Tuesday, January 24, 2012

On Hiatus

I am reluctantly writing this post.

I've come to terms with the fact that I just can't keep blogging, at least for right now.  It's been months...months since I've done a review on a book.  And as a book reviewing site, I feel like I've let you guys down.  Not to mention the authors who have sent books, which have still gone unread and unreviewed.  I haven't checked my blog email for weeks, and I've had requests to do interviews and giveaways and guest posts.  And I never answered.  I am so, so sorry!  It is my deepest hope that no one took offense.  I sincerely did not mean anything by it.

When people say "I'm just too busy" to do something...well, it's not exactly the most believable excuse out there.  But believe me when I say it, I am too busy.  A new semester just started at school, and I have new classes, teachers, and assignments to do.  I still have a job on top of school, adding another 25 hours to my schedule.  I have to start looking at colleges (I'm a junior--2013 baby!)  and seeing where I want to go in life.  Plus anything else that needs done.  I rarely get to sit down and read at 11 pm most nights, nevermind review them.

I don't know how long this will last.  It could be a few weeks, a few months.  I'm fairly certain that I at least will start blogging again when summer starts.

I'll still try to post a wrap-up each month of my 2012 Reading Challenges.

And again, I am so very sorry.

Happy Reading

Amanda

Monday, January 16, 2012

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? This great meme is hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. Each week will share with you the books we are reading, just finished reading and those books we are planning to read this week.

 

 

 
Planning on Reading:  Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey,  
 
 
So.  What are you reading on this fine Monday?  Comment or leave a link!

Sunday, January 8, 2012

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a meme hosted by The Story Siren, where you can list the books you received this week, or, in my case, since whenever my last In My Mailbox was.
 
I realize it's been a longggggg time since I've done an IMM, what with the holidays and all, so I have a lot to show you guys.
 
The books I got:
Fallen In Love by Lauren Kate (ARC)
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (<3!)

MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT!

YAYYYYYYY <3

And so, of course, I had to get (literally) a million ebooks to put on it!

Cascade by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Entwined by Heather Dixon
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver
Angelfall by Susan Ee
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood
The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

Needless to say, it has been a very good few weeks. :)
 
What did you get this week?  Leave a comment or a link, telling me about it!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Cover Revealed: City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.
<3
...
<3 <3 <3
:D :D :D :D

Okay.  I'm done...(for now)

So in case you haven't heard, the cover for Cassandra Clare's fifth book in The Mortal Instruments series just came out.  And it's not like you guys actually want to see it or anything...
LOL JK
Otherwise you wouldn't have read this post, you sillies.  ANYWAYS.  Enough of my chattering.

TA-DA!
*sighs*
*drools over Jace*
*sighs some more*
Huh?  Oh yes, you probably want a summary for the book, don't you?  Well neither Amazon or Goodreads appears to have a decent summary.  The closest I could find, was from Cassie's blog:

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon. Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide? Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

...and look what I also found!  An exerpt found on her blog!


So I'm superrrr excited about this one.  Hands down, one of my all time favorite series.  It is scheduled to release May 8, 2012.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Shewwww it's been a long time since I've done one of these!

Teaser Tuesday 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 sure not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to spoil the books for others!)
My teaser today comes from Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers:
 


[the teaser]
 
I turn away from the window to face her.  "What the hell are you talking about?"
She fixes me with a hard stare.  "You know exactly who I'm talking about."
I start and my gut twists.
"There's something. . . dark about him," she adds.
I glare at her.  "You've lost it, Grace.  Get out of my room."
 
[page 106]

Sunday, January 1, 2012

My Favorite Reads From 2011

I'm a terrible person.  Why?  I FORGOT TO WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR! *sadface*

Well, here I am, wishing you a new year.  I like to look back on all the great things that happened in the past year, so I thought I'd make a list of my 25 favorite books that were published in 2011.  [IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER]

1. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
3. Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
4. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
5. Divergent by Veronica Roth
6. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
7. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
8. Matched by Ally Condie
9. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins
10. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
11. Shift by Jeri-Smith Ready
12. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
13. Hereafter by Tara Hudson
14. Entwined by Heather Dixon
15. Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren
16. Enclave by Ann Aguirre
17. Clarity by Kim Harrington
18. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
19. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
20. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
21. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
22. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
23. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Claire
24. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
25. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Have you read any of these fabulous books?

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Secondhand Christmas, Day 9 Giveaway: Christian Fiction

It's the last day of my Secondhand Christmas giveaways!  Be sure to enter all nine!

In this last day, I am giving away three Christian Fiction books.  Two have never been read, but the third (Now and Always) was given to me already used n abused.

A Month of Summer by Lisa Wingate

For Rebecca Macklin, an ordinary summer brings about an extraordinary change of heart when she discovers that her aging father has been wandering the Dallas streets alone, and his wife, Hanna Beth, has landed in a nursing home. Now Rebecca must put aside old resentments and return to her childhood home. In this moving story of separation and forgiveness, two women will unravel the betrayals of the past and discover the true meaning of family.

Healing Waters by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn

"When life seems to conspire against you, how do you find the courage to dive into Healing Waters? When Lucia Coffey looks at her reflection, she sees fat and failure. When she looks at her sister Sonia, she sees svelte and success. When she looks at God, she sees that divine love can't possibly be doled out equally. All her life, Lucia has coped by throwing herself into taking care of those who seem more worthy of God's goods, and feeding the dreams she has buried alive. But when tragedy strikes Lucia's family, she meets Sullivan Crisp--a decidedly offbeat psychologist who is trying to cope with his own shattered past. They form an alliance to try to hold her family together and, in the process, both tentatively dip their toes into the waters of healing. Step by faltering step they wade in, forging an unlikely community and digging deep for the courage to face a lurking danger that could pull them under . . . or remind them what it's like to dance on the waves.

Now and Always by Lori Copeland

Very few things distract Katie Addison when she's on a mission, whether it's opening her home to abused women, rehabilitating injured horses, or helping tall, gorgeous Warren Tate mend his broken heart. But when financial difficulties pile up for her, Katie hesitantly admits she herself may need help.
Since his fiance left him, Warren is done with women—especially independent women, which he'd guess describes Katie Addison to a tee. Reluctantly he agrees to help Katie with her financial troubles. But when his budget doesn't include Katie's daily lattes, Warren realizes he may have a challenging client on his hands.
Meanwhile, Sheriff Ben O'Keefe can't seem to get Katie's attention. Everyone in town knows he has had a longstanding crush on her. But to Katie, Ben is just Ben. When mysterious events turn Katie to him for help, is it the chance Ben has been waiting for?

Rules:
  • US only
  • One entry per person
  • Must be 13 years or older to enter
  • I cannot be responsible for any package that gets lost or damaged in the mail.
  • Winners must respond in 72 hours or I will pick another winner.
Extra Entries:
  • Be a GFC follower, old or new  (+2)
  • Tweet the Giveaway (+2)
  • Follow me on Twitter (@Pages_turned) (+1)

Ends 1/12