Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Top Ten Books On My Spring 2013 TBR List


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday has another topic and different bloggers give their top ten. I love making lists, so here's mine for this week!

This week's topic is 

Top Ten Books On My Spring 2013 TBR List

At the beginning of this year I wrote the Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read in 2013. And here comes the bad thing: I haven't read any of them yet! I feel so bad. Two and a half months without reading the books I wanted to read most at the beginning of this year. There keep coming new books I want to read. So for the upcoming spring I have two lists to read: the one from the beginning from this year and this one with ten other books. And of course all the other books I have on my TBR pile! These ten books are high on my TBR pile and I hope to read them soon!


 1  Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)

 2  Soul Screamers Vol. 1 by Rachel Vincent
Soul Screamers <Vol. 1> :  My Soul to Lose•My Soul to Take•My Soul to Save

 3  Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Just One Day (Just One Day, #1)

 4  Reached by Ally Condie
Reached (Matched, #3)

 5  Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy, #1)

 6  Breathe by Sarah Crossan
Breathe (Breathe, #1)

 7  Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter
Awake at Dawn (Shadow Falls, #2)

 8  Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr
Carnival of Souls

 9  The Archived by Victoria Schwab
The Archived (The Archived, #1)

10 Abandon by Meg Cabot
Abandon (Abandon Trilogy #1)

Which books should I definitely read this spring? 

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Review Dare You To by Katie McGarry


Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Published: May 28th, 2013 
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304
Source: for review
Series: Pushing the Limits #2

"I dare you..." 

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does.... 


Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him. 


But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...


You know that feeling that a book is so awesome, you just don't know where to start your review? That's me right know. Pushing the Limits was my favorite book last year. And I admit I was a bit afraid starting Dare You To, because my expectations were so high. And guess what? Dare You To is even better than Pushing the Limits! I almost screamed when I turned the last page. I want more!


In Pushing the Limits we met Beth as one of the friends of Noah. I must admit I didn't really like her in PtL, but that definitely changed in Dare You To. Her mother is an addict and she tries to save her, but when things go to far and Beth goes to jail her uncle bails her out en "forces" her to live with him and his wife. That's were Beth meets Ryan, the star player of his football team. He seems to have it all. 


Beth really grew on me. I would never say she's an amazing person, but I have to admire her perseverance. Nothing can stop her if she makes up her mind about something. 

I loved Ryan. On the outside he seems to have it all. But nobody sees his parents aren't speaking to each other when no one's around. Or that his brother isn't welcome anymore because he's gay. 
And that's exactly what makes Beth and Ryan so perfect for each other. They have their problems, but they're also perfect for helping each other. They're, just like Noah and Echo, perfect for each other. 

Katie McGarry is definitely one of my favorite authors! She has an amazing writing style and the way she tells the story is so beautiful. You're really there with the characters. And she gives you all the feels! It's almost impossible to put into words how amazing this story is. You just have to read it and find out for yourself. 


Pre-order Dare You To right now! And the moment it touches your mailbox: start reading it! 

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (34)


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Bloggers share what new books (physical or virtual) they got this week. I like getting new books and showing them. So here's my haul for this week! 

I know I said I would stop (well, at least take it down a notch) buying books, but this week I'm completely innocent! I didn't buy any of these books. Now I have two high stacks of books on my windowsill. I need to read more and faster! But for now I'll just enjoy the pretty covers. 


For review


Het mes dat niet wijkt (Chaos trilogie #1)TitleHet Mes Dat Niet Wijkt (Dutch version)
Original Title: The Knife of Never Letting Go
Author: Patrick Ness
Published: January 15th, 2013 (Dutch Media Uitgevers)
Pages: 496
Series: Chaos Trilogy #1








Stormgevaar (Het Fluistereiland, #1)TitleStormgevaar (Dutch version)
Original Title: The Edge of Nowhere
Author: Elisabeth George
Published: September, 2012 (A.W. Bruna Uitgevers)
Pages: 336
Series: Saratoga Woods #1







Won



O, o, OliviaTitleO, o, Olivia (Dutch author)
Author: Gillian King
Published: June, 2011 (Uitgeverij Kok)
Pages: 256









Shadow of NightTitle: Shadow of Night
Author: Deborah Harkness
Published: July 10th, 2012 (Headline Publishing Group)
Pages: 636
Series: All Souls #2








What new books did you get this week?

Friday, March 08, 2013

Where A Job Took Away My Blogging Time


Hi guys!

It’s been a bit quieter on my blog lately, as you may have noticed. Since November I have a job again (yay!) and it’s taking up quite some time and energy. I also started a couple of other projects and everything has been piling up and it took away the energy to blog and write reviews. But I’m about to change that and I’m making time and energy to spend on my blog!

I’ve been wondering why I neglected my blog a bit and the answer came to me a few days back: I’m no longer happy with my blog design. I’ve liked it for quite some time, but the colours and header just no longer fit my style. So time for some (major) changes! I want to make my own blog design! I’ve no idea how long that’s going to take and you may seem some smaller changes in the mean time, but it’s going to happen. I’m pretty excited about it and it really gives me the energy again to work on my blog.

I also hope to spend more time reading. My TBR pile is growing like crazy, because I do keep buying the books! Although I’m going to need a very long vacation to get rid of this pile!

I’m really grateful that you read (and follow) my blog and I love the blogging community! So, it’s time to jump into it again!

Lots of book love,

Helene

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (37)



"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week I'm waiting on 

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods (Age of X, #1)Title: Gameboard of the Gods 
Author: Richelle Mead
Will be published on: June 4th, 2013 (Dutton Adult)
Series: Age of X #1
Synopsis from Goodreads: In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

I loved Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. Gameboard of the Gods has a very promising synopsis and I'm in love with the title! So exciting!

What are you waiting on?


Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Top Ten Series I'd Like To Start But Haven't Yet


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday has another topic and different bloggers give their top ten. I love making lists, so here's mine for this week!

This week's topic is 


Top Ten Series I'd Like To Start But Haven't Yet

Let's be honest: there are too many series I want to read, but still haven't started yet! Every time I think about it I get anxious, because I really want to read those books/series and I'm afraid I'll never get around to it. I know this is a bit ridiculous, because you can't read all the books (unfortunately!). I must say that I day dream a lot about being free for a couple of weeks and all I do is read books. Sounds like heaven!
But we're not here to listen (or actually read) to me rambling about all the books I haven't read yet. Although I have a lot more to say on the subject (like: when I made this list a few weeks back I'd put Unearthly on it and I've read it by now or mentioning all the series I did start, but haven't finished yet), I won't. So here's my Top Ten this week!

Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)Soul Screamers Vol. 1: My Soul to Lose • My Soul to Take • My Soul to SaveLegend (Legend, #1)First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1)Obsidian (Lux, #1)The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1)Hourglass (Hourglass, #1)Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy, #1)Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)Eve (Eve, #1)

I own the first book series

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
I own the first book and almost bought the second one yesterday. I loved her VA series and I hope this one's just as good!
Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent
I bought Soul Screamers Volume 1 (books #0,5 #1 and #2) after the TTT with our favorite series/books. Everyone was raving about it and I just had to buy it. Like with all the books on the list I really want to read them, but when?
Legend by Marie Lu
Another series I've heard so many good things about. That's why I bought the first book. I wanted to read it very soon (we're talking end of December 2012), but life got in between (and a lot of ARC's and review copies). 
Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones
 I won the first book in the series a few weeks back and I'm really happy with it, because I heard amazing things about it. I kept being hesitant if I wanted to read it, but I want to read it now! 
Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout
I'm putting this one somewhere in the middle of the list in the hopes you won't notice I haven't read this one yet. I know I should! It's life changing if I have to believe all the amazing reviews. And there's the problem. I'm so afraid it will disappoint. The good news is I own Obsidian, so in the end I shall have to read it. 
Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness
This is one of those series I've heard good things about, but I'm not sure if I'll like it. But if I look at the books I've read and loved so far. Quite some books that I loved I was hesitant about in the beginning! The Dutch translation got published a few weeks back, so now I'm out of excuses not to read it! 
Hourglass by McEntire
You know what the dangerous part of an e-reader is. I forget half the books I have on it and when I'm browsing my to-read shelf on Goodreads I'm thinking every time: Oh, I still have to read that one! I'm in love with the covers of this series!
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Someone should stop me buying more books, before I read all the ones I own now! I own the first book and at one point I almost started it, but in the end I chose another book and it still sits there being pretty on my e-reader. 

I want to own and read this series

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
I shall be completely honest with you I haven't bought (and so started) this series yet, because I don't like the UK cover. I know I'm so shallow, but the US one is so pretty and it just breaks my heart buying the less pretty one when I know this beauty is out there!
Eve by Anna Carey
There are a lot of books on my wish list, which is no surprise I guess. This is one of the series I haven't started yet, but really want to!

What series do you need to start reading soon? And which ones on my list should be read next? Let me know!

Saturday, March 02, 2013

Stacking the Shelves (33)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Bloggers share what new books (physical or virtual) they got this week. I like getting new books and showing them. So here's my haul for this week! 

I always seem to buy more books when I'm on a book buying ban! I managed to buy only two this week! And if the rumours are true, these are two amazing reads! 

Bought


The Statistical Probability of Love at First SightTitle: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Published: May 24th, 2012 (Headline)
Pages: 215










The Archived (The Archived, #1)Title: The Archived
Author: Victoria Schwab
Published: January 29th, 2013 (Hyperion)
Pages: 328
Series: The Achived #1






What new books did you get this week?