Pretty When She Dies discussion questions, week 1

I'm a few days late to the discussion, but in my defense, I am moving back home to the states, haha! 

I joined this reading challenge and am SO GLAD I DID! This book was amazing. A truly chilling vampire book and I can't wait to read the sequel which comes out soon, "Pretty When She Kills". So this past Friday began our discussion and we have five questions to answer, here are mine:)

1. After reading through Amaliya's 'awakening'... So realistic and freaking horrifying right? *shudders* What are your reactions to such a vivid scene?

Honestly, this was the part of the book I struggled with most. I can't tell you whether it was because of writing or if it was my state of mind. Like I said, my husband and I are in the process of moving from Okinawa back to the states so I have a lot on my mind! I just had a hard time focusing on what was happening in the beginning of the book but it didn't take me long to get sucked right in! You will be chilled to the bone with how this book opens. Truly terrifying!

2. I know it's EARLY on, and we've only gotten a glimpse of him, but... In YOUR opinion, the man who made Amaliya into a vampire... friend or foe?

Definately foe! I got a really creepy vibe from him right out the gate and I am a pretty decent judge of character;)

3. Amaliya's family are some PIECES of work aren't they??? While I HOPE no one has a family as freaking crazy nuts as hers... We all have a few nutjobs in our family tree right? Tell me about a crazy member of YOUR family... Or a time when you thought, "Please, NO... I am SO not with them!"

Hmm...you know, I really don't think I have a family member like that, lol! They're all pretty much cool peeps w/out alot of drama! Boring I know, but it is what it is:)

4. Pete... Awww, Pete... He confesses his unending love for her, then everything goes to hell in a hand-basket! Who is/was YOUR Pete? Did you have a guy who was hopelessly in love with you for years that you never even knew about?

I never had anyone in love with me who I didn't know about, I moved too much growing up, I had way too many changes in schools to grow any kind of roots, lol! I did really love Pete though, how sweet was he!?!

5. Have you started connecting with Amaliya? What specific instance stands out the most for you? (hopefully you are LOVING her hardcore by Chapter 6!)

Why yes I have:) I started loving her right as she hit the hidden orgy and took them all out, lol! I was like "DAMN! This chick is hard core!" And I've loved her since:) I love how she took her transformation and wasn't overly dramatic about it. She freaks out at first but strikes out immediately to get out of her makers territory and tries to survive. You gotta love a woman who knows how to take care of herself...

Review: Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead (Georgina Kincaid #3)

Succubus Dreams

Georgina Kincaid #3

By Richelle Mead

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Sexual Intensity: Hot

My Rating: A+

Synopsis from B&N.com

Some days, a girl just can't catch a break. . . . . .especially when the girl in question is Georgina Kincaid, a shape-shifting succubus who gets her energy from seducing men. First there's her relationship with gorgeous bestselling writer Seth Mortensen, which is unsatisfying on a number of levels. It's not just that they can't have sex in case Georgina inadvertently kills him (generally a turn-off for most guys). Lately, even spending time together is a challenge. Seth's obsessed with finishing his latest novel, and Georgina's under demonic orders to mentor the new (and surprisingly inept) succubus on the block. Then there are the dreams. Someone, or something, is preying on Georgina at night, draining her energy, and supplying eerie visions of her future. Georgina seeks answers from Dante, a dream interpreter with ties to the underworld, but his flirtatious charm only leaves her more confused—especially as the situation with Seth reaches crisis point. Now Georgina faces a double challenge—rein in her out-of-control love life, and go toe-to-toe with an enemy capable of wreaking serious havoc among mankind. Otherwise, Georgina, and the entire mortal world, may never sleep easy again. . .

My Thoughts

Well I'm not really sure where to go with this review. I don't want to give much away in case you haven't read ANY of the Succubus series from Richelle Mead, so I'll be short and sweet. Quite possibly my favorite, and LEAST favorite in the series. I only say this is my least favorite in the series because I've been emotionally scarred at how this book turned out. I never saw it coming. Richelle Mead is some kind of evil genius to weave these beautiful stories and then just twist them and break my heart. I was telling my friend Christi from Smitten With Reading that this series has taken hold of me like no other book ever has. All I can do is recommend this series to anyone who loves a great romance with a paranormal twist. Hang on for the ride because it's full of ups and downs and side to sides!! 

Bout of Books 2.0 Starting Lineup and Updates

Button by TaraSG

Bout of Books 2.0 nearly here and I'm so excited that I'm going to tell you all about what I'm planning on accomplishing this time around!  But first... Go check out Amanda @ On a Book Bender, our outstanding host for this read-a-thon...

Quick Reminders from Amanda:

• Sign up! I will leave sign-up open through Friday 10/28.
• You must be signed up and on the Master List to qualify for challenge prizes.  Co-hosts will check the list to verify.
• Check out the Bout of Books schedule
• Say hi to other Bout of Books readers.
• Find Bout of Books participants on Twitter.
• See what everyone is tweeting.  Use #boutofbooks in your tweets.
• Look for a wrap up post (and survey; we want to know what worked or didn’t) atOn a Book Bender on Monday, 10/31
• If you choose to have a starting line post with goals, please PLEASE include how much you intend to read.  Not everyone can read the entire week, so it is helpful to know when (or how much) you can read.
• Submit a link to your starting line post at the end of this post.
• And most importantly: HAVE  FUN.

Okay, so I'm not a super fast reader, and have a lot going on this week, but my goal is to read 3 books! I wish I could be a speed demon reader like most of the girls in this challenge, but 3 books in a week would be pretty awesome for me,

Time Devoted to Reading:

I will devote at least two hours a day to reading!

To Read:

The Summoning (currently half way through, want to finish it)

Succubus Dreams

The Awakening

Updates:

I will be updating here on the blog and since this is my first bout, I'll be using Amanda's daily update template:

10/24
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Book Title: The Summoning
Total number of books I’ve read:1
Pages read since last update: 227
Today #insixwords: Necromancy, Sorcery, Werewolves, Witches OH MY!


10/25
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Book Title: The Awakening
Total number of books I’ve read: 2
Pages read since last update: 251
Today #insixwords: Just one more chapter? Yeah right!

10/26

Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Book Title: Working on Divergent
Total number of books I’ve read: 2
Pages read since last update: 227
Today #insixwords: blah blah blah blah blah blah :)

10/27
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Book Title: Divergent
Total number of books I’ve read: 3
Pages read since last update: 264
Today #insixwords: I got no words for today...

10/28
Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Book Title: Started Pretty When She Dies
Total number of books I’ve read: 3
Pages read since last update: 45
Today #insixwords: Sucky attempt at reading today, dang!

10/29
Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Book Title: Pretty When She Dies
Total number of books I’ve read: 4
Pages read since last update: 340ish
Today #insixwords: Read four books seven days, yay!!!

Follow Fridays #69!

Back this week with my 2nd FF! I'm having so much fun finding new blogging friends! Please feel free to follow and leave me a comment, I'll follow right back!

Question this week:

If you could have dinner with your favorite book character, who would you eat with and what would you serve?

Since I've been obsessed with the Georgina Kincaid series lately, I'm going to go with my man Seth! I imagine we'd have mexican food (tacos of course!;) and margaritas and he'd pledge his undying love to me! 

I'm looking for more Twitter friends! My handle is 80adh80, add me!:)

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers
7. If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Happy Follow Friday! Follow it up with your twitter address if you want to get that one out!
This is a Blog Hop!

Fangtastic Friday Read-a-long: Pretty When She Dies

This book, Pretty When She Dies, looks pretty awesome so I decided to join this read-along going on for the month of November! 

Check out Ashley's blog "The Bookish Brunette" for the details! 

Can't wait to read this one!!

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth (Divergent Series #1)

Divergent

By Veronica Roth

Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian

Sexual Intensity: None

My Rating: A+

Synopsis from B&N.com

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

My Thoughts

I think, after reading this book, I need to add a few more "+'s" to my rating system. I don't think I've read a better book all year long! I mean, I've read quite a few so it's hard to say that, but DANG I loved this book! At almost 500 pages long, it was a BREEZE to read. I was snagged from the very first page.

This book takes place in Dystopian Chicago, where the city is divided into 5 factions. Each faction lives by a certain virture. There is Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent).  When children turn 16 years old, they are allowed to choose which faction they want to live in for the rest of their lives. Beatrice Prior shocks herself and her family when she chooses to move to Dauntless. Being raised in Abnegation, she's still unsure whether or not she even belongs there. She doesn't feel selfless and in fact, feels like she's being held back. So she chooses to live among the brave.

It's not quite as easy as just moving to a new faction. Initiates must compete for top honors among other initiates to become full-fledged members of their new factions. If they don't make the grade, they are turned away and live factionless. This is equivelant to being a bum on the streets and having no family to turn to. This raises the stakes a bit!

Throughout the book, we follow Tris (Beatrice's new chosen name for her new life) on her journey through the initiation phase. She makes friends, finds love in an unlikely boy, and finds herself. All is not sunshine and roses though as you'll see Tris fight for her life. What comes after the final initiation celebration took me by surprise and now I can't wait for the 2nd in this series, Insurgent, to come out in May 2012!

Review: The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers #2)

The Awakening

Darkest Powers #2

By Kelley Armstrong

Genre: Young Adult

Sexual Intensity: None

My Rating: C

Find it here: Barnes and Noble or Amazon

Synopsis from B&N.com

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

My Thoughts

This starts back up where The Summoning left off. Chloe and her friends have been captured by the Edison Group, the group of scientists who have been conducting experiments with the supernatural teens. 

I liked this book significantly less than the first book because nothing really happened. The whole book, all 350 something pages is of the teens trying to find Simon and Derek's father. The whole book is the journey, I really don't feel like it moved the story along at all. Almost none of my previous questions were answered and left me with even more. There is only one book left so hopefully this series gets wrapped up nicely in the next book. I'm taking a tiny break from this series though.