Top 10 Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2012!

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I've decided to join in the blog event at the end seeing as this is the most exciting post of them all. Anyways here are the Top 10 Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2012!
(All books linked to Goodreads)

Incarnate
by Jodi Meadows

I have to admit, one of the main reasons I want to read this is because of the cover! It's GORGEOUS! I hope it lives up to the book! I really like it and plus its by a debut author so it can count towards my reading challenge :)

by Veronica Roth

 So, I've read Divergent and absolutely fell in LOVE with it. It was one of the best books I read in 2011! The ending was amazing and so it kept me captivated in the series wanting to read more. I need Insurgent!

by Richelle Mead

I am a MAJOR Vampire Academy fan! After reading Bloodlines and loving it oh and the ending? Was a total OMG moment. I crave more Adrian! I cannot wait until this is released! Richelle Mead's books are simply the best seriously, gotta read em :D


by Lauren Oliver

Ahhhhh Delirium! That was another great book. Gotta love dystopian novels! I love the characters, especially Alex! I need more of him. Yet again, the ending of this one was also a stunner. I have to know how this series will continue.

by Brodi Ashton

OMG. cover to this one too! Definitely pine worthy! Not only that, I've heard many great things about this one and it sounds so good! I hope it lives up to my expectations, oh and it would look so pretty on my bookshelf!



by Julie Cross

Tempest sounds exactly my type of book! It's the start of a new series that I can't wait to get into. It sounds really really good and just look at the cover as well. How graceful...


by Veronica Rossi

Hmmmm. One of those books, where the protagonists are star crossed lovers! I always love a good romance. I can't wait to get stuck into this one!
by Jennifer E. Smith

One heck of a title don't you think? Very clever, indeed! It makes you think of what the book can actually be about. The synopsis also leaves you wanting more. Another love book. YAY!

by Kelly Creagh

I read Nevermore right at the start of 2011 and since then I've been craving for the book that followed. A dark romance with an exciting plot. What more could a girl ask for? *sigh*


by Ally Carter

First of all can I just say how much I disapprove of the UK cover! All the other ones rock and this one... bleughh. Though, I AM DYING TO READ THIS! Did you guys realise long we had to wait to read this book! UNFAIR. So, I really have to read this, quick, quick, quick to see what Cammie gets up to next!


There are SO many more I cannot wait to read! So many book, so little time... Leave a comment to your post if you have joined in too.
Let me know your thoughts :)

2012 ABC Reading Challenge

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With many blogs hosting fabulous challenges for the new year it got me thinking. This year, rather than just participating in challenges, I should host one too! So, me, Cicley from Ciecly Loves Books and April from Book Geek Central after a lot of thinking we came up with...

2012 ABC Reading Challenge
Basically, it's where you read a book that begins with each letter of the alphabet from A-Z. Yes, I realise books starting with X Y or Z will be near to impossible to find but try your best! And if you do manage to hit 26 books, you're just awesome!

You should join definitely join this challenge. It's fun and a great way to discover new authors and books. The challenge will run until January 2013.

Here are some buttons I made!
Make sure you save them on your computer first before posting it on your blog.




How to enter
Create a list on your blog or Goodreads with your list of books. You can create a list of books that you want to read or start a blank list and add the books as you read them. Once you have created your list come back here and add it to the linky below! Make sure that you post it on the same blog/Goodreads that you are going to post your reviews on throughout the year.

UPDATE!
Prize packs are to be won each month. All participants are instantly entered for a chance to win!
We are still in the process of deciding the prize packs ;D

Rules:
You need to be a book blogger or have a GoodReads account.
Any book fictional book released in 2012 will count towards the challenge. MG, Young Adult or Adult.
Make a blog post/Goodreads list on the books you plan on reading and then link back here.
Sign ups end at June 2012


Any questions? Just comment below :D

My Favourite Books and Moments of 2011

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I thought it'll be great if I join in with this awesome end of year book survey hosted by Jamie at The Perpetual Page-Turner in taking a look back at my favourite books and moments of 2011!

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?
ONE BOOK? HA.HA.HA. Here's my top 5 (in no particular order) :)
 Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Naked by Kevin Brooks
Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Divergent by Veronica Roth

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?
Ten Things We Did by Sarah Milowski.
NOT DISAPPOINTING. At all. I just really expected it to be extremely extremely good. And even though I enjoyed reading it, it wasn't as good as I thought it'll be.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
I should have known I'll love this book. It's about ghosts, I just love fictional ghosts =L

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?
ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS! Ahh. I read Anna back in 2010, but I still made all my friends read this. And, they ended up loving it as much as I did. Who wouldn't? I thoroughly recommend this book guys!

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?
Not one. come on! Two. I am so fangirling over The Hunger Games (1,2,3) by Suzanne Collins & The Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter. They both rock my socks! I cannot wait to watch The Hunger Games movie and read the next book in The Gallagher Girls series!!!

6. Favourite new authors you discovered in 2011?
Sarah Dessen, Lauren Henderson, Ally Carter, Suzanne Collins, Jenny Han, Lauren Oliver, Veronica Roth. Seriously. This list can go on. FOREVER. :)

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
About MERMAIDS! Come on. It's total Disney stuff. BUT, I gave it a go and I surprisingly enjoyed reading it. It was just SO CUTE.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
After Anna, I NEEDED to read LOLA. It was soo good, I read it all in one sitting. It was just THAT good :)

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?
Forever by Maggie Stievfater
I really wanted to know how the series would end seeing as the ending of Linger was OMG.
10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2011?
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
I'd hang this on my wall and FRAME IT if I could.

11. Most memorable character in 2011?
MARCUS!! from the Jessica Darling books! I LOOOOOVEEEE HIMMM ;D

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?
Shatter Me by Taharah Mafi
I was entranced. It was magnific!

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
It just really made me think a lot. Even when I would be reading other books. I'd just be thinking about it.

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?
Afterlife by Claudia Gray
First book was amazing. Exciting series. Though, I have to say how much I didn't like how the series ended off in this installment.

15. Favourite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011
The last last line in Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. I'd be spoiling if I'd told you what it was!

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?
I actually re-read a lot of my favourite books. LOL. But, The Jessica Darling series would definitely be the first on my list.

17. Book that had a scene in it that had you reeling and dying to talk to somebody about it?
Things really did get graphical! :O If you've seen the graphic novel and know what I mean, we should really talk!

I can't believe this year has been over SO SOON. Oh and with so many amazing books! Let me know your thoughts :)

The Hunger Games Soundtrack!

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Okay, so I'm pretty sure most of you's haven't watched this. When it was released you guys were probably busy opening presents and chugging down turkey? Yep. I thought so! Better to post it today when all the hype of Christmas has settled, well anyways I get to the point, YOU GUYS HAVE TO TOTALLY CHECK THIS OUT.

"Safe & Sound" by Taylor Swift, featuring The Civil Wars, straight off The Hunger Games movie soundtrack. OMG.
I've always been a fan of Taylor Swift! Her songs never fail to please me. So, yeah I love this. Though, some may hate it but whatever. I just had to to share it!!
Let me know your thoughts :)

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

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Mad Love
by Suzanne Selfors

Pages: 336
Release Date: June 6th 2011
Publisher:  Bloomsbury
Source: For Review from Publishers
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads
When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother-and she needs one fast.
That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. As Alice begins to hear Errol's voice in her head and see things she can't explain, she must face the truth-that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or Errol is for real.

My Thoughts
What can I say about Mad Love? As soon as I saw the title, I knew that I just had to read it. I wanted to see how 'Mad', 'Love' can actually get. Mad Love wasn't amazing or anything like that but I did enjoy reading it. It was a fun, light yet quick read.

Alice's mother is famous. She's known as the Queen of Romance because of her exceptional romance novels. Though, she's now in hospital and her next novel has to be written for publishing. Alice is now in a very sticky situation but then someone emerges, with the name Errol and he may possibly be able to help her out.

When I started reading Mad Love, I really enjoyed it. I love the pace. The new characters that were introduced and the problems that had arisen. Though, after a while, I felt that the story lost a bit of its touch for me. I should have known, seeing as the title is Mad Love so it would definitely relate to that!

Alice is bubbly and childish. She does some really funny things whilst crushing on a guy called Tony she sees very often. Their romance is very cute! Oh and Errol is quite nice too. He's kind of weird but that's to be expected when he claims to be something you wouldn't even imagine someone would actually claim to be.

Mad Love is truly a funny and amusing read!

Author news: Hana (A Delirium Story) by Lauren Oliver!

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Are you a Lauren Oliver fan?
Well, then listen up! Hodder & Stoughton, Lauren Oliver's publishers have an amazing Christmas treat!

Whilst you're eagerly awaiting its sequel, Pandemonium, out in March, you can read Lauren's amazing short story, Hana. It's told from the point of view of Lena's best friend (who, you might have guessed, has some secrets of her own…) There's a shocking twist to her tale that will leave you with your heart in your mouth. The short story is out exclusively in eBook this Christmas - it's available to buy for just 99p for a limited time only over the festive season.

Now, we know you'll be desperate to order it immediately, but we have a favour to ask you. We'd love to give Lauren the best Christmas present ever: seeing Hana at number one in the eBook charts on Christmas Day.
 Merry Christmas - Lauren Oliver - Hodder & Stoughton<
Will you help us get it there by joining in on one big Christmas Eve push? If we all buy it on the 24th December, that will propel it up the charts into (hopefully!) the top spot.

SO. Lets all support Lauren Oliver. Buy Hana and hopefully it number one on the eBook charts!Happy holidays! :)

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

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Hereafter
by Tara Hudson

Pages: 404
Release Date: 7the June 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: For Review from Publishers
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Can there truly be love after death?
Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.
Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their new found happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.
Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

My Thoughts
I've had Hereafter on my bookshelf for a pretty long time. I wasn't planning on reading it for a while and by that I mean a very long time. But then, I had an urge to read something ghostly and so Hereafter it was. Now, I just regret not reading this sooner!

Amelia is a ghost. She's dead, hanging around Earth not having a clue of what her past life had held. Until one day. A car accident happened where she saved a boy called Joshua from drowning. This was the first time someone actually saw her. The first time someone talked to her. The first time she could really figure out things about herself.

I've always had a thing for ghosts. Fictional ghosts. Obviously! And so as I read Hereafter, I was instantly entrapped in this world of love, death and possibilities. I loved how Amelia as a ghost saw things in the world and really got in touch with everything even though she really couldn't connect with anything or anyone.

Except Joshua. Joshua is just someone else entirely. I love his character. I love how he brings warmth wherever he goes, how he cares for Amelia and how he is such a good good good character. Though, I don't really like his name but that's not really an issue.

Things really picked up as Joshua and Amelia started to know each other more and more. Everything become more exciting yet twice as frustrating as Eli came into the picture. He's a ghost too and needless to say, the perfect villain. The events following had me hooked!

Hudson had done a marvellous job. Especially since this is her first novel. I really enjoyed reading this! I can't wait to see what happens with Amelia and Joshua!

Random Acts of Kindness: December (My Birthday Month!)

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Anotherrr RAK month commences!

Rules:
Sign up each month you'd like to participate in.
Show off your participation! Grab one of the buttons available :)
Create a wishlist and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.{Post on your blog, Amazon, where ever as long as there's a link to it.}
If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wishlist and contact that blogger for their address.
At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K! Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!
--
It's my birthday this month! YES. Im soooooo HAPPY! I'm going to be turning officially 17. I can't wait!!! I thought I'll let you guys know... so you can get me something. If you want. LOL!

Heres my wishlist! :D
(I know it's very short!)

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (US edition)
The Morganville Vampires omnibus edition Vol. 2 by Rachel Caine
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
 If you'd like to get me anything off my wishlist just email me at grippedintobooks[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks & Happy RAK-ing (:

New books released this December

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A new month brings new books!
Now this December 2011, many thrilling books have been released, sitting in the bookstores waiting for people like you and me to pick it up and indulge!
Here they are...

Vice & Virtue by Veronica Bennett
1st December 2011
Goodreads | Amazon
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
6th December 2011
Goodreads | Amazon

Trapped by Michael Northrop
15th Decmeber 2011
GoodreadsAmazon

Torn by Cat Clarke
22nd December
Goodreads | Amazon

Dark Parties by Sara Grant
22nd Demeber 2011
Goodreads | Amazon

The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block
27th December 2011
Goodreads | Amazon
What do you want to read or need to read?
(NOTE: These are UK releases)