In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It was a great week for me. Ch-ch-check it out!

Bought:
*Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
*Entangled by Cat Clarke

Trades:
*Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

For Review:
*Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin
*Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
*Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer

***Special thanks to Bloomsbury and Natalie Palmer***

Review : Where I Belong

Title: Where I Belong
Author: Gwendolyn Heasley
Published: February 8th 2011 by HarperTeen
Source: Arc courtesy of Around The World Tours


Summary: Corrinne Corcoran’s upscale Manhattan life is perfectly on track—until her father announces he’s been laid off and she’s shipped off to Broken Spoke, Texas, to live with her grandparents. All alone in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the glamorous life she’s supposed to be living. But as she grudgingly adjusts—making new friends and finding romance along the way—this city girl begins to realize that life without credit cards and shopping sprees may not be as bad as it seems....

In this sparkling debut that flawlessly balances romance and humor, readers will grow to love sharp and sassy Corrinne as she goes on her totally reluctant but completely irresistible journey of self-discovery.

Thoughts: Very cute. I did have an issue stereotyping Texans as these boot wearing people with hick names, but it's still cute.

Where I Belong is a story about a girl named Corrinne, who's father loses his job and has no choice but to send her and her brother to live in Texas with her grandparent's. Used to living the glamarous and easy life, Corrinne has no idea what to expect. All she knows is that she must find a way back to her Boarding school and back to the life she's always known. Little does she know that Texas and those scoops of reality outside her New York life maybe exactly what she needs.

I'll admit, in the beginning, I wasn't really a fan of Corrinne. I don't know anyone who enjoys listening to spoiled little brats complain about how they have it so bad. Plus, I hated the way she treated her mother and brother. Throughout the book,however, you'll see her progress from a wannabe Sex and the City girl, to a more humble, yet still a bit the same type of person. Hey, at least it's realistic, right? Not everyone does a complete 180! The point I'm trying to get at is, her character grew on me. I liked watching her admire the cheaper-sometimes-free side of life. After all, aren't the best things in life free?

One character I loved from the beginning to the end was Corrinne's little brother, Tripp. He was just adorable and very mature for his age. If I had a little brother, I'd want him to be a Tripp. Oh, and lets not forget Kitsy. She's the first person to befriend Corrinne in Texas and is just a doll. She's a great example of Southern hospitality and what it means to be a true friend. She doesn't have much, and while she'd love to be a makeup artist/stylist, she still knows there are better things in life than clothes and social status.

Now, on to swoon-worthy boys. While this book is more about personal growth, there is still a nice touch of romance. The only character I felt drawn to was Bubby. He was only in the book a handful of times, but those moments were precious. Bubby and Corrinne have that "if a boy pushes you down, it's because he likes you" type of relationship. It's very charming.

Overall, I did enjoy Where I Belong. It was a nice, quick read with a bit of laughter, romance and fun.

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases the most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Hereafter by Tara Hudson.

Summary: Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

Why I Can't Wait: First of all, the cover? Haunting beautiful, and I'm guessing this book is going to be the same way. With the few reviews I've read on Goodreads, I know this is a book I don't want to miss. It sounds like one of those books that will break my heart, mend it, then take my breath away.

Hereafter releases June 7th 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 Tuesday comes from Red Glove (Curse Workers #2) by Holly Black. Since I'm reading an arc, I do have to warn you that all quoting is subject to change. Here we go:

"I want to tell her that I have some idea what it feels like to love someone I can't have. But maybe I don't. Maybe being in love with me really is worse than I can imagine"-Page 34

Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge Sign-Ups

Hey All! The Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge begins February 1st, and sign-ups start today. We're still arranging all the prize packs, interviews, etc, but no worries. You guys will be the first to know.

If you're new to the URC, it's pretty self-explainatory. Karen at For What It's Worth, Tiger from All-Consuming Books, and I are challenging you guys to write as many reviews as possible. Each review you write is an entry for your chance to win one of 3 amazing prize packs. Now, ready for some rules?


Rules:
*You must have a blog
*You must link your reviews HERE. Each of us has our own review links page, so be sure to post your reviews on Tiger's and Karen's blogs too!
*These must be real reviews, meaning more than just a couple of sentences describing the book. We'll be checking to make sure you're posting legitimate reviews!
*All reviews must have been posted for the first time during the month of February 2011. You can't just enter all your old reviews.
*No one review can be entered twice on the same blog. That doesn't mean you can't post the same review on each one of our blogs (for a total of 3 entries per review), just not the same review twice on one blog.
*This contest will be international. There will be 3 winners total!
*Contest ends February 28th, midnight, CST.
*Rules and regulations are subject to change depending on current situations. Don't worry, you'll be informed.

Thanks to the lovely Sandy at Scribing Shadows, if you'd like (and we hope you do), you can sport one of our URC buttons.




<br /><center><a href="http://addicted2novels.blogspot.com/2011/01/ultimate-reviewers-challenge-sign-ups.html"><img src="http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab77/Lena1xoxo/URC2.png" /></a></center><br /><br />

Sign-ups are below. It's simple:
*Under name, place your name @ your blog here
*Please leave a direct link to your blog
Example: Lena @ Addicted 2 Novels
http://addicted2novels.blogspot.com

Good luck, review tons and HAVE FUN!!!





**NOTE: The list below is a list of everyone who signed up before February 8th. As of now, please DO NOT sign up on the list below. Use the list above by clicking "Add Your Link". The list below is now closed, and will not add you to the sign-up sheet. If you have any questions, comment below or email me. Thank you so much for your understanding and patience!**

 59 entries so far... you're next!

---

Aine @ Aine's Realm Caroline @ Words & Whispers Ashley @ Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing Lisa @ Badass Bookie Sandy @ Scribing Shadows P. E. @ Tantalizing Illusions Daisy @ Between the Pages Small Review Amber @ The Musings of ALMYBNENR Vicki @ The Wolf's Den Mrs. DeRaps (DeRaps Reads) Kim (Where the Wolves Read) Candace @ Candace's Book Blog Misha @ My Love Affair With Books Steph @ Veggies & Books Reading Angel Danya @ A Tapestry of Words My 5 Monkeys Karen @ ocdaboutbooks Brodie @ Eleusinian Mysteries Kate (I Just Wanna Sit Here and ReaD!) Izzy @ My Words Ate Me Melissa @ Mel's Books and Info Cem @ Cem's BookHideout Alyssa @ The Babbling Bookworm Scoot @ See Scoot Read Sherry @ Semicolon Heather @ Proud Book Nerd Reflections with Coffee LiLi @ ChicaReader

Becky @ Bibliognome kai(fictionstateofmind) Kt @ A Book Obsession. . Lexie @ Poisoned Rationality Kristen @ Bookworming in the 21st Century Jen7waters @ Cuidado com o Dálmata Orchid @ The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia Azuree @ Sniffly Kitty's Mostly Books Logan E. Turner Smash Attack! Kristen ( My Bookish Fairy Tale) Heather @ Geeky Reads Natalie @ Mindful Musings molly (a dazzling distraction) Sara @ YA Vampire Books Stuff Young People Read The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler (Cuidado com o Dalmata) Rachel Star @ Under A Star Studded Sky Patricia's Particularity Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out Aleetha @ It's All About Book Nikki @ Wicked Awesome Books Heather @ The Hidden Bibliotheca Swords for Fighting Hafsah @ IceyBooks Midnyte Reader Mandi @ The Book Nymph Sarah @ Workaday Ramblings You are next... Click here to enter

Get your own FREE Linky Tools

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This week, Books-A-Million was having a great sale, so I went a little crazy. It was well worth it. I got some books I've been meaning to read, and for practically nothing!

Bought:
*Once Dead, Twice Shy y Kim Harrison
*Taken By Storm by Angela Morrison
*The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti
*The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti


For Review:
*Red Glove (Cursed Workers #2) by Holly Black

**Special thanks to ATWT**

Book Breakups

Book Breakups is hosted and inspired by Lori at Pure Imagination.

Did you ever start reading a book and just couldn't get through it? I know we should give every book a chance, but if I'm still not into it after 100 pages, I sometimes make the decision to call a quits. This doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad book. It's just not the one for me.


Why I Called A Quits: First off, I love the cover. Isn't it stunning? It's what originally drew me to the book. While the writing is elegant and there's a great concept behind it, I just couldn't get into it. I even cheated a little and started reading another book on the side. I know, shame on me. After a little over 100 pages, I decided to move on. Maybe down the line, I'll give it another go, but for now, it's time to look for something else.

People Who Loved Entwined:
Miss Havoc from Cry Havoc! Reviews
Katie from Katie and Words
Lacey from Lacey Shoe Laces

Waiting On Wednesday

Summary: For Nick Pardee and Silla Kennicot, the cemetery is the center of everything.

Nick is a city boy angry at being forced to move back to the nowhere town of Yaleylah, Missouri where he grew up. He can’t help remembering his mom and the blood magic she practiced – memories he’s tried for five years to escape. Silla, though, doesn’t want to forget; her parents’ apparent murder-suicide left her numb and needing answers. When a book of magic spells in her dad’s handwriting appears on her doorstep, she sees her chance to unravel the mystery of their deaths.

Together they plunge into the world of dark magic, but when a hundred-year-old blood witch comes hunting for the bones of Silla’s parents and the spell book, Nick and Silla will have to let go of everything they believe about who they are, the nature of life and death, and the deadly secrets that hide in blood.

Why I Can't Wait: This looks dangerously good. I mean, not only is the cover GORGEOUS, but the story sounds amazing! Plus, if you've ever been to the Merry Sisters of Fate site, you know what a great writer Tessa is. This book cannot hit shelves quick enough!

Release date: April 26th 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 Tuesday comes from Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls #1) by C.C. Hunter. Please keep in mind that this is coming from an arc, so the quote is subject to change. Here we go:

"Her gaze met his and her breath caught. Blond boy now had...green eyes. Bright, very bright green eyes. How was that even possible?"-Page 19

Birthday Giveaway

Guess what January 31st is? Clearly the end of January, but it's also my birthday. I know, exciting right? To help celebrate my birthday, I'm going to host a January book of choice giveaway. YAAAY!

*throws confetti*

The rules are simple.
*You must fill out THIS FORM to enter.
*You must be 15 and up OR have your parent's permission (please have them email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com).
*It's international, as long as the Book Depository delivers to you.

The winner will receive their choice of any January YA release (no more than $20) from The Book Depository.

Here's a helpful list of January releases:
Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen
Possessed by Kate Cann
Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
The Big Crunch by Pet Hauteman
The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone
The Water Wars by Cameron Stretchen

January 3rd-
Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell

January 4th-
The Faeman Quest by Herbie Brennan
House of Night series: Awakened by P. C. and Kristin Cast
Flirt Club by Cathleen Daly
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Chaos series: Invasion by J. S. Lewis
Taking Off by Jenny Moss
Dark Elite series: Hexbound by Chloe Niall
Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves
Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
Choker by Elizabeth Woods

January 6th-
Entangled by Cat Clarke

January 11th
All Just Glass by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Accross the Universe by Beth Revis
Warped by Marissa Guibord
Tigers Curse by Colleen Houck
Timeless by Alexandra Monir
Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Young

January 25th-
Drought by Pam Bachorz
Faerie Path series: The Charmed Return by Frewin Jones
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
Deviants series: Vesper by Jeff Sampson
Blessed by Cynthia Litech Smith

Paperback books:

January 1st-
Soul Screamers series: My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent

January 4th-
Faeriewalker series: Shadowspell by Jenna Black
Good Fortune by Noni Carter
Heaven Trilogy: Sweet Hereafter by Angela Johnson
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacquiline Kelly
Blood Coven series: Night School by Mari Mancusi
Wake Trilogy: Gone by Lisa McMann
My Name is Not Angelica by Scott O'Dell
Maximum Ride series: Fang by James Patterson
The Vampire Diaries, Stefans Diaries series: Bloodlust by L. J. Smith

January 6th-
XVI by Julia Karr

January 20th-
Subject 7 by James A. Moore

January 25th-
Seven Kingdoms Trilogy: Fire by Kristin Cashore
Iron Fey series: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Percy Jackson series: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan


This giveaway ends January 31st, at midnight CST. Good luck, and thanks for celebrating my birthday with me.

Ultimate Reviewers Challenge Input/Donations

Karen at FWIW, Tiger from All-Consuming Books, and I loved hosting the URC this past summer. You guys were so awesome that we wanted to do it again!

For those who are new to this, the Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge is where we encourage you to post as many reviews as possible. There will be 3 prizes (one from each site), and it'll be international. YAY!

We'll give you guys more details later. Right now, we wanted to ask your input on who you think we should interview (bloggers and authors). Any input would be much appreciate. Also, if you are an author or blogger and would like to donate anything (books, swag, used gym socks, homemade items, etc), please email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com. Remember, these prizes will be going to bloggers/reviewers! Isn't that grand?

Please fill out THIS FORM if you have any suggestions on who we should interview! And thanks for helping us out!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. To those who went to ALA and scored big time, I'm so jealous of you! My little pile looks so tiny next to your's, lol. Oh well, I'll be going to the New Orleans one in June. Hope to see y'all there!

Anywho, onto the IMM. It was a great week for me. I seriously have some fabulous friends!

For Review:
*Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls #2,arc) by C.C. Hunter

Won:
*Loser/Queen by Jodi Lynn Anderson + keychain

Gift:
*The Lost Saint (signed!!!) by Bree Despain

Bought:
*Across The Universe by Beth Revis

***Special thanks to Around The World Tours, Ellz Reads, and my awesome buddy, Catie at Book Bound***

Review : Choker

Title: Choker
Author: Elizabeth Woods
Published: January 4th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Cara Lange has been a loner ever since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, years ago. She eats lunch with the other girls from the track team, but they're not really her friends. Mostly she spends her time watching Ethan Gray from a distance, wishing he would finally notice her, and avoiding the popular girls who call her "Choker" after a humiliating incident in the cafeteria.

Then one day Cara comes home to find Zoe waiting for her. Zoe's on the run from problems at home, and Cara agrees to help her hide. With her best friend back, Cara's life changes overnight. Zoe gives her a new look and new confidence, and next thing she knows, she's getting invited to parties and flirting with Ethan. Best of all, she has her BFF there to confide in.

But just as quickly as Cara's life came together, it starts to unravel. A girl goes missing in her town, and everyone is a suspect—including Ethan. Worse still, Zoe starts behaving strangely, and Cara begins to wonder what exactly her friend does all day when she's at school. You're supposed to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger?

Thoughts: If one of Stephen King's books had a baby with one of Sarah Dessen's, the result would be Choker. I know what you're thinking, "but the cover is so nice!" Yes, but take a closer look. It's still a little creepy, especially if you flip it over and take a look at the back. The quote on the back is "What are best friends for?". Apparently more than just sleepovers and shopping dates.

Choker is part mystery, part thriller, and all high school drama. One thing I enjoyed about the book is the description the author puts into each character. Cara (being the social outcast) has many awkward and humiliating moments, and I could feel all of them. It was nice to see Cara transform because of Zoe. Her best friend gave her confidence, so that was nice. But then things took a turn for the creepy. One second, they have this nice friendship I could totally relate to, then the next, Zoe would come up with some incredibly disturbing idea or thought that gave me the heebie jeebies. I'm shuddering now just thinking about them. While their friendship wasn't exactly good nor bad, I will say it is unique.

For those who must have at least a teaspoon of romance in their reads (I know I'm one of those people!), there's Ethan. Out of all the characters, Ethan was my favorite. I loved his kindness and caring heart. His encounters with Cara were so sweet and genuine. I mean, this kid practically had me at hello. At times, I felt so bad for this kid. There's a lot going on, and he's pretty much caught up in the middle. Not exactly the place you want your only swoon-worthy candidate to be.

Though I did enjoy the storyline and the writing, I pretty much figured out what was going on 100 pages in. I think if I was younger, I wouldn't have figured it out so quickly. After all, this was written for the 14 and up crowd, and I haven't been 14 in ages. Even so, I was still curious as to how the story would unfold. Just because you know what's going on doesn't mean you know how it's going to end. And that ending? Wow.

While some may figure out the ending and some won't, I still think this is an enjoyable read. It's different than most YA books out there, and I completely appreciate that.

Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine. It showcases the most anticipated books. This week, my pick is Witches of East End by Melissa De La Cruz.

Summary(sort of) taken from EW Exclusive: After tackling vampires and hell hounds, Melissa de la Cruz is ready to get witchy. The author of the popular YA series Blue Bloods is releasing the first book in a new series, this time for adults, called Witches of East End. Centering around the magically inclined Beauchamp family, the series will take place in the same universe as de la Cruz’s previous books, and readers can expect some of her bloodsucking characters to make an appearance. “It’ll be more than a cameo,” de la Cruz told EW. “They are a little more integral to the plot than just coming by and saying, ‘Hi!’ They actually become suspects in the book’s mystery.” Witches of East End hits stores in June.

Why I Can't Wait: Are you kidding?! I'm a huge Blue Bloods fan so you can see why I can't wait for this to come out. And it's an adult book? I'm so curious to see what Melissa has in store for us now.

And look at that cover. Melissa gets the best covers. So gorgeous...want to touch it!

Release Date: June 21st 2011

Teaser Tuesday : Stay

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 Stay by Deb Caletti. This is from an arc, so be sure to keep in mind that the text is subject to change. Also, it's a little longer than 2 sentences, but their short. I figured that was okay. Hope you enjoy it!

"He leaned forward and I could feel his warm breath. He was going to kiss me, I thought. He waited, and so I leaned forward, too. I wanted that kiss."-Page 23

Across The Universe All Across The Web!!!

Did you know Across The Universe releases today. YAAAAY! Congrats, Beth! You must check this book out. It is AMAZING! To help celebrate the launch of Across The Universe, I wanted to post a view special goodies that are going around the web. First off, a few words with Beth herself:



Next, be sure to check out the fully launched Across The Universe website. And be sure to explore the ship, Godspeed! My personal favorite part about the ship is the Recorder Hall. Just look at it. Books everywhere. Definitely a book addict and historian's dream!

If you haven't yet, take a look at the Across The Universe trailer. It's pretty freakin' cool:


Here are some more links I highly recommend taking a gander at:
Across The Universe Facebook page
Beth Revis's Website
Beth's Blog
Beth's Twitter
Penguin Teen's Website
Penguin Teen's Twitter
Penguin Teen's Facebook

Finally, be sure to check out io9.com at 11:11am EST. They will be posting a 111 page preview of Across The Universe till 11:11pm EST. EEP! Epic!

I know there's a lot of excitement about it, but don't forget to grab your copy of Across The Universe. I recommend nabbing it from Barnes and Noble online. They have it for $10.52 (41 % off!).

Special thanks to Anna Jarzab and Penguin Teen for putting all this together/hosting this. And special thanks to Jeremy at Novel Thoughts for creating the banner.


*huggles*

Review : Shadowspell (Faeriewalker #2)

Title: Shadowspell (Faeriewalker #2)
Author: Jenna Black
Published: January 4th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin

**Warning: If you haven't read Glimmerglass yet, stop reading NOW. The summary will be spoilery**

Summary: On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?

Thoughts: What a great sequel! While Glimmerglass sets up the setting and story, Shadowspell takes you futhur into their world. Now, not only are their political battles and homicidal Faerie Queens, there's also the Erlking and his hunt.

Shadowspell takes off a couple weeks after Glimmerglass ends. Dana and Ethan are still debating their relationship- whether their friends or more than friends- and Dana's dad is still extremely protective of her. Oh well, though she knows there are a handful of people who would rather see her dead than alive, things aren't so bad. That is, until the nightmare of Faerie enter Avalon. The Erlking and his Wild Hunt are in town and has everyone terrified. Luckily, he can't hurt anyone unless they attack him first. Even so, Dana's dad insists to up her security. At first, Dana is hesitant, but after an encounter with the Erlking, she starts to understand why.

Then, something unexpected happens and completely shakes Dana's world.

Wow, while I liked Glimmerglass, I loved Shadowspell. There's just so much going on, but it's not overwhelming either. Needless to say, there really isn't a dull moment in this book. It's filled with action, romance, Faerie intrigue, and mystery.

First off, lets talk about the boys. Shadowspell introduces a new character/threat. The Erlking, while scary, is somehow still so sexy. I don't know how to describe him. Even though I know he's bad news bears, I still can't help but feel drawn to him. It feels like there's more to him than meet's the eye. You'll see once you read the book. He's the original bad boy, and what girl doesn't secretly love bad boys?

Then, there's Keane. In Glimmerglass, I'll admit that I thought his character fell a little flat. Well, in Shadowspell, you'll get to see more of his personality. Though it's still not much more, it's still something. As I got to know him more in the story, I started liking his character more. He maybe an arrogant prick at times, but he has a good heart.

Last but not least, there's Ethan. This poor guy just can't seem to catch a break. I feel like he tries to do the right thing, but doesn't think things through. I liked his character in Glimmerglass (and would have loved him had he not done some incredibly inappropriate things), but I think I'm finally falling for him in Shadowspell. Keep in mind, I THINK I am. Who knows where the rest of the series will take him! For now, in my opinion, he's the most swoon-worthy guy. Deep down, he's a good guy and is clearly trying to win Dana over.

And now, let's talk about Dana. What I love about this book is how her character unfolds from typical human girl, to Faeriewalker, to possibly something more. She begins to realize things about herself that either no one or only a couple of people know. What I don't understand is why she doesn't tell her dad or Finn. Whether it's to protect them or protect herself, I can't help but feel a bit irritated by this. Maybe it's her naive human nature? Who knows. I hope, for her sake, she starts opening up to those who can help her. Otherwise, I don't think her story will end well.

Overall, Shadowspell is an action packed adventure thrill ride that will have you begging for more. I can't wait to read Sirensong and am extremely grateful I only have to wait till this summer. If it's anything like Shadowspell, I know it's going to be good!


Rating:

In My Mailbox

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

Bought:
*Choker by Elizabeth Woods (love the cover!)

For Review:
*The Book of Tomorrow (arc) by Cecilia Ahern

Won:
*Wish by Alexandra Bullen (signed!)
*Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen (arc/signed!)

And that's it for me. Special thanks to HarperCollins and Alexandra Bullen. You guys rock! Feel free to comment and post links to your IMMs. I'd love to see what you got this week!

Review : Not That Kind of Girl

Title: Not That Kind of Girl
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Published: September 1st 2010 by Push
Copy: Arc

Summary: Natalie Sterling wants to be in control. She wants her friends to be loyal. She wants her classmates to elect her student council president. She wants to find the right guy, not the usual jerk her school has to offer. She wants a good reputation, because she believes that will lead to good things.

But life is messy, and it's very hard to be in control of it. Not when there are freshman girls running around in a pack, trying to get senior guys to sleep with them. Not when your friends have secrets they're no longer comfortable sharing. Not when the boy you once dismissed ends up being the boy you wants to sleep with yourself - but only in secret, with nobody ever finding out.

Slut or saint? Winner or loser? Natalie is getting tired of these forced choices - and is now going to find a way to live life in the sometimes messy, sometimes wonderful in-between.

Thoughts: If you've ever been the sarcastic, smart girl who knows boyfriends aren't everything, this is the book for you.

Natalie Sterling is your typical-but-not-so-typical girl who doesn't care what other girls think. She knows who she is, what she wants, what's right and what's wrong. At least she thought she did. After a messy election for student council president, she seems to be spending more and more time with Connor Hughes. You see folks, Connor is the quarterback of the football, and boys are not exactly high on Natalie's list of priorities. She knows what happened to her best friend freshman year and refuses to let the same thing happen to her. Boys suck, lets throw rocks at them! (kidding!)

The more time Natalie spends with Connor, the more she starts to fall for him. Her grades begin to slip, and she starts questioning her values. What's more important, your reputation or the chance to fall in love?

One thing I love about Not That Kind of Girl is the fact that it focuses on a subject most teen girls (if not every) can relate to. With a strong minded character like Natalie, you get to witness how difficult high school can be. Boys can be cruel, and Natalie knows this first hand. She's always aware of this, and while it's a good thing, it also makes her a bit of a pessimist. She has a difficult time just enjoying the moment. Though I adored her strong sense of right and wrong, I didn't like how she judged everyone. She thought she knew better than them and tries to take control of every situation. Sometimes people don't appreciate that, and sometimes it's best to let them figure it out on their own.

Thus, enter Spencer. Spencer is a freshman girl who Natalie used to babysit. Somewhere along the way, Spencer became Natalie's litte padawan. Well, that's what Natalie thinks. Sadly, Spencer isn't the type to let others tell her what to do. In fact, instead of being reserved and avoiding boys all together, Spencer uses her sexuality to her advantage. She literally "works it" in order to get her way. It was actually a lot of fun to read about Spencer's antics. They're pretty funny and very entertaining.

I like how the book offers the readers two incredibly different girls with different morals, and yet, they both still have good intentions. This also makes it easier for girls to either relate to one, the other or both. Both Natalie and Spencer know that boys aren't everything. They'll both stand up for the other without a care to what everyone else thinks. You gotta love that.

Then, there's Connor. He's a bit stereotypical for my taste, but still such a sweetheart. I adored the way he treated Natalie. He would do anything for her, even though he knows she's going off to college eventually, while he's staying behind. I just wished Natalie saw him the same way everyone else did.

As you can see, the book does focus a lot on girl power and pride, but also gives you a handful of romance. For fans of Jennifer Echols and Courtney Summers, I highly recommend this book. Due to it's sexual content and references, I do recommend readers to be at least 16 years old.

I'm looking forward to what Siobhan Vivian has to offer us next.


Rating:

Cover Alert: Passion by Lauren Kate

Remember, this isn't the 3rd book in the series, but rather, in a way, a prequel. On Goodreads, the summary reads "Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross and fought immortals at Shoreline, they lived many lives. . . ."

Lauren has stated on her blog that Passion is going to be about all the past lives Luce and Daniel have lived through together. I can't tell you how excited I am about this. What was missing, for me, in all the books were their past lives. Those were my favorite moments in Torment.

Enough about the book, lets talk about the cover. What do you guys think? Personally, this is my least favorite of the 3. It's odd to have cover Luce facing forward instead of having her back to us. I do love the contrast in colors. I'm guessing this book will have a darker tone than the others. I mean, after all, we know each life Luce has lived prior to Fallen did not end well.

Overall, while this is not my favorite cover, I still think it's beautiful. My favorite, of the three, is still Torment.

Special thanks to Goodreads for posting the cover. Gotta love waking up to new, beautiful book covers!

We Have A WINNER!!!

What better way to start the new year than with a winner? Special thanks to Courtney Summers and St. Martin's Press for helping me host this giveaway. Without furthur ado, the winner of the Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers arc is...






Mrs. DeRaps!!!



CONGRATS!!! I'm emailing you right now. If you see this, but did not get an email from me (sometimes they get lost in the internet world), feel free to email me at addicted2novels(at)gmail(dot)com. Please respond back within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

To everyone else, thank you so much for participating. Another contest is in the near future. This I promise you. :)

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It showcases the most anticipated books. This week, my WoW pick is Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams.

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Lacey wakes to a beautiful summer morning excited to begin her new job at the library, just as her mother is supposed to start work at the grocery store. Lacey hopes that her mother's ghosts have finally been laid to rest; after all, she seems so much better these days, and they really do need the money. But as the hours tick by and memories come flooding back, a day full of hope spins terrifyingly out of control....
“No one can get inside the head and heart of a 13-year-old girl better than Carol Lynch Williams, and I mean no one," said James S. Jacobs, Professor of Children's Literature at Brigham Young University, of her breakout novel, The Chosen One. Now this award-winning YA author brings us an equally gripping story of a girl who loves her mother, but must face the truth of what life with that mother means for both of them.

Why I Can't Wait: While this is different from books I normally read, I can't help but be drawn to it. Plus, this is from the author of The Chosen One, so you know the emotions and the plot will be beautifully written. I just hope I don't cry by the end!

Miles From Ordinary releases March 15, 2011 from St. Martin's Griffin.

Teaser Tuesday : Fins Are Forever

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 Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs. Fins Are Forever is the sequel to Forgive My Fins and releases in July of this year. Keep in mind, this is from an arc, so quoting is subject to change. I hope you enjoy it!

(Oh, and don't worry. It's from a Lily-Quince moment. *winks*)

"Before I'm done nodding, his lips are on mine. He gives me one of those long, soft, warm-all-over kisses that makes me forget Dosinia and Brody and the SATs and anything that isn't just enjoying this moment."-Page 77-78