Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

I'm not over vampires yet. There were just so many to choose from in the book store that its hard to sometimes pick out something to read when there are so many of the same genre to choose from. A lot of people recommended I read this series since I loved the House of Night novels by P.C. Cast and I thought I would give it a chance to read. I'm glad this whole series was complete because it gave me the chance to read the whole series through.

Vampire Academy (Book 1)
St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger...
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

HOLY COW! This is the book series that should have been made into films around the same time as Twilight. I really liked it. It's tough chicks! I liked the writing it wasn't dull, and to top it off neither were the characters. I found myself very attached to Rose. She is strong and determined. I especially liked how it was not all romance but had A LOT of action sequenced into the book it was all girls who could kick some serious ass!  A wonderful vampire series to read. 5 STARS!

Blog Tour! Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

So honored to be apart of another blog tour. I received an ARC copy of this book and I absolutely loved it! Out of all the trends New York Publishing should keep the dystopian trends going because they are the most interesting to read. This one in particular caught my interest and I was so anxious to get my hands on it, and I'll tell you, it was worth the wait! I don't know why it took so long for St.Martins to publish this because it is a work of genius! I loved it! It had some romance but it was all mostly action and adventure! It was truly an amazing story and I loved every word of it!

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

Release: August 7, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Heather Anastasiu is the author of the young adult sci-fi novel,GLITCH (St. Martin's Press/Spring 2012). She recently moved to Minneapolis with her family, and when she’s not busy getting lost exploring the new city, she spends most days writing at a café.  

Random Facts About Me:

• I played the piccolo in my high school marching band.
• I paint a little, but for some reason, only in winter.
• So, the last name, I know it looks like Anastasia, but it has a U on the end: Anastasiu (rhymes with 'so-nice-to-see-you'). It's Romanian in origin.
• I like body art. Well, I like art of all kinds, but especially body art, i.e. tattoos, because it's the art you get to take with you. I figure, there's so much about the body we're given we don't have control over (hips, nose, forehead, chin, height, foot size, health), so much that we get no choice in, but hair color and ink designs? Hello world, this is me and the kinds of things I find beautiful!
• I was in a wheelchair for a year during college because of health problems. Being wheel-bound and knee-high for a year certainly changed my perspective on life (pun intended).
• Yes, I am a fan of cheesy puns.
• My favorite book is East of Eden because it blew open my world when I first read it at age 20.
• I also unabashedly love Twilight. I even wrote a chapter in a forthcoming book of academic essays about how Twilight, for all its shortcomings, can also have positive implications for readers in that it provides a platform for public participation in a communal female myth. It's compulsively readable and is all about engaging our fantasy lives and letting us participate in vicarious wish fullfillment.
• I like pink and black together, but not apart.

www.heatheranastasiu.com | @H_Anastasiu | facebook.com/HeatherAnastasiu

Small Scene from Book

Again i was struck by the mystery of this boy. Who was he? How did he know so much? Why was he helping me?

Before I could continue through the long list of questions racing through my mind, we reached a small four by four foot plateau at the top of the staircase. Adrien found the switch easily this time and spoke the authorization code. And then, as the last door swung open and my eyes were stung by blinding light, I learned the answer to at least one of my questions.

Adrien wasn't trying to help me at all.

He was trying to kill me.

I flinched and covered my face as even though I knew it wouldn't help. Exposure to the outside air was deadly. And if it didn't kill you right away, the radiation would lead to tumors soon enough.

I turned to race back down the stairs but Adrien grabbed my upper arms

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium (Book 1)

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

This is another dystopia that is set with the government controlling society. I'm starting to see patterns now with the government themes in the dystopian books and now why publishers are sort of done with dystopian novels though I do like every single authors take on what would happen in a post apocalyptic world. What I happen to like the most about is how the writer's strength is in her world building and the purpose of society in the novels. I really did enjoy this book, but the reader does find the government theme as shown in other dystopians. In Pandemonium, Lena character does develop to maturity than she was in Delirium, but is very realistic. The chapters went back and forth from "then", which takes place right after Lena escapes to the Wild, and "now", which happens many months after this when Lena is living in New York. 

This back and forth between the chapters tends to give me a headache worse than head hoping, but did show how Lena is adapting to her new world. In the wild, she experiences hunger, death, and survival. In New York, she's experiencing survival in a different form. One that is a lot more dangerous than battling the elements. The writing got more confusing than books written in two point of views instead the chapters where hoping back and forth from present to past and it tends to give a reader a headache more than head hoping novels. with an ending that was predictable. Now I am truly upset because I have to wait until next year to read the final book, I should have just waiting until the whole trilogy was published. 

Kanaeva Golden Again

I love Rhythmic gymnastics. It does not use a lot of gymnastics elements, it more of dancing, while using tools, the scoring is different from artistic.

Now don't get me wrong I am American, and I always want U.S.A to take home the gold, but I love watching when Russia performs. They have dominated this sport for years, and it's because of their culture, the Bolshoi ballet is legendary, and most Russian gymnasts, artistic and rhythmic, have trained in classical ballet along with their gymnastics training. Rhythmic gymnastics is about the dance elements while also using the apparatus, it requires intensive ballet training and a lot of flexibility. 

What I love about Kanaeva is how graceful she looks on the apparatus. She is also considered the most successful rhythmic gymnast. Winning two Olympic All-Around titles straight and multiple world titles. I was so happy she won, she deserved it, she's so elegant and graceful. I hope she considers going into professional dance.

Evgenia in Beijing 2008

In London 2012