A great cause for a book angel

A beautiful story has touched my heart and I am already boxing up my books to send to this great cause. Michelle the book Angel is building a library for underprivileged children and your help would be greatly appreciated. This story has been appeared on Kami Garcia's blog and a contest is being hosted by several authors and The Story Siren and Reverie Media in regards to this great cause.

If you want to help out, here's how...

Donate some books... at least 3-5 books would be fantastic!

Send them to Michelle (address at the end of the post)

Send the books by the January 1, 2010 deadline

Add a little note, with your books sent. Include: your name, address, email, and blog if you have one.

The books are for children ranging in ages from 1 to 18. They do not have to be brand new, gently used books are welcome.
You can send the books to Michelle at the following address

Michelle Wright

1687 Queen Ann Dr.

Roanoke, Virginia 24014

In my Mailbox: 12/13/09

In My Mailbox lets you peek into the contents of my mailbox on a weekly basis. I am listing all the lovely books that I have aquired this week. If you would like to participate and have your own “In My Mailbox” post, you can find more information here on the Story Siren's blog, where it all began..(This post was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie

I failed to post IMM last week and so this week's entry will include 2 weeks worth books.













Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce (borrowed)
Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris-- the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts fiercely alongside her. Now Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves and finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax-- but loving him means betraying her sister and has the potential to destroy all they've worked for.
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (ARC)
This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn't cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.

But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it's only me who's not firmly in my own skin.
Numbers by Rachel Ward (ARC)
Since her mother's death, fifteen-year-old Jem has kept a secret. When her eyes meet someone else's, a number pops into her head - the date on which they will die. Knowing that nothing lasts forever, Jem avoids relationships, but when she meets a boy called Spider, and they plan a day out together, her life takes a new twist and turn. Waiting for the London Eye, she sees everyone in the queue has the same number - something terrible is going to happen.’

THAT is my IMMB post what is yours?

Contest Full of Ninja Awesomeness

Hello!!! and happy happy Saturday. I am enjoying this fine day all happy because of one of the contests I am posting about this month.

I had the pleasure of belonging to a group this year that helped promote some amazing authors. I was also very fortunate to read every one of them (psst!! they are all fabulous reads) and wanted to share my good fortune with someone.

These are the books included in this contest of NINJA awesomeness! If you want to find out more about these books just click on their respective book cover and check it out.

Lisa Mantchev (Eyes Like Stars) HC

Michelle Zink (Prophecy of the Sisters) ARC (signed)

Sarah Ockler (Twenty Boy Summer) HC

C. Lee McKenzie (Sliding on the Edge) HC (signed)

Jon Skovron (Struts & Frets) ARC

Cindy Pon (Silver Phoenix) HC (signed)

Malinda Lo (Ash) ARC (signed)

Cyn Balog (Fairy Tale) ARC

Awesome goodness!! and here are the rules.

1) Follow me, and if you already have then let me know.

2) Tell me about what book you have most enjoyed this year and why?

3) Spread the love and post about this contest on your sidebar or blog about it.

This contest is open to the US residents only :) and to qualify all three requests must be fulfilled. Contest ends on December 21st @ midnight.

Thank you and good luck!!

CONTEST EXTENTION for BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

Hey Everybody!! Guess what? I am going to extend the contest for one more day. The winning number has not been chosen yet, so those that have not entered still have a chance :)

Just click on the Beautiful Creatures logo and enter. GOOD LUCK!!

Sneak a Peek Saturday: INSIDE OUT by Maria V. Snyder

It is Saturday and time for Sneak a Peek Saturday! A feature that allows you see a chapter or two of an upcoming book. This week's choice is the next YA novel from Maria V. Snyder.

Her upcoming novel Inside will hit the shelves in June and if your interested you can read the first chapter by clicking on the book cover below.

INSIDE OUT by Maria V. Snyder
ISBN 13: 978-0-373-21006-0
Pub date: April 2010, Harlequin Teen
Price: $9.99 Trade-size paperback

Keep Your Head Down. Don't Get Noticed. Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.

So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous--the only neck at risk is my own.

Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me.

I should have just said no...

REVIEW: THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer R. Hubbard

THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Age Range: Young Adult

Pub. Date: January 07, 2010

ISBN-13: 9780670011537

REVIEW: YYYYY

THE SECRET YEAR

A year unlike any other in Colt's existence. This Secret year that he had spent with Julia. Messages placed in lockers, meetings at the bridge, stolen kisses that would soon lead to the backseat of a car. Moments of life filled with passion that would cool in the warmth of the sun, because Colt and Julia were NOT a couple. She already had a boyfriend

Colt could not define what he had with Julia. He only knew that he wanted to be with her and she with him. And It was enough for Colt, until repeated broken promises and hurtful words spilled forth to sting his soul. Colt wondered if he and Julia would ever be a couple to the world, if she truly wanted him or if she was just playing with a boy from the flats. Questions that would forever remain unanswered when Julia dies in a tragic car accident days later.

As Colt tries to remain indifferent to the news of Julia's death he is silently mourning her, unable to confide in anyone. The pain of what he is enduring is unbearable but he already knew how to keep a secret. Until, one day when Julia's brother approaches him with a stunning revelation; Julia's diary of their secret year. Yet instead of devouring all her words at once Colt decides to read it entry by precious entry. Savouring the words that flowed out from her while trying to move on.

Relying on the diary to help make sense of everything Colt forges on with teen life trying hard to forget the girl that was never his, but secrets never stay that way for long...

Bravo to Jennifer R Hubbard for creating a novel that I CANNOT stop thinking about days after reading it. I am a true fan of the male protagonist point of view and Colt's voice was true and clear to me. I got a good sense of who he was and his desire to comprehend what his relationship with Julia meant and why he needed to know. He harboured guilt about her death and believed he could find his peace in her diary. I understood his pain and the fact that he could not easily get Julia out of his mind. That realistic approach was refreshing, because the heart is slow to learn.

The supporting cast of characters are well fleshed out giving this story depth and Colt's dysfunctional family added a bit of color to the pages. I adored his brother who seemed to be the voice of reason during the times when Colt needed it most.

The Secret Year is an amazing book dealing with love, loss, pain and the truth that can set you free. A must read for 2010 and once you read it you will want everyone you know to read it so that you can all talk about it. Yes, it is that good.

Waiting on Wednesday: DEMON PRINCESS: Reign Check by Michelle Rowen

Jill over at Breaking the Spine started this and I believe that it's awesome" This blog post is to alert those that visit about "the" book that we cannot wait to get our hands on. I have decided to participate because I have a list that can go on forever and ever and it is interesting to see what else others are "waiting" for also.

He he HELLLO!! OMG I am just over the moon happy at this upcoming 2010 book by Michelle Rowen. The Demon Princess series is spot on brilliant with a bit of demon mischief to add danger and mischief. I cannot wait for this yummy read to be in my hot little hands :)

Demon Princess: Reign Check

by Michelle Rowen

Nikki Donovan, demon princess, is back—and stuck in a love triangle straight out of hell!

Fresh from finding out that she is a demon princess, Nikki is looking forward to getting back to her regular high school life. But when Rhys, the handsome king of the faery realm, decides to enroll at her school as a “foreign exchange student,” Nikki knows it won’t be possible. Coupled with this is a whole host of other problems: there’s a new prophesy that claims she will destroy the world; her conflicted feelings for Rhys and her boyfriend, Michael, are getting in the way of their relationship; her best friend, Melinda, could be a demon-slayer-in-training; and her old crush Chris might know of her demon side. Throw in a field trip to none other than the Underworld itself…and Nikki’s going to be hoping for a rain check on more than just her homework!

This is a June 2010 release, but Amazon.com says it’s shipping on May 25th (even though they have the wrong cover listed with it at the moment)! So less than six months! Hooray!