Awards, you say!

I received this award from my dear friend Melissa at My world! Thank you, Mel! Be sure to check her blog out it's pure awesomeness!

This award is designed with one purpose in mind. Pass this on to other bloggers who have awarded you in the past.

I would love to say thanks to all you awesome bloggers who have presented me with wonderful awards! I haven't been able to pass on and say thanks for a few awards I have been given by very dear friends and wonderful bloggers lately due to a busy schedule, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to say thanks!

Jessica at A BookLover's Diary

Michelle at The Book Addict

Teddyree at The Eclectic Reader

Sara at My Life is an Effing Fairy Tale!

Alexia at Alexia's Books and Such...

Deb at Bookmagic

Froggy at Froggaritaville's Bookcase

Ryan at Wordsmithonia

Alyssa, Gregory and the Gang at Teens Read and Write


Thank you all very much! And If you haven't been by these blogs please visit them all, they're all very wonderful blogs that I enjoy every day!

A Special Thanks....

I just wanted to say Thank you to all of you awesome followers that sent an email to Maria for me! I just received an Email saying she is sending me a signed copy of Storm Glass today, how exciting!! So, expect a picture and a review sometime soon! You guys rock!!!!

Storm Glass

From Amazon.com:
As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

(Thank you so much!!!!!)

I have a favor to ask, please!

Hi guys! I'm going to ask a very special favor of 5(or more) of you. I am absolutely dying to read Maria Synder's book - Storm Glass - and I can get a signed copy of it from Maria, if five of you email her telling her that Krista from Life or Something Like It... chatted up her books with you.

Maria has this great referral program that anyone can participate in. You just have to talk to FIVE people about her books and then have them send an email to her saying you did. You get to pick one of her books and she'll send it to you signed! How cool is that?

Check it out on Maria's website.

Her email is maria@mariavsnyder.com

Please, Let me know in a comment below if you're willing to do this for me! Thanks! And, if you haven't heard about her books, here's a little bit about them:

The Study Series - consists of Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study.

Poison Study

From Publishers Weekly.

Shivers, obsession, sleepless nights—these are the results not of one of the milder poisons that novice food-taster Yelena must learn during her harrowing job training but of newcomer Snyder's riveting fantasy that unites the intelligent political focus of George R.R. Martin with a subtle yet potent romance. Through a stroke of luck, Yelena escapes execution in exchange for tasting the food of the Commander, ruler of Ixia. Though confined to a dank prison cell and doomed to a painful death, Yelena slowly blooms again, caught up in castle politics. But some people are too impatient to wait for poison to finish off Yelena. With the help of Valek, her steely-nerved, cool-eyed boss and the Commander's head of security, she soon discovers that she has a starring role to play in Ixia's future—a role that could lead to her being put to death as a budding magician even if she hits each cue perfectly. The first in a series, this is one of those rare books that will keep readers dreaming long after they've read it.

Magic Study

From Publishers Weekly.

Family betrayal, a power-mad serial killer and a potential diplomatic crisis threaten the independent-minded heroine of Snyder's fine sequel to Poison Study (2005). With the overthrow of the royal family of Ixia, 20-year-old Yelena Zaltana, who was kidnapped as a child by the evil magician Mogkan, is now free to return home to Sitia. Her reunion with the family she hasn't seen in 14 years palls when her brother spreads rumors she's actually a spy from Ixia. At the Magician's Citadel, where Yelena enrolls to hone her prodigious magical talents, her powers raise concern that she might be a rare, powerful Soulfinder. Then a string of ugly murders reveals the presence of a rogue magician in the area. As Yelena joins the hunt for the killer, complications grow with the arrival of a diplomatic mission from Ixia—including her lover, Valek, a notorious spy and assassin, sure to be executed if anyone sees through his disguise. Snyder's lively, charming mix of romance and fantasy is sure to gain her new fans.

Fire Study
From Publishers Weekly
Fans of high-spirited adventure, intrigue and romance will celebrate the third book (after 2007's Magic Study) in the saga of reluctant mage and diplomat Yelena Zaltana. The news that Yelena is a Soulfinder, able to manipulate the spirits of the dead and the living, hasn't made her popular with the inhabitants of Sitia's Magician's Keep, since the last Soulfinder turned people into mindless slaves. First Magician Roze Featherstone's hostility toward Yelena increases until the Sitian Council decides to send Yelena north as diplomatic liaison to the rival nation of Ixia. When Roze takes over the council, imprisoning her rivals and driving the nation to the brink of war with Ixia, Yelena is caught between her duties as liaison, her love for Ixian intelligence officer Valek and her fear of her own power, which she must embrace fully to defeat Roze and restore the council. Snyder delivers another excellent adventure, deftly balancing international and local hostilities against Yelena's personal struggles.Glass series: Storm Glass and Sea Glass

These next two books are from Maria's newest series.

Storm Glass

From Amazon.com:

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

Sea Glass
Student glass magician Opal Cowan's newfound ability to steal a magician's powers makes her too powerful. Ordered to house arrest by the Council, Opal dares defy them, traveling to the Moon Clan's lands in search of Ulrick, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because she is sure another man now her prisoner has switched souls with Ulrick.In hostile territory, without proof or allies, Opal isn't sure whom to trust. She can't forget Kade, the handsome Stormdancer who doesn't want to let her get close. And now everyone is after Opal's special powers for their own deadly gain....

(Thank you so much, guys!)

Book Review: Legacy!

Author: Cayla Kluver
Genre(s): YA, Fantasy
Publisher:AmazonEncore
Publication date: August 18, 2009

Recommended? Yes, anyone looking for a good Historical Romance.

My Review:

Legacy is a tale narrated by Princess Alera in the unbearable position of an arranged marriage by her father, King of Hytanica, to the egotistical and irascible man known as Steldor. Alera finds herself in the position to defy her father when Narnia, a secretive boy from Cokyri, is brought before her father as an enemy. While trying to find a way out of this potential marriage, a century old war erupts between Hytanica, her home land, and the kingdom of Cokyri. Heroine Alera now must chose between becoming Queen of her homeland, or her hearts true love.....

Legacy is the first book in a trilogy written by the young author of 16, Cayla Kluver. This story is very much a romance with fun characters that all have their own unique personality's. Kluver has done a wonderful job with the plot of her story and keeps you engaged and wondering what will happen next. We are left with a cliffhanger ending, which leaves you stupefied and ready for book 2, Allegiance. While I really enjoyed Legacy there was one downside. Kluver's writing, while good, was lacking and over descriptive at times to where I found myself skimming over useless information. But as a first novel (not to mention her age) I think she did an exceptionally good job and has tons of room to grow into a wonderful author! I'll be looking froward to continuing this series.

My Rating: 3.5/5 Very good

About Author:

Cayla wrote the first draft of Legacy during her sophomore year in public high school. She then worked very hard to combine her junior and senior years so she could graduate early. She completed the first draft of Allegiance, which continues the story begun in Legacy, the following year. She is sixteen years old, and lives with her family and her muse (Nina, her cat) in Wisconsin, where only the hardy survive. Legacy is her first novel. The first edition of Legacy won first place in the 2008 Reader Views Literary Awards, and a bronze medal in 2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Award for young adults.

Thanks to Eleni at /- LA FEMME READERS -/ for this wonderful book!

(All comments welcome!)

In my Mailbox!

So I just received a few new books in my mailbox and have seen this meme floating around so I thought I'd give it a go. The Credit goes to: Story Siren for 'In My Mailbox'! Okay, on to what I got this week in my wonderful Mailbox:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Synopsis (spoilers if you have not read The Hunger Games):

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Synopsis:
When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it -- until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

Synopsis:
For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art-and he is the city's most accomplished artist. For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly - and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics - and cultivate a flair for death.

My ABC's!

Sara at My Life is an Effing Fairy Tale!, Christine at booktumbling , and Lori at Psychotic State tagged me for this ABC meme so here goes.

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you

2. Share your ABCs

3. Tag three people at the end by linking to their blogs

4. Let the three tagged people know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

5. Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag

Available or single? To be determined, ha, ha!

Best Friend? Yep, Christina and my Mom!!

Cake or Pie? Cake all the way, baby!

Drink of choice? Water always! Root beer, too, but only in a glass bottle. Don't know why but it taste much better that way!

Essential item for every day use? Ummmm.... Computer and my hair dryer..LOL~!

Favorite color? Red

Google? Not really. I'm a yahoo kind of girl! LOL!

Hometown? I'm not telling you, ha, ha!

Indulgences? Books and movies.

January or February? January

Kids and their names? Aubriannah and my little puppy Nala!

Life is incomplete without…? Family, friends, books, chocolate, laughs, and my little puppy!

Marriage? Once upon a time.....*Shrug*

Number of siblings? 2 brothers

Oranges or apples? Oranges and Green apples! I hate red apples, yuck!

Phobias and fears? Ummmm......Like Sara, I'm super scared of things I can't see in the ocean, sharks, stinging jellyfish, and such. Yikes!

Quote for the day? Life is much too short!

Reason to smile? All the great people I've met through my blog! (I stole this answer from Lori, but it's true!)

Season? Summer and Winter...Ha, Ha, I can't decide I love the Fall too!

Tag 3 people?

Ryan at Wordsmithonia

Mel at My world

Michelle at The Book Addict

And anyone else who would like to join in!

Unknown fact about me? I can't go anywhere without a book in my purse, you never know when you may need it! I also Love to do makeup, it's so enjoyable!

Vegetable you hate? Squash, yuck!

Worst habit? Procrastination!

X-rays you’ve had? Back, and teeth!

Your fave food? Chicken!

Zodiac sign? Cancer!

Well, there you have it, My ABC's!

I won my first Book Contest! Woot! Woot!

Thanks to...MY NAME IS ELENI AND I AM A BOOKAHOLIC... at /- LA FEMME READERS -/ I just won my First book contest! Woot! Woot! I really can't wait to read this! I can't even believe I won! Thank you so much, Eleni!

Legacy by Cayla Kluver!

Summary for those of you who aren't familiar with the book:
"An award-winning YA fantasy debut, 16-year-old novelist Cayla Kluver brings a magical touch to an unrelentingly suspenseful coming-of-age tale. Duty-bound to wed her father’s choice in successor to the throne, Princess Alera of Hytanica believes that she is being forced into the worst of all possible fates—a marriage to the arrogant and hot-tempered suitor, Steldor. When a mysterious boy from enemy Cokyri appears bearing secrets and an entirely different view of what's appropriate behavior for a young lady, Alera learns that her private desires threaten to destroy the kingdom. When Narian’s shocking past comes to light, Alera finds herself in a shadowy world of palace intrigue and ancient blood feuds, facing an uncertain future with dwindling options—and must learn to decide between right and wrong all alone. Marked by witty, rapid-fire dialogue and dramatic complexity that belie the writer’s age, Legacy brings a fresh, new sensibility to age-old questions of duty and inheritance and to a young heroine’s quest to find her true voice."

Teaser Tuesdays: Graphic Novel

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

• Here is how it works.
• 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 & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I'm reading The Discworld Grahpic Novels - The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett! See the inside here

"Great A'Tuin the Turtle comes, swimming through the interstellar gulf.... Through sea-sized eyes, he stares fixedly at the destination. In a brain bigger than a city, he thinks only of the weight. Most of the weight is, of course, accounted for by Berilia, Tubul, Great T'phon, and Jerakeen, on whose star-tanned sholders the Disc of the world rests."

This is a picture of the scene of my Teaser Tuesday. Awesome, eh?