Suko's Notebook Giveaway!

   Sorry about the LONG period I went without posting any reviews. I'm determined to start up again! Today, though, I'm just here to mention a great giSveaway going on over at Suko's Notebook, a fantastic book blog that my mom just happens to own!

   The winner receives a $75 gift certificate to CSN stores, which sells almost everything imaginable! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment, and you can receive extra chances by becoming a follower, commenting about what you might spend the $75 dollars on, or posting about it on facebook, twitter, or your own blog. It really is a great little giveaway to kick off the holidays! Make sure to enter by December 27th, because the winner will be posted the very next day

   So hop on over to Suko's Notebook and enter for your chance to win! Good luck, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :]

Mockingjay Review!!

     As promised, here's a review of Mockingjay, the third (and final) book in the Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins. I was so excited when I found out that my mom had gotten it for me! At the time, though, I was in the middle of a wonderful series, so I had to put off reading it for a couple of weeks. When I had time, though, I dove right into it. After reading both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, I'd have to say that Mockingjay was the best.
 
   Even more captivating than the first two books, Mockingjay was very hard for me to put down. The first hundred pages or so were a bit slow, but once I got into it, WOW. District 13 has started a full-blown rebellion against the capital, and Katniss finds herself LEADING it. This book really just tells the story of Katniss finding herself in the midst of chaos. There's also the ever-present question of who she will choose: Gale, her best friend, or Peeta, who helped her survive the Hunger Games? This action-packed end to the series is just... amazing.
   I don't know how she does it, but Suzanne Collins manages to write books that actually get better as the series progresses. Usually, the first book is always the best, but in The Hunger Games series, I'm not sure if that's true. :)

Long story short, Mockingjay is simply amazing. If you were thinking about reading it... my advice to you is to read, read, read! If you haven't read the first two books though, I suggest you do, otherwise things will be very confusing. Other than that, happy reading! :)

Book Blogger Hop and The Guardian Review!

 

   First off, TGIF! It's been a long week. Anyway, since it is Friday, it's time for the Book Blogger Hop, a meme hosted by Crazy-for-Books every Friday, where you can visit and be visited by other book bloggers! This week's question is:

In honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, let's take time this week to honor our favorite book bloggers and why we love them!

   Well, I think my favorite book blogger (biased, yes) would have to be my mom, Suko, from Suko's Notebook. :) While she not only is my mother, Suko posts fabulous reviews, giveaways, and author interviews all the time! She reads and reviews a variety of books and authors, ranging from Nicholas Sparks to Deepak Chopra! If you have a chance, stop by! :)

    

    Now, onto my review. Today, I finished The Guardian, by Nicholas Sparks, and I have to say that it is one of the best books I've ever read. I have read countless books in my lifetime, and this one definitely ranks in the top three. 

    It is a typical Nicholas Sparks book starting off - a wonderful romance, halted by a terrible tragedy that leaves you teary-eyed for hours. This particular novel, though, is a thriller, as well as a romantic tragedy. Before Julie's husband of four years, Jim, dies, he arranges for a Great Dane puppy to be delivered to her after his passing, along with a note that says he will always love her, protect her, and be her guardian. Years later, she decides to begin dating, and that's when things turn... interesting. She dates a few guys who turn out to be duds, then meets Richard. He has a great job, is good-looking, and treats her like royalty. Yet she can't deny the feeling that she should be dating her husband's former best friend, and her current best friend, Mike. Well... let's just say that Richard doesn't do well with rejection.

   

   I simply couldn't put this book down. All in all, it's just an amazing book. I recommend it to anyone who just feels like reading a book they won't soon forget. :) The fact that Nicholas Sparks incorporated a dog in the story, too, made it that much more enjoyable, as I am a total dog person. Anyone who reads this book will just melt into the pages. I know I did!

  

Pretty Little Liars SERIES REVIEW!

   Wow! I haven't posted in a very long time. Sorry about that - August was a really busy month, with everything starting up again and such. I've read a LOT of books since my last post, so I decided to do a whole series review of Pretty Little Liars by Sara Sheperd!
 
Alright, all I have to say is WOW. I loved every book in this series. When I first saw the ads for the television series on ABC Family, I thought it looked so stupid. But after watching the first episode, I was hooked. After the season finale, I decided to actually read the books, and guess what? They were even better than the T.V. series. As "A" might say...

  These books rock. -A

You have to know the books to get that! :)

   Anyway, this is truly just an amazing series. The series is pretty much about Alison DiLaurentis - a beautiful, smart, and popular girl from Rosewood, PA, who goes missing. Her four best friends, Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer, grow apart after she goes missing, and by their junior year of high school, they are almost complete strangers. Then some odd things begin happening to ALL of them, they grow closer together, and try to figure out the ever-present mystery of who killed Alison. I never wanted to put the books down... there was so much suspense! I loved those books so much; I'm so sad that the series is over!
  

Book Blogger Hop!!

   Well, today's another Friday, so that means another Book Blogger Hop! Crazy-for-Books hosts a meme-party where you can visit and be visited by other book bloggers! The rules for this meme are really quite simple. You just grab the button off of Crazy-for-Books, enter your name in the linky, post about the Hop, and visit other blogs! It's really fun! :)

   This week's question is...

How many blogs do you follow?

   I personally follow 11 book blogs. I don't read each one every single day, but when I find myself with extra time on my hands, I'll check some out! :)


   So, if you're here from the Hop, enjoy, comment (so I know to visit YOUR blog), and if you like what you see here, please become a follower! Thanks!

Really Random Tuesday!

   Well, today's Tuesday! That means that it's time for Really Random Tuesday, a meme that my mom, Suko, made up! Really Random Tuesday is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes--any blogging and book-related things you can think of. If you like the idea, go ahead and take the button off of Suko's Notebook! (Or if you're feeling lazy, just take it from here!) Today, I'll talk about my favorite magazine, Seventeen.


   Seventeen has to be the BEST magazine on the face of the planet. I would rate it PG-13; as in, some stuff might not be appropriate for girls 12 and under. The magazine is mostly directed at girls between the ages of around 13 to 22. I mean, it's a teen girl's dream: full of love advice, fashion tips, and inspirational stories! Also, the models aren't all tiny and drop dead gorgeous. They actually look like real people! Lucky for me, I have a subscription to Seventeen, but let me tell you, waiting for the next issue to arrive is torture! Whenever a new one comes in the mail, I rush to my room and read it from cover to cover. Perhaps I shouldn't plow through them so fast, but they're just so readable! So if you see an issue of Seventeen while you're out, I advise you to pick it up! :)

Zan who? Zan-Gah!

   "She began to move warily in a circle as the men tightened the trap, and as they got closer the lioness began to stride and prowl in a circle so small that she almost seemed to be chasing her tail. But she was watching, watching while she turned and snarled, for a weakness in the ever-tightening ring of her pursuers. Then, at the moment the attack finally was sounded--when the men, putting down their drums and torches, charged on the run with their spears--the lioness saw what she was looking for. One of her enemies was smaller, weaker than the rest. There was a point in the strengthening line that could be broken! Thought merged with furious action and the beast, with a mighty bound of astonishing swiftness, darted toward Zan. Five hundred pounds of snarling fury sprang directly at him with claws bared and fanged mouth open!" 

   This paragraph, printed on the back of the book, is what enticed me to read Zan Gah by Allan R. Shickman. Who wouldn't want to know what happens next after reading that thrilling paragraph? The passage on the back is taken directly from the story, and doesn't really give anything away. You know how sometimes when you read the back of a book, it ruins the best part in the story? Well that's not the case for Zan Gah! :)

   I absolutely LOVED this book. The author really did a great job of capturing the attention of his readers. I don't think I was bored for a single moment while reading it! It tells the story of a teenager, Zan, growing up in the prehistoric era. I, for one, wouldn't stand a chance living in those times. The women had chores that men wouldn't even dream of doing, they didn't have comfortable beds, and were constantly on the brink of war! It was really just an constant stuggle for survival.  Zan transforms from boy to man in this book, all while encountering new, exciting, and at times dangerous situations. It's truly a great book for any age. Thanks for writing it, Allan!

Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday!

   It's Friday, which means... Book Blogger Hop and Follow Friday! This blog is still but a few days old, so I'm still learning the tricks and secrets of the book blogging world. I thought these memes might be a nice way to get discovered! I've heard that Crazy-For-Books and Parajunkee's View host parties where you can visit, and be visited by other book bloggers, so I decided to try it! This is my very first hop and Follow Friday, so I'm not quite sure how it works - but I'm very excited!

This week's hop question is...

Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes?

   I actually get distracted by noises very easily while I read, so I don't really listen to music very often. I need almost complete silence when I read my books! It also kind of depends on what part of the book I'm at - if I'm still getting into it, silence is key. On the other hand, if I'm in my own little world while reading the best part of my book, some noise is OK. For the most part, though, I don't listen to music while I read.

So please, if you're here for Follow Friday or the hop, enjoy my new blog, comment (so I can visit your blog), and if you like what you read, consider following, and I'll do the same. Thanks!

A Place for Delta Review

      I recently just finished reading A Place for Delta, written by Melissa Walker. It tells the story of Delta, an abandoned polar bear cub with a growth deficiency, and the lives of the people she touches. Most of the book takes place during the summer in Alaska, when it's light twenty-four hours a day! The author really made me want to visit Alaska, just maybe not in the summer - I need my sleep! The book tackles a few issues in our society today, like global warming, but not enough to be overpowering. Everyone is kind of sick of hearing all about global warming I think, and the author GOT that. But I believe people should be more informed about how global warming is affecting wildlife all over the world. A Place for Delta is really a great story for ANY age, with a little something for everyone! It has adventure, mystery, and the ability to warm even the coldest of hearts. It really is just a sweet book - I really enjoyed reading it, and so did my mom! Happy reading! :)

Introduction to... Chapters

Welcome to Chapters, a book blog for young adults! Here, I will post reviews, polls, and practically anything book related! Enjoy!