Book Haul (5) 7 Books

YAY!  IT CAME IT CAME!  (It came a while back but I am just getting to posting this now!  LOL!)

Title:  This Is Not A Test
Author:  Courtney Summers
Synopsis:  It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

I already read this and a review is to come.  I absolutely love love love this book!!!  

Also- finally grew a pair and got The Hunger Games!!!

  Title:  The Hunger Games
Author:  Suzanne Collins
Synopsis:  Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun...

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before--and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Also read this.  So glad I got it finally!!! Review to come!!

  Title:  After
Author: Amy Efaw
Synopsis:  An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . . Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made- Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there's only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.
And yet gifted author Amy Efaw does the impossible- she turns Devon into an empathetic character, a girl who was in such deep denial that she refused to believe she was pregnant. Through airtight writing and fast-paced, gripping storytelling, Ms. Efaw takes the reader on Devon's unforgettable journey toward clarity, acceptance, and redemption.

I remember reading the synopsis and being sucked in fast and hard.  Haven't read this one yet, and I am looking forward to reading this!  I really hope Ms. Efaw pulls this off.


I have now become a fan of Courtney Summers, so the next one shouldn't surprise you!

Title: Fall for Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Synopsis:  When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

I cannot wait to start reading this.  I read the first chapter in the bookstore and was blown away.  

The next three books are for my personal Pagan/Wiccan Library.  

  Title:  The Witch's Master Grimoire
Author: Lady Sabrina
Synopsis:  This encyclopedia contains numerous spells and magical rites in an A-Z format that are simple and easy to follow. The author also gives tips on the best and most productive times to cast spells.


I flipped through this and really liked what I saw, so I snatched it up because it was marked down at HPB. 

  Name: Witchcraft: A Mystery Trafition
Author: Raven Grimassi
Synopsis:  Understanding the mystery teachings of Witchcraft is essential for those who desire to enrich their knowledge of the Craft. World-renowned author and scholar Raven Grimassi guides readers down the well-worn path to these mystery traditions by exploring their roots in myths, legends, verses, and lore.

Also was marked down at HPB.

  Title: Advanced Witchcraft
Author Edain McCoy
Synopsis:  In the beginning everything is fresh and new. Learning how to cast a circle, work magick, compile a Book of Shadows, and honor the God and Goddess on esbats and sabbats can be exhilarating. But once you've mastered the basics of Witchcraft comes the real challenge of living your faith every moment of every day. Living as a Witch is knowing that you are the magick.
Advanced Witchcraft doesn't contain any "Wicca 101" information--it assumes that you're already familiar with the nuts and bolts of the Craft. Instead, this book challenges you to think critically about your beliefs and practices, what they mean to you, how they've changed, and where you're going. 

I love McCoy, so I wanted to get this while it was there.  Though I won't say that I am ready to study advanced, it was marked down, and HPB only had one copy left!

Book Haul (4) 7 books

Title: Gone (Gone #1)
Author: Michael Grant
Synopsis: In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened. Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else... 

Super excited to start this.  I read the first page in HPB and just HAD to get it!  Since they had Hunger, I bought it too.  

 Title:  Hunger
Author:  Michael Grant
Synopsis: It's been three months since everyone under the age of fifteen became trapped in the bubble known as the FAYZ.

Three months since all the adults disappeared. GONE.

Food ran out weeks ago. Everyone is starving, but no one wants to figure out a solution. And each day, more and more kids are evolving, developing supernatural abilities that set them apart from the kids without powers. Tension rises and chaos is descending upon the town. It's the normal kids against the mutants. Each kid is out for himself, and even the good ones turn murderous. But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them. The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

 Title:  Linger
Author:  Maggie Stiefvater
Synopsis:  In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

I was not a die-hard fan of Shiver.  But the way she left it, I was still interested in the storyline.  So I made sure this wasn't over five bucks, and got it anyway.  If I end up not caring for the series as a whole, I'll sell them back to HPB.  

  Title:  Psych Major Syndrome
Author:  Alicia Thompson
Synopsis:  Using the skills you've learned so far in Introduction to Psychology, please write a brief self-assessment describing how things are going in your freshman year.
Presenting Concerns: The Patient, Leigh Nolan (that would be me), has just started her first year at Stiles College. She has decided to major in psychology (even though her parents would rather she study Tarot cards, not Rorschach blots). Patient has always been very good at helping her friends with their problems, but when it comes to solving her own...not so much. Patient has a tendency to overanalyze things, particularly when the opposite sex is involved. Like why doesn't Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year, ever invite her to spend the night? Or why can't she commit to taking the next step in their relationship? And why does his roommate Nathan dislike her so much? More importantly, why did Nathan have a starring role in a much-more-than-friendly dream? Aggravating factors include hyper-competitive fellow psych majors, a professor who’s badly in need of her own psychoanalysis, and mentoring a middle-school-aged girl who thinks Patient is, in a word, naive.
Diagnosis: Psych Major Syndrome

When I first saw the cover, I wasn't thrilled.  But all I had to do was read that (above) and I was hooked!  I needed to get it and get the rest of her story!  Super excited to read this one too! 

Title:  Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Synopsis:  Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. 

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers. 

Call me a freak-  I absolutely love books about depression (if they are done correct).

Title:  Just Listen

Author: Sarah Dessen

Synopsis: Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help,maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

Another guilty pleasure- reading about broken up families.  I love reading books like this.  It is only recently that I have discovered this- and I plan on looking into more books of this genre to fill this craving I have for them! 

 

Title: Blood Promise

Author: Richelle Mead

Synopsis:  Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

Omg- I haven't read Shadow Kiss and already I can't wait to pick this one up.  I only bought it because it was in paperback, lol.  Besides, I'll read it eventually!  

Also- this is going to be the next 4-6 weeks:

 

BECAUSE I WON A COPY OF  

THIS IS NOT A TEST BY COURTNEY SUMMERS

I 

AM

PUMPED

I cannot cannot cannot wait for it to get here.  Whatever I am reading at the time will be put down so I can start on it ASAP.  Courtney Summers also did Cracked Up To Be- which I LOVED! 

Happy Reading folks!!! 

March Wrap up & April TBR

Posting this early because I know I won't have another one done by the end of this month.  I am hoping to actually get to Shadow Kiss this time, but I'm not holding my breath.  I borrowed a couple books from my aunt and have been indulging in these. 

So for March I have completed (in order of completion):

1. Past Perfect by Liela Sales (PulseIt)

2. Love Struck by Melissa Marr

3. Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst

4. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

5. Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

6. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

7. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

8. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr 

9. Stopping Time by Melissa Marr

10. Lenobia's Vow by P.C. & Kristin Cast

11. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

12. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton 

According to Goodreads, I am 15 books (20%) ahead of schedule! Yay!
On my To-Be-Read pile, I have:

1. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) by Richelle Mead
2. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater 3. Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler 4. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver 5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 6. The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor 7. Interrupter by Rachel Coker
8. Halfling by Heather Burch
9. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
10. Hold Still by Nina LaCour 

11. Gone by Michael Grant

12. Hunger by Michael Grant

I was so happy to cave and got the two first books in the Gone series.  I got lucky- they were at Half Price Books for cheap.  And I love cheap.  It means I have more money for more books! 

Happy Reading folks!

February Wrap up & March TBR

My February Wrap up and my to-be-read pile for March.  Apparently it's going to be a Melissa Marr kind of March for me.  

So for February I have completed (in order of completion):

1. Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (PulseIt)

2. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

3. The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams (PulseIt)

4. Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

5. Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2) by Richelle Mead

6. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

7. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

8. How It's Done by Christine Kole MacLean

9. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

10. The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez (PulseIt)

According to Goodreads, this puts me 26% ahead of schedule. (YAY!)

On my To-Be-Read pile, I have:

1. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) by Richelle Mead
2. Past Perfect by Liela Sales (PulseIt)
3. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
4. Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
5. Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
6. Love Struck by Melissa Marr
7. Interrupter by Rachel Coker
8. Halfling by Heather Burch
9. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
10. Hold Still by Nina LaCour 


And that's not counting if I take another trip to HPBs to get more.  It's starting to be a little habit, every other week.  Vince and I decided to take a trip out and see what they have.  I usually try to avoid buying much, but I easily get caught up and want them all!  

Book Haul (3) 9 book

I got a good haul this time around, and it's only going to get better now that I joined NetGalley.  But let me start with the ones I have on my actual bookshelf and move on from there, shall we?

Book Review: How It's Done by Christine Kole MacLean

Title: How It’s Done

Author: Christine Kole MacLean

Synopsis: Brought up in a fundamentalist home, 18-year-old Grace feels trapped by her overbearing father and timid mother. When college professor Michael Irving walks into Graces life, they begin an affair. Grace soon discovers that being involved with an older man is not all chardonnay and poetry.

Review:

a.) Characters: 4/5 score.  Grace is a strong character, and you are immediately thrown into her life with her overbearing father and timid mother.  You feel her frustration and defeat, and her admiration for Michael.  You get family with Liv’s family and Tori’s situation- and you see a lot of strength and weakness overall in everyone.  Because of all that, these characters felt amazingly real, as if I could call any of them up on the phone right now and have a chat with them.  

b.) Plot: 4/5 score.  I have conflict with the plot, because even though I liked it I had a hard time believing it.  I guess I do believe it, but it felt like it made Grace’s intelligence suffer because of it.  On the same note, the infatuation she felt toward Michale was fueled by all the points in her life, so it was believable.  I guess my conflict is more of a personal issue about her course of action.

c.) Writing style: 3/5 score.  There was nothing dynamic about this style except how much Grace ignored her own values/beliefs for the sake of “love” and “freedom”.  I myself, never having grown up with a religious background, am mystifies at how “damaging” it can be to life.  If this confuses you (which I bet it does), read the darn book.  

Rating: 11/15 total

I really do love this book.  It will be added to my reread selection on Goodreads (even though I have already reread some chapters).  I think I appreciate books like this because of the fine line between right and wrong, the challenge to her beliefs, and coming-to-age.  It is a type of book like this that can have a moral learning inside the writing.

So even if you come away from it now simply enjoying what you read, down the line you might make a different decision all together because of what this taught.  There are questions at the end of the book that I am going to post in a different post, once I complete them all.  So if you do happen to read it, we can compare notes!  :-) 

Book Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Title: Beautiful Creatures

Author: Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

Synopsis: Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever--and one secret could change everything.

Review:

a.) Characters: 3/5 score.  Didn’t really feel like a 16 year old boy and girl to me.  Sometimes they felt younger, and rarely did they feel older.  Ethan and Lera’s relationship develops over time, slowly and believable.  But in the process, I felt like other characters were lost.  I feel the only other major characters were Macon and Amma.  

b.) Plot: 3/5 score.  Nothing wrong with the storyline but it dragged at times, and I still have some questions (which I hope will be answered in book two).  It was an even pace, but it bordered on boring.  Don’t bite my head off, I was interested enough in it to finish it and still like the book.  It’s just, II don’t think the suspense carried through for me.  I liked the count down on each chapter to her birthday- but the longer the story dragged, the more annoying it was.  

c.) Writing style: 3/5 score.  The writing felt bland.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the writing style, but it was missing something that would’ve bumped it up to a four star.  I don’t know if they purposefully tried to make it a long story, but I think the length is what really caused the story to lack the proper suspense.  It was, however, interesting to read a first-person where the main character is male.  

Rating: 9/15 total

I really have a hard time putting into words on how I feel about this book.  You see, I liked it and enjoyed it, but something was missing, something that gives a story a 'wow' feel to it.  Because that was lacking, I feel this story was just 'okay' and nothing great.  Maybe it will all work out in the end for me when I read the next book in the series, or maybe my opinion will worsen.  Whatever it is, this book is balanced on the fence and can go either way really fast.  

Book Haul (2) 6 books

All of these are physical books, one that I got at an amazing price at Half Price Book store on Monday.  My boyfriend and I absolutely love this place.  He likes looking at their music, DVD and VHS selections.  I head straight for the YA books.  

January Wrap up & February TBR

My January Wrap up and my to-be-read pile for February.  

So for January I have completed (in order of completion):

1. Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
2. Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber
3. The Sight by David Clement-Davies
4. Fell by David Clement-Davies
5. The Pact by Jodi Picoult
6. Iron King by Julie Kagawa
7. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
8. Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne (PulseIt)
9. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting (PulseIt)
10. Need by Carrie Jones
11. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

According to Goodreads, this puts me 14% ahead of schedule.  I am trying to keep ahead of the game because when summer hits, and the kennel gets busy, I am not sure I will be able to read much.  I hope I can, but that is why I started out slow with only a 50-book challenge.

On my To-Be-Read pile, I have:

1. Frostbite by Richelle Mead
2. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
3. Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers
4. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
5. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garci and Margaret Stohl
6. Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst
7. Secrets of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst
8. Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (PulseIt)
9. The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams (PulseIt)
10. Love Struck by Melissa Marr

This only includes books I have at my fingertips.  My boyfriend and I are planning another trip to Half Price Bookstore after my payday, and I plan on lengthening this list by a couple more books.  I am also looking into getting rid of a couple of adult novels that I probably will never read to make room on my shelves for books I actual want.  I am a huge fan of Half Price Books, because books I no longer want (my trash) may be exactly what another is looking for (their treasure).

REMEMBER:  Donate or sell the books you no longer want, have attachment to, or will never reread!

Book Haul (1) 7 books

Technically it's 4 books and 3 ebooks, but I now have 7 books I have to read next.  I heard a lot of reviews on these books and am extremely excited to read these.  Since I am new to reviewing books, my reviews might not be all what you want, but it's a work in progress.   I am hoping I might be able to kind of do an outline kind of review, but I haven't thought much on it.