Cha-Cha-Cha-CHANGES!

So, as you guys may have noticed I have been redoing the blog! I made a new layout and header image and I'm just in love with them! Also, I switched to the ever popular 3 column layout. If you look on the bottom of the right hand column you will see a button! It's not a very fancy one but you can still link to me if you want to! Comment somewhere if you are and I'll try my best to link back. Finally, If you look up ^ you will see a bar with the those tab link things so it's easier to navigate. There's a home button, my review policy, and an archive for all of my reviews in alphabetical order! *Squee*

Unfortunately, because of all of the renovations I haven't been reading quite as much. :( I hope to have a review up Sunday though so keep an eye out.

Let me know what you think of the new design and if you have any creative criticism.

P.S. - I have some extra backgrounds that I put together when trying to come up with the new layout. They're really simple but nice and I was wondering you guys would like to win them in a contest or if you're just not interested. Let me know please!

Follow Friday and Blog Hop! (4)

Yes, it's that time of week again! BLOG HOPPING TIME! So everyone make like a cyber bunny and hop by some blogs!

*Isn't he FREAKING adorable?!*

Ok, and as for the question. This week's question asking what books I'm dying to get my hands on. Well as a self proclaimed book addict, ALL OF THEM!!! But, for the sake of answering the question I really want to read a few books that have yet to come out. Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins is definitely one I'm waiting on (but then again who isn't? TEAM GALE! Because I want Peeta for myself!!!) Also, I'm still is crazy obsess mode over The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa so I'm definitely wanting the third book in that series to come out. (Don't worry guys I'll calm down about this series in a few days! You'll notice I'll tend to over obsess when I really love a book!) Linger, obviously, by Maggie Stiefvater. Hmm... I know there are a ton more but that's all I can think of now.

Happy Reading and Happy Hopping!

When I'm Not Reading...

This week I decided to participate in the weekly meme, hosted over at The Unread Reader, When I'm Not Reading.

So when I'm not reading I'm usually with one of my three BEST FRIENDS EVER! That would be Nancy, Becky, and Jenny!

^^^ Jenny is the person I take the most pictures with! Whenever I'm at her house I use her photobooth! :) Jenny's on the left with the piggy bank and I'm on the right with the seashell!

^^^Me and Nancy riding the Scoot bus! (No that's not just for old/handicapped people, well maybe it is! But we rode it anyway cause we're awesome like that!) You can kinda see Jenny in the background! Nancy is left, I'm right! **Please ignore my face in this picture I just wanted one with Nanners!

^^^ On the Scoot bus still but this time with Becky! This picture pretty much sums up our relationship. :)

^^^One time Nancy and I tried to make breakfast. I poured she flipped obviously. They were delicious though if I recall correctly! (I've also made breakfast with Becky and Jenny but there are no visual records of this. We made disgusting pancakes with M&M's. They were like rainbow vomit pancakes.)

^^^We also make awesome sims! Meet Tiwanna!

^^^Just recently we found The Mystery Machine in a fire station parking lot and felt the need to take pictures with it! Left to Right: Jenny, Nancy, Becky, Monica.

^^^In the winter we go ice skating on the pond behind Nancy, Becky, and Jenny's houses. (They're neighbors. [Becky and Jenny are twins])

^^^And finally I crash their family's vacations! This is when I went to Maine with Nancy's family. I believe we were creepin' in the tunnels of a fake Fort Knox? I climbed two mountains in Maine (okay they were called Bubbles w/e they're mountain-ish). We also stayed at a haunted hotel in Salem, Massachusetts and we went GHOST HUNTING!

So now you know who you can blame when I'm behind on posts! Well that's all for now for what I do When I'm Not Reading!

Review: The Iron Daughter

Title: The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, #2)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 368

Release: 8/01/10

Rating:(5 out of 5)[That's right! It was rated in Unicorns!]

Summary from Goodreads:

"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, iron-bound 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 alone 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."

Oh. My. Gosh. This book left me pretty much speechless. It was so amazing I couldn't stop reading it! Ahh! I don't even know what to do with myself right now. I just wanted to write my review before I forgot all of the little details.

The Iron Daughter was a wonderful sequel to Julie Kagawa's first book The Iron King. Kagawa once again created a beautiful world for her story that I personally would just love to live in. Her description is amazing, I could really picture every little thing. I felt like I was actually there in the midst of the fighting, in the heart of Tir Na Nog standing next to Queen Mab as she dealt out punishments, and running through the brambles away from a dragon.

The characters also become even more defined and you got a real feeling for the greater depths of the characters. Meghan, the main character, is such a strong protagonist. She puts herself last and everyone else first, fighting to save both her world and the Nevernever. She always stood up for what she believed in and wouldn't let anyone change her mind. She really grew as a character and you got to see her greater depths. Along with Meghan there was her love interest Ash. The depth of their emotions was breath taking really. I could only dream about a romance as great as their's coming my way. And no good story would be complete with out the third love interest coming in. Puck, Meghan's loyal friend who always has her back even though he is completely in love with her and she's completely in love with Ash. Although, things do get a bit interesting here. Wink, wink. (**Note to Julie Kagawa: I totally wouldn't mind if you wanted to write Puck a love interest named Monica, about 5'10", brown hair, brown eyes, extremely gorgeous! Just think about it!) And Grimalkin, the not so lovable tag along cat sith that tends to disappear but always seems pop up at the right moment and know just what to do, he is in my opinion the most interesting of all the characters. I tried so hard to figure him out but I just couldn't! Overall, the characters were just wonderful and there are many shocking (and not so shocking) discoveries.

The plot is slightly similar to the first book but I won't go into detail. (I always fear if I get too detailed I'll give something away and that's just no fun!) There's the good, the bad, and the iron. The Iron Daughter was action packed, fast paced, and there was never a dull moment. Once again, Meghan has to go through both the human and faery world in order to complete her quest and save Nevernever. With her friends for help she fights her way through the novel in order for good to prevail.

The ending was a real cliff-hanger. Just saying. I was really wowed by the novel and cannot wait for the next in this scintillating series. I held high expectations for this book after reading the first one and it actually managed to exceed those so you know it must be good. Thank you Julie Kagawa for writing such an amazing series. I greatly appreciate it. (And really, think about my offer. Puck and I... I mean the character that I described, would make a lovely couple!)

My Thoughts Throughout The Novel:

As I was reading I had to stop multiple times (unfortunately). Since I was reading on Adobe Digital Edition I thought I would share with you my thoughts as I was reading that I posted for bookmarks.

1. love triangle electric, meghan = very strong with decisions, family, love, fighting, smart - figuring out the code, devising plans, meghan + Ash = omg so hot! Puck = My love and I feel bad for him. Iron Glamour = interesting.
2. depth of smoldering emotions = breathless
3. Puck vs. Ash. Ash For Meghan. Puck For Me ;)
4. Way Ash treats her makes me feel bad for her.
5. Dance = Swoon Worthy. Funny.
6. Really get to know Ash better. Greater depth to character.
7. ememies become friends and friends become enemies
8. How many freaking favors has this cat accumulated?
9. beautiful imagery

Ok, so I edited them. A lot. But I didn't want to spoil anything those of you who haven't read it yet!

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday! (3)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine. Big round of applause to them! :)

The first book I'm waiting on this week is...

Title: It Started With a Dare

Author: Lindsay Faith Rech

Pages: 312

Release Date: 09/13/2010

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Summary from Goodreads:

"Self-proclaimed nobody CG Silverman sees her move to an upscale new school as her chance to be somebody different. Her devil-may-care attitude attracts the in-clique, and before CG realizes it, a routine game of truth or dare launches her to iconic status.

While this rebel image helps secure CG’s newfound popularity, it also propels her through a maze of unprecedented chaos, with each new lie and every dare opening doors that, in most cases, were better off left shut.

CG is on a collision course with disaster. Will she be able to keep up the façade? Or will the whole world find out she’s a fraud?"

**Isn't the cover for It Started With a Dare just adorable!

This week I am also waiting on...

Title: Tyger Tyger (Goblin Wars, #1)

Author: Kersten Hamilton

Pages: 320

Release Date: 11/15/2010

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Summary From Goodreads:

"Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming."

They both sound really good, right? Tell me what you're waiting on this week! Leave me a link or just comment it! I'd loved to see what everyone else is waiting on!

Monday Musings

This Monday I decided to do Monday Musings hosted by Should Be Reading! I figured I should have some more things than just book reviews on my blog and memes are always fun fun FUN!

So this weeks question is: Can you read amidst distractions? (tv, others talking, sporting events, etc)

I personally can not read with small distractions such as a conversation between one or two people or some background music or a tv playing in another room. I can however read with a lot of noise. To me silence and an large amounts of noise are kind of equivalent. As long as it's consistent loud or quiet I can read perfectly fine. It's those fainter noises that distract me because I try and tune into them with out even realizing it and it's impossible for me to read again until they go away.

Although I can read in the loud I definitely prefer the quiet. It's a lot more relaxing and I can really sink into the book better.

(Right now I'm even having a hard time typing this up because my mom is singing James Blunt in the kitchen!)

That's how I read! Let me know how you guys read with distractions!

Review: She's So Dead to Us

Title: She's So Dead to Us

Author: Kieran Scott

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 288

Rating:(5 out of 5)

"When money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?

Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father cause when his hedge fund went south and piratically bankrupted all their friends - friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adiós, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.

Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.

But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset the can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.

Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?"

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. At first I thought it was going to be just another silly shallow novel, and in a way it was, but it was also really good. A few of the characters had a surprising depth to them and were really well thought out. I really liked the main character, Ally. She was so strong facing her old friends after her father ruined them financially. She even protected her mother as best she could from the heart ache she knew would occur if her mom found out what had been happening. Jake, who was Ally's love interest, was an interesting character. He was so dependent upon what his friends thought that he hid his relationship with Ally, because she was a "norm" (poor) and he was a "crestie" (rich), and almost ruined it until he got approval from one of the people in his group. If I was Ally I so would not have taken him back! (Oh who am I kidding, he was hot! I totally would!) Also, the teens actually seemed realistic, they drank and cursed and had parties and had a dorky little band play in someone's basement. It was realistic and I could actually see this happening somewhere.

I loved the plot too! There were so many shocking little twists and turns and secrets floating around you never really knew what was going to happen next. There were a lot of things that surprised me (like the end, I didn't realize that this was the first in a series! *jumps for joy*) There was also a little instant messaging thing they did after every chapter and I know a lot of people hated it but I enjoyed it because you didn't know who was saying these things so it gave you some more insight about how people felt about the main characters. The ending was SUCH a cliffhanger I seriously cannot wait for the next book to come out! I know this one just came out but I need the second one like now!

This book really surprised me, I started reading it thinking it was just going to be so-so, but it really wowed me and left me wanting more! This is definitely one of the best books I've read in a while. I read this book online (for free!) too so that made it just a tad bit better. I read it over at Pulse It by Simon and Schuster! Unfortunately, you have be between the ages 14 and 18. :( But anyway. I so totally suggest this book to pretty much everyone! Everything about it was great from the characters to the plot. I loved it!