Twenty-Eleven * Aay to Zee Challenge!

Check it. I’ma do this 2011 A-Z Reading Challenge thang… Hosted by Stephanie over at Thoughts of a Book Junky! If you wanna join in on the fun (DO IT!) she’s got some prezzies and it’s a great way to meet new people and find some totally groovy books! Remember! While you’re visiting us, why don’tcha follow us via GFC, Twitter, NB, or even FB! We’ll follow you back. Pinky Promise!

Twenty-Eleven * Aay to Zee Challenge!

• A – Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCallough / All You Get Is Me by Yvonne Prinz
• B – Burned by Ellen Hopkins / Bad Taste In Boys by Carrie Harris
• C – Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann / Clean by Amy Reed
• D – Delirium by Lauren Oliver
• E – Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst / Entangled by Cat Clarke
• F – Fade (Dream Catcher Series, #2) by Lisa McMann / Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
• G – Gone (Dream Catcher Series, #3) by Lisa McMann / The Gift (Witch & Wizard, #2)
• H – Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler / Haven by Kristi Cook
• I – In The Path of Falling Objects by Andrew Smith
• J – Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
• K – Kiss by Ted Dekker & Erin Headly
• L – Losing Faith by Denise Jordan / Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward
• M -Matched by Ally Condie / The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
• N – Nevermore (Nevermore, #1) by Kelly Creagh / The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki
• O – Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCallough
• P – Pride & Prejudice with Zombies by Seth Graham-Smith & Jane Austen
• Q – The Quickie by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
• R – Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler / Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer
• S – Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves / Stick by Andrew Smith / Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers
• T – To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• U – Unwind by Neal Shusterman
• V – Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz
• W – Wither by Lauren DeStefano / Wake (Dream Catcher Series, #3)
• X – XVI by Julia Karr
• Y – You by Charles Benoit
• Z – Zombie Vs. Unicorn by Various Authors

Ready? Ya Sure? Okay! Let’s read, lets dance, read, shake it and freaking read some mo! You down?
Anyone with rec’s or suggestions, give 'em to me babay, I aint ‘fraid of constructive criticism! Gimme some and I’ll throw some right back ‘atcha! Annnd, the love! C’mon and give us some comment love! We give it to you!

Let’s do this thang.

Molto Kisses dahling. <3

See Below for the deets on this Steph's Challenge. There are detailed instructions if you'd like to join in on the fun! :) 

                                                                                                                            

Welcome to the 2011 A-Z Reading Challenge... 
Hosted by Stephanie!

So... here's how its gonna work... 

Read 26 books this year ( easy right ) 

One for each letter of the alphabet.

Here's how to enter:

Make a post with your list of 26 books and link it back here with Mr. Linky.
If you don't have a blog don't worry.. you can post your list on Facebook, Goodreads or where ever you can find... just link to where ever you posted your list!!

When I have your link you will automatically be entered to win 2 books of your choice.. yes thats 2

Any 2 books you want... under $25 each .. I'm not rich here people.

Plus for every book on my list I read there will be another giveaway...

Thats 26 giveaways that you are automatically entered for and all you have to do is particulate.

Pretty great huh. Read books, get free stuff. 

Want another reason to join... I'll give you one.

Everyone who joins and sends me their address to my email will get a swag pack.. just for joining. 

Signed and unsigned swag including! 

Just send me your name and address, and in the subject bar:  A-Z Reading Challenge

Email: stephanie_xoxo27@yahoo.com

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.
When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on…but are some questions better left unanswered?

Fall For Anything is the first novel by Courtney Summers that I’ve read. I had no idea of Summers’ style nor did I know what this story was about. All I knew was the cover was fabulous and I really wanted to love it. And I did. I more than loved it, I took the lens off the camera, zoomed in and spent the day up close and personal with Eddie Reeves.

“This place never has anything to say to me.”
From the very first moment I began to read about Eddie’s story I was intrigued. Such tragedy. So much pain. So many questions. The most important one? WHY? I could feel it in my heart and soul. The question ached in my bones, I wanted the answer as much as Eddie did. Eddie traces back to the unimagineable night countless times in hopes of learning the truth. On her journey she unexpectedly meets a student of her late fathers. Culler Evans. He seems to know so much. Have so many of the same feelings. They were in sync. The more time she spends with Culler the less she spends with her best friend Milo and the more she thinks maybe she didn’t really know her father at all. So many questions. So many emotions. Sad. Angry. Cold. Numb. Desire. Guilt. Loss. All of these push Eddie for answers.
Robyn, Eddie’s mother is quite a mess. Plagued with utter emptiness and desolution she just can not maintain. Beth, Robyn’s best friend since back in the day has come to stay with her and Eddie to help out. This is disasterous. Eddie and Beth have a hate-hate relationship. Putting the two of them together for a month is mortifying.
Eddie goes for an emotional rollercoaster ride in this novel. The twists and turns are breathtaking. Every page is full of raw emotion, total intensity. There is not one moment when I wanted to step away, I had to finish this story once it was started. Summers’ took me down a path that was so unexpected I found myself holding my breath waiting for the next turn in events. Each and every character was well carved into their orginal personalities. I actually felt as if I knew these people.
This is one story that I will not soon forget, one that will wake me in the middle of the night to ponder over and one that I will with no doubts recommend to anyone that I possibly can.
I think this novel is phenomenal. However, I feel like I was punched in the stomach at the end. Maybe shorted a tiny bit. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED the story but when it was all said and done I wanted more. I expected something more. So I fought with myself on the star sitch going back and forth until I decided to go with my first real feelings.

Final rating = 4 stars

Check it! Courtney and I have a lil present for you.
Read the first 5 (yep! F-I-V-E) chapters HERE! And there’s MORE! There is a short prequel from Milo’s POV HERE!

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Some Besties of Twenty-Ten

 

So over at The Perpetual Page Turner, she came up with this awesome survey about her year in books. I know I'm late but better late than never, riiiight?!  So I decided to dazzle you with suma my brilliant answers. haha. ;) 

1. Best book of 2010?

Amy: The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith! (see my review.)

2. Worst book of 2010?

Amy: The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010?

Amy: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) by Suzanne Collins

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010?

Amy: The Luxe Series by Anna Godberson (I am SO not a chicklit kinda reader)

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010?

Amy: The Study Series by Maria V. Snyder

6. Best series you discovered in 2010?

Amy: Yikes! I gotta choose? Hmm. The Seven Kingdom’s by Kristin Cashore & Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010?

Amy: Andrew Smith, Kristin Cashore, J.R. Ward, Maria V. Snyder

8. Most hilarious read of 2010?

Amy: I’m gonna hafta say, The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?

Amy: The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith! Fo Sho!

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010?

Amy: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff & The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith

11. Most beautifully written book in 2010?

Amy: Parallel: The Life of Patient #32185 by Abra Ebner & Hold Still by Nina LaCour

12. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?

Amy: I’ve gotta tie again! Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly & The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith