Challenges: Old & New!

Oh, 2012, you have been a year filled with amazing books! I had a great time participating in the Standalone Challenge and the Completely Contemporary Challenge. I completed my goals for both of these challenges! 

Hooray! *confetti toss* 

However, my goal for my Goodreads Challenge was 110 books, but I didn't quite make it. I'm okay with that, though!

2012 Reading Challenge

Dizneeee has

read 100 books toward her goal of 110 books.

hide

100 of 110 (90%)

view books

Looking ahead for the plans for 2013, I will be participating in the Standalone Challenge again, hosted by Iceybooks and I Like These Books. It's truly great to read these kinds of books and not have to wait another year for the next installment.

I will also be participating in the Paranormal Reading Challenge. This is a new one this year hosted by Megan Likes Books and Auntie Spinelli Reads. I was excited to find this one since I do enjoy Paranormal books.

I also want to see if I can work on the Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge a bit. There are quite a few books on the list that I've been wanting to read and get checked off of that list. I think 2013 is a great year to accomplish some of those!

Finally, my Goodreads Challenge will remain at 110. I want to see if I can do a little better in the coming year since I know when I started slacking on my reading in 2012.

2013 Reading Challenge

Dizneeee has

read 0 books toward her goal of 110 books.

hide

0 of 110 (0%)

view books

Review: In Honor

Title: In Honor
Author: Jessi Kirby
Source: Purchased

Goodreads Summary and Cover:

Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her. 

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn . . . and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

My Thoughts:
Sooo, this book. This book... Well...

In Honor...such a roller coaster! If you've read the synopsis, you know our main character is Honor. Honor lost her brother while he was serving in the Marines. The book opened with his funeral. Sobfest!

After she got home from his funeral, she saw a letter that was delivered a couple of days prior and she opened it to read it. It's a letter and concert tickets. Finn, her brother, wanted her to go to this concert before she started college. He was that kind of big brother! He wanted her to go to the singer's last concert and joked with her to pass on the message about how good looking he was.

As Honor was getting in the car the next morning, Finn's ex-best-friend, Rusty, shows up...drunk. He passed out in the car and Honor had to take him along. Plus, he did mention about possibly needing help while on the road. That's enough to get any girl to agree to let someone tag along!

As they were driving, we found out more stories about Honor, Finn, and Rusty. Honor can't help but notice how hot Rusty is, but she's always kind of thought that he was cute. However, Rusty can't seem to keep his eyes off of Honor and realizes she's grown up. The prom dress story? Hilarious, yet possibly the sweetest thing EVER! Why Finn didn't take his full scholarship and enlisted in the military? Gut crushing!

They did end up having a little trouble with the car, but after a little accident...with a cactus. Hah! They made it to Rusty's mom's house and spent a couple of days until it could be fixed. Then, back on the road to California for the concert!

They made it to California and got to stick their feet in the water; one of her brother's wishes for Honor. However, with some police trouble and frustrations, the concert...well, I'll stop here. You need to read the ending for yourself! It's a GREAT ending!!!

I saw on Goodreads that Shanyn (ChickLovesLit) called Rusty "Tim Riggins." If you have ever seen Friday Night Lights, he is the epitome of Tim Riggins! YUM! :)

I really loved this book! Jessi Kirby created very interesting and lovable characters...even the characters who are around just a short time. The faith, trust, and guts that Honor had to take the trip were amazing! I adored the bond that she had with her brother. He was always looking after her.

My Rating:

Such a sad, yet hopeful, book. Amazing story! Rusty and Honor? I approve!

In Honor satisfies part of the Standalone Reading Challenge!

Review: The List

Title: The List
Author: Siobhan Vivian
Source: Purchased

Goodreads Summary:

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

My Take:
What a very interesting concept! This book nailed it! "It" being the existence of the hierarchy of high school beauty and the cruelness of it all.

Siobhan did something that I don't recall seeing before -- she told a story from 8 different girls perspectives. Not once did I get lost, either! Each girl had her own personality that stood out from the other girls.

By the end of the book, I was tearing up a little bit. The girls who had sisters and how their relationships turned after the list was heart-warming...and some heart-wrenching. The issue that Bridget has is such a big deal. I'm not glad it was a flaw with one of the girls, but I am glad it was in the book. So many young girls deal with weight issues and probably think the same things daily that Bridget did.

I like that we found out who created the list and why. However, I wanted to slap the person for all of his/her selfishness. (I can't give the sex away! :) )

Can I say a little "hooray!" for Danielle! Good for you!

Now, let's hope that seal gets buried somewhere. For good!

My Rating:

This was my first Siobhan Vivian read and I absolutely liked it! It was a great read!

The List satisfies both challenges I'm in - Completely Contemporary Challenge and the StandAlone Reading Challenge

Ditched Review

Title: Ditched: A Love Story

Author: Robin Mellom

Source: Borrowed from my Library

Goodreads Summary:

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom. And then ditched her.

My Take:

Oh. My. Goodness! Poor Justina! What a night!

First, she starts her night off in a blue, shimmering prom dress. Not bad...until dyed matching shoes and a matching blue corsage are added. Never take mom's advice about big events when you're 17! Never!

After being left by Ian at the prom, I'm glad Justina had the Mikes, Serenity, and Bliss. The two girls from another school treated her better than the people at her own school. Serenity was the bomb!

All of the mishaps of the evening are hilarious! Ending up at the 7-Eleven, talking to two complete strangers about your night is just the icing on the cake. Gilda and Donna: therapists in their own right.

Barracuda. I nearly died laughing with the helmet, tighty-whities, and the freezing curiosity. Hahah!

So many YA books read and I've never come across dog-swapping before. But, essentially, this dog-swapping is what ruined Justina's night! Read the book -- you'll see!!

The only downfall to this book is the reputation that these girls get. So? She kissed two boys at a party 8 months ago. I don't like that she felt and was called a slut for her kissing game.

My Rating:

Ditched: A Love Story is an enjoyable read! This is a fun one to recommend for someone looking for a fun read about a disastrous night ending up all right. I am a sucker for happy endings. :)

Ditched satisfies a portion for both of my challenges: Completely Contemporary Challenge (CCC) and Standalone Reading Challenge (SARC).

Teaser Tuesday 3.27.12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) 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 and AUTHOR too, so others can add to their TBR piles or Goodreads list if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week comes from Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom.**

He puts his wallet away and gives me a smirk. "Looks like you worked a rough shift last night. Hope you made enough to buy yourself a new dress." Oh my god, this ass things I'm a hooker! Pg. 22

Let me know if you've read this book and your thoughts!

**The book's link takes you to the Goodreads page for the book. 

The author's link takes you to the author on Twitter.

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight Review

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Source: Borrowed from my Library

Goodreads Summary:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A. 
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it. 

My Take:
What a sweet story! I laughed, cried, laughed, and cried. This was a great read!

The story is mainly about Hadley, a 17 year old girl on her way to London for her father's wedding. She's against the wedding and doesn't want to go. After missing her flight, she's booked for the next flight to London. While waiting in the airport, she meets Oliver. *swoon*

Oliver is from London and he's heading back there for, what Hadley assumes, is a wedding. We find out later in the book, as they're getting ready to take wedding photos, that Oliver must have been going home for his father's funeral...not a wedding.

Hadley takes off and finds her way to Oliver. We find out why Oliver really didn't have much to say about his father and why he didn't really tell Hadley on the plane about him or where he was really going. *hugs to Oliver*

Hadley then finds her way back to the hotel where everyone is before the reception begins. There, Hadley loses it! She and her dad get to share some time together and she tells him about meeting Oliver and him helping her with her claustrophobia on the airplane. Hadley and her dad got to air out their feelings about the divorce and her feeling like he just abandoned her.

The bridesmaids were sweet and funny! They swooped right in and got her ready for the wedding and then got her all ready for the reception again. I loved the "boy tears" comment. Amen! We've all had those! Hehe

I loved the story about the elephant and the quote: "Time to consult the elephant." That was a sweet father/daughter "thing" that they had.

My Rating:

I will definitely need to purchase my own copy of this book. This is one that I would love to read over and over anytime I need to believe in love. Especially love at first sight.

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight helps me along with my goals for the Standalone Reading Challenge hosted by IceyBooks and I Like These Books and the Contemporary Challenge hosted by Chick Loves Lit.

Teaser Tuesday 3.20.12

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) 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 and AUTHOR too, so others can add to their TBR piles or Goodreads list if they like your teasers!

For my very first Teaser Tuesday (YAY!!!), I have The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith in my hands today!**

"Perhaps the day's collection of delays is beside the point, and if it hadn't been one of those things, it would have just been something else: the weather over the Atlantic, rain in London, storm clouds that hovered just an hour too long before getting on with their day. Hadley isn't a big believer in things like fate or destiny, but then, she's never been a big believer in the punctuality of the airline industry, either."  Pg. 2

Uh, Hadley and I share the same views there! I'm not a pessimist, but boy, she and I are realists! I can't wait to read more!

Let me know if you've read this book and your thoughts! The synopsis sounds so interesting! I really do enjoy books that take place in a short amount of time. So much can happen in 24 hours.

**The book's link takes you to the Goodreads page for the book. 

The author's link takes you to the author on Twitter.

Spell Bound Review

Title: Spell Bound
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Purchased my own copy

Goodreads Summary:

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted. 
Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. 
Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late? 

My Thoughts:
Oh, YAY! Finally! Archer or Cal? Cal or Archer? I'm pleased with the outcome. Sad about one part, but it worked for this story. Very well!

Rachel Hawkins has written another book that has lots of humor. The amount of nervousness that Sophie feels, she exudes that much wit in return. It's hilarious! Honestly, who doesn't make bad jokes when they're nervous? I do!


This book had more information for Sophie to find out more of who she is...from her mother's side of the family. We got her dad's history in Demonglass. With the cliffhanger in Demonglass, you kind of figured it out, but it's nice to see you're correct in your assumption!


I'm glad that Hawkins wrote such great friends for Sophie. Imagine taking on evil on your own! When Jenna and Archer joined Sophie and Cal when they were going to the Underworld...I just sobbed. I had to put the book down for a moment! Sheesh! Archer, Jenna, Cal, and even Elodie were great in this book!


Yay for Mrs. Casnoff! Without her, there is no telling what would have happened there at the end.


Overall, I enjoyed and really liked Spell Bound. However, there wasn't as much "SHAZAM!" in this one as the first 2 books. I love the series and will read all 3 again at some point. They all have a happy home on my lovely bookshelf...and my heart.


PS. I <3 Sophie Mercer-Atherton-Brannick!!! Hehehehe What? She said she'd hyphenate! :)

My Rating:

Everyone should read this book! If you haven't read the first two, what are you waiting for?!?!

Pure Review

Title: Pure (Covenant #2)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Source: Purchased from Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

There is need. And then there is Fate... 
Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her. 
When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her. 
When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Typically, I add my rating at the end of my thoughts, but I can't HOLD IT BACK!!!

My Rating:

I think I need a cherry on top of the Mickey heads...or something! Oh my gods!!!!

My Thoughts:

So much. So much excitement! My copy arrived in the mail yesterday and I tossed everything else off to the wayside. PURE was here! It seriously took me a few minutes to calm down so I could start reading. Oh, yeah. I had to harass Jennifer and Loretta on Twitter for a little bit. Loretta posted a teaser this past Tuesday for Teaser Tuesday and I have been DYING since I read it. Literally. I honestly think I was dying from the suspense! Read that teaser and join me on the drama llama! *dies all over again*

Since reading the book, I understand the teaser...and the context. Whew! I can live!

Now, a lot of times, the second book of a series is just kind of fluff and stuff, more world building, character development, etc... to bridge us over to the third book. This book IS NOT LIKE THAT!!! (Pardon  my caps!!!!) Pure is completely worthy of being a second novel without the boredom. Every page turned was more of the story. Yes, there's development, but there's so much that happens! Alex's training. Aiden. Seth. Her quick-draw anger. Her too fast of a mouth. Her uncle. Her stepfather. The daimons. A new enemy(ies) at the NY Covenant. ALL THERE and important as ever!

Before I continue, let me say that I would totally go into servitude for just a moment with Aiden. Moving on!

I'm not disappointed in the development of Alex and Aiden. I understand. I don't even mind the development with Alex and Seth. They have a connection. A "you complete me" kind of connection. However, I do hope something is done about the Breed Order. It would be interesting to see the course of Alex/Aiden/Seth then.

The oracle had some interesting things to say in this book. Some that I figured out through the book, but the part about "him" must be coming in the next book. I wonder who the double-sided player is! Telly? Marcus? Lucian? Leon? (He's been kind of an interesting character...) Not Aiden. Not Seth. Nooo...

There were a couple of times that I got a little teary while reading. The first time was when Alex felt so dejected by Aiden. The emotions that Jennifer wrote there...heart-wrenching! The second time...well, I can't say. All I will say is Caleb. Caleb...such an awesome best friend!

I feel as if there's so much that I could say about this book, but it just all feel ushy gushy and not really informative. Jennifer has written another great book! I was giddy knowing it was being delivered. Giddy when it arrived at my house yesterday. Giddy when I opened the box and held the book. (I actually was shaking!) I was giddy while reading the book. (I had to put it down a few times because I was just so excited! Don't worry, the put down moments were, like, 5 seconds!) Oh, the giddy when I finished! (I couldn't even post my review last night. I had to sleep on it.) Giddy when I saw the third book comes out in October. And now, the giddy of posting this!

I think everyone should definitely pick up this series to read! It's just so GOOD!!!!