Live Blogging This Week From Lauren Kate's Passion Event in Miami!

Lauren Kate's third book in the Fallen series, Passion, comes out tommorrow and as part of her promotional tour she will be stopping by Miami! Books and Books in Coral Gables will be hosting the All For Love Party with Lauren Kate on Thursday June 16, 8pm. If you live in the area, you should definitely pass by, but for those of you that don't, I have been selected as the live blogger for the event.

So send me any questions and comments you would like to ask Lauren, either by commenting below or tweeting me with the hashtag #All4Love. I will be live tweeting and posting on the blog, so make sure you have those questions in by June 16!

SPREAD the word please!

Also, if you check out the Books and Books website listed above, you can find exclusive Passion content, to get you excited about the release tomorrow!

Mondays Bite: Twilight Re-Read Along!

Twilight lovers (and haters) unite!

Join TSLoaAR and fellow bloggers as we re-read Twilight and experience it in a new light. Each week we will read 5 chapters and a will posts discussion questions regarding the week's reading. For More Info: Click Here

My Twilight History:
I first read Twilight as a sophomore in high school after I had read Haunted (Mediator Series) by Meg Cabot. Before that book all I ever read was contemporary YA and series (like Gossip Girl and A-list), after Twilight the world of YA opened up for me and I went from an occasional YA contemporary reader to obsessive in all things YA. And I never looked back.

The girls were talking on Twitter about doing a Twilight Re-Read Along and I said SIGN ME UP. This won't be my first time re-reading, as when it first came out I think I read it like 5 times and 2 more times years later, but this will be the first time I can actually share what I think while reading the book (back then none of my friends where readers). So join us and sign up for the Re-Read Along by Clicking Here!!


Reading and Posting Schedule:

Monday, June 27: GReads! -
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 1-5

Monday, July 4: Lisa the Nerd -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 1-5
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 6-10

Monday, July 11: The Reading Housewives -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 6-10
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 11-15

Monday, July 18: Secret Life of an Avid Reader -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 11-15
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 16-20

Monday, July 25: The Reading Housewives -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 16-20
Reading & Questions Post for Ch. 21-24 + epilogue

Monday, August 1: GReads! -
Discussion/Answers Post for Ch. 21-24 + epilogue
Wrap up & Finale

Book Review : Die For Me

Book: Die for Me
Author: Amy Plum

Publisher: HarperTeen
Date Published: May 10, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: NetGalley
Date Read: May 30, 2011

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

In this incandescent debut, newcomer Amy Plum has created a powerful paranormal mythology with immortal revenants. The Paris setting comes enchantingly alive as a relentless struggle between good and evil takes place in its streets. Rich with romance, atmosphere, and thrills, Die for Me will leave readers breathlessly awaiting its sequel.

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

I was really excited to read this book because I read so many adoring reviews of it, and maybe it was because I was expecting so much from it, but I was underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong there was a lot of things I liked, a lot, I just didn’t fall head over heels beside myself because of it.

Let me break it down for you all:

Plot - Definitely more original of the paranormal. We are introduced to revenants, who are jokingly called zombies, but not really. It is an interesting premise and I definitely excited to see what other lore will come of it in the next couple of books.

Characters - I definitely felt like these main characters have been done before, but the families of the two where the highlight of the books for me. I loved Kate’s sister and grandparents and the whole revenant gang. But Kate and Vincent felt too Bella and Edward (see side note).

Romance/Swoonworthiness - Points for making the heroine actually think about what she was stepping into before she gets into a relationship with a “dangerous” guy. Also, despite feeling the eerily similar personalities, Vincent made me swoon in his own right. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jules, even that name just makes me think sexy artist.

While it is not my favorite read of the year, Die for Me is a refreshing take on paranormal romances. It has action, love, and zombies! Not really, but you should definitely read it and give it a shot!

Side Note: I had a convo on twitter the other day about comparing books with Twilight, and while I try really hard not to do this, sometimes its impossible. This was one of those books. Whats funny is that Jasmine over at Reading Housewives of Indiana felt that Starcrossed was just like Twilight, and while I was reading that book yeah I did see some similarities, but nothing to the extent of how I felt reading Die For Me. Now I can see what she means with the book, but I think what made me feel the Twilight similarities was how similar the two main characters are to Bella and Edward. Also, with Starcrossed I was sucked into the story, and Die For Me took me a while to get into. I can go into a whole comparison about both these books and Twilight, but just wanted to do this side note as more a discussion. As you can see everyone has different feelings about them.

Ratings:

Plot: 3/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 2/5
Characters: 5/5

Memorable Quotes:
none that I highlighted

Similar Titles:

Other Reviews:

• Fantastic Book Review
• The Reading Housewives of Indiana
• Sophistikatied
  

In My Mailbox # 2 0

In My Mailbox {aka IMMB} is hosted by The Story Siren.

This week is very simple as I am recovering from LASIK and still having a hard time on the computer, but next week I promise another vlog for those of you who enjoy those. =)

ARC Tour:

Bought:

For Review:

Library:
None

RAK:
None

And thanks to Lisa for a super cool awesome homemade bookmark!!

Book Review : Yours to Keep

Book: Yours to Keep (Kowalski Family #3)
Author: Shannon Stacey

Publisher: Carina Press
Date Published: June 6, 2011
Pages: -
Source: NetGalley
Date Read: May 29, 2011

Sean Kowalski no sooner leaves the army than he’s recruited by Emma Shaw to be her fake fiancé. Emma needs to produce a husband-to-be for her grandmother’s upcoming visit, and, though Sean doesn’t like the deception, he could use the landscaping job Emma’s offering while he decides what to do with his civilian life. And, despite his attraction to Emma, there’s no chance he’ll fall for a woman with deep roots in a town he’s not planning to call home.

Emma’s not interested in a real relationship either; not with a man whose idea of home is wherever he drops his duffel bag. No matter how amazing his “pretend” kisses are…

Summary Taken from Goodreads

Yani's Review:

Through Amazon's awesome free kindle book deals, I read the first one in the Kowalski Family series and I really enjoyed it. When I saw there was a second one, with the funnier brother, I had to read it. It wasn't what I was hoping for, but I still enjoyed it. So when I heard that there would be a third coming out in June, I added it to my to-read pile in Goodreads. Then I saw it on netgalley and requested it right away. There is something about the Kowalski family that just keeps me entertained. I wish I had a family as big as they do.

It is always nice, when you read a series, to get updates on the previous main characters and Shannon never disappoints in that aspect. This book was a little different because it was a cousin and not a brother, but the family dynamic never changed. And I think I have to say that Emma is my favorite of the lead females in this series. She is spunky, and do it herself, while still being feminine. And Sean is just so gruff, but deep down a softy. And I LOVE these type of situations with fake boyfriends/fiance in which they hero and heroine are thrown together.

Overall, I really liked this story and partly because I am invested in the family story and partly because it was so darn cute.

Ratings:

Plot: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Characters: 5/5

Similar Titles: