Blog Award!

I want to thank Deidra @ Simply Books for nominating me for this award!

The Rules

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog and link back to the blogger who presented this award to you.
2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator, list 11 random facts about yourself and create 11 questions for your nominees.
3. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog letting them know they have been chosen. (No tag backs)
4. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.

The Questions

1.  If you could choose to live in one book, what book would it be?

Er, either the Harry Potter books. C'mon, what school is awesomer ( I know that isn't a real word) than Hogwarts? Or the Song Of The Lioness series. Medieval castles, knights, sorcery, charming thieves, and talking cats! Wow, that would be living the life!

2.  You are on a deserted island, and you can choose ONE book.  What book do you take?

Well, first of all, if I only had one book to read, it better be worth it. After I finished it I'd probably die from boredom. My last book needs to make an impression! So, Hmm, I would probably choose Anna and the French Kiss. That way I could dream of Paris while I starved to death in the middle of the ocean.

3.  Why did you decide to start a book blog?

Well, I love books A LOT. Maybe too much. I am running out of room for them. I am trying to read 250 this year. So, I figured that there are people like me, who live to read, and I figured that they would be out there in the blogging community. So, in conclusion, I wanted to share my love of books with people who love them like me. 

4.  Moment of truth:  Do you judge a book by its cover?

Er, unfortunately, I am known to do that. It is what stopped mr from reading sooo many good books! Like yesterday I just finished Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout. It took me so long to pick it up because of the creepy, swoony cover! And, guess what, I loved it! I finished it in, like, a day!

5.  Your favorite book is about to be made into a movie.  How do you feel about that?  

I hope to god they don't ruin it.  If it is good though, it makes me love the book even more!

6.  Where is your favorite place to buy books?

Amazon, without a doubt.

7.  Who are your favorite book boyfriends?

Archer Cross ( all time favorite!)

Daemon Black ( recently discovered)

Jared Howe

Edward Cullen

Galen, prince of the Serena

James Easton

8.  Which character would you love to slap and why? *We all have those moments*

Er, well right now all i can think of is henry from Catching Jordan. Of course, by the end I had forgiven him, but when he rejected and then ignored Jordan after admitting he loved her? Well, that just pissed me off! Grrr

9.  What was your favorite book that you had to read for school?

This is a while ago, but i still laugh every time I read No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman, which I had to read in 4th grade!

10.  What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Reviewing amazing books nd the joy of seeing people's comments on my blog!

11.  Which author are you dying to meet?

Probably Veronica Roth! Her book Divergent blew me away! Or Ally Carter. Boy, her books make me laugh!

11 Random Facts

1.  I do ballet as well as blogging!

2. I love making cookies with my best friend using her special recipe! *Yumm*

3. I love fighting over my stuffed tiger, Ren, with my best friend :) We hide and steal our stuffed animals from each other!

4. I am addicted to Downton Abbey!

5. I have absolutely zero sense of direction! I do know right from left however...

6. I love warm blankets and books and hot chocolate. Heaven.

7. Brownies are delicious.

8. I love sprinting, but can't stand to run for more than 3 minutes when I start feeling bored and ponder why I am running when I could be reading under that tree over there...

9. I am running out of random facts

10. Ummm... I love swimming

11. I worry too much

My Nominees!

Megan @ A trail of books 

 Amber @ Book Whirlwind 

Givlia @ My Devastating Read 

Liza @ life from a lefty 

Jessica @ Read my breath away 

Jaclyn @ JC's book haven

I know i am supposed to do eleven! But I had a hard enough time checking my favorite blogs to see how many followers each has and finding these awesome blogs above! I am sorry :(

My Questions

1. What are your 2 most cherished series of all time?

2. What is your favorite thing about your blog?

3. What are your top 5 books you are looking forward this year?

4. What is your least favorite book?

5. What is your favorite book made into a movie?

6. What is your favorite movie based on a book?

7. Who is your favorite kick butt kind of girl character? What book is she from?

8. Who is the character that makes you laugh the loudest?

9. What is your favorite book cover?

10. Do you spend too much money on books?

11. Do you have a special person you can share your books with?

Waiting on Wednesday

Join the fun at Breaking the Spine!

I am waiting on This is what Happy Looks Like!

Goodreads Description: If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds. 

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

Doesn't this book sound amazing? I have already pre ordered it!

Review: Catching Jordan

Goodreads description: ONE OF THE BOYS 

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

So, first of all, I had high expectations for this book. Unfortunately, they were not met. I had heard Catching Jordan was really good. To me, it was just good. 

I love the idea around this book, and I love how the author brings the Hundred Oaks football team alive. I did not, however,  get the whole Ty and Henry thing. I did not really get or like Ty at all. And the back cover makes it sound like it is all about Ty. Well, we also have Henry, who is a big part of the story. I admit that I really liked Henry most of the time. He made me laugh.

I actually really liked the whole team except for Ty. They supported Jordan even when she was a girl. The whole girl issue was another good part of the book. Her dad doesn't want her to play because she is a girl, and neither do most colleges. But, the thing is, she is better at ball than most guys! This is true for real life too. Girls who play sports sometimes get underestimated, or ignored.

I am going to give this book 4 cases. I liked it. I had fun reading it. I was not blown away by it or even very invested though.  

4/5 bookcases

Top Ten Tuesday

This is a wonderful meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Click the link to join the fun!

Top ten (or maybe twelve) debuts I am looking forward to in 2013!

 

Mini Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Anna and the French Kiss is a must read!
I haven't laughed this much in ages! Really, I just finished this book 5 minutes ago and I am still smiling.

Goodreads Synopsis: Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming,beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?

An amazingly real, sweet, funny main character makes for a great book. Why?  1) They are interesting and entertaining and 2) you actually care about what happens to them! Anna is amazing. I mean it. I love how she is scared to go out to Paris at first because she can't speak French and is american. 

And Etienne is, if possible, better. And he and Anna just click, issuing a lot of laugh out loud moments. Especially since Anna has a lot of spunk ("Fine, freeze to death, see if I care") All the characters are well thought out from mean fathers to sweet friends.

Now, I really want to go to a boarding school in Paris. Doesn't it sound fun?

This book also shows serious problems realistically. From cancer to trouble between friends to family drama.

I REALLY love this book. I can't wait to read Lola and the Boy Next Door by the same author!

5/5 bookcases!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme done at The Broke and the Bookish

Do you want to join this fabulous meme? The rules are listed at the website.

This week's topic: 2013 Reading goals!

1. Read 250 books

2. Finish 7 series (minimum)

3. Pre-order 12 books

4. Join 3 memes (one down!)
5.  Follow more blogs

6. Gain 200 followers

7. Finish the books that I have quit reading halfway through

Sorry, can't think of any more! If you have your own 2013 goal, please share it in the comments!  

Review: Wake

Wake was a very enjoyable book about Sirens. The writing was good, maybe even great, and the characters were very real seeming.

Goodreads Synopsis: Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

For fans 0f Amanda Hocking's Trylle series, you might find Wake a little lacking of the magical charm she set in her other books, but Wake was still a tremendously wonderful read. In fact, right after I read it, I bought the second book, Lullaby, and read it that same day. 

In the goodreads description, all you hear about is Gemma, Gemma, Gemma, when, in actuality, Wake is about Gemma AND her sister, Harper. They are both the stars of this book. I was a fan of Harper (maybe because she reminds me of myself) rather than Gemma. Also, I am head-over-heels for her love interest Daniel (especially after Lullaby). Harper is responsible, kind, loving, and smart. When their Mother became unstable after a traumatic car crash, Harper became the head of the family, looking after her dad and sister. 

Just because I liked Harper better doesn't mean I didn't like Gemma. Gemma is also a wonderful character. She is brave and loyal and loves her family. Gemma goes out for night swims in the ocean, trains hard in the pool, and hopes to go to the olympics. She wants to avoid the creepy group of girls at all cost. Especially since  the teenage boy disappearances could be linked to Penn and her crew. Alex, Gemma's neighbor is a good character, but wasn't as interesting as Daniel. But at least he seemed real, unlike some characters in books. Amanda Hocking is truly good at making her characters come alive.

The town Harper and Gemma live in is well developed. We see a lot of it and it's people. Harper works at the library with her friend, Gemma swims at the pool, Daniel lives on a boat at the dock and their Dad works near there, across the street from the library is Pearl's diner where Harper and Daniel eat lunch, Briar Ridge, the group home their mother stays at, and the bay where Gemma takes her night swims. I feel right at home in the town in Wake.

Wake was a tad slow. "Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different - Goodreads" This scene happens when we are already halfway done with the book!

The book is well written and funny! Here is one of my favorite excerpts:

“I didn’t actually mean for you to keep apologizing. I know it was an accident.”
“I know, but…” She shook her head. “I didn’t even properly thank you for helping out my sister, and then I attacked you with your own ice cream.”
“That’s true. You are a menace and must be stopped.”
“I know you’re teasing, but I feel bad.”
“No, I’m dead serious. I should report you for your abhorrent behavior,” Daniel said with a straight face, telling her the same thing she’d told him the day before.
“Now you’re making me feel worse.” Harper looked down at her shoes and balled up the wet napkins in her hands.
“That’s my plan,” Daniel said. “I like to guilt pretty girls into going out with me.”
“Smooth.” Harper narrowed her eyes at him, unsure if he was kidding or not.
“That’s what the ladies tell me.” He grinned at her, and his hazel eyes had a gleam to them.”

He is kinda aggravating, huh? I, like Harper, didn't like him at all until that scene. But after that... well... *swoon*

Well, I really thought Wake was wonderful. Not as wonderful as the Trylle series but still wonderful. Next I am going to read her Vampire series.(My blood approves)

4/5 bookshelves

Reveiw: Sweet Venom

Goodreads Description: Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Sweet Venom was a light, fun(ish) read. The characters, the dialogue, and the storyline were all just okay. Nothing Spectacular. In truth, I was a little disappointed in this book. I have read Forgive my Fins and Oh. My. Gods (by the same author, Tera Lynn Childs) and thoroughly enjoyed the witty dialogue and quirky characters of each one, and while the books weren't masterpieces or award winning, I laughed aloud countless times.

Tera Lynn Childs let me down. I am pretty sure I didn't laugh once. The characters were dull and aggravating. And the book felt more like a prequel than a starter to a series. REALLY. All that happens is that they 1) find out that there are more Greek monster hunters like Gretchen and 2) find out there is something wrong about the way the monsters are behaving.

There is literally not one conclusion to anything that is happening in this book! We are curious about WHY these things are happening and she ENDS THE BOOK!

In the goodreads description they talk about the three sisters reuniting and embracing their fate. Well, it should be more like 2 sisters. Greer is only in, like, 4 chapters plus I didn't like her.

Now, if you read the paragraphs above you are probably thinking I hated the book (thank goodness I got it for free) but I didn't hate the book exactly. Just disappointed. There were some good parts about it.

Grace was a pretty good character, although the boy she is mooning over seems one dimensional to me. I don't even get why she likes him. He is... well... I can' t think of any words to describe him. He is like a pretty stick figure. And Grace is obsessed with him.

“How could you not notice Milo?” This is literally what Grace says to Gretchen "in disbelief". I really wanted to scream at that point.

Okay, I need to focus more on the good aspects of this book. Ummm...

Oh yeah! I liked Graces adoptive brother Thane, and Nick, the guy who keeps on bothering Gretchen! Yeah, both of them had me smiling at times.

Gretchen was strong, witty, and goodhearted although I didn't agree with some of her decisions.

And I am going to read the sequel. I want to know what happens. That's good, right?

3.5/5 bookshelves