The Reader Bee

In My Mailbox #52

2012-02-11T22:00:00.002-05:00

** 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:
Until I Die (Revenants #2) - Amy Plum
**I love you, HarperCollins!!**

Netgalley:

Of Poseidon - Anna Banks
Struck - Jennifer Bosworth
**Courtesy Macmillan Children's Publishing Group**

Three awesome books In My Mailbox this week! I am so excited for all of them, and especially for Until I Die. :) I literally squealed when I saw Of Poseidon and Struck on Netgalley. Macmillan has a lot of great books up for grab, but I was able to keep it at only two for now. :) Yay!!!

What's in your mailbox this week???

Friday Hops 2/10

2012-02-09T22:00:00.006-05:00

Follow Friday! #46

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

Q: What would your prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

A. I'm not much of a re-reader... Actually I haven't re-read a book in a long time. It would have to be a really great book for me to re-read it over and over again. I'd say I'd rather read 100's of mediocre books, because you never know when you'll find another favorite, but still go back to my favorites to re-read whenever I wanted. :) (Confused you, yeah?)

TGIF at GReads #14

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com!

Love Stories: What are some of your favorite fictional love stories?

My number one love story will always be Pride and Prejudice. It is such an amazing story, and Jane Austen is brilliant. If I had to choose a favorite YA love story... the list would be way too long. :)

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

Review: The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

2012-02-09T06:00:00.024-05:00

The Lost Saint
(The Dark Divine #2)
by Bree Despain
Publication Date: December 28th, 2010
Publishers: Egmont USA
Pages: 404
ISBN: 9781606840580

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

A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns.

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to the The Dark Divine. (Goodreads)

The Lost Saint is the thrilling sequel to The Dark Divine, which I read and enjoyed last year. I was really excited to finally read this, and the book did not disappoint.

Most of the characters we met in the previous book; Grace, Daniel, Jude, etc. I liked Grace just as much as I did in the previous book, although she did make some rash decisions in the book. It wasn’t really her fault though; it was the wolf inside her that was taking over. I found myself sympathizing with her as she struggled to cope with the burdens that were placed upon her by her family, friends and Daniel.

The relationship between Grace and Daniel was extremely strained throughout the book. I am not a fan of boys that suddenly have issues and decide their girlfriends are completely incapable of helping them. This is pretty much what happened between Daniel and Grace, which lead to the strained relationship. We do find out what his deal was towards the end of the book, which made me somewhat forgive him, but I still wanted to strangle him through most of the book.

We are also introduced to a few new characters in this book as well; one being Talbot, who is new in town and takes Grace under his wing to train her after Daniel decides not to train her anymore. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Talbot, and he was definitely full of surprises up to the end of the book.

I really enjoyed the storyline of the book; the idea of the curse and werewolves definitely kept me interested. Although a bit slow in some parts, there was a lot of action in other parts. There was also a lot of religious talk in this book, which may bother some people, but it didn’t bother me. The ending was a huge shock, and I can’t wait to see how the next book plays out.

Overall, I thought this was a really great sequel to The Dark Divine. While I wanted to strangle the characters a few times, the storyline kept me hooked. I’m dying to get my hands on the next book in the series; The Savage Grace!

The Dark Divine | The Lost Saint | The Savage Grace
by Bree Despain

Waiting on Wednesday #53 * The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

2012-02-08T00:00:00.003-05:00

The Immortal Rules

by Julie Kagawa

Publication Date: April 24th, 2012

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Add to Goodreads

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love. (Goodreads)

Why am I Waiting on this book???

Hello?! Julie Kagawa! Enough said. :)
Seriously, she's an amazing writer, and I'm dying to get my hands on this book.
I love Harlequin Teen books!

What are you Waiting on this week???

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

Review: New Girl by Paige Harbison

2012-02-07T06:00:00.002-05:00

New Girl
by Paige Harbison
Publication Date: January 31st, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780373210428

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

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back. (Goodreads)

I have to say I was definitely intrigued by the storyline for this book. I had heard that it was a re-write of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, a book that I have wanted to read for a while now, so I was looking forward to checking this out.

The story starts off with the main character, the New Girl, starting off in a new private school; Manderly Academy. Miles away from her family and friends, but looking forward to a fresh start, the New Girl goes to the school not knowing that she’s falling in the previous New Girl, Becca Normandy’s shadow. Becca’s disappearance is the only reason the New Girl even has a spot at the school, but New Girl is not Becca, and everyone is quick to let her know this.

I found most of the characters of the book to be pretty unlikeable, and I wonder if this is how the author wanted us to feel for them. I really disliked the way they all treated the New Girl. I do like that the New Girl was pretty headstrong, for the most part, and in the end just didn’t care what people thought about her. I always find that admirable in a female character. I found Becca to be just a horrible person all around; I didn’t care for her at all. The love interest in the story, Max, was a bit wishy-washy for me, although I did grow towards him a little more towards the end of the book.

The thing that stood out the most about this book was the mystery that surrounded the storyline. This definitely kept me hooked while reading the book, because I just wanted to know what happened with the mysterious Becca. It was also a little disconcerting to go throughout the whole book not knowing what the main characters name was. We do finally find out at the end of the book what it is, and it’s such a pretty name, that I wish it had been used more in the book. However, I enjoyed the suspense of waiting to see if the name would ever be revealed.
This book also has a lot of sexual related content. Some of it was very disturbing, and some of it I was a bit surprised to see in a YA novel. There were also mentions of drug and alcohol use. I found this to be very realistic, and it’s definitely something I could see happening in a private boarding school. Due to these mentions, I wouldn’t recommend this for the younger YA crowd.

Overall, this was a really different read for me, full of teenage drama and turmoil. Although most of the characters were unlikeable, I liked the main character, and the mysterious storyline kept me intrigued. This book also really makes me want to pick up Rebecca by du Maurier right away!

Happy Reading!

Noteworthy New Releases * 2/6-2/12

2012-02-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Born Wicked - Jessica Spotswood
(B&N | Amazon | Goodreads)

Two Truths and a Lie - Sara Shepard
(B&N | Amazon | Goodreads)

The Miseducation of Cameron Post - Emily M. Danforth
(B&N | Amazon | Goodreads)

What book are you most excited for this week?
I'm pretty darn excited about Born Wicked!

In My Mailbox #51

2012-02-04T22:15:00.002-05:00

** 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:

Dreamless - Josephine Angelini
!!!!!! Thank you HarperCollins !!!!

Bought:

Article 5 - Kristen Simmons
Falling in Love - Lauren Kate

Library:

Shattered Souls - Mary Lindsey

One word... DREAMLESS! OMGosh, I can't wait to get started on it. :)
With some of my birthday money, I bought Article 5 and Falling in Love...
They are so pretty on my shelf. :)
I finally, finally got Shattered Souls from the library!

Last Monday was my birthday...
My awesome hubby bought me bookshelves!
I officially have my own personal library.
But...

I NEED MORE BOOKS!

Please don't judge my ugly recliner... I can't even bare to part with it. ;)

I love it when the lights are out. I'm addicted to string lights. :)

That's all for me!

What's in your mailbox this week???

Friday Hops - 2/2/12

2012-02-02T22:00:00.003-05:00

Follow Friday! #45

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

Q: Define what characteristics your favorite books share. Do they all have a kickass heroine or is the hot love interest the Alpha Male?

A. I don't really like I have a particular characteristic that I prefer... I like strong heroines that aren't whiny and can stick up for themselves. I love bad boys that are mysterious. (NOAH SHAW). But I also love characters that are fun and easy to read.

TGIF at GReads #13

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com!

Book Appeal: When you're browsing goodreads, the library, or another blogger's reviews, what grabs your attention to make you want to read it?

To be honest... the first thing I always go for is the cover. I Know, I know I shouldn't do this, but I love covers! Especially covers that are gorgeous. :)

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

Review: Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter

2012-02-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

Goddess Interrupted
(Goddess Test #2)
by Aimée Carter

Publication Date: March 27th, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9780373210459

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

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone. (Goodreads)

Last year, I read and adored The Goddess Test. I was super giddy to get my hands on an early copy of Goddess Interrupted!

If you have not read The Goddess Test yet, I suggest you do so before reading this review. However, I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible.

Goddess Interrupted picks up six months after The Goddess Test left off. Kate is heading home from her six month say in Greece with her best friend, James. She’s expecting a warm welcome from her new husband Henry upon her return, and unfortunately, it doesn’t happen. Instead she finds herself in the middle of a war between the gods and goddesses, and the King of the Titans.

Kate, who was such a strong character in the first book, was a bit insecure about herself after her trip back from Greece. Even the reassurance from her mom and fellow gods and goddesses doesn’t seem to help her with this insecurity. She was just very unsure about the whole underworld situation, and that’s totally to be expected for what’s she was going through. I do feel that in the beginning she was ready to give up too quickly, but I am glad that in the end she is strong for her family and friends.

I love Henry. I have loved him since I met him in the first book. There is something about him that is super mysterious and intense, and I love that in a male lead character. I would definitely go as far as to say he’s one of my most favorite male characters in YA. Although I spent a huge chunk of the book wanting to smack some sense into his handsome little head, I still love him. His relationship with Kate, when they are both working at it, is super sweet and romantic, and I absolutely adore their moments together.

The secondary characters in the book are still as interesting as always. I love Kate’s mom, Diana. Ava and James were great friends for Kate. The introduction of Persephone, who is Kate’s sister, and Henry’s ex, is a little intense. I can honestly say she wasn’t at all what I was expecting.

The ending of the book is definitely a cliffhanger, and I was literally yelling at the book because of what happened. Just thinking of it again is getting me worked up! I need the next book, NOW!

When I read a book, I want to be able to let go and get totally lost in the story. That’s exactly what happened with this book. The storyline and pacing kept me hook, and I was lost in the world that Carter created. The only thing that kind disappointed me about this book was that I finished it so quickly!

Overall, if you enjoyed The Goddess Test, you’re definitely going to love Goddess Interrupted! I adore this series, and cannot wait to get my hands on Goddess Inherited!

Waiting on Wednesday #52

2012-02-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

Kill Me Softly
by Sarah Cross
Publication Date: April 10th, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA

Add to Goodreads

True love’s kiss just may prove deadly....

Mirabelle’s past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents’ tragic deaths to her guardians’ half-truths about why she can’t return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who’s a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren’t pretty things, and they don’t always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy-tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy-tale curses of their own ... brothers who share a dark secret. And she’ll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns. (Goodreads)

Why am I Waiting on this book??

My lovely friend Kathy at A Glass of Wine brought this book to my attention. I love fairy tale re-tellings, and I'm dying to check this one out!

What are you Waiting on this week???

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

Noteworthy New Releases * 1/30-2/5

2012-01-31T06:00:00.002-05:00

Review: Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

2012-01-30T06:00:00.002-05:00

Stolen Away
by Alyxandra Harvey
Publication Date: January 17th, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 288
ISBN: 9780802721891

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

Add to Goodreads

For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them. (Goodreads)

Stolen Away is the second book I’ve read by Alyxandra Harvey. I adored this book just as much as I did Haunting Violet. Mrs. Harvey has a wonderful way of weaving together story that will grab your attention and keep you hooked to the pages. I love her books, and am looking forward to reading a lot more of her work!

Eloise Hart is your average teenage girl. Her world is pretty normal, until the day she discovers the existence of Fae after being kidnapped and held captive by Strahan, King of the Faery. Eloise’s Aunt Antonia, who is also Strahan’s long lost wife, comes to the rescue, but is then taken captive herself. It is up to Eloise, and her two best friends, Jo and Devin, to save Antonia, and possibly the Fae world and their own world.

The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Eloise and her best friend Jo. I really loved both of these girls. While Eloise comes off as quiet and shy at the beginning of the book, she definitely grows and finds her voice throughout the book. Jo is the exact opposite of Eloise; she is extremely confident, strong-willed, and a little bit snarky as well. I really loved this about her. Their other best friend, Devin, was great as well. I wish we had seen a little bit more of him in the book.

The love interests in the book were great. I loved both of the boys, Lucas (Eloise), and Eldric (Jo). The relationship between Eldric and Jo was a bit intense, and it was right on the borderline for insta-love for me. It just happened really quickly. The relationship between Lucas and Eloise was sweet, and grew over a much longer period of time. I did enjoy both couples!

I didn’t think I was going to like the storyline for the book; Fae has been a little overused. But I ended up really enjoying the storyline. It was very mysterious, and that and the pacing of the book kept me hooked to the pages. I finished this book in one day, it was that good. The ending of the book was very satisfying, and is definitely left open if Mrs. Harvey ever wanted to do a series.

Overall, I thought this book was so great. I am officially an Alyxandra Harvey fan, and can’t wait to read more of her work!

In My Mailbox #50

2012-01-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

** 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. **

Netgalley:

Goddess Interrupted - Aimee Carter

Spellcaster - Cara Lynn Shultz

Only two books In My Mailbox this week, but I'm super excited for them both! I have already finished Goddess Interrupted, and it was sooooo good! Now I'm hoping to get started on Spellcaster soon. :)

What's in your mailbox this week???

Follow Friday & TGIF * 1/27

2012-01-26T22:00:00.004-05:00

Follow Friday! #44

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

Q: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

A. HORROR!
Because I'm a big chicken. Enough said. :)

TGIF at GReads #12

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com!

Buy or Borrow: Where do your books that you read come from? The bookstore? The library? Do you prefer to own a book, or have it on loan?

I get a huge chunk of my books from the library. Having three kids, I'm not able to book shop as much as I'd like to. So usually I get books from the library, and if I really, really love it, I will buy it. Unless it's something that I know I will love anyways.

I also get a pretty decent amount of books from Netgalley and Publishers. I am always super thankful for these!

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

Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

2012-01-26T06:00:00.004-05:00

Tempest
(Tempest #1)
by Julie Cross
Publication Date: January 17th, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 339
ISBN: 9780312568894

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

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world. (Goodreads)

It’s 2009, and Jackson Meyer is a 19 year old college student. Jackson also has a special ability; he can travel back in time. But this is nothing like time travel you’ve heard about. When Jackson jumps back in time, he doesn’t have the ability to change something in the future. It’s all fun and games until one night, two strangers appear and kill Jackson’s girlfriend, Holly. In a state of panic, Jackson jumps back in time, and where he gets in 2007. With help from his friend Adam, he must figure out a way to get back to 2009 to save Holly.

Jackson was a very interesting main character. To be honest, when I first started the book, I didn’t really think I was going to like him at all. However, as the story went on, I ended up liking him more and more. He is one of those characters that starts off as kind of a jerk, but then something bad happens, and he realized the error of his ways. I definitely enjoyed watching him grow throughout the book.

I really enjoyed Jackson’s girlfriend; Holly, and his best friend; Adam. I thought they were really interesting characters to read about as well, and I really enjoyed all of their interactions together. Jackson’s dad was an interesting character as well; he was very mysterious, and it took me a while to figure him out. I’m glad we got more of his story as the book went along, and I hope we get to see more of him in the next book.

Time travel books are hit and miss with me. I enjoyed that the time traveling in this book was different, because Jackson couldn’t change the outcome of the future. That’s the first thing I think of when I think of time travel, being able to change the future. So I enjoyed that aspect of the book.

Overall, I thought this was a really interesting read. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline, and I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.

Waiting on Wednesday #51

2012-01-25T00:00:00.038-05:00

Above
by Leah Bobet
Publication Date: April 1st, 2012
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books

Add to Goodreads

Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee's wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above—like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.

But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe's history and the shadows' attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home—not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before. (Goodreads)

Why am I Waiting on this book??

First off, I love the cover for this book. It's Gorgeous!
Secondly, the story and the characters sound very interesting. This definitely sounds like it will be a great read!

What are you Waiting on this week???

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

Pinterest: A helpful tool for bloggers!

2012-01-24T06:00:00.002-05:00

If you haven't heard of Pinterest before, you may be asking yourself:

What exactly is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite. (Pinterest.com)

I have had an account with Pinterest for a while now, and while I have found some fun, crafty type stuff to do on the site, I never really dove into it to see what I could really do with it. Sunday, I read a blog post by Mandy at WellReadWife.com, titled Pinterest and Book Blogging: Use The Latest Social Media Craze To Your Site’s Advantage. This is a really awesome post on how Pinterest is such a wonderful resource for book bloggers. It's definitely worth the read!

After following the steps that Mandy suggested, I have become completely addicted to Pinterest! I made some 'boards' that were book related, and even posted some links to reviews on my website. I'm pleasantly surprised with the response so far. This definitely is a great way to get your information out into the world.

If you're looking for a fun, addictive way to share your blog info, you should definitely check out Pinterest! If you haven't already joined Pinterest, do so now! (Request an invite!) Once you join, look me up! The Reader Bee on Pinterest!

Have a great day, and Happy Reading!

Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

2012-01-23T06:00:00.002-05:00

Catching Jordan
by Miranda Kenneally
Publication Date: December 1st, 2011
Publisher: SourceBooks
Pages: 281
ISBN: 9781402262272

Add to Goodreads

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

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 on 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 now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate. (Goodreads)

Being a fairly big football fan, I was really excited to get started on Catching Jordan. Although I was intrigued by the storyline, I wasn’t expecting to care about the characters as well. I am glad to say that I definitely did!

The main character in the story is Jordan Woods. Following in the footsteps of her NFL quarterback father, and college football quarterback brother, Jordan is the quarterback of her high school football team. Jordan is like no other girl in her school. All Jordan really wants is to play football at the college of her choose, and to have the approval of her father, who would like for her to stop playing football all together. But she’s determined to aim for her dreams, and I find that very admirable.

The relationship between Jordan and her dad are a bit strained in the beginning of the book, and I was gearing up to not like dear old dad. He did grow on me throughout the book, and I could definitely see his reasoning for wanting her to stop playing. I LOVE Jordan’s relationship with her brother Mike; he’s the brother I always wanted!

I really didn’t care too much for Jordan’s love interest in the story, Ty. He seemed a bit over-possessive, and controlling, and that was a bit of a turnoff for me. The characters that really stood out in the book for me were Jordan’s teammates; Carter, JJ, and Henry. I loved their friendships, and I love how they treated her with respect as well. They were all such great friends. With Henry, there were some times where I wanted to knock some sense into him, but I still found him to be a pretty awesome guy.

This book was a really well paced book, it definitely kept me interested. I loved the plot! A girl quarterback definitely drew my attention, and I loved reading all of the football jargon.

Overall, I found Catching Jordan to be an enjoyable read. I really look forward to reading more by this author!

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox #49

2012-01-21T20:30:00.002-05:00

** 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:
Angel Fire - L.A. Weatherly

For Review:
Perception - Kim Harrington
**Courtesy Scholastic!!**

Vesper & Havoc - Jeff Sampson
**Courtesy HarperCollins!!**

So excited about all of this weeks books! I've been dying to get my hands on Perception, and Vesper and Havoc were a total surprise! Angel Fire is HUGE! I didn't realize it was such a big book. I can't wait to get started on all of these!

What's in your mailbox this week???

Friday Hops 1/19

2012-01-19T22:00:00.004-05:00

Follow Friday! #43

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

Q: What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

A. Ahem... Being the extreme Introvert that I am, I would have to say, not much. I wish I could say that I was one of those people that stood outside stores at midnight to get a copy of a new release, but I'd rather avoid the crowds and buy it the next day. I'm pretty lame like that. ;)

TGIF at GReads #11

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com!

Recommend It: Which book from the last 10 you've read would you recommend to a friend?

My pick would be:

The one I would recommend would be Pandemonium, but you'd have to read Deliriumfirst, if you haven't already! And if you haven't read Delirium yet, YOU TOTALLY SHOULD!

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

Review: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

2012-01-19T06:00:00.006-05:00

The Scorpio Races
by Maggie Stiefvater
Publication Date: October 18th, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 409
ISBN: 9780545224901

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

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. (Goodreads)

I was super curious about The Scorpio Races the minute I heard about the book. I didn’t really know what to expect for a book that dealt with horses, but I love Maggie Stiefvater, and I couldn’t wait to get started on this book. It was definitely worth the read!

Every year, November marks the beginning of the Scorpio Races. These are no normal races, however. These races consist of water horses that long for their home in the sea, and eat not only other animals, but humans as well. Riding one these beasts to the very end of the race will win you big, but you could also die in the process. Kate Connolly who, is the first girl that has ever entered the race, needs to win to save her family home. Can she do it, is the question.

Kate (Puck) was just a really great main character. I love that she was just a girl, plain and simple. Not wanting to give up the only home she’s know, she did what she had to do for herself, her brother and their home. I love that her best friend is her horse, Dove. They have such a special bond together; it was always nice reading about their situations together. I also really enjoyed Puck’s younger brother, Finn. You could really see how much he cared for his sister, and I loved their brother/sister relationship.

Sean Kendrick, who should be Kate’s biggest rival, turns out to be a great character as well. I was a little unsure of him at first, he was a bit standoffish and distant, but he definitely won me over by the middle of the book. I love the way he was with the horses, and the way he was such a gentleman, especially when it came to Puck.

The storyline for this book was absolutely unique and fascinating. Just imagining the horses that live in the water, and how evil they were. It definitely kept the mystery in the book. I enjoyed the pacing of the book as well. Once I had time to actually sit down and read uninterrupted, I flew through the pages. The ending of the book is very satisfying, I thought it ended perfectly. The romance in the book is at a minimum, but I think that makes it stand out even more.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to! With such a great storyline, and awesome characters, who wouldn’t love it? It’s definitely a must read.

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #50

2012-01-18T06:00:00.025-05:00

Dreamless
(Starcrossed Trilogy #2)
by Jospehine Angelini
Publication Date: May 29th, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins

As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more. (Goodreads)

Why am I Waiting on this Book???

Because I thought Starcrossed was pretty freaking awesome, that's why!
I was definitely left wondering after finishing Starcrossed last year, and I really need to know what's going to happen with all of these awesome characters. :)

What are you Waiting for this week??

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

Review & Giveaway * Slide by Jill Hathaway *

2012-01-17T06:00:00.003-05:00

Slide
by Jill Hathaway
Publication Date: March 27th, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 256
ISBN: 9780062077905
**ARC's Courtesy HarperCollins Publishers

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

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again. (Goodreads)

Slide is an intense, mysterious read by debut author Jill Hathaway!

The main character in the story is Sylvia, who is also known as Vee. Vee suffers from narcolepsy, or so it would seem. In realty, she slides into other people’s minds, and gets to see through their eyes what exactly happens in their lives. When she touches an object that has been imprinted on by a person, she can slip into that persons mind. This is how she discovers that her sister’s friend did not, in fact, commit suicide, but was murdered instead.

I found Vee to be a very likable character. I loved that she was able to step up and fill shoes that were hard to fill, even while she was not able to share her own issues at all. It did bother me a bit that she kept her secret from everyone for so long. I totally understand the reason she kept the secret, but I felt that she was shouldering the burden all alone, and I really just wanted her to have someone to share with.

The secondary characters were pretty well written as well. At first, I didn’t think that I was going to care for Vee’s sister, Mattie. But I ended up really caring about her. These two girls went through a LOT, and they were there for each other. I love that sisterly relationship. Vee’s best friend, Rollins, and the love interest in the story, Zane, were both interesting characters as well. I really just wanted to know them better, especially towards the end of the book.

The plot was very interesting, albeit somewhat predictable in parts of the book. One part definitely kept me guessing, and that was trying to figure out who exactly the killer was! The book was definitely well paced; there were not many slow parts at all.

Overall, I found this to be a quick, intriguing read. It actually reminded me of the Wake series by Lisa McMann, which I adored. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this debut author in the near future!

Happy Reading!

Here's your chance to win an ARC of Slide!

Giveaway Rules:

Open to US and Canadian Residents
Only one winner will be chosen for the ARC
Must be 13 or older to enter
Giveaway ends January 23rd, 2012
Winner will be contacted via email. If you do not respond within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
By entering this Giveaway, you are agreeing to the terms listed above.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox #48

2012-01-14T17:00:00.002-05:00

** 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:
The Calling - Kelley Arstrong
**Thank You HarperCollins!!!!!**

Bought:
Crave - Melissa Darnell

Netgalley:
Lies Beneath - Anne Greenwood Brown
The Nightmare Garden - Caitlin Kittredge

**Courtesy Random House Children's Books**

So.Freaking.Excited to read The Calling! I adore Kelley Armstrong, and this series is definitely in my top 5 favorite series! I will definitely be starting on it soon. :)

SO excited for all my new books this week! I can't wait to get started on them all. :)

What did you get in your mailbox this week??

Friday Hops 1/13

2012-01-12T22:00:00.036-05:00

Follow Friday! #42

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

Q: Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.

A. I am a huge music lover, and will listen to almost anything. I am mostly a rock chick. I also love music from the 80's and 90's, and of course GLEE music. Classical music, mostly piano music, is also a fave of mine as well! I like a little bit of pop, mostly because my kids force me to listen to it. Most of it's not bad. :) I adore PINK! She's the best role model ever. :)

Here are a few of my fave bands...

TGIF at GReads #10

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com!

2012 Must Reads: Which books are at the top of your list to be read this year (new or old releases)?

I have a LOT of books on the top of my to-read list this year! Here are my top few. :)

You can also check out my Most Anticipated Sequels of 2012 and Most Anticipated Debut's of 2012!

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