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Giveaways for book reviews - Who knew?!

I'm jumping in feet first!

One of the things I've found amazing about the book reviewing blogsphere, is the number of giveaways that are out there.  Soo many books! Soo many giveaways! 

The jaded side of me always leery of the marketing machine, believes this is just an attempt to get free book buzz on books and a swell way to obtain user information.  I happen to believe that jaded side of me, however the allure of getting free books, simply by talking about free books is so enticing! Consider me sold - Marketing message worked on me!

WWW Wednesday

Here's my WWW Wednesday post! Unfortunately, it's almost a repeat of last week's post. Life has caught up to me in very unexpected ways and my reading time has suffered. I have been working very hard, "mommying" very hard and sleeping very hard.  Not a lot of time for reading unfortunately and so I am still reading the same book that I was reading last week - The Horror!

WWW Wednesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. WWW Wednesdays is a fun way to share what you're reading. To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

1. What are you currently reading?

2. What did you recently finish reading?

3. What do you think you'll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I am still reading The Betrayed.  I have read a number of books about life in Washington D.C. and this one is going along the same veins. The unique characteristic of this book that I am enjoying, is seeing the story through the eyes of the different characters I come across.  It's great, I'm enjoying it, I wish I could be reading more!

What did you recently finish reading?

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan.  

Check out my review!

What do you think you'll read next?

My digital copy of Beth Revis's Across the Universe finally came in from my local library. Marley & Me just got kicked to the curb - see, I knew I really wasn't interested in reading this book. 

Worrying about blog activity and such stuff...

In my attempts to be a better blogger, I read other book blogs to see what's going on with other bloggers, what's new that I've missed and a friendly visit is always welcomed by everyone. I've noticed that most bloggers have something new for me to read each time I visit their site - new content every day!  As a new blogger, that's incredibly intimidating!  I barely find time to read as it is, much less have a new post each day.

Some blogs that have weekly features  that the authors put into place, I expect to ensure they have a schedule to track their postings.

There is the ever impressive MizB of Should Be Reading who has 5 weekly events that keep content fresh: Musing Mondays, Teaser Tuesdays, WWW Wednesdays, Friday Finds and My Favorite Find for Saturdays.

Jill from Breaking the Spine has just one weekly event  - Waiting on Wednesdays.

These weekly events are free for everyone and anyone to play along in, so if as a new blogger, you're interested. Just visit their sites to get more information about events.


There are other blogs that have so much going on, the author doesn't need any weekly events to keep content fresh.  The Story Siren definitely falls in this category. As a new blogger, I have decided this blog is my mecca (at least for now).  It's loaded with great information and I get lots of great ideas for what I want my blog to look like.

For other newbie bloggers out there, are you worried about blog activity, or is this just my paranoid tendency taking over me? Let me know!

My first WWW Wednesday!

I am posting my first WWW Wednesday and I'm overly excited about it! My excitement is a side effect of the extreme exhaustion I'm currently experiencing. I was just supposed to roll through my blogs, but instead here I am, forcing myself to stay awake and get this post in before the clock officially changes to Thursday in about 6 minutes. I never claimed to sane, so this is just par for the course!

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. I discovered this weekly blog event by traipsing over to Amy's blog to check out her latest posts.  WWW Wednesdays is a fun way to share what you're reading.  To play along, just answer the following 3 questions:

1. What are you currently reading?

2. What did you recently finish reading?

3. What do you think you'll read next?

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading The Betrayed by David Hosp. I just returned the last book series I borrowed from my local digital library and nothing I wanted to read on my to-read list was available, so I grabbed this book.  I'm enjoying it so far and looking forward to reviewing it in the next day or two. 

What did you recently finish reading?

As I just mentioned, I just returned a book series, and it happened to be Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympian series.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book series and will be investing in print copies for my children to read.  The storyline was funny, educational and most importantly for my 8-year-old son, chocker-bock full of action, monsters and some uber sword fights. 

What do you think you'll read next?

So I might have fibbed earlier. I realize that Marley & Me is on my to-read list, however I'm not really looking forward to reading this book. I'm not quite sure why, but I'm not intrigued by it at all. I added it to my books to read at the recommendation of a friend and never got around to reading it.  I picked this up from the digital library because the book I really wanted to read - like Across the Universe by Beth Revis was not available. Every once in a while, I indulge in a begrudging read in hopes that it turns out to be an enjoyable read (like Twilight)

So that's my WWW Wednesday update for the week. It's now 15 minutess past the midnight hour, so I'm technically posting this on Thursday, but I won't freak out if you won't.

Review - The Last Olympian

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As this series comes to a close with the final chapter in The Last Olympian, I felt sad, but fulfilled and ready to say farewell to Percy and his friends.

The final chapter shows Percy becoming the man he was born to be (all before the age of 16 mind you!) and fulfill his destiny unflinchingly in the face of tremendous odds. The story of The Last Olympian is dark, fast-paced and breathlessly exciting. It is the year of the prophecy, and Percy's arch enemy - Luke/Kronos appears invincible as he has surrounded himself with seemingly unstoppable allies. Percy's own alliance of demigods, half-bloods and mythical creatures suddenly seemed plagued insecurities, pettiness and fear. Percy must rise above his own fear, elevating his friends in the process and boldly face what is sure to be his certain demise.
Rick Riordan weaves a tale of leadership, friendship and tenacity, tinged with that unique Percy Jackson humor.

I still found myself irritated with the running theme of Percy still being unaware of a lot of things going on, but unlike the other stories in the series, Rick Riordan does not dwell on Percy's ignorance. In fact, I am justified in the sense of impatience that Percy felt at the secret glances and innuendos that continued to run rampant all around him. But all in all, this was a fitting end to a wonderful tale.



View all my reviews

Review - The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Battle of the Labyrinth is a dark sinister chapter in the Percy Jackson series. The gravity of the prophecy and the foes that face our beloved characters is emphasized more so than ever and for once, Percy's fate is not as certain as you would think.

In this latest chapter of Percy's saga, Percy, Annabeth, Grover and Tyson face unrelenting evil around every corner and to succeed, true personal sacrifice is required. Are the gods of Olympus truly worth the price that the young demigods and their friends pay?

Percy grows up hard and fast, and fills into his role as a leader and decision maker unthinkingly. It is a shame that Rick Riordan continue the trend of Percy's ignorance about most things Greek, however this flaw is more palatable as Percy's willingness to take command showcases the inherent strengths he has a demigod.

As Percy grew in stature, the other demigods were taken down a peg as the story shows us that they are all teenagers still growing, in need of help, parenting and love. Annabeth, Clarisse and Luke are all humanized in this book and that was very justifying to see.

All in all this was a great book. So far my second favorite of the series, but I may be premature as the Last Olympian awaits me.

View all my reviews

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rick Riordan continues the story in spectacular fashion, and Percy Jackson of course saves the day again. New friends, new gods, new adventure await readers in this third book. I will have to say that I am very disappointed as it appears that for the remainder of the series, Percy will continue to remain obtuse regarding his grecian heritage, but as his lack of knowledge appears to be the main way that readers learn about mythology, I guess I have to deal with this fact.

Great storyline nonetheless, and it's off to book four I go!



View all my reviews

The Sea of Monsters - Complete!

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book. I found it funnier than the first one in the series, yet just as an exciting read. Rick Riordan, done with the character development now takes you on a fun whirlwind ride across the east coast in funtastic Grecian style (yes, I believe I just made up a word there).  I am really looking forward to re-reading these stories with my son once he gets older.  I'm starting book 3 now, and I am hoping that Percy learns a little more about his heritage.  I must say his constant state of befuddlement will begin to grate very soon.



View all my reviews

Re-Reading Riordan

I read Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief" last year and loved it, so I am reading it again for a couple of reasons.
First, I never read the other stories in the series and I need a refresher.  Second, I am slowly easing into reading again after a long hiatus and I need a fun, easy read to get back into the swing of things.  Finally, I've decided that I really want to pursue reading young adult literature as I am going to have a few young adults in my home very soon.  My ultimate evil plan is to have something to talk about with them, while they are going through adolescence.  Fingers crossed! Here's hoping my plan works.

Goodreads! The sleeper has awakened!

Years ago, before the age of graduate school, babies and housework, I used to be an avid reader.  A dyed-in-the-wool bookworm who always had a book in her purse that I was reading and another three on the horizon.  Then came the dark period - the period of exhaustion and conflicting priorities - GRADUATE SCHOOL.  Four years of unadulterated stress, boredom and non-stop academic reading. For some, that might be a great thing, for me - Hell on Earth. I'm stunned that my brain made it through, but I am eternally grateful that it did.

Because, after months of recovery and rehabilitation, I am reading for fun again! Hooray! It's 2012 and I'm reading books that need to be plugged in.  The electronic revolution welcomed me in its eInky embrace! I finally broke down and purchased myself an eReader because there is no more room in my house for books.  I mean, I 'm asking my children to purge books for crying out loud.

I am fully embracing all that the electronic revolution has to offer me. I am making friends on twitter (shout out to @amyfournier and @caribookblogs), setting up shop on Goodreads (I'm FabMo - Check me out) and I have already downloaded five books from my library onto my nook to read. I am ready and raring to go! I also accepted the Goodreads 2012 reading challenge - 52 books in 2012. Goodreads! The Sleeper Has Awakened!

Happy reading to me!