Daisy Chain Book Reviews

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren . What's up bookish people?! I haven't done an In My Mailbox post in about a month. So these are the books that I picked up during December. Welcome to the IMM Holiday Edition. For Review : Crazy by Amy Reed Slide by Jill Hathaway The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay Dark Eyes by William Harlan Richter Bought : Destined by Jessie Harrell Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey Entwined by Heather Dixon Mastiff by Tamora Pierce Goliath by Scott Westerfeld (signed) Gifts : The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (from Justin @ Justin's Book Blog - Thanks again!) Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare (signed) The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (signed) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (signed) an awesome ...

Title: Far From You Author: Lisa Schroeder Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publication Date: December 23, 2008 Links: Amazon | Goodreads Source: Won Lost and alone...Down the rabbit hole. Alice thought she knew what solitude was: Her mother—gone. Her father—remarried with a newborn daughter. Now... Trapped in the icy embrace of a deadly snowstorm, Alice faces the true meaning of loneliness. But hope may not be as far away as she thinks.... Alice is an interesting character. She desperately clings to her memories of her mother as her newborn half-sister provides physical evidence that her father has moved on with his life. Alice says and does things that are selfish, angsty, and bratty. But she knows how she is acting. She realizes it is perhaps not the best reaction, but that she also has the right to be a bit immature about it, especially since her best friend is growing tiresome of Alice's mourning mood. At least Alice has her boyfriend. Their relationship i...

Title: Touch of Power Author: Maria V. Snyder Publisher: MIRA Publication Date: December 20, 2011 Series: Healer #1 Links: Amazon | Goodreads Source: NetGalley Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos. Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life......

Title: Shattered Souls Author: Mary Lindsey Publisher: Philomel Publication Date: December 8, 2011 Links: Amazon | Goodreads Source: ARC Tour Lenzi hears voices.  She also sees visions--gravestones, floods, a gorgeous guy with steel gray eyes.  She knows she must be going crazy, just like her dad did.  Her boyfriend, Zak, can't do anything to help, and the voices just keep getting louder, the visions more intense.  But when Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, everything makes sense. Sort of. He tells Lenzi that she's a reincarnated Speaker--someone who can talk to lost souls and help them move on--and that he has been her Protector for centuries.  But instead of embracing her abilities, Lenzi struggles between her life as the girlfriend of a sexy musician and the life she is destined to lead with Alden.  Yet time is running out; a malevolent spirit has been trying to destroy Lenzi for ages, and he will surely kill her if she does...

I've come across a lot of great e-book bargains recently and thought I'd share them in case anyone has been waiting for a reason to pick up some of these books for themselves or as a gift for someone else this holiday season. Most of these appear to be good for the entire month of December or at least through Christmas, but sometimes these deals don't last very long so be sure to double check price before purchasing! (Some of these are only on sale for the Kindle.) Destined by Jessie Harrell $0.99 Kindle $0.99 Nook Goodreads Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning $1.99 Kindle $1.99 Nook Goodreads Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs $2.99 Kindle Goodreads Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes $3.27 Kindle $3.27 Nook Goodreads Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke $2.99 Kindle $2.99 Nook Goodreads Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker $2.99 Kindle $2.99 Nook Goodreads The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap $2.51 Kindle $2.51 Nook Goodreads Temple of the Wind...

Title: Catching Jordan Author: Miranda Kenneally Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire Publication Date: December 1, 2011 Series: Hundred Oaks #1 Links: Amazon | Goodreads Source: ARC Tour What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line? I have been so excited about reading and reviewing this book. Y'all don't even know. I am OBSESSED with football. And obviously with reading. So when I saw this book abo...

Title: The Pledge Author: Kimberly Derting Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Publication Date: November 15, 2011 Series: The Pledge #1 Links: Amazon | Goodreads Source: Galley Grab In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before... and her secret is almost exposed. Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties l...

TGIF is hosted by Ginger at GReads! This week's question: Writing Reviews 101: What's your process for writing book reviews? Any tips or suggestions you would recommend to other bloggers? My process for reviews usually consists of jotting down notes on a scrap piece of paper (or yeah, sometimes in the book if it's a paperback), procrastinating the crap out of getting my review written, and then rushing to get my thoughts down during the wee hours of the morning, later than I had hoped to get it finished. This procrastinated rush is usually accompanied by some sort of beverage and distractions such as YouTube, ESPN, or Angry Birds. I wish I was one of those people who schedules posts way ahead of time but, alas, I am not. My reviews are a mixture of a critical view of the book and a personal opinion. Things that I talk about or include in my reviews : The characters:  I like to discuss my opinions on at least the main characters - their strengths and weaknesses, whether I l...

Here are some of my favorite covers for December 2011: The Bloody Death and Dying Edition Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Dudes. This is an hourglass. FILLED WITH BLOOD. How screwed up is that? Totally screwed up. And awesome. In a severely creepy and demented way. I wholeheartedly approve. Amazon | Goodreads Still Waters by Emma Carlson Berne I don't know if the chick on this cover is supposed to be dead, but she is giving off a severe Ophelia vibe floating there in the water like that. I know that the girls in dresses thing is overdone. But I still like it. Plus, I like stuff floating in water. Even if it's a chick that looks like she went the way of our fair Ophelia. Or maybe especially then. I have a thing for Shakespeare. Also, as I mentioned before, demented. Amazon | Goodreads Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare Oh, poor Jem. So tragic. So beautiful. I love Cassie's covers. Amazon | Goodreads Do you also like any of these covers, or am I alone in this...