Blogoversary Day 4: Lauren Miller

Aaaaand welcome back to day four of my blogoversary celebration! Again, I really hope you're enjoying the posts with/by these fantastic authors, because I have another incredibly fun one for you all today--by Lauren Miller, author of the debut PARALLEL! Lauren's been awesome enough to share with us quite a few different things--ten random facts about her, five things you should know about PARALLEL, as well as a delightfully cliffhangery excerpt from PARALLEL! I haven't read PARALLEL myself, yet, but I've heard beyond amazing things about it, so I can't wait!

Blogoversary Day 3: Amy Tintera

We're already three days into the celebration! Eee! I hope you're enjoying it so far, and I have a feeling if you are enjoying it, you're going to continue enjoying it, because today I have an interview with debut author Amy Tintera, author of the action-packed and fun REBOOT! Enjoy! 

Blogoversary Day 2: Josin McQuein

Hey! Welcome back to my Blogoversary Celebration! Thanks for coming back. :) Today I am thrilled to feature author Josin McQuein, who has an amazing guest post for us on the thought process of the spine-tingling creatures, the Fades, from her debut novel ARCLIGHT! I've had the pleasure to read both Josin's ARCLIGHT and her novel releasing in October, PREMEDITATED, and I enjoyed them both immensely, and I can't wait for the rest of the world to have to opportunity to read both novels. But until then, without further ado, Josin McQuein's awesome and creepy guest post on her thought process for the Fades!

Blogoversary Day 1: Erin Bowman

WOW. The day is here. I've been planning this celebration for months. And it's starting. Today. Wow. Anyway, hey, everybody! Welcome to day one of my Blogoversary Celebration! In case you couldn't already tell from the big banner thingy, today I am featuring the awesome Erin Bowman, and her equally as awesome debut novel, TAKEN! [Review] Below are some excerpts Erin has picked out for us all today, giving those who haven't had an opportunity to read TAKEN yet to meet the main character, Gray, before actually meeting him, as well as some commentary on the excerpts from Erin and I, where I go on a bit of a tangent--practically reiterating exactly what Erin says in her commentary. ;) I hope you all enjoy it, and now Erin will take the stage!

*** 

When Blythe invited me to be a part of her blogoversary celebration (happy first birthday, Finding Bliss in Books!) we both agreed it might be fun to share (and discuss) some excerpts from TAKEN. Who doesn't like teasers, right? 

The novel is split into four parts, and today, I'll be sharing one mini-excerpt from each. My favorite passages all seem to focus on TAKEN's protagonist, Gray, so consider this your chance to meet him early! (I fear four passages is not a very thorough introduction to a character, but it's the best I can give you until 4/16, when the book officially hits shelves.) :)

The Celebration Begins...

Eeeee! I feel like it was just yesterday that I was beginning to plan my blogoversary with the wonderful Laura at Little Read Riding Hood, and now I can't believe that my blogoversary celebration is starting TOMORROW! EEEE! Okay, some things you should know about this celebration, if you don't know these things already, which, if you follow me on Twitter, you probably already know, and you can probably already guess some of the participating authors. Okay. I'm incoherent right now, as you can tell, but here is the basic gist of the celebration: 

My actual blogoversary is on April 4th. So that means, starting tomorrow, my actual blogoversary is in a week. But, since I like to draw awesome things out as long as possible, I decided to have my entire blogoversary a week long event leading up to my blogoversary--so think of it as something of a birthweek, not a birthday. Anyway, each day leading up to my blogoversary features a different, awesome author whose books are debuting from April to June, and each author has written up an awesome post for the event. 

And there are giveaways. Eight of them. In total, I am giving away about sixteen ARCs, two finished copies, and some swag throughout this event. 

Excited? 

Eee!

I know I am.

EEEEEE! 

I hope you all enjoy this celebration as much as I enjoyed planning it. I've met some awesome authors and have read some awesome books due to this event, and I love it a lot. 

EEEEEEEEEEE!

(Also, I'm now on Blog Lovin', so if you feel like following me there that'd be greatly appreciated.) :)

Waiting on Wednesday (March 27)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we post upcoming releases we're highly anticipating. My pre-publication selection for this week's Waiting on Wednesday is The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney.

 The Brokenhearted
Amelia Kahaney

Series: None

Release Date: October 8th, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Number of Pages: 320

A teenage girl is transformed into a reluctant superhero and must balance her old life with the dark secret of who she has become.

Prima ballerina Anthem Fleet is closely guarded by her parents in their penthouse apartment. But when she meets the handsome Gavin at a party on the wrong side of town, she is immediately drawn into his dangerous world. Then, in a tragic accident, Anthem falls to her death. She awakes in an underground lab, with a bionic heart ticking in her chest. As she navigates her new life, she uncovers the sinister truth behind those she trusted the most, and the chilling secret of her family lineage…and her duty to uphold it.

The Dark Knight meets Cinder in this gripping and cinematic story of heartbreak and revenge. From Alloy Entertainment, this inventive new superhero story is sure to captivate any reader.

This sounds so amazing. Superheroes? The Dark Knight meets Cinder? A BIONIC HEART?! Neeed! It was on Edelweiss a few days ago, but it looks like it's been deleted now, so I am upset. Also, in case you needed more awesomeness to have you pining for this book, the initial blurb was this: 

A wealthy ballerina living in a heightened, Gotham-like version of Chicago, has her heart broken - literally - and receives a dangerous bionic heart, transforming her into a superhero.

A GOTHAM-LIKE VERSION OF CHICAGO, PEOPLE. *flails* 

What are you waiting on?

 Let me know in the comments!

Today's Releases (March 26)

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

Impostor by Jill Hathaway

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Period 8 by Chris Crutcher

Glitter & Doom by Bethany Griffin

Wasteland by Susan Kim & Lawrence Klavan

Evidence of Life by Barbara Taylor Sissel

With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

The Shattered Mountain by Rae Carson

Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep

Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost

Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

The only releases that I'll be getting for today are If You Find Me--which I've already had the chance to read and it was fantastic, and Glitter & Doom, because I adored Masque of the Red Death and need something to hold me over until Dance of the Red Death desperately. I would have gotten Wasteland, but then I read Christina's review and right now I'm just like:

I'll pass on that one. But still, which of today's releases are you getting this week? Have you read any of them yet? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments, and happy reading! 

Review: Rise by Anna Carey

Rise

Anna Carey

Series: Eve, #3
Release Date: April 2nd, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen
Number of Pages: 320

Rating: 2 stars

How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?

When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.

Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father?

In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.

This review is spoiler-free for both Rise and the entire Eve trilogy

Not including this final (unfortunately or fortunately, I've not yet decided) and ever so disappointing installment, I do love this trilogy, and will not forget the emotional impact Eve had on me when I read it months ago. The Eve trilogy was one I'd recommend at any opportune moment available, and I held back on none of my praise, despite the fact that the vast majority of my friends felt indifferent to the first two novels of the trilogy.

With that having been said, however, I anticipate that it will be difficult for me to recommend this trilogy any further, because, as much as the first two novels may hold a place in my heart, recommending this trilogy would also mean I'd have to recommend this unfortunate installment, which is something I can say right now I'll not be able to do.

Showcase Sunday (31)

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicki at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, where we showcase what books we've gotten over the course of the week, whether it be from a book store, bought for your eReader, received from the library, or from the publishers for review.

For Review:

  

Tandem by Anna Jarzab

Red by Alison Cherry

Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

  

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

The Great Trouble by Deborah Hopkinson

  

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike

Tandem: This sounds really interesting, and from what I know it involves alternate/parallel universes/realities, which I've been loving ever since I read Pivot Point, so I'm excited for this one. Thanks, Delacorte!

Red: This one sounds really original and interesting--and I think it's been pitched as Stepford Wives with redheads, so I'm in. Thanks, Delacorte!

Wild Awake: I'm looking forward to this one, but I'll be keeping my expectations moderate. It's gotten rave reviews from most of my friends, but apparently there's a lot of drug use and whatnot, which I have no issue with in small portions, but according to quite a few reviews drug use is 90% of the novel, so we'll see. Thanks, HarperTeen!

Dirty Little Secret: This will be my first foray into NA. *braces self* Thanks, MTV Books!

Steelheart: I've heard beyond fantastic things about this author, and this sounds absolutely amazing, so I'm hoping to start it soon. Maybe it'll be my next Coming Attractions post?* Thanks, Delacorte!

The Great Trouble: All I know is that this is about a plague and it takes place in London, and even knowing just that I'm in. Thanks, Knopf! 

Two Boys Kissing: EEEE! I adored Levithan's Every Day, and have been pining for this one ever since I heard of it, so I'm thrilled to have received a copy. Will be starting this one soon, because I have no willpower whatsoever. Thanks, Knopf!

The Eternity Cure: I really liked The Immortal Rules (actually, that was my first ARC I ever received), so I'm definitely looking forward to reading this. Julie Kagawa can do no wrong. Thanks, HarlequinTeen!

Life After Theft: This sounds like it could be fun, but her Wings series has received some pretty negative reviews from trusted friends of mine, so we'll see. 

And that's all the books I got during my hiatus! Speaking of which: I'M BAAAAACK! I hope you're ready for my blogoversary celebration, which is in... *checks watch* Four more days! The celebration goes on for one entire week, with a different author every day, and, in total, eight giveaways and awesome posts. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed planning it! 

What did you get this week? 

Leave a comment letting me know!

Review: Taken by Erin Bowman

Taken
Erin Bowman
Series: Taken, #1
Release Date: April 16th, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: 4.5 stars

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

Writing this review is extremely difficult for me, not only because I absolutely loved Taken, and writing reviews for books I love is usually a difficult process for me (if you haven't noticed, I'm not the most eloquent reviewer. I use gifs and tend to swear. Often.), because I always feel like I am not doing the book I'm reviewing justice with my words, and other times, I'm just at a loss for said words.

Though with Taken, that is not entirely why writing this review is so difficult for me. Yes, while I don't feel I can do this book justice with just my review and I am at a loss for words concerning how awesome Taken was, this review is mostly difficult for me to write because there is so much I want to say but I don't want to spoil anything.

So I'm Taking Another Hiatus...

Hi, everyone. I've been thinking about taking another hiatus for a little bit, now, seeing how helpful it was to me when I took one over the winter holidays, and I've decided to take a little week-long or so hiatus now. Recently I've been reading many May through June releases for my blogoversary celebration (speaking of which, has also put me behind in my blogging schedule, because this has taken a lot of planning), which has put me very behind in my review/blogging schedule, and that will likely continue for the next few weeks. As well as that, I haven't felt much motivation to do much lately--normally I would call it my laziness, but this time I'm just in an everything slump--which has put a dent in my reading schedule even more so. But, I will be back within the next week or two, hopefully with some reviews, likely with quite a few Coming Attraction posts (which are kind of reviews, I guess?), and then soon enough my week-long blogoversary celebration will begin, which I am trying to make as awesome and fun for you guys as possible, and I really hope you enjoy it.

So, I guess I'll see you all in two weeks or less! I'll most likely be spending much of my time on Twitter (I always do), so if you need to ask me something or want to talk or anything you can find me on there. I hope you all have a good week! Fingers crossed I will. :)

Things I Can't Forget Tour Stop: Interview

Today on the blog I've interviewed Miranda Kenneally, author of the recently released Things I Can't Forget, as part of the Xpresso Book Tours! Below you will find information about Kenneally's Things I Can't Forget, and then you can read my interview with her after the jump, and you can enter a giveaway as well!

Things I Can't Forget
Miranda Kenneally
Series: Hundred Oaks, #3
Release Date: March 1st, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Number of Pages: 304

Companion to Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt…with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy…

Waiting on Wednesday (March 6)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we post upcoming releases we're highly anticipating. My pre-publication selection for this week's Waiting on Wednesday is The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. 

 The 5th Wave

Rick Yancey

Series: The Fifth Wave, #1

Release Date: May 7th, 2013

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile 

Number of Pages: 480

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Why do I want to read this one? Um, let's see... 

• Its synopsis is badass.
• It has aliens.
• Apparently it has a huge and brilliant twist, and you know how I love my huge and brilliant twists.
• It has freaking aliens.
• Wendy gave it five stars.
• The amount of money that went into this book's marketing is insane, so it must be for something, right?
• FREAKING ALIENS.

I think the better question would be why wouldn't I want to read this?

Cover Reveal: Game. Set. Match.

Today I'm very excited to be revealing the gorgeous cover for Game. Set. Match. by the awesome Jennifer Iacopelli. Game. Set. Match. is a new adult novel about tennis, hot guys, and competition, so needless to say I'm pretty damn interested in reading it. And, I don't mean to brag, but... you know, I've kind of dabbled in tennis playing myself. I once hit myself in the forehead with my racquet. Anywhooo, below you will find some information about Game. Set. Match., as well as Jennifer's thoughts on her cover, and then of course you'll find the cover and a giveaway. 

Game. Set. Match. by Jennifer Iacopelli

Release Date: May 1st, 2013

Nestled along the coastline of North Carolina, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the best elite tennis training facility in the world. Head Coach, Dominic Kingston has assembled some of the finest talent in the sport. From the game's biggest stars to athletes scraping and clawing to achieve their dreams, OBX is full of ego, drama and romance. Only the strong survive in this pressure cooker of competition, on and off the court.

Penny Harrison, the biggest rising star in tennis, is determined to win the French Open and beat her rival, the world’s number one player, Zina Lutrova. There’s just one problem, the only person who’s ever been able to shake her laser-like focus is her new training partner. Alex Russell, tennis’s resident bad boy, is at OBX recovering from a knee injury suffered after he crashed his motorcycle (with an Aussie supermodel on the back). He's hoping to regain his former place at the top of men’s tennis and Penny’s heart, while he’s at it.

Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. Her parents have seven Grand Slam championships between them and she’s desperate to live up to their legacy. Her best friend is Teddy Harrison, Penny’s twin brother, and that’s all they’ve ever been, friends. Then one stupid, alcohol-laced kiss makes everything super awkward just as she as she starts prepping for the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic.

The Classic is what draws Indiana Gaffney out of the hole she crawled into after her mom’s death. Even though she’s new to OBX, a win at the Classic is definitely possible. She has a big serve and killer forehand, but the rest of her game isn’t quite up to scratch and it doesn’t help that Jasmine Randazzo and her little minions are stuck-up bitches or that Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and oldest brother, is too hot for words, not to mention way too old for her.

Who will rise? Who will fall? 

Told from rotating points of view, GAME. SET. MATCH. is a 'new adult' novel about three girls with one goal: to be the best tennis player in the world.

And now... the cover for Game. Set. Match.! 

Today's Releases (March 5)

The Murmurings by Carly Anne West

Requiem by Lauren Oliver

The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

 

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

The Prince by Kiera Cass

Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

 

Bruised by Sarah Skilton

The Holders by Julianna Scott

Notes From A Coma by Mike McCormack

Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey

A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz

Spellcaster by Claudia Gray

A Touch Menacing by Leah Clifford

When We Wake by Karen Healey

Delirium Stories: Hana, Annabel, and Raven by Lauren Oliver

The Mapmaker's War by Ronlyn Domingue

Raven by Lauren Oliver

The Shape Stealer be Lee Carroll

O_O That's a lot of books. A lot of very good books, too! I went two weeks without buying one book, and it looks like that record will be broken today. I'll definitely be getting Let the Sky Fall today (it has freaking tornadoes), and also Spellcaster, because anything having to do with witches is something I desperately need, and I've been waiting to get my hands on that one for a while. Bruised has also gotten great reviews from friends of mine, so I'll keep an eye out on that, and I'll also probably be getting Requiem, even though I haven't read Pandemonium yet. (But I plan to! Soon.) And I've also read both The Murmurings and The Nightmare Affair, and I ended up liking both of them, so they're recommended from me--The Murmurings is recommended from me only because of the second half, and The Nightmare Affair is recommended from me because it's fun. I also plan on starting Unremembered very soon, even if I failed at reading my ARC on time. (In my defense, however, I got it a week ago.) Also (there are a lot of 'also's' in this post), I'm giving away a finished copy of The Mapmaker's War here, so enter that if you want! And that's all! Which books, if any, are you getting this week? Let me know in the comments!