May Confessions

May is definitely one of my favorite months.  This month truly flew by though.  I can't believe tomorrow is June 1st.  I just got back from a beautiful Memorial Day weekend at the beach. Weather wise, it was amazing for May. It was actually HOT at the beach! It felt like July! I hit up most of my favorite places this weekend. We eat at Mike's Seafood on the dock, got coffee at Coffee Talk in Stone Harbor, hit up my favorite beach, went to a Memorial Day party, and lastly,  happy hour on the bay.  I am definitely looking forward to June and the end of the school year.   I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.


Books Read in May:


1.  Mistwood by Leah Cypess
2.  City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
3.  City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
4.  Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
5.  Burned (House of Night #7) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
6.  Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5)  by Richelle Mead
7.  Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown


My May Top Five:

1.  Favorite Book:  Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead - I can't stop gushing about this series.
2.  Biggest Let Down: Mistwood by Leah Cypess - Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed by this book. 
3.  Biggest Surprise:  Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown - I will be posting my review this week. I loved this book!
4.  Favorite Post:  Cassandra Clare and Holly Black book signing
5.  Favorite Part of May: My long weekend at the beach.  It was so relaxing to sit at the beach and read a good book.  

Book Blogger Hop #7

Happy Friday, everyone! I met a lot of new bloggers participating in the Book Blogger Hop a few weeks ago. I have some more time this week and I am excited to check out new blogs today. Be sure to go to Crazy For Books to learn more about this awesome opportunity. Check out her post and come join the fun!




While visiting, be sure to check out my Signed Book Giveaway in order to win these awesome signed books!

Also, I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend. I might be MIA from blogging for a few days, because I'll be at the beach celebrating one of my favorite holidays, Memorial Day.  It's the official start of the beach season! I can't wait to hit up the beach with my book!

Review of Spirit Bound

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead

Pages: 489

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: May 18, 2010

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

*This review contains some small spoilers!

Goodreads says, "Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong… After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

Holy comrade!  This book was amazing.  I'm pretty sure I have an unhealthy addiction to this series and between you and me, a major crush on my literary boyfriend, Dimitri.   Spirit Bound starts us off back at St. Vladimir's and Rose is getting ready to take her test to become a guardian, which is, essentially, graduation to the real world.  It becomes quite apparent to the readers that she still thinks about Dimitri, her extremely dreamy ex-boyfriend/instructor/mentor who has become a Strigoi. (In case you don't know, a Strigoi is an undead and evil vampire).  Regretfully, Rose was unable to kill Dimitri, which is what he wanted if her to do if  ever "turned" into a Strigoi. Instead, Dimitri wants to turn Rose into one so she can spend eternity with him and is pretty much stalking her in order to kill her since she won't allow Dimitri to turn her.  The book starts off with Rose sharing one of Dimitri's love letters/threats, so right off the bat, you are hooked from page one.  


After all this craziness, Rose's heart is still with Dimitri even though she is dating the ultra-cool, Adrian.  Also, Lissa, her best friend and Royal Moroi (a.k.a. good vampire), is still an important person in her life and is moving onto college next year.  Rose is hoping to be assigned to her as a guardian.  This is all well and good until Rose and her friends start to ponder the idea of turning Strigoi back into their former selves.  They think they found a solution.  I don't want to give anymore away, but if you are a fan of this series, you must pick up this next installment. Richelle Mead doesn't disappoint; in fact, Spirit Bound is the best book in the series.


Mead's writing style is incredible. I am not sure how she does it, but she creates such suspense and cliffhangers.  At the end of every chapter, I am left questioning the situation and dying to know what's going on.  I'm sure I looked like a crazed maniac to my husband while I was reading this novel. I simply couldn't get enough; I needed to know what was going on!  When reading novels, there are times that certain passages inevitably bore me, whether it be the inane dialogue or lengthy descriptions, I can get bored or my mind will wander.  However, I can honestly say, this novel didn't bore me once and it's 489 pages!   On top of that, I was sad the book was over, because I felt personally invested in the characters and the situations. 


Dimitri. *sigh*  What can I say without sounding super weird/crazy obsessed? I adore this character almost as much as I adore Rose.  Dimitri is so complex, but as the series progressed, I enjoyed him more and more.  Even as a Strigoi, I found myself still captivated by him.  As I was reading this novel, I never once thought of Jace or Gale, which says a lot, because I think this series is just as addicting as some of my all-time favorites.  And anyone who is still pining over Edward from Twilight, needs to read this series, because Edward is so 2008.


Speaking of favorites..... Rose is one of my favorite heroines.  She is a heroine to be proud of. She doesn't put up with people disrespecting her or her friends.  She's determined, works hard, is loyal, would do anything for her friends, and stands up for what's right.  In this novel, she has a bad case of verbal diarrhea again, but this is why I like her, because I tend to get in trouble every once in a while for saying what I think. Rose doesn't pretend and keeps things real by saying the things people are thinking, but lack the nerve to actually say.  It's obvious that I enjoy this character and she didn't let me down in Spirit Bound. 


I can't believe we have to wait until December 14, 2010 for the next installment, which is Last Sacrifice.  Seriously, December? That seems like cruel and unusual punishment, because the ending of Spirit Bound was extremely captivating and even more suspenseful than I thought it was going to be. I am dying to find out where Mead is going to go with this.  I'm pretty sure I haven't craved a sequel like this since Harry Potter!  And can someone please make this series into a TV show or movie? It would be incredible! With all that said, Vampire Academy is definitely one of my favorite young adult series and Spirit Bound is, hands down, one of the best books that I've read in 2010.   

*Read chapter one from Spirit Bound 

*Buy Spirit Bound

*Buy the Vampire Academy Collection

*Pre-order Last Sacrifice 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Red Queen

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Pub. Date: August 3, 2010

Publishers Weekly says, "Nobody does the Tudors better than Gregory, so it should come as no surprise that her latest—the War of the Roses as seen through the eyes of Henry VII’s mother —is confident, colorful, convincing, and full of conflict, betrayal, and political maneuvering. Gregory gives readers Margaret Beaufort in her own words, from innocent nine-year-old to conspiring courtier who stops at nothing to see her son on England’s throne. Gregory devotees will note the difference between the supernaturally gifted Yorkist White Queen and Lancastrian Margaret, who, despite saintly aspirations, grows worldly through three marriages; a powerless widow at 13, remarried and separated from her only son by 15, it is not until she’s 29 that Margaret is ready to realize her most audacious ambitions. Gregory clones have made historical novels from a woman’s perspective far too familiar to make this seem as fresh as her earlier works. Yet, like Margaret Beaufort, Gregory puts her many imitators to shame by dint of unequalled energy, focus, and unwavering execution."

*I loved The White Queen by Gregory, which is the first book in this series focusing on the Cousins War. If you are interested in reading my review, check it out here.  I am definitely excited to see where this series is going to go.   I love YA, but I also adore historical fiction and Philippa Gregory makes historical fiction so much fun!

Teaser Tuesday #18

A weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5) by Richelle Mead

"The thing that really sucks about being psychically linked to someone is that you have a pretty good idea when they're lying - or in this case, not lying.  Still, my response was immediate and instinctive.  "That's not true." (page 308).  

* I am pretty much obsessed with this series.  I think it's one of the best young adult series out there. Unlike some other series that I've read lately, Richelle Mead never disappoints.  This book has got me completely hooked.  So far, I highly recommend it.   Anyone else a fan?  

Review of Burned

Burned (House of Night #7) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Pages: 336

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: April 27, 2010

My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

*This review contains spoilers!

Goodreads says, "Y’all need to get yourselves together. Here’s a newsflash from the only High Priestess you have left at this dang school: Zoey isn’t dead. And believe me, I know dead. I’ve been there, done that and got the fricken tee-shirt.  Zoey Redbird is the youngest High Priestess in House of Night history and is the only person – vamp or fledgling – that can stop the evil Neferet from raising all kinds of immortal trouble. And she might just have a chance if she wasn’t so busy being dead.  Well, dead is too strong a word. Stevie Rae knows she can bring her BFF back from her unscheduled va-cay in the Otherworld. But it’s going to take a lot more than hoping to bring Zoey back. Stevie Rae will have to give up a few secrets of her own . . "

Zoey Redbird's soul has been shattered now that Heath was killed by Kalona right in front of her eyes.  She is now stuck in the underworld with Heath and her friends are extremely distraught.  Stark, Aphrodite, and the rest of the clan devise a plan to get Zoey back.  Stark is going travel to the underworld to bring Zoey home and convince Heath to move on so that in turn, Zoey can, too.  Meanwhile, Stevie Rae has a dangerous secret relationship brewing with Rephaim, the Raven Mocker, who is also Kalona's son.  All of this turmoil and drama ensues in P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast's seventh installment of the House of Night series.  Unlike Marked and Chosen, the first two books in the series, Burned is anti-climatic and capable of so much more.

The Cast women use the varying point of view again, just like in their last book, Tempted.  However, I had a hard time with the varying point of view, mostly because Stevie Rae is the main person we are following.  See, here's the problem:  I can't stand that character and her overdone Oakie accent.  So, needless to say, I had a hard time with this book.  Keep in mind, I am a huge fan of Stark/Zoey/Heath, but there wasn't enough of their relationships to make me enjoy this book.  Stevie Rae and Rephaim's relationship took center stage and while I found their relationship to be interesting, it's just didn't captivate me like Zoey/Stark/Heath. There wasn't even that much of Aphrodite or Darius, which I also found to be disappointing. I must say that towards the end of the novel, when the focus was on Zoey, I did find myself enjoying it more and the novel definitely picked up the pace.

As you know, this series is famous for their teen-speak. I've blogged about this before and how I am simply not a fan.  "Bull-poopie" and "big ol' pile of poo"....comon'.   If the synopsis from Goodreads above doesn't bother you, then you will be fine with the teen speak; however, if you read it and it bothers you as much as someone taking their nails to a chalkboard, then I think you will agree with me.  They overuse the teen speak.  Something else I was disappointed with was the amount of cursing. Now don't get me wrong, a little cursing here and there can be effective and realistic, but this was every other line. I can't even put this book in my classroom library.....that's how much cursing there is!   This book, in comparison to the others in the series, unfortunately seemed darker and more mature.  And in combination with the constant F-BOMB dropping, I felt disgusted.  Maybe I'm just getting old and the target audience may enjoy it more.

Well, I'm going to continue to be honest. I am a fan of Marked and Chosen, but as the series has progressed, I felt it hasn't really lived up to all the hype.  I will not be buying the next book; perhaps, I will borrow it from the library or maybe skip out on it, especially if the point of view is focusing on Stevie Rae again.  I hear there will be ten to twelve books in this series. Wow! That's a tad nuts in my opinion and no wonder the Cast women have to vary the points of view, otherwise they would run out of ideas.  Don't take my word on this book; if you are a fan of Stevie Rae, you won't be disappointed as she is the main focus. Decide for yourself and read the first chapter.  

*Read the first chapter here.

*Buy Burned book here.

*Buy House of Night Books 1-4 here.

Watch the Burned book trailer:

In My Mailbox #17

Check out what is in my mailbox this week!  Don't forget to enter my contest for a signed copy of either Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin, Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown, or Radiant Shadows with a signed bookmark by Melissa Marr.  This meme is hosted by The Story Siren.


Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

Last week, I went to the Emily Giffin's book signing. Read my post about it.  I also picked up an extra signed copy for the contest I am hosting.  I am a huge fan of Emily Giffin and can't wait to read her latest.  

Goodreads says, "Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon.  Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.  Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie--a boy who has never known his father.  After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance--and even to some degree, friendships--believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.  Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children.  But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined."

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown (illustrator)

I also went to this book signing which was pretty cool, because Adele grew up near my neighborhood.  I also picked up a second copy to giveaway for my contest.  This book looks awesome; even my husband wants to read it!

Goodreads says, " Jennie’s connection with her twin brother, Toby, grew stronger after he died in 1864. Now Jennie must rely on her ability to communicate with the dead to find out what has happened to her beloved fiance, Will, while he was off at war. The army says he died honorably in battle. His brother confides that he became a violent criminal and died in a prison camp. Jennie begins to doubt that anyone is telling her the truth.  This intriguing combination of historical romance, paranormal thriller, and clever mystery is illustrated by bestselling artist Lisa Brown. The unique visuals originated from real Civil War daguerreotypes that were transformed into eerie mementos for Jennie’s scrapbook. With the help of a spiritualist photographer, the spirit of her dead fiance, and the clues she discovers and keeps in her scrapbook, Jennie must put together the pieces of this mystery before she loses her home, her fortune, and possibly her life."

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

I won this book through a contest at Jane Austen's World.  If you don't follow this blog and are a Jane Austen fan, you definitely need to!

Amazon says, "This delightful sequel to Rigler's Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict has 19th-century Jane Mansfield switching bodies and milieus with contemporary L.A. girl Courtney Stone. As Jane grasps the idea that she's a different person in an unimaginable world, and grapples with the radically liberal social mores, dress and language, she leans on Jane Austen's novels as touchstones to reality. Kate Reading performs the first-person narration with a cultured tones and accent befitting an upper-class Regency-era young lady. Her skill as a versatile voice performer becomes evident as dialogue introduces modern American characters, and she skillfully modulates her accent, dialect and tones to accommodate them. The romantically suspenseful story and the entertaining vocal interpretation will keep romance listeners enthralled and amused."

Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

I pre-ordered this book awhile ago. I truly enjoy this series.  I will be starting this book this week; I am dying to know what happens. 

Goodreads says, "Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…  After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere. She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever."

Second Time Around by Beth Kendrick

I bought this book, because it was on sale at the bookstore. I have had my eye on this one simply because the premise is amazing.  I always like to think....what if? Plus, it sounds like the perfect summer read.

Goodreads says, "Thanks to an unexpected inheritance, four college friends get an opportunity to start over and pursue their dream jobs. But the road not taken has a few speed bumps…  Every summer, a group of former English majors hold a mini-reunion. They laugh, reminisce, and commiserate about their soul-sucking jobs. Maybe they should have listened to everyone who warned them to study something “practical.”  Then an unexpected windfall arrives—one million dollars, to be exact—with the stipulation that they use it to jump-start their new careers. Almost overnight, a professor, a bartender, a copywriter, and an administrative assistant reinvent themselves as a bed-and-breakfast owner, a pastry chef, a novelist, and an event planner. But the changes in their professional roles create unexpected turbulence in their personal lives, and soon the secrets and scandals from their past resurface.  For anyone who has ever wondered “What if?”, this engaging novel provides a sweet, funny look at friendship, romance, and second chances."

What did you guys get in your mailbox?  Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think.  I look forward to checking out everyone else's mailboxes. Have a great day! 

Review of Birthmarked

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Pages: 320

Genre: YA Science-fiction

Pub. Date: March 30, 2010

ARC received from Book It Forward ARC Tours

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "After climate change, on the north shore of Unlake Superior, a dystopian world is divided between those who live inside the wall, and those, like sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone, who live outside. It’s Gaia’s job to “advance” a quota of infants from poverty into the walled Enclave, until the night one agonized mother objects, and Gaia’s parents are arrested.  Badly scarred since childhood, Gaia is a strong, resourceful loner who begins to question her society. As Gaia’s efforts to save her parents take her within the wall, she herself is arrested and imprisoned.  Fraught with difficult moral choices and rich with intricate layers of codes, BIRTHMARKED explores a colorful, cruel, eerily familiar world where one girl can make all the difference, and a real hero makes her own moral code."

Imagine a future many, many years from now that is unlike the world we know, due to a drastic climate change.  The world that Caragh O'Brien creates is unlike any world that I have imagined.  There's  a world of have-nots living in poverty outside of the wall that separates them from the wealthy.  The poverty stricken people that live outside of the wall live without modern amenities and pretty much live like peasants whereas it's the complete opposite for those lucky enough to be on the inside of the wall or the Enclave.  Gaia Stone, the sixteen year old protagonist is a midwife who helps serve the Enclave by advancing a certain number of babies born outside the wall to the them.   The Enclave must have these babies from the "outside" as they have had genetic problems within the wall due to inbreeding.  Everything is status quo for Gaia, until her parents are taken away from her and jailed inside the Enclave.  Gaia must find not only why they were taken away, but also a way to save them, because they are the only family she has left.  Caragh M. O'Brien's dystopian page-turner, Birthmarked, does not disappoint.

Gaia is a complex character that has severe scarring on her face; hence, the title, Birthmarked.  She is extremely self-conscious and due to the scarring, she could never advance to the Enclave as they don't accept anyone disfigured, diseased, handicapped, etc.  This doesn't stop Gaia from being a tough, resourceful teenager.  When her parents are arrested, she doesn't throw up her hands in defeat, she is determined to rescue them.  In fact, Gaia questions the Enclave and the many rules that have been in place for years that often go unchallenged.  Gaia is a true heroine that stands up against unjust oppressors and doesn't simply accept things that are unfair.  With all that said, it's easy to see why I enjoyed the character of Gaia so much.  

O'Brien's writing style is superb.  Seriously. Although she has written adult novels before, this is her first young adult and I think it suits her.  Her character development is fantastic. None of her characters ever felt flat or one dimensional to me.  Plus, I love the fact that O'Brien is a high school English teacher; so, I gotta show my love!  I also thought that O'Brien did a great job with the ending.  It was a true ending and brought closure to the story.  Sure, O'Brien left room for a sequel, but I felt the ending could stand alone. It's so nice to read a traditional ending after so many cliffhangers and moments of suspense, which are obviously used in the many series I've been reading lately.

This story, like many dystopias, makes you think.  I made many connections to World War II and the Nazis.  I felt like some of the themes and messages were very similar.  Plus, the Ghetto uprisings during World War II also felt very similar to Gaia's goals when trying to help her parents.  Like any good book, this one truly makes you ponder the future and also asks you revisit history.

The only reason I didn't give this novel four out of five stars is because I wanted to know more regarding the background.  For example, are there other communities like Gaia's or is this the only "world" after the climate change.  What is the background regarding the Enclave? Why did they create it? I also wish thereqas a little more action, romance and/or developing relationships in the book. O'Brien touches on this, but I wish she would develop this aspect a bit more.  

All in all, it's easy to see why Birthmarked is a nominee for 2010's YALSA Best Fictional Book.  I think my middle school students will love this novel, especially fans of The Giver and Hunger Games. Ultimately, I think Caragh M. O'Brien is here to stay in the young adult world; I know I'll definitely be reading her next book and according to her website, Birthmarked is part of a trilogy.  

*Interested in this book? Read the first chapter here.

*Buy Birthmarked here.

Signed Book Giveaway

When I reached 150 followers, I couldn't believe it. I originally started this blog for my professional development hours at work and it has evolved into so much more.  I have met some really awesome bloggers from around the world, received some incredible book recommendations, and have won some fantastic contests.  To thank all of my followers and pay it forward a bit, I am hosting a Signed Book Giveaway!  Lately, I have had the opportunity to go to a lot of book signings and I always picked up an extra book.  At first, I was going to give these books to friends and family, but then I realized my followers would probably appreciate it more as I know we all LOVE books.  So, with that said, I am sharing them with all of you as a big thank you.

So, what am I giving away?  

First, a signed copy of Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown (illustrator).  The book just came out May 1, 2010.  I went to their book signing last night and I got a copy of their book for my classroom library and one for you guys!  They were very friendly and Adele grew up not far from where I grew up, which is pretty cool.  The illustrations in this book are amazing and I can't wait to read this one.  Goodreads says, "Jennie’s connection with her twin brother, Toby, grew stronger after he died in 1864. Now Jennie must rely on her ability to communicate with the dead to find out what has happened to her beloved fiance, Will, while he was off at war. The army says he died honorably in battle. His brother confides that he became a violent criminal and died in a prison camp. Jennie begins to doubt that anyone is telling her the truth.  This intriguing combination of historical romance, paranormal thriller, and clever mystery is illustrated by bestselling artist Lisa Brown. The unique visuals originated from real Civil War daguerreotypes that were transformed into eerie mementos for Jennie’s scrapbook.  With the help of a spiritualist photographer, the spirit of her dead fiance, and the clues she discovers and keeps in her scrapbook, Jennie must put together the pieces of this mystery before she loses her home, her fortune, and possibly her life."

Next, I had the opportunity to go to Emily Giffin's book signing. If you didn't read my blog post about it, please check it out here. It was a blast!  Her book, Heart of the Matter,  just came out May 11th.  Goodreads says, "Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon.  Despite her own mother's warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.  Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie--a boy who has never known his father.  After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance--and even to some degree, friendships--believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.  Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children.  But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined. "

Lastly, I went to Melissa Marr's book signing.  She's the author of the Wicked Lovely series. I haven't started this series yet, but so many people tell me how great it is. I hope to start it this summer.  I picked up a signed copy of Radiant Shadows, which is the latest book in the series.  It came out April 20, 2010.   For the winner of this book, I also have a signed bookmark that I will include.  She gave me a whole bunch of bookmarks to give out to my students as well. She's so nice!  Here's what Goodreads says, "Hunger for nourishment. Hunger for touch. Hunger to belong. Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers. Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death. Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans—and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?"


In order to give away as many prizes as possible, I am going to ask that you only pick one book that you would like to win, so that way I will have THREE winners!  This giveaway will go till June 18, 2010 (midnight EST) and if I hit 200 followers before June 18, 2010, I'm going to throw in another signed young adult book for a fourth winner.  I'm sorry that I cannot make this an international contest due to issues with shipping and cost. I did an international contest in early spring and I wish I could do more.  So, with that said, this is a US contest only.  I'll email winners on June 19, 2010.  Please fill in the entry form below and GOOD LUCK! Thanks again for following my blog. I truly appreciate it.

Fill in the form here to enter this contest!

Thanks again,

Emily Giffin Book Signing

Last night at my local independent book store, I was lucky enough to attend Emily Giffin's book signing.   I have all of her books and am such a huge fan!  She seems so down to earth and such a nice person.  And I must say, she is an amazing dresser--she has such great taste! My friends and I were obsessed with her fabulous shoes.

Anyway, she read a few pages of her new book, Heart of the Matter, explained the inspiration behind the story, and answered many questions.  I was especially intrigued when she discussed how Something Borrowed is currently being made into a movie starring Ginnifer Goodwin and Kate Hudson.  SO exciting!  They were apparently filming at a palatial house at the Hamptons that night.  Needless to say, I really enjoyed the book signing; plus, I got to hangout with some friends I haven't seen in awhile as well.  It was a fun night and I thought I would share my pictures. Enjoy!

Emily Giffin and Me  

(Don't mind the loud argyle....I came straight from work. It's my English teacher clothes.)

Things have been really hectic at work and I have been busy grading research papers, but I plan to get a review up this weekend.   I also plan on hosting another giveaway to thank all of my followers; so, definitely keep your eye out for that!  Details will follow on Saturday.  Which reminds me.....it's almost the weekend! I don't know about you, but I definitely am looking forward to relaxing.

Waiting on Wednesday: Cate of the Lost Colony

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M. Klein

Pub. Date: October 12, 2010

Goodreads says, "The greatest unsolved mystery of American history--what happened to all the colonists who landed on Roanoke Island in 1587? This novel traces the fortunes and misfortunes of one Cate Archer, banished to Virginia by a jealous Queen Elizabeth because of her dalliance with Sir Walter Ralegh. What will be her fate in this  dangerous  New World?"


*I love historical fiction and this one seems pretty unique to me. I haven't read a YA novel about the colonists on Roanoke Island before. It sounds promising!  What book are you waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday #17

A weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

"Gaia was amazed and then angry.  "Why should I care?  You inside the Enclave have had every advantage, and yet you've done nothing by comparison for us outside the wall.  Why should we try to save you now?'" (page 90).

*I'm really enjoying this one. I have been on a dystopia kick lately. I haven't read any of Caragh O'Brien's books before, but so far I am pretty impressed. She is a talented storyteller.  I look forward to seeing how this novel will end!