My Lovely Blog Award

Tina from the gorgeous blog Book Couture awarded me with the One Lovely Blog Award!!! How exciting to know that other bloggers think my blog is as pretty as I think it is:) Thanks so much Tina your blog is beautiful too!

Here’s how it works:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know that they have been chosen for this award.
   

This is going to be really hard because there are so many bloggers out there that I love and enjoy so much. Hopefully you haven't already gotten this blog award but if you have it just means that I'm not the only one who loves your blog!

  1. Books and Things

  2. I'd So Rather Be Reading

  3. I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read

  4. Candace's Book Blog

  5. Shut Up! I'm Reading

  6. Book Rat

  7. Page Turners

  8. Pure Imagination

  9. A Bibliophile's Paradise

10. A Dazzling Distraction

11. Tales of Whimsy

12. Lily's Bookshelf

13. Chasing Words

14. Imagination in Focus

15. For What It's Worth

Book Review: Love Remains by Kaye Dacus

Love Remains
Author:  Kaye Dacus
Released: August 2010
Published by: Barbour Publishing, Incorporated
Pages: 320
Target Age: Adult
Summary: taken from Shelfari
 Every grandmother wants to see her grandchildren happy, especially when it comes to their love lives. Join five active senior ladies—and one gentleman—who take a great interest in the lives and loves of their single grandchildren and become The Matchmakers. Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson become the first focus of meddling grandmothers when he moves back to Nashville to work for the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. Will Zarah be able to forgive the man who years ago chose a military career over her—especially when she learns he is investigating the historic preservation agency for which she works?

Love Remains is the very first Christian romance novel that I've ever read and I received it for review through one of my favorite sites NetGalley.com.  This book didn't blow me away but it was a decent story.  A few grandparents get together at church and decide that they need to get all of their grandchildren hitched because they are jealous that another ladies granddaughter is getting married.  They realize that they are being petty thinking this way and move on to the their plan anyway.  Zarah, Kiki's granddaughter is a very self depreciating character that sometimes annoyed me because she almost seemed to have no self worth. The strongest part of her character is her faith and thank goodness she has that. She works too much and she is still hung up on a guy from her past.  Bobby (Lindy's grandson) seems to be very much a gentleman and is still in love with Zarah even after 14 years apart, which is sweet. The grandparents only do minimal scheming to get these two together.   My favorite characters were actually Zarah's best friends: Patrick, Flannery, and Caylor. There is a little romance, a small mystery and a lot of story.  This book is the first in The Matchmakers series.

In My Mailbox (8/29/2010)

This week was a pretty great week for my mailbox!

First, I received Night's Kiss by Amanda Ashley through Swap.com








I also received three books for review Mieradome by Kate O'Hegarty

Sweet Emotions by Jan Bornstein and Awakened by Ednah Walters.

TGIF!! Friday's Hop and Follow Day! 8/27/2010

Hello and welcome to my blog. If you've never been here before and even if you have WELCOME!!! I'm glad you stopped by. I've been blogging for a few months now and I love it. I love all of the blogging friends I've made, and all of the authors I've "met", and I love waking up and having comments from other book lovers all around the world. I enjoy reading lots of different genres but right now I seem to be leaning toward Young Adult books, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Romance which could include some Erotica. I hope you enjoy your time here at My Neurotic Book Affair.

There are some rules to the blogger hop and you can read them in detail over at Crazy For Books she hosts this Blogger Hop every week. Basically you sign up, visit other blogs, become a follower if you like their blog, comment letting the blogger know you stopped by, and then they return the favor by stopping by your blog. Crazy for Books likes to have a question every week too so that we can get to know each other better and this week the question was thought up by Books Are A Girl's Best Friend
Do you use a rating system for your reviews and if so, what is it and why?
Yes I do. I rate almost every book I read. I started rating my books on shelfari even before I started blogging. I did this so that I could quickly look back to see how much I loved or didn't love a book. That's still why I do it on my blog, only now it's so other people can quickly see how much I loved or didn't love a book. If they like the rating I figure they might even stay to read the review.

Waiting On Wednesday (8/25/2010

The Guardian Legacy

The Guardian Legacy is a series of books about the Guardians, beings with super powers charged with guarding mankind against demons.

Book 1: Awakened

Orphaned as a child and raised by her grandfather, Lil Falcon is concerned with navigating her new high school and is unaware she's a descendant of the Nephilim, a race of beings with super powers tasked with protecting humanity from the demons who threaten it. But when she meets Bran, his psi energy unlocks her latent abilities and opens her eyes to what she is, a Guardian.

But Bran has a secret and befriending him sends Lil down a dangerous path that will either destroy her or make her stronger.

I am super excited about this book by Ednah Walters that is coming out soon!!! Check out that guys abs!!!! Yep, I'm way excited to have this book blessing my shelves soon.

Tuesday Teaser (8/24/2010)

Miz B and Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

So Camy might be next to die. And while she wasn't on my favorite persons list, I didn't exactly want to start seeing her all transparent and glowing in the afterlife either. Most of the morning I'd spent at my computer searching random things like visions and weather, witches and supernatural beings. I'd tried to search black fog but hadn't gotten anything tangible to go on.

Page 212 of Manifest by Artist Arthur

Book Review: Earth Is Not Alone by John Knapp II

Earth Is Not Alone Author: John Knapp II
Publisher: Ephemeron Press
Release Date: April 2009
Pages: 500
Target Age: Young Adult
Summary: From Barnes & Noble
After a terrible tragedy, a parent-teacher-student confrontation leads to the discovery of two new worlds.
This occurs in the "Susquehanna Territory" in northeastern PA in a future time in the 21st century when EMP has mysteriously destroyed all electrical power--presumably worldwide. To survive, with circumstances much better in a rural area, a "wall" has been built to keep away outsiders as mayhem occurs everywhere.There's a strong suspicion of some encounter with another world. Atheistic honor vies against Christian honor in the P-T-S confrontation, and the role Christian faith plays, and the "missionary" responsibility (if any is appropriate) has to be carefully considered. Curious old stories must be investigated and set alongside the Bible. Several young romances occur, and life-and-death decisions can't be avoided. The possibility of a one-way trip to another world looms. If you could go, would you? And what would you say? What would you do? Such affect the choices that two high school seniors must make.

My Opinion: This book wasn't at all what I expected and about 100 pages in I was very confused and I have to admit frustrated. I felt like the same thing was discussed over and over, but I was no closer to realizing what the heck was going on. Then I discovered that this book wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be. I was expecting more of a dystopia about life on Earth after an EMP knocks out all modern day technology. That's not what this book is though. Earth Is Not Alone leans more to the Science Fiction/Christian genre and I have to admit it didn't really work for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters and found that the further I got into the story the more I just didn't care. I really wanted to like this book and have seen other reviewers that loved it.

I received this book from The Cadence Group for my honest review.
I would love to pass this book on to someone that loves Science Fiction and thinks that the description sounds like something they would enjoy. So the first person to email me that they would like to read Earth Is Not Alone I would love to send it to you (shipping on me of course). I would also love it if you would review it and let me know what you thought.

In My Mailbox (8/22/2010)

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox each week!


Got both of these great looking books through swaptree

Before I Was Blogging-Shiver and Linger (8/21/2010)

I've only been blogging since May, but I've been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. I was thinking about this the other day and thought it would be fun to blog about some of those books that I read before I was blogging. Since my daughter and I went to meet Maggie Stiefvater today I figured Shiver and Linger would be good choices for my very first "Before I Was Blogging."
Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.Release Date: June 2010Pages: 400
Target Age: Young Adult
Summary: From Barnes & Noble

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Linger
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Release Date: July 2010
Pages: 362
Target Age: Young Adult
Summary: Barnes & Noble

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love - the light and the dark, the warm and the cold - in a way you will never forget.

Obviously by the double fives given on this blog post, I LOVE THEM! Maggie's writing is unlike any other that I've read. The first word that comes to mind when I think of her books is "pretty." Her writing is just so flowy and lyrical (yes I know that flowy isn't a 'real' word). I will admit that when I first started reading Shiver I wasn't sure that I was going to like it. Like I said her writing is different and it took me a little while to get into because of that. Once I got used to her style though, I was hooked. By the end of Shiver I was crying, not those pretty little tears that gently fall down your face and drip onto the page. No no! there was actual bawling noises and gross snot dripping from my nose! Sorry was that TMI? After listening to Maggie speak today I know that she will be happy to know that little bit of information. Yes, Maggie Stiefvater made me cry while I was in my bathtub reading Shiver! Feeling younger again Maggie?

Sam and Grace are two of the most adorable people on the planet. That should make me nauseated right? Somehow they are written in such a way that you can't help but love them. Isabel is just the right amount of screwed up and Grace's best friends, Olivia and Rachel are the kind of friends every teenage girl should have. Okay, I have to stop myself at this point because I don't want to give anything away and if I don't stop now I'll end up telling you everything. If you love tragic romance and perfect couples that make you smile then you have to rush out and grab your copy of Shiver and Linger.

Like I said I went with my daughter Jessica today to meet Maggie and we had a great time. I didn't remember to take pictures this time though so I will have to share a picture that was taken on July 20th down in Williamsburg when we went for the launch party of Linger.

Here is Jessica from Shut Up! I'm Reading otherwise known as my daughter, with Maggie. (I don't do pictures so that's why I'm showing Jessica.) Jessica is quite a bit taller than Maggie that's why she looks all stooped over! We also went to visit the candy store in Williamsburg that Maggie tells us was her inspiration for the candy store in Shiver. It did indeed smell heavenly. Thanks Maggie for not only some wonderful reads but also for being the reason that my girl and I have a few more awesome memories to look back on. End sappy blog post!

Waiting On Wednesday (8/18/2010)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are anxiously awaiting. This week I've been thinking about Afterlife by Claudia Gray. I've really, really liked this series so far and can't wait to read the next one. Sadly it doesn't come out until March of 2011. Ugh! I hate waiting.

Afterlife (March 2011)

Bianca and Lucas have always believed they could endure anything to be together. When a twist of fate not only transforms Bianca into a ghostly 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 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 after life?

This summary was taken from Claudia Gray's website.

Teaser Tuesday (8/17/2010) Earth Is Not Alone

Earth Is Not Alone by John Knapp II

Miz B and Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

"Everybody seemed to know something that everyone else was dying to find out. Or was afraid someone would find out. Everyone except him. He was the ignorant one. But he wouldn't let on. Obviously, if these stories were what Cample was all excited about, he'd done nothing wrong. He'd nothing to fear. He would smile and play along. And get to the bottom of this. People had some explaining to do!" Page 95

So are you interested yet? Lots of mystery going on here!

Book Review: Dead Is So Last Year by Marlene Perez

Dead Is So Last Year Author: Marlene Perez
Released: May 2009
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 208
Target Age: Young Adult

Summary: from Barnes and Noble

Something very strange starts happening in Nightshade the summer that the eldest Giordano sister, Rose, gets a job working at Dr. Franken's research laboratory. People are starting to see double. Doppelgängers of Nightshade residents are popping up all over town. Daisy, Rose and Poppy think it's a coincidence, until the rumors start that their father, who disappeared several years ago, has been spotted in town.

Meanwhile, Daisy's beau, Ryan is spending all of his time training for football, and like the other guys on the team, he's grown enormous almost overnight. Samantha Devereux's boyfriend's neck has doubled in size since school ended. Could the football players be resorting to extreme measures to win? Between summer jobs, sugar rushes, and beach parties, the Giordano girls get to the bottom of these mysteries and more.

I have to admit I really enjoy this series! Marlene Perez has created such a cute, campy series that is appropriate for even young, young adults and still manages to be fun and entertaining for the oldest of us young adults. One reason that I like this series so much is because it makes me laugh, and I just love Daisy and her sisters. Daisy's reaction to seeing Ryan after she's been gone all summer is hilarious. Dead Is Just a Rumor is coming out in a few days and I'm really looking forward to seeing what troubles hit Daisy this time. If you haven't started reading this series yet, you should! It's a good time.

In My Mailbox (8/15/2010)

I love books obviously since I have a book blog. I also love acquiring new books, or new to me books. I've recently started loving ebooks as well. This week I purchased and borrowed a few books that I'm excited to have in my possession.
From my local library:
Book 1 Ghost Huntress: The Awakening










From my local goodwill (a great place to find books)
The Red Heart of Jade by Marjorie M. Liu
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Cirque Du Freak, Tunnels of Blood by Darren Shan book 3
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen








From Swaptree
Beyond the Pale by Savannah Russe
Immortal Warrior by Lisa Hendrix











Looks like I'd better get busy. What did you get this week?

And the winners are......

It's time to celebrate the winners of my very first contest!!!

Congratulations to all of my winners and THANK YOU all for entering and supporting My Neurotic Book Affair!!! Also thanks to Jessica from ShutUp! I'm Reading for helping me figure out how to run a contest and how to use random.org to find the winners.

And Now the moment you've all been waiting for.......

The first winner of their choice of Clockwork Angel or Crescendo is Gabrielle (ricettebunny)!

I added a second chance to win the grand prize when I hit 100 new followers. The second grand prize winner is Khristine Delgado, she also gets her choice of Clockwork Angel or Crescendo.
The rest of the winners in order are:
1. Alison (readyrat)
2. Lora1967
3. Kennifer
Congratulations everyone!!!!!
I'll be emailing you all very shortly to get your winning requests. Have a wonderful rest of the weekend and Thanks again everyone! You guys rock!

Book Review The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Daughter Author: Julie Kagawa
Released: August 2010
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 304
Target Age: Young Adult
Summary from Barnes & Noble

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

It's an exciting day my followers! Today is my very first 5 butterfly review! Obviously I loved this book!! The Iron Daughter was even better than The Iron King. Kagawa's faery realm was already built in The Iron King so this book moved a bit faster than the first. Some of my favorite characters returned, and I got to fall in LOVE with a sort of new character and a completely new character. I know my reviews are sometimes vague but I hate to give anything away. My favorite part of reading a book is not knowing what is going to happen or who will help/hinder the main character with whatever journey they are on. Meghan is stronger and more fierce in this book. She refuses to back down even when everyone tells her she should. I know she did this before but that was different, she had to save her brother. This time she does what has to be done just because she knows it's the right thing to do. One of the best books I've read this year, The Iron Daughter is a book you don't want to miss. Note: Make sure you read The Iron King first or you won't know what the heck is going on. Winter's Passage was an excellent novella however you don't HAVE to read it to read the second book. You should though cuz it's good.

Teaser Tuesday (8/10/2010) Fantasy Lover

Miz B and Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Right now I'm reading Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

"Julian must have been fabulous on the battlefield. Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine him on his horse, riding out against his enemies. She had a vivid image of him in his armor, his sword raised as he fought hand to hand against the Romans"