Gossip Girl Contest

After much deliberation, I've decided to part with my Gossip Girl books. I usually don't give my books away (I physically can't do it haha) but I lost interest in this series a long while ago and now these novels really just take up some much needed shelf space.

Prize:

One winner will receive the first seven books in the Gossip Girl Series written by Cecily von Ziegesar . All books are lightly used (see picture below). They include:

-Gossip Girl                             

-You Know You Love Me

-All I Want Is Everything
-Because I'm Worth It
-I Like It Like That
-You're The One That I Want
-Nobody Does It Better


(The earlier books in the series were purchased when I was in the eight grade.I used to carry them around with me all the time so they're not in as good of a condition as the later books in the series are. )

                                                   

Rules:

-This contest is open to Canada/USA only. Sorry to international readers...you guys just can't seem to catch a break. :( Seeing as there are seven books in this giveaway and one winner, the shipping is going to be pretty expensive. I have some ARCs to give away though so look out for that if you're interested

-Contest is open until midnight EST on Friday, January 1st, 2010

-Make sure to provide your email address

-Post everything in one entry

-If you're not comfortable leaving your information below, feel free to email your information instead (see left hand side for my contact information)

-Make sure to ask for parental permission if you're underage and uncertain

How To Enter:

-Provide me with all the necessary information in the comments section below

Extras:

I know a lot of you guys love these and I know some of you don't so I'm just going to keep it simple. :)

+5 if you're an old follower (love you guys!)

+3 if you're a new follower =D

+ 2 if you want to advertise this contest on your blog (post link as proof in your comment)

Any questions, concerns, anything you can think of, feel free to contact me. :)

Good luck!!

New Releases: December 2009

Above are some of the novels being released in December 2009

IndieBound | Amazon [.ca] | Barnes & Noble | Chapters
 

New in December 2009:

1. Stupid Cupid/Rhonda Stapleton/December 22nd

2. Beautiful Creatures/Kami Garcia & Margaret Sthol/December 1st

3. Scones And Sensibility/Lindsay Eland/December 22nd

4. The Dark Divine/Bree Despain/December 22nd

5. Fallen/Lauren Kate/December 8th

6. Wanderlust (Beautiful Americas, #2)/Lucy Silag/December 24th

7. The Vinyl Princess/Yvonne Prinz/December 22nd

8. Snow Queen/Emma Harrison/December 1st

9. What I Wore To Save The World/Maryrose Wood/December 1st

10. Of All The Stupid Things/Alexandra Diaz/December 22nd

11. Darklight (Wondrous Strange, #2)/Lesley Livingston/December 22nd

Upcoming Release: The Karma Club

The Karma Club

By: Jessica Brody

Pub date: May 27th, 2010

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It’s that mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know—do good things and you will be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what’s coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act.

But when Mason Brooks, Maddy’s boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue-wrestling with Miss Perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them—except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School, it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That’s why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma Club—a secret, members-only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they’re modifying Heather Campbell’s acne cream as part of “Operation Butterface,” or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie and Jade’s own slimy exes, they know they’re just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They’re taking care of one another.

Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. Because it turns out, when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good, even as everything around her seems to be toppling to the ground.

summary from goodreads.com

For some reason, I'm always drawn to novels that contain some kind of secret club of some sort where members take action into their own hands. This novel sounds fun and cute, although it looks as if it will contain an important message as well. If you're interested, you can find an excerpt from the prologue here.

Hold Still

Hold Still

By: Nina LaCour

Dear Caitlin,

There are so many things that I want so badly to tell you but I just can't.

That night Ingrid told Caitlin, I'll go wherever you go. But by dawn, Ingrid and her promise, were gone, and Caitlin was alone. Ingrid's suicide immobilizes Caitlin, leaving her unsure of her place in a new life she hardly recognizes. A life without the art, laughter, the music, the joy that she shared with her best friend.

But Ingrid left something behind. Devastating and hopeful, playful and hopeless. In words and drawings, Ingrid documented a painful farewell in her journal-just for Caitlin. Journeying through Ingrid's final days, Caitlin fights back through unspeakable loss to find renewed hope.

Summary from book

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book grabbed my attention from the opening sentence. For some reason, I'm always really drawn to novels that deal with loss, accompanied by major character growth and development, everything which Hold Still encompasses. I haven't read many books that deal with suicide and I thought that the author addressed the issue very well and accurately. This novel is very sincere and personal. I love it when you're able to get so wrapped up in a story that you forget it's fictional. That's always how I know that I'm going to fall in love with a particular book.

Hold Still is a heavily character driven novel. The plot is simple yet seamless as you follow Caitlin through multiple ups and downs after Ingrid's death. All of the characters whether they're major or minor are all very well developed and enjoyable. I sympathized with their situations and wanted to know more about each and every one of them. Well fleshed out characters are always crucial to a novel and Nina LaCour did an amazing job with hers.

To be honest, I really have no complaints when it comes to this book. I enjoyed every aspect from beginning to end. Not once was I bored and from the initial start of Hold Still, my attention was fully grasped and held until its well wrapped conclusion.

I can't wait to read more from Nina LaCour. Her writing in all aspects the word is tremendous. Along with plot and character, I greatly enjoyed LaCour's way with words. There were sections in Hold Still that I read multiple times because I loved the poetic and lyrical wording. This book was a pleasure to read.

Also, I wish you guys could see this book in person. It's such a creative concept. There are little sketches all throughout the book that tie into the story. Also, the title Hold Still lettering on the cover is made to look like it was written with pen, the paper indenting below like it often does when you press too hard when writing. I always thought the cover was pretty when gazing at it on the computer but in person, it's really stunning.

Sneak Peek Saturday

The Mark

By: Jen Nadol

Pub date: January 19th, 2010

Sixteen-year old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she pointed it out taught her not to do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant.  Until the day she watches a man die.  Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death.  Not how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to hide her secret.  How does the mark work?  Why her? 

Most importantly, if you know today is someone's last, should you tell?   

___________________

There is nothing like the gut-hollowing experience of watching someone die, especially when you know it’s coming.

I saw the man with the mark at the bus stop on Wilson Boulevard when I crossed Butter Lane, as I did walking to school every day.  I wanted to look away, pretend he wasn’t there and run for the safety of algebra and honors English, but I didn’t...

 ____________________

This book sounds so so good. You can read the remainder of the available excerpt here. Visit Jen Nadol's website here.

Upcoming Release: Take Me There

Take Me There

By: Carolee Dean

Pub date: July 20th, 2009

Sometimes sexy, sometimes sad, and always intense, Take Me There is a dark and surprising novel about a boy on the run who's headed nowhere fast.

There's not much of a summary yet although the little blurb above is quite interesting and the cover has definitely grabbed my attention.

In My Mailbox 20

Credit for In My Mailbox goes to Pop Culture Junkie and The Story Siren

Won

 Thanks to Kelsey from The Book Scout for holding the contest that won me this super awesome book! I'm reading it right now and it's really good.