Monday Wrap Up [1]

I've decided that as part of my attempt to get organized on the blog this year, that I'd post a weekly round up of my posts from the previous week, and mention what's coming up in the following one. Only way I can mention stuff coming up, is if it's already sorted, or half sorted at least! So I'm hoping this idea will help me stay ahead of myself and also give you guys an easy look at anything you may have missed over the past week as well. So welcome to my first Monday Wrap Up!

Sunday Jan 2nd: Review of Crave by Melinda Metz and Laura J. Burns. This was a book that went straight to my heart. It's a fantastic YA vampire story, with a nice twist in that it's the human girl who needs blood. Highly recommend you check this one out!

Monday Jan 3rd: Review of My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey. The first book in the Drake Chronicles series really won me over with it's sassy and sometimes serious nature.

Tuesday Jan 4th: a release day post for Unearthly by Cynthia Hand. Includes the trailer and a link to my review and I basically tell *coughordercough* you all to go buy it ;)

Wednesday Jan 5th: Nayuleska shares some Anime and Manga recommendations. I confess I've never tried either, but I'm happy that Nayu can speak to any of my readership who do :)

Thursday 6th Jan: Mini review of Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen. This is a ghost story where I found the side characters stood out a little better than the main character. For me at least, but it's still a really good read and I'd recommend it.

Friday 7th Jan: Another mini review, this one of Circle of Fire by Keri Arthur. The first book of her Damask Circle trilogy won me over easily, I loved it.
I also posted a little mention of the slightly edited blog design. Which after about 4 or 5 different headers, I'm finally very, very happy with! I hope you guys like it as well, but if you don't, I've no problem with that feedback either!

Saturday 8th Jan: In My Mailbox [14] - aka the week I lost my head and broke my credit card ;) I did though, get LOTS of exciting titles!

Sunday 9th January: Blog Tour for Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling. Contains the trailer and my review of the book, which I loved! I'm not often a fan of fantasy (urban fantasy I adore though!) but this one had me won over within a couple of chapters. Fantastic book!

This coming week will see me reviewing:
Secrets of the Demon by Diana Rowland. The third Kara Gillian book, which is awesome but with an infuriating huge cliff hanger! (review coming later today)
Shadowspell by Jenna Black. The second book in the Faeriewalker series, which would be pretty perfect, if not for a few issues with the romantic plot.
Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey. The second book in the Drake Chronicles series is one I liked, but didn't love as much as book 1, My Love Lies Bleeding [Hearts at Stake in the US].

Reading wise this week I'm hoping to manage Entangled by Cat Clarke, Forsaken by Jana Oliver and One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen, as well as finishing my current read of Green-Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells.

Should be a good week! Hope you all have a good one too :)

Blog Tour: Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf

Goodreads
Series Website
Series: Wereworld #1
Copy obtained: review copy from publisher
Release date: Jan 6th 2011
Publisher: Puffin
Rating: 4.5/5
Challenges: BBC 2011, DAC 2011

"You are the last of the werewolves. Don't fight it, son; embrace it. Conquer in."

When the air is clear, sixteen-year-old Drew Ferran can pick up the scent of a predator. When the moon breaks through the clouds, a terrifying fever grips him. And when a vicious beast invades his home, his flesh tears, his fingers become claws and Drew transforms . . .

Forced to flee the family he loves, Drew seeks refuge in the most godforsaken parts of Lyssia. But when he is captured by Duke Bergan's men, Drew must prove he is not the enemy.

Can Drew battle the werecreatures determined to destroy him - and master the animal within?

I must confess that I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy this book. I thought it sounded good, and that I'd likely consider it a decent read, just maybe not for me. Turned out, I loved it! I'm a huge urban fantasy fan, but rarely a fantasy one. But Drew had me won over in a very short space of time.

Drew is a strong character, but events early in the book take a tole on his confidence and leave him seeming more vulnerable and a little younger than he actually is. Yet despite this, he proves himself over and over to be tough, capable and loyal. I loved watching him grow and change as the book went on and see him really find his feet again. There is a very good supporting cast of characters as well, be they the good guys or bad, they all have their specific characteristics that really jump off the page at you.

There is some impressive world building here as well. It's a vivid story, one that has as much horror to it as fantasy, with plenty of action. And pretty much every scene jumps off the page at you. I could see almost the whole story playing out like a movie in my head as I was reading it, right down to camera angles some times! Very unusual for me to see a book played out so clearly, normally characters are my focus, but the scene was just as easy to picture. I love the set up with the various were creatures and all the mythology involved with it. It's a book rich in description of events past and present but never at the cost of the pacing of the book. I found it very hard to put down and just kept turning the pages because I had to find out what happened next.

The first half of he book has a steady pace, not slow by any means as plenty happens, but it does take a real up turn at the halfway point where the tension and danger increases rapidly. And so does the horror aspect I have to say! It's not excessivly graphic but it still gives enough to cause some chills. Not that that's a bad thing. I really enjoyed the dark gritty nature to Rise of the Wolf. Despite the painful events Drew, and the others he meets along his journey face, there is a definite lack of angst. Plenty of emotion to make the characters seem real but never over done either. Which makes it all the more of a pleasure to read!

This is a fantastic start to a new series! It's written in third person and for once that's something I loved. Rise of the Wolf is such a well rounded story, both in plot and with the characters. I loved the world building and could happily have stayed lost in Drew's world for much longer! It's got an actioned packed and intense ending, and despite it not having a true cliff hanger, I was left wishing book 2 was out already. Great read and one I highly recommend!!

Also, go check out the blogs taking part in the 'Were-Creation' for this tour, it starts over at Wondrous Reads.

In My Mailbox [14]

In My Mailbox is a weekly post hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Apologies for sound quality, used the living room cause of bad lighting in my room and wound up with terrible sound and only marginally better light *facepalm*


For review:
Green-Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells - Goodreads
Thanks to NetGalley!

Bought:
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - Goodreads // review
Secrets of the Demon by Diana Rowland - Goodreads
Shadowspell by Jenna Black - Goodreads
Entangled by Cat Clarke - Goodreads
Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves - Goodreads
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater - Goodreads
Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer - Goodreads // review
Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer - Goodreads
Alpha by Rachel Vincent - Goodreads // review
Grave Witch by Kalayna Price - Goodreads
Something Wicked by Michelle Rowen - Goodreads
Out For Blood by Alyxandra Harvey - Goodreads
Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Goodreads
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers - Goodreads
Crash Into Me by Albert Borris - Goodreads
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh - Goodreads
Crave by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz - Goodreads // review
Angelic by Kelley Armstrong - Goodreads

Mini Review: Circle of Fire by Keri Arthur

Goodreads
Keri Arthur's site
Series: Damask Circle trilogy #1
Copy obtained: gift
Rating: 4/5

Sixteen teenagers are taken from their homes. Eleven bodies recovered, each completely drained of blood. Some believe vampires are responsible, Jon Barnett knows it's something far worse and, while trying to stop the killers, he soon becomes enmeshed in a web of black magic and realises he needs help. But fate gives him only one choice.

Recluse Madeline Smith is afraid of the abilities she cannot control. But when she is brought a warning of danger and her nephew goes missing, Maddie must learn to overcome this fear - and place her trust in Jon. But as the search for the teenagers becomes a race against time, the greatest danger to them both could be the feelings they refuse to acknowledge.

I've read and enjoyed Keri's Riley Jenson series so I thought I'd give this one a go as well as it sounded interesting. And I really enjoyed it!! It's very different from her Riley books, not nearly as sassy and far, far less sex (which personally, I find a bonus cause there was too much sex in the early Riley books for my tastes). It's got a grimmer feel to it and a constant foreboding that had me hooked from the start. I loved the two main characters, Jon and Maddie, their differences and the chemistry between them. The book is written in third person, from both of their points of view, meaning we get a chance to really get to know both better which I enjoyed.

Plot wise it's very good as well. It's not the fastest plot, but it's certainly engaging and hard to put down. I really liked the world building, with the different paranormal aspects and how they fit in to the story. I liked the growth of the story, how it unfolded as it went on. At the start things happened quite suddenly and I had a couple minor WTH?! moments. But it quickly smoothed out and became a really great read. To be honest, this is, in many ways, more to my tastes than the Riley Jenson series, which I do love as well. I loved the ending. Very intense and while it answered a lot of questions, it didn't wrap things up too neatly leaving nothing to the imagination. It was a very satisfying ending. I know the other two books in the trilogy focus on different people, so I'm curious to see what they're like. But I certainly think the writing and story here are excellent so hopefully they'll be just as good!!

New Design

Had a play around with the blog design and wound up coming back to something similar to before. Would love opinions on it, good or bad, along with any other feedback about what you do/don't like about the site! Please be honest, I don't mind you saying you hate it :)

Mini Review: Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

Goodreads
Mara Purnhagen's site
Series: Past Midnight #1
Copy obtained: bought it
Rating: 3.5/5

"I don't believe in ghosts. Unfortunately, they believe in me...


Let me set the record straight. My name is Charlotte Silver and I'm not one of those paranormal-obsessed freaks you see on TV...no, those would be my parents, who have their own ghost-hunting reality show. And while I'm usually roped into the behind-the-scenes work, it turns out that I haven't gone unnoticed. Something happened on my parents' research trip in Charleston - and now I'm being stalked by some truly frightening other beings. Trying to fin into a new school and keeping my parents' creepy occupation a secret from my friends - and potential boyfriends - is hard enough without having angry spirits whispering in my ear. All I ever wanted was to be normal, but with the ghosts of my past and present colliding, now I just want to make it out of high school alive."

I really liked this book, more so than I first thought I would. The book kind of has two main plots, the one involving Charlotte and the ghosts haunting her, and the other involving Charlotte's new friend at school, Avery. Personally, I enjoyed the storyline with Avery more than the ghosts-attacking-Charlotte one. I don't really know why, but I certainly had more sympathy in that part of the story than when the focus was more specifically on Charlotte. I liked the writing and the ideas, it's a little spooky and it has some very funny moments as well. It also very nearly had me in tears a couple of times. There is, as you could expect with a book about ghosts, a fair bit of grief, but it also has a heavy focus on moving on, on dealing with that grief and living, which I really liked.

Charlotte is easy enough to relate to with her insecurities and desperate desire to fit in. But she also has a tendency to hide from her problems and hope they go away. She's quite passive and while that's her personality (and something she's working on, at least a little) I found it a bit frustrating at times. I prefer stronger characters who really go after things. But as it was her personality, and it's not a book heavy on angst despite the issues, I could get past it and keep going with her. And it's worth it because Past Midnight is a really good read! There are some really great moments and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next in book 2, One Hundred Candles (out in Feb).

Manga and anime list!

Today's blog post from me is a little different. It isn't a book review. It is in relation to my 2011 Manga Reading Challenge. People have asked for recommendations, so I sent an email out. I thought that it might be nice to post it here, to help introduce people to the wider world of manga and anime. There is an anime/manga suitable for everyone - there are funny ones, violent ones, steam punk ones. Hope you enjoy the selection, and let me know if you get to read/watch any! 

I'm glad that I'm able to help give suggestions over some manga to read. Magic Bean, seems like you already like the genre with Fruits Basket! 

Here is a list of the manga I think you'll enjoy. Now, I haven't read most of them - I've only really watched the anime. The ones I have read are in Japanese so are taking me a bit longer to read :) As far as I'm aware, I believe most can be bought on Amazon uk. 

The first one I'd like to introduce you to is the Aria series. This is one of my absolute favourite anime/manga of all time. As you can see in the wiki link, it is set on a world in the future, which is similar (in a few ways) to Venice in Italy. I loved how female orientated the show is. It's an idealistic world where there is no violence, no crime, although there is quite a bit of paranormal activity - some of the anime is really freaky, (only 2-3 episodes). It's sweet how the president of the gondolier companies is a cat - they each  have their own individuality. The girls form a close friendship between themselves and also with their mentors. They experience the trials of life, about working hard, and also how to deal with people. 

Then there is Angelic Layer. This is the first anime I ever bought, and also the first manga I ever bought. I loved it because Misaki is plunged into a world of fighting dolls that she's never experienced before. Little does she know that her mother is the champion. I can't quite remember the manga, but it's a little different to the anime (most are, most follow a slightly different storyline or take plot elements in different angles). I particularly like it because Misaki's mother is dealing with chronic illness. In this I think the anime is quite different (don't quote me on this). In the anime you get to see flashes of what life was like for her mother before she went away to the city. I'm in tears every time I watch it. I cry over the last episode when the two fight each other through their dolls. And yes, I wish we could have Angelic Layer dolls!  

Another all time favourite (I have many!) is Read or Die the TV series (not sure why they added the last bit, but they did). It's about a group of non-related sisters who are detectives. Their secret weapon is paper! Each has an individual skill which aids them on their adventures with a novelist :) The anime is extremely cool, and the manga follows a slightly different story line (still with the same information). I remember there is one or two blushable scenes in both the anime and the manga (...personally neither were necessary but there you go) otherwise like Aria & Angelic Layer, it is relatively clean content-wise and little/no swearing. 

The anime I'm reading at the moment is Maria Watches Over us. This follows the life of girls at a Catholic school in Japan, where most take on a little sister (by giving them the older sister's rosary). It is a funny anime, sort of like Aria in the friendships, really exploring all the trials of being human. Unlike Aria the world isn't perfect and confusion and misunderstanding happens (and people get emotionally hurt). I haven't read all the manga yet (Japanese version). The anime touches briefly on girl-girl relationships (very briefly with the odd romance scene, tastefully done). I think the manga explores this in a little more detail, but again I haven't read them all so can't comment on that. Um, just looked for it on Amazon and can't find the Manga! Still a good anime to check out! 

Elemental Gelade is another all time favourite. I think its because I love the power that Ren has (and her outfits). The whole concept of a species of girls turning into weapons is pretty neat. Cou is a bit dense in the anime and makes a lot of mistakes - leading to him and Ren parting ways for a little bit. But his heart is in the right place, and he is determined to help Ren reach her destination. I've gone and ordered the manga to read for this/next month! 

For an indepth and quite emotional anime/manga series, try Haibane Remnei. These girls with halos and wings are 'born' into the world in an egg full of watery substance. I haven't read the manga, but I adore the anime. It follows Rakka from her birth in Old Home (where she lives). In some places it is quite dark in the issues it looks at. There are a lot of light moments, although you will need tissues when some of the girls leave the world. I hope to read the manga this year :) I like the concept of how the girls (and boys in the other areas) help out the town by taking on jobs for them, how they in turn can 'buy' things using their reward books. 

Someday's Dreamers is another growing up anime/manga, this time involving magic! Yume is undergoing magic training in the city. She ends up living with her instructor, who is male (she thought he was female). The magic used in the anime is pretty cool - and hard work. Yume learns that magic requests can't always be fulfilled or that sometimes they just won't work. Haven't read the manga, but intend to :) 

Sakura Wars is a classic anime and manga. It was hugely popular in Japan (I think it got its own stage production). I love how the girls get to fight in giant robots (well, sentient robots) which give them powers. The anime can be quite dark - it's tough fighting evil and putting on performances for the public as a theatre company (their cover story). Sakura is dedicated in her sword fighting (and really good at it). She tends to rush into things, and always tries to put her wrongs right. It takes a long while for the rest of the troup to warm to her. I haven't read the anime. 

Fruits Basket is a very well known anime/manga in Japan. There are an awful lot of volumes to it (over 20). It involves the 12 animals of the Japanese zodiac, plus the cat. Members of the family change to their creature when they are hugged by a member of the opposite gender. It proves hilarious as they try to keep it a secret from Tohru, who ends up living with them and falling in love with Kyo, the cat. 

Gunslinger girl is another favourite of mine. I would place it at Young Adult range, just for the issues it covers. Young girls who suffer severe psychological and physical trauma are taken by the agency and turned into assassins. They train under the care of a handler. Not all handlers like their charges, but some give them presents. The weapons the girls get to use are pretty neat (for some reason I love weapons :) Must be because I love video games!). They aren't perfect and they do make mistakes. Sometimes it is because they get emotional - something the agency would rather they didn't do. The anime is rather violent, often sad and also emotionally touching. I hope to read the manga this year. 

Another awesome anime/manga series (there are so many!) is Shakugan no Shana. I've seen the anime, and I'm going to be starting the light novels (a type of novel in Japan, there is manga for it too). This anime is really indepth. There are lots of elements to it, ones which I'm still unraveling on my 3rd/4th time of watching it. Shana is funny - initially she's focused on her work and doesn't care for Yuji. Over time as he helps her out, she does begin to care for him. She gets jealous if he pays attention to other girls at school. This is a confusing time for Shana, because that's not how a Flame Haze should behave. I love the power she has, how her hair goes form black to read (with sparks) when she transforms. I love Alastor, who gives her good advice and also helps Yuji too. There is some blushable content. 

Azumanga Daioh is a funny anime/manga series, following the lives of girls at school. There is a child genius among them, who they all love and get to know well. Two of the teachers are friends and rivals - which makes sports day a very entertaining time. There are heaps of laughs in the anime - especially when one of the teacher drives them around. I love it for the humour, and for the trials and happiness friendships have. Content wise there are a few borderline scenes (blushable), and I haven't read the manga, but otherwise it's pretty gentle. 

Other manga worth a mention: 

Strawberry Marshmallow: follows the life of a group of girls as they grow up (and try to get an older sister to quit smoking) - it's cute and funny. Sadly the anime is currently very pricey so I've only read some of the manga. 

Yotsuba& is a brilliant manga. It is so funny, the girl with green hair (on the front covers) is quite simple in some respects, and acts as though she might not be from this world. It's a great manga to read if you're learning Japanese because the language isn't overly complex and it touches on all areas of every day life. It hasn't been made into an anime, and probably won't be. It is available in English - I first read it from my local library. 

Anime that hasn't been turned into manga (that I know of) 

Last Exile. There is so much to this anime. It is steam punk, and follows two childhood friends who come across the young girl Avi on a mission. They try and protect her, which places them in lots of danger and leads them to discover the truth of the Guild who dominate the skies. 

Noir. I love this anime. It belongs in the same category as Gunslinger girl, but is about two girls whose paths cross. Both are expert assassins, one by choice, the other by accident. Kirika has amnesia, and doesn't know who she is or why she is so good with weapons. Mirielle is determined to kill Kirika when they eventually discover Kirika's identity (yeah, not the friendliest of girls...). They are constantly persued by those who wish to kill them. Their meeting turns out not to be accidental, and there are some pretty major plot revelations. What I like so much is the different skills the girls have. They are pretty inventive in how they protect themselves, and their fighting moves are slick. They use anything at their disposal, especially if they don't have weapons to hand (including a fork. A normal eating fork.). It's pretty violent, and I adore the theme tune Canta per Me (or something like that). Highly recommend it. There are a few blushable scenes.

Out Today: Unearthly

Unearthly is the debut novel from Cynthia Hand. It's beautiful and stunning and was quite possibly my favourite read of 2010! It's just...damn freaking perfect. I couldn't get enough of it and I'm dying for book 2! Anyway, today is Unearthly's official US and Aus release, so I wanted to mention it. Because if this book is not on your radar it damn well should be!! I know there are a lot of angel centric YA books around now, but this is seriously the best of them. Check out my review for why I'm so in love with it. See the trailer and blurb below, then GO BUY IT!!!

UK rights have sold for it (yippee!) so UKer's will easily be able to get their hands on it in a few months (I believe it's slated for a May release from Egmont). Or, you could be sensible and order it right now from Book Depository who ship to 90+ countries for free.

"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?"

I rarely push books so hard as I am this one, but I'm doing it for a reason, because to me, this book really stands out in the YA paranormal genre, let alone in the angels sub-genre. It's a seriously incredible debut.

My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey

Goodreads
Authors Website
Alternate title: Hearts at Stake (US)
Series: Drake Chronicles book #1
Copy obtained: gift (thanks Sis!)
Rating: 4/5

"They're close," she murmured. "Watching."
"Run?" I suggested. "Like right now?"
She shook her head
"If we act like prey, they'll act like predators."


Solange has always known she is a vampire. And as the only female vampire ever born, not initiated, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from other vampire tribes who want to take her blood into their lineage, and from the bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family.
When she is kidnapped, it's up to her elder brother Nicholas, and best friend, Lucy, to save her.
But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who temps her with every look - what will be her own fate if she surrenders her heart to a vampire.

I wasn't actually too sure what to expect from this book before I read it. I only knew that a few bookish peeps I chat with really enjoy the series and it's about vampires so I figured it was worth a try. I ended up really loving My Love Lies Bleeding! It's told in first person, from alternating points of view from Lucy and Solange which made for a great way to tell the story and show more of what was going on.

Solange is a vampire, or will be when she completes the 'bloodchange' on her 16th birthday (which is just a few days away at the start of the book). Lucy is human. They've been best friends virtually their whole lives and there aren't any real secrets between the two. Solange is the youngest Drake sibling, she's got 7 older brothers all of whom are over protective of her. But she's determined to fight whether they want her to or not, and she'll do whatever it takes to protect them. Lucy won't sit on the sidelines either, human and vulnerable or not.

Lucy is so full of sass she had me laughing out loud within pages. Her and Nicholas, the youngest Drake brother, have a very antagonistic relationship which is very entertaining. And while Lucy and Solange (and the boys at times) are prone to daft teenage moments and hormone induced craziness, it's of the very entertaining variety, not irritating at all. And while there are several laugh out loud moments, there is still a very serious side to the story as well. My heart was racing with the tension and danger at times. And a little at the romance as well I have to say! I love that the romance is a side plot though. It gets plenty of page time, but never takes over the story and nor does it feel like the book looses focus because of it either.

It's a pretty fast paced book with some great twists along the way. For the most part I found it a really good, very enjoyable, fun read. It's a very lively, vibrant book. The different personalities of the Drake family and Lucy seriously jump off the page at you and there is some great mythology thrown in as well. I did find I got confused about the various 'groups' that existed, with the different types of vampires and hunters. But I found that actually, it didn't matter too much to keep it all straight because you could easily see who was for/against the Drakes and that was what really mattered. Loved it and really looking forward to reading the rest of the series now!

New Year's Reading Resolutions Giveaway Hop!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!! WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY.




New Year's Reading Resolutions Giveaway Hop is being hosted by Candace's Book Blog, Pure Imagination and Reading Angel and runs between Jan 3rd until Jan 9th midnight EST.

This is a week long giveaway hop in which MASSES of book blogs are taking part giving readers the chance to win lots of books and book related stuff! Check out the full linky list of participating blogs below my giveaway details or visit any of the hosting blogs from the links above. Before the giveaway details though...

My New Years Reading/Bookish Resolutions

 - Make my TBR pile smaller!! This is my TBR stack at present:

Plus the titles on my Kindle not yet read, and add in all the 2011 releases I'm after (Amazon wishlist of them currently 80+), plus any extra review titles and all the other 2011 releases I'll want that aren't listed/on my radar yet...you get the idea O_O
 - Buy fewer books!! Okay, with all the awesome sounding books coming out this year, this could well be tricky, but I want that TBR pile under control, and if I just keep buying more books, that won't happen!! Also, I really can't afford it. I was so broke in 2010 cause I just kept buying books. And then they'd sit there for weeks or months untouched (not always, obviously, but still). And I need to stop buying double copies just for prettier covers or whatever as well!!
 - Learn to not force myself to finish a book I'm not enjoying - I'm not good at DNF's. I keep reading because I always think a book/series should be finished once it's started. I will drop a series if it gets too bad, but mostly I just keep going and it's stupid cause really, there are too many other books out there I could be reading and loving!
 - Schedule reviews - I tend to just write a review and post it, but this is something that's not working for me now, health wise, because it's not giving me the flexibility (or letting me feel like I've got the flexibility) to do what I need to to take care of me some times. I'm sometimes forcing myself to write reviews (or other posts) because I think I need the content when really I should be resting. So I want to stay ahead of myself and have reviews/posts scheduled so that when I do have bad days/weeks (and there were a LOT in 2010) I don't feel like I need to do anything more than spend the day in bed resting.

The Giveaway!

I'm offering a copy/pre-order of one of the following 2011 debuts (all of which I've read and loved) to one winner!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to you!! Please check this list here to be sure!
To enter, you MUST fill out your name (or alias) and email address in the form below.
Extra entries:
+1 for being a follower (old or new)
+1 for tweeting (must leave the link! Won't count otherwise)
Max entries you can get: 3
Multiple entries will be deleted!
Giveaway closes at midnight Jan 9th EST. Winner will be picked via Random.org notified and announced on the blog on Jan 10th. Winner will have 48 hours to reply or I will choose another winner.


Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to know some of your New Year's resolutions, bookish and otherwise! And be sure to check out more of the great giveaways going on: