2012 Reading Challenge!

Okay, so. Last year, I read 69 books. My original goal was 100. Towards the middle-end (August/September) of the year, I realized I wasn't going as fast as I thought I could. I dwindled it down to 70. And yet I was one book behind, I still didn't make it LOL. This year I'm determined to make it to 80! Let's hope I've got high enough spirits to do it! :)

Wish me luck!

2012 Reading Challenge

Whitney has read 1 book toward her goal of 80 books.

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KISS OF FROST by Jennifer Estep {Book Review}

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep


Rating: ★★★★★
Publication Date: December 1,2011
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Paperback, 368pp
Age range: 12 - 17 Years
Series: Mythos Academy Series, #2
Source: Bought at Walmart
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Logan Quinn was try­ing to kill me. My Spar­tan class­mate relent­lessly pur­sued me, swing­ing his sword at me over and over again, the shin­ing sil­ver blade inch­ing closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes prac­ti­cally glowed with the thrill of battle...

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

I can say that my feelings for Logan freaking Quinn have lifted from dislike, to like. JUST A LITTLE BIT. I had my hopes up for Preston (I think I have a cousin with that name. o_o), and of course... That sure didn't go well.


I really liked this sequel to Touch of Frost; it definitely had some new emotions in there. And some new history of some sort. And I really liked that we got to look at some other characters too, that was a plus. :D (I so like Oliver....*dodges confused glares*) And Kenzie is a jerk. D: Juss sayin'.

Was anyone else surprised when Gwen shuffled through Preston's memories, and found that one? I wanted to bawl for Gwen's sake. That must've been SO HARD. T-T I hate reading about heroines going through stuff like that, when I actually like the girl. It makes me wanna cry so bad.
Anyway, this was a cool read! I loved it. :3 And of course, I can't wait for the next book!

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2012 Reading Resolutons!

Ah, 2012. How I've been anticipating you! 2011...you went by way to quick. But a start to another year with great books is the best way, I think. ;) So here are some of my new year resolutions for books.

1. Post at least four to five reviews a month. - I was a little behind on reading last year. (That sounds weird now. ;P)
2. Get my 2012 Reading Challenge for Goodreads done. - I had my GR challenge last year to 100 books, but I had to dwindle it down to 70, because I realized I couldn't do it towards the end of the year. D: Now I have 80 books for the challenge. :)
3. Read more from my 'TBR' pile! - This is a pet peeve for me, because there are so many books that I haven't read, but I have and want to read. It's just so annoying, because I feel like I won't get them read.
4. Talk to more bloggers. - I haven't been very active on this part of my blogger account. I'd like to socialize with more bloggers, make new friends. :)
5. Get more reading done in general. - Speaks for itself. :D

I hope to stick by this list, possibly add more to it! But who knows as of now. :) But these five things are the most important to me right now. Or that need to get done first.

Favorite Books of 2011

TOUCH OF FROST by Jennifer Estep {Book Review}

Rating: ★★★★★
Publication Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Paperback, 336pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: Mythos Academy Series, #1
Source: Bought
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died...

I really liked this book a lot. I really love Greek and Norse mythology, and this had it all. <3 And I intensely like the idea that Loki is the bad guy in this. Not many books talk about him, or Thor for that matter. At least, any that I know of.

I felt insanely sorry for Gwen; she's a genuine good-natured girl. And how she's treated in this book just pisses me off to no end. I just want to run up and hug her and pamper her. :)

Logan is just a complete jackass. But he's kickass too. Although, jackass ruled out kickass in my shelves for heroes. The ending of it totally made me dislike him more than the beginning. Maybe my feelings will change in the second book, but probably not by much. But I do hope that there's more to his story like he said in the end of the book. I'd like to know more of his history and why he's slightly bipolar. ;P (That's not in the book, just so you know.)

Over all, this was a pretty interesting book. I really loved the history and research that was in this. Very interesting. :D Since I've got a hard-on for Norse and Greek mythology, of course I'd like it. <3

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My To-Be-Read Pile :)

Just thought I'd show you guys what my TBR pile looks like at the moment, since I haven't been posting hardly anything this month. I need to get these bad boys read before the next month is over! Pressure! ;P

→ Rampant by Diana Pererfruend

→ Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

→ Soul Screamers: Volume 1 by Rachel Vincent

→ Die For Me by Amy Plum

→ In The Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

Plus, I'm sure I'll be reading more books in between that come out throughout the month. :D

Cover Reveal: THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR by Kady Cross

There's no official overview of this yet. But man, this cover is wickedly awesome. I haven't read the first book, but I plan too! I've been hearing wonderful things about them. :D

Publication date: May 22, 2012 

Publisher: Harlequin 

Format: Hardback, 304pp 

Series: The Steampunk Chronicles Series, #2

Pre-Order: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Waiting On Wednesday (#5)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's anticipated book for me is Lothaire by Kresley Cole. 

Release Date: January 10. 2012
Publisher: Gallery Books
Format: Hardcover, 464pp
Age Range: Adult
Series: Immortals After Dark, #12
Pre-Order: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness— until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

Growing up in desperate poverty, Ellie Peirce yearned for a better life, never imagining she’d be convicted of murder—or that an evil immortal would abduct her from death row. But Lothaire is no savior, as he himself plans to sacrifice Ellie in one month’s time. And yet the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with wealth and sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, Ellie surrenders her body to the wicked vampire, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

Elizabeth tempts Lothaire beyond reason, as only his fated mate could. As the month draws to a close, he must choose between a millenniaold blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will Lothaire succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

Oh man! I can't wait for this book to come out. I've been wanting to learn more about Lothaire and his evil deeds. <3 This is going to be a glorious book!

RECKONING by Lili St. Crow {Book Review}

Rating: ★★★★★
Publication Date: 11/1/2011
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Pages: Paperback, 304pp
Age range: Young Adult
Series: Strange Angels Series, #5
Source: Bought from B&N
Buy: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

The electric finale in New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow's Strange Angels series! 

Nobody expected Dru Anderson to survive this long. Not Graves. Not Christophe. Not even Dru. She's battled killer zombies, jealous djamphirs, and bloodthirsty suckers straight out of her worst nightmares. But now that Dru has bloomed into a full-fledged svetocha - rare, beautiful, and toxic to all vampires - the worst is yet to come. 

Because getting out alive is going to cost more than she's ever imagined. And in the end, is survival really worth the sacrifice?


DRU ANDERSON'S NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK.  BUT SHE SHOULD BE.

Oh my Cheez-Its. That can't be the ending. SO MUCH IS LEFT IN A CLIFFHANGERRR.

*le sigh* I don't want to say much, in fear of spoiling anything. But I will say that this is a somewhat satisfying ending to this series. I do believe I felt more sorry for Graves than anybody. Then Christophe. Hell, I felt sorry for Dru. But then it's like, Well you're kick-ass and stubborn. You'll find a way out of it eventually. And man, there was a lot of action in this one too. I mean, dur. You're going to expect a shit-ton of action in a Lilith Saintcrow book.

I feel like Graves wasn't in this book that much. I mean, I know it's nothing compared to Defiance. But still, this was the final book, and I feel like Christophe somewhat got all the heat. Even though I love him more than Graves. I still like Graves though. c:

There could definitely be a sixth book. And I'm not saying that like, "oh I heard somewhere that the author is writing another book." Noooo. I'm saying that like "there's a lot that's undone" type of way. Lili is notorious for endings like that, it seems. Her books leave you wondering. Big time. I read her Dante Valentine series that came out in one book... And it was weird. But a good type of weird. And it had an ending that was like..."WTF HAPPENS NOW?!" That's how I feel about the Strange Angels series. Like a few questions for instance. (Spoilery!!!!) Is Graves really coming back? Where does this leave Dru and Graves? Where does this leave Dru and Christophe? What's Dru's full name?

UGH. I wish there was a sixth one. :( But this was an awesome finale~

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