Mini Reviews (VII)

Mini Reviews of non-vampire books I have read recently.

Princess Mia - Meg Cabot
A princess on her own . . .

Mia has been invited to speak at a gala for Domina Rei, an elite society of powerful businesswomen. But what could she possibly have to say? Now that Michael has broken things off, Mia can barely get out of bed, and her parents are making her see a therapist. School, where Lilly still refuses to speak to her and Lana suddenly wants to be bff, is a total nightmare. Even J.P.'s efforts to cheer Mia up (he's being really sweet!) aren't helping. What's a royal to do?

Just when things couldn't get worse, Mia uncovers an old family secret, a long-forgotten diary of a teenage princess of Genovia. It could be just the thing to help Mia write her speech - but it might also change the fate of the Renaldos forever.

Poor Mia, life as a princess really isn't easy! Her grandmother wants her to continue her princess duties and her friends want to cheer her up, but after her and Michael's break-up all Mia wants to do is to lay in bed and sleep. In this book Cabot addresses the topic of depression and therapy lightly and instructively. While it isn't the funniest book to read, it's an educative and necessary topic. Rating: 3 0f 5



Forever Princess - Meg Cabot
What's a Princess to do?

It's Mia's senior year, and things seem great. She aced her senior project, got accepted to her dream college(s), and has her birthday gala coming up . . . not to mention prom, graduation, and Genovia's first-ever elections.

What's not to love about her life? Well . . .

Her senior project? It's a romance novel she secretly wrote, and no one wants to publish it. Prince Phillipe's campaign in the Genovian elections isn't going well, thanks to her totally loathsome cousin René, who decided to run against him. Her boyfriend, J.P., is so sweet and seemingly perfect. But is he the one? And her first love, Michael, is back from Japan . . . and back in her life.

With Genovia's and her own future hanging in the balance, Mia's got some decisions to make: Which college? Which guy? How can she choose? Especially when what she decides might determine not just the next four years, but . . . forever!

Forever Princess is the 10th and final book in the Princess Diaries series. And even though Mia was a bit naive and wimpy throughout the book, she still did the right things and got her happily ever after in the end! A good conclusion to a fun series. Rating: 4 of 5

Saddled With Trouble - Michele Scott
A series of a different color: the first Horse Lover's mystery.

Quarter horse trainer Michaela Bancroft's husband is divorcing her for a 22 year-old beauty. Stunned, Michaela is trying to rein in her life when she finds her Uncle Lou murdered. And when she's nearly run off the road, she suspects she's on the fast track to being the next victim.

A book full of mysteries, secrets and relationships! This well-written mystery kept my guessing about the murderer until the very last pages! Rating: 4 of 5

Eurovision Song Contest

Last night, the 55th Eurovision Song Contest took place in Oslo, Norway.
The Eurovision Song Contest is probably the largest music competition in the world, and also one of the longest running television shows. Over the years lots of artists have competed in the contest, among those ABBA, Celine Dion, Johnny Logan and T.A.T.U.

This year, 39 European countries participated in the contest, and Lena from Germany won. So, Germany will host the Eurovision Song Contest next year. Here's the winning song, not my favorite though!



But, what I wanted to show you was this:
An European flash mob! The flash mob begins with the audience in the arena, and spreads all across Europe. Live! Cool, huh? Get up and dance! :)

In My Mailbox (week 21)

* Created by the Story Siren *

Won from Teens Read and Write:

Gossip Girl: Because I'm Worth It - Cecily von Ziegesar
Everyone who's anyone in New York City is suffering from post-college-application cabin fever and it's time to run a little wild! Could it be that Serena is smitten with Blair's stepbrother or will the Fashion Week parties pull her away from any attempt at true love? Dan and Vanessa are mad about each other and pursuing their creative dreams -- but be careful of what you wish for. Nate hits an all-time low as Blair's Yale interview with a tall, handsome alum takes an unexpected turn and Jenny makes a new friend who gets a little too close for comfort. And just who is going to get into college early acceptance? Wintertime has never been hotter in NYC as things steam up all over Fifth Avenue.



Won from Micol Ostow:

S.A.S.S. Girl Overboard - Aimee Ferris
Swimsuit: check. Flip-flops: check. scuba gear: check. leaving behind a longtime boyfriend:
not so easy. Marina has been waiting her whole life to get out on the open sea. And now that she’s studying abroad on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean, her dreams are finally coming true. she loves the feel of the sun on her face, the sand between her toes, and the island music swaying over her. And even better, she’s getting hands-on marine biology experience swimming alongside dolphins in the bahamas, sharks in the bay islands, and sea turtles in the Dominican republic! but while her experiences tell her she’s in exactly the right place, her boyfriend wants her home in vermont. And her distractingly cute Aussie boatmate couldn’t disagree more. As the island heat rises, Marina must decide once and for all where her heart is—on land or at sea.


S.A.S.S. Heart and Salsa - Suzanne Nelson
Cat Wilcox has left chilly Boston for sunny Mexico and a summer of girl bonding with her best friend, Sabrina. But Sabrina has a surprise. She is accompanied by her boyfriend—a boyfriend Cat didn't even know existed. So rather than Sabrina and Cat spending their study-abroad semester working together at the orphan school building site, Cat expects she'll be hammering nails all by her lonesome. Then she meets Aidan. He's cute, he's smart, and he's paying her a lot of attention. Cat can't tell if he's flirting or friendly, but she's not sure it matters. Isn't it easier to be just friends? But this is enchanted Mexico and, between hiking in the rain forest, diving off waterfalls, and finishing the orphan center, it's going to take a little bit of salsa spirit, and a lot of heart, for Cat to make it through the summer unchanged.

What did you get this week?

Contests around the Blogosphere

Win an ARC of Paranormalcy & Lips Touch @ Kiersten Writes!
Ends May 30.

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.

Doesn't this book sound awesome? And isn't that a beautiful cover??



Win a copy of Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey!
Ends May 31.

Win a pre-order of Tyger, Tyger @ A Fanatics Book Blog
Ends May 31.

Win a signed copy of My Soul To Keep! @ Confessions of a Bookaholic
Two winners gets My Soul To Keep + Swag! Ends June 1.

50 Follower Giveaway @ Mel's Books and Info
Win Perchance to Dream, Infinity or the Tension of Opposites. Ends June 2.

Win Nail Polish! @ Imperfectly Painted
Ends June 4.

Win Prophecy of Days @ Pages
Win a copy of the book + bookmarks. Ends June 6.

Win a signed copy of Fairy Tale! @ Musings
Ends June 21.

Win Vampire Academy @ GAL Novelty
Ends June 22.

500 Followers Contest @ Shut Up! I'm Reading
3 US/Canadian Winners & 1 International Winner. Ends June 30.

Book Review: Insatiable

Title: Insatiable
Author: Meg Cabot
Release Date: June 8, 2010

Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future.

If she even has one.

My Review:
When I first heard that Meg Cabot was writing a vampire novel, I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical. My second thought, however, was "Hey, its Meg Cabot and vampires, this book is going to be amazing!" And it was.

Because no matter if Cabot writes about princesses, hobby detectives or witches, you can always expect a great story with a strong and independent heroin, a swoon-worthy hero (or two), and smooth and witty writing. Insatiable is no exception.

This book was written in third person perspective, instead of the first person perspective Cabot usually uses. Because of this it took a little while until I got to know, and connected with, the main characters. Since the book was written in alternating chapters, we followed the story from Meena, Lucien, Alaric, and Jon's points of view. So - you, as a reader, knew all secrets the characters kept from each other, their plans and what they were about to do, and you were just expectantly waiting for truths to be revealed, lies to be detected, and things to blow up in their faces. Which, trust me, they did.

So, did Cabot manage to create a believable vampire story? Yes indeed. Insatiable is marketed as "a modern sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula", and is loosely based on Stoker's novel. Cabot has however adapted it into her own story, changed some things, and kept some. And with Lucien she managed to create a classic vampire. He is charming and irresistible one moment, only to change into a dangerous, inhuman vampire the next. Meena knows that she has to stay away from him, but at the same time she can't resist him. She wants him to go, and she wants him to stay...

I also have to mention Mary Lou - my favorite subsidiary character. Loved her! She was breezy, easy-going and unbothered about everything that happened around her. Admirable!

Lastly, I wouldn't be surprised if readers divide into "Team Lucien" and "Team Alaric" after reading this book! :)

Rating: 4.5 of 5

Read more about the book (including excerpts) here. Look out for Insatiable in stores in June, and don't miss the sequel coming summer 2011!

Meme: 25 Things About Me

I have seen this meme on a few blogs (Flipping Pages For All Ages, Loves To Read For Fun and Loves to Read to name a few) and I thought it was a fun thing to do! So here you go, my answers:

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
Closed. I don't want my cat to jump in there and shed hairs all over my clothes!

2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels?
Usually.

3. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
Untucked. It's cozier that way ;)

4. Would you rather be attacked by a bear or a swarm of bees?
Ugh. Plague or cholera?

5. Do you have freckles?
Yep.

6. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Cajolers and false people

7. Have you ever peed in the woods?
Haha yes! I wouldn't recommend it though.

8. Do you ever dance if there’s no music playing?
I'm sure that has happened :p

9. Do you chew your pens and pencils?
Ew! No, I don't. And I hate when other people chew on my pencils!

10. Is it okay for guys to wear pink?
Some can pull it off.

11. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
Sweet and sour sauce, or curry sauce. If I don't have any of it - ketchup!

12. What is your favorite food?
Mexican :)

13. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
Fired Up! Step up and Bring it On movies. Also Harry Potter & Lord of the Rings.

14. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
No

15. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
If I was paid a looooot of money!

16. Can you change the oil on a car?
I suppose. Never done it though.

17. Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
Nope.

18. Ever ran out of gas?
No.

19. Are you lazy?
Sometimes, yes.

20. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?
An old man, a witch, a bus driver

21. How many languages can you speak?
Swedish, English and broken German

22.Who is better…Leno or Letterman?
I don't watch either show, so none of them.

23. Do you sing in the car?
If I'm alone - all the time!

24. Ever eat a pierogi?
Yes! As a matter of fact, I made some earlier this week!

25. First concert?
Markoolio (embarrassing!)

Waiting on Wednesday (5/26)

Title: Forgive My Fins
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Release Date: June 1, 2010

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Man, does this book sound good! Read the first chapters here, and you'll see what I mean. Awesome, right?

Add to Goodreads||Pre-order from the Book Depository

Mini Reviews (VI)

Mini Reviews of a few great books I have read recently!


Going Too Far - Jennifer Echols
When bad girl Meg is arrested for walking on a railroad bridge, the cop who arrested her, John, decides to punish her. Instead of going on vacation with her friends during spring break, Meg has to ride nights with John in his police car. Meg and John are so much unlike - Meg can't wait to move away from her home town, while John is determined to stay and protect and serve in the same city his whole life, - but at the same time very much alike. They're both have a valid reason for their choices, and they both keep secrets from each other. While Meg and John spend time together they're provoking each other and are constantly questioning the other person's choices. And at the same time they're getting to know each other very well... This book was really good, and if you haven't read it yet, I suggest you do so immediantly - you're going to love it! :)

Rating: 5++ of 5



The Alpha Bet - Stephanie Hale
When 16-year old Grace Kelly is starting college, she sees it as a chance to improve herself. All her life she's been following her mums will; she's been an excellent student with no social life. But when she gets the chance to be a member of the Alphas, the most exclusive sorority on campus, GK is determined to make the cut. But - as Grace Kelly soon is about to find out - the road from Geek to Greek is full of obstacles and lies. Can Grace Kelly reach her goal, without hurting the people she cares about? And, is Grace Kelly really turning into a better person?

The Alpha Bet was a great book! It was fun, had great characters, and I loved the idea of the Alpha Bet tasks. This book was filled with drama, laughter, pranks, great friendship and . . .lies.
Grace Kelly was a person I could identify myself with, and she was a great, realistic character. Read it!

Rating: 5 of 5



What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know - Sonya Sones
What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know was far from what I had expected. It was written in short poem style, for one. I've never been a big fan of books written in poems, but this book was unexpectedly easy to read! The pages flew by, and I finished it in just a couple of hours. The story was good, realistic and funny. We follow the ups and downs in Robin and Sophie's relationship, as well as Robin's personal development. If I understood it correctly, this is the sequel to What My Boyfriend Doesn't Know.

Rating: 3 of 5

Vampire of the Week

Vampire of the Week is a semi-weekly feature on my blog. For more information, go here. To see previous VoW's click here.

And today's Vampire of the Week is. . .

Pam!

Pam is a character in the Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse series written by Charlaine Harris. She is also a character in the television show based on the books, True Blood.

Pam was made into a vampire by Eric Northman, probably a few hundred years ago. She is now Eric's second-in-command and co-owner of Fangtasia (Eric's vampire bar).

Pam is, according to Sookie, one of very few vampires that actually has a sense of humour. She takes joy in teasing and provoking others, and she is always looking for material to tease Eric with.

Pam is played by Kristin Bauer.

In My Mailbox (week 20)

IN MY MAILBOX
* Created by The Story Siren *

Bought:

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far... and almost doesn't make it back.
John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge - and over...




For Review:

Insatiable by Meg Cabot
Sick of vampires? So is Meena Harper.

But her boss is making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn’t believe in them.

Not that Meena isn’t familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you’re going to die (not that you’re going to believe her; no one ever does).

But not even Meena’s precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side . . . a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire-hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.

The problem is, he already is dead. Maybe that’s why he’s the first guy Meena’s ever met that she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena’s always been able to see everyone else’s future, she’s never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future . . .

If she even has one.



From the library:

Soulless by Gail Carrager

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?




From Dead To Worse by Charlaine Harris
The supernatural community in Bon Temps, Louisiana, is reeling from two hard blows - the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the man-made horror of the explosion at the vampire summit the month before in the up-north city of Rhodes. Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, yearning for things to get back to normal. But that's just not happening. Too many vampires - some friends, some not - were killed or injured, and her weretiger boyfriend, Quinn, is among the missing." "It's clear that things are changing, whether the Weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie - friend of the pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, the leader of the local vampire community - is caught up in the changes." In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death... and, once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood flowing, her world will be forever altered.





Forever Princess by Meg Cabot
What's a Princess to do?

It's Mia's senior year, and things seem great. She aced her senior project, got accepted to her dream college(s), and has her birthday gala coming up . . . not to mention prom, graduation, and Genovia's first-ever elections.

What's not to love about her life? Well . . .

Her senior project? It's a romance novel she secretly wrote, and no one wants to publish it. Prince Phillipe's campaign in the Genovian elections isn't going well, thanks to her totally loathsome cousin René, who decided to run against him. Her boyfriend, J.P., is so sweet and seemingly perfect. But is he the one? And her first love, Michael, is back from Japan . . . and back in her life.

With Genovia's and her own future hanging in the balance, Mia's got some decisions to make: Which college? Which guy? How can she choose? Especially when what she decides might determine not just the next four years, but . . . forever!

City of Bones, City of Ashes and City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

An awesome book week for me! :) I can't wait to read all great books I got this week.
I want to thank Meg Cabot, for sending me Insatiable to review. I also want to thank my library for buying the complete Mortal Instruments trilogy, when I asked them!

What did you get this week?

Contests around the Blogosphere

Here's a bunch of international contests for you to enter! (if you want to)

Mid May Giveaway @ Jennifer's Musings
Win a Heavenly Prizepack! s May 22

May Debut Contest @ Personal Demons
Win a signed ARC of Personal Demons, or one of four May debut books. Ends May 28.

Blogiversary Contest @ Library Lounge Lizard!
Lots of books and swag to be won! Ends May 31st.

International Contest @ The Hiding Spot!
Ends June 4.

Massive Birthday Extravaganza @ I Should Be Writing!
Prizes for both readers & writers! Ends June 10

Two Months To Go Contest @ Keep Up With Me (Anastasia Hopcus's blog)
Win a signed copy of Shadow Hills, Raised By Wolves or swag! Ends June 10.

Watch the Shadow Hills trailer:



Mega Horde Giveaway@Strange and Random Happenstance
An ever-expanding contest! Ends June 30th.

Win a signed copy of Jekel Loves Hyde@Leilani Loves Books
Ends July 4th.

Book Review: Jessica's Guide To Dating On the Dark Side

Title: Jessica's Guide To Dating On the Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Release Date: 2009
Summary (from goodreads): The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

My Review: I had seen great reviews of this book everywhere, and it was on a lot of book bloggers 2009 top lists - of course I had to buy it!

So, did Jessica's Guide To Dating On the Dark Side live up to my huge expectations? Sadly no. I wish I could say that I loved it, but unfortunately I didn't :(

Somehow I think that the book dragged a bit, it was 350 pages long and the pace was slow. Lucius was a bit too old-fashioned, brooding and hot and cold for me, he didn't appeal to me much. I liked Jessica a bit better, although she was a bit naive and stubborn, and it took her weeks before she admitted that vampires existed. Even though Lucius showed her his fangs, she was convinced that it was all a trick. . .

Lucius and Jessica's relationship built up slowly, which was a nice change from books were the characters falls head over heels in love after a day.

Overall, this was a decent book with decent characters.

Rating: 3.5 of 5

Goodreads|Book Depository

Waiting on Wednesday (5/19)

Title: Spirit Bound
Series: Vampire academy #5
Author: Richelle Mead
Release Date: May 18.

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's-and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him... forever.

Who isn't waiting to read this book? This book was technically released yesterday, which means that it's available in stores now! I've already pre-ordered it, so I'm just waiting for it to show up in my mailbox! :)

Meme: Reading Habits

So, I have seen this meme a lot around the blogosphere (for example over at Smitten With Books). And I'm not one to say good to a fun meme, so here's my answers:

Do you snack while you read? If so, favourite reading snack:
No I usually don't. I don't want stains and smears in my books ;)

What is your favourite drink while reading?
I don't drink much while I read either. Maybe some hot chocolate if I'm having a cold!

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
It kind of horrifies me - yes. I take such care of my books and want them to look brand new, so no writing in books for me!

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
No dog-ears! I dog-eared library books when I was younger (and dumber.)
Nowadays I use bookmarks, if I have one handy. Otherwise I take whatever I have close-by (paper, candy wrappers, ads) and put in the book. Or sometimes I just put the book upside down.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?
Fiction! Would consider reading some sort of memoir if an interesting person wrote it ;)

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
I can stop everywhere :) Just need to complete the sentence.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
No, I can't recall ever doing that. Not that I'm not tempted - sometimes a book is just "too much" though (read: Renesme), and I have to put it away for a while.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
No I usually don't. Happens sometimes if I'm close to the computer though, and ambitious ;)

What are you currently reading?
I just started reading Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols - I've heard so much great stuff about that book!

What is the last book you bought?
Going Too Far & Jessica's Guide To Dating On the Dark Side.

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
Mostly one book at the time, but I've been reading both two and three books at the same time occasionally. . .

Do you have a favourite time/place to read?
In my bed - definitely! Reading while sunbathing is also great (multitasking!)

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
Both! Sometimes reading series gets frustrating; if the books aren't available in my library I have to buy the entire series... It's also frustrating to wait a year for the next installment in the series! I love it when great books get sequels though!

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
Authors: Meg Cabot, Richelle Mead, Tina Ferraro, Jennifer Echols
Books: She's So Money by Cherry Cheva, Vampire Academy series, Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles.

How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author's last name, etc.)
I organize my books into shelves like this: won books/hardcovers/paperbacks/random. And within the shelves sorted by size. (See post here).

If you feel the earth shaking...

...it's hopefully not an earthquake - just me jumping up and down!!

Want to know the reason why I'm so happy? Well, last week I read Meg Cabot's blog, where she wrote that there were a few ARC copies of Insatiable left, and told us to email her if we wanted one. So I did - but I never thought that I would recieve a copy.

So imagine my joy when I opened my mailbox today and found this:

An ARC of Insatiable, bookmarks and a note from Meg herself!!!

Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors, and I'm so excited to be able to read Insatiable before it's release! I'm so freakin happy right now!! :D

Do you have any good news to share? It could be anything, not necessarily book related.

In My Mailbox (week 19)

This week, was a really good book week for me! I got four books, and I look forward to read them all! (Actually, I already read 1.5 books). Here's what made me happy:

Bought:

Jessica's Guide To Dating On the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Won:

The Alpha Bet by Stephanie Hale

I was prepared to do just about anything to go from geek to Greek.

Some teenagers use drugs or sex to escape overbearing parents. I used books. All my life my mother has been hovering over me, afraid to let me experience ANYTHING. So I got really good grades, graduated from high school when I was sixteen, and escaped to a new life—my own life—at college.

To jump-start my social life, I decided to rush the Alphas, the most exclusive sorority on campus. And that's when things started to get complicated.
One of the Alphas invoked the Alpha Bet, a super-secret set of alphabetical tasks that have to be completed for a sister's bid to become active. Now, completing the tasks of the Alpha Bet has taken over my life. And one of the tasks involves deceiving my roommate and only real friend, Jentry.

Can you spell B-E-T-R-A-Y-A-L?

Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
I’d love a cup of coffee. I wish she knew how pretty she was. I wish I could drop this kid in the dryer sometimes. I just want her to be happy. I hope she didn’t find out what Ben said about her. I wish I knew how many calories were in a bite of muffin…

Joy is used to hearing Whispers. She’s used to walking down the street and instantly knowing people’s deepest, darkest desires. She uses this talent for good, to make people happy and give them what they want. But for her older sister, Jessica, the family gift is a curse, and she uses it to make people’s lives—especially Joy’s—miserable. Still, when Joy Hears a frightening whisper from Jessica's own mind, she knows she has to save her sister, even if it means deserting her friends, stealing a car and running away with a boy she barely knows—a boy who may have a dark secret of his own.


The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I’m on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We’re hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We’ll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we’d left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope.

What did you get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (5/12)

Title: Infinity
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: May25, 2010

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.

Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.

But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.

As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

Vampires, werewolves, zombies and demons? Sounds like an adeventure!

Goodreads|Book Depository

Mini Reviews (V)

Mini reviews of non-vampire books I have read recently!

Princess For Hire - Lindsey Leavitt
Desi's life sucks. She has to wear a stupid, furry costume at work, the guy she likes doesn't know she exists and her former best friend hates her. So when she's accepted as a substitute princess, it looks like she might finally have a chance to shine. . . And there's a hot prince to meet.
Read that last sentence again. It grabbed your attention, didn't it? Well, it really got me interested in reading this book. What I didn't know was that the "hot prince" plot didn't start up until more than halfway through the book. Before that, Desi are assigned as a substitute to two other princesses. That was a small disappointment, but it was a lot of fun to read about the first assignments too! Desi was such a nice girl; she was kind and helpful and really saw her work as a chance to improve the princesses' lives.
This was a cute and fun book for teen wanna-be-princesses!

Rating: 4 of 5


A Season of Eden- J.M. Warwick
Popular girl Eden falls instantly for her new Chorus teacher. Yes, he is her teacher, and yes he's a few years older than her - but she can't help her feelings. Eden knows that she shouldn't spend time alone with Mr. Christian, but she can't resist. It turns out that he has feelings for her too, and they start to spend time together. They both know that their relationship is forbidden, and that no one can know, but sadly their hearts and their minds aren't saying the same things. . .
There weren't a lot of action in this book, but it wasn't dull in any way. We follow the development, the progress and the setbacks, of Eden & Mr. Christian's relationship, and Eden's troubled feelings. Eden grows a lot during the book, and I think that she was a likeable character with good values.

Rating: 4 of 5

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox
*Created by the Story Siren*

After several slow weeks, I finally got some new books to read!

Won from Tera Lynn Childs:

Oh.My.Gods - Tera Lynn Childs
A modern girl's comedic odyssey in a school filled with the descendants of Greek gods.

When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe's plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uber exclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That's right, they're real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes -supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they're on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.

From the library:

Princess Mia (the Princess Diaries 9) - Meg Cabot

A princess on her own . . .

Mia has been invited to speak at a gala for Domina Rei, an elite society of powerful businesswomen. But what could she possibly have to say? Now that Michael has broken things off, Mia can barely get out of bed, and her parents are making her see a therapist. School, where Lilly still refuses to speak to her and Lana suddenly wants to be bff, is a total nightmare. Even J.P.'s efforts to cheer Mia up (he's being really sweet!) aren't helping. What's a royal to do?

Just when things couldn't get worse, Mia uncovers an old family secret, a long-forgotten diary of a teenage princess of Genovia. It could be just the thing to help Mia write her speech - but it might also change the fate of the Renaldos forever.

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know - Sonya Sones

My name is Robin.

This book is about me.

It tells the story of what happens when after almost 15 pathetic years of loserdom, the girl of my dreams finally falls for me.

That seems like it would be a good thing, right? Only it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that.

Because I'm not gonna lie to you -- there are naked women involved. Four of them, to be exact. Though not in the way you might think.

Don't get me wrong -- my girlfriend's amazing. But the way things have been going lately, I'm starting to believe that the only thing worse than not getting what you want, is getting it.

What did you get this week?

Fun-Post Friday: Homeland's Yays!

Hilda from The Dip-Files made a post called Homeland's Yays a few weeks ago, it was a lot of fun to read hers, and everyone else's lists, so I figured I should make one of my own!

The rules are simple; All you have to do is share what your favorite 10 things about where you live are!

Here's my list, my 10 favorite things about living in Sweden!

1. Summer
When the rain stays away, summer time in Sweden is actually very nice! It's never unbearably hot (around 90 F max.) and the beaches are close by! From June to August there are a lot of happenings in my hometown - festivals, concerts, tournaments and lots of tourists = fun!

2. The welfare system.
Free dental- and medical care until your 20 is quite nice! Getting money for studying or when you're unemployed is nice too.

3. Language.
Here's one thing you English speaking people never'll experience: being in another country were no one understands your native language is a lot of fun! No one knows what you're saying and you can gush or trash talk as much as you want!

4. Being proud of Swedes that become known in the US/UK.
For you, having an American artist on the top list in an European country, or an athlete on top of the winners' stand in WC are nothing special - that happens all the time. But when you're from such a small country as Sweden, you're sooo proud over your world-known residents. Just ask me and I'll start to ramble about IKEA, ABBA, H&M, Alexander Skarsgård, Roxette, Alfred Nobel . . .



5. Walk- and Bicycle paths!

Oh, how you Americans love your cars! You're family owns multiply cars, and you drive EVERYWHERE, no matter if the place you're going to is half a mile away, or if you just want a parking spot closer to the store you're going to next. In Sweden you see, we have this thing called bicycles, and we're actually able to go by bike everywhere. Both my parents and I go by bike to work and school for example, it's and half an hour ride away, but we're not complaining. My family own ONE car, which we rarely use - just to go to the grocery store.

6. The CANDY
I've been to the US, and trust me - your grocery stores lack in the candy department (your chips supply is good though). THIS is how candy is supposed to look like:



Get it? And don't come here talking about "Swedish fish" - those bring shame to the Swedish candy. I suggest you go to Sweden and try real Swedish fish. So.Much.Better.

7. Close to "the continent"
Here's a perk about living in southern Sweden, you're close to the other countries in Northern Europe. From my house it takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes to reach Denmark, and from there it's close to Germany and the rest of Europe. :)

8. Peace (Anyone noticing that I'm out of ideas?)
Sweden hasn't been at war since 1814, which is good I guess! If some country would attack Sweden though, we'd be so. unprepared. So don't get any ideas xD

9. Mormor & farmor
In English you say "grandmother", in German you say "Grossmutter". In Swedish? Well, we say "mormor" if we're talking about our mum's mum, or "farmor" if we talk about our dad's mum. Smart, huh? Same thing goes for grandfather (morfar-farfar), aunt (moster-faster) and uncle (morbror-farbror). No need to ask "which" grandmother you're talking about!

10. I'm out of ideas. . . you help me! What do you think would be great about living in Sweden? Go to wikipedia for more information about Sweden!

You're more than welcome to make blog posts about the best things about living in your town/country, or just leave your lists in the comments! Go to Hilda's blog to learn her favorite things about living in Shanghai!

Cover Combat: Sookie Stackhouse Novels

The first three books in the Sookie Stackhouse series are being released in Swedish at the end of the month. And they are followed by book 4-6 in August. To celebrate this I decided to do a "Cover Combat" post between the US covers and the fresh Swedish covers. Let's have a look!

US Covers:




Swedish Covers:






Which covers do you prefer?
I'm not a huge fan of the US covers, they're simple and original, but definitely not my taste! The Swedish covers however - I really like them! I like that the pictures are painted, not photographs. I also really like that the covers aren't focused on Sookie, but on the main characters in each book. For example, Eric's on the cover of Club Dead, the witches on the cover of Dead To The World etc. My favorite Swedish covers are probably number 1, 3 and 5! The covers for book 3 and 5 are dramatic and have a lot of attitude, and Sookie looks really pretty on the cover of Dead Until Dark.

But what do you think? Leave your opinions in the comments! :)

Waiting on Wednesday (5/5)

Title: Raised By Wolves
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Release Date: June 8, 2010

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

Book Review: Some Girls Bite

Title: Some Girls Bite
Series: The Chicagoland Vampires (Book 1)
Author: Chloe Neill
Released: 2009

Summary*: Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude— and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

My Review: The world in Some Girls Bite reminded me a lot of Sookie's word in The Southern Vampire Mysteries. The vampires have recently "come ut" of the closet, and made their existense known to the human world. Both humans and vampires have mixed feelings about this decision. Humans are curious, but at the same time afraid. And some vampires would have prefered to live in secret and to drink as much blood as they want to.

But vampires aren't the only supernatural creatures out there, just like in Sookie's world, werewolves, pixies and witches all live among us, but they want to keep their existense hidden for humans until they see how it plays out for the vampires.

The society and politics in this book were quite interesting. It was a lot to keep track of, but it was explained in a good way and never confusing. Vampires were divided in different "houses", each house had they own rules, but they had to follow the general vampire laws too. The house Merit belongs to is the only house, much to the other houses disapproval, were vampires are allowed to drink from humans.

So imagine the chock when Merit wakes up after she unwillingly has been made a vampire! She tries to ignore her new self as long as possible, but after a while she has to accept her new lifestyle.
Merit was one great character! She was strong, smart, brave, stubborn and never lacking any snarky comebacks!

Read this book if you're a fan of vampires, hot supernatural guys, and strong female characters!

Rating: 4 of 5

Goodreads|Book Depository

* Summary from Goodreads

Read & Watched in April

Read:
1. Peeps - Scott Westerfeld (Review)
2. The Clearing - Heather Davies (Mini Review)
3. City of Bones - Cassandra Clare (Review)
4. All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris (Review)
5. The Dead Girl's Dance - Rachel Caine (Review)
6. Breathing - Cheryl Renee Herbsman (Mini Review)
7. Stargazer - Claudia Gray (Review)
8. Wild Heart - Lori Brighton (Mini Review)
9. Princess For Hire - Lindsey Leavitt (Mini Review)
10. The Naughty List- Suzanne Young (Mini Review)
11. A Season of Eden - J. M. Warwick (Mini Review)
12. Some Girls Bite - Chloe Neill (Review)

April was an awesome reading month for me! I read 12 books and managed to reduce my TBR pile with 6 books - so I'm happy! 6 of the books I read were vampire books, and I have reviewed them all except for Some Girls Bite, which I finished yesterday. I also wrote some mini reviews.

Movies:
1. 17 again (again)
2. Fired Up! (again)
3. Falling Up
4. The Bounty Hunter
5. The Sweetest Ting
6. How To Deal
7. First Daughter
8. Arn - The Knight Templar
9. Arn - The Kingdom at Road's End
10. Love N dancing
11. Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief

TV series:
Roswell, Season 1, Episodes 1-9
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 7, Episodes 13-22
Vampire High, Episode 7-9

After 7 months and 7 seasons, I've finally watched ALL Buffy episodes! Now I'm off to watching Angel ;) I also started to watch a new TV series this month, Roswell. It's not about vampires, just aliens :P