T.V: Gushing/Complaining About What I'm Watching

Okay, I'mma gush about what I'm watching. Feel free to join. :)

True Blood - Season 4 (spoiler alert):

Credit.

Okay, the season ended recently. What did you guys think? I thought it was so so. I was expecting much more from the story and the relationships between the characters. I loved how Eric Northman/Alexandar Skarsgard (*melts*) was in this season. Just like in the books, he seemingly changed because of having his memory erased. Sookie: she sucks. Ah, she's so darn boring!! I must say, I did like the decision she made at the end, even though I kinda hated it as well. She could have handled it a little better. Breaking hearts should be gentler. That's all I'm saying. Alcide: didn't all the marketing stuff for season 4 lead us to believe that something would happen with Alcide? At least, something semi-big? Well wtfrack??! I get that it seems he has feelings for her, but that didn't actually get developed any more than it did in the last season. What a dry storyline. Marnie: She was interesting I must say. Poor chick. Still, I wasn't that intrigued. In my opinion, she seemed like she was thrown in there which kinda defeats the whole purpose of witchcraft being a major part of this season. I wonder what will come out of the hat next season. Please writers, puh-lease give me something mind-boggling, full of action, and exciting.

Vampire Diaries - Season 3 (spoiler alert):

 Credit.

I love to hate Klaus ;) Okay, I'm liking the new season so far. The first episode did not wow me and was slow, but the second episode won me over (that cliffhanger ending!). This made me laugh so much (it was cute and unexpected):

watch the first four seconds


New Girl - Season One:

Credit.

That was my favorite part in the first episode. HILARIOUS and adorable. I love dorks/nerds/geeks so Zooey Dechane's character makes me especially happy in this new show. I hope it goes on for a long time and that it goes in a great direction. Here's hoping. Can't wait for episode 3!

Awkward. - Season One:

I can't stop watching this MTV (post-music videos) show. It's so intriguing and the main reason I watch it is because of the hilarious, quirky, and cute guidance counselor:

Credit.

It doesn't hurt that the awkward situations are actually interesting. Sure, the protagonist needs to grow some, but either way, my point stands. I recommend it, but don't expect great characterization or an out of this world storyline. And don't expect to love the protagonist. She can make such stupid decisions. It's human, which is a good thing (we all make mistakes), but gosh sometimes she jumps to conclusions and ruins it all for herself (she's evil! it was obviously her fault not his!! ahhh!! EHEM). Meh, overall it's entertaining and that's enough for me. By the by, MTV's Awkward. website has ALL of the full eps for your viewing pleasure.

(hilarious quote):"if you decide to take things to the next level, be sure to wrap up the sausage" - a father to a guy hahahahaha!

Tell me what you think so far and if you haven't started these series, why not??? I can give you more reasons to, just ask.


I told you I'm an addict *shrugs*
~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Waiting on Wednesday: Winterling (Winterling #1) by Sarah Prineas

RD: Jan 3, 2012

"What a wonderful, imaginative alternate world Prineas has created for this book!" --Kristin Cashore, author of the New York Times bestsellersGraceling and Fire.

"Filled with wonder and with characters both devious and charming,Winterling is a mischievous delight!" --Ingrid Law, New York Times bestselling author of Scumble and the Newbery honor book Savvy.


With her boundless curiosity and wild spirit, Fer has always felt that she doesn’t belong. Not when the forest is calling to her, when the rush of wind through branches feels more real than school or the quiet farms near her house. Then she saves an injured creature—he looks like a boy, but he’s really something else. He knows who Fer truly is, and invites her through the Way, a passage to a strange, dangerous land.

Fer feels an instant attachment to this realm, where magic is real and oaths forge bonds stronger than iron. But a powerful huntress named the Mor rules here, and Fer can sense that the land is perilously out of balance. Fer must unlock the secrets about the parents she never knew and claim her true place before the worlds on both sides of the Way descend into endless winter.

Sarah Prineas captivates in this fantasy-adventure about a girl who must find within herself the power to set right a terrible evil.


Fantasy! Sounds awesome!!

WoW hosted by Breaking the Spine. 

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead // Book Review

Rating: 3/5; Liked it. It was okay.

Release Date: August 2011

Series: Book #1 of the eight part Bloodlines series. 

Synopsis:

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning. 

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

Thoughts:

I was really excited about this new series when I first heard that Richelle Mead (her Vampire Academy series is so fun!) was writing an eight novel series that's a spinoff of Vampire Academy. This new series, Bloodlines, will focus on the alchemists. Our protagonist this time around will be Sydney and some of the main to secondary characters from VA will show up in this as well (!!). One of those guys is Adrian and whoa you have no idea how excited I am about that. We will surely get to know him more and read more of his snarky remarks in addition to finding out  how he's taking …everything. 

You're probably wondering why I only liked this book and didn't love it. The reason for that is that as with many new series, the first book is always the background book. There's a lot of information overload (and mystery) in this one that even though I enjoyed it, I just couldn't help but get anxious for the action to kick in. VA was very much about the action and romance. This one, not so much. Understandable though considering it is the first book, but I was still not fully satisfied and could have been (uh, VA #1 was addictive from the first page!). The first half of the book could have been shorter and the second half could have been longer. I LOVE fights/adventures/action scenes. You know that will be in the series and it's good, but in this book, it wasn't great. I just found it to be predictable and that bothered me. I'm still a huge fan of Richelle Mead and will be reading the other seven books in this series, but I sure hope she can up this. The way she writes causes the readers to see everything in their heads and it all looks just like a movie. Can't help but love that. In addition to that she sure knows how to bring her characters to life with more than just a spark. Everyone has their own personality and their own background (for the most part) and now I can't wait to "see" them all again. As always, I'm very curious about the guys in this one, especially the new ones popping up or re-appearing. I'm also curious about what Sydney will do in regards to her future and also in regards to her father. Hopefully she can try to not want his approval so much. He's a jerk, he doesn't deserve it. 

Similar:
Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
Darkest Powers trilogy by Kelley Armstrong

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

New to My Playlist

NMP = songs I've recently added to my never ending playlist of songs I'll play in a loop unless I have the master list on shuffle. If the song's legally available for free (usually for a limited time for promotional purposes) I shall provide a link. Let me know which you liked and what else you've heard from the artists or if you have anything you'd like to recommend!


"Love's Gonna Getcha" by Tal & Acacia



Found: Friends with Benefits soundtrack. BTW the movie is pretty cute. Worth a rental. 
Thoughts: Never heard of this band before, but I'm liking this one quite a lot. So happy-go-lucky!
Resembles: Meiko, Ingrid Michaelson, Regina Spektor


"I Love You, I Do" by Erika Davies



Found: Subaru commercial last year. Waited FOREVER for the full length version of this song to be released. Came out in July or so. On iTunes, go get it, like I did!
Thoughts: It's cute and catchy and reminds me of being out in a farm (haven't been to one in a while and I miss it)


"Everything We Had" by The Academy Is...



Found: Friend's ipod.
Thoughts: Kinda stalkerish (in the video, especially in the end), but I can't stop listening to it. 


~~T.V and Book Addict~~

In My Mailbox - I just came to say hello!

"Hello" has been playing over and over in my iPod. Ah, so addictive!!! I first heard it last year in a Target commercial. Lately it's been on The New Girl commercial, Vampire Diaries episode 1, and a bunch of other places. See? It's addictive!

These past few weeks I received the following.

Bought (books are linked to goodreads):

$27. Kelsi Dagger Novel Suede Booties. Ross. I'm linking to DSW where they have them available ($49) if you want them. There are other stores of course. Ah I LOVE them!! So freaking cute and comfy. They also have them in Black, Navy Blue, and Cognac. 

For Review:

IMM hosted by The Story Siren. 

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Crank (Crank #1) by Ellen Hopkins // Book Review

 Rating: 3/5; It was okay. I liked it.

Release Date: 2004

Series: This is book #1, Glass #2, and Fallout #3.

Synopsis:  
Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.

Thoughts:
You see how on the synopsis it describes what Kristina Georgia Snow is like? I honestly don't get that impression from her when I read about her. I felt as if I didn't really get to know Kristina Snow at all. Sure there are a few snippets here and there, but I didn't feel it was enough to get to know her as a person.
Hmm very fast paced as usual with Ellen Hopkins (especially with how well the prose flows), but the story itself, did not fascinate me as much as Burned and Impulse did. I'm still very, very curious about the next books in the series (I even started reading Glass already so that tells you something). I liked how you could really get into Kristina/Bree's head (by the by, Kristina does not have a Dissociative Identity Disorder, she just acts braver by telling others her name is Bree and basically becomes a whole other person) and can see what she's going through and what other people who've met the monster (crank/meth) have gone through. It's one fascinating/sad/intense roller coaster that's hard to stay away from. For that reason, I liked the book/story, but because it just wasn't my cup of tea, I couldn't find myself loving it.

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

T.V: The Secret Circle // Thoughts & Soundtrack

So, what were your first impressions of last week's premiere of The Secret Circle based on L.J Smith's series?

I for one, liked it, especially the music. I was not a huge fan of the plot, but I am still intrigued enough to watch the second episode today and so on. I'm not jumping for joy over it, but consider me a watcher of this new show. I'm a sucker for the supernatural (speaking of which, can't wait for the next season of Supernatural tomorrow, but first I need to catch up...).

Stuff:
The main guy, Adam, ahhh he ruined John Connor for me, but I did like him on Heroes (this actor also worked with the actress [in Heroes] that portrays the grandmother, which is pretty coolio I think). As for the peeping tom next door. Ah come on, seriously people?? No, just no. He looks like he time-traveled from the 90's.

For fans of:
Witches
L.J Smith
Charmed -- the new home of the protagonist, Cassie, looks a LOT like the Halliwell house btw.

Soundtrack (for the first ep):

Young Blood, The Naked and Famous
I Go Away, MNDR
A Heavy Abacus, The Joy Formidable
We Won't Run, Sarah Blasko
Wrong Time, Wrong Planet, Does It Offend You, Yeah?
DNA, The Kills

Source for tunes. 

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Waiting on Wednesday: Cracked by K.M Walton

RD: Jan 3, 2012

Victor hates his life. He has no friends, gets beaten up at school, and his parents are always criticizing him. Tired of feeling miserable, Victor takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills—only to wake up in the hospital.

Bull is angry, and takes all of his rage out on Victor. That makes him feel better, at least a little. But it doesn't stop Bull's grandfather from getting drunk and hitting him. So Bull tries to defend himself with a loaded gun.

When Victor and Bull end up as roommates in the same psych ward, there's no way to escape each other or their problems. Which means things are going to get worse—much worse—before they get better….

Sounds very, very interesting and like my kind of read. 

WoW hosted by Breaking the Spine. 

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

New To My Playlist

NMP = songs I've recently added to my never ending playlist of songs I'll play in a loop unless I have the master list on shuffle. If the song's legally available for free (usually for a limited time for promotional purposes) I shall provide a link. Let me know which you liked and what else you've heard from the artists or if you have anything you'd like to recommend!


"Once Was Love" by Ingrid Michaelson



Found: This has been on my iPod actually, but it's "making the rounds" on my playlist. 
Thoughts: I love her music, what can I say? Her music is the happy-go-lucky kind you can't help but like. 
Resembles: Regina Spektor - both have similar styles of music and are happy-go-lucky-like.


"The Freshman" by Jay Brannan (The Verve Pipe cover)



Found: Pandora.com
Thoughts: Slow, sad song, and I really like it. 


"Breaking My Heart" by Aqualung



Found: Pandora.com
Thoughts: Ah gosh, I love this so freaking much. 
Resembles: "Gone Away" by Safetysuit - reminds me of it because of a somewhat similar style. 

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Love It: I Want

I want these...

$80. Wedges. Free People. Ah, so damn cute. 

$22.90. Dress. Forever 21. So freaking adorable! It looks really nice on, but it's very, very sheer and doesn't come with a slip. Comes with a cute and unique black belt. Comes in purple and black. 

$57.99. Dress. Modcloth. Adorable!

What have you added to your wishlist lately?

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires #1) by Rachel Caine // Book Review

Rating: 3/5; It was okay.

Release Date: 2006

Synopsis:
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.


Thoughts:
Uh, what? You expect me to be okay with a girl who's threatened to be killed and instead of running in the opposite direction, just stays? No. Unacceptable. Not just unacceptable, immensely stupid. The protagonist is supposed to be a very smart girl, yet she does this. There is no way I can fully enjoy a book where the main character does something that DUMB. After someone tells her to stay away from the place where the most danger lies, she says "I can't!" Agh. There are other ways of achieving her goal to go to an Ivy League school, but she's obviously an idiot. Don't even get me started about the main antagonist (seriously Rachel Caine? Come on!). The protagonist obviously had a death wish. I was also not a huge fan of the love story. It felt like it was just thrown in there. I just didn't "see" any chemistry between the two folks. 
Even though I had those irksome issues with the book, I'm still compelled to read the next book in the series, but I won't be dying to read it. I just hope the story gets better. It does have a lot of potential and I did like the characters. I'm curious about what other "adventures" they'll go through. 
In this book, you will find vampires, ghosts, and a bit of nonsense. Kind of like a tween pg-13 so-so movie that you can't help but get curious about anyway even though you know you won't love it. 


"Damn, Claire. Warn a guy before you do a face-plant on the floor next time. I could have looked all heroic and caught you or something." hehe


~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Waiting on Wednesday: Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth

RD: Sept 27, 2011

Baxter Green isn’t like everyone else. While most people would forget about the little details of everyday life, Baxter never forgets—not pain, not hurt, not embarrassment. In fact, Baxter never forgets anything—not even a string of account numbers, flashed before his eyes by his mother’s criminal boyfriend, Dink, for use in a credit card scam. Years after his testimony has locked Dink away, Baxter and his mother are in a new town, trying to forget the danger Dink brought into their lives. Baxter wants to hide his unique ability, but it becomes increasingly more difficult when he reconnects with Hallie, a girl from his childhood who has lived on in his memory long after she has forgotten him. Can Baxter win Hallie’s heart? Loretta Ellsworth’s newest novel is one readers will never forget.

Sounds like something I'd enjoy :)

WoW hosted by Breaking the Spine

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

New to My Playlist

NMP = songs I've recently added to my never ending playlist of songs I'll play in a loop unless I have the master list on shuffle. If the song's legally available for free (usually for a limited time for promotional purposes) I shall provide a link. Let me know which you liked and what else you've heard from the artists or if you have anything you'd like to recommend!


"9 Crimes" by Damien Rice Ft. Lisa Hannigan (when she was a member of the band...)

Found: Pandora.com
Resembles: Ray LaMontagne
Thoughts: Ah I LOVE this duet! I also love LIsa Hannigan and Gary Lightbody's (of Snow Patrol - one of my favorite bands) duet on "Some Surprise." Just realized that was her. I knew I recognized the name! Video is kinda scary...


"Promises" by Nero



Found: Tales of Whimsy. She mentioned in her review of Matched that someone else stated the video reminded them of Matched by Ally Condie and boy is that true!
Thoughts: Very fun to listen to and now reminds me of Matched! It's nice to have music connect you to books. :)


"Sparrows Over Birmingham" by Josh Rouse



Found: The Girl Next Door soundtrack.
Thoughts: Sweet, slow, and nice. 




~~T.V and Book Addict~~

T.V: The New Girl

I have a mad girl crush on Zooey Dechanel so of course I had to see this! It premiers on Sept. 20th, but the pilot's free on iTunes. Go get it!! It's hilarious (I'm a HUGE fan of dorky characters so this is really awesome) and I just can't wait to get to know the characters more. I have a feeling that the bartender is going to fall in love with Jess. I wonder if the other two guys will too. If that happens, well, dang, it's gonna become quite the crazy story. It would be almost exactly like the premise for You're Beautiful, which I adored.


The waitress from It's Always Sunny (Charlie Day's wife, Mary Elizabeth Ellis) is in this and so is the adorable cop (Max Greenfield) who liked Veronica Mars. (I love his douchebag jar. hahaha hilarious!!!) I love them and Zooey, so this will be extra fun.


Let me know what you think about it!

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

In My Mailbox -- I'm a ninja i'm a hoodie ninja i'm a ninja i'm a hoodie ninja

can't get MC Chris's Hoodie Ninja song out of my head. Been there for weeks. Dang civic commercial. Not that I don't like it. I love it!

These past weeks I received the following items. Add books to your Goodreads wishlist/tbr list by clicking on the covers.

Bought:

The Enemy/Charlie Higson/Found through review by Once Upon a Twilight (check out the review, it's a very loved book!)
RD: 2010

A sickness has afflicted everyone over the age of 16; anyone who is a "grown-up" has become a decomposing, brainless creature that survives by feeding on children. The children and teens have barricaded themselves in fortified buildings, fighting off attacks from the grown-ups who travel in packs, like hungry dogs. Before long, the young survivors are promised a safe haven in Buckingham Palace and make their way to it, crossing London on a perilous journey that will test them in harrowing ways. But their fight to stay alive is far from over—the threat from within is as real as the one on the outside.


Reminds me a bit of Attack the Block and I love zombies so I'm excited to read this one. It's a series, which I dislike unless I have all the books at hand, but, sigh, it's a small unpleasantness. I gave in to buying it because it was about $2 bucks at poor Borders. 

Blood Red Road (Dustlands #1) by Moira Young
RD: June 2011

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

Again, I tried not buying this because first of all, it's a recent release (a.k.a usually $10-20 bucks I never shell out for books because I'm too cheap), second, it's a part of a series. I must have all of them in order to want to begin it. I hate having to wait for the sequels and so forth of a series. Drives me bonkers. I saw it at Borders. It was about $5 bucks. Couldn't say no. It looked so pretty... Additionally, Nancy Farmer (The House of the Scorpion is one of my all-time favorite books) and James Dashner (The Maze Runner is so fun!!!) loved it. How could I have said no??? :)

For Review:

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

RD: Sept 5, 2011

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Inspired by Aristophanes' play Lysistrata, critically acclaimed author of The Duff (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) Kody Keplinger adds her own trademark humor in this fresh take on modern teenage romance, rivalry and sexuality.

Thanks to Little Brown! I'm so curious about this one!

Won:

I won this beautiful Zoya nail polish set & awesome fortune teller fish over at Concrete and Nail Polish. My favorite is the third from the left called Rica.

Downloaded:

Amazon has a promotion (thanks for the head's up Reading the Paranormal) going on where you can download Bright Young Things/Anna Godbersen for free. If you have a Kindle, a Mac, a PC (and more), you should get it! Click on the cover. I must finish reading her Luxe series...


The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the Roaring Twenties.
Letty Larkspur and Cordelia Grey escaped their small Midwestern town for New York's glittering metropolis. All Letty wants is to see her name in lights, but she quickly discovers Manhattan is filled with pretty girls who will do anything to be a star. . . .
Cordelia is searching for the father she's never known, a man as infamous for his wild parties as he is for his shadowy schemes. Overnight, she enters a world more thrilling and glamorous than she ever could have imagined—and more dangerous. It's a life anyone would kill for . . . and someone will.
The only person Cordelia can trust is ¬Astrid Donal, a flapper who seems to have it all: money, looks, and the love of Cordelia's brother, Charlie. But Astrid's perfect veneer hides a score of family secrets.
Across the vast lawns of Long Island, in the ¬illicit speakeasies of Manhattan, and on the blindingly lit stages of Broadway, the three girls' fortunes will rise and fall—together and apart. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe comes an epic new series set in the dizzying last summer of the Jazz Age.



IMM's a weekly feature by The Story Siren. Go look at the rest!

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Giveaway/Review/Trailer: All These Things I've Done (Birthright #1) by Gabrielle Zevin (US & Can) - CLOSED

4/5: Really liked it.

Release Date: Sept. 6, 2011

Series: Yes, this is Birthright #1

Synopsis:
In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family. 


Thoughts:
Okay I loved Gabrielle Zevin's Elsewhere. One of my favorite books, and I liked what I read from Memoirs of an Amnesiac (was interrupted, must continue it!), so when I found out she was coming out with a new book, I HAD to get it. I wound up with it and am happy to say I really liked this book! The upsides are that it was a story that kept me on my toes well enough that I finished it quickly and I loved the characters. Keep in mind that even though I did like the characters, I mostly found them interesting even though I didn't fully get to know them. Not as much info as I would like on them is given. Scarlet was a great best buddy (huge fan of best buddies!), Anya was a really fascinating protagonist, Leo was such a sweet big brother, and Win, although not great, was pretty realistic as far as guys go and I must say, I enjoyed that. He wasn't one of those drop dead and perfect gorgeous guys that are everywhere (he kinda was, but not really and I'll take not really over non-realistic any day hehe). In YA that is. Ah, I  am looking forward to the sequel. One major thing I hated the krud out of was the the synopsis tells us that this book takes place in 2083. Am I blind? Delusional? Or do you see it too? Because if so, what the frack Gabrielle Zevin??! The readers get practically zero information about this future world. I want to know why everything is the way it is and exactly what everything looks like. I couldn't picture much of the world because the author is too focused on Anya (the pretty badass sixteen-year-old protagonist). I liked Anya's story, don't get me wrong. I liked how she dealt with issues. Not like a cookie cutter type of way. She seemed so human, and I loved that. I liked how she cared so much about her family and how she would often think back about what her father has taught her, and I liked how this book was worth a read. I liked a number of things, but geez,  Gabrielle Zevin, don't say this is going to take place in the future and not explain what it's like. Not cool, not cool. Yeah, we get some details, but what the future is like is seemingly added as an afterthought. In my opinion anyway. Additionally, please make the "bad guys" more scary next time. This is also supposed to be a Mafia drama right? Maybe it's just me, but I just wasn't convinced by the antagonists. They bored me and they were also seemingly added as an afterthought. 
Now that I've told you what to expect, you may or may not enjoy it. Although some things bothered me, I still couldn't stay away for long, it really was an entertaining read (could have been so much better though - maybe the sequel will be awesome?). By the end it will have you wondering what and how Anya is going to take on the troubles that keep popping up in her life. 

Trailer:


The trailer is not nearly as cool as the book. Trust me.

Giveaway:


Fill out form
U.S & Canada
Deadline: September 18
(Optional): Let me know what your favorite chocolate is or why you're looking forward to reading this book.



Links:
Gabrielle Zevin's Fan Page | Author's Site | Author's Macmillan Site

Giveaway sponsored by Macmillan and marketing firm. 

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Waiting on Wednesday: Above by Leah Bobet

RD: April 1, 2012. Click the cover to add it to your goodreads tbr list if you haven't already.

Matthew's father had lion's feet and his mother had gills, and both fled the modern-day city to live in underground Safe, a secret community of freaks, ghost-whisperers, and disabled outcasts hidden beyond the subways and sewers. Raised underground, Matthew is responsible for the keeping of both Safe's histories and the traumatized shapeshifter Ariel, the girl he took in, fell in love with – and can't stop from constantly running away.

But Safe is no longer safe: the night after a frightening encounter in the sewers, Safe's founder Atticus is murdered by the one person Safe ever exiled: mad Corner, whose coup is backed by an army of mindless, whispering shadows.

Only Matthew, Ariel, and a handful of unstable, crippled compatriots escape to the city that cast them out; the dangerous place he knows only as Above. Despite Ariel's increasingly erratic behaviour and with the odds against them, Matthew must find a way to rescue Safe from Corner's occupying army. But as his quest leads him through abandoned asylums and the dregs of urban poverty, Matthew discovers that the histories he's devoted his life to aren't true: Corner's invasion -- and Ariel's terrors – are rooted in a history of Safe much darker and bloodier than Matthew ever imagined.

And even if he manages to save both home and Ariel, he may well lose himself. 

WoW hosted by Breaking the Spine. 

~~T.V and Book Addict~~

New To My Playlist

NMP = songs I've recently added to my never ending playlist of songs I'll play in a loop unless I have the master list on shuffle. If the song's legally available for free (usually for a limited time for promotional purposes) I shall provide a link.


"Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye Ft. Kimbra



Found: Frenetic Reader. 
Thoughts: Ahhh I freaking love it!
Resembles: Kimbra's voice very much resembles Katy Perry's. Great voice. 


"Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato

Found: Radio.
Thoughts: I like and dislike this song. I like it because I love her voice and I love the emotion she puts into the song, buuut I dislike it slightly because I feel like I've already heard this song already. It's been done before, like so many things and it's not different enough to stand out completely. That doesn't get too much in the way though. Still downloaded it ;)


"It's Nice to Know You Work Alone" by Silversun Pickups



Found: Amazon (free, but unavailable now, sorry!)
Thoughts: Nice!! "It's nice to know you wear cologne" - one of the comments on the video hahaha



~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier // Book Review

Rating: 4/5; Really liked it. Entertaining. Add-to-your-collection-worthy even if I didn't fully love it.

Release Date: May 2011

Special: First in a trilogy. Also known as Edelstein. Sequel, Sapphire Blue, to be released (in the translated from German to English) in the Spring of 2012. The third book, Emerald Green, soon after. Bleh! Come out already! Or would it be faster if I learned German? Nein!

Synopsis:
So, there's a girl. Her name's Gwyneth. She is a part of a world in which time travel is possible to those who have the time traveling gene. Her cousin, Charlotte (the perfect girl) so happens to have that gene. She has to take a bunch of History lessons, fencing lessons, etc., and doesn't get to live a normal life like Gwyneth. Well, ladies and gents, the world is about to become a lot more than normal for Ms. Gwyneth. Oh, and there's also the mysteries. And the boy. Don't forget the boy...
-T.V and Book Addict

Thoughts:
Really? You're telling me I have to wait until Spring 2012 before I get to read the sequel? I should have taken Germa instead as Japanese.
A little background, eh? Yes. Okay...
Gwyneth is a 16 year old girl who has just had her life turned upside down. I will tell you three things: this is a tale of time travel, a love story, and a great mystery. Please avoid as much information about this book as possible and just dive in. Don't even finish this review. It's pointless if you compare it to the time that would be well spent reading the book.
This here folks is the type of book you brag about. This is the type of book you want to share. This is also the type of book you want to warn people about. Why warn you say? Because every reader should be aware that when they reach the last page, sure they'll be a sneek peek at book #2, but in the meantime, there'll want more Gwyneth, secondary characters, and the rest of this exciting time traveling tale.
I genuinely loved this book and hated having to put it down. It's a very fun story with a cute little love tale. Two of my favorite things in a book!
Now about Gwyneth's best friend, Lesley. She is one of the BEST best buds in YA books. I LOVE that girl! I hope there's more to her story because I really want to get to know this character more. She's so freaking awesome and understanding. Just wanted to give props to the best bud ;)
The reason why I didn't give it a full five stars is because I felt like the book could have given us more information. I wanted to know more about the main characters! I wanted more action, I wanted more, more, more. I just wasn't fully satisfied with what was offered to us in this introduction to a possibly great trilogy. Satisfied enough that I'm keeping it in my collection and recommending it though. Another complaint I have is that I have to wait for the next two books. Not much of a complaint though is it?

For fans of:
Vampire Diaires - because of a certain phenomenon in the book...
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - the time travel and friendships reminded me a bit of this one
time travel
love stories where the guy and the girl just like each other quickly - hard to hate that really... I'm a sucker for love stories so *shrug* no real complaint

Read on!

Book source: From marketing firm. 
~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Hades (Halo #2) by Alexandra Adornetto // Giveaway (U.S & Canada)

Oh em gee so you read the teen author, Alexandra Adornetto's Halo (Halo #1) and now you're crazy excited about Hades (Halo #2)! Or... you didn't read Halo but you will once you win Hades!

Skip to good stuff if you already know you're gonna love this book.

Check out the trailer and synopsis, but beware of spoilers if you haven't read the first book.





Bethany and Xavier are even closer since battling Jake Thorn and his evil influence (in Halo) and Beth and her angel siblings must still protect Venus Cove from the Dark Forces.

When a party game – a séance – inadvertently releases Jake from the Underworld, he disguises himself and tricks Beth into taking a ride on his motorcycle. When the highway opens up and swallows them, Beth learns too late that she’s now a prisoner in hell. What happens to angels there? As her archangel brother, Gabriel, her sister Ivy, Xavier, and her best friend, Molly search for her, Beth must weigh Jake’s bargaining for her freedom: one night with him, and she will be released back to Earth.
Can Jake be trusted in this wager? And is he also using Beth to engineer the fall of the archangel Gabriel? Xavier has already lost one love – when Jake tricks him into thinking that Bethany is dead, his grief and anger result in a betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if he is so good after all.

It will be up to Beth to use everything she’s learned about her powers as an angel – and about love – to free herself and those she loves from the clutches of Hades.



So enter already!

Good stuff:

• US and Canada only
• one winner will win a finished copy of Hades 
• fill out form
• Deadline: September 12
• (optional): leave me a comment having to do with angels! (e.g., if you read the first book, tell us what you thought and why you want to read the sequel, gush about how much you loved Angel from Buffy TVS, etc.)

My comment: Haven't read the first book but I'm a bit curious about it especially because of the freaking gorgeous cover (see below). Plus, I love Angels. Anyone watching Supernatural? Castiel is just too awesome (see below) Oh yeah, and I love Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (duh). Enough said. :D

Credit. 

Prize Source: Marketing firm. 
~~T.V and Book Addict~~

Question: How are classes? + I am majoring in...

Yeah. That was me when I realized school was starting up again. Bleh!

So how is school going for ya'll? Feel free to rant, "scream," or whatnot. 

I had a pretty coolio GPA last term so I wound up with a merit scholarship. Hoorah! That really helps me and will allow me to have a few extra bucks.

Ooooh annnnnd guess what? (LIFE ALTERING MOMENT) I (finally) declared my major...EDUCATION!!! My dream is to work at an adoption agency. All I want to do is work with kids (ahhh I love them so much they're so great and wonderful and hilarious and aww and ahhhhdorable!) and they don't even care if you have a degree (unless you want to be an administrator, therapist or something), but they do appreciate Education degrees. I'm also minoring in Psychology (had already decided that though) since I love it so darn much. Sooooo that's what I'm doing :) I'm REALLY excited. For my school, you can't just declare your major in Education. Oh no ma'am's and sir's. You have to apply to the School of Education. Applying means you can get ...rejected :'( I was so nervous they would say no, but they didn't and I was ACCEPTED!!!! *happy dance*

;)

~~T.V and Book Addict~~