Booking Through Thursday #4

Booking through Thursday is a weekly meme where we discuss a bookish question.

This Weeks Question:

What’s the largest your personal library has ever been? What’s the greatest number of books you’ve ever owned at one time? (Estimates are fine.)
Is your collection NOW the biggest it’s ever been? Or have you down-sized?
What’s the fewest number of books you’ve ever owned (not counting your pre-reading years)?

I have always been a HUGE reader ever since i was little so i did have hundreds of books. I recently downsized, because i didnt know what to do with all those little kid books so i gave them to my little cousin Hannah. Now i have about maybe 300 books, but only about 100 that are books that are from genre's i currently read. I feel like i need more books =] The fewest amount of books ive ever owned i think would probably be now. I always remember having tons of books as a kid so i the only smallest amount i can recall accurately would be now, but that pile is slowly getting bigger =D

To see what other people said and to post your link go here

BBReview: "An Apple For Zoe" By Thomas Amo and Question of the Moment 13

*Question of the Moment 13 is at the bottom*

Genre: Young Adult -Paranormal/Horror

Publishing Date: February 28th, 2011
Page Count: 319
Source: Bought from Amazon
Format: E-Book

Description from Amazon:
The City of San Francisco is locked in a grip of fear. A series of occult murders has led, Inspector Thomas James, to a crime scene similar to a murder committed 90 years ago in the once grand Aleris Hotel. A place where power barons of the early 20th Century engaged in witchcraft. And silent film stars indulged in the most wicked of sins.

A place where no one questions the black smoke that rises from the hotel's incinerators in the middle of the night.

Review:
Honestly, i dont even know where to begin with this novel. When i first bought it from Amazon for my kindle i bought it, because it looked like it might be interesting and it was only $0.99. How can you pass up $0.99? When i finally read it last night and then all day today i was very surprised by this book, because it...was...AMAZING. This is seriously one of the best books ive read. Im pretty sure this is going to be my new favorite series. The twist and turns and all the horrific events and details are just breath taking. This novel leaves you with TONS of questions at the end and a HUGE cliffhanger to leave your jaw-dropped for at least 5 minutes until you can regain speech again. This is nothing at all like anything i have ever read before.

I've never been more sure about a 5-star rating. It was seriously that good. Now, dont let the description fool you, it really is a horror novel. The only reason i didnt finish it last night/this morning was because i started reading it all cozy in my bed, at night, all alone and could only make it past chapter 3 before i was terrified for my life. I had to turn on a light after chapter 1. I finished it today in the afternoon and was still looking behind me making sure no one was sneaking up on me to kill me. This novel is so surprising and so scary and grotesque at times. Some parts i was thinking "Where does this guy (author) get his ideas? I would be terrified if i was his wife and he said to me 'hey hun, i wrote a book check it out' and that is what i read. I would back a way slowly and then run for the hills" haha. But ive been talking to him on Twitter and he is really nice...or is that a front? haha. I acrually starting telling my mom about it and she HAD to go download the kindle app on her Ipad and buy it. I hope she loves it too so that we can both gossip and rave about it.

Overall:
This was a really great novel and will be an amazing series. It is unlike anything i have ever read and left me looking behind my shoulder for killers and turning pages like they were going to disappear. You will be left with a jaw-dropping cliff hanger and tons and tons of questions. I would recommend this to everyone i know, but i do feel that you need to be a very mature audience to handle some of the events and horrific details about certain things. Also there are a lot of f-bombs, but i honestly loved that part about it, because i havent ever read a book with any let alone the amount that was in this book. There is a touch of romance, but it is 95% horror, mystery, fiction.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5/5

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Question of the Moment 13

Its late at night, you're in your room, you hear a noise outside and have a feeling that someone is out there watching you from your window. Do you look?

You guys should already know the answer to this from the last Question of the Moment, HECK NO!! Are you out of your mind? What the heck would ever possess someone to have even the urge to look out that window and see if someone was there or not? You have got to be out of your mind, they could have a gun and blow your face off, or they could just be some psycho or peeping tom. No way. I would run out of my room and make sure all the doors are locked. You couldnt pay me enough money in the world to look out that window. I would just call for my momma or if i was home alone, call for someone to come over.

So are you guys nuts? Or are you guys sane like me and would stay the heck away from that window? Let me know in the comments below =]

IMM #3

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren that showcases what you have bought, received, won, and borrowed through out the week

Bought:

• Hourglass By Myra McEntire - $17.99
• Vampire Academy By Rachelle Mead - $8.99
• Beautiful Creatures By Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl - $9.99

Won:

• Knightfall By Berinn Rae - This wasnt won, but i didnt know where else to put it. I received the pdf of this book for free from BackoftheBookReviews for signing up for the Independence Read-A-Thon. It is a four day long read-a-thon that takes place from July 1st through July 4th. It hasnt started yet if you still want to sign up =]

Thanks for checking out what i got. Now what did you get?

BBReview: "The Vampire Diaries 7: The Return Vol. 3: Midnight" By L.J. Smith

Genre: Young Adult -Paranormal
Publishing Date: March 15th, 2011
Page Count: 567
Source: Bought from Amazon
Format: E-Book

Description from Amazon:
The devil you know . . .

With the help of charming and devious Damon, Elena rescued her vampire love, Stefan, from the depths of the Dark Dimension. But neither brother returned unscathed.

Stefan is weak from his long imprisonment and needs more blood than Elena alone can give him, while a strange magic has turned Damon into a human. Savage and desperate, Damon will do anything to become a vampire again—even travel back to hell. But what will happen when he accidentally takes Bonnie with him?

Stefan and Elena hurry to rescue their innocent friend from the Dark Dimension, leaving Matt and Meredith to save their hometown from the dangerous spirits that have taken hold of Fell's Church. One by one, children are succumbing to demonic designs. But Matt and Meredith soon discover that the source of the evil is darker—and closer—than they ever could have imagined. . . .

Review:
Where to begin with this? I honestly did like this one a lot more than Nightfall and i liked it a little more than Shadow Souls. It is definitely different than the other books and it was a much easier read. I dont know why, but i just found myself zooming through it like it was nothing. Although i do not agree with love triangles, and i especially hate how Elena reminds me more and more of Katherine everyday, but once i got to the end of this book and L.J. Smith finally let Elena unravel her feelings towards both Salvatore brothers i finally understood and accepted it. Now i dont have so much of a problem with it now that Elena has finally expressed her feelings fully about both to the reader.

I have to admit though that i really want Damon to just fall in love with Bonnie and forget about Elena and that Elena learn to just love Damon as a brother. I think him and Bonnie would make a great couple and i want Bonnie to finally have a guy who loves her and worships her. I feel like this novel was more of a thriller and more action and adventure-like. I really did like how it was told and how it kept switching from between the two worlds to tell what was happening in Fells Church and then what was happening in the Dark Dimension. The cliff hanger is also pretty huge. I cannot wait to read what is going to happen now that everything has changed and to get some answers to explain the part about Damon at the very end. Im so happy that that cliff hanger is there though, because if that last little part about Damon wasnt there then i would have as big of an urge to read the next one. Good Job L.J. Smith lol.

Overall:
I feel that this novel is much better than the first two in the return series, and that it is a much easier read and a lot more fun to read. It also doesnt seem as dark as the other two. Trust me, there is still some very creepy, dark, horrific parts and parts that i wouldnt wish on anyone to go through, but it was a little lighter. It wasnt all just gloom and doom and the characters are becoming more and more bad-ass =]

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 4/5

Question of the Moment 12

If there was someone or people trying to kill you and they finally have you in their grasp and are about to end your life would be able to be strong and not give them the pleasure of seeing you in fear?



I know the answer to this right away. Its a big, huge, confident NO. I would love to think that i could be strong and courageous and hold it all in and be tough, but i know myself and there is no way that i could. I know that if i think about this situation right now i would tell myself that i can be stong and that i would never give them the satisfaction of hearing me scream and beg for my life, but in reality i know i can never be that person. I wish i could, but i cant. I crack under pressure, im an emotional wreck, i can never keep them under control. I honestly remind myself of Bonnie from the Vampire Diaries (the book version) except when she gets scared she is stronger, im the exact opposite. Im like her because im naive and child-like sometimes and am very small and innocent, but when im scared IM A WRECK!! You should have seen me after going to the theatre to see Paranormal Activity and then sleeping in a dark room...i cried lol. So, no i could not be strong enough to hold in my fear.

Are you a total wuss like me? Or are you strong and heroic? Let me know in the comments below =]

Giveaway entries

Hi guys, i was just told that the button i posted for your to put in your sidebar is WAY too big, So i just went and edited it to be smaller. If you go on that post the html is for the new smaller one. If its still too big let me know =]

Sorry again,
Becky

Book Bite Reviews First Ever Blog GIVEAWAY!!

CLOSED



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Yes, you read that title correctly!! I am so excited to do my first giveaway!! Now, before you get too excited, im doing this, because i wanted to thank all of my followers. I recently reached 50, which to me is a milestone considering i only had 3 last month, and i wanted to do a giveaway in honor of it. The giveaway isnt huge or anything, unfortunately, but i think everyone will still love it. One lucky person will either win a $10 (US) giftcard for Amazon OR a book from the Book Depository worth up to $10 (US). Im sorry its not a book of my choosing or swag or anything, but i think the winner should choose whatever their heart desires since there are a lot of new releases lately =]

Details:

• Must be a follower of this blog to enter
• Must be at least 13 years old to enter
• Open Internationally (as long as either amazon or the book depository will ship to you)
• Winner will be picked using random.org
• Ends July 9th, 2011 at 11:59pm est
• Fill out the form below

Follow Friday #5

 This Weeks Follow Friday Question:In light of the Summer Solstice. Also known as Midsummer...let's talk about fairies. What is your favorite fairy tale or story that revolves around the fae?
 Well i haven't read a book about fairies just yet, but i guess my favorite fairy tale would be Beauty and the Beast. Does this count? I think so. I have always loved the story and found it so inspiring to love someone not for their looks but for their personality. Now that im thinking about it i find it very coincidental that my favorite fairy tale is about a regular human girl loving a "monster" and now thats almost all i read (i.e. YA paranormal) Very Very interesting =]  For the list to add your name and follow others go to Parajunkee's Follow Friday post =]

Booking Through Thursday #3

Booking through Thursday is a weekly meme where we discuss a bookish question.

This Weeks Question:

 What, if any, kind of music do you listen to when you’re reading? (Given a choice, of course!)

I usually dont listen to any music at all. I like to read late at night and so the entire house is quiet and i turn off the tv and just get lost in my thoughts. If im reading at school though, they play music in the university center and so im usually listening to whatever they're playing, but sometimes i cant deal with silence. Especially when im studying or doing homework, i NEED music or some kind of noise to concentrate, weird huh.

To see what other people said and to post your link go here

IMM #2

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren that showcases what you have bought, received, won, and borrowed through out the week

Kindle (Bought):

• Retro Demonology By Jana Oliver - FREE
• Childe By C.A. Kunz - $1.99
• The Pearl Savage By Tamara Rose Blodgett - $0.99

Thanks for checking out what i got. Now what did you get?

Just a quick BUT IMPORTANT question...

Hello my beautiful, amazing followers =] I have noticed last night that i have reached 50 FOLLOWERS!! I know that this may not be a big deal to some of you you have hundreds, but just last month i only had 3. Since i am so excited and i feel that the number 50 is a milestone i was thinking about doing my first giveaway!!

Unfortunately it isnt going to be something huge, it would just be a giftcard of your choice to either Amazon or The Book Depository worth $10. The thing is, i dont know if you guys are interested. Is this a good idea or should i wait to get a better prize or wait till i get a bigger following? OR should i participate in one of the many blog hops going on?

I need your advice guys, so please comment and let me know what you think and if you would even participate =]

BBReview: "The Vampire Diaries 6: The Return Vol. 2: Shadow Souls" By L.J. Smith AND Question of the Moment 11

*Question of the Moment 11 is at the end*

Genre: Young Adult -Paranormal
Publishing Date: March 16th, 2010
Page Count: 599
Source: Bought from Amazon
Format: E-Book

Description from Amazon:
On the run . . .

Elena Gilbert's love, the vampire Stefan Salvatore, has been captured and imprisoned by demonic spirits who are wreaking havoc in Fell's Church. In order to find him, Elena entrusts her life to Stefan's brother: Damon, the handsome but deadly vampire who wants Elena, body and soul.

Elena will stop at nothing to free Stefan. Yet with each passing day the tension between Elena and Damon grows, and she is faced with a terrible decision: Which brother does she really want?

Back in Fell's Church, Bonnie and Meredith explore the evil that has taken over the town. Their research leads to some dire discoveries, and soon they are caught up in Elena's most dangerous adventure yet!

Review:
Ugh, the return series take so long to read!! I am just not used to reading 600 page long books, but i did it and im glad. Although in the end i ended up liking this book i had a lot of mixed feelings about it through the entire thing. The parts that had Stefan in them i loved, i couldnt wait to read another part about Stefan, but the parts with Damon i loathed. Elena and Damon got too close for comfort for me. I understand on her part it was for good reasons and she does have an attraction for Damon that she doesnt like, because she is with Stefan, but it doesnt matter she still did what she did and went too far about it.

I dont like love triangles, thats why i didnt care much for Twilight's New Moon. But in this novel nobody left on their own free will. I may  be over reacting, but i dont like when people act on feelings for someone else other than the person they are with. I think the biggest thing i hated was that L.J. Smith made it so easy for you to just give up on being moral and like Damon. I really really do like Damon and if Stefan wasnt in the picture i would want Elena to be with him SO BAD, but Stefan is in the picture. I just hate that i was hating it and loving it all at the same time. I guess i do understand where Elena is coming from, she hates it but loves it. Thats why i decided to give it four stars instead of three like my original plan. If i couldn't understand or have sympathy for what Elena and Damon did in this book then i would have left it at three, but i do kind of understand and the ending was REALLY good.

Enough of the bad, lets talk about good. I really liked the parts when Damon and Elena were just friendly. When Damon's true colors that he keeps locked away shone through. It was really nice to FINALLY see Damon as a nice guy with just a lot of problems, instead of just an ass. I also loved when they go into the dark dimension, it was very intense and L.J. Smith described everything beautifully. Again the ending is very good as well, and that made up for the Damon, Elena drama i had. And what happens to Stefan...well you will just have to read for yourself.

Overall:
I had troubles reading this novel, because of how long it was and also because of my morals against cheating. Although i forgive it and have sympathy towards i still didnt like it. What i did like was the friendship that blossomed from Damon and also the wonderful, small, short parts that Stefan was in. The ending is really good and i cant wait to find out how Damon is going to deal with this new event.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 4/5

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Question of the Moment 11

If you were in disguise as a human slave and you saved a life while going against your master and were asked to undergo a public punishment or ruin your disguise would you do it even though what you were being punished for was the right thing?

I think i would. Even though what i did was right, i need to stay undercover to do what i came there for. I would not agree with it and if i didnt have to be undercover i wouldnt accept to take the punishment, but i have a different purpose there than to fight injustices. I would be terrified and most likely cry the entire time, but i would do it.

What would you do in that situation? Fight for what is right or take the punishment? Tell me in the comments below =]

BBReview: "Sleepless" By Thomas Fahy

Genre: Young Adult -Horror
Publishing Date: August 11th, 2009
Page Count: 224
Source: Bought from Amazon
Format: E-Book

Description from Amazon:
Emma Montgomery has been having trouble sleeping. Whenever she closes her eyes, all she can see are the horrible nightmares . . . nightmares of gruesome murder. And she’s not alone. All of the students in Dr. Beecher’s secret society have been having terrible dreams and sleepwalking. Now, as their classmates start turning up dead, Emma and her friends race against the clock to keep themselves awake and find out what is causing them to kill in their sleep—before the next victim dies.

Review:
I have never read a YA horror, so i was very interested to try this novel, especially when the cover looks that scary. It wasnt that scary though. There is death and a lot of suspense and it is scary, but not so scary that you have bad dreams or cant sleep at night. I dont know if thats a good thing or bad thing. Its a good thing, because then i could just enjoy it and be a little scared, but bad because i was expecting worse. See, its a dilemma, but i still really liked it. There are some flashbacks that happen and i heard that some people found them confusing, because they didnt know what was present and what was past, but i didnt have that problem. To me it was obvious what was when, and, at least in my version, the flashbacks were italicized.

I think Thomas Fahy did a really good job with this novel. There was some romance and it was really sweet, but it didnt overpower the plot, to find out who did it. I think he put a lot of thought and emotion in to this, which i didnt expect from a male author. Also the girls parts were pretty good, but all of them were a little over emotional and little too whiny and weak. That i kind of expected from a male author haha. Also, the story is told in a third person point of view, besides the conversations, which im not used to. Im used to there being one main character with them being the narrator, but because the story is told in different point of views, i guess thats the easiest way to do it. At first i didnt like it, but after i kept reading it grew on me and im fine with it. There is a scene that made me tear up and was really tragic, which im sure you'll figure out for yourselves when you read it, and the novel kind of reminds me of a Lifetime movie. It could definitely be made for tv.

Overall:
This was a really different novel. Im glad i took a chance on trying a YA horror, because it turned out to be really good. It was a quick read and kept you reading till the end. It is full of suspense and keeps your heart pumping when things start to get scary, but its not too scary. It does have violence and death, but nothing that would be too much or too vivid for any young adult readers. Would definitely recommend this book.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥  4/5

Question of the Moment 10

If you founda dead body, and the person who killed them had a "good" reason to do it, would you keep it a secret so they wouldnt get caught?

I honestly have NO IDEA!! I would want to, but i just dont know if i could. I would need to tell at least my boyfriend so that i had someone to talk to about it, but sooner or later that wouldnt be enough. I might be able to if the reason they did it was good enough and if the person who did it was close to me. But i just dont know. This is a hard question im asking myself lol

So what would you do? Can you keep quiet? Leave a comment below and let me know =]

Follow Friday #4

4

This Weeks Follow Friday Question:

Genre Wars! What's your favorite genre and which book in that genre made it your favorite?

My favorite genre would have to be YA Paranormal (surprise surprise). I was only into YA contemporary before and was just reading things like "TTYL" and "Fifteen Love" and "The Boyfriend List" like cute little love stories for girls. Well my cousin was reading "Twilight" and was IN LOVE with it. She would not shut up about it to save my life. She kept talking about how she was going to go to Forks and find a vampire and marry him. I thought she was bat crazy, but then when we went camping she made me read the entire book... i...was...HOOKED!! I went to the store and bought all of them on the spot and read them one after another. I couldnt get enough. I never read anything paranormal and was just taken away by how much i loved it. After i read all of "Twilight" i was looking for books to fill the void and here i am, loving YA paranormal, reading YA Paranormal, and having a blog for YA Paranormal. Im smitten...

 For the list to add your name and follow others go to Parajunkee's Follow Friday post =]

Booking Through Thursday #2

Booking through Thursday is a weekly meme where we discuss a bookish question.

This Weeks Question:

With the advent (and growing popularity) of eBooks, I’m seeing more and more articles about how much “better” they can be, because they have the option to be interactive … videos, music, glossaries … all sorts of little extra goodies to help “enhance” your reading experience, rather like listening to the Director’s commentary on a DVD of your favorite movie.
How do you feel about that possibility? Does it excite you in a cutting-edge kind of way? Or does it chill you to the bone because that’s not what reading is ABOUT?

I like it, personally. I've always liked e-books, because then i can take a bunch of books with me on one little device instead of carrying around heavy books. Ive always liked the little extra's that come with my book. Im always so excited to check em out after im done with the book. Its like my dessert after a good book meal =] With so many people interested in books now, especially YA, i think its a fantastic idea. You have all of these fansites and fan-twitters for authors and the books they write, people go crazy over books now, so i think its really cool to give them little extra things to gush over. I know thats what i do lol. It makes me sad when i get to a book and there isnt any extra's, because now i look forward to it. The things i like best about them is the "memorable quotes" and character descriptions and things like that. I think i like it, because the book is over so im looking for anything to make it last longer.

To see what other people said and to post your link go here

In My Mailbox (IMM) FIRST EVER!!

"In My Mailbox" is a weekly feature hosted by The Story Siren that showcases what you have bought, received, won, and borrowed through out the week.

Hello and welcome to my FIRST EVER IMM!! I am so excited to share all the books i have with you. Since this is my first one i dont really know what im doing just yet, so be patient!! And its going to be a long one since ive never shown you all the books that i own but have yet to read so lets just jump into it =]

Bought:

• The Girl in the Steel Corset By Kady Cross
• Hex Hall By Rachel Hawkins

Kindle (bought):

 

  

• Angel Burn By L.A. Weatherly
• An Apple for Zoe By Thomas Amo
• Born at Midnight By C.C. Hunter
• The Demon Trapper's Daughter By Jana Oliver
• The Enemy By Charlie Higson
• Ethereal By Addison Moore
• Fall for Anything By Courtney Summers
• Kiss me Deadly By Tricia Telep 
• My Blood Approves By Amanda Hocking
• My Soul to Take By Rachel Vincent
• Sleepless By Thomas Fahy and Jonathon Dorfman
• Switched By Amanda Hocking
• The Vampire Diaries: The Return Vol. 3: Midnight By L.J. Smith
• The Vampire Diaries: The Return Vol. 2: Shadow Souls By L.J. Smith
• Lillian- A Vampire Tale By Elizabeth Loraine

Won:

• Gimme a Call By Sarah Mlynowski (Thanks to @RandomBuzzers / @Randomhouse)

Thanks for checking out my first IMM. What did you get?