In My Mailbox

Well today I was happy to receive an excellent gift that I won from a contest thanks to the dolls over at the Behind Yellow Eyes, the ultimate Shiver fan page. I haven't read the book yet, but I was fortunate enough to enter their contest and win a signed book by Maggie Stiefvater.
I had actually purchased a copy from Amazon, but never got around to reading it. What to do with my extra copy...? Who would enjoy reading it? I've been having a hard time trying to figure this out. I have a few people in mind, but I'm starting to get the feeling that the people around me are not enjoying me talking about all the YA novels I'm reading. Let you me know if you'd had enough.

On a very similar note, I'm almost done reading The Body Finder. I'll probably finish by tonight. I might post a review. I'm not sure if I'm good at it. Maybe writing reviews gets better with practice.

Lastly, I've noticed that I've been mostly posting about books. Well I'm not done talking about them. I plan to make my next post about a craft that can be done with a book. A BIG WARNING! The craft is not for the faint of heart, or at least those who would not like to see a book destroyed. The sweet doll from Living with Lindsay put together a fun way to turn an old or unwanted book into a beautiful wreath. It's a simple and inexpensive craft that I can totally see myself making.


The instructions for the wreath can be found here. I really want to make this before I have to start school again on Monday (dread). Here's hoping it work's out. I'll be posting pictures of this project as I get along to it.

Lots of Love from me, Jess!

Spring Break Reads and a Contest!

This day marks the first day of my Spring Break, and boy do I need it. This semester isn't so bad (I've noticed that I've gotten more time to write here), but we all need a break. This week is going to be filled with mind-numbing TV, movies, and books. Lots of books! I recently borrowed 2 books from the library and one from my dear friend Arthur!


I'm looking forward to reading all three and my doll Cassey wants me to see if The Hunger Games is any good. Arthur let me borrow it and he said it was good. I placed the trailer of The Body Finder a few month ago on a post, which you can see here, and I've been looking forward to reading. Lastly, I've heard a lot of great things from The Dark Divine and I want to see what all of the hype is about.
Speaking of The Dark Divine, the sweet doll over at Laina Has Too Much Spare Time is running a 250 Followers Contest to win a bottle of The Dark Divine nail polish. It's the shade that's featured on the cover, which I absolutely LOVE!

Head on over to her page through this link to enter and be one of the four people to win a bottle! Good luck and I'll keep you posted on the books!

Loving the Caster Chronicles (And a Contest!)

Twilight move over! I've discussed Beautiful Creatures before, but I'm soooooooo exicted to announce the title of the next book in the Caster Chronicles that I just couldn't help myself.

The title of the next book is...

Beautiful Darkness

Here's the gorgeous tag line...

Some secrets are life-altering...
Others are life-ENDING.

And the date...

BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS, the anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES is coming on OCTOBER 26, 2010!

Lastly, here is the gorgeous cover!!!

Here's the link to the official showing of the cover on Beautiful Creatures the book.

Yay!!!!!!! Only 231 days until Beautiful Darkness comes out!!!!! >_< Click here for the official announcement in the Ning online community.

Here is the box to my Ning account:

Visit gatlincounty

I'm so obsessed with this series I went on ahead and made my own necklace like Lena Duchaness, one of the main characters the series. I also sent pictures to Novel Notice, an excellent YA book site. Click here to see my necklace featured on their site.



I also want to post a link a great contest! Click on the image below to find out how to enter!

Till I write again dolls! Toodles!

Why not?

This totally inspirational video asks the question "Why not?"



Why not take a chance? Why live in fear? Why not get out of your comfort zone?

While I have been struggling with the same questions myself, I do consider myself in the process of getting out of that comfort zone. I'm still the little shy girl, but at time I do give myself personal points for reaching out of this box.

Along with this video is a great contest. Re-post this video and get a chance to win a copy of Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins. You can read the info of the contest here.

Take a chance, and live..

First Book Read in the Jane Austen Challenge!

For the Jane Austen Reading Challenge, I should have started with one of her works, but I was already reading Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan. Now for a review...



The author was inspired to write this book because she loved the film Pride & Prejudice (2005) with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. I love this film! I made that very clear in my Jane Austen post. This book on the other hand... Don't take me wrong, I was thoroughly amused, but I don't know how the author was inspired to write the happy couple's first 6 months in Pemberly and no where else! I actually felt stuffy of being in Pemberly after a while.

Here are my issues with the book:
The characters themselves took on a new form. I understand that Mr. Darcy was bound to get out of his shell with the help of Elizabeth, but the dude is an animal in the novel! Elizabeth too! They spent more than 3/4 of the book in bed or some variation there of. Come on! I expected them to go out more so that Mr. Darcy can show off his new bride, even though he isn't the socializing type. I was expecting Lizzy to insist on going out, or something!

Next, I had issues visualizing Keira's and Matthew's face in the new roles they were taking on as husband and wife. The only time I was able to get their faces clearly was when the author referenced to the film, which was when I was happiest. There were a few flash back scenes or extensions of certain scenes. My favorite would have to be the extension of when he proposed to her the second time, in that one foggy morning.

I loved that we got to meet new character's or meet on a deeper level people that we met in the film, such as Col. Fitzwilliam and Georgiana. I love being able to understand people from my favorite films!

Lastly, I loved the little drama that was in it. At times a novel can drag on if there is no conflict, which I didn't find until past the second half of the novel.

I rate it with 4 stars because I was amused over all. I do want to read the next book because it ended with the changing of the season. They are off to Netherfield and Hertfordshire! A change of scenery can do anyone good. However, I'm not in a real rush to read Loving Mr. Darcy.

I'll be reading Sense & Sensibility soon to continue in the Jane Austen Reading Challenge, and I'll be looking forward to that!

Till laters Loves!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I Love A Good Challenge

This year is starting out better than I thought. This year happens to be the year of Jane-Jane Austen that is. I could not be more happy than to embark on a challenge of great accomplishment. A sweet doll over on the great blog called The Life (and Lies) of an Inadimate Flying Object has created a personal challenge, as well as a challenge anyone can join in and take on themselves. Haley Mathiot has created a Jane Austen reading challenge where one is welcomed to read as many of Jane Austen's works as one wants. I consider myself a Jane Austen virgin and I will be delighted when I finally finish her works. I want to challenge myself to complete this challenge to the "Fanatic" level. First, though, I plan to start out on the "Newbie" level. Here's the requirements for that level:

**Newbie: 2 books by J. Austen, 2 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

Here are also the requirements for "Lover" and "Fanatic":

**Lover: 4 books by J. Austen, 4 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

** Fanatic: 6+ books by J. Austen, 5+ re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

I'm currently reading Mr. And Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Sharon Lathan, which is a sequal to Pride & Prejudice. I also plan to start over Sense & Sensibility, since I spread out my reading of it too far out for me to grasp the full concept of it.

I can't wait to give my full report on my progress as I go along. I'll posting the books I'm reading for the challenge on my side bar. Wish me luck! I have until the end of the year to do this!

Link to the Challenge:
http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/2009/12/jane-austen-challenge.html