On My Wish List (26)

On My Wish List is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

Title: All The Difference
Author: Kaira Rouda
Publication Date: March 29, 2012


From Goodreads: 


Once again, everything isn't what it seems in the wonderful suburb of Grandville. ALL THE DIFFERENCE is the story of three women whose lives become entangled by the choices they make and how, ultimately, one of them turns to murder to achieve her goals. 

Roommates Laura and Angie couldn't be more different. Laura is a local celebrity, the television anchor who is motivated to move out of small-time media markets and on to the big time, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Angie, a luckless waitress, spends her time waiting for Mr. Right to save her from temporary jobs and a life spent making bad choices. 

On the other side of town, Ellen abandons her life as a successful fundraiser for that of an isolated housewife in the country estate she shares with her husband, whose affairs become increasingly hard to ignore. When the city’s gossip columnist, Maddie, and restaurant reviewer, Dixon, become involved in the mystery, the unlikely duo stir up more than they intended. But will anyone be able to stop the next murder? 

I really enjoyed Kaira Rouda's other book Here Home Hope, and I've been looking forward to her next one. Well yay for me because it just came out this week! Hopefully I can pick up a copy soon.

What is your heart's desire? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to drop by!

Giveaway - Who Wants To Take Home a Box of Books?

Hello lovelies! How are you today? One of those days huh? Here too. How about a little something to brighten your day? 

Lately I've been seeing some pretty sweet giveaways: boxes of books! While I haven't won one for myself yet, I've decided that I would host my own giveaway for one. Yay! Why, you ask? Well the truth is, I am hoping to bribe you. The blog's Facebook page is seriously lacking in, well, everything. I'll be the first to admit that I am not really good at keeping up with the social networking aspect of blogging. I'm kind of an airhead and can barely remember what I was doing five minutes ago. I have to leave post it notes all over my office walls so that I can remind myself to do things. It's pretty sad, and unfortunately it runs in the family and there doesn't seem to be a way around it. Anyway, in an effort to get myself motivated here, I'd like to start building a Facebook following. That's where this big box of books comes in. The only mandatory entry for this giveaway is that you like the Facebook page. So easy! There will be other optional entries to better your chances. 

******PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ! PLEASE READ!********

It's pretty sad that I have to make giant red font to actually get people to stop and read this. In fact, I find it even sadder that the previous big red font was not enough to stop some people from skipping this section and doing exactly what it said not to do. There are two separate giveaways here: one for the US ONLY and one for INT ONLY. You may only enter the one that pertains to you. Apparently my previous warning was not enough to stop some people from entering both. I asked before that if you entered both to let me know so I could fix it. People are still entering both. Come on guys, do you not read the rules? This giveaway is hosted and paid for by me. I don't have sponsors and this box is going to cost a lot for me to fill and ship. Probably more than I can afford, but I love blogging and I love having all of you here to talk books with. I started this giveaway as a way to thank my readers, but it saddens me that a lot of people don't even care enough to read the rules before they are on their way. So I am just letting it be known that before any winner is chosen, I'll be going through each Rafflecopter form and anyone who has entries into both giveaways will be deleted from both. If you have entered for both, this is your only chance to email me at bookcoverjustice(at)comcast(dot)net with your information so I can fix your entries. I'm sorry if this is coming off as harsh, but I want this to be fair to those who followed the rules. 

Giveaway #1 - US Only

The rules:

• Giveaway is open until 5/1/12.
• Open to US only (sorry, shipping costs internationally would be crazy ridiculous).
• Winner will be drawn via random by Rafflecopter and entries verified. Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.
• The box may contain a mixture of new books, old books, finished copies and ARCs that have been accumulating space on my shelves. 

Sound good? I hope so! You may also want to keep watch on the Facebook page over the next few months because I may be throwing out some Amazon gift codes. Not a big amount, most likely $5 each, but I think it will be a fun way to get some interaction going on the page. Are you ready for this awesomeness? Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway #2 -INT Only

I hope all you international readers didn't think I left you out! Since the box of books would be way too expensive to ship, one international winner will win $20 in books from The Book Depository!

Same rules as above:

• Giveaway is open until 5/1/12.
• Open to INT only (anywhere outside the US as long as TBD ships free to your country: check here.)
• Winner will be drawn via random by Rafflecopter and entries verified. Winner must respond to email within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

You ready? Go enter!

Review: Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon

Title: Kevin's Point of View
Author: Del Shannon
Publication Date: October 26, 2010

From Goodreads:


Kevin Tobin is a relatively ordinary 12-year-old dealing with the aftermath of his father's death in a mountain biking accident near their home in Boulder, Colorado. To escape from his emotional turmoil, Kevin has developed his imagination into a dangerous foil and a powerful ally. While he antagonizes his sister through his superhero antics on an average Wednesday morning, his ability to escape inside a character's head become critical to his survival after his life is once-again turned upside down a year after his father's death. A mysterious package arrives in the mail, Kevin and his best friend are hunted down by a ruthless villain set upon world domination, and after enlisting Kevin's teenage sister and her pizza-delivery boyfriend in a battle for control over time itself, the secret of Kevin's whole existence is revealed to him by a source we never expected. 

My Thoughts:

Kevin Tobin is your average 12-year-old. He goes to school, harasses his sister and is always causing trouble with his best friend, Tony. Unfortunately, Kevin's father passed away a year earlier in a terrible accident. Since then, Kevin has been getting into far more trouble, especially when he escapes to his imagination and dreams that he is someone else. Almost a year after his father died, Kevin receives a strange package in the mail. When he and Tony start messing around with it, they realize it must be something very dangerous and important. So important, in fact, that it's owner will stop at nothing to get it back. Once they have been discovered to have the object, they are running for their lives.

This book was nothing that I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be a quick story about a young boy who uses daydreams to escape his father's death. While that was part of it, there was so much more! Between the covers you find an incredible journey for Kevin, both physical and emotional. Not to mention the non-stop action!

I read the first chapter of Kevin's Point of View while hanging out with my kids at the park. Good thing I stopped when I did because when I sat back down to read more at home I couldn't put it down! I ended up finishing it in one sitting. Kevin was such a likable character. A little crazy, but still hilarious and endearing. I loved his imagination, it reminded me of my own kids and the weird things they come up with. When things start to get tough, Kevin retreats into his imagination and a different character will emerge, each one having it's own take charge personality.

Besides Kevin, the rest of the characters are equally entertaining. I especially enjoyed Scratch the pizza dude. I couldn't stop imagining him to sound like Keanu Reeves in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Each character brings a certain quality to the story, even the bad guys!

Most of the story takes place in the mountains and Shannon really gives you a great description of them. Not incredibly descriptive and drawn out, but all you need to imagine the surroundings for yourself. I could picture each scene in my mind clearly.

This book really blew me away. It was funny, yet intense, and incredibly well written with some surprising twists and turns that you don't expect. Not to mention the fun cover! Go get yourself a copy of Kevin's Point of View and start reading. You won't be disappointed!!!





*I received a copy of this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion. This did not influence by opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Waiting On Wednesday (26)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Ashen Winter
Author: Mike Mullin
Expected Publication Date: October 8, 2012

From Goodreads:  


It’s been over six months since the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano. Alex and Darla have been staying with Alex’s relatives, trying to cope with the new reality of the primitive world so vividly portrayed in Ashfall, the first book in this series. It’s also been six months of waiting for Alex’s parents to return from Iowa. Alex and Darla decide they can wait no longer and must retrace their journey into Iowa to find and bring back Alex’s parents to the tenuous safety of Illinois. But the landscape they cross is even more perilous than before, with life-and-death battles for food and power between the remaining communities. When the unthinkable happens, Alex must find new reserves of strength and determination to survive. 

Have you read Ashfall yet? What the heck are you waiting for? That book is amazing! I have been anxiously awaiting the cover reveal for Ashen Winter (I love it!!!) and its release date. I hate that I have to wait until October for it, so you better believe I am on the prowl for one of those ARCs! I'm desperate to find out what happens!

Free Sign Ups For The $100 Rainy Day Facebook Frenzy!!!

Check it out! Free sign ups for bloggers! Sign up HERE to take part in the $100 Rainy Day Facebook Frenzy from April 4-11! What are you waiting for? Go now!

My Thoughts On The Hunger Games Movie...

This Post May Be Slightly Spoilerish: Read At Your Own Risk!!

I had originally intended on writing this post late Friday night after getting home from seeing The Hunger Games. But then I realized that I was going to need a few days to process the movie. This series is my favorite and I had fears going into the movie. How could it possibly be as amazing as the book? I knew that it could either go two ways: I was going to hate it, or I was going to be blown away. Did either of these things happen? No.

Surprisingly, the things that I thought I was going to love about the movie were the things that I didn't actually care for and the things I thought I was going to hate (ahem- Peeta) I actually enjoyed. As with all movies that originate from books, I felt a lot was left out. I understand that this has to be done since there is no way you can squeeze an entire book into two hours. I think, for me, missing some of the minor events took something away from the experience. I felt a little rushed, and I also felt a little cheated for those people who hadn't read the book but opted to see the movie first. I don't know how they can get the full impact of this amazing story with what the movie presented. Here's a breakdown of the parts I was disappointed in:

• Special Effects - These did not pass my inspection. I'll admit that I am not really into big special effects and have a hard time believing them as there and true. 
• The Capitol - While the design was quite nice, once again I took issues with the special effects. Also, I hated the citizens' costumes! Yes I know they were supposed to be outrageous and tacky, but I didn't feel like they were all that they could be. I couldn't believe the characters as authentic.
• The Fight Scenes - Not nearly as gory as they should have been. I wanted more action!
• The Cinematography - I wasn't a fan of the slow-to-fast scenes, as well as that shaky camera trick. 

Hopefully these things will all be improved by the next movie. Maybe I will even feel better about it when I watch it again at home. Even though these things bothered me, I still found quite a bit enjoyable:

• The Acting - So good!!! I've never seen Jennifer Lawrence act before and I knew there was a lot of talk about her not having the chops to pull it off. I was pleasantly surprised and found her completely believable. The same can be said for all the other characters.
• Peeta and Gale - My biggest concern going into this movie was the actors portraying Peeta and Gale. Those characters made me swoon out of control and I hated who they cast. That was NOT me idea of Peeta! However, I found myself really liking him too. Even Gale! Both actors did an amazing job and I fell in love with Peeta all over again. I also have to admit that Gale was pretty hot :)
• The Scenery - All special effects aside, the scenery was perfect. Beautiful green trees and the woods were just as I imagined them. 
• "Those" Scenes - You know the ones I'm talking about. I'll admit it, I got a little choked up. 

Overall, I liked the movie. Did it have some issues? Sure, but what movie doesn't? I'll definitely be pre-ordering the movie on DVD as soon as it is available and watching it another hundred times :)

Just a little something else about my movie-going experience. Parents: SHUT YOUR KIDS UP!!! If you are going to take a group of tween girls to a movie, maybe lay down some ground rules before entering the theater so not to ruin the movie for everyone else. The theater was packed (of course) and lucky us we got stuck in a row in front of a bunch of tweens. They screamed, yelled, loudly sobbed and wouldn't shut up no matter how many times people shushed them. That was until my husband told them to shut it. Yes I know yelling at kids is not good, but we couldn't take it anymore. It was out of control. Their parents just sat there and did nothing as they screamed repeatedly and screamed "I love you, Peeta!!!" every time he came on screen. Another thing: Adults, shut off your damn phones! It is pretty damn rude to be taking pictures of yourself when the screen is saying to silence and turn off your phones. Yes, someone actually started taking pictures at that very moment. Then the ladies next to me wouldn't turn off their phone and was constantly checking her Facebook. Rude! But my biggest issue came when finally, finally, we come to the cave scene. The ladies next to me (phone ladies) had obviously read the books and must know that the cave scene is a big deal. I've been dying to see that scene in live action ever since reading it. Why, oh why, rude lady next to me, did you have to ruin it? You knew it was coming, you knew what the scene was. Why ruin it by complaining through it? What happened to manners? Please people, if you are taking your kids to the movies, shut them up! If my kids made even a quarter of the noise these kids were making, I would have removed them immediately or told them to be quiet. And adults, can't you put down your toys and stop complaining for two hours and be courteous to those around you who are trying desperately to enjoy the film? Ack! 

Alright, I'm sorry about that rant. I just had to let it out. I've been holding it in for three days and it was eating me alive. 

Did I like the movie? Yes! Do I recommend it? Hell yes! What about those books? Are they worth your time? Double hell yes!!! If you haven't read these books yet, drop whatever it is you are doing and go read them right now. Then take yourself out on a date this weekend (or take that special someone) and see the movie!!

Oh! I almost forgot. My husband has apparently been living under a rock and didn't think the movie was a big deal. I told him I wanted to be at least an hour and a half early to get a good spot in line cause I knew it was going to be insane. The husband said that was way too early, there's no way it's going to be so busy, so I caved and we went to Barnes & Noble for a little while. Well what do you know, on the way in the theater half an hour later, we saw three girls bawling, about five people wearing the shirts and a million people standing around inside. After getting in line behind maybe 75-100 people, many wearing homemade "Team Peeta" shirts, he finally understood. His defense? "Well how was I supposed to know? It's not like it's Star Wars." Do they ever learn?

Did you see the movie? What did you think?

Teaser Tuesday (26)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This Week's Teaser Is From:

Such A Rush

by Jennifer Echols

"Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shift, turning his shoulders toward me. I faced him too, for the first time since we'd been packed so close in the cockpit." page 22 (ARC)

Check It Out: Slide by Jill Hathaway

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered. 

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body. 

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane. 

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again. 

So yesterday I was in a particularly good reading mood and had read two books when I decided I'd go for a third. So I started Slide, intending to only read a little bit before bed. Well that wasn't possible, I stayed up until 3am reading the whole thing! My full review is to come in a few days but I just wanted to spread the news that Slide is set to be released TOMORROW and it is AWESOME so you better get ready to hit the store!!!

Review and Giveaway: 12.21.12 by Killian McRae

Title: 12.21.12
Author: Killian McRae
Publication Date: October 25, 2011

From Goodreads:


The only way to save the future is to decode the past. The only way to decode the past is to save the future. 

Archaeologist Sheppard Smyth has staked his career and the honorable memory of his wife and partner on proving his widely panned theory: Cleopatra VII, the last sovereign pharaoh of Egypt, was not a victim of suicide as history suggests, but of a well-concealed murder. When a statue of the doomed Queen is unearthed in a pre-Columbian excavation site in Mexico, Shep rushes to investigate and, hopefully, find the proof that has evaded him for so long. The statue, however, is only the first clue suggesting a mysterious connection between Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica, and possibly - beyond. Suddenly thrust into the heated rivalry between sexy and enigmatic antiquities thief Victoria Kent and the infamous Russian mafioso Dmitri Kronastia, Shep finds himself a common pawn played by forces working to see out a quest older than the pyramids and cloaked in the Mayan Doomsday prophecy of 12.21.12. 

My Thoughts:

Sheppard Smyth is a Cleopatra-obsessed archaeologist. He believes Cleopatra was murdered and he is set on finding evidence to support his theory. When his wife,Christine, dies during one of these expeditions, Shep starts to lose himself to alcohol. Three years and many bottles later, Shep is contacted by a long lost friend who has found something so strange that Shep immediately jumps on a plane to meet him. Once there, things start to take a disastrous turn. He discovers that his friend is working on a dig for a Russian mob boss, Dmitri, and thinks things can't get any worse when Jaguar, and international thief, strikes at the site and makes off with all of the artifacts. Shep and his friend are then taken hostage by Dmitri and are thrown into something so big it and crazy that it just has to be true, right?

I originally came across 12.21.12 a few months ago on Goodreads. I was browsing through the giveaways and this cover immediately caught my attention. After reading the synopsis, I was intrigued. Unfortunately, I was not a lucky winner. However, I soon received an email from the author offering me a chance to read and review her book so I jumped at the chance. All I can say is: wow! 12.21.12 starts off at full speed and just keeps on going. There is non-stop action and twists and turns that leave you second guessing yourself. So many times I thought I had this story figured out but man, I was so wrong!

I have to admit that I knew nothing going into this about Cleopatra, Egyptian history, Mesopotamia or Mesoamerica. I thought this would make it harder for me to follow the story but I was wrong. I learned a lot as I read and didn't feel like I was being fed too much information at once or that information was lacking. Everything I needed to know was there and at a steady pace. This is crucial for me because I have a horrible tendency of doing one of two things when trying to pick up something new: the information isn't given to me fast enough and I give up or so much information is handed to me at once that it is sensation overload and I give up. This is especially true when it comes to things that don't interest me (history being one of these things, which drives the husband absolutely CRAZY lol).

The story alternates between multiple character's points of view. In fact, I believe we hear from all of them except for a few. I always love when we can get inside the minds of more than one character, we learn so much more about them and connect better. Each character adds something unique to this story that I don't think we would appreciate if we didn't hear it straight from them. Shep, the main character, is still struggling with the loss of his wife but still has a sense of humor. With all of the crazy things going on around him and the threat of death, he can't help but make his sarcastic remarks.

Overall, this book was amazing. It was smart, original and kept me wanting more. I am incredibly thankful to Killian McRae for allowing me the chance to read it, and also for allowing me to give one of you the opportunity as well. One lucky reader is going to win their own ebook of 12.21.12! Since this is a digital copy, it is open internationally. Yay!

Don't want to wait to read it? You can purchase your own copy from Amazon (paperback,ebook), BN.com, or Smashwords. Killian has also released a collection of short stories as a companion to 12.21.12 that you can purchase for free from BN.com or Smashwords.

In My Mailbox (26)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Story Siren where bloggers share what books they have gathered over the week.

Bought:

Trafficked by Kim Purcell

The Death Cure by James Dashner

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley

Anywhere But Here by Mona Simpson

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

Another great trip to Goodwill. Yes, I found another $3 copy of The Death Cure for trade! Then I picked up a copy of Trafficked while waiting for The Hunger Games movie to start since the theater and Barnes & Noble are in the same spot.

Gifted:

The Raising by Laura Kasischke

It is impossible to go to the store with my mom and not walk away with a book. But even though she bought this one for me, in exchange I gave her three books of my own that I had duplicates of so it worked out. Thanks, Mumsy!

Won:

Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann - Thank you Ezmirelda at Parafantasy!!

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris - Thank you Kensington Books!

Starters by Lissa Price - Thank you Snarky Mamma!

On The Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves - Thank you ABookVacation!

Night Swim by Jessica Keener - Darlene at Peeking Between The Pages!

Fracture by Megan Miranda - Thank you Tezza at Spades High Reads!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett & The Help DVD- Double thanks to Mandy at Literary R&R for both the book and the DVD of The Help!!!

For Review:

Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks by Robert Gray

Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols

Thank you to both authors for providing me with their books to read and review! 

I was incredibly blessed with books this week. Now I just have to find the time to read them all! I am so beyond thrilled to have received Such A Rush, and I will be reading it next!

What came for you this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to stop by!

On My Wish List (25)

On My Wish List is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

Title: Wanderlove
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Publication Date: March 13, 2012


From Goodreads:


It all begins with a stupid question: 

Are you a Global Vagabond? 

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path. 

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward. 

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.  



This book has been all over the blogosphere lately and even my many, many attempts at winning a copy, I still haven't gotten my hands on it. Hopefully that will change soon because I have seen only positive reviews for it and darn it, I want to read it!!


What is your heart's desire this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to stop by!

It's time...

This is me right about now. Nervous, anxious, scared. Why? Because back in September of 2010 something amazing happened to me. It was called The Hunger Games. I didn't read YA and really had no clue when it came to it. I kept seeing this book called Mockingjay all over the place. After a month or two I decided I had enough of this Hunger Games crap, it's probably just another Twilight. Then I read the synopsis and thought "hmm, maybe it won't be too bad?" So I talked my mom into buying the books for herself then borrowed her copies. I guess you can say I will never be the same. Since then, I've found myself reading mostly YA and very little of anything else. I am addicted!!! How could I have almost missed out on something so amazing as this series? I read all three in less than a week!

Right now, I am sitting here waiting for my children to get home from school. As soon as the bus gets here, we are hopping in the car and off to Grandma's they go. The husband and I are off to see The Hunger Games!!! I am soooooo anxious. Either this movie is going to rock my world or really make me mad. I really hope I love it. I am not at all happy about the cast and that is going to be a huge battle for me to overcome. I really do want to love this movie :( 

So off I go. Please be prepared for either a really happy post tomorrow morning or a lot of anger lol :) 

Have any of you seen it yet? What did you think?

When I Should Be Reading...

credit

I have been a very bad blogger lately, and I apologize. Over the last two months, a couple things have happened. First, I had been having some serious back pains for a while and had to go have some tests done to make sure my kidneys were doing their job and see if they could figure out what the issue is. All tests came back normal (for that, at least) so right now I have been going to physical therapy and work through the muscles and see if that helps. This has cut out a huge chunk of reading time :( Also, while I was at the doctors I finally decided it was time to get healthy and have started on a new diabetes medicine. With that comes exercise. More reading time down the drain. They also discovered that I was extremely low on Vitamin D and gave me some mega doses to take. Honestly, I have never felt better! Who new that just one pill a week of Vitamin D would completely change my energy levels! Feeling tired and worn down? Start taking some vitamins and within a week or two you will be amazed at the difference.

My new energy and exercise plan couldn't have come at a better time. With the Vitamin D, I have had way more energy than ever before and I really can't sit still. I've bee doing my exercises and taking daily walks. I've even been putting that elliptical machine to good use! And even though it's only March, it's been in the 80s all week here. In New England!!! Today I had set aside the day to read, but I just couldn't let the day go to waste. So I went to the beach! I meant to read there and even made it through a chapter, but I brought a friend along and we were having such a good time I didn't want to stop chatting. So, I am here to apologize on my lack of reviews over this week and to let you know what's coming up.

This weekend I am going to do as much reading as possible. My husband has a comic book to get to the printer before next week so he will be crazy busy finishing that up so I am going to take advantage of the time and read as much as possible. I have gotten some pretty amazing review books over this week (Such A Rush by Jennifer Echols!!!!) that I'd like to get through. So next week I should be back to posting two reviews for you and hopefully I'll be able to keep up! 

I hope you are all experiencing amazing weather wherever you may be and are reading a ton of lovely books :)

Waiting On Wednesday (25)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: These Girls
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Expected Publication Date: April 10, 2012

From Goodreads:


Cate, Renee, and Abby have come to New York for very different reasons, and in a bustling city of millions, they are linked together through circumstance and chance. 

Cate has just been named the features editor of Gloss, a high-end lifestyle magazine. It’s a professional coup, but her new job comes with more complications than Cate ever anticipated. 

Cate’s roommate Renee will do anything to nab the plum job of beauty editor at Gloss. But snide comments about Renee’s weight send her into an emotional tailspin. Soon she is taking black market diet pills—despite the racing heartbeat and trembling hands that signal she's heading for real danger. 

Then there’s Abby, whom they take in as a third roommate. Once a joyful graduate student working as a nanny part time, she abruptly fled a seemingly happy life in the D.C. suburbs. No one knows what shattered Abby—or why she left everything she once loved behind.  


Sigh. Why oh why do I have to wait three more weeks before I can get my hands on this book? Sarah Pekkanen has a life long fan here and I will read anything and everything she ever publishes. I loved her first book, The Opposite of Me, and didn't think there was any way she go up from there. But then she released Skipping A Beat and blew me away. Seriously people, that book is heart breakingly amazing. So here I am counting down the days until I can finally read These Girls. I need it now!!!

What are you waiting desperately for? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to check it out!

Teaser Tuesday (25)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This Week's Teaser Is From:

12.21.12

by Killian McRae

"The stewardess screamed. A man was dead, and a woman had just disappeared before her eyes." page 82, Kindle ebook

In My Mailbox (25)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Story Siren where bloggers share what books they have gathered over the week.

Gifted (thanks again Mom!):

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Love Starts With Elle by Rachel Hauck

Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah

The Life You've Imagined by Kristina Riggle 

Woman in Red by Eileen Goudge

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Happens Every Day by Isabel Gillies

Another awesome group of books found at Goodwill. It's always good to go shopping with my mom, especially here, because she always wants to pay for everything. Sometimes I let her, like this trip :) I've already read and own Beauty Queens but you can't go wrong for $3, so I got another copy to trade.

Won:

Hand Me Down by Melanie Thorne - Huge thanks to Dutton Books for another great Twitter Giveaway!

The Legacy of Eden by Nelle Davy - Major thanks to Teddyree at The Eclectic Reader!!

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith - Massive thanks to Petra at Safari Poet!!!

The Face Thief by Eli Gottlieb - Big thanks to BookTrib!!

What came for you this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to stop by!!

Review: Outside the Lines by Amy Hatvany

Title: Outside the Lines
Author: Amy Hatvany
Publication Date: February 7, 2012

From Goodreads:


When Eden was ten years old she found her father, David, bleeding out on the bathroom floor. The suicide attempt led to her parents’ divorce, and David all but vanished from Eden’s life. Since childhood, she has heard from him only rarely, just enough to know he’s been living on the streets and struggling with mental illness. But lately, there has been no word at all.

Now in her thirties, Eden decides to go look for her father, so she can forgive him at last, and finally move forward. When her search uncovers other painful truths—not only the secrets her mother has kept from her, but also the agonizing question of whether David, after all these years, even wants to be found—Eden is forced to decide just how far she’ll go in the name of love.

My Thoughts:

I knew when I saw the cover for Outside the Lines that this book was going to be right up my alley. Sometimes you can just tell. Well, I was right. Between the gorgeous cover is a giant game of raw, emotional and personal tug-o-war for not only our main character, Eden, but also her father, David. Told in alternating chapters between Eden, then and now, and also David, then and now, we get a first hand look at how having a parent with a mental disease can and will shape your entire life.

After a gruesome event when Eden was just ten years old, her father, David, disappeared from her life. Now, twenty years later, Eden realizes that life is too short for grudges and sets out to find her father. As she searches, we get glimpses into her past as a child while her father was still living at home and the roller-coaster of a life they had together. We hear from Eden's point of view, and also from David's point of view in order to get the clear picture.

Having my own parent with a mental illness, I was immediately drawn to Eden. I knew how life had been for her and it was very easy to connect with her. Even though she is now a grown woman, she is still suffering from what happened all those years ago. But as her search progresses, we see her finally starting to trust others and even her own feelings and finally start to come into her own. She was strong, yet vulnerable, funny and quite a likable character.

Surprisingly, I was also able to connect with David. Sometimes you can want to do all the right things but your body is just dead set against it. Like I said before, I've seen this illness with my own eyes and I know that even though you know what is right for that person and want to get them all the help they need, sometimes you have to just accept them for who they are and let it go. That is how I felt with David. He knew he had something wrong in his mind but he still tried his hardest to be the father that Eden needed. You really feel his pain along with him and throughout the entire book you are just crossing your fingers that he has gotten well.

Among Eden and David is a great group of side characters, along with an intense look at what life is like for those who may find themselves without a home. Outside the Lines will leave you thinking of ways you can help, along with a possible new view on those living with a mental illness.

I really can't recommend this book enough. If you love family drama, chick lit or are just looking for an amazing read, this is the book for you.







*I received a digital copy of this book in exchange of my honest review. I was not compensated in any way and all opinions and views expressed are 100% my own.

On My Wish List (24)

On My Wish List is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

Title: The Girl in the Arena
Author: Lise Haines
Publication Date: October 13, 2009


From Goodreads:  


Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through.  Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family.  

Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. 

The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him...  

I've had this on my wish list for way too long. I've seen it compared to The Hunger Games a million times so I think I'm gonna add this to my next batch of books to buy. Have you read it? What did you think?

What is your heart's desire this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to check it out!

Waiting On Wednesday (24)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Out of Reach
Author: Carrie Arcos
Expected Publication Date: October 16, 2012

From Goodreads:


When Micah disappears from home, his sister Rachel decides to secretly take matters into her own hands. Armed with Micah's best friend Tyler, she travels from the hazy, lazy suburbs of Southern California to the seedy side of San Diego's beach communities following the clues that Micah left behind. As each lead arrives at a dead end, she is left to piece together the puzzle that is her brother's life. And the sketchy characters Rachel and Tyler encounter make Rachel wonder if she can reach Micah before it’s too late 

Huge thanks to Roro for bringing this book (and some awesome other ones) to my attention the other day. I love a good mystery and this one sounds very promising. Plus I love the cover, so here's hoping I can find myself a copy before October because that is too long of a wait for something that looks so good!

What are you waiting on this week? Leave me a link in the comments and I'll be sure to drop by!