2011 Debut Author Challenge

I have decided to participate in this challenge for the first time this year the challenge is hosted by The Story Siren, I am super excited to be a part of this since I'm new to the blogging world. This is a great way to support all of the debut YA authors. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011- December 31, 2011. To find out more information click here. Everyone should join in on the fun, hurry the deadline to join is March 1, 2011.


Below are 8 that have been released in January and February that i'm dying to read:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
Haven by Kristi Cook
Darkness becomes her by Kelly Keaton
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

As additional books are released, I will add to my list. 12 is the minimum needed to complete the challenge.

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (1)

In My Mailbox is hosted weekly by The Story Siren. We highlight books we have received via bookstore, bookstore, or library. You can find out more here.

This week I purchased:

Storm Born By Richelle Mead
Thorn Queen By Richelle Mead
Magic Bites By Ilona Andrews
Graceling By Kristin Cashore


For Review:

Goddess Test By Aimee Carter
The Restorer  By Amanda Stevens



What did you get this week?

Lovely Blog Award

I wanted to thank, Theresa at JustNookit for giving me my first award. Thanks so much! I'm super excited about it.

In order to accept the award you have to follow a few rules:

 

1. Thank the person who gave them to you and link back to their blog.

2. Post 7 random facts about yourself

3. Pick 15 other blogs to pass the award onto.

7 FACTS

1.    I am married and have two kids.

2.    First book I picked up after ten years of not reading was Twilight (2010).

3.    Hate Cooking!

4.    Spend way too much time in front of a computer.

5.    Attend school part-time

6.    First time blogging and using Twitter although I have had an account for years.

7.    Just bought a DSLR camera and spend the weekends trying to figure out how to use it.

And the award goes to (no specific order):

1. justnookingaround

2. heavenisabookstore

3. Justnookit

4. coffeetablepress

5. Thecaitfiles

6. kelseyannesbookblog

7. paperbacktreasures

8. alicewhiteblogs

9. chickloveslit

10.  thenovelaffair

11. thebookvixen

12. nakeshabrown

13. The Book Geek

14. bookscompleteme

15. book-in-hand



 

On My Wishlist (1)

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. This is where I list all of the books that I am dying to read but haven't been able to purchase yet. The books can be new releases or old books that you just found. If you want to know more click here.

River Marked (Mercedes Thompson #6)
Patricia Briggs
Release Date: March 1, 2011

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help…

Unearthly
Cynthia Hand
Release: January 4, 2011

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .
Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart. 


There's a ton more books that I would love to add but i'll leave some for next week. Today I'm going to visit the local used bookstore, let's see what treasures I find today. Feel free to comment and leave your blog link so I can check out your wishlist.

   

Today's questions: 

 

Q. Share your current fav television show! Tell us a bit about it...

I have way to many favorites shows to pick just one, My husband and I have a schedule of shows we watch starting on Sunday, sad I know it's a miracle we get anything done during the week. But, if I have to choose one I would say it's Shameless on Showtime it's awesome! It is based on an English show with the same name where the father (who is a complete ahole) and does not support his family at all takes his social security checks and drinks the entire thing at the local bar while he leaves 6 kids at home to fend for themselves. I love the show because the oldest kid (Fiona who is 21) works really hard trying to keep the family together while struggling to pay the bills and trying to act her age. The family really works together without their father to try to build some kind of semblance of a normal home. If you haven't watched it you should definitely try it out.


I'm a newbie to Follow Friday so hopefully I did this write. Leave a comment and follow my blog and I'll return the love :) 



Review: Any Man of Mine

I have to admit that I’ve never read a Rachel Gibson novel before I received this ARC. I am glad I was given a chance to read this story, it was fun, entertaining, and heart breaking at times.

The story is about Autumn Haven who has just experienced the tragic loss of her mother, she doesn’t know her father, and her brother is in the Navy and is deployed. After arranging the funeral, packing up the last of her mother’s belongings, and selling the house. She decides that she needs a vacation to help her deal with everything. She books a one week vacation to the beautiful Las Vegas where she meets trouble (a handsome hockey player named Sam) and this is where her life changes forever.
This book was compelling and captured my attention the entire book because I could relate to the characters. Things weren’t too farfetched where you might say that never happens. Everything Autumn, Sam, and Connor went through are things that regular people deal with on a daily basis. Autumn’s character really grew through trial and error,and she learned the hardest lesson of all forgiveness.It teaches you that the choice you make always has consequences whether it’s good or bad.

Rachel Gibson has an excellent way of writing a story where you feel the character’s emotion. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone I know. I think I just found my new favorite contemporary romance author.

Teaser Tuesday

Happy Tuesday! So this is the first time I am participating in a Teaser Tuesday and I think the idea is awesome.
Here are the rules:
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"I might be dumb," I told him putting my nose against his silk tie, "but I'm not that dumb. I've gotcha now, and you aren't getting away."

"Silver Borne" By Patricia Briggs

One Woman Mission

As I said in my profile it's been at least 10 years since i've picked up a book. Really I have no excuse for ignoring my love of reading, but life happens and then you forget about the little things that make you smile.

Last year I was able to catch up with an old friend that I haven't spoken to in forever. We played catch up with late night calls, emails and yahoo messenger. She was the person who brought it to my attention how much I loved to read after all this was a common interest that we both shared. She was the sole reason I found the goodreads site as well as a few other sites for us "book lover enthusiast" and now I can't turn my addiction to books off. Who knew that in the 10 years that I have been on hiatus that there were so many great books written. So I want to send a big "Thank You" to my friend because without you I wouldn't have been able to rekindle my love of books.

So this is my journey to the land of imagination, where you may cry, smile, and laugh about the stories that you read. As I read each book I will update my blog with a review of the book, hopefully I will get some great suggestions for books along the way but for now, I have a list of 100 books that are marked to be read. Till next time!