Book #3: Unspoken

Title: Unspoken (book #2 in The Salvation trilogy in The Vampire Diaries series)

Author: "Created by L.J. Smith, Written by Aubrey Clark)

Date started reading: January 23, 2014
Date finished reading: February, 3, 2014

Publish date: November 2013
ISBN: 978-1612184623
Number of pages: 308

Official summary: "Elena Gilbert’s entire world has shattered in a single moment. Her true love, Stefan, is dead, staked through the heart by their so-called friend Jack. Now the only thing Elena cares about is destroying Jack and his race of scientifically created vampires. But Jack’s creations are impossible to kill — immune to sunlight, stakes, and every traditional weapon against vampires. Elena and Damon set out to uncover the mystery of Jack’s dark past in hopes of finding his weakness. As they spend more time together, Elena and Damon can’t deny that their connection is stronger than ever. Can she face her feelings for him without betraying Stefan’s memory, or are some things better left unspoken?" (Amazon.com)

How I obtained the book: Ordered for $9.98 from Amazon using a giftcard I got free through Plink.com

My commentary:

• I really get sick of being told to tweet things with specific hastags, and this book does it at the end of almost every chapter, as with the last book in the series. They need to quit that. If I want to tweet, I'll tweet. 
• This was, by far, the best of this series since the first four books. I continue to be pleased with what Aubrey Clark is doing with the books. This one kept me interested right through to the end, and boy that ending just made me want to scream. Can't wait for the next one.

Memorable quotes:

• "Without Stefan, it's like I'm dead, too." ~ Elena
• "Damon was a Salvatore -- the last one of the Salvatores, now -- and that meant he wasn't afraid of anything."

Buy on Amazon.com: The Vampire Diaries: The Salvation: Unspoken



Reading Bingo: While this book fits plenty of categories on the Reading Bingo Challenge, I'm going to mark it off on the "a book based on a myth" square on the young adult card. Vampires, of course, are myths.

Book #2: The Fiery Heart

Title: The Fiery Heart (Fourth book in the Bloodlines series)

Author: Richelle Mead

Date started reading: January 15, 2014
Date finished reading: January 22, 2014

Publish date: November 2013
ISBN: 978-1595143204
Number of pages: 438

Official summary: "In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. ... But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure — and re-education — looms larger than ever." http://richellemead.com

Official book trailer:


How I obtained the book: Pre-ordered from Amazon for $11.04 using a giftcard I got free from Plink.com

My commentary: --

Memorable quotes:

• “My boyfriend was insanely sexy, vampire or not, and I couldn't keep my hands off him.”  ~ Sydney
• “It’s Adrian Ivashkov logic. Don’t try to understand it. Just roll with it.” ~ Adrian
• “Love is a flame in the dark. A breath of warmth on a winter’s night. A star that guides you home.” ~ Adrian

Buy on Amazon.com: The Fiery Heart: A Bloodlines Novel



Reading Bingo: While this book fits plenty of categories on the Reading Bingo Challenge (female heroine, high school, epic love story -- and don't you even try to tell me that Sydney and Adrian's love story isn't epic), I'm going to mark it off on the "a book set with a dragon" square on the young adult card. The book includes a little magical baby dragon named Hopper. Technically, Hopper is a Callistana that was made by Sydney's magic. He has a Chinese dragon styled body shape and is described as being small enough to fit into someone's hand. When I saw the bingo card, I thought there was no way I could cover the dragon square, then I remembered Hopper, and I was so happy.

Reading bingo 2014

Because I can never decide on what book to read out of my massive to-be-read pile and because I'm afraid I'll hit that reading slump again this year, I've decided to take part in Random House Retreat's Reading Bingo Challenge.

I feel like the categories listed on the bingo cards -- a general one and a young adult one -- will help me stay motivated throughout the year. Each time I read a book, I plan to post an updated image of whichever card I'm working with to keep track. Hopefully by the end of the year, I'll have tons of bingos, if not black-outs.

Book #1: A Radiant Sky

Title: A Radiant Sky (Third and final book in the A Beautiful Dark trilogy)

Author: Jocelyn Davies

Date started reading: January 9, 2014
Date finished reading: January 14, 2014

Publish date: September 2013
ISBN: 978-0061990694
Number of pages: 368

Official summary: "Since the night of her seventeenth birthday, Skye has been torn between two opposites: light and dark, the Order and the Rebellion, Devin and Asher. But her decision shocked both sides — because she chose neither. With the help of her friends, Skye forges her own path, setting out to gather an uprising of Rogues. The treacherous and elusive half-angels may be the key to maintaining the balance of fate and free will. But completing the mission her parents left unfinished is more difficult — and dangerous — than she could have imagined. And doing so comes at a cost: her greatest love may now be a lethal enemy. Because it’s not just the Order that sees Skye as a threat who must be eliminated. The Rebellion does, too. And both sides will do whatever it takes to win. Dark days lie ahead, and if Skye is to survive, she’ll need to rely on her extraordinary powers and the strength of her will. Because she has a future — and a love — that’s worth fighting for. The sweeping, darkly romantic story that began with A Beautiful Dark and gathered intensity in A Fractured Light comes to a thrilling conclusion in A Radiant Sky." (http://jocelyndavies.com)

How I obtained the book: I had pre-ordered the book for $11.98 through Barnes & Noble using a giftcard I got free from Plink.com, but then in January I won an autographed copy from the author's website.

My commentary: --

Memorable quotes:

• "When you like someone, you have to allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to let them in. Love is messy."
• "I'm holding out for a hot zombie."
• "I...have been in that weird state between dreaming and waking, where dreams could be memories and the real world could be a dream."
• "It's a misconception that you need a heart to love."
• "Love. The great destroyer of worlds."
• "I am always torn. Between control and chaos; passion and tranquility. Between what's fated and what I want. Part of me longs to take the plunge, to dive off headfirst and let the feeling of control evaporate on the wind. And part of me wants to be in a place where I'd never have to worry about that choice -- or any choice. Where peace and calm are the only things I'd feel."
• "I couldn't make a choice between chaos and control. Not because it had been made for me. But because there was no choice to make. It wasn't one or the other. They were both inside me. They were both a part of me. I was nothing without both sides. Take one away and I would fall." ~ Skye
• "I love Colorado. The mountains are so passionate. They just make me want to run to the top and yell obscene things to the valleys below." ~ Ardith

Buy on Amazon.com: A Radiant Sky



Reading Bingo: While this book fits plenty of categories on the Reading Bingo Challenge (female heroine, high school, last book in a trilogy, incredible fight scene), I'm going to mark it off on the "a book set in a high school" square on the young adult card. Many of the scenes happen at a school, and I think this square could be hard to mark off later in the year.

New year, renewed blog

Obviously life got in the way of reading during the second half of 2013, but I'm back in the swing of things and will start reading and posting what I'm reading on this blog. Keep a look out for posts starting soon.