The Line (1 ARC Tours)

The Line
by Teri Hall

Summary:
Rachel lives with her mother on The Property working for an older lady. The Property is far out from the cities, where the government is more brutal and unfair than out in the outskirts, near the Line - a section of the National Border Defense System - an invisible line that no one can cross. But there's more to Rachel's past than her mother is letting on and comes to light when the government pays a visit to the small town near them. What did Rachel's mother do and why do they have to keep a low profile? All of that changes when one day, Rachel hears a voice from The Line, calling for help. But rumors have it that those on the other side of The Line are different - in a dangerous way. Does Rachel have the courage to see who is out there that needs help?

Review:
I must say this book didn't really live up to the hype, but that doesn't make it a bad book. In fact, it was a quick and enjoyable read. I think I expected more from a dystopian novel, but the main character did seem to be younger and the book aimed more at a middle grade audience. Taking those factors into consideration, I found that this book had a lot of mystery in it, secrets from the past that come to light, and a sense of adventure to come.

Rachel has some room to grow in the book and hopefully will continue to grow as a character in any further books to come. I'm just assuming there's another book coming as the ending was very open ended. I myself want to see more of the character that appears later in the book and am intrigued as to what is on the other side of The Line. It was missing some of the intensity I was expecting this book to contain and things were a bit lightened up due to the audience this book was targeted at. I will read on if there are more books and hope to learn more about this world the author has created.

4/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads

*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the 1 ARC Tours in return for an honest review.

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The Cinderella Society

The Cinderella Society
by Kay Cassidy

Summary:

Jess Parker is always getting pushed around by a girl at her newest school. And the reason - she took her place on the cheerleading squad. Luckily, she's finally caught the eye of some of the nicer cheerleaders and they take her under their wing. Only, Jess finds out that they're not just being nice - they're a part of a secret society called The Cinderella Society. They train girls to become more confident and fight against the mean girls called the Wickeds. Will Jess be able to gain confidence enough to help defeat the Wickeds AND snag the boy she likes?

Review:
I have to say, this was the perfect book for me to read during Valentine's day week. I've been putting off the review because I really enjoyed this book and don't think I can suitably tell you why - but I'll attempt it. Jess is a sixteen year old girl who isn't sure of herself and wants to just meld in, but she has the potential to be a great person and even a leader. I love watching her transform and really starting to see what is inside of her and how to let that out. I loved the aspect of the secret society and the battles of the wits between her and her arch nemesis. And can I even talk about the romance? I'm so glad it wasn't perfect, that there was a bit of a trial to matching up Jess with her Prince Charming and trying to figure out if he really was the guy for her.

So, between the conflict, the fantastic characters, and the overall fun this book was to read - I'd say you have a fantastic book. Yes, it's chick-lit - not my usual type of thing, but it takes it farther and deeper. It still overall has a feeling of light-heartedness, but there's so much more. And can I say Secret Society any more.. I just love secrets, don't you?

5/5 Roses

Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads
Find it on LibraryThing
Find it on Shelfari

*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
**A copy of this book was provided by the author in return for an honest review.


**IF you leave a comment on this review, you get an extra entry in my contest for the signed ARC of this book.
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In My Mailbox - February 21st

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

For Review:
Something Like Fate by Susanne Colasanti
White Cat by Holly Black
Still Sucks to Be Me by Kimberly Pauley
Numbers by Rachel Ward
The Tempest by Nicole Peeler (for Borrow My Book Tours)

Won:
Shadow Hills bookmark (from An Addicted Book Reader)
Hourglass by Claudia Gray
All Unquiet Things by Anna Jarzab
The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Captivate by Carrie Jones
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Wish by Alexandra Bullen
Some sweet swag - (6 arcs and swag from The Compulsive Reader)

From the Library:
Scarlett by Cathy Cassidy
The Boy Who Dared by Susan Bartoletti
The Mark by Jen Nadol
Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt

Bought:
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce
Bad Apple by Laura Ruby
Clone Codes by Patricia McKissack
Hourglass by Claudia Gray
Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck
Big Fat Little Lit edited by Art Spiegelman & Francoise Mouly


And yes, I realized Hourglass is in there twice. Why? Because I could buy the hardcover early and get Claudia to sign it - so I did! :) So, that may be a future giveaway.

So, what did you guys get?

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Affiliates News!

I've picked my first five affiliates and there's still room for five more! See my post on Affiliates to check out what Affiliates are and how to become one.


1. Jenn from Book Crazy is a fantastic online buddy of mine. I just recently became an affiliate of her blog and wanted to return the favor. Jenn runs some great things over on her blog - including Music Mondays. I just love how friendly and open she is and how fantastic her blog looks with it's makeover.

2. Natalie at Mindful Musings is a fantastic blogger. I became an affiliate of hers when she opened it up to the blogosphere and felt guilty not repaying the favor right away. Natalie has fantastic reviews and we read a lot of similar books, so it's great to see her take on them.

3. Kate at The Neverending Shelf became my blogging buddy the past month or so and ever since we connected on Google Chat, we've done a few combined projects and help each other stay motivated and reading. I just love Kate and all of her fantastic ideas that we pull out of our foggy twenty some year old brains. She's definitely a fantastic blogger and keeps things real on her blog, which I appreciate a lot.



4. Eleni at La Femme Readers is another one of those fantastic bloggers that I simply enjoy all the books she reviews and chatting her up online. She runs a fabulous blog that really speaks to my inner chic side.

5. Last, but definitely not least, is WilowRaven from Red House Books. She has been a frequent commenter on my blog and keeps coming back. I love her blog and especially the reviews she has on it. She's one of the sweetest bloggers I know out there and I'm glad to have met her!


So, 5 more to pick. I'll probably cut off the applications next weekend. I'll include some affiliate news with this week's Monday post. :)

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Sunday Spotlight - Michelle and Leslie's Book Picks

Today I have with me a blog run by two sisters. Leslie is the younger reader and writes most of the YA reviews on the blog. She's stopped by today to tell you more about herself along with their blog. I wish I could get my little sister to read...

Name: Leslie
Blog name: Michelle and Leslie's Book Picks
Blog URL: http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com

Tell me a bit about yourself.

Aloha! My name is Leslie and I'm in the eighth grade. I just turned 13 years old in November. My favorite color is light blue and I love to eat Chinese food especially orange chicken (yum!). I live in Hawaii and even though I like going to the beach sometimes I prefer to stay at home and read--I don't like getting sand on my books! My favorite genre to read young adults and in particular paranormal and fantasy YA.

When and why did you start your blog?

I reviewed my first book (The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong) on Halloween last year and that was when I officially started blogging. My sister Michelle (she reviews mostly romance novels but also reads YA) actually asked me to write a review for the blog because she wasn't reading much around that time because she was busy with her new job and wanted to have a review posted for the blog.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?

After I posted my first review, my sister talked me into reviewing more and before I knew it, I was doing regular review posts. My sister changed the name of the blog to what it is now and it became a part-YA and part-romance blog--that's what our blog is all about. My sister reviews romances and I review young adult books.

We will be starting a new weekly feature soon that will list our favorite books called "Friday Favorites" and each week we will have a short list of our favorite books. One week could have our favorite paranormal series, the next week might have our favorite YA books, another week might have our favorite fairy tale remake books and so on--this feature will hopefully introduce our followers to more titles and authors out there.

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?

I just recently read Vampire Academy and it was strangely addicting. I really, really want to read the next book in the series. Right now I am reading Catching Fire and loving it! The Hunger Games series is my sister's and my new book obsession. We are Team Peeta all the way!! WOO-HOO!!!

How do you find out about the books you read?

I mostly find out about books I read from my sister. She visits many YA book blogs and lets me know about any YA book she finds interesting or ones that are to be released. I also like to browse bookstores and our local public library.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?

I think you can definitely start a book blog. Just go for it! As long as you have a love for reading and books and can dedicate some time to writing reviews, it's doable. It's a lot of fun so don't take blogging too seriously. If you want people to know about your blog, take the initiative first step by following a blog and leaving comments--according to my sister, that's how other bloggers find you and how you can find readers for your blog.

Mahalo nui loa to Kristen for having me here today and letting me share about our book blog!


And thanks to you too Leslie! Check out her and Michelle's blog and leave some comment love!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at dragonzgoil (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Book Signings

Here's a calendar of the events which I plan on attending here in Illinois. I hope I see some of you there! I'll be updating this calendar frequently.


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Saturday Spotlight - The Lost Entwife

Today I have with me a fun blogger who loves reading and the library! Read more about Lydia below.

Name: Lydia
Nickname and/or blog name: The Lost Entwife
Blog URL: http://thelostentwife.net

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I'm a 33 year old single gal living in Georgia. For my "job" I help my ex-brother-in-law with the raising of my niece and nephew (it's a long story!) and I wouldn't give it up for the world. I've also been playing piano since I was 4 years old and love playing everything from classical music to Disney songs for my niece to dance to.

I started reading around age 4 as well. I was home-schooled most of my life, and am the eldest of nine children so our big outing each week was to the library. My mother, in an attempt to keep track of the books, would only allow each of us 2 books! But I would sneak out more than that. I'd usually check out 5-6 and hide them in my bag, my shirt or wherever I could until I could get home and run up to the 3rd floor to my room. I've usually have them read in just a few days.

Today I am always pushing my library's 75 book checkout limit. I have them organized by piles and stacked in the series order (if there are series). I read them all in time for me to bring them back and never have to worry about late fees! I usually average about 35-40 books a month.

When and why did you start your blog?

I actually started my blog as more of a family blog in 2007. It wasn't until a few months ago that I really got into GoodReads and began to seriously review books. I've been getting more into my stride and decided for a New Years Resolution this year to purchase my own domain and make the leap. I love reading, clearly - and I love recommending books. I'm a shy person and I've found that the more diverse my reading, the more I find myself at ease talking to strangers that I meet. I wanted to provide an outlet for people who might not know what to read outside of their usual genre to go to. My friends have told me that they love how I write about how the book made me feel and a general summary without ever giving anything away.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?

Books, books and sometimes life! I've joined several challenges, I am hosting one giveaway a month this year and I am hoping to start getting some Author Chats going!

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?

Oh man, that's a rough one. I love literary gothic type books. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon was one of my more recent favorite reads. I also really liked The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan which is an apocalyptic YA read.

How do you find out about the books you read?

I actually have a post series on how I select books! I use everything. I take pictures of books in B&N with my cell phone and then upload them to put them on my "to-read" list. I use GoodReads, Amazon recommendations, the library's lists of what's new and their list of debut authors. I use friend recommendations and I read a ton of other book blogs! Two of my favorites are http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/ and http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?

Look around at other blogs in the genre you want to start and just start experimenting! My blog changes almost daily as I find new widgets and plugins to add, and I love playing with it! And it's really not that hard. If you are a brand spankin' new beginner, use a program like blogspot or wordpress.com and just play around. Promote your blog on Twitter and Facebook and get your friends to start reading! They'll help spread the word.

Giveaway alert!
Lydia is currently giving away a copy of The Magician's Elephany by Kate DiCamillo. Make sure to enter on her blog. Hurry because it ends February 28th at 9 pm EST!


Thanks for stopping by Lydia and telling us more about your blog!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at dragonzgoil (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Raised by Wolves (Around the World Tours)

Raised by Wolves
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Summary:
Bryn's family was killed by a lone werewolf when she was 4 years old. Saved by the local werewolf Alpha, she was taken under his wing, marked and became part of their pack - even though she is still human. Adopted by the human wife (Ali) of one of the pack members, Bryn is at home with the pack. When Bryn finds out another victim was bitten and turned by a lone wolf, she finds herself drawn to talk with him - to relate her experience to her own. But, in order to even meet with Chase, Bryn must follow pack rules and abide by the conditions set down by the Alpha and possibly lose a little of herself by opening up fully to the pack. Will Bryn be able to keep all of the conditions and what will happen to her if she doesn't?

Review:
Bryn is one of those kick butt type of characters that really lives up to your expectations. She has a personality, an insane amount of resilience and the type of motivation and gumption that makes you go "WOW". Take her, add a werewolf best friend who takes to breaking out in random showtunes (male mind you), a gun-toting werewolf girl friend who is up for all adventure, and of course, Chase - the werewolf Bryn connects with beyond anything you can imagine - and you've got some great character interactions. And even the smaller characters are so colorful they stick in your mind.

The plot is fantastic. It has a few building points that simmer down for a bit in between crucial parts of the plot - but it all works. I really don't know how I could put this book down before bed. It pulls you in, gives you the action you want, but also the time in between to catch up with characters you've missed and enjoyed watching interact. Also, the book follows Bryn and is a bit in her head, which works because the author keeps enough distance that you understand who she is, but you're not ready to go crazy with how her brain works.

There's also the twists. Oh, how I love my twists. You learn there's more to Bryn, more to a lot of the characters than is right out there for you to see. I liked how the past was brought in, but a bit at a time, melding with the plot to show what actually happened to Bryn and her parents, why the events occurred the way they did.

I'll probably be pre-ordering a shiny copy of this book, because it was amazing. Seriously. I liked this more than Shiver even - don't kill me Shiver-lovers - but this had all the extra action I needed. Yes, the romance was a little set aside, but trust me - if it was unleashed it would definitely be in the adult section - you can just feel the passion between Bryn and Chase and it's so animalistic and magical, but there's more to their bond and it works. I won't say much more than that. Read. This. Book.

5/5 Roses

Other Reviews:
Persnickety Snark

Preorder it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads
Find it on LibraryThing
Find it on Shelfari

*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.
**I received a copy of this book via Around the World Tours.

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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.



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Author Safari (3)

Come take a journey into the undiscovered territory of the Author. Authors are an interesting species... they provide readers with hours of entertainment... yet they remain mainly aloof from the public eye. Based on years of research, Kate and I discovered that the secret to learning more about these aloof creatures is to observe them in their natural environment. Therefore, dear readers, we will be hosting an Author Safari twice a month to lead readers into this unexplored territory. So grab your equipment and let's head off for an adventure!

Rules of the Safari:

* Adventurers must leave all hands and feet inside the vehicle, and may only travel on the below mentioned paths.
* 2 clues will be given regarding the item that we are searching for: one on The Neverending Shelf and one on Bookworming in the 21st Century. Items will generally be in image form.
* In order to be entered for this week's prize, readers must venture out to the hosts and author's sites listed. Once the adventurer believe that they have found the item in question, they must fill out the form listed on either host's Safari page. Please enter only once on either of the forms.

Author of the week:
Kristin Walker

Profile: Kristin is a debut author that just had her first book release this month. A Match Made in High School is her first young adult novel and hopefully not her last. Kristin is a humorous woman who enjoys being with her three boys and chatting up online author friends.

Journey into this author's natural habitat by visiting:

http://www.kristin-walker.com/

For Clue #1, please visit The Neverending Shelf

Clue #2: A doodle that could very well take flight.


Prize:
I'm giving away my signed ARC of Kristin's novel A Match Made in High School along with some cool swag.

To enter:

Please fill out the form below. Contest is open to US & Canada until Monday, February 22nd @midnight CST.

Happy Hunting!

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Affiliates!

I am jumping on the bandwagon.

Alright, the catch-phrase is Affiliates and the game is.. promotion and collaboration.

What do you get out of it?

• Your blog button will be placed in a special Affiliates section on my sidebar.
• Any types of contests or events held on your blog will get promoted every few weeks here on my blog.
• If you wish to, you may guest blog/review on my blog.
  
• Other events/fun things may crop up in the future.
  

What do I get out of it?

• Community building!
  
• A day off when you guest blog or review!
• Being able to collaborate with some awesome bloggers on random projects/ideas/etc.

Now, I will be selecting Affiliates based on how long they have been blogging, what kind of blog they run, how committed they are, etc.

So, fill out this Application Form (based off of Kate's own form).
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It's Monday, What are you Reading?

This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Read this past week:
Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (review coming)
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy (review coming)
A Match Made in High School (review coming)

Currently Reading:
Meridian by Amber Kizer
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Sucks to be Me by Kimberly Pauley
Magyk by Angie Sage

Upcoming:
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Line by Teri Hall
Tourist Trap by Charles Ogden
Pet's Revenge by Charles Ogden
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasharas


News!

• I hope everyone had a happy Valentine's day! I know I did. I went to a V-day book signing with Kimberly Pauley, Kristina Springer and Kristin Walker. There was a lot of goodies and it was fun to see Kristina trying to convince people to come over and have some freebies. I got my ARC of A Match Made in High School signed and then Kimberly signed an ARC of her 2nd book Still Sucks to Be Me - I saw on her blog that she was going to have a few copies with her. I was the only blogger/fan who showed up and we stayed for a good hour and a half. Kristina was successful at getting some other people to come over and a few even bought some of the books! :-D
  
• Then, my hubby and I went out for dinner and off to see Percy Jackson and the Olympians - which was pretty good. :)
• Here's a few pics of the signing:

My hubby and me! :)
(Yep, our first V-day married!!!)

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In My Mailbox - February 14th

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren.

For Review:
Dead Guy Spy by David Lubar
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (via Around the World Tours)

Won:
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson (from Reading with Tequila)
Shadow Hills signed bookmark (from Casey at A Passion for Books)

Goodreads Swap:
The Crow by Allison Croggon
The Singing by Allison Croggon

Bought from bookcloseouts.com:
The Wish House by Celia Rees
Spirit by J.P. Hightman

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Sunday Spotlight - Lovely Miss Lucy

Today I have with me a fun new blogger who just started her blog in December and it's already eye-catching and fantastic. Check her out below!

Nickname and/or blog name: Lovely Miss Lucy
Blog URL: http://www.delightfulreviews.blogspot.com

• Tell me a bit about yourself.

Well, a bit about myself huh? Well, I'm an obsessive reader who is currently living on books, food, water, and anime!

• When and why did you start your blog?

I started in early December. Usually, a lot of people would say they were inspired to do this because of other great bloggers, but I wasn't inspired. In fact, I just a had a lot of time to kill, so why not? ;)

• What is your blog all about?

It's all about the YA books, baby!

• Any cool features you want to share?

I do In My Mailbox, On My Wishlist, and Waiting on Wednesdays! I'm soon going to start Anticipating on Tuesdays, in which you blog about one thing you're waiting for in the mail. (This idea was inspired by Tales of Whimsy)

• What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?

Some of my favorite books? The Lightning Thief is one. Another favorite would be Hush, Hush and The Upstairs Room.

• How do you find out about the books you read?

Well, I read a lot of lovely bloggers' reviews. Sometimes I go on Goodreads to check out new YA books, but I don't go there too often.

• Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?

Tip #1: Don't expect people to be following you after the first two weeks.

Tip #2: It's kind of annoying when people comment on bloggers' reviews saying: "Good review. CHECK MY BLOG AT www.idon'tknow?(dot)com". What I'm saying is don't go trying to promote yourself on other bloggers' blog. It's annoying and no one will visit your blog.

Tip #3: Just make a blog! It's fun to meet new bloggers, and it's just awesome. Warning: It is addicting ;)


Contest Alert!
Currently, Lovely Miss Lucy is holding a 50 follower contest for a hardcover copy of Beautiful Creatures and some swag! Check it out!

Thank you Lovely Miss Lucy for stopping by and sharing more about yourself and your blog. Check her blog out, you won't be disappointed!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at dragonzgoil (at) gmail (dot) com.

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Saturday Spotlight - Story on a Page

Today I have with me a college student blogger who just got back into reading and decided to start a blog up. Find out more about her below!

Name: Angel
Nickname and/or blog name: ninefly @ story on a page
Blog URL: http://angeltyuan.blogspot.com


Tell me a bit about yourself:
I'm a university student majoring in media theory with a minor psychology. I love stories in all its different forms, whether it's books, tv shows, movies, or even song lyrics.

When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog late October of 2009. Around that time I was waiting for a new laptop to arrive and was without the Internet to distract me, so I picked up a few novels I've been neglecting and started to become addicted to reading again. This blog was basically somewhere I wanted to archive all the thoughts I had on the books I've finished because I'm a hopelessly forgetful person.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
My blog is mainly a place to dump my slightly lengthy book reviews (I offer an "overall rating" blurb for tl;dr readers though). I participate in weekly memes for almost every week of the day in order to share titles from my wishlist and TBR pile.

One feature I have recently started on my blog is called "Cover Cravings", where I post 5-10 cover images every Friday that fit a specific weekly theme - could be art style, artist, or colour schemes. It's basically a meme that celebrates book covers as pieces of art. If people would like to participate/contribute their own additions to the weekly theme, I may put up a Mr. Linky, but for now comments are open for links =)


What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
I love books of all genres, mainly because I am a fan of "stories" in general. I like fantasy, sci-fi, mystery/thriller, historical, urban fantasy, slice-of-life, superheroes, graphic novels...the only genre I tend to avoid is pure romance (though not including paranormal romance). Half of what I read is probably considered adult fiction, but I'm starting to really enjoy YA novels as well.

How do you find out about the books you read?
I find a lot of recommendations from fellow book bloggers that participate in memes like Wishlist Wednesday or In My Mailbox. Other times I prowl goodreads or Amazon recommendation lists.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
I personally think a very important part of maintaining a good blog is to make the content easy to access and read - in other words getting a good layout. It doesn't need to be fancy, just organized and with a readable font. Be especially careful with colours too, don't scare readers away with too much brightness or contrast (ex. incredibly bright reds).

Another thing is to visit other blogs and leave insightful comments that might interest the blog owner to visit your site, rather than saying "that's awesome! now look at my blog!" Participating in weekly memes like I've mentioned before also helps visitors find new books and brings traffic to your site.

CONTEST ALERT
Angel is having a 50 follower contest! You could win a $5 Amazon gift card or a custom layout! Check it out over at Story on a Page.


Great advice Angel! I've really enjoyed Angel's blog personally, she's got a knack for design, so even though she's fairly new her site looks fantastic!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at dragonzgoil (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Jekel Loves Hyde

Jekel Loves Hyde
by Beth Fantaskey
Release Date: May 3, 2010

Summary:
Jill Jekel's life has taken a turn for the worst. Her father was murdered in his own car and then during the investigation, they found that he had stolen expensive chemicals from labs in the area for his experiments. But Jill's father didn't just steal chemicals, he stole all of her college money. So, when the chance to enter a science competition and earn $30,000 towards her college tuition comes up, she seriously contemplates entering.

Tristan Hyde has a dark secret. His grandfather told him that there is a beast lying inside of him, waiting to take over forever. When Tristan hears about the science competition, he decides to ask Jill Jekel to help him recreate the famous Jekyl and Hyde experiment to help save himself from the beast inside. But is that his only motive, or is there something so appealing about Jill Jekel that Tristan can't keep away?

Behind all of this is the mysterious murder of Jill Jekel's father, his shady experiments and what it will mean for Hyde and Jekel to join forces and try to solve an experiment that may have never existed. Will Jill and Tristan succeed before the monster takes Tristan over completely?

Review:
I really ate this book up. I love how Jill is a nerdy, self conscious girl, but yet, she's not a complete pushover. She's strong in her own ways, even if she doesn't care to wear revealing clothes, flirt with boys, and keeps to her studies. Tristan is definitely a bad boy, but one who has the potential to be good. I love the play off the novel inside this book, the old copy Tristan keeps close to him thanks to his grandfather.

Also, there's some twists in this book, that you sort of see coming but still - it's nice to have something more unexpected show up. I have to say this book was definitely different from anything I've read in a while. There are distinct changes that jump out at you. I actually paused reading it for a day after I met one climax to contemplate what would happen next, where the story would take the reader. I really liked that aspect - there's definitely turning points for both Jill and Tristan that are so distinct you have to take a step back and look at the path that led them to those changes.

Overall, the plot was fantastic, the characters intriguing and a bit abnormal and some fantastic paranormal elements - which always is a thrill for me to read.

I really loved Beth's first book on audio, so I'll be looking for this one as well when it comes out. Sometimes listening to a book takes you that much deeper into it.

5/5 Roses


Buy it on Amazon*
Find it on Goodreads
Find it on LibraryThing
Find it on Shelfari

*If you buy this book on Amazon through the link above, I will receive a small portion of the sales.

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Cinderella Society Giveaway!

I will be giving away my signed ARC of The Cinderella Society (Thank you Kay!) just in time for Valentine's Day - because I loved this book! I'll be reviewing it later this weekend, so stayed tuned for that! I'll give you an extra entry if you leave a comment on the review.

Rules
1. Contest will end Friday, February 26th at 8:00 pm CST time.
2. Open to US & Canada.
3. Fill out the form below to enter.

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Ginger High

Ginger High
by Melissa Burmester

Summary (From Goodreads.com):
Ginger High is no ordinary school. It is a school for students with special powers. Many years ago people came to Earth from the Kingdom of Animist, a parallel universe. Two long time friends, Matthias and Amanta, attended the school and then returned home to Animist. The school has had many unexplained deaths. Daisy Fisher attends the school after her old school burns down. Matthias and Amanta are called back to the school to help solve the mysteries. What are powers? And what is with this crazy school? Welcome to Ginger High.


Review:
How to put this nicely... I did not enjoy this book. My husband was ready to kill me because I kept on reading paragraphs out loud and saying "What????". And he was EVEN more surprised when I actually finished it. And this is why:

I'm breaking it down to really explain what is wrong with this book...

The characters are bland, often described only by name or as their gender. At times, you're not even sure who the adults are and who the kids are - because there is a severe lack of characterization in both description and dialogue. Also, when you have a lot of characters and none of them stick in your head, it's hard to keep track of them and the plot.

Plot - The biggest clue of a problem with plot is if your readers have no clue what is going on. I mean, at some point it focuses to solving a string of murders. The jumping time frame really messes with your head as well. I felt like there really wasn't a central plot bringing everything together.

Fantasy elements - I love the idea of another world - Animist - unfortunately, when the characters are in Animist - well, there is a severe lack of description and you only know the characters are there because the author blatantly points it out. Vampires were also a predominant feature but even though they were evil, they weren't all that scary. Again, because of the bland descriptions or lack thereof.

What stuck with me: The ominous descriptions of wooden bracelets.

I feel severely guilty writing this review. I understand the author was 12 when writing this novel, but it's not a novel that should be published. I believe that, as a writer at 12, she did not have enough writing experiences to properly describe and develop this novel. I love the potential this book had, but the book itself was something that would need a lot more work before being sent to print. And, frankly, I'm surprised it did.

1/5

Now, I am going to send this fairly nice looking ARC over to Kate (The Neverending Shelf). And Kate, I challenge you to like this book - or at least finish it!!!

Stay tuned. Once Kate has read it, she'll send me her response to the book and I'll post it on the blog.


**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.



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Waiting on Wednesday - The Princess and the Snowbird

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Princess and the Snowbird
by Mette Ivie Harrison
Release Date: May 1, 2010

From the author of The Princess and the Hound and The Princess and the Bear comes a companion novel that stands alone, filled with romance and captivating fantasy. Liva is the daughter of the hound and the bear, heir to all her royal parents’ magic and able to transform into any animal she wishes. Jens is an outcast, a boy without magic, determined to make his way in the forest. Though they are as different as night and day, from the time their paths first cross they are irresistibly drawn to each other.

But a terrible threat is stalking all who hold magic: the Hunter, bent on destruction. Aided by a magnificent snowbird, Liva and Jens must figure out how to save the humans and animals terrorized by the Hunter, as well as magic itself. If they fail, all will be lost—but if they succeed, they could finally be together at last.

*Description taken from goodreads.com

I really love her books!

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Author Safari Winner (2)

Last week we had a new author on Kate's and my new bi-weekly event where we explore the habitat of a newer or less-known author. We find one picture, give two clues and then send you out on the hunt. Last week's author was Traci Hall. Check out her published books.

Now, last week we gave two clues:

Clue #1: I come in many different phases.

Clue #2: Round and round and round I go.

The Prize:

Traci has graciously donated a $10 gift card to Amazon.com

Revealing of the Picture:



(found in the Activities section of http://www.tracihall.com/id11.html)

And the winner is...


Aye.Me?


Congrats and I will be emailing you soon for your contact information.

Stay tuned next week for another Author Safari!!!
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It's Monday, What are you Reading?

This fantastic meme is now hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

Read this past week:
Ginger High by Melissa Burmester (review coming)
Shakespeare Bats Cleanup by Ron Koertge (review coming)

Currently Reading:
Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
Meridian by Amber Kizer
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Audio)

Upcoming:
Tourist Trap by Charles Ogden
Pet's Revenge by Charles Ogden
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasharas
A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

I'm a little disappointed in myself.. only 2 books read, but I'm halfway or more through three others.. I'm hoping for more reading this week. :-D

In other news, my husband has a job interview tomorrow. Cross your fingers, pray, or sacrifice a small animal *cough* or umm cookie that he gets this job. :-D
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In My Mailbox - February 6th

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

I've been lazy, does anyone want me to list the books below? I think the pictures are fairly clear. I can always try to NOT be lazy...
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Sunday Spotlight - Tin Heart Tomes

Today I have a teen blogger who is getting into the swing of blogging and enjoying it. Check her out below!

Name: Amelia.
Nickname and/or blog name: Tin Heart Tomes.
Blog URL: http://tinhearttomes.blogspot.com/

Tell me a bit about yourself.
I'm sixteen. I go to a private school. I spend my boring hours there trying to cram in as many fiction books as possible.

When and why did you start your blog?
I started it in October. The reason was because I had been reading so many books that I was bursting to tell everyone about. Not many of my friends enjoyed reading, and I had just discovered book blogs. I felt like I could keep up with a blog, and it would be fun to analyze my favorite (and not so favorite) reads a little bit more.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
Books and reading. I don't have anything too spectacular and original there, yet. But I do try to write reviews more on my opinions if the book is popular, and more informative reviews if they might be unknown books. I feel like everyone knows what Wings is about by now, so I try to vary what they are reading.


What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
I love fairy tales, fantasy/adventure, and dystopian books. Currently, I'm really digging Kristin Cashore, Tanith Lee's Black Unicorn series, and rereading Tamora Pierce. I guess I'm just in a kick-butt heroine phase.

How do you find out about the books you read?
My friends who do read give me suggestions. My brother always has amazing 'boy' books to share with me, and I try to help him find amazing ones as well. (You're welcome for the Hunger Games!) If those fail, book blogs and author lists never hurt.

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
Just do it -Nike.

Thank you Amelia for sharing more about yourself and your blog with us. Please take a gander at her blog and leave her some comment love.

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at dragonzgoil (at) gmail (dot) com.

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Saturday Spotlight - Booking Through 365

Today I will introduce you to a blogger who well, was the reason I started blogging. Emma and I were in a group together on goodreads when she posted her cool blog. I just had to have a book blog! Who knew there was such a cool book blog world out there!

Then, we became even closer when I conned her into being my book buddy for the 1st Bloggiesta. And now we chat all the time and share tips. She can be a slacker sometime, so go check out her blog below and let her know how much she needs to keep up her blogging!

Name: Emma
Nickname and/or blog name: Booking Through 365
Blog URL: www.bookingthrough365.blogspot.com



Tell me a bit about yourself.
I'm a teen whose always loved reading. My favorite novels from childhood were Judy Blume, Junie B Jones and Trixie Belden.

When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog in June, after numerous attempts to mantain a blog. I decided that since I love books so much I should do a book blog and well, the rest is history.

What is your blog all about? Any cool features you want to share?
I don't have any features at the moment, but I'm going to start one where my followers ask unusual questions to specific authors, then I pick the two oddest ones and have an author interview!

What are some of your favorite genres and/or books currently?
I ADORE YA fiction. I love coming of age stories, and I think all of us can relate to that time period.

My favorite series is most definitely the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray. The world Bray creates is cruel and beautiful. The first book is called A Great and Terrible Beauty. I'm also a big fan of John Green. The man is hilarious and he creates complex characters effortlessly. I'd recommend Looking for Alaska for new Green readers.

How do you find out about the books you read?
The blog world has been so kind to add a few books to my To Be Read pile. It's the perfect way to find reading worry books!

Any tips or advice for those starting or thinking about starting a blog?
Find a blogging buddy, first thing. They can help with technical difficulties, reviews and general posts, and not to mention that they provide a healthy dose of competition. My blog would be dead if it wasn't for Kristen. Get involve in the blogging community, and you'll go far.

Thanks so much for having me, Kristen!


Don't you just love Emma? She's my ol' blogging buddy so check out her blog and leave her some love!

Are you a new blogger too? Or just getting back into the swing of blogging? Do you want to be featured on my blog? Shoot me an email at dragonzgoil (at) gmail (dot) com.
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If I Had All Day to Read

If I Had All Day to Read is a monthly meme that I started around Halloween. I have been a wee bit inconsistent, but I will remedy that! Especially now that I have one other person quoting me as starting this monthly shin-dig! (Thank you Catie from Book Bound!)

I'm going to narrow down to 5-10 books. These are books that I HAVE that I really wanted to read.. but didn't get to last month. Maybe I'll get to them THIS month? We shall see.

Captivate by Carrie Jones
Erak's Ransom (bk. 7 in Rangers Apprentice series) by John Flanagan
Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
Friday Night Blues by Chloe Neill
ArchEnemy by Frank Beddor
Hatter M. #2: Mad with Wonder by Frank Beddor

*sigh* Hopefully this month. Although it is the 5th and I don't think I've read ONE book yet. I am so full of fail this week.

What did you really want to read this month, but couldn't get to?
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Link a Contest Thursday

Rules (or at least STRONG suggestions):
1. Name the item being given away (instead of the blog name)
2. Give the end date in () after the name
3. Make sure to link DIRECTLY to that contest post - if you don't know how to do this - just click on the title of the contest blog and it will give a direct URL you can use.
4. If you want to post a contest you've found, make sure it isn't already posted.


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Waiting on Wednesday - Claire De Lune

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Claire De Lune
by Christine Johnson
Release Date: May 18, 2010

Christine Johnson’s CLAIRE DE LUNE, in which a teenager learns that she is a werewolf, descended from a long line of female werewolves, and must balance her human and werewolf lives, while tracking down the rogue werewolf preying upon the people of her town.

*Description taken from goodreads.com
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January In Review

Books Read and Reviewed (Click links):
1. Constance and the Great Escape by Pierre Le Gall
2. Cat Burglar Black by Richard Sala
3. Adventures in Cartooning: How to Turn Your Doodles Into Comics by James Sturm
4. Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero by Charise Mericle Harper
5. Babymouse #10: The Musical by Jennifer L. Holm
6. Babymouse #11: Dragonslayer by Jennifer L. Holm
7. Perseus and Medusa by Blake A. Hoena
8. Eek & Ack vs The Wolfman by Blake A. Hoena
9. Monster in the Outfield by Robert Marsh
10. Princess Candy #1: Sugar Hero by Michael Dahl
11. Princess Candy #2: The Marshmallow Mermaid by Michael Dahl
12. Recon Academy: Shadow Cell Scam by Chris Everheart
13. The Elsewhere Chronicles #1: The Shadow Door by Nykko
14. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
15. Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
16. Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
17. Amulet: The Stonekeeper's Curse (Book 2) by Kazu Kibuishi
18. Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
19. Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
20. Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr
21. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
22. Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
23. Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor
24. Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
25. Lost Worlds by John Howe

Read, but not reviewed:
26. The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John
27. Under Town by Charles Ogden

Wow... 27 books.

Challenge updates:
Graphic Novels Challenge: Read 17 books, which means I already met my goal of 10+, but I'm still reading!!
CYBILS Award Challenge: Read 16 books, 14 from the MG Graphic Novel section, 2 from the YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi section (which makes the total 23 for this category).
Debut Author Challenge: Read 2 books this month (4 total)
Reading From My Shelf Project: 11 books read and given away
Books Won Reading Challenge: 1 book read

Book Signing:
I went to Chloe Neill's signings - yes, both of them in Wisconsin a few weekends back. I met up with Erica from The Book Cellar and it was a good time. I love Chloe and I really need to buckle down and read her adult books now that I've read Firespell.

Here's a picture:


I'm hoping I'm as productive this month!!!
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Teen Fire

So, I joined this cool new website called Teen Fire at the beginning of January and just let it sit around.

Due to my obsession with contests, I've become motivated to get involved. Teen Fire is run by Sourcebooks and right now they're having a competition for their spring releases - the next Bran Hambric book, Beautiful Dead.. and more! It's basically a popularity contest so go join now!

For more info about the contest, visit TeenFire.

If you join or already are a member of TeenFire, please add me as a friend! Check out My Page.

Thanks!

Visit Teen Fire

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Author Safari (2)

Come take a journey into the undiscovered territory of the Author. Authors are an interesting species... they provide readers with hours of entertainment... yet they remain mainly aloof from the public eye. Based on years of research, Kate and I discovered that the secret to learning more about these aloof creatures is to observe them in their natural environment. Therefore, dear readers, we will be hosting an Author Safari twice a month to lead readers into this unexplored territory. So grab your equipment and let's head off for an adventure!

Rules of the Safari:

* Adventurers must leave all hands and feet inside the vehicle, and may only travel on the below mentioned paths.
* 2 clues will be given regarding the item that we are searching for: one on The Neverending Shelf and one on Bookworming in the 21st Century. Items will generally be in image form.
* In order to be entered for this week's prize, readers must venture out to the hosts and author's sites listed. Once the adventurer believe that they have found the item in question, they must fill out the form listed on either host's Safari page. Please enter only once on either of the forms.

Author of the week:
Traci Hall

Profile: She has penned both young adult and adult titles. She tends to write about young adult novels as a way to reconstruct her past. Traci enjoys novels with a happy ending.

Journey into this author's natural habitat by visiting:

www.tracihall.com

babesinbookland.com

For Clue #1, please visit The Neverending Shelf

Clue #2: Round and round and round I go.

Prize:

Traci has graciously donated a $10 gift card to Amazon.com

To enter:

Please fill out the form below. Contest is open internationally until Monday, February 8th @midnight CST.

Happy Hunting!

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It's Monday, What are you Reading?

J.Kaye hosts this wonderful meme.

Read this past week:
Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor
Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
Amulet: The Stonekeeper's Curse, Book 2 by Kazu Kibuishi
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
Under Town by Charles Ogden

Currently Reading:
Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
Meridian by Amber Kizer
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasharas

Upcoming:
Tourist Trap by Charles Ogden
Pet's Revenge by Charles Ogden

News:

• Noticing a lack of contests? I've hit a bit of a hard time with my hubby out of a job still, so I only have one contest planned in February around V-day. I may move to comment contests like The Shady Glade does and just have one book a month I giveaway. Not sure yet.
  
• Sorry if I'm slow on emailing/tweeting back, I've taken on teaching some parent night classes at my school which run late on Mondays and Wednesdays, meaning I don't get home until almost 9 pm.
  
• I hope you're enjoying the changes I've been making slowly after the survey at the end of the year. I'm loving the new features so far and I hope you are too. I appreciate any feedback via comment or email.
  
• I'm going to catch up on Spotlights soon, I promise. Right now, I only have this coming weekend and the weekend after booked, but with a ton pending. So, sorry about the lack of emailing back!
  

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