Fanatsy ARC Contests: Go ENTER!!!!!

Ok gang! Listen up... I'm about to tell you about some really great blogs that are having some really awesome giveaways!
First off I'd like to thank all the blogs that had ARC Giveaways already:
Frentic Reader
Katie's Books
The Bodacious Pen
The Naughty Book Kittens
Roots in Myth
I know there are more, but those are the ones that I can think  of... So thank you so much for the giveaways.

Now for the giveaways you can still enter: 
Carols Prints is asking the question, How Would You Like to Win Some ARCS? I've Got 7 ( Ends 8/9)

Babbling Flow is having a Summer Saradise 7 ARC giveaway!!  Check it out! Ends 8/6


21 pages is giving away ARCs of CLOCKWORK ANGEL, PARANORMALCY, DELIRIUM, LINGER, FIRELIGHT, THE IVY! Ends 8/20... Go forth and ENTER:http://21pages.x10hosting.com/2010/07/arc-giveaway-clockwork-angel-paranormalcy-and-more/
Cry Havoc Reviews  has the ( Ends 8/15):MORTAL/DEVICES GIVEAWAY!
1 Clockwork Angel Bookmark
1 Signed HB copy of City of Glass
1 HB copy of The Mortal Instruments complete set books #1-3 (3 books total) 
*and as a special thank you to all of our followers, there's a chance to win an ARC copy of the Clockwork Angel!
PLUS: Melissa Marr is giving away 10 Copies of Matched by Ally Condie! Visit her website or Ally's for more details

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   Happy Reading, my friends, and hope this will cure some of your cases of ARC Madness!
   P.S Having trouble with linking, sorry!
   

Romance Novels... Why they are so Darn Addicting and So Unrealistic.

Image by Stewf via Flickr

Romance novels are one of the many things in this world that can be categorized as a 'guilty pleasure.' Whether we dive in it to past time, pleasure, or simply just for the true feeling of falling in love, we all can agree that they give us a feeling, no matter good or bad. Which brings us to...

Why Romance Novels are so Darn Addicting..

• Drama... who doesn't love to see some good old "( insert romantic name here) cheated on me" or " (insert romantic name here) lied to me" or even " (insert romantic name here) had my baby" ?
• They give us hope, like the fantasy of the nerdy girl gets hot guy or the lonely boy gets the popular girl.
• They are usually a good quick read, that gives you that feeling of yearning for the sequel.

Why Romance Novels are so Unrealistic..

• They do not prepare you for the real world if you try to ask out that popular guy/ girl and (s)he says no.
  
  
  
  
  • They are labeled as "chick reads" 
  • The sequel can take ages to come out.. and when it does, you usually forget the whole storyline
  • The movie adaptions.. ( example: twilight)

  Anyways.... No matter how you put it, romantic books are ideal for the yearning romantic in all of us.. give them a try! 
  
  
  Romantically Yours, 
  Autumn
  Question:
  What is your favorite romantic book? Tell us.. maybe we will review it :)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Raised By Wolves: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Description courtesy of Goodreads.com 

*****

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?

*****

    Jennifer Lynn Barnes has created a character worthy of the name Bryn the Vampire Slayer. No, there are no vampires  in this book. But Buffy better look out. 

By far this is my favorite Jennifer Lynn Barnes book. Even Melissa Mar likes it!  I quote

" Quite simply, the most compelling YA werewolf book out there." ( It's on the cover if you don't believe me). Also all the main and sub characters are vivid and real, not shaded or dull like some these days. Favorite character: Lake. Guns rule!

I read this book in one seating. ALL 418 pages. If you want to have a book worth your money and time, BUY IT. 

4 1/2 stars ( out of 5).  

By Daisy

The Education of Bet

This book I really did like until... I got to the ending. But first here's what's on the inside flap courtesy of Amazon.com

When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they’ve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But not all is well in their household. Because she’s a girl, Bet’s world is contained within the walls of their grand home, her education limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. Will’s world is much larger. He is allowed—forced, in his case—to go to school. Neither is happy.

So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: They’ll switch places. She’ll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.
  
     The plot was nice and original; you don't see many books about girls masquerading as boys to get an education now a day, it's mostly vampires and werewolves. Lauren Baratz-Logsted did do a good job with portraying the era and used the right amount of suspense, wit, and funny, yet embarrassing scenes to carry the reader forward in the story. Then came my problem with the book; the ending.
     When I read a book, I do like a happy ending, but the character has to earn it. This book was 185 pages long. I would have still bought it if it had been 200 or 250 ( even 450!) pages long.  The ending felt like the protagonist got everything riped up under her feet and before it can register in her brain the bad guy comes back and gives everything back with a pat on the back and an apology. I sat there after I finished the book and thought you gotta be kidding me, that's it?!.  Bet hadn't earned it yet. She still needed to wallow in misery for a few extra pages so that i felt she deserved a happy ending.
             So...... I give it three stars. I like it and would recommend if you want to read in your hammock all day, but it wasn't the best.
By Daisy 

Pressure... we all can Understand

All of us feel it everyday... pressure, the expectation to be a flawless portrait of modern times. Some of us go to high ends to achieve a picture perfect image. This week I am reviewing "Artichoke's Heart" by  Suzanne Supplee and "At Face Value" by Emily Frankin. Here is the scoop.....
 Artichokes Heart:
Description:  This book is a fine emotional read, with a hint of southern tongue. I found myself channeling old episodes of " Biggest Loser", due to weight loss roller coaster leading me through the chapters.


Storyline: Rosemary Goode is a teenage girl with a little problem. Well... maybe a bigger one. Despite her full, charming personality,  one of Rosemary's characteristics sticks out the most: her weight. All through the book, Rosemary battles many challenges, including her crush ( cliche), a new friend, her mom, and most of all, finding who she really is meant to be behind all the weight.


Overall??: I would definitely recommend this book to all preteen girls out there trying to find themselves, and who are in need of a good emotional roller coster... just hold on, it can get bumpy.


At Face Value:
Description: I found myself biting at the edge with this book.. I felt as if I was on the sidelines, desperatly cheering for the main character, page by page.


Storyline: Cyrie Bergerac has a problem. A big problem that is: her unusually large nose. This flaw has blocked (literally) everything Cyrie has ever wanted: her crush, Eddie, popularity, and most of all, confidence. Cyrie channels a timid teen all throughout the book, especially when her friend, Leyla, has a crush on Eddie. Soon, Leyla has Cyrie writing Eddie emails in her name.. Will Cyrie ever get her way?


Overall??: This is a book for all the romantics in us.... definitely a great summer-lay in sun-try to tan-read.


All of these books prove the never-fading truth.. "Beauty comes from within"
Well, I hope you all enjoyed my first post.. hope you enjoy reading! Ciao!


Autumn

The troubles of a book lover/fan.... Yes, all you book lovers and fans out there know what I'm talking about. We all know that there are serious health risks by becoming a book lover and fan. You know...

The Waiting: A sickness in which poor souls will wait in agony for the newest book. Symptoms include; anxiety, obsession, and minor depression( in the event the publication date is pushed back). Cure: ARC

The ARC Madness: A disease that is most obsessive. A person will spend night and day searching for a ARC contest in which allows them to read the book they've been waiting for! Symptoms: Hand cramps and fatigue. When your gym teachers finds you staggering, barely able to walk he'll yell " ( Insert Name)! Drop and give me twenty!". You open your eyes to give him the Death Glare and say, " It's summer." Cure: Actually winning the ARC.

The Squeal: This is not a risk to OUR health , but to anyone close by when a book lover/fan finds herself/himself in the possession of a ARC, good book, or in the middle of a really dramtic screen in which we yell " DON"T DO IT" instead of squeal. Cure: Earplugs.

There is more, but it's getting late and I, under the influence of the ARC Madness, am tired from trying to win Clockwork Angel, Firelight, Matched, and the Eternal Ones. Good Night and make sure to come back every Tuesday and Saturday for a new post. Daisy's next post will be about the new book... The Education of Bet!
By Daisy.

Hello, Welcome, Can you tell we are new?

This picture sums up our view of life, " If you are given a nice day, READ! OUTSIDE!" Did I mention I am very into my new tanning habit? After spending a bothersome two months of being held prisoner by self tanner, I decided to go 'natural.' Basically, this means I will go outside and lay in the sun and attempt to read while squinting my eyes.... Oh well... Thank you so much for visiting our blog, and we are still new to this whole blogging concept, so we will try to get new posts as soon as possible. Come again :)

By: Autumn