Saturday Six

I was recently cruising through the blogger world and saw that another blogger had done a Saturday Six post about six authors she wanted to read asap.  Well, I thought I would change up my Saturday Six just a little by posting six books that I have in my house right now that I really want to read and just haven't been able to get to for whatever reason.  So here are my:

Glass by Ellen Hopkins

Lure by Deborah Kerbel
A Victorian garden, a fishing lure, and a ghost named John . Absolutely nothing is going right for Max Green. His parents have just uprooted their family from Vancouver to the bleak suburbs of Toronto, he has no friends, and everybody at his new high school is ignoring him. To make matters worse, he's in love with an older girl who's completely out of his league. When Max discovers a local library rumored to be haunted by ghosts, he's immediately drawn to it. With the help of some cryptic messages, he begins to piece together the identity of the teenage ghost and the mysterious chain of events that have connected its spirit to the building for over a century. But just who was John, anyway? Why has he chosen to contact Max? And what does an old fishing lure have to do with solving the mystery?


Epitaph Road by David Patneaude
What price would you pay for a perfect world?


Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

The Wind Singer (Book One In The Wind on Fire Trilogy) by William Nicholson
The first in a trilogy, The Wind Singer is a mesmerizing and remarkably imagined fantasy novel full of adventure, suspense humor, and warmth. Winner of the 2000 Nestle Smarties Book Proze. An ALA Notable Book.


The Van Alen Legacy (A Blue Bloods novel) by Melissa  De La Cruz
The Fourth in The Blue Bloods Series. 

So there you have it books I really want to read and have right here, right now.  I just have to make some extra time to get to them.  Now off to work on Halloween Costumes and getting my kids settled in on there plans for the night.  Have a great weekend everyone. 

Waiting On Wednesday (10/27/2010) The Water Wars

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. This books sounds like it could be amazing!!!

The Water Wars

By: Cameron Stracher
Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil-and worth killing for.
Vera and her brother Will live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget.

Teaser Tuesday (10/25/2010) Virals

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!

Who would risk shooting four kids? It was crazy.  A quadruple homicide involving Bolton Prep students would make the headlines for months. Every resource would be thrown at the investigation.  The risk of capture would be enormous. 

Virals by Kathy Reichs 
Page 339

 

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hope (Oct. 25th-31st)

Welcome to My Neurotic Book Affair!  I'm so glad you stopped by. I love Halloween and I love blogging.  What better way to celebrate blogging and Halloween than with a Halloween Spooktacular Giveaway.  To thank you all for stopping by and visiting my blog I will be giving one lucky visitor a copy of E.J. Stevens book She Smells The Dead. This book is signed by E.J. herself.  I'll also be throwing in some surprise goodies as well.

She Smells The Dead
Summary:
It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television. SHE SMELLS THE DEAD. The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and annoying Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears. Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?

To enter just leave me a comment telling me what you like or dislike about Halloween.  If you want to up your chances of winning you can follow me here, on twitter or on networked blogs(facebook) or if you have a blog and you blog about the Spooktacular Giveaway I'll give you an entry for that as well.  5 possible entries!!! Please comment how many entries you have so I don't leave any out.  Thanks!

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride a Review

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer
Author: Lish McBride
Released: October 12th, 2010
Published by: St. Martins
Pages: 352
Target Age: Young Adult
Source: Star Book Tours

Summary from Barnes & Noble
Sam leads a pretty normal life. He may not have the most exciting job in the world, but he’s doing all right—until a fast food prank brings him to the attention of Douglas, a creepy guy with an intense violent streak.
Turns out Douglas is a necromancer who raises the dead for cash and sees potential in Sam. Then Sam discovers he’s a necromancer too, but with strangely latent powers. And his worst nightmare wants to join forces . . . or else.
With only a week to figure things out, Sam needs all the help he can get. Luckily he lives in Seattle, which has nearly as many paranormal types as it does coffee places. But even with newfound friends, will Sam be able to save his skin?

LOVED IT!!! This book was just plain awesome.  I loved everything about it.  Hold Me Closer, Necromancer is one of my new favorite books of the year.  Sam is so adorable, sweet, and dorky that you can't help but fall in love with him.  His best friend Ramone rocks!  Brooke is hysterical.  Frank is....well, he's Frank.  Brid is the kind of girl I want to be! Okay maybe minus the werewolf part, but other than that and I'm in. Oh, and Mrs. W is just the best old lady ever.  Lish McBride did a great job of creating a paranormal story that was fresh, FUNNY, easy to read, and had you loving the characters as if you had known them forever.  I loved how the POV switched from Sam our lovable hero to Douglas the evil (and I do mean evil) villian.  The title of the book had me singing Elton John's Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (or tiny dancer) and each of the chapter titles had me singing as well, which really amused me.  If you haven't already rushed out to buy your copy then you need to do that and SOON.  You won't be sorry!!!!

Waiting On Wednesday (10/19/2010) The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. I loved the Darkest Powers and I've been really excited to read this new series by Kelley Armstrong since I heard it was coming out. 

The Gathering (Darkness Rising Book 1)
By: Kelley Armstrong
Release Date: April 2011  (UGH! I'm not sure I can wait that long!!!)
Summary:

First book in the new series by Kelley Armstrong meant as a follow up of her Darkest Powers trilogy.
Maya lives in a small medical-research town on Vancouver Island. How small? You can’t find it on the map. It has less than two-hundred people, and her school has only sixty-eight students—for every grade from kindergarten to twelve.
Now, strange things are happening in this claustrophobic town, and Maya's determined to get to the bottom of them. First, the captain of the swim team drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. A year later, mountain lions start appearing around Maya's home, and they won’t go away. Her best friend, Daniel, starts getting negative vibes from certain people and things. It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret—and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy: Her paw-print birthmark.

Teaser Tuesday (10/19/2010) She Smells The Dead

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!

 "I miss you. You're standing right in front of me and I miss you," I choked and turned to leave.  He hadn't said anything.  I was leaving and he wasn't trying to stop me.  This must be what it feels like when your heart is breaking.  


I love what happens next in this book!  
Page 60 of  She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens

Winners!!

It is about that time my friends. Time to announce the winners of the Contest of Epic Proportions! Let us start with the winner of either Nightshade, Clockwork Angel, or The Replacement. That lucky winner is.....

Shy

Congrats! Now for the US/Canada winners: (There were over 1200 entries! Wow!)

1st Winner: donnas (bacchus)

2nd Winner: Sandra Stott

3rd Winner: Aik Chien

4th Winner: Jessy (findjessyhere)

Congrats! Looks like I've got some emailing to do. Thanks to everyone who entered!

(All winners were picked by random.org)

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick- My review and thoughts!

Crescendo
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Being Released: October 2010
Published by: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 432
Target Age: Young Adult

Summary: from Barnes & Noble:
The sequel to the New York Times Best selling phenomenon, Hush, Hush!
Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

 First off I have to say, it took me awhile to rate this book.  I was stuck between 4 and 4.5 obviously I ended up giving it that extra half to make it I REALLY loved this book.  Second thing I have to make sure gets said, "I liked this one quite a bit better than Hush Hush."  I was finally able to connect with Nora, even though I spent lots of time yelling at her.  Have a little faith girl!!! My favorite character from both books has to be Vee, she is so fun, and up for anything when it comes to her girl, Nora.  The twists and turns in this book were amazing and again I was caught loving the wrong people.  I love it when that happens.  All in all this series is turning out to be a great one that I definitely recommend.  Move it up on your To Be Read list, you won't be sorry. 

Waiting On Wednesday (10/12/2010)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting.  I've heard amazing things about this book from those that were lucky enough to have read it already.  Now I want to read it too!!!  Plus, just look at that amazing cover it's gorgeous!

Nightshade
By Andrea Cremer
Summary from Shelfari
While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

 

Teaser Tuesday (10/12/2010)

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!

 "I knew you were a nice boy," she said, leaning over and nudging me with her shoulder.
"Hm, yes.  All us nice boys hang out in cages learning how to raise the dead.  Torturing little birds..."  I looked at my hands.  I couldn't see any blood on them, but I wiped them on my jeans anyway.
Page 241 
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride

I'm loving this book by the way!!

Sins of the Heart by Eve Silver-Review

Sins of the Heart
Author: Eve Silver
Released: August 2010
Pages: 377
Published by: Harlequin
Target Age: Adult
Source: I received this book from NetGalley.com for my honest review, the only kind of review I give. 

Summary: Barnes & Noble
Half human, half god, Dagan Krayl is the Underworld's most powerful soul reaper. When one of his brothers is murdered, Dagan must use every ounce of his power to hunt down those responsible for his brutal death. But he must move swiftly—and carefully—if he's to have any chance of resurrecting his brother.
Yet that resurrection could wreak havoc on the mortal world. As an Otherkin, Roxy Tam has sworn to protect the human race, and it's her mission to stop Dagan. But when she sees him face-to-face, she realizes that she has seen him once before—a meeting that changed her life forever.
Neither Dagan nor Roxy expect to join forces for the sake of mankind. Or to have their loyalties tested as they struggle against the potent desire that threatens to consume them both….

This book was unlike any other that I have read.  My first book by Eve Silver and my first book with reapers, and I have to say I loved it!  Dagan and his brothers are not at all what I expected  reapers to be like.  Don't get me wrong they can be ruthless and take lives, but they only take them when ordered and their father likes the dark souls.  These brothers are so easy to love.  Who doesn't like to see the "bad" guys get theirs? Roxy is a bad ass and I loved her.  She and Dagan have great chemistry and they are really hot when together.  A definite must read!  I can't wait to read the next in this series "Sins of the Soul."  Eve Silver is now on my favorite new authors list.

Goodies In My Mailbox (10/10/2010)

I'm Back!  Took a little camping trip with the family and we were completely out of touch.  Had a great time and really got the chance to relax.

I had an exciting mail week too.

For Review:
I'm Not Your Eve! by Tracy Brusa
PainKiller Ghosts by J. Marc Harding
The End Of Marking Time C.J. West
Identity Crisis by Debbie Mack
Phantom Four by Roger Wilson

Tour Book:
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (the title to this book has had me singing Elton John's Hold Me Closer, Tiny Dancer but substituting Necromancer for THREE days!)

Swap.com:
When Darkness Comes by Alexandra Ivy
Eternal Pleasure by Nina Bangs

Not shown from NetGalley.com
Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Afterlife by Claudia Gray
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Once In A Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

From the library:
Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

Exciting and a bit overwhelming.  Sheesh, that's a lot to read, wish me luck!
The idea of In My Mailbox is to bring books to the attention of our blog readers and to encourage interaction with other blogs.  Hosted weekly by The Story Siren.
So what did you get in your mailbox?

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting.  I loved The Dark Divine and I am dying to read The Lost Saint.  I can't wait to read this book!  I'm loving the cover of this one as much as I did the first.

The Lost Saint
Author: Bree Despain
Release Date: December 28, 2010

Summary from Shelfari
Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven.
Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one.
Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Teaser Tuesday (10/05/2010) Paranormalcy

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!

 I found his eyes staring right at me and realized too late that he was testing me, seeing if I could follow his movement when he was in invisimode.  Color bloomed from his features and in a sudden shift of light I was looking at myself-myself exactly, right down to the bright pink fuzzy robe.  "You can see me," my voice, tinged with wonder, said from his mouth.


Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Page 23 

 

Book Review: Dead Is Just A Rumor by Marlene Perez

Dead Is Just A Rumor
Author: Marlene Perez
Release Date: August, 2010
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 201
Target Age: Young Adult
Source: I received this book from NetGalley.com for my honest review.

Summary: Barnes & Noble
As the creepy little town of Nightshade prepares to celebrate its two hundredth anniversary — on Halloween, of course — many of its paranormal residents are receiving mysterious blackmail letters. Psychic teen Daisy Giordano and her sisters set out to find who is behind the threats. But launching an investigation isn’t easy for Daisy with her overprotective father watching her every move. Though she’s happy to have him back after the years he spent being held captive by an anti-paranormal group called the Scourge, Dad is having a difficult time adjusting to home life — and the fact that his little girl is now a senior in high school. He even disapproves of Daisy’s boyfriend, Ryan.
Ryan, meanwhile, to Daisy’s dismay, has been considering some faraway colleges thanks to the advice of Nightshade High’s new guidance counselor. Can their relationship take the strain?
And Daisy’s got even more on her plate: A talented amateur cook, she has won cooking lessons with celebrity chef Circe Silvertongue. After nosing around (with a little help from Circe’s pet pig), Daisy begins to suspect that the temperamental chef has got more secrets than just her ingredients . . .

 This is the fourth book in the Dead Is series and probably my least favorite. The main difference was that her father is in this book and I don't think I liked him very much.  Her mom never stood up for her and that kinda ticked me off.  Daisy has been a reasonably responsible teen and she doesn't get any credit for it from any of the family.  Another reason I wasn't loving this one is that for some reason I figured out the who dunit right away.  Don't get me wrong I enjoyed this and would recommend that you read it, it just wasn't the best out of the series in my opinion.  I'm wondering if the author will continue the series after Daisy graduates high school?  I hope she will!

The Winner Is.................

Well I'm back from the beach and I just randomly selected the winner of the Fall Giveaway!  There were 252 entries which were randomized and every entry was assigned a number and then the little random picker thingy over at random.org randomly picked a number.  See how random this all is?  Number 114 was picked at that person happens to be......................
               Victoria Vschilke

Congratulations Victoria!  I'll be sending you a private email shortly. Thank you to everyone who entered and decided to stick around and see what will happen next here at My Neurotic Book Affair.  Don't forget to enter the contest that I am holding with my daughter The Contest of EPIC proportions!!!! Have a wonderful weekend.

 

Welcome Fall Giveaway Update

Good Morning everyone!  Just wanted to update you all on the status of my portion of the Fall Giveaway.  I am at the beach with my family and today is our last day.  The internet here has been sketchy at best and I get kicked off a lot.  Point is: I've been unable to get on and stay on long enough to figure out a winner.  I will be home tomorrow afternoon and will post the winner by Sunday morning at the latest.  I will contact the winner by email as well as post it here.  Have a wonderful Friday everyone.