2011 Author Debut Challenge

I am participating in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge that is being hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren! The challenge is to read at least 12, (or more), debut books by Young Adult or Middle Grade authors. This is my first time participating in this challenge, and I'm super excited!

If you'd like to join in the challenge, visit the Sign Up page on The Story Siren's site. But hurry, the deadline for signups is March 1st, 2011.

Here are the books I'm going to try to read... with a few alternatives in case I can't find a book.

1. Across the Universe - Beth Revis

2. Unearthly - Cynthia Hand

3. Angelfire - Courtney Allison Moulton

4. Divergent - Veronica Roth
5. Haven - Kristi Cook - Finished 2/15

6. Entangled - Cat Clarke

7. Wither - Lauren DeStefano

8. Blood Magic - Tessa Gratton

9. The Iron Witch - Karen Mahoney

10. Timeless - Alexandra Monir

11. Shattered Souls - Mary Lindsey

12. Entwined - Heather Dixon

Alts:

1. Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake

2. Falling Under - Gwen Hayes

You can find a list of Debut Authors HERE on Goodreads.

I look forward to participating in the challenge with everyone!

BOOKS READ (Debut Authors):

1. Haven - Kristi Cook
2. Die For Me - Amy Plum

Sunday Confessions (1) - What do you love most about reading??

"Sunday Confessions is a weekly meme started by Marcie at To Read or Not to Read, as a way to get to share a bit about herself and also learning more about me and you. Sometimes its about books and book related topics and sometimes it's not. This is all in good fun and I would love it if you would participate."

This week's question:
What do you love most about reading?

I love reading. There's nothing better than getting lost in a good book. Swept into another world, getting to know characters, and reading their stories. It's a great escape for me.

I read as a child, but once I hit my teen years, I was more interested in boys, music and driving. I recently got back into reading now that my kids are all in school, and I am absolutely loving it. I am addicted to Young Adult, I don't know what it is, but I just can't get enough.

I am so thankful for blogs/twitter/goodreads, so that I can talk to other's who share my passion. I don't know many people IRL that share my passion for reading, and I'm so glad to find other's that do!

Now... what do you love most about reading???

In My Mailbox (#1)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. It's a great way to showcase the books you've gotten over the week, whether they are bought, borrowed or free.

This is my first time participating in IMM. I'm excited!

Here are the books I got this week.


Bought:


Delirium by Lauren Oliver
My Blood Approves (My Blood Approves #1) by Amanda Hocking


Borrowed from the library:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Firespell by Chloe Neill

So those are the books I got this week. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else got in their mailbox this week. :) Happy Sunday!

Entice by Carrie Jones

Entice (Need Series #3)
Author: Carrie Jones
Pub. Date: December 14th, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 272
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9781599905532
ISBN: 1599905531

GoodReads Summary:
Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that’s not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he’s been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it’s taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there’s that other small problem: Zara’s been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn’t just turned… She’s Astley’s queen.

My Review:
Sooo... Entice picks up where Captivate left off. Zara and friends battling pixies and trying to save Nick.

This book was just as good as the previous books. I didn't enjoy having less of Nick in the book, but I have to say, Astley made up for it. Yes, I'm am leaning towards Team Astley. The only thing Nick has on him, is that Astley is a bit on the... um... sensitive side? Other than that, he was such a sweetheart, and he only wants Zara to love him!

Ok, and Zara got on my nerves just the tiniest bit in this book. I found her to be more than a little selfish in this book. And she knows it too, that doesn't help.

All the other characters are still great. I love Issie and Betty. The mom just bothers me. Devyn and Cassidy are great too.

Favorite Quote-
You know, life fractures us all into little pieces. It harms us, but it's how we glue those fractures back together that make us stronger." — Carrie Jones

Can't wait to get book four!

On My Wishlist (1)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I 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.

This is my very first time joining in on the 'On My Wishlist' event. It looks exciting, so I'm going to give it a go!

My Wishlist is actually pretty darn long. (Especially my ebook wishlist!) But I'm going to try to narrow it down to the ones I really, really want.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

GoodReads Summary:

Think you know paranormal romance? Alex Flinn gives the genre a twist in this modern fairy-tale mash-up!
Johnny’s not your average hero. But a little magic changes everything. There isn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. It all starts with a curse. And a frognapping. And one hot-looking princess. And before Johnny knows it, he is on a mission in the Everglades, with only a flock of swans and a talking fox named Joe to help guide him against the forces of an evil witch.

Matched by Ally Condie
(Matched #1)

GoodReads Summary:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.


Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
(Unearthly #1)

GoodReads Summary:
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
(Nightshade #1)

GoodReads Summary:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?


This is my wishlist for this week. What's on yours???

Follow Friday! (1)

Follow Me Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee! This is my first time doing Follow Friday, I hope I'm doing it right!

Today's question is:What is your favorite romance hero-type? Stereotype wise. Do you like the strong silent type or the brute macho man?

I'm definitely prefer my hero's to be the strong silent type. I love the mystery and suspense they seem to bring. :o)


To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://www.rubysreads.com
Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!
If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!
Happy Follow Friday!

Waiting on Wednesday (1) : Entwined by Heather Dixon

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

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Publication Date: March 2011

Sypnosis from Goodreads.com

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

This cover is absolutely gorgeous, and it sounds like it's going to be a great read. Can't wait to get my hands on it!

You can pre-order your copy today an Barnes & Noble.

Countdown to "City of Fallen Angels"!

Ezmirelda's 100th Follower Giveaway!!!

Ezmirelda at -Dreamz of a YA Writer- is having a 100th Follower Giveaway! Head over today to sign up for your chance to win a book of your choice. Whoot!

So.... what are you waiting for?? Go! Now!

http://parafantasy.blogspot.com/2011/02/100th-follower-giveaway.html#idc-container

You can also follow her on Twitter here- http://twitter.com/Ezzmirelda

I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Sschroder

I Heart You, You Haunt Me
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Published Date: January 2008
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9781416955207
ISBN: 1416955208

Goodreads Summary:

Girl meets boy. Girl loses boy. Girl gets boy back... ...sort of. Ava can't see him or touch him, unless she's dreaming. She can't hear his voice, except for the faint whispers in her mind. Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here. Jackson. The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. He's back from the dead, as proof that love truly knows no bounds.

My Review:
I picked up "I Heart You, You Haunt Me" from the library on a whim. The book is definitely different, written in verse. It was a really quick read, I finished it in about an hour. This story is about Ava, who lost her boyfriend in a tragic accident. We read about how she deals with her grief, and about how her boyfriend is still 'around'. I enjoyed this book, especially reading how she copes, and finally, moves on. Oh, and the cover is pretty gorgeous!

I'm looking forward to reading Ms. Schroeders's next book. :)