300 Follower Giveaway!

 

So. Here we are again. At the beginning of ANOTHER follower giveaway. Because, um...well...you guys are AWESOME. The last time I had one of these, I only had 55 followers. 55. Now I have 317. This is a big deal. So I am celebrating via giveaway!  I'm calling it my 300 follower giveaway, because...well, close enough, right?

 

What am I giving away, you ask?

 

Good question! I've given a lot of thought to what I should give away. A book, obviously. Because, DUH, this is a book blog. But what book? I thought of a whole bunch of books I love--Obsidian, Onyx, Under the Never Sky, etc--but I find it insanely hard to EVER just pick a book.

 

So. I asked my friend Benji from The Non Reluctant Reader (and if you haven't been to his blog, you should head over there right after you finish here, just saying), and he said I should giveaway a preorder of The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.

 

And that's what I'm going to do.

 

BUT.

 

Yes, there is a "but."

 

BUT, if you are one of THOSE people who have not read the first book to this, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, you can win that instead. Because I believe in being fair. Yeah.

 

The deets:

-Since we're celebrating followers, you must be a follower to enter

-This giveaway will run until 10/22/12, the day before The Evolution of Mara Dyer is released

-This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL, because I do have international followers, and they're awesome

-Be sure to check out my giveaway policy for more rules for my giveaways, just to be sure you aren't breaking any

-Fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thank you guys so much! Y'all are legit amazing.

 

♥Jessica(:

Fun or None?--Finally Friday!

Today's my first day of summer vacation! Thank you, sweet goodness. For today's Fun Hop post, we're doing Finally Friday! This is where we tell y'all ten books we are counting down the days for and why.Let's get to it, yes? 1. ONYX by Jennifer L. ArmentroutYeah, that's right--I'm already waiting on Onyx when I haven't even read Obsidian yet. Why? Two words: Daemon. Black. 'Nuff said. 2. THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin If you've read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, then the reason for this one is obvious. 3. DEARLY, BELOVED by Lia Habel Yeah, another sequel. What can I say, I need more! 4. UNRAVEL ME by Tahereh MafiThis one doesn't even have a cover yet, but I am so excited for it! I positively adored the first book, Shatter Me!Since there's not a cover for me to link to Goodreads, you can click HERE to see the GR page! 5. THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT by Veronica RossiThe sequel to Under the Never Sky. I adored that book as well! The best book I've read so far this year, for sure!Again, since there's no cover yet, click HERE to see the GR page! 6. THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie StiefvaterYay! I'm finally not listing a sequel! And this one has a cover to click on! I love Maggie. So of course I cannot wait for her next book! 7. TEN by Gretchen McNeilThis book? Looks so great. Every booklover I know and their mother wants to read this one. So of course I can be added to this list (though I'm sad to say my mother can not). 8. THROUGH TO YOU by Emily HainsworthAnother book that looks purley awesome! 9. FALLING FOR YOU by Lisa SchroederI LOVE Lisa Schroeder. Her books never fail to be wonderful. So I can't wait for her next one! 10. JUST ONE DAY by Gayle FormanSorry, another one without a cover for now. I love If I Stay and Where She Went so oh very much. They still make me cry and laugh and I adore them. These books just tug at my heart. Gayle is definitely one of my favorite authors. Since there is not a cover yet, click HERE to go to the Goodreads page! And that's it for my ten books. Remember that this was only TEN. I'm counting down the days, hours, minutes to more than just these books.Now it's time for you, lovely reader, to hop on along to see what books the other bloggers in this Fun Hop are excited for:http://kissedbittenbybooks.blogspot.co.uk/
http://yalitwit.blogspot.com/
http://thebeaucoupreview.blogspot.com/
http://www.danasquare.blogspot.com/
http://www.fiction-freak.blogspot.com/http://donniedarkogirl.blogspot.com/ Thanks for stopping by, Friends!♥Jessica(:

The Unbecoming of Many, Many Readers

As promised, I finished The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.

What do I have to say about it?
This. Book. Was. Incredible.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is such a different book than those I usually read. Not in that it's not fiction or doesn't include a totally attractive male lead- it is/has both of those things. No, it's different because the story is different. It's not vampires or werewolves, but it's not something normal. And that is so interesting. Throughout the whole entire book I was guessing what was happening, I was getting confused and then I would make an assumption and then whatever that assumption was would be blown to bits. There is no possible way anyone could accurately guess everything that happens in this book. There are so many unexpected twists and turns that I was scrambling to keep up, and I LOVED THAT. Yes, it was frustrating here and there when I kept getting no answers and millions more questions. But then I would read something that just made me smile and I got over it.

I realize that my reviews are a bunch of praise, but I am beeing 100% honest when I say that the books and authors I've reviewed DESERVE it. Their books have been masterpieces that tore at my heart in the most satisfying way. This book is no different. Two thumbs up to Michelle Hodkin for writing this wonderful, wonderful story. It is so DIFFERENT and UNPREDICTABLE. I may have said this before, but there are so many books that we can easily predict how they're going to end. Don't get me wrong, those books can have their own charms that draw readers in as well, but this book has it all. You will never ever guess the ending (I practically slapped somebody) and you will fall in love within the pages. So many twists, turns, and secrets that just pop out of nowhere and draw a reader in, wanting to find out what is happening to this girl by the name of Mara Dyer and her gorgeous male suitor Noah Shaw. It's truly riveting.

Okay, character rundown time. I'm just going to say a few things about the two main characters because they are really what the story is based around. Mara Dyer (obviously she's a main character)- ah, Mara. A troubled girl who has just been through a traumatic event that she just can't seem to shake. PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) up the yin-yang and a huge fear that she's insane. But she has a smart mouth and can be funny, too. She's not whiny, either which is an awesome thing because no one like s a whiny lead. That would just be irritating. And Noah Shaw- OH, NOAH. Completely hot - yup, he is making me use this word; I usually like to use the word attractive or something, but Noah is undeniably HOT- completely unsattainable, and completely into our lead girl. Or so it seems. Or, wait, he really IS. Or not. Yup. He is. That's pretty much how it goes with Noah, you think he likes Mara, then you don't. Then you do, then you don't. The fact that Noah's been the player for his whole time in America (he's English! accent, anyone?) does not help this fact. I am not going to give away what exactly happens with him and Mara, but trust me, you'll love it. For me to be pleased, there has to be a surely sufficient amount of romance. I can't help it, I'm a junkie. Noah certainly does NOT disappoint. He's actually amazingly caring once we get down to the knitty grit of our boy, and you will fall in love, too. *sigh* Oh, Noah. Such a wonderful boy. LOVE.

All right. I rate this book on a scale from 1 to 10. . . (I'm thinking). . . a 9. I really REALLY want to give this book a 10, but I can't because of the ending. It was infuriating and gave NO closure whatsoever. It just ended. Just. Like. That. I understand there's going to be a sequel - anyone hear anything about it, by the way? I need to know! - but the ending of this book made me want to almost cry with how it just dropped off in the middle of something important. It hooked me, though. No doubt in my mind that I'll read the sequel, that's for sure. If I don't, I may spontaniously combust or something. That wouldn't be good.

All in all, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was an amazing book that I am so so so so so SO glad I read (I've been holding out on this one for a while, for some stupid reason I can't even remember now). I suggest anyone who reads this to read it. I usually do, because I read great books. It's a gift I have. I'm good at picking out great books off those library shelves. Let's add this one to the list!

Thanks to everyone reading this for checking out my blog, and as always I invite you to check out my other posts, I have a few other reviews you should check out- terrific books- and follow me/check me out on Twitter if you haven't already! @makesmeworse12

Okay, until next time, Friends!

♥Jessica(:

I am SHATTERED!

Okay. So. Last night, I finished Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. And now I have nothing to say. I am utterly speechless. The only two words that are popping into my mind are READ THIS. Seriously, read it. It was an amazing book, the first in a trilogy. I have no idea anything about the next two books, but I plan on getting the next book the moment it comes out if I can.

Okay now actually onto the REVIEWING part of this post. This book was stunning. Enchanting. Marvelous. You can pretty much insert any positive adjective in here, and it will be correct. Shatter Me was beautifully written and has the most perfect pacing, like, EVER. It does not take too long to jump into the action, and it doesn't jump into the actual happenings too fast, either. The whole book just runs amazingly smooth. Every little secret or story is told and clicks into place at just the right moment, just when we realize what must have actually happened or how something must truly be for ourselves.

I refuse to spoil anything in this book, but I'll tell you about a few of the characters(the ones that aren't secret-like). First off: Juliette. Juliette is such a wonderful leading character. She is both strong and weak, which is perfect because aren't all humans both strong and weak at some times? She has this lethal power that she has grown to hate, that distances her from humans. She's wistful and that is always a good quality to have in a leading character; it gives them something to fight for. Next, Adam. I will not go into detail because of my no-spoiling rule, but he is such a sweet character. The perfect match for Juliette. (so far.) And Warner, ah Warner. Such a tempermental character with a softspot for the girl he wants to understand, the girl he wants to be like him, perfect for him. He's the character we can all collectively feel bad for that just makes us want to slap somebody at his out-of-nowhere changes. His mind is so hard to follow and it keeps us on our toes. Lastly, I'll say something about Kenji- OH KENJI. Kenji is the funny guy. He's the funny guy with some secrets of his own. Secrets we don't suspect until, BOOM, the truth is thrown in our faces. He is just awesome that way. And that's all I can say about characters without giving things away. . .

In case you cannot tell, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I had to force myself not to read it too fast because I could not bear to finish it. My one, solitary little complaint about this book is that it was not long enough! That's probably not a legit topic to complain about, though, considering there are two more books to come. The wait will be brutal, of this I am certain.

So, all in all, I rate this book a 12.5 out of 10 because it was just that fantastic. It was one of those books that made me want to laugh and cry and go "AWWW!" at just the right moments. I would have rated it a miilion and four point five out of 10, but I thought that would be a wee bit obnoxious. I am not usually an obnoxious person. Well, unless you know me well.Then I am totally obnoxious and you love me for it, but that's not important at this moment. So, I recommend everyone who ever reads my blog to read Shatter Me. I would bet (almost) anything that you will love it.

I bid you all good day and thank you for reading this post! If you haven't already, check out my other posts! I have reviews for The Demon's Lexicon trilogy and the Nightshade trilogy. (Both are great trilogies). Check them out and maybe read those books? They are just wonderful, too! I am currently reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and I'll be writing a review for that. . . I'm not sure when, but I will write a review. After I finish it, obviously. And I usually read books super fast, so. . . yeah.

Alright, now I'm seriously saying goodbye! I will post again soon, friends!

♥Jessica(:

I Have a (kind-of) Plan!

What do I have a plan about you ask? Why I have a reading plan! And by that I mean that I have a plan on the next, like, three? books I'm going to be reading. Ready? Here it is:

1. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (I currently reading this and almost finished)
2. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
3. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
4. Sapphique (sequel to Incarceron) by Catherine Fisher

These are all the books sitting on my "Need to Read" shelf in my room. There's usually more, but. . . well, I read them. I'm going to the library on Saturday after my SAT (I am so sacred) so I'll probably pick up a couple more to hold me over during my spring break which is... next week! After my SAT I am free as a bird for a whole nine days. Thank goodness!

As I said, I am currently reading Shatter Me, and I refuse to actually start on my opinion of this book because if I do, I will be unable to stop. I am going to write the review for this book TOMORROW after I finish it today. And I WILL finish it today. Of this I am certain. I do not have the self control to hold it off any longer.

I also feel the need to recommend a book. This is probably silly because I haven't even read this book - YET - but I'm going to say this because just talking about this book gives me a warm and tingly feeling and that's usually a good sign for me. I have a naturally good taste in books, what can I say? ;) I think we should all read Between by Cyndi Tefft. It involves a Scottish male which means something wonderful. ACCENT! If there were ever a reason to read a book, that would probably be it. (well, I kind of kidding here...). Either way, I think this book should be read by many, many people, myself included. I DO plan to read it sometime. I just haven't yet because my library does not have it and that's usually my main source of books, and I do not own an ereader or nook or anything, and I have not actually seen the book at B&N or anything and I do not have enough money to order it, so. . . yeah. Regular life dilemmas. I am figuring it out, though. Looking into PDF format to read on my computer. . . ANYWAYS, am 100% serious when I recommend Between. It looks like a book I can fall in love with. (I actually think I already did, and I haven't even read it yet!) So, yeah.

Okay, so I think that's it. . . if anyone checking out my blog does not already follow me on Twitter, then you should totally try it! @makesmeworse12 (don't ask, it's. . .actually, go ahead and ask if you want.) Now I am off to do other things! (SAT practice questions. . .) Bye, friends! :)

♥Jessica(: