In My Mailbox (15)

**Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting IMM**

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that spotlights the new books you received for review, swapped, or bought!  I got a few really good books this week!  My TBR stack is absolutely ridiculous... but still I BUY MORE!!!!  It is sickness people- I do not think I can be cured, so I just GO WITH IT!!! :D 
I also decided to post book descriptions since I only received a few books this week!


Bought:


The Pace 
Written by Shelena Shorts
Released August 19, 2009
Published by Lands Atlantic Publishing, LLC


Summary from Goodreads:
"Weston Wilson is not immortal and he is of this world. But, aging is not part of his existence, and eighteen-year-old Sophie Slone is determined to find out why. In doing so, she could also uncover something about her own life expectancy that she may not want to know. Suddenly, immortality will mean everything and nothing all at the same time.

Intensely fascinating and rich with determination, The Pace brings together romance, mystery, and suspense in a compelling bond that is sure to have readers asking for more."

The Iron King (Iron Fey #1)

Written by Julie Kagawa

Release Date: February 1, 2010 (out early in some places!)

Published by Harlequin Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

"Meghan Chase has never fit in at her small-town high school, and now, on the eve of her 16th birthday, she discovers why. When her half brother is kidnapped, Meghan is drawn into a fantastical world she never imagined--the world of Faery, where anything you see may try to eat you, and Meghan is the daughter of the summer faery king. Now she will journey into the depths of Faery to face an unknown enemy . . . and beg the help of a winter prince who might as soon kill her as let her touch his icy heart. The Iron King is the first book in the Iron Fey series."

Goodreads Swap:

Numbers (arc)

Written by Rachel Ward

Release Date: February 1, 2010

Published by Chicken House/Scholastic Inc. (first published January 5th, 2009)

Summary from Goodreads:

"Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.

Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris
wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!"


Now you know what I got! What did you get?

Friday Finds! (January 29, 2010)

**Thanks to MizB from Should Be Reading for hosting Friday Finds!**

 Radiance (The Immortals Spin-off #1)
Written by Alyson Noel
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Published by St. Martin's Griffin

Summary from Goodreads:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals comes a new middle-grade series featuring Ever’s younger sister, Riley.

"Welcome to the Here and Now.

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she’s summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can’t quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he’s never met Riley... "
 


Sleepless
Written by Cyn Balog
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Published by Delacorte Press

Summary from Goodreads:

"Eron De Marchelle isn't supposed to feel a connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce human charges to sleep. While he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to--after all, getting too involved in one human's life would prevent him helping his other charges get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia. Julia, with her fiery red hair and her sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. Eron has always felt protective of Julia . . . but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't seem to reach her . . .

Sandmen are forbidden from communicating with humans outside their dreams. But will Eron be willing to risk everything for a chance to be with the person he loves?" 
 


Both covers of these books are beautiful!!!  I had no idea that there was a spin-off of The Immortals coming out! I am really excited to delve into Riley's character more.  Cyn Balog's new book sounds really original.  I haven't read a 'sandman' story before!! What goodies did you find today?  Comment and let me know!

On My WIshlist (6)

"On My Wishlist" is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City!  If you would like to participate in this weekly meme just click on the link above.  She has a "Mr.Linky" available so we can check out everyone's wishlists!  My wishlist is loaded with books that are upcoming releases.
Here are just a few:


The Dead Tossed Waves
Written by Carrie Ryan
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:


"Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves."




The Owl Keeper
Written by Christine Brodien-Jones
Release Date: April 13, 2010
Published by Delacorte BFYR

Summary from Goodreads:
"Maxwell Unger has always loved the night. He used to do brave things like go tramping through the forest with his gran after dark. He loved the stories she told him about the world before the Destruction—about nature, and books, and the silver owls. His favorite story, though, was about the Owl Keeper.

According to Max’s gran, in times of darkness the Owl Keeper would appear to unite owls and sages against the powers of the dark. Gran is gone now, and so are her stories of how the world used to be. Max is no longer brave. The forest is dangerous, the books Gran had saved have been destroyed, and the silver owls are extinct. At least that’s what the High Echelon says. But Max knows better.

Maxwell Unger has a secret. And when a mysterious girl comes to town, he might just have to start being brave again.

The time of the Owl Keeper, Gran would say, is coming soon."







I am looking forward to the release of both of these books!  They sound amazing!!

WINNERS!!!!

Thank you to everyone that entered my contests!  Both were really successful!  I have a new contest in the works that is going to be awesome- so keep an eye out!!   But let's get to the good stuff... the WINNERS! (All winners were chosen using Random.Org)

The winner of The Looking Glass Wars and Seeing Red by Frank Beddor is :

Sab H. from YA Bliss

The winners of my Shadow Hills mini contest are:

• Stacy @ Wicked Walker Reviews- congrats Stacy! You win a signed Shadow Hills bookmark, a Shadow Hills magnet, a Shadow Hills pin, and a handmade Shadow Hills inspired book mark made by me!!
• Ursina @ The Farmer's Daughter's Bookshelf- congrats Ursina!  You win the signed bookmark, pin and magnet!
• Milka @ Read.Read.Read - congrats Milka!  You win the signed bookmark, pin, and magnet!
• Kris @ Intetextual Chronicles - congrats Kris!  You win the signed bookmark, pin. and magnet!

*I will be emailing all of the winners soon.  All winners have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Thanks again to everyone that entered!

Monday's Question of the Day! (Jan. 25, 2010)

**Thanks to Eleni at la femme readers for hosting Monday's Question of the Day!**



Question: 
So many young adult books feature the"love triangle" (ex. Bella/Edward/Jacob).  Who makes up your favorite love triangle and what book or series are they from?


My answer:

It was hard for me to choose a favorite because a lot of my favorite books feature a love triangle!  But I decided to go with Aislinn, Keenan, and Seth from the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr.  I was drawn into this series because of the characters and the depth that Melissa Marr gave them.  You can feel Seth's devotion to Aislinn, and the longing and desperation Keenan feels is almost tangible as well.  Aislinn has feelings for both of them and is torn between her deep love for Seth and her duty to Keenan and the Faery Court.  I can't wait to read the next installment in this series, Radiant Shadows, that releases April 20, 2010!


*I would love to hear your answer to this question!!  Leave me a comment!!!

In My Mailbox (14)

**Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting IMM**

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that spotlights the new books you received for review, swapped, or bought!  This week I received:

• The Forest Of Hands And Teeth (signed!) by Carrie Ryan
• Signed The Forest Of Hands And Teeth bookmarks (Thanks Carrie!)
• Beautiful Creatures "Dogtag" necklace (from signing event)
• Truly, Madly (arc) by Heather Webber (Goodreads swap)
• Captivate by Carrie Jones 
• You Are So Undead To Me by Stacey Jay
• Dragonfly by Julia Golding (Goodreads Swap)
• A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly (Thanks to Kristi @ The Story Siren)
• Wanderlust (arc) by Lucy Silag (Thanks to Kristi @ The Story Siren)

Now you know what I got!  What did you get?

INCREDIBLE Beautiful Creatures Event!!

I am still a little star struck this morning!  Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Beautiful Creatures book signing and discussion held at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Charlotte, North Carolina.  It was so much fun!  The crowd was small and intimate and we were able to talk freely with Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.  I was also sitting beside.... Carrie Ryan- the fabulous author of The Forest Of Hands And Teeth and the upcoming  The Dead Tossed Waves which is releasing March 9th!  It was amazing!

The event started with introductions and then Kami and Margaret took the floor.  They gave a brief summary of Beautiful Creatures and spoke about why they wrote the book.  Their road to publication was not your typical one.  They said that they wrote the book because of a dare!  Margaret's teenage children and a few of Kami's students dared the two of them that they couldn't write the book.  Both authors said that they aren't ones to turn down a dare (actually a Double Dog Dare!), so Beautiful Creatures was born!  Kami then read an excerpt of chapter one to the audience.  It was amazing to hear her words come to life with her voice.  Frequently asked questions were covered next, which included:

• What is your writing process?
• What was your inspiration for writing the book? and why the South?
• Movie/ Sequel news
• Opened the floor for questions
  

The explanation of their writing process was fascinating!  They write together in the same room (Margaret's home office) surrounded by walls of white boards that outline the entire Beautiful Creatures series! (Wouldn't you LOVE to get a sneak peek at those boards!!)  They alternate chapters ( Kami may write chapter one and Margaret write chapter two), then they switch and take what the other wrote and write over it, add to it,  reword it, or scratch through it.  In the end it is a total collaboration of the two authors.  Margaret said that some sentences may have five of her words and seven of Kami's.  If you read the book, you will see that the writing is beautiful and seamless- a testament to how wonderfully their writing styles mesh!

The inspiration for the book seemed driven by their love of stories in this genre and a desire to write a book that the teenagers in their lives would like to read.  Kami and Margaret both agreed that they chose the South because it provided the proper setting and tone for the book, and it is the place that they feel magic can still happen.  Kami grew up in North Carolina and is very familiar with the ways of small town southern living (like myself!) and wanted to write a book that could reflect her southern roots.  Margaret said that although she isn't from the South, she found a lot of similarites in the small town she grew up in out West.  Both authors did lots of research into the Civil War for the book.  Fortunately, Kami's family contains some true Civil War buffs that helped out too!

I was excited to hear that the next installment in the series will be out this year!  The book (title not released yet) is set for release in December.  Most of you probably already know that Beautiful Creatures is set to hit theatres!  Kami and Margaret said that Warner Brothers has optioned the book.  No news on casting, but I can think of a few good candidates!  I am also happy to announce that Beautiful Creatures was a finalist for the ALA William C. Morris YA Debut Award 2010 and was named Amazon's #1 Teen Book of 2009 and was #5 on the Editor's Pick of 2009 list!  Congrats to Kami and Margaret!!!

The evening was over too quickly!  I talked to Kami and Margaret and gave them the bookmarks I made for them (inspired by the book of course).  I was happy to see that they liked them and even posted about them on their website.  I was able to chat with Carrie Ryan for awhile too (interview about her upcoming release will be coming soon!! Yeah!!).   I also met Vania from Reverie Book Reviews and Caster Girls!   She posted a picture of me, Kami and Margaret at Castergirls and a picture of the bookmarks I made.  Thanks Vania!!  What an AMAZING night!!  Books were signed and pictures were taken and then it was time to go.  Thanks to Kami, Margaret and Carrie!!!

Me and Carrie Ryan!

Signing my book!

The Beautiful Creatures bookmarks I made for them.

If you haven't read Beautiful Creatures yet... GO GET IT!!  You can read my review here.