December Books!

There are some really great books out in December! Here is a little reminder to get you excited!!

Fallen - Lauren Kate December 8

Dark light - Lesley Livingston December 22

 The Dark Divine - Bree Despain December 22

My Soul to Save - Rachel Vincent December 29

Twilight Month Thanks!

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone that helped out for Twilight month! A big big thank you to Katie from Sophistikatied Reviews for making the awesome buttons AND making a Breaking Dawn poster to feature here! Thanks to everyone that wrote guest posts: Mandi from Smexy Books, Justine from A Bookful of Thoughts, Jenny from Wondrous Reads, Laura from Tattooed Books, Nikki from A Haunt of Ancient Peace, and Carla from The Crooked Shelf.
And of course Thanks to everyone that read all these posts for Twilight month! There will be another Twilight Month in about 7 months so be preparing for that! Until then.....

In My Mailbox!

In my Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.
No time for a vlog this week :(

For Review:

The Line by Teri Hall(From Penguin Group)
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves(From Simon Pulse)
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken(From 1 ARC Tours)

From Paperbackswap.com

Need by Carrie Jones
The Moth Diaries by Rachel Klein

Borrowed from a friend:

Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne
Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

Breaking Dawn Spoof

This is by far the funniest Twilight spoof I've saw yet! Plus it has Peter Facinelli in it! If you haven't read Breaking Dawn yet don't watch! Spoilers!

Video Games - E3 2010 - Comedy

Twilight Month Recap!

I'm so sad that Twilight Month is already almost over! I had so much fun doing it and I hope you guys all had fun reading it! Here is a recap of all the fun Twilight things that were featured here this month.

We kicked off the month with a giveaway of Twilight goodies and a guest post from Mandi at Smexy Books that if you haven't saw yet you need too!

New Moon - The Condescend Version

Edward: Bella is dead, I must show my sparklies to the world in hope of death.

Bella: Hey stupid - I'm not dead! Don't show your sparklies!

Alice: I suck at seeing the future

See the rest of the post here. 

I told you about My Love Affair With Twilight:
"Now three years later, its all over. We still have Midnight Sun to look forward to(hopefully). I have read a lot of books since then. A lot of really amazing books. Nothing has made me feel like the Twilight series makes me feel. Even today when I reread them I fall in love with them all over again. I can't explain what makes these books so special for me but they are."

We had some great guest posts from bloggers who have met cast members. We were jealous of every one.

We argued for our respected Teams:
Jacob:

• Jacob is alive. This comes with a fully functioning heart that beats, which also mean he is warm. I hate the cold, so the thought of snuggling up to a boy as cold as an ice sculpture just doesn’t float my boat. 

•   It comes as a given that he is always likely to be mostly naked.

Edward:

•  Edward is immortal. That whole dying thing will never be an issue. And if you play your cards right you can be immortal too! How great is that? Living forever with Edward Cullen *sigh* Then you also wouldn't have to worry about the cold skin thing.

• His diet of woodland creatures might be a little off putting but I could deal with that more than the wet dog smell.

And then finally it was time to see the movie and read the reviews:

"All of the actors were superb. Kristin Stewart improved in this movie immensely. I'm not sure if she was really doing anything that different but she actually felt like Bella to me in this movie. Robert Pattinson was...Robert Pattinson. He was brooding and dark but sweet at the same time. Taylor Launter was.....phenomenal!
Phenomenal! That's the only word to explain him. He really showed all those people that had doubts about him. His transformation from Best Friend Jacob to Werewolf Jacob was incredible. I read a quote from him in EW that said something like "Going to the gym was only part of it. I really studied the books." It most definitely paid off. His acting is spot on. He is the most talented of the three in my opinion."

After extensive research I told you what my favorite scenes were. 

4. The almost kiss! No matter how much I love Edward I so wanted that kiss to happen! The chemistry between them is wonderful.
2. The ending. Sure they changed it a little. They kinda added two scenes together. All the necessary info was still there. My heart breaks for Jacob every time I see this scene! They way he says Bella...sigh. Not to mention Edward freakin Cullen proposing!

Thanks everyone for making Twilight Month so much fun! You should already be thinking of what you want to do in June because I will definitely be doing another Twilight Month then!

More New Moon Movie Reviews

 The Book Snob at The Great Escape said this about the movie:
"I was really worried that the computer generated images of the wolves would look completely terrible, but I have to say they were my favorite parts. The pack looked so good when they shape shifted and my favorite scene was when Jacob jumped off the edge of the balcony and turned into a wolf. Since I am totally, 100 percent team Jacob, I loved that the whole movie was practically about Jacob and that his character was able to be developed into Bella’s kind, warm and caring best friend (should be boyfriend but that’s a different subject). I would have liked to see more family scenes with the Cullens because I like to be able to see their family dynamic. The action scenes were amazing and Jane (Dakota Fanning) was better than I could have expected. She was enticing yet terrifying all at the same time. The Volturi just blew my mind. I can’t wait ‘til they depict Imprinting on the big screen."

 Just Blinded By Book Reviews said this:

• "Hello Taylor Lautner! That boy is fine! Not only is he the hottest boy in the movie with the rockinest bod, but he's also a good actor! For the couple of minutes he was in Twilight I actually thought he was the best actor in the entire movie and getting to see him so much more in New Moon was awesome. I'm serious. I don't have one bad thing to say about this kid! I feel a little pedophilic though because he's only seventeen.
• The fight scenes I must admit were not too shabby. I was totally diggin' the Volturi fight and that was the one scene I was ehhh about.
• The entire movie was just...better. Everything about it--the acting (like I said before not good, but better) and the special effects (someone of them were good and some not-so good)."

She has a pros and cons list! Go check it out!

Justine at A Bookful of Thoughts had this to say:
"The actors were indeed much better. Even though we get less Edward and more Jacob, I was fine with it. I think I found a new respect for Jacob; I felt really sorry for him at some parts. Taylor Lautner is a growing actor and he is the best Jacob ever. I loved his stunts! And Bella -- wow. You could literally feel the pain she was going through. I think the breathing sounds that she was making helped. You could tell she was hyperventilating and you could feel the emotion. Kristen Stewart is awesome, in my honest opinion. I love her as Bella. And finally, we come to Edward. Sometimes I couldn't comprehend what he was saying (same goes with Bella). All I heard were mumbles (which is why when the DVD is out, I'm going to get it, pronto!). But anyway, the sparkles have improved! And the Volturi scene? Jaw-dropping. There sure is more action in this movie and it was very intense."

A Haunt of Ancient Peace said this:
"Everything about New Moon blew me away. The acting was phenomenal compared to Twilight, the wolf pack looked great, the music was absolutely perfectly placed, and there was humor. Many people who dislike New Moon as a book, say so because Bella is so depressed and the book is too serious and Jacob-centric, but Chris Weitz did a wonderful job combining the introspectiveness of New Moon and introducing Jacob and Bella’s relationship, as well as lightening the mood a bit with some well placed humor and action."

ParaJunkee's View said this:
"Kristen Stewart got herself some acting lessons.  Bravo. No more erratic Tourette's like blinking and stuttering to show high emotion.  I really was digging on her.  The Edward/Bella interaction was a little strained, but I think it was a Rob Patz issue and not a Kristen thing.  Rob's struggle throughout the movie was a bit more intense in this one - and I really don't think he did as good of a job in New Moon as he did in Twilight.  Probably stemming from the fact that he wasn't in this movie as much - and there really wasn't a way for him to build up the character. "

Katiebabs from Babbling about Books, And More and Mandi from Smexy Books did a great 2 part New Moon Movie discussion. Check it out! It's hilarious!
Part One
Part Two

My New Moon Movie Review!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Turkey day to all my US friends and Happy Any Other Day to anyone else! :) I hope everyone has a great holiday and eat a lot! It's the only day of the year where it's socially acceptable to eat until you are miserable!! Here's a few of the things I'm thankful for:

• My family
• My kitties
• My followers
• Books
• People who write those books
• Taylor Launter
• Taylor Launter's abs
• Rob Pattinson
• Stephenie Meyer
• Chocolate
• Pie
•  Did I say books?

Have a great day everyone!

My 2010 Debut Author Challenge List!

Kristi at The Story Siren is hosting The 2010 Debut Author Challenge. I don't usually enter challenges but I figured since I'm going to be reading these books anyway I might a well join! It will be fun! Here's some info about the challenge.

• The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.* I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.
• Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
• The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime! 

To see all the info about the Challenge go here.

I think I will try to do 30. I will probably end up reading more but that's going to be my number for now. Here's my list:

Bold = Already read or own.
All Links to my reviews!

1. Bleeding Violet - Dia Reeves (read in 2009)
   
2. The Mark - Jen Nadol  
3. Magic Under Glass - Jaclyn Dolamore
   
4. All Unquiet Things - Anna Jarzab 
5. The Secret Year - Jennifer Hubbard
6. The Iron King - Julie Kagawa 
7. Dirty Little Secrets - C.J. Omololu
   
8. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver 
9. Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins 
10. Brightly Woven - Alexandra Bracken
11. The Sky is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson
    
12. The Line - Teri Hall 
13. The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting 
14. Guardian of the Dead - Karen Healey 
15. Mistwood - Leah Cypess
16. The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson: A Most Improper Magick - Stephanie Burgis 
17. Whisper - Phoebe Kitanidis
18. The Prophecy of Days - Christy Raedeke 
19. Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me - Kristen Chandler
20. Restoring Harmony - Joëlle Anthony
21. Claire De Lune - Christine Johnson
    
22. The Tension of Opposites - Kristina McBride
23. A Blue So Dark - Holly Schindler
24. Sea - Heidi R. Kling
    
25. 13 to Life - Shannon Delaney
26. Nomansland - Lesley Hauge
27. Shadow Hills - Anastasia Hopcus
28. Other - Karen Kincy 
29. Nevermore - Kelly Creagh
30. Paranormalcy - Kiersten White
31. The Mockingbirds - Daisy Whitney
32. The Replacement - Brenna Yovanoff

I will be adding more!!

And the winner is......

Thanks everyone who entered my giveaway for Fallen! It was my biggest giveaway yet! I love having giveaways and it was fun to have an international one. I will do another one soon! Enough about that, the winner of the Fallen ARC is....

Veronica 

Check your inbox, I have already sent you an e-mail! For those of you that didn't win this time I have another giveaway going on for 5 copies of Night World No. 1 and The Ultimate Fan Guide! I'm also planing a big giveaway for the Holidays's/my birthday!!

Waiting On Wednesday(22)

April 12, 2010

Amy, a sixteen-year-old recovering from an abusive relationship, moves to the country to start a new life with her aunt–all she wants is for everything to be different. In the clearing at the back of Aunt Mae’s property, she makes an amazing discovery—Henry, a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. Henry and his world become Amy’s refuge and she begins to learn that some moments are worth savoring. But when the past and present come crashing together, both of them must find the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.

It sounds a little Time Traveler's Wife-esque! I can't wait to read it!

New Moon Movie News

I just thought I would catch you up on some of the New Moon news out there....you know in case you haven't had a break from drooling over Jacob yet.

Summit Entertainment now estimates that The Twilight Saga: New Moon took in $140.7M from 4024 theaters this weekend. 
This puts the film in third place for all-time opening weekends, behind The Dark Knight ($158.4M) and Spider-Man 3 ($151.1M).
Go Twi-Hards!!!

Chris Weitz gives us some hints about the New Moon DVD:

"There will be a commentary track," Weitz revealed, saying that he'll soon head into the recording booth with his three big stars, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. "It'll just be us riffing off each other in our intimate way," he grinned. "We kind of like each other, so that should be fun."

You can read the whole article here.

MTV also has a great article on why they made some of the changes they made from book to film:

Edward's Chameleon-Esque Car
If his lousy parking job distracted you, perhaps you didn't notice that when Edward pulled into Forks High, his famed Volvo was no longer gray, as it was in the novels and the first movie. Hey, Chris Weitz, what gives? "I've taken a real spanking for this, a lot of heat," the director explained. "I'll tell you exactly why: Volvo wanted to give us a new, different car so I didn't want to paint it exactly the same silver color, because then [Twilighters] would be saying, 'Why are they trying to say that it's the same car; it's obviously not.' So, I thought, 'Well, I'll choose a new color!' And I thought I would choose slate black, not a reflective black, because it actually absorbs light and it would reflect the mood and melancholy and depression [of his character]. I know I got it wrong, I apologize for that. But that is my reasoning."

Read the rest here.

And...Taylor Launter is going to be on the cover of Rolling Stone. I'll go ahead and say your welcome before you see the picture...

Great Giveaway!

The Bookologist is having a amazing giveaway! For all three of these books!!

Go enter now!!

Giveaway for Night World!

I'm giving away five copies of Night World No. 1: Secret Vampire; Daughters of Darkness; Spellbinder AND five copies of Night World: The Ultimate Fan Guide!!!

Night World No. 1: Secret Vampire; Daughters of Darkness; Spellbinder

Vampires, werewolves, witches, shapeshifters -- they live among us without our knowledge. Night World is their secret society, a secret society with very strict rules. And falling in love breaks all the laws of the Night World.

In Secret Vampire, Poppy thought the summer would last forever. Then she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Now Poppy's only hope for survival is James, her friend and secret love. A vampire in the Night World, James can make Poppy immortal. But first they both must risk everything to go against the laws of Night World.

Fugitives from Night World, three vampire sisters leave their isolated home to live among humans in Daughters of Darkness. Their brother, Ash, is sent to bring the girls back, but he falls in love with their beautiful friend.

Two witch cousins fight over their high school crush. It's a battle between black magic and white magic in Spellbinder. 

Night World: The Ultimate Fan Guide
You loved Secret Vampire and are counting down to the Strange Fate apocalypse. But who was the first made vampire? How do you properly greet a witch? And why are shapeshifters and werewolves rivals? Prepare to test your Night World knowledge with trivia questions from all nine books; get the inside information about the clans, the soulmate principle, Circle Daybreak, and the four Wild Powers; and take two quizzes to find out how you fit into the Night World.

Best of all, L.J. Smith shares her inspiration for the series, answers the questions you've been asking, and even reveals fun facts about herself in this official guide. Plus, look for the sneak peek at the dramatic conclusion to the series, Strange Fate!

Aren't you excited!!? Go check out the Night World Facebook Fanpage and watch this!

Here's how to enter:

Leave a comment with your e-mail address

Extra Entries:

+3 Followers

+3 Twitter Followers

+1 For every where you post about this giveaway! Leave Links please and you can leave as many comments as you like!

Giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on December 7th!

Top 5 Favorite Scenes in New Moon

I have saw it three times now so I think I can give a good assessment. Here are my top 5 favorite scenes in the movie.

5. Paul and Jacob fighting. The whole scene when Bella punches Paul and Jacob changes is utterly amazing! Paul and Jacobs fight was breathtaking! The noises the wolves make are incredible!

4. The almost kiss! No matter how much I love Edward I so wanted that kiss to happen! The chemistry between them is wonderful.

3. Chasing Victoria in the woods. This scene is beautiful. Everything about it. Victoria looks amazing. Her hair is flaming red. The wolves look awesome and the song, Hearing Damage by Thom Yorke makes it perfect. Kudos to Chris Weitz on such a visual and beautiful scene.

2. The ending. Sure they changed it a little. They kinda added two scenes together. All the necessary info was still there. My heart breaks for Jacob every time I see this scene! They way he says Bella...sigh. Not to mention Edward freakin Cullen proposing!

1. When Bella confronts Jacob in the rain. What a great scene! It was played out perfectly! Its the first time we see Jake after the transformation and Taylor does an amazing job of letting us know that things have changed...he has changed. Plus, Jacob is shirtless and dripping wet.....

That was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be so I'm going to make a almost made the cut list!

Edward and Bella in the parking lot.
The months passing(heartbreaking!)
The underwater scene.
All the Italy scenes.
The garage with Jake.

Well basically the whole movie......

In My Mailbox Vlog!

In My Mailbox was started by the wonderful Kristi at The Story Siren!



Books/Things mentioned:


Shadowland by Alyson Noel
Ice By Sarah Beth Durst 
Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Entertainment Weekly
Vanity Fair with Robery Pattinson
Burger King New Moon goodies

Reviewers Roundup: New Moon Edition

Since this is New Moon day and the moment we have all been waiting for for a year, I thought I would do a special RR with book blogger's New Moon movie reviews! Here they are:

Katie form Sophistikatied Reviews had this to say:
"I loved it. Plain and simple. It was so true to the book that I was completely amazed. I can’t remember (though I’m sure there’s a few) any scenes from the movie that weren’t included in the book. And if they changed or added something, it was so insignificant but so awesome. Example- correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t remember Victoria being the cause for Harry Clearwater’s death as it is in the movie. But like I said- so small but so workable into the movie series that it blew me away."

Jenn at Book Crazy had this to say:
"I laughed, yes - can you believe it? I laughed, out loud, I thought no laughing in this one, but, yep there's funny parts. I of course cried, more than once...and I FELT how utterly alone Bella felt, Chris did an amazing job at really making you "feel" that, which I thought would have been hard."

Brizmus Blogs Books said this:
"Okay, a couple last things: the movie was beautifully filmed. The occasional special effect fit in beautifully with the overall theme of the movie. I can't stress enough what a great job the director did of making Bella's pain seem real and making Forks seem beautifully and dreary and rainy all at the same time. Also, I was thrilled that Edward actually sparkled. He could have sparkled more, but at least it didn't just look like he was sweating (which is what I thought in the first movie)."

Sab H. at Crystal Reviews said this:
"So this time, I mentally prepared myself for disappointment, shielded myself against negative criticism in order to enjoy whatever came. But... OMG! WOW! I don't have any other words for what I saw. I certainly wasn't prepared for it to be SO amazing. They included every single important aspect, stayed true to the book, they managed to make it funny and the visual effects... Whoa, just whoa! I can't believe how amazing the wolves were.
And Taylor?? I think Stephanie should write that over again so Bella can end up with Jacob. After that movie all I can say is... Edward who"

Eli at The Tainted Poet had this to say:
"First off, I have to mention that my boyfriend actually LIKED it. That is telling you something right there. The directing was so much better then Twilight's. Everything was improved 110%. The acting, the special effects, the accuracy to the book-- everything. I have to say I loved it. Now, I'm no Twihard, but I have at least read every book around two or three times. So it takes a lot to impress me when I know the books so well. Twilight was a disappointment. New Moon wasn't. I was actually speechless."

Kristi at The Story Siren said this:
"The actors were 100% better. Especially Taylor, he really stepped it up, it's easy to see why he secured the part of Jacob Black. And Robert and Kristen were exponentially better as well. I loved the Quilete boys! The ENDING! WOW! Total cliffhanger! So GOOD!"
I will be happy to feature any other New Moon movie reviews. Just send me a link! If you want to see my review you can scroll down or click here!

New Moon Movie Review!!!!

I'm going to try and make this as coherent as possible. I've had four hours of sleep.
I saw the midnight release of New Moon last night and WOW! Let me start from the beginning. We arrived at the theater at 9:30 and found out that they weren't letting people in until 11:20! They never do that at our theater. We had to stay outside in the freezing cold! If only I had Jacob then. Luckily we were some of the first people in line. They started letting us in finally but they looped the line around so we could go in a side door. Here was the problem that almost made me kill someone. I bought our tickets online. You have to take printed tickets to the front desk to be scanned. We had to lose our place in line! I was irate! Thankfully we got it all worked out and still got good seats. Now on to the good stuff! I felt like a little kid again! Midnight premieres always do that to me. I get so giddy! The opening New Moon graphic had me almost bouncing in my seat!

I can understand why some people were disappointed or disliked the Twilight movie. I myself enjoyed it but I can see the flaws in it. If there are people out there that didn't or don't like New Moon, I will never understand it. It was simply amazing. It was everything I wanted it to be x 1000. I'm really trying to not make this review a bunch of OMG's and WOW'S but Chris Weitz and the cast are making that awfully hard on me.

All of the actors were superb. Kristin Stewart improved in this movie immensely. I'm not sure if she was really doing anything that different but she actually felt like Bella to me in this movie. Robert Pattinson was...Robert Pattinson. He was brooding and dark but sweet at the same time. Taylor Launter was.....phenomenal!
Phenomenal! That's the only word to explain him. He really showed all those people that had doubts about him. His transformation from Best Friend Jacob to Werewolf Jacob was incredible. I read a quote from him in EW that said something like "Going to the gym was only part of it. I really studied the books." It most definitely paid off. His acting is spot on. He is the most talented of the three in my opinion.

Last year when they announced that they were definitely making New Moon and Eclipse into movies my first concern was the wolves. Werewolves are always so laughable in movies. My concerns were unfounded. They were awesome! That's the only word for them. The first time I saw them, even though I had saw them in countless previews, almost took my breath away. I was also worried that they wouldn't look big enough. They did! The fight scenes were gorgeous. The wolf sounds alone were incredible.

New Moon stayed amazingly true to the book. I'm pretty sleepy but I can only think of one actual whole scene that they changed and it made prefect sense. Sure they added some more action in at the end but I'm not complaining! I thoroughly enjoyed that action. I was wondering how they make us understand how devastated Bella was. I won't tell you how they did it but it was genius! All in all I can honestly say that I thought this movie was perfect. I don't think they could have done a better job. If you were skeptical because you didn't like the first movie, go see this one! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I so very very happy that I'm going to see it again today with my sister. I don't think I could have made it through the day without seeing it again. I might have to drag my husband again tomorrow. Please allow me just a moment of fangirliness. OMG! OME! OMJ! New Moon was amazing!!!! I can't wait for Eclipse!!!! OMG! Sorry I had to get that out of my system.

GO see New Moon! Please do it for me!

Get In The Right Mind Set

New Moon is within our grasp. Its only hours away! So I'm going to make sure that you are in the right mind set. That you are the prefect amount of hyped up! Ready?

Here are some New Moon quotes that may or may not be in the movie:

Well, Gran, you might have noticed that my boyfriend glitters. It’s just something he does in the sun. Don’t worry about it…(Bella)

Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm — into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.(Bella)

Of course, I’ll always love you… in a way. But what happened the other night made me realize that it’s time for a change. Because I’m… tired of pretending to be something I’m not, Bella. I am not human(Edward)

I promise that this will be the last time you’ll see me. I won’t come back. I won’t put you through anything like this again. You can go on with your life without any more interference from me. It will be as if I’d never existed.(Edward)

He looks at me like he’s waiting for something… like I’m going to join his stupid gang someday. He pays more attention to me than any of the other guys. I hate it.(Jacob)

If this is how you’re going to react, I’ll freak out more often.(Jacob)

Bears don’t want to eat people. We don’t taste that good. Of course, you might be an exception. I bet you’d taste good.(Jacob)

As long as you like me the best. And you think I’m good-looking—sort of. I’m prepared to be annoyingly persistent.(Jacob)

I’m quite thirsty, and you do smell… simply mouthwatering.(Laurent)

If you want to blame someone, why don’t you point your finger at those filthy, reeking bloodsuckers that you love so much?(Jacob)

I won’t lose you, Bella. Not for this.(Jacob)

Well, I’m so sorry that I can’t be the right kind of monster for you, Bella. I guess I’m just not as great as a bloodsucker, am I?(Jacob)

Look, do you mind saving the stupid stuff for when I’m around? I won’t be able to concentrate if I think you’re jumping off cliffs behind my back.(Jacob)

You look like hell, Bella.(Alice)

We may already be too late. I saw him going to the Volturi… and asking to die.(Alice)

How strongly are you opposed to grand theft auto?(Alice)

You smell just exactly the same as always. So maybe this is hell. I don’t care. I’ll take it.(Edward)

You weren’t going to let go. I could see that. I didn’t want to do it—it felt like it would kill me to do it—but I knew that if I couldn’t convince you that I didn’t love you anymore, it would just take you that much longer to get on with your life. I hoped that, if you thought I’d moved on, so would you.(Edward)

Before you, Bella, my life was like a moonless night. Very dark, but there were stars—points of light and reason… And then you shot across my sky like a meteor. Suddenly everything was on fire; there was brilliancy, there was beauty. When you were gone, when the meteor had fallen over the horizon, everything went black. Nothing had changed, but my eyes were blinded by the light. I couldn’t see the stars anymore. And there was no more reason for anything.(Edward)

You’re wounding my ego, Bella. I just proposed to you, and you think it’s a joke.(Edward)

Well, I’m nearly a hundred and ten. It’s time I settled down.(Edward)

I’m a quick learner, Jacob Black, and I don’t make the same mistake twice. I’m here until she orders me away.(Edward)


Here's some of the Q&A's Stephenie Meyer did on her site. They make me excited!

After seeing Twilight the movie you mentioned that you wish you had thought of Bella catching a glimpse of Edward watching her sleep and thinking it was only a dream. Are there any new moments in the New Moon movie that you thought...I wish I had thought of that? Miss having you around the fandom, Nicole B. (Cocoa) Crestwood, KY

Hey Cocoa! I miss you guys, too! Hope you're well!

New Moon stays closer to the novel, so there aren't a lot of scenes that aren't closely related to the book. I am a little sad that my action movie—Crosshairs—is so generically titled. I like the name of the action movie they used for the film (they couldn't use Crosshairs because there is a movie named Crosshairs somewhere out there). It makes me laugh every time Kristen says it.

Also (and I don't consider this a spoiler because you've seen the trailers) there is a bit of a fight sequence in the Volturi tower now that isn't there in the book. At first, I had some resistance to this idea because in my mythology, if you start a fight with the Volturi, your story ends right there. It would have been kind of a bummer to have Edward, Bella, and Alice slaughtered in Volterra and no happy reunion scene (and no Eclipse or Breaking Dawn). But I worked with Melissa Rosenberg (the screen writer) and Summit until we came up with a solution that made sense with the story but also gave them the visual action they needed. And now that it's all put together and beautiful, I love it and kind of wish Felix had gotten his moment in the book.

Hi Stephenie - What is your favourite scene in New Moon the movie? - Laure

I can't really choose just one. I love so many things. Bella's and Edward's first conversation in the parking lot...the painting...Jessica's monologue...the scenes in Jacob's garage...the first time you see the werewolves!!...Jacob in Bella's room (thanks, Chris!)...the underwater moment...what you see while Thom Yorke's amazing song is playing...everything in Italy...and I could go on. It's all so good.


Do you think Taylor Lautner does a good job of portraying Jacob's smart alec side? Taylor seems so sweet, especially in the first movie, and I like to think of Jake (esp werewolf Jake) as a tough guy with an attitude, who sometimes let his nice side slip. Thank you! Larissa

Taylor is going to surprise you. He's wonderful as the sweet kid, but even better as the angry werewolf. The kid can act.


If you are not excited yet...maybe this will help? 

If you are not excited yet, then I don't know what else to do. Well there is one more thing:

 C'mon watch it! Even if you have saw it a million times! Just watch it one more! I hope you all are good and excited now. I know I am. We will all be seeing New Moon just hours!!!

Fan Made Breaking Dawn Poster

Hey everyone! Remember the very talented Katie from Sophistikatied Reviews that made the wonderful Twilight Month buttons? Well she made a awesome Breaking Dawn poster for me to feature here!

Isn't it great? I love it! You can visit Katie here and she does a weekly feature Fan Art Friday where she makes fan art from all the books we love!

The Moment is Almost Upon Us

**Warning this is sure to be a post with much fangirl squeeing. Proceed at your own risk**

I'm rereading New Moon right now and it makes me giddy with excitement! There are so many scenes I read and think "I wonder what that will look like" or "I hope that's in the movie" It still amazes me that after reading the books million times before I can still read this series and get sucked right in to the point that its all I'm thinking about! I have decided that I can't take it and New Moon is not enough so I'm going to reread Eclipse and Breaking Dawn after I'm done with New Moon. I've only read Breaking Dawn once(gasp)I know! I devoured it in less than 24 hours(with sleeping there somewhere) when it came out. So I need to reread it slowly and enjoy it more.So needless to say, I won't be reviewing any more books this week.
On the Twilight Month giveaway(in which the winner has already been chosen)I asked you guys to tell me your favorite book in the series and why. I was surprised at how many of you said New Moon. That's all those Team Jacob girls! My personal favorite is well I guess I have two, Twilight of course but Eclipse definitely! Oh how I love Eclipse. I can't wait to see the Fire and Ice scene in the movie *sigh*. I can't wait to see that whole movie. Another Twilight month in June anyone?
So tomorrow night I'm dragging my wonderful husband to the midnight release. Well not really dragging because he's read all the books but he likes to act like he doesn't want to go. Then Friday I'm going with my sister and sometime next week I'm going to see it with my friend. Who knows there might be another one thrown in over the weekend. I'm just so excited lol. So what is everyone else doing? Are you going to see it a million times? Are you dragging your boyfriend/husband along? I want to hear your plans!
Also I'm going to do a special edition of Reviewers Roundup on Friday with New Moon movie reviews. So if you review it send me a link. E-mail, comment, Twitter whatever just send me a link!

Have I mentioned how extremely excited I am?

The Team Edward Counter Argument!

I'm getting so much feedback on Carla's Team Jacob or Team Edward post that I decided to do a counter argument for the Team Edward side. I shouldn't have been surprised, people feel so strongly when it comes to Edward and Jacob.
For me its always been Edward. Even though I read New Moon first I have always stayed true to Edward....

• Edward is immortal. That whole dying thing will never be an issue. And if you play your cards right you can be immortal too! How great is that? Living forever with Edward Cullen *sigh* Then you also wouldn't have to worry about the cold skin thing.

• Sure the Nessie birth was a bit terrifying but how awesome would it be to have that kid. No diapers! She can take care of herself at like 3 months.

• I have a hard time arguing with this one because Jacob(Taylor) is HOT! But have you saw this?>>>>

• Vampires have always had a special place in my heart. Hello Brad Pitt was one!  So when I first read Twilight it was like the stars had aligned. The most perfect male character ever also happens be a vampire!

• Of course Edward is only ever naked once but that's all I needed.....

• You don't have to worry about a mechanic. Edward can buy you a new car!

• He may be old enough to be your great grandad but that just means he has more experience.....I know he was a good little vampire until marriage but he has been reading all those minds for years. It had to have paid off.

• His diet of woodland creatures might be a little off putting but I could deal with that more than the wet dog smell.

•  He did leave but it was to help Bella blah blah blah :)

• He can run super fast AND sparkle in the sunlight DUH!

• He's a vampire.....nuff said

• One more time:
  

Thanks again to Carla for the fun post!!!

Guest Post: Team Jacob or Team Edward?

Today I would like to welcome Carla from The Crooked Shelf for a very informative post on why we should all love Jacob Black:

Whenever I speak to anyone about Twilight, the one question that swims at the front of my mind is "Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?". I need to know, it’s like an addiction that I can’t beat, my own personal brand of heroin. When I first read the books, no one knew who Edward and Jacob were; I used to talk obsessively about them, like they were real people. Most of my friends thought I was crazy, but who’s laughing now? I was a fan before the hype but I am so glad the books got so popular, now I can ask people who they like the best and get a real answer instead of "What?!? I don’t know anyone called Edward apart from my granddad". So, the answer to my own question with out a doubt is, I am a fully initiated on Team Jacob, and I’m going to tell you why.

 

• Jacob is alive. This comes with a fully functioning heart that beats, which also mean he is warm. I hate the cold, so the thought of snuggling up to a boy as cold as an ice sculpture just doesn’t float my boat.

•   He can have children. Yeah, I know, Edward can procreate but did you not read Breaking Dawn. A rug rat who can claw their way out of your stomach, killing you in the process doesn’t sound like the miracle of birth, it sounds like a blood bath.
  

•  Jacob is hot, I mean hotter than hot, literally, it’s a wolfish thing. When I say Jacob, I mean Taylor Lautner. With or without the wig.
  

•   For those who know me, I am a little obsessed with wolves, their my forte, so Jacob being a wolf is a mega mega bonus.
  

•   It comes as a given that he is always likely to be mostly naked.
  

•   You can save money on mechanic fees; Jacob can fix cars up real nice. Plus, there’s a chance when he’s doing this he may be topless, enough said!
  

•   He’s not old enough to be your great granddad, plus he most definitely didn’t meet your great granddad.
  

•   He doesn’t want to drink my blood. I’m a bit squeamish, so the thought of my lover going out and killing animals and draining them = not sexy. Have you ever saw Bambi?
  

•   He never left. Edward, take note; that was a bad move on your part.
  

•  He can sleep and eat, both of which are high on the list of my favourite things to do.

•   He’s like a cute puppy and great guy all wrapped up into one warn hot package.
  

•   It comes as a given that he is always likely to be mostly naked. Yeah, I already used this one, I just think its worth repeating.
  

 

I know a lot of people out there hate Jacob, because they are head over heels in love with Edward. I get it, I really do. Edward is a great character; he’s dark and brooding and would do anything for the girl he loves. He has all the traits of the perfect man. I looked on the internet and the amount of haters out there for Jacob is phenomenal. They really really hate the guy, I don’t get it. Yeah, you may be goggled eyes staring at the Greek god also known as Edward, but give Jake a chance. I never thought I would be sticking up for a fictional character, but it seems Twilight has sucked me into the fan girl world and is refusing to let me go, and to be honest, I don’t want it to.

Thanks so much Carla!! Go visit her at The Crooked Shelf!  

Review: Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

Title: Moonlight
Author: Rachel Hawthorne
Reading Level: Young Adult
Series: Book one of the Dark Guardian series
IBSN: 9780061709555
Blurb: 
I see him and know what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.

 Kayla is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying—and thrilling—gene that will change her life forever.
Lucas is dangerous, gorgeous . . . and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.
As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny.

My Thoughts:

When Kayla becomes a wilderness tour guide for the summer the most she expects is to spend a lot of time in the woods and to face her fears. She never expects to find out her friends are Shifters. Or to find her soul-mate.

Honestly this book was just okay. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. It was fluff. I read it in one sitting.
The Characters are a little one dimensional. Lucas was a good character. He was mysterious and intriguing but Kayla was a little on the annoying side. The side characters were introduced nicely. The author did a great job of setting up for the rest of the series.
The backstory for the Shifters and the Dark Guardians was well done. It left me wanting to know more about the pack. In my opinion the ending felt a little rushed. The author spent too much time on minor elements of the story when she should have put more into the ending.
Regardless of all that I still enjoyed the book. It was a very fast read and I'm looking forward to reading Full Moon. 3 Stars

Those Fictional Guys We Love: Edward Cullen Edition

It's time again to spotlight those amazing guys in YA books or just books in general that we love. Because let's face it, they are one of the main reasons you love the books. Maybe even the reason you keep reading. And since its Twilight month this week is about:

Edward Cullen from the Twilight series!

Why We Love Him:
Wow. Where do I even begin. What is this obsession with him? Why did he capture so many hearts. I really can't answer that. If you can let me know! Here's some of the reasons that I love him but they don't even scratch the surface.
He's mysterious. When you first meet Edward in Twilight you don't know what to think. Why is he acting the way he is? So that sucks you in from the very beginning. He's protective. That first slip of paper with Be Safe on it just makes you swoon. He's not perfect. Leaving Bella proves that but it also proves in a weird twisted way how much he loves her and I think that's what it all comes down too. The reason we love him so much is because he loves Bella so much. And um.....he's HOT! Why do you love him?

Who is Edward:

Guest Post: On Meeting Rob and Kellan!!

Today I'm happy to welcome Nikki from A Haunt of Ancient Peace with an excellent guest post about meeting Rob and Kellan:

In November 2008, Twilight fans were anxiously awaiting the premiere of the first movie in the series. To promote the series a bit, Summit Entertainment sent numerous cast members around the US to various malls for the Hot Topic Tour. The Saugus mall in Saugus, MA was lucky enough to be one of the stops for Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen). After waiting in line for 12 hours in the cold and rain (we were under a garage, so we were spared from raindrops) on the hard concrete, I was able to get my wristband that guaranteed a meeting with Rob and a signed poster.

When I returned later that night for the meet & greet and Q&A, I was completely fangirling. I had brought Rob a book of poetry that I figured he might read while on the road, but the HT employees weren’t allowing any gifts to be given directly to him, so I had to put it in a box prior to getting to the table. When I got up to Rob I was amazed I was able to formulate words at all. It was one of those moments when you realize that there is a celebrity sitting directly in front of you and I didn’t really know what to say. I somehow managed to tell him about the book and he seemed fairly excited about it. Considering Rob is a shy person, I was amazed at how animated he was with me. He seemed genuinely happy during the signing and was very kind with everyone. On a side note, the HT people were quite pushy and were rushing me out because I was taking too long, but Rob was talking to me, so the employees got me a little miffed. The poster was also signed a week later by Kellan Lutz.

The Q&A was a different story…it was loud, it was impossible to hear anything Rob said over the thousands of screaming girls, and I could barely see over everyone. Every time Rob spoke girls were screaming; not my idea of a Q&A. I was able to get some decent pictures, so alls well that ends well.

My experience just this past Thursday at the Natick Collection in Natick, MA was a much calmer one. I waited inside a mall on the eve of Halloween for 8 hours to get a wristband to meet Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen). On Thursday, I arrived a little later than I intended, so I wound up being in the back of the line to meet Kellan, but it all worked out well. I had decorated a shirt with a photo of me and Kellan that was taken last year when I met him, in hopes of getting his attention when I got up to the signing table. When I was waiting in the line to meet Kellan, I kept getting these jealous looks and I heard girls talking about how the picture was photoshopped. I thought it was hilarious. It amazes me how some people can be rude and impolite over so much as a photo. There were the occasional girls that would freak out over the shirt and while I found them amusing, they scared me a little as well. I’m a friendly person, but I don’t really enjoy being stared at and I’m relatively shy in crowds.

So once my friends and I got into the store, we came up with a game plan that involved me going up first so they could watch for Kellan’s reaction when he saw the shirt. I realized that this signing was moving a lot faster than last year and each person was at the table for only about 2 seconds each (last year we each had about 10). I got up to the table and Kellan looked at me and just said “No way.” He repeated that about 3 times and then just held up his hand for a high-five. I happily obliged. He was looking at my shirt and had me spin around so he could take it all in. The whole time was saying that it was awesome and he was happy I could make it. He even remembered when the picture was taken. I don’t know if anyone knows this, but fans can actually write to actors/celebrities through their agencies. I had written to Kellan and had included the photo that was on my shirt for him to sign back in June. I got it back signed 3 days before the HT mall stop, so I mentioned I got that back as well. Kellan told me he was happy I got my picture back because he gets so much fan mail that it’s easy for things to get lost. After about a minute of chatting with Kellan, I had to go. I thanked him for coming out and told him it was nice to see him again. He told me it was nice to see me again too (I could have swooned right there). As I was leaving HT, a reporter who saw the entire interaction stopped me to ask about the shirt and then once I made it outside, I was chased down by an HT employee who wanted to take a picture of my shirt. When I was finally clear of the store, I made my way down to where the Q&A was taking place.

Two of my friends who couldn’t get wristbands were waiting in the second row. I was unable to make it up to them while Hurricane Bells played, but just before Kellan came out, I made it up to the second row. The Q&A was so much better this year. There were screaming girls, but because there were a lot fewer of them, they were more subdued. The screaming didn’t drown out Kellan’s answers either, which was nice. The questions were the basic questions that are asked over and over again, so I won’t reiterate them here (plus, I don’t really remember all of them now). There was one question about who Kellan is close to on set and he said that Ashley Greene has been his best friend for a long time and I thought it was adorable. It was a blast and I was able to get some really good pictures, so I’m hoping they do this again for Eclipse.

P.S. In case you were wondering, both Rob and Kellan are more good-looking in person.

:D Nikki

Thanks Nikki! What a lucky lucky girl! Go visit Nikki at A Haunt of Ancient Peace!

Review: Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Title: Hate List
Author: Jennifer Brown
Reading Level: Young Adult
IBSN: 9780316041447
Blurb:
Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

My Thoughts:

Imagine just for a second that you were in Valerie Leftman's shoes. The boyfriend that you knew and loved, that was your refuge from the realities you had to face at home, died. Died by his own hand and not only that he killed some of your classmates before turning the gun on himself. Imagine having to live everyday knowing that you didn't know that someone at all. Hating them and still loving them just the same. Now imagine you had helped write the list of people that he killed.

Brown has created a thought provoking intense read. Valerie's story sucks you in. All the characters were very realistically written. I found myself stepping into Valerie's shoes. Thinking what I would do if I were in her situation. And what a horrible situation it was but it seems like it could be so simple to fall into. A girl in love venting her frustration in a notebook and the person she thought she knew takes it too far. Its terrifying to me how easily this could happen.

This was an excellent read. A must read! I can actually say I loved it even with its hard topic! 4 1/2 Stars!

In My Mailbox!

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren!

I didn't have too great of a week but I hope to make up for it next week!


From Paperbackswap.com

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Borrowed from a Friend:

Zoey needs a break after some serious excitement. Sadly, the House of Night school for vampyres doesn't feature breaks on its curriculum - even for a High Priestess in training and her gang. Plus juggling three guys is no stress reliever, especially when one is a sexy Warrior so into protecting Zoey that he's sensing her emotions. Wider stresses lurk too, and the dark force in Tulsa's tunnels is spreading. Could Stevie Rae be responsible for more than a group of misfit fledglings? And Aphrodite's visions warn Zoey to stay away from the immortal Kalona and his dark allure - but they also show that only Zoey can stop him. She's not exactly keen to meet up, but if Zoey doesn't go to Kalona he'll exact a fiery vengeance on those closest to her. She just has to find the courage to do what's necessary, or everything that's important to her will be destroyed.

Reviewers Roundup!(3)

This is a weekly feature on Pure Imagination inspired by The Story Siren's YAC but I'm going to do something a little different and just post the reviews of the books I loved or reviews that made me want to read a book, made me laugh or maybe sometimes made me shake my head in disagreement. Here are the reviews for the week of November 9, 2009.


 Mel at He Followed Me Home.........Can I Keep Him reviewed Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
"This first book of a trilogy is full of action, easily devoured. Scott Westerfeld paints an amazing alternate world drawing from the origins of World War I. In this world, countries are divided into Clankers (who create machines that mimick animals) and Darwinists (where biology is key, they create new creatures). Alek is a Clanker, Deryn is a Darwinist and both carry secrets. One person's secret is revealed to a few, the other remains untold..."

Just Blinded By Book Reviews reviewed Liar by Justine Labalestier
"The story is told in such a unique way with three parts and small sections in those parts (like Before, After, History of Me, and Family History), so it’s easier for the reader to understand the entire story. At first, it threw me off because I hadn’t known the way it was written and it might me a little difficult to get started but you can easily pick up on it...."

Parajunkie's View reviewed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
"This story is gruesome, touching, thought invoking...you name it's got it.  I was so entrenched in the story that I stayed up way past my bedtime finishing it and then moving on to Catching Fire, which is Book Two.  I'm thinking about reviewing Book Two, but just the description would give away spoilers that would affect the reading of The Hunger Games. Let's just say book two is one of those rare sequels that surpasses the first. I was sobbing...sobbing throughout half the book!"

Mandi at Smexy Books reviewed Bound to Shadows by Keri Arthur  
"Riley is a great heroine, because of her werewolf side, she is very sensual. I mean, seriously every man she came in contact with she felt a sexual desire. At first I thought it was overkill but I now attribute that though to my lack of reading the first seven books. After talking with a friend who has read them, I realize that is Riley's personality. Her wolf can't help it, and now I find that her character is very consistent...."
 
Briana at The Book Pixie reviewed The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove 
"The basic premise for The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove is very intriguing and I couldn't help wondering if the story would live up to it. Turns out that the synopsis almost didn't even do the story justice. This book was fast-paced, riveting, and beautifully crafted. I admit, that at times I kept asking myself, why this? Why that? Thankfully, everything was answered in the end...."

Debbie at Debbie's World of Books reviewed Ruined by Paula Morris
"Lisette’s story is a sad one and yet not all that surprising for the time she lived in.  She supposedly died of the yellow fever back in 1853.  She eventually tells Rebecca that she was actually murdered and the act was covered up.  Lisette explains to Rebecca that normally she knows why only certain people can see her but she is not sure about Rebecca.  This mystery is the first clue that maybe there is something more that may tie Rebecca to New Orleans than she thought.  As mentioned above some things were easy to predict but one thing that certainly kept me guessing was what part Lisette would play in the very end.  Was she truly Rebecca’s friend or was this part of an elaborate ploy to gain revenge for her murder?"

If you would like me to include your reviews in the list that I pick from every week please e-mail me at pureimagination77(at)gmail.com