Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday

What am I waiting for...? Well I'm waiting for this semester to be over. I am waiting for Les Mis on the 18th. EEECCKKK! I am waiting for it to freeze so I can go ice skating. I am waiting for my classes to be over today so I can have dinner with my boyfriend and then go to our friends house for our weekly game night. AND... as always... I am waiting for a crap ton of books to be realeased. Here is one...

The White Glove War (Magnolia League 2) by Katie Crouch

I really liked The Magnolia League. I was honestly surprised that I would. The main character has an interesting voice... very different from the type of voice that I'm typically attracted to reading. She's just a little more... whiny I guess, but by the end of the book I was really rooting for her. I'm excited to read this next one and find out what happens.

Expected Publication: July 3rd by Poppy

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday

So I realize that all we've really been posting recently are Top Ten Tuesdays... but they are so quick and easy... and Nic and I both only have 3 weeks left in our semester... and we're english majors... which means we are locked away in the library writing and read (not for fun) about 21 hours of the day. That doesn't really leave tons of time to blog... :( I promise we'll have more posts for you once the semester is over... and hey maybe another video. In the meantime... here is this weeks Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This weeks topic is:

Top TBR Titles This Winter

10. Supernaturally by Kiersten White: I've wanted to read this one for months, but I haven't had a chance. It came out in July with SOOOO many other books that I've wanted to read. When I buy more than one book at a time... I choose to tend one to read right away and the other one will sit on my shelf untouched for months. I ended up reading Karsten Knight's Wildefire instead of this one, but I plan on reading this one over winter break. 

9. Fury by Elizabeth Miles: This is another one that I was REALLY anticipating the release... and when I got it... I didn't have time to read it. I hate it when that happens. :( Hopefully I will get to it soon... 

8. After Obsession by Carrie Jones: I should really just say that most of these titles are going to be ones that I bought because it was on my list of books to buy... and then put it directly on my shelf because I don't have ANY time to read... 

7. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater: I've mentioned this before... but I've been avoiding this book because it is the end of one of my favorite series... and I don't like it when those end... :( I still haven't accepted the fact the the Gemma Doyle Trilogy is just that... a trilogy. I don't like it when character's stories end. It's sad.

6. Ripple by Mandy Hubbard: I've heard amazing things about this book. I am really excited to read it... It is sitting on my nightstand actually... it got upgraded from my TBR shelf. :) It helps that this one is a little on the short end... it makes me feel like it wouldn't be such a time suck. 

5. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff: I've actually started reading this one... just as kind of a sampler before I bought it... and it sounds SO good! It's really dark and creepy... it's about the daughter of Lillith and Lucipher... How can it not be creepy. Plus, I'm a HUGE supernatural fan... and Lillith and Lucipher were both major villains in seasons 4 and 5. 

4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins: I've been wanting to read this book for a while now. I've heard nothing but good things. I've been contemplating just waiting until the last book is out and then just reading them all back to back like i did with the Wonderous Strange series... but I haven't really decided yet. I always look at it on my shelf and think "Man I need to read that soon." So I probably will. 

3. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand: I LOVE this series. The first book was AMAZING! So I'm super psyched that the next one is so close to being published. Without a doubt I will be reading this one... like right when it comes out.... as i'm in line to buy it. ;) 

2. Siren by Tricia Rayburn: I don't know how many times I've said that I need to read this book... yea that hasn't changed... It's a paperback which means I never look at that shelf... I always walk over to my HUGE hardcover shelf and think... "man there are so many that I need to read... I choose (insert book title here)." So my poor paperbacks have to stare enviously from the neighboring shelf. :( Sorry paperbacks... but I will get to this one. 

1. Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep: I am more than excited to read this book. I am so grateful that she is publishing these books so fast... that I'm running to the bookstore to buy it when it comes out. I never realized how upset it makes me after I finish a book one and the realization hits me that I am going to have to wait over a year for the next one. I understand that the publishing and, of course, writing process takes time... I have accepted that having a love for YA series... comes with a life of constant waiting and impatience. So... when an author has the ability to have a book come out only a few months after her first one was published... I am ecstatic. :) It's the little things in life you know. 

Next weeks topic: Dec. 6- Top 10 Childhood Favorites


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday


So I had another one of those 'don't want to get out of bed' days. Warm blanket plus cold bedroom equals almost impossible for me to get out of bed, but ALAS I am sitting in my 9 30am Criticism class on time and mostly paying attention. :) Might have to thank the boyfriend for making sure I was actually awake at 9 am this morning. It's getting closer and closer to the end of the semester which means that I am staying up later and later writing papers and spending less and less time reading and having a social life. So again... I don't have a Teaser Tuesday for you all today, but I will do a Top Ten Tuesday this week hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday this weeks topic is:

Top Ten Authors I'd Love to Have at my Thanksgiving Feast

1. J.K. Rowling: When it comes to writing, this woman is my idol. The way that she weaves her story and her writing style is just amazing. I would just want to sit and pick her brain for hours. 

2. Gail Carson Levine: I love her. I don't know her, but I love her. Ella Enchanted was my favorite book for a very long time. I've read it so many times that my copy was falling apart so I had to buy a second copy. I credit Levine for my love of reading. 

3. Libba Bray: My favorite series OF ALL TIME. Is the Gemma Doyle series. I love everything about it and this is another author that I just want to brain pick, and she seems delightful. I just feel like Bray is a truly remarkable woman who has a lot to say. I would love to listen to her talk for a while.

4. Meg Cabot: She is another one of my childhood favorites. The woman has like 9218729384 books, she is a fantastic story teller. I'm sure she would be wonderful to have over for dinner.

5. Ann Brashares: I've met her, she's SO nice! She is spunky but has a calming sense to her, plus she has a TON of experience with various facets of the publishing world... and considering that is what I want to go into... another brain picking session. :)

6. Kiersten White: Read her blog... you'll understand. 

7. Rachel Hawkins: I love the Hex Hall series... If she came to my thanksgiving I would spend most of the time making sure that she was planning on writing more after she finished with Spellbound. :) 

8. Lauren Oliver: The woman is a master story teller, and is totally an individual. I totally respect her.

9. Karsten Knight: He's hilarious too, he does videos on his blog and they are so funny! We seem to share the same dry sarcastic humor, so pretty sure that would be the most entertaining Thanksgiving feast I've ever had.

10. William Shakespeare: Pre-death of course. :) I might be cheating a bit because he's not actually... you know... alive.  I'm an English major with an emphasis in Shakespeare... this being said... I LOVE (most of ) his plays!! I also have a couple questions that I would like cleared up. :) 


Friday, November 18, 2011

Christmas Giveaway!

Today I came across an awesome Giveaway that I would like to share with you all. Rebecca over at Reading Wishes is doing a Christmas giveaway simply because she is that awesome. And so you should all head on over there and check it out and join in on the fun!! When you get to her site, just click on the link at the top of the right hand side and you can find all of the details :)
ReadingWishes




Thursday, November 17, 2011

Can't Stop Gushing About...

The last 2 Can't Stop Gushing About posts that we have done have been on series that were now completed and that we wish we had time to read again... this week I thought I would talk about a series that I'm madly in love with that still has one more book coming out.

This week I Can't Stop Gushing About...

Hex Hall Trilogy by Rachel Hawkins

I love these books. If you haven't read them... they need to go on your TBR pile... probs towards the top. Sophie is by far my favorite heroine that I've ever read. She's so snarky and funny and stands up for what she thinks and doesn't let anyone step on her toes. She just seems the most real to me.... which is ironic... because she's a witch. I'm SOOOOOO excited to read Spell Bound. It'll be a little bitter sweet of course because it's the last book of the trilogy but I'll worry about that when I'm on the last page. :)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday


I don't know what kind of Wednesday that you are having... but for me... it's a hit the snooze button 4 times, sweatpants wearing, only wants to cuddle back up in bed and watch tv kind of Wednesday. BLAH!! Of course, Wednesdays are my busiest days so I can't just go back to bed and relax... So instead... I will just be tired and cranky today. ;) Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Here's what I'm waiting for:

Rapture by Lauren Kate



I LOVE these books! I will be sad when they're over, but I'm really excited for  Lauren Kate to start another series. I'm also really interested to see how she ends the Fallen Series. I'm just all around excited for this book.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

2012 Debut Author Challenge

This year I have decided to participate in The Story Siren's annual Debut Author Challenge. I'm really excited for a lot of the books coming out within the next year... So I don't think 12 will really be that difficult. :)

Here's my tentative list: 
1. Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London
2. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
3. The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long
4. My Heart Be Damned by Chanelle Gray
5. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
6. The Selection by Kiera Cass
7. Tempest by Julie Cross
8. The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier
9. The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark
10. Touched by Corrine Jackson
11. Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire

I know that's only 11, but it is a tentative list... and I'm sure I'll fumble upon at least 10 more that I will be dying to read... but these are the 11 that at this moment I'm really excited for. Are there any 2012 debuts that you can't wait to get your hands on?




Top Ten Tuesday



Typically, we do a Teaser Tuesday on Tuesdays... but because I'm not reading anything at the moment... I (Del) am going to go with a different Tuesday meme for the week. The Broke and Bookish hosts this meme and this weeks topic is...

Top Ten Books That Have Been Sitting On My Shelf The Longest... and Still Haven't Read

1. Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus - I honestly don't know why I haven't read this one yet. It's been sitting on my shelf for sooo long and I always consider reading it "next" but I always find something else that I want to read more.

2. My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares - I was really anticipating this ones release, I noticed that it had a couple similarities to the Fallen series... So picked up the Fallen series while I was waiting for this one to come out... then after I read Fallen... I didn't want to get confused between the two. Now, I'm waiting for that series to finish before I start this book. :) 

3. House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones - I LOVED Howl's Moving Castle, and I've actually started this one once or twice but apparently I'm never in the mood to actually get past the first 15 pages... sigh. 

4. Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink - This is another one that I've wanted to read for a while... and I'm fairly certain that the entire series is out... but I just haven't gotten around to this one yet. 

5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare- I WILL read this book one day. I know that it's a hugely popular series and I'm sure I'll love it... I just have a paperback copy...and I tend to read those last. 

6. Possession by Elana Johnson  - I'm really excited to read this one actually. I bought it right after I read another Dystopic YA, and then I had to read the hunger games trilogy, so I honestly needed a little break from Dystopic, but when I'm back in the mood for those... this one will be at the top of my list. 

7. Arch Enemy by Frank Beddor - This is another one that I'm not sure why I haven't read it yet. Probs because it's the last one in a series... I tend to avoid those like an infectious disease. I'll get to it eventually.

8. Siren by Tricia Rayburn - So you know how we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover... Well... With this one I did. The hardback cover...scared me. I love the paperback cover however, so that's the copy that I bought... and like I mentioned... I always choose to read my paperback copies last. So... This one is chillin on my paperback shelf next to City of Bones.

9. Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev - You know... I have a love/hate relationship with these books. I love the idea, I love the storyline... Hate the writing. It's not that it's bad by any means... It's just a little choppy... so it's difficult for me to stay focused. I do have to read this one soon though because the third one came out earlier this fall. 

10. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke - This is the big one. I am in LOVE with this series... well, this author in general really. She's fantastic, but her books are so freaken long that they take me FOREVER to get through. I'm used to a book taking a day or two to get through, but sometimes her books can take me up to 2 weeks to read. I'm not sure why really, they are very entertaining... they're just long... with long chapters. This is also the last book in the series... so double wammy of reasons why Del hasn't read this book yet....

Nichole's Top Ten  (in no specific order) are...

1. The Season by Sarah MacLean - I bought this after I finished the Luxe series by Anna Godbersen because I wanted more of the Luxe and this sounded similar. But then I didn't want to ruin the Luxe so I waited and now I have yet to pick this one up...

2. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray - I have wanted to read this since I got the first book in high school but just haven't had the time to truly delve into it, although the first book (A Great and Terrible Beauty) was wonderful! Plus I like to space out books that are in a series or else I get sick of the story.

3. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke - This series looks so epic that I want to find a summer or something where I'm not reading much else where I can read this so that I can devote most of my time to it as I'm sure I'll want to once I start. That time has yet to present itself unfortunately...

4. Ophelia by Lisa Klein - I got this book FOREVER ago and was SO excited about the premise but then I only heard so-so reviews of it which made me hesitant to read it. One of these days I'll finally pick it up and see how it is for myself.

5. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson - I can't remember when I bought this because that's how long ago it was. I have this tendency to read books for school, from the library, and ones I've borrowed from others before reading my own so my books tend to stack up and get dusty... sad I know. But I've never read an Ibbotson before so I'm excited to see how the story goes!

6. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - I love Jones. I loved the anime rendition of this story. And I have almost all of her other books. But I haven't read this one yet. I love the story so much that I'm scared to read the book (even though I know it'll be better than the movie, duh) because I know I'll love it. And I love getting to look forward to that book you know you'll love and without this sitting on my to be read self, I'll have to find one to take its place and I don't know of one that can fill that space yet.

7. Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia C. Wrede - Wrede is such a fantastic author. Plus I love fairy tales and renditions of fairy tales, always have. You can blame my parents for raising me on Disney movies. So this book looks AWESOME but I just haven't been in the fairy tale mood lately... although I feel like I'm slowly getting back into that mood so maybe this will be read soon!

8. Grimpow: The Invisible Road by Rafael Abalos - I have no idea what this book will be like but it intrigues me. Which is why I haven't read it yet. My brother might read it so I'm sort of waiting for his review of it first.

9. The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap - I bought this forever ago. Really. This has been on my shelf for almost as long as I can remember... ok maybe not QUITE that long, but it's been there for a fair amount of time! I can't wait to read it. Just haven't been in the historical fiction mood in a while, or if I have, I've read something else instead. There are just too many books and too little time...

10. Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund - Another great author and I remember buying this one years and years ago thinking I'd read it right away... this tends to happen a lot to me. Especially since I go to the bookstore as often as I can. But this one will be great when its day comes :)

Next Week's Topic: 
Top Ten Authors I'd Love To Have At My Thanksgiving Feast

Have you guys read any of these books? What are your thoughts?

Monday, November 14, 2011

Covers! Covers! Covers!

SO many covers have been revealed in the last couple of months... and OMG... they are stunning!! Seriously... like everyone that I have seen is freaken BEAUTIFUL. I decided I wanted to make a post dedicated to some of  my favorite covers of books that are coming out in the next year.

Destined (Wings Book 4)
By Aprilynne Pike
Rapture (Fallen Book 4)
by Lauren Kate
Endlessly (Paranormalcy Book 3)
By Kiersten White
Until I Die (Revenants Book 2)
By Amy Plum
Dreamless (Star-Crossed Book 2)
By Josephine Angelini
Arise (Hereafter Book 2)
By Tara Hudson
Girl of Nightmares (Anna Book 2)
By Kendare Blake

There are so many more beautiful covers of books that are coming out soon but these are 1. Part of a series that I've read or have 2. My favorites. :) I can't decided which one is my favorite... I'm leaning toward Dreamless... but then I look at Girl of Nightmares and I just can't choose. :) Which one is your favorite?


The Time Will Come


I am SO disgustingly behind on my reading right now. I've had to actually read for you know...class... so my reading for fun has taken an abrupt halt. Sad. That being said, every book on my TBR pile should be mentioned in this meme (hosted by Books for Company) but as that would be the longest post in the history of posts.... I'll settle with one.


Possess by Gretchen McNeil


This is one of those books that I almost bought 5 or 6 times and then was given as a gift. It has always looked really interesting to me. Eventually I will read this one... but probably not until this semester is over. :(

Friday, November 4, 2011

November TBR

I don't know how to do a vlog yet so until I do, I will just continue with the traditional posts, sorry guys, vlogs are so much more fun...


But for today, I want to make a goal for myself. I haven't been giving myself any time to read because of class and work and a show I was in but all of that is easing up this month. So I am going to make myself a TBR list for November. I obviously will not guarantee that I will get through all of these books in November, but I will certainly try gosh darn it!


First on my list is one I've been working on since Summer (I know I know... sad isn't it? But in my defense, the past two months have been class all day, rehearsal/shows all night, homework until 2am every night and sub in work for classes on the weekends while keeping the rest of the day the same and there's my schedule. That's why I haven't had ANY time to read unfortunately). But I WILL get Oriana's Eyes done asap! I'm almost half done with it and I haven't seen much about it yet so I really want to get my review up and get some hype up for it! It's been pretty good so far!

Oriana's Eyes by Celeste Simone

The next book on my list is Touch of Frost. I'm borrowing it from Del and have already started. I'm only one chapter in though so that barely counts as having started it. And if you don't know this about me yet, I read TONS of books at once. It's never-ending. Technically I'm reading 14 books right now but I try to focus on one at a time so that they get done faster. I've heard so many good things about Touch of Frost and so far it's very intriguing. I'm really excited to get further into it!

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Next is Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier. It's a translated novel from Germany with little hype from what I can tell. It looks fantastic though and I really want to get started on it! This is another book I've borrowed from Del. You'll begin to notice a pattern here... I have borrowed four books from Del which I'm hoping to finish and return by the holidays which is why they are near the very top of my TBR pile. I generally read books I've borrowed from people before my own books because hey, they aren't mine obviously and I'm sure you all understand how uncomfortable it can be when someone's had your book for a long time... I can't tell you how many books I've lost or how many of my books have been ruined by loaning them out.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Next is The Forest of Adventures by Katie M. John, another one borrowed from Del. This is also a novel written by a British author (from what I understand anyway) and I can't wait to look at the writing style! I love that sort of thing. I am a little wary of this though because remakes of traditional stories like Morgan Le Fay/Camelot can either be really good or really bad and I love the original story... but this book looks pretty good so I'll be interested to see how it turns out!

The Forest of Adventures by Katie M. John

Next is  A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn and surprise surprise, this is the last one I've borrowed from Del. I have been dying to get my hands on this for years now and am so excited that I finally get the chance to read it. It has been so hard to not read this one but Del this is the one that Del doesn't care about when she gets it back so I have to save it for last. But you know what they always say, save the best for last :) I've heard mixed reviews about this one so I'll be interested to see what the apparent problems are all about and hopefully I'll get to argue against them in my review! The story looks fun and different so we'll see! Plus, I love the cover... I'm blonde with green eyes just like the main heroine/girl on the cover and it's always fun when you look like the main character :) You feel special. Don't deny it, it's happened to you at one point or another, too!

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

The final book on my list (and the one I'm most likely NOT to get to) is The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I did not borrow this one from Del, however I DID borrow it from my younger brother Will. You're probably wondering why I read ones I've borrowed instead of the 300 plus books I own that I have yet to even open... well, I figure I have my whole life to read my own books, that's why I have them. But I only have so much time to read books from other people before they lose them, sell them, or give them away. Plus this way, I save some money. And besides, they borrow from me ALL the time, too so it's a two way street. Anyway, if I hadn't borrowed to many from Del, this would have been second (after Oriana's Eyes) on my list because it looks that good. It reminds me of The Hunger Games while not being anything like The Hunger Games if that makes sense. It is its own unique story from what I can tell and so I know I'll love it because I loved the Hunger Games and because this isn't just a rip off of that story, this will be just as great (I hope.. from what I've heard it will be anyway).
The Maze Runner by James Dashner

So there's my list. It's a big list (for me.. as I said I read a lot at the same time so to focus on these specifically without getting distracted by new releases or the books I've left at home which I'll be seeing again come Thanksgiving will be a huge success personally) but I hope to get most of them done and returned to their owners come winter break.

Let us know what your TBR pile consists of in our comment section or leave a link to your vlog/blog post about it! We'd love to see what you're all planning for this month! Seeing as how the weather will start getting bad soon, that means plenty of time to sit in with some hot chocolate (just bought a box of that today!), a warm blanket, and a good book. Better start planning what you want to read now before you're unable to drive to the bookstore for more options!

Happy Reading Everyone!!


 
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