see scoot read

New Look & Letter Grades

2012-01-27T15:28:00.000-06:00

What better way to start out the new year but with a fresh new blog look? I decided to update the look of the blog today and I am really happy with. It feels clean, simple a lot more my style. Thank you shabbyblogs and cutest blog around the block for inspiration and clip art!

Also, I decided to change up my book ratings. I had a huge list of ratings from 1 to 10, without any type of cute graphics or fun stuff. I decided to cut out some of the varying degrees of ratings and make a graphic! Now I have letter grades - with an "!" (!!!) being the best in show to a "U" (ugh.) at the bottom of the totem pole.

Now I am off to finish reading my current book so I can review it using my nifty new scale. Hope you guys like it!

ALA Midwinter was awesome!

2012-01-23T09:03:00.000-06:00

I was able to make it to ALA Midwinter on Saturday and it was wonderful! It was so fun getting to meet and mingle with authors, publishers and other book lovers. I dragged my brother to the conference with me so I wouldn't have to roam around alone and he had just as much fun as I did. It was great! I was only going to be able to attend on Saturday, so I only signed up for access to the Exhibit Hall. But even with that limited access we still managed to spend almost the entire day there. I met a lot of great people and really had an enjoyable time. It makes me even more excited about attending future conferences (ALA Annual and BEA here I come!) I ended up with a HUGE stack of ARCs for review (lucky for me I live close - or shipping costs would have been beyond outrageous) and now I don't even know where to start reading! I will have to take a photo for you of the amazing books I was able to snag for review, but in the mean time here are a few I am really excited about:

BZRK by Michael Grant

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Grave Mercy by Robin LeFevers

The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith

Torn from Troy by Patrick Bowman

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Black Heart by Holly Black

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson

The Grave Robber's Apprentice by Allan Stratton

Where you at the conference as well?

Which ARC are you going to start reading first?

Where am I today? The ALA Midwinter Meeting!

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

I am excited! Today I am attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas! I live just around the corner and couldn't resist the temptation to spend a day surrounded by other book lovers. This will be my first ALA conference, so I really have no idea what to expect. I promise to take some pics and get as much good info for you as I can. *doeshappydance*

Wish me luck!

Read Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver for Free!

2012-01-20T14:11:00.001-06:00

I just opened up my email and had a Book Blast from HarperCollins! Check out the details below..

Yay for ENTIRE BOOK access! Love it. Enjoy.

Book Plugs - aka - MUST READS.

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

Ok, due to my slacker-pants-ness on the last couple months of 2011 I have not posted full reviews on any of the books below. But I couldn't let them go by having missed out on their 15 minutes of blog fame! All of the books below deserve a [Ten - Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!] rating.

(listed in no particular order since they are all amazing!)

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I can't say much about this book without spoiling it. But lets just say that I loved it. I waited for the library to have a copy before reading this one and immediately after I finished it I had to purchase one for myself to keep. It was that good. I loved the writing style, the characterization, the world building, the complicated plot - ALL OF IT! I can't wait for book two and have a strange urge to dye my hair blue.

The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong (The Summoning,The Awakening, The Reckoning)

I read all three of these books in quick succession. Lucky for me I didn't start the series until they were all complete, how anyone else who read them as they were published survived I do not know! The story has action, mystery, strong characterization and a great - slow - romance. Love love love.

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness (The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer,Monsters of Men)

Wow. WOW. That is about all I can say for these books. Talk about an emotional dystopian roller-coaster. I chewed through these books in just a few days - and got very little sleep. I could not put them down. It was an intense and heartbreaking struggle, but so worth it. Once again, I don't want to say much to avoid spoilers, but this series put Patrick Ness on the top of my author watch list. He writes it - I buy it. Talk about cliffhanger endings - how people survived waiting for the next books I will never know. Lucky me again for waiting to start a series until after they are all published! Be ready with the second novel at your fingertips before you start the first books!

The Codex Alera Series by Jim Butcher

This was such a good series! I loved how the characters grow and mature throughout the series. Butcher is a fabulous author and I loved every second of these action/adventure/fantasy/everything novels! I enjoyed that each book came to a good conclusion on their individual plot-lines, but still continued to build on the overall story arc until the very end. The only flaw that I found in this series is that they ended. I want to more! I *heart* Tavi. Just sayin. I plan to have this entire collection of novels sitting right next to my Harry Potter collection on the shelf someday.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

This was another lovely novel by Maggie Stiefvater. I love her writing style. The emotion she manages to create in her characters just sucks me right in. With alternating points of view between Puck and Sean you quickly get pulled into an different reality that is hard to let go of on the last page. I would happily read hundreds of pages more... so here's hoping that someday Maggie decides to go back to the world of this stand alone novel. *prettyplease*

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Why I waited so long to read this one I will never know. This book was awesome! It managed to keep up with the action and pace of the first two novels, while still bringing the overall story arc to a nice conclusion. Secrets are revealed and worlds are changed. I loved it! Once again, I would love to read more - but I was perfectly happy with the conclusion of this series. Such a great YA steampunk series to read - if you haven't started it yet, go do it!

Red Glove by Holly Black

Oh Cassel. What twisted webs we weave. After the ending of White Cat I wasn't sure what was going to go down in this book, but I was not disappointed at all by Red Glove. Such a good book! Just about anything I could say would be spoilery, so lets just say that this series continues to be awesome.

A World Without Heroes (Beyonders #1) by Brandon Mull

This was such a fun read! A great start to a new fantasy series. The book was really dialogue dense – lots of speaking! It didn't have a lot filler and description, which kept everything fast paced. The story was long and the plot was complicated, with great characterization. I loved it. I have never read the Fablehaven series, but if this book is an example of Brandon's writing I will be adding it to the top of my list! I can't wait for the second book to come out in March!

Bayou Moon (The Edge #2) by Ilona Andrews

I haven't read a book by Ilona Andrews that I didn't like, but I think this one is my very favorite of all. I LOVED this book. Strong family bonds, an angsty-orphaned-changeling love interest and lots of homegrown magic. What's not to like?! I also loved the page count. Most of this genre of book just seem so short, but this one was a comfy 447 pages, and even then I didn't want it to end. Yay for awesome books!

All of these books are fabulous and deserve their time in spotlight - so if they sound like something you might be interested in, go check them out. Now!

Where did the time go?!

2012-01-19T09:39:00.001-06:00

Whoa. Two months. TWO MONTHS.

That is how long is has been since I have posted anything on my blog! It is amazing how fast time flies by when you are busy. However, I’m Back!! No moreslacking off. Life is back into a normalroutine and I have managed to find a good balance. Which means I can make time for my bookblogging hobby again! Yay! I know it is in the middle of January now, but I wanted to share some year-end updates.

How many books did I read last year?!

I read in 155 books in 2011!! That is a crazy amount of books. This year, I don't think I will be getting as much reading in since the hubs has graduated and we are able to spend more time together in the evenings, as well as, my new addiction of pinterest has me making homemade EVERYTHING. My goal for 2012 is to read 75books.

How did I do on last year's challenges?!

2011Debut Author Challenge - Was a Success!!!! I was able to read twelve 2011 Debut Author books. Yay for actually accomplishing a goal. Below are the books I read...

Warped by Maurissa Guibord (released1/11/2011)

Across the Universe by Beth Revis (released1/11/2011)
Forsaken by Jana Oliver (released 1/7/2011)
Clarity by Kim Harrington (released 3/1/2011)
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton (released9/27/2011)
Divergent by Veronica Roth (released 5/3/2011)
Ashfall by Mike Mullin (released 10/2011)
Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic (released 2011)
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

2011YA Historical Fiction Challenge - Was a FAIL. Doh! I did manage to read six YA Historical Fiction novels, but I was four short of my goal. However, the books I missed out on are still on my future reading list and I will definitely get to them this year. For reals this time. Below are the books I read for the challenge and the crossed out ones I didn't manage to finish.

~~Fever 1793 by Laurie HalseAnderson~~
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (posted)
Wildwing by Emily Whitman (posted)
The Boy In the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
~~Star-Crossed by Linda Collison~~
The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Once by Morris Gleitzman
Viking Warrior by Judson Roberts
The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird

Waiting on Wednesday (49): Illuminated

2011-11-30T08:30:00.000-06:00

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Illuminated by Erica Orloff

To Be Published: December 8th 2011 by Speak

An epic romance full of mysteries that transcend time—fans of Romeo and Juliet and The Time Traveler’s Wife will rejoice!

Some loves are not made to last . . . Like Romeo and Juliet, Heloise and Abelard were doomed from the start, and their romance was destined to pass into history. Yet when sixteen-year-old Callie Martin discovers a diary hidden within an antique book, their story—and hers—takes on another life. For the diary leads Callie to the brilliant and handsome August, who is just as mysterious as the secret the diary hides. Their attraction is undeniable. As the two hunt down the truth behind the diary—and that of Heloise and Abelard’s ancient romance—their romance becomes all-consuming. But Callie knows it can’t last . . . love never does. Will their love that burns as bright as a shooting star flame out, or will these star-crossed lovers be able to defy history?

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I am not going to lie - the first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover. But that is what awesome covers are supposed to do, right?! I love it - with the close up views and the shimmer! But then I read the synopsis and thought - hey I like Rome and Juliet (despite the tragedy) and I loved The Time Travelers Wife (tear-jerker much?!) so I just might love this one too! It sounds like a good YA romance with some twists. I just can't resist star-crossed lovers

Also, did you know that Penguin is giving away a copy of this book right now on Goodreads? Go here for more details! The giveaway ends on Dec 20th.

Top Ten Books on Scoot's TBR List for Winter

2011-11-29T11:18:00.000-06:00

First up - what exactly counts as winter?? Growing up in Texas has given me a sketchy idea on seasons, so I had to google it.Winter is supposedly from December 22 - March 20th this year. So let's go with any books released before or during that window of time. Out of almost 600 books on my TBR list it is a little tough to choose a top ten... but here is my best effort (in no particular order)!

1. Inheritance by Christopher Paolini - I really need to finish off this series!! I have this book sitting on my shelves at home, but I can't remember much of the back story because it is has been so long since the last book came out. I might have to start the series over to appreciate this last novel. I just don't know if I am up for that...

2. The Savage Grace by Bree Despain (published March 13, 2012) - Cliffhanger ending much??!! I have been waiting for this one since I turned the last page on The Lost Saint. These books are just absorbing and I can't wait!

3. Forgiven by Jana Oliver (published February 28, 2012) - I REALLY want this one now, but I can be patient. Sort of. The Demon Trappers series has been such a pleasant surprise. I really love it and can't wait for this conclusion to the trilogy. Unless it turns out to be more... *crossingfingersforafourthbook*

4. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows - I have an eArc of this one now! Wahoo! I just go it and can't wait to start. It has been a long time since I have read any reincarnation plots and think this one sounds great. I have heard nothing but good things so far.

5. A Million Suns by Beth Revis (published January 10, 2012) - Duh! Who isn't waiting for this one. I need more Amy and Elder! I am really curious to know how they deal with all of the big reveals from the last novel. January isn't too far off..

6. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand - I have an eArc of this one now too! TUCKER. Need I say more? I will be starting this one TONIGHT.

7. The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima (no release date - just 2012) - Ok this one might not come out during "winter", but I couldn't resist including it just in case. I love the Seven Reals series and can't wait for this one!! I want to know how it all turns out. Here's hoping for "happily ever after" and not "death and demise".

8. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater - I know, I know. This book has been out since early summer. I own it. It is taunting me, but yet I still can't get myself to read it. I think cuddling up in front of the fireplace, on my squishy couch, with a mug of hot cocoa sounds like the perfect way to read this book. I think I will save this one for the winter break.

9. Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews (out today!) - Yes, please! I love love love Ilona Andrew's edge series. They are tough to classify in a genre, but if you like your stories to have magic, lots of action, strong family bonds, romance, and well developed characters then you will love these books. So good!

10. The Death Cure by James Dashner - Another ending to a series I have been squatting on. I need to read this book just so I can save Thomas from the not so pleasant ending of the last book. I know this book will have me hooked as soon as I start it, so I better leave myself lots of reading time. Here's hoping the gladers don't all die! *crossingfingersandtoes*

Ok - I couldn't do it!! I have a bonus pick. If I can ever manage to find a reasonably priced copy of this book (local library doesn't have it, Amazon has it for $40+ used, etc..) then I really want to read this book! I finished the first one a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. So my #11 is...

11. Silksinger (Dreamdark #2) by Laini Taylor (I find myself loving all things Laini Taylor. Have you read Daughter of Smoke and Bone yet? If not, GO DO IT.)

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where they post a weekly list of Top Tens. Go here for more details!

11/29/11 Book Birthdays & Deals!

2011-11-29T09:06:00.001-06:00

Book Birthdays!

Legend by Marie Lu
"What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills."

Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews
"Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...

Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help..."

I haven't had a chance to read either of these books yet, but they are both at the top of my wish-list! Can't wait to get copies and start reading. Any other books coming out today that you can't wait to get your hands on?

Book Bargains!

You can get the entire River of Time trilogy by Lisa Tawn Bergren for $7 for Kindle right now?! This series is fabulous and at this price it is a steal. I am not sure how long the deal will last, so if you are interested act now!
Waterfall for 99c on Kindle
Cascade for $2.99 on Kindle
Torrent for $2.99 on Kindle

If you enjoyed reading Beastly by Alex Flinn you might enjoy this 144 page addition/novella (?) called Beastly: Lindy's Diary! It is just $3.99 on your Nook or Kindle.

Winner!

2011-11-01T08:18:00.004-05:00

We have a winner for my Halloween Flash Giveaway!

Congrats to Dizneeee!!

Diznee will get to choose from The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver, Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon or Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl.

How was everyone's Halloween? Mine was fun as usual!

Halloween Flash Giveaway! 12 hours only!

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!!

If you come knocking over at my blog today you are in for a treat!

Welcome to Scoot's 12 hour Halloween Flash Giveaway! Fill out the form below for a chance to win one of these three haunting books:

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Nothing is better than spending Halloween with some fictional demons, zombies, or ghosts...

Book Birthdays & More

2011-10-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

There are some great book birthdays today! I have not had a chance to read any of the book below yet, but they are all on my future to-be-reading list. Yay for new books!

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Crave by Melissa Darnell

Beautiful Chaos (Beautiful Creatures #3) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

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I couldn't resist sharing some good eBook deals with you!

For Kindle:

• 100 Kindle Books for $3.99 or less... go HERE

• Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost for $1.99

• The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay for $3.99

• Wizard's First Rule (The Sword of Truth) by Terry Goodkind for $2.99

For Nook:

• Unwind by Neal Shusterman for $3.99

• Sojourn by Jana Oliver is only $2.99 for the Nook!

• The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver for $2.99

• I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: Six's Legacy by Pittacus Lore for $3.99

• The Dragon Heir by Cinda Williams Chima for $4.53

• Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card $3.99

• Between the Lines by Tammara Webber for $2.99

• Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer for $3.19

• Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black, Justine Larbalestier for $3.99

• Shadowland by Meg Cabot for $3.99

________________________

And last but not least...
I am sure everyone has seen it by now, but just in case you missed it, The Savage Grace has a cover! I can't wait for this book.

The Savage Grace
(The Dark Divine #3)

by Bree Despain

"A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.

Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.

With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.

The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion."

Blog Dust Bunnies

2011-10-18T10:19:00.000-05:00

This blog is getting dusty from lack of updates!

However, I do have a few good excuses:
(Is there really such a thing as a goodexcuse? I mean, an excuse is an excuse.)

Excuse #1: My work office is moving! Usually I am aday-time blogger and lately I have been waytoo slammed at work to have any down time for blogging. Boo. What?Do they expect me to work at work? Gofigure.

Excuse #2: My internet at home is broken. BROKEN! Eventually this will getfixed, but in the mean time we are suffering from withdrawals and are sneakingover to other people’s homes to steal their wifi. It is tragic.

Excuse #3: I have discovered a new hobby = Pinterest. This website is a mixed blessing for me. I love it because I now have millions of DIYprojects to work on and recipes to try, but at the same time it has managed tosteal a significant portion of my time... and time is something I really don’t have a lot of.

Excuse #4: My husband just had a small break from school,which means I actually got to spend time with him! It was lovely. We basically just shut ourselves off from theworld and ignored life for a while. I amall for doing this the rest of the year, but sadly real life keeps gettingin the way. ;)

Life is all about balance. Eventually all of the things I juggle in life will balance out again andthis blog will be back up to par, but in the mean time, please don’t mind thedust!

(Oh and I am still managing toread a bunch of books, so I have a lot of good books to share with you – as soonas I find the time to sit and write some reviews!)

In My Mailbox (26)

2011-10-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren!

This week I managed to score a handful of great book for review and from the library!
Now how do I choose what to read first?!

In My Mailbox:

For Review

The Death Cure by James Dashner

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Touch by Jus Accardo

The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker

Library

Fateful by Claudia Gray
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Scoot's Ramblings: Fear of the final book?

2011-10-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

I have recently noticed myself falling into a strange unconscious reading habit. The habit of avoiding books. Specifically the final books in a series.

Normally I am chomping-at-the-bit, desperately-waiting-for and highly-anticipating the end of a great series. Yet when the time comes and I have the book in my hands I freak out and avoid reading it.

Why?! Self diagnosis has decided that I am avoiding the "final book" because I am afraid of the series ending badly! I have imagined all of my happily ever afters (or not so happily ever afters) and I don't want the authors to go and mess things up for me. I am not a fan of being dissapointed (who is?) and with so many other great books on my plate I find it way to easy to just grab another novel and avoid those final books.

Here are a handful of "final books" that I have avoided recently:

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater: Seriously?? I was waiting on this one for ages and I love the other two books. Why have I not read this yet? The pre-ordered eBook has been waiting on my Nook for ages.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld: Another pre-ordered Nook book waiting on me, AND I even had an eARC!? I love, love, LOVE this series and can't wait to know what happens... and yet I am avoiding. I am going to read it this weekend. No more waiting.

The Death Cure by James Dashner: Well I haven't been avoiding this one too long, the ARC just showed up in the mail this week. But still, I should have been up all night to find out what happens to Thomas and all of the gladers!

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa: Ok, I have had access to the eARC of this book for ages and yet it is still waiting. At this rate the book will be published before I stop avoiding the eARC. Who could resist reading more about Ash & Puck? Apparently me.

Are you ever afraid to end a great series?

Are there certain books you find yourself unconsciously avoiding?

Bitterblue Cover and Release Date!

2011-10-07T10:01:00.000-05:00

Finally! We have a cover and release date for the companion novel to Graceling and Fire! Kristine Cashore announced it on her blog here.

I love both of the previous books and have been waiting ages for Bitterblue. It is great to know the wait is not too much longer!

Bitterblue will be released on May 1, 2012 in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand... etc!

Publisher's weekly shared some details about the novel below...

"The novel, which has an announced first printing of 200,000 copies and clocks in at a hefty 576 pages, picks up eight years after Graceling,with Bitterblue now 18 and the reigning queen of Monsea. Cashore says the story constitutes more of a companion than a strict sequel. Graceling fans, however, will likely be thrilled to learn that the heroine of that book – the different-colored-eyed Katsa – returns in Bitterblue, as does her lover, Po.

Other characters from Graceling appear, too, most notably (and unavoidably, since he is Bitterblue’s father), the nefarious King Leck, the only character who appears in both Graceling and Fire." (source)

576 pages and it has Katsa and Po in it!! Yay! This book is at the top of my pre-order list for next year. Can't wait!

Waiting On Wednesday (48): The Future of Us

2011-09-28T08:43:00.002-05:00

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Future of Us

by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

To be Published: November 21st 2011 by Razorbil

It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.

Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

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I have had my eye on this book for a while. I think the synopsis sounds intriguing and it has relatively good reviews on the advance copies. I have never read anything by either author, but I am willing to give them a try! I remember well the first days of AOL dial up, so this should be an interesting flash back book for me. Lucky for us this book comes out in November, so the wait isn't too much longer.

What book are YOU waiting on?

Airborn

2011-09-26T11:23:00.001-05:00

Author: Kenneth Oppel
Genre: Mid-grade to Young-Adult – Historical Fiction & Adventure
Publication Date: May 1st 2004
Publisher: Eos/Harper Collins
Age Range: 12+
Pages: 355
Date Scoot Read: September 2011
Source: Hardcover Library Book

Scoot's Rating: 10 – Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Sailing toward dawn, and I was perched atop the crow's nest, being the ship's eyes. We were two nights out of Sydney, and there'd been no weather to speak of so far. I was keeping watch on a dark stack of nimbus clouds off to the northwest, but we were leaving it far behind, and it looked to be smooth going all the way back to Lionsgate City. Like riding a cloud. . . .

Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on the Aurora, a huge airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferrying wealthy passengers from city to city. It is the life Matt's always wanted; convinced he's lighter than air, he imagines himself as buoyant as the hydrium gas that powers his ship. One night he meets a dying balloonist who speaks of beautiful creatures drifting through the skies. It is only after Matt meets the balloonist's granddaughter that he realizes that the man's ravings may, in fact, have been true, and that the creatures are completely real and utterly mysterious.

In a swashbuckling adventure reminiscent of Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, Kenneth Oppel, author of the best-selling Silverwing trilogy, creates an imagined world in which the air is populated by transcontinental voyagers, pirates, and beings never before dreamed of by the humans who sail the skies.

Scoot’s Review:

In Airborn we join Matt Cruse - a boy who was literally born in the air. Becoming an airship captain someday is Matt’s ultimate dream, and sailing on the Aurora is his path to get there. In a twist of fate Matt crosses paths with Kate de Vries and is quickly pulled into a sky-high adventure; where the risks could cost the lives of all of those aboard the Aurora. I love, love, loved this book. Airborn had all of the right elements for me; strong characters, action, adventure, wit, humor, emotional depth, and a touch of romance. The writing style comfortably portrayed the mannerisms of the time period and you felt pulled into history. The alternate world filled with airships was fascinating, as were the new species portrayed. I wouldn’t necessarily put this novel in the steampunk category but it had that feel to it, and I am a sucker for steampunk novels! The plot flowed well and the story line was absorbing; you were quick to become emotionally involved with the characters and events. The main characters were well developed and likeable. Matt was an easy favorite and a great lead character. He was loyal, brave and witty and I enjoyed the book being written from his point of view. I loved his sarcastic internal dialogue! Matt had hidden layers and as the reader you learned more about him throughout the novel. The story was adventurous and well paced. Yet, the novel wasn’t all fun and games, there were a few harrowing moments and some tragedy. Airborn could easily be a stand alone novel with its well rounded conclusion. However, I was so glad to know there were more books because I was not ready to let go of the story. Lucky for me this series isn’t brand new, so I have already had the chance to read the next two novels. Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed Airborn and was satisfied with the novel overall. If you enjoy a good midgrade to early young-adult action and adventure story be sure to put this one at the top of your list!

Ashfall (ARC)

2011-09-22T10:53:00.002-05:00

Author: Mike Mullin
Genre: Young Adult – Apocalyptic/Adventure/Dystopian
Publication Date: October 11th 2011
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 466
Date Scoot Read: April 2011
Source: eGalley from Netgalley and Tanglewood Press

Scoot's Rating: 8- Really good!

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

Scoot’s Review:
Alex is your average teenager – just wanting to have fun and trying to avoid spending too much time being stuck on boring family vacations. After convincing his parents that he can stay home alone for the weekend Alex is enjoying his solitude when suddenly his world falls apart – literally. Alex doesn’t know it, but the Yellowstone super volcano has erupted and the world is in turmoil. Trying to survive in a world covered in Ash, Alex has to strain his mind and body in ways he never has before. Alex is determined to find his family and his road to survival is dark and dangerous. This was an action packed apocalyptic story and I enjoyed it. The story never dragged, was fast paced and had an intense plot. There are a lot of elements that I really loved in this book, and at the same time there were things that just didn’t click for me. I liked Alex; he was a well developed character who managed to have a backbone of steel and a soft side you couldn’t resist. He was a lead character that I enjoyed reading about. There were quite a few traumatic events in the plot, and the story had a few heartrending moments. Mike Mullin does not hold back and managed to portray a realistic and heartbreaking world. One thing that felt a little off to me was the romance. Alex’s love interest just seemed harsh and I didn’t connect as well with their attraction for each other; yes they were thrown into tough situations where they bonded – but it just didn’t feel comfortably developed. However, in retrospect even my feelings aren’t consistent on this - sometimes I loved their romance, and other times I was like... huh? So it’s a tough one to peg down. Things moved a little fast, but it was the end of the world as they knew it. I did love that Alex’s love interest was older than him, because realistically what are the odds of Alex finding a girl exactly his age in that situation? I enjoyed the realistic elements of the novel and how this is something that could potentially occur (not that I want it too! Scary!). I thought Ashfall was a great read and it was hard to put down. I will definitely be checking out the sequel next year! Another great disaster/apocalypse/dystopian novel to add to my collection. Make sure to check out Ashfall when it is released in October!

Side Note: My Amazon widget doesn't seem to be working, but here is the link if you are interested in purchasing this novel. It looks like Amazon has copies on sale right now, no need to wait until October!

Top 5 Books for 2012!

2011-09-21T13:53:00.000-05:00

This post has been inspired by Princess Bookie's Contest Craze! She currently has a Mini Challenge asking what the top 5 books are that we are looking forward to in 2012.

Let me just tell you that making this list was HARD. Choosing only five books when there are so many you want to read is pretty rough. Of course a couple of them were no-brainers, but then it got tough to narrow it down.

Here is my list:

(in no particular order and of course subject to change depending on my mood. *wink*)

#1 - Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

Expected publication: August 28th 2012 by Atheneum

"While Varen remains a prisoner in the dream-world, Isobel is haunted by his memory. He appears to her in her dreams and soon, even in her waking life. But is she just imagining it? Isobel knows she must find a way back to Varen. She makes plans to go to Baltimore. There, she confronts the figure known throughout the world as the Poe Toaster—the same dark man who once appeared to Isobel in her dreams, calling himself “Reynolds.”

Isobel succeeds in interrupting the Toaster’s ritual and, in doing so, discovers a way to return to the dream-world. Soon, she finds herself swept up in a realm which not only holds remnants of Poe’s presence, but has also now taken on the characteristics of Varen’s innermost self. It is a dark world comprised of fear, terror, and anger.
When Isobel once more encounters Varen, she finds him changed. With his mind poisoned by the dream world, he becomes a malevolent force, bent on destroying all—even himself. Now Isobel must face a new adversary, one who also happens to be her greatest love."

Why this made my top 5 list: I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Nevermore. It was a great novel and it was long. Lucky for me I didn't read it until recently, so I have not had to wait quite as long as everyone else who got their hands on it early. Needless to say, waiting until next summer still seems like an awfully long time! I am sure it will be worth it!! I am anxious to know what happens next for Varen and Isobel.

#2 Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Expected publication: May 1st 2012 by HarperCollins Children's Books

"One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature."

Why this made my top 5 list: Ummm, have you read Divergent? If not, GO READ IT. Divergent has quickly jumped up to one of my top reads ever, so of course I can't wait to read the next installment in the series. At the same time I am a little leery of reading this novel because it is often tough for sequels to keep the momentum of the first amazing novel going. But never fear, that won't be stopping me from attempting all forms of subterfuge to get my hands on this novel early.

#3 The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima

Expected publication: Fall 2012 by Hyperion Book CH

"In the fourth and final book in the Seven Realms series, the stakes grow ever higher as a series of murders raise tensions between the Wizard Council and Spirit Clans to a fever pitch. With treachery on every side, Han and Raisa struggle to fend off threats from ambitious neighbors while keeping the queendom from imploding from within."

Why this made my top 5 list: I have LOVED the entire Seven Realms series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first novel and each book since has been just as good! I REALLY want this book and am not looking forward to the long wait. I am going to be sad when this book is over because it is the last one. Boo! Here's hoping we can convince Cinda to write a couple more for us! *ithinkicanithinkicanithinkican*

#4 The Savage Grace by Bree Despain

Expected publication: March 13th 2012 by EgmontUSA

Why this made my top 5 list: This book doesn't have a synopsis yet, or a cover... but let's just say that with the cliffhanger ending of The Lost Saint I am highly anticipating this novel. I can't wait to get my hands on it!! Is it March yet?

#5 Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

Expected publication: September 2012

Sequel to "Unwind"

Why this made my top 5 list: Can I repeat; "Sequel to "Unwind."' Holy cow I am excited about this book! I read Unwind years ago - and it instantly became of my favorite reads ever. I also think this might have been the first real Dystopian that I read. Maybe? Not sure, but either way I loved it and have wanted MORE ever since. I can't wait to hear what this book will be about - let's hope that we get a little more Connor, Risa and Lev in it. Also, did you hear they are making an Unwind movie? I might be in my 30s before that happens, but still, yay!

Waiting On Wednesday (47): Insurgent

2011-09-21T11:32:00.001-05:00

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Insurgent

by Veronica Roth

To be Published: May 28th 2012 by HarperCollins

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

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The sequel to Divergent. Need I say more?? Holy cow - May of NEXT YEAR is a really long time to wait. *mustbepatient*

What book are YOU waiting on?

We have a winner!

2011-09-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

I finally tallied up the entries to my final blogiversary giveaway.

And the winner is....

Andrea Thompson!

Andrea will get to choose one book from the list below ...

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Beyonders by Brandon Mull

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Waiting On Wednesday (46): The Other Life

2011-09-07T08:39:00.000-05:00

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Other Life
by Susanne Winnacker

To be Published: February 1st 2012 by Usborne

Sherry and her family have lived sealed in a bunker in the garden since things went wrong up above. Her grandfather has been in the freezer for the last three months, her parents are at each other’s throats and two minutes ago they ran out of food.

Sherry and her father leave the safety of the bunker and find a devastated and empty LA, smashed to pieces by bombs and haunted by ‘Weepers’ - rabid humans infected with a weaponized rabies virus.

While searching for food in a supermarket, Sherry’s father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a boy-hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a tumble-down vineyard in the hills outside LA, where a handful of other survivors are picking up the pieces of their ‘other lives’. As she falls in love for the first time, Sherry must save her father, stay alive and keep Joshua safe when his desire for vengeance threatens them all.

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Coming out of a bunker to what sounds suspiciously like a zombie-apocalypse? Wowsers. I think this one sounds pretty intriguing and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Also, the cover? AMAZING. I love it.

What book are YOU waiting on?

Torrent: River of Time 3 (ARC)

2011-09-01T15:09:00.000-05:00

Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Genre: Young Adult – Historical/Fantasy
Publication Date: September 1st 2011
Publisher: David C. Cook
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 388
Date Scoot Read: August 2011
Source: eARC from author for review

Scoot's Rating: 10 – Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!

Synopsis (via Goodreads): When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series.

Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times. But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.

Scoot’s Review:

**Warning: don’t read this review if you haven’t read the other books yet to avoid spoilage. Just go read the other books first, they are great!

In Torrent we join the entire Betarrini family as they travel back to 14^th-Century Italy. But how long have they been gone, and what is the state of Castelo Forelli and all of those they left behind? Torrent is an excellent conclusion to the River of Time trilogy. So many things happened in this book that I want to gush on about, but I will restrain myself to avoid spoilage. Let’s just say that I enjoyed this book as much, if not more, than the other two in the series. Torrent is a well written blend of action, adventure, tragedy, romance, and real life lessons. The story was one that you enjoyed until the last page and left you wanting so much more (not in a bad way)! Characterization continues to excel, and I believe that I could read about the characters from this series for ages and never get tired of them. I enjoyed watching each character grow and develop in different ways. Gabi continues to bring strength to the novel, with her loyalty to doing what she feels is right. Even with unstable pathways ahead of her; wishy-washy Gabi is not. The emotions riding throughout the story felt natural, real and absorbing; I was heartbroken and in tears in the first 100 pages, and on the edge of my seat or tied up in knots for the rest of them. The plot had a few unexpected twists, which kept things intriguing and prevented the pace from stalling. I loved the romance between Gabi and Marcello, they just constantly made me smile. Needless to say I was really happy with this novel and highly recommend it. The only error I felt this book had was that it ended. I need a book for each character; Luca, Marcello, Lia, Rodolpho, etc, etc! (please ignore my shameless plug for more books – unless your name is Lisa of course ;)) Go grab your copy of Torrent today!

Book Birthdays: Aug 30, 2011

2011-08-30T08:51:00.001-05:00

There are a lot of awesome books being released today ....

Happy Book Birthday to:

The Hour of Dust and Ashes by Kelly Gay

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Twisted by Gena Showalter

The Fox Inheritance by Mary E. Perason

Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost

Are there any books that I missed? If so, leave them in the comments!

Scoot = Lazy ... and a Freebie!

2011-08-26T14:39:00.000-05:00

It has been an I-am-a-lazy-blogger week for me. Too lazy to write reviews, Too lazy to be creative, etc, etc..

Regardless, I couldn't resist sharing a couple of things with you:

1. REMINDER: Don't forget that I still have a giveaway going on! There is one more week to enter to win one of seven of my favorite blog-found reads!! GO HERE FOR DETAILS

2. A FREEBIE!: Did you know that you can pre-order Bright Young Things (with Bonus Material) by Anna Godbersen for free right now on your Kindle? Not sure how long this will last so go HERE quick!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Waiting On Wednesday (45): The Rift Walker

2011-08-24T08:48:00.000-05:00

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Rift Walker: Vampire Empire 2
by Clay and Susan Griffith

To be Published: September 20th 2011 by Prometheus Books

Princess Adele struggles with a life of marriage and obligation as her Equatorian Empire and their American Republic allies stand on the brink of war against the vampire clans of the north. However, the alliance's horrific strategy for total victory drives Adele to abandon her duty and embark on a desperate quest to keep her nation from staining its hands with genocide. Reunited with her great love, the mysterious adventurer known to the world as the Greyfriar, Adele is pursued by her own people as well as her vengeful husband, senator Clark. With the human alliance in disarrray, Prince Cesare, lord of the British vampire clan, seizes the initiative and strikes at the very heart of Equatoria.

As Adele labors to bring order to her world, she learns more about the strange powers she exhibited in the north. Her teacher, Mamoru, leads a secret cabal of geomancers who believe Adele is the one who can touch the vast power of the Earth that surges through ley lines and wells up at the rifts where the lines meet. These energies are the key to defeating the enemy of mankind, and if Princess Adele could ever bring this power under her command, she could be death to vampires. But such a victory will also cost the life of Adele's beloved Greyfriar.

The Rift Walkeris the second book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternative history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, the Vampire Empire series brings epic politcal themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.

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I read Greyfriar earlier this summer and really enjoyed it! I was a sucker for the mix of steampunk, vampires and the 'beauty and the beast' like tale. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next! Lucky for me I only have to wait about one more month.

What book are YOU waiting on?

The Gray Wolf Throne: Seven Realms 3 (ARC)

2011-08-18T11:22:00.001-05:00

Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Genre : Young Adult – Fantasy
Publication Date : August 30th 2011
Publisher: Hyperion Book
Age Range : Young Adult
Pages : 528
Date Scoot Read: April 2011
Source: eGalley from Netgalley and Disney Hyperion

Scoot's Rating : 10 – Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!

Synopsis (via Goodreads):
Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

The Gray Wolf Throne is an epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.

Scoot’s Review:
If you have read my previous reviews on the Seven Realms series, you will know that I am a huge fan of it. I was thrilled to have an advanced copy of The Gray Wolf Throne on hand; however, I am now cursed with an even longer wait for the next addition to the series! The Gray Wolf Throne did not disappoint. Picking up the story soon after events in The Exiled Queen we join Raisa and Han on their different journeys; Raisa trying to find her way to safety or home, and Han trying to find Raisa - while still fulfilling his commitments to the many masters of his life. The pace and plot of the story are fast and intriguing. The story has quite a few heartrending moments, and it takes on you on an emotional roller coaster. This is one of those series that just hooks you in from the start and keep you anxiously turning the pages until the end. I love it! In The Gray Wolf Throne truths are revealed, betrayals abound and hearts are broken and strengthened. In this story filled with tragedy and intrigue the only complaint I have is that there weren’t more times with Han and Raisa together. Or just more time with Han. This novel is a lot more Raisa-centric, and she in some ways is a little more flimsy of a character. Raisa continues to develop, but her waffling in the romantic areas of her life did become a frustration. Regardless, this novel was a great adventure and I can’t wait to find out what happens next! If you haven’t started this series yet, go get started on it - and if you have - make sure to pick up The Gray Wolf Throne on August 30^th! You won’t be disappointed.

Impromptu Read-A-Thon

2011-08-12T15:31:00.000-05:00

Sure, Why not?

This weekend the husband and I are going on a 'staycation'. We are basically just going to be staying at a hotel in town and hiding out for the weekend (a much needed escape from the drama of normal life). Usually I wouldn't get any extra time for reading on a weekend like that, but it turns out that the hubs now has to go in to work for a chunk of the day on Saturday... so it looks like I will have lots of reading time to spare.

What better way to fill that time than joining Amber on her Impromptu Read-A-Thon?!

Here is what I hope to read:

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

(Only have about 40 pages left until this one will be done)

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

(Holy crap - I am sooo excited about this book and dreading it at the same time. Last books always scare me, but I love this series!)

Ward Against Death by Melanie Card

(I have this one from Netgalley and can't wait to get started on it. It sounds intriguing!)

Wish me luck!

Maggie wows us again...

2011-08-11T11:56:00.000-05:00

As usual Maggie Stiefvater has managed to make something awesome. This something is a book trailer for her soon to be released novel, The Scorpio Races. I loved Maggie's book trailers for the Mercy Falls trilogy, so of course I was really excited to see this one. It is amazing as usual! I can't wait to get my hands on this book!

Also, did you know that you can pre-order a "signed, doodled in copy" of The Scorpio Races HERE?? I might just have to do that. Like right now.

Variety is the spice of life..

2011-08-10T16:24:00.000-05:00

In case you were wondering what was up with my new look ...

I found a nifty free template today and decided to do a little blog makeover! This is what happens when you are bored at work. *wink*

I am not quite sure how I feel about it... so don't be too shocked if you come back here and my blog is back to it's old look. One of these days I will either fork over the money for something custom or I will force my artistic brother to create something for me. In the mean time, enjoy!

Waiting On Wednesday (44): The Slayer Chronicles

2011-08-10T08:13:00.000-05:00

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Slayer Chronicles: First Kill by Heather Brewer

To be Published: September 20th 2011 by Dutton Juvenile

You've heard Vlad's side of the story . . . now, it’s Joss’s turn.

With over a million copies already in print, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod is still sinking its fangs into new readers every day. Now, bestselling author Heather Brewer brings us the other side of the story, from the perspective of Vlad’s former friend turned mortal enemy: vampire slayer Joss Macmillan. In five books that can be read alongside Vlad Tod or entirely on their own, Joss discovers his powers as the youngest, strongest slayer in history. And just in time, too: with all the vampires running rampant, he’s going to need all the help he can get. This action-packed series will quench the thirst of even the hungriest veteran minions.

______________

It has been a long time since I read all of Vlad's stories, but I did enjoy that series. I am looking forward to reading this companion series about Joss! Not too much longer of a wait!

What book are YOU waiting on?

eBook Deals!

2011-08-09T16:22:00.000-05:00

Now some of these deals have been out for a little bit, so you might have seen them already. I am going to share all of them anyway because I don't want anyone to miss out!!

Firelight by Sophie Jordan is on $1.99 on NOOK and KINDLE
Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren is FREE on NOOK and KINDLE
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler is only $2.99 on NOOK and KINDLE
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink is only $2.99 on NOOK and KINDLE
Viking Warrior by Judson Roberts is only $3.99 on NOOK and KINDLE

Also, I recently ran across this site and they have good ebook freebies and deals all of the time! Go check 'em out if you are interested!

Oh and don't forget the best deal of all - - my current giveaway!! *winkwink*

Cascade: River of Time 2

2011-08-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Genre : Young Adult – Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Publication Date : June 1st 2011
Publisher: David C. Cook
Age Range : Young Adult
Pages : 399
Date Scoot Read: July 2011
Source: Nook eBook

Scoot's Rating : 9- Great read! Couldn’t put it down.

Synopsis (via Goodreads) : Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”

Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

Scoot’s Review:
In Cascade events pick up immediately at the end of Waterfall. Gabi and Lia are safe and back in their own time again. However, Gabi wants to return to Marcello and convinces Lia and her Mother to go back with her. What was just a few minutes passing for them in the 21^st century was months passing in the fourteenth century, and the girls return to find their reputation has grown beyond their control and that battle lines have been drawn. Their lives are in constant danger and the Betarrini sisters are torn between love, family, and time. Lucky for me I didn’t read Waterfall until the Cascade was already published, so I didn’t have to wait long to find out what was going to happen next. I literally put Waterfall down and picked Cascade right up. It was the perfect way to start a fabulous read. I enjoyed Cascade just as much as I enjoyed Waterfall. The characters continued to be strong and I liked that they developed more over time. Since there was a time leap in the fourteenth century some big changes had been made while the sisters were gone and just like Gabi, my feelings were mixed on the outcomes. Gabi is still the lead as we follow the story from her perspective, which I was grateful for because she is such a great character. I enjoyed her personality and strength. The danger seemed to be ramped up even more in this novel and the girls were in the middle of a lot of tough situations. This novel tugged a lot on the heartstrings, bringing extremes from heartbreak to joy. The writing and story flowed well and was fast paced; I was not ready for this book to end! The plot had a few twists I wasn’t expecting and I am anxiously looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Torrent, which comes out in September. If you enjoyed Waterfall you should definitely grab Cascade, you will not be disappointed!

Waiting On Wednesday (43): Froi of the Exiles

2011-08-03T08:00:00.002-05:00

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Froi of the Exiles (Lumatere Chronicles #2) by Melina Marchetta

To be Published: October 3rd 2011 by Viking Australia

Blood sings to blood …
Those born last will make the first …
For Charyn will be barren no more.

Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home... Or so he believes...

But when Queen Isaboe and her consort Finnikin send him on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, he encounters a damaged people who are not who they seem, a surreal royal court, and soon he must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad princess.

In this barren and mysterious place he will discover there is a song sleeping in his blood, and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.

Gripping and intense, complex and richly imagined, Froi of the Exiles is a dazzling sequel to Finnikin of the Rock, from the internationally best-selling and multi-award-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi, Saving Francesca, On the Jellicoe Road and The Piper’s Son.

______________

I just finished reading Finnikin of the Rock yesterday and I was under the impression that it was a stand alone novel. Then I found this! I was happy with Finnikin's ending, but I am excited to learn that there will be more to come!

What book are YOU waiting on?

Waterfall

2011-08-02T14:19:00.002-05:00

Author: Lisa Tawn Bergren
Genre: Young Adult – Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Publication Date: February 1st 2011
Publisher: David C. Cook
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 352
Date Scoot Read: July 2011
Source: Paperback

Scoot's Rating: 9- Great read! Couldn’t put it down.

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

Scoot’s Review:
When Gabi realizes that another summer is going to be spent on an archaeology site she isn’t too happy about it. Looking for a little excitement before the boredom truly sets in Gabi convinces her sister to break the cardinal rule; to touch the ancient tomb walls. Gabi’s life is severely thrown off course when she travels through time straight into fourteenth century Italy. Standing out like a sore thumb in her skinny jeans and unsure of where her sister is, Gabi struggles to survive, find her sister and find her way back to the twenty-first century. This was a fun and adventurous read. I always seem to enjoy time travel element in stories. There is something about taking a modern person and throwing them into the past that I find intriguing and Waterfall definitely did not disappoint. The story was quickly paced with Gabi falling literally into a battle and it just kept going from there. The historical elements of the story and world building around Castelo Forelli seemed realistic and accurate for the time that was being portrayed. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse of how life was like in that time. In addition, the character development throughout the story was good. Gabi was a great lead character; I enjoyed her strong personality and her level head. She was a person I could easily put my support behind and that makes a huge difference for me. All of the characters were distinct and you wanted a chance to get to know them better; like Marcello with his serious personality and Luca with his lighthearted one. The plot was solid and there were definitely a few moments where I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. The romantic elements were sweet, felt natural and were not in the shape of a triangle – yay! Waterfall has plenty of adventure, suspense, romance and conflict to keep the reader absorbed and I highly recommend it.

Lots and Lots of Winners!

2011-08-02T10:53:00.000-05:00

I did the calculations and drew winners for the first 19 giveaways in my Blogiversary! Thanks to all who participated in helping me clean off my bookshelves. I hope you enjoy the books or swag! Check the list below to see if you are a winner. All of the winners will be notified via email shortly.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan - Tiffany Drew
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick - Vivien
Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede - Marcie
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer - Ricki @ Reading Challenged
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Kailia Sage
The Faerie Ring Swag - Pisinat, Mikki Mano, Vivien, Meredith Miller, and Judi
Peter and the Star Catchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson - Ricki @ Reading Challenged
Brisingr by Christopher Paolini - Lisa Richards
English Major Collection: The Scarlet Letter, The House of Mirth, The Turn of the Screw, The Trial - Lisa Potts
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood and Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares - Maria
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White - Cynthia Garcia
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - Meredith Miller
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - Meredith Miller
The Dark City by Catherine Fisher - Lisa Richards
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - Jennifer Jovus
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella - Vidisha
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - Audrey
Swag Pack #2 - Patrice
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - Alexis V.

If you weren't a winner - never fear! You can still enter to win the final giveaway HERE!

Soul Thief: The Demon Trappers 2 (ARC)

2011-08-01T15:47:00.001-05:00

Author: Jana Oliver
Genre : Young-Adult – Paranormal
Publication Date : August 30th 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Age Range : Young Adult
Pages : 320
Date Scoot Read: July 2011
Source: ARC from Soul Thief ARC Tour

Scoot's Rating : 10 – Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!

Synopsis (via Goodreads) : Riley Blackthorne is beginning to learn that there are worse things than death by demon. And love is just one of them…

Seventeen-year-old Riley has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. As if that’s not enough, there's Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad. With all the hassles, Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether.

But as Atlanta’s demon count increases, the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, and pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever…

Scoot’s Review:
Picking up immediately after the events of the first novel in Soul Thief we rejoin Riley Blackthorne as she struggles to cope with her ripped apart life. Riley has yet to learn the unintended consequences of her deal with heaven and she is on the hunt to find her father’s body. Thrown on top of it all a Grade 5 demon is still trying to hunt her down and the men in her life are giving her all kinds of mixed – or not so mixed – signals. I loved The Demon Trapper’s Daughter, so of course I was a little afraid that Soul Thief wouldn’t live up the first novel. Rest assured; there is no reason to be wary! Soul Thief is a great book! The story once again managed to pull my heart strings in so many directions. I would be touched and pleased one moment, and betrayed or heartbroken the next. Characterization in the story is strong and no one seems shallow; each character has a history and depth. I especially enjoyed seeing smaller characters like Mort the necromancer from the first novel develop into stronger leads in this story. Riley continues to grow and mature as a person, but she isn’t perfect. There were a couple of decisions that you just wanted to scream at her for, but when you consider things from her perspective you understood her choices. And Beck, oh Beck. He is flawed, but so genuine. If only Beck and Riley could communicate better I think most of their problems would be solved. I love that we have rotating perspectives throughout the story; the reader doesn’t just see things through Riley’s eyes, giving us a better overall idea picture of what is happening. The romantic elements felt genuine and seemed to follow their natural course; nothing felt forced. Ori, Simon, Peter, Beck... Riley just has so many men in her life it is a little hard to know what to do with them. I don’t want to sway or spoil you by voicing my opinion, but let’s just say that I am definitely on a team. There is one man who I think is the best for Riley, but we will just have to wait and see how things turn out as the story continues. The action was fast paced and the paranormal elements continued to be intriguing. If you enjoyed The Demon Trapper’s Daughter you won’t be disappointed with Soul Thief. Make sure to pick up a copy when it releases at the end of this month!

Blogiversary Giveaway #20: The FINAL giveaway!

2011-07-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

For my FINAL giveaway I am going to let you choose the prize! Through blogging I have been able to find a lot of great reads that I might not have seen any other way. Below are a handful of my favorite reads I discovered through blogging. Enter for a chance to win one of them!!

Choose from...

Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Beyonders by Brandon Mull

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 13 yrs old
- Must be GFC follower
- International!
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends August 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

Blogiversary #19: Mockingjay

2011-07-30T23:50:00.000-05:00

Enter to win a copy of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins!

"Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding."

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Book condition: Hardback copy, gently used
Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 13 yrs old
- Must be GFC follower
- Must have valid US Mailing Address
(Sorry Int followers, there will be some giveaways for you too!)
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends July 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

Blogiversary #18: Swag Pack #2!

2011-07-30T19:14:00.000-05:00

Enter to win the awesome swag pack below!

Two of the bookmarks are signed; Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready and The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 13 yrs old
- Must be GFC follower
- International!
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends July 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

Book Bargains!

2011-07-29T12:01:00.000-05:00

As usual I was browsing Amazon's book bargains and found a few deals that I couldn't resist sharing with you!! All of the deals below are for paperback copies shipped from directly from Amazon.

Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund for $3.60
Aurelia by Anne Osterlund for $3.60
Ophelia by Lisa Klein for $3.51
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey for $3.60
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston for $3.60
Evernight (Evernight, Book 1) by Claudia Gray for $3.60
The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong for $3.60
The Awakening (Darkest Powers, Book 2) by Kelley Armstrong for $3.60

Now these are not all of the great deals they have (there are a bunch more on their site). These are just some of the books I am either really interested in reading or have read before and enjoyed. Happy Reading!

Mini Reviews: The New World & Of Swine and Roses

2011-07-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

Why is it tiny things are always so darn cute?!

These reviews might not be as cool as this miniature door, but they are mini!

Mini Reviews are short reviews of books I have read for my own enjoyment and wanted to share with you. I will describe in a couple of sentences (often fragmented) my thoughts on the book. I may or may not ever post full reviews of any of these books. So in the mean time, Enjoy!

The New World (Chaos Walking 0.5) by Patrick Ness

"In this dramatic prequel to the award-winning Chaos Walking Trilogy, author Patrick Ness gives us a short story of Viola's journey to the New World."

The Chaos Walking Trilogy is amazing and I loved this little prequel to it. We meet Viola and learn more of her back story. I wouldn’t recommend reading this unless you have read the first book to avoid spoilage about Viola. Well paced, and written in a similar format to The Chaos Walking trilogy. Tragic tale, but filled with hope. A perfectly written addition to the overall story makes this a [10 – Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!] for me.

Of Swine and Roses by Ilona Andrews

"A young adult story about a girl, a pig, some magic, and the worst date ever.

Chad Thurman is a thug, who carried brass knuckles in both pockets and lays magic traps for intruders into "his" neighborhood. The last thing Alena Kornov wants to do is to go on the date with him. But when her family pressures her, she can't say no. Now the ice-cream is absent, the pig is running for its life, and we won't even mention the dead guy...

This story previously appeared as a free read on our website."

Another win for Ilona Andrews. I want this to be a full novel – STAT! The story building and character development were intriguing and well done in just a few short pages. A cute paranormal adventure with a hint of romance. Can’t wait to see if this ever becomes more! This was a short story that left me wanting more (in a good way) making this a [9- Great read! Couldn’t put it down.
] for me.

Blogiversary Giveaway #17: Twilight

2011-07-28T08:20:00.001-05:00

Before Breaking Dawn comes out in theaters this fall read the book that started it all!

Enter to win a copy of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

"Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite."

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Book condition: Paperback, Gently used

Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 13 yrs old
- Must be GFC follower
- Must have valid US Mailing Address
(Sorry Int followers, there will be some giveaways for you too!)
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends July 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

Blogiversary Giveaway #16: Confessions of a Shopaholic

2011-07-27T20:00:00.000-05:00

Enter to win a copy of Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

"British debut author Sophie Kinsella's irresistible department store farce, Confessions of a Shopaholic, is a delightful meditation, in the tradition of Bridget Jones's Diary, on consumer culture and our compulsion to shop -- at home, online, in stores, you name it -- at the dawn of the 21st century. Are your credit card bills growing? Are you running out of excuses for late payments? Do you continue to shop with money you don't actually have? Well, don't panic. Just open your wallet, remove your credit card, cut it in half, lock your door, get comfortable, and read Confessions of a Shopaholic. This delightful novel may not cure you of consumer sickness, but it is certain to keep you out of the stores for a few hours. Once you finish the book, you're on your own."

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Book condition: Paperback, Gently used

Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 18 years old
- Must be GFC follower
- Must have valid US Mailing Address
(Sorry Int followers, there will be some giveaways for you too!)
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends July 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

Waiting On Wednesday (42): Torrent

2011-07-27T08:00:00.001-05:00

Time for the"Waiting On Wednesday" weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Torrent (River of Time #3) by Lisa Tawn Bergren

To be Published: September 1st 2011 by David C. Cook

When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series. Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times. But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.

______________

I read Waterfall and Cascade last week and loved them! Now I am anxiously waiting for this conclusion to the series. If you haven't read the previous books yet, go do it! They are a great blend of romance, historical fiction and time travel. Love!

What book are YOU waiting on?

Blogiversary Giveaway #15: Catching Fire

2011-07-26T14:30:00.000-05:00

If you haven't heard of - or read - this yet, what rock have you been hiding under?!

Enter to win a copy of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins!

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

"Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol. Catching Fire maintains the adrenaline rush of Suzanne Collins's series launch."

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Book condition: Hardcover, Gently used

Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 13 years old
- Must be GFC follower
- Must have valid US Mailing Address
(Sorry Int followers, there will be some giveaways for you too!)
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends July 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

Book Birthdays!

2011-07-26T08:47:00.001-05:00

Happy Book Birthday!!!

I have been waiting ages for a couple of these books and I am excited about the rest. Go grab your copies today!

Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Published July 26th 2011 by HarperTeen

Ghost Story (Dresden Files #13) by Jim Butcher

Published July 26th 2011 by Roc Hardcover

Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer

Published July 26th 2011 by Philomel

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Published July 26th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Blogiversary Giveaway #14: The Dark City by Catherine Fisher

2011-07-25T15:00:00.010-05:00

I have not had a chance to read the Relic Master series yet, but it looks great! Enter to win a new copy of The Dark City by Catherine Fisher!

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

"Welcome to Anara, a world mysteriously crumbling to devastation, where nothing is what it seems: Ancient relics emit technologically advanced powers, members of the old Order are hunted by the governing Watch yet revered by the people, and the great energy that connects all seems to also be destroying all. The only hope for the world lies in Galen, a man of the old Order and a Keeper of relics, and his sixteen-year-old apprentice, Raffi. They know of a secret relic with great power that has been hidden for centuries. As they search for it, they will be tested beyond their limits. For there are monsters-some human, some not-that also want the relic's power and will stop at nothing to get it."

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Book condition: Hardcover, New

Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 13 years old
- Must be GFC follower
- Must have valid US Mailing Address
(Sorry Int followers, there will be some giveaways for you too!)
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends July 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

Blogiversary Giveaway #13: Angels and Demons

2011-07-24T13:00:00.015-05:00

Enter to win a copy of Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

"An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target.

When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol -- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist -- he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati...the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth. The Illuminati has now surfaced to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy -- the Catholic Church.

Langdon's worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the Vatican's holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces they have hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.

Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair...a clandestine location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.

An explosive international thriller, Angels & Demons careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war."

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Book condition: Paperback copy, well loved

Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 18 yrs old
- Must be GFC follower
- Must have valid US Mailing Address
(Sorry Int followers, there will be some giveaways for you too!)
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends July 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

In My Mailbox (25)

2011-07-24T10:20:00.000-05:00

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren!

This is what I received this week! I blame my excessive purchases on the Borders clearance sale and Kindle's current ebooks sale!

In My Mailbox:

Prize

Enclave – Ann Aguirre

Purchased

How to Slay a Dragon – Bill Allen

TimeRiders – Alex Scarrow

Behemoth – Scott Westerfeld

Stargazer – Claudia Gray

Blogiversary Giveaway #12: The Secret Life of Bees

2011-07-23T13:00:00.000-05:00

Enter to win a copy of The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Synopsis (via Goodreads):

"Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household. This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love--a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come."

Fill out the FORM to enter!

Book condition: Paperback copy, gently used

Giveaway Rules:
- Must be over 13 yrs old
- Must be GFC follower
- Must have valid US Mailing Address
(Sorry Int followers, there will be some giveaways for you too!)
- Need to fill out the form for entry to count
- Giveaway ends July 31, 2011 at midnight
- Winner will be chosen randomly with help from Random.org

Scoot's Ramblings: Bears-in-books

2011-07-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Winnie-the-Pooh will turn ninety this summer? I found this out via the article below in Shelf Awareness today:

"Want to feel old? Winnie-the-Pooh turns 90 on August 21. If you'd like to send him a birthday card, the New York Public Library will be celebrating his birthday at the Library's Children's Center at 42nd Street all month and is accepting cards on Pooh Bear's behalf. It's an appropriate destination, since Christopher Robin Milne's "original Winnie-the-Pooh doll set--including Winnie, of course!--is at the Library, on view in the Children's Center, in a special room surrounded by art of the 100 Acre Wood!"'

Reading about Winnie's upcoming birthday got me thinking about bears-in-books from my childhood. Winnie is an obvious fan favorite, but as I was growing up I spent a lot of time with other fictional bears. For instance, Paddington!! I love his politeness, overcoat and obsession with marmalade sandwiches. Also, who could forget the Berenstain Bears?! I am pretty sure their entire collection of books was in our home. I didn't realize until I was older that the books were teaching me things like manners or responsibility as well as entertaining me. What is it about bears that make them such great book characters? I think we just can't resist their cuddly cuteness factor.

What fictional bears did you love as a child?

see scoot read

New Look & Letter Grades

ALA Midwinter was awesome!

Where am I today? The ALA Midwinter Meeting!

Read Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver for Free!

Book Plugs - aka - MUST READS.

Where did the time go?!

Waiting on Wednesday (49): Illuminated

Top Ten Books on Scoot's TBR List for Winter

11/29/11 Book Birthdays & Deals!

Winner!

Halloween Flash Giveaway! 12 hours only!

Book Birthdays & More

And last but not least... I am sure everyone has seen it by now, but just in case you missed it, The Savage Grace has a cover! I can't wait for this book.

The Savage Grace(The Dark Divine #3)

Blog Dust Bunnies

In My Mailbox (26)

Scoot's Ramblings: Fear of the final book?

Bitterblue Cover and Release Date!

Waiting On Wednesday (48): The Future of Us

Airborn

Ashfall (ARC)

Top 5 Books for 2012!

Waiting On Wednesday (47): Insurgent

We have a winner!

Waiting On Wednesday (46): The Other Life

Torrent: River of Time 3 (ARC)

Book Birthdays: Aug 30, 2011

Scoot = Lazy ... and a Freebie!

Waiting On Wednesday (45): The Rift Walker

The Gray Wolf Throne: Seven Realms 3 (ARC)

Impromptu Read-A-Thon

Maggie wows us again...

Variety is the spice of life..

Waiting On Wednesday (44): The Slayer Chronicles

eBook Deals!

Cascade: River of Time 2

Waiting On Wednesday (43): Froi of the Exiles

Waterfall

Lots and Lots of Winners!

Soul Thief: The Demon Trappers 2 (ARC)

Blogiversary Giveaway #20: The FINAL giveaway!

Blogiversary #19: Mockingjay

Blogiversary #18: Swag Pack #2!

Book Bargains!

Mini Reviews: The New World & Of Swine and Roses

Blogiversary Giveaway #17: Twilight

Blogiversary Giveaway #16: Confessions of a Shopaholic

Waiting On Wednesday (42): Torrent

Blogiversary Giveaway #15: Catching Fire

Book Birthdays!

Blogiversary Giveaway #14: The Dark City by Catherine Fisher

Blogiversary Giveaway #13: Angels and Demons

In My Mailbox (25)

Blogiversary Giveaway #12: The Secret Life of Bees

Scoot's Ramblings: Bears-in-books

Did you know that Winnie-the-Pooh will turn ninety this summer? I found this out via the article below in Shelf Awareness today:

And last but not least...
I am sure everyone has seen it by now, but just in case you missed it, The Savage Grace has a cover! I can't wait for this book.

The Savage Grace
(The Dark Divine #3)