New YA Releases: 20 March, 2012

March 19, 2012

Here are some upcoming releases this week.



Paperback:



+ Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist
+ Croak by Gina Damico
+ Loss Jackie Morse Kessler
+ When You Open Your Eyes by Celeste Conway



Hardcover:



+ A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
+ Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist
+ When You Open Your Eyes by Celeste Conway
+ Traitor's Son by Hilari Bell

Giveaway Winners!

March 18, 2012

Announcing the winners for the two giveaways I hosted for my Week of Videos! Congratulations :)

What is the W.O.V?
The Week of Videos! A thank you to my lovely subscribers (reaching over 1,000!)
Each day of the week, I will have a new video up, one that my lovely viewers have requested to see. Enjoy!



Well done Jessica and Georgina!! I hope you enjoy your prizes.

And thank you, everyone who entered the giveaway.

Starters by Lissa Price

March 17, 2012

I received this book for free from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Video review of Starters. Further book details and a quick review overview is located below the video, if you just want an idea of what I thought about the book.






Starters by Lissa Price
Released: March 13, 2012
Series: Starters Series #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley
Buy it: Book Depository (free shipping)

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .


Review Overview:
Starters was a fantastic, original story full of mystery and surprising twists. The world was disturbing, yet fascinating, with so many secrets that have yet to be uncovered. Lissa Price wrote a really captivating story, that keeps you wanting to know more. The pacing was a bit slow at the start, but it definitely picked up with plenty going on by the end.

Callie was a strong female protagonist. She was selfless, loving and extremely caring for her younger brother, which I really admired. The side characters weren't explored in too much depth, though.

The romance didn't take over the already complex story, which was good, however it felt a little underwhelming. The love interest/s weren't anything special, and it would have been nice to see a little more from the romance.

Hopefully Enders, the sequel, with cover more about how society got to that state, or at least why Prime Destinations began their business anyway. I would also love to find out more about the side characters.

New YA Releases: 13-15 March 2012

March 12, 2012

Here are some upcoming releases this week.



Paperback:



+ Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon
+ The Compelling by L.J. Smith



Hardcover:



+ Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
+ Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
+ Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter
+ Starters by Lissa Price
+ Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon
+ The Hunters: The Moonsong by L.J. Smith
+ Savage Grace by Bree Despain
+ Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould
+ The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina
+ Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig
+ Dark Eyes by William Richter
+ The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George

Week of Videos - Giveaway #2

March 11, 2012

It is the finally day for the Week of Videos, and I have another fantastic giveaway! Enter to win up to AUS$40 worth in books!

What is the W.O.V?
The Week of Videos! A thank you to my lovely subscribers (reaching over 1,000!)
Each day of the week, I will have a new video up, one that my lovely viewers have requested to see. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBER SHOUTOUT:  CassJayTuck



Important information:

- To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below
- Must be 13+ years of age
- It is INTERNATIONAL
- The winner will be announced in a video on YouTube as well as on this blog
- The winner will be notified via email, and must reply within 48 hours or I will have to draw another winner


Week of Videos - Book Talk // LOVE TRIANGLES

So today I am having a talk about love triangles! I would love to hear what you have to say, so feel free to comment or leave a link to a post/video where you share your opinions on this topic.

What is the W.O.V?
The Week of Videos! A thank you to my lovely subscribers (reaching over 1,000!)
Each day of the week, I will have a new video up, one that my lovely viewers have requested to see. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBER SHOUTOUT:  SableCaught



Don't forget to have a look at Mondays W.O.V video, an INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY - win a 2012 debut of your choice!

Week of Videos - Q&A

March 10, 2012

Answering your Q's with A's.

What is the W.O.V?
The Week of Videos! A thank you to my lovely subscribers (reaching over 1,000!)
Each day of the week, I will have a new video up, one that my lovely viewers have requested to see. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBER SHOUTOUT:  PadfootandProngs07



Don't forget to have a look at Mondays W.O.V video, an INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY - win a 2012 debut of your choice!

Week of Videos - Day in the Life + Room Tour

March 9, 2012

An insight into what I do daily, and also a room tour.

What is the W.O.V?
The Week of Videos! A thank you to my lovely subscribers (reaching over 1,000!)
Each day of the week, I will have a new video up, one that my lovely viewers have requested to see. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBER SHOUTOUT:  TheBookTuber



Don't forget to have a look at Mondays W.O.V video, an INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY - win a 2012 debut of your choice!

The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.


The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry
Released: March, 2011
Series: n/a
Format: e-book
Publisher: Author House
Source: Author
Buy it: Book Depository (free shipping) | Amazon

The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda's world but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda's life is her family's Mexican yardman, Jesus.

But when the INS deports Jesus back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation. Determined to find her friend Jesus, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Boquillas, Mexico. There a peyote-addled bartender convinces her she won't be safe traveling alone into the country's interior. So with the bartender's help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jesus.

Thus begins a wild adventure that explores the borders between the United States and Mexico, adolescence and adulthood, male and female, English and Spanish, and adult coming-of-age and Young Adult novels.


This was a very hard review to write - I feel very conflicted. The Earthquake Machine was a good book, and I see why others would enjoy it but for me personally... It just wasn't my kind of book.

I have always been a little turned off by books that are heavily influenced by religion - I have no issues with any religion and I have nothing against it, but it’s the atmosphere and context of the book which just doesn't entertain me as much as some other books.

The writing style was very different. I had trouble understanding some scenes, particularly towards the start of the book, and got easily confused. Aside from that, however, the writing style was interesting, descriptive and unique. It was so raw and honest, and very confrontational. The themes in this book are very heavy and dark and the scenes that address these issues are very descriptive and in some cases gruesome. This can be a little off-putting, but it contributes to the serious tone of the book.

The dialogue got a little confusing as well, with so many Spanish phrases. I don't speak any Spanish so I often had to look up the translations if I couldn't guess what it meant.

Rhonda was a very strong character with a lot of courage. She is very admirable, in being brave enough to confront her conflicted feelings with herself and her body head on, and make sacrifices and changes in order to achieve happiness. The journey she embarks on is very spontaneous and risky, yet I completely understand her reasoning. Her life back home was no where near happy or pleasant.

I really respect Mary Pauline Lowry and her writing on the serious topics of sexual awakening alongside so much tragedy and pain. Unfortunately, this just wasn't the book for me and I wasn't able to finish it. Like I said, I can see the appeal for others, so if it sounds like something you may enjoy, then I'd suggest at least giving it a try.

Katniss' Training Sesh Clip!

March 8, 2012

This got me more than a little excited. Thought I would just share this with you all, in case those Hunger Games fans hadn't seen it yet! My reaction is below.



Week of Videos - Bookish Favourites

March 7, 2012

My favourite 10 books, least favourite books and favourite authors!

What is the W.O.V?
The Week of Videos! A thank you to my lovely subscribers (reaching over 1,000!)
Each day of the week, I will have a new video up, one that my lovely viewers have requested to see. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBER SHOUTOUT:  Kerriforlife



Don't forget to have a look at Mondays W.O.V video, an INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY - win a 2012 debut of your choice!

Week of Videos - Bookshelf Tour!

March 6, 2012

I have FINALLY gotten around to doing my bookshelf tour. What a relief!

What is the W.O.V?
The Week of Videos! A thank you to my lovely subscribers (reaching over 1,000!)
Each day of the week, I will have a new video up, one that my lovely viewers have requested to see. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBER SHOUTOUT:  AmberPepper



Don't forget to have a look at yesterdays W.O.V video, an INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY - win a 2012 debut of your choice!

Top Ten Tuesday (8)





I am participating in Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! Each week, there is a specific topic for a top ten list.

This weeks topic is:
Top Ten Favorite Covers


Gravity (The Taking, #1)
1. Gravity by Melissa West

This cover is so incredibly stunning. I adore the font and decoration around the text of "Gravity".








Shine
2. Shine by Lauren Myracle

The colours are just gorgeous, in the sky and the flower. So beautiful.









As I Wake
3. As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

The smoking effect with the hair and the fire-y colours looks amazing.









What's Left of Me (Hybrid, #1)
4. What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

Amazing cover.  It's simple but seems to compliment the synopsis so well. Love it!










Eve (Eve, #1)
5. Eve by Anna Carey

I love gorgeous fonts, and this one on Eve is so beautiful. I really like the gradient of colours in the sky, and it makes me really curious! What is she running from?







Incarnate (Newsoul, #1)
6. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Such a beautiful cover. I love the butterfly.










The Night Circus
7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I adore the UK and the US covers to this book - the UK more so because of the black edges of the pages and the actual hardback cover. But I like the US dust jacket design a little more. The colours are simplistic and there isn't too much detail but it looks amazing!







Insurgent (Divergent, #2)
8. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
The cover for Divergent was awesome, and so is this - to be honest I think a little more. The covers reflect the world of Divergent, and in this case it is the symbol for Abnegation. And it looks incredible. I love the tree and the leaves.








Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1)
9. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
This cover leaves me breathless. I love galaxy images, they always looks so mystical and just gorgeous. The pinks, blues and purples on this cover make it even more beautiful.








The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer, #1)
10. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
The hardback cover for this book looks incredible, especially in person. The shine of the text alongside the dark colours and the bodies - just wow.









Let me know what your favourite covers are. I love to look are pretty things.

Week of Videos - Giveaway #1

March 5, 2012

To kick-start the Week of Videos, I have a giveaway for you guys! Below the video are more details.

What is the W.O.V?
The Week of Videos! A thank you to my lovely subscribers (reaching over 1,000!)
Each day of the week, I will have a new video up, one that my lovely viewers have requested to see. Enjoy!

SUBSCRIBER SHOUTOUT:  HeathersBookReview



Important information:

- To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below
- Must be 13+ years of age
- It is INTERNATIONAL
- The winner will be announced in a video on YouTube as well as on this blog
- The winner will be notified via email, and must reply within 48 hours or I will have to draw another winner


New YA Releases: 6 March 2012

Here are some upcoming releases this week.


Hardcover:



  

+ Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
+ Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
+ Last Breath by Rachel Caine

The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks

March 3, 2012

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.


The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks
Released: March, 2011
Series: n/a
Format: e-book
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 224
Source: Author
Buy it: Book Depository (free shipping) | Amazon

When Wendy Geller's body is found in Central Park after the night of a rager, newspaper headlines scream,"Death in the Park: Party Girl Found Strangled." But shy Rain, once Wendy's best friend, knows there was more to Wendy than just "party girl."

As she struggles to separate the friend she knew from the tangle of gossip and headlines, Rain becomes determined to discover the truth about the murder.

The Girl in the Park was not an overly complex story, but the mystery was not easily predictable for me and managed to keep me guessing as it unfolded. My assumptions for who Wendy's killer was, were proved very wrong.

The beginning was pretty slow. It took a few chapters to really get into what the story was actually about and start delving into the mystery. There was just way too much backstory right at the start. It did eventually pick up a few chapters in a got really into the mystery around the middle of the book. Towards the end, I found my heart racing as the truth is revealed and I was anxious to see how things panned out. That being said, I was expecting a much more dramatic scene when the killer is confronted.

Rain was a very unique and interesting main character. She has a cleft pallet and as a result is understandable shy and insecure. She avoided a of human interaction with her judgmental and teasing peers. There is some character development as the story progresses. She is very determined and starts coming out of her shell and standing up for her deceased friend.

All of the characters were very believable and pretty well drawn out, but unfortunately I felt very disconnected from them all, and even Rain.


February Wrap Up | 2012

March 2, 2012

February was a great month for reading and books for me!

March's theme is Re-reads!


Books purchased:

- The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
- Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
- Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
- Under the Never Sky
- Veronica Rossi



Books read:

- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
- Sold by Patricia McCormick
- Romulus, My Father by Raimond Gaita
- The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks
- A Thousand Splendid Sun by Khaled Hosseini
- The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry
- The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
- Starters by Lissa Price
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green


March TBR:

- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Alanna The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
- Divergent by Veronica Roth

Random Acts of Kindness: February

March 1, 2012

Book Soulmates


Random Acts of Kindness is an amazing feature hosted by Book Soulmates. Basically, participants send another a book/s as a Random Acts of Kindness. It is a lovely way to give back to others! It is not mandatory to send a book, but it is encouraged to give rather than receive.


* * * * *


This was my first month participating in RAK, and I did not receive anything. I did send a fellow blogger and Youtuber a book this month: AMBER!
I sent Amber a hardback copy of Ashes, Ashes.
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