Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books That Should Be In Your Beach Bag

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week’s top ten list is: Top Ten Books That Should Be In Your Beach Bag. Here is my list:

1.      The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

2.      Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

3.      Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

4.      Wings by Aprilynne Pike

5.      L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

6.      Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

7.      A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans

8.      Siren by Tricia Rayburn

9.      The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

10.  Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

All of these books are really fun, fast reads! I’m so glad it’s getting warm again J. It’s been cold for far too long. Happy reading everyone!

Bloodlines

Source: ARC

Goodreads Description:

"BLOOD DOESN'T LIE

Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding.

To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning."

Fans of Vampire Academy certainly won’t be disappointed with this spin-off series. Mead’s writing is just as captivating as ever, which makes the book go by extremely fast. As good as Bloodlines is, I am sure the rest 

of the series will be even better!

Since the story is told from Sydney’s perspective, I was a little frustrated since she didn’t really know what was going on—which means I didn’t know what was going on. When the story begins, we find out that Jill Dragomir has been attacked. While it is clear that something important happened that night, we do not find out any of the details until halfway into the book. In fact, there were many mysteries that I was trying to piece together for the first half of Bloodlines, but Sydney just didn’t have any information! Readers were in a similar situation with Vampire Academy because it took Rose forever to share why she and Lissa fled St. Vladimir’s Academy. While this tendency certainly keeps you intrigued, it is a bit frustrating and makes the novel move a little slower.

Based on my experience with the Vampire Academy series, I am expecting the Bloodlines series to improve with each additional novel. Given the ending of Bloodlines, I am sure things will be filled with drama and suspense in the next book—and I can’t wait! A lot of the characters that have smaller parts in the Vampire Academy series play a much larger role in Bloodlines, including Jill and Sydney. I do not want to say who else makes an appearance because I think it takes a little bit of the surprise out of the novel, and for me half the fun is trying to figure everything out. I will say, though, that Adrian fans will be very pleased with Bloodlines. What exactly does that mean? I guess you’ll have to read to find out!

Giveaway: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Goodreads Description:

"The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's SHIVER, Grace and Sam found each other. In LINGER, they fought to be together. Now, in FOREVER, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in."

Contest Rules:

• Open to US residents only 
• Must be 13+ to enter 
• Everyone may enter, even if you are not a follower 
• Extra entries to the contest will be given to followers and anyone who tweets about this contest (and provides a link) 
• Winners will be notified via email 
• A new winner will be chosen if a response is not received in 48 hours 
• Contest ends June 19, 2011

Afterlife

Goodreads Description:

"Destiny awaits Bianca and Lucas . . .

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a wraith but also turns Lucas into a vampire—the very creature he spent his life hunting—they are left reeling. 

Haunted by his powerful need to kill, Lucas can turn to only one place for help . . . Evernight Academy. Bianca is determined to remain with him. But with the vampire leader of Evernight waging a war against wraiths, her former home has become the most dangerous place she could be, despite the new powers her ghostly transformation has given her. 

A battle between wraiths and vampires looms, and Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They've overcome every obstacle life has thrown at them, but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges afterlife?"

I knew this was the last book in the Evernight series when I started reading it, but for the first 75% of the book I really wasn’t sure how this would wrap it up. So many things happened, but I didn’t feel like it was headed towards a conclusion. I also knew that there will be a spin-off series that follows Balthazar, so I was really starting to wonder if Afterlife would end with a cliffhanger rather a real resolution. I was wrong!

I loved seeing Lucas’ torment over becoming a vampire and how it changed his interactions with Bianca. Since Bianca turned into a wraith, it is impossible for the two of them to be together the way they were before they both died. They do the best they can though, and I think that they are able to comfort each other in the afterlife.

As with Hourglass, Claudia Gray’s writing pulled on my heart strings and made me cry. I didn’t cry nearly as much as I did when I read Hourglass, but she does have a way of pulling at your heartstrings. It’s just so sad! I still like Lucas and I think he and Bianca are a great couple. Even as I write this, I can remember how much I didn’t like Lucas in the first two books. His character came a really long way; he evolved and understands the world so much more than he did before.

I think Claudia Gray conveys a beautiful message with the Evernight series: there are many shades of gray. Not all vampires are evil, not all wraiths are evil, and not all humans are good. There is good and bad in everything, and all too often we fear what we don’t understand. It is important to look at things from all angels and not jump to conclusions because we were taught to think in a certain a way. Overall, this was a fantastic series.

BEA 2011 Highlights

I had such a great time at BEA this year! Meeting the authors I love was so much fun, and I picked up a lot of really great books. The best part of BEA was hands-down meeting Anna Godbersen—she is one of my all-time favorite authors! The most disappointing part was that she wasn't signing Beautiful Days, but I still got to meet her so that's o.k. Those of you who have read Bright Young Things will understand why I was disappointed. It ended on such a cliff-hanger and I just have to know what happens next!

My next favorite part was meeting Duff Mckagen from Guns N Roses and Velvet Revolver. I almost missed him, but luckily he stuck around longer than he was supposed to. I also got to meet Richelle Mead! I don't have a picture, but I do have a copy of Bloodlines and I can't wait to read it.

I also took a picture of the Romance Writers of America booth because its sooo pretty! I wonder who did the cover art. Anyway, this was the best-looking booth at BEA this year. It's a small booth, but the people were very friendly, they had some great signings, and their background was simply gorgeous.

YA Historical Fiction Challenge

The YA Historical Fiction Challenge is hosted by Sabrina at YA Bliss. I love historical fiction, especially anything by Anna Godbersen, so I can't wait to get started. I read a few historical fiction books earlier this year, but I'm not going to count them!

Choose your level:

Level 1: 5 YA HF books in 2011

Level 2: 10 YA HF books in 2011

Level 3: 15 YA HF books in 2011

 Rules: 


All Historical Fiction books must be YA or MG
Books don't have to be 2011 releases.
Anyone can join. Please link to a public (web) place I can find you.
You can join at anytime. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011

I'm going to aim for a level 3. Right now there are 13 books on my list, so I will add two more later:

Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

Vixen by Jillian Larkin

Every Last Breath by Courtney Cole

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Nightshade by Maryrose Wood

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

Wildwing by Emily Whitman

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Hourglass

Goodreads Description:

"Bestselling author Claudia Gray’s Evernight series continues. In Hourglass, Bianca and Lucas have found a way to be together. But it means lying to the people who care about them the most.

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school, Bianca and Lucas seek refuge with Black Cross, the elite group of vampire hunters led by Lucas’s stepfather. When Bianca’s close friend—the vampire Balthazar—is captured by Black Cross, Bianca knows she has to do whatever it takes to save him. But at what cost?

Hourglass, the third book in this gripping vampire series by the author of the New York Times bestseller Stargazer, has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s books runaway successes."

This is one of those series that just keeps getting better. I didn’t really want to put this one down, which surprised me. Bianca and Lucas are together for this entire book, so we get to see their relationship progress. I was previously on team Balthazar, but after this book I am a Lucas fan.

I think we get to know Lucas a lot better in this book. He no longer thinks in terms of black and white when it comes to vampires, and is able to recognize that there are good vampires in the world. However, he is still drawn to Black Cross because it is the only family he has ever known. Lucas’ development in this book was just great. I knew he was physically strong before, but we also get to see his inner strength in this novel. He loves Bianca so much, and he will do whatever he has to do to keep her safe and provide for the two of them.

We also get to see more of Bianca’s inner conflict about leaving her parents and living with a group of Black Cross hunters, but her development wasn’t as interesting to me as Lucas’. What was exciting about Bianca in Hourglass, though, was reading about how her body was changing and following her quest to understand what her options would be if she refused to become a vampire.

Overall, Hourglass is still filled with all the romance we loved in the previous novels, along with danger, excitement, and tragedy. I cried during this book—I mean really cried—because some parts were so sad. And Balthazar—let’s just say I’m with Bianca on this one. I can’t even imagine how things will work out in Afterlife, but I can’t wait to find out! 

The Luxe

Barnes & Noble Synopsis:
"Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn.

Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions.

White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups.

This is Manhattan, 1899.

Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone—from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud—threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent."

This is one of my favorite books of all time and I recommend it to everyone—I’ve actually made most of my friends read it because it’s so wonderful. The characters are really what make The Luxe so great. I related to Diana the most because she is introverted and imaginative, but I felt all of the characters were really well developed. Elizabeth reminded me of one of my best friends, and given her actions throughout the book, I was surprised with how she made her decision between true love and familial duty at the end of the novel. I wasn’t surprised at all with her ultimate decision, but I thought that she would come to that conclusion in a much different manner.

The ending of the novel was quite predictable for anyone who reads a lot or watches a lot of television. Normally, this is something I really hate, but with The Luxe I did not mind that I had the ending figured out before I had finished the prologue. Plot and character development are the two most important things to me in a novel, and I have to say again that the characters in this novel are amazing. Aside from Diana and Elizabeth, even the characters I did not like on a personal level were sympathetic at times and it was always easy to understand the motivation behind their actions.

Speaking of understanding the motivation behind a character’s action, Henry Shoonmaker, the most sought after bachelor in Manhattan has a lot of morally questionable actions—but I love him. The romance in this novel is so well done. There are love triangles, societal pressures to marry someone you know is completely wrong for you, and soul mates that are forbidden from being together because of family duty. Most importantly, the love between the couples is so genuine that you become emotionally invested in these characters and their relationships. However, it was hard for me to care about anything in this novel as much as I cared about Diana’s budding romance with the man she loves (I don’t want to write his name and spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read this amazing series yet).

Anna Godbersen’s writing is beautiful and really transports you to 1899. Her descriptions made me feel like I was immersed in turn-of-the-century New York with her characters. The fact that the novel chronicles the lives of four women and the challenges they face due to a constrictive rules-oriented society reminded me of Jane Austen. Does anyone else see similarities between The Luxe and Jane Austen’s work? I really hope this is turned into a movie one day because everything about it is just fabulous. If you like historical fiction, relatable characters, and romance The Luxe is simply a must-read.

Raised by Wolves

Goodreads Description: 

"Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

 But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

 But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?"

I really wasn’t sure if I was going to like Raised by Wolves because it is about werewolves; however, I am really glad that I gave it shot. I was engrossed in the book almost immediately thanks to the writing style and the engaging main character. The story is told from Bryn’s perspective, and the constant struggle she feels to remain independent among a group of werewolves who try to impose their dominance on her, coupled with her wit and sarcasm, really makes the story great.

This story is about much more than a young woman fighting for independence though. At the young age of 4, Bryn saw her parents brutally murdered by a rabid werewolf and was rescued by another pack of well-intentioned werewolves just before she became a victim herself. When Bryn discovers a boy named Chase, another survivor of a rabid werewolf attack (which is quite rare), she is instantly drawn to him because of the kinship she feels towards someone who finally understands what she went through when she was 4. Meeting Chase only leads to more questions about the night her parents were murdered, so Bryn embarks on an exciting adventure to get the answers she needs.

~SPOILER ALERT~

Even though I really liked this book, I have some important questions that I am hoping will be answered in Trial by Fire. I just feel like there is much more to the Chase-Bryn connection than we know about. At one point Chase tells Bryn that he loved her before he was attacked. Considering that they had supposedly never met before the attack, how exactly is it possible that he had loved her? I was expecting to find out that they did in fact have some prior connection, but if they did, we never found out about it in this book! Any prior connection they may have had was never really mentioned after Chase’s initial statement. I want the answers to this little mystery by the time the series is over or I won’t be happy!

On another note, I understand Chase and Bryn’s feelings towards each other since they have gone through similar tragedies, BUT, I like Devon better! I know there was never even an inkling that Devon and Bryn would ever be more than friends, but I think it would be great if they were. They have known each other since they were very young, he is protective of her while simultaneously respecting her need for independence, he understands her, and he is just really sweet. I do not believe there is any intentions for a Devon-Bryn-Chase love triangle because the Trial by Fire description indicates that a new boy named Connor will come into Bryn’s life and complicate her relationship with Chase. Sigh L. Oh well, maybe Chase will grow on me.

Siren

Goodreads Description:
"Vacationing in Winter Harbor, Maine, is a tradition for Vanessa and Justine Sands, and that means spending time with the Carmichael boys. This summer, Vanessa is determined to channel some of her older sister’s boldness, get over her fear of the ocean, and maybe turn her friendship with Simon Carmichael into something much more.

But when Justine goes cliff-diving after a big family argument, and her body washes ashore the next day, Vanessa is sure that it was more than an accident. She is more certain of this, when she discovers that her sister was keeping some big secrets and Caleb Carmichael’s gone missing. Suddenly, the entire oceanfront town is abuzz when a series of grim, water-related accidents occur, with the male victims washed ashore grinning from ear to ear. Vanessa and Simon team up to figure out if these creepy deaths have anything to do with Justine and Caleb. But will what Vanessa discovers mean the end of her summer romance, or even life as she knows it?"

Siren was really intense. I actually started reading this book a while ago, but only got halfway through the first chapter before I put it down. I’m really glad I picked it up again because I was hooked after the second chapter. After the death of her sister, Justine, Vanessa embarks on a quest to discover more about her and what may have caused her death. This sends Vanessa on an adventure that is much more exciting than she would have thought and even leads to an unexpected romance. I really liked this book, and I can’t wait to read Undercurrent. There were so many questions that I still have after reading Siren that I just need the answers to.

I really didn’t see several of the plot twists coming in this novel. I don’t want to discuss them since I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but wow…  I really hope some of my friends read this one soon so that I can talk about it! Tricia Rayburn will also be at BEA this year, and I’m hoping I get to meet her and pick up a copy of Undercurrent.



Bright Young Things

Goodreads Description:

"The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.

Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star…

Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.

The only person Cordelia can trust is Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.

Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age."

I need the next book in this series NOW! What an amazing ending! Anna Godbersen is one of my all-time favorite authors, so I was really excited to read Bright Young Things. While I did not like this novel as much as The Luxe, it was still fantastic. It is packed with drama and romance—two things I love in a novel.

One of the things I liked so much about The Luxe series was the relationship between Diana and Henry—I wanted to find something similar in Bright Young Things, but I don’t think Cordelia and Thom have that same undeniable chemistry that Diana and Henry do. All around, the characters in Bright Young Things are not nearly as relatable as the characters in The Luxe (which was one of the factors that made it such an amazing series for me). Even though I didn’t like the characters as much, I think that this will change as the story progresses. I started to like Cordelia, Astrid, and Charlie much more towards the end of the book because I had a better understanding of their personalities.

The best part about this novel is hands-down the plot. I kept turning to the pages because I was dying to know what happened next. The prologue was also really well-done, what a way to start a novel! From the very beginning, Godbersen tells us that one of the girls will be famous, one will be married, one will be dead. I don’t think I’ve ever started a novel that told me right from the beginning that one of the main characters would be gone by the end of the book, but it really drew me into the novel. If the next book was already available, I would have picked it up immediately. Luckily, even though the next book isn’t available until September, Anna Godbersen will be signing advanced copies at Book Expo America in a few weeks! I am so excited to meet herJ. The writing is beautiful, the plot is fantastic, the end is amazing, and the beginning is intriguing—if you haven’t read Bright Young Things yet, I don’t know what you’re waiting for!

Spirit Bound

Goodreads Description:
"After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside of the Academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

But Rose can't forget what she learned on her journey—whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what—and who—matters most to her. In the end, is true love really worth the price?

Fall in love with Rose and Dimitri all over again in Spirit Bound, the eagerly awaited fifth novel in Richelle Mead's enthralling Vampire Academy series."

I’m reviewing Spirit Bound after Last Sacrifice because Spirit Bound was so great that I had to start Last Sacrifice as soon as I finished it. After Rose’s failed attempt to kill Dimitri, Dimitri is determined to find Rose and kill her. I used to be a Rose and Dmitri fan, but after Blood Promise I jumped to team Adrian. Reading about Dimitri’s determination to end Rose’s life and Rose’s obsession with finding a way to save him makes me sad. Dimitri is clearly not the same person he was before, but Rose continues to risk the lives of many innocent people and her friends by carrying her along in her crazy quests. That said, I am so impressed with Lissa in this book! Throughout this whole series, Lissa comes across as someone who needs to be protected, which makes me think that she is weak. However, in Spirit Bound I found out that she is actually a very strong character and accomplishes many things that I never thought she would be able to do. The ending was really shocking and creates the premise for the entire next book.