Best of the Bunch February 2013

Best of the Bunch is a monthly wrap-up and award ceremony hosted here on the last day of each month, where we can look back over the books we have read and give a Best of the Bunch award to our favourite book of that month.

It is also a blog hop for bloggers to showcase their pick of "Best of the Bunch". I always put up my post on the last day of the month, but remember, you can add your link anytime in the following month- please join in, I love hearing about which books you thought were the most amazing!

For more info and to grab the button and stickers visit the BOTB page here, then all you need to do is write up your post showing us your Best of the Bunch and add your linky to the list below. Don't forget to check out the other blogs to find out which books other bloggers have awarded the best.

February 2013
This month I have reviewed on the blog-

• Blood Moon by Alyxandra Harvey My review 3.5 of 5 stars
• Frostfire by Zoe Marriott My review 5 of 5 stars
• Quicksilver by R.J Anderson My review 4.5 of 5 stars
• This is Not A Test by Courtney Summers My review 4 of 5 stars
• The Breakaway by Michelle Davidson Argyle My review 4 of 5 stars
• Pieces by Michelle Davidson Argyle Review still to post 4 of 5 stars
• Mystic City by Theo Lawrence Review still to post 5 of 5 stars

and the winner of Best of the Bunch February 2013 is...

...drumroll...

... Mystic City by Theo Lawrence!

My review of the book was supposed to go up on Monday, but I'm still not happy with it and I'm way to exhausted to attempt to edit it! But look out for a full review here soon because I have to say- I loved this book! It's got the full package- magic and mystique, a wonderful Romeo and Juliet style love story, a thrilling storyline, danger, and a mystery to unravel.

For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself. 

Goodreads

I love getting new book recommendations so if you have written up a monthly wrap-up post please link it up here and let us which book you read/ reviewed this February was your favourite!

Who gets your bananas?

Wishlist Wednesday #20

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly book blog hop hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper where we will post about a book that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our bookshelves.

This is a book which has got some great reviews, and has been described as "bizarre", but in a good way. I like the sound of that! This is the first in a 3 book series.
Angels, mystery, romance and humour in a dark world. My kinda book. 

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
Goodreads

Eden didn't expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.

And that's only the beginning of the end.

Looks good right? Has anybody read it already? What did you think?
Thanks for stopping by!

Goals and updates- "Take Control of Your TBR pile" March

Here's the thing... Because I borrow so many library books, and get so many books to read for review, I always make reading these books a priority and I can never find time to read the books that I actually own. (Not that that stops me from lusting after and ordering even more!)
But I really do want to catch up on some of the books I have already have on my shelf. I bought them because I was so excited to read them after all. So this March I am joining in with Kimba at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer and around a hundred other book bloggers in pledging to spend March reading through the books I already have to read.
So- sorry library, and sorry publishers- but I'm hanging on to your books for a while longer and March is strictly a TBR month!




Right- on average I read about 10 books a month (2 of which are audio books so that doesn't count), but I have picked out a bunch of books that I aim to read this month.

I want to read at least 8 of this pile (+ 3 are spares in case I manage to read super quickly!)

It actually scared me when I was trying to narrow down which books to choose for this challenge, exactly how many books I have sitting unread- I may have to give myself another TBR only month later in the year!

I'm looking forward to working through these amazing looking books (finally!), and also- one of my favourite aspects of these readalong/ read-a-thon challenges- networking with other book bloggers.

I will update my progress here, and on twitter- Using hashtag #TakeControl

Sunday Post 24th February 2013

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ to recap the past week on the blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Okay- book buying bans do not work with me- I cannot stick to them for them for long and ultimately it's like a volcano, where the pressure just builds and builds and I end up on a book buying splurge! 
This week was a book buying splurge week!

Bought:

• Arcadia Burns by Kai Meyer. (Arcadia, book 2)
• Boundless by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly, book 3)
• Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons (Article 5, book 2)
• The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle
• Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me, book 2)
• Shades of Earth by Beth Revis (Across the Universe, book 3)
• The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge (Iron Codex, book 2)

They're all amazing right?! I don't know which one to read first! 

For Review:

• The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa (Immortal Rules, book 2). This is due to be published in April. I loved Immortal Rules so I'm so excited to get hold of this book.

Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for the review copy. 






This week on the blog:
I'm holding a giveaway for an ebook copy of The Breakaway by Michelle Davidson Argyle- a contemporary novel which I loved. This is an international giveaway, but it ends tomorrow, so get your entry in quick. Giveaway post here

Also, check out my interview post with Kailia from Reading the Best of the Best. An amazing book blogger with insightful interesting discussion posts and reviews. I found her recently as part of the Book Blogger Love-a-Thon. Interview post here
We did an interview swap so I have also been interviewed. Kailia's interview post here

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Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Get any good books this week? Leave me your link in the comments section! 

Blogger interview with Kailia from Reading the Best of the Best

As part of the awesome book blogger Love-a-thon hosted by Alexa and Katelyn, I have been asked to swap interviews with fellow book blogger Kailia, who blogs over at Reading the Best of the Best. 

I love Kailia's blog because it is fresh, unique, and intelligent. She posts a wide variety of excellent discussion topics as well as book reviews, and I highly recommend you go check it out. 

Hi Kailia- would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself and your blog?

Hi all! My name is Kailia and I'm an 18 year old blogger at Reading the Best of the Best! I currently live in a small town in the south but I'm a city girl at heart! I started blogging because I loved books and I wanted to talk about them! 

How long have you been blogging for?

Since 2009 which is SUPER crazy to think! I actually didn't get into blogging before two years ago! Before than, it was just kind of here! 

What's been your best experience of blogging so far?

Meeting all sorts of people online and all of the books I've been introduced to because of blogging! I actually went to YallFest last November but had it not been for blogging, I would have NEVER heard about it! 

Do you have any particularly great blogging pals, that you feel closer to than others? Which are your favourite book blogs? 

I have blogging friends I talk to, mostly on Twitter. I love Keertana from Ivy Book Bindings and Ishita from The Reading Fish is fantastic! Katie of Katie's Book Blog is one of bloggers who has always been so sweet to me! I love all the blogs I mentioned but I also love reading The Perpetual Page Turner and Good Books and Good Wine! 

Roughly how many books do you read each month?

About 12 ish when I actually try. I'm still in high school and the last year has been full of tests and college prep which is SO time consuming! 

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks, hardbacks or audiobooks?

I have now tried to hear about 10 book on audiobook and have finished none so I personally don't like audiobooks. I LOVE a good paperback but hardbacks are nice too. If I have a series in all paperback then all of the books have to be in paperback and the same with hardbacks. I like ebooks because I have two e-readers so I can always store them on there! My shelves are very full! 

Is there an author that you would really like to meet?

SO MANY! The one I know will never happen: J.K. Rowling. She's my idol. I'd also love to meet Kristin Cashore. Her books are some of my favorites! 

Have you ever read a book that you would like to rewrite the ending of? Why?

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray. Karthik turns into a tree. A TREE. I would change it so you know, HE DOES NOT TURN INTO A TREE. 

(OMG- I completely agree with you about that- I hated that ending!)

Quickfire questions

What is your favourite-

Food? Pizza. I know. But I LOVE pizza! 

Electronic gadget? my iPad! 

TV show? As of right now, Doctor Who

Book? (Hahahaha!) Any of the Harry Potters. Or Graceling. Or Anna and the French Kiss. 

Book crush? WHAT IS THIS?! Um. A lot of them? Po. Etienne. Peeta. 

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Find Kailia online

Goodreads 

Twitter

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The Book Blogger Love-a-Thon is an entire day dedicated to spreading the love among blogs in the book blogging community. Throughout the day, you'll spend time leaving comments on blog posts, discovering new blogs to love,  tweeting and posting about old favorites to share your thanks and promoting some of the awesome blogs that you follow!

For more interviews, mini-challenges, and giveaways- stop by the Book Blogger Love-a-Thon page (clicky link above)