In My Mailbox {23}

Ok I just want to let you know that this post is coming. I didn't realize how long it would take to render my video and then for it to upload to Youtube, so as soon as it is finished uploading you will be able to find this week's In My Mailbox post right here. So keep checking and it will be here shortly. 

In My Mailbox is an idea created by the amazing Kristi of The Story Siren 

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Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: September 27th 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 452
Rating: ★★★★☆

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

I honestly have no idea where to start with my review for this book. I literally just finished it moments before writing this, and I am utterly confused. One thing I can say for certain is that Michelle Hodkin's writing is beyond a doubt amazing. I love the tone she uses and the  transitions she makes. Her settings are wonderful and the comedic relief made me laugh out loud. The writing flowed so seamlessly I found myself entranced from cover to cover. 


But what I'm most confused about is the story line. You meet Mara in her pre accident days where mentally she's a different person. Then we're put into her life just a short time after the accident where she has no recollection of what happened that night. We follow her through the next couple of months as she remembers what happened that deadly night, and he connection with a boy at her new school, Noah. 


The cover is absolutely the most beautiful cover I have seen in awhile. I have to say that the cover gave me high hopes for this book, because unfortunately that is how I am. If it was a good looking cover and a slightly interesting story line, I'm more likely to pick it up. But thankfully this book held up to it's cover. I hate being able to tell what's going to happen at the end of the book from the beginning and I can honestly say that I was thrown for a complete and total loop. 


What happens with Mara, Noah, her family, and every other character in this book is a surprise as it happens. I was shocked multiple times and towards then end the confusion began. I understand Mara, and Noah for the most part, where their relationship left off, I have no idea, what is happening with Mara at the end, I have no idea. But I can say that I am extremely excited to see that this is the first in a series. I know there has to be more to the story, more that I'm not knowing, and I will be buying the next book in the series to see what happens! 


I know there's been a bunch of mixed reviews about this book, but I have to say I was pleased with it. I had high standards for it before I even began reading it and it lived up to them, other than throwing me for a big loop leaving me confused at the end. If you love a mystery with a good lead and some comedy thrown in, then this is a book for you. So I suggest you let yourself decide on this one, and pick up a copy for yourself. 

In My Mailbox {22}

So I have this new addiction. Yep, a new one. It's called Ebay. I have been scouring it for books that I have been wanting to read and seeing how cheap I can get them. It sounds like it could be bad, BUT I give myself a limit and try not to spend too much. That way I can make sure that I save money with my purchases. I've even gotten some cheaper than what I've been paying for the shipping. So let's see what I've gotten in the mail this week!

Bought

Hereafter - Tara Hudson

Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

Fury - Elizabeth Miles

The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove -Lauren Kate

Not very many but I'm pretty excited for them. What did you get in your mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is an idea created by the amazing Kristi of The Story Siren 

Review: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Wildefire - Karsten Knight
Release Date - July 26th 2011
Publisher - Simon and Schuster
Age Group - Young Adult
Pages - 400
Overall - 5/5

Every flame begins with a spark.
Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

So I have to say that I absolutely loved this book. There were so many magnificent things about it I'm not sure where to start. Ash decides to go away to boarding school after a violent incident with her sister Eve. Then after an event with one of the students off campus, she becomes friends with an unusual bunch of students. These students turn out to be a group of gods and goddesses. They all have their own powers and a similar life/background with their past life. The amount of authenticity between the gods and goddesses is wonderful. Karsten did a wonderful job recreating them and really helped fill in the story for the ones I was not familiar with. I grew so attached to each one of the gods and goddesses and felt like each one of them had an equally vital role with Ashline.


I can't really say much more about the story without giving things away. The story was so enthralling and had me hooked from the very beginning. There were so many surprises throughout the whole book. Some things that I were expecting to happen either didn't happen or happened when I wasn't expecting them. Of course there were many other things that I was not expecting. The last third of the book, I was unable to put it down. I wanted to know everything that was going to happen right then and there. 


 One thing I do know for certain is that  I cannot wait for Embers & Echoes because I have so many questions left over from the end of Wildefire. What really happened with Eve, what about the girl from the visions, COLT! I think there's enough said right there, if you have read it then you understand completely. If you haven't read this book yet what is wrong with you. I suggest getting this and moving it right to the top of your to read pile, it's so worth it. This has got to be up there with my new favorite books and I am so happy that it is going to be a series and there will be more to come. 

In My Mailbox {21}

So Even though I'm 1,784 miles away from home right now I wanted to make sure that I got to show you guys what I got In My Mailbox this week. I am pretty excited because I bought a book this week that I have been pining over for months and months and months (according to goodreads, since February 3rd, it was published September 27th, so to say I've been waiting is an understatement). So let's go ahead and see what all I got huh!

Bought

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Matched - Ally Condie

Bad Taste In Boys - Carrie Harris

For Review

If I Tell - Janet Gurtler

So yes I bought The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and I am so excited for it! I can't wait to share my thoughts with you all and I really hope it turns out well too.

In My Mailbox is an idea created by the amazing Kristi of The Story Siren 

Follow Friday {16}

Hey everyone and happy Friday! So I have something special going on. The next couple of days/blogs will be done 1,748 miles away from my home. Yeah, I'm on vacation this week, in Las Vegas. I can post some pictures later if anyone is wanting to see. Of course I couldn't forget about any of you so I brought my laptop and (of course) books with me so I could make sure to keep in touch. So today is of course Follow Friday, so let's take a look at what this week's question is. 

Q. If you could pick one character in A book, movie, or television show to swap places with, who would it be?

I think this is a difficult one. there are so many options. I guess right now if I had to pick someone to swap with it would have to be Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls. I was absolutely in love with that show when I was younger and I own all of them on DVD. She's smart, witty, and has amazing taste, plus she's a book-a-holic like myself. 

Hosted by Parajunkie, just so you can get to know me a little more

"Waiting on" Wednesday {13}

So it's been awhile since I've been able to really organize the books I've been pining over. So this week I decided to share a few with you that I really am dying to come out. Hopefully I'll have one for next week! haha. So here they are.

Deadly Cool - Gemma Halliday 

October 11 2011

First I find out that my boyfriend is cheating on me. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And now he’s depending on me to clear his name. Seriously?
October 11th 2011
As much as I wouldn’t mind watching him squirm, I know that he’s innocent. So I’m brushing off my previously untapped detective skills and getting down to business. But I keep tripping over dead bodies and I’m still no closer to figuring out who did it. And what’s worse: all signs seem to point to me as the killer’s next victim.
I really need to pick a better boyfriend next time.

Incarnate - Jodi Meadows

January 31st 2012

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.  Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?  Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!  

In My Mailbox {20}

Look at us hitting the big 20. I feel like this is a big accomplishment. Especially because it's my age as well. So I'm excited that this is the first IMM since returning to blogging. I know I don't really have too many books that you don't know about, purely because I've been doing more reading than buying while I've been gone. But that doesn't mean that I don't have quiet the little haul for you all. So here we go with this week's In My Mailbox

Bought

Wildefire - Karsten Knight

The Nine Lives of Chloe King - Liz Braswell

The Lying Game - Sara Shepard

Cloaked - Alex Flinn

A Kiss In Time - Alex Flinn

I am Number Four - Pittacus Lore

The Power of Six - Pittacus Lore

For Review

The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa
Beyond the Grave - Mara Purnhagen
The Sweetest Thing - Christina Mandelski

Every Other Day - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Butterfly Clues - Kate Ellison

Touch of Power - Maria V. Snyder

Crave - Melissa Darnell

Silver and Stone - J.D. Thompson

Dancergirl - Carol M. Tanzman

The Juliet Spell - Douglas Rees

So I guess I got more books than I originally thought I did. Anyway, what did you get in your mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is an idea created by the amazing Kristi of The Story Siren 

Random Reads {1}

So this isn't going to be too regular of a post but I decided that for today I was gonna share with you what books I'm reading or have currently finished, and what my thoughts on them at the current time is. I always like to see how my ideas of a book change as I'm reading a book, so I think keeping some track of this will be a cool process. Also I can share a little bit of how I feel about a book I've finished without having the full review up just yet.

Read

So I have a bit of mixed emotion over this book. I'm super excited that I got to finish it, but then at the same time, I'm not pleased where it ended. I love that I know everything that happened and got to see what I was curious about happening after I Am Number Four, but I'm still in the same position I was in after I Am Number Four too, because I just need t o know what happened, and I don't. I'm not good at waiting either but I guess I will have to. 

Currently Reading

So far so good with this book. I have heard so many good reviews of this that to be completely honest I was a little worried in the beginning. I am really enjoying where it's going though and the different possibilities that are capable. I also actually like the fact that we're able to see this story from both perspectives. I think if it were to be just from Brittany's or just from Alex's point of view we wouldn't get the same story that we are getting from both of them. I'm really excited to see where this goes, and actually am probably gonna go read some more of this now.

So you guys know what I'm reading, what about you? What have you recently finished or are currently reading and what are your thought on it?

Follow Friday {15}

Q. What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

Of the recent books that I have read, I think the one that I would be most excited to see made into a movie would have to be Wildefire. I absolutely loved that book and to see it come to life would be freaking awesome, for lack of better words haha. Someone that I would want to see cast to play Ashline would have to be, that would be hard to cast. If it were to stray from the obvious having to be Polynesian I guess if I were to overlook that small fact, I think someone that would be good for the part would be Emma Roberts. But if it were to have to stick with the ethnicity I honestly have no idea who I would pick to play the part

So that's my follow friday, where's yours?

Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann

Cryer's Cross - Lisa McMann
Release Date: February 8th 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 233
Overall: 4/5

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

What can I say about this book. I really did like it for the most part. I think my favorite thing from the book was the character development. I loved getting to see the workings behind Kendall and her OCD, I think I enjoyed it most because, having OCD, seeing someone else and how they deal with it and knowing that your not the only one with something like this is comforting, especially to see her tendencies be similar to the ones that I have. I also really liked getting to see Jacian's character develop and go from the mysterious new boy, to the character I think I most fell in love with.

Something else that I really enjoyed about this book is, with Kendall's semi paranoia came my own. Trying to figure out who could be the one connected to these disappearances and what exactly was going on. I think also that the ending threw me just as much as it threw her. I didn't really see it coming until the very end, right before she found out and everything came together. Although I wasn't happy with what the cause of everything was, I think it brought things together quiet well and drew the story to the best close that it could really have.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read. Honestly I think this book would be good for anyone who really loves the paranormal and more suspenseful stories. That's the vibe I got from it and was what I was in the mood for when I decided to read it. Also, anything by Lisa McMann is bound to be good. I might be a little bias but she is one of my favorite authors.  So yes, go out and buy the book, it's a book that I know I will read more than once, because I'm sure there's something I didn't pick up the first time I read it, and would be glad to revisit the story, even knowing how it ends.

Here We Go

Ok just wanting to give all my followers a heads up. I have scheduled posts!! I know it's exciting news. This blog will be back up and running in no time. I have reviews, WoW's Follow Friday' and IMM's started. I also plan to have a giveaway here soon. So keep your eyes out for that. But I am proud to say that I have tons of reviews coming your way. I'm even thinking of starting a meme here on my blog, one for music so we can incorporate our musical tastes into our reading too. I know sometimes I like to listen to music while I read, something that of course sets the mood for what I'm reading. So of course all I can say is stay tuned, and posting starts tomorrow. My weeks are gonna go Thursday to Wednesday, hopefully like my work week scheduling. So away we go book lovies <3

Where Have I Been??

Hey followers! Long time no post huh. I know I'm not too great at getting on and doing that but things have been pretty crazy. But that hasn't kept me from reading! OF COURSE NOT. I couldn't be a true book-a-holic and be too busy to read. I've actually gotten more reading done lately then I was able to before, a lot of my time spent on break and lunch at work are used reading haha. But here's some updates with my life and pics from things I've been doing. 

My friends and I went on some planking expeditions and owled up a storm on things over town haha. Yes, I know people think this is lame but it's more about doing it with your friends and making a fun situation out of it rather than if being funny laying on things randomly. 

My Best friend Cassie and I went to a friend's wedding. First one in our group to get married <3 So we made a trip out of it and spent the night and I got to see everyone from school that I was missing because I came back home for school. 

There's currently a window chalking war going on with me and one of my co-worker. Mines on the left and hers is on the right. Granted I started it, but I still haven't been able to get that hot pink window chalk off my car haha.

My Dad, little cousin, and I have gone on a few fishing expeditions. But the weather is starting to get colder out so I don't think we'll be able to make it out too many more times. Also, no worries, they all get thrown back to live out their happy fishy lives.

I worked on making an awesome collage for my room. This is now in a frame hanging next to my bed so I can have all my friends displayed. I honestly love every single person in this picture and they make my life fantastic and I'm blessed to have such wonderful friends. 

I saw Big Time Rush in concert at the Indiana State Fair. It was a pretty fantastic concert and was worth every penny. I was in the first 10 rows of people, this picture has no zoom on it :) Luckily this was just days before the stage collapsed. It was a tragedy that it happened and people were killed, but I feel blessed to have been ok on the day that I was there. 

Our Local Firefighters and Polic Officers played softball against the "Wounded Warriors" a softball team of amputees from all branches of the military, for charity. It was a fun night and everyone enjoyed it and there was such a large turn out in support of all the Wounded Warriors to show our appreciation for what they have done for us. 

I spend Labor Day with my parents and took this lovely picture of me and my mom. I did have to work but I was able to spend all morning with them in our usual spot on the roof of the local hardware store for the labor day parade, getting a birds eye view on the whole things and making lots of little kids try to reach us with their candy that they were throwing. 

Oh and did I mention I got some new books, how silly of me to forget. I'll be posting reviews here shortly and of course and In My Mailbox. Can't wait to be blogging with you all again