TGIF (1)

TGIF is a super fun weekly Meme created by Ginger over at http://www.greadsbooks.com/
Check it out and take part in the fun!

The question this week?

Most Popular: What blog post has gotten the most 

comments/activity on your blog this year?

Well...

My most popular post was definitely my Author Interview with Jodi Meadows + Incarnate Giveaway

Giveaways are truly a goldmine for getting your blog more attention!

Some other popular posts were:

• My most popular review was surprisingly Firelight by Sophie Jordan! I was sure it would have been Daughter of Smoke and Bones or Shatter Me. This was in fact a nice surprise.
• My most popular "Take a Minute" (where I hash out, blurt out and analyze a random thought) was my "I Take a Minute and... talk about hope" post. I am happy about this one and it made me decide to make this feature a weekly thing. There are a few things in the works with that idea... Should I maybe make it a meme with set questions so my followers will participate? (leave your comments/suggestions/idea below please)

Well that was my TGIF! What about you?

Bookish: BOX of BOOKS - Huge INTERNATIONAL Giveaway!

Bookish: BOX of BOOKS - Huge INTERNATIONAL Giveaway!: Win 16 books!

I Take a Minute and... Debate Switching to Wordpress

With so many fellow bloggers quitting Blogger and joining Wordpress, I have been wondering if I should move on as well.

I have created an account and I will be trying it out.

HOWEVER!

I have worked incredibly hard to get where i am today with 107 followers and I am asking for YOUR help. Please comment below and tell me, should I decide to move on to Wordpress, that you will follow by either email or a Wordpress account.


I appreciate it very much!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

{Review} The Secret Circle by L.J. Smith

The Initiation and The Captive, Part I (The Secret Circle #1-2)
by L.J. Smith

Published: August 1st 2008
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 0316134023 (ISBN13: 9780316134026)
Pages: 396
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Read if you have time/Borrow
Rating: 2.5 Stars

The circle's power has lured her home
Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witches that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants—even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her.

My Thoughts:
I'm not one to write negative book reviews. Ever. But as it has been pointed out to me, I can't simply write reviews on books I liked and bypass those I didn't enjoy. Now, if I finished a book, it's because it was good enough to finish. So this review isn't all that negative.
Reading The Secret Circle felt like a chore to me. I wanted to read this book when I heard it would be made into a tv show on the CW. And since I enjoyed The Vampire Diaries (I need to update myself on the series (book not tv)) I assumed this would read easily as well. It didn't.
The characters (even Cassie) fell totally flat for me and the plot felt like a wet blanket (don't ask me where the comparison came from, that's all I could think of). However I loved that it was a little darker than your regular YA. The writing was good also.
There isn't much more I can say save that I like the show better than the book. 
I hope you all liked it more than I did.

Cover Reveal: Embrace by Jessica Shervington

Here's a brand new cover for a highly anticipated book!! Embrace by Jessica Shervington! Coming March 1st 2012

I slowly opened my eyes. The sun speared its first bright rays of golden orange into the sky and I leapt from the cliff, with the sorrowful knowledge that no matter what the outcome, at least part of me would die that day...

Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?

After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.

Without warning, Violet’s world is turned upside down. She never believed in God, let alone angels. But there’s no denying the strange changes in her body ... and her feelings for Lincoln. Suddenly, she can’t stand to be around him. Luckily, Phoenix, an exiled angel, has come into her life. He’s intense and enigmatic, but at least he never lied to her.

As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle between dark and light, she must choose her path. The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

What are your thoughts?

I Take a Minute... and talk about hope

This is something I wanted to share with you all.
My whole life I've been looking for approval, from myself and my family. Well, since I started (and kept on) blogging consistently I have felt incredibly proud of myself.
However, my family thinks of my blogging and reading and twittering differently. They call it a "distraction", "just for fun", ask me things like: "what good is that going to do for you?" and "do you really think it'll bring you anywhere?".
I won't lie, hearing that hurts. Blogging is something I have always wanted to do and I finally found a subject (and a wonderful community) that I am passionate about enough to be consistent for. It's something that I am PROUD of!
Now I will get to my point, one of the more prominent book bloggers of our community, Bookalicious pam recently announced that her blog recently helped getting her employed as an assistant literary agent.
Reading that gave me the hope that I can achieve my goals, my dreams.

You can find her blog post here. I hope it will inspire you as much as it has inspired me.

{Review} Daughter of Smoke and Bones

Daughter of Smoke and Bones (Daughter of Smoke and Bones #1)
By Laini Taylor
Published: September 27th 2011

Publisher: Little, Brown & CO.
ISBN: 0316134023 (ISBN13: 9780316134026)
Pages: 418
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Must read/COVET
Rating: 5 Stars

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Thoughts


UTTERLY COMPELLING AND MINDBLOWINGLY AWESOMAZING!
As I was reading this book, a lot of things were happening around me (hence the 10 days it took me to read it) and Daughter of Smoke and Bones was my refuge. And what a refuge it was. The book transported me with ever word, make that every letter, to a place of silence and peace. I was amazed and intrigued with Karou, who turned out to be one of my favorite heroines ever. Reading this book was a transcendent experience. It's exactly what a book should be. Laini Taylor embodied the very essence of a great novel.
I found myself, laughing, sighing, crying and even weeping many times while reading the book. At some points I'd be literally moving into my book, trying to get closer as if I might be able to actually see the story from my own eyes.
I connected deeply with every character in the book, not only the main ones. Brimstone was definitely one of my favorite character. And what to say of Akiva... Well the book describes him the best way I could; Perfect.
The mystery surrounding the plot of the novel was obviously very well thought out. I am still wondering if it was more plot or character driven since both were so meticulously thought out and created.
The mythology of Chimeara and Seraphim is now one of my favorites. Taylor created not only one but three wonderful worlds: Human, Seraphim and Chimeara. The stories explaining the war and mythology of the 2 latter races we truly awe-inspiring.
This book not only deserves to be on a shelf of it's own but to have it's cover blown out and hanging over my bed.
To write such a great novel, one must be either insane or a genius.


Final verdict: Deserves it's own Shelf

Bella's Tournament is today!

I know many of us voted already and if you are part of #teambella you know that at this moment Janie is kicking her butt! If you want to recognize Bella as a worthy Heroine, please head on over to The Ya-Sisterhood and cast your vote for our beloved Heroine!
GO TEAM BELLA!!!!

Support Bella Tomorrow!

As Bella's advocate (and fan/admirer bordering on stalker), I am reaching out to all my readers in the hope that you can all vote for Bella tomorrow. Not because I want to win as her advocate but because I really think She deserves it. Show your support for this heroine which has (at least for me) confirmed our love of reading.
So please vote for Bella tomorrow at ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com and show Bella some well deserve support!
Thank you!!!

Bella & Melina

Cover Reveal! Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout

Hey guys!
Guess what's coming out in barely three days!?!?
OBSIDIAN by Jennifer Armentrout!

I am so excited to get my hands on this! I haven't read Half-Blood yet but I will get it before the month is over! I have heard many amazing things about it!


Get it:

BookDepository

Amazon

B&N

Now the real treat is here! The cover reveal and the official blurb!

Onyx (Lux#2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…"

Keep your eyes out for these! 

Happy reading!!!

{Review} Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi
Published: November 15th 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 0062085484 (ISBN13: 9780062085481)
Pages: 352

Format: PaperBack Edition
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Must read/COVET
Rating: 5 Stars

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

My Review:

INTENSE, VISUALLY POETIC, THOUGHT-PROVOKING, SWEAT PRODUCING, JAW DROPPINGOh boy, what can I say? This could easily be the next Twilight, or City of Bones or Hunger Games. I'll be perfectly honest; the first 10 chapters were a drag to read but like City of Bones, I kept reading and GOLLY was it ever worth it! I am a sucker for superheroes and this was the first book I read that felt "superhero-y". My love for Shatter Me came in 3 stages:

1. OK this is interesting but if it's like that through out the whole book then I don't understand the hype!
2. Hmmm, I like this book! It's original! Still think it's been over-hyped though. It's good but...
3. OMG TOTAL FANGIRL!! I LOVE JULIETTE! INTENSE!

Once I really got into it, once I was completely swallowed by the plot, by Mafi's prose and completely original story, concept and characters, I was hooked. Juliette  is a character to behold, a totally kick-ass heroine. She is good at heart and has been persecuted most of her life but has remained pure throughout. She is powerful and good, but she lives so deeply inside her head. She has a constant struggle within herself. She is indecisive and insecure and that is what makes her relatable.  Adam is kind, loving and courageous. And I love him! Villain wise, Mafi created one of those villains you love to hate but hope they're good underneath it all.  Warner is cruel, and merciless. And I love him. Because he is broken. There is much more to the book than just the plot and characters. There are twists and surprises that will make you re-read the same page at least once over and make you exclaim: "WHOA!WHAT!?" And then there is Mafi's definition of humanity and society. I can't wait to read more about the world Mafi has created!

This book is multi-faceted. It's a diamond. 

Final Nifty Rating: 5 Nifty (Diamond) Stars

{Review} Firelight by Sophie Jordan

Firelight (Firelight #1) by Sophie Jordan
Published: September 7th 2010
Publisher: HarperTeen
ISBN: 0061935085 (ISBN13: 9780061935084)
Pages: 323
Source: Bought myself
Shelfability: Must read/Acquire
Rating: 4 Stars

A hidden truth. Mortal enemies. Doomed love. Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form. Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

My Review:
I really enjoyed this book, Jordan created a beautiful mythology. I haven't read anything like it before and that's what makes it a must read for me (That and the awe-inducing cover, hmmm purdy!). I loved how diverse the draki are. Although this book did not make my jaw drop down to the floor, it is definitely worth a read. Jacinda is teenager uprooted from her home by her mother for protection. She is daring and will do anything to keep her draki alive in the worst conditions. However, some of her decisions were often self centered and she was very confused and indecisive up until the end. As for some of the other Characters in the book; I truly enjoyed Will, he is my favorite character followed by Jacinda, Tamra came across as superficial and materialistic and Cassian and his father were bordering on physically abusive. I enjoyed the concept and story but I think the characters needed a bit more focused. Nevertheless, I have Vanish and I look forward to reading it.

Final Nifty Rating: 4 Nifty Stars

Bella's Advocate for The Heroine Tourney

I am so happy to announce to you guys that as a pinch hitter for the Heroines' Tourney I finally had my chance to advocate for one of the Nominees. Well I am officially the advocate for Team Bella. It must have been meant to be. There is so much I have to measure up to. But I still don't know if I can do this Legendary Heroine's justice. She is simply bigger than words. I am honored and I hope you will recognize Bella's crucial role in YALit and Join our Coven. Grab a Button and support Bella!

Hash Tag: #TeamBella/ #HEROINETOURNEY

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