Friday Five (10)

So, I was all about the "Friday Five" during the summertime and I posted my Friday favorites religiously, but now that fall is upon us, I will be posting my "Friday Five" a little bit more sporadically.   Let me know what you think!

1.  National Novel Writing Month - It's that time of year again! I always try my hand at this arduous task and have only "won" one year out of the many years I have tried.  I was thrilled to have reached the 50,000 word goal last year and I believe it was due to my planning before the actual start of NaNoWriMo. I am hoping this year I can do the same. *fingers crossed*  Anyone else participating? If so, find me on there! My username is Chris327. 

2. Happy Halloween - Halloween is so much more fun now that my son is getting into it and of course, he wants candy. He is going to be Tigger this year and loves his costume. I hope everyone has a great Halloween and eats a lot of chocolate…that's what I'll be doing!

3. Winter Village Plates and Mugs - Guys, I am obsessed with these plates and mugs. My mom had mugs like this when I was little and I loved them. They were my favorite mugs to sip hot chocolate from, so I when I saw their look-alikes at Pottery Barn, I knew I had to have them. Plus, proceeds from the plates and mugs go to charity!

4. Highclere Castle Tea Cup - My tea cup and saucer arrived from Highclere Castle. It was pretty cool to see a package on my doorstep with a return address of Highclere.  I love this tea cup and have it proudly displayed.  Is it tea time yet?

5.  Rosemary Chicken Wings - I love Buffalo Wings, but let's be honest, they aren't exactly the healthiest.  So, I am always on the hunt for alternatives and these are my new favorites. This recipe is so good and I have already made it a few times.  It goes great with a side of football. 

I hope everyone has a great Friday and Happy Halloween!

Forbidden Pre-order Giveaway

Guys, I have an exciting giveaway to share with you today. It's a pre-order giveaway for Forbidden by Kimberly Griffiths Little.  They just added the addition of a Kindle Fire to the giveaway…how awesome! I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

On November 4th, HarperCollins unveils Forbidden, a seductive YA debut from award-winning middle grade author Kimberley Griffiths Little. Forbidden transports readers back in time to the deadly deserts and sweltering heat of Ancient Mesopotamia for a tale of danger, duty, and forbidden love. Jayden is on the brink of womanhood and betrothed to her tribe’s prince, cold-hearted Horeb. But when tragedy strikes, Jayden meets Kadesh, a mysterious visitor from the south who makes Jayden doubt everything she knows. Torn between loyalty to her tribe and the chance to escape her fate, Jayden must make a choice that will change her life forever.


Kimberley is also offering a HUGE preorder giveaway from October 6th to November 4th (release day!) to celebrate. See below for full details on how to enter. 

TO ENTER:

• You must preorder Forbidden through an online retailer or your local bookstore, then email a photo of your receipt to forbiddengiveaway@gmail.com.
• Fill out the rafflecopter below
• US/Canada Only
• Ends at midnight EST on November 3, 2014
• Optional entries: share the trailer on your own site or social media, follow Kimberley on twitter, and tweet about the giveaway (can be repeated daily for extra entries!)
• Winners will be announced and contacted November 4th (release day!)
• If the winner does not respond with their mailing address within one week, a new winner will be chosen.

PRIZES:

(1) GRAND PRIZE WINNER: 1. NEWLY RELEASED Kindle Fire HD6 Tablet with 6" HD Display, Wi-Fi, Front and Rear Cameras, 8 GB -- choose your color! (Black, Magenta, White, Citron, or Cobalt) 2. GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson 3. CHAOS OF STARS by Kiersten White 4. Satin Belly Dance Skirt 5. Belly Dance 150-Coin Hip Scarf 6. Red Silk Veil (not pictured) 7. Red Middle Eastern Earrings 8. Belly dance DVD: Sensual Belly Dance with Blanca, a professional dancer (technique, choreography, and performances) 9. "Will YOU risk it all?" button (not pictured) 10. Set of 10 Book Club Cards 11. Jeweled bookmark (not pictured)

(1) SECOND PLACE WINNER:

1. GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson

2. Red Middle Eastern Earrings

3. Red Silk Veil (not pictured)

4. Belly dance DVD: Sensual Belly Dance with Blanca, a professional dancer (technique, choreography, and performances)

5. "Will YOU risk it all?" button (not pictured)

6. Set of 10 Book Club Cards

7. Jeweled bookmark (not pictured)

(13) RUNNERS-UP WINNERS:

1. Red Middle Eastern Earrings

2. "Will YOU risk it all?" button (not pictured)

3. Set of 10 Book Club Cards

4. Jeweled bookmark (not pictured)

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Preorder: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

About Forbidden: In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart.

Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying.

With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself.

Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together.

Follow Kimberley:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

About Kimberley: Award-winning author Kimberley Griffiths Little was born in San Francisco, but now lives in New Mexico on the banks of the Rio Grande with her husband and their three sons. Her middle-grade novels, When the Butterflies Came, The Last Snake Runner, The Healing Spell, and Circle of Secrets, have been praised as “fast-paced and dramatic,” with “beautifully realized settings.” Kimberley adores anything old and musty with a secret story to tell. She’s stayed in the haunted tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland; sailed the Seine in Paris; ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan; shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria. You can visit her online at www.kimberleygriffithslittle.com.

Share your thoughts on the trailer in the comments!

Also, a big thank you to HarperCollins and Kimberley Griffiths Little for allowing me to host this awesome giveaway.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Wrong Side of Right

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

The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

Pub. Date: March 17, 2015

Goodreads says, "Kate Quinn’s mom died last year, leaving Kate parentless and reeling. So when the unexpected shows up in her living room, Kate must confront another reality she never thought possible—or thought of at all. Kate does have a father. He’s a powerful politician. And he’s running for U.S. President. Suddenly, Kate’s moving in with a family she never knew she had, joining a campaign in support of a man she hardly knows, and falling for a rebellious boy who may not have the purest motives. This is Kate’s new life. But who is Kate? When what she truly believes flies in the face of the campaign’s talking points, she must decide. Does she turn to the family she barely knows, the boy she knows but doesn’t necessarily trust, or face a third, even scarier option? Set against a backdrop of politics, family, and first love, this is a story of personal responsibility, complicated romance, and trying to discover who you are even as everyone tells you who you should be."

Publishers are describing this book as My Life Next Door meets Princess Diaries. Yes, please! Also, it says for fans of Sarah Dessen, which means it's an auto add to my TBR list. I love the sound of this one and want to read more books that involve political settings. What do you guys think?

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters I Want To Be For Halloween

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is focusing on Halloween. Being a book lover, I am always on the look out for great literary Halloween costumes. Here are the character I want to be for Halloween. Let me know what you think!

1.  Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Because she's awesome, obviously.  And because I have a strong desire to learn how to use a bow and arrow.

2.  Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby by F. S. Fitzgerald-  Who doesn't love the Roaring Twenties? Yes, to all things flapper.

3.  Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - My dress would be epic.

4.  Claire Beauchamp Fraser from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - My hair could definitely fit the requirement.

5.  Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling- Ok. I may have done this one year complete with a Hogwarts tie, cape and magic wand.

6.  Belle from the Beauty and the Beast fairytale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont - She's my favorite Disney princess by far.

7.  Mary Poppins from Mary Poppins series by P. L. Travers - Who doesn't love her? Now if only I could convince my husband to be a chimney sweeper and my son to be one of the Banks' children.

8.  Nancy Drew from the Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene - My favorite detective and cultural icon.

9.  Khaleesi from Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin - I have wanted to be her for Halloween for a few years now and make my son one of the dragons.

10.  Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote - I would try to channel Audrey Hepburn and I'd probably have a lot of fun carrying around a cigarette holder.

So, what do you think of my list? Who do you want to be for Halloween? Let me know your thoughts! This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Book Review: The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

Pages: 368 

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: October 14, 2014

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Olivia Mead is a headstrong, independent girl—a suffragist—in an age that prefers its girls to be docile. It’s 1900 in Oregon, and Olivia’s father, concerned that she’s headed for trouble, convinces a stage mesmerist to try to hypnotize the rebellion out of her. But the hypnotist, an intriguing young man named Henri Reverie, gives her a terrible gift instead: she’s able to see people’s true natures, manifesting as visions of darkness and goodness, while also unable to speak her true thoughts out loud. These supernatural challenges only make Olivia more determined to speak her mind, and so she’s drawn into a dangerous relationship with the hypnotist and his mysterious motives, all while secretly fighting for the rights of women. Winters breathes new life into history once again with an atmospheric, vividly real story, including archival photos and art from the period throughout."

Olivia Mead wants more for her life than to just marry, host parties, and look pretty, except she is living in the early 1900s in Oregon, where the general population is looking down upon female independence.  Olivia is caught attending a suffragist rally, which sends her conservative father into a tail spin.  Instead of talking with her about it, he decides to hire a famous hypnotist, Henri Reverie, to hypnotize her into being a docile woman content with her place in society.  During the hypnotism, he asks Henri to make it difficult for Olivia to talk about controversial issues and Henri also adds to the hypnotism that she'll be able to see people's true natures, which in turn, isn't something Olivia has bargained for.  Now she is able to see people for who they really are, which at times can be an extremely scary sight.  On top of this new complication, she is starting to have feelings for the charming hypnotist, Henri, despite her father's wishes that she aim higher.  The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters is a spell-binding historical read that blends supernatural elements perfectly. Not only did I find the historical details intriguing, the plot kept me turning the pages late into the night.

Olivia first encounters Henri at a theatrical performance where he hypnotizes her in front of the whole audience in The Cure for Dreaming.  Their relationship doesn't stop there.  As I mentioned, Olivia's father hires Henri to hypnotize her into being a "proper" woman and less interested in things like the suffrage moment.  Their relationship starts out as a friendship, but then slowly becomes more, especially when she finds out a little bit more about the real Henri. 

So, I am dying to talk about Olivia's father in The Cure for Dreaming. Wow!  I don't think I have actually hated a character in quite sometime and Winters did such a great job making him a dark and corrupt character. My skin crawls just thinking about him and his motives were just as dark. I couldn't wait for Olivia to get away from him.  He takes things too far and don't even get me started on his dental office….it's the stuff of nightmares!

Winters also does a fabulous job bringing the early 1900s to life in The Cure for Dreaming. I can't say I have read that many books set during this time period, so I found it all very fascinating. Plus, Winters incorporates many period photos as well as quotes from the time period, which only adds to the creepy atmosphere of the story and brings to life the time period even further. 

Even though The Cure for Dreaming is important in the fact that it deals with the women's suffrage movement, it also has some creepy supernatural aspects to it, which make it the perfect read for this time of year. If you like your historical fiction to be absorbing with a touch of paranormal, then I highly recommend The Cure for Dreaming. I know I will be checking out Winters' other novels as soon as possible.

Stacking the Shelves (59)

The Kennedy Wives by Amber Hunt and David Batcher - Thanks to Lyons Press and Netgalley

The Bargaining by Carly Anne West - Thanks to Simon Pulse and Edelweiss

 

Frozen (Heart of Dread #1) by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston - Thanks to Penguin

Stolen (Heart of Dread #2) by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston - Thanks to Penguin

So what do you guys think? Have you read any of these books? Let me know! This meme is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.

A Visit to Jane Austen's House

Jane Austen's House Musuem - Chawton, England

When I recently traveled to England with my husband's work and found out that the hotel we were staying at was in Hampshire, the countryside, I immediately started to plan our day trip to the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton.  I'm so glad visited and wanted to re-cap a few highlights with you guys.

Chawton village

Jane lived in this beautiful country home for the last eight years of her life. The quaint town of Chawton is absolutely adorable. I could have spent a whole afternoon just wandering the town. 

While living at Chawton, Jane edited Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey as well as Pride and Prejudice while living there. She wrote Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion while living there.  

The museum houses many Austen artifacts, such as her writing table, her much talked about turquoise ring, various pieces of Austen furniture, her books, and you can even view pieces written in Jane's own handwriting.  Also, on display was The Watsons, a manuscript, which was never finished. It was incredible to see Jane's writing and her editing with my own eyes.

Various displays at the Jane Austen House Museum - Chawton, England

I also really enjoyed seeing the original bakehouse, the Austen donkey carriage, as well as what Jane's bedroom would have looked like. She apparently she shared it with her beloved sister Cassandra; I had no idea they were so close.  Also on display were various costumes from Austen films, such as Mansfield Park.

Jane Austen's Writing Table - Chawton, England

What really struck me the most after visiting was the size of Jane's writing table. I, for one, would have definitely needed more space, but obviously this worked for Jane. I was very impressed. Could you guys function on a table that small?

I had a great time touring Jane Austen's House Museum. The Chawton "cottage" was beautiful and I loved seeing artifacts as well as personal items that were once Jane's.  The gift shop was a Jane Austen fan's heaven and straight up out of Austenland. I had to refrain from buying all the "I love Mr. Darcy" souvenirs which were affixed with Colin Firth's picture. Not sure I've seen that in the US! 

Me visiting the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, England

If you are a Janeite and ever find yourself in the English countryside, I recommend visiting this interesting house.  Let me know what you guys think of my trip to Jane Austen's House Museum and let me know what's your favorite Austen novel? (Mine is Pride and Prejudice, naturally, with Persuasion being my second favorite!)

Book Review: Compulsion by Martina Boone

Pages: 448

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pub. Date: October 28, 2014

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "All her life, Barrie Watson has been a virtual prisoner in the house where she lives with her shut-in mother. When her mother dies, Barrie promises to put some mileage on her stiletto heels. But she finds a new kind of prison at her aunt’s South Carolina plantation instead--a prison guarded by an ancient spirit who long ago cursed one of the three founding families of Watson Island and gave the others magical gifts that became compulsions. Stuck with the ghosts of a generations-old feud and hunted by forces she cannot see, Barrie must find a way to break free of the family legacy. With the help of sun-kissed Eight Beaufort, who knows what Barrie wants before she knows herself, the last Watson heir starts to unravel her family's twisted secrets. What she finds is dangerous: a love she never expected, a river that turns to fire at midnight, a gorgeous cousin who isn’t what she seems, and very real enemies who want both Eight and Barrie dead."

Barrie Watson has hit a rock bottom. Her mother has died and her caretaker, Mark, is now dying from cancer. Mark sends her off to her mother's sister, Aunt Pru, to ensure she has a stable family home.  Her Aunt Pru lives on a Southern plantation in South Carolina, which is very different than the life she is used to in San Francisco.  Barrie is interested in her family's past though and she is hoping her aunt can answer some questions about the fire that took her fathers life and led to her mother's disfiguring facial scars.  But getting answers is tougher than she thought and there are many secrets on South Carolina's Watsons Island, especially when it comes to the founding families, the Watsons, the Beauforts, and the Colesworth. The three founding family's history is entwined along with a very old curse.  Due to this curse, Barrie has the ability to find lost items and this "gift" has become even stronger now that she has moved to Watson's Island.  To add to the drama, she met family friend, Eight Beaufort, who simultaneously drives her nuts and charms her.  Barrie is also dying to meet her cousin, Cassie Colesworth, even if her aunt and Eight say not to trust her.  Martina Boone's debut, Compulsion, is the kind of Southern Gothic I love. There's a beautiful setting, family feuds, a slow burning romance, curses and a touch of paranormal. Highly recommended for fans of romance, Southern gothic, and the paranormal genre.

How could I not instantly feel for Barrie in Compulsion? Her mother has died and her mother's best friend and godfather is in hospice. So, now she finds herself living on a historic plantation with an aunt she has never met. To make matters worse, her mother never really told her about her life at Watson Island, so she has no clue what to expect.  

Thankfully, Barrie has Eight Beaufort to clue her in on things, but getting him to answer a question completely and honestly is going to be harder than she thought.  Eight is the kind of boy I love in a young adult novel. He's a genuinely good guy and their romance is a slow burn, which really worked in Compulsion.  Plus, Eight has his own "special power" due to the family curse, which I thought was a nice touch. All in all, I am definitely a fan of Barrie and Eight.

The setting was to-die-for in Compulsion. Seriously. Can I live there? I absolutely loved Watson Island and Boone did a wonderful job bringing a southern summer to life. I was completely enthralled with the huge plantation Barrie lived on filled with dusty rooms, locked drawers, hidden tunnels, and sprawling balconies. Plus, there's the eerie Fire Carrier who visits the plantation every night and the yunwi (spirits) who watch over the plantation.  It was so atmospheric and creepy! I can't say enough about the lush plantation, the decaying mansions, and the spirits that lurk every corner…it was right up my alley.

As I mentioned before, there are many paranormal elements in Compulsion and while I found a few things to be a little over the top (some of the scenes with the Fire Carrier); overall, it was done very well.  I liked how Barrie had a special power of finding lost items and it reminded me a bit of The Body Finder in that sense. Ultimately, Barrie has to figure out her family secrets and I loved how the spirits were trying to communicate the truth to her.  It definitely kept me in suspense.

Simply put, I am a fan of Compulsion and can't wait to continue with the Heirs of Watson Island trilogy.  I love all things Southern Gothic and Boone didn't disappoint.  In fact, this book will find its way on my "Best of 2014 list" for sure.  

Waiting on Wednesday: Sophomore Year is Greek to Me

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

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me by Meredith Zeitlin

Pub. Date: April 21, 2015

Goodreads says, "High school sophomore Zona Lowell has lived in New York City her whole life, and plans to follow in the footsteps of her renowned-journalist father. But when he announces they’re moving to Athens for six months so he can work on an important new story, she's devastated— he must have an ulterior motive. See, when Zona's mother married an American, her huge Greek family cut off contact. But Zona never knew her mom, and now she’s supposed to uproot her entire life and meet possibly hostile relatives on their turf? Thanks... but no thanks.  In the vein of Anna and the French Kiss, Zona navigates a series of hilarious escapades, eye-opening revelations, and unexpected reunions in a foreign country—all while documenting the trip through one-of-a-kind commentary."

Doesn't this sound like a fantastic read for next spring? I love a fish-out-of-water story and if it is in the same vein as Anna and the French Kiss, then it's the perfect read for me!  What do you guys think?

Giveaway: Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant

Halloween is almost upon us and what is better than a spooky read this time of year?  Today I am giving away a hardback copy of Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant. Doesn't it seem like the perfect read for this month? I think it may be just a little too spooky for me, so I am passing it along to one lucky reader.

Goodreads says, "I remembered my name – Mara. But, standing in that ghostly place, faced with the solemn young man in the black coat with silver skulls for buttons, I could recall nothing else about myself. And then the games began. The Messenger sees the darkness in young hearts, and the damage it inflicts upon the world. If they go unpunished, he offers the wicked a game. Win, and they can go free. Lose, and they will live out their greatest fear.  But what does any of this have to do with Mara? She is about to find out . . "

This giveaway is open to US readers only and the deadline is October 28th.  Please refer to my giveaway rules.  Good luck!

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Book Review: Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: October 14, 2014

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "When Julia Buchanan enrolls at St. Anne’s at the beginning of junior year, Charlotte Ryder already knows all about the former senator’s daughter. Most people do... or think they do. Charlotte certainly never expects she’ll be Julia’s friend. But almost immediately, she is drawn into the larger than-life-new girl’s world—a world of midnight rendezvous, dazzling parties, palatial vacation homes, and fizzy champagne cocktails. And then Charlotte meets, and begins falling for, Julia’s handsome older brother, Sebastian. But behind her self-assured smiles and toasts to the future, Charlotte soon realizes that Julia is still suffering from a tragedy. A tragedy that the Buchanan family has kept hidden … until now."

St. Anne's boarding school is filled with teenagers from wealthy and prominent American families, unless you are a scholarship student. And that is the case for Charlotte Ryder, an aspiring artist and sort of social wallflower.  Everything changes for Charlotte one night when she helps out intoxicated Julia Buchanan, a popular and wealthy girl at school.  Julia appreciates Charlotte's help and takes her under her wing, even renaming her Charlie.  Julia bringing her into her fast-pace world of money, parities, and mansions   The two become attached at the hip and Charlotte even spends time with the Buchanan family at their summer home.  Except there are many layers to the Buchanan family that Charlie must peel back slowly in order to figure out the truth as their family history has been paved in secrets and tragedy.  Plus, Charlie is starting to have feelings for Julia's brother, Sabastian, and finds herself intertwined into their family even more than before.  Chelsey Philpot's debut, Even in Paradise, is a sad sort of novel and one that reminded me of The Great Gatsby meets Gossip Girl.  Readers who like stories about privileged families and secrets will enjoy this deep novel.

Once Charlotte met Julia her world changed immensely in Even in Paradise. She started sneaking out of her dorm, going by the name Charlie and living a bit more dangerously. She would even visit the Buchanans at their summer house on Nantucket, which is very much different than the world she is accustomed to as a scholarship student.  She learns that the Buchanan family has some secrets, especially surrounding the untimely death of Julia's sister.  Julia and Charlie's relationship becomes a little too close to the point where I felt it was unhealthy. She was too immersed into the family, even dating Sebastian, Julia's brother.  I sort of knew where this was going.

Julia had that Jay Gatsby vibe in Even in Paradise. She was charismatic, rich, and sometimes unreliable. She threw caution to the wind on many occasions, drank too much and harbors many secrets. Ultimately, she wasn't over the death of her sister, Gus, and there was definitely a cloud of sadness that followed her.  I could definitely pick up on the Gatsby vibe regarding the character of Julia.  But the problem with Even in Paradise is I didn't care enough about the characters; I was merely along for the ride.  

I liked the whole aspect of a Kennedy-esque family taking in a working class girl and Charlie sort of becoming one of them, but I could see where this was headed in Even in Paradise.  Even though the twist was a tad predictable, I found the writing and the overall story to be somewhat compelling.  It didn't "wow" me and wasn't my favorite debut, but I could appreciate this quiet story focusing on families, power, love, and secrets.

 

Stacking the Shelves and Giveaway Winner (58)

This Shattered World (Broken Stars #2) by Amie Kaufmann and Meagan Spooner - Thanks to Disney and Netgalley

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray - Thanks to Harper Teen

The Look of Love by Sarah Jio - Thanks to Plume and Netgalley

Penguin Christmas Classics - including A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann, A Merry Christmas by Louisa May Alcott, Christmas at Thompson Hall by Anthony Trollope and The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol

The winner of The Darkest Minds series and the book light is …..Gabriela A.   Congrats! I hope you enjoy all the books and your book light!

So what do you guys think? Have you read any of these books? Let me know! This meme is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.