Celebration & Appreciation Giveaway Winners!!

I just got back from a two-day trip to Niagara Falls — another reason why I love Canada — so I'm a little behind (okay, a lot behind) on many things. But before I try to catch up, I just wanted to announce the winners to my Celebration & Appreciation Giveaway!

*I know I ended it one day too early, and I'm really sorry for those of you who haven't been able to enter yet. But the couple of days after the first of August are going to be extremely busy for me and I'll be unable to count the entries, so I thought it would be better early than late. I'm so sorry if this is inconvenient! It won't happen again, I promise!*

Since I now have over 100 followers (AND I LOVE YOU ALL!), there are two winners! One is Canadian like me, and the other is an awesome Australian!

The winners, chosen by random.org, are:

#9 : Cathy @ The Crazy Bookworm

and 

#56 : Sienna M.

Congratulations! I have just emailed both of you to get your book choices and addresses. 

No worries! To those of you haven't won (and I really, really wish I could reward all of you!), there are many more giveaways to come! Go ahead and enter my 100 Followers Giveaway right now. I'm seriously debating on choosing two winners for that one too. :)

-Mimi

Follow Friday #9

Hi there!

For those who don't know, Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by the super-duper awesome Parajunkee & Alison Can Read! It's a great way to meet new people and expand your list of friends over Blogger, and it's really easy to join, too! :)

All you have to do is:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read)
2. (Required) Follow the featured blogger of the week. (The Book Addicted Girl & The Little Book Blog)
3. Put your blog name and URL in the Linky thing. 
4. Grab the the button up there and place it in a post (so people can say hi in the comments!).
5. Follow, follow, follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just only a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs! Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI!"
6. If someone comments and follows you, share the love! Follow them back ;)
7. If you're new to the Follow Friday hop, comment and let Parajunkee & Alison know, so they can stop by and check out your blog! 

Q: Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-shirt slogan best describes you?  

A: This is such a fun question! I'd have to say this: 

Because it's so true! x)

What's your T-shirt (or in my case, baseball shirt) slogan? :) 

HAPPY FOLLOW FRIDAY! 

-Mimi 

P.S.: Don't forget to enter my 100 Followers Giveaway if you haven't already! All you have to do is be a follower and it's international! :)

Review: Crescendo

Book: Crescendo

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date: October 19, 2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 427

Source: bought from Chapters

Stars: 4/5

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but atleast she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadnt been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:

The first book, Hush, Hush, was strongest in its ability to keep me as the reader on the edge of my seat — and Crescendo was no different! From the very beginning, Becca Fitzpatrick plunged you so deeply into the gripping world of fallen angels and their descendants that you didn't want to leave.

However awesome this book may be, it wasn't as outstanding as its predecessor. But it was still good! Crescendo had the same mystery element about it that I loved in the first novel. It was similar yet completely different. There were so many twists and turns, so many surprises and shocking discoveries, that it made the plot line quick and exciting on every page!

Nora was as quirky and fun as ever. Some of her thoughts made me crack up laughing while others made my heart drop. If possible, her daring once-fallen-and-now-guardian angel Patch grew on me even more. And Scott... Well, let me just say that he and Nora have history. ;)

Dangerous and mesmerizing, Crescendo was a fast-paced read that never ran out of ways to keep my interest on maximum. I loved this book and I can't wait until I can get my hands on a copy of Silence! 

BUY or BORROW?: Personally, I love having this one on my bookshelf! It's worth every penny to be able to read this book again!

-Mimi

Review: Hush, Hush

Book: Hush, Hush

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date: October 13, 2009

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 391

Source: bought from Chapters

Stars: 4/5

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along. 

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. 

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:

Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush was a daring and compelling read. I couldn't put it down! Fitzpatrick not only managed to create a mystery that kept me guessing until the very end, but she also combined it with a fallen angel romance that caused my heart to leap several times.

Despite being somewhat frustrating at times in that pull-your-hair-out kind of way, Nora was a great heroine! She was realistic and intelligent, yet brave when she needed to be. Her chemistry with Patch — the dark and mysterious transfer who had a tendency of irritating Nora — sizzled like fire. It was thrilling to read passages between them while Nora was still trying to figure out whether he was the one trying to kill her or not.  

Overall, Hush, Hush was an awesome novel for the growing angel genre. It had this breathtaking way of always keeping you on the edge of your seat. This was a great first book to a series I'm looking forward to reading more about!  

BUY or BORROW?: This is an angel book that you definitely want to have on your shelf! Buy it! :) 

-Mimi

Waiting on Wednesday: Shatter Me

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by the awesome Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war — and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

Release Date: November 15, 2011

Doesn't it sound amazing? I've heard so many great things from people who've been lucky enough to get ARCs, and I honestly can't be any more excited to read it! From the hilarious way that Tahereh writes on her blog to this exciting synopsis, I just know that it's going to be awesome!

Plus, it's paranormal and dystopian? I'd say that's the perfect combination! ;)

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  

-Mimi

P.S.: Don't forget to enter my 100 Followers Giveaway if you haven't already! All you have to do is be a follower and it's international! :)

Review: Anna and the French Kiss

Book: Anna and the French Kiss

Author: Stephenie Perkins

Release Date: December 2, 2010

Publisher: Dutton

Pages: 372

Source: KPL

Stars: 5/5

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers - have long awaited?

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS: 

Three words I would use to describe this book: Hilarious. Heartwarming. BRILLIANT.  

I was looking for another 'H' word to summarize it, but brilliant seemed to fit better than anything else — because that's exactly what Stephenie Perkins proved she was by writing this book! Everything about it was just so magical. 

I've always wanted to go to Paris, and reading this book fueled my desire even more. Perkins has an amazing talent of writing details so that you're always intrigued and never bored. The storyline was perfectly crafted, and the way she wrote such specific aspects about her characters made them that much easier to connect to. 

Anna was the perfect voice for the novel! Her thoughts were always fun and hilarious to follow; I could always relate to her no matter what she did. And her chemistry with St. Clair stole my breath away every time. They were perfect together. But Perkins didn't just write "they were perfect together" — the author showed it through moments that were just as much fun to read as I'm sure they were for Anna to experience.

Beautiful, enchanting, and one-hundred percent entertaining, I have to say that Anna and the French Kiss was honestly my favourite contemporary novel of the year! I recommend it wholeheartedly! Stephenie Perkins is definitely an author I'm going to watch out for. :)

BUY or BORROW?: This is a contemporary shelf must-have! Buy it and love it and gush about it with me! 

And because I loved the alternate covers so much: 

-Mimi

100 Followers Giveaway!!

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I actually reached 100 followers already! The time seems to fly by so quickly. I only started blogging a few months ago and it has been such a blast. I just know that I'm going to be sticking around the blogosphere for a long while! :)

I can't thank you guys enough. Whether you're a follower or another blogger stopping by, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to view my blog. None of this could have been as much fun without you!

<center><a href=" http://diminutivemimi.blogspot.com/2011/07/100-followers-giveaway.html " target="_blank"><img alt="Mimi Valentine" src=" http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/Mimi-Vee/100FG.jpg "/></a></center>

On to the giveaway! It's going to be INTERNATIONAL (I'll be broke, but that's okay!), and you just have to be a follower to enter. :)

There's going to be ONE lucky winner who can choose a book from the following list, which contains some of my favourite reads of the year:

  
Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Where She Went by Gayle Forman 

Extra entries (not required):

+1 : Tweet about this giveaway.

+1 : Create a Facebook post about this giveaway.

+3 : Comment on this post.

+5 : Post the button or a link on your sidebar.

+10 : Blog about this giveaway.

Fill out this FORM to enter. The giveaway closes on August 30, 2011 at 11:59 p.m.

Hearts to you all! <3

-Mimi

Review: The Vampire Stalker

Book: The Vampire Stalker

Author: Allison van Dieper

Release Date: June 1, 2011

Publisher: Point

Pages: 272

Source: KPL

Stars: 4/5

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:

Have you ever fallen so in love with a book character that you wish more than anything that he or she could somehow come to life? Well, that's how it is for Amy — except that the arrival of the brooding vampire hunter Alexander takes her completely off guard.

This book is hilarious! It's a quick and fun read that I can undoubtedly relate to, because I have to admit that I often dream about favored book characters coming to life. Despite the dark cover, this novel is actually a very light and entertaining read. It has a down-to-earth heroine that's easy to connect with, a fast-paced plot that flows effortlessly together, and a unique romance that I absolutely adore.

I love the development of Amy and Alexander's relationship throughout the book; it's so easy to see why they're attracted to each other. Allison van Dieper does an excellent job explaining how a few book characters can suddenly come to life!

All in all, The Vampire Stalker is a captivating novel for anyone who has ever had a crush on a fictional character. Let me just say that knowing Alexander Banks is a book character in a book in a book doesn't lessen my attraction to him at all! ;) 

BUY or BORROW?: This book is a must-have for anyone and everyone who has ever been (or is) in love with a book character like Alexander! :) It was so much fun to read that I would definitely read it again is if could.

-Mimi

Follow Friday #8

Hey there!

For those who don't know, Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by the super-duper awesome Parajunkee & Alison Can Read! It's a great way to meet new people and expand your list of friends over Blogger, and it's really easy to join, too! :)

All you have to do is:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read)
2. (Required) Follow the featured blogger of the week. (We Fancy Books & A Novella's Tale)
3. Put your blog name and URL in the Linky thing. 
4. Grab the the button up there and place it in a post (so people can say hi in the comments!).
5. Follow, follow, follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just only a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs! Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI!"
6. If someone comments and follows you, share the love! Follow them back ;)
7. If you're new to the Follow Friday hop, comment and let Parajunkee & Alison know, so they can stop by and check out your blog! 

Q: Name 3 authors that you would love to sit down and spend an hour or a meal with, just talking about their books or getting advice on writing from.

A: Only three? Well, that's really hard but I'll try my best! :)

1. Cassandra Clare (author of The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series): Because she's one of my favourite authors of all time and the way she creates her characters is amazing!
2. Lauren DeStefano (author of The Chemical Garden series): Because she has probably the most beautiful and haunting prose I've ever read — and I read a lot.
3. Tahereh Mafi (author of Shatter Me): Because her blog is hilarious and I can't wait to read her first book when it comes out! Plus, she seems like an awesome person to chill with! 

What about you? What awesome authors would you like to have coffee with? :)

HAPPY FOLLOW FRIDAY! 

-Mimi

Review: Unearthly

Book: Unearthly

Author: Cynthia Hand

Release Date: January 4, 2011

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 435

Source: KPL

Stars: 5/5

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . . 

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy. 

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side. 

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny? 

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.  

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:

All I have to say about Unearthly is that it literally blew me away! It isn't like any other angel book out there, and is easily one of the best of its genre. I'll admit that it started out a bit slow for me, and I sort of wasn't all that convinced of its high praise in the beginning. But once the plot took off, I was hooked!

Clara is an angel-blood — a Quartarius, to be exact, having a half-angel for a mother and a human for a father. But she's also funny, smart, and such a refreshing character. Heroines these days tend to be a bit overdone — whether it be with strength, ferocity, or selflessness — but Clara is a perfect unperfect character that I have no trouble connecting with!

The breathtaking romance can be described with two words: Team Tucker. Just saying, because he's hilarious and awesome and amazing with Clara. Some of the lines exchanged between them just make me giggle like an idiot! Christian is great, but... Like Clara said, Christian is popular because he's kind of like a god; Tucker is popular because he has this way of putting people at ease.

Hence the TEAM TUCKER bumper sticker that I'm very tempted to get. You know, if I had a car.

Overall, Unearthly was a magnetic, moving, and completely original read. I loved nearly everything about it, from its plot to its premise to its characters (both main and side). If you haven't picked up this book yet, I recommend that you do so right now! :) 

BUY or BORROW?: Buy it! It's one of those must-haves that you just want to read over and over and over again! :)

-Mimi

Waiting on Wednesday: Wolfsbane

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by the awesome Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended-Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer-one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack-and the man-she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive. 

(summary taken from Goodreads)

Release Date: July 26, 2011 

Just a few more days until the release date of Wolfsbane! I loved Nightshade (you can read my review here), so I can't wait until the second book of this thrilling series comes out! I'm heading out to the bookstore on the very first day! 

But I still have no clue about which cover I prefer. How about you? :) 
 

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  

-Mimi

Review: Firelight

Book: Firelight

Author: Sophie Jordan

Release Date: September 7, 2010

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 323

Source: KPL

Stars: 3/5

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love. 

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form. 

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. 

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide. 

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS: 

Sophie Jordan's Firelight is a quick, adorable, and pulsating read about descendants of dragons called draki. I love the premise for this book — it's so original! Plus, dragons are completely awesome, and half-human, half-dragon shapeshifters are even more awesome!

At some points, the main character Jacinda bothered me a little but I didn't hate her for it. When her mother steals her away from her kind to try to kill off that draki part of her, the part that matters most to her, Jacinda has a reason to be resentful. She has a reason to want to rebel and keep that part of her alive, even if it means getting closer to a hunter that makes it burst to life.

Oh, Will! How awesome is he? The very first time Jacinda meets him in the book (when she's in draki form), I can tell that they're going to have a huge connection. I love him so much more than Cassian, the male alpha for Jacinda's pride who seems to claim her mostly because she's the only fire draki.

The plot is fast-paced and the writing is really easy to read. And the cover is so pretty, with the fiery red hair and scales around the eyes! All in all, Firelight was a great first novel in a series that I'm excited to continue reading! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Vanish!  

BUY or BORROW?: If you're a huge fan of dragons, I totally recommend that you buy this series. You'll love the draki world, for sure! :)

-Mimi

In My Mailbox #3

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week. It's a really great idea and I'm excited to take part!

Another broke week filled with books from a place I really love: the library. :)

These books were part of my Once Upon a Read-a-Thon pile:

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Possession by Elana Johnson
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

And these books I picked up the day before yesterday: 

The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Reviews will be posted very soon! :)

WHAT'S IN YOUR MAILBOX? 

-Mimi

Review: Nevermore

Book: Nevermore
Author: Kelly Creagh
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Atheneum
Pages: 543
Source: purchased from Chapters
Stars: 5/5

Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares. 

His life depends on it. 

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:  

Oh my gosh! WOW! 

Words will not describe how much I love this book! Nevermore simply blew me away. From the fantastic cast of characters to this beautifully written world to, well, just about everything, Kelly Creagh is definitely an author I'm going to look out for from now on! 

Our blonde heroine Isobel is so much more than I could've hoped for. I adore her! She isn't your stereotypical airhead cheerleader; she's strong and smart and has an incredibly awesome and distinctive voice. She also has a huge heart that only makes me admire her even more.

Then there's Varen. Oh, Varen! If I write a list of things I love about him, I bet that Blogger will create a word limit just to shorten my post. So I'll simply say this: he isn't your typical goth boy either. Like Isobel, there's so much more to him that it literally blows my mind away.

The prose is beautiful and dream-like and slightly nightmarish, mixing perfectly with the darkly original paranormal aspect. There's an entire eerie and compelling world explored, so enthralling that I immediately want to go back. 

To sum up the awesomeness of this book into five words would be impossible. Nevermore has to be one of my favourite reads of all time, and I'll recommend it to anyone without needing to think about it! 

BUY or BORROW?: If my crazy gushing of adoration for this book isn't indication enough, you really need to buy this book!! Go out to the store right now and get yourself a copy right now! :)

-Mimi

Follow Friday #7

Hi again, everyone!

For those who don't know, Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by the super-duper awesome Parajunkee! It's a great neat way to meet new people and expand your list of friends over Blogger, and it's really easy to join too! :)

All you have to do is:

1. (Required) Follow Parajunkee at her awesome blog. 
2. (Required) Follow the featured blogger of the week. (Angela's Anxious Life)
3. Put your blog name and URL in the Linky thing. 
4. Grab the the button from Parajunkee's blog and place it in a post (so people can say hi in the comments!).
5. Follow, follow, follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just only a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs! Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI!"
6. If someone comments and follows you, share the love! Follow them back ;)
7. If you're new to the Follow Friday hop, comment and let Parajunkee know, so she can stop by and check out your blog! 

Q: What do I do when I'm not reading?

A: Oh, that's easy! When I'm not reading, I'm writing! ;) I love to write almost as much as I love to read, so I basically switch between the two, depending on how I feel. Some other awesome things I love to do aside from reading are go for long walks and hang out with friends!

PLUS: I'm hosting a huge Celebration & Appreciation Giveaway here! Go ahead and check it out — there are some pretty awesome books for grabs! :) 

HAPPY FOLLOW FRIDAY! 

-Mimi

Celebration & Appreciation Giveaway!!

Edited: NOW CLOSED.

Last week, I participated in the Once Upon a Read-a-Thon hosted by Candace's Book Blog, Pure Imagination, and Reading Angel. It was my very first read-a-thon, so I stayed up really late (or should I say early?) each night to finish as many books as I could, despite how busy I was. And I reached my goal of FOUR books in three days! Yay!

Plus, I want to take the time to thank all of my followers for everything they've done to encourage me as a new blogger. It really means a lot to me! You guys are the best! :)

I promised everyone that I'd have something special to celebrate my accomplishment, so here it is!

What's is it exactly? A GIVEAWAY! Yes, it's my very first one, so I'm going all out! Here are the choices:

 

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (PB)

 Heist Society by Ally Carter (HC)

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (HC)

Wishful Thinking by Alexandra Bullen (HC)

Need by Carrie Jones (HC)

Dark Flame by Alyson Noel (HC)

Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (HC)

Beastly by Alex Flinn (PB)

 Across the Universe by Beth Revis (HC)

Ta-da! Do you like them? I hope so, because this giveaway is going to start out with ONE winner, but if I somehow miraculously manage to reach 100 followers by the end of this giveaway, I'm going to choose another winner from this pile! That means that TWO people will have the chance to win a book from this list!

And then I'll do my 100 Followers Giveaway — another one, in addition to this! — with a whole new pile of even more awesome books! :)

You must be of age 13 or older to enter, and you have to follow my blog. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL! 

Extra entries (not required):

+1 : Tweet about this giveaway.

+1 : Create a Facebook post about this giveaway.

+2 : Comment on this post.

+5 : Comment on any of my reviews. 

+10 : Blog about this giveaway. 

All you have to do is fill out this FORM. Giveaway ends on August 1, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. Winner(s) will be chosen using random.org. You can read my policies here. Thank you! :)

-Mimi

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon: Day 3

For those of you who don't know, the Once Upon a Read-a-Thon is hosted by Candace's Book Blog, Pure Imagination, and Reading Angel. The goal is to read as many books as you can from 12:01 AM on July 11th to 11:59 PM on July 13th. :)

Day 3 Mini Challenge @ Wicked Awesome Books

Challenge: LET'S PLAY MATCHMAKER! Pick two characters from any books and say why they would make an awesome couple! :)

Answer: I literally adore this challenge! I'm pretty bad at matchmaking, but this is a couple I think would be perfectly hilarious together:

Tod Hudson from Soul Screamers series by Rachel Vincent

+

Sophie Mercer from Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins

Why? Because both of these characters are smart, witty, and sarcastically funny in the way that makes you laugh your head off! Imagine these two in a room together — I can see the sparks flying!

Day 3 Mini Challenge @ Basically Amazing

Challenge: Recommend 2 books for Ashley!

Answer: If I could recommend any awesome series for Ashley that (judging by her reviews page) she has not read yet, it would be Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series! I feel so much like an advertiser with the amount of times I've been promoting this series with the upcoming release of If I Die (book 5) coming soon, but I just can't help it! This series is literally one of my favourites of all time, just as much as Tod is one of my biggest book crushes! With strong characters, a great premise, and a romance (romances?) that makes your heart beat fast, the Soul Screamers series is an urban fantasy at its best! You should definitely pick up these books! :)

The second book I have to recommend is from my read-a-thon pile. I haven't read very many, but I guess I'd have to go with Unearthly by Cynthia Hand! It's about a quarter-angel girl named Clara who gets vague visions of her purpose — the reason why she's on Earth — and has to figure out what it means before it's too late! Unearthly is actually really cool and the most original angel book I've read all year!

I hope you like them! :)

My updated book pile (crossed out = finished): 

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Possession by Elana Johnson
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Yay! After staying up reading into the early morning hours (thanks to the awful extra classes I've been taking this summer), I've finally reached my goal of FOUR books! I'm so happy right now that I'm going to be planning a really cool surprise soon! Stay tuned! ;)

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU READ? :)

-Mimi

Waiting on Wednesday: Pandemonium

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by the awesome Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver captivated readers with Delirium, the first book in a thrilling dystopian trilogy in which Lena Haloway dared to fall in love with Alex and escape the cure, the government-mandated procedure that renders a person immune to the disease of love. Lena and Alex staked their lives on leaving their oppressive society, but only Lena broke free.

Pandemonium continues Lena’s gripping story. After escaping from Portland, Maine, Lena makes it to the Wilds and becomes part of an Invalid community, where she transforms herself into a warrior for the resistance. A future without Alex is unimaginable, but Lena pushes forward and fights, both for him and for a world in which love is no longer considered a disease. Swept up in a volatile mix of revolutionaries and counterinsurgents, Lena struggles to survive—and wonders if she may be falling in love again.

Full of danger, forbidden romance, and exquisite writing, Lauren Oliver’s sequel to Delirium races forward at a breathtaking pace and is sure to appeal to fans who crave the high-stakes action of The Hunger Games and the bittersweet love story of Romeo & Juliet.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

Release Date: March 6, 2012

Isn't the cover beautiful? :)

I loved Delirium but the cliffhanger ending was god awful! I can't wait to see what happens next in the second book, Pandemonium — it sounds so amazing! But with the synopsis saying that Lena is in danger of falling in love again... it's just so incomprehensible that I don't know what to think. Hopefully Alex is okay!

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  

-Mimi

Once Upon a Read-a-Thon: Day 2

For those of you who don't know, the Once Upon a Read-a-Thon is hosted by Candace's Book Blog, Pure Imagination, and Reading Angel. The goal is to read as many books as you can from 12:01 AM on July 11th to 11:59 PM on July 13th. :)

My updated book pile (crossed out = finished): 

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Possession by Elana Johnson
Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Day 2 Mini Challenge @ YA Bliss : 

Question: What are your top 3 love triangles?

Answer:

1. Will vs. Jem from Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series
2. Tod vs. Nash from Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series
3. Cal vs. Archer from Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall series

Day 2 Mini Challenge @ The Bookish Type

Challenge: Pick any book from your read-a-thon pile and write a fake synopsis based solely on the cover. The synopsis does not have to be related to the actual book at all, just the pretty, pretty cover.

Answer: I chose to do this one for Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey! :) Be warned — I kind of suck at this!

Synopsis by Mimi: Sixteen-year-old Hana has always loved water. And everyone in her town knows that the beautiful yet strange recluse would much rather swim in her backyard pond than hang out with anyone that tries to befriend her. 

One day, Hana comes across a strange frog floating on a lily pad in her pond. Strange because it's purple... and dead. But the moving, talking, and breathing amphibian — whom Hana names Violet, and claims to be a zombie — knows a secret, and she won't leave until Hana can guess what it is. Will Violet be able to teach Hana that having company is better than living alone? Or will Hana only be driven to crave for solitude even more, after the traumatizing death of her mother?

Ta-da! With zombie frogs and a really mysterious plot, it sounds like something you'd want to read, right? ;)

HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU READ? :)

-Mimi