Monday, March 29, 2010

New Affiliate! + Contest Ends Early!

Hi guys! Guess what?!?! I have a new affiliate!!! Yep! She's Eleni from La Femme Readers!!!!! She's one of the hippest, and coolest bloggers around! Not to mention that she has really cool reviews and interviews and everything an awesome book blog has!!!



Also, I've ended the Egmont contest early because I'm going to be on vacation for the whole week! Without further ado, the winner of the Egmont Prize Pack is...

KatieDoll (aka Sophistikatied Reviews)!!!!!!!!

Congrats! I've already emailed you and all I need is your address! Please reply within 48 hours =)




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Sunday, March 28, 2010

Pick Your Publisher Contest!!!!! INTERNATIONAL!

Hey guys!

Pertaining to my sister's box o' books idea, I'm holding my own...except that each box you can win has three books from one publisher/imprint! And since I love you guys so much, it's INTERNATIONAL!!! Make sure to fill in the form below to enter.

-The first winner gets his/her choice of one whole box of three books below.
-If I get 950 followers, there will be a second winner who will get two books from one of the boxes below.
-If I get 1000 followers, there will be a third winner who will get one book from one of the boxes below.
-The more followers I get, the more books you guys have a chance to win! And to make things a little different, the person who comments most on posts after today will get a really cool swag back with lots swag and goodies!

The Prize Packs:


So, it's going to be really really hard to pick between all of these prize packs! I took the 'best' books from each publisher for this contest and I hope you guys like it!



AFFILIATES:
The Bookologist
The YA Addict
Read This Book!
Book Crazy


Rules:
-Open to EVERYONE!
-This contest will end on April 22 at 4pm (GMT+8) unless this contest doesn't meet at least 35-40 entrants...then, it will be extended.
-Contest Policy applies.
-I will use The Contest Winner Picker for picking the winners for this contest.

Good luck you guys!
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Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

Title: The Unwritten Rule
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Pages: 224
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: March 16, 2010

Everyone knows the unwritten rule: You don't like your best friend's boyfriend. Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend. Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful. Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...




All's fair in love and war. That is and isn't the case here. Sarah liked Ryan first...ever since the eighth grade actually. But that doesn't matter to Brianna, Sarah's best friend. Brianna siddles up to Ryan, works her charm, and captures his attention...at least until he gets a taste of Sarah. But Sara is rational and is all too aware of the unwritten rule; you aren't supposed to like your best friend's boyfriend. As she struggles to deal with her feelings for Ryan, guilt and fear for Brianna's friendship consumes her. What's more is that Brianna's emotionally breaking down because of family-related problems and Sarah is her only lifeboat. When Sarah is given the chance to be with Ryan, will she take that leap of faith? And if she does, what will Sarah think?

Elizabeth Scott weaves a contemporary tale of family, friendship, and romance. The Unwritten Rule is set in such a normal and real environment that readers cannot help but feel empathy towards the characters and their different situations. With such an indifferent topic, Scott evokes so many emotions in the reader and at the same time, forges a connection between the reader and the book.

Sarah is a conflicted over-thinker that teenagers will definitely be able to relate to. She's lost and depends on Brianna as her only source of friendship. Sarah stands behind Brianna's shadow; doing whatever Brianna wants and always putting Brianna first, before herself. But as The Unwritten Rule goes on, her personality becomes more solid and her growth as a person is evident in her strong narration.

The Unwritten Rule revolves around a pretty complex concept that shows the hardships of a teenager in four very important aspects; family, friendship, finding yourself, and love. Elizabeth Scott's pure and simple writing is perfectly blended to mold this beautiful story. The Unwritten Rule is a book that focuses on the drama, heartache, and confusion that is bonded with a teenager's experience. A =)

The Bottom Line: There are exceptions to every rule.

---Report Card---
Originality: 6/10
Ending: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 94/100 (A)
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The Impossible: Made a (suckish) Cover Remake with Paint!!!

Haha! I'm joining Princess Bookie's cover remake contest for fun and I did the impossible: I made a cover WITH PAINT!!! OMG! Can you believe that? Although it is very suckish and will not win, I just wanted to do it for fun! Can't wait to see your reactions in the comments! Laugh and insult all you want...it's that bad! See for yourself:



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Winners!!! SUPER DELAYED!!! LOL!

Hey guys! Here are the winners for my BIG BASH contest and the TDD nail-polish contest! So sorry for being SUPER late again! Spring break is right around the corner and the teachers are dumping all deadlines and tests on the last few days of school...it's been really hectic! Anyway, the BIG winner (even I'm a little jealous! hehe) is..........

Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I emailed her a day ago but she hasn't replied yet. If you don't reply within 72 hours, I'll be picking a new winner.

And the two winners for the TDD nail polish giveaway are.......

RebekahC and *Jessica Rabbit*!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!!! I just emailed you guys. You have 72 hours to respond or I'll pick a new winner.
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Monday, March 22, 2010

Swoon-Worthy: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White!!!

I swear that this is the last Swoon-Worthy post you'll see for A VERY LONG TIME!!! I just couldn't help this!!! It's the cover for Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and it looks FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, we have to wait until September for this, but I think it'll be worth the wait! Here's the synopsis *because I'm evil*...not really =) LOL!

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.

Normal is so overrated.



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Swoon-Worthy: Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles!!!

OMG OMG OMG!!! I hyperventilated when I saw this! The cover to the sequel of Leaving Paradise!!!!!!!!!!!! It looks great but I'm not sure if it's the final cover. Either way, I LOVED Leaving Paradise (more than Perfect Chemistry!) and can't wait for the next book to come out! When I read LP, I was left hanging! LOL! It had a major cliffy =( and I'm hoping to see what happens to Caleb and Maggie next!

Note: I saw this cover on GoodReads, but not Simone's website...maybe it's a teaser cover...

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Friday, March 19, 2010

Swoon-Worthy: Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Vigué


OMG. I think I just died and went to heaven. This is such an amazing cover!!! I've been wanting to read Crusade for sometime now and now the cover is revealed! It's so cool!!! It releases September 21, 2010 so there's a lot of time to drool over this gorgeous cover!!! I can't wait to read this! Crusade is actually the continuation of Debbie and Nancy's short story in The Eternal Kiss anthology...and it was sooooooo awesome! I can't wait for more!

Hope you guys don't mind me posting all of these covers =) LOL!

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Swoon-Worthy: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer


Hey guys!!! This is Nightshade by Andrea Cremer!!! I'm SUPER excited for this debut!!! It sounds (and looks!) REALLY good! It releases October 19, 2010 so we still have quite a long wait =)

Synopsis:

While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

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Thursday, March 18, 2010

Swoon-Worthy: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare!



I've never read any of Cassandra's books, but this cover is really cool!!! Don't you agree?!? It's NOT part of the Mortal Instruments series but it is the start of a spin-off series (still pertaining to some characters of Mortal Instruments) called Infernal Devices! I know that some people will think I'm crazy for not reading the series!!! I've heard lots of good things about it!


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Author Uncovered: Amy Brecount White

Hi guys! Today, I have Amy Brecount White, author of Forget-Her-Nots as part of the Spread the Flower Love blog tour! Here's a chance to get to know her!

Who is your favorite character from Forget-Her-Nots?
I love the main character, Laurel, of course. I don’t think you can’t write a whole novel without loving your MC. Rose, Laurel’s smart and snarky cousin, was very fun to write, and I hope she reappears in other novels.

What motivated you to write Forget-Her-Nots?
I’ve always wanted to write a novel, and I just reached a point in my life when I had to do it. I’d written short non-fiction pieces for newspapers and magazines, but I’d always dreamed of being a novelist.

The premise of Forget-Her-Nots seems really unique and interesting. What gave you the idea for it? It was a combination of factors, really. I’d seen a non-fiction book on the language of flowers and thought about writing an article on it. I also love gardening and flowers, and I find seeds to be one of the most hopeful things on the planet. When I went to hear the novelist Toni Morrison speak, she said, “Write the novel that only you can write.” I thought about that for a while, and then it all seemed to come together.

What do you see as your strengths and weaknesses as an author?
Hmm. One of my strengths, I think, is that I’ve had lots of life experiences. I’ve lost people I loved dearly, including my dad; I’ve been a teacher and a writer; I’ve traveled and had kids and loved a lot of people. Also, I truly love words, so I hope my writing is lyrical and lovely.
Weaknesses: I can get a little too caught up in my character’s head, especially in early drafts. I really love writing descriptive passages, but lots of teens would rather skip those for the action.

What's the most interesting thing a reader has ever said to you?
Great question! An early reader said this: “It’s not that I can’t put your book down, because I can. But when I put it down, I keep thinking about it.” For a lot of people, FHN won’t be a page-turner, but I do hope it’s a novel that stays with them. Lots of people have told me they’ll never look at flowers in quite the same way.

How is do you feel about being a 10'er?
Fantastic! I ADORE the Tenners. Everyone has been incredibly supportive and fun to hang out with. I can’t wait to meet them all in person. This weekend, I’ll be with Tenners Irene Latham and Jenn Hubbard at the Virginia Festival of the book in Charlottesville.

Book you've faked reading:
Ulysses by James Joyce. I love The Dubliners and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, but I could never quite get through all of Ulysses.


Book you've bought for the cover:
I can’t recall ever buying one just for the cover. I always have to read the inside flap first and usually the author bio, too.


Book you're an evangelist for:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Such an amazing and important book.


Anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks so much for having me, Reggie! It’s been fun. =)






And for Amy's contest, here is the red Camilla! Doesn't it look pretty?!? Not only is it pretty, but it also means unpretending excellence! You guys have unpretending excellence!



Thanks to Amy for participating!

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Please Read: Questions for the for Swoon by Nina Malkin?


Hi guys!

I'm going to be hosting Nina Malkin soon and I was wondering if you guys had any questions for Nina herself and for the two characters in Swoon; Sin and Dice. If you do, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments! Thanks you guys!

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Body Finder Release Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Today is the official release day for The Body Finder!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats to Kim on her release day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so so so happy for her debut!!!!!!! It's amazing! Here are some links you might like:

My review: http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2010/03/body-finder-by-kimberly-derting.html

My interview with KD: http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2010/03/secret-agent-uncovered-kimberly-derting.html

SO GO BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's amazing and totally totally worth it!!!!!!

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Win Siren, Raised by Wolves, and Shadow Hill ARCs!!!!!!!!! And a VERY important question!

Hi guys! Just a reminder of my current contest for Siren, Raised by Wolves, and Shadow Hills! They're all great (GREAT!!!!!!) reads from Egmont and I'm really excited to be holding a contest for them on my blog =)

BUT WAIT!!!!!!!
I'm going to be hosting (may or may not be with my sister) a contest and I want to know WHAT YOU WANT IN IT!!! The prize bucket will be totally up to you!!! Just comment and tell me at least THREE to FIVE books you'd like to have in the prize bucket...They can be ARCs or pre-ordered finished copies, or already-released books!!! Anything!!!

Thanks guys!

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Sunday, March 14, 2010

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Title: Shade (Book 1)
Author: Jeri Smith-Ready
Pages: 320
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: May 4, 2010

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.


There are two kinds of people; the Post-Shift, and the Pre-Shift. Aura is a post-shift and she's been dealing with ghosts ever since she was born...she and 500 million other kids. But she's special. Why? Because she was the very first person born after The Shift. She was the only one born in that single minute. On the other side of the world, there's Zach. He was born Pre-Shift but he's special too. Why? Because he was the last person born before The Shift. He was the only one born in that single minute. When these two meet, their worlds--and hearts--collide. Aura already has a--dead--boyfriend, whom she still loves. And people are spying on her. What do these people want from her? But more importantly, who will win her heart?

Shade is a gripping and intense paranormal romance with a passionate love triangle, an action-packed plot, and teenagers brimming with drama. Readers will be pulled in with Smith-Ready's fast-paced, magnetic prose and will be acquainted with the new, intriguing concept of Shade. Shade is not at all the common, look-me-over book, but rather, its addictive paranormal allure pulls the reader in and they are pushed and introduced to the fantasy-ridden world of Shade and throes of heated romance, gory instances, and difficult decisions.

The electrifying love triangle in Shade is one that is formed over time and is combined with carefully-chosen scenes that makes it hard for the reader to completely vie for one of the two guys; Zach and Logan. This makes Shade more objective which makes it less generic. When this love triangle is bonded with the action-filled plot and the enigma of The Shift, it creates a whole new world filled with themes of jealousy, morality, grief, and love. And although Shade is set in a world that revolves around the mystery of The Shift; where nothing is completely impossible, it still has a distinguished parallelism with our own world.

Aura is a compelling character with maturity beyond her years. But her personality is not so that she is considered 'fake', but instead, she uses this maturity to deal with her never-ending list of problems. Every step of the way, she has to make decisions on her own that could affect her reputation and everyone around her. Some of the choices she makes in this book are contrasted with both unselfish and selfish reasons. Readers will be enamored with her strong personality and narration and the other characters in Shade are also very interesting. As the novel progresses, readers will get to know how and what their ethics and morals are, as well as develop their own opinion of each character and their authentic psyches. Smith-Ready provides intriguing psychoanalyses of the characters and at the same time makes them utterly believable.

Shade is a fast-paced book with a heart-stopping plot line that will have readers craving for the sequel. Jeri Smith-Ready is an author that offers all the right elements in this heated paranormal romance. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: Love Triangle + Action-packed Mystery = Shade =)

---Report Card---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 97/100 (A+)


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In My Mailbox (17)

Hey guys! IMM is hosted by The Story Siren =) Okay, I've decided that I'm going to do IMM posts whenever I feel like it (aka when Reggie isn't feeling lazy!) hehe =) Anyway, here's my IMM for this week. Hope ya like it!

And thank you so much to S&S, HarperTeen, Scholastic, Hyperion, and Macmillan for these ARCs! I'm extremely excited to read these! Thank you!


For Review:

It's Not Summer Without You - Jenny Han (!!!)
The Karma Club - Jessica Brody
Tell Me A Secret - Holly Cupala (!!!)
Lost for Words - Alice Kuipers
Keep Sweet - Michelle Dominguez Greene
Forgive My Fins - Tera Lynn Childs (2nd Copy)
Everlasting - Angie Frazier (!!!)
Claire De Lune - Christine Johnson (!!!)
She's So Dead to Us - Kieran Scott (!!!)
My Invisible Boyfriend - Susie Day (!!!)
The Eternal Ones - Kirsten Miller (2nd copy -->for giveaway soon)
The Field Guide for Heartbreakers - Kristen Tracy (!!!)

The Bought a.k.a My Birthday Palooza gifts:
$250 in book certificates
Lovestruck Summer - Melissa Walker
Undone - Brooke Taylor
Leaving Paradise - Simone Elkeles
The Real Real - Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin
Dedication - Emma McLaughlin
Captivate - Carrie Jones
---AND more but I'm too lazy to check---LOL

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Saturday, March 13, 2010

Swoon-Worthy: Kiss Me Deadly edited by Trisha Telep

13 Tales of Paranormal Love...

Doesn't that sound AMAZING?!?!

What's even better are the authors who have short stories in it!!! And doesn't the cover look REALLY REALLY COOL!?!?!

THE LIST of authors:
Maggie Stiefvater (!!!)
Becca Fitzpatrick (!!!)
Rachel Vincent (!!!)
Karen Mahoney (!!!)
Diana Peterfreund
Daniel Waters
Carrie Ryan
Justine Musk
Daniel Marks
Sarah Rees Brennan
Michelle Rowen
Michelle Zink (!!!)
Caitlin Kittredge

Do you not see the awesomeness of this!?!?! And it's being EDITED by Trisha Telep again! This is sure to be a MAJOR hit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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