The Boundless Booklist: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday (30)

Feature & Follow Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkiee's View & Alison Can Read. Check out their blogs and the two Featured Bloggers of the week! This is great for finding amazing new blogs to follow and for gaining followers yourself!

This weeks question is:

"What is the first thing you would do if you woke up to find yourself in your favorite book?"

I answered:

I don't really have a favorite book, but I think it'd be cool to wake up in one of the Vampire Academy or Bloodlines novels by Richelle Mead. Only if I woke up as a dhampir though. Preferably a dhampir named Rose.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Book of the Month: January 2013

Book of the Month is a monthly event, hosted by Book Whales. This is done to highlight one of the books we have read in the previous month. This meme is great because it lets us recommend that one amazing book we have read that we just can't stop talking about!

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My book of the month for January is...

Across the Universe
by Beth Revis

From Goodreads:
A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by it's own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parent will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

I know, I know...I'm 2 years late on this series, but better late than never, right? Wowza is all I have to say. My review for this should be up in the next few weeks!

PS. It's my birthday hehe

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (22)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we can not wait to read! This meme is the perfect way to add books to your TBR list. Along with upcoming releases, I sometimes include books that I have not had the chance to read or buy even if they have already come out.

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Dance of Shadows
by Yelena Black

Release Date: February 12, 2013

From Barnes & Noble:
Vanessa Adler isn't so sure she really belongs at the School of American Ballet. But dance runs in her family. It's been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. Her grandmother and mother were prima ballerinas, and her older sister Margaret was, too. That is, until Margaret mysteriously disappeared from school three years ago. Vanessa is heir to the family's gift and the only person who can fulfill her sister's destiny. She has no choice.

But she never could have guessed how dangerous the school is. The infamous choreographer, Josef, isn't just ruthless with his pupils, he guards a sinister secret, one in which the school's dancer-prized for their beauty, grace, and discipline become pawns in a world of dark, deadly demons.

The Only Exception by Magan Vernon Cover Reveal

Title: The Only Exception

Author: Magan Vernon

Release Date: April 9, 2013

Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape--before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the uber conservative governor's son, Trey Chapman.

No matter how hard she tries to avoid Trey, he still finds a way to get under her skin. Monica can't stand his crisp white shirts or his staunch views on women. But she can't help counting every freckle on his face and wondering what it would feel like to have him stop talking politics and kiss her.

A class debate project forces the unlikely pair to work together, and the political lines are blurred in late-night make out sessions. But despite their fiery chemistry, Trey's politics threatens to smother their relationship for good.

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About the Author:
Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her busband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Chosen by Kristen Day Release Day Blitz + EXCERPT

Today is the release day of the third and final installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, Chosen!

Title: Chosen (Daughters of the Sea 3)

Author: Kristen Day

Publisher: Self Published

The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up. Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one.

After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war. As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive. In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.

| Purchase from Amazon |

Keep reading for the prologue!

The Undesirable by Sara Celi Release Day Blitz + EXCERPT

Today is the release day of the new book The Undesirable by S. Celi!

Title: The Undesirable

Author: Sara Celi
Publisher: Lowe Interactive Media
Pages: 225

*This book is Mature YA/ New Adult. It is recommended for readers 14 and over.

What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie?

Charlotte Walker knows how to live under the rule of The Party. She has managed for 18 years. She helps out her drunken mother and keeps life going at a familiar, steady pace. She doesn’t ask questions, even though she has many of them in her heart.

Fostino Sanchez knows how to live under the rule of The Party, too. For 19 years, he’s worked to be the perfect Party member. He knows what must be done to keep Maxwell Cooper in power, and how find the The Undesirables that threaten to take away everything that matters.

As the months go by, what matters most to Fostino is Charlotte Walker.

While their love blooms, danger comes to Charlotte and Fostino’s small hometown of Harrison Corners, OH. Threats they never knew existed could take away all that they care about. And just when these two teens think they know what will come next, Charlotte learns the truth about a secret she has long suspected.

What Charlotte finds out changes everything.

EVERYTHING.

THE UNDESIRABLE is Charlotte Walker’s story, from her point of view. It is a thrilling, suspenseful tale of love, curiosity, adversity, and maturity against the backdrop of a futuristic war.

Should Charlotte trust Fostino with what she knows? Can she trust anyone? Will she find it in herself to rise up against terrible odds? What if the ultimate Undesirable is her?

Keep reading for a trailer & an excerpt!

From Print to the Big Screen: Warm Bodies

This year seems to be the beginning of a long list of YA books turned movies which is exciting (and maybe a little frightening depending on how you feel about seeing your favorite books on the big screen).

Warm Bodies by Issac Marion is the first one being released this year. The movie premieres this Friday, February 1st.

Nicholas Holt will be starring as R. He is probably most well known for his roles in X-Men: First Class and the British TV series, Skins. Julie will be portrayed by Teresa Palmer from Take Me Home Tonight and I Am Number Four.

Other actors include Dave Franco as Perry, John Malkovich as General Grigio, Analeigh Tipton as Nora, and Rob Corddry as M.

How awesome is this cast? I loved Holt as Tony in Skins and Dave Franco is just great to look at (those Franco genes are to die for). As for Teresa, I don't really know much about her or the character she is portraying, but I'm sure she's great as well.

I actually have not read this yet so I will not be watching it this Friday because I NEED to read the book first. I am definitely looking forward to both reading and watching this though and can't wait!

If you've already read this, what are your thoughts?

Weekly Recap: January 20 - 26

On the blog this week we had:

Books I got this week for review:

Hooked by Liz Fichera
Double Crossed: A Spy & Thieves Story by Alley Carter

Make sure you check out any posts you may have missed and let me know what you think!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Sneak Peek Saturday (11)

I've decided to host a brand new meme called Sneak Peek Saturday (similar to Teaser Tuesday hosted by Should Be Reading only this one's on Saturday, obviously lol).

The premise is much the same: Just grab your current read and share 1-2 sentences (or more) from a random (or not) page with us along with the title and author. This will give us an interesting sneak peek into whatever book you are currently reading. And, if you like the sneak peek enough, maybe you'll find some new books to add to your TBR list. Be careful not to ruin the book by being too spoiler-y!
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My Sneak Peek:

"To know, to actually know in your soul, that someone loves you more than anyone else on the whole planet--what would that even be like? To be absolutely secure that you wanted to be with that person in college and for the rest of your life? I can't even begin to imagine that."

Pg 110, Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag.

What's your sneak peek? Add yours to the Mister Linky!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday (29)

This weeks question is:

"What is the last book that kept you up late into the night just to finish it?"

I answered:

There are so many good books that I've been unable to put down even at like 2:30am, but the most recent would have to be Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I'm pretty sure it took me less than 24 hours to read this book, it was crazy good! I definitely recommend it if you haven't read it already.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Guest Post: Milda Harris

Twins in YA Fiction

Milda Harris

My new book, a YA sci-fi/horror romance novel called Doppelganger is about evil twins. Well, there's more to it than that--they might be aliens or maybe something even more sinister, but in general, they're beings that look like you, act like you, and pretty much could replace you because they appear to be your identical twin in every way.

This had me thinking about twins in YA fiction and I came up with a list of some of my favorite twins and a couple that I want to meet and read...not all of them evil, but all of them fun to read about!

The Weasley twins from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling: Fred and George Weasley, Ron's brothers, in the Harry Potter series are notable for their pranks and mischief. For me, whenever I got to a part in the books about the Weasley twins, I was always prepared for a laugh.
The Bobbsey twins from the Bobbsey Twins series by Laura Lee Hope: These were written of a long period of time, from something crazy like 1904-1992. Originally, the Bobbsey Twins went on a series of adventures, but as the popularity of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys increased, they solved mysteries. The Bobbsey twins are actually two sets of fraternal twins, Bert and Nan, who were 12 years old, and Flossie and Freddie, who were six. I actually never read these, but my mom loved them and when I was growing up, she kept the original versions on a bookshelf. I was always fascinated by the old covers, but they were too fragile to read. Now, thinking about them again, I should definitely read a few just to check them out.
The Newman twins from The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott: Twin 15-year-old siblings Sophie and Josh Newman find themselves on an adventure involving Nicholas Flamel--who may have discovered the secret to eternal life. I actually came across this one as I was thinking about twins and seeing if there were any newer, interesting books featuring them--and now it's on my must read list! It sounds fun!
The Wakefield twins from Sweet Valley Twins & Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal: Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are famous for their long lasting series of grade school/high school novels about being twins and the drama involved in that and in simply having a sister. Jessica is impulsive and gets what she wants, while Elizabeth is more studious and rational. It creates a lot of conflict! I used to love these when I was a kid. The Wakefield sisters were always getting themselves involved in some sort of drama!
The twins from Stranger With My Face by Lois Duncan: Laurie finds out she has a long lost twin sister, who wants to take over her life. Dun, dun, dun! For a fun horror read, Lois Duncan is great at horror and suspense and who doesn't love being scared about an evil twin who wants to take over your life?

That brings me back full circle to my latest book, Doppelganger. Citrus Leahy does not have a twin. In fact, she's an only child so when she is late to class one day and she sees herself already inside, she completely freaks out. It's probably aliens taking over the world and her life has just turned totally upside down. Goodbye, normal. Hello, paranormal! Luckily, her crush Aedan has the exact same problem!

I know I find twins, from the good ones to the evil ones, fascinating. You can either have fun switching places with your twin to fool your teachers or you get magical powers like a psychic connection. On a scary note, you could also have an evil one who just wants to take over your life or on the opposing side, you could simply just have a close sibling that you share everything with, including adventures. All of those scenarios make great stories and very fun reads!

Happy reading!

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About the Author:

Author Milda Harris is a Chicago girl who ran off to Hollywood to pursue a screenwriting dream! She has a dog named after a piece of candy (Licorice), was once hit by a tree (seriously), and wears hot pink sunglasses (why not?). Between working in production on television shows like Austin & Ally, Hannah Montana, and That's So Raven and playing with her super cute dog Licorice, she writes young adult murder mystery, horror, paranormal romance, and chick lit novels.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

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Pieces by Chris Lynch
Release Date: February 5, 2013

From Goodreads:

When Eric's brother Duane dies, his world breaks in two. Duane was his best friend--possibly his only friend. And Eric isn't sure how to live in a world without Duane in it. Desperate to find a piece of his brother to hold on to, Eric decides to meet some of the people who received Duane's organs.

He expects to meet perfect strangers. Instead he encounters people who become more than friends and almost like family--people who begin to help Eric put the pieces of his life back together for good.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (4)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

So this weeks topic is: Top Ten Settings I'd Like To See More Of (Or At All)

It honestly doesn't matter to me where a book is set, but these are a few I'd like to see more of:

The Bay Area

I live here and I love reading books about cities and places I've been to and know well.

College

I just started my first year in September so reading more about it would be cool. I guess they wouldn't really be considered YA anymore though?

A Deserted Island

I recently watched Blue Lagoon: The Awakening and fell in love with the idea. I think the only book I've read set on a deserted island is Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

London (past or present)

I'm in love with a city I've never visited so anything set in London is an automatic read for me.

Underwater

I've always loved mermaids, but anything under the sea would be cool even if they weren't involved.

Road Trips

I don't know about you, but I LOVE road trips and all the stuff people can get into when on one.

Portugal

I'm Portuguese so reading books set there would be awesome!

That's really all I could think of...lol

Review (37): The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

The Summoning

by Kelley Armstrong

Series: Darkest Powers Trilogy, #1

Other Reviewed Titles: None
Release Date: July 28, 2008

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 390

Source: Purchased

Challenge: None

Author Website

Book Website

My Review:

Chloe Saunders is schizophrenic...or so everyone keeps telling her. But when she starts talking to people only she can see, what other explanation is there? Because of her “hallucinations” she is sent to Lyle House, a group home for troubled teens. There she meets Liz, Rae, Tori, Simon and Derek; all are around her age and all have been diagnosed with some type of disorder. But none of them are buying it. Simon and Derek know the truth--that Chloe is a necromancer. With help from the two brothers, Chloe finally comes to terms with the fact that she can indeed contact the dead. Good thing too because a fellow necromancer (now deceased) is eager to warn her about the history and dangers of Lyle House, dangers her and her new friends are about to discover.

The book is almost fully set at Lyle House--minus the beginning and the end--and spans about a week. So much is jam packed into that week, however, that it feels like Chloe has been there much, much longer. During her time at the house she learns a lot about herself, her family and a world she never even knew existed, one that she is now a part of. The beginning was a bit slow because it was mostly to introduce all the characters and the story. We learn about Chloe’s necromancer power right along with her. The action really picks up in the second half of the book which is when everything important starts to happen. I had trouble putting the book down!

The book also has a very good cast of characters. Chloe is a really great MC. I like that she fought what everyone kept telling her--even when they continually insisted--and that ultimately she followed her gut. She almost gave up a few times along the way, but who hasn’t thought about just quitting when something gets too hard or scary? I know I would have hidden under the covers if I kept seeing dead people everywhere. As for the others, they were all interesting. My favorite of the girls, besides Chloe herself, would probably be Liz. I wish we had seen more of her in this book, but I have a feeling she’ll be very present in the next one. The foster brothers, Simon and Derek, were strange at the beginning but they grew on me as I kept reading. I couldn’t figure out if there was any romance brewing between either of the brothers and Chloe. If anything does happen in the next two books though I’m definitely rooting for Derek--I have a soft spot for brooding “bad” boys.

I really enjoyed this book and am kind of mad at myself for waiting almost 5 years to finally read it. I honestly have no idea what took me so long. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second because of that darn cliffhanger!

Rating: * * * *

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon |

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Weekly Recap: January 13 - 19

On the blog this week we had:

Make sure you check out any posts you may have missed and let me know what you think!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Sneak Peek Saturday (10)

"Avoiding pain isn't good enough. If it worked, I'd keep doing it. But it doesn't work. No matter how hard I try, it still finds me. I was wrong about Lloyd. He took advantage of me. He used me. I let him. I thought it was safe. Serving him. Making his life better. Mistaking criticism for love. There is something better for me out there. I hold my hand over my heart. 'There's something better for me in here,' I say out loud. 'And I'm going to find it.'"

Pg 304-305, Smile for the Camera by Kelle James.

What's your sneak peek? Add yours to the Mister Linky!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday (28)

This weeks question is:

"Who is your favorite villain from a book?"

I answered:

These questions are always so hard! I'm not going to lie, I tend to always root for the bad boy in almost every book. The good guy just never does it for me...I don't like them too nice, you know? But I'm not sure if they classify as actual villains...so maybe Neferet from The House of Night series or Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Review (36): Willow by Julia Hoban

Willow

by Julia Hoban

Series: None

Other Reviewed Titles: None
Release Date: February 23, 2010

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Pages: 336

Source: Purchased

Challenge: None

Book Website

My Review:

Eight months ago Willow and her parents got into a horrible car crash. And, unfortunately because her parents decided to drink a little bit too much, Willow was the one behind the wheel and the only one who survived. She is forced to move in with her much older brother, his wife and their new baby girl. Consumed with grief, and worst of all, guilt Willow starts to cut herself. It is the only escape she knows until she meets Guy who helps her overcome her self harm.

I’m not going to lie, I cringed every single time she cut. The author describes it so vividly it almost felt like I was there with Willow whenever it happened. And although it was slightly uncomfortable at times, I really did like the vividness. It made the book seem real. I felt like the book progressed perfectly. Willow and Guy don’t automatically become best friends and fall in love, which seems to happen in quite a few books, nor does Willow stop cutting all of a sudden just because she meets Guy. It takes time for them to trust each other completely, but once they do it’s perfect.

Both Willow and Guy are great characters. Despite everything she’s been through, it doesn’t feel like Willow is complaining when she talks about her problems which is great since I can’t stand when all characters do is whine, whine, whine. As for Guy, he is fantastic. He is caring and sweet, but also tough. He doesn’t give up on Willow no matter how hard or how many times she tries to push him away.

I originally bought this for my friend as her Christmas present a while back. But instead of giving it to her I decided to give her the first book in the Pretty Little Liars series and keep this one for myself. Kind of bad, I know, but I’m so glad I did.

Rating: * * * * 1/2

| Goodreads | Barnes & Noble | Amazon |

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (20)

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City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster
Release Date: February 5, 2013

From Publishers Weekly:
Abandoned as a child, 16-year-old Nisha Arvi has grown up within the private walled estate known as the City of a Thousand Dolls. There, orphaned or unwanted girls are raised in six specialized houses to be wives, courtesans, artists, entertainers, healers or soldiers. As Matron's assistant, Nisha isn't part of any House, but she dreams of being Redeemed from the city by a handsome young man. Just as her wish seems within reach, the deaths of several girls make Nisha a valuable pawn, now destined to be sold as a slave. With time running out, Nisha tries to find out what happened to the girls uncovering her own lost past along the way.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (3)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

So this weeks topic is: Top Ten 2013 Debuts I'm Looking Forward To

*All linked to Goodreads

Cover Change: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The mall I work at has a Barnes & Noble in it which is super convenient for me. I usually go in almost everyday I work either before or after my shift. It helps me pass the time because I'm usually there 30 minutes before I start working and have to wait the same amount of time before I get picked up. As you can imagine I always head straight towards the YA section to see if there are any new books and what-not.

However, this time for some reason the Uglies series (or is it still a trilogy?) by Scott Westerfeld caught my eye and I picked up a few of the books. I bought the series when it first came out so all the ones I own have the original covers on them. I had noticed the cover change a while back but had never actually taken the time to fully look at them.

If you are not familiar, here are the originals:

click for closeup

And here are the changes:

click for closeup

I'm not sure why they were changed, but I do think the new covers illustrate what the overall story is better than the originals. That being said, I don't really like them. These new covers are quite pretty...yet slightly creepy (especailly that first one). I don't know what it is about them...I feel like these pictures belong in magazines or something rather than on book covers. I definitely prefer the original covers and kind of wish they hadn't been changed.

What are your thoughts on this cover change? How do you feel about cover changes in general?

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Weekly Recap: January 6 - 12

On the blog this week we had:

Make sure you check out any posts you may have missed and let me know what you think!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Sneak Peek Saturday (9)

"If I really was schizophrenic, how was I supposed to know what I'd really seen or heard? And if paranoia was another symptom, how could I even trust my own gut feeling that said something bad had happened to Liz?"

Pg 95, The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.

What's your sneak peek? Add yours to the Mister Linky!

Friday, January 11, 2013

The Boundless Book Blog goes social!

You can now follow me on any of the following social media websites:

Just click on the icon of the website you want and it will take you directly to my page.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday (27)

This weeks question is:

"If you could choose one Supernatural being/creature to really exist, what would it be and why?"

I answered:

Oh gosh I have no idea! I immediately thought about City of Bones by Cassandra Clare and The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa when I read that question so maybe Shadowhunters and Fey (or is it Fae?). But the good kind obviously. I definitely wouldn't want vampires and werewolves running around--that would be terrifying.

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

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Fracture by Megan Miranda
Release Date: January 17, 2012

From Goodreads:

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled form the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

The Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's assured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature, or something much more frightening?

Monday, January 7, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (2)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

So this weeks topic is: Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2013

Last year I read a little over 50 books which compared to some people I've seen is almost nothing so this year I'm trying to beat that. My Goodreads goal is 55, but I want to try to finish even more. I'm doing pretty well so far.

Write more reviews

I tend to read way more books than I review and I'm not really sure why that is. I'm hoping to change that this year.

Renew my library card

I've been card-less since the library I used to go to decided to start charging $80 a year for membership if you didn't live in the required cities. I happen to go to school right next door now so they better let me have a student one.

Buy a new bookshelf

I have 2 big bookshelves and a smaller one that is about half the size of the other two and they are ALL full. I've started putting books on top of books. Pretty soon they will be piling up on the floor everywhere!

Buy more books

Because obviously if I get a new bookshelf I'm going to need more books to stuff it with, right? And then I'll probably need another bookshelf. It's a vicious cycle really.

Go to a book signing/tour

I've always wanted to go to get my book signed and to meet the author and whatever else you do at those things but I never know when they are or if there's even some in or near my city. Plus I doubt any of my friends would go with me because my friends all suck.

...and that's really all I can think of.

Review (35): A Royal Match by Tyne O’Connell

A Royal Match

by Tyne O’Connell

Series: The Calypso Chronicles

Other Reviewed Titles: None
Release Date: February 15, 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Pages: 512

Source: Purchased

Challenge: None

Author Website

My Review:

This includes the first 2 out of 4 books in the Calypso Chronicles which is a series about a girl named Calypso Kelly who is an American teenager attending boarding school in England. She yearns to be popular and gets just that when the heir to the throne, Prince Freddie, takes interest in her. A picture of them kissing ends up in the tabloids which causes big problems for both. Calypso is able to tackle the disaster and hopes that her second term (semester) at school will be better. But Honey O’Hare, her nemesis as well as the reason her picture ended up in the trashy magazines in the first place, has different plans. She turns most of Calypso’s friends against her in the hopes of pushing them, as well as Freddie, away.

I was actually so excited to read this because it sounded really cute and fun from the synopsis, but it just wasn’t. There were so many good ideas in this book and it really had the potential to be great. The plot just seemed to jump from one event to another randomly. I think if each book had been longer this wouldn’t have happened and it wouldn’t have been so confusing.

The characters were also problematic for me. It might just have been me, but they felt ridiculously immature for 14-15 year olds. And obviously I wasn’t expecting them to act like they were 20, but the only thing they ever talked about was pulling boys (the British equivalent of making out). Well, that and their pet bunnies.

Despite how long this is, I finished it rather quickly but only because I couldn’t wait to get it over with. Like I said, it had potential, I just don’t think it was executed well.

Rating: * *

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Weekly Recap: Dec 30 - Jan 5

On the blog this week we had:

Make sure you check out any posts you may have missed and let me know what you think!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Sneak Peek Saturday (8)

"I hate her. Really I do. Because she says this in a tone that sounds nice to everyone else, but that I know is meant to make me feel like dog crap. It's that use of the word 'try'. She just slid it in there. Like it's sooooo cute that I have a thing for the prince and I'm going to be pulling a real goober move by 'trying' to ask him to the dance." Pg 419, Royally Crushed by Niki Burnham.

What's your sneak peek? Add yours to the Mister Linky!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Feature & Follow Friday (26)

This weeks question is:

"What New Years blogging or writing resolution have you placed on yourself?"

I answered:

I plan on reading more than I did last year. I think my total for 2012 was a little over 50 which compared to some is WAY too little. I'm also going to try to blog regularly as well as write more reviews!

What about you? Leave your answer to this weeks question in the comments below.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Giveaways galore!

Who doesn't love a good giveaway? I know I do!

The girls over at The Feather and the Rose are doing a special New Years giveaway and have 3 lovely options available for the winner:

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The Story Siren is also holding a giveaway. Hers includes THREE boxes of ARCs for three winners; one box a person! How awesome is that?!
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Head on over to both blogs to enter and don't forget to follow!

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

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Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Release Date: January 8, 2013

From Goodreads:

When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there's an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday (1)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

I thought I'd give this meme a try to see if it helps me get back into the blogging mindset. I've missed it and I really need to start reviewing again!

So this weeks topic is: Books I Resolve To Read in 2013

I have way too many books that I want to read, but these WILL be read this year.

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

I seriously love all of the VA books and this spin off is just as great. I can't wait to get my hands on this one!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I included this book, but what I really want to read is ALL of John Green's books. I've heard so many good things about each and everyone of them. I'm not sure why I still haven't taken the time to read them.

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze

By the synopsis this actually doesn't sound that great, but I've heard good things about it so I'm going to give it a try. Plus, I really like the cover and that's usually what draws me in anyways.

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

I read the first 3 consecutively (and love them), but for some reason stopped before I got to this one. I think it might not have been out yet.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Cathy Hopkins

Okay, ever since I watched Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging I've wanted to read this series. I have no idea if it's even any good, but that movie is awesome and Aaron Johnson is delicious so I thought I'd give it a go.