The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

With The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner Stephenie Meyer reveals what it was like for one girl raised in her second life to have no guidelines, yet finding herself naturally abiding to ethics.  Bree's story was fresh and shed light on a Twilight romance that didn't involve Edward or Bella.  I bet you're all thinking "oh great another Twilight book" and honestly those were my first thoughts as well.  This book sat on my shelf in all it's intimidating Twilight glory and scary 178 page essay format since the release date.  Yeah thats right, I'll admit it, I was afraid to read this book.  Despite my subtle anxiety, Monday I finally gather up enough guts to read this novella.  Truth be told, it wasn't that scary.  I actually enjoyed the book.

In case you forgot Bree is the one vampire that surrenders to the Cullen family at the end of Eclipse, but is unfortunately murder by the Volturi.  After all, they can't grant second chances, that would make them look soft.  This short novella was surprisingly captivating, as was the character of Bree.  She brought to life, or rather 2nd life, a voice of young weathered honesty.  She may have been a newborn, but she wasn't naive; she was cautious and calculating.  In the end I actually ended up loving the continuous stream of consciousness, I am no longer afraid of no chapters!  This book had it's flaws, but it is defiantly a story I would pick up again.

Teaser Tuesday: September 7th

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

*Grab your current read
*Open to a random page
*Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
*BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
*Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"He likes you," Her Imperial Viciousness said, yanking hard on the jabberwock's chain to keep the beast still.  "They're not the easiest things to tame, but that's why I like them."  ~ArchEnemy by Frank Beddor pg. 219

Lugged from the Library (1)

I finally went out and got a library card, and boy was it about time!  I feel that it was a necessary step in to fulfilling my book nerdieness.  Not to mention completely practical for poor college student such as myself.  So to document this splendid occasion I am going to start a "Lugged from the Library" column.  This week there wasn't much lugging involved since I only checked out one book, but I love the alliteration.

ArchEnemy: The Looking Glass Wars: This is the third book in The Looking Glass Wars series.  I own the first two book in their paperback form, but ArchEnemy has yet to be released in that form so I opted to check it out from the library.  I'm so excited to start using the library more often!

Am I the Only One Who Hasn't Read Clockworks Angel?

College just started up again and I have been crazy busy with work and studying.  Really it is fine by me, I love staying busy, but it is totally infringing on my reading time!  I feel like I am the only one who hasn't read Clockwork Angel, please tell me otherwise.  Here I've been dying to read this book for about a year and I can't even find the time to buy it.  Pretty the only I've been able to survived so long is due to the beautiful book trailer created by the brilliant Vania.  My favorite part of the trailer is where Tessa describes her first kiss...I have to know more about that kiss!  Thanks goodness it is Labor Day Weekend right?

2010 Debut Author Challenge

Ok so I recently came across The Story Siren's 2010 Debut Author Challenge and instantly knew I had to be part of it (even if I am a little late to the party).  She challenged everyone to read at least 12 debut novels, but seeing how both college and work are starting back I may not find the time to read 12.  However, it can't hurt to try, and seeing how I have already read 1 or 2 I may have a chance to reach let say...6.  I know 6 is lame, but with only a few months left and limited for reading...Well, a girl has got be be realistic.

Bold: I have read it

Crossed Out: I have reviewed it.

My 2010 Debut Author Reading List:
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White
Flecks Of Gold by Alicia Buck
Fortune by Megan Cole

Countdown: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Just 10 more days...TEN!!!!  I have been anticipating this book from the moment I found out about it back sometime in 2009.  I loved The Mortal Instruments, but there is something about The Infernal Devices that makes me think I will love it even more.  I instantly fell in love with the idea of placing modern stem-punk fiction in the Victorian Era.  To me the Victorian Era symbolizes romance with new independence.  Perhaps we will see a softer edge in pages form Clare's new book, Clockwork Angel, or will she emphasize the hardship of the time with her grunge appeal?  Whatever she does I am sure it is going to be brilliant!

Flecks Of Gold by Alicia Buck

Despite what Mary Margaret Underwood thinks, she isn't your average high school student standing 5'10" with tiger gold eyes and a talent for going unnoticed.  But when one more of her mom's bad breakups force them to flee town and start over Mary senses something different about this place, particularly one of her new classmates, Kelson.  Well Mary's intuition proves right when her mom is suddenly kidnapped by Kelson in a flash of blue.  Running on pure adrenaline Mary instinctively performs magic she, until moments before, never believed existed.  Following after her mom to a world she knows nothing of.

Flecks of Gold is the  book review, books, Flecks of Gold, Young-Adultfirst novel from the pen of Alicia Buck, and after reading it I am certain she struck gold with this debut.  Magic, adventure, and even a little romance fill the pages to create this imaginatively original coming of age tale.  Buck placed a fresh outlook on the concept of magic, making its existence believable by portraying its elements similar to molecular structure. 

Flecks of Gold was so fun to read, not to mention captivating.  My one complaint was that Mary often didn't seem to pick up on things that were obvious to me as a reader.  Apparently she did, but she doesn't let the reader didn't know this until much later in the book.  Maybe the mentions were removed during the editing process?  Despite that I found myself not wanting to put the book down and flew though it in two days.  Now I have been left wanting more.  I can't wait to see what is yet to come from the creative mind of Alicia Buck.

*You can buy Flecks of Gold by Alicia Buck online at Amazon.com*

Countdown: Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers

Is anyone else as excited for Lisa Desrochers debut novel, Personal Demons, as I am?  Because if you are I commend you on restraining yourself from hunting down an ARC and stealing it from its rightful owner.  Which brings me to the purpose of this post...to provide the link where you could win your very own Personal Demons ARC!  Go here to Lisa's site for your chance to win an advanced reader copy of Personal Demons.  But for those of your who just can't take the chance at winning feel free to pre-order Personal Demons on Amazon.