Branching Out (7)

Thanks for joining me once again to introduce a new(ish) blogger. This week I am happy to spotlight, April of Good Books and Good Wine:

Name/Screen Name: April
Blog: http://readingisthespiceoflife.blogspot.com - titled Good Books & Good Wine
Age: 22

1. Tell us about your blog.

I participate in book memes, I also review YA books as well as adult books. Typically, I recommend a drink which I feel reflects the flavor of the book, for YA books I recommend non-alcoholic drinks.


2. What is your favorite part about having a blog?

I love being able to recommend awesome books! I also love reading other people's blogs because I find great new books.


3. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - because it's so long.
The Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry - because I'd like to be exposed to more poetry and you have to read poetry slowly to get all the nuances
Wizards and Glass by Stephen King - it's my favorite Dark Tower book!
oh, and if I were allowed to cheat, I'd bring a fully charged Kindle with the classics


4. Who is your favorite author or genre... or both?

I really enjoy a lot of authors. as of right now I really like Juliette Marillier, I think if Patrick Rothfuss writes more books, he'll become a favorite, I also really love L.M. Montgomery. My favorite genres are YA, fantasy, historical fiction and dystopian literature (end-of-the-world/the government's gone insane type-stuff).


5. What are you reading right now?

I'm about to begin Keeping Corner by Kashmira Seth - basically it's a YA about this girl who was supposed to be married at the age of 11, but her betrothed dies, so she has to be a widow for a year.


6. List 3 random things about you.

I used to play triangle in marching band.
I'm terrified of fish.
I idolize Audrey Hepburn.


In honor of Zombie Week, I asked April her feelings on Zombies, this is what she had to say:

Zombies are terrifying. If I had to say the mythical creature I am the most afraid of, it would be zombie. Granted they are very cool, yes, but still I am very scared of them. I think this fear began when I saw 28 Days Later. Instead of zombies though, they were called the infected and the cause was the rage virus. I didn't sleep normally for weeks after that one. Instead I would run down the hallway to get to the bathroom, to brush my teeth. I would keep the lights on. Eventually, my boyfriend assured me he would save me in case of a zombie uprising, because he owns a sword and apparently can use it. Flash forward to a week later, and I decide to go brave and watch the new version of Dawn of the Dead. Bad idea on my part. First off, there are child zombies, as if children aren't scary enough. Second, it's just so pessimistic, like if there were zombies there wouldn't be a chance in hell of people making it through. I actually wound up turning it off in the middle, it scared me so much! My boyfriend's roommate actually noticed my problem, and let me read his copy of The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. It was definately reassuring. If there is a zombie apocalypse I would never want to depend on someone to save me, I'd want to be able to save myself, and now I have the knowledge to do so. Knowledge is power, arm yourself against the zombies.

Thanks April for letting us get to know you better. Be sure to take a second to go check out her fabulous site. And check back in next week for Leslie ofThat Chick That Reads.

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Wanna participate in Branching Out? If so, then shoot me an email at neverendingshelf@gmail.com for more information.

Southern Festival of Books

The Southern Festival of Books is back October 9-11 in Nashville, TN for 3 days of book lovin fun. The Festival annually welcomes more than 200 authors from throughout the nation and in every genre for readings, panel discussions and book signings. Book lovers have the opportunity to hear from and meet some of America's foremost writers in fiction, history, mystery, food, biography, travel, poetry and children's literature among others.

Here are just some of the confirmed YA authors:

- Hester Bass

- Melissa De La Cruz

- Kate DiCamillo

- Loretta Ellsworth

- Stephanie Klein

- Justine Larbalestier

- Daniel Waters

- Sara Zarr


I would LOVE to have a blog buddy or two to join me so if you are in the Nashville area or just planning to come to the event, please email me or leave a comment. And maybe we can get dinner or something. This invitation is also open to any of the authors that will be attending.

In My Mailbox (6)

In My Mailbox is brought to us each week by the lovely Kristi of The Story Siren. Last week, I asked what you thought of me vlogging my IMM posts. Surprisingly, for me at least, most of you voted for yes. Unfortunately this week, I did not have time to try my hand at vlogging, so I have decided I will have to try to fit it in next week. I think it is an experience that I must at least try. For those of you with slow computers and such, I will still be posting my IMM posts as usual, but I will also be including a link to the vlog for anyone who wants to watch it. I think this is a fair compromise. Well on to the real reason you are here, my books of the week.


For Review:
When the Whistle Blows by Fran Slayton
Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe (1 ARC Tours)
The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley

From Library:
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
Wake by Lisa McMann
Austenland by Shannon Hale

Bought:
Devouring by Simon Holt
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Alphas by Lisi Harrison

Book Review: Hush, Hush

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Release Date: October 13, 2009
Summary from Goodreads:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

After reading some amazing reviews of this book, I was squeeing (is that a word?) with delight when I received this book from the Barnes and Noble First Look Book Club. Word in the blogging community is that Becca Fitzpatrick's debut novel is going to take the YA community by storm, and I have to say that I am going to agree with this hype. Move over Stephenie Meyer, there is a new queen bee in town.

Hush, Hush is an exciting, sexy, alluring debut novel featuring what is sure to be the next big swoon-worthy male character. For all you Twilight fans, this is a book that will leaving you asking Edward who? Patch is the kind of man that any girl would go out of her way to have. He is one of the most sexy, fascinating, and infuriating characters I have met in a long time. If you read this book, you will know what I am talking about. The only down side to Patch is that his intensity can be a little overpowering, and sometimes even creepy. But I am willing to overlook this small issue.

While there are some similarities to Twilight, (they get to know each other in a science class, Patch is a mysterious character who tends to stalk the lead female character), they are superficial at best. But what is actually more importantly is that they work for the novel. Instead of feeling like the author is a copy cat, the reader feels like there is no other way this book could have been written. And like many elements of this wonderfully written novel, it just fits so perfectly.

I have very few complaints for this novel. The book is wonderfully well written. It is extremely fast paced, and keeps the readers attention. I adore Patch and Nora. They are a great ying and yang couple. I just wish that there was a little more romance between them, and less sexual tension. (It felt kinda like it went from ooh, you are attractive- you are interesting/frustrating- want to get to know you more- think I may like you, but I don't want to- sexual tension- I love you.) There are also more than enough twists, turns, and suspense to keep any reader interested. Though you may need to be careful reading the last 3rd of the book, there is just SO much going on. While it is not a bad thing, it would have been nice to have some of the mystery unfold earlier in the novel so that the reader is not overwhelmed at the end.

All in all, this is a great read. And I am looking forward to many more from this amazing debut writer. Any fan of Twilight or paranormal romance will be sure to fall in love with Hush, Hush. This book will not let you down.

Sidenote: If anyone knows what Crescendo is about, can you please tell me. I am just really confused as to how this book needs a sequel.

Saturday Swap (2)

My last Saturday Swap did not go as I planned, but that is okay. I am willing to give it another try this week. If I do not think it is working, then I am going to find something else for Saturday.

Saturday Swap has been created to help spread the word about books and bookish things. Examples of things to swap: links to upcoming books that you are excited about reading, a book review or author interview that you wrote which you are proud of, an amazing contest that you are featuring or stumbled upon, a new author or blogger's website. The possibilities are endless.

Anyone can participate by doing the following:

• Leave your link in Mr. Linky with it briefly named: Review of X, Interview of X, Contest X, Blog/Author, etc.
• Make a Saturday Swap post so that I can leave a link either in your comments or Mr. Linky.
  

Zombie Week

Just wanted to take a moment to notify you of a week long celebration of all things zombie. Zombie Appreciation Week starts August 29th and runs through September 6th.

Seeing as zombies are one of my favorite things, I could not turn down the opportunity to participate. So this week at The Neverending Shelf, I will be randomly featuring zombie related reviews, news, trailers, etc.-- anything that really gets us into the zombie spirit.

If you are interested in Zombie week, be sure to check out the September Zombie blog for more information. They will be highlighting the releases of the Young Adult zombie books of 2009, especially the latest release Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by E. Van. Lowe. There will also be daily postings about all things zombie, such as books, comics, movies, and giveaway-- just to name a few. So be sure to take a second to check out this wonderful celebration.

Reminders and New Ideas

Just wanted to take a second remind everyone that I have not one, but TWO fabulous contests going on right now. Be sure to check out:

3-2-1 Contest Ends Sept. 13th

&

Dreaming Anastasia giveaway Ends Aug. 31st

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New Idea Time!

So Alex and Lauren, my lovely friends over at A Flight of Minds, have a weekly segment called Friday Facts. I have been looking for something special to do on Fridays, and I think this will work perfectly. So if you have any topics you want me to address or questions you would like to ask me, please leave me a comment or email me at neverendingshelf@gmail.com. I think this could be a lot of fun, so please help me with it!

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I also want to let you guys know that college for me starts on Monday. It will be my final semester, and if all goes according to plan (meaning my 4 senior English courses do not kill me) then I shall finally graduate in December. YAY!!! I am hoping that school work will not take me away from the blogging community too much, but you never know. Wish me luck!

Book Review: Private

Author: Kate Brian
Published: 2006
Summary from GoodReads:

Tradition, Honor, Excellence...and secrets so dark they're almost invisibleFifteen-year-old Reed Brennan wins a scholarship to Easton Academy -- the golden ticket away from her pill-popping mother and run-of-the-mill suburban life. But when she arrives on the beautiful, tradition-steeped campus of Easton, everyone is just a bit more sophisticated, a bit more gorgeous, and a lot wealthier than she ever thought possible. Reed realizes that even though she has been accepted to Easton, Easton has not accepted her. She feels like she's on the outside, looking in.Until she meets the Billings Girls.

They are the most beautiful, intelligent, and intensely confident girls on campus. And they know it. They hold all the power in a world where power is fleeting but means everything. Reed vows to do whatever it takes to be accepted into their inner circle.

Reed uses every part of herself -- the good, the bad, the beautiful -- to get closer to the Billings Girls. She quickly discovers that inside their secret parties and mountains of attitude, hanging in their designer clothing-packed closets the Billings Girls have skeletons. And they'll do anything to keep their secrets private.

I have been eyeing this book for a while, but I am just now getting around to reading it because I was in the mood for a quick guilty pleasure read. This books was exactly what I was looking for. It was well written, fast paced, and filled with interesting characters. It amazed me how realistic the characters felt-- they made me laugh, they made me want to strangle them, etc. It was fascinating to get a glimpse into this private school world with Reed.

I actually only have two complaints about this read. First, while I liked Reed, her spinelessness, at times, would annoy me. I understand wanting to fit in, but Reed went overboard with trying to please EVERYONE. Then later in the novel, she finally stands up for herself, only to regret it and returns to her spineless self. - sigh -. My other issue is the description. It really built me up for this great big secret, but in the end, all I got was a let down.

Other than those two issues, this is a really nice, quick read. I think I finished it in about two hours. I think this series has potential as long as Reed learns to develop a spine, and not be too much of a sheep. A quick warning, this book does include references to sex, drugs, and alcohol, so it may not be appropriate for younger readers.

Other connections:
If you are interested in this series, there is also a Private episode series on Kate Brian's site. All of the episodes are about 4-6 minutes, and there will be a total of 20 episodes. You can head over to www.privatenovels.com to watch the 9 episodes already posted. I have watched a few of them, and must say that they are pretty fun to watch.

Thursday Throwdown (3)

Throwdown Thursday is going to be a weekly thing where we tackle books with similar characters, covers, themes, etc. to determine which one rocks more. And it is up to YOU to determine the winner!

To vote for your favorite, simply leave a comment with your choice or email me at neverendingshelf@gmail.com by midnight Sunday (8/30). The winner will be announced next week with the new Throwdown contestants.

I hope everyone enjoyed our last Throwdown between the UK and US covers of Fire. I am happy/sad to report that this one was a landslide, with UK winning 17 to o. I guess we now which country will get the better cover of this exciting book. (Too bad, I live in the US.. lol)

This week our contenders are fighting it out to determine which is the better vampire school series:

Vampire Academy or House of Night?

As always if you want to have your own TT, leave a link!

Book Review: The Swan Maiden

Author: Heather Tomlinson
Published: 2007
Summary from GoodReads:

In the quiet hour before dawn, anything can happen. A third daughter can dream of being a creature of flight and magic, of wearing a swan-skin like her sisters. But Doucette must run the castle household while her older sisters learn to weave spells. Her dream of flying is exactly that—until the day she discovers her own hidden birthright. Sudden, soaring freedom—it is a wish come true. Yet it comes with a price. As Doucette struggles to find her own way in the world, she risks losing the one she loves most of all.

This was overall a hit and miss book for me. Upon first glance, I was instantly drawn to it by its lovely cover. I love how the artist plays on the human and swan form. It is beautiful. However, once I got into the book, I learned quickly that covers can be deceiving. Within a few pages, I was overwhelmed with Tomlinson's use of French terminology. It is everywhere. And while I applaud the author for attempting to make this book as authentic as possible, since the original tale has French origins, I fear some readers may be put off by its over usage.

While I enjoyed many of the twists that Tomlinson attempted, it was at times poorly executed. Overall, it felt like the author was juggling way too many plot elements. I honestly believe that if some things were cut out, then this would be an amazing novel.

All in all, I really did like the main character, Doucette, and many of Tomlinson's twists to this wonderful fairy tale. I would have just preferred to have this novel toned down a little bit.

Waiting On Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday is presented by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. The book I am desperately waiting on this week is:

The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods, #4)
Release date: October 6, 2009

Summary from GoodReads:
With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged. Young, fanged, and fabulous, Melissa de la Cruz's vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the Blue Bloods series.

I am so excited about this book coming out! Blue Bloods is one of my all time favorite series. I can't wait to see what De Le Cruz has in store for us readers.

And the Awards go to...

Me!! LOL. So I have been blessed with receiving a slew of blogger awards lately. But unfortunately, I have been really lazy about posting them. Well, I think I need to change that. So here is a mega awards post.

Thank you to Miss Eliza for:

The Humane Award
What's it all about ?:
Is to honor certain bloggers that are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn't for them, my site would just be an ordinary book review blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. This award is to thank them for their growing friendships through the blog world.

My nominees:

Emily of Red House Books
Eleni of La Femme Readers
Alex & Lauren of A Flight of Minds

Thank you to The Ladybug Reads... for:

Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers.


My nominees:

April of Good Books and Good Wine
Suzana of Bookalicious
Zia of My Life in Not So Many Words

Thank you to Briana of The Book Pixie:

I am not sure about the rules for this one. So here are some nominees:

Suzana of Bookalicious
Debbie of Debbie's World of Books
Ashley of Books Obsession





Thanks again to Briana:

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

My nominees:

Everyone!

Thank you to Lori of Pure Imagination:

Now, the rules for this one are as follows:
The Kreativ rules state that:
Once you receive this award you are to list seven of your favorite things and then nominate seven other blogs. So here goes...




1. Ice cream! I could not survive without it.

2. My husband. Even though, he drives me crazy (sometimes). He also makes me laugh. Look at this picture from our wedding. Does he not look pleased with himself?














3. My baby, Gracie. She is the best cat in the world for us. Plus have you ever seen a cat that barks at birds? Funniest thing EVER!













4. Books. They have been amazing to me throughout the years. And there is still nothing like crawling into bed with a good one.

5. Blogging. I swear I can't believe I did not do this earlier. I have met so many amazing people because of this.

6. Rain. Even though I am an "adult," I still love playing in the rain, or at the least listening to it. Very calming.

7. Starbucks Mocha Frap. That is my guilty pleasure.

My nominees:

Again, I am going to have to go with everyone. I think every blogger has their own style, and I just love checking everyone's out.

Two for Tuesday (5)

For this Two for Tuesday, I was in the mood for zombies. I blame District 9 for this. To explain, I have this really bad habit of going to the movies, and finding myself overly absorbed by the trailers. On more than one occasion, I have found myself forgetting what movie I am there to see since I was so captivated by the trailers. Goofy, I know. Anyways, I saw some really good looking trailers so I think I am going to try to theme TfT. This week, like I said, is all about zombies.

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Teaser:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. Never was this truth more plain than during the recent attacks at Netherfield Park, in which a household of eighteen was slaughtered and consumed by a horde of the living dead."

p. 1 of Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith, Jane Austen

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Trailer for the week is Zombieland.

Plot: In the horror comedy Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus is a big wuss -- but when you're afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee is an AK-toting, zombie-slaying' bad ass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita and Little Rock, who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

3-2-1 Contest

Updated:

Since this seems to be more complicated than I imagined it would be, I am changing the rules a little bit. There are still going to be 3 winners-- one will get 3, one will get 2, and one will get 1. Instead of tiers, I have now just made a list of books you will be able to chose from. If you have already entered, you are taken care of.

To enter:

Just leave me a comment with your email address.

The winner of the 3 books will still be a part of my 100 first followers, but anyone, including those who did not win the 3 books, are eligible to win either 1 or 2 books. You don't have to include if you are part of the 100 first. I will take care of that on my end.

You must be a follower.

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I am sure you are looking at the title thinking: What is a 3-2-1 contest? Well, it is a celebration of me reaching 100 followers, and a great chance for me to highlight some of my favorite series. I hope I got a fair selection of what everyone helped pick out. If there is something you REALLY want to win and I do not have it listed, please email me so that I may consider adding it.

If you have any questions about the contest, please email me before you enter.


Extra entries:

+2 for each time you advertise this contest - sidebar, twitter (please @neshelf), blog, etc. Please leave a link.
+1 for becoming a follower.
+2 if you were already a follower (thank you!!).
+4 for grabbing my blog button.


Contest Now Closed


Selections:

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Frostbite by Richelle Mead
Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz
Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz
Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Storm Glass by Maria V. Synder
Sea Glass by Maria V. Synder
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Fire by Kristin Cashore
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Meridian by Amber Kizer
Immortal by Gillian Shields
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev
Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Skinned by Robin Wasserman
Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - Seth Grahame Smith
Harry Potter Should Have Died by Emerson Spartz and Ben Schoen
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
Darkest Whisper by Gena Showalter
Storm of Shadows Christina Dodd

Branching Out (6)

Welcome to this week's Branching Out. This weekly feature highlights bloggers in the blogging community. Our blogger this week is Prodhi. Let's see what we can find out:


Name/Screen Name: Prodhi/WordVore Prod
Blog: http://myriad-words.blogspot.com
Age: 15


1. Tell us about your blog.

My blog is dedicated only to YA lit. Basically you'll find all sorts of features there---reviews, blogger and author interviews, upcoming releases as well as anything else I can come up with at the moment. But the content and style of my reviews ad interviews is what makes my blog different from others--I hae very detailed, elaborate reviews and my interviews have questions you've never heard before :P


2. What is your favorite part about having a blog?

Communicating with others in the book blogger community. To anyone who's interested in starting a book blog: the BB community is one of the most warm and welcoming blog communities.


3. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?

Hmm...this is difficult!

Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen


4. Who is your favorite author or genre... or both?

Author: So many!
Genre: YA, definitely. Thriller/Mystery is a close second.


5. What are you reading right now?

Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler. So far it's pretty good:)


6. If I wasn't blogging, I would be...

Listening to music, goofing off, talking on the phone or trying my pathetic hand at guitar.


7. Name some of your favorite blogs.

Long list!
thestorysiren.com
booksbytheircover.blogspot.com
bookworminginthe21stcentury.blogspot.com
anotherbookblogwhore.blogspot.com
pattepoilue.blogspot.com
iheartmonster.com


8. List 3 random things about you.

I live in Bangladesh.
I'm scared of spiders. Especially ones which are laying eggs at the moment.
I want to marry Nathan from Psych Major Syndrome.:)


Thanks so much Prodhi. It was so much fun to learn more about you and your blog. Be sure to stop by and say hi to Prodhi. Tune in next week for my special guest: April of Good Books and Good Wine.

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Are you new, upcoming, or been at it for awhile in the blogging world and want to participate? If so, then shoot me an email at neverendingshelf@gmail.com. for more information.

Follow Your Five

Just want to take a quick second to introduce you to a new project that some of my favorite authors are involved in. If you have a second, you should check this out:

LIVING YOUR FIVE IS HERE!

We know, we know… we’ve been hinting about it for weeks. The super secret project of Kay Cassidy, Tera Lynn Childs, Alyson Noel and Becca Fitzpatrick. The #fivers hashtag. The Founding Fiver badges. The huge top secret contest. So many secrets!

Good news. The secret’s out.

Join us for the worldwide launch of Living Your Five! Living Your Five is an online community dedicated to changing our world one person at a time. You don’t have to cure the world of cancer or banish world hunger in a single day. It’s about working together, each of us taking one more step every day. It’s about knowing what you care about–what you’re passionate about!–and stepping away from the sidelines of your life to make your mark on the world.

To celebrate the launch of the official Living Your Five web site, we’re even hosting a contest with awesome daily prizes and a MEGA grand prize all courtesy of our Founding Fivers! Find out all the details at www.livingyourfive.com.

We’re ready to change the world. Now it’s up to you. Will you watch from the sidelines or join us on the ride? (Come on, we know you want to!)

Whatcha Think?

You may or may not have noticed that I made so changes throughout the week. Well, if you did-- thanks, I owe you a cookie. If not, it is no big deal. :( Anyways, to recap:

Stayed with IMM on Sunday.

I moved Branching Out to Monday.

Added a trailer to Teaser Tuesdays to morph it into Two for Tuesdays.

Wednesday stayed the same with WoW.

We had our second week of Throwdown Thursday.

Friday was the same.

And Saturday, I introduced Saturday Swap. (which appears to need changes)

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Now, I want to see what you thought of my changes: like them, hate them? Please take a moment to leave me a comment letting me know what you thought, what you liked, what I can do better. Please be honest, but not mean. As a reward, I will give you +2 entries in either of my contests. All you have to do is let me know in your comment which contest they are for.

Thanks!

In My Mailbox (5)

This lovely meme is host by Kristi of The Story Siren. This was a much better week than I had anticipated. Let's see what I got:


I have had these for a while but forgot to ever post about them.

The Everafter by Amy Huntley
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Shifter (Healing Wars #1) by Janice Hardy
Rampant by Diana Peterfreund
The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler

Got in the mail:
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (ARC)
Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Girls Acting Catty by Leslie Margolis (ARC -- Thanks Kim!)





I also want to share the box that Kim sent to me. I <3> it!!

Book Review: Dreaming Anastasia and Giveaway

Author: Joy Preble
Releases: September 1, 2009 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Copy provided by: Publisher
Summary from GoodReads:

Sixteen year old Anne thinks her life is pretty ordinary – until she smacks into handsome, mysterious, and okay, annoying Ethan on her way to chemistry class. Now Anne has powers she doesn’t understand, a history altering mission she may not want, and a growing attraction to this blue-eyed stranger. And Ethan- who at eighteen made some choices he’s starting to regret – realizes that Anne is the girl for whom he’s been searching – for a very, very long time. Stir in doomed Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia – who is definitely not quite as dead as the history books say – and Baba Yaga, the legendary witch from Russian folklore, and you’ve got DREAMING ANASTASIA, a contemporary YA fantasy that alternates between the voices of Anne, Ethan, and Anastasia as Anne and Ethan join forces to battle the bad guys and save Anastasia. Only problem is – no one’s quite sure who’s really bad and who’s good. And everyone has some secrets.

To preface this review, I must first tell you of my minor obsession regarding Anastasia. Do you remember the cartoon movie Anastasia? Well, my obsession started a little bit before that when I learned about the Romanov family in history class that year. Then when the movie came out, BAM! I was hooked. I just had to have all these books regarding Anastasia, and her family. I remember that I just could not get my hands on enough information. I was so fascinated with this topic. A few years pass and as with many obsessions, mine slowly ebbed away. Then I saw this book, and well...

I am not going to lie, I had HUGE expectations for this book. And I am very happy to report, Preble did not disappoint me. The book features an intriguing premise that is sure to captivate any reader with an interest in Russia history and folklore. This book drew me in rather quickly, and did not let go. The plot is very well paced. It is not too fast, but not too slow. In addition, every aspect regarding Anastasia and her life has been wonderfully researched and blends together seamlessly in this debut novel.

Preble's blend of fiction, history, and folklore is spellbinding. Throughout the novel, I would find myself thinking, "Ooh, I did not know that. Wonder if it is true?" Case in point, Viktor's heritage. The only flaw I can point out within this enchanting novel is Anastasia's journals. To clarify, this is not a fault of Preble's but rather the font used. The font was in a cursive format, which I had a hard time reading. While distracting, it does not actually take away from the writing; if any thing, it actually gave it a more realistic feel.

Overall, I am smitten with this debut novel and its author. It has everything that I love in a historical novel. An original premise featuring a heroine that any reader can be proud of. Anne is spunky, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. Ethan sounds absolutely yummy. Tess is fantastic, and exactly what a best friend should be. There are just too many amazing elements to gush about. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.



Be sure to check back in on September 5th when I will have Joy Preble as my special guest!

________________

-- Contest Closed --

August Contest Winners

Thanks to all for making my first real contest so successful. Even though it took me longer to add the entries than I thought, it was worth it. Without further ado, the winners are:

Grand Prize: A Flight of Minds!!

Runner-up: Wendy

I will get around to emailing you guys here in a bit. But if you want to go ahead and send me your picks and mailing address, I won't say no. Congrats to you!

Sad that you didn't win this contest? Be sure to also check out my 3-2-1 contest!

Saturday Swap

Saturday Swap is a new meme to help spread the word about books and bookish things. Examples of links to swap: a book review or author interview that you are proud of, maybe an amazing contest that you are featuring or stumbled upon, a new author or blogger's website. The possibilities are endless.

My link swap is for my 3-2-1 Contest:
http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com/2009/08/3-2-1-contest.html


Anyone can participate by doing the following:

• Leave your link in Mr. Linky with it briefly named: Review of X, Interview of X, Contest X, Blog/Author, etc.

Book Review: Darkwood

Author: M.E. Breen
Released: May 12th 2009 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Summary from GoodReads:

Darkness falls so quickly in Howland that the people there have no word for evening. One minute the sky is light; the next minute it is black. But darkness comes in other forms, too, and for Annie, the misery she endures in her uncle's household makes the black of night seem almost soothing. When Annie escapes, her route takes her first to a dangerous mine, and later to the king's own halls, where a figure from Annie's past makes a startling appearance. All the while, reported sightings of kinderstalk-mysterious creatures that prowl Howland's dark forests-grow more frequent.

Darkwood is one of those novels that leaves you thinking WOW! There is so much going on in this intriguing debut novel that I am still trying to get my head wrapped around it. The story has an interesting premise featuring a land that suddenly gets dark for no explanation, an orphan trying to survive, and 2 adorable cats. I really enjoyed Annie as a character; however, I felt like the cats were the actual stars of the book.

In addition, I have to give kudos to Breen for the major twist of the novel which includes Annie and her relationship to the kinderstalk. (Did not see that coming.) While this novel was a joy to read, there are so many questions that Breen left unanswered. At this point, it is unclear if there will be a sequel, but I would be interested to learn much more about the world of Darkwood.

Breen has a unique writing style that is witty, engaging, and filled with twists and turns. Despite some minor flaws, this was a very engaging book to read on a rainy afternoon.

Throwdown Thursday (2)

Welcome to another exciting edition of TT. Throwdown Thursday is going to be a weekly thing where we tackle books with similar characters, covers, themes, etc. to determine which one rocks more. And it is up to YOU to determine the winner!

To vote for your favorite, simply leave a comment with your choice or email me at neverendingshelf@gmail.com by midnight Sunday (8/23). The winner will be announced next week with the new Throwdown contestants.

I hope everyone enjoyed our last Throwdown between Werewolves and Vampires. And the winner is:


Werewolves-- by 1 vote!








This week's contenders are the UK cover of Fire (left) vs. the US cover of Fire (right) in a no holds barred cover match:













Happy Voting! And do not forget to leave a link in Mr. Linky to your own Throwdown.

I <3 Libba Bray!

If there is only thing that I love most of all, then it is spunky author promoting their book. One of my favorite spunky authors is Libba Bray who is an amazing writer with a one of a kind personality. And her upcoming book, Going Bovine, looks like it will be amazing!

Please check out her trailer for Going Bovine. I promise you this is a must see video! Even if you are not interested in the book, you must watch the video for fun. There is nothing like an author walking around New York City in a cow costume.

Waiting On Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday is presented by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. WoW helps spread the word about upcoming books that deserve to be lusted over. My choice of the week is:

Hold Still by Nina LaCour
Release date: October 15, 2009

Summary from GoodReads:
An arresting story about starting over after a friend’s suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction.

Dear Caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can’t. Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words and illustrations, Ingrid left behind a painful farewell in her journal for Caitlin. Now Caitlin is left alone, by loss and by choice, struggling to find renewed hope in the wake of her best friend’s suicide. With the help of family and newfound friends, Caitlin will encounter first love, broaden her horizons, and start to realize that true friendship didn’t die with Ingrid. And the journal which once seemed only to chronicle Ingrid’s descent into depression, becomes the tool by which Caitlin once again reaches out to all those who loved Ingrid—and Caitlin herself.

I chose this book for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that I love this cover. The model looks so sad and lost. Second reason is that it sounds like it will be an amazingly emotional book. I cannot wait to read it!What are you waiting on?

(Un)Book Review: Libyrinth

Author: Pearl North
Released: July 7th 2009 by Tor Teen
Summary from GoodReads:

Haly is a Libyrarian, one of a group of people dedicated to preserving and protecting the knowledge passed down from the Ancients and stored in the endless maze of books known as the Libyrinth. But Haly has a secret: The books speak to her. When the threat of the rival Eradicants drives her from her home, Haly learns that things are not all she thinks they are. Taken prisoner by the Eradicants, who believe the written word to be evil, she sees the world through their eyes and comes to understand that they are not the book-burning monsters that she has known her entire life. The words of a young girl hiding in an attic—written hundreds of years before Haly’s birth—will spark the interest of her captors and begin the change necessary to end the conflict between the Eradicants and Libyrarians. With the help of her loyal companion Nod, a creature of the Libyrinth, Haly must mend the rift between the two groups before their war for knowledge destroys them all. Haly’s life—and the lives of everyone she knows—will never be the same. A powerful adventure that unites the present and future, Libyrinth is a fresh, magical novel that will draw in young readers of all genres.

Welcome to my first (un)book review. These reviews will focus on books that I am unable to finish and why. While I do not enjoy quitting a book, it does happen from time to time usually for a specific reason.

Stopping page: 49 / Chapter 4

Reason: It really hurts my feelings to have this be the first book I have not finished in a while. For a few weeks leading up to its release, I was super excited about being able to get my hands on this book. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time getting into the story. Honestly, it took me 3 tries just to get past the first chapter. In the following chapters, I would find my attention captured, only to have it lost a couple of pages later. At this point in the book, the author has explored the setting well, making it intriguing and inviting. Yet I find that I do not know enough about the main characters to make me care about them. I think that maybe part of what is holding me back on finishing this book. The other part is probably the writing style. It is really dry. In addition, I find Haly's ability to "hear" books more distracting than interesting since most of the quotes add little to the plot.

Due to Libyrinth having such an interesting premise, I am not completely ready to give up on it. This is definitely a book that I want to explore, but I do not think that right now is the best time. It will be going back into my TBR pile to be picked up at a later date. If you have read this book, I would love to hear your comments.

Disclaimer: Please note that I am not saying that you will not like this book. What I am actually saying that I am a moody reader and this was just not the book for me at the moment.

100 Followers

I am VERY happy to announce that I have 100 followers!! Thank you so much. Words cannot express how excited/surprised I was to hit 100 in such a short time. I never thought my blog would do this well. So what does this mean for you, my lovely followers? It means another great contest!

The contest will be announced on Friday so look out for that.

Two for Tuesday (4)

Two for Tuesday is gonna to be two things bundled into one. I will be continuing with the teasers and adding in a trailer. Hope you enjoy the change.

Teaser Tuesday 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, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser:


The man with the mole said only, "Shouldn't have done it," then untied her and brought her over to stand at the very edge of the cliff.

"Now watch."



p. 55 Darkwood by M.E. Breen


***

I am also excited to show you the book trailer for Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I have to say this is one of the best book trailers I have seen in a while. And it doesn't hurt that the model is really, really attractive. Enjoy!

The Mega Contest

There's another huge contest going on over at Bloody Bookaholic you must check out!

You can win up to 7 of the following:

- Signed copy of Dreaming Anastasia + Goodies
- Hardback Another Faust
- Hardback Prophecy of the Sisters
- ARC The Dark Divine
- ARC Hush Hush
- ARC Give Up The Ghost
- ARC Ash
- ARC Behind Every Illusion
- ARC Shiver
- ARC Eyes Like Stars
- ARC The Demon's Lexicon
- ARC Betraying Season
- ARC Any Given Doomsday
- Dead Until Dark
- Gossip Girl 1st Book
- The Black Tatto + poster
- Vampire Academy
- Frost Bite, a Vampire Academy Novel.
- Shadow Kiss, a Vampire Academy Novel.
- Blood Promise, a Vampire Academy Novel.

20 books, now I am going to have 3 winners.

Winner number One gets to pick 7 books out of the bunch.

Winner number Two gets 3 books out of the bunch.

Winner number Three gets 1 book out of the bunch.

Only the first winner gets to choose his or her prize.
For the other two I get to choose what they get.

It ends September 27!

If you enter tell her Kate from The Neverending Shelf referred you, both me and you will get extra entries!

CSN Furniture Preview

Just wanted to share a bit of good news with you. I was recently contacted by Jason of CSN Furniture to host a review of one of their wonderful bookcases. (Needless to say, I did a major happy dance when I received his email.) After drooling over their site, I decided that I would love to own this bookcase:

Although they have TONS of gorgeous bookcases, I think this one will suit my needs perfectly. Stay tuned for my review of this great looking bookcase, along with some great organizational tips for your bookcase.

And don't forget to check out CSN's wonderful line of home office furniture which features items from bookcases to desks! (They even offer organization items, chairs, and lamps.) It seems they have everything to meet your office needs.

Branching Out (5)

It feels a little weird to be posting this on Monday, but hopefully it will work out. In case you do not know yet, Branching Out is a weekly feature focusing on new(ish) bloggers. Anyone can be a part of this, you just have to answer some simple questions for me, so that we can all get to know you better.

This week I am happy to welcome Lea of YA Book Queen:

Name/Screen Name: Lea
Blog: YA Book Queen @ http://yabookqueen.blogspot.com/
Age: 18

1. Tell us about your blog

I focus primarily on YA novels (lol, obviously). I'm still such a newbie, but slowly I'm getting in contact with authors for interviews and hopefully some contests very soon.


2. What is your favorite part about having a blog?

I love just reaching out to other people, sharing my favorite books, and hearing what books they love. I just love the sharing aspect to it all, branching out and reading books you never would have before just based off of what someone on your blog told you.


3. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?

Ah, oh no! a. Avalon High by Meg Cabot (to keep my spirits up!)b. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (maybe it will help me survive)c. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (because I love Wes <3>


4. Who is your favorite author or genre...or both?

Hmm, t his is hard. I guess I'll always say Meg Cabot is my favorite author, because I've grown up reading her books. My favorite genre currently is fantasy/futuristic/paranormal/romance books.


5. What are you reading right now?

Sadly, I haven't gotten my books from Amazon yet, so I'm stuck reading a book for college.


6. If I wasn't blogging, I would be...

Reading.


7. Name some of your favorite blogs.

Author blogs are awesome, but I'm going to put some blogger blogs instead.
http://www.bookworminginthe21stcentury.com/
http://fantasticbookreview.blogspot.com/
http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/
http://butterflybookreviews.blogspot.com/
and I really do enjoy reading The Neverending Shelf! I'm so jealous of the name!


8. List 3 random things about you.

When I was a kid, I despised reading. I didn't start loving it until middle school after reading the first Princess Diaries novel. - I totally suck at riding ATV's in sand dunes. And feel so bad for blasting someone with sand by accident. - I always forget to turn on my phone, and when I do turn it on, I forget to bring it with me.


Thank you Lea for answering my questions. Check back next week for our next blogger Prodhi.

_______________________________

Are you new, upcoming, or been at it for awhile in the blogging world and want featured? If so, then shoot me an email at neverendingshelf@gmail.com

Let There Be Change

I have been thinking (which is usually not a great idea) about making some changes to my weekly schedule and trying out something new. Here is what I have so far:

Sunday: IMM
Monday: Branching Out
Tuesday: Two for Tuesday (Teasers + Trailers)
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday: Throwdown Thursday
Friday: Reviews, Interviews, and Whatever else
Saturday: *It's a Surprise* (since I am still working out all the details)

Of course, I will be sprinkling in reviews and other stuff as it comes up. Please pardon my growing pains as I adjust, and be sure to let me know what you think of the changes. Also if there is something you would like to see added or changed, please feel free to leave a comment or email me. Thanks!

Contest News

I just love contests. If you do not believe me, check out my Neverending Contest List on my sidebar. Any hoo, I just found another great contest for those Vampire Academy lovers. Book Nerds is having an amazing contest to win 1 of 5 copies of Blood Promise! So stop by there and check it out. And be sure you say you heard it from me!

Be sure to also check out my contest for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. It ends this Saturday.

In My Mailbox (4)

IMM is a weekly feature presented by Kristi at The Story Siren. This week was rather slow because I am trying to play catch up with my TBR pile.


Bought:
Silent Echos by Carla Jablonski
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
Shapeshifter's Quest by Dena Landon

Bookish Item:
A really large and very cool Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side bookmark that the lovely Beth Fantaskey sent to me. And she signed it!! Woot.

_______________________________

As a reminder, be sure to check out my contest for Shiver and other great reads here and I will also start a new contest once I hit 100 followers!

Another Great Contest

Just found another GREAT contest that everyone needs to be aware of:

Lost in a Book is holding a fabulous birthday contest for:

1. ARC of Shiver
2. ARC of How to Say Good-bye in Robot
3. ARC of As You Wish
4. ARC of Give Up the Ghost
5. ARC of Lipstick Apology
6. ARC of Devoured
7. ARC of The Sweetheart of Prosper County
8. Hardcover copy of Eyes Like Stars
9. Hardcover copy of Hannah (Daughters of the Sea)

As if that is not enough, if she gets 150 followers then one other winner will win a YA book pre-order of their choice via amazon.com!

More followers = more winners, so stop by and enter. Also if you could tell her I referred you, that would be amazing. If I get 5 referrals, we all get +5 entries. Happy Contesting!

Branching Out (4)

Welcome to another great segment of Branching Out. It is here that you will get your weekly fix of blogger information. This week I am happy to welcome Robby of Running for Fiction.

Name/Screen Name:Robby
Blog: Running for Fiction(http://runningforfiction.blogspot.com)
Age:14

1. Tell us about your blog.

My blog, Running For Fiction, is just a place for me to talk about books. I love books. I love reading. I love writing. I'm an aspiring author, and I've written a few novels, and reviewing books just helps me understand them better. Writing about the books i read helps me see a new perspective, or, to rephrase, see things from a different perspective.


2. What is your favorite part about having a blog?

Knowing people read it. I reviewed Susane Colasanti's books, and left a comment on her livejournal telling her when I'd reviewed her first two books, When It Happens and Take Me There. Then when I reviewed Waiting For You and she linked it in a post without me even telling her, it made me insanely happy. And just getting comments and having followers. Knowing my love is spreading makes me infinitely happy.


3. If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would they be?

This is hard, because I don't re-read books. I buy all my books, but I pretty much only read them once and then move on. But my top three favorite books are--- Let's Get Lost by Sarra Manning Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti and The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti so i guess those.


4. Who is your favorite author or genre... or both?

I have so many favorite authors I can't even begin to write them all down. There's Sarah Dessen, Sarra Manning, Elizabeth Scott, Laurie Halse Anderson, Rachel Cohn, and so many more. Adult authors are Jodi Picoult, Augusten Burroughs, Jennifer Weiner, and so many more of them too. My favorite genre is realistic fiction. Life doesn't always have a happy ending. Life isn't 'once upon a time' and 'happily ever after.' I love books that tell it how it is. Those are the books I want to write, too.


5. What are you reading right now?

I'm just about to sink my teeth into E. Lockhart's books. When I read books by an author, I like to read every single one, from their first to their current release. To see how they're grown, and just because it's what I've done for a long time. E. Lockhart just released the third Ruby Oliver book. She's coming to the Boston area to do a signing. If it's public, I am definitely going so I can tell her how totally awesome she is.


6. If I wasn't blogging, I would be...

Drinking coffee (preferably Starbucks,) writing, reading, doing yoga. And doing my homework (well, once the school year starts.)


7. Name some of your favorite blogs.

I read a few author blogs- Sarah Dessen, Elizabeth Scott, Susane Colasanti, Sarra Manning, Sara Zarr, and E. Lockhart. And my favorite YA book blogs are numerous. Every single one is my favorite. I can't even begin to pick favorites. I love all of them.


8. List 3 random things about you.

Uh...let's see... 1. The reason my favorite ice cream flavor is Mint Chocolate Chip is because of Ben & Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie ice cream. 2. I have a pottymouth. It gets me in trouble sometimes. 3. When I'm stressed out, I don't bite my nails. Instead I bite the skin beside my nails. Not my cuticles, though. That hurts too much.


Thanks so much Robby for sitting on the hot seat. Be sure to stop by Running for Fiction to say Hi. Tune in next week for Lea of YA Book Queen.

______________________________________

Are you new, upcoming, or been at it for awhile in the blogging world and want featured? If so, then shoot me an email at neverendingshelf@gmail.com to let me know if you would like to give a short bio, classic interview, or want to take over The Shelf for a day with a guest post featuring information about you, your blog, or whatever else you want to rambling about.

BBAW Reminder

Just want to remind you: The 2nd Annual Book Blogger Appreciation Week is coming up! And voting for your favorite blogs ends tomorrow (August 15th). If you have not voted already, be sure to stop by and make your vote count!

Here is some additional information about BBAW:

The dates of BBAW are: September 14-18, 2009, and is organized by Amy of My Friend Amy.

A separate blog has been set up which contains all the information to keep you up-to-date. Here is some basic info:

WHO: Anyone who blogs about books is invited to participate. In fact, we want everyone who blogs about books and reading to be a part of this week!

WHAT: A week where we come together, celebrate the contribution and hard work of book bloggers in promoting a culture of literacy, connecting readers to books and authors, and recogonizing the best among us with the Second Annual BBAW Awards. There will be special guest posts, daily blogging themes, and giveaways.

WHEN: September 14-18, 2009

WHERE: Here at the new Book Blogger Appreciation Week Blog! (Please note that this year there are three separate blogs and feeds—one for the main event, one for giveaways, and one for awards.)

WHY: Because books matter. In a world full of options, the people talking about books pour hard work, time, energy, and money into creating a community around the written word.

Book Review: The Cave

Author: Steve McGill
Released: February 13th 2009 by BookSurge Publishing
Copy Provided by: Author
Summary from GoodReads:

When World War I began, Arthur Pratt did what many other Americans did, joining a foreign army to fight while the United States was still trying to avoid entering the conflict. He was reportedly killed in action, though no body was ever recovered, and his surviving family had only letters and photos from the war to remember him by. Eighty years later, Arthur?s great-great-grandson Ian is fascinated by the war he?s learned about from his family scrapbooks. He wants to be adventurous and brave just like Arthur, which for Ian means testing his mettle against the spooky Butterfield Ranch and a mysterious nearby cave. When weird things begin happening around him, Ian realizes he?s being called upon to solve a mystery?but doing so will require venturing into the cave. What he discovers there is more magical?and more dangerous?than he ever imagined, leading the boy to a revelation that will change his life forever. The Cave is a haunting, touching novel, sure to enchant young-adult readers.

If you are looking for a gripping combination of horror, historical, and adventure, The Cave just may be the book for you. McGill creates an interesting and fast paced plot which keeps your attention. One of the most appealing aspects is the anti-war undertone. McGill takes a different approach by showing his readers realistic details of wartime deaths. These soldiers do not always die in a grand battle, but rather in everyday situations that serve no real purpose. While McGill highlights these senseless deaths, he does so in a manner that is completely respectful and befitting to a fallen soldier.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a very quick read at 185 pages. However, the story never felt rushed, and I was thankful for that.

Throwdown Thursday

Throwdown Thursday is going to be (hopefully) a weekly thing where we tackle books with similar characters, covers, themes, etc. to determine which one rocks more. And it is up to YOU to determine the winner!

To vote for your favorite, simply leave a comment with your choice or email me at neverendingshelf@gmail.com by midnight Sunday (8/16). The winner will be announced next week with the new Throwdown contestants. Since I have been constantly thinking about Shiver and Twilight, they will be our first contestants:


Which is the better lead paranormal archetype?

Werewolf

OR

Vampire

Happy Voting!
_________________________________

Wanna have your own Throwdown? Just leave your link in Mr. Linky so that we can all check it out.

Fun Contests

There are some really great contests going on. Be sure to check these out:

Lea of YA Book Queen is having a contest for Meridian or One Butt Cheek at a Time by Amber Kizer. Be sure to check that out!!

_______________________________________

At Princess Bookie, there is a chance to win one amazing prizepack! Here's a list of all of them, just copied and pasted:

1. Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick ARC
2. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen ARC
3. Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters ARC
4. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater ARC
5. Troy High by Shana Norris ARC
6. Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott ARC
7. Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn ARC
8. Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
9. Death by Series by Linda Gerber (3 books total)
10. a 5 dollar giftcard from Walmart (you can buy yourself half of a book with it, lol)
11. 3 Sarah Dessen books ( Just Listen, This Lullaby, Someone Like You)
12. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
13. Fire By Kristin Cashmore ARC
14. Last but not least, I have some extra amazon cards, so I will also include a preorder for CATCHING FIRE BY SUZANNE COLLINS. It will be shipped to on or around Sept 1st (whenever they ship it)

AND a book of your choice (under $15.00 please and it can be a preorder as long as it comes out in September-so many good books get released)

Now is that awesome or what? Enter here. There's also another contest going on there, this time to win My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter, right here. If you enter the first contest, if you could say Kate (The Neverending Shelf) referred you. It means an extra entry for both of us!

New Moon Trailers

I thought I was done with all the Twilight postings, but this was kinda funny. It is a new teaser trailer for New Moon with pop-ups added in. Enjoy!

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Waiting On Wednesday (3)

Waiting on Wednesday is presented by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. WoW helps spread the word about upcoming books that deserve to be lusted over. My choice of the week is:

Gateway by Sharon Shinn

Summary from GoodReads:

As a Chinese adoptee in St. Louis, teenage Daiyu often feels out of place. When an elderly Asian jewelry seller at a street fair shows her a black jade ring—and tells her that “black jade” translates to “Daiyu”—she buys it as a talisman of her heritage. But it’s more than that; it’s magic. It takes Daiyu through a gateway into a version of St. Louis much like 19th century China. Almost immediately she is recruited as a spy, which means hours of training in manners and niceties and sleight of hand. It also means stealing time to be with handsome Kalen, who is in on the plan. There’s only one problem. Once her task is done, she must go back to St. Louis and leave him behind forever. . . .


I chose this book because I am in the mood for some travel and romance. This book looks like it will have both. Plus, I love this cover. It is so colorful with some nice artistic elements added in.

What are you waiting on?