The Best Books Ever

Crossed By Ally Condie To be Published On: November 1, 2011 Published By:  Dutton Summary taken from Goodreads.com: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever. I want to preface this review by saying: if you are planning on reading Cros

I am some fancy shmancy buttons for my site!  Do you like them?

IMM is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. So let's get to it!  Here is what I got this week: For Review:           Stumbling into Grace / Fairer than Morning   / Crossed Bought:   Wondrous Strange   / City of Ashes (Picked these two up for 4 dollars each!) Borrowed: Dinner with a Perfect Stranger   /  Soul Surfer So that's what I got- what did you get?

Never the Bride By Cheryl Mckay and Rene Gutteridge Published: 2009 Published by Waterbrook Press Summary by Goodreads.com: Eleven Bridesmaid Dresses Don’t Lie Since she was just a little girl, Jessie Stone dreamed up hundreds of marriage proposals, doodled the romantic ideas in her journal with her treasured purple pen, and fantasized about wedding dresses and falling in love.  She’s been a bridesmaid nearly a dozen times, waved numerous couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember. But shopping for one key component of these countless proposals hasn't been quite as productive–a future husband. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her.  The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best…well, crushing.  And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories. So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life

Follow my book blog Friday is a meme hosted by Parajunkie and Alison Can Read.  I love checking out blogs that I normally wouldn't find! Q. Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you?       So how about you?      

Delirium  By Lauren Oliver Published on: February 1, 2011 Published by:  Harper Collins Summary Taken from Goodreads.com: Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't. Wow, this book was fantastic!  In the dystopia genre, I already love The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Matched.  I now have another book to add to my LOVE list.  This was a fantastic book! Lauren Oliver is an incredibly gifted writer.  The characters are so believable and so well-written- I am very impressed!  I know there have been comparisons about this book and Matched.  It is true that they do have similarities, both have s

Dark Mirror By MJ Putney Published on: March 1, 2011 Published by: St. Martin's Griffin Goodreads Summary taken from Goodreads: Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season , where she can choose a mate worthy of her status.  Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted . . . by magic. When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society. But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or co

Wrapped ( Goodreads ) by Jennifer Bradbury Published on : May 24, 2011 Published by: Atheneum Summary taken from Goodreads: Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history. Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet with antique dust swirling around her. Maybe you think she is a young Egyptologist who has arrived in Cairo on camelback. Maybe she would like to think that too. Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperones fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping. This is the start of it al

Here are a few books I am looking forward to checking out: (Meme from Breaking the Spine )   Incarnate Faerie Tales and Nightmares Halflings And the one I didn't know was coming and I CAN'T WAIT to read? Midnight in Austenland

By now I am sure you have seen the "Store Closing- Everything Must Go!" signs at Borders.  My husband and I went in to check out what they had- it was a mad house!  The strangest part of it was- the discount was only 10%!  I ended up getting a few magazines (Mental Floss) and board books for the little man- but it made me wonder... Question:  How do you feel about Borders closing?  Does it affect you?  Have you already been to a Borders to buy up books?

Safe from the Past By Patricia Miller Mauro Published by: P3 Press Published on: September 2010 Goodreads / Amazon About Safe From the Past: A kidnapping, the divorce of her parents, the loss of her father, temporary abandonment and extreme poverty are just some of the issues the author dealt with as a young child.  Her mother finally tells her she must go to college so she can break out of this cycle of poverty and hopelessness. But how can she when she has no money and absolutely no confidence or self esteem?  Read this true story to discover what hope, faith and determination can do to change a life. A truly inspiring, deeply personal tale of perseverance in the face of unimaginable hardships, Safe from the Past makes clear the restorative power of an education. Told in an open, honest voice with the deepest sincerity, the author's life story serves as a rousing inspiration to those with the desire to create a better life than the one they are currently living.

I have joined the 2011 Beach Reads Summer Challenge! The challenge is hosted by Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile and I can't wait to get started! Since I started a little late, I am going to aim for a "Dolphin" status- that means I need to read 12 books in the challenge.  I think I had better get started! Question:  What book should I absolutely get my hands on for this challenge?  What do you recommend?

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by the Story Siren- its gives us a chance to show off books that we got in the mail, on the internet, borrowed, or was gifted in a week. It has been a very slow week on my end... we moved earlier this week and I put a change of address form in at the beginning of the week.  Oddly enough, since I turned that form in- I haven't gotten ANY mail at any of my addresses!  I know a few books were coming my way- it is incredibly frustrating! So the books I have to read are packed in a mountain of boxes and I haven't gotten any new ones in the mail (boo!) But here are a few I snatched up at the library :)   Delirium  /  Dark Mirror So what did you get this week?  I am hoping you fared better than I did- and you got any of your mail! Happy Reading!

Blood Rights By Kristen Painter Expected Publication: October 1, 2011 Published by:  Orbit Books Summary taken from Goodreads: The lacy gold mapped her entire body. A finely-wrought filigree of stars, vines, flowers, butterflies, ancient symbols and words ran from her feet, up her legs, over her narrow waist, spanned her chest and finished down her arms to the tips of her fingers. Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle’s body bears the telltale marks of a comarré—a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world…and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks. Now Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign. First of all- look at that cover- it is

  Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier  Have you ever read a book over and over and you seem to come back to it when you are in between books?  Do you read the last 6 chapters of the book just so you can get back the warm fuzzy feeling that you had the first time you read the story? This is one of those books for me.  This isn't really a review of this book- more of a fangirl rant for all of you that haven't read it yet.  You NEED to read this book.  It is just that good. Here is the summary from Goodreads: High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It's an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle's hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance throug

  Eon and Eona Written by Allison Goodman Published by: Viking and Penguin Eon (taken from Goodreads.com):  Also Known As: Two Pearls of Wisdom, Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye, and Eon (All the same book just published with different publishers) Eon has been studying the ancient art of Dragon Magic for four years, hoping he'll be able to apprentice to one of the twelve energy dragons of good fortune. But he also has a dark secret. He is actually Eona, a sixteen-year-old girl who has been living a dangerous lie for the chance to become a Dragon-eye, the human link to an energy dragon's power. It is forbidden for females to practice the Dragon Magic and, if discovered, Eon faces a terrible death. After a dazzling sword ceremony, Eon's affinity with the twelve dragons catapults him into the treacherous world of the Imperial court, where he makes a powerful enemy, Lord Ido. This was a great book!  I loved the entire world that the author c

In my mailbox is a weekly meme by The Story Siren.  You want to see what I got this week?  Let's get to it then! It is actually pretty easy.  I had a very light week this week.  I got:   and        Never The Bride / Iron Knight Pretty easy.  It has been a slow week.  We are currently in the process of moving and our computer is currently unplugged (which means no e-reader).  I am going to try hard and get the rest of my books read and get caught up on reviews.  I know I have some great books on their way to me and I don't want to get behind!  AND  I am so excited that starting this week my wonderful friend Mandi will be blogging with me!  I hope you like what she has to say! So have you read Iron Knight yet?  What do you think?

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine .  I love this meme- it gives me a chance to show off what I am waiting for!  Also, it is a chance to discover new books coming out in the next year. I should have posted this one a long time ago- I am not sure why I haven't.  I cannot wait for The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton! The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood. Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who s

Net Galley has put up "Iron Knight" by Julie Kagawa for review!  I literally stood up and did a happy dance when I saw it! If you have been living in a hole for the last year- here is the link to Iron Knight's Goodreads page! Happy day!

Super Mario:  How Nintendo Conquered America By Jeff Ryan Published on: Published by Penguin Summary from Goodreads : Nintendo has continually set the standard for video-game innovation in America, starting in 1981 with a plucky hero who jumped over barrels to save a girl from an ape. The saga of Mario, the portly plumber who became the most successful franchise in the history of gaming, has plot twists worthy of a video game. Jeff Ryan shares the story of how this quintessentially Japanese company found success in the American market. Lawsuits, Hollywood, die- hard fans, and face-offs with Sony and Microsoft are all part of the drama.  I got this book from a giveaway contest at Goodreads.  When I signed up for the contest- I honestly got it for my husband.  He is the one who is the "gamer".  He owns almost every gaming system, competed in the Video Game Championships as a kid, and can become a human encyclopedia for video game facts on a whim.  I like