The Vespertine Giveaway

 

It’s the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset—visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own—still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.

When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia’s world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she’s not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.

To win an ARC of this book, go enter the giveaway on this blog:

http://pjhoover.blogspot.com/2011/01/vespertine-arc-giveaway.html

I seriously can't wait for this book, it looks amazing! I'll publish a review on it once it comes out and I have the chance to read it. :)

REVIEW: The Children of Hurin

The Children of Hurin 
by J.R.R. Tolkien

Emily Rose Shallenberger's review 

Jan 07, 11  ·  edit

recommended for: Anyone, not just LOTR fans.

status: Read in August, 2010 — I own a copy, read count: 3

I've always been a Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit fan, and when I discovered this book, of course I had to read it! It definitely has a place at the top of my list and in some ways I enjoyed it even more than the other books written by Tolkien. If takes place at an earlier time in the history of middle-earth than LOTR and the Hobbit, and it includes characters you only hear about vaguely in the Lord of the Rings, such as Morgoth. This story is a very well-written tragedy and I would recommend it to anyone, not just Lord of the Rings die-hards. It is very beautifully written and written in such a way that anyone can understand it (I know a lot of people that haven't read any other Tolkien novels just because of how hard they are to read for the mass public.) These characters are easy to fall in love with and very, very realistic. This book contains many of life's ironies in a bittersweet tale of tragedy, heroism and heartbreak.

As I said before, you don't need to have read any other Tolkien books or even be familiar with the world to get this story.

REVIEW: The Red Queen's Daughter

The Red Queen's Daughter 
by Jacqueline Kolosov

Emily Rose Shallenberger's review 

Jan 10, 11  ·  edit

status: Read in September, 2009

This is an incredible book which teaches that love can be used for good or evil and can be made to make one both weak and/or strong. It was full of betrayal and intrigue and court politics so believable that I was convinced that I was right in the middle of the world of the late King Henry the Eighth and Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen. Mary Seymour, daughter of the late Queen Katherine Parr, battles her will against her heart in the heat of her cousin, Edmund Seymour's affection for her. Her determination to hold true to her virtues of goodness and not to be choked by the intoxication of love are faded as they collide with her cousin's aggression and determination for power and wealth. They run through murders and illusions and false friendships and betrayal on all sides as she is introduced to the terrible seduction of evil as he is entranced by the innocence of good, and they both enrapture the queen and court as they battle with themselves. Her will and his seem to compliment one another as light is pulled to dark and they find themselves meeting in the middle, forsaking former goals to become intoxicated in their love. Mary's final betrayal of his true nature to the queen brings about Edmund's arrest and her return to good, but no one can kiss the darkness without finding some trace of it etched into themselves, just as no one can help but wish for the sun once they have felt its rays.

REVIEW: Crime Scene At Cardwell Ranch

Crime Scene At Cardwell Ranch (Montana Mystique) (Harlequin Intrigue #897) 
by B.J. Daniels

Emily Rose Shallenberger's review 

Jan 12, 11  ·  edit

bookshelves: own

status: Read from January 07 to 12, 2011

My college student center handed out free copies of this romance+mystery novel to girls at my school. I read it because It's the only book I had right now that I hadn't read and I wanted something new. I was actually pleasantly surprised. I'm not hugely into romance, but this book really kept the smut on the down low and focused more of the mystery aspect. It was a predictable romance/mystery plot, but still a fun, short read. I enjoyed the hero and heroine and the plot was complicated enough to be interesting without being confusing. This novel was fast paced and short. The identity of the culprit is predictable but I still had a racing heart in the end when all was revealed.

Angelfire Giveaway

Here's a giveaway I just entered! Can't wait to read this book!



here's the link if you want to enter as well. :) ends 1/16/2011
http://courtney-allison.blogspot.com/2011/01/fear-reaper-giveaways-week-9.html

Best of 2010 Survey: Part Two

Book Blogging in 2010 (optional):

New Favorite Blog You Discovered in 2010:
http://www.abraebner.blogspot.com/


Favorite Review You Wrote in 2010:
I really liked the review I wrote for The Red Queen's Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov
here's the link: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/64993563
Best Discussion You Had On Your Blog:
I don't think I've ever gotten into a discussion on any of my blogs! :(

Most Thought Provoking Review or Discussion You've read on Somebody Else's blog:
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. The reviews and discussions I read on that made me feel like I'd read it already. I can't wait to read that book.

Best Moment of Book Blogging in 2010:
Just started book blogging, so I'm blank on this one... :)

Best Bookish Discovery of 2010:
I discovered book blogging this last year and I love it!

Best of 2010 Survey: Part One

Okay, I stole this survey from Maddy. Her blog is http://www.maddzslightlybookish.blogspot.com/

Books of 2010:

Best Book of 2010:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Worst Book of 2010:
the House of Night series. They were full of smut without a good plot, unbelievable (and not in a good way) characters and basically a worse spin off other series about teenage vampire schools.

Most Dissapointing Book of 2010:  
Mockingjay. I absolutely loved the book, but I feel like it was ended way too quickly and not very much thought was put into the ending.
Most Surprising (in a good way) Book of 2010:
Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Book You Reccomended Most to People in 2010:
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Best Series You Discovered in 2010:
Percy Jackson series, by far. I didn't think I'd love such an easy read, but I did. <3

Favorite New Authors You Discovered in 2010:
Brandon Sanderson
Anne McCaffery
Becca Fitzpatrick
Most Hilarious Read of 2010:
I don't read very many funny books, but both Spirit Bound and The Last Sacrifice in the Vampire Academy series were very witty.
Most Thrilling, Unputdownable Book of 2010:
The Children of Hurin by J.R. Tokien

Book You Most Anticipated in 2010:
Mockingjay and The Last Sacrifice. 

Favorite Cover of a Book You Read in 2010:

Most Memorable Character of 2010:
Dimitri from the Vampire Academy series.

Most Beautifully Written Book in 2010:
This didn't come out in 2010, but The Red Queen's Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov

Book That Had the Greatest Impact On You in 2010:
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

Book You Can't Believe You Waited UNTIL 2010 to Read:
Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick 

Iron Fey Giveaway

Hey I'm entering this contest for one of my favorite series right now. I've only read the first book so far, but I love it and I'm looking forward to reading the other ones and I'll post a review once I'm done with the series. Anyways here is the contest link if you want to enter.
http://juliekagawa.blogspot.com/2011/01/queen-is-coming-contest-and-giveaway.html

and here is my entry!

All of my fanart is really abstract, so if it doesn't make sense to anyone, that's okay.

This is depicting Meghan from the series.

Introduction

Here's my classic first post. I made a blog to which I'm going to post my book reviews, fan art, fan fiction, etc. Also a good place to put my book contest entries. (Out of the millions I enter, I WILL WIN one someday! <3)

Anyways, so here you go!