October Wrap Up. November TBR Pile!

Hello everyone. Happy November!

I have decided to do a first of the month post where I show my readers new and old what books I read last month and what books I plan to read in the new month. This is a great way to not only give you guys a past look at what I read but to help me keep up my reading progress as well. So here we go...

October Wrap Up books:

• Just for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs / Read Oct 1st-2nd / 4 Stars
• The Iron Legends by Julie Kagawa / Read Oct 2nd-4th / 5 Stars
• Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs / Read Oct 4th-5th / 5 Stars
• Vaempires: Revolution by Thomas Winship / Read Oct 5th-7th / 4 Stars
• What's Must I Lie by M.M Lake / Read Oct 7th-12th / 3.5 Stars / My Review
• Endure by Carrie Jones / Read Oct 12th-15th / 4 Stars 
• Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien / Read Oct 15th-19th / 4 Stars
• Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky / Read Oct 21st-23rd / 4 Stars / My Review
• Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter / Read Oct 19th-26th / 4 Stars / My Review
• Souls in Peril by Sherry Gammon / Read Oct 28th-30th / 5 Stars / Review to come

A lot of awesome books read last month, and while I did not read as many as I would have liked to 10 book's is not bad. :) What was your favorite book read last month? For me it is a toss up between Souls In Peril and The Iron Legends. :)

November TBR Pile:

• Black City by Elizabeth Richards (ARC) / Reading now / Blog tour/review on Nov 11th
• Vaempires: A white Christmas by Thomas Winship / TBR / Blog tour/review on Nov 23rd
• Vaempires: Zombie Rising by Thomas Winship / TBR / Blog tour/review on Nov 23rd
• Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno / TRB 
• What The Spell? by Brittany Geragotelis / TBR / ARC via Simon and Schuster
• Every Day by David Levithan / TBR / 
• The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa / TBR
• Ten by Gretchen McNeil / TBR
• ?
• ?
• ?

Well there's my November to be read list. :) I am not certain what other books I will be reading later. I guess I will have to wait and see what new books come out. 

What books are in YOUR TBR list? Are there any books in mine you also want to read?

Thank you for stopping by!

Top Ten Tuesday (#13) + Teaser Tuesday (#35)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

This week's Top Ten is: 

Top Ten Favorite Authors In YA Contemporary Genre:

1. Katie McGarry (author of Pushing The Limits)
2. Stephanie Perkins (author of Anna and The French Kiss)
3. Lori Culwell (author of The Dirt)
4. John Green (author of The Fault in our Stars)
5. Jennifer Echols (author of Such a Rush)
6. Hannah Harrington (author of Speechless)
7. Sarah Dessen (author of Along for the Ride)
8. Gayle Forman (author of If I Stay)
9. Sherry Gammon (author of Unlovable) 
10. Ally Carter (author of Heist Society)

Share you list with me in the comments section below. I will come take a peak. ツ

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

The Rules:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) or so “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's teaser comes from Promised written by Caragh M. O'Brien.

She took off the sling she'd use for Maya and checked to make sure she had her knife in her boot. Then she glanced back at the stream of people still winding their way down into the unlake.

Taken from page 58

Please share with me your Top Ten or teaser for this week.
 It may take me some time to get all of your blogs but I will asap. ;)

I am so excited to be reading the next book in the Birthmarked series. Has anyone else read these books? 

Thank you for stopping by and Happy Reading!

 

Top Ten Tuesday (#12) + Teaser Tuesday (#34)

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

This week's Top Ten is: (rewind day)

Top Ten Favorite Books I've Read During The Lifespan Of My Blog 

1. Immortal City by Scott Speer
2. Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
3. Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry
4. Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
5. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
6. The Devouring by Simon Holt
7. Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
8. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
9. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
10. Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

Share you list with me in the comments section below. I will come take a peak. ツ

---

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

The Rules:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) or so “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's teaser comes from Why Must I Lie written by M. M. Lake.

I tried retracing the events in my head, filling the gaps with the information Gabe had provided.

The memory of the incident turned from awkward and upsetting to something divine.

 Taken from page 145 

Please share with me your Top Ten or teaser for this week.
 It may take me some time to get all of your blogs but I will asap. ;)

Thank you for stopping by and Happy Reading!

Short & Sweet Book Review: Tortured by Caradh M. O'Brien

Title: Tortured
Author: Caradh M. O'Brien
Number of Pages: 33

Published: Dec 6th 2011 by Roaring Brook Press

Source: Own/Kindle
Genre:  Science Fiction > Dystopia

Reading Level: YA 
Star Rating: ★★★★ 
Goodreads | Purchase (free)

“But what about Leon?”
 
Now, in this new story that bridges the gap between Birthmarked and Prized, Caragh M. O’Brien answers her readers’ most common question with a tale of suffering and determination from Leon’s perspective. Be warned. The story is a spoiler for the first book in the award-winning trilogy.

This promotional e-book includes this exclusive bridge story, as well as a teaser chapter for Prized, book two in the Birthmarked trilogy, available wherever e-books are sold November 2011.

My Review: For those of you who have read this series you know who Leon is and how he's wonderfully sweet . For those who have not read this series then I hope this review will peek your interests some.

Tortured is a 32 page novella that tells what happen to Leon right after the ending of Birthmarked. It is a great little book to read before you start Prized. So without going into a whole lot of detail because I don't want to spoil Birthmarked for anyone. I will just tell what I liked about the book. One big thing would be getting to know Leon and her family better. Seeing his life within the story through his eyes and what hardships he endures. This gives the reader a better understanding about Leon and where is stands in the book. It was very heartbreaking to read about his life in Enclave but Leon still remained strong and knew he would risk it all for love! 

So within the pages of the short but awe-inspiring novella I feel is the prefect and great addition to read for anyone who has read Birthmarked but had yet to Prized. Tortured is a must read middle short story and a wonderful way to get to know Leon a lot better. (and in my case for more head over heels in love with his character)

Book Review: Birthmarked by Caradh M. O'Brien

Title: Birthmarked
Author: Caradh M. O'Brien
Number of Pages: 361

Published: March 30th 2010 by Roaring Brook Press

Source: Library (Hardcopy)
Genre:  Science Fiction > Dystopia

Reading Level: YA 
Star Rating: ★★★★★ 
Goodreads | Purchase

In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother’s footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve.

Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish.

 My Review: I read Birthmarked some time ago but waited to do my review because I wanted to read the next books in the series before hand. I really have trouble finding the words to describe my feeling for this book. Why? Well because I find it hard to tell other of it's sheer perfection. I know that some of my book friends have told me how amazing the book truly is but I have also heard other say they did not care for it so I was somewhat apprehensive to try it but WOW. I am super glad I did. I have read a number of Dystopian novel in the past couple year but Birthmarked is by far the most unique and inspiring one. There was never a dull moment; such a total page-turner to the very end. 

Birthmark takes place in the distant future where the world as we know it is quite different from our own. The population is slowing dying in this post apocalyptic setting. Gaia and her parents live among outer wall of the city of Enclave. Both Gaia and her Mother are midwifes. Gaia mother has taught her everything she knows. Including the harsh protocol in which they must give the three newborn babies each month of the woman outside the wall to the families which dwell inside Enclave. Gaia and her family must do this to survive life on the outside, until one day her parents are taken and put under arrest in Enclave. Now Gaia must find away inside to rescue her parents and fight to understand what strange events that are taking place in Enclave. Her world will soon be turned upside down with the knowledge she finds and will question everything she knew to be right and safe. As the story progresses she will not only come to find everything she once new is wrong but also finds true love on this unexpected journey for the truth.

I just adored everything bit of Birthmarked. The world building was amazing, the character's are so real and beautiful. The story itself was wow, just WOW! I mean I must have cried at least 5 times while reading it. Gaia is a strong heroin with such passion and she really makes the book come alive. I so totally feel head or heels in love with Leon (he is Gaia's love interest in the book). I just could have not asked for a more perfect story. The ending was sublime and I was thinking about Birthmarked days after I read it. Caradh M. O'Brien is a most brilliant writer and she really knows how to take the reader and make the fall in love with with her story. To anyone who has been debating on reading this book and the series. I would so yes please do so. I can not stress this enough, go now and borrow or buy Birthmarked. You will be glad you did.