Review: Hourglass by Myra McIntyre

Published: EgmontUSA (June 14, 2011)
Pages: 397
Format: Hardcover
Series: Book 1
Source: I purchased this book.
GoodReads Summary: For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

My Thoughts: Before you read Hourglass, please take the opportunity to properly caress the cover. It has one of THOSE covers that is as fun as petting a kitten. Also, try not to cock your head in one of those "wtf" manners when looking at the girl on there. WHAT IS SHE DOING?

That being said, I am thoroughly impressed by Hourglass. Myra McIntyre has some much deserved hype surrounding her debut novel and I, for one, am on board with anything she wants to write. I heard all this fuss about Michael. And more about him later.

Emerson, besides having an awesome name, is totally brilliant. She and everyone around her may think she's all sorts of cuckoo bananas, but it just turns out she's EXTRA SPECIAL. Normally this would be where I'd roll my eyes, but hear me out: extra special, when done exceptionally well, is actually REALLY AWESOME. I've heard the argument that it's overdone, but if I had the choice between writing about someone boring and someone who may have an affinity for time travel, I think the choice is obvious. Emerson's quirky, but not obnoxiously so. (As she said: "her edit button is broken." LOVE!) She's smart and self-sufficient. She has a voice that I totally loved; the retort pistol consistently locked & loaded. And she can see people from 200 years ago just hanging around on corners and in coffee shops. This is interesting stuff, people.

Along comes Michael, in all his full-mouthed, suited-up business man glory. There was a smidgeon of insta-love, but these characters could relate on such a level that it didn't feel contrived, like the author just threw them together and demanded matrimony. It was really, really sweet. Personally, I prefer Kaleb, the inked up master chef guy with exceptional skills in tension. I think I would've liked Michael more if he was more assertive in his pursuit of Emerson. I wanted to shout at him to man up and go get his girl if that's what he wants.

The suspense was introduced early in the book and I found myself flipping through the pages, begging for a clue or an answer to be on the next page. I love it when a book has me freaking out about "where is this going?!" or "when are we going to hear from ____ again?!" Hourglass has this suspense factor. Color me suspensed. Or is it suspended? Whatever.

This story has so much potential. I cannot wait to find out where McIntyre takes us next.

Review: Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

Published: HarperTeen (September 20, 2011)
Pages: 358
Format: Hardcover
Series: Book 2
Source: ARC from publisher
GoodReads Summary: For the bright young things of 1929, the beautiful days seem endless, filled with romance and heartbreak, adventure and intrigue, friendship and rivalry.

After a month in New York, Cordelia Grey and Letty Larkspur are small-town girls no longer. They spend their afternoons with Astrid Donal at the Greys’ lush Long Island estate and their nights in Manhattan’s bustling metropolis. But Letty’s not content to be a mere socialite. She is ready at last to chase her Broadway dreams—no matter the cost.

Cordelia is still reeling from the death of her father at the hands of Thom Hale, the man she thought she loved. Now she is set to honor Darius Grey’s legacy . . . and take her revenge.

Promised to Cordelia’s half brother, Astrid is caught up in a world of dazzling jewels and glittering nights—and the sparkle is blinding. Charlie Grey is a gangster playing a dangerous game; and for Astrid, Cordelia, and Letty, the stakes could be deadly.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes the second book in an epic series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.

Disclaimer: Potential spoilers for Bright Young Things.

My Thoughts: Honestly? Longest wait EVER for this book. I know it wasn't even a year, but after that crazy ending that Bright Young Things had? I could've had Beautiful Days in my hand right after finishing BYT and I still wouldn't have been able to read it soon enough. Straight up: I am ENAMORED with this world. Sure, it was almost 100 years ago, but take away my iPhone, my computer, my car. I just want to wear flapper dresses and sing in a smoky speakeasy and wake up at 4pm with a hangover just to do it again. With the high expectations I had from BYT, Beautiful Days did not disappoint.

Cordelia seriously comes into her own in this book. She's kind of a boss. I guess that's expected, being a bootlegger's daughter and all. I expected to see all sorts of Thom Hale after BYT (and I kind of missed him, despite what happened. I don't believe sweet Thom Hale had anything to do with THE TRAGEDY.) But there's a new face: Max Darby, resident flyboy. He's a total d-bag here and there, but did he grow on me? ABSOLUTELY. There was a moment or two when I felt like someone had released 400 butterflies in my stomach, like he was my first crush or something. Dude's got attitude. And OH, there are walls he's built that Cord must break. I LOVE A CHALLENGE. Do I love Max enough to take the place of Thom Hale? That remains to be seen.

Astrid? She got on my nerves. What a selfish, spoiled girl she is. Really. That's all I have to say about her. I loved her in BYT, but she has a LOT of redeeming herself to do in book 3. Which brings me to Letty, who is MY FAVORITE. Girlfriend has been dealt a difficult hand. Her BFF is constantly in the spotlight and all the girl wants is to sing in snazzy clubs. The entire time, I just wanted to buy her a drink or 7 and force her to do karaoke, just so she can get the limelight she deserves. Letty gets what she deserves in Beautiful Days and I have high hopes for her in book(s) to come.

I'm convinced Godbersen must be immortal and actually lived through the 20s. Her writing flows beautifully and is 100% authentic. I was hoping for a bit more swoony moments and romance thrown into the mix, but what Beautiful Days lacked in flat out romance, it made up with the drama llama. There is slightly less of a cliffhanger in this book, thank goodness. Still, I NEED book 3. This is a fabulous series, you guys. Please do yourself a favor and pick up the first two books as soon as humanly possible. FLAPPERS FO LIFE.

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Published: Disney Hyperion (February 9, 2010)
Pages: 287
Format: Hardcover
Series: Book 1
Source: I purchased this book.
GoodReads Summary: When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

My Thoughts: I had put this book off SO LONG. Capillya from That Cover Girl has raved about this book since I met her. It was like "Hi, I'm Capillya. Read Heist Society. Nice to meet you." (I'm kidding! But I'll bet she would've liked to say that.)

So Kat is a 15-year-old girl who steals really expensive things from really powerful adult people and gets away with it. Uh, yes please.

Though Heist Society took me a little while to get into (I was amidst a reading slump), I flew through the last 200 pages in a matter of hours. A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL WHO STEALS THINGS FOR FUN. And not only that, but her whole FAMILY is in the business! I love these kinds of shenanigans. Of course, she tired of the crooked life and made an attempt for the straight and narrow. Unfortunately for her, she's too successful at her trade to escape for long, so W.W. Hale (ahem. How YOU doin'?) drags her back.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading about Kat and her merry crew of underage criminals. Each character was well-written and had a distinct personality (as well as a "gift" when it comes to running jobs!) This is not rocket science, people. This is fluffy cotton candy for your brain. Don't we all deserve a little indulgence? Kat and her peeps may live to see another day, but I've got Uncommon Criminals waiting on my shelf and I can only imagine what kind of crazy situations they'll find themselves in next!

Your Makeshift Bookmarks (13)

Your Makeshift Bookmarks is derived from two things: a) my obvious blog name and tendency to use inane objects to mark my pages. And b) Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner's inspiration (and suggestion!) to start a blog feature where you all can show off the awesome, random crap you use for bookmarks.

And by the way, if you're interested in recording a vlog or doing a photo post for YOUR makeshift bookmarks, shoot me an email at makeshiftbookmark at gmail dot com and I'll be glad to feature you <3

___________________________________

Well I haven't done one of these in awhile, given school and all that annoying junk. But I've been waiting FOREVER to feature one of my favorite bloggers, Lisa from Lisa is Busy Nerding. Number one, I just love that blog name. There are no better people out there than nerds. Especially bookish nerds. If you disagree, GTFO ;) Number two, Lisa is an amazing person to talk to. If you need someone to brighten your day at any time, definitely talk to Lisa.



STARBUCKS SLEEVES. This girl clearly knows how to makeshift it up. I've totally done this. And honestly, I can't lie. I use regular bookmarks sometimes, too. SOMETIMES. But right now? I'm using a receipt from the vet where I paid $24 for Bella's meds. So I'm true to my blog for the time being :)

LISA. Thank you so much for stopping by and participating. I friggin' love this feature and I hope more people want to participate because I love having you guys. If you want to know more about Lisa (I know you do) then head on over to Lisa is Busy Nerding for the full experience. You shan't regret it.

Review: Ten Things We Did (and probably shouldn't have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Published: HarperTeen (June 7, 2011)
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover
Series: No
Source: Jamie sent me an ARC and Anna got me a signed copy!
GoodReads Summary: 2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe "opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: "Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up "Skipping School" (#3), "Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8), "Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um, "Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn't-have-done at a time.

My Thoughts: Have you ever merely read the first five pages of a book, a shizz-eating grin already spread wide across your face, and thought to yourself, "this book is going to make my face fall off from the laughter and general kickassness?" And then make a vow to yourself to hunt down everything this author has written?

I'd have to say that's exactly what happened with Ten Things. Seriously. Anna has it chronicled in her review of this very book.

April is hands down one of the freshest MCs I've read about in a hot minute. She's so...REAL. My favorite thing about this entire novel is that Sarah Mlynowski depicts teen life so accurately (at least to me). There's the drinking, the crushes, the partying, and she does so in a way that is not at all over-the-top or "stretching the truth." These things happen. (Not to mention she tackles some VERY touchy subjects. You'll see.)

And I've formed a fierce connection with a cat named Donut. I've only ever felt this way about one other literary animal, and that's the camel from Lucy Christopher's Stolen. Donut is my absolute favorite character in the entire book and almost caused me to cry JUST A LITTLE BIT.

Read this book, if only to meet Hudson. The older, cat-loving, completely supportive and understanding cute boy who is totally not a doucher. The book is easy to read, unputdownable, and I love that the chapters list all the things that April and her friends should not have done. But you know they did them anyway. What fun would it be if they didn't, right?

Sarah Mlynowski, ILU.

The Top Ten Books That Everyone on the PLANET Has Read (Except Me.)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. There are a LOT of books that I haven't read. I'm talking probably 200-300 of the books I own, I haven't read. These are just to name a few.

1. If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman.

I know. I should be kicked out of swoony girl humanity for this one. Every time I go to pick it up, I just can't. WHY IS THAT!?

2. The City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare.

Yep. I read the first three. I remember enjoying them. But for whatever reason, I feel absolutely UN-compelled to pick up any other C. Clare books. I'm totally fine with the story ending where it did.

3. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers.

I read Cracked Up to Be and loved it. I have both of Courtney's other books and haven't gotten around to them.

4. Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan.

Another book I have on my shelf. I've heard amazing things. WTF is my delay?

5. Everything Sarah Dessen has written.

I KNOW. Even more sins against womanhood.

6. Everything by John Green.

Despite the continuous peer pressure.

7. Everything by Ellen Hopkins.

They seem heavy. I like heavy books. And I also like heavy books that are told in verse so they're easy to finish quickly.

8. Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

SWEET MERCIFUL CRAP, I want to read this book now. Why does something ALWAYS come between us?

9. The Rest of the Black Dagger Brotherhood after book 2.

Ugh. I tried so hard to love these books. After reading about half of book 3? No thank you. Even she who loves angst and romance more than anything else in the world couldn't take the massive amounts in these bad boys.

10. The Poison Study Series.

And they come so highly recommended.

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Published: Simon & Schuster (September 27, 2011)
Pages: 450
Format: Hardcover
Series: Book 1
Source: Jamie sent me an ARC (thanks, J!)
GoodReads Summary: Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

My Thoughts: There was so much of a buildup for me with Mara Dyer. The general consensus was that it was chock full of WTF. I went in completely blind to the premise and I am so thankful that I did. I was just as clueless as Mara the entire time.

And please prepare yourself for this review. It's going to be pretty... SEVERE in enthusiasm.

I don't know where Michelle Hodkin came from with this amazing ballbuster of a novel, but OH MY GOD does she make her presence known in a big way. She has mentally steamrolled me. I'm writing this review about 9 hours after finishing the book and I can't even think of anything else. This is one of those books that has consumed every facet of my life and I couldn't do anything else until I finished, except sleep. It STILL consumed me as I wrote this review, 9 hours after finishing.

Mara Dyer is up there as one of my favorite protagonists of 2011. I mean seriously, this girl has a razorblade tongue and witty as heck to boot. I wish this book was 600 pages longer so I could prolong my stay in Mara's head. Not only was she entertaining, but she was SMART. And hilarious. I may or may not have a complete girl crush on her.

You guys, there is some seriously creepy shizz going on in this novel. PTSD in itself is a frightening subject, but to see its manifestations through the eyes of the victim? I'm talking disturbing on the level of that scary 7 Days video in The Ring. If you're easily spooked, DON'T read this in the dark and DON'T read it home alone. I'm weird, though, and loved every moment of being disturbed.

And every messed up girl must have a boy in her life to help fix her. That boy, in Mara's case, is Noah Shaw. He is the newest inductee into my literary crush Hall of Fame and shoots way up to my top three. There's just something about a British accent and chaos hair and sharp wit and he loves animals and plays the guitar and and and OMG THE SEXUAL TENSION. During two different scenes, I actually felt my face flush. IT WAS STEAMY, YOU GUYS. And I love everything about Noah and Mara. They are delightfully effed up.

After finishing, I was completely floored. There are so many different interlaced plot points that I had to take a moment and write them all down to try and make sense of them. I loved forming theories and discussing with other readers what they thought about WHY this person showed up here or WHEN could that have happened and WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? Because y'all, there is a gigantic cliffhanger that will leave you flaily and squirmy. Have you ever seen Inception? And you know how you had to watch it a couple times and discuss it with other viewers following the movie in order for it to make 100% sense (and even still...)? The completely mindeffery of this book was reminiscient of my frame of mind post-Inception.

I cannot even justify my absolute love for this book in words. This review, as a whole, is inadequate. This book is terminally good.

In My Mailbox (37)

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren. LOVE HER!

Would you guys like to win ALL FOUR of the Iron Fey books? Not to mention an ARC of Beautiful Days and Deadly Cool? Then go enter my BLOGOVERSARY giveaway!

This week rocked. I didn't buy too many books, but I definitely was feeling the HarperTeen love this week! I bow to them. Also, did I mention that I had my LAST nursing lecture until I graduate?! Because I did. One last test (which I'm about to go study for), then a midterm in October and an exit exam in December. Then I'll have an RN behind my name. OMG!

Anyway, onto the books!


For Review
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Bought
Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
Alpha by Rachel Vincent

It's My Belated Blogoversary! (+ giveaway)

Makeshift Bookmark turned ONE on September 12. It got a pretty cake and made a mess of it, then triumphed over its mess. Then got really drunk and passed out in the bathroom. On a MONDAY, even. My blog is so audacious and ballsy. It really was a fabulous party and all good parties end up that way. Oh, that crazy blog of mine.

WHERE. HAS. THE. TIME. GONE?

Blogging is probably one of the best decisions I could've made in my life at that point in September 2010. I know I complain about nursing school all the time, but I had absolutely no idea how challenging it would actually be. If I didn't have this outlet, this massive group of people with whom I could enjoy talking about books until I was blue in the face, I would've probably been homicidal by now. But no, you guys have kept me crime-free and out of jail. So thank you for that. I can't wait until I don't have school to worry about anymore and I can just read, read, read, and blog all about it.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into with blogging. All I did know was that the two people I followed religiously, Kristi and April, seemed like the coolest effing girls in the universe. They'd have posts that were just outright jubilant about this or that book, and when they posted vlogs, you could actually see how passionate they were about what they were doing and what they were reading. So a HUGE thank you to Kristi and April, my blogging idols, to unknowingly inspire me to make my way into this crazy blogosphere.

I even got the chance to meet Kristi. Um, I kind of fangirled. I literally felt like I was meeting a celebrity. It was that serious. I hope I didn't scare the sh*t out of you, Kristi, hahaha.

I really didn't know that it would change my life for the better and forge friendships with people that I couldn't go a day without interacting. This post would never, EVER end if I told you all the amazingness about each and every one of these people, so I'm just going to list names of those I talk to practically every single day: Lynn, Jamie, Anna, Ginger, TQ, Capillya, Carla, Melanie, Asheley, Tara, Kristi, April, Pam, Michelle, Lisa, Jacinda & Jasmine, Lindsi, Jen, Harmony, Melina, Farrah.

With some awesome bloggers at the Naperville Dark Days in March 2011.

And honestly? The list goes on. Those are just the people I've talked to in the last 5 days worth of tweets. If I missed anyone, please don't be offended. Everyone has made such an impact on me that it's ridiculous.

This has been a surreal experience. I've been able to speak with authors who have made me laugh, cry, and swoon with their characters: Jeri Smith-Ready, Melissa Marr, Kelly Creagh (when I met her!), Courtney Allison Moulton, Libba Bray, Michelle Hodkin, Tahereh Mafi, and again... the list goes on. I got to go to BEA as a Popsicle Stick Head (see below) and actually get some love from Jeri Smith-Ready.

Yep. That's a kiss from the QUEEN OF KISSING SCENES. I should've expected it.

Shoot, you guys, I was even nominated (and made the short list) for Best New Book Blog for BBAW. I have a button to prove it. THAT IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME.


Thank you all for making this the craziest (in a good way!) year of my life.

__________________________________________


Well, to stop me from blabbering on and on, I'll get to the part you actually care about. The giveaway.

Leave a comment below to enter to win THE ENTIRE IRON FEY SERIES (including The Iron Knight, once it's released!) and an ARC of Beautiful Days and Deadly Cool.

Contest Information

Leave a comment below with your email address.

Please read my Contest Policy.

Must be 13+ to enter.

One person per entry, please.

Must have a US mailing address (sorry, I'm broke!)

Winners will be chosen using Random.org and I will contact you via e-mail if you win. I will need the winner's response within 72 hours. If I don't receive it within that timeframe, I will pick a new winner.

Contest ends on October 5, 2011 at midnight EST.

In My Mailbox (36)

IMM is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren, one of my favorite bloggers (and people!) of all time.


For Review
Crave by Melissa Darnell
Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski
Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

(Huge thanks to Harlequin, Egmont, Random House, and NetGalley!)

Gifted
Entice by Carrie Jones
Delirium by Lauren Oliver (YAY the cover that will match Pandemonium!)

(thanks to Epic Lynn Marie for sending me these!)

Won from Two Chicks on Books
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready
And Jeri actually threw in a signed copy of Bring on the Night because she is awesome. All three books are signed, but this one is definitely my favorite. When the Shade series becomes a movie/TV show (IT MUST!) and Jeri is a worldwide superstar making more money than anyone in the whole world, I'll hold this dear to my heart. And, let's be honest, for bragging rights :)

Breaking Dawn: Epic Love Story or Fan Girl Purgatory?

disclaimer: the contents of this post may have breaking dawn spoilers. also, this is just my opinion. i totally respect those of you who loved breaking dawn. hey, i'm going to see the movie myself!

So a Breaking Dawn clip was released and, after I giggled, I was inspired to write this.

Initially I was just looking for something to rhyme with "love story," but then I got to thinking. According to the Roman Catholics (that's you, mom & dad!), purgatory is a "place of state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are atoning for their sins before going to heaven." And ladies and gents, if you're like me, watching Breaking Dawn will be a trip to purgatory.

I reached Stage 5 Clinger status with this saga. I gave into temptation and read that first book, which ignited a flurry of pathetic internal musings like "NO ONE WILL EVER LOVE ME LIKE EDWARD LOVES BELLA!" or "I'LL BET VAMPIRES REALLY DO EXIST AND THEY OBVS MAKE THE MOST LOYAL BOYFRIENDS AND WILL ASK ME TO MARRY THEM AND OMG I WANT ONE."

Yeah, you catch my drift. I'm ashamed.

So as I flew through the next two books, my passion and obsession with these books, these characters, was amplified by a number that has so many digits that there aren't even enough digits to express it. I was so ready for Breaking Dawn. It was finally going to happen. Edward and Bella were going to get married and be happy forever. The plain jane girl will finally get her vampire prince, there will be explosions of sexytimes in every nook and cranny of the universe, and I'll cry out at the resplendence of it all! Because these characters who were so very real to me will get their happily ever after.

The first 50ish pages were heaven. The wedding, the honeymoon, the bed-breaking. I was even willing to forgive the "fade to black" consummation because hey, I'm no voyeur. But then the honeymoon was over. Then other....stuff....happened.

WAIT. STOP. HALT. Where is Ashton Kutcher? Where's my calendar? Is it April 1st? Is it opposite day? Who are these characters? Who wrote this book? I kept waiting for everything to go back to normal, but it never did. And I was sad.

For me, Breaking Dawn was the purgatory of the saga.

Was I being punished for giving into the temptation of reading these books?

Is this what I get for falling in love with these characters?

And for the love of everything, why am I still reading it?

Fast forward a few years and the movie adaptation is upon us. I was holding my breath for a total rewrite of the plot--didn't happen, obvs. I know what is going to happen and I know it's going to make me cringe. But I'm going to sit through it, because I feel I have to atone for my obsession. I'm going to provide whispered commentary filled with disbelief and chagrin (HA) to my husband and he's going to ask me at least 56 times why I dragged him to the theater.

Because it's closure. I'll sate my (morbid) curiosity and it'll be done. I'll break free from Twilight fangirlism and be able to say that I'm over it. "Oh, Twilight? Yeah, I USED to be obsessed with those books. Ancient history, though!" followed by nervous laughter and a rapid subject change.

Plus, all good things must come to an end. Unless Midnight Sun is released. Then I take back everything I just said. I'll delete this post and it'll be like it never existed.

What about you guys? Were you obsessed like I was? Did you love it/hate it? And most importantly, will YOU be going to see the movie? I'm dying to know!

Winners and Chicken Dinners and the Essential LOLCAT

Slacky McSlackington has finally chosen some winners for contests.

The winner of the personalized SHINE pre-order is...

Cyndi Tefft!

The winner of the finished copy of FURY is...

Erin @ Let's Evaluate!

Super duper congrats to you guys! I'll be emailing you shortly to get your info :)

HOLY CRAP, YOU GUYS.

I'm blogging from the Blogger app for iPhone. LIKE A BOSS. You should download it, too :)

That is all.

(oh, and commenting via the app browser is WAY less annoying. It keeps you logged in so you don't have to go through hell like you do in Safari.)

(aaaaaand it's free.)

In My Mailbox (35)

IMM is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.



For Review
Frost by Marianna Baer
The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina

Purchased
One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost
Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
The Boy Book by E. Lockhart
Crave by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

And a bit of a personal update. If you are only here for the books and couldn't care less about animals or cats, please read no further, athankya.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter probably know I was completely beside myself because one of my cats, Bella, began experiencing some behavioral problems. She's normally a hyperactive cat, but she was starting with these obsessive-compulsive symptoms that scared the crap out of me. If I'm a hypochrondriac regarding myself, imagine what I'm like regarding those I love... animal or human. Well, after two weeks of debilitating worry, a couple vet visits, and a few hundred dollars out of the bank, my Bella has been diagnosed with feline hyperesthesia. Apparently, it's a rare disorder that is caused by God only knows what and is treated by God only knows how. (I know, right?) So we've got my girl on anti-depressants, which the vet says they use for cats who have neurologic disorders and we're crossing our fingers that it'll work.

Seeing that my over-analytical self had her diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and chronic renal failure, I'm relieved by this diagnosis. It's not something that will kill her and it's something that can be managed. It's kind of the equivalent of human OCD. Think good, feline-healing thoughts for me, please :) She hates the vet, as you can see below. We don't want to go back anytime soon.

OMG WHAT THE....

So apparently some crazy (see: awesome) person/s nominated Makeshift Bookmark for Best New Book Blog for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Seriously?! You guys make my life. Whoever you are, thank you. Whoever reads my blog, thank you. And all of you who put up with my sporadic blog hiatuses and complaining on Twitter, squee with me over favorite books, obsess over which songs would PERFECTLY fit in this or that book, and those of you who are just always there to make me smile... I love YOU.

I'm so humbled to be amongst so many other awesome bloggers. There are so many other amazing bloggers that have been nominated for various categories, including some of my favorite people. Anna Reads, The Story Siren, Steph Su Reads, The Crooked Shelf, and Bookalicious for Best YA Book Blog. The Broke and the Bookish and GReads! for Best Book Blog Meme. And tons more.

So if you'd like to participate, head on over to BBAW and vote!

Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Published: HarperTeen
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover
Series: Book 2 of 3
Source: NetGalley
GoodReads Summary: To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

My Thoughts: Fist bumps to HarperTeen for putting this on NetGalley, because I was itching to read Firelight's sequel after finishing. THAT ENDING WAS KILLER.

Also, Will? Hi, please step aside. There is a new guy in town, who just so happens to be kind of the old guy (but not in age), and his name is Cassian. And he is infinitely more awesome because he is a dragon. Er, draki. Maybe it's just my personality, but I find myself often cheering for the underdog. The less obvious love choice. The guy thrown into the wrong angle of the love triangle for the sake of having one. You know she's not going to choose him and you know he's gonna get his heart broken. But JEEZ. Just ONCE I want to find a book where the token bad angle gets the girl and is happy.

Sophie Jordan came out swinging with Vanish. My head was spinning with all the drama that was packed into that first 50ish pages. The slow plot build is overrated anyway, so I think Jordan did all sorts of good things with this intro.

I like Tamra's character a whole lot better in Vanish. She's less of a whiny wench and there are some legitimately touching sister moments within. Though I can't say I entirely blamed her in Firelight for being spiteful and bitter towards Jacinda. No one likes a spotlight stealing sibling.

Ahem. And let us all migrate to Team Cassian.

And honestly? The further I read into Vanish, the more REAL the threat to Jacinda, the draki, and everyone she loves, the better the story gets. I love Love. I do. But a love story just isn't a love story without some epic danger strewn about the mix. I cannot even imagine what is going to go down in book 3, but I can't WAIT to find out. And I have faith that Jordan is going to bring it, because that's how she rolls.