Waiting On Wednesday {12/28}

Title: Immortal Hearts
Series: Vampire Kisses ⋯ Book 9
Author: Ellen Schreiber
Pages: 192
Release Date: May 15, 2012


Summary: TBA (Will update post when the summary is released)

In My Mailbox {Week 8}

I didn't get anything in my mailbox this week, so I'm going to post what I picked up at Barnes & Noble.

Title: Bleeding Hearts

Series: The Drake Chronicles ⋯ Book 4

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Pages: 304

Format: Paperback

Summary: As vampires from all over the world descend on the Drake farm for the Blood Moon gathering, security is ramped up. Lucy has been temporarily banned, for her own safety—and to allow Solange some time to adjust to her new existence. But their enemies realize how much Lucy means to the family, and plan to abduct her to use her for leverage against the new royal family. Instead, Lucy’s cousin Christabel is kidnapped by mistake—and Connor Drake immediately heads off in pursuit, but isn’t in time to prevent Christabel’s infection by the Hel Blar. He can’t save her human life, but he can still try to save her new vampire life, and is willing to put his own life on the line for the girl he has grown to care so much about. Can he save Christabel, the Blood Moon, and his mother’s newly forged Vampire Alliance?

I have read the first three books, and I loved them, so I'm glad I was able to get this just in time for vacation.

Title: Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide

Series: Vampire Academy

Author: Michelle Rowen & Richelle Mead

Pages: 272

Format: Paperback

Summary: The official guide to the #1 international bestselling Vampire Academy series

Sink your teeth into the perfect holiday gift and must-have collector's item for every fan of Richelle Mead's totally addicting Vampire Academy series.

Discover the history of St. Vladimir's Academy, explore the dark psychology behind Rose and Lissa's spirit bond, and find out even more illicit secrets about Moroi society. This ultimate guide will feature everything readers want and need to go even deeper into the world ofVampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, and Last Sacrifice . . . every heartache, every betrayal, every sacrifice, and so much more!

Have read the VA series, and I loved it!! It's amazing, and I'm so excited that there's a guide for it.

Break and Other Blog Updates

     Okay, I'm going out of the country for winter break, so I won't be able to post anything until New Year's, when I get back. I've set this weeks In My Mailbox and next weeks Waiting On Wednesday posts to publish, but I can't post reviews or next weeks Cover Combat until I get back. 
     Also, I'm sorry I haven't posted any reviews lately, but since I'm bringing lots of books with me, I should have 8-9 reviews for you by the time I arrive back home.

Hope you guys have a great time over break, too!

Waiting On Wednesday {12/21}

Title: The Wood Queen
Series: The Iron Witch ⋯ Book 2
Author: Karen Mahoney
Pages: 336
Release Date: February 8, 2012


Summary: Donna Underwood is facing an alchemist tribunal for stealing the elixir of life when her ailing mother takes a turn for the worse.

Donna seeks an audience with Aliette, the Wood Queen, who offers a deal: if Donna can use her powers to open the door to Faerie and send the wood elves home, Aliette will free her mother from the elven curse that shattered her mind.

Along with friends Navin and the half-fey Xan, Donna struggles to unlock the secrets of her iron tattoos in time to save her mother's life. But she discovers that some secrets might be better left untold . . .

Cover Combat {Week 5}

Cover Combat is where I'll put up a US cover and a foreign cover of the same book and you vote on your favorite. Most of the time it will probably US versus UK, but there may be other countries thrown in.


Last week the US & UK covers of Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey battled it out. And the winner is. . .

UK Edition!

This week the US and Italian covers of Paranormalcy by Kiersten White will go to battle.

US edition:

Italian edition:

In My Mailbox {Week 7}

Title: Born Wicked
Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles ⋯ Book 1
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Pages: 326
Format: Advance Readers/Reviewers Copy (ARC)


Summary: Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave. 

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. 

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

Have been wanting this for awhile, and I was lucky enough to win an ARC from the Penguin Teen Facebook page.

I also picked up Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep at Barnes & Noble.

Waiting On Wednesday {12/14}

This isn't exactly a paranormal book, but I've been wanting it for awhile.

Title: Out of Sight, Out of Time
Series: Gallagher Girls ⋯ Book 5
Author: Ally Carter
Pages: 272
Release Date: March 13, 2012


Summary: The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home. 

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

Cover Combat {Week 4}

Cover Combat is where I'll put up a US cover and a foreign cover of the same book and you vote on your favorite. Most of the time it will probably US versus UK, but there may be other countries thrown in.


Last week the competitors were the US and UK covers of Glass Houses by Rachel Caine. And the winner, by a landslide, is. . .

The UK Edition!!

Now this week the US and UK covers of Bleeding Hearts by Alyxandra Harvey!

US edition:

UK edition:

Book Review ⋯ Clockwork Prince

Title: Clockwork Prince
Series: Infernal Devices ⋯ Book 2
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 502
Stars: ★★★★★★★★★★★★
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★


Summary: In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Review: OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! This is the best book of the year! No, the best book ever!! I absolutely positutely loved this book with all my heart!!! It was so heartbreaking, and the ending was terrible (in a good way). I can't believe I have to wait close to a year for Clockwork Princess. Cassandra Clare is the bestest and cruelest writer, and I love her for it! I cannot believe that this book did not make me cry, like so many others did. There was only one incident, in the beginning, where I almost cried, but that was it. Although, I laughed during almost the entire book, there were so many quotes that i wanted to tweet, but I had to refrain myself for fear of spoilers (I also didn't want to take away others chance to discover those quotes on their own).

The unsent letter Will wrote to his family that is in the back of all first editions, it is very sad, and if I had any heart left to break, I think it might have.

The love letter Will wrote to Tessa that is in the back of all US Barnes & Noble editions, it is heartbreaking. I didn't think my heart could break any more, but it seems it could. I even started tearing up as I neared to end of it.

Cassandra Clare is a genius, and I think you should go buy all of her books now, and if you have them already, then I think you should buy them for your friends. Spread the awesome!

In My Mailbox {Week 6}

Title: Clockwork Prince
Series: Infernal Devices ⋯ Book 2
Author: Cassandra Clare
Pages: 502
Format: B&N exclusive First Edition


Summary: In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Pre-ordered this, and the two days between the release on Dec. 6 and when it arrived were pure torture. Reading it now, and it's amazing.

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone ⋯ Book 1
Author: Laini Taylor
Pages: 418
Format: Hardcover


Summary: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Have been wanting to read this since it came out and was gonna wait for the paperback, but I was fortunate to win it in a giveaway I entered a few weeks ago, so I'm am gonna read it after I finish Clockwork Prince & Crossed.

I also picked up Crave by Melissa Darnell (review is here), The Secret of Ka by Christopher Pike, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver, the Walmart exclusive edition of Clockwork Prince (for a friend's Christmas present), and If I Die by Rachel Vincent.

2012 A-Z Book Challenge

I've have decided to enter this challenge as well. To sign up go here. It's very simple, just read a book that starts with a letter of the alphabet, and make sure to cover all letters. As it says on the sign up post, 'Since it is really hard to find titles beginning with X, the letter X just needs to be in the title somewhere.'

I'm going with option A, and here's my list of books, I will be adding to/changing it as time goes on.

A — A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

B — Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

C — Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

D — Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié

E — Evernight by Claudia Gray

F — Fallen by Lauren Kate

G — Goddess Interrupted by Aimée Carter

H — Hourglass by Claudia Gray

I — Immortal Hearts by Ellen Schreiber

J — 

K — 

L — Lenobia's Vow by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

M — My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent

N — Need by Carrie Jones

O — Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

P — Passion by Lauren Kate

Q — 

R — Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

S — Stargazer by Claudia Gray

T — Tempestuous by Leslie Livingston

U — 

V — Vampires: The Recent Undead edited by Paula Guran

W — Wuthering Bites by Sarah Gray

X — Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Y — 

Z — 

Book Review ⋯ Crave

Title: Crave
Series: The Clann ⋯ Book 1
Author: Melissa Darnell
Pages: 416
Stars: ★★★★★


Summary: Savannah Colbert has never known why she's so hated by the kids of the Clann. Nor can she deny her instinct to get close to Clann golden boy Tristan Coleman. Especially when she recovers from a strange illness and the attraction becomes nearly irresistible. It's as if he's a magnet, pulling her gaze, her thoughts, even her dreams. Her family has warned her to have nothing to do with him, or any members of the Clann. But when Tristan is suddenly everywhere she goes, Savannah fears she's destined to fail.

For years, Tristan has been forbidden to even speak to Savannah Colbert. Then Savannah disappears from school for a week and comes back…different, and suddenly he can't stay away. Boys seem intoxicated just from looking at her. His own family becomes stricter than ever. And Tristan has to fight his own urge to protect her, to be near her no matter the consequences….

Review: Loved this book!! I loved how the perspective changed from Savannah to Tristan then back again. The whole plot with the Clann and the vampires was very creative, and I loved it! This book reminded me of the Night World books by L.J. Smith, and that made me excited and wanting to read the Night World books again. I loved that this book made me want to re-read other books.

Waiting On Wednesday {12/7}

Title: Fallen in Love
Series: Fallen short stories
Author: Lauren Kate
Pages: 160
Release Date: January 24, 2012


Summary: Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story. 

And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other. 

Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for. 

True love never says goodbye . . .

Cover Combat {Week 3}

Cover Combat is where I'll put up a US cover and a foreign cover of the same book and you vote on your favorite. Most of the time it will probably US versus UK, but there may be other countries thrown in.


Last week, the US and UK covers of My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent battled, and the winner was...

The UK edition!!

This week, the US and UK covers of Glass Houses by Rachel Caine will battle.

US edition:

UK edition:

In My Mailbox {Week 5}

Title: Wither
Series: Chemical Garden ⋯ Book 1
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pages: 358
Format: Hardcover


Summary: Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive.

Really looking forward to reading this book.

ARC Review ⋯ Switched

Title: Switched
Series: Trylle ⋯ Book 1
Author: Amanda Hocking
Pages: 293
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Stars: ★★★★★


Summary: When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.


Review: This book was soooooooo good!!!!! I loved the storyline and the writing style, and just the whole book. I have to admit this trilogy was near the bottom of my to-read list, and now that I've read the first book, the trilogy is near the top. Love, love, love. That is what I feel for this book. When it comes out in January, you should go buy it.


I was in no way paid for this review. St. Martin's Press sent me this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review ⋯ Matched

Title: Matched
Series: Matched ⋯ Book 1
Author: Ally Condie
Pages: 369
Stars: ★★★★★


Summary: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.


Review: I absolutely loved this book! I haven't read a dystopian in forever, so this was a refreshing change. I loved how the book was written, it made me feel like I was in a different time. The wording kinda reminded me of Victorian times, and I loved that. Another thing I loved was how grown up Cassia sounded in her thoughts and how she figured everything out. I can't say it enough, I loved this book! If it's not on your Christmas lists, it should be.

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Alright, so Bookish is hosting the 2012 TBR(To Be Read) Pile Reading Challenge, and you can sign up here. Below is most of the info that you would find if you clicked on the sign up link.

Welcome to 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge!!!

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us...Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up...

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And we've got PRIZES!!! :D

Levels:

1-10 - A Firm Handshake

11-20 - A Friendly Hug

21-30 - A Sweet Kiss

41-50 - Married With Children

31-40 - Love At First Sight

Hosts:

Evie from Bookish - http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com @SeoEvie

Nicole from All I Ever Read - http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/ @Nicoleabouttown

Bonnie from Hands and Home - http://www.handsandhome.ca/ @HandsHomeBlog

Caitlin from WatchYA Reading - http://whatchyareading.net @caitlingss

Donna from Book Passion For Life - http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/ @BookPforLife 

Rie from Mission To Read - http://missiontoread.com/ @missiontoread

Vicky from Books, Biscuits & Tea -http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/ @alouetteuette 

Christa from Hooked On Books - http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com @ChristasBooks

Jenna from Fans Of Fiction - http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/ @fansoffiction

Angel from Mermaids Vision - http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com @mermaidvisions

Right now, I think I'm just going to be an unofficial participant, mostly because the place to link up so I can join isn't loading for me. Maybe later, if the linky thing works I'll join for real but for now, I'm unofficial.
I'm gonna try for the A Sweet Kiss level, and the books I plan to read are:❥ Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié❥ Evernight by Claudia Gray❥ Stargazer by Claudia Gray❥ Hourglass by Claudia Gray❥ The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan❥ The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan❥ Wuthering Bites by Sarah Gray❥ The Iron King by Julie Kagawa❥ The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa❥ The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa❥ The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa❥ Vampires: The Recent Undead edited by Paula Guran❥ Need by Carrie Jones❥ Captivate by Carrie Jones❥ Entice by Carrie Jones❥ The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block❥ My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent❥ My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent❥ My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent❥ If I Die by Rachel Vincent❥ A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray❥ Rebel Angels by Libba Bray❥ The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray❥ Wondrous Strange by Leslie Livingston❥ Darklight by Leslie Livingston❥ Tempestuous by Leslie Livingston