Happy New Year and a Giveaway Hop Winner!

Let's start with HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's already 7.50 AM here, so my new year is done by now. Though I was asleep by 11 PM, I'm old and everything :D
How was your new year's eve?

Okay, it's time for the giveaway winner! This is awesome: TOTAL OF 1019 ENTRIES!

That's just pure awesomeness!
There's other things I should be doing today too; There's suppose to be review of Mind Games out today (cause it was so awesome, so what's a better way to start the new year?), and I should post the "End of 2012 Survey" in some point.. There also was bunch of challenges, so I should probably write a recap of those, too..

And I'm suppose to go ice skating today!! So much to do, so little time! Though I was so wise I took some holiday from work, so it's a week of freedom ahead!

Okay, I'll end this torture now, it's time for the winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I will email you ASAP, congrats and happy new year!

Read More

Mini Reviews: Poison Princess & Shatter Me

Sorry guys, this was suppose to be up by yesterday (..or day before that..), but I got distracted. First I started playing a game (or The Game for me, man how I still love that game! Seriously hooked again.) and last night when I was suppose to write, I started knitting some mittens (except in baby blue and -pink! Cause I'm just so hardcore mature!) and there was Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang in the TV so.. no writing.
Okay, I'm just a lazy b**tard, sue me! (Please, don't.)

But the year will end soon (in a few hours!), so here's this years final reviews!

Poison Princess
by Kresley Cole

Published: October 1st 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Format: Ebook
Pages: 320
Source: Through Pulse It
Amazon |
Book Depository

She could save the world — or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Okay, so the beginning was little odd, since I was convinced Evie's going to be slaughtered right away and I thought well, that sucks and is kind of disappointing!
Then we jump back in time and it's kind of slow at first. Evie thinks she's crazy and her mum thinks she's crazy, so she spent the summer in the nuthouse. When she goes back to school, she meets the new guy, Jackson, who just makes her mad.

After a while her visions come true and the apocalypse arrives! She manages to survive with her mother and then finds out Jackson is alive too and together they start the most eventful journey.

This was just.. This rocked, I don't know any other way to put it! Evie realises she's not completely "normal" and there's also other kids with weird abilities. They ran into at least to three of them, I especially enjoyed the part about the Bringer of the Doubt ;) There definitely was some doubt going on!

Evie and Jackson make the ultimate couple, even though Evie is the nice girl and Jack the bad boy, luckily that didn't bother me that much.

And the ending.. Torture, I tell you! Evie finally realises what she's capable of, and now I just want to know what happens with Jackson!!! I was absolutely awed with Evie and her powers, it was just so freaking awesome and original! And when Jackson sees Evie.. Damn, broke my heart!

Yeah, I need to buy this, like now.


My thanks to Pulse It for the review copy!

Shatter Me
by Tahereh Mafi

Published: November 15th 2011
Publisher: Harper
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 338
Source: Borrowed
Amazon |
Book Depository

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Another book that made me wonder: "WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG BEFORE I READ THIS!??!?!" Still wondering that, but the main point is, I read this and loved it. I know, there's the whiny MC with somewhat instalove and really weird lovetriangle, but.. Hey, heart wants what it wants!

Sooo... Juliette's been in the nuthouse (hey, another one!) for almost a year, until one day she gets a roommate! And it's a boy! And soon Juliette realises that she knows that boy and kind of feels betrayed, until it's revealed he's on her side. Now all they have to do is break free from her prison, where she's hold as a prisoner by Warner, a dude who has some mummy issues.

Yeah, there could've been so much for me to hate. Like some strike-throughs, lot of metaphors (okay, I didn't get them all!), weird lovetriangles etc., but when you combined those elements, they just worked.
And what I mean by weird lovetriangle.. There's Adam, which is understandable, but then there's also Warner, who wants to own Juliette. I just find it disgusting yet so awesome. There isn't really anything romantic in their "relationship", it's actually revolting, but it really doesn't take any romance to have the hots. Seriously, you don't have to like each other, you can find each other awful and disgusting, but still can have the hots.

"Warner grips my hips and allows his hands to conquer my body.
He tastes like peppermint, smells like gardenias.
His arms are strong around me, his lips soft, almost sweet against my skin.
There’s an electric charge between us I hadn’t anticipated."

My point exactly.

I also should've been bothered by the fact that nearly every guy around found Juliette attractive. But.. there isn't exactly that many girls around (like none), and probably even ugly girls start looking hot at some point. So I'm not sure she's actually that attractive ;D Yeah, she probably is, but.. Yeah.
Aaaand Juliette is pretty insecure and miserable and blames herself for things not her fault, but what can you expect after miserable life where no one's ever been nice to you?? It would be rational to say "it's not my fault that stalker is doing that", but people many times act irrational, so, again, didn't bother me.

Now I just have to wait for the second book, hopefully I'll be getting it ASAP! Only like over a month to go.. *sigh.*

Read More

Last day of Hop!

Remember, it's the last day of Hop! So tell your friends, families, neighbours etc., beucase tomorrow morning it's time to announce the winner! :)

And happy new year!!

Read More

Mini Reviews: Storm & Starcrossed

| Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop here!

Storm
by Brigid Kemmerer

Published: April 24th 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Format: Paperback
Pages: 353
Source: Borrowed
Amazon |
Book Depository

Earth. Fire. Air. Water.

When Becca Chandler saves Chris Merrick from being beaten-up in the school car park, she has no idea how dramatically this one action will change her life. Chris is no ordinary guy and neither are his three older brothers. The Merrick boys are Elementals. Hot. Powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

Then there's Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time. With her life at stake, Becca doesn't know who to trust or whose secrets she should keep. and with two boy vying for her affections, and pressure rising all around her, will she find out in time who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all?

Take Cover.
The storm is coming!

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
I inhaled this book, meaning my every waking moment was spent reading this, it was just impossible to put down!
That probably should mean I absolutely love this book etc., but unfortunately no, in the end, I didn't love this, I was just pretty pissed.

Okay, I liked Becca, had strong feelings toward Chris and absolutely loved Hunter, so what could possibly go wrong?
Well, like I said, I loved Hunter and definitely wished Becca would end up with him. And I was like "yeah, at least the second book is coming out soon, so I can read more about Becca etc.!", and when I started to check out the blurb.. I notice it's not about them. I'm beyong loyal when it comes to main characters, I want to stick with them, I can't read about some other dudes! I WANT HUNTER!
What I don't want to read is three, SORRY, EIGHT!! other books just to see how the author is pimping the other brothers!

That's why I won't be reading the other book, no matter how good the first was. Ignore my cupcakes, they're just making fun of me now!

Starcrossed
by Josephine Angelini

Published: May 31st 2011
Publisher: MacMillan Children's Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 514
Source: Bought
Amazon |
Book Depository

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is - now it's getting harder. She's having nightmares of a desperate desert journey, visions of three women weeping tears of blood. And why is she possessed by the sudden, unstoppable urge to kill the handsome new boy in school, Lucas Delos?

A love written in the stars . . .

A feud started in ancient Greece . . .

A curse not even the gods can break.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
If I start counting all the Greek mythology- related books I've read, it would be.. alot. Probably the most used theme in my read- pile. Yet this book managed to surprise me! Don't you just love when that happens?? This brought something new and refreshing to this old and used category.

Helen's a teenager, but she's pretty sure she's not so normal, since she spends her nights wandering through deserts. And keep waking up covered in dust. That would be totally disgusting and I really love my clean sheets, just an FYI.
And when she sees Lucas, she.. wants to rip his head off, and that's definitely something new! Definitely expected insta-love, not head-ripping.
All of this is explained along the way, so you'll get at least some answers.

I absolutely adored the romance (yes, they start getting along!), and especially appreciated the cousin- twist. I know, it's not illegal to marry your cousin or anything, but for these two it seems to be some kind of turn-off. And when there's Greek gods related you would actually expect something like that..

Anyhow, adored this one, definitely going to re-read it SOON, since I have the second book also waiting in my bookshelf, poor thing.

Read More

Mini Reviews: Desires of the Dead & The Last Echo

| Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop here!

Desires of the Dead
by Kimberly Derting

Published: February 15th 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 358
Source: Bought
Amazon |
Book Depository

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered — and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life.

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Roses are red,
Violets are blue..

.. and who remembers how it continues?! I have it on the tip of my tongue, but seriously can't get it out! And I don't want to read the whole book again, just so again write a review. So you, nice lady/mister, please leave the right answer in the comments, thank you!

I actually did have a point with all this, since I wanted to share that creepy little note Violet received in the book. Because I absolutely loved it! It was one of the creepiest moments in the book, and unfortunately (Me, the chicken, actually writing this?!) that was one of the rare creepy-moments. I actually missed the first book's creepiness.

The biggest turn-off for me was the FBI involvement. Because I couldn't be sure if they were even real, they could've been just some weirdos faking to be the FBI! Just not that believable.
But something good came with the FBI, meaning.. lovetriangle-vibes! And I do love Jay, but this still made me squeal with happiness!

And what I was trying to tell you with the poem is that Violet (again) has her very own stalker. And like always, reader thinks she knows who's behind all of this, but Derting strikes again and in the end you are proven so wrong, again. And that's why you have to love The Body Finder- series, it's not too obvious, since I just hate obvious.

The Last Echo
by Kimberly Derting

Published: April 17th 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Paperback
Pages: 358
Source: Bought
Amazon |
Book Depository

In the end, all that's left is an Echo.

Before, Violet's morbid ability to sense the dead led her to uncover dark murders and long-buried secrets in her small town. Now that she's working with a special investigative team, Violet hopes she can help even more people--whether by saving a life or catching a killer.

Although she's relieved to finally be honest about what she can do, her instant connection with her mysterious partner, Rafe, is both confusing and unsettling, and their unique bond creates tension with her boyfriend, Jay. When she discovers the body of a college student murdered by "the collector," Violet refuses to give up on the case. With her own relationship on the line, Violet doesn't realize that the serial killer is looking to add to his collection and that she may have caught his eye. Will the life Violet has to save be her own?

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
In the beginning, I had some trouble with getting in to the story. Violet is suddenly working for the FBI nonstop, so goodbye familiar scenes and familiar faces! It was actually pretty odd! She barely went to school, almost never talked to her friends and barely ever saw Jay! Suddenly she's living someone else's life, and I just couldn't understand it. Or couldn't understand how her parents would allow that. They did get pretty pissed off like twice, but still. They hardly saw their daughter anymore!
Okay, so that really bugged me, if you didn't get it already.

And opposite to everyone else, what DIDN'T bother me.. RAFE.
I am going to be so happy if something (more) happens between those two! I know, I know, I'm one sick b*stard and lightning should strike me, but what can you do.

I still wasn't overly excited about the FBI involvement, and I'm sorry to say this: TOLD YOU SO. And what do I mean by that? Well, I was convinced there was something fishy going on, and the end of this book proves I WAS RIGHT. And not happy about it.

Overall, I eventually managed to get into the story and started liking this, but something was still little off. That's why I wasn't able to enjoy this as much as I did the first two books. I blame the FBI.

Read More

Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop

It's time for another hop, yay!

This time theme is "Best of 2012", meaning this giveaway hop is featuring my favorite reads of 2012! Below you can see the list, one lucky winner has the opportunity to pick one book from that list!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Mini Reviews: Bridget Jones's Diary & Ditched: A Love Story

Bridget Jones's Diary
by Helen Fielding

Published: October 25th 1996
Publisher: Picador
Format: Paperback
Pages: 300
Source: Bought
Amazon |

Meet Bridget Jones —
a 30-something Singleton who is certain she would have all the answers if she could:

a. lose 7 pounds
b. stop smoking
c. develop Inner Poise

"123 lbs. (how is it possible to put on 4 pounds in the middle of the night? Could flesh have somehow solidified becoming denser and heavier? Repulsive, horrifying notion), alcohol units 4 (excellent), cigarettes 21 (poor but will give up totally tomorrow), number of correct lottery numbers 2 (better, but nevertheless useless)..."

Bridget Jones' Diary is the devastatingly self-aware, laugh-out-loud daily chronicle of Bridget's permanent, doomed quest for self-improvement — a year in which she resolves to: reduce the circumference of each thigh by 1.5 inches, visit the gym three times a week not just to buy a sandwich, form a functional relationship with a responsible adult, and learn to program the VCR.

Over the course of the year, Bridget loses a total of 72 pounds but gains a total of 74. She remains, however, optimistic. Through it all, Bridget will have you helpless with laughter, and — like millions of readers the world round — you'll find yourself shouting, "Bridget Jones is me!"

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Nice read, but there's not much to say. I ended comparing this to the movie nonstop, since I've watched the movie like million and one times!
And I must admit, both have pros and cons. Book had less embarrassing moments, when the movie was filled with embarrassment. But the movie had more scenes with Darcy and Daniel, which I missed in the book.
I think I like the movie better, since I'm going to watch it yet again this Christmas (because you just have to watch it when it's Christmas!), but I don't see myself reading this again.

Oh, and I was all confused when there was all this talk about answering machines etc.! Then I had to check out when this came out, and realized I was only about 10 years old back then, and cellphones came few years later, so no wonder they didn't have cellphones..
But huge plus for the fact that this was written ages ago, yet still didn't feel outdated. Except for the part about answering machines.

Ditched: A Love Story
by Robin Mellom

Published: January 10th 2012
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 277
Source: Borrowed
Amazon |
Book Depository

THERE'S A GIRL.
Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. That said, she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

AND THERE'S A BOY.
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.
Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

THEN THERE'S A DITCH.
But when Justina is ditched, figuratively and literally, she must piece together--stain-by-stain on her thrift store dress--exactly how she ended up dateless...with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven.

To get the whole store, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. Can losing out at her prom ultimately lead to finding true love?

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
Extremely cute and quick read, but that's it. Didn't raise any kind of feelings, except sometimes I was a little bored and occasionally annoyed by the main character. The beginning was great, cause she's pushed out from a moving car and everyone's like W00T!, who would do that?!
But in the end.. Justina is pretty annoying with a whole lot of imagination, and Ian is the most thoughtful guy in the planet, and that guy doesn't actually exist. And hopefully neither does Justina.

Yet I can't hate this book, cause occasionally it was funny, even hilarious. And you can't really hate Justina, because she obviously have some issues, like a mother, who dresses her like a blueberry. And she obviously doesn't have any sense of style, so there's another reason to feel a little sorry for her..

Quick, brainless read, so if you're between books, you can read this.

Read More

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas, so merry Christmas to you all! I don't have any "real" gifts to you this week, but I have a goal: to post a whole lot of reviews, even in a mini- format. Since I usually remember to read book, BUT forget to write reviews, I try to be nice this Christmas and write something!

Okay, there will be a little present for one of you, just remember to stop by when the Best of 2012 Giveaway Hop is running from December 27th to 31st!

Now I have to start making the Christmas porridge and put the sauna on! I heard Santa Claus will be visiting us in a few hours, after that there will be more eating, since there's a whole Christmas meal waiting in the fridge. Yeah, feel sick already, but what can you do!

Merry Christmas!

Read More

Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Everbound
by Brodi Ashton

Expected publication:
January 22nd 2013
Publisher: Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins
Series: Everneath #2
Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
Source: Received from publisher
for review purposes
Amazon |
Book Depository

Two months ago, the Tunnels of the underworld came for Nikki Beckett.
That night, Nikki's boyfriend, Jack, made the ultimate sacrifice.

All Nikki wants is to save Jack before it's too late.
All Cole wants is to find his queen - and he thinks Nikki is the one.

Both determined, both desperate, Nikki and Cole form a tense alliance, leading them on a dangerous journey to The Heart of The Everneath.

*MAY CONTAIN SOME SPOILERS*
I was so happy, when I got the chance to read this early! Especially since there was that huge cliffhanger in the first book.
Surely you remember the cliffhanger, where Jack took Nikki's place and ended up in The Tunnels? The dark, unpleasant place, you remember that? Well, Jack is still there, and the main goal is to get Jack out of the tunnels. So Nikki and Cole decide to team up!
And boy, what a team they make. I mean actual lip contact once in a while. I was just jumping up and down cause I was so happy!! I actually thought they would already forget about Jack and leave him rot in The Tunnels, but NAH!!11
And "NAH" because even though everything was awesome in the beginning of the story and even during, things ended up pretty.. bad.

And what do I mean by "bad"? I mean TOTAL BETRAYAL!!!! And I mean betrayal by the author. Because I can't blame Cole for anything that went on. Because two things happened: 1) Author had to break up the triangle, and what's the easiest way? The other guy does something stupid/evil/both. BUT WHY COLE!? and 2) many times second book ends up being just a "filler", and in the end I got the feeling this was just a little detour before the actual goal. Detour that ruined Cole!!11

Okay, I may be a little upset because of the situation Cole, but I try to think positive. Maybe that whole thing is a scam. Yes, in my heart I have to believe that so I won't loose my positive POV.
And I just have to mention this: the cover is breath taking, absolutely corgeus, absolutely love it!

To sum it up: Again, great read, but just can't beat the first book.

Read More