2010 Favorites : Sequels Edition

Remember all those amazing 2009 books that had sequels released in 2010? I sure do. I swear, I was a ticking time bomb, just waiting for these books to be released. And when they were, boy howdy, were they amazing.

Here are some of my favorite 2010 sequels. Needless to say, they all left me with something to look forward to in 2011.


I absolutely love Southern Goth, and it's in no doubt because of this book. Georgia + Casters + creepy other things = winner. With the way Beautiful Creatures ended, I had to know what happened next. Plus, who doesn't love a male protagonist? Ethan is an absolute sweetheart, and I absolutely adored every second I spent in his world. To top it off, he's in love with a caster named Lena? What a great name...Lena. Be careful with this one though. The ending is epic.












Remember The Maze Runner? The ending wasn't what you were expecting, right? Now, enter the next trial in this ridiculously delicious trilogy. Again, with the male protagonist, Thomas and the other gladers will keep you on your toes. Page after page, I couldn't put The Scorch Trials down. Over and over, I kept thinking "Wow, James Dashner is sick, in the best possible way." If you loved The Hunger Games, I highly recommend this book. However, if you hate cliffhangers, then maybe you should wait till the last book, The Death Cure, releases in 2011. In any case, you need to read this trilogy.






Some people waited years for this sequel. Luckily, I found Simone Elkeles through a good friend of mine (Tiger) earlier this year, so I didnt have to wait TOO long. With the events that happened in Leaving Paradise, it comes as no surprise that I couldn't wait to Return To Paradise. Get it?! I loved the romance, the emotions, the drama...I loved it all! My favorite thing about Simone's books is how she alternates the points of views so beautifully. They each have their own distinctive, unique voice.

And speaking of Simone Elkeles...







I don't think I met one person who didn't love Perfect Chemistry. While Rules of Attraction is part-sequel, part-companion novel, it still has all the Latino sizzle that comes with this trilogy. I have to admit, the story ran a bit like Perfect Chemistry, but that doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable. Instead of Alex, you have his younger brother Carlos, and instead of Brittany, you have Kiara. Don't worry, there's still glimpses into Alex and Brittany's lives, so that's a nice added bonus.


Last, but not least...







Why yes, this book was just release. Why yes, it is everything you love about The Dark Divine and more. Oh how I spent this whole year missing Daniel Kalbi. While love is in there air, so is Grace's wolfy issues. I swear, the thing about sequels is, it'll have your cringing one minute, heart-broken the next, then smiling for at least an hour. The Lost Saint will offer you action, a handful of romance, mystery, new interesting characters, and oh yeah, werewolves.






Some more amazing sequels I've read this year include Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (LOVE PATCH), Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (SAM!), Spells by Aprilynne Pike (TAMANI!), The Demon's Convenant by Sarah Rees-Brennan, Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund...I could go on and on forever. I absolutely can't wait to see what these authors have in store for us in 2011. Boy howdy, it's going to be an amazing year!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It highlights and features the most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Never Have I Ever by Sara Shepard.

Sadly, I could not find the summary for it. If you've read The Lying Game, you'll understand why I can't wait to read Never Have I Ever. With the way The Lying Game ends, I must know what happens next!

Oh, and if you find the summmary for Never Have I Ever somewhere in the blogosphere, please let me know!

I've read the release date to be either April 2011 or August 2011. I'm hoping for an April release, but predicting an August one.

Teaser Tuesday: Prom & Prejudice

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.
The rules are simple:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share 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 & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Prom and Prejudice, a modern day spin on Pride and Prejudice, written by Elizabeth Eulberg (author of The Lonely Hearts Club). This is from an arc so quoting is subject to change. I hope you enjoy it.

"Darcy was several inches taller than me, and he leaned his head down so our eyes locked.

I was face-to-face with the enemy." Page 88

Review : Fixing Delilah

Title: Fixing Delilah
Author: Sarah Ockler
Published: December 1st 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: ARC

Summary: Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery.

Thoughts: To be honest, I have yet to read Sarah's debut novel, Twenty Boy Summer. I know, I know, shame on me! But I do have it and plan on reading it. With all the great reviews for that and the great story line, I assumed Fixing Delilah would be a hit. Sadly, it didn't meet up to my expectations.

Fixing Delilah focuses on family, mainly the relationship between mothers and daughters. In this case, it focuses on not only Delilah's relationship with her mother, but also her mother's relationship with her grandmother. Throughout the book, you know Delilah's grandmother said something, did something, to Delilah's mother and aunt that kept them away until her grandmother's unfortunate death.

When Delilah first arrives at her grandmother's town, she runs into Little Ricky, her old childhood friend she hasn't seen in ages. Only now, Little Ricky goes by Patrick and isn't so little anymore. As their relationship begins to straddle between friends and something more, reality begins to settle in. Delilah can't seem to escape her problems from back home, nor can she help but wonder what happened between her grandmother, mother, aunt or the mystery behind her other aunt (who she was named after)'s death. And to think, she thought this would be a boring trip.

One thing I loved about the book was Sarah's writing style. Fixing Delilah was well written and with the mystery behind the Hannaford girls, interesting. You have to keep in mind that this book is more about family than romance. Yes, of course there's a bit of romance, but if that's what you're mainly looking for, I wouldn't recommend this book. Fixing Delilah is more about the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters.

The character I adored the most, though, has to be Patrick. He was sweet and oh so kind to Delilah. From the very beginning, you could feel the chemistry between the two. Even when Delilah tried to push him away, he was still there. Gotta love a loyal guy! Plus, his songs? So sweet!

The only issue I did have with the book is the pacing. I felt like the story dragged on and on. While there were interesting moments, the story overall lacked that certain zsa zsa zu. The mystery behind the Hannafords kept me reading, but even so, I can't help but show my disappointment. I guess I was hoping for some thing more. And though this wasn't one of my favorite reads, I would still recommend this to mothers and daughters who have ever had issues with each other. Believe me, you think you have problems? Wait till you read Fixing Delilah.

Rating:

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

BTW, HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!! I hope your's was as wonderful as mine was. Seriously, best holiday of the year. Now, onto the goodies I got this week.

From my Book Faery:
*Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
*Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Traded For:
*Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standiford

Gift:
*Entice by Carrie Jones

That's it for this week's IMM. So, what did you get in your mailbox? Leave a comment below, and I'll do my best to check it out.

Review : Fall For Anything

Title: Fall For Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: December 21st 2010 by St. Martin's Griffin
Source: arc provided by St. Martin's Press

Summary: From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

Thoughts: This is why I love Courtney Summers. She writes these amazing books that are so emotionally driven, it makes you feel like you're there experiencing all of it. Grief, lost, being lost, wanting answers to questions no one knows the answers to. That's what Fall For Anything is about. It's about Eddie's journey to find out why her father killed himself and dealing with the mess he left behind.

One character I absolutely adored was Milo. I love his friendship with Eddie. He's loyal to a fault and is clearly always there for her. He's her shoulder to cry on and would do anything for her. It may sound a bit cliche, but he's her rock. I love how he doesn't try to be strong for her, he IS strong for her. You can tell all of this is hard for him. How are you there for someone who keeps pushing you away? Needless to say, my favorite scenes were the ones with him.

Now, on to the shady. Beth is one of those characters you love to hate. She is Eddie's mother's best friend and is living with them to help keep order. Her antics were borderline cruel at times, but I found some rather funny. The way Eddie perceives her is just grand. Vitamin C, anyone?

As you can see from the summary, a guy named Cullen will play a key role in this story. I had a hard time understanding Cullen. While his character is necessary, I always felt he was a bit off. I did like how he grieved with Eddie. After all, Eddie's father was also Cullen's mentor. But Cullen as a person? Well, that's a whole different story I can't get into. Read the book, you'll see why.

For anyone who has ever lost someone, you must read this book. And even if you haven't, read the book anyway. If you love emotional reads that will break your heart, then mend it before it all ends, Fall For Anything is the book for you.

Rating:





Fall For Anything Goodies:
*Read a short story from Milo's perspective (told prior to the events of Fall For Anything).
*Interview and Fall For Anything ARC giveaway HERE.
*Read the first five (yes, FIVE) chapters of Fall For Anything HERE.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It highlights and features the most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Sweetly by Jackson Pearce. The cover shown above is what the arc looks like. It's the best cover shot I could find.

Summary: SWEETLY is a modernization of Hansel and Gretel and a companion book to SISTERS RED and FATHOMLESS.

Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen...moreSWEETLY is a modernization of Hansel and Gretel and a companion book to SISTERS RED and FATHOMLESS.

Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.

Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.

Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.

Why I Can't Wait: For those who have read Sisters Red, you'd understand why I can't wait to read Sweetly. I mean, Jackson Pearce is an amazing writer (and hilarious). To top that off, I love modern retellings of stories I grew up with.

Release date: August 23rd 2011

Teaser Tuesday : Fall For Anything

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.
The rules are simple:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share 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 & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers. This is from an arc, so quoting is subject to change. Also, it's a little longer than 2 sentences, but they're short and not spoilery. I hope you enjoy it!

"It's quiet between us lately. All the time. Sometimes I'm afraid my dad's death has stolen whatever sparked between us back in the second grade.

We never used to be ths kind of quiet"- Page 25

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. Another good week, and right in time for the holidays!

Bought:
*Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
*Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

For Review from the author:
*Solid by Shelley Workinger

Traded For:
*Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian (arc)

From my Book Faery:
*The Lucky Kind by Alyssa Sheinmel (arc)
*The Anti-Prom by Abby McDonald (arc)

For Review:
*Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg (arc)
*Entwined by Heather Dixon (arc/Around The World Tours)


Special thanks to Shelley Workinger, Point and ATWTs.


So you saw what I got this week, now it's your turn. Feel free to comment below, and I'll swing by to check out your IMMs.

2010 Favorites: Contemporary Edition

If you haven't noticed, I read a lot of contemporary books. I can't help it. I love the romance, the drama...I love it all. Since the year is coming to an end, I thought I'd share with you guys my 5 favorite contemporary reads of 2010. This is in no particular order. They're just my favorites.



For anyone who has ever been on a road trip or even dreams of it, this is the book for you. I cannot tell you how much fun this book is. From the hiking haiku's to the play lists and more, this book has loads to offer it's readers. But it isn't all fluff. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour also deals with several different types of loss and revelations. Plus, the romance? You really couldn't ask for more.







Boarding school? Boys? Paris?! Seriously, this is a formula for win. I absolutely loved the details Stephanie Perkins uses to not only describe the characters, but also the setting. I'm not kidding, this book made me crave pastries on several different occasions. And I swear, St. Clair is so swoon-worthy, he'll make your head spin.






The Cinderella Society takes good vs evil to a whole new level. I absolutely love Jess Parker's strength. She may not always do the right things, but she tries. And though this book is mainly about girl power, I can't help but love any scene involving a certain boy named Ryan. Deep down, the boy has heart, and I can't help but admire that.






Ever seen the movie Mean Girls? Well, take out the comedy, add 2 scoops full of cruelty, and you'll begin to understand what Some Girls Are is all about. At times, it's a little difficult to read. You feel like you're there experiencing all these things with Regina, and that's not exactly a good thing. But, like all great books, the author still leaves you with some hope, and even a swoon worthy boy to help you out.

Looking for a good cry, plus a book that makes you reflect on...well, life? Well, this is the book for you. From the first page to the very last, you'll constantly be asking yourself "what if". What if today was my last day? What if I could do things differently? What if even the smallest things could have a huge impact on the future? Would you do things differently? I can't tell you how many times this book had me on the edge of tears. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but most importantly, you'll think about what's really important in life.

While I have other books I really, really enjoyed this year (The Duff, Tell Me A Secret, Forget You, etc), these 5, in my opinion, were the best of the best. If you haven't read any of these books, I highly recommend doing so. They're fantastic! I hope you enjoyed my edition of 2010 favorites. If you have posted something similar to this, feel free to comment below. I'd love to check out your 2010 faves!

Review : Wondrous Strange

Title: Wondrous Strange
Author: Lesley Livingston
Published: September 9th 2009 by HarperCollins Canada / Other

Synopsis: For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her.

Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year.

This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her.

Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance.

Wondrous Strange is a richly layered tale of love between faerie and mortal, betrayal between kings and queens, and magic . . . between author and reader.

Thoughts: I actually read this a while back, recently picked it up and reread it. I forgot how beautifully well-crafted this story is. Lesley Livingston created this world that's not only enchanting, but also filled with love, danger and, of course, faerie games.

The book is centered around Kelley and Sonny. Through alternating points of view, each character shows you what it's like to be "something special." Kelley is a teenage girl who moved to New York to become an actress. She gets her first big break when she's casts as Titania in A Midsummer's Nights Dream. Then, she meets Sonny, who is anything but normal.

Sonny is a warrior for King Auberon, the Winter Faerie King. Every year, around Halloween, the gates between the Faerie world and the human world opens. The fey will try to sneak into the human world, and Sonny must make sure this doesn't happen. Being a warrior for King Auberon has it's perks. Sonny can sense every living thing around him, and that's how he first meets Kelley. She's a firecracker among sparks.

Slowly, both Sonny and Kelley not only begin sharing their worlds with one another, but also begin to discover the truth behind some, for lack of a better phrase, faerie tales. They both will find out who the other really is, and who they themselves are meant to be. And boy howdy, is it a glorious ride!

One thing I love about this book are the interactions between Sonny and Kelley. It isn't insta-love. You actually get to watch their relationship build, and I can't tell you how much I loved it. Though you can tell they're physically attracted to each other in the beginning, you still get the bits of drama, hatred, fear, and sizzling heat that comes along with passion.

Another thing I love about this book is how the author weaves in bits and pieces of A Midsummer Nights Dream. The references aren't overwhelming, nor lacking. It's just the right amount.

Last, but certainly not least, my favorite (and hopefully your favorite) category: swoon-worthy male. You know if I love a book, there has to be a swoon-worthy boy, and, in this case, his name is Sonny. He's sweet, fearless, loyal, and just all around amazing. I'm so grateful half the story is told through him. He has a great voice, and it needed to be heard.

Wondrous Strange does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, and while it's annoying (because cliffhangers always are), the story still wraps up quite nicely. After reading Wondrous Strange, I couldn't wait to read Darklight. I recommend Wondrous Strange to anyone who is a fan of Wicked Lovely or Eyes Like Stars.

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It highlights and features the most anticipated books. My pick this week is Forever by Maggie Stiefvater.

Synopsis: The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

Why I Can't Wait: Do you even have to ask? I absolutely love Shiver and Linger. While it pains me that this is all coming to an end, I still can't wait to see how this all ends, and how the events in Linger will play out. Sam and Grace are one of my favorite literary couples. If everything doesn't work about between them, I don't know what I'll do. *tear*

Release Date: July 12th, 2011

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.
The rules are simple:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share 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 & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser comes from The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong. This is from an arc, so please keep in mind, quoting is subject to change. Hope you enjoy it!

"My kicking leg caught on something. I tried to pull, but it tightened around my ankle. I went under, screaming. Water filled my mouth as it closed over my head."-Page 4.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.


For Review:
*Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers (courtesey of St. Martin's Press. St. Martin's Press so graciously sent me 2 copies. You can enter to win one HERE. )

*Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely/Faerie Courts #5) by Melissa Marr (A gift from my best buddy, Karen, over at For What It's Worth)

*The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (Around The World Tours)

*The Locket by Stacey Jay (Around The World Tours)

Crazy awesome week. One of the best hauls I've had all year! I'm seriously excited about reading Darkest Mercy. SQUEEE. So, what'd you get in YOUR mailbox this week? :)

New Contest Winners

Hey, y'all!

Since there were a few unclaimed prizes, I went ahead and drew some new names.

The winner of the $10 book of choice is...

ninefly! (unclaimed)

Fi-Chen!

The winner of Witch and Wizard and an arc of The Gift is...

Kapri! (unclaimed)

Ammy Belle!


Congrats to the new winners! I'll be emailing you shortly. Please email me back with your mailing information within 48 hours or a new set of winners will be selected. And, if for some reason you don't receive the email (b/c email will do that sometimes), feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com :)

Interview and Giveaway with Courtney Summers

Courtney Summers is the author of Cracked Up To Be and Some Girls Are. She's also one of my favorite authors. I'm sure you've heard me rave and gush about Some Girls Are loads of times. Her latest novel, Fall For Anything, is being released December 21st. AND, what better way to celebrate than to host an interview and giveaway featuring none other than Courtney herself?! Lets get started? LETS!

1. How did you come up with the title for Fall For Anything?
The title was a really last minute deal. For the longest time, me and my agent referred to FFA as THE EDDIE THING, but the book was very different then than it is now (that could've actually been the title, had it not changed so much between revisions!). So when it was finished, there were a lot of hasty brainstorming sessions. I was scrolling through my iTunes and spotted the song Fall for Anything by Jeremy Fisher (beautiful song), felt a click and sent it on as a suggestion to my editor. For a brief second, it was down to FALLING OBJECTS and FALL FOR ANYTHING but FALL FOR ANYTHING won out and I'm really glad it did.

2. What inspired you to write it?
I have always wanted to write a book that explores loss and grief. When my grandfather died during the drafting of SOME GIRLS ARE, I knew it would be the next book.

3. Out of all your books, who is the character you relate the most to?
I relate to all of my characters in different ways. I'm a bit cynical like Parker. Teenage Courtney has a bit in common with Regina. And like Eddie, I can have a hard time letting things go--but all in all, there's no clear frontrunner.

4. In Some Girls Are, Regina becomes a victim in quite a few cruel pranks. How did you come up with them ?
Setting and circumstance were the launching points for most of the Fearsome Foursome's cruelties. It was a matter of thinking of where Regina was and what could be used against her in that place (like the lockers), for instance. The most vicious of the abuse was very specific to Regina's situation and her relationships with people so that's how I came up with them.

5. Are you currently working on any special projects?
I'm finishing up the first draft of my fourth book, which is under contract with St. Martin's Press. I can't wait until I can talk more about it! I'm very excited.

6. What is your favorite thing about the holidays?
Family togetherness is always the best but also--the lights! I love looking at all the Christmas lights. And judging them. Mwahaha.

7. Lets do this Twitter style: In 140 characters or less, tell everyone why they should read Fall For Anything.
My very happiness depends on it. ;)

8. Last, but not least, is there anything you'd like to tell your readers?
Thank you for reading. :)

Courtney, thank you so much for dropping by!!! Now, onto the giveaway!




Because St. Martin's Press is so gracious and amazing, I ended up receiving an extra ARC of Fall For Anything. That means, one for me...

And one for YOU!

My only request is, if you win, you must review it. Whether on your blog, on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N.com, whatever, you must promise me, *pinky swear*, you will review it. Deal? Deal!

To enter, please fill out THIS FORM. The giveaway will only be open to US peeps. Sorry, folks. The holidays are sucking me dry! If you are an international participant and have a US address I can ship the book to, feel free to enter.

The deadline is set for December 31st, at 11:59PM CST, just in time to roll in the New Year!

Go forth and enter! I'll leave you now with the synopsis for Fall For Anything.

"From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Cullen seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?"

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It highlights and features the most anticipated books. For my WoW this week, I picked The Lucky Kind by Alyssa Sheinmel.

Synopsis: High school junior Nick Brandt is intent on getting a girlfriend, and Eden Reiss is the one that he wants. He has exactly four semesters to get the girl, but when the phone rings on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday night, life for Nick and his parents will never be the same. What had been a seemingly idyllic home life has become something else entirely. But with this shake-up comes a newfound confidence for Nick; he's become a bolder version of himself, no longer afraid to question his parents, and no longer afraid to talk to Eden.
Alyssa B. Sheinmel has written a powerfully gripping story about family secrets, falling in love, and finding luck in unexpected--and sometimes unwelcome—circumstances.

Why I Can't Wait: First off, I love the cover. Secondly, this just sounds like a great read. A bit romance, a bit mystery, what more is there to ask? While I've learned in the past that some synopsis can be misgiving, I don't see how this can be the case. Lastly, it sounds like this is written through Nick's POV, and I love me a male's POV.

Release Date: May 10, 2011

Blogoversary and Witch-Wizard-Gift Giveaway Winners

I know this is late...really late, but better late than never, right? We're going to make this quick and awesome.

The winner of the Contemporary Prize Pack is...

Alannah!!!

The winner of the Dream Catcher Trilogy is...

Scoot!!!

The winner of the $10 book of choice is...

Ninefly!!! (unclaimed)

Fi-Chen!!!

The winner of Witch and Wizard and an arc of The Gift is...

Kapri!!! (unclaimed)

Ammy Belle!!!


Congrats to all the winners! You will be emailed shortly. Please reply back within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. If you read this before I've had a chance to email you, feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com.

If you didn't win, no worries. I'm posting a new giveaway in the morning :)

Teaser Tueday : The Locket

Teaser Tuesday is weekly meme hosted by Mizb at Should Be Reading.
The rules are simple:

-Grab your current read
-Open to a random page
-Share 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 & author, too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from The Locket by Stacey Jay. Please keep in mind, the teaser comes from an arc, so all quoting is subject to change. Also, the teaser is going to be a little bit longer (b/c it's SOOOOO worth it!).

"'I would never have missed something that was so important to you. Not for anything.' His intensity was almost scary and completely captivating. I couldn't seem to move a muscle, no matter what the voice at the back of my head was saying."-Page 27

Review: Party Girl

Title: Party Girl
Author: Sabrina James
Published: January 1st 2011 by Point

Synopsis: From the author of SPRING FLING and BE MINE comes another romantic comedy sure to be on everyone's wish list!
When Brittany Pratt, former queen bee of North Ridge High, moves back to town after spending two years in London, the whole school is abuzz. But no one is more excited -- and maybe a little anxious -- than Brittany's former bff, and current North Ridge queen, Gretchen Brannigan. Gretchen is planning her dream sixteenth birthday party, and sharing it with Brittany is sure to be a blast ... right? Or will her perfectly Sweet Sixteen go sour?

Thoughts: Cute. Predictable, but cute. This is definitely a G-rated read, which is good for those looking for something their middle grader will enjoy. No profanity or anything!

Party Girl is told in third person and offers several different points of view. The main two are Carrie and Gretchen. They're best friends and have been since freshman year. Then Brittany, Grechen's old best friend, moves back. From the start, Carrie is wary of Gretchen's reunion with Brittany. But then, when Carrie's perfect life begins to fall apart, all signs point to Brittany. And thus, the drama begins!

One of the things I had issues with was the author's excessive use of exclaimation points. Everyone used them! Including the boys! Every other sentence seemed to include one! They even used them when the characters were whispering! (!!!!!!!!!). You get what I mean. It took away from the story, so I just wish there weren't so many.

One voice I wish was included in the story was Brittany's. It's always nice to see the villian's POV, and when she's the only one left out, it's not as fun. I would have loved to see what she thought of all the characters and how it all played out in her head. Plus, it would have been fun to see what she was up to instead of hearing about it second hand.

The plot itself was very predictable. At times, I felt like the author was reaching a bit when trying to develope drama. There weren't really any surprises. If you're an avid reader (and even if you're not), you know how everything will play out.

All and all, the book is a quick, easy read. I finished it in one night. If you're looking for something you don't have to think much about, this would be a good one. I would recommend this to you younger readers out there. To all you older readers, the story might be a little tiresome.

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