Teaser Tuesday (37)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 213 of The Horse and his Boy (Chronicles of Narnia #3) by C.S. Lewis:

"It was nearly noon on the following day when Shasta was wakened by something warm and soft moving over his face. He opened his eyes and found himself staring into the long face of a horse; its nose and lips were almost touching his."

Here is another teaser from page 251 that I thought was funny:

"And anyone I catch talking about this young lady will be first beaten to death and then burned alive and after that be kept on bread and water for six weeks."

I remember reading this book when I was a kid and loving it! I thought it was a good time to reread The Chronicles of Narnia.

What is your teaser?

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Gemini Night (Star Crossed #3) by Bonnie Hearn Hill

Synopsis:
Logan McRae's guy is far away and out of touch, and she is heartbroken. She turns to her mentor, renowned journalist Henry Jaffa, who helps her land a job as the Friday intern for CRUSH magazine in San Francisco. With a little luck, she could also be the mag's teen astrology columnist. All she has to do in order to prove herself to Stacy, her editor, is figure out the astrology chart for one of the celebs who will be attending the CRUSH launch party Halloween night. But when she studies the mystery person's chart, she sees disaster predicted for the weekend of the costume party. Who is the in-danger Gemini? Is it fashion designer Graciela Perez, the "Silver Dragon"? Is it her friend Chili's new guy, teen celebrity chef Alex Keen? Or
is it, as Logan suspects, out-of-control singing star Arianna Woods? As Logan turns to her book, Fearless Astrology for guidance, she sees something she's missed before. Big trouble is predicted that night for her sign as well.

Review:
Gemini Night was definitely my favorite book in the Star Crossed series. I thought this story was so adorable! I could not put it down. Like with the previous books, I learned more about astrology than I could have ever thought to want to know. It was interesting to see how much of astrology applied to me through my sign.

In this book, Logan has earned an internship at a magazine. Using her astrology skills, she discovers that someone will be in trouble on the night of the huge costume party! The mystery in this book was so much fun to read. It had me guessing right until the end.

My favorite part of this book was the ending. It was so cute! Such a happy ending that I really enjoyed. I also liked how the characters continued to grow. Logan learns more about astrology and how to apply it to her life. She learns not to jump to conclusions, and she overcomes some boyfriend problems. Paige probably grows the most. She is not the quiet girl from the first book. She comes out of her shell in a great way!

Gemini Night is a fun book. I loved the story full of excitement and mystery. I really enjoy how Bonnie Hearn Hill writes. Her writing pace is just perfect. I am looking forward to reading her other books.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

In My Mailbox (37)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where I share what books I got in the past week.

This is what I received this week:

Given to me by my lovely mother:

• The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
• Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
• My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
• Atonement by Ian McEwan
• Murder At Five Finger Light by Sue Henry
• Valley of the Shadow by Stephanie Grace Whitson
• Wings by E. D. Baker
• Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godmother by Liz Kessler
• Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
• The Fairy's Return by Gail Carson Levine

Traded using PaperBack Swap:

• Beauty by Robin McKinley

What did you get this week?

Swords are for fighting,

How Many Books Have You Read?

I found this list on Curling Up by the Fire. I thought it would be fun to see how many of these books I have read:

According to the BBC, most people have not read more than 6 books found on this list.

Instructions:
•Copy this list.
•Bold those books you’ve read in their entirety.
•Italicise the ones you started but didn’t finish or read only an excerpt.
•Tag other book nerds.
•Highlight the ones that you have but haven't read. They are probably in your TBR stack/on your shelf at the back because someone said you should read them.


Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
The King James Bible
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
(1984) – George Orwell
His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulk
Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
The Time Traveller's Wife- Audrey Niffenegger
Middlemarch – George Eliot
Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
Emma -Jane Austen
Persuasion – Jane Austen
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne
Animal Farm – George Orwell
The DaVinci Code – Dan Brown
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies – William Golding
Atonement – Ian McEwan
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Dune – Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
The Secret History – Donna Tartt
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas (en francais)
On The Road – Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick – Herman Melville
Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
Dracula – Bram Stoker
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
Ulysses – James Joyce
The Inferno – Dante
Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
Germinal – Emile Zola (en francais)
Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
Possession – AS Byatt
Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert (en francais)
A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery (en francais)
The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
Watership Down – Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas (en francais)
Hamlet – William Shakespeare
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
Les Miserables – Victor Hugo (en francais)

I've only read 17 of these books completely! I have started a few, but have yet to finish them. Many are in my TBR pile.

Swords are for fighting,

Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Synopsis:
John Smith has just arrived in Paradise, Ohio, just another stop in a string of small towns where the 15-year-old has been hiding out from the Mogadorians. Those terrifying aliens are hellbent on destroying him and the other nine Loric children who have sought refuge on Earth. The Mogadorians are picking off the surviving kids in numerical order. The first three are dead and John's number is up. Will his Legacies, his defining super powers, develop in time for him to fight against the enemy? I Am Number Four is a breathless page-turner of a sci-fi novel that will have readers rooting for the teen alien who must unleash his fire power to save himself, his human friends, and the planet. This is the first of a slated multi-book series that, judging by this first book, will help reinvigorate a traditional YA genre that's grown a bit light on strong character development. So, gear-up sci-fi fans, the battle for Earth is on and there's a new kid in town!

Review:
I Am Number Four is a fast-paced book involving aliens and the world's impending doom. I would have to say that I definitely enjoyed this book. It was a fun read full of action and adventure, but I feel like it was written to be a movie especially since the movie was pretty much filmed before the book even came out. Nevertheless, if you like science fiction and aliens, then you will like this book. I did find it to be a bit predictable though. Everything that I thought would happen did.

This is the type of book that is hard to put down. There is so much going on that the only part I found to be slow was the big battle scene. It just seemed too long, which made it kind of boring. Besides that, I loved reading this book. The characters were easily likeable. My favorite character is the dog, Bernie Kosar. He is awesome! Some of the characters' development seemed premature like how Mark suddenly became BFFs with Number Four even though they were enemies before.

I am looking forward to watching the movie when it comes out. From the previews, it seems to be just like the book: full of action and adventure with aliens! Even though I had some problems with this book, overall I enjoyed it. I will definitely read the sequel.

Rating: 3.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Mega Swagbucks Day! (5)

Every Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day! It is a day where you have a higher chance of earning larger amounts of Swag Bucks. (The largest I've gotten is 40, but I know there are higher ones out there).

If you do not know what Swagbucks is, it is basically a search engine where you earn Swag Bucks by searching for anything and everything on the web. When you get enough, you can redeem your Swag Bucks for prizes! My favorite prize is the Amazon giftcard because I can use it to buy books, which is great for a book blogger.

To start earning Swag Bucks all you have to do is sign up. It is absolutely free, and it is a great way to get free prizes! I use it all the time to look up new books I've read about on other blogs...actually I use it to look up pretty much everything. So, if you want, sign up here and start searching and earning!

Does anyone out there use Swagbucks? Do you like it?

Swords are for fighting,

Book Blogger Hop (19)

The Book Blogger Hop is here! It is hosted by Crazy For Books, of course!

Here is this week's question:

"What is your favorite book cover?"

This is a difficult question. There are so many amazing book covers out there, but if I have to pick my favorite at the moment I would say it is Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. The cover for Nightshade is absolutely gorgeous. I love the colors and the picture and of course the sparkles!

If you are participating or you found me through the Hop, please leave me a comment. Have a fun Book Blogger Hop Friday!

Swords are for fighting,

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving is enjoying it! I love this holiday because I get to spend it with some of my family and friends plus I get to eat some amazing food! I expect to be in a food coma by the end of the day. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, and I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful for my family and my friends who are always there for me. I am thankful for so many things that are overlooked most of the time like a roof over my head and food on my plate and even the books that I read. I am also thankful for all of my followers! Thanks for following me. It really means a lot.

Feel free to comment with what you are thankful for.

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Taurus Eyes (Star Crossed #2) by Bonnie Hearn Hill

Synopsis:

Look to the Stars.

Logan McRae is spending her summer at the camp of her dreams, thanks to her discovery of that amazing book, Fearless Astrology. Away from home and her friends, she now finds herself faced with a new set of challenges, a new enemy, and maybe even a new guy.

From the moment Jeremy Novack grabs her hand on the ghost-tour bus, Logan feels an immediate connection. She's sure Jeremy feels it too. But in order to secure a coveted writing spot in a national teen anthology, Logan must impress her instructor Henry Jaffa, the renowned journalist who is editing the book. She feels confident that she will shine with her brilliant astrological piece about Sun signs, but then Jaffa switches everyone's topics!

Now Logan has to compete with Jeremy, who seems obsessed by their shared topic about the ghost of an obscure dead singer. Logan has only the stars to guide her as she tries to win the respect of her idol, write a stellar essay, and capture the heart of her newfound crush.

Review:
Taurus Eyes is the second book in the Star Crossed series, and I would say it is better than the first. This time around, Logan is at Writer's Camp taught by the famous Henry Jaffa. Throughout the book, we learn more about each of the astrological signs as Logan tries to write her paper from an astrological perspective. Along the way, there is plenty of drama, boy problems, and even ghosts!

My favorite part of this book is the mystery. I absolutely loved guessing what was actually going on. Adding the idea of ghosts to the story was exciting and added to the mystery! Logan was so much fun in this book. She is more sure of herself and what she wants. I really liked Jeremy, her crush this time around, more than Nathan. Nathan always seemed a bit shady to me, so it was nice to see a guy with good intentions. I would have to say their romance seemed a bit premature. One thing I really liked about this book was that Logan put her writing before the boy. I thought that was awesome. So many books are all about getting the guy that it makes it seem like the girl NEEDS the guy to succeed. I liked that this was not the case. The guy was more of an added bonus, not a necessity.

Taurus Eyes was a spectacular addition to the Star Crossed series. I am definitely enjoying everything about this series. Each book is so much fun to read. It seems like I learn something new about astrology every chapter. Before reading this series, I never knew astrology can be so much fun! If you like fun, light reads, I recommend picking up this book.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

Waiting On Wednesday (36)...

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Publication Date: January 4, 2011

Synopsis:
In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what it is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place--and out of place, at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make--between honesty and deciet, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?


Doesn't this book sound amazing? Plus, the cover is gorgeous!

What is your Waiting On Wednesday pick?

Swords are for fighting,

Teaser Tuesday (36)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 28 of The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection From the Living Dead by Max Brooks:

"Choosing the right weapons (never carry just one) can make the difference between a pile of dead zombies and becoming one yourself. When confronted with the undead, it is easy to believe in the super-commando strategy: Load up with the heaviest, most powerful weapons possible and go out to "kick ass." This is not only foolish - it is suicidal."

This book is pretty awesome so far. It has everything you need to know about zombies and more.

What is your teaser?

Swords are for fighting,

In My Mailbox (36)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where I share what books I got in the past week.

This is what I received this week:

Traded using PaperBack Swap:

• Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz
• Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Won:

• Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel from Jennifer at Extreme Reader Book Reviews

Bought (before my Book-Buying Ban):

• The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
  

What did you get this week?

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5) by Sara Shepard

Synopsis:
In idyllic Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four very pretty girls just can't help but be bad. . . .

Hanna will do anything to be Rosewood's queen bee. Spencer's digging up her family's secrets. Emily can't stop thinking about her new boyfriend. And Aria approves a little too strongly of her mom's taste in men.

Now that Ali's killer is finally behind bars, the girls think they're safe. But those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. And they should know by now that I'm always watching. . . .

Review:
When I first picked up Wicked, I was excited to continue the Pretty Little Liars series, but I had a difficult time getting into it at first. I was happy to discover that it finally grabbed my attention about halfway through.

Aria is still my favorite character of the four girls. She just gets into the most interesting situations almost always involving an older man. This book is no exception. She has a moment with a young artist named Xavier who turns out to be a major creeper.

Although I like Spencer, I did not find her that interesting this time around. I did like how she opened up to Andrew, though.

Emily is confused about who she is, but I think she will figure it out. I actually really liked Emily in this book because she finally decides not to care what people think.

Hanna really annoyed me in this book. I thought she was happy with her boyfriend, Lucas, but she goes back to her old ways of caring only about material things. I really think she made some stupid choices like how she chooses her new so called friends over Lucas who has always been there for her.

There are so many twists in this series, and Wicked is no exception. I do not want to go into details and give anything away, but Ian is not what he seems. Hanna's sister, Kate, is a confusing character, but I am almost positive that Kate is evil.

The ending was pretty exciting. It leaves you with so many questions! Honestly, I am a little confused. Fans of Pretty Little Liars (whether fans of the book or show) will enjoy this book. If you want to pick it up, I recommend starting with the first book in the series.

Rating:3.5/5

Books in the Pretty Little Liars series:

1. Pretty Little Liars
2. Flawless
3. Perfect
4. Unbelievable
5. Wicked
6. Killer
7. Heartless
8. Wanted

Swords are for fighting,

Waiting On Wednesday (35)...

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is: The Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

Publication Date: January 1, 2011

Synopsis:

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil-and worth killing for

Vera and her brother Will live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget.

I am excited to read some new dystopian books, and this one sounds like it could be great!

What are you waiting for?

Swords are for fighting,

Teaser Tuesday (35)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page of Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl:

"I touched a page, with a single finger. The sky began to spin, and I felt myself pitching forward. The floor rushed up to meet me, but as I hit the ground, I fell through it and found myself in a cloud of smoke - "

What is your teaser?

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Aries Rising (Star Crossed #1) by Bonnie Hearn Hill

Synopsis:

ARIES RISING
Love is in the Stars!

When Logan McRae discovers a magical book called Fearless Astrology, all she wants is to change her sucky life. In order to get into the summer writing
camp of her dreams, she needs the recommendation of her stubborn and irritable English teacher Mr. Franklin. Logan also has her eye on Nathan, the hottest guy in class. Unfortunately, so does popular, beyond-gorgeous Geneva, editor of the high school paper.

Logan's two best friends, Chili and Paige, are always there to give her the advice she needs. But now that she has Fearless Astrology, Logan discovers a whole new way to overcome her dilemmas-while helping the three of them land the guys they're crushing on.

When the Gears, a group of boys, starts causing trouble in school and out, she decides to identify them using astrology. Her goal: to impress Mr. Franklin, Nathan, and the kids who believe she is faking her new found knowledge. The answers are in the stars, all right, but can Logan decipher them before it is too late?

Review:

This book surprised me! I honestly did not think I would like it as much as I did. I have never read anything with astrology as the main focus before. Before reading Aries Rising, I knew little to nothing about astrology. Sure, I knew my sign is Taurus, but I had no idea that that was just the beginning. I was surprised to discover that I enjoy astrology. I learned so many interesting tidbits about it thanks to this book.

I liked how the chapters were set up. Each chapter starts with a little passage from Fearless Astrology, Logan's go to astrology book that essentially changes her life. Then the chapter ends with a sort of journal entry from Logan. There is also a What's Your Sign section and Star-Crossed tattoos in the back, which I thought was kind of cool.

The story was so much fun to read. I thought it was so original that Logan used her astrology skills to better understand and snatch her crush, Nate. It was exciting to see her use her knowledge for her own good. I did not this book to have a mystery in it, so that was an added bonus. It was fun to guess who did it.

Aries Rising is definitely an inspiring book. I loved how Logan and her best friends grew into themselves throughout the book. Thanks to Fearless Astrology, they discovered the confidence they always had inside of themselves.

As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed this book. Aries Rising is like a good present. I did not know what to expect before opening it, but it was a great surprise! It was definitely a nice surprise. It was interesting, intriguing, original and full of mystery! I loved how it was written. It is definitely one of the most fun books I have read in a while. I think teenage girls will devour this book.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

In My Mailbox (35)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where I share what books I got in the past week.

This is what I received this week:

Traded using PaperBack Swap:

• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
• Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Borrowed:

• The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
• The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
• The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne DuPrau

I don't buy any books, and I still get a bunch! I guess it just comes with being a book addict. :)

What did you get this week?

Swords are for fighting,

Book Blogger Hop (18)

Time for the Book Blogger Hop! It is hosted by the lovely Crazy For Books.

This week's question is:

"If you find a book that looks interesting but is part of a series, do you always start with the first title?"

Answer: Yes! I almost always start with the first title. I feel like I need to read the books in the correct order to get the most out of the story.

If you are participating or you found me through the Hop, please leave me a comment, so I can visit your blog or just to say hi. Have a fun Book Blogger Hop Friday!

Swords are for fighting,

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day to all the men and women who have served our wonderful country! Thank you!

Swords are for fighting,

Waiting On Wednesday (34)...

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is: Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

Publication Date: January 4, 2011

Synopsis:
Happiness is a bloody knife.

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities....


This books sounds really interesting and a bit scary.

Let me know what your pick is in the comments.

Swords are for fighting,

Teaser Tuesday (34)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page147 of I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore:

"The tractor pulls away, bumps along the pathway, and drives through the entrance of the forest, where ghastly sounds come through hidden speakers. The forest is thick and no light penetrates other than what shines from the front of the tractor."

I am loving this book! I am reading it for I Heart Monster's Read-A-Long, which is so much fun!

What is your teaser?

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Santa Paws on Christmas Island by Kris Edwards

Synopsis:
The Callahans are about to settle in for an unusually snowy holiday at home, when a last minute opportunity lands them in the tropics instead. With surfboards, sand castles, and sunshine, this vacation to Christmas Island might be the best trip the Callahans have ever taken.

While the Callahans try to relax, Santa Paws is hard at work. He saves people from drowning and even prevents Abigail the cat from being devoured by an aligator. But before the holiday is over, it's Santa Paws who will need to be rescued. You'll never guess who saves the day! It's a magical Christmas for everyone.

Quick Review:
Santa Paws On Christmas Island was a fun children's book. I actually enjoyed this little book more than I thought it would. I am sure kids will enjoy this story and fall in love with Santa Paws. I thought the plot was adorable and fun. Perfect book for Christmas time. Santa Paws has some Lassie in him. I loved that Santa Paws saves the lives of many people throughout the book. I definitely recommend this book for children. What kid does not want to read about a dog that saves people?

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting,

In My Mailbox (34)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where I share what books I got in the past week.

This is what I received this week:

Bought (before my Book Buying Ban):

• Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Won:

• Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney from I Heart Monster
  

What did you get this week?

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Torment (Fallen #2) by Lauren Kate

Synopsis:
How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

Review:
Let me start off by saying that the cover is gorgeous! I mean, look at it. I wish I had that dress!

When I first picked up Torment, I honestly could not remember what happened in Fallen, so I had to go back and read my review to remember. I think it had to do with me being so tired that I was forgetting the plots of books I really did enjoy.

Torment has a bunch of new characters hanging out with Luce. Luce finds friends in her roommate, Shelby, and Miles. I really liked Shelby. She may appear to be tough and hard to get along with, but I enjoyed her sense of humor. Miles seems to be a nice guy although I did have my doubts about him at first. He eventually charmed me, though.

Most of this book seemed to be about Luce finding out about her past lives by using the ominous shadows that have lurked around her all her life. I liked that this book gave more insight to the shadows. I found it all very interesting. I also really liked Cam and Daniel working together. I like it when they are not fighting with each other. They are just so much more likable.

There were a few shockers throughout the book particularly involving Luce's hair. I know she wanted a change, but why did she do that! Another shocker was that Daniel and Shelby had a thing?! What?! Did I miss something? Or was she lying? That big reveal just confused me.

What surprised me the most about Torment was how much Daniel bugged me. I know he has Luce's best interests at heart, but does he have to act the way he does? I hate when he acts all powerful and controlling over Luce by giving her rules to follow and telling her not to disobey him like he owns her. It really drove me nuts! Besides that, all Daniel seemed to do was appear wherever Luce was, say he should not be here, and leave. It was kind of annoying.

Besides that, I really enjoyed this book. The ending was awesome! I loved it! I definitely think Luce made the right decision at the end, but I want to know what happens next. It is going to be a long wait until the next book is released.

Rating: 3.5/5

Swords are for fighting,

Book Blogger Hop (17)

The Book Blogger Hop is here! It is hosted by Crazy For Books.

This week's question is:

"What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?"

Answer: It is definitely sad when I lose followers, but if someone does not want to follow me anymore, that is their choice.

I have stopped following a few blogs, but only when they have not updated their blog in months.

If you are participating or you found me through the Hop, please leave me a comment. Have a fun Book Blogger Hop Friday!

Swords are for fighting,

Mega Swagbucks Day! (4)

Every Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day! It is a day where you have a higher chance of earning larger amounts of Swag Bucks. (The largest I've gotten is 40, but I know there are higher ones out there).

If you do not know what Swagbucks is, it is basically a search engine where you earn Swag Bucks by searching for anything and everything on the web. When you get enough, you can redeem your Swag Bucks for prizes! My favorite prize is the Amazon giftcard because I can use it to buy books, which is great for a book blogger.

To start earning Swag Bucks all you have to do is sign up. It is absolutely free, and it is a great way to get free prizes! I use it all the time to look up new books I've read about on other blogs...actually I use it to look up pretty much everything. So, if you want, sign up here and start searching and earning!

Does anyone out there use Swagbucks? Do you like it?

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Feast of Fools (Morganville Vampires #4) by Rachel Caine

Synopsis:
In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace. Student Claire Danvers has never been convinced, though especially with the arrival of Mr. Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town's living and its dead is unthinkably sinister. It's only at a formal ball, attended by vampires and their human dates, that Claire realizes the elaborately evil trap he's set for Morganville.

Review:
This series is just so addicting! I love every minute of these books so far. The story is so much fun.

Feast of Fools is a turning point for Michael because you get to see his vampire side more than ever. He does try to hide it, but he is put into situations where he has no choice but to embrace it.

Myrnin is still my favorite character. I just love his quirkiness. He may be crazy with a deteriorating mind, but he is still awesome. I honestly hope he will be okay in the end.

The new vampires in time are terrifying. Bishop is the most evil vampire in the series so far. Ysandre is probably the most annoying vampire/character in the series so far. She seriously gets on my nerves. I hate how she treats Shane and how she thinks she can do whatever she wants which is probably true.

Shane is a sweetheart. I loved reading about his date with Claire. It was definitely cute.

Claire is probably smarter and stronger than ever. I feel she has grown throughout the series in a great way. She can stand up for herself and is probably the most non-judgmental character. I love how she supports Michael, loves Shane, and tries to save Myrnin and all of the other 'good' vampires. I am curious how she forced Ysandre out of the house. Does she have some sort of power or was it the house?

The ending was exciting! I am looking forward to reading the next book, Lord of Misrule, to see what happens next. I definitely love these books. If you have not read this series, I suggest that you do.

Rating: 4/5

Books in the Morganville Vampires series:

1. Glass Houses
2. The Dead Girls' Dance
3. Midnight Alley
4. Feast of Fools
5. Lord of Misrule
6. Carpe Corpus
7. Fade Out
8. Kiss of Death
9. Ghost Town

Swords are for fighting,

Waiting On Wednesday (33)...

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is:Vesper by Jeff Sampson

Publication Date: January 25, 2011

Synopsis:
Emily Webb is a geek. And she’s happy that way. Content hiding under hoodies and curling up to watch old horror flicks, she’s never been the kind of girl who sneaks out for midnight parties. And she’s definitely not the kind of girl who starts fights or flirts with other girls’ boyfriends. Until one night Emily finds herself doing exactly that . . . the same night one of her classmates—also named Emily—is found mysteriously murdered.

The thing is, Emily doesn’t know why she’s doing any of this. By day, she’s the same old boring Emily, but by night, she turns into a thrill seeker. With every nightfall, Emily gets wilder until it’s no longer just her personality that changes. Her body can do things it never could before: Emily is now strong, fast, and utterly fearless. And soon Emily realizes that she’s not just coming out of her shell . . . there’s something much bigger going on. Is she bewitched by the soul of the other, murdered Emily? Or is Emily Webb becoming something else entirely—something not human?

As Emily hunts for answers, she finds out that she’s not the only one this is happening to—some of her classmates are changing as well. Who is turning these teens into monsters—and how many people will they kill to get what they want?


The synopsis sounds intriguing!

What is your pick?

Swords are for fighting,

Teaser Tuesday (33)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along, do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 78 of Aries Rising by Bonnie Hearn Hill:

"She'd written them down before she'd even spoken to me today. How conniving was that?"

This book is really interesting. I am learning a lot about astrology!

Feel free to share your teaser in the comments.

Swords are for fighting,

October Summary

At the beginning of October, I had 156 followers. As of today, I have 182 followers! Thanks for following and a huge welcome to new followers.

Events:
I participated in 2 read-a-thons! The first was Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon. I ended up reading only 1 book and part of another one, but it was fun!

I also participated in the Halloween Read-A-Thon hosted by YA Books Reviewed. Since I had so much going on, I only read 1 book and started another. Not too good, but at least I got some reading done!

I reviewed 9 books this month. Sorry about the lack of reviews recently. I will try my best to get more up, but school comes first!

Books reviewed (and links to their reviews):

• The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine
• Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
• Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
• Jealousy by Lili St. Crow
• Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
• Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover's Soul II
• Empire of Night by Justin Somper
• The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle
• Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine

Number of books read in October: 7

Favorite book read this month: Torment by Lauren Kate

Least favorite book read this month: Hard choice because I enjoyed all of the books I read this month. I guess my least favorite book was The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle, but I definitely enjoyed this book.

To Be Read List Total at the beginning of the month: 94

To Be Read List Total at the end of the month: 106

I think I need to go on a Book Buying Ban. My TBR list is getting way too out of control. Especially since I do not have as much time to read in the month. My goal for November is to not buy any books (besides the ones I have already pre-ordered).

Goals for November:

• Review more books
• Buy no books (besides the ones I already ordered...)
• Read at least 10 books
  

Swords are for fighting,