Review: Eve by Anna Carey

Eve
(Eve #1)
by Anna Carey
Publication Date: October 4th, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 318
ISBN: 9780062048509

Where to Buy:
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life. (Goodreads)

Eve is a young adult dystopian novel. I have only read a few dystopian novels at this point, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I did find the book to be quite an interesting read.

The main character in the story is Eve. Eve is a very sheltered, naïve child. Her whole life she has been carefully hidden away from the world behind the School walls. Because of her naivety, she made some really questionable decisions throughout the book that lead to quite a bit of trouble. I found Eve to be a very realistic character. She is definitely what I expected her character to be like, considering the way she had been raised. She was borderline helpless in the beginning, but she did start to grow throughout the book. Once she meets Caleb, we really start to see her become a different character. I’m hoping in the next book, we will see her grow even more.

Caleb is such a wonderful character, I love that he has so many different sides. I also enjoyed the relationship between him and Eve; although I do at times wish that some situations would have been a bit different for them.

The one character that I really loved in the book would be Arden. Arden was also at the school with Eve, and managed to escape. However, she is the complete opposite of Eve. She was able to take care of herself, and I have to admit, she was a pretty kick butt character as well. I enjoyed seeing her softer side come out to play as well.

The world building in the book was really interesting. Having most of the world gone because of a deadly virus is definitely realistic and something I could see happening in real life. I thought the author did a great job of describing what the world could be like after a virus. I also thought that the book was well paced. The ending was definitely a cliffhanger, and to be honest, it made me a bit sad.

Overall, I thought this was a very interesting read. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series. I can’t wait to see what journey the author will take us on next.

Happy Reading!

Happy Halloween Giveaway 2011!

Yay! Halloween is my second favorite holiday, EVER! I love everything about Halloween; dressing up, the candy, the decorations, the candy, the spooky-ness, THE CANDY... Heh!

I also love the scary & creepy books! (Well, not the hard-core, Stephen King type scary books, but you get the point.) And I want to share that love with two lucky winners! Hence, this Halloween Giveaway!

Giveaway Rules:

• TWO winners will be chosen. Each winner will have the choice of ONE book from the list below.
• US and International (As long as TheBookDepository ships to your area.)
• One entry per person
• Must be 13 or older
• Giveaway ends October 16th, 2011
• Winners will be chosen via Random.org, and will be contacted via email
• If the winner doesn't respond within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
• By signing up for this giveaway, you agree to the terms listed above.
  

** I have not read all of these books, so I don't know if they are all scary/creepy or not. I got most of them from this list YA Halloween 2011 list on Goodreads.  Also, Graveminder is not a YA book, but I've heard it's a really great read!**

This giveaway has ended! Thank you for entering!

In My Mailbox #35

** In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at 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. **

For Review:
Dragonswood - Janet Lee Carey
*Courtesy Penguin Group*

Won:
Hourglass (SIGNED!) - Myra McEntire
**Thank you Marla at Starting the Next Chapter!**

Library:
Sisters Red - Jackson Pearce
(FINALLY!)


I'm so excited to read all the books I got this week. I'm super thrilled about winning the signed copy of Hourglass from Marla! I went out earlier in the week to get a copy of Silence, and wasn't able to find one. I really miss having a Books-A-Million here! I'm definitely going to have to get a B&N membership. :) 


What's in your mailbox this week???

Review & Giveaway: Bridger by Megan Curd

Bridger
(Bridger #1)
by Megan Curd
Publication Date: June 4th, 2011
Publisher: Soul Fire Press
Pages: 258

Where to Buy:
B&N | Amazon | Add to Goodreads

Ashlyn McVean doesn't believe in fairy tales. That is, until Ashlyn is thrown into the crosshairs of grudges her grandmother created long ago. After finding out she is one of two people able to cross between faerie realms, Ashlyn is faced with trying to understand her abilities, along with navigating a new relationship with her boyfriend, Liam. As if being on a centuries old hit list and dealing with crazed pixies isn't enough, her new abilities mean trouble for Liam. Knowing her new life puts everyone she loves in danger, Ashlyn must decide what's most important in her life between friends, family, love, and ultimately, realms. (Goodreads)

I was very excited to read Bridger after I was contacted by the author. Bridger was definitely an interesting read that kept me guessing throughout the book!

The main character in the story is Ashlyn. I found Ash to be a very interesting character. I like that she took in stride all the weird, new stuff that was happening to her. She definitely wasn’t the weak, wimpy character that makes me roll my eyes. I really liked her relationship with Liam, who is her Protector. I definitely have a thing for the Irish men. Ha!

The secondary characters were enjoyable as well. I found Ashlyn’s Memaw to be a very, very interesting character. The woman was very mysterious! I really enjoyed reading her story.

The character I liked the most in the book would probably be Ashlyn’s best friend, Reece. I found him to be a great friend to Ash, he was definitely the kind of friend you would want to be around in times of need. I’m totally for the awesome BFF’s!

The storyline for the book was very interesting, and the book was well paced. I read this in just a few hours time, and the book held my attention very well.

Overall, I really liked this read. I’m looking forward to reading more work by the author in the future.

Now that you  know what I think about the book, want to read it yourself?? Megan is kindly giving away one free ebook at each tour stop! Just leave a comment below with a valid email address to enter the giveaway. This giveaway will end on Friday, October 14th.

There will also be a grand prize giveaway at the end of the tour with a signed print copy and swag. The last day/stop of the tour is Nov. 13 at A Tale of Many Reviews.

You can also check HERE to see who is next on the book tour!

Also, the author wanted to mention that for every book sold, $1 is going toward a community of single moms and low-income families in Ecuador! What a great cause!

Happy Reading and GOOD LUCK!

Friday Hops 10/7

Follow Friday! #31

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. It's a great way to meet new blogger friends!

Q. If you could pick one character in a book, movie or television show to swap places with, who would it be?

A. Hmmmm.
 - Lola (from Lola and the Boy Next Door), so that I could have Cricket as my boyfriend.
- Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice), because of Mr. Darcy. Enough said.
-Mara Dyer. (One reason why, NOAH!)

HA HA HA!



Book Blogger Hop #29

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy-For-Books.com. It's a great way to meet new people and friends around the blogworld!

Q. “It’s time to spread some love beyond the borders of the Book Blogger Hop! This week, we aren’t answering a question. We are spotlighting our fellow bloggers. Find your favorite(s) author interview(s), guest post(s), book review(s), or bookish article(s) that ANOTHER BOOK BLOGGER featured on their site recently and tell us why you love it/them! As an additional challenge, find your favorite one of EACH of the categories above and spotlight all 4 (interview, guest post, review, article).”

A. Hmmm...Here are a few interesting posts I've read this week that have really stood out!

• Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Kathy at A Glass of Wine
• Review: The Scorpio Races by Marla at Starting the Next Chapter
• Cover Comparisons by Carina at Fictional Distraction. (These are so much fun!)

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Please leave a comment with your link so I can follow you back!

Review: When it Happens by Susane Colasanti

When It Happens
by Susane Colasanti
Publication Date: May 4th, 2006
Publisher: Penguin Group
Pages: 310
ISBN: 9780670060290

Where to Buy:
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository

Reminiscent of the movie Say Anything, a debut novel for all those searching for The One!

Sara and Tobey couldn't be more different. She is focused on getting into her first-choice college; he wants to win Battle of the Bands. Sara's other goal is to find true love, so when Dave, a popular jock, asks her out, she's thrilled. But then there's Tobey. His amazing blue eyes and quirky wit always creep into her thoughts. It just so happens that one of Tobey's goals is also to make Sara fall in love with him. Told in alternating points of view, Sara and Tobey's real connection will have everyone rooting for them from the minute they meet! (Goodreads)

When It Happens is the second book I’ve read by Susane Colasanti, and I really enjoyed reading it. It was a very quick, fun read. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Colasanti.

The main characters, Tobey and Sara are really likeable. Sara is the all too smart brainiac, and Tobey is the slacker in a rock band. I really enjoyed their interactions with each other, and seeing all the different ways Tobey tried to make Sara fall for him. There were quite a few moments they had together that had me giggling, they were really cute.

The storyline was very simple, and easy to follow. It totally made me think back to my high school days. I like how each chapter is told from different perspectives, via Tobey and Sara. I liked knowing what both of the characters were thinking. There were a ton of references to the movie Say Anything, which I have not seen, but stars one of my favorite actors, John Cusack. I will totally be checking that movie out.

Overall, this is a really quick, really cute read. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #35

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

Bewitching
(Kendra Chronicles)

by Alex Flinn
Publication Date: February 14th, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen

Kendra Hilferty, the witch who curses Kyle Kingsbury in Beastly, tells about her immortal existence-how she discovered she was a witch and the various ways she has used her powers to help people throughout the centuries. (Unfortunately her attempts have often backfired.) As it turns out, Kendra has actually had a hand in "Hansel and Gretel," "The Princess and the Pea," and "The Little Mermaid"-but these are not the fairy tales you think you know! Kendra's reminiscences are wrapped around a real-time version of "Cinderella," except the "ugly" stepsister is the good guy. With dark twists, hilarious turns, and unexpected endings, Bewitching is a contemporary read for fairy-tale lovers, fantasy fans, and anyone looking for more Alex Flinn. (Goodreads)

Why am I Waiting on this book???

I read Beastly earlier this year, and really enjoyed it. Bewitching is about Kendra, the witch in Beastly that turns Kyle into a beast. I am really fascinated with Kendra's character, and would love to know more about her. :)

What are you WoWing for this week???

Dark Eden: BLOG TOUR! Top Five Scariest Books!

Welcome to the official Dark Eden blog tour!
Halloween is just around the corner and to celebrate the publication of Dark Eden, available everywhere November 1st, this month author Patrick Carman will be visiting blogs to share spooky guest posts and sneak peeks from his brand new book and app.

Today on the blog Patrick Carmen will be sharing with us his
Top Five Scariest Books!

1. Frankenstein - I'm completely nuts for this book.

2. Edgar Allen Poe - He's not a book, but he is a category. No one creates chilling atmosphere like Poe. He kills.

3. The Turn of the Screw - I love the set up, the unreliable narrator, and the timeless sense of doom.

4. The Stand - This book unnerved me for weeks. It blew me away.

5. Salem's Lot - I was way too young to be reading this book when I did, but I loved it all the same.

That's a great list of books, Patrick! I will definitely keep these in mind for my Halloween Reads list!

About the Book:

Dark Eden

by Patrick Carmen

"When Will Besting approaches Fort Eden for the first time, he knows something isn't right. With more terrifying secrets at every turn he discovers a hidden fear deep inside himself, a dark mystery a thousand years in the making, and the unexpected girl of his dreams. But can he save everyone from the dangers of Fort Eden before it's too late?"

Want more??

Do you dare to face your fears? Take the Dark Eden Fear Test.
Patrick Carman on Twitter | The Official Dark Eden Website.

Official Dark Eden Book Trailer:

Be sure to check out all the stops on the Dark Eden blog tour:

October 3rd: The Bookish Brunette

October 4th: The Reader Bee

October 5th: Novel Novice

October 6th: The Bookworms

October 7th: Girls in the Stacks

October 10th: Between the Pages

October 11th: Dark Readers

October 12th: Letters Inside Out

October 13th: The Book Faery

October 14th: Books Complete Me

October 17th: Two Chicks on Books

October 18th: Starry Sky Books

October 19th: Great Imaginations

October 20th: Once Upon a Twilight

October 21st: Me, My Shelf and I

October 24th: Fiktshun

October 25th: PageTurners

October 26th: Icey Books

October 27th: Truly Bookish

October 28th: Stuck in Books

Happy Reading!

Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Incarnate
(Newsoul #1)
by Jodi Meadows
Publication Date: January 31st, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780062060754
Source: ATW Tours

Available for Pre-Order:
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life. (Goodreads)

Incarnate is one of those rare reads that is really going to stand out against the other books in its genre. This book has it all; two amazing main characters, creatures of fantasy, amazing descriptions… All together, this makes for quite an interesting read.

The main character is Ana, who is a new soul. She is also the only new soul. All the others around her have been reincarnated over and over for thousands of years. Unfortunately, Ana does not know exactly why she’s the one and only new soul, but she’s determined to figure out why she is. I found Ana to be a very likable character. You had to feel something for her. She was basically shunned by most people for being a new soul. She’s a bit timid in the beginning of the book, but we quickly see her grow more confident in herself after she is sent away by her evil mother. Once she meets Sam, she really starts coming out of her shell.

Oh Sam… You’ve definitely won a place on my most swoon-worthy list of favorite male characters. He’s sensitive and caring, and he also has his flaws. I love the tension between him and Ana. It builds and builds as the story goes along. I love it!

I absolutely loved the descriptions in the book; not only of the scenery and location, but also for the people and the music. (I love music!) The author did such a wonderful job with all of the descriptions; the images in my head were crystal clear.

I also have to point out that the cover for Incarnate is super gorgeous! It definitely stands out, just like the book does.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book. It definitely stands out from the crowd, and was a wonderful change of pace. I can’t wait to add this to my collection.

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox #34

** In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at 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. **

Bought:
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

For Review:
Tempest - Julie Cross

Really small mailbox this week compared to what I got last week! I'm so happy to have a finished copy of Mara Dyer. I can't wait to read it again. :)


Ohhhh! I forgot the best thing I got in my mailbox this week...

An awesome new laptop! Which I have fondly named Monstertop... because it's a beast! It puts all my other computers to shame.  :o)

Sooooo....
What's in your mailbox this week???