December 31, 2012

Weekly Review!


Welcome to Turning Pages!

"Weekly Reviews" is something new I'm trying out, so it might not always be the same from one week to the next, simply because I'm still figuring things out, and changing things if I don't like the way they are. But "Weekly Reviews" is just a meme showing all of the previous week's posts, including other memes, books reviews, "Blogger of the Week's" and so on, so they can once more get a shot at love!

If you like them meme, or have some suggestions for this meme, please comment below, I would love to hear your feedback! 

Monday (December 24, 2012):
Just a quick post, informing you that this short novel was absolutely free on Amazon.

Burning (Demon Legacy Prequel)

Tuesday (December 25, 2012):
Another short post wishing you guys the best for your holidays!



Thursday (December 27, 2012):
A reminder that my Happy Holiday Giveaway was still going on, and continues to go on through January 2. So if you haven't entered yet, you still have time!

Saturday (December 29, 2012):
My Saturday meme, shining light on all the new YA books releasing within the next week!
I reviewed Shine Light by Marianne de Pierres, and expressed just how much I loved the characters in both the third and first book in this amazing series!

Shine Light (Night Creatures, #3)

Sunday (December 30, 2012):
Usually I try to post book hauls on Sundays, but this week I received a few different book-ish things, explaining the unusual title.

Thank you for checking out the newest meme here at Turning Pages, and please leave your thoughts on the "Weekly Review" below!

2012 End of Year Survey


(Hosted by The Perpetual Page Turner)

Welcome to Turning Pages, and to my 2012 End of The Year Survey!!

I was actually planning on doing a "Top 10 Reads in 2012", but then I came across this fun survey and decided to do it instead. If you already have your survey posted, feel free to comment below with the link to yours.

2012 has been an amazing year for me and for Turning Pages, I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store!

Best Books in 2012!

1. Best Book You Read In 2012.

2012 brought me many amazing books each filled with laughs, cries, heartbreaks, joy, and so much more. Thinking back, it's hard to decide which is the "best", but I do have a few good ones!
Divergent, by Veronica Roth.
Tempest, by Julie Cross.
The Last Echo, by Kimberly Derting.
Just to name a few!

Divergent (Divergent, #1)Tempest (Tempest, #1)The Last Echo (The Body Finder, #3)

2. Book You Were Most Excited About, And Thought You Were Going To Love More Than You Actually Did?

Surprisingly, I don't think I had any books that weren't as great as I expected them to me. But I've had that happen to me, and I know how it feels like, to not get as much as enjoyment out of stories as many others around you did.

3. Most Surprising, In A Good Way, Book Of 2012?

The most surprising (in a good way) would have to be The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green. Before reading The Fault In Our Stars, I read his other book, Paper Towns, which a lot of people loved, and I really didn't. So when everyone again loved and recommend me the Fault In Our Stars, I didn't have any expectations, and ended up enjoying, and loving it!

The Fault in Our Stars

4. Book You Recommend To People Most In 2012?

Matched by Ally Condie would have to be the book I recommended the most to my family and friends, if you haven't read it, you really should! Another book I would often recommend for anyone looking for something summery and lovey, would be The Summer I Turned Pretty Series by Jenny Han.

Matched (Matched, #1)The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer, #1)It's Not Summer Without You (Summer, #2)We'll Always Have Summer (Summer, #3)

5. Best Series You Discovered In 2012?

The first time I read the Mortal Instruments was probably mid 2011, and the first book wasn't exactly my favorite; I didn't get as much out of it as all my friends did. But this year, in 2012, I rediscovered the series by finally getting myself to read the second book, and I could hardly put it down!

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)

6. Favorite New Author Discovered In 2012?

Laini Taylor is one of my favorite authors I discovered this year, while reading through some of my favorite bloggers' reviews! Not one bad thing was said about her book, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and I can't wait to finally continue the series!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)

7. Best Book That Was Out Of Your Comfort Zone, Or Was A New Genre For You?

In 2012, I don't think I read anything too out of my comfort zone. In 2011 I was focused on keeping my reading options open, and reading anything that was handed to me, even if I didn't really want to read it. This year my plan was only to read books I actually wanted to read, and thought I would enjoy. I didn't want to force myself to read, or do something I didn't want to, or have fun doing.

8. Most Thrilling And Unputdownable Book In 2012?

Divergent.by.Veronica. Roth.

Divergent (Divergent, #1)

9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Again Next Year?

With so many books on my TBR pile, there's no time to re-read anything!

10. Favorite Cover in 2012?

Shine Light (Night Creatures, #3)

11. Most Memorable Character In 2012?

Sam from The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, by Maggie Steifvater! He is so damage, yet sweet and sensitive, throughout 2012, and the three part series, Sam has always stuck out to me! He's so cute!

Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #3)

12. Most Beautifully Written Book In 2012?


Audition

Hands down, Audition, by Stasia Ward Kehoe! The entire story was written in verse, and the content itself was beautiful and romantic.

13. Book That Had The Greatest Impact On You In 2012?

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, changed the way I looked at life, and living it the moment. John Green takes you from feeling happiness, to sadness, to thirty other emotions in The Fault In Our Stars! Before reading this story, I recommend grabbing a box of tissues...

The Fault in Our Stars

14. Book You Can't Believe You waited Until 2012 To Finally Read?

When I first read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, the enjoyment everyone else had gotten out of the story, just wasn't there for me. But I can't believe I waited until 2012 to finally give the series another try and read the second book, City of Ashes!

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2)

15. Shortest/Longest Book You Read In 2012?

Shortest: But I Love Him, by Amanda Grace.
Longest: Pure, Julianna Baggott.

But I Love HimPure (Pure, #1)

16. Favorite Relationship From A Book In 2012?

Naif and Lenior from Shine Light, by Marianne de Pierres is one of my top favorite "realtionships" this year. They weren't the usual fall in love at first site, instead the hated each other the whole time (which became quite entertaining at times), but yet each still had a soft side for the other, which would sometimes shine through.

Shine Light (Night Creatures, #3)

17. Favorite Book You Read In 2012 From An Author You've Read Previously?

Jenny Han's, We'll Always Have Summer.
Kimberly Derting's, The Last Echo.
A few of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liar Books
(Just to name a few!)

We'll Always Have Summer (Summer, #3)The Last Echo (The Body Finder, #3)Twisted (Pretty Little Liars, #9)

18. Best Book You Read That You Read Based Solely On A Recommendation From Somebody Else?

I know I already used this book like three times in this survery, but again it has to be The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green. It was recommend to me from the blogging world, as well as a friend of mine (who never ever reads), who said she feel in complete love with it.

The Fault in Our Stars

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my shortened version of this years, end of the year survey!!

December 30, 2012

Book-ish Haul

Welcome to Turning Pages!

I hope you guys have a an awesome week, and continue to do so with all of these holidays going on, and get all the amazing books you've wished for!

This week I did receive three kick butt books, along with two really special and sweet extras!

The first book I received was from my Dad; Divergent by Veronica Roth. Who knew he was so good at giving gifts..even though he still uses duck tape to wrap them..

Divergent (Divergent, #1)"In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her."

The next thing I received came through the mail, from the unbelievable awesome Harlequin Teen Panel! Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. Along with this beautiful snowflake bracelet!

Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, #1)"No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible. Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again."


In another package from Macmillan Audio, came Vortex by Julie Cross! Thank you so much Macmillan!!

Vortex (Tempest, #2)"Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he's lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again."



Inside of the final package came this beautiful necklace from Marianne de Pierres; thank you so much, I love it!


Thank you so much for stopping by, and thank you to everyone you sent me these gifts, it means the world to me!

December 29, 2012

Book Review: Shine Light

Shine Light (Night Creatures, #3)Title: Shine Light.
Author: Marianne de Pierres.
Format: Paperback.
Pages: 229.
Series: Yes, #3.
Source: Author.
Publisher: Random House Australia.
Published Date: 11/1/2012
Links:
Goodreads.

Summary:

"Ixion. The island of ever-night. If she had a choice, Naif wouldn’t go back. But her friends will die if she doesn’t find a cure for the badges that are slowly killing them, and her brother is there, fighting against the Ripers who hold everyone in thrall. And Naif has knowledge that might save them all. First she must solve the mystery of Ixion’s eternal night. Then she must convince everyone – rebels and revellers alike – to join her cause. And all the while, she must fight the urge to go to Lenoir – her greatest love, her mortal enemy. The secrets of Ixion must be revealed. The evils must be stopped. A new dawn will come."

First & Last Line:
"Ruzalia's airship swayed and shuddered through the night towards Ixion."
"But the Riper's bed was empty. Lenior had gone."

Cover:

Do I really need to say anything at all?..

Besides the silky smooth feel each book in this series has, each cover looks like an amazing piece of art! The cover of Shine Light reflects the dark, mysterious and dangerous story perfectly.

My Thoughts:

Finally escaping the dark island of Ixion, Naif has no plans to go back there any time soon..

...that is until she finds out the truth behind Ixion, and the way Ripers and the Grave Elders work together and take advantage of the island's people, killing them; each using the island's people for their own selfish purposes.

To save her friends and all the others who reside on Ixion, Naif makes the decision to return to the island, spread the word, and save anybody she can before their badges expire, or the Ripers get to them. Knowing she can't do it all alone, Naif has to convince not only the people of Ixion, but also the gangs who roam it.

With saving an entire island of people from Ripers, finding her brother and dealing with her love/worst enemy, Naif has a lot on her plate!

The entire Night Creature series is dark, adventurous, and even a little romantic! Reading Burn Bright I fell in love with almost all of the characters, the story itself, Ixion, and the concept behind the Ripers and Grave Elders. Burn Bright quickly became one of my favorite books.

With such a good book, I had extremely high expectations for the second installment. Yes, I admit Angel Arias reached and probably passed the examples, but I still favored Burn Bright. After finally receiving Shine Light, I couldn't help but to dig in right away. Again I had expectations through the roof.

Throughout Shine Light, I continued loving all of the characters, and you, as the reader got to learn a lot more about them, especially Lenior, and the island. I liked the evil side of Lenior, but I also really liked the sweet and caring side he had for Naif.

The ending wasn't predictable, but everything I expected. There was though a bit of a cliff hanger, but maybe that's just to give the fourth book a good place to start!

What's Coming This Week?

Welcome to Turning Pages!

And to "What's Coming This Week?" a meme hosted here at Turning Pages, show casing all the new books (in the YA genre) coming out within the next seven days! Interested in a book listed below? Don't be afraid to click it's link, it'll take you to that book's Goodreads page, where you'll be able to read more about it!

Paperback:

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith: Book CoverPretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard: Book CoverAshes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari: Book CoverChangeling (Order of Darkness Series #1) by Philippa Gregory: Book CoverA Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton: Book CoverCleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter: Book CoverLove Is All You Need by Deb Caletti: Book CoverTeeth by Hannah Moskowitz: Book CoverDitched by Robin Mellom: Book CoverWentworth Hall by Abby Grahame: Book CoverIncarnate by Jodi Meadows: Book Cover


Hardback:

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard: Book CoverSplintered by A. G. Howard: Book CoverThe Essence by Kimberly Derting: Book CoverZom-B Underground by Darren Shan: Book CoverFalling for You by Lisa Schroeder: Book CoverAltered by Jennifer Rush: Book CoverCatherine by April Lindner: Book CoverProphecy by Ellen Oh: Book CoverEmpty by K.M. Walton: Book Cover