BooKrushed: For the love of books!

2012 Multi-Cultural YA Book Challenge!!

2011-12-14T07:31:00.001-06:00

One Page at a Time and Truly Bookish have put together a ROCKIN book challenge for next year!

These awesome ladies are highlighting YA books written by multi-cultural/ethnic minorities OR featuring multi-cultural/ethnic minorities as main characters. The goal is to read 12 minority YA books for the year, newly published or not. And every month, they'll feature a book or author that meets the criteria and do a book giveaway for the challenge participants!

Seriously, this is a super awesome book challenge, and I encourage everyone to click the pretty button below to learn more about it and to sign up.

I had fun working on a shiny new button too! Isn't it cute?! Don't you want to put it on your blog?

WINK WINK

I already have some books in mind for this challenge:

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Tiger's Quest and Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction, and Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Sea by Heidi R. Kling

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

Happy Book Birthday to Tangled Tides!!

2011-11-25T07:00:00.003-06:00

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO TANGLED TIDES!

Today is the release day for Karen Amanda Hooper's debut YA novel, Tangled Tides! Karen's blog was one of the first I followed when I started blogging, so I'm BEYOND excited to have witnessed her journey and to celebrate her release day with her!! Congratulations!

Yara Jones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one.
When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious.
Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his people—until he falls for Yara. The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the process—or she might open the gateway to a love that’s deeper than the oceans.

I got my copy in the mail last week (pre-order, baby!) and I've already started reading it. I can tell I'm in for quite the ride! I can't wait to swim farther into this underwater world she's created! And speaking of...

WAR OF THE UNDERWATER WORLDS!

Karen's story contains battling merfolk, selkies, sirens and gorgons. She says she loves all of them, but she wants everyone else to choose a side, so...

I CHOOSE SIRENS!

(Click image to visit the artist's blog)

Linkage:

The Role of a Lifetime by Jennifer Shirk

2011-10-12T06:30:00.002-05:00

Release Date: March 31, 2009
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Romance
Pages: 208
Source: Personally Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon

Description:
There’s more to life than playing make believe.

Sandra Moyer has a good reason to distrust actors. She was once married to one who left her and her child. However, she’s desperate for publicity to help her struggling preschool. Hollywood playboy Ben Capshaw’s request to access her classes to prepare for a role is an offer she can’t refuse.

Sandra second guesses herself on that decision until she sees Ben in action with the children. Her apprehension turns to wonder, and then to feelings she’d thought were closed off forever. Yet how can she trust that what she’s seeing is real?

As a boy, Ben learned that acting was the answer to everything. The role he’s up for now will enhance his career and, he’s sure, secure his happiness. But spending time with Sandra and her daughter stirs up emotions that—for once—aren’t pretend.

Ben’s ready for a lifetime role as husband and father—if he can convince Sandra not to typecast him.

My thoughts:

This book was like being wrapped in a warm hug...I couldn't quit smiling while reading it.

The romance that blooms between divorced mom Sandra and visiting actor Ben feels very natural and believable. Their witty banter (which I loved) and strong voices carry much of the story. I wasn't sure, even right up till the end, which way Jennifer would go with the plot, but I wasn't disappointed.

All in all, a very fun, easy read and a great story.

My rating:

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

2011-09-14T17:45:00.000-05:00

Release Date: July 12, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 390
Source: Personally Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon

The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater.

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. In Linger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

My thoughts:

Wow! Just finished reading this one last night and it's easily my favorite book in the series. I don't know what Maggie's original version was like (according to her she trashed it and started over), but after reading this, I'm convinced she must have made the right call.

I wouldn't change a thing about this book. NOTHING.

For me, there was enough doubt throughout about how things would go down and what would happen in the end, that it was anything but predictable. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat, scared to death, barely breathing, as the final pages unfolded. It was reading bliss.

And the transitions between characters and POV's was excellent, seemingly effortless. It can't be easy to keep the story moving forward with four main characters to juggle, but she did it so well that it was never distracting and the book wouldn't have been the same without them all.

In fact, I'm secretly hoping (ok not so secret anymore) for an Isabel/Cole St. Clair companion novel! After reading this book, it's all I can think about. The depth of their flawed characters was completely engrossing and watching them develop was one of the main highlights of this book for me.

All in all, one of my favorite books of the year!

My rating:

What about you? Read any good books lately I need to add to my list?!?

DO TELL!

Winner of signed FOREVER!

2011-08-30T17:13:00.001-05:00

You know what's fun?

Giving away free autographed books.

(Seriously it's an addiction.)

We had over 65 people enter the giveaway,

with a total of 481 entries (average of 7 points a piece)!

You guys are certainly over-achievers on the points...WE LOVE IT!

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

According to random.org, the lucky number today is 70--which happens to be:

Morgan Peters at bookish delights,

who had the highest amount of entries possible!

Congratulations Morgan! We'll get this in the mail to you ASAP.

For those of you who entered and didn't win, you HAVE to put this on your to-read list if you haven't already. It's unputtdownable from the very first page!

And to all our East-coast friends,

we hope you're safe and drying out from Hurricane Irene!

Giveaway: An autographed copy of Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (Wolves of Mercy Falls~Book 3)

2011-08-05T06:19:00.027-05:00

Time for a Giveaway, don't you think??? We think HECK YES!

Recently Kristi *waves hi* had a chance to attend a Forever signing in NC and snagged an autographed copy for one lucky winner(click here to read and see photos from the signing) Here's the prize:

Haven't heard of Forever (btw-where have you been???)

Here you go:

Goodreads Description:
The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

All you have to do to enter is fill out the form and follow ONE of these blogs:

booKrushed

Kristin Creative

Kimberly Franklin

Don't worry you over achievers out there!

There are ways to get extra entries!

If you're a huge Maggie fan like we are, you can follow, tweet, and post to your heart's content, just make sure to include the links on the form when you fill it out. One form per person, so try to fit it all in.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Other cool Forever links:

Maggie's website

Maggie's blog

Maggie's Twitter (@mstiefvater )

Buy the book here

GOOD LUCK to you all and HAPPY READING!

CONTEST ENDS MIDNIGHT AUGUST 29TH
WINNER ANNOUNCED AUGUST 30TH

Author Signing: Kiersten White, Supernaturally

2011-08-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

Last night I had the opportunity to go to an author signing. And that alone makes me all kinds of excited. But more than that, I got to attend a Kiersten White signing, which basically makes me want to squee! SQUEE!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Anyway, so yeah. This was actually my first author signing (unless you want to count R.L. Stine, which I went to when I was still in elementary school), and it was so much cooler than what I could have ever expected. My writer girls (especially Kristin, who lives in Houston where basically every author goes ALL THE TIME! Lucky...) are always going to signings and telling me how fun, cool, and motivating they are. Well..... they were right! I'm so excited to get back on track with my writing!

Enough babbling, now here's some pics:

Kiersten signing books.

More book signing.... in pretty pink and red markers too!

Evie's cupcake corner. So cute!

Kiersten at the podium.

Side note: First of all, sorry for the non-zoomed in pictures. Apparently I have no idea how to work my phone. No, wait. I HAVE no idea how to work my phone's camera and forgot my regular camera, which totally sucks.

Back to side note: If you read Kiersten's blog you know how she mentions, sometimes, that she's tiny. Short. Something to that effect. Well... she's not joking. She is so cute and tiny. When she first came up she couldn't see over the podium and told a little story about her kitchen sink at home. It was so cute!

This is the cute Supernaturally ring that was on the cupcakes. Is it bad that I picked off the ring and tossed the cupcake? Regretting that right now. They sure looked good!

And now that you've seen some pictures, here's a little video I took from the chat before the signing. I recorded little segments (because on top of not knowing how to work the camera on my phone (or video either, which you will see because it's all squished. Kiersten may be small, but she's definitely not squished! Sorry in advance!) but the battery was also almost dead. As you can tell, I come prepared! HA!

I hope you guys enjoyed! And if you ever get a chance to see Kiersten White in person.... jump on it. It was a blast!

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch, ARC GIVEAWAY!

2011-07-13T14:15:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! How are the reading challenges coming?! There some crazy AMAZING books released this year, right?! Seriously, each year it keeps getting better and better.
One big trend right now is dystopian, and the opinions about it seem to be strong in both directions. But if you are a fan, you have a chance to win an ARC of Jeff Hirsch's September 2011 debut,
THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE

Kristin is giving her copy away on her writing blog, Kristin Creative, so head on over and ENTER!

2011 BooKrushed Reading Challenge Update

2011-06-21T13:30:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! A couple of weeks ago my fellow BooKrusher girls posted their quarterly Reading Challenge updates. And I thought it was such a great idea!

I really can't believe that we are already close to ending the second quarter of the year! Can you believe that? Before you know it, it will be Christmas! YIKES!

So, before the year is gone and I'm still in shock, here are my reads for 2011 so far:

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Timeless by Alexandra Monir
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Where I belong by Gwendolyn Heasley
The Lying Game by Sarah Shepard
Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
The Official Twilight Guide by Stephanie Meyer
Abandon by Meg Cabot (halfway through)
Die For Me by Amy Plumb (just started)
Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell (just started)
Possession by Elena Johnson (I have it! Just haven't gotten a chance to read it yet!!)
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (I know it wasn't published in 2011, but I love it so much!)

It looks like I'm doing better than I thought! Actually, it appears that I'm almost done with our challenge! YAY me! But there are still a lot of books that have yet to grace us with their luscious presence yet, and there is no way I'll be able to overlook them. So it looks like my list will be growing.... soon!

How about you, what have you read this year?

Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern

2011-06-16T09:43:00.000-05:00

Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern

Release Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 224
Source: Personally Purchased
Challenge: 2011 BooKrushed Reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

On the first day of Lillian’s summer-before-college, she gets a message on her cell from her sort-of friend, Penny. Not only has Penny faked her own kidnapping, but Lil is the only one who figures it out. She knows that Penny’s home life has been rough, and that her boyfriend may be abusive. Soon, Penny’s family, the local police, and even the FBI are grilling Lil, and she decides to head out to Oregon, where Penny has mentioned an acquaintance. And who better to road-trip across the country with than Lil’s BFF, Josh. But here’s the thing: Lil loves Josh. And Josh doesn’t want to “ruin” their amazing friendship. Josh has a car and his dad’s credit card. Lil has her cellphone and a hunch about where Penny is hiding. There’s something else she needs to find: Are she and Josh meant to be together?

I found myself quickly pulled into this simple story. The characters are so real, and the dialogue between best friends Lil and Josh is so funny, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed being taken across half of the United States from one cheesy (and corny, and potatoey) tourist trap to the next. It was also fun to hear Lil's inner feelings toward Josh morph along the way, because I totally get that place of being such good friends with someone, yet being in love with them at the same time. What to do, what to do?! (Thankfully, I ended up marrying him ;)
This was a fun, witty, fast-paced read, perfect for summer!

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

2011-06-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

Release Date: February 8, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 291
Source: Personally Purchased
Challenge: 2011 BooKrushed Reading Challenge
Buy the Book: Barnes and Noble

Meet Corrinne. She's living every girl's dream in New York City—shopping sprees at Barneys, open access to the best clubs and parties, and her own horse at the country club. Her perfect life is perfectly on track. At least it was. . . .
When Corrinne's father is laid off, her world suddenly falls apart. Instead of heading to boarding school, she's stripped of her credit cards and shipped off to the boonies of Texas to live with her grandparents. On her own in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the life she's supposed to be living. She doesn't care who she stomps on in the process. But when Corrinne makes an unlikely friend and discovers a total hottie at work, she begins to wonder if her life B.R.—before the recession—was as perfect as it seemed.

I read this book a couple of weeks after it's release date, and I just so happened to be traveling into the Texas countryside while reading this book--just like Corrinne--so it was kind of perfect.

I'll fully admit that in the beginning the MC, Corrinne, was a little annoying, but still likeable, if that makes any sense. After her dad looses his job, and she was forced to move to the Texas countryside, I really started to connect with her. I cannot imagine moving from a big city to the country. I'm not a big country lover, so I think having that in common with her really made me connect and feel for her. There certainly is a world of difference between New York City and Texas country. Poor girl.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a quick, light, easy read, and was surprisingly so much better than I ever imagined. The only complaint I have is: it was a little short. And I feel that if it were a little longer we might have been able to see more relationships form between the MC and her love interest. But, I still loved it!

This is Gwendolyn Heasley's debut novel, and I think she did a fabulous job! I'll definitely be reading more of her work.

So I urge all of you to check it out!

My Rating:

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-06-09T07:05:00.001-05:00

Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Imprint of HarperCollins)
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 487
Source: Personally Purchased (Getting it signed TONIGHT!)

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

There was SO much hype for this release, which always does two things for me: It makes me wary that my opinion won't line up with the masses because now I expect too much, and it makes me excited.
While waiting for Lauren Oliver to start a signing in May, I browsed the shelves looking for something to read to pass time. I picked up Divergent from a pretty display all of its own, and read through the first 30 pages. I bought it on my way out, already hooked. Especially as you get deeper into the story, every single chapter goes somewhere I never ever saw coming.
It's seriously impossible to say too much about this without giving it away or adding fuel to the hype fire for those of you who have yet to read it, but I can tell you that if you're a fan of dystopian even just a little, you will probably enjoy this book. It's unlike anything I've ever read. I've heard it compared to the Hunger Games, and while I see why that's being said, it really is very different.
Tris is such a strong character, and I really got a feel for who she is--her inner struggles are so clear. Even the secondary characters are developed so well, I feel like I know all of them. The futuristic Chicago is weaved in very creatively, the factions are well crafted, the activities the initiates go through are horrifying and had me on the edge of my seat.
And can I just say a big thank you to Veronica Roth for that ending? THANK YOU. Too often, series books leave you hanging, and while she definitely left the series somewhere to go (and I'm very excited to keep reading) I can at least breathe while waiting. Very nicely done.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2011-06-08T06:53:00.001-05:00

Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 441
Source: Personally Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

My thoughts:So I've read some pretty awesome books so far in 2011, but honestly, this one might be my absolute FAVORITE. I'm obviously infected with the Delirium at this point...and you know what? I don't care. It feels GOOD.

I smile just thinking about this story and to say it's a cheery, happy, feel good book is totally inaccurate. Parts of it were terrifying, chilling, stressful, and I spent a good part of it worried about which direction Oliver would go. And I loved every minute.

The way in which she describes this world where love is a disease that can be removed scientifially, makes you nervous from the very beginning. The more comfortable with it her main character is, the more uncomfortable the reader becomes. The material is thought provoking without being too technical or pushy. The concept is fresh and realistic.

The suspense of it all had me turning the pages, HAVING to know what happened and at the same time, terrified to find out. In essence, this book did what all really excellent books do, it consumed me, sucked me in, and took no prisoners.

Now I'm left raving about it's deliciousness and waiting for the sequel. (Okay, and convincing everyone I know that they MUST read it.) The Delirium has begun.

My Rating:

WANT A COPY FOR YOURSELF?

I'm giving one away on my personal blog if you want to stop by and enter...

The Secret's Out!

2011-06-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

I love Twilight! Some of you may already have known that. I mean, it's not like I was ever very good at keeping that a secret! And if you doubt me, just look....

Look at that Twilight shelf! And believe it or not, I have my original set of paperbacks in the closet, but those aren't very pretty.

So anyway, getting back to the point. I love Twilight, and you better believe that I was super, super excited for the new Breaking Dawn Part 1 trailer to release.

I'm so excited. What about you guys? Do you like Twilight, or are you excited about any other movies coming to the big screen soon??

In a slump...

2011-06-03T07:00:00.002-05:00

Hi guys! I know it's been a really long time since I've posted anything. So first off, I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?

Good! I'm glad we got that settled. Now that, that's taken care of, I'm here today to talk about my slump. My book slump that is. Or maybe more of a reading slump. Do you ever go through periods of time when it seems like every book you pick up isn't working for you. I mean, it's not like they're horrible, they just aren't what you are wanting or needing to read at that time?

Yeah, well, that's what has been happening to me lately. With just about every book. It kind of sucks! And, though I'm not going to name all of the slumpy, dumpy books I've tried to get through lately, I will name the one that has pulled right out of that slump.

Forgive My Fins by Terra Lynn Child. I kind of like to think of this pretty little thing as my book savior. And, this book is more than just a pretty cover. It's full of fun and a perfect summer (PLEASE don't say it's almost summer! I'm not ready for 110 degree heat!! Ahem, sorry about that.) read!

So, if you haven't gotten a chance to read it yet... What are you waiting for? And.... the sequel, Fins Are Forever, is coming out this June!

Now here's the dirt:

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid—she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems—like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher—but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type—the instant they "bond," it's for life.

When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Hope you all have a great day! See you around here.... er, soonish!

Kristin's Quarterly Reading Challenge check-in

2011-06-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

Now that I look at my list here, I see that I'm not doing too shabby!

January

~~Across the Universe by Beth Revis~~

~~Timeless by Alexandra Monir~~

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Own, just need to read it!)

February

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting (Own, just need to read it!)

~~Delirium by Lauren Oliver~~

March

~~Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins~~

~~The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan~~

~~The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen~~

~~Clarity by Kim Harrington~~ (ARC)

April

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

May

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

June

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Possession by Elana Johnson (Have ARC, just need to read it!)

July

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

August

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

September

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

October

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick

December

The Dark Divine #3 by Bree Despain

I'm also adding a few that I've learned of since making my list.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Divergent by Veronica Roth (Own, currently reading)

~~Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt~~

~~The Lying Game by Sara Shepard~~

Die for Me by Amy Plum

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

So it looks like I've read nine 2011 releases so far this year. Guess I'll be above and beyond eleven by December (or July ;). How are your goals coming for the year?

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

2011-06-01T06:26:00.002-05:00

Release Date: September 21, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 343
Source: Personally Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

My thoughts:

Perfectly creepy and unique!

The descriptions within this book made the town of Gentry, rotten soil and all, come to life in a very horrific way. Brenna does an excellent job of world building. She starts the reader off slow, endearing us to the main character, Mackie, who little by little, is drawn down into the murky magical depths of the world beneath the one we see, as he fights for his own life, as well as those of the people he's come to consider unlikely friends.

There aren't many books out there right now that truly have that fun creep-factor that keeps you awake at night, shivering from the thought of what the next page might hold. This book, for me, did just that. And the way the story grew creepier with each turn of the page was magic...it wasn't until near the very end that I realized just what a hold the book truly had on me.

I foolishly put it down a few chapters from the end, my eyes tired from an hour of reading and my day to day routine. But my mind wouldn't shut off. The town of Gentry called to me. Visions of creepy crawly things had me wide awake, staring at my bedside clock, willing myself to just forget about it, to close my eyes and get the rest I need, to finish it the next day.

But sleep wouldn't come. I HAD to know the end, HAD to know that everything was okay, that it would work out, even though part of me was terrified of what Brenna may do, how she was going to end it. So I did what most book-obsessed readers do. I CAVED.

With a sigh, I gave in, warned the husband that I couldn't sleep without finishing it, turned on the light, and read every last word. The many cups of coffee consumed hours later and the dark bags under my eyes from too little sleep were definitely worth it.

The uniqueness of this book is what I loved most and I would definitely recommend it.

I can't wait to read more of Brenna's work in the future and I hope she continues to keep me guessing and staying up late at night to find out just what she has in store.

My rating:

Quarterly booKrushers Reading Challenge check-in!

2011-05-18T06:19:00.000-05:00

Seeing as how we're already four months into 2011

(how the heck did that happen, by the way???)

AND because I'm a bit of a planner

(understatement)

AND when I remembered this the other day, I freaked a little.

(ALOT)

I figured it was time for a little check in.

Because, sure, I've been reading a TON of books in 2011, but in all honesty, I've just been trying to wittle down my TBR stack that has accumulated at home. Turns out I'm also a book buying addict.

But I'm in good company, right?

Anyhoo, seeing as how the booKrushers came up with this challenge,

I CANNOT fall behind. Not an option. Plus, let's face it.

This is something I can control.

So, here's where I stand on my 11 from 11 during 11:

EEEKKKK!

Of the 13 books I've read this year, only 2 have been for this challenge!

Read to date (2)

Purchased and waiting (1)

Need to get a move on (3)

Not yet Released (5)

July 1st

July 12th

July 26th

September 27th

October 4th

What about you?

How are you doing?

(In general or in regards to reading challenges, I'm nosy and like both)

Blogfest and a Giveaway!

2011-05-05T16:44:00.000-05:00

Ciao everyone!
I just want to take a minute to let you know about my first blogfest I'm hosting at my personal blog,
Kristin Creative.

Yes, I found a Back to the Future Font for my button! Nifty, eh?

It's going to be a super fun event! We're going to write a letter to our future self! So hop on over and sign up, then leave a comment on the post to enter yourself in a giveaway for a book of your choice!

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

2011-04-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Release Date: January 25, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 358
Source: Personally Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.

My thoughts:
I intentionally waited a while to write my book review because I KNOW there are not enough appropriate words to really describe how much I loved every single page.

I hoped maybe time would give me more perspective, that I would be able to eloquently and intelligently tell you how fantabulous it was in great detail, but alas, all I want to do is gush and force everyone to read it, so I've come to the conclusion that it just isn't possible for me. I'm too giddy.

Here's what I can tell you: Julie keeps raising the bar for this series...I've loved each book even more than the last, which hardly seems possible since she had me hooked with the first one.

I've told all my booky friends about it out of a selfish need to addict others and have someone talk to about the series. I like it that much. (And everyone I've convinced to get it so far has loved it as well!)

And I won't lie, this one had me crying like a baby. There were many tears and strange looks given to me by the husband as I read into the wee hours of the night.

The end, in my mind, was absolutely perfect. I'm not a big fan of spoilers, so I will give nothing away. Just know to have the kleenex ready.

Now comes the dreaded wait....how much longer???

My Rating:

Free eBook!

2011-04-19T06:00:00.004-05:00

A few days ago Graham Parke, author of No Hope for Gomez!, contacted us and presented us with a wonderful offer for our followers. A free eBook! Check out the details below!

Random Acts of Senseless Kindness, Free eBook

Things start to spiral out of control for Gomez when he tries to win back his ex-girlfriend during a very strange New Year's Eve party.

Clinical studies have shown that reading the "Random Acts of Senseless Kindness" eBook is not only likely to make you more attractive to the opposite sex, it will also elevate your random luck by about 9.5%**
So, that's a nice bonus right there.

(**These statements have not been evaluated by anyone of consequence!)

You can find the eBook: here

Bio:

Graham Parke is responsible for a number of technical publications and has recently patented a self-folding map. He has been described as both a humanitarian and a pathological liar. Convincing evidence to support either allegation has yet to be produced.

No Hope for Gomez! is his fiction debut:

Boy meets girl.
Boy stalks girl.
Girl already has a stalker.
Boy becomes her stalker-stalker.

Random Acts of Senseless Kindness, Excerpt:

Blog entry: Arrived at the store late, found a homeless guy sleeping in the doorway. Hicks was already inside but gave no indication he’d noticed. I nudged the homeless guy and asked, “How are you doing down there, fellow? You okay?”
The homeless guy grumbled something in his sleep.
“It’s getting pretty cold,” I said. “Don’t you want to come inside?”
“Inside?” He coughed and opened his eyes.
I pointed out the store, not convinced he’d actually noticed where he’d crashed the night before. “This is my antiques store,” I told him. “We’ve got the heating on inside, shame to waste it on just two people. And it looks like it might start to snow soon.”
The homeless guy gave me a suspicious look. “You want me to come inside? With you?”
“Sure, if you’d like.”
“Is that because you think that if I come inside with you, I’ll let you touch me?”
“What? No!”
“Okay, because I can tell you right now, that’s not gonna happen.”
“Well, I suppose it is good to get those kinds of things clear beforehand. But no, I was just thinking you might enjoy the warmth, maybe a cup of cocoa.”
“A cup of cocoa you say…” He scratched his stubble. “And you’ll be charging me for this cup of cocoa?”
“No, the cocoa is free.”
“I see. So, are you operating under the assumption that if I come inside with you, and I drink your free cocoa, that I will touch you?”
“What? No!”
“Okay, because I can tell you right now, that’s not gonna happen either. Just because a guy is down on his luck, that doesn’t mean he goes around touching people in exchange for cups of cocoa.”
“I understand completely. And thanks again for pointing that out. But no, my friend and I noticed that you were sleeping in our doorway and, well, we’d like to invite you inside.”
The homeless guy turned and peered through the window in the door. He made eye-contact with Hicks, who panicked and went looking for his broom. “That your friend?”
I followed his gaze. “Yeah, that’s Hicks. He’s a bit peculiar, but he’s okay.”
“I see.” The homeless guy pulled on his collar. “And this friend of yours, will he be drinking cocoa also?”
“I suppose. I’m not entirely sure, but it seems likely.”
“I see.” The homeless guy considered this. “So,” he said, after a long moment, “will this friend of yours be expecting me to touch him?”
“No! There is no touching involved in any of this!”
“Okay, calm down,” the homeless guy said. “There’s no need to get all homophobic!”
“I wasn’t!”
“You sounded homophobic to me.”
“Me? You’re the one who can’t stop talking about touching people!”
I noticed people stopping in the street to stare at us. This made me very uncomfortable.

Download Free eBook here.

I hope you guys enjoy your free eBook! Nothing beats free! So be sure to check it out!

** The BooKrushed team has not read or reviewed either of the above novels. Nor have we received any incentive from the author or publisher to post this entry.

Meeting Authors

2011-04-16T11:07:00.000-05:00

Those of you that follow my personal blog, Kristin Creative, know that last weekend I met one of my author crushes, Stephanie Perkins. Perhaps you've heard of a fabulous purple book called Anna and the French Kiss? Yeah, that's her.
I walked, okay, FLOATED away from the Teen Book Con completely inspired to devote more time to my writing. I may or may not have also left with a stack of six new books to add to my TBR pile.
Meeting authors is such a fun experience for me. I soak up their knowledge like a sponge, and there's something about meeting them in person that makes you feel more connected to them, you know? Makes you want to support them more and read everything they've put out.

I was also able to chat with Elizabeth Scott, Deb Caletti, Stacey Kade, Lindsey Leavitt, Rachel Hawkins, and Andrea Cremer. So. Flipping. Cool.

What about you? Have you met an author you adore?

Having problems with our feed?

2011-04-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

It was recently brought to our attention (a big THANK YOU to Bree!) that, for anyone who followed us before March 1, 2011, our posts aren't showing up properly in the Google Reader, Google Subscription list, or blog roll.

We had some early issues with this and were able to remedy it by having people unfollow and re-follow us, but the process isn't the easiest thing to do from what I've heard. (Instructions were involved and it involved more than one clickety-click of the mouse button!)

SO....if you're having trouble, with the unfollowing (I know I did!), then all you have to do is follow these instructions, and in no time you'll be able to see our new posts!

Please feel free to leave us a comment below if you still have trouble and we'll see what we can do!

Thanks for your patience!

Ooops! And a Superfun Blogfest Semi-Announcement!

2011-04-01T10:13:00.000-05:00

Soooo I may or may not have forgotten that yesterday was my day to post here at booKrushed! But I WAS out of town so at least that's a little bit of an excuse! :)
Anyway, I have sort of a mini-announcement! Over at my personal blog, Kristin Creative, I'm just about to hit the 300 follower mark. Now, many of you have way more than 300 followers so you're like, "Big deal, Kristin." But this is a big deal TO ME!
Once I hit 300 followers I will be hosting my very first blogfest!! I'm not passing out specifics yet, but it will be fun, funNY, and relatively easy (which means it won't take up too much of your time :). Blogfests are a GREAT way to get to know other bloggers and add followers to your own list as well.
Help me reach my 300 followers mark! If you aren't already following, pop on over and clicky clicky. And if I'm not already following you, leave me a link to your blog in my comments and I'll return the favor.
This is NOT an April Fools Day joke either!! Please choose your jokes wisely today, and try not to cause any heart attacks!! ;)

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

2011-03-30T07:05:00.015-05:00

Please tell me someone out there is as obsessed with the Iron King series as I am!!!

I LOVE these books and it's no coincidence that today's book recommendation is also my current monthly booKrush...check it out ------->

Release Date: August 1, 2010
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 359
Source: Personally Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.
Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My Thoughts:

Before I gush and go into how much I LOVED this book *pets cover*, let me first say that as far as sequeals go, this was EVEN better than the original. If you're like me and you really like something (hello Iron King), then you get a little nervous when the second book rolls around, because that's a lot of hype to live up too. AND we all want to love it just as much, but I never expected to love it more. AND trust me, I do.

Now for the book...what can I say without giving too much away? The pace is perfect and keeps you moving along and flipping through the pages...like the first book, the characters are relatable and believable, never making you doubt the world Kagawa has created.

And Ash? *sigh* Lovely as ever.

Kagawa further explores the relationship between Meghan and Puck, something that when I think back, wasn't fully explored in the first book. Then again, maybe it was and I was blinded by Ash, totally possible. Have I mentioned I'm team Ash yet? Could you tell? Where was I? Oh yes, Puck. There were quite a few moments I ALMOST switched sides, which is pretty huge, so KUDOS to the well written scenes that tugged at my heart. One in particular *wink, wink*.

The new characters (Rowan, Leanansidhe) mesh well with the ones from book One and definitely add an interesting layer to the mix.

All in all, it was one of my favorite reads of 2011.

Needless to say, I moved RIGHT ON to The Iron Queen, because honestly, the Ash withdrawal was just too strong to resist. ;)

My Rating: