Just a head's up...

...that my family is in the midst of moving. Because of this (and a few other things going on in my life), my blogging time is minimal, especially when I'm tired at the end of the day and the temptation of tumblr and twitter and other people's blogs take over my attention. So I'm not on here as much as I'd like.

Anyway, I'm still around, as you know, just not as much. I'm working on fixing this, though, and once we get settled in the new house (and get internet set up, of course!) I should be on more :)

And until then, I'll probably be more active on tumblr and twitter, so feel free to talk to me there, or shoot me a message on Goodreads! I'd love to hear from you!

Oh, and don't forget to vote Zachary in the YA Crush Tourney tomorrow! He sooo deserves it! Go #TeamKilt!!!


(:D)
~Mag

Some stuff you should know about

Hi everybody! So, this is just a huge round-up post of all kinds of stuff that I think you should know about!


FIRST OFF: The YA Sisterhood 2nd Annual Crush Tourney! Nominations are UP, peeps! And you should go nominate your favorite guys. It's getting down to it, and we've got the top 24 (at the moment) and some guys who have a chance to make it up there, but I wouldn't suggest nominating any guys who aren't on either list, because I'm not seeing a huge chance for them to make it in. (I'm still a bit depressed that Uriah from Divergent isn't on there. Am I the only one who nominated him??)


Obviously you should nominate the guys YOU want (remember you only have ten picks, and no repeats--failure to follow the rules=deleted nominations), but I do have a few suggestions!


The SHADEboys. Because they're awesome! Zachary's in the running so far, but things can change in a second so keep nominating him! Logan's a little low down on the list, and not in the top 24, so if you want him in you need to NOMINATE!!


Next up, I'd suggest Tod from Soul Screamers! TOD IS NOT IN THE TOP 24. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS INJUSTICE COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN. It's Tod, you guys. TOD. He must get in.


In my opinion, Archer from Hex Hall and Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door deserve a shot, too!

NEXT!!


Jeri Smith-Ready (author of the SHADE trilogy) has set up a little sign-up sheet on her blog for people who want to help launch the SHADEboys to victory! And it's gonna be pretty awesome and super fun. Plus, just for signing up, you get a signed bookplate. Which rocks. (And btw, if you tell her I sent you, I get bonus bookplate. Just sayin'.) Anyway, JOIN TEAM KILT!!

AND FINALLY!


I'd like you all to check out a new blog by an author who's just starting out! I was able to beta-read his first book, and I can tell you that it's REALLY GOOD! He's started blogging to chronicle his journey in author-ness, so check it out!


Okay! That's it for now!


NOTE: Just realized that today is the very LAST day for nominations for the YA Crush Tourney. Props to you people who are still up reading this, GO NOMINATE! (Or possibly you're in a different timezone. Whatever.) Anyway, hurry and nominate before it closes!!


(:D)
~Mag

Review: SHINE by Jeri Smith-Ready

It's Shine, you guys!! SHINE! I was so excited when this book finally arrived at my door. I started reading it ASAP, and it totally met my sky-high expectations!!


{Usual disclaimer: SHINE is the third book in a series. THE SYNOPSIS AND MY REVIEW WILL HAVE SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO BOOKS (But no SHINE spoilers, promise ;D)!!!


Also, my review is certain to have lots of CAPTIAL LETTERS, exclaimation points!!!!! and other forms of fangirl squealing. You've been warned.}

 

SHINE by Jeri Smith-Ready


In this dramatic conclusion to the Shade trilogy, Aura and Zachary’s relationship sizzles as the secrets of the Shift are revealed.
Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.


As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves...even if that means betraying her own heart.


------

Right after I finished Shine, I posted by immediate thoughts on Goodreads, and I'd like to start out my review by sharing those:

I really did intend to pace myself while reading this book to make it last as long as possible, but obviously that did not happen. But really, this book was INCREDIBLE/AMAZING/PERFECTION. It's one of those books that makes you think, "Goodreads really needs a magical and secret sixth star, because this book so deserves it."


A real, entire, full review will be coming sometime with in the next couple days, at whatever point I can turn my raw emotions from "!!!!!!!!! Asdkjahsdjfha holy cow omg asdfafsaehj <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 ZOGAN sdofixhj <3 <3 <3" into actual coherent thoughts that can be understood and hopefully get across the awesomeness that is SHINE.

All of that--still feeling it. This book was absolutely, totally, and entirely AWESOME. Full of action, romance, and definitely some laugh-out-loud moments, SHINE has it all, just like the first two books in the series. 


That isn't to say, however, that it wasn't sad as well. Logan may have passed on, but that doesn't mean everyone's going to forget him instantly, or be over his death. People are still suffering from his tragedy, his family especially.


Yet at the same time, he's given people hope--because he's proved shades can come back, that shades can come back and PASS ON. This changes everything the world knew about shades.


But really, this last installment in the SHADE trilogy isn't about Logan, not as much: It's about Aura and Zachary. (Oh, ZACHARY!! <3) Can they escape the demands of the DMP? Can they figure out the secrets of the Shift and the Shine and what really happened the day they were born? And most importantly (at least, to the romantics like me,) can they finally be together and stay together without any more DANG complications?? 


These are the questions; SHINE has the answers. And you KNOW you want to know what they are!!


Another awesome thing about SHINE is the "supporting" characters. I use quotes around the word supporting because they're all so alive and have such depth they almost feel like main characters themselves. From the Keeleys (Dylan, Mickey and Siobhan) to Megan to Gina to Zachary's parents...even to people like Becca, I love reading about them all. Jeri Smith-Ready has created a world and a set of awesome characters that it's simply impossible not to fall in love with.


So go--go now. Get a copy of SHADE, or SHIFT, or SHINE, whichever one you haven't read, and READ LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! You will NOT be sorry!! <3


Do I even have to clarify this? SHINE absolutely gets <*><*><*><*><*>


(:D)
~Mag

Teaser Tuesday: SHINE by Jeri Smith-Ready

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play, and the rules are simple:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

EEK! It's finally May 1st, release date of about a bajillion awesome books! I only preordered two physical books, SHINE and Insurgent, and if you follow me on Twitter you might have seen me livetweeting the wait for the UPS guy to show up.


Eventually, thankfully, he did.

(SHINE with my other new purchase, INSURGENT!!)

(ZOGAN chilling with Aura ;D)

But anyway, this post is about SHINE, because I'm reading it first. I'm 70-ish percent in, according to Goodreads, and I am LOVING IT! Anyway, here are my teasers :)

1.
     "Did you lose someone in the crash?" he asked softly. 

-Page 53

2.
     He froze. "Whoops."
     "What did Logan tell you?" 

-Page 92

LOVING LOVING LOVING LOVING LOVING THIS BOOK. Those are the only words I can think to describe it!


Seriously, people, go grab yourself a copy! Or if you haven't read SHADE and/or SHIFT, grab those AND SHINE and read them all!!


What are you reading this week? Leave me your TT links!!


(:D)
~Mag 

In My Mailbox (4/29/12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, and it's all about talking about what you got in your mailbox each week! 

I know there's been a lot of drama out there surrounding the Story Siren, and some people have decided not to participate in In My Mailbox because of it. But while I understand where these people are coming from, at this time I'm not going to stop participating in IMM.

I think we can all agree that plagiarism is always wrong and never okay. Beyond that, I don't want to voice any opinion on the subject, except to say that I hope people will stop drawing lines in the theoretical sand and allowing this to divide us.

I like the In My Mailbox meme, and I enjoy talking to you guys about the books we all get each week. For that reason and that reason alone I'm going to continue with the meme. I'm okay with you if you keep using it. I'm okay with you if you don't. I want to talk to you about books either way :)

Now, to get on with what's in my mailbox:

FROM THE LIBRARY
I got a good number of books from the library this week, but since I've already returned some and did a failtastic job of keeping record this week, I'll share the ones I can remember.

-Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens. This one is about a girl whose sister has autism, which was interesting to me as several of my friends' siblings and one of my cousins have autism. I don't know if you can see it in the picture, but the on the cover, you can see the face of a guardian angel in the clouds, something which I (in a failure akin to the Across the Universe and Black Heart fails) didn't notice until halfway through the book.

-Torn by Amanda Hocking. I enjoyed the first book in the series, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!!

-Hallowed by Cynthia Hand. !!! I've been wanting to read this for a very long time (since the instant I finished Unearthly), but I'm also terrified about it because I'm afraid something's going to happen to my beloved Tucker D:

-Grave Mercy. Sounds cool! I wasn't intending to get it this week, but I saw it at the library and just picked it up ;)

And I can think of a couple more that I already returned, so no pictures of them.

-Perception by Kim Harrington. Another case of the !!!s. THIS BOOK. I already read it, and my review is HERE!

-Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton. EEEK this book this book this book. Yeah, I loved it, but it also killed me a little bit. Review is coming!!

-Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz. I loooooved this book as well! I'm dying for the next book!!!



ON MY KINDLE

I received two books on my Kindle for review!

-Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry


-Unnatural Law by Natasha Larry


Big thank you to Natasha Larry for providing these books for review! I'm looking forward to reading them :)


IN MY ACTUAL MAILBOX


I didn't think I'd have anything in my actual mailbox to share, but just before I sat down to write this I was handed an envelope that made me very excited. Evidently no one checked the mail yesterday, which meant that today was the day I got--

-A ZOGAN trading card from Kilt and Keeley! (You can get one, too! Just enter the SHINE preorder giveaway HERE!)


Seriously, though, I absolutely love this thing. Thank you guys!!!

So, what's in your mailbox this week? Leave me your links! (Be they for IMM or your own variation ;D)

(:D)
~Mag

In My Mailbox (4/16/12)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, and it's all about talking about what you got in your mailbox each week! 

I'm a day later than usual on this, but I did get more books today so I'll just include them, too. Anyway, here we go!


FROM THE LIBRARY

-My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent. For the Soul Screamers Reading Challenge! Yays. I already reread it (I'd only just finished it when the proper Challenge month ended!), and you can see my review if you like!

-Embrace by Jessica Shirvington. I'd heard about this one, so I decided to give it a try! I've also already read this one, and I enjoyed it!

-SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready. This is another reread, as I'm gearing up for SHINE's release!!!!


-Frostbite by Rachelle Mead. Vampire Academy was the first vamp book I read in a while to make me want to read the sequel, so...there it is :)

The books in this picture I just got literally twenty minutes ago lol, at my second library trip this week :)


-SHIFT by Jeri Smith-Ready. I really did mean to wait until a bit closer to SHINE's release to reread this one (I have SO MUCH to read rereads should be lower on my list, but...) but after rereading SHADE I just couldn't reist!


-Deadly Little Voices by Laurie Faria Stolarz. I've been DYING to read this one for FOREVER! It was checked out by various people for quite a while, but finally it's my turn to read it!!


-BZRK by Michael Grant. I'd heard about this one a while ago, but I just found it sitting on the "new" shelf at the library today! I'd gone in intending only to get SHIFT and Deadly Little Voices, but I just couldn't resist when I saw this!


-Black Heart by Holly Black. Another one I didn't mean to get, but couldn't NOT get once I saw it sitting there! I'm so excited to read this one!!!


ON MY KINDLE

-Untouched by Jus Accardo. Yay! I read this one and LOOOOVED it! There will be a review of it coming!


-The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle Muto. Looks awesome!!


-Eternal Eden by Nicole Williams. I've heard interesting things about this one! Looking forward to starting it!


-The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines. I loved Existence by Abbi Glines, and lots of people seemed to like this one, too! I read it already and will admit it wasn't my favorite, but of course every book isn't for everyone!


IN MY ACTUAL MAILBOX

-Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions. I won this in an awesome #SHADEboys twitter chat, and I was so excited to get it!! And to make it even awesomer...

It's signed by Jeri Smith-Ready, and Logan even signed his story, Bridge :)


Plus, Jeri also included some super-cool swag!

How awesome is that?


So, what's in your mailbox this week?


(:D)
~Mag

Teaser Tuesday: SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play, and the rules are simple:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I finished re-reading SHADE today (I decided I wanted to re-read both SHADE and SHIFT before SHINE comes out May 1st), but since I haven't started another book yet, teasers from SHADE it is!!

1.
     She pressed on the hook to keep me from dialing. "What are you going to tell him?" she asked in a serious tone.
     "The truth." 

-Page 247 

2.
     "What did he do to you?" Zachary demanded. 

-Page 247

Seriously, you guys, if you haven't read this series before, you REALLY should. Because they ROCK!! SHINE comes out May 1st! Grab the countdown widget -->


#TeamKilt


(:D)
~Mag