fallon

Hey guys!
Only one new book for me this week.
I am really looking forward to getting started on it.
Thanks, HarperTeen!

What new books did you get this week?

**This post was inspired by In My Mailbox by TheStorySiren, in order to share books received each week.**

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #110 - Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Sea of Shadows
(Age of Legends #1)
by Kelley Armstrong

Publication Date: April 8th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen



In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever. (Goodreads)


I LOOOOOOOOOVE Kelley Armstrong.
I nearly squeled with delight when I saw this new book.
I really can't wait to check it out!

What are you Waiting for 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, July 2, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Intimidating Books





Top Ten Most Intimidating Books

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien - People love this series. I can only imagine why. However, these books are HUGE! Definite intimidation there.

2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - At a whopping 1037 pages, this book is definitely not at the top of my to-read list. The movie is one of my moms favorites, and I've seen it a couple of times, which makes me want to read the book. Eventually.

3. Eragon by Christopher Paolini - I am always seeing/hearing people talk about this series, and it sounds really great. But the books are Massive! This is another on my eventually to-read list.

4. Wicked by Gregory McGuire - Honestly, I don't know what is stopping me from reading this series. It sounds really great, and I would love to see the play as well. However, I always end up putting it back on the shelf whenever I pick it up. No idea why!

5. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - This book was recently made into a movie starring Keira Knightley in it. The movie also has Matthew McFadyen in it, who also stared with Knightley in Pride & Prejudice. Since I usually always try to read the book before I see the movie, I need to read this. The book has 800+ pages. It will have to wait.

6. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - This book sounds really great, and I can't quite pin down what exactly is so intimidating about it. I love Jane Austen, so you would think I would be right into this one as well. I need to get on it!

7. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - I started reading this book at one point, and stopped about 1/4 of the way through. I'm not sure why, maybe because I know what's going to happen at the end. Maybe that is what I find some intimidating. I would like to finish the book at some point.

8. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - Everyone that I know that has read this book has loved it. That's a bit intimidating me to! What happens if I don't like it?? I still want to give it a read, and I may have to do it sooner rather than later. Hopefully, it really is great.

9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - I am not a big fan of books/movies that have lots of violence in them, which is probably why I haven't picked this up yet. Don't get me wrong, I'm SUPER curious about the series, but it probably won't get read anytime soon.

10. The Tudor Court series by Philippa Gregory - I have a couple of friends that really like this series, but they have all warned me that some parts are pretty slow. Slow books make me fall asleep. Not good! I do want to give this series a try at some point, however.


What's on your Most Intimidating Book List???

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Monday, July 1, 2013

All the Ways to Follow... Google Reader Alternatives


As of today, July 1st, Google Reader will be no more. (WAAAAH!) This does not bode well for me, as I use Google Reader to keep up with the massive list of book blogs & author blogs that I follow. After being reminded every day for the past two months that Google Reader would in fact be closing, despite all my grumbling and complaining, I spent a good amount of time trying to find a alternative site to keep up with all of my links.

Here is a list of the readers & social media that I use to keep up.
If you don't already, try one out today!


  
Both BlogLovin' and Feedly are great sights. Both allow you to easily move your feed over to their platforms. I find myself to be really torn between the two readers. Both have features that I like, but I just can't seem to nail down which one I like the best. Bloglovin' seems to be a bit more user friendly, while Feedly seems to have a few more options. At this point, I am just going to keep randomly using both until I can figure out which I like the best.


Everyone and their mama has a Twitter account!  Twitter is my personal favorite for social media. I can post just about whatever I want to there, and I don't feel pressured like I do on some other sites. I just go with the flow! There are SO many great bloggers, authors, publishers and just about anyone that you want to follow on Twitter. Check it out!



To be honest, I don't actually use Facebook very often. I find it a bit confusing, to say the least. However, my blog does have a Facebook page that is updated through Network Blogs every time I update my blog. I do follow a few people through Facebook, so it is definitely an option if you chose to keep up with your favorites that way.



While Tumblr is another site that I just sporadically, I know a lot of authors use the site to update their readers about the what's happening with them. Cassandra Clare and Lauren Oliver are just a few authors that use Tumblr to keep us updated.


There are quite a few authors and publishers, as well as book bloggers that upload videos to Youtube. While I am not quite brave enough to do video's myself, I really enjoy watching the videos from the people who post them.



Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard for collecting and organizing things that you would like to keep track of. I know quite a few book bloggers and authors that take advantage of this site.  If you are a blogger, this is a good place to pin links to your blog posts, favorite reads, or any other book related items.I am always discovering new cover releases via Pinterest!


Goodreads is a wonderful site that lets you keep track of the books you've read, or that you want to read. It is also a great place to discover new reads, and meet new friends. I find the sight to be invaluable, just in the fact that I can keep up with my massive amount of books. Everything else is a bonus!

If you have an iPhone or Droid, chances are, you've heard of Instagram. I've just started to really take advantage of this app. It's been really great to see the bookish community come together here as well.


There you go, guys! These are my most favorite websites and apps to keep up with all my bookish goodies!I'm really going to miss Google Reader, but I'm hoping that with the help of all the sites mentioned above, I may still be able to keep up with everyone.

What websites or apps do you use to keep up? I'm always looking for new ideas!

Want to follow TheReaderBee on these sites?? Check the header bar above to find all my links!

Happy Reading!