Top Ten Tuesday: My Winter TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme of lists hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. I like planning out TBR or at least giving myself an idea of what I'm going to read so I can have the books fresh in my mind. So this is what I'm hoping to read this winter:

1. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: Adult fiction, small town mystery, murder.

2. The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson: I'm finally going to finish this trilogy and it's about time.

3. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent: Story of a woman facing the death penalty in Iceland.

4. The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer: New book by Heather Brewer. Enough said.

5. Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios: I read about a third of this book earlier this year and it's pretty good. It's time I got around to finishing it. 

6. Fairest by Marissa Meyer: I will have this book as soon as it comes out and I will read it!

7. Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley: The story of a girl who finds herself in another world called Magonia and discovers that it's on the brink of war with Earth. Officially releases in April but I have an ARC so I will be definitely reading it soon!

8. Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott: Another new release that I will have my hands on as soon as it's published. The sequel to Fire & Flood and no, I'm not happy about the cover changes.

9. Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay: A historical fiction that takes places during WWII in Paris. 

10. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: I've been wanting to read this fantasy series for a while now but have been putting off because I know it's going to be quite the undertaking. But since I want to read more book like this, that are super involved and complex, in 2015, I think The Name of the Wind is a good place to start. 

In My Mailbox! (23)

In My Mailbox is an awesome way to connect with our blogger and reader friends and share which amazing books we received, bought or borrowed during the week! This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

I had a pretty good week because I got a lot of review books and I didn't buy any!  I'm super excited to read all of them and most of them look pretty creepy which makes me even more excited! Hope you enjoy! And don't forget to leave me a link so I can check out your mailboxes :)

For Review:

Envy by Gregg Olsen

Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe 

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison

Won:

Tempest by Holly Hook (from Ashley @ What's Your Story? Thanks so much!)

Follow Friday (17)

Follow Friday is a really fun way to network your blog and meet some other really cool bloggers in the process! This weekly event is hosted at Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read.

Q: In some books like the Sookie Stackhouse series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish this would happen with in real life?
A: That's a really hard question to answer because with all the good paranormal creatures that I love so much there is always the bad side.  That part of the paranormal is dangerous and could get you killed.  I'm going to let the little girl in me who loves Disney and say mermaids.  I would love it if the type of mermaids from Forgive My Fins were real.  I'm not so sure about the sirens who kill men by drawing them in with their songs but I think mermaids in general would be cool.  I would also enjoy finding out that the Greek myths were not in fact myths but true and that there are demi-gods walking around. They would kind of be like super heroes with all their special powers!

Waiting on Wednesday (29)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

Title: The Last Echo
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: The Body Finder #3
Anticipated Date of Release: April 17, 2012

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton.  That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers.  Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals--including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe--it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice.  When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case.  But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye...

EEKKK!!!! It sounds a little bit scary but so good! I love this series and I love Kimberly Derting!

Teaser Tuesday (13)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

Today I am reading The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson! This teaser is straight from the beginning because that's really all you need to suck you into this book!

"I used to be someone.  Someone named Jenna Fox.  That's what they tell me.  But I am more than a name.  More than they tell me.  More than the facts and statistics they fill me with.  More than the video clips they make me watch.  More.  But I'm not sure what." pg. 3

In My Mailbox (22)

In My Mailbox is an awesome way to connect with our blogger and reader friends and share which amazing books we received, bought or borrowed during the week! This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.




Bought: 

The Evil Within (Possessions #2) by Nancy Holder
Vampire Kisses: The Beginning by Ellen Schrieber
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
Supernaturally by Kiersten White
Jane by April Linder
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien

Paperbackswap:

Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer

Review:

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Follow Friday and Book Blogger Hop (17)

Follow Friday is a really fun way to network your blog and meet some other really cool bloggers in the process! This weekly event is hosted at Parajunkee's View.
Q: Talk about a book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average reader to an avid reader, did it help you deal with a particular difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it)?
A: The book that really got me hooked on reading was Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.  It's such a beautiful love story that has transcended time, culture and race and still goes strong to this day.  Although it was written in 1847, it is still one of the best stories that literature has to offer.  I even love the newer covers that Penguin has been giving the classic lately but this cover is my favorite.

The book blogger hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love for the written word. The book blogger hop is brought to us by Jennifer at Crazy For Books!

Q: What is the one ARC you are dying to get your hands on right now?

A: OMG this question is so hard because there are so many good books coming out this fall because it's so hard just to choose one!  For the longest time, the book that I wanted so bad was Bloodlines by Richelle Mead.  But then, low and behold, it came in the mail a little over a week-and-a-half ago and I was jumping up and down I was so excited! But since I've received it and read it, I would have to say that right now I'm dying to get my hands on an ARC of The Pledge by Kimberly Derting.  Even though I love the Body Finder series, I'm so excited to read something new and different from her, especially a dystopian.

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

This book intrigues me! The cover is very interesting and it makes me wonder what significance the moon and the blindfold have.  Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne will be released February 2, 2012!

When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exacty where she needs to be.  After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy.  Fast.

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home.  She's even made her first read friends, but odd things keep happening to them.  Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorms with their hands stained red.

Faye knows she'e the reason, but what does it all mean?  The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her-and the rest of the world too.

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is an awesome way to connect with our blogger and reader friends and share which amazing books we received, bought or borrowed during the week! This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.





Won:

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente (thanks to Lauren at Books From a Shelf!)

For Review: 

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

Bought:

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen
The Dark and Hallow Places by Carrie Ryan
Vixen by Jillian Larkin
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Weekly Wrap-up:

Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday

Thursday: Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Friday: Author Interview and Giveaway!, Meet My New Guest Blogger

Saturday: True Blood Book to Show Comparison, Day 1: A Week's Worth of Giveaways

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is an awesome way to connect with our blogger and reader friends and share which amazing books we received, bought or borrowed during the week! This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.



Review:

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
Eve by Anna Carey
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
Beyond the Grave by Mara Purnhagen
Dark Territory by J. Gabriel Gates

Paperbackswap:

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

Bought:

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
Forget You by Jennifer Echols
Love Story by Jennifer Echols
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

What's in your mailbox?

Waiting on Wednesday (26)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

This week for Waiting on Wednesday, I chose Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, the third and final book in the Hush, Hush trilogy! I am so excited for this book to come out and, lucky me, Becca Fitzpatrick is doing a release party in Huntington Beach, CA, which is not too far from my house! Silence will be released October 04, 2011!

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone.  They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds....faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth.  Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for--and their love--forever.

Teaser Tuesday (12)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

Today I'm reading Ariel by Aaron Patterson.

"What would he see in me?  I don't really stand out.  Then again, why would I want him to notice me?  Sure, he's hot, but what else is there to the guy?  He probably gets girls falling all over him everywhere he goes.  Especially the rechargeable kind, the ones with perky, dumb personalities and nothing to say but nonsense.  And guys are so stupid anyway--always falling for blonde hair and blue eyes and cheerleader uniforms.  He's probably just like every other guy--just let it go.  Ignore him, girl--he's bad news." Pg. 23

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

I've been such a terrible blogger this week! I haven't been reading as much as usual and I haven't blogged since Saturday.  My TBR list has been looming at me lately and I feel like it's laughing in my face and saying "you'll never finish me, hahaha!"  So I've decided to take it head on and say "take that, TBR list!"

This week I'm eagerly anticipating Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough! The cover is super cute and it sounds like it's going to be a really funny book!

Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales.  And why should she?  Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the county, and she's stuck in California with "Dr. Hank," her famous life--coach father--a man she barely knows.  Happily ever after?  Yeah, right.

Then Dr. Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother--an f.g.--and he can prove it.  And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary.  Meaning there's a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone's fairy godmother.

But what happens when a fairy godmother needs a wish of her own?

Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough will be released on November 8, 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Blog Hop and Follow Friday (16)

Follow Friday is a really fun way to network your blog and meet some other really cool bloggers in the process! This weekly event is hosted at Parajunkee's View.

Q: Let's step away from besties...What is the worst book that you've ever read and actually finished?

A: I feel like this question is so mean but there are a horde of terrible book out there.  I would have to say that one of the worst books that I've read and finished all the way through was Revealers by Amanda Marrone.  I read it when I first started my blog and I felt like it wasn't supposed to give bad reviews so I gave it an okay review.  But I think if I would have read it now then I would give it a terrible review.

More recently, the worst audio book that I have listened to and completed was City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.  I just couldn't connect with the characters and most of the time I just wanted to slap Clary.

The book blogger hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love for the written word. The book blogger hop is brought to us by Jennifer at Crazy For Books!

The Secret Life of an Avid Reader is having a 350 follower giveaway in which her readers can win a few ARCs from BEA!

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

I only recently finished Anna and the French Kiss and I posted my review today. If you read it then you would know how much I love it! Which means I can't wait until Lola and the Boy Next Door comes out! So I just devoted an entire day to Stephanie Perkins!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins! Release date: September 29, 2011:

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn't believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

What are you waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday (11)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

Today, I've been reading Want to go Private? by Sarah Littman. It's about a teenage girl who falls victim to an internet predator. I'm almost halfway through and it's crazy good and a little scary!

"That night, Luke asks me if I have a webcam so we can video chat. I tell him there's one build into my computer.

BlueSkyBoi: Well, what are we waiting for?

Abyangel99: I don't know. Nothing, I guess. Hold on a sec.

I throw a bathrobe over my camisole and pajama bottoms and make sure my hair looks okay. Then I click on the video icon so he can see me, and wait for him to start his. When Luke turns his on, his face is half in shadow. I put in my earbuds, so no one at my house can hear the conversation."

Blog Hop and Follow Friday (15)

Follow Friday is a really fun way to network your blog and meet some other really cool bloggers in the process! This weekly event is hosted at Parajunkee's View. This week's featured blogger is Erika at Let's Talk About Books!

Q: Your favorite book/movie character (example: Hermione Granger played by the Emma chick) just walked into the room. Who is it and what would be your first reaction?

I love, love, love Harry Potter and all the movies and if Ronald Weasley/Rupert Grint walked into the room, I'm pretty sure my heart would stop and I wouldn't be able to breath! Once I regained control of myself (which would take so long he probably would have left the room), I would probably walk up to him and not be able to say a single word. It would also include a few other things like smiling awkwardly, continuing to nod my head and staring at him like I was his creep stalker. But if Patch from the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick walked into the room, I would try as fast as I can to shove my hands up the back of his shirt, touch the scars of his wings and see where it would take me! It would be amazing just to touch Patch!

The book blogger hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love for the written word. The book blogger hop is brought to us by Jennifer at Crazy For Books!

Q: What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?

A: The main reason I continue reading a book after the first few pages is that it usually sucks me in and I'm already wanting to know what happens next. That's how it is when I'm starting the first book in a series. If it's a series that I really love, then I give the next few book more time than I usually would to get the story going. I already love the characters and I've already invested my time in them, so I already know that I'm going to enjoy the story. I put a book down after 50 pages or so when I don't feel an emotional connection with them and I don't care what happens to them in the story.

Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating. This is one of my favorite memes because not only is my TBR pile so much bigger at the end of the night but also the covers are always amazing!

Frost by Marianna Baer. September 13, 2011!

Leena Thomas's senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate: confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena's anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, with Leena's own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste's brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. Frost is the story of a hunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological...well, which answer would let you sleep at night?

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott. September 15, 2011!

Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends and a

crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them-and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.

Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers...but only in exchange for her trust.

What are you waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday (10)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. It includes two sentences from your current read without any spoilers!

Today I'm reading Spells by Aprilynne Pike!

"She didn't get far before she walked to the window and caught her breath at the view below her. Her room overlooked the biggest flower garden she had ever seen; rows of flower in every imaginable hue spread out below her in a cascade of color almost as big as the grounds in front of the Academy. Her fingers pressed against the glass as she tried to take in the whole sight at once. It struck her as a waste that a room with such a magnificent view had just been sitting, empty, for the last thirteen years." pg. 22

What are you reading today?

In My Mailbox (17)

In My Mailbox is an awesome way to connect with our blogger and reader friends and share which amazing books we received, bought or borrowed during the week! This weekly meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.



Review:

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

Bought:

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

Forgive My Finds by Tera Lynn Childs

Zombie Felties

Steampunk Softies: 8 Scientifically-Minded Dolls From a Past that Never Was

Won:

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray (Thank you Mindful Musings!)

What did you get in your mailbox? Let me know!