My Soul to Lose, Rachel Vincent

I feel cheated, I really do.

I "bought" this book from Amazon and downloaded it to my Kindle app on my iPhone (several, several months ago). I use the term "bought" loosely as it was free. I even got a receipt saying that I would be billed "$0.00".

Well, okay, then.

The premise was interesting: a young girl who suffers panic attacks and hallucinations suddenly wakes in a psych ward. While everyone writes her off as crazy, there's one girl who seems to understand. She see the same shadows twisting around people, too.

Catchy.

I started reading this at 1PM, while at work. In between stocking and waiting on customers. I was finished at 5:30PM.

It was a great read; honestly, it was. But I wanted more. I've only now realized My Soul to Lose is the prequel to Vincent's Soul Screamers series. It's but a teasing novella.

It did it's job, though. I'm hooked, and only mildly annoyed, and I cannot wait to start this series. I'll definitely be looking them up in the local library.

It's YA, in case you couldn't tell. But for anyone who enjoys YA novels, I definitely recommend this.

Happy reading, everyone!

Two Books Down

I've finished two books this week.

Good start for a new year.

Marley & Me by John Grogan was cute and -- for the most part -- effortlessly entertaining. Grogan's sense of humor about his family, his life, and his pesky dog is very uplifting. Though, it did, in my opinion, slow down somewhat when he gave endless information on the history of his dog's breed. If I wanted to know the Labrador retriever's lineage, I would have looked it up.

Other than that, it's a really good book. Great in fact; one I would most definitely recommend.

Grab the tissues, though. Because, yeah, I cried.

Fade, the sequel to Wake by Lisa McMann, I started yesterday and completed just after midnight today. It was, in a word, amazing. Officially: one of my favorite books, favorite series, favorite author.

For anyone who hasn't read these books, you need to pick it up, as in nowish. Janie and Cabel are adorable and real. The plot in the first book was entertaining, and enthralling, though it mostly focused on Janie's abilities (which, was to be expected). But the sequel's plot was ten times better -- and that's saying something. I was thoroughly impressed, especially after I finished and went back and reread some of my favorite parts from the first book. McMann, it seemed, was setting up the second book right from the beginning -- which I think is terrific. All loose ends were neatly tied. Wonderful job on her part.

Gone, the final book, comes out in February; I kind of wish I had held out in reading the second, so I wouldn't have to wait so long for the third. Bah.

That's two books off my list (which, I haven't posted yet, but I'm going to do that next, I think). I feel better!

Now, the only thing left to decide: what's next?

Happy reading, everyone!

New Year; New Beginning

Hello readers,

I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy holiday season. The new year has begun, and I'm hoping to get back into blogging, being as it's a resolution of mine.

Blogging helps to fuel my passion for writing; I need to utilize one if I intend to pursue the other.

Another resolution of mine is to drop the 50 books a year challenge. It creates too much pressure for me, I think. Sad as that is. Instead, I'm just going to read. I'll continue compiling a booklist, and I'll keep a running total of every book I complete. But if I don't read a certain number of books in a month, then that's fine. At least I'm reading.

So, starting today: I am back. I'm updating my 2009 Booklist one last time (as I finished another novel last month). Then, I'm going to draft up another. Many of the same books and recommendations will remain, but I'm hoping to add a few more as well.

Happy New Year, everyone! And happy reading!

Oops on the Giveaway...

My apologies, everyone, for being such a bad blogger recently.

School, work, and most recently, my broken down car have kept me from blogging. Yesterday was the first of November; the day I was going to post the Giveaway for November, and it was also the first day of NaNoWriMo.

I was at work until 1PM, and then I spent the rest of the day at a car dealership signing paperwork for a new car. Very exciting.

With that said, I didn't get home until late, and I promptly passed out, lol.

Next week I'll come back with the Giveaway.

And, hopefully, by December, I'll have more time to be nice to you all.

Hope everyone is well!

Your Dreams Are Not Your Own

...says the tag-line on Lisa McMann's Wake.

I finished this book today, and it was absolutely amazing. I'm a bigger fan of YA fiction because of this book. McMann truly has a wonderful story on her hands, and I'm so glad my friend recommended this for me. I can't wait to read the second book ((I'm pretty sure this is a series))!

Her writing style took some getting used to. I didn't hate it, but it seemed kind of bland at first. The more I read, though, the more I got sucked into the story. The character was just so engaging. The plot -- to me -- refreshing. And the voice was so real. I loved it.

For those of you unfamiliar with this book, it follows Janie Hannagan. From the time she was eight-years-old, she's been helplessly sucked into the dreams of those in close proximity to her. The more nightmarish the dream, the more difficult it is to pull herself out. It reveals the frustrations and tribulations she faces for being so different.

Cabel, a supporting character, is a total win. I love him. I think you will, too.

I still have many questions, which I hope Lisa answers for me in Fade. I'm going to order my hardcover copy off of Amazon right now. Wake, too, though I can't find the hardcover version. *grumbles* Anyway, I just can't wait to have them in my bookshelf.

The Sign for Drowning is a little slower going, as it's harder to read. Wake was a breeze, and just so engaging -- and again -- on my iPod which I can hide easier than a book while at work. But I feel like I'm finally coming along quite nicely.

In random, other news, I found out today I was named Honorable Mention in the 78th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition. Genre was Short Story. *smile* Pretty stoked.

Happy reading, everyone!

Winner!

On behalf of Buttercup and myself, we'd like to announce the winner of the October Giveaway.

*ahem*

Congratulations April of Good Books & Good Wine!!!! You'll receive Finger Lickin' Fifteen and Love Overboard by Ms. Evanovich.

And thank you all so much for entering! The book recommendations were fabulous! Be sure to check back on November 1st for the next one!



Life is hectic, so I don't have much to update on. I'm reading The Sign for Drowning by Rachel Stolzman & Wake by Lisa McMann. Both are pretty fabulous right now.

Right. So, I have homework waiting for me. I gotta get that accomplished.

Happy reading everyone!

Congrats again, April!

Awards and Such

First, allow me to plug myself: my second giveaway ends tonight at 11:59PM (EST). Thanks to all of you who have already entered! You're fabulous.

Next, I need to show off/pass along some awards I've been holding. So thanks a ton to Misty for her supreme awesomeness. Check out her blog, will you?

This award is simply to be passed

along to those who have given me awards.

With that said, here ya go!

Jessica @ Desparado Penguin

Amy @ My Overstuffed Bookshelf

Rachy @ Parajunkee's View

The following awards, much to my chagrin, are commenting awards;

since I haven't commented on blogs in a while

I feel like a turd, especially since I'm

only now putting them up on my blog.

Yes, I am a loser.

So, anyway, the following will receive both blogs.

Snatch away!

Jessica @ Desparado Penguin
Rosie @ Books and Bakes
Amy @ My Overstuffed Bookshelf
Erica @ Soon Remembered Tales

Enjoy the awards!

Moving along: midterms are over. I'm almost through with the semester. Yay! I can't wait for winter break; I plan to sit around, drink hot chocolate, and read endlessly. When I'm not at work, that is.

I'm almost finished with The Twisted Window by Lois Duncan, which is really good so far. It was written in the 70s, but aside from a few minor details, I can't really tell the time-frame. Which is really nice, in my opinion.

Next I'm going to read The Sign for Drowning. I'm super excited for that one. Anything pertaining to the deaf or deaf culture, I'm hooked.

After the semester, I'll get around to reading the other books I've started. Jessica gave me a really good idea: focus on the smaller books during the semester. I feel much less like a loser that way. *wink* I'm a bit of a slow reader anyway, so juggling papers, homework, and 200 page (at the most) books is a lot easier.

...and now it's time for me to do homework. Hope everyone is doing well!

Happy reading!