"Top Five Reasons I'm Team Damon" *a Guest Post*

Hey! I'm Shesten from I Heart Monster. Zoe here is going to let me share with you my top FIVE reasons that I'm Team Damon instead of Team Stefan when it comes to the Vampire Diaries. Do you watch the show? Have you read the books? Please, read, stay and tell me why I'm right or wrong, I know Zoe and I both want to hear what you have to say!

#1 Stefan is the obvious, safe choice. I tend to root for the underdog. Sure, Stefan is more in touch with his "humanity," but I think that Damon doesn't get the credit he deserves for his recognition of and rebuttal to that humanity. And that brings me to...

#2 Damon is self-confident. He doesn't apologize for who or what he is. He knows what he is, accepts it, lives his life accordingly and doesn't set limits on himself like Stefan does. Does that make Stefan more self-disciplined? Maybe, but that brings me to...

#3 Stefan is a wuss. Because he can't come to grips with his vampirism, and balks at doing what he needs to do to stay strong, he becomes inferior on the physical plane. Because Damon embraces his vampirism, he is a superior protector to Stefan. And that brings me to...

#4 Damon is resourceful. Damon has spent all of this time creating relationships and exploring the breadth of his vampiric powers that he has a greater base for problem-solving and a wider network of assets to pul

l from if you're on the run or in trouble. Which brings me to...

#5 Damon is a badboy. The urban dictionary defines badboy as:

A young man who has many characteristics of a naughty boy: he's independent and willful; he does what he wants when he wants; he doesn't follow trends, they follow him; he often looks scruffy, but hip; he's not looking for trouble, but there's a sense of danger about him. For these reasons and more, he's irresistible to women. He's a heartbreaker with five o'clock shadow.

Take a look at all of those adjectives that are highlighted and then tell me that they're not good qualities to have. Remember how my pet name for my hubbie is Monster? Yeah, I have a thing for badboys, which probably says more about the reason that I'm Team Damon than any of the previous five!

If those five reasons aren't enough for you, Ian Somerhalder claims that if Damon and Edward Cullen were in a fight, Damon would win. I concur.

Thanks Zoe, for letting me participate in your series of guest posts! I really appreciate the opportunity to plead for Team Damon!

A Vampire Diaries Guest Post by Heidi R. Kling

So, Heidi R. Kling a tenner who had written a book called Sea that will be released June 2010 had written a Vampire Diaries guest post that I would like to share with you. So here it is:



Okay. So let me preface this by stating that yes, we are actually
discussing the merits that one fictional, DEAD, Vampire brother has over
the other. And we're all okay with that. :)

So Vampire Diaries has the sort of "Nice guy" brother, Stefan and the "Bad
guy" brother Damon. Both are attractive, smart and passionate, so it's not
a case of Who is cuter--because they are both cute. Both have hot bodies,
are tough and can twist a sharp pieces of wood into a vamp-heart when
needed.

So why do some of us prefer Damon over Stefan and visa-versa?
Well, Stefan is definitely the "Safer" choice of the two.
Let's do some Risk categories here:

DRINKS HUMAN BLOOD: Damon: YES Stefan: NO

WE SEE HIM KILL PEOPLE AND DRINK THEIR BLOOD: Damon: YES Stefan: NO

WE SEE HIM LOSE HIS TEMPER: Damon: YES Stefan: Rarely, and when he does its
for a good reason

TRUSTWORTHY: Damon: NO Stefan: YES...until last night's episode


And this is where things get interesting, folks and why I'm leaning toward
Damon, NOT just because I think he is the more attractive brother, but
because he "Might be" the more trust worthy in the end. And this is why.

Damon is STRAIGHT UP about his character or lack of it. Elena said in the
last episode, "Can I trust you?" Damon replied, "NO."
He is open and honest that he likes to hunt, kill, and suck the blood of
humans.
He tells his brother Stefan exactly what he thinks of him.
He is UNYIELDING in his love for his Vampire-Ex-That-Looks-Like-Elena and
in fact, will risk anything to dig her up and bring her back to life.

Whereas Stefan---is a little cagey. I know, he is MOSTLY honest, but last
night he lied to Damon straight to his face, looking him right in the eye,
and that's not cool. Well, he TOLD Elena he lied to Damon anyway. But he
could have been lying to ELENA about lying to Damon. See where I'm going
here? My hackles are definitely up, and it took a LOT to get Damon to trust
his younger brother, so I don't think it's cool at all that Stefan lied to
him.

Plus, I find Damon incredibly charming, and Stefan, not so much.

So as of today, this girl is TEAM DAMON.

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

I have another contest for y'all to enter! This one is full of 5 lovely books that are lovely for the upcoming holiday, Valentine's Day! One winner will win 5 amazing YA Books, listed below. This contest will end February 14. It is open to US Residents Only.


Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton

Felicity's no ordinary teen matchmaker...she's a cupid!

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired...and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast. Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them....

What Would Emma Do by Eileen Cook

While juggling friendship issues (her best friend isn't speaking to her), a love triangle-turned-square (okay, maybe she shouldn't have kissed her best friend's boyfriend...but it was totally an accident!...sort of), and escalating mayhem in her small religious town (uh-oh...what would Jesus do?), Emma realizes she has to stop trying to please everyone around her and figure out what she wants for herself. It's time to start asking, "What would Emma do?"




Perfect Shot by Debbie Rigaud

Who doesn't want to be a cover girl?

London Abrams's first love is volleyball, so why is she a contestant for an online modeling competition? Answer: Super-hottie, Brent St. John. London spotted Brent signing in contestants at the store, and she got in line simply to say hi. She never thought she'd make it into the competition!

London's now up against fourteen hungry fashionistas willing to do whatever it takes to win. But all she wants is to win Brent's heart...but the money prize couldn't hurt. If London plays this right, she can win the contest, the boy, and the cash. GAME ON!


Kissed by an Angel by Elizabeth Chandler
Ivy always believed in angels. When she meets Tristan, it's the love of a lifetime. When he dies, her heart is broken and her belief in angels vanishes. And without that belief, she is unable to feel Tristan's presence when he returns--as an angel. Now Ivy is in terrible danger, and Tristan is struggling to save her. How can he protect her if she's lost her faith in angels?

The Best YA Books You've Never Read

This meme has been going around, so I thought I would do it. This meme was started by Kelly of YAnnabe.

Let's Get Lost by Sarra Manning
Isabel's friends are terrified of her, her teachers can't get through to her, her family doesn't understand her, and that's just the way she likes it. Nothing gets to Isabel—not even her mother's sudden death. When she meets an enigmatic guy named Smith, Isabel fights hard to keep hold of her cool, snarky image, but she soon finds herself coming apart at the seams, feeling the pain, and missing her mom. Let's Get Lost is a poignant and utterly compelling novel, told with all the author's trademark wit and sharp observation.


Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning
Seventeen-year-old Molly Montgomery never planned on becoming famous. Molly's band, The Hormones, was just supposed to be about mucking around with her best mates, Jane and Tara, and having fun. But when the deliciously dangerous Dean and his friend T join the band, things start happening fast. Soon The Hormones are front-page news, and their debut album is rocketing up the charts. Molly is the force behind the band, but the hazards of fame, first love, screaming fans, and sleazy managers are forcing the newly crowned teen queen of grrl angst close to the edge. Fame never comes for free, and Molly's about to find out what it costs.

Exclusively Chloe by J.A. Yang
Chloe-Grace can't help it—she's spectacular. How could she not be with celebrity parents who have been the queen and king of Hollywood for years? And Chloe is a celebrity all unto herself as well— she's the first celebrity-adopted kid in Hollywood. But now Chloe's sixteen, and she is tired of every undesired moment of the world's attention. She wonders what it would be like to be a "normal" kid in a regular school. To really understand it, though, she would need to go undercover. So after getting a "make-under" at the hands of her mother's fabulous stylist, she enters the "real" world. But she soon finds out that there is just as much drama there as there is in Hollywood....


Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out - doing mock broadcasts for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T - and to everyone's shock, she's a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest -- and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize - Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare...


Beautiful by Amy Reed
When Cassie moves from the tiny town where she has always lived to a suburb of Seattle, she is determined to leave her boring, good-girl existence behind. This is Cassie's chance to stop being invisible and become the kind of girl who's worth noticing.

Stepping into her new identity turns out to be easier than Cassie could have ever imagined...one moment, one choice, will change everything.

Cassie's new existence both thrills and terrifies her. Swept into a world of illicit parties and social landmines, she sheds her virginity, embraces the numbness she feels from the drugs, and floats through it all, knowing that she is now called beautiful. She ignores the dangers of her fast-paced life?but she can't sidestep the secrets and the cruelty.

Cassie is trapped in a swift downward spiral tinged with violence and abuse, and no one—not even the one person she thought she could trust—can help her now.

An Sad Day in the Literature World

Today is a sad day for a lot of readers/writers. Why, you ask? Because, after I got home from school I did my usual checking of my email and there, on the front page of Yahoo was a headline that read "J.D. Salinger dies at 91."
Though J.D. Salinger wasn't the best person in the world, he was an amazing author. I personally have only read half of The Catcher in the Rye, but I know that J.D. Salinger has touched many lives with his writing. I saw this video today on Youtube, and I felt like posting it. So, here....






In honor of Mr. Salinger's death, I am personally going to try and read all of the books I own that he has written.



UPDATE- I also just saw this video posted by YA Author John Green...

Cover of Blood Feud by Alexandra Harvey.

It is amazing, yes?
I mean, look at their EYES. It is lovely. I like it.

Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan

Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who’s a girl. One of them loves him; the other one needs him. When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa’s long-lost meth addicted mom. Blake’s participation in the ensuing drama opens up a world of trouble, both for him and for Marissa. He spends the next few months trying to reconcile the conflicting roles of Boyfriend and Friend. His experiences range from the comic (surviving his dad’s birth control talk) to the tragic (a harrowing after-hours visit to the morgue). In a tangle of life and death, love and loyalty, Blake will emerge with a more sharply defined snapshot of himself.


Let me first start off by saying that I love photography, so this is totally my type of book. Flash Burnout was really adorable, and devilishly addicting! LK Madigan wrote one of the best and only books I have read that has to do with photography. I recommend this book to photography loving people and anyone who is looking for a good read.

Team Stefan or Team Damon?

Hey everyone!
I just watched the newest episode of Vampire Diaries... *omgomgomgomg* and since this is kind of a heated debate, I was wondering which team you are on. Stefan or Damon? I will be writing a post a little later discussing who's team I'm on. I wanted to have a little debate going on through the next few weeks. If you would like to write a guest post about which team you prefer, fill out the form below and I will contact you ASAP about it. I am really excited to see who's team y'all are all on!

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Amazing!

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty! When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe? The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?


Suzanne Young did an amazing job writing this. It pulled me in, and wouldn't let me out of its grasp until I turned the last page. The swearing substitutions were hilarious and adorable. This was one of those books that has gossip and cheerleaders. Normally I would shy away from those sorts of books. But this time was different. It was thoughtful, addicting, well-written, while still having that girly edge that made the book.
Suzanne Young is an amazing author and tenner! The Naughty List is a must read!

Swag Contests.... ( a Note)

Hey everyone!
Some of you may know that I currently have a Swag Contest going on. I just wanted to stop by and say that after that swag contest ends, there will be MORE. Yes, I know... more. So, y'all can look forward to that. A lot of the swag may be the same though.*
This is basically just an update. This coming week I am going to try and post 2 reviews, or more. Then the week after that, will be Dirty Little Secrets week! Which in my opinion is going to ROCK.

Best Wishes,
Zoe


*If you are a YA or MG author and would like to donate some swag for a contest(s) you can e-mail me at zaser_jam@yahoo.com

In My Mailbox

Bought-

Hearts at Stake by Alexandra Harvey
The Blakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen. Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire? Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer.


For Review-

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life? Samantha Kingston has it all—looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12th should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it’s her last. The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. In fact, she re-lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she had ever imagined.

--- Yay! It's so good so far!

And the Winner Is...

After hours of debate done me certain bloggers *cough cough* ~You know who you are~
The winner is...


DEBBIE
of Debbie's World of Books.

I have emailed you and I will try and send the package out soon!



In a couple weeks I will be having a week like this past one, except longer and for Dirty Little Secrets by CJ Omololu. More contests and more fun!

What Other People Thought of The Mark...

So, awhile ago, I asked a few people to give me a few sentences on what they thought of The Mark.


"I love when a story sticks with me, and in this case, Cassie's ability as well. (I find myself playing the "what if" game...as in "What if I knew someone was about to die?")

Nadol did a great job dealing with both Cassie's discovery of, and coming to terms with, her unusual "gift". Believable, and at times heartbreaking, Cassie's journey is a fantastic read!"


~Kimberly Derting (Author of The Body Finder, March 2010)


"The Mark is an interesting book. It shows that sometimes me have to accept a fate, even when it feels wrong."


~ Sarah of Sarah's Random Musings


"The book made me laugh, it made me cry, but most of all it made me think. I found myself reading much more slowly than I usually do because my mind was processing everything on a personal level. How would I feel if that were me? Would I tell or wouldn't I? A fantastic debut all around!"


~Kay Cassidy (Author of The Cinderella Society, April 2010)

"I loved The Mark. Totally different from anything else out there, it’s part contemporary, part paranormal and part romance with a little philosophical twist that will get you thinking. The characters are great, the timing is right on and the pacing keeps you turning the pages. Jen makes you wonder what you would do if you were in Cassie’s situation and the answers are never easy. I loved the strong girl main character who isn’t your typical “fall for the bad boy” heroine. Run out and get a copy for yourself as soon as you can."

~C.J. Omololu (Author of Dirty Little Secrets, February 2010)

The Mark by Jen Nadol

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

This book was amazingly addicting. Jen Nadol did a wonderful job writing this. It is a book that I will be sure to never forget. Nadol takes you into a marvelous emotional roller-coaster that is never-ending. At times, I found myself screaming at this book.
When I read it, it felt like I was in the story. I highly recommend this book. My personally copy has been passed around all of my friends and they have all loved it too.

You can win a copy of The Mark here. Contest ends Saturday morning.

An Interview with Jen Nadol

1. How did you come up for the idea of The Mark?

I wish I had a great it-came-to-me-in-a-dream kind of story, but I don’t. Maybe I should make something up. I’m reading LIAR right now, can you tell?

The truth is I was brainstorming story ideas (with myself) and it just kind of popped up: what if you knew it was someone’s day to die? The more I tossed it around, the more possibilities I saw. So, I ran with it.

2. Have you ever thought of what it would be like if you had Cassandra's power? What do you think you would do in her position?

I think I’d do almost exactly what she does. I put myself in her head a LOT while writing so – good or bad – she thinks a lot like me.

3. Do you have a personal favorite character from this book? If so, who? Oh boy. That’s like picking a favorite child…impossible! Cassie’s the obvious since we spend so much time with her, but I really do like all of them. I’m not sure I could write a character that I don’t enjoy or connect with on some level.

4. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Write a lot. Whether you feel like it or not. Don’t worry if it stinks, just get it on paper. Learning to refine and edit is at least half the battle and you can only do that if you’ve got something to refine and edit.

5. Is there anything you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me and for reading!

Contest- The Mark by Jen Nadol

Hey Everyone!
This week on the blog I will be having a bunch of posts having to do with a lovely book called The Mark. If you want a chance to win The Mark, fill out the form below. *The copy you will get has a different cover, because it is the ARC*

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

Some Things Cant Wait till Wednesday.....

So, I have forgotten to post about this book. But, I need to now. It sounds magnificent. The first one is Amazing and I need the sequel now.



Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
April 27, 2010

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Not only is the cover of this book gorgeous, but doesn't it sound great?! I think so. Simone Elkeles is a wonderful author and I can't wait to read this.

Toast Says It All....

Toast is Baaack! *insert spooky music here*






Made of Awesome Reviews

Bleeding Violet review by Sarah of Sarah's Random Musings
The Body Finder review by Chelsea of The Page Flipper
Captivate review by Kristi of The Story Siren
The Iron King review by Erica of The Book Cellar


Made of Awesome Interviews

Interview with Anna Jarzab- Interview by Khy of The Frenetic Reader
Interview with Alex Bullen- Interview by He Followed Me Home..... Can I Keep Him?
Interview with Jo Knowles- Interview by The Book Scout

Author-Twitter of the Week!

@JKagawa (make sure to tweet to her and GLOMP HER!!!!)


Books Read So Far These Past Two Weeks

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg
Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

*I know this is a fail amount... but.... well, I don't have an excuse. For me, it is a fail amount*


Current Obsessions

ZOMBIES
Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Snap by Carol Snow

Madison Sabatini thought she knew who she was: an almost-sophomore with a bright future. The newest photographer on her school paper. A shopaholic with great hair and a fabulous wardrobe. Then, in a flash, everything changed. Now she's stuck in Sandyland, a gloomy beach town in the middle of nowhere, living with her parents in a crappy hotel "suite." Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is . . . Determined to make the best of things, Madison throws herself into her one passion: photography. But when strange figures start appearing in her pictures—people who weren't there when she snapped the shots, people who are later reported dead—she begins to question everything about who she is . . . and who she wishes she could be.



Snap was wonderful. Don't get me wrong, this book has its flaws, but it was still pretty darn good. Some things I didn't like about this book was that it was pretty predictable. I also didn't like how it seemed like Carol Snow was trying really hard to make this book sound scary. That being said, I did in fact like this book a lot. It was heavily addicting and really interesting. Carol Snow did a lovely job writing the characters in this book and I found them continuously keeping me amused.

Waiting on Wednesday

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
July 20th, 2010

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole. At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena

Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.

Though Girl in the Arena was unusual, and it was also very original. I haven't read any other books having to do with gladiators before. I found this book to be kind of slow. And a lot of it seemed too much in the characters head. To me it seemed like Lyn was so opinionated that her thoughts took over the story instead of the plot.

Overall, I think I would have liked it more if there was more fighting. It lacks the amount of action that all the hype led you to believe will happen. *

I totally didn't dislike this book, it was really addicting and I read it fast! But, unfortunately I didn't like it as much as I thought I would.**

*I mean... have you seen this song?! It is made of WIN.

** I am by no means trying to discourage you from reading this book. It was fun!

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Love can be a dangerous thing....

Hanna simply wants to be loved. With a head plagued by hallucinations, a medicine cabinet full of pills, and a closet stuffed with frilly, violet dresses, Hanna's tired of being the outcast, the weird girl, the freak. So she runs away to Portero, Texas in search of a new home.

But Portero is a stranger town than Hanna expects. As she tries to make a place for herself, she discovers dark secrets that would terrify any normal soul. Good thing for Hanna, she's far from normal. As this crazy girl meets an even crazier town, only two things are certain: Anything can happen and no one is safe.

Let me start off by saying, I love both the title and the cover, they are both magnificent.

I don't think I have ever read a book so fast. Bleeding Violet is a debut novel that you don't want to miss!

Dia Reeves wrote a beautifully crafted novel that will stay in your head for hours after you finish reading it.

Wyatt, to me, was a but stereotypical in the sense that he was the "perfect guy". But he also reels you into the story. For once I would love to read a book where the main guy love interest wasn't perceived as some magnificent person.

Overall, I think this book will interest a lot of readers and I, myself thought it was quite good.

Toast Says It All...... hehehe

So, I fail because I totally forgot about this feature! *work with me people, I'm trying*


I promise I will try not to forget again! But... for now, I am sorry! To make up to y'all, I'll be trying to post more reviews this next week.

Toast Says It All will be back next Saturday.



xoxox,
Zoe
"Toast"

Books Read in 2009

1. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
2. E.E. Cummings:Selected Poems
3. Frenemies by Alexa Young
4. Ariel by Sylvia Plath
5. Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
6. Forever... by Judy Blume
7. The Vampire Diaries:The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith
8. Rhymes with Witches by Lauren Myracle
9. How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles
10. Leap Day by Wendy Mass
11. Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman
12. Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle by Gordon Korman
13. The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eight Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
14. A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian
15. The Story of Shirley Temple Black: Hollywoods Youngest Star by Carlo Fiori
16. You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn
17. The Tales of Beetle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
18. Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
19. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr
20. Lucky by Rachel Vail
21. The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
22. Teen, Inc. by Stephan Petrucha
23. Love is Hell by Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin, and Laurie Faria Stolarz
24. Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples
25. Marked by PC + Kristin Cast
26. Betrayed by PC + Kristin Cast
27. Emily Dickinson: Selected Poems
28. Alfred Lord Tennyson: Selected Poems
29. Chosen by PC+ Kristin Cast
30. Untamed by PC+ Kristin Cast
31. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
32. Hunted by PC+ Kristin Cast
33. Fade by Lisa McMann
34. The Breakup Bible by Melissa Kantor
35. How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan
36. Marly's Ghost by David Levithan
37. Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
38. The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King
39. Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber
40. Death by Latte by Linda Gerber
41. Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn
42. Shrimp by Rachel Cohn
43. Love & Lies by Ellen Wittlinger
44. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott
45. Need by Carrie Jones
46. Cupcake by Rachel Cohn
47. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
48. Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott
49. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
50. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
51. When it Happens by Susane Colasanti
52. The Giver by Lois Lowry
53. Evermore by Alyson Noel
54. Secret Vampire by L.J. Smith
55. Daughter of Darkness by L.J. Smith
56. Spellbinder by L.J. Smith
57. Dark Angel by L.J. Smith
58. The Chosen by L.J. Smith
59. Soulmate by L.J. Smith
60. Freaky Monday by Mary Rogers and Heather Hoch
61. Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
62. Peace, Love, and Baby Ducks by Lauren Myracle
63. Huntress by L.J. Smith
64. Sloane Sisters by Anna Carey
65. Willow by Julia Hoban
66. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
67. 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
68. The DeVouring by Simon Holt
69. Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan
70. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
71. Evernight by Claudia Gray
72. Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
73. Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
74. Are U 4 Real? by Sara Kadefors
75. The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart
76. Once was Lost by Sara Zarr
77. Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe
78. Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
79. Waiting for You by Susane Colasanti
80. Ash by Melinda Lo
81. Hate List by Jennifer Brown
82. Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
83. Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
84. Psychic Academy, Vol. 1 by Katsu Aki
85. Psychic Academy, Vol. 2 by Katsu Aki
86. The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
87. Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
88. Sprout by Dale Peck
89. Boyology by Sarah O'Leary Burningham
90. I Can't Keep My Own Secrets by Teens Famous and Obscure
91. DupliKate by Cherry Cheva
92. Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner
93. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
94. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
95. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
96. How Beautiful the Ordinary by Various Authors
97. Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
98. Beautiful by Amy Reed
99. Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton
100. Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne
101. Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne
102. Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne
103. Avalon High Vol. 3 by Meg Cabot
104. The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
105. Hold Still by Nina LaCour
106. No Right Turn by Terry Trueman
107. Beating Heart by A.M. Jenkins
108. Exclusively Chloe by J.A. Yang
109. Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation
110. Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
111. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
112. Ghost Lies and Facial Hair by
113. Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen
114. Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
115. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
116. Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu
117. Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
118. Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
119. Boy Toy by Barry Lyga
120. The Mark by Jen Nadol
121. Girl in the Arena by Lisa Haines
122. Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook
123. Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
124. Snap by Carol Snow
125. How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
126. The Center of the Universe (yep, that would be me) by Anita Liberty
127. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
128. Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
129. Captivate by Carrie Jones
130. Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

Popularity is the best revenge. In the final weeks of eighth grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it, though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls--and now, at the start of her senior year, she's the cheerleading captain, the quarterback's girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren has everything she's ever wanted, and she has forgotten all about her ex-best friend. But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing, she's moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a new look, but she hasn't dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that's ever been important to Lauren—starting with her boyfriend. Watch out, Lauren Wood. Things are about to get bitchy.


This book was really sweet. It also kept me reading. I finished reading this at about midnight, on a school night. Though, it isn't my favorite book, it was pretty awesome. First of all, that is an epic cover, I love it. This book was really funny! In the beginning, I didn't like how she wanted revenge, but over time, I grew to love it. Helen's anger made the book amusing to read!
This is a quick read, that is still incredibly funny. I recommend it!

Beautiful Americans by Lucky Silag

What happens in Paris...

Secrets--
PJ's deep blue eyes and angelic long blond hair conceal a truth that's anything but. Will her dark past stay where it belongs in the backwoods of Vermont, or haunt her in the city of light?

Passion--
Always the good girl, Olivia plans to twirl her way to the top of the Parisian ballet scene. But that's not supposed to include dancing on a table all night...or stumbling into the arms of the wrong boy.

Lies--
With his emo-trendy bedhead, hilarious comebacks and Southern drawl, Zack could win over anyone. Too bad he's after the only one who's forbidden...

Scandal--
All Alex wants from Paris is to nab that berry-red Dior coat and seduce the perfect penny-loafer-wearing boy - and Alex always gets what she wants. But will her scheming pay off? Or is she risking more than she knows...?

Alex, Olivia, Zack and PJ are spending a year at the prestigious Lycée de Monceau in the sparkling city of Paris. This is their chance to sip cafe au lait in Le Marais, throw secret parties in their host families' Versailles-size apartments, and have the time of their lives. But when the secrets they thought they left behind come out, everything could be ruined...

Beautiful Americans was a beautifully engaging book. All of the teen’s characters were written really well. I could relate to this book because I have always wanted to study abroad, and by reading this, a little part of me was able to. All of the characters had their own spark and panache! I loved it! Alex was quick-witted and had attitude. Zach was adorable. He is possibly my favorite character. I loved reading his parts! Olivia was kind of an ok character to me. She was really my least favorite or my favorite. Penelope (or PJ) was a character I really liked. She was quiet and kind of mysterious. It made me sad that she was depressed a lot… for some reason, when reading a book… I like those sorts of characters.
Overall, I really liked this book. The characters were interesting and fun to read about, and it was a topic that I really enjoy!

In My Mailbox *Winter Edition*

I haven't done In My Mailbox for a long while... so I thought I should.
Sine I didn't get much books this week, Im going to tell you all about the books I've gotten within the past two weeks or so.


BOUGHT

*Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Maragret Stohl
*Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
*Shadowland by Alyson Noel
*Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
*Break by Hannah Moskowitz
*Exit Here by Jason Myers
*The Opposite of Music by Janet Ruth Young
*The Center of the Univers (Yep, that would be me) by Anita Liberty
*The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (YAY! I have been wanting this for so long!)

BORROWED

*Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris


FOR REVIEW

*Wanderlust by Lucy Silag
*Just Dont Fall by Josh Sundquist
*Captivate by Carrie Jones


*** I also got the first two Seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I finished Season 1 and it was amazing!

Swag Contest!

I have decided to have a swag contest. This contest will have:

-1 Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin (by Josh Berk) signed bookmark
-1 The Mockingbirds (by Daisy Whitney) bookmark
-1 Sea (by Heidi R. Kling) bookmark
-1 Shadow Hills (by Anastasia Hopcus) signed bookmark
-1 Shadows Hills button
-1 The Cinderella Society (by Kay Cassidy) signed bookmark
-2 The Cinderella Society signed cards


Contest Ends January 30, 2009

+5 if you follow/were already following Zoe's Book Reviews

Toast Says It All... #1

So, this is a new feature I have decided to start on the blog. It will highlight my favorite book going-on's at the moment. "Toast Says It All" will be posted every Saturday. (PS- Toast is my nickname, given by Erica of The Book Cellar and Khy of The Frenetic Reader)


Made of Awesome Reviews

Love is the Higher Law- review by Khy of The Frenetic Reader
The Lonely Hearts Club- review by Chelsea of The Page Flipper
Captivate- review by Erica of The Book Cellar
Magic Under Glass- review by The Book Chic
All Unquiet Things- review by Bookluver-Carol


Made of Awesome Interviews

Interview with The Dark Divine's Daniel- interview by Khy of The Frenetic Reader
The Lonely Hearts Club Review and Interview- interview by Tirzah of The Compulsive Reader
Interview with Kristina Springer- interview by Kristi of The Story Siren
Interview with Bree Despain- interview by Kate at Read This Book!



Author-Twitters of the Week!

@DaisyWhitney
@JoshBerkBooks
@HeidiRKling
@KamiGarcia



Books Read So Far This Week

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph
Captivate by Carrie Jones
Break by Hannah Moskowitz



Current Obsessions

Owls
........ Owls are awesome. They just are.

The Color Purple
....... I got purple sheets with polka dots for Christmas. They are pretty.

The Killers
....... Awesome band. I love them.

2010 Debut Author Challenge

I have decided to do this challenge hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren. I have already read some 2010 books and they were amazing. I can't wait to read more! Im not sure which ones will be on my list yet, but expect some reviews!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

YAY! 2010 here we come! I hope everyone has a terrific year and I am looking forward to another year of Books, Blogging, and all of YOU!

Do you have any resolutions? Tell me in the comments.

XOXO,
ZOE