Challenges for 2011!

Here is the list of challenges that I am taking part in for the year of 2011.  I will keep track of them all on this page as well as on my Goodreads shelf. 

The 2011 Debut Author Challenge is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.  If you haven't already checked out her blog, where have you been?  No, really, check it out.  =]

I will be keeping track of the debut books that I read here as well as on my Goodreads page.

The minimum number of debut books to read for the challenge is 12 but I am going to set my goal at 20 because I know there are a ton of great ones coming out in 2011.

1) Head Games by Keri Mikulski
2) Clarity by Kim Harrington
3) Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach
4) Wither by Lauren DeStefano
5) Divergent by Veronica Roth
6) Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
7) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
8) Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
9) OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy
10) The Beginning Of After by Jennifer Castle
11) Forgotten by Cat Patrick
12) Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
13) Unison Spark by Andy Marino
14) Across The Universe by Beth Revis
15) A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
16) Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison
17) Enclave by Ann Aguirre
18) Flawless by Lara Chapman
19) Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
20) Die for Me by Amy Plum
21) The Near Witch by Victoria Scwab
22) Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
23) The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
24) Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
25) Ashfall by Mike Mullin
26) Possess by Gretchen McNeil

The next challenge that I will be participating in is the YA Historical Fiction Challenge which is hosted by Sab at YA Bliss.  This is another great YA blog that I recommend checking out if you haven't already.

I will be keeping track of these books on this page as well as a shelf on my Goodreads page.

There are three levels to this challenge and I am aiming for the highest level, Level 3, to read 15 books.

1)

The final challenge that I am participating in for 2011 is the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge.  This one is hosted by Jennifer at Reading With Tequila.  Her blog is not YA but it is still fabulous.

I will be keeping track of these books on this page as well as a shelf on my Goodreads page.

There are five levels to this challenge and once again I am aiming for the highest level, level 5, to read 20+ books on this list.

1)Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

And those are all the challenges that I plan on participating in for the year of 2011.  What challenges are you planning to participate in?

My top 11 to read in 2011!

I have no idea where to begin with this list.  There are a ton of books being released in 2011 that I am dying to read.  Here are the top 11.  They are in no particular order of how badly I want them.

(links go to Goodreads)

#1-What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen-I love Sarah Dessen.  I think every teenage girl should read at least one of her books.  I don't expect this one to be any less amazing than her other books. 

#2-The Iron Queen (Iron Fey #3) by Julie Kagawa-This is one of my new favorite series.  Julie Kagawa is an amazing new author.  I can't wait to see what happens in the new book. 

#3-Forever (Wolves Of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater-Shiver was one of my favorite books of 2009 and Linger was close to being on the list for 2010.  Hopefully this final book in the trilogy will make it on 2011 top books list.

#4-City Of Fallen Angels (Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare-Do I need to say anything at all about this one?  =]

#5-Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare-I loved Clockwork Angel.  I am so excited for the next book.  I want more romance in the next one though.

#6-So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti-Susane Colasanti is another one of my favorite authors.  I read her first book When It Happens and I was immediately in love.  I think this one will be another great romance from her. 

#7-Love Story by Jennifer Echols-Jennifer Echols is an amazing contemporary author.  Her romances are some of the steamiest I have ever read for teens and I have loved both of them so far.  This one is set in NYC at a university so I am excited to read it.   

#8-The Gathering (Darkness Rising #1) by Kelley Armstrong-The Darkest Powers trilogy was awesome and I have heard that she has mixed in pieces from that series into this one.  I can't wait to see how it is. 

#9-The Locket by Stacey Jay-I loved Stacey Jay's Megan Berry books and until the next one of those, this one will have to hold me over.  I have heard some very good things about it so I am excited to read it.

#10-Betrayal (Haunting Emma #2) by Lee Nichols-Deception was an awesome, eerie book and I am excited to read the sequel.  I hope it's just as creepy as the first. 

#11-The Hidden (The Hollow #3) by Jessica Verday-I didn't really love The Hollow but I did enjoy The Haunted.  It was a cliffhanger ending so I really want to know what happens next and how the trilogy is going to end.

What books are you looking forward to in the new year?

My favorite books of 2010!

I was only going to pick 20 books for this list but I couldn't narrow it down so it's 25.  2010 was just such an amazing book year!

(in no particular order) (links to my reviews)

#1-Nevermore by Kelly Creagh-Such an amazing story.  Probably the best debut of 2010, in my opinion.  The next book cannot get here fast enough!

#2-Zen And Xander Undone by Amy Kathleen Ryan-This was such a cute story.  It didn't get the recognition that I feel it deserved.

#3-The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting-This is a very unique story.  It's super creepy but I loved it.  I can't wait to read Desires Of The Dead!

#4-Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken-I don't read much fantasy but I am so glad that I read this one.  Alexandra Bracken has an amazing imagination and I loved her book.  I really hope the sequel gets published.

#5-The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson-This is such a beautiful book.  I laughed and I cried.  A lot.

#6-Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins-Hex Hall is fabulous.  It was so unique and amazingly funny.  I loved everything about it.

#7-Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver-This one was a little slow in the beginning but I am glad that I didn't give up on it.  It was so good!

#8-Heist Society by Ally Carter-I loved Ally Carter's first series but I have to say that this one might be better.  I had the hardest time putting this one down.

#9-Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves-This is definitely the weirdest book that I have ever read but I say that in the best possible way.  Dia Reeves has quite the imagination.

#10-The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard-This is another one of those books that made me cry.  Jennifer Hubbard is a beautiful writer and I can't wait for more from her.

#11-Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins-Do I really need to say anything about this one?  Great ending to the trilogy no matter what everyone else thinks.  Team Peeta all the way!

#12-Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare-I don't know what to say about this one.  I just loved it.  The setting was probably the best part for me.

#13-Jane by April Lindner-A modern retelling of Jane Eyre.  Do I need to say more?  If so, I loved it.  I can't praise it enough.  Read it!

#14-I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan-This is the cutest book I have read in a long time.  I feel that every confused teenage girl should read this one.  You are not alone. 

#15-Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen-I love Anna Godbersen.  Everything that she has written so far, I adored.  This one was no exception. 

#16-Paranormalcy by Kiersten White-Another fabulous debut.  I loved Paranormalcy so much.  Evie cracked me up and Lend made me swoon.  I can't wait for the sequel. 

#17-Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram-This one had a little bit of everything in it.  There was romance, superhero powers, and one really evil guy.  I couldn't stop reading!

#18-The Iron King by Julie Kagawa-I love anything to do with fairies and these are not your ordinary fairies.  They were so awesome.  I recommend this one all the time.  =]

#19-The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa-See #18.

#20-Sea by Heidi Kling-I loved Sea.  It was so moving and beautifully written.  I am dying for more from Heidi Kling.

#21-Salvaged  by Stefne Miller-I can't say enough about Salvaged.  It's an amazing book and I don't feel that it has gotten the recognition that it deserves.  Check it out!

#22-The Agency by YS Lee-This series is fantastic.  It's a great historical but it's also a great mystery.  The third book is so far away though. 

#23-Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus-Great debut!  Anastasia Hopcus wrote a great mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.

#24-Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes-This was my first book by Jennifer Lynn Barnes but definitely not my last.  I can't believe I haven't read anything by her until now.  She's awesome.

#25-Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare-Yes I only just read this series.  I hate myself for waiting so long.  I can't wait for City Of Fallen Angels.  =]

What were some of your favorite books of 2010?

The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney

Book:  The Mockingbirds
Author:  Daisy Whitney
Published:  November 2, 2010 from Little, Brown BFYR
My edition/number of pages:  ARC/332

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Friend
Series?:  No.

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

The Mockingbirds is an astounding debut novel from Daisy Whitney.  I was blown away by her amazing writing and her gut-wrenching subject matter.  Just plain wow.

Alex Patrick is not a slut.  That's why when she wakes up naked in a strange guys bed she knows something is wrong.  It turns out she's right to be worried.  She can't remember anything about the night before but she knows she had sex with the strange guy.  When she finally admits that she was date raped she doesn't go to the police.  No, she goes to the Mockingbirds.  The Mockingbirds take on Alex's case but maybe things are so black and white after all.

Word of Warning:  The Mockingbirds is definitely not for younger teens.  It has some graphic descriptions and language.

Alex reminds me of myself.  That is the first thing that I thought about after finishing the book.  She is driven and smart but she is also shy and terrified.  Now admittedly our reasons aren't the same but I loved the connection I felt to her.  I loved how brave she was but how scared she was at the same time.  She was a real three-dimensional character.  Her feelings were real, her actions were real, and her spunk was real.  What else could you want in a main character?

The subject matter that Daisy Whitney chose is a very real problem but one that doesn't seem to get a lot of attention.  I know this is the first time I have read about it.  The way Daisy Whitney approached it though made it readable.  I felt like I learned more about it but it was snuck in subtly, not told outright.  It was brutally honest but beautifully written.

Overall, The Mockingbirds is one of my top debut novels of the year.  I think Daisy Whitney deserves a lot of recognition for writing about such a strong topic and tackling it head on.  I know I will be passing this one along to my friends.

First line: Three things I know this second:  I have morning breath, I'm naked, and I'm waking up next to a boy I don't know. 

Writing:  5

Characters:  5

Plot:  5

Ending:  5

Originality:  5

Overall:  25=A++

Cover:  5=A++

Happy Holidays!

Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

Book:  Matched (Matched #1)
Author:  Ally Condie
Published:  November 30, 2010 from Dutton Juvenile
My edition/number of pages:  ARC/366

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Friend
Series?:  Yes.  First book.

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

I loved Matched.  I think it may be my new favorite dystopian book.  Ally Condie did not disappoint with this stunning story.  This trilogy has major promise and I can't wait to read the next book.

Cassia Reyes has no reason to doubt the Society.  They have never led her astray and they have given her a great life.  When she is matched to her best friend, Xander, it seems like they really are looking out for her.  Too bad the face on her microcard is not Xander's, it's Ky's.  Ky has always been a bit of a loner, just on the fringes of her friend group.  Cassia barely knows him and has never been interested in finding out more about him.  So why can't she stop thinking about him?

Matched is a great story.  That was the part that got me from the very beginning.  I didn't know where the story was going to take me and I didn't have a clue what the outcome would be.  I could see the comparisons to The Hunger Games in the Society but that was where the similarities ended.  Matched is a completely unique book full of unique situations and characters.  The story was not what I expected and the ending was definitely not what I thought was coming.

Cassia was average at first but by the end she was extraordinary.  She really grew into herself and I loved seeing the rebellious side of her.  She finally began to question the Society and try to make her own decisions.  For her it was all about choice and she didn't have that under the rule of the Society.  Her choice was definitely a tough one though.  I loved both Xander and Ky but in completely different ways.  Xander was sweet and caring but there was no spark.  Ky was a mystery but there was definitely a spark and he became less of a mystery throughout the book.  By the end I felt like I understood him and could see why Cassia fell in love with him.

Overall, Matched is a thrilling dystopian tale that I can't wait for more of.  The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger but I have a feeling that the wait until next year will be totally worth it.  If you haven't already, check this one out!

First line:  Now that I've found the way to fly, which direction should I go into the night?

Writing:  5

Characters:  5

Plot:  5

Ending:  4

Originality:  5

Overall:  24=A

Cover:  5=A++ (Love it!)

I've Been Nominated!

Natalie from Mindful Musings is hosting two awesome awards; Best New Blog 2010 and Best Blog 2010.  I've just found out that I was nominated as part of the Best Blog 2010 category.  I don't know who nominated me but thanks so much.  It's so cool to be included in the list with a ton of other amazing blogs.  

Head over to Mindful Musings and vote!

Every person who votes is also entered in a giveaway!

Voting ends 12/31 at 11:59 PM (CST,US)

Vote for your favorite blog, new and old.  Good luck to everyone nominated and I can't wait to see the results.  =]

Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5) by Melissa de la Cruz

Book:  Misguided Angel (Blue Bloods #5)
Author:  Melissa de la Cruz
Published:  October 26, 2010 from Hyperion
My edition/number of pages:  HC/256

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Publisher
Series?: Yes.  Fifth book.

After inheriting the dark Van Alen Legacy, Schuyler fled to Florence with her forbidden love, Jack. Now the two of them must embark on the mission Schuyler was destined to complete: to find and protect the five remaining gates that guard the earth from Lucifer, lord of the Silver Bloods.

Back in New York, Mimi has been elected Regent of a crumbling coven. Struggling with her heartache over the loss of Kingsley and with her overwhelming desire to destroy Jack, she must focus all of her energy on a perilous new threat. Vampires are being abducted and their captors are planning to burn them alive online…for all the world to see. Help arrives in the form of Deming Chen, a Venator from Shanghai, who must untangle the web of deceptions before the killers strike again.

As the young vampires struggle for the survival of the coven, they uncover a deadly secret, a truth first discovered by Schuyler’s mother during the Renaissance but kept buried for centuries. And as the Blue Blood enclave weakens yet further, fate leads Schuyler to a terrible choice that will ultimately map the destiny of her heart.

SPOILER ALERT:  If you haven't read the first four books in the series, stop now.  Go read them.  =]

Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series continues to amaze me.  I was skeptical that anything could be as good as the last book but Misguided Angel held up under my scrutiny.  It's torture that the next book in the series doesn't come out until October of next year.

Misguided Angel starts off a month after the ending of The Van Alen Legacy.  The writing style was a bit different than the previous books but I was not disappointed with it.  It was definitely the best way to show everything that needed to be shown.

The action in Misguided Angel started on the first page and continued non-stop.  I was on the edge of my seat for pretty much the whole book and I could not guess what was coming next.  There was also a ton of tension in this book.  It was hard to tell who was good and who was bad.

Overall, I loved Misguided Angel.  I don't want to give anything away so if you want to know more about what happens, go read it!

Writing:  5

Characters:  5

Plot:  5

Ending: 5

Originality:  5

Overall:  25=A++

Cover:  5=A++

Blog Tour: Entice (Need #3) by Carrie Jones

Book:  Entice (Need #3)
Author:  Carrie Jones
Published:  December 14, 2010 from Bloomsbury
My edition/number of pages:  ARC/288

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Publisher
Series?:  Yes.  Third book.

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that’s not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he’s been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it’s taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there’s that other small problem: Zara’s been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn’t just turned… She’s Astley’s queen.

Entice, the third book in Carrie Jones' Need series, is just as good, if not better, than the first two.  The story just keeps getting better and I am once again dying for more.

Zara is a pixie queen now so she should be able to bring Nick back from Valhalla, right?  Wrong.  Every time she and Astley get a clue something goes wrong and someone ends up dying.  Can Zara bring Nick back from Valhalla before she loses everyone she loves or is he really gone for good?

Entice was full of action.  From the very beginning Zara and her friends were kicking pixie butt.  It seemed like every chapter had some sort of fight scene in it and I loved it.  I had the hardest time putting it down because I didn't know what would happen next.  There were also some more deaths in this one and I was very sad about them.  =[

Zara is still Zara.  She may be a pixie queen now but she is still scared and insecure.  She worries about people loving her and she tries so hard not to show her pixie side.  Astley is the only one who really doesn't care whether she is pixie or human.  He was so great in this book.  I am definitely Team Astley now.

Overall, Entice is a fantastic addition to this series.  The next book cannot get here soon enough!

First line:  "Am I really not allowed to complain about being here?" I ask as we enter Bedford High School about an hour late for the Winter Ball.

Writing:  5

Characters:  5

Plot:  5

Ending:  4

Originality:  5

Overall:  24=A

Cover:  5=A++

In My Mailbox 92 (week of December 11)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, from the bookstore, or from trades. =]

For review:

-Vixen by Jillian Larkin
-Blood On My Hands by Todd Strasser
-Rich And Mad by William Nicholson
-The Lost Saint by Bree Despain
-Drought by Pam Bachorz
-The Dragons Of Noor by Janet Lee Carey

Bought/Won:

-Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead
-The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I had a great week for books.  I am so excited to read both Blood On My Hands and The Lost Saint.  i loved Wish You Were Dead and The Dark Divine.  I am also so excited about Drought.  Candor was so unique.

What was in your mailbox this week? 

Pretty Little Liars Series To Continue!

If you have been reading my blog for a while,  you know I love the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard.  The series ended with book eight and I was so sad to say goodbye to all the characters.  Well guess what?  Now I don't have to.

According to Entertainment Weekly's Shelf Life blog, there will be four more Pretty Little Liars books.  The ninth book, Twisted, is set to be released July 5, 2011.  I absolutely cannot wait!  I'm dying to see what she has planned for these new books.

What do you guys think?  Have any of you read all the books in the series?  Do you think Sara Shepard should continue? 

The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block

Book:  The Frenzy
Author:  Francesca Lia Block
Published:  September 28, 2010 from HarperTeen
My edition/number of pages:  ARC/272

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Boulder Book Store
Series?:  Nope. 

Liv has a secret.

Something happened to her when she was thirteen. Something that changed everything. Liv knows she doesn’t belong anymore—not in her own skin, not in her family . . . not anywhere. The only time she truly feels like herself is when she’s with her boyfriend, Corey, and in the woods that surround her town.

But in the woods, a mysterious woman watches Liv. In the woods, a pack of wild boys lurks. In the woods, Liv learns about the curse that will haunt her forever. The curse that caused the frenzy four years ago. And that may cause it again, all too soon.

While Corey and Liv’s love binds them together, Liv’s dark secret threatens to tear them apart as she struggles to understand who—or what—she really is. And by the light of the full moon, the most dangerous secrets bare their claws. . . .

I don't know what to say about The Frenzy.  I did not like it at all but I don't want to write a mean review.  It wasn't necessarily that the book was that bad it was just that I didn't like it.

Liv hasn't known what she is since she was 13 years old.  At first she thought she was just different but then she realized that she might not even be fully human.  She doesn't know what causes it and she has nobody to talk to about it.  Her boyfriend, Corey, and her best friend, Pace, know something is wrong but they have their own troubles too.  What is wrong with Liv?  And what does it mean for everyone else?

Liv was my first problem.  I didn't feel like I could relate to her at all and I didn't feel like I knew her.  I wanted more background about her.  Same with Pace and Corey.  They were just kind of there.  Pace had his own pretty big part in the book but it made absolutely no sense to me.  I had tons of questions about him when I finished the book.

The story itself was okay but not great.  The writing seemed disjointed and it took away from the story.  I would have liked more of the wolf aspect of the story but it didn't actually play a big part.  The story seemed more about Liz's way of dealing with her problem and it wasn't very enjoyable.

Overall, Francesca Lia Block does not seem to be the author for me.  If you have liked her previous books you will probably enjoy this one.  A warning for younger teens though: there is sexula content.  If you don't like that, don't read this one.

First line:  At some point in everyone's life they ask the question, "Who am I?"

Writing:  4

Characters:  3

Plot:  3

Ending:  4

Originality:  5

Overall:  19=C

Cover:  5=A++

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden

Book:  Losing Faith
Author:  Denise Jaden
Published:  September 7, 2010 from Simon Pulse
My edition/number of pages:  ARC/377

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Publisher
Series?:  Nope.

A terrible secret. A terrible fate.

When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don’t know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith’s final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.

Denise Jaden's debut novel is a fascinating story about what happens when you get in too deep with the wrong crowd and in this case it was not the crowd that automatically comes to mind.  It was an enjoyable book that stands out as unique in todays paranormal infested market.

Brie Jenkins has always been the problem child.  Her sister, Faith, on the other hand, is the perfect child.  All that changes the night Faith falls off a cliff.  Now Brie is the only child left and her world is crumbling around her.  Her parents can't keep it together, her friends don't want anything to do with her, and her boyfriend is hiding something from her.  When rumors start spreading that Faith's death was a suicide Brie can't take it anymore.  With the help of some unlikely allies Brie finds out more about her sister than she ever expected.  What was Faith involved in that caused her death?

At first I had some trouble getting into Losing Faith but I am very glad that I didn't give up on it because it was great!  My problem in the beginning was that I didn't particularly like Brie but it didn't take long for her to change.  She also had Tessa to help with that and she was awesome.  She brought out a different side of Brie and she was so fun.  I loved her spying methods.  They cracked me up.  She brought a much needed break in tension.  =]

The plot didn't take any time to take off.  Faith's death happened very early in the book and from there everything got started.  That was the best thing about Losing Faith.  I hate when a book is slow to pick up and this one wasn't.  I loved finding out more about what happened the night Faith died and it kept me reading.  I had a hard time putting this one down when it was time for bed.

Overall, Losing Faith is a spectacular debut from Denise Jaden.  If you are big into contemporary fiction this is one to add to your list.  I'm so excited for whatever Denise has planned next!

First line:  The statue has got to go.

Writing:  5

Characters:  4

Plot:  5

Ending:  5

Originality:  5

Overall:  24=A

Cover:  4=B-

In My Mailbox 91 (week of December 4)

In My Mailbox is a meme created by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie! It is a list of what books you have received over the previous week, either for review, from the library, from the bookstore, or from trades. =]

For review:

-Wither by Lauren DeStefano (second copy)
-Head Games (Pretty Tough #3) by Keri Mikulski
-Zombies VS. Unicorns edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier
-Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
-Vixen (The Flappers #1) by Jillian Larkin
-Entice (Need #3) by Carrie Jones
-Dark Moon (Wereling #2) by Steve Feasey
-The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
-A Templar's Apprentice (Book Of Tormod #1) by Kat Black
-Elixir by Hilary Duff (signed!)

Bought:

-The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
-Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
-The Rules Of Survival by Nancy Werlin
-Beautiful Disaster (Privilege #2) by Kate Brian

This week was amazing.  I got so many amazing books that I am dying to read.  I know that as soon as I finished The Haunted I am reading Entice though.  Captivate left me wanting more and I can't wait much longer to find out what happens.  =]

What was in your mailbox this week? 

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Book:  Low Red Moon
Author:  Ivy Devlin
Published:  September 14, 2010 from Bloomsbury
My edition/number of pages:  ARC/256

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Author
Series?:  I don't believe so.

The only thing Avery Hood can remember about the night her parents died is that she saw silver—deadly silver, moving inhumanly fast. As much as she wants to remember who killed them, she can't, and there's nothing left to do but try to piece her life back together. Then Avery meets the new boy in school—Ben, mysterious and beautiful, with whom she feels a connection like nothing she's ever experienced. When Ben reveals he's a werewolf, Avery still trusts him—at first. Then she sees that sometimes his eyes flash inhuman silver. And she learns that she's not the only one who can't remember the night her parents died.Part murder mystery, part grief narrative, and part heart-stopping, headlong romance, Low Red Moon is a must-read for teen paranormal fans. As breathless as Twilight and as spooky as Shiver, this is a book to be devoured in one sitting—by an acclaimed YA author making her paranormal debut under the pseudonym Ivy Devlin.

Low Red Moon is a promising start to Ivy Devlin's paranormal career.  While it lacked in some areas it definitely made up for it in others.

Avery Hood is the only one who knows what happened to her parents but she can't remember.  All she can think of is a flash of silver, like the new guy, Ben's, eyes.  She can't help but think he might have had something to do with their murders.  She also can't seem to help the feelings she has for him.  She knows he's not human but can that keep her away from him?

Avery was a lot stronger than I ever expected.  She watched her parents be murdered but instead of going crazy she determined to catch the killer.  She knew going back into her blocked memories would be painful but that didn't stop her.  She was a very determined girl and not only with her parents murder.  She was determined to be with Ben.  Their relationship was super intense and kind of out of nowhere but Ben was a good guy.  Their relationship seemed good for Avery.

The plot for Low Red Moon was very fast-paced.  It was a short book but it did seem to answer all my questions.  All the key pieces were discovered and I liked the neat ending.  It does seem like there might be a sequel but I don't think it's absolutely necessary.  Of course, I wouldn't turn down some more Ben!

Overall, Low Red Moon is a quick, interesting book to read.  There are some brutal scenes though so I would recommend this one for older teens.

First line:  I was covered in blood when the police found me.

Writing:  5

Characters:  4

Plot:  5

Ending:  4

Originality:  4

Overall:  22=B+

Cover:  5=A++