In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren where we show off what books we've received this week.  My haul is pretty good!

From the bookstore:  The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks, Maze Runner by James Dashner, Rosebush by Michele Jaffe, Once Dead Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

       

From Amazon:

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

From the library:

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Legend by Marie Lu

Prized by Caugh M O'Brien

Also received for review:
The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson
Halflings by Heather Burch
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
All's Fair In Vanity's War by Elizabeth Marx

Lenobia's Vow by PC & Kristin Cast

This is from the House of Night series.  This is Novella #2

Synopsis:  Lenobia's Vow tells the gripping story behind the House of Night's enigmatic riding instructor – and one of Zoey’s closest allies against evil

The House of Night is an international publishing sensation; with almost 12 million books in print, and an incredible 120 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, the series has taken the world by storm. Now, the excitement continues as the Cast mother-daughter duo shares the back stories of a few of the House of Night's most important – and mysterious – characters. The second of the House of Night Novellas brings us Lenobia, the strong, beautiful horseback riding instructor, who guides Zoey through some of her darkest hours, and has a dark secret buried in her own past...

In a small southern town at the turn of the century, young Lenobia is developing into a beautiful young woman with ideas of her own. But when she is Marked as a fledgling vampyre, her world turns upside down, and she is drawn to the musical streets of New Orleans. There, she learns of the city’s dark underbelly, ruled by powerful black magic. As Lenobia experiences her first love – and loss – and discovers a passion for horses to sustain her, she must come face-to-face with Darkness itself. And she may not escape without scars.

My 2 cents:  

This was a great novella! I am loving the House of Night Novellas, Dragon's Oath was equally good! Because it takes place late 1700s, the language is beautiful. I loved the way the words painted a picture. Every word was perfect, it was like poetry!

Lenobia is one of my favorite House of Night instructors.  She is in charge of the stables and horses at House of Night, and teaches the fledglings how to ride.  She is Zoey's closest ally in the House of Night, and has not fallen for Neferet's evil.  I knew the back story on her would be intriguing.

Because she does meet with true evil in this novella, it makes sense as to why later she can see right through Neferet.  Since in the last House of Night book, there was a small start of romance for Lenobia, I can see why after reading this novella why she is so hesitant when it comes to love.  

This was a great novella with a fascinating back story to one of my favorite characters at House of Night.  4 stars from me!  

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme put on by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we can't wait for!

Today's "Can't Wait to Read" selection is

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past. Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart. 

To be released May 1, 2012

What books are you waiting for?

Evernight series by Claudia Gray

Evernight

Synopsis:  Bianca wants to escape. 

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in. 

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him. 

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would." 

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

My 2 cents:  I LOVED this book!  I read it in a day, it was a great read!  There were a couple of little plot twists that I did not see coming at all!  If you like to read a book with a great plot, this is the book for you!

I also loved the characters.  Bianca, Lucas, Mrs. Bethany, Raquel, Balthazar...so many great characters!  

I give it 5 stars!

Stargazer

Synopsis:  Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them. 

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school. 

Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies. 

Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning....

My 2 cents:  This book was even better than the first!  This is the book where we finally get to find out what is really going on with Mrs. Bethany and Bianca's parents.  I love how the author always manages to surprise us with every book.   Again, lots of action, lots of romance, lots of twists...and this book is where I fell in love with Balthazar.  God, I wish he was mine!  5 stars!

Hourglass

Synopsis:  Bianca will risk everything to be with Lucas. 

After escaping from Evernight, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, an elite group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at its hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—all her secrets threaten to come out. 

Soon, Bianca and Lucas are on the run, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful vampires of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they run, Bianca can’t escape her destiny. Bianca and Lucas have always believed their love could survive anything—but can it survive what’s to come?

My 2 cents:  Okay.  Let me start by saying I did like this book, but in a lot of ways, I was disappointed.  I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that it did not take place at Evernight.  The first part of the book, where Bianca and Lucas are with the Black Cross is good.  It introduced us more to the Black Cross, and Lucas's "family," which was important I think to understand when we get to the last book.  But when they are on the run...it gets pretty discouraging.  Having read the ending of the series, I understand why now things happened the way they did.  But reading the last third of the book was just heartbreaking to me.  The story takes some even major turns in this book, and it is not a happy ending.  But it was still worth reading, and again, the characters are awesome.  4 stars on this one

Afterlife

Synopsis:  The fourth novel in "New York Times"-bestselling author Gray's Evernight series, "Afterlife" presents the powerful conclusion to the love story between a vampire-born girl and the boy trained to kill her kind.

Against Lucas's wishes, Bianca has let him rise as a vampire.  It turns out he has a very strong bloodlust, though, and is not himself.  After his mother rejects him and Black Cross attacks him, Balthazar and Bianca take him back to Evernight to learn the ways of the vampires.

Bianca, meanwhile, is in hiding from Mrs. Bethany and her parents.  She figures out the Mrs. Bethany is busy trying to trap the wraiths of the school.  Against her better judgement, Bianca investigates further.

My 2 cents:  THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME.  Period.  End of review.  (just kidding!)

I was so happy most of the story was back at Evernight again.  Just like Hogwarts in Harry Potter, I really feel the school is almost like a character in the book.  It just isn't the same without it!  This book was really frustrating to watch Bianca delude herself so many times on so many levels.  But, I suppose it was her learning experience.  I started off the story kind of mad that Bianca is now a wraith.  It felt in some ways, like she was not part of the living.  Which she wasn't, but still.  By the end of the story, though, I was very happy with all her choices.  This really is an amazing series, one of the best vampire series I've read.  If you haven't read it, I hope you pick it up!  I give this book 5 stars!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a meme put on by Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!  Just do the following:

--Grab your current read

--Open to a random page

--Share 2 Teaser sentences from somewhere on the page

--BE CAREFUL TO AVOID SPOILERS!

--Also share title and the author

"But as soon as the ship slept and she was able to slip the confines of her self-imposed prison, the next few hours rushed past, leaving her breathless and yearning for more.  She would prowl the ship, soaking in freedom with the salt air, watching the sun burst gloriously from the watery horizon, and then she would slip down to the joy that awaited her below deck."

--"Lenobia's Vow" by PC & Kristin Cast

What Are You Reading Monday

What Are You Reading Monday is put on by Book Journey every week.  All us bloggers list out what books we are planning to read for the week and what we will get caught up on.  Here's my list:

Currently I am reading 2 books

I am also hoping to read this week

Better get busy I guess!

Book Tag

Book Tag.  Here's how to play!

1. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.

2. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

3. Tag 11 people and link them to your post

4. Let them know you've tagged them!

5. Include these rules and and a link to the person who tagged you with your post.

I was tagged by Steph's Book Corner.  

Here we go!

1. Which character in a book is your favorite: the Hero or Villain?

I always love the hero more than the villain.  The only exception may be when the villain is a really hot "bad" guy that I really want to kick some ass!

2. Do you prefer to read books in a series or standalone novel?

I typically like reading series. Mainly because I fall in love with the characters and then get to visit them time and time again in a series.  But I will read standalone novels,too.  In my experience, most adult novels are better as standalone.

3. Which novel in a trilogy do you prefer?  Beginning, middle, or end?   Completely depends on the trilogy.  My favorite trilogy, The Hunger Games, I enjoyed Catching Fire--the middle book--the most.  I would say most other trilogies, I liked the end the best.

4. Did you like to read as a kid?  

YES!  Its crazy, because when I was in 1st and 2nd grade, I was in the lowest reading group.  I didn't enjoy it at all.  But my mom bought me the whole Laura Ingalls Wilder set of books and made me read 30 min a day.  By the third day, I was reading 2 or 3 hours on my own.  After that, I was hooked, I read all the time!  (Still do!)

5. How many books do you usually pack when going on vacation?  

Usually only 2.  I don't go on long trips, though, only long weekends.  With 4 kids, its too expensive for this house!

6. What was your favorite book when you were younger?

Well, until 8th grade it was On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  That's now been downgraded to #5.  Then it was Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell until I was 18 and read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig.  

7. What are your thoughts on books being made into movies? Good or Bad?

Mostly good I think.  But I always separate books and movies in my mind.  I realize that a movie will never be exactly like a book, or vice versa, because they are such different mediums.  And its fun to see my favorite stories onscreen to enjoy.  The only real disappointment I've had was Percy Jackson.  That movie could have been SO much better!  And if books weren't made into movies, I would be deprived my favorite movie of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird with Gregory Peck.

8. What is your all time favorite book?

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig.  If you haven't read it, read it!  The thing I love best about it is it is a nonfiction story.  And you will get something new out of it every time you read it.  I try to read it every 5 years, and I always find something profound every time.  It will change the way you look at things, I guarantee it!

9. What made you decide to start a book blog?

Well, I actually got into blogging because I was a HUGE Sims fan.  The game from EA for the PC.  I have been hooked on it for 11 years.  Anyways, one of the things I loved was building houses in the game and creating things.  There are a ton of websites where people post their creations, make online friends, etc.  A lot of my sims friends online were creating their own blogs showcasing their stuff, so I created one as well.  http://juliababyjen.blogspot.com/  But because of numerous technical issues, I have quit the Sims.  I really liked blogging, so I decided to do a book blog, my other big passion.  I could talk about books forever!

10. What is it about a book that makes you decide to read it?

It doesn't take much for me to decide to read a book.  Usually I get suggestions from other bloggers, Goodreads, Amazon, the library.  Then I read over the synposis, and if it sounds interesting, I'll read it!

11. What is your most anticipated new release for 2012?

That one is hard, I am excited about so many new books!  Insurgent by Veronica Roth, Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore, and The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore are the top ones.

Okay, that was a lot of work!  Felt like I was back in school! Now its my turn!

1. What is the most important element of a book for you: the plot, the characters, or the setting?

2. YA books seem to follow trends as far as subject matter.  We've had vampires, werewolves, 
wizards/witches, fallen angels, and now, dystopian.  Do you tend to follow the current reading trends, or are you always looking for something "new and different?"

3. If you could pick a new "trend" what would you pick?

4. When deciding to read a book, do you judge a book by its cover?  Or does the cover not matter to you?

5. Your local community college is creating a literature course based on one author's works (dead or alive), and picks you to decide on the author.  What author would you pick?

6. Do you belong to any book clubs?  If so, how many, and are they online or in person?

7. Do you use your library, and if so, how much?

8. What's your favorite quote from a book?

9. What do you think about E-readers, and do you own one?

10. If you could visit any world in a book, which book would you choose and why?

11. Do you consider yourself a book addict?

TAG!  You're IT!

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