Caught my arrow # 6

Caught my Arrow is a meme originally known as IMM and hosted by The Story Siren featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

January is at an end. I'm happy to finish the month with Marking Time (Courtesy of April White).

It arrived this week with a bookmark and a premise that will most definitely keep me up at night. You can find more information here on Goodreads.

Also, I borrowed Starters from the library. 

What are you reading this week?

Review: Bloodlines

Richelle Mead offered a treat to all her Vampire Academy fans by doing a spin-off series based on Jill Dragomir, Lissa's last existing family member.

I had my doubts at first, mostly because Vampire Academy is one of my favorite series. Rose's voice, strong and filled with confidence was being replaced with Sydney's, whom I remembered as stuck up and analytical. So when Bloodlines began with Sydney emotionally distancing herself from the Moroi, I thought, "Oh no, she's going to be criticizing their every move."

But no.

Sydney was a great character, maybe just as strong as Rose when push came to shove. And Adrian was suave as always, leaving little space for disappointment.

Other books in the series

The Golden Lily

The Indigo Spell

Top Ten Tuesday: Frustrating Characters

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Most Frustrating Characters Ever

Aaargh! Some characters make you want to slam the book on the ground and walk away from it -- something a lot harder to do these days with kindles and kobos. But the frustration remains. So what do we do? 

We vent. 

Here is my top five most frustrating characters ever:

1. Luce (Torment): Finding the love of her life isn't enough for Luce. She kisses Cam, which is understandable. But Miles too? I mean, how many guys does she need to feel complete? Let's just hope she doesn't meet Chris Brown in Rapture.

2.Mia (Where She Went): Poor Mia lost her whole family. But the way she takes it out on her ex is unfair. As if she needs to blame something or someone for what happened, and he is the perfect victim.

3.Elena (The Vampire Diaries): The book is far different from the television series. I mean, c'mon, girls don't make blood oaths to help a friend get a guy. Nor do you tell someone you love him after a few days and take his uncertainty as ''it must be some other girl from his past."

4.Amy (Little Women): Never have I seen a worst sister.

5.Maggie, Clara's Mom (Unearthly): Imagine being from another species and your mom refusing to give you any information. Just bits and pieces here and there. No wonder Clara is always so confused.

Oh, they're so frustrating!!!

Big Cupid Shout Out

This month has been a true Blog Blessing. I would like to give a Big Shout Out to everyone who helped BookCupid reach over 100 followers. Muah!



As well as, a Big thank you to the following blogs for the gift of a Liebster and One Lovely Blog Award                


     Reviews by Tammy & Kim
           The Book Knoll
       Just as the Cock Crow
                                                            Another Working Mum
                                                            Kimberlys Novel Notes
                                                            Shadows of the Past                

  Inklings of Two Booklings

                                                               Brittany Severn

Here is the link to my 11 Random Facts and personal nominations.

Review: The Raven Boys

Ok, it might have been foolish of me to imagine that these Raven Boys (Gansey, Adam, Ronan, Noah) were actually shape-shifters.

Glendower

They are teensagers, obsessed with the idea of finding Glendower's body. You see, there is a myth: whoever finds Glendower gets a wish. And so these four boys team up with Blue, a witcht's daugther and together they go on a mission that went well beyond my expectations.

Maggie Stiefvater outdones herself once more. She has given us: werewolves, water horses, fairies... and now she gives us witchtcraft and spirits. Her characters are down to earth, and most important believable. She even tackles the heavy subject of Child Abuse.

Here is one reader, anxiously waiting for book two.

Feature and Follow Friday

Parajunkee's view / Alison Can read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

 Q: What is the last book that kept you up late into the night?

A: Insurgent. 

Veronica Roth writes such amazing fast paced, adrenaline filled scenes -- I got a hand cramp from holding the book up for so long. It's heavy... but I strongly recommended it to all Divergent fans.

Caught my arrow # 5

Caught my Arrow is a meme originally known as IMM and hosted by The Story Siren featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

It's minus 30 here in Montreal. Yes, even my arrow is frozen. At least I get to stay home in company of my precious books.

This week I was honored to receive Jen MinkMan's Shadow of Time. A paranormal/ romance between Hannah and Josh who happens  to be Navajo. Hot, right? Until Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares.

For those who wish to know just how hot Navajo men are, here is a picture. 

Also, I borrowed Looking for Alaska and Until I Die from the library, and plan to read them this weekend under the covers. 

What are you reading this week?

Top Ten Tuesday

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Book Settings We Would Like to See More Off

1. Another Planet with life and Seuss-like trees.

2. Underground rock scene.

3. I worked at a clinic to pay for college, and heard so many freaky Safari stories, I almost past out. ( Don't worry, I'm not studying to be a doctor.)

4. A Pageant Competition filled with roofies, dress sabotage and for once I would like to see a girl walk with a limp. Why does everyone need to be "perfect" to win a crown.

5. The Lost City in the Amazon

6. Paris

7. A Submarine where everything goes wrong.

8. Pirate Island

9. Imagine a 50 Shades of Wool set in Morocco. Instead of "Yes, Sir" it could be "Yes, Sultan."

10. And finally a Scotland Castle. 

Review: Sever

Sever, the conclusion of The Chemical Garden series, features more character growth than the first two books combined.

In Wither, Rhine was too quiet. Overly nice with everyone, she was even capable of turning Linden (her husband whom she never had any relations with) into her puppy dog and all because she looked like Rose. But who exactly is Rose? Was she also stolen and forced into marriage? That question will finally be answered. 

What interested me the most about reading this book, was the cover. If you look closely, you'll notice that Rhine is holding her wedding band. And as the title says: she will SEVER. But you'll never guess how.

Prepare to meet Vaughn's brother and for Madame's return. 

♥Thank You for the ARC First Reads ♥

Feature and Follow Friday

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Who is your favorite villain from a book?

A: Two words .... Annie Wilkes. She kidnaps a writer and forces him to finish his book her way. That's like Martha Stewart holding us against our will to write her jokes.

         

                                                       It's evil and mean. A true villain.  

Caught my arrow # 4

Caught my Arrow is a meme originally known as IMM and hosted by The Story Siren featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Whoa, this week passed so fast, I barely noticed. Since January is coming to an end, and I want to make sure I complete my first challenge this year I only borrowed one book from the library this week.

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead.

What are you reading?

Review: Solitary

Grrr...

Don't worry it's not a Wheezer, it's me, grunting because I don't think can handle another cliffhanger ending. The thing I like the most about Gordon Smith's writing is that he doesn't breathe. It's action scene, after action scene and this book was no different.

After getting caught escaping, Alex is now locked in solitary confinement. Or if you prefer, a hole in the ground that is sometimes visited by Rats. Zee is with him, genuine and dear as always. And together they find a way to communicate.

But as their plan to escape solidifies, Alex must choose: save himself and leave his friends, or risk staying locked up forever.

Prepare yourself to meet Simon (friend or foe??) and for the grand return of Donovan.

The Liebster Award

Curling up With a Good Book nominated me for The Liebster Blog Award. It is presented by bloggers to bloggers and is a great way to recognize our efforts and get to know each other better. Thank you so much for this opportunity :)

Visit Here

You may also reach the site through the links below

Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads

The rules of the Liebster Award are as follow:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your 

blog and link back to the blogger who presented this award to you;

2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator, list 11 random facts about yourself and create 11 questions for your nominees;

3-Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog letting them know they have been chosen. (No tag backs)

4- Copy and Paste the blog award on your blog.

Questions from Curling Up With A Good Book

1. How old were you when you got into reading?

     I was four. Taught by own great-grand-mother (RIP). She also taught me that licking or bending page corners is a big no-no!!!

2. If you were to write a book, under which genre and age group would you classify it? 

    Actually, I'm currently on my 3rd revision of a manuscript. It is YA Contemporary. 

3. Rock, paper, scissors?

    Arrow (Look at my hands). Katniss and I go way back ;p

4. If you were a character in a YA dystopia novel, what would your unique kickass name be?

    Ardana. 

5. What got you into blogging?

    My friends nods. I kept wanting to talk about books, Peeta, Vampire Academy -- but no one in my circle had a clue about any of them. Blogging made me feel less insane.

6. Name a book that you would want to be made into a movie and the actors you'd like to play the lead characters.

    Hmm... Heist Society. Although I might be getting my wish. Drew Barrymore signed on as Director in 2011. Let's hope the project flies through. My pick would be:

Kat (Camilla Belle)  & Hale (Jeremy Sumpter) 

7. Do you buy books from second hand bookstores?

    Haven't in a while. But I did get an entire box of R.L Stine books once. 

8. Do you let other people borrow your books?

    Yes. Can't count how many times people borrowed Fifty Shades of Grey from me. 

9. What is your favorite series and why?

    Harry Potter. I love the way it's written. The plot kept building up until the very last book,  and then she combined all of them with the horcruxes. So far, they are the only books I re-read.

10. What are your thoughts on Twilight?

    BookCupid loves romance. So what if the finale wasn't super suspenseful. Meyer made thousands of people start reading paranormal. I praise her for that. 

11. What's your favorite book of all time?

    Little Women :)

11 Random Facts about me

1.Remember Home Alone 2. Well, sitting in the wrong airplane happened to me. I was 12, traveling alone with American Airlines Child service when the mistake occurred.

2. I can speak 4 languages.

3. Grew up with a single parent.

4. I adopted a teacher's cat in second grade and brought it home thinking no one would notice.

5. I'm afraid of taking baths. Only showers for me. Something about falling asleep and drowning scares the heck out of me.

6. Once signed up for Italian lessons because I crushed on an Italian dude. When I practiced what I'd learn on him, he said, "What, I don't actually speak Italian!"

7. I play piano and an acoustic guitar. 

8. Like Blue in The Raven Boys, I can read cards. 

9. I'm a fan of American Horror Story. 

10. I love salsa (dancing not the dip). Although it you happen to have dip with you, I won't say no. 

11. I'm a film grad, my favorite movie is Sunset Boulevard.

11 Questions for my nominees

1. Why did you start a blog?
2. If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?
3. What is the one thing you don't forgive a character of doing?
4. Do you prefer insta-love stories, or a chaste kiss 300 pages later?
5. What book would you agree to live in for a month and why?
6. Name a series you read in its entirety?
7. If you could co-write a book with a famous author who would you pick?
8. Would you rather your favorite book became a movie or a television series?
9. Where do you get most of your books?
10. Have you ever listened to an audio book?
11. What is the most important thing you've learned from blogging?

My 11 nominees

 Stephanie The Readingista

Jaclyn JC's Book Haven

Faye The Social Potato

Nuzaifa Say it with books

Between the Lines

Ms. Doran Broad-Minded Books

Nikki J.  Oh My Shelves

Delaney The Random Ranterer

Barbara BookShelves of Dreams

Jess Jessy's Bookends

Samantha The Secret Life of a Bookworm

What is the Liebster Blog Award?

You may opt not to do the same but if you happen to pay it forward , good for you! Making blogger friends is fun!

The real "gist" of the Liebster Award is that there is no real award. There are no judges, no special rules. No website with an official team to congratulate you and hold your hand. It's mostly what you want it to be. If you receive the award, you can 1) accept it and 2) pass it along. It's that easy.  

Review: Insurgent

Thought I admit the beginning confused me -- having read the first book a while ago and unable to remember all of the secondary characters -- a little reminder would have been preferable. 

Tris is devastated by the loss of her parents, pulling a Bella Swan by becoming reckless and pointlessly endangering her life. And Four's!! The couple's love life is on a roller coaster -- passionate one moment, fighting the next...

But don't worry, they'll be too many things going on to keep these two away on separate paths. For those who might find the start a bit slow, I recommend you hang in there. It gets better.

On another note: Actress Shailene Woodley has been chosen to play Tris on the upcoming Divergent movie. What are your thoughts -- does she look the part?

Feature and Follow Friday

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: If you could choose one supernatural creature to really exist what would it be and why?

A: Hmm, let's see. If I chose vampires there is a chance that I might be turned into one. Eternal life, eternal youth .... An eternity of reading books. Oh, yes!! 

Caught my arrow # 3

Caught my Arrow is a meme originally known as IMM and hosted by The Story Siren featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Happy Thursday!!


People recommended The Raven Boys to me so many times that I just had to read it. Luckily my library allows me to order whatever book I want. I also managed to borrow a copy of Bright's Light.

I also purchased Patience, Princess Catherine by Carolyn Meyer. 

Can't wait to post my reviews. 

Review: The Maze Runner

As someone who has awakened after being unconscious, I can tell you that it isn't as easy as it looks. You are disoriented. Delirious for a couple of hours. So for Alex to wake up able to think, remembering part of the maze, wanting to become a runner -- he has to be special.

Dashner did many things to keep the book alive. He created a street maze vocabulary, and an enigmatic plot that gripped the reader with suspense. But mostly it's his message of hope that got to me. The boys living in the maze are survivalists. They grow their own crops, cook, enforce just laws -- if people were more like them we wouldn't have crime. 

It seems the book might even become a movie. According to IMDB director Wes Ball signed up with the Gotham Group in August 2012.  

  

Review: Order of the Dimensions

Prepare for the unexpected. 

Seriously, I wasn't expecting the story to throw me into the action so fast. After only a few pages the characters were time traveling and not all out of choice. Jane, the protagonist, was forced to go from single, to married, to a mother, to a cop; while the evil Dr. Zelov scorned from his unrequited love for her, kept getting better at his task.

The experiments were well explained. I could tell, the author placed a lot of thought into them. Don't worry though, narration was cut short allowing dialogue to take over. 

Since I found myself "kindred" with Jane it shocked me somewhat to have many other characters introduced throughout the story, but the action kept me turning the pages. 

Can't wait to see what Helenowski comes up with next. 

Feature & Follow Friday

Feature & Follow Friday

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: What New Year blogging or writing resolution have you placed on yourself?

A: A reading challenge. My first one, and I can't wait. The first book I will read is Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. 

Review: Finale

Finale is presented as a large masterpiece, from which Nora is catapulted to be the main player in a war against Nephilim and fallen Angels. 

Is she ready? No. 
Is she willing? Not by a long shot. 

I felt quite disconnected from Nora and Patch in this book. Cheshvan was not what we were led to believe and several loose ends dealing with Marcie and Vee were blown out of proportion. I gave a four-star rating because part of me believes that Fitzpatrick could have taken this book and made two parts. Which would have been quite expensive for some of us. So, I'm thankful that she finished the saga and that I could quickly put this book back to my shelf.

Caught my Arrow # 2

Caught my Arrow is a meme originally known as IMM and hosted by The Story Siren featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Welcome 2013!!!


They say thirteen is bad luck, but what do they know. I'm kicking the year with some great books.

This week I received Order of the Dimensions from the author, Irene Helenowski. A tempting book about time-travelling. (Thank You)

I also purchased a copy of Wonder and borrowed The Maze Runner from the library.

Can't wait to post my reviews.