Review: Sweet Venom

Book: Sweet Venom
Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 352
Source: KPL
Stars: 5/5

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS: 

I knew I wanted to read this book because I'm a HUGE Greek mythology junkie, but I didn't expect to love it this much!

Tera Lynn Childs took a well-known myth about a seemingly villainous girl with snakes for hair and turned it into something golden! Sweet Venom was well-written, well-crafted, and well-everything else. I had a blast reading this original portrayal of Medusa and cool mythological beasties.

You'd think it'd be hard to tell the triplets apart since their names were so similar, but it actually wasn't! Each of their first person narratives reflected their distinct personalities enough that I had no trouble at all. (And I adored how they were all brought together for the first time.)

Grace was the sweet, caring, eco-conscious optimist (and admittedly my favourite of the three); Gretchen was the fierce and attitude-driven huntress; and Greer was the slightly snobbish but still completely likable high-class girl. It was cool to see how their different pasts shaped them. I loved each of the sisters, and I loved each of the side characters too! (Especially Thane. ♥ Nick and Milo were awesome too!)

Overall, Sweet Venom was a fun and fresh series starter that I would definitely recommend! The quick and action-packed storyline made it so easy to read in one sitting, and the sweet romances kept me doubly entertained. I can't wait until book two comes out! :)

BUY or BORROW?: Greek mythology lover or not, Sweet Venom is a must-read! Buy it!

-Mimi

Review: The Demon Trapper's Daughter

Book: The Demon Trapper's Daughter
Author: Jana Oliver
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 340
Source: KPL
Stars: 3.5/5

Demon Trapper Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself—and that’s exactly what Lucifer is counting on…

It’s the year 2018, and with human society seriously disrupted by the economic upheavals of the previous decade, Lucifer has increased the number of demons in all major cities. Atlanta is no exception. Fortunately, humans are protected by Demon Trappers, who work to keep homes and streets safe from the things that go bump in the night.

Seventeen-year-old Riley, only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing attraction to fellow Trapper apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving citizens from Grade One Hellspawn. Business as usual, really, for a demon-trapping teen. When a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood, she realizes that she’s caught in the middle of a battle between Heaven and Hell.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:

When a book is called The Demon Trapper's Daughter, you know you're in for one heck of a ride — and that's exactly what this novel delivered! It was a roller coaster with its ups and downs and pros and cons, but I still enjoyed reading it a lot! :)

The thing I loved most about this book (besides its super-cool cover, of course!) would be the world. Jana Oliver created such an original world of demons, trappers, hunters, and magic. It was gritty and dark, intense and different, and oh-so fascinating! This setting was one that made you want to lock yourself inside it!

I don't have much to say about the characters other than that I LOVED them. Even with everything going on, Jana Oliver didn't make them perfect or superior at what they did, and that made them so much easier to connect with! I adored Riley through and through, and the rest of the cast was always interesting to read about.

(And I'm totally Team Beck (♥), even though his constant use of "ya" and "yer" was strange at times! Because I honestly think a guy as hot as him should be capable of saying the word "you.")

Overall, The Demon Trapper's Daughter was a first book that left me craving for the next! I'll admit that some parts were pretty hard to get through because the pacing felt really action-packed in some places and slow-dragging in others, but it's still a book worth picking up! 

BUY or BORROW?: This is a great way to start your Demon Trappers collection! It's a book for all lovers of complicated, dark, and intriguing urban fantasies! :)

-Mimi

Follow Friday #22

Hi, everyone!

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. 
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. If you could have dinner with your favourite book character, who would you eat with and what would you serve?

A: It's impossible to pick just one favourite character! Can I just do some speed-eating with all of them? x) Or better yet, let's have a feast! 

But if I had to choose... I'd have to pick Jace from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I remember one scene in City of Bones when he took Clary and everyone to a cool Downworld restaurant — coconut pancakes plus sarcastic conversations sounds like a good combo to me!

What about you? :)

HAPPY FOLLOW FRIDAY! 

-Mimi

P.S. You can enter the first giveaway, second giveaway, and third giveaway in my Autumn BookFest if you haven't already! :)

ABF Giveaway #3 : Happy Halloween!

HI, YOU ALL LOOK BEAUTIFUL TODAY! ♥

What? No, I'm not being a suck-up! I'm just really, really sorry that I haven't posted Giveaway #3 yet! You've probably been wondering where all the giveaways have been hiding. But I know you all want to get to the good stuff, so I'll cut to the chase! :)

<center><a href="http://diminutivemimi.blogspot.com/search/label/autumn%20bookfest" target="_blank"><img alt="Mimi Valentine" src=" http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/Mimi-Vee/AutumnBF3.jpg"/></a></center>

The theme of this giveaway is one of the greatest holidays out there (and not just because there's free candy and you get to dress up — which are two of my favourite things)! It's HALLOWEEN! :)

Giveaway #3

The Rules:

1. There will be one winner. 
2. Giveaway ends on November 21, 2011 @ 11:59 p.m.
3. Be a GFC follower (which, by default, makes you awesome). 
4. Be 13 or older.
5. Live anywhere that The Book Depository ships to (which is basically anywhere!)
6. Fill out the form at the bottom.

The Prize: Any one book of your choice from the list of Halloweeny books below! :)

 

 

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Fallen by Lauren Kate
The Forest of Hand and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Fill out the form below:




THANK YOU SO MUCH & HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ♥ 

-Mimi  

P.S. In case you feel like sharing (and this is in no way required!), are you dressing up for Halloween? If you are, what are you going as? If not, please tell me you at least get lots of candy! :)

Waiting on Wednesday: The Space Between

 

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: 

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

Release Date: November 1, 2011 

Doesn't that synopsis sound amazing? Books with angels and demons are always so cool to read! I adored Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement, and she has such vivid and imaginative writing! I can't wait to see what she does with this one! 

Plus, that cover is so creepy-cool. It's definitely in the spirit of Halloween! ;)

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

-Mimi

Top Ten Books to Read Around Halloween

Today I decided to participate in Top Ten Tuesday! It's a meme hosted by the awesome girls at The Broke and the Bookish, where they post a different Top Ten list each week and we list our corresponding books! :)

This week's list is:

Top Ten Books to Read Around Halloween

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins : I could read this book on any holiday and it would still give me chills. It's dark and dangerous and definitely one of my favourite reads of all time!
   
2. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake : I just read this one a few days ago and it was SO GOOD! Definitely the gory, scary, yet absolutely fun book you should read on Halloween at midnight!
   
3. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh : This is just such a dark, beautiful, and enchanting read that reminds me so much of Halloween! I adored it! :) 
4. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin : This book was haunting and creepy in all the right places. Such a breathtaking debut!
5. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer : You can honestly draw a straight line from VAMPIRES to HALLOWEEN! And I actually love Twilight, so it definitely makes this list! :) 
6. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting : I adored this book, even though Violet's superpower was a bit morbid (because I don't think I'd want to be able to know where bodies are)!
7. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff : The setting of this one is so Halloweenish! It was unlike anything I've ever read before, and Brenna's writing was amazingly vivid! 
8. Fallen by Lauren Kate : Nothing speaks  dark and dangerous like the gothic setting of a reform boarding school filled with fallen angels!
9. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson : I actually haven't read this book yet, but when it's about a serial killer named "Jack the Ripper," you know you have a Halloween-worthy book on your hands!
10. Unwind by Neal Shusterman :This book is creepy and chilling because they're basically murdering kids while they're still alive! (Although I just made it sounds a lot worse than it is LOL...) 

And that' my list! I'm actually a pretty big fan of dark or chilling books, even though I would never be able to withstand a horror movie marathon or anything like that. I'm a scaredy cat!

WHAT'S YOUR TOP TEN? 

-Mimi

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood

Book: Anna Dressed in Blood
Author: Kendare Blake
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 316
Source: KPL
Stars: 4.5/5

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life. 

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:  

First, let me just say that I'm a baby chick when it comes to this kind of stuff. I'm not into anything terrifying or gory or even remotely scary, because I get nightmares way more often than I dream. But even with all of that, Anna Dressed in Blood was awesome!

It was everything I was expecting and more! There were ghosts and blood and mystery and a surprisingly sweet romance that made me smile. Not only that, but this book was funny. Like, right after a scene that gave you shivers, one of the characters would say something and you'd burst out laughing even though you knew it wasn't really the right time.

(And nope, they weren't just morbid jokes!)

I can't even explain how much I loved Cas! Anna Dressed in Blood was another one of the few examples that could pull off a male narrative written by a female author. Cas was just awesome, and his other awesome friends (like Carmel and Thomas and even his mom!) made it doubly awesome!

Clever and suspenseful, Anna Dressed in Blood is a book I think tons of people would enjoy, whether they're into horror books or not! It wasn't overly gory, but it didn't lack in those shiver-inducing aspects either. I would definitely recommend it, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out!

BUY or BORROW?: This is a horror book fan must-have! Even if you don't like horror though, this one would be awesome because of the great plot and beautifully haunting cover! :)

-Mimi 

Review: Shiver

Book: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: August 1, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Pages: 400
Source: KPL
Stars: 5/5

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It’s her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. 

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS: 

WOW. Wow, wow, wow. Why did I ever wait so long to pick up this book? I've heard so many mixed things about it that I was kind of scared at first — but then I started Shiver just before I went to bed and I couldn't put it down!

Not everyone can pull off writing a book from two alternating first person narratives, but Maggie Stiefvater definitely can! Her writing was so perfect and fitting for the story. I felt like I was right inside the book, surrounded by endless forests, lonely cold winters, and a town full of werewolves that were so different than what I was used to.

For two characters who had such generic names, Sam and Grace were absolutely amazing! I ADORED Grace with her strength, determination, and heart of gold. And Sam, who had to live with the infection that made him turn into a wolf every winter, was so heartbreakingly real and good that I wanted to cry every time he was in pain. I swear almost did!

But it wasn't just the awesome cast (with so many other great characters!) that made this book so good. It was the twisting plot, the oh-so-original werewolf lore, and the moments that stole my breath away! I could not put this one down for the life of me!

Beautiful and lyrical and 100% enchanting, Shiver was a book that surprised me immensely — in all the right ways! I would definitely recommend this book, and I'm SO excited to read the next book in the series! :)

BUY or BORROW?: Definitely a book you want on your shelf! It's such a powerful read!

-Mimi

Follow Friday #21

Hi, everyone!

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. 
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. What superhero is your alter-ego?

A: I just love this question! My uncle is total comic book lover so he always gets us into all those superhero movies and such, so you can bet I love them too!

Honestly, though? I have no clue what superhero would represent me! Probably Superwoman because I'm all about girl power. Or maybe Kitty from X-Men because she was always my favourite (and I would love to be able to walk through walls)!

What about you? :)

HAPPY FOLLOW FRIDAY! 

-Mimi

P.S. You can still enter the first giveaway and second giveaway in my Autumn BookFest if you haven't already! :)

Review: Die For Me

Book: Die For Me
Author: Amy Plum
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 341
Source: KPL
Stars: 3.5/5

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:  

People have been recommending this book to me for forever, and I finally thought I'd listen! The whole idea of revenants — undead beings (who are not zombies!) with the irresistible compulsion to sacrifice their lives to save others — was definitely intriguing. 

And Amy Plum hit the mark with creating her world! The characters were so beautifully crafted that I found myself adoring every single revenant we were introduced to, especially Charlotte and Jules. Our heroine, Kate, was so intelligent and sweet that I completely loved her at first.  

But even though Kate and Vincent were great characters on their own, I just couldn't love them as a couple. It was too much insta-love without reason, too much talking about loving each other without showing, and too much not being able to function properly when apart — which I found really silly at times! I usually don't mind love-at-first-sight sorts of romances, but to me, this one felt forced. 

Still, with all of that aside, Die For Me was a pretty awesome debut! Original premise, great characters, and the beautiful Paris setting... It was enjoyable to read and the pacing made it easy to get lost in. I'm excited to see where the rest of the series is going! :)

BUY or BORROW?: I borrowed this book, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it! If you're into sweet and original novels, Die For Me is the perfect book for your shelf!

-Mimi

Waiting on Wednesday: Obsidian

 

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: 

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

Release Date: December 6, 2011

I don't know about you, but that synopsis just makes me SO excited to read this book! We've read about vamps and weres and witches and fey... but ALIENS? Heck yes! :)

Plus, it's written by the ever-amazing author of Half-Blood, Jennifer L. Armentrout! After loving her first book, I have to say that it only makes me doubly excited for this one!

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

-Mimi

Top Ten Books Whose Titles or Covers Made Me Buy It

Today I decided to participate in Top Ten Tuesday! It's a meme hosted by the awesome girls at The Broke and the Bookish, where they post a different Top Ten list each week and we list our corresponding books! :)

This week's list is:

Top Ten Books Whose Titles of Covers Made Me Buy It

1. Wither by Lauren DeStefano : One of my favourite covers ever! ♥
2. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand : I actually read this book from the library first, but then I bought it because I loved it so much and the beautiful cover was a plus! 
3. Nevermore by Kelly Creagh : I don't know what it was about this one, but when I saw it sitting on the shelf in stores, I just had to buy it!
4. The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa : All covers in this series are so pretty! I actually saw the second book, The Iron Daughter, first and read it before I realized it was a second book LOL.
5. If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman : Both of the new covers are gorgeous!
6. Matched by Ally Condie : I know I can't be the only one who looked at this cover and thought "I want that on my bookshelf!"
7. Firelight by Sophie Jordan : I just love this cover! It's so simple and beautiful, and I especially love the scales around the eye!
8. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer : I honestly love the old colours so much more because they're what first caught me attention! Pretty pastel colours? Yes please! 
9. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor : I have a thing for pretty masks, and I've only heard amazing things about this book. Those two things usually are a good sign!
10. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr : You have to admit that all of the covers in this series are so enchanting!

And that's my list! And I know it's petty to judge a book by it's cover, but it's NOT like I completely avoid a book just because it doesn't have a cover I like. Pretty covers only attract my attention more. :)

Plus, it's totally okay with all of the books I listed because they each lived up to their gorgeous covers!

WHAT'S YOUR TOP TEN? 

-Mimi 

P.S. You can still enter the first giveaway and second giveaway in my Autumn BookFest if you haven't already! :)

Review: Intertwined

Book: Intertwined
Author: Gena Showalter
Release Date: September 1, 2009
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 440
Source: borrowed from Lexie
Stars: 4/5

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends.

Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can possess another human.
One can tell the future.

Everyone thinks he's crazy, which is why he's spent his entire life shuffled between mental institutions and juvie. All of that is about to change, however. For months Aden has been having visions of a beautiful girl—a girl who carries centuries-old secrets. A girl who will either save him or destroy him.

Together they'll enter a dark world of intrigue and danger…but not everyone will come out alive. 

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:  

Can I have the sequel now?? 

Intertwined was definitely a one-sit read! From the very beginning — when one of the four souls living inside Aden accidentally raises a cemetery — you know you're in for a totally awesome ride. The whole concept of it was original and complicated and tons of fun!

Plus, the originality extended to the plot which I really loved. This whole book was a breath of fresh air (with a twisting plot, an intriguing world, and lovable characters), especially that there were two sets of romances instead of one love triangle (and I can almost bet you'll guess the pairings wrong the first time around LOL).

You know you have an awesome cast when one guy has four hilarious souls living in him (Aden), one girl is a super-sweet vampire princess (Victoria), another girl can sort of counteract Aden's ability in a way (Mary Ann), and another guy is a wicked hot werewolf bodyguard (Riley, I love you! ♥). Together they made the book even more enjoyable to read. 

Fast-paced, fun, and entertaining all the way through, Intertwined is a book that will have you laughing in one moment and almost crying in the next. I couldn't put it down, and I'm so excited to read the next installments in the series! 

BUY or BORROW?: If you're a lover of original paranormal fantasies, you should definitely add this to your collection! :)

-Mimi

In My Mailbox #5

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! :)

BORROWED:

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Eve by Anna Carey

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

I know I already have a whole stack of library books sitting in my room from last week... but I saw these ones and I couldn't resist! x)

WHAT'S IN YOUR MAILBOX? 

-Mimi

Follow Friday #20

Hey, everyone!

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. 
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. If you could have characters from a particular book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a particular TV series, which would you choose and why?

A: Okay, now this is a hard question! I don't know, but I think I prefer my TV shows and books separate — they're all super cool on their own!

But right now, I'm in love with The Vampire Diaries and The Secret Circle TV shows! I think either of them would be pure EPICNESS with Divergent by Veronica Roth or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Just because I'd love to see vampires or witches in a cool dystopian book!

What about you? :)

HAPPY FOLLOW FRIDAY! 

-Mimi

P.S. You can still enter the first giveaway and second giveaway in my Autumn BookFest if you haven't already! :)

Review: Saving Juliet

Book: Saving Juliet
Author: Suzanne Selfors
Release Date: January 22, 2008
Publisher: Walker's Books for Young Readers
Pages: 256
Source: KPL
Stars: 4.5/5

Two Juliets,
both alike in desperation. . .

Seventeen-year-old Mimi Wallingford, of the Broadway Wallingfords, has a life most girls can only dream of—complete with the starring role in her family’s production of Romeo and Juliet.  But acting is not her dream, and she’s fighting for the right to trade her script for a scalpel and become a doctor.

Fourteen-year-old Juliet Capulet, of the Verona Capulets, has lived a lonely life—imprisoned by the feud that consumes her family and by her iron-fisted mother’s forcing her into an unwanted marriage.  She will do anything to avoid her betrothed, even if it requires faking a boil on her bottom—or something more dangerous.

During the play’s final performance, Mimi’s wish to get away actually comes true when she and her heartthrob costar, Troy Summer, are magically transported into Shakespeare’s Verona. Now that she knows the real Juliet, Mimi doesn’t want to stand by and allow the play to reach its tragic end.  But if saving her new friend means changing the ending of the greatest love story of all time, will she and Troy ever make it back to Broadway?

(summary taken from Suzanne's website and Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:

First, let me just say that you shouldn't pass up this book just because the cover isn't (admittedly) the prettiest. I honestly adored everything about this novel (and it's not just because the main girl's name is Mimi)! 

Saving Juliet is like a modern spin on Romeo and Juliet but not at the same time! It's more about a girl who is accidentally finds herself stuck in the world's greatest love story, where Shakespeare's version is about as similar to it as a baby chick is to a hawk. It's fun and sweet and SO hilarious sometimes that I'm constantly in the land of Goofy Grins.

My absolute favourite thing about this book is the cast. Mimi (LOL ♥) is such a strong and hilarious character, and her interactions with Troy — who we first just see as a spoiled pop star but ends up being so, so sweet — make me want to laugh out loud! Plus, I adored that Juliet was just a young girl with a lot of spunk.

Hilarious, heartwarming, and absolutely adorable, Saving Juliet is the perfect sort-of remake of Shakespeare's famous classic! The plot is fun, well-crafted, and mixed with twists that keep it all interesting. I recommend it wholeheartedly whether you're a fan of Shakespeare or not! 

BUY or BORROW?: I won't blame you if you're hesitant to buy this one (because I certainly was), but you should definitely read it anyways because it's just such a fun book! :)

-Mimi

Waiting on Wednesday: Dearly, Departed

 

 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: 

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

Release Date: October 18, 2011

Steam punk + romance + dyspopian world + Victorian etiquette + zombies = a MUST-READ book! It's all of my favourite things in one bound novel. I'm counting down the days!

Plus, I really want the cover girl's dress — and her umbrella! I love frills and lace! :) ♥

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

-Mimi

Review: Fairy Metal Thunder

Book: Fairy Metal Thunder
Author: J.L. Bryan
Release Date: September 19, 2011
Publisher: jlbryanbooks.com
Pages: 194 (paperback)
Source: author (Thanks so much, Jeff!!)
Stars: 5/5

Jason, Erin, Mitch and Mildred (“Dred”) are the Assorted Zebras, a teenage garage band in Wisconsin with no fans and no gigs.

Then Jason sneaks into the fairy world and steals four magic-fueled musical instruments, the kind fairies use to enchant and trick humans.

The new instruments make the band a huge overnight success, on their way to rock stardom. But the band members aren’t exactly ready for fame, fortune, or the supernatural creatures sent by the fairies to track them down.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:

Oh, WOW! When I started reading this book, someone should have told me it was going to be this good because then I would've started it earlier. I just couldn't put it down! 

Fairy Metal Thunder revolves around your average teenage garage band who — by some inadvertent fluke — manage to get their hands on magical fairy instruments that draw humans like moths to a flame. But of course, the fairies (especially Queen Mab) will do anything to get them back.

Characters are always important for me in a good book, so I was thrilled when I fell in nearly love with every single one! Jason is just an all-around awesome character with heart and humor and everything you could want in a guy. His little sister is so adorable; his other band mates are hilarious; the fairies are tons of fun to read about.

Plus, there's also a sweet, sweet, realistically sweet romance between Jason and Erin, which I find is a hard thing to accomplish in urban fantasy books.

Everything about this book is so much fun to read! From J.L. Bryan's vivid yet quick writing style, to the perfectly incorporated fairy lore, to the enchanting plot, it all adds up to a book that you HAVE to read, whether you're a fan of fairies of not! :) 

BUY or BORROW?: This is definitely a buy! Plus, it's only 99 cents in e-book format right now (which I think is really under-priced for such an awesome book, but oh well)!

-Mimi

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Book: Lola and the Boy Next Door
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 338
Source: bought from Chapters
Stars: 5/5

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

(summary taken from Goodreads) 

MY THOUGHTS:  

Stephanie Perkins, please don't ever stop writing! Anna and the French Kiss was undoubtedly one of my favourite contemporary reads of the year, and let me just say that Lola and the Boy Next Door just proves once again how GENIUS this author can be. 

Lola and the Boy Next Door is such an amazing book! It's beautiful and heartwarming and awkward and realistic and everything that a first love should be. Like with Anna, the writing is detailed yet never boring, and it evokes so much emotion that there should be a warning for tears.

Not only does this book have a flawless writing style, a breathtaking plot, and tons of swoon-worthy scenes, but the characters are perfectly imperfect. I absolutely adored Lola with all of her costume quirks, and I love love LOVED Cricket! (And if a girl who has a phobia of bugs can say that sentence, then you should know he must be a damn amazing guy.) 

Anna was pure magic, but Lola was the breathtakingly genuine romance that every girl wants — and just might get. I could recommend these books a million times and it still wouldn't be enough, so just know that  Lola and the Boy Next Door is a book you HAVE to read! 

BUY or BORROW?: Buy it for sure! I'm usually more of a paranormal fan, but Perkins always writes books that are so realistic and easy to connect with that I just want to sit there and re-read them over and over again! :)

-Mimi

In My Mailbox #4

It's been a while since I last did an IMM, but I've just been pumped about so many books I got last week that I wanted to share! :)

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!

FOR REVIEW:

Fairy Metal Thunder by J.L. Bryan — thank you so much, Jeff! I'm loving this one so far! :)

BOUGHT: 

If I Die by Rachel Vincent (read, loved, & reviewed here)

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (read, loved, & reviewed here)

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

BORROWED (gotta love the library!):

As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Die For Me by Amy Plum

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Between homework and clubs and blogging and family, I'm trying my best to keep up with my reading, but it's not exactly easy! Reviews will be posted as soon as I write them! :)

WHAT'S IN YOUR MAILBOX? 

-Mimi

A Winner & Thanks!

Firstly, it's time to announce the winner of my 300 Followers Giveaway!

The winner, chosen by random.org, is:

maidenveil @ Musings of a Reader Happy

Congratulations! I've already emailed you for your address and such! :)

Secondly, I want to thank all of you for the super-sweet birthday wishes — they all made my day! I'm not really a big fan of birthdays, but this one is turning out to be pretty great. With bowling, parties, and tons of homework, it's going to be a busy weekend!

Have an awesome Saturday, you guys! ♥

-Mimi

ABF Giveaway #2: Happy Birthday!

Guess what today is?? Well, whether you guessed it or not, here it is...

TA DA! 

(This isn't my cake, but I totally wish it was.)

Starting today, I'm officially 15 years old! Not old enough to drive yet (and definitely not old enough to drink!), but I'm going job searching later this weekend and hopefully I can find a new way to finance my extensive reading habits! :)

<center><a href="http://diminutivemimi.blogspot.com/search/label/autumn%20bookfest" target="_blank"><img alt="Mimi Valentine" src=" http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j359/Mimi-Vee/AutumnBF3.jpg"/></a></center>

So, basically... MY BIRTHDAY + AUTUMN BOOKFEST =

Giveaway #2

The Rules:

1. There will be one winner. 
2. Giveaway ends on November 8, 2011 @ 11:59 p.m.
3. Be a GFC follower (which, by default, makes you awesome). 
4. Be 13 or older.
5. Live in the US or Canada. 
6. Fill out the form.

The Prize: The winner will get to choose any TWO BOOKS from the list of ones that I've given away before on my blog! :)

Which includes these ones, from my 100 Followers Giveaway:

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

Or these ones, from my 300 Followers Giveaway: 

Vanish by Sophie Jordan 
As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott 
If I Die by Rachel Vincent 
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin 
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins 
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa 
Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Crossed by Ally Condie 
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi 
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Fill out the form below:



You guys are AMAZING! ♥

-Mimi

Follow Friday #19

Hi, everyone!

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. 
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. If you could pick one character in a book, movie, or television show to swap places with, who would it be?

A: There are so many characters I'd love to swap places with that it's so hard to choose just one! So I'll make another list (because lists seem to be my new thing LOL):

1. Isabelle Lightwood from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare : Being a kick-butt Shadowhunter like Isabelle would be so awesome! 
2. Anna Oliphant from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins : Oh my gosh, who doesn't want an amazing American-English-French boy like St. Clair? And to live in Paris, even if just for a little while? That's my dream!
3. Cammie Morgan from the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter : It would be SO AMAZING to go to an all-girls boarding school for spies! 
4. Clara Gardner from Unearthly by Cynthia Hand : I want my own Tucker! And I love the idea of being an angel-blood with a purpose on earth. :)

What about you?

HAPPY FOLLOW FRIDAY! 

-Mimi

P.S. You can still enter the first giveaway in my Autumn BookFest if you haven't already! Don't forget to check back later on Friday for Giveaway #2! :) 

Waiting on Wednesday: Deadly Cool

 

 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: 

Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

First I find out that my boyfriend is cheating on me. Then he’s pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And now he’s depending on me to clear his name. Seriously? 

As much as I wouldn’t mind watching him squirm, I know that he’s innocent. So I’m brushing off my previously untapped detective skills and getting down to business. But I keep tripping over dead bodies and I’m still no closer to figuring out who did it. And what’s worse: all signs seem to point to me as the killer’s next victim. 

I really need to pick a better boyfriend next time.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

Release Date: October 11, 2011

As a huge sucker for mystery stories, Deadly Cool is definitely a book I'm excited to read! Only a few more days until I can try and get my hands on a copy!

Plus, I love how they used headphones to write the word "COOL" on the cover! Pretty clever! :)

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 

-Mimi

P.S. Don't forget to enter the first giveaway in my Autumn BookFest if you haven't already! The second one is coming on Friday! :) 

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Book: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 452
Source: bought from Chapters
Stars: 5/5

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

(summary taken from Goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS:  

WOW! Since finishing this book left my mind feeling like a huge puddle, I borrowed this picture from Michelle Hodkin's awesome blog which basically sums up what I'm thinking: 

OMG because oh my gosh, this book was freaking amazing! And WTF because what just happened, there are ALLIGATORS??  

It's no exaggeration when I say that The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it doesn't disappoint! It's dark and creepy and thrilling and breathtaking and undoubtedly the kind of book that prompts incoherent reviews like this one. 

Mara is the perfect heroine for this novel! She's snarky, fun, and realistic in every way (except for the whole supernatural aspect, of course). And her brothers, her best friend Jamie, and Noah (the hot, bad-ass, and sweet love interest) just complete the amazing cast.  

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a book you don't want to miss. It's unlike anything you've ever read before — a chilling mystery, swoon-worthy romance, and supernatural surprise all wrapped in one! Just when you think you know what's going to happen, Michelle Hodkins throws up a wall and you're back to square one. She frustrates you, makes you swoon, and keeps you holding your breath.   

And I love it! ♥  

BUY or BORROW?: Buy it for sure! It's the kind of book you just have to pick up again immediately after! 

-Mimi