New Rating System

I thought with the new year, I needed a new rating system. I realized that when I give a book "thumbs" up, it is solely based on how much I like the book, and doesn't really tell much about the book, although I did try to explain in my review. So, I need your help to decide what I'll base my new ratings on. I have a few "categories" in mind, but I was wondering if you had any more suggestions?

So far I'm thinking about:
Beginning--Like if it grabbed my attention right away. x/10
Ending--Like if it fit the book perfectly/if I like it and what not. x/10
Plot--The story line/idea in general. x/10
maybe cover and title cause that has a impact on the books i choose to read. x/5 each
And I guess if I liked it or not--which would be like the sum /40 ( so far)

But let me know what you think and any suggestions you might have and I'll try and cook something up.

Thanks.

On My Door Step VI

I totally "borrowed" this from The Story Siren. On My Door Step is just another name for In my mailbox, a topic where you share with everyone, on Sunday, what you books you got during the week. It can be a book you borrowed, bought, or one you found on your door step. I thought I'd join in on the fun, when I can.





The Luxe by Anna Godberson.
Thanks to Tasha.











My Fair Godmother (ARC) by Janette Rallison
Thanks to Brooke Taylor

Teaser Tuesday VI

I saw this over at Fizzy Thoughts and I thought it was interesting, so I decided to try it.

GRAB your current read OR the closest book to you]
LET the book fall open to a random page.
SHARE with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
YOU also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
PLEASE avoid spoilers!

(PAPERBACK)










Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss

page. 76

"Unless, of course, other kids were willing to lie the way Shannon had..."

"I unclenched my jaw and enjoyed a final shiver before going back inside."







(HARDCOVER)

an ARC of The Season Giveaway

Author, Sarah MacLean is giving away a signed ARC of her debut novel, The Season. Although I haven't read this one yet, [it's next on my list Sarah] I've heard great things about it from My Favorite Author, and I'm very much looking forward to reading it. It'll be my first Regency historical novel so that makes it all the more exciting. I love movies set in the Regency England era. Vanity Fair is a favorite. But I'm getting off track. so YOU need to head on over to Sarah's spot for your chance at a signed ARC of The Season. LINK. This would be the perfect additon to your list, for those of you participating in the '09 Author Debut Challenge and the 2009 ARC Reading Challenge.




For more chances to win, click here. LINK

On My Door Step V

I totally "borrowed" this from The Story Siren. On My Door Step is just another name for In my mailbox, a topic where you share with everyone, on Sunday, what you books you got during the week. It can be a book you borrowed, bought, or one you found on your door step. I thought I'd join in on the fun, when I can.









Thanks to Amanda from Reading is a Drug and Ben Furman

A New Winner

I know it's not January 5 yet, but I thought I'd go ahead and announce the new winner of Kimberly Pauley's Sucks To Be Me and a Vamp Goodie Bag. Chelsea of the Page Flipper was the former winner. Lucky for her, she had been given a copy of Sucks To Be Me before I had announced the contest winner. So she suggested that I pick a new winner. Since she was the winner, I let her pick the new winner, by choosing a number between 1 and 31. ( Each entrant was assigned a number by me.) And the lucky number was.... FOUR!

So for all of you who are wondering who FOUR is, I'll take the guessing out of it.

PARADOX, please step up and claim your prize.

So once again, thanks to everyone who participated. Hopefully I'll have more chances for YOU to win in the future.

Paradox please email me [stellargurl93@aim.com] your snail mail addy and I'll forward it to Kimberly Pauley ASAP. You have till the end of Jan. 6 to respond OR ELSE a new winner will be chosen and posted on January 7.

Breaking Up Is Really Really Hard To Do by Natalie Standiford

Breaking Up Is Really Really Hard To Do (A Dating Game Novel)
Natalie Standiford

OVERVIEW

Even though their IDH project is over with, the girls, Lina, Holly, and Mads, continue on with the Dating Game. This time around, as they keep their personal lives out of it, they are stuck with their hardest assignment yet, to match Nuclear Autumn. Autumn is not one to be crossed, she blogs about any and everything on her blog, Nuclear Autumn, so one wrong move, and these girls are in for it. But the girls personal love life, is juicy enough to blog about, too bad Autumn has no clue what's going on, especially for Lina. Could she have finally found a way to get to Dan, her lover? Is Mads finally going to get that long awaited experience from the Art guy? And is Rod ready for what Holly has in stock for him? Is Holly ready for what she has in stock for Rob?

REVIEW

This was a good follow up to the first book, The Dating Game Novel. I liked how it was a fast and easy read. Light and simple, but still good at that. Natalie was good with letting the reader know what was going on and the plot was funny. I loved how she showed us this new side of Lina, we all knew it was coming, but it's a whole norther thing when your suspicions are confirmed. I'm looking forward to reading the third book, Can True Love Survive High School?

I would definitely recommend this book to readers 13+.

I give this one four thumps up.

you can read my review of The Dating Game Novel, the first book in the series here.

2009 Challenges

I have never participated in a challenge before so this is going to be a challenge all in itself. But here are the ones I'm going to attempt. Wish me luck.





The A to Z Title Challenge
Read 26 books whereas each title begins with a different letter of the alphabet. More info here. The challenge runs throughout the entire year so I should have plenty of time to do this. The books can overlap with other challenges. (Yes!)


The 50 Book Challenge
This one is really self explanatory. Read 50books before the end of 2009. More info here.

The RLA Monthly Challenge
Each month, at the YA Books Central Forum, we read a different book according to a theme. So I guess it's like a 12book challenge in a way. More info here.

Book Of The Month
This One is through the YA Books Central Forum also. More info here.

And I'm hoping all these challenges overlap!!

I'll keep track of the last three listed challenges on the YA Book Central Forum and the first one on my blog.

And The Winner Is.....

Happy New Year Guys! Wow, I can't believe the contests are already over! They were the first contest held on my blog and I'll have to say, I had a pretty good turn out. Thanks to everyone who participated and got the word out and such. But an even bigger thanks to Amy Goldman Koss, JM Warwick, Kimberly Pauley, and Carmen Rodrigues who made the donations. But on to what you guys are all waiting for.

The winner of Poison Ivy by Amy Goldman Koss is...... CAROL(INA)

The winner of A Season of Eden by JM Warwick is...... ELLIE

The winner of Sucks To Be Me by Kimberbly Pauley is...... CHELSEA

The winner of Not Anything by Carmen Rodrigues is...... THEBOOKWORM

A GRAND CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS, A NEW BOOK FOR THE NEW YEAR!

Thanks again to everyone who participated.

If you are a winner [carol(ina), ellie, chelsea, thebookworm] please email [stellargurl93@aim.com] me your snail mail addy and I'll forward it to the authors ASAP. You have till the end of Jan. 4 to respond OR ELSE a new winner will be chosen and posted on January 5.

GOOD NEWS.
those of you who want another chance at a copy of Not Anything, head on over to Mr. Magoo Reads right NOW. LINK

Now this is where I ask for feedback. So what do you think of the way I held the contest? Was there something that wasn't made clear or that I need to work on? Tell me what you thought of how I did so that future contests will be better and more to your liking. Thanks.

2009--A New Beginning

In 2009 there are a lot of things that I'd like to accomplish. Here's a few.

1. Read and review MORE books, MORE often. For a Book Reviewing site, I don't put up as many reviews as I'd like.

2. Post on the blog everyday. I do Teaser Tuesday and On My Door Step(In My Mailbox) but what about Monday and Wednesday - Saturday? Am I just not going to post on those days except for the occasional review? I have some ideas but I'd like for them to be interactive. I'll list them and let me know what you think.
----Have a Caption This. where I post a picture and you get to stick a caption underneath. (fun!)
----Have a weekly goal. where I post what my goal for the week is and you do to, in comments or however. And the next week, a new goal comes up along with if we accomplished out previous goal or not. (also fun, but a lot of thinking goes into this one.. kinda.)
----Questions. where I like ask a question about like anything and you give me an answer. Sometimes it could be something I can answer also or just something stupid cause I'm bored. (this would also take a lot of my thinking)
----I don't know what else. Any ideas? I was thinking of joining in on Waiting on Wednesday but I'm not sure yet.

3. Get my permit, although that driver's book thingy looks way too long and boring.

4. Get a job, I'd love to babysit, although I don't know how to go about asking people if they need a babysitter. I think it'd be kinda awkward. ( I can make like anything awkward, it's a curse)

5. I guess complete my goals, keep my word, and just DO MORE.

6. And exercise. Track conditioning is starting so I guess I will be exercising (kinda) but I want to continue with Yoga and do it more regularly. --Can't believe I almost forgot this one.

7. I totally have to read the Bible more. I'm just too lazy to read it, I don't know.

8. And I need to QUIT being lazy. I used to not be lazy and this year I've just adopted it as my middle name or something.

WISH ME LUCK.
OH, and I ALMOST FORGOT.



TO MY BLOG FAMILY, THE WHOLE BOOK READING COMMUNITY, AND THOSE WHO TAKE THE TIME TO READ MY BLOG. THANK YOU SOOO VERY MUCH AND I REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE IT. REALLY, I SMILE EVERY TIME I GET A COMMENT. IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN.. LOL.. BUT THANK YOU SOO MUCH AND WISHING YOU WELL!