Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Teaser Tuesday (#4): Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just 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!
My Teaser:

They extended their talons.

Four against one.

No pressure.

I took a deep breath and lifted my claws in the traditional fighting pose, as ready as I'd ever be. My heart thundered in terror.

- Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke, Page 227

Top 10 Book Covers of 2011


Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa from A Life Bound by Books, Jamie & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun. It's a great opportunity to go back and remember all of the books you've read in 2011. For more information go here.

(These are in no specific order...)









These are all taken from books that I've actually read this year. Though there are a ton of others that I loved, these are only a small few. That is one of the reasons I didn't number them, because it would be too difficult to pick the exact Top 10 that I loved this year.

Here are some honorable mentions:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Awakened by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
Visions of Magic by Regan Hastings
Darkest Mercy by Melissa Marr
After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel
Eve by Anna Carey

What are your Top 10? Are any of them on my list also? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Top 10 Books I've Read in 2011


Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa from A Life Bound by Books, Jamie & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun. It's a great opportunity to go back and remember all of the books you've read in 2011. For more information go here.

#1 is...

If I Die by Rachel Vincent
Published September 27th 2011 by Harlequin  

Summary: The entire school's talking about the gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck. Everyone except Kaylee Cavanaugh. After all, Kaylee's no ordinary high-school junior. She's a banshee—she screams when someone dies.   

But the next scream might be for Kaylee.   

Yeah—it's a shock to her, too. So to distract herself, Kaylee's going to save every girl in school. Because that hot new teacher is really an incubus who feeds on the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend's needy ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren't quite human, either.   

But Kaylee's borrowed lifeline is nearing its end. And those who care about her will do anything to save her life. 

Anything.

#2 is...

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Published October 26th 2011 by Harlequin TEEN 

Summary: My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.

I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. 

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl...

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing. 

Unless he can earn a soul.

#3 is...

Destined by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Published October 25th 2011 by St. Martin's Press

Summary: Zoey is finally home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side, and preparing to face off against Neferet -- which would be a whole lot easier if the High Council saw the ex-High Priestess for what she really is. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, Rephaim and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together -- if he can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.  

But there are new forces at work at the House of Night. An influx of humans, including Lenobia's handsome horse whisperer, threatens their precarious stability. And then there's the mysterious Aurox, a jaw-droppingly gorgeous teen boy who is actually more -- or possibly less -- than human. Only Neferet knows he was created to be her greatest weapon. But Zoey can sense the part of his soul that remains human, the compassion that wars with his Dark calling. And there's something strangely familiar about him . . .  

Will Neferet's true nature be revealed before she succeeds at extinguishing Light? And will Zoey be able to touch Aurox's humanity in time to protect them all? Find out what's destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

#4 is...

Passion by Lauren Kate
Published June 14th 2011 by Random House Children's Books 

Summary: Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

Sweeping across centuries, PASSION is the third novel in the unforgettably epic FALLEN series.

#5 is...

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Published April 5th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 

Summary: The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most important of all—Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.  

But nothing comes without a price.  

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her. His mother just found out he’s a vampire and now he’s homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse wrecking his life. And they’re willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time he’s dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other.  

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: She herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.  
Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

#6 is...

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
Published August 23rd 2011 by HarperCollins 

Summary: I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.   

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?   

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.   

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive. 

And I'm ready to fight.

#7 is...

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Published September 27th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Summary: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can. 

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

#8 is...

Eve by Anna Carey
Published October 4th 2011 by HarperCollins Publishers  

Summary: Where do you go when nowhere is safe?

Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—and the horrifying fate that awaits her. 

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Arden, her former rival from school, and Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust . . . and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.   

In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in Eve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.

#9 is...

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
Published October 4th 2011 by HarperTeen  

Summary: Their love was meant to be.   

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs. 

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

And #10 is...

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
Published January 18th 2011 by Delacorte Press 

Summary: “Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever. 

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years. 

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds. 

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.

Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.


These are the Top 10 Books I've read this year. What are your Top 10? Are any of them on my list also? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

The Perfect Christmas Tree: Merry Christmas!!


Don't you agree that this is the perfect Christmas tree for any book lover? It's a whole lot less messy than a real tree. And instead of the smell of pine (or whatever kind of tree you get) needles, you have the smell of book pages and ink. I can't think of anything better. I'd probably even keep it out way after Christmas, too. It just looks so cool.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to all you book lovers out there!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Book Spotlight: Hana by Lauren Oliver

UK Cover. (I like it better.)
Hana: A Delirium Short Story
by Lauren Oliver
Kindle Edition
Expected publication: January 17th 2012 by HarperCollins 
In the world of Delirium, love is a disease. And like all eighteen-year-olds, Lena and Hana must take the cure.At the start of their last summer of freedom, they were the closest of friends. Until Hana made a decision that tore them apart . . . In Delirium, we heard from Lena. Now, Hana gets to tell her side of the story. And nothing is what we first thought. Hana is a powerful, moving and beautifully told original eBook short story, with a shocking twist that will leave you with your heart in your mouth.

Who is the Girl in the Clockwork Collar? Back cover and Summary




















Harlequin Teen just released an exclusive look at the back cover and inside flap of The Girl in the Clockwork Collar on their Facebook page!

Third Sentence Thursday (#1): Devoted


Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Sniffly Kitty (temporarily by Proud Book Nerd.)
  1. Take the book you are currently reading and post the third sentence.
  2. Share your thoughts on the sentence.
  3. Post a link to your blog post in the link list below. Don’t forget to link back here, too! If you don’t have a blog, just leave it in the comments here.
  4. Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentence.
Here's mine:

I squeezed my knees into the horse's flank, pushing him to race faster, then faster still.

- Devoted by Hilary Duff

It would seem like Clea is running away in this sentence, or at least trying to. As fast as she possibly can. But she is actually trying to race toward Acceptance, as the first sentence says. But that's easier said than done.

Cover Ogle (#7): Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt

Expected publication: April 2012 by Entangled Publishing

Here is the blurb:
What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?

Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.

But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?
I'm totally gushing over this cover! It's soo pretty! The story sounds amazing, too. I love the tagline on the cover "Love can't be engineered." I'm really looking forward to this new dystopian in the new year.


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