Tell Me Something Tuesday

Tell Me Something Tuesday presented by Cambria Hebert

Blurb courtesy of Cambria Hebert

Welcome to my weekly meme Tell Me Something Tuesday where I ask you something and you tell me the answer!! It’s as simple as that and I thought it would be a great way for all of us bloggers to get to know one another! So this is how it works: I post a question here on my blog and then i give my answer. I invite all the bloggers to take the question and post it on their blog with their answer and we can hop around and see what everyone says! If you are a blogger don’t forget to leave your link at the bottom of this post! If you aren’t a blogger – that’s okay too!! Leave your answer in the comments section!

Question this week:

What is the saddest book you have ever read?

This is a tough question for me given I stray from sad books simply because they are sad. And what is even sadder, the sad ones I know and remember are the ones I read in school. This is a clear sign schools want to depress the hell out us. Seriously though, the sad ones were my book assignments. Makes you wonder doesn't it. Nonetheless, here are a few books that I have read (no specific order), some many years ago, other more recent. I know it says one, but I can never do just one, it is so hard. Tell me if you guys have read any of these. Did they make you cry or am I a huge crybaby?

1. The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

Review HERE

     After all the rave about this book, I had to get my hands on this book. Everyone kept talking about how intense and amazing it was. But I wish someone would have told me how sad this book was. If I had known, I wouldn't have read it in public. This book gave me a trembling lip for goodness sake. Not fun when you are alone and worse in front of strangers. What the hell Collins?! But honestly, this book is so well written and the emotions this book yanks out of you makes you love it more. But this definitely deserves to be on this list.

2. The Unquiet Ghost: Russians Remember Stalin by Adam Hochschild 

Info at Goodreads

    Example of school depressing the hell out of me. I had to read this for my Humanities class about three years ago in college. I usually don't read nonfiction/biography books, but this one stuck with me. Reading about the history of Russia and all that went on during the reign of the tyrant Stalin was mind-numbingly scary. One man's paranoia led to the death of over 20 million people. There were scenes in this book that are still in my head and I wish they weren't. This book had thing that were a little too much for me since they were so horrifying. But this was a great book and if you are a history nut, I would recommend this to you.

3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Info at Goodreads

    I read the book and watched the movie, which made me even more depressed. I understood it, but that did not mean I had to accept it. This book crushed me and again, for school. You are seeing a pattern aren't you? I did enjoy the book, but no way am I going to read this again.

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Info at Goodreads

    Another school project. This one I actually picked myself and was my best paper in my AP English class. A beautiful book and it may be "fiction", but it was no less real. A real classic and the film is just as good. I hope all of you had the chance to enjoy this book.

5. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Info at Goodreads

     This is another book I had to read for school. This is one of the few that I read again even after there was no assignment. I really enjoyed this. Now it is full of sad moments but it also has a lot of fun parts that are just as memorable. There is a lot of talk about God and religion, but trust me, this is not a religious book. You read this in church, you might get kicked out. A great book full of laughs and tears.

Read Along Tuesdays Discussion #4: Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires #1) by Chloe Neill

Introductory post at Supernatural Snark HERE

Blurb courtesy of The Unread Reader

Welcome to week four of the Some Girls Bite Read-Along! For those of you who don't know, the wonderful ladies behind Tina's Book Reviews, Books in the Spotlight, The Unread Reader andSupernatural Snark are hosting a read-along of book one of Chloe Neill's outstanding Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy series. Each week we'll pose and answer five questions about the book and then hop around to the other blogs who have signed up to check out everyone's answers! For all the details about the event and the grand prize giveaway, be sure and check out the introductory post HERE.

January 3rd - Chapters 1-4 (Jenny at Supernatural Snark)
January 10th - Chapters 5-8 (Tina at Tina's Book Reviews)
January 17th - Chapters 9-12 (Rummanah at Books in the Spotlight)
January 24th - Chapters 13-15 + epilogue (Missie at The Unread Reader)
January 31st - Special guest post by Chloe Neill and the grand prize giveaway!

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Chapters 13-15 + Epilogue Discussion:

        1. Chapter 13 opens with Merit describing her new job routine as House Sentinel. Considering that every job Cadogan House is important in helping to make the house run efficiently, which job do you think you'd like to have (guard, cook, social director, gardener, etc.) and why?

Wow, that is a good question. If I have any job, it has to be something I am in charge of where I can help people. So I would go with social director. I am good at organizing everyone else’s life accept my own, so why not? LOL! Seriously, I would be great at it. I would choose to be a guard, but if someone pisses me off, I can’t promise I will be cordial about it.

         2. In the supernatural world of Chicagoland Vampires, politics seem to play an important role in the way the Houses are run. Now that you've been introduced to the Rogues, do you think it's better for vampires to be a part of a House or to live outside of one?

I am going to be diplomatic; I see things from both sides. Given how things went down between the Houses and the Rogues, you can see how easily they do get left out of everything. I understood where they were coming from. If you aren’t in the House, you aren’t in the know. But then I see how the Houses feel. I wouldn’t have thought the Rogues would have cared on a usual day. But since this was about a murder investigation, I think the Houses should have included the Rogues in the discussion. I would rather be a part of a House, but I would make sure to let higher ups know about the Rogues.

         3. After Morgan openly asks to court Merit, she feels betrayed when Ethan commands her to accept for the show of alliance it could bring to Cadogan House. Do you think her reaction was warranted?

This part was difficult for me. I do like Morgan and since Ethan is being an ass, why should Merit wait for him? We know Ethan feels something for her and instead of showing some emotion towards her and just kick the crap out of Morgan, he sells her off. I think her reaction was warranted, but again, they are both incredibly stubborn. So even if he did stick up for her, I still think she would have been pissed because it would give everyone a different impression.

        4. When Ethan meets with the perpetrator of the murders, were you surprised to discover who it was? If you suspected someone, were your suspensions correct? What did you think of the perpetrator's motive?

I was surprised, I knew it had to be someone in one of the Houses, but I didn’t expect someone so high up. I really thought it was someone low on the totem pole, someone who wanted to take the leaders down so they can run things the way they want. The helper was a bit of a surprise as well. The motive made sense, but delusion. To be the ruler of all vampires just because you think you are the best is crap. And I thought Ethan had his head way too far up his ass.

         5. What was your favorite/least favorite parts of Some Girls Bite?

Oooooh, lot of favorites. Let’s see:

- I loved sandwich making scene. It sounded like a great sandwich and I love the chemistry between Merit and Morgan

- I also loved when Morgan and Merit first met each other before the “incident”. Again, the chemistry.

- I loved when Ethan and Merit first met. Those are usually my favorite moments in a book, when there is that bam moment when our two main characters first meet.

- All of the Jeff moments. He was so adorable.

- All of Catcher’s moments *panting*

- And many more

Least favorite:

      -  I loved this book all round, but I do wish the person        responsible was punished better. I actually thought the ending would be a little bigger. I liked it, but maybe it is just me, I wanted some blood dammit!                                    

  

  6. What do you think is coming up next for Merit, Sentinel of Cadogan House? Will you continue reading this series, and if so, what do you hope to see happen in the next book?

I think her test is yet to come. Things will only be more difficult, but I think she will be a leader soon. She will be unconventional, for sure, but that will make me love her even more. I will definitely continue reading this series; I am very much in love with it. I hope to see Ethan open his eyes and for Merit to grow more as a vampire. I would like to see her get more comfortable with her new life.

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 This is the last discussion people. Next week there will be a special guest post by the amazing author herself, Chloe Neill! Along with her post, there will be a giveaway. So make sure to drop by all the hosting blogs to see if you have been chosen. All who have participated get a chance to win, for more check out the introductory post below the image.

Stephen Prosapio's Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum Blog Tour: Guest Blog + Giveaway

Hello fellow OBVB viewers. I have with me here today author Stephen Prosapio. He is here on tour for his incredible novel, Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum  (just in case you missed the big banner above LOL) Nonetheless, Prosapio wrote us an amazing post about a day in the life of Zach Kalusky, our protagionist.  Then keep reading for a chance to win this amazing book and more from Prosapio himself. So please give Prosapio a warm welcome.

Guest Post by Stephen Prosapio

A Day on the Set of Xavier Paranormal Investigators – Journal of Zach Kalusky

Rosewood Asylum Investigation Day Two

9:30 AM – A busy morning! Ray woke me with good news (he and Turk had discovered video evidence of a full-bodied apparition) and better news (he’d bought me a Café Americano).

10:30 AM – Interview done with Tricia. I sure hope she doesn’t release it too early. We could end up on G’morning Chi-town.
See transcript of interview
http://triciakristufek.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/guest-interview-zach-kalusky/

11:15 – Something is not as it seems here at Rosewood and I don’t just mean in terms of the paranormal activity. My investigator Shelly just showed me something that really disturbs me. Combining that with what Ray discovered and other things I’ve observed, it’s clear someone/s on this case is/are actively trying to falsify evidence.  OH how that angers me! Deep breaths. Deep breaths. It’s not time for an episode now. I could just see that.

Anyway, I need to get to the bottom of this. And fast.

11:35 – I’m not sure which annoys me more:  having to lie to someone or being lied to. Being lied to hurts like being stabbed when you find out but heals faster. Lying, at least for me, is insidious.

12:15 – Ahhh back to being centered. Trips to St. Francis of Assisi always do that for me!  :-)

12:55 – Arrived early to Muses and met a gorgeous girl. I’ll jot down what happened:
From behind me I hear, “Decaf at this hour?”
There stood a black lady with a slim figure but wide hips was smiling at me. She was short, about my age, maybe a couple of years younger.
“I thought that was you,” she said. “Zach?”
I hardly ever forget a face and I wouldn’t have forgotten this one.
“You don’t know me,” she verified, “but I’m one of your biggest fans. I hope that doesn’t sound too cliché.”
“No, not at all,” I lied. “What’s your name?”
“Oh, God. How rude of me!” She rolled her eyes, and her smile turned to one of embarrassment. She held out her hand. “My name’s Chelsea.”
I took her hand. Soft. Welcoming, but firm. She asked me for a couple of autographs, thanked me and then handed me a folded piece of paper that appeared to have been torn from a notebook.
“It’s my phone number,” she said boldly. Then her voice cracked a bit. “Ya know, in case you ever need a date to an awards show or something...”
Ebony skin or not, she was blushing. A thin layer of perspiration had formed on her forehead as well.
I thanked her, but I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say! Other fans and even clients had flirted with me. This was different—she was hot!

3:15 – I need to say this (but don’t make it part of the official record):  Sara is clattering over every nerve I have!!!!!!!

4:25 – It looks as though I’ll need to induce an episode to solve this mystery. Not something I’d wanted to do. This will likely be my last journal entry for the day. I’m amazed at the amount of historical research our historian Wendy has done, but I’m deeply disturbed with the lack of focused results our investigation has thus far produced. There are a lot of experiences to classify and hopefully this thing all comes together soon. It hasn’t helped that the perpetrators of false evidence (which we most certainly did not need!) have diverted our attention away from true areas of exploration.

I hope this journal has given you a peek into Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum. See you soon!

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 Check out my 5 star review of Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum HERE

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!! 

 

There will be 2 winners for this giveaway!

1st Prize Winner (US Only!):

 *1 Signed copy of Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum

*Signed Bookmark

*Signed Postcard

2nd Prize Winner (US/International): 

*1 ebook of Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum by Stephen Prosapio

Author: Stephen Prosapio
Format: ePub

Pages: 345

Publisher: Otherworld Publications
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Genre: Horror/Mystery/Paranormal

 Buy here:

 Amazon| Barnes & Noble  | The Book Depository  |  IndieBound

Synopsis from Goodreads

Zach Kalusky, host of Sci-D TV's Xavier Paranormal Investigators, is ecstatic when he's given the opportunity to explore the most haunted site in Chicago for a Halloween Special: Rosewood Asylum, a place long made off-limits by the local government, plagued by decades of mysterious fires and unexplained events. It's Zach's dream investigation- but there's a catch: the network forces Xavier Paranormal Investigators to partner with the more dramatic-but less ethical-Demon Hunters. Now, Zach must fight for both his show's integrity and his team's loyalty while trying to protect his own secret: that he, himself, is possessed.

 

     Thanks to my good friend Heidi (@RainyDayRamblings), she has introduced me to the Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum Tour which in turn made me get the book. I love a great ghost story, so I had to jump on this. The synopsis sounded so good, I had to check this out immediately.  I am so glad I did and I can assure you will too.

     Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum is about a group of ghost hunters that work for Sci-D TV. The group, Xavier Paranormal Investigators, is a very popular show on the network. The founder and lead, Zach, has dreamed of investigating the old psychiatric hospital, Rosewood Asylum. The hospital has many stories and mysteries connected with it. Zach has been given the chance to uncover those secrets. Unfortunately, given how big the project is, he is forced to work alongside a rival ghost hunters show, Demon Hunters, a team known for sometimes doctoring their “paranormal” discoveries. Not only does Zach have to put up with an extra team that he doesn’t really trust, but he is fighting against time to get all the information he needs from the asylum. And the further they get into the investigation, the more secrets get revealed and Zach hopes it won’t be any of his.

    I loooooved this story. It is so complex and intriguing. Prosapio really gives you all sides of the story. There I so much mystery, but we are never really left in the dark. You will really be along for the ride. I love the plot to this. We have a rival ghost hunting team at a very scary asylum that hasn’t been in operation for years, has mysterious fires and a couple of ghosts who may or may not be friendly. Then we have the intrigue of certain characters because we aren’t sure we can trust them or not. There is this lady who seemingly comes out of nowhere wanting to talk to Zach off the record. She knows something about the asylum because her mother used to work there, but there is something very fishy about her. Then we have the mystery of Amelia and Boy (their story is at the very beginning) and many more.  I love this fresh look on the paranormal world. Being behind the scenes and getting a feel for reality television was definitely fun and exciting to read.

   Now for a horror story, the atmosphere in this book is light at times. All the characters bring such interesting personalities; it makes the book more complex. Ghosts of Rosewood Asylum will have you laughing at one moment and being completely freaked out the next. The dialogue between some of the characters is so refreshing and will bring a smile to your face.  I love the friendships between Zach and Hunter or Zach and Ray, they were a fun bunch to follow. There is even some romance in this which I was happy about because I was begging for it.

    I honestly can’t think of anything bad to say about this. I must be careful, of course, with this. There are a lot of mysteries and each of them brings a whole new level to the book. The story flows so well and you never feel confused. This is just so well written. It is full of history, personality, horror, laughs, romance, twists and originality. I urge you all to check this out. I was so lucky to have this pretty much drop in my lap. I promise you will not be sorry. I am definitely going to keep my eyes on this author.

Rating: 

*This book belongs to the following challenges*

BCC's 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2012 

Babbling About Books and Stuff's Ghostly Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2012

BCC's Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2012

Read Along Tuesdays Discussion #3: Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires #1) by Chloe Neill

Blurb courtesy of Books in the Spotlight

Welcome to week one of the Some Girls Bite Read-Along! For those of you who don't know, the wonderful ladies behind Tina's Book Reviews, Books in the Spotlight, The Unread Reader and myself are hosting a read-along of book one of Chloe Neill's outstanding Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy series. Each week we'll pose and answer five questions about the book and then hop around to the other blogs who have signed up to check out everyone's answers! For all the details about the event and our grand prize giveaway, be sure and check out the introductory post HERE.

Missie from The Unread Reader will be discussing the last section of the book so be sure to check her blog to find out next week's discussion questions. I am hosting next week and will be covering Chapters 9-12. Linky posted HERE

January 3rd - Chapters 1-4 (Jenny at Supernatural Snark)
January 10th - Chapters 5-8 (Tina at Tina's Book Reviews)
January 17th - Chapters 9-12 (Rummanah at Books in the Spotlight)
January 24th - Chapters 13-15 + epilogue (Missie at The Unread Reader)
January 31st - Special guest post by Chloe Neill and our grand prize giveaway!

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Chapters 9-12 Discussion:

1. Catcher and Ethan share some personality traits. What makes Mallory, Merit, and even us readers attracted to these guys? Would you date/mate with someone like these guys in real life?

I won't lie, I have a tendency to argue just for the fun of it. I would need someone to keep up with me, I think they both would be a good fit. Also they are both sexy, mysterious, and complex. I like that they are strong, but there is a certain vulnerability to them. They are confident, but they don't necessarily act like they are better than the women they want. So if I had chance, oh absolutely.

2. In Chapter 9 we learn of another murder. Do you see any patterns with the previous murder and Merit's attack? Do you have any guesses as to who is responsible and the motive behind the murders?

As I said before, I found it odd that they all looked like Merit; brunette, tall and with blue eyes. She was also 27 years old, just as Merit was. But what is more, after every murder scene, there was some "evidence" to point to all the houses being guilty. In this recent one, this time it pointed blame to the Grey House. It definitely seems like someone is putting blame on all the houses, not just one.

3. The commendation is my favorite moment in the book and a significant event in Merit's life. She has finally come to terms that she is a Cadogan vampire. Were you surprised at all that Merit resisted Ethan's call and that he made her a Sentinel? Do you think she'll do well in this position? Why or why not?

This was one of my favorite scenes in this book as well. I knew Merit would find a way to make the commendation different and I knew her power would play a role for sure. But that was definitely a surprise and I was happy because I think this is the best way for her to prove herself to Ethan and to the rest of the house. I think she will prove herself and she will be great Sentinel.

4. Loyalty is a reoccurring theme throughout the book and much of this series. Why is it so important to Ethan that he needs Merit's allegiance? Is it solely a Master and Sentinel thing or does it imply something else?

I think it is more than a Master and Sentinel thing. Ethan isn't the only one that has discovered Merit's powers and he knows that others will be gunning for her. Also I think Ethan needs to know whether she cares for the house because it is important to him and all the vampires. I think he needs to know she is willing to protect him and her fellow vampires.

5. If you had the opportunity to sit down with Ethan, Merit, Mallory, and Catcher for a bite to eat like in the beginning of Chapter 12, what questions would you ask them at this point of the story? 

I loved Chapter 12, but if I could get away with it and not get my head chopped off, this is what I would say:

Ethan - If you want to woo a girl, do you think banging the easy redhead is the best way to go about it? (I love you, but come on man!)

Merit - Can you make me one of those epic sandwiches? If so, do I have your permission to shove it down Ethan gullet for you? You know what, scratch that, I will shove it down both of your throats, you guys and your stubbornness is driving me crazy!

Mallory - Can you share your awesome-best-friendiness advice with me? (I know it isn't a word, but you get what I am saying)

Catcher - Do you have a twin or since you are a sorcerer, can you clone yourself?

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We are almost near the end guys. I have finished the book a week ago and I can't wait for the next set of questions. It will be a very interesting set of questions. Make sure to stop by The Unread Reader on the 24th for Chapters 13-Epilogue. Can't wait for to read everyone's reactions.

ARC Review + Book Trailer: Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross

Courtesy of Zeitghost Media and St. Martin's Press, they bring you the trailer to Tempest by Julie Cross. Tempest comes out next Tuesday and is already being buzzed about all over the place. Now as before, Zeitghost Media is going to give 25 blogs a chance to host a giveaway for this book. But while we impatiently wait, check out this great trailer (I want that song) and I also have an ARC review for you guys. So happy I actually won this. 

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Read the first FOUR chapter here + check out the bonus short story here:

Facebook Fan Page

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Author: Julie Cross
Series: Tempest
Number in Series: 1
Format:Hardcover
Pages: 352
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Genre: Science Fiction/Young Adult/Fantasy/Romance

Buy here:

Amazon| Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound

Synopsis from Goodreads

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

    I was so lucky (and surprised) to receive the ARC of Tempest by Julie Cross courtesy of Librarything in the mail. Again, being so excited about the book, my silly self didn’t bother to see what the book was about. But I can say now, I was very happy with the ending result. If you are looking for an exciting read to start off the New Year, put this at the top of your list.

     I love this storyline. Jackson is a normal college student. Well as normal as he can be, he is rich and can time travel (only for 30 minutes or a few hours backward never forward), but other than that, he is normal. He has a girlfriend named Holly that he loves more than anything, but she doesn’t know his secret. Only his super genius best friend Adam knows his secret. He is the one who helps Jackson and actually understands time travel, like I said, he is a genius. Things are going good for Jackson until one day two men break into Holly’s dorm and shoot her and out of total terror, Jackson jumps 4 years into the past and he can’t jump forward. So now he is stuck in the past and he finds out he has been lied to his entire life. And that is only the beginning.

    Jackson was a great lead character. He may have been a rich guy (well his family is), but he wasn’t snooty. He loves Holly a lot and protects her in the future and in the past. He fights for her and his best friend, Adam. I loved Adam, he helps Jackson every step of the way in this book. Without him, Jackson really wouldn’t get anywhere; he is indeed the brains behind it all. I loved Holly. I sympathized with her because she knew Jackson was hiding something, but she didn’t know what. You can tell she loved him as well. One thing I didn’t like about Jackson is that he was holding back by not revealing his secret to her. But despite that, she brought a certain lightness to this book and to Jackson. We find he has a lot of remorse over the death of his twin sister who died a few years back and that plays a big part in this book. It made me love Jackson more because along with Holly, he wanted to be near his sister and make up for things he regrets.

    I loved this book. It was hard to put down. I love that despite the secrets coming to light, Jackson never loses it. He still respects his dad even after all he finds out. I love this take on time travel; the Enemies of Time. They are the bad guys who have Jackson’s ability and they want him apart of the team. They want to change history, we don’t really know why until the ending. The scene near the end really freaked me out and added a whole other element to this story. And we aren’t given the whole story yet, of course, but that does not mean you won’t enjoy this. Even if time travel and science fiction isn’t your thing, this book is full with likeable and believable characters. I like the fact that for all intents and purposes, it wasn’t as far-fetched. The world feels tangible.

    This book was a rollercoaster ride. It had everything I could have wanted in a science fiction novel; time travel, mystery, suspense, conspiracies, tears (a lot of tears), romance, sacrifices, and many more. Tempest is a very well-written book. It isn’t even officially out yet and there is already movie buzz surrounding it, which makes sense. As some have said, this book is written like a movie and it felt that way. This was very action-packed and suspenseful; it begs to be in a film. I can’t wait. I hope they do the book justice. I won’t lie to you all though. If Hollywood trips (maybe that should say When they trip), this could easily become Jumper 2 *GAGS*. So my fingers and toes are crossed they won’t go down that route. Trust me, I will be able to tell once the movie trailer comes out. I knew Jumper would be crap from the beginning and I was right, boy was I right. Nonetheless, I absolutely recommend this book. Buy this on Tuesday because I said so. I am not kidding.

Review:

*This book belongs to the following challenge*

BCC's 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2012

Winner of the Switched Giveaway!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations to my new friend Heidi!!! You won the copy of Switched (Trylle Trilgoy #1) by Amanda Hocking courtesy of Zeitghost Media and St. Martin Press! I sent you an email about the prize, please respond within 2 days with your name and address. Big thank you to them and even bigger thanks to all who participated. I hope to have a giveaway by next week and the week after that. I am a part of a few blog tours, so I hope to see you guys back here very soon. Thank you all so much again.

Read Along Tuesdays Discussion #2: Some Girls Bite (Chicagoland Vampires #1) by Chloe Neill

  Blurb courtesy of Supernatural Snark

Welcome to week one of the Some Girls Bite Read-Along! For those of you who don't know, the wonderful ladies behind Tina's Book Reviews, Books in the Spotlight, The Unread Reader and myself are hosting a read-along of book one of Chloe Neill's outstanding Chicagoland Vampires urban fantasy series. Each week we'll pose and answer five questions about the book and then hop around to the other blogs who have signed up to check out everyone's answers! For all the details about the event and our grand prize giveaway, be sure and check out the introductory post HERE.

I'm the lucky host this week, so if you're participating, please be sure to link up your discussion post for the first 4 chapters in the linky below and don't forget to check out Tina's blog for next week's questions for chapters 5-8.

January 3rd - Chapters 1-4 (Jenny at Supernatural Snark)
January 10th - Chapters 5-8 (Tina at Tina's Book Reviews)
January 17th - Chapters 9-12 (Rummanah at Books in the Spotlight)
January 24th - Chapters 13-15 + epilogue (Missie at The Unread Reader)
January 31st - Special guest post by Chloe Neill and our grand prize giveaway!

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Chapters 5-8 Discussion:

1) In what is a make you blush, steamy scene in the book- Chapter 5 has Ethan and Merit sharing a few hot moments after Merit's hunger strikes...that is until Ethan becomes a total cad! What do you think of him so far? Strong, masterful vampire, conceited playboy.....lover boy in disguise?

I loved that scene between Ethan and Merit. He just had to be a douche afterward. I think he is a lover boy in disguise. He has moments where I want to punch him, but I think it makes him more interesting. If that makes sense. I must admit the scenes between Merit and Morgan were amazing. I am falling for him too. There was so much chemistry between them and the dialogue between made me smile. I honestly will be happy with either choice.

2. Merit and Mallory begin some major training in these next few chapters, resulting in cool Katana Sword facts and Ninja moves. What is the most physically challenging or adrenaline fueled event/activity you have participated in?

We use to have playground contest in elementary school. I was very competitive even though we were playing for silly little toys. Also in high school, our gym teacher had a thing if you can run a mile without stopping, you can skip dressup when you wanted. I did it twice, couldn't believe my legs and lungs held out that long Then again I hated gym, so I was looking for any excuse.

3. Mallory and Catcher have sparks so intense they almost fly off the page.....what do you think of this cozy couple? Did you like the insta-love between them? Do they add to the story?

I think it adds a lot to the story.  I was hoping we get some love story between them. Catcher is amazing and hot as hell. I love the way how him and Mallory are always arguing. Their relationship is exactly what I expected from Merit and Ethan. Well, I mean it could be that way. Still, I like it. I want more from them as well.

4. Lets talk Bff's....Mallory is hands down a terrific friend to Merit, the girls relationship is real, down to earth and fun....not to mention hysterical. What is your favorite memory or favorite thing to do with your bff? Feel free to share pics!

I remember me and my friend Ashley going to Adventure Landing years ago. Only kids who were on honor roll got to go. We had such a blast, specifically during go cart. We weren't suppose to hit each other, but we still did any way. And don't get me started on laser tag. Oh I killed at that. I wish I had pictures, but I was in middle school and digital cameras weren't out quite yet.

5. Things are starting to heat up in the mystery department...the set up at Red, Morgan's flirty appearance.... Catchers vague answers......as correlation day gets closer for Merit do you think someone is out to get her...or maybe recruit her to another house? Or PS- feed her some more food...because goodnight this girl likes to eat!!!

I think someone is targeting girls like her. All the girls that have died all are tall, dark hair and blue eyes. But as I said, I really love Morgan. And yes, I do find it a little suspicious, but this is wishful thinking here. Don't ruin it for me. Catcher knows a lot and I don't know why he holds back information. But I have a feeling it is a test for her. Maybe something between him and Ethan to test out. I don't know about the recruiting though. After what happened at the club, they didn't seem like they wanted to be anywhere near Merit and her friends. She is always eating. Loved that epic sandwich her and Morgan made, that was good moment. But yes, the mystery is definitely building and I can't wait to see what is next. I have been thinking about it all day. I need to find out now.

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Please make sure you visit Books in the Spotlight next week for Discussion #3. We will cover chapters 9-12. If you still haven't joined this awesome read along visit Supernatural Snark to sign up now. Hope you guys enjoyed this, see you next week.

Book Review: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games
Number in Series: 1
Format: Paperback
Pages: 374
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Release Date: July 1, 2008
Genre: Dystopian/Science Fiction/Young Adult/Fantasy

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Synopsis from Goodreads

Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun...

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, the shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

    The Hunger Games is about a very brutal and sad dystopian world. Food has become very scarce in Panem (formerly North America). Panem is made up of 12 Districts and The Capitol (the government). After a major rebellion against The Capitol, they keep everyone in check. So The Capitol hosts a live TV show called The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games takes two tributes from all 12 Districts, a boy and a girl from ages 12-18. They dress them up, give them sponsors and televise them for the world to see. But most of all, they train them to fight. Twenty-four kids must go in and fight to the death. The last one standing gets money and food for the rest of their life. Unfortunately and fortunately, Katniss doesn’t make this easy.

    I have finally started not one of the most talked about YA series, THE most talked about YA series. Now with all the buzz about the movie coming out, I knew I had to get on the ball and find out whether this movie will be worthy or not. It is, it soooooooooo is. This is one of the most amazing books I have read. Every time someone talked about it, they always have this look that said, “You don’t know just how good that is.” Now I get it. If you are not one of the millions of people that have read this already, I don’t know what the hell you are waiting for. I didn’t know what I was getting into with this book, but it exceeded my expectations and more.

   Our main character, Katniss, is definitely going on my great heroines list. I absolutely loved Katniss. She was strong and smart. She lives with her mom and little sister Prim who she works hard to protect because her mother isn’t strong enough. Katniss sacrifices herself for her sister when she is called for the Games. She is scared out of her mind and hates everyone around her because they don’t care that soon, she will be dead. But she has been hunting and surviving for her family for so long, she might have a shot.

   I loved all the other characters as well. I am definitely Team Peeta . Since we follow things from Katniss POV, there were times when you didn’t know when he was playing a game or not. But I have faith. I loved Cinna, Katniss stylist for the Games. He isn’t a main character, but he helped Katniss more in this book then I would have thought. I hope we get more from him in the future books. Same goes to Haymitch. He was a previous winner to the Hunger Games (the only surviving one from District 12) and they made him the mentor for District 12. Sadly, he is a rich drunk. I loved how when we dive a little deeper into the story, we can kind of get a taste as to why he is the way he is. It is truly depressing.  And there are so many more, I wish I could talk about them all, but I’m afraid I won’t stop.

   I love the way the story progresses. Once they are done with their training and getting sponsors, they are sent into the woods. It is from there this book really gets to you because from the second it starts, kids start dying. This book gets very intense the further it goes and I won’t even lie, I cried a couple of times. This book was a lot more graphic then I would have expected it to be and some people are against it, but I am not. It made it feel more realistic to me. They are not living in a nice world, they are fighting for their families and more so, their lives. Well, there were people like Katniss who had those noble reasons and there were kids that were just obsessed with winning. I love how Collins shows the difference between these characters when they are in the woods. Nonetheless, there were no rainbows and bunnies here people. This is a tough book.

    Yet another awesome book that is hard to write about since it is so good. I have seen the trailer to the movie more times than I can count at this point. And I still get chills watching it. I pray Hollywood does this book justice. I hope it captures all the emotions I experienced when reading it. From the tears to that ending that had me screaming. The last few chapters will drive you over the edge, just didn’t expect that at all. The Hunger Games is so worth the hype even though the idea is very Battle Royale, I am not going to take anything away from this book. This is still a phenomenon that Hollywood should handle with care. And for those that must know, this is along the lines of Harry Potter, NOT Twilight. I need to let people know that, it is important. Seriously though, if this doesn’t end up as Movie of 2012, someone will pay.

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