The Versatile Blogger Award!

Thanks to Katie from the Misadventures of a Teenage Bookworm I now have my very first award. Here is her blog, check it out! http://misadventuresofateenagebookworm.blogspot.com.

According to the rules on Katie's page I have to:

Here are the Rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.



2. Share 7 things about yourself.



3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason! (In no particular order...)
   


4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

The Seven Things About Me:

1. I'm the oldest among two other siblings. Everyone thinks my sister is the oldest, just because I'm small.

2. I can't seem to get employed, everywhere I go is not hiring. I really want to work at a bookstore.

3. I spend way too much money buying books.

4. When I'm not reading a book I'm looking at them online.

5. I'm a pro at cooking pasta and rice dishes.

6. I'm a quarter filipino.

7. I love talking to other book lovers!

The Fifteen Bloggers I pass the award onto are:

1.Confessions of a Book Addict- http://maddieeemsblog.blogspot.com/

2.OMG! Books!- http://omgbookreviews.blogspot.com/

3.A Life Bound By Books- http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/

4.Confessions of a Bookaholic-http://totalbookaholic.blogspot.com/

5.The Bookshelf Sophisticate- http://bookshelfsophisticate.blogspot.com/

6.BookHounds- http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/

7.Wicked Walker- http://wickedwalker.blogspot.com/

8.Alisha's World- http://alishareads.blogspot.com/

9.Afficionate- http://affictionate.blogspot.com/

10.Lost in Ink- http://lostininkreviews.blogspot.com/

11.Reading Angel- http://readingangel002.blogspot.com/

12.The Library Lurker- http://librarylurker.blogspot.com/

13.Marie LOVES Books-http://marielovesbooks.blogspot.com/

14. Once Upon a Review- http://Onceuponareview.blogspot.com/

15. Reading Addict- http://addicted2reading4evr.blogspot.com/

Review: The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Details:

Pages: 288

Format: Paperback

Publisher: Signet Classics (Penguin)

Review:

Gaston creates a wonderful and dark, fascinating world in the Phantom of the Opera. This book is a quick read, and the story flows with each word. This is the story of Christine, who is a beautiful singer. The Phantom, Erik, falls in love with Christine. He would do anything for her. With Raoul de Chagny in the picture, comes a love triangle. Who will Christine choose to be with? Will she make the right choice when the lives of others depend on her choice? I liked the bond that Raoul and Christine had. The mystery of the whole novel was very intriguing. I wish I could go visit the opera house, and see for myself what Gaston was talking about. Who wouldn't want to go underground and go through a maze of tunnels.The managers were skeptical of the opera ghost, and the things they did added a little bit of comedy. As for the Phantom, he grows on you. He may have had a terrible past but he wants to redeem himself and be happy with someone that loves him. We all want to feel wanted and loved, and this is why I felt sympathetic towards him. There is also a message that goes along the book, but it might give away the entire book so I'll let you figure it out yourself.

Four Stars!

In My Mailbox (5)

In my mailbox is hosted by the Story Siren.

This week I got:

For Review:

MIDDLEWORLD (The Jaguar Stones Series Book ONE) by J&P Voelkel

Here is a quick synopsis of the book.

In the ancient city of Itzamna, Lord Six-Rabbit wakes up screaming. A great warrior king of the mighty Maya, he has dreamed he was a lowly, flea-bitten monkey. How could this be? Was this some sorcery sent by his half-brother, Tzelok, the evil priest?

1200 years later, in Boston, Massachusetts, 14-old Max Murphy is looking forward to a family vacation. But his parents, both archaeologists and Maya experts, announce a change in plan. They must leave immediately for a dig in San Xavier, the tiny Central American country where his father grew up. Max will go to summer camp. Max is furious. He's always suspected that his parents cared more about the Ancient May than about him and this proves it. When he's mysteriously summoned to San Xavier, he thinks they've had a change of heart. But he's met at the airport by one of their colleagues, who explains that his parents have gone missing at the remote Maya temple of Ix Chel. He also tells Max the legend of The Jaguar Stones, the five sacred stones of Middleworld (the Maya name for the world of men) which enabled Ancient May kings to wield the powers of living gods.

And so begins Max Murphy's wild adventure in the tropical rainforests of San Xavier. During his journey, he will unlock ancient secrets and meet strangers who are connected to him in ways he could never have imagined. For fate has delivered a challenge of epic proportions to this papered teenager. Can Max rescue his parents from the Maya Underworld and save the world from the Lords of Death, who now control the power of the Jaguar Stones in their villainous hands? The scene is set for a roller-coaster ride of suspense and terror, as the good guys and the bad guys faceoff against a background of haunted temples, zombie armies and human sacrifice.

Won:

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

I'm hoping many of you already know what this book is about.

Thanks Tera for the book, and the surprise goodies inside it. :)

I really need to either:

A) get a new camera

or b) keep searching for the invisible USB cord. I really want to share my pictures of the things I get with you all.

Don't Buy Or Sell ARCS!

Today I read a blog post on Confessions of a Bookaholic and she is trying to get word out about this illegal act.

Here is her blog page:

http://totalbookaholic.blogspot.com/

Behind Yellow Eyes has started this campaign to bring awareness to people who have arcs or whoever wants arcs. Here is their URL: http://www.behindyelloweyes.com/respect-linger-campaign/

I just wanted to say that it is certainly a privilege to receive an ARC, don't abuse this privilege. Book publishing companies take money out of their pockets just to make these copies and send it out to reviewers. It is illegal to sell and buy ARCS. If you don't want the ARC anymore hold contests for people who would like to have the ARC. If you want to buy an ARC, please just wait for the book to come out in stores.

I have posted the buttons from these two websites on my sidebar please check out these two sites.

Thanks,

Mallory

An Author Q&A with Alexandra Adornetto (author of HALO)

So I was just web surfing and came upon this! I'm excited for this book to come out in stores. I'm dying to read it.

Win: Forgive My Fins Book Swag!

To celebrate the release of Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs I am hosting a giveway.
I still have not found my usb cord for my camera so I'm really sorry I don't have pictures to show what the bookmarks and tattoos look like. Well, all the more mystery to want to know what they look like. :)

I will have three winners each winner will receive:

one bookmark

one tattoo

Requirements you must live in the U.S.

Be a follower to my blog.

Just leave a comment to enter with your name and e-mail address.

Bonus entry is:

Posting the link to the contest on your blog or other social network. By doing so you gain two extra entries.

Good luck!

Ends July 22

Review: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June

Synopsis:

I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn't imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself.

Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents' divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?

April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone's but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they'll always have each other.

Because there's one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

Book details:

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 256

Publisher: Razorbill

Publish date: August 3, 2010

Review:

To start off I read this book back in May. I've been struggling to find the right way to review this book, it deserves a great review. This book is in my top 5 favorite books of 2010.

The novel is by Robin Benway and this is her second book. After reading The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June I'm a huge fan of her writing. The characters are the most real and funny people you will ever read about.

April, the oldest, can see the future. She feels the need to protect her sisters, and is the almost perfect girl (No one can be perfect).

May, the middle-child, can become invisible. May is a loner, but has a witty sense of humor.

June, the youngest of the three, can read people's minds. June is just a young girl who wants to fit in and be popular.

I loved all three girls, they are so easy to relate to. I saw myself and my own sister in each of the girls. I'm like April and May, and my sister is most like June.

Here is a little secret of my own: When I read a book I take notes on my cell phone. I like keeping track of the mistakes in books and my favorite parts. So later on I can come back and read again. With Benway's latest book I couldn't just write each page as my favorite. Instead I basically put EVERY chapter as my favorite part of the book.

I was drawn in from page one. This book is not easy to put down. You'll want to keep reading until you finish, because it is indeed extraordinary. The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June is a great book to read for fun, when you need cheering up, rainy days, or a beach read.

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June has a good blend of romance, the bond between sisters, humor, and the struggles of just being a teenager. Including twists and surprises you don't see coming. Towards the end everything fits together like a puzzle and I loved how it was planned.

5 stars!