Gina's Top 10 of 2011

A great year is coming to the end and what a year it has been for the books :) I loved a whole lot of them but some were just extra special :D so here are my top 10 books of 2011: (not all of them came out this year)

1. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This film was AMAZING!! A definite read for anyone who love Half-Blood and enjoys something unique.

2. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Loved the action in this book!! Will enjoy reading the sequel next year.

3. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Best dystopian novel I've ever read i think :) it was AWESOMESAUCE!!

4. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

A really good book that had some great characters.

5. The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

This world blew me away so much!! :) I loved it so much and honestly this ties with Unearthly.

6. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I love this book so much and i am pining for the next!! It's a great series :D

7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This is a great fantasy world and i love the magic about it.

8. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

I thought that this book was interesting and because i love Mythology it was a great addition to my shelves.

9. Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

This was such a realistic vampire book and it made me buy the next five in the series so i will be able to finish this next year.

10. Firelight and Vanish by Sophie Jordan (Because i can't choose)

I may not love the characters as much as other books but i love the plot and the idea that the author created!!

Now for my top 5 favorite couples of 2011:

1. Katy and Daemon from Obsidian

The chemistry between them was amazing and I LOVED Daemon so much :D my new book crush!!

2. Clary and Jace from the Mortal instruments

Such a good couple and i love reading about them.

3. Meghan and Ash from The Iron Fey series

I didn't like him at first but i started to like him in the second one.

4. Charlie and Max from The Pledge

They were very sweet and i loved their relationship.

5. Alex and Aiden from Half-Blood

They are amazing and who doesn't love forbidden romance?! :)

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: 26th December, 2011

Date Published: 6th December, 2011

Blurb: Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Review: If I could give this book more than five stars I would but unfortunately that isn’t possible. This book is AMAZING!! I’ve never read anything like it before and I found myself falling in love with it from the first few pages. It’s captivated me in such a way that has me breathless and wanting more. I cannot wait for Onyx to come out soon.

Three years after her dad passed away, Katy and her mother move to a small town. Her mother tries to get her to make friends so she goes next-door and things get off to a rocky start. Daemon is mysterious, hot, and handsome and she can’t help feeling attracted to him, even if he is arrogant, rude and makes her want to kill him at times. He’s a jerk but she can’t seem to stay away from him. When Katy gets in trouble Daemon comes to her rescue but when something amazing happens she realises Daemon and Dee aren’t normal. They aren’t human. They’re aliens.

Jennifer is such an amazing author. I’d never heard of her before Half-Blood but as soon as I’d read her first book I knew she was one to watch and I was proven right. I think she is one of my favourite authors ever and I cannot wait for even more of her books to be published.

This book....There are no words to describe how awesome this book is. I loved every minute of it and couldn’t get enough. I LOVED the idea and the world that Jennifer has created. Aliens...now that has never been done before which makes this book one of a kind which I love!! The storyline is past paced, exciting and dangerous with so many twists that I loved. Daemon is a Luxen and boy do they have awesome powers and even the bad guys do too. I wouldn’t want to get in an argument with either of them.

The characters...they had me laughing from start to finish. Katy and Daemon’s romance wasn’t exactly what I was expecting and that was amazing. I think they’re the best characters I’ve read about in a while and I love them. Their arguments made me laugh so much (‘rents staring at me like I need to be locked up) and the things they did and said to each other had me literally putting the book down so I could get the laughter out of my system. Katy was strong, determined and is one of the best heroines I’ve read about in a long time. You can’t help but like these characters. AND Katy is a BLOGGER just like us!! It was a great idea and made it seem more realistic. Because some of us do feel embarrassed about out book love and I know that when a new book arrives at my house I do exactly what she does...go all happy and insane.

Daemon. Now he needs a paragraph all to himself. He is totally swoon-worthy and I loved reading about him. You’d be crazy not to fall in love with him and I’d suggest getting some help because you can’t help but love him. But you also hate him at the same time. He’s annoying and arrogant but sweet and is like a hero the next minute. He’s so cold and then so hot and you just can’t help my love him. The banter between Daemon and Katy is amazing and their chemistry is smoking hot and it is sure to make you melt because I know I did.

I have a feeling that this is one of my favourite books of 2011. I love everything about this series and I cannot wait to get my hands on Onyx when it comes out. I need more Daemon and I need more of this story. I think I have a new book crush!! So if this review doesn’t convince you to buy it then I don’t know what will. 5 stars!!

In My Mailbox (#9) CRIMBO EDITION!!

Why hello there my fellow bloggers. This is Gina wishing you all a very merry christmas and i hope you all got what you wanted :D I know i did!!

So this week it is a special week with lots of books for you to see. I know there wont be many people on but hopefully i'll get to see what you got aswell :) My books a AMAZING and i can't wait to read each of them. I got 20 and i still haven't been to my dad's yet where i will gets lots of money from that side of the family. It will be pretty good for the next few months as i am ordering books starting from next week.

So here are the books along with a few other presents i love!!

Books apart of a series:
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa (#3)
Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (#2)
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (#2)
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (#3)
Stargazer by Claudia Gray (#2)
Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz (#2)

Amazing books I can't wait to read and have great reviews:
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore
Eve by Anna Carey
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

More awesome books:

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Stray by Rachel Vincent

Born at Midnight by C. C. Hunter

Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debby Viguie

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Remembrance by Michelle Madow

Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

Siren by Tricia Rayburn

Other amazing presents that have nothing to do with books:

Cadbury selection box

Smallville season 1 & 2

Captain America (EEEEEPP)

Box of Roses

Supernatural season 6 (AMAZING)

Criminal Minds season 1 & 2

Fringe season 1

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

4400 season 2

Ghost Whisperer season 5

In addition i also got a massive thorntons box of chocolates from Katie :D, a sign from my mum that says "I love you all the way to the moon and back again" which i love, two tops and a pair of awesome fluffy socks!!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and enjoy eating the lovely turkeys that so willingly gave their lives for us to enjoy christmas :D thank you turkeys!! Let me know what you got for christmas :D

Matched by Ally Condie

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: 24th December, 2011

Date Published: 2nd June, 2011

Blurb: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Review: I’ve seen a lot of reviews of this book and I’ve seen that people either love it or hate it. I happened to really like this book. Honestly, I didn’t expect much from this but I was surprised. I loved the idea and I’m excited to read more of it.

Cassia’s world is ruled by a society that controls everything. What they eat, where they work, what clothes they wear, who lives where and who they fall in love with. Cassia is matched with her best friend Xander but when she slips a microcard into a port that will show information on her match there is a face on the screen and it isn’t Xander’s. It’s Ky Markham and Cassia is left wondering what she should do. Should she follow the rules she has known all her life or should she leave the life she knows and decide for herself once and for all.

I may not have connected with the characters as much as other characters (which is why I dropped a star/a half) but I loved the idea and it was interesting. It was a little dull in places but over all I liked it and I’m intrigued to find out what happens to Cassia and Ky.

I think the best scene was the beginning at the Match Banquet and after that it slowed down a bit until the end. The writing wasn’t amazing but overall this book was unique compared to other Dystopian novels. I can’t wait to read Crossed. 3.5/4 stars!!

To fellow bloggers....

We just wanted to take the time to say thank you for following this blog :) we are so happy to have reached over 50 followers and in the new year we hope to acheive above 100 and when we do we will hold a giveaway.

We also want to say Merry Christmas and we hope you all have a great time with your friends and family! We know we will!!

We also wanted to let you know that tomorrow on Christmas Day (EEEEEPP *composes self*) we will be doing a special In My Mailbox which will include all the awesome presents we got so be on the lookout for that post because it will be HUGE!!

Thank you again for following us and we are very greatful for your support!! :D big hugs coming your way!

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: 22nd December, 2011

Date Published: 1st March, 2010

Blurb (from back of book): They're young, fabulous and fanged...And they rule Manhattan from the trendy uptown clubs to the downtown boutiques. Fifteen-year-old Schuyler Van Alen has never quite fit in at her exclusive prep school - she's more of a vintage than Versace girl - but all that's about to change.

Because Schuyler has just found out she's a Blue Blood. The Blue Bloods are the city's glamorous and secret vampire elite. They're young, beautiful and powerful. But now they're being murdered. And Schuyler must find out who - or what - is behind it, before she's next.

Review: I’ve been meaning to read this series for a while now and I eventually picked it up (I’m trying to prove to my ‘rents that I can read my older books as well as new ones) and I’m glad I did. It was interesting, kept me hooked and I liked all of the characters. This is a great start to a series and I cannot wait to read the others.

Duchesne is an amazing school filled with Blue Bloods – vampires! For centuries they have been invincible until suddenly Blue Bloods start turning up dead with no reason why. Schuyler Van Alen is an outsider and is content to wear whatever she wants and hang out with her best friend Oliver. But then she is sucked into the world of Blue Bloods and she finds she must uncover the secrets to save all of their lives. But will she receive the help she needs and will she be hunted down just like the others?

This book captured me and I couldn’t put it down. Compared to any other vampire books out there this one is the most realistic that I have read and I could picture it being real. There are subtle hints of this book being about vampires and I like that because it gives mystery and you find yourself working it out.

There was a lot of history to this book which I liked and enjoyed. This will interest lots of vampire, history and general book lovers as it has a lot to offer. I loved the way Melissa de la Cruz has built the plot and the characters. They are loveable and I think that there will be a lot more drama and mysteries to come.

I cannot wait to read the rest of the series which I hope to be getting very soon. 4 stars!!

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: 20th December, 2011

Date Published: 6th May, 2011

Blurb: For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards… and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.
According to her mother, that’s a good thing.
But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.
The daimons have found her

Review: Daimon is the short prequel for Half Blood and it introduces us to the main character Alex. If you are thinking of starting this series then I would suggest Reading this book first as it gives some background information. I read Half-Blood first but this additional story is great.

Alex is a young girl who has been living with her mother in the normal world of humans for three years after fleeing their covenant. Alex is half human, half god which makes her a Half-Blood. But when her mother is suddenly killed by Daimons she has to run but her journey isn’t easy and even more problems await her.

This book is only 70-ish pages long but we learn a lot about the key characters. Alex is a fighter but losing her mother shook her up. You’ll love her and will be rooting for her. Half-Blood is even better and you will certainly enjoy this series. Jennifer Armentrout captivates you and leaves you pining for more. 4 stars!!

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: 20th December, 2011

Date Published: 30th September, 2010

Blurb: He's in a cage, I reminded myself, but the words meant nothing to me, because I just couldn't stop staring into his wild eyes and playing the last words he'd said before he Shifted, over and over again
I got bit
I got bit.
I got bit.
At the age of four, Bryn watched a rabid werewolf brutally murder her parents. She was rescued and taken in by the mysterious Callum, the alpha of his pack. Now fifteen, Bryn's been as a human among werewolves, adhering to pack rule.
But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn goes exploring against Callum's orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen Were locked in a cage. Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get them. Suddenly, it's Bryn and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences.

Review: First of all, this book is quite simply the best werewolf novel I have ever read so far in my reading life. I loved the humour, the power, the romance, the friendship and the action in this book and I cannot wait to read Trial by fire which I should be getting soon. What I loved most about it was that the main character wasn’t a werewolf. She was a human and it’s a refreshing take on the werewolf scene.

Bryn’s parents are murdered when she was four years old by a rabid wolf and she is adopted into a wolf pack by their Alpha, Callum, who has marked her as his own. She’s grown up there, trying to block out the connections she has with each of the pack members. Bryn knows nothing of the normal world and she only knows Pack. But when Callum ups the security around her, Bryn gets suspicious and begins snooping and what she finds isn’t good. In Callum’s basement is Chase who claims to have been bitten by a werewolf, a rabid one. But werewolves are only created by birth from another werewolf. But if that was true then how is Chase one and why does she have a weird connection to him?

I love the relationships between the characters. Callum is like a father, brother and friend to Bryn and I love it when a character is like that to the main one. The Pack has a lot of special bonds and Bryn connects to a lot of people in this book. I must say that the funniest was her best friend Devon and I’d love one like him. I’d be laughing all the time.

Even though there was something between Bryn and Chase, I think that this book lacked the romance but it focused on Bryn and what she was going through and how she got through it which was different and interesting. Sometimes there was a little too much info but I enjoyed this book so much.

I cannot wait for the next one to find out what happens. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves werewolf novels and enjoy a refreshing and unique read. 4.5 stars!!

Cover Reveals we love: Deity

Here it is, the much anticipated cover to Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout, the third book in the Covenant series which i absolutely love to bits!! Here it is and let me just say something.....I love the colour!! I thought they would choose this one!

I love the design and i am intrigued to find out what the symbol means. I am going to pre-order Pure early next year and i can't wait until October 2012 for this book to come out. They'll look great together. What do you all think??

In My Mailbox (#8)

IMM is a weekly event hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren.
This features books that we have either bought, borrowed, recieved or traded over the last week :)







Gina :D


I think i had a good week this week :D I'm happy with the fact that they arrived on time too! Just wanted to let you know that we probs won't be getting any books next weekend but the week after, which just happens to be CHRISTMAS, we will have a special Xmas IMM :D we will show all the books we got on the day plus any other presents we think are awesome too :D

But here are the books that I got this week.....

The Complete World of Greek Mythology by Richard Buxton
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I need the Greek book for the novel i am currently writing and falling in love with :D I will try my hardest to make it perfect and send it out to editors next year sometimes. I've already done 24,000 words in the space of two weeks so it's going well!
I have been waiting to read obsidian since i read Half-blood and i am really looking forward to reading it soon :D
Happy reading everyone!! What did you get in your mailbox?? :)

Cover Reveals we love: Embrace and Bloodrose

I (Gina) am super excited about this certain book and i cannot wait to show you the cover art for it which has just been released :D
Here is the new cover for Embrace by Jessica Shirvington! I love it so much and now you will too :D

I love that the wings are created by the mist which makes it look very unearthly :D The best version of this cover yet and i can't wait for it's release date which is 1st March, 2012. Here's the blurb....

I slowly opened my eyes. The sun speared its first bright rays of golden orange into the sky and I leapt from the cliff, with the sorrowful knowledge that no matter what the outcome, at least part of me would die that day... 
Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?

After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.

Without warning, Violet’s world is turned upside down. She never believed in God, let alone angels. But there’s no denying the strange changes in her body ... and her feelings for Lincoln. Suddenly, she can’t stand to be around him. Luckily, Pheonix, an exiled angel, has come into her life. He’s intense and enigmatic, but at least he never lied to her.

As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle between dark and light, she must choose her path. The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

Now we have another cover but this time it is the UK version of the book. Here is Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer :D

Talk about beautiful right :D I've also added in the first two just for you lovely readers :) Don't they look lovely together?? I'm looking forward to the release date which i think is the end of february for us :D

Cover Reveals we love: Onyx, The Immortal Rules and the Trylle Trilogy

Just to make up for having been away from the world of blogging we have some awesome covers that we think you'll love and will make you want the book even more :D Here they are and there are quite a lot so hold onto your horses!! Posted by Gina!!

First off we have Onyx, the sequel to Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout which i have on my bookshelf waiting to be read.

Isn't it beautiful?! I love that they used the same models as before as they go great together and i love the colour too!! Goes great with the first one I think. Here's something to feed your apetite:

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies...

Very mysterious and i cannot wait to review Obsidian very soon! The Release date for onyx is sometime in May 2012.

Next is.......The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa!!

This also looks really good and I cannot wait to get my hands on it next year :D loving the tear of blood too :D although it reminds me of True Blood. Here's the Blurb off of Goodreads:

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.



Sounds good, doesn't it :D The release date will be 24th April, 2012 so be on the lookout!!

Next we have a series of covers for the Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking which I have been waiting for so long to get my hands on!! Here they are!!

Now, I don't know about you, but these covers look amazing together!! I love the colours and i know that these will look fabulous on my shelves. There are too many blurbs so i will give you the Goodread links to them so you can read about them yourself :D

Switched - 3rd January, 2012

Torn - 28th February, 2012

Ascend - Release date: 24th April, 2012

How awesome is it that they all come out within 4 months?! I'm such a happy girl.

To our fellow bloggers and followers...

Just a Quick note from Gina....

We are so very sorry that we haven't been posting for the past week!! It's not that we;ve given up and thought, "you know what, i can't be bothered with this anymore," it's just that I have been super busy and i'm the one that keeps this thing going.

I haven't even been reading that much either because i've been getting back into my writing and so far I have done 20,000 words on my new novel in a week which is the quickest I've ever done that amount before. As you can probably tell i want to be an author and this is my third novel which i will be turning into a trilogy. When i finish this one i hope to send it off to some agents to see if they want to publish it which is exciting!!

But getting away from that it is now 20 days till christmas!! Is anyone else as excited as I am??
I'm looking forward to spending time with my mum and sister, opening presents anf filling myself up with a lovely meal. And a plus is that it is on a sunday which is when the In My Mailbox takes place so we will have a very special christmas one just for our lovely followers.

So I hope that you forgive us for dropping off of the face of the earth and accept this massive hug from us.....

And i also just want to say thanks to all our followers! Without you there would be no blog :D <3

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Reviewed by Gina

Date Read: 3rd December, 2011

Date Published: 15th November, 2011

Blurb: In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.
Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

Review: When I heard that Kimberly Derting was having a new series published I was very excited because I absolutely LOVE her Body Finder series. And when this book arrived I had to get into it. It took me a while to finish this book and I’d like to say that that was down to me being too busy but in reality I did lose interest in this book a little bit. I will read the next ones in the series but I prefer her other series. So for that I am dropping a star.

This book is set in the future in a country called Ludania and within it the people are dived by what language you speak. If suddenly someone starts talking to you who is above you in their language you aren’t allowed to acknowledge them or you will be executed for all to see. But Charlie can understand all languages and when she meets a mysterious guy called Max who holds many secrets and speaks a language she has never heard before she is instantly intrigued. But there is something different about Charlie and she’s about to find out just what that is.

Considering that this is a dystopian novel I was surprised to find a paranormal element within it and also a lot of political content which I actually enjoyed surprisingly. There are many twists within this and the characters are loveable apart from The Queen. Now, she was one evil villain and I think that Kimberly did a great job by making us hate her from the first page. This is a different dystopian novel as it has a monarchy ruling and I found that interesting.

Most of the story is from Charlie’s point of view and I loved that. But we also got to see the story from the Queen, Max and some other characters point of view. And the title ties in well with a scene between Charlie and Max which I loved!

Because I loved the Body Finder series so much I think I was expecting a lot from this book and in a way I feel that I set my standards a little too high. Don’t get me wrong, this book is amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it but it’s hard to right another book that lives up to the other ones. I think a lot of authors have that problem but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the authors are bad at writing.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read the next one in the series. There’s a bit of romance which I loved, action and I just thought that it was a good dystopian book so fans of that genre should love this book too! 4 stars!!