Bye-bye 2011; Welcome 2012

Happy New Year!

End of Year Book Survey

Survey by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner. It's going to take a while so, let's get right to it!

1. Best Book You Read in 2011?

Oh man! It’s really tough to pick one but I'm going with…

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith 

3. Most Surprising (in a good way!) Book of 2011?

I can’t pick one! I’m going to pick two… sorry The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter and Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have)

4. Book You Recommended To People Most in 2011?

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

5. Best Series You Discovered in 2011?

Summer series by Jenny Han

6. Favorite New Authors You Discovered in 2011?

Megan Miranda, Aimee Carter, Miranda Kenneally, Tara Hudson and Kelly Creagh

7. Best Book That Was Out of Your Comfort Zone or Was a New Genre For You?

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

And I am NOT going to read more books like this.  Even though Forbidden was good, it’s really ugh disgusting.

8. Most Thrilling, Unputdownable Book in 2011?

I’m going to pick two… again. Summer series by Jenny Han, I read all three books in two days because I couldn’t put it down. and

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

9. Book You Most Anticipated in 2011?

Catching Jordan and Lola and the Boy Next Door

10. Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2011?

I haven’t read this book yet but the cover is really gorgeous, isn’t it?

11. Most Memorable Character in 2011?

Jordan from Catching Jordan and Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door

12. Most Beautifully Written Book Read in 2011?

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and Jessica Rules the Dark Side both by Beth Fantaskey. Her writing style is just brilliant!

13. Book that had the Greatest Impact on you in 2011?

Thirteen Reasons Why and The Book Thief

14. Book You Can't Believe You Waited UNTIL 2011 to Finally Read?

Thirteen Reasons Why, The Book Thief and Jane Eyre

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

“Don’t think or Judge, just listen.” Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

“Loving someone and having them love your back is the most precious thing in the world.” The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

Many more but this two are my favorite.

16. Book That You Read in 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Be Reread in 2012?

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.)

The ending of It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han and Kieran Scott’s He's So/She's So trilogy, the first two books ending were a WTF endings. I can’t wait for the third and last book in this trilogy.

18.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year? 

Yes! I finished my goal for 2011. My goal was to read 100 books but I’ve read 113… almost 114 when you add that one I’m currently reading, which I’m planning to finish to tonight before midnight.

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2011 (optional)

1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?

Delirium and Divergent… I know, I know I haven’t read them. I have both books on my bookshelf and I’m reading them the first chance I get in 2012 before Pandemonium and Insurgent release date.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?

I want to read more than 200 books. It's always tough to find the balance between reading, school and other stuff but I’m willing to try.
Meet new/more bloggers!

Finally! If you participated in this, I would love to see your survey. Please, leave a link!

Follow Friday (17)

Follow my blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee and AlisonCanRead. It’s a weekly meme where bloggers meet and follow one another.

This week’s question:

The New Year is here -- and everyone wants to know your New Years Blogging Resolution! What are you going to try to revise, revamp and redo for 2012 on your blog?

Resolution? Huh I only have only two resolution, and the last one  is just a thing I’ve been thinking about lately.

*Post on the blog everyday, it might/will be hard but I think I can try. More reviews, giveaways, interviews, and guest posts.

*Meet new more bloggers through social network. I don’t have Facebook for this blog and I’m planning to get an account.

*Try to redesign my blog (this something I’ve been thinking about. If you know anyone who can design blogs, please let me know.)

Leave a link to your own FF, please!

Favorite Books I read in 2011

Ugh it was really hard picking favorite books of 2011. I have read a lot of books this year, and I’ve loved so many of them. Anyhow, here are the top favorite reads in 2011... In no particular order: 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This book is not only my favorite book of 2011, it’s my favorite book of all time. I highly recommend it. And who can resist a book narrated by Death? 

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh (My Review)

I think everyone has read this one but if you haven’t, you definitely should. It’s amazing book that I recommend for everybody.

 Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally (My Review)

AHHHHHH I love, love, love, love this book. It’s funny, heart-warming, quick read that everyone should read. I would give you my copy of this book (just kidding), if you haven’t read it but that’s how much I want everybody to read this book. 

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (My Review)

Another book everybody knows and read. I loved it… so romantic and it set in Paris.  I also read Lola and the Boy Next Door this year but this one was my favorite. Definitely a must read.

Geek Girl by Cindy C Bennett (My Review)

I read this last year in 2010 but I reread it in 2011 so , I’m counting this one. This book is amazing, cute, fun and fluffy book.

Perfect Chemistry Series (My Review)

I tried, tried really hard to pick one book from this series but for the life of me, I can’t. I love the three books for different reasons. The Fuentes brothers are just unforgettable. Definitely a must read series.

Hereafter by Tara Hudson (My Review)

I adored this book. I don’t know how to explain it; I just hmm … read it and find out.  

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Finished this a couple of days ago and I loved it. Great book about Greek Mythology; I can’t wait for the second book. 

What was your favorite book in 2011? 

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

This week I’m waiting on …

Goddess Interrupted (Goddess Test, #2) by Aimee Carter
Release Date: March 27, 2012

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it. 

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. 

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. 

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

*** 

After finishing the Goddess Test yesterday, and loving it. I cannot wait to see what will happen next for Kate and Henry. If you haven’t read the first book, you should. I recommended it.  March 27 can’t come fast enough. 

What are you waiting on?

Contest for Aspiring YA Writers

Are you aspiring YA writiers? If yes, there is a contest that you don't want to miss.  

Win a literary agent or acclaimed author's feedback on your unpublished manuscript for young adult or middle grade readers.  This rare opportunity is being offered to the six winners of an essay contest recently announced by the literacy charity Book Wish Foundation.  See http://bookwish.org/contest for full details.

You could win a manuscript critique from:

• Laura Langlie, literary agent for Meg Cabot

• Nancy Gallt, literary agent for Jeanne DuPrau

• Brenda Bowen, literary agent and editor of Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust

• Ann M. Martin, winner of the Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe

• Francisco X. Stork, winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for The Last Summer of the Death Warriors

• Cynthia Voigt, winner of the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and the Newbery Honor for A Solitary Blue

All that separates you from this prize is a 500-word essay about a short story in Book Wish Foundation's new anthology, What You Wish For(find out about this book down below).  Essays are due Feb. 1, 2012 and winners will be announced around Mar. 1, 2012.  If you win, you will have six months to submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript for critique (which means you can enter the contest even if you haven't finished, or started, your manuscript).  You can even enter multiple times, with essays about more than one of the contest stories, for a chance to win up to six critiques.

If you dream of being a published author, this is an opportunity you should not miss.  To enter, follow the instructions at http://bookwish.org/contest.

Good luck and best wishes!

What You Wish For (ISBN 9780399254543, Putnam Juvenile, Sep. 15, 2011) is a collection of short stories and poems about wishes from 18 all-star writers: Meg Cabot, Jeanne DuPrau, Cornelia Funke, Nikki Giovanni, John Green, Karen Hesse, Ann M. Martin, Alexander McCall Smith, Marilyn Nelson, Naomi Shihab Nye, Joyce Carol Oates, Nate Powell, Sofia Quintero, Gary Soto, R.L. Stine, Francisco X. Stork, Cynthia Voigt, Jane Yolen.  With a Foreword by Mia Farrow.  Book Wish Foundation is donating 100% of its proceeds from the book to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, to fund the development of libraries in Darfuri refugee camps in eastern Chad.

Thank you, Logan Kleinwaks, President of Book Wish Foundation for sharing this information.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Hi everyone!

I want to wish you all a happy holidays. I can’t thank you enough for following me, commenting and for being awesome in the times we’ve had this year (which was 4 month). Still … I really appreciate it. I won’t be posting book reviews till January 2, I know sad. It’s because of the holiday, and because I’m trying to catch up on my reading (I’m way behind, check out my previous post and you will understand). But I will be posting about my favorite books in 2011 and a survey about 2011, so be on the lookout for that.

Happy holiday!

Mesa

Challenge Accep-ted!

 

I'm participating in the 2012 TBR challenge (what a legend—wait for it—ary idea) and 2011 is almost over, so I thought I share well my TBR pile … piles to be exact. 

But I have more...

These ones are the ones that have to be read soon ... very soon.

I have more in my sister room, and on my kindle but I’m hoping to catch up. What do you think?

Follow Friday (16)

Follow my blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee and AlisonCanRead. It’s a weekly meme where bloggers meet and follow one another.

This week’s question:

If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why?

I always have hard time picking just one book. So I have, as always, list of books. 

*Perfect Chemistry series

*The Oracle of Dating/ Rebound

*Sara Dessen books

*Catching Jordan

*Nicholas Sparks books (I know, I know his books are sad but I love the romance in them, and the characters are so mature, likable.)

Leave a link to your own FF, please!

The winner is ...

It’s time to announce the winner of the Kiss Crush Collide giveaway! I used random.org with the entries. So, the winners is ... (Drumroll Please)

Picture from: http://www.sodahead.com

CONGRATS to Lecea. You are the lucky winner! You've won ARC copy of Kiss Crush Collide and some swags! You have 48 hours to reply my email and redeem your prize! Thanks to everyone who entered, and I'm really looking forward to watching some of your favorite holiday movies.  Check back soon for other giveaways! 

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Source: Purchased

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: December 1, 2011

Format: eBook

Pages:288

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though - she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team... and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

*** 

Words can’t describe how much I love this book. It was sweet, hilarious and romantic all at once. It was just amazing. It’s one of those books I would reread and never get tired of it.

First of I’ll start by saying that I love football, and that’s one of the reasons I loved it. Jordan--a female (tomboy to be more specific) quarterback and captain to her high school football team who struggled with gender prejudice. Not with her teammates, no they respect her, but her first choice college and even worse, her own father. That didn’t stop Jordan from reaching her goal though, and I loved that about her.

I adored Jordan. While reading I was hoping if I could find a friend like her or be her friend. She’s so passionate about football and what she does and what she wants. Jordan kept going even though her jerk father didn’t approve of her playing football. The teammates made the book absolutely amazing; I love their protectiveness of Jordan. I loved how honest Jordan was. I liked how Jordan keeps a journal; knowing her thoughts and her feeling helps me relate to her even more. I loved the friendship between Jordan and Sam Henry. It’s so real and wonderful. I loved every character in this book but at the beginning of the book, I didn’t like Jordan’s dad and some of the cheerleaders.

The ending was predictable--but the way it got to that point was brilliant and captivating. Catching Jordan is funny, heartwarming, and just everything you look in a contemporary book, you will find it here.  It’s freaking awesome.  

I love the cover. However, for those of you who don’t, do not make the mistake of judging this book by its cover. If you don’t like football and you think you wouldn’t read it because of that, don’t because it’s not all about football, not at all—Jordan’s challenge with gender prejudice, and how she proved herself to her father and other colleges. It’s a fantastic book that anybody will enjoy.

Kudos to Miranda Kenneally. I’m really impressed with her debut--her writing style is fabulous, and I’m really looking forward to checking out more of her works.

Overall, this book is one of my top favorite read in 2011. I recommend this for everyone, even for people who don’t like or don’t know anything about football. It’s a must read.

Rating: 5/5

ARC Review: Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Source: Author/Publisher

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320

It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. It’s a whole other thing to actually rule. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. Jessica knows that with no blood to drink, Lucius’s time is running out. Can she figure out who the real killer is—and whom she can trust—before it’s too late?

***

Warning: this review might contain spoilers for those of you who have not read the first book.

Jessica Rules the Dark Side is the sequel to Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. I loved the first book, and when I learned it have a sequel, I was super excited to read it.  For those of you who read the first book, there is a novella of Jessica and Lucius’s wedding you can read on Beth Fantaskey website here. 

Jessica Rules the Dark Side takes place just after their wedding. I loved this one more that the first book and I will say this: the sequel is darker, romantic and suspenseful and the complete opposite of the first book, which was witty and a fun read.

Jessica was getting used to a lot of things; being married, being a vampire and the new vampire world around her (the one she have to rule).  She was trying to prove the elders, who by the way have no faith in her whatsoever, that she would make a great queen. In addition to all the stress, Lucius is taken away from her, leaving her alone to fend/rule by herself and trying to solve the problem to free Lucius. It was fun trying to figure out the mystery with Jessica in this book; it’s like I’m in the book with a role of being a detective.  The relationship between Jessica and Lucius was so romantic, well before he was taken away.

I would have liked to see more of Lucius in this book, and that’s the only reason that I gave it 4.5 stars. But I get that Fantaskey’s aim was to focus on Jessica alone.  And you can see the transformation of Jessica throughout the book from an independent princess to a confident princess and future queen.

Beth’s writing is fantastic; it’s very different from any writers I’ve read so far. I love that Fantaskey added Mindy (Jessica’s BFF) and Raniero (Lucius’s cousin/brother) in the mix. I really liked both characters, and their relationship is so cute.

Overall, Jessica Rules the Dark side is more about Jessica finding her strength. I liked seeing the development of Jessica and her powers throughout the book. This series is unique with twists and surprises. I recommend it for everyone to pick this up because it is definitely worth a read. 

Rating: 4.5/5

ARC Review: Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

Source: Publisher

Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Release Date: December 27, 2011
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336

Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some. 

***

I did not care for this book. When I first heard about Kiss Crush Collide and how the synopsis put it as a book for those who are a fan of John Green, Simon Elkeles and Sarah Dessen, I thought, “fantastic.” I love both Simon Elkele’s and Sarah Dessen’s books. Even though I’ve never read John Greens books, I’ve heard amazing things about him and I love his YouTube videos. So who wouldn’t be sold to a book of awesome collective authors in one book, Right? Well, I was sold. Big time.

 I had a lot of expectation for this book that I was so disappointed when I read it. I was so confused at the beginning of this book, because Leah started talking about something and she’d rushed through the parts too quickly and start other topics. And I love dialogues in books, and this one has almost nothing. Leah wasn’t likeable or realistic character for me. I found her to be very obnoxious, spoiled and annoying. I liked Duffy, and I think I’d have liked him more if I got to see more of him in this book. We don’t really know a lot about Jon Duffy, I mean we don’t know his feeling for Leah or anything. Forbidden love is always an interesting plot for a book to me, but in this book everything was a lackluster. Speaking of forbidden love, Jon and Leah relationship? Forbidden love? Hells no, I don’t think her parents even mind or care that she dumped her rich jerk boyfriend for Duffy.   

Overall, Kiss Crush Collide was very disappointing. It just wasn’t for me I guess. This book had potential, could have been so much better and more interesting … but nada. 

Rating: 2/5 

In My Mailbox (16) : Birthday Edition

As you know, Thursday was my birthday. So I got a lot of presents, and most of the presents were (clearly) books … and—lo and behold—Kindle. Yes, I got the new (and my first) Kindle.

Bought:

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally on my kindle

and

Books that I've really wanted to read for so long

and

I also bought really random books as well

For Review:

Fracture by Megan Miranda (I'm doing a blog tour for this one on January 21)

The Weeping by O'Dell Hutchison (eBook, and I'm also doing a blog tour for this one on March 22)

Big thanks to my family for getting me awesome presents, Walker & Company and H, C & B Publishing!

 What did you get in your mailbox?

ARC (and some swags) Giveaway

Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith

Release Date: December 27, 2011 from Greenwillow Books

Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some. 

***

How to enter:

All you have to do is comment telling me your favorite holiday movie and your email address so I can contact the winner. That’s it. 
Ends December 21, 2011

Happy Holiday!

Closed!

Follow Friday (15)

Follow my blog Friday is hosted at Parajunkee and AlisonCanRead. It’s a weekly meme where bloggers meet and follow one another.

This week’s question:

When you've read a book, what do you do with it? (Keep it, give it away, donate it, sell it, swap it..?)

If I bought the book, It depends. If I like the book, I will keep it but if I didn't like the book, I would give it away/sell it/ swap it/donate it.
If I got it from the library or a friend, I return it. 

Leave a link to your own FF, please!