My Review: MATCHED by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cassia Reyes has just turned seventeen - and over the course of her entire life - there's one thing missing: she's never had a choice. The Society dictates everything - what you eat, what you wear, where you work, where you live, what you do with your free time, when you die - and most importantly, upon the year you turn 17, who you'll marry.

When Cassia is Matched with her childhood best friend, Xander - a rarity that individuals are matched with someone they know, let alone lives in the same district - things couldn't be more perfect. He's everything she's ever wanted and then some.

Upon being matched, every individual is given a profile microcard that contains data on their chosen partner - but when Cassia watches Xander's profile, someone else appears on her screen: another one of her childhood friends, Ky Markham.

She's told it's a glitch - a rare malfunction in the system - and to disregard the information about Ky and move on with her match to Xander. However, Cassia can't seem to forget.

With advice from her dying grandfather: Do not go gentle into that good night, from a secret poem only the two of them share, Cassia realizes that choices do exist. But is she strong enough to make them?

As the story unfolds, both Cassia and Ky find themselves partnered in various activities the Society has chosen for them. And the more and more time they spend together, the more she realizes that maybe Ky appearing as her match, wasn't a mistake after all. He brings with him an inspiring sense of creativity, something that isn't allowed in the Society - along with the ability to write, which he teaches to Cassia.

As the two of them fall in love, Cassia realizes the awful truth behind the Society, and she knows she can no longer follow its dictates. But the Society has other plans - which doesn't include the two of them being together.

Overall, I found the concept of the story intriguing, but sometimes a little slow. There were moments where I wanted something more exciting to happen - and it just didn't. However, I appreciate Condie's creativity and found myself upset at some of the actions the Society took - more so, because I would never have survived in a world where decisions were made for me.

With the ending unresolved and easily setting itself up for the next one in the series (this is book #1 in a trilogy), I will be reading the sequel.

Good read.

View all my reviews

Happy New Year Book Giveaway!

Happy New Year, everyone! 

If you're like me, then you too can't believe it's already 2011! Yikes...where has the time gone?

But what better way to start off the new year, then with a new book? 

And the new book in question?

AWAKENED, by P.C. Cast and her daughter Kristin Cast.

I've rather enjoyed the House of Night series - and their eighth installment in the series, AWAKENED, comes out on Tuesday, January 4th. I'm looking forward to reading this one!

Sooooo, to help welcome the new year and get everyone started on the right foot - I'm giving away a copy of AWAKENED to one of my lucky followers!

The Rules:

Sorry folks, this one is only open to my U.S. and Canadian followers.

How Can I Win?
Enter HERE, and fill out the form to win! But please leave a comment below, telling me you've entered!


Contest Timeline:
Contest is open from today, 1.2.11 to next Friday, 1.14.11 - and a winner will be selected on 1.15.11. All entries (aka comments) for this contest need to be received before 11:59pm PST on Friday, 1.14.11 to be eligible. The winner will be drawn via Random.org on 1.15.11 and announced on my blog.
 
Description of AWAKENED, from The House Of Night website:
 
Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey. Dominion over her immortal consort Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z. But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there. Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it? Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim? The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae (since she saved his life), but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship? Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

Care to read an excerpt?

http://www.houseofnightseries.com/pages/awakenedxrpt.html

Good luck everyone!

My Top 10 List for 2010

 

As 2010 comes to an end, I found myself looking back at the many things that happened this year. 
Here are a few that made my top 10 list for 2010, in chronological order from start to finish throughout the year:

1. I started my blog A Little Of This & That in February, 2010.
2. Against all better judgement, I crossed over to the dark side and joined Twitter. I never thought this would be something I'd do - but I've found some amazing connections through this form of social media, and I'm glad I succumbed!
3. I said I Love You for the very last time, to the most amazing woman in my life: my Mom. Miss you, every day.
4. I met several wonderful people this year:
   a. Heidi Sinnett, my a-mazing critique partner extraodinaire from Canada, that helped me through a bit of a messy year. 2011 is our year, Trixie!
   b. Bridgid "Boom" Gallagher, another fab-u-lous critique partner and talented web page designer - I'm so glad you live in my neck of the woods! Here's to author signings, and when they're finally for us - I'll be the first in line for your autograph!
   c. Karyn Johnson - another incredible writer and friend, that enjoys Mexican fried ice cream, just as much as I do!
   d. Maureen Dunn - lover of all things shopping (I heart your shoe fetish that matches my own!), YA writer, and wonderful spirit.
   e. And to all my new blog followers - you've all been fab!
5. I survived the query process for another WIP, that led to 14 partial requests and 9 fulls - and learned a plethora of invaluable information that I will take with me the next time I venture into the slush pile.
6. I attended my very first writers conference in July - the Pacific Northwest Writer's Association writer's conference. It was amazing and eye-opening, to say the least.
7. I decided to get my rear, back in to gear and joined the CrossFit Basic box in September. It's been one of the hardest endeavors I've ever taken on - but I'm so grateful for the mass amounts of wonderful people I've met, and how great it really makes me feel. CrossFitters are truly in a league of their own.
8. I attempted and won the NaNoWriMo challenge for the first time. 50,000 words in the 30 days of November. Oh, I'll be doing that one again next year!
9. I completed my third Young Adult novel - THE CHOSEN, which I'll be editing like a mad woman over the next couple of months, when my CP's have finished tearing it up...and then, I'll unleash it to the Query Gods! 2011 is the year, I feel it!
10. I realized for the second time in my life, that writing and becoming a published author, is what I really want to do when I grow up. But unlike the first time I thought that (I think I was three), I'm actually going to do something about it this time.
    

What made your list this year? I'd love to hear your comments!

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year's - and with that, I leave you with a funny list of the Do's and Don'ts of New Year's:

Do

Go out and have a fab-u-lous time!

Don’t

Do drunken status updates - no matter what the social media venue. They’re like drunk dials, but for the whole world to see.

Do

Kiss someone under the mistletoe.

Don’t

Kiss someone with your beer goggles on - you'll inevitably regret it in the morning. And the walk-o-shame is fun, for no one.

Do
Attend a party in a glittery miniskirt or tank top.

Don’tAttend a party in a glittery miniskirt AND tank top, especially without wearing underwear. You’re not Paris or Brittney - and you won't become a celebrity for flashing the world.

Do

Document the evening in a few tasteful snapshots.

Don’tDocument the evening in 243 not tasteful photos, throughout which you deteriorate from posing with your girlfriends, to puking in the coat closet.

New York Times Best Sellers: Children's / YA for Week Ending December 31, 2010

As of Friday, December 31st - here are the New York Time's top 10 bestseller lists for all things Children / Young Adult. 

In Chapter Books, James Patterson's, THE GIFT makes it's list debut, taking over the #2 position - and in Paperbacks, THE BOOK THIEF continues it's dominance in the top 10.

And rounding out the Series top 10 list, a personal favorite of mine continues to shine - Richelle Mead's VAMPIRE ACADEMY series holds the #5 position - just above THE TWILIGHT SAGA.
 
I can't wait to see what new and exciting Children's / YA books make the New York Times bestseller lists, in 2011 - Happy New Year, everyone!

Children's Chapter Books

This Week		Children's Chapter Books	Weeks on List
1		THE LOST HERO, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $18.99.) A return to Camp Half-Blood and semi-divine characters old and new. (Ages 10 and up)	10
2		THE GIFT, by James Patterson and Ned Rust. (Little, Brown, $17.99.) A sister and brother flex their new powers; a Witch and Wizard book. (Ages 10 and up)	1
3		THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet. (Ages 10 and up)	33
4		JUSTIN BIEBER, FIRST STEP 2 FOREVER, by Justin Bieber. (HarperCollins, $21.99.) A musician reaches out to fans with short takes and photos. (Ages 6 to 12)	10
5		THE UNOFFICIAL HARRY POTTER COOKBOOK, by Dinah Bucholz. (Adams Media, $19.95.) Recipes in which a dash of eye of newt would not go amiss. (Ages 9 to 12)	4
6		TALES FROM A NOT-SO-POPULAR PARTY GIRL, by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, $12.99.) The further reflections of Nikki Maxwell on the agonies of middle school; a "Dork Diaries" book. (Ages 9 to 13)	23
7		DORK DIARIES, written and illustrated by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, $12.99.) Reflections of a junior Samuel Pepys of the female variety. (Ages 9 to 13)	31
8		HARRY POTTER FILM WIZARDRY, by Brian Sibley. (Collins Design/HarperCollins, $39.99.) Deep background, subtext and behind-the-screen details from the moviemakers. (Ages 18 and up)	9
9		MATCHED, by Ally Condie. (Dutton, $17.99.) In this dystopian romance, a girl rebels against a deterministic future society. (Ages 12 and up)	3
10		CLOCKWORK ANGEL, by Cassandra Clare. (McElderry/Simon & Schuster, $19.99.) Victorian England proves a treacherous place. (Ages 14 and up)	12

Children's Paperback Books

This Week		Children's Paperback Books	Weeks on List
1		THE BOOK THIEF, by Markus Zusak. (Knopf, $11.99.) A girl saves books from Nazi burning. (Ages 14 and up)	171
2		WITCH AND WIZARD, by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet. (Little, Brown, $9.99.) One of each, a sister and brother, flex their new powers. (Ages 10 and up)	7
3		PINKALICIOUS AND THE PINK DRINK, written and illustrated by Victoria Kann. (Harper Festival/HarperCollins, $3.99.) Lemonade goes pink. (Ages 3 to 7)	15
4		FALLEN, by Lauren Kate. (Delacorte, $9.99.) Love is thwarted at a boarding school with an unusual student body. (Ages 12 and up)	12
5		THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, by Neil Gaiman. Illustrated by Dave McKean. (HarperCollins, $7.99.) To avoid a killer, a boy lives in a cemetery. (Ages 10 and up)	12
6		HUSH, HUSH, by Becca Fitzpatrick. (Simon & Schuster, $17.99.) A love story of immortals and ancient battles. (Ages 14 and up)	12
7		THE MAZE RUNNER, by James Dashner. (Delacorte, $9.99.) A stone wall imprisons teenagers who live by their wits and have no memories. (Ages 12 and up)	10
8		SAVVY, by Ingrid Law. (Puffin/Penguin, $7.99.) Mibs is about to receive the supernatural abilities that run in her family. (Ages 9 to 12)	29
9		MILLION-DOLLAR THROW, by Mike Lupica. (Puffin, $7.99.) In tough times, an opportunity arises for a quarterback. (Ages 9 to 12)	1
10		SHIVER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic, $8.99.) Love among the lupine. (Ages 13 and up)	23

Children's Series

This Week		Children's Series	Weeks on List
1		DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney. (Abrams, hardcover only) The travails of adolescence, in cartoons. (Ages 9 to 12)	101
2		THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, hardcover and paper) In a dystopian society a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up)	17
3		HARRY POTTER, by J. K. Rowling. (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic, hardcover and paper) A young wizard hones his skills while fighting evil. (Ages 10 and up)	238
4		PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, hardcover and paper) Battling mythological monsters. (Ages 9 to 12)	180
5		VAMPIRE ACADEMY, by Richelle Mead. (Razorbill, paper only) Undead boarding school. (Ages 12 and up)	36
6		THE TWILIGHT SAGA, by Stephenie Meyer. (Megan Tingley/Little, Brown, hardcover and paper) Vampires and werewolves in school. (Ages 12 and up)	176
7		THE 39 CLUES, by various authors. (Scholastic, hardcover only) A brother and sister travel the world in search of the key to their family’s power. (Ages 9 to 12)	76
8		BIG NATE, Lincoln Peirce. (HarperCollins, hardcover; Andrews McMeel, paper) Where Nate goes, trouble is sure to follow. (Ages 8 to 12)	9
9		MAGIC TREE HOUSE, by Mary Pope Osborne. Illustrated by Sal Murdocca. (Stepping Stone/Random House, hardcover and paper) Neither space nor time is an obstacle to these siblings. (Ages 6 to 9)	233
10		RANGER’S APPRENTICE, by John Flanagan. (Philomel, hardcover and paper) A boy warrior battles evil. (Ages 9 to 12)	60

About the Best Sellers

These lists are an expanded version of those appearing in the January 2, 2011 print edition of the Book Review in the New York Times.

USA Today's Top 150 Bestselling Books as of 12.26.2010

According to USA TODAY, the following is a list of the top 150 best selling books, based on sales through Sunday, 12/26/2010.  For reviews, book news and a searchable archive of USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list - or to check out more information on the top 150 books - visit their website.
 
Note of the week: For the last Top 150 list posted for the year, YA / Children's books have gained significant ground! 32% of the top 150 best selling books this week, fall under the Children's / YA genre (highlighted in orange) - up 5% over last week and 10% over 3 weeks ago!
Legend:
Position This Week, Last Week, Title, Author (Publisher), Price


1 1 Decision Points, George W. Bush (Crown), $35.00
2 2 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth, Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books), $13.95
3 5 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson (Vintage), $7.99
4 6 The Confession, John Grisham (Doubleday), $28.95
5 3 Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand (Random House), $27.00
6 8 Cross Fire, James Patterson (Little, Brown), $27.99
7 9 The Girl Who Played With Fire, Stieg Larsson (Vintage), $7.99
8 7 Dead or Alive, Tom Clancy, Grant Blackwood (Putnam Adult), $28.95
9 14 The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, Stieg Larsson (Knopf), $27.95
10 10 Life, Keith Richards (Little, Brown), $29.99
11 13 Witch & Wizard: The Gift, James Patterson, Ned Rust (Little, Brown for Young Readers), $17.99
12 11 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Book), Jon Stewart (Grand Central), $27.99
13 16 Full Dark, No Stars, Stephen King (Scribner), $27.95
14 20 The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press), $8.99
15 17 The Lost Hero, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion), $18.99
16 21 America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag, Sarah Palin (Harper), $25.99
17 15 Guinness World Records 2011, Guinness World Records (Guinness World Records), $28.95
18 18 Port Mortuary, Patricia Cornwell (Putnam), $27.95
19 26 The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown (Anchor), $9.99
20 22 Broke, Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe (Threshold Editions), $29.99
21 31 Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin), $15.00
22 25 Safe Haven, Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing), $25.99
23 34 Alex Cross’s Trial, James Patterson, Richard DiLallo (Vision), $9.99
24 4 The 4-Hour Body, Timothy Ferriss (Crown Archetype), $27.00
25 40 Breathless, Dean Koontz (Bantam), $9.99
26 44 The Help, Kathryn Stockett (Putnam Adult), $24.95
27 23 Cleopatra: A Life, Stacy Schiff (Little, Brown), $29.99
28 33 House Rules, Jodi Picoult (Washington Square Press), $16.00
29 29 Straight Talk, No Chaser, Steve Harvey (Amistad), $24.99
30 36 Decoded, Jay-Z (Spiegel & Grau), $35.00
31 19 Last Sacrifice, Richelle Mead (Razorbill), $17.99
32 27 Freedom: A Novel, Jonathan Franzen (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), $28.00
33 39 Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown for Young Readers), $14.99
34 12 Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1, Mark Twain (University of California Press), $34.95
35 37 Hell’s Corner, David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing), $27.99
36 28 Barefoot Contessa: How Easy Is That?, Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter), $35.00
37 38 Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins (Scholastic), $17.99
38 43 Fall of Giants, Ken Follett (Dutton), $36.00
39 35 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Jeff Kinney (Amulet), $12.95
40 32 Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney (Amulet), $12.95
41 47 Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins (Scholastic Press), $17.99
42 42 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books), $13.95
43 30 Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story, Justin Bieber (HarperCollins), $21.99
44 41 Sh*t My Dad Says, Justin Halpern (It Books), $15.99
45 46 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Jeff Kinney (Amulet), $12.95
46 52 Pinheads and Patriots, Bill O’Reilly (William Morrow), $27.99
47 51 Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, David Sedaris (Little, Brown), $21.99
48 57 Happy Ever After, Nora Roberts (Berkley), $16.00
49 66 Witch & Wizard, James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), $9.99
50 48 Inside of a Dog, Alexandra Horowitz (Scribner), $16.00
51 45 U is for Undertow, Sue Grafton (Berkley), $7.99
52 50 Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters, Barack Obama, Loren Long (Knopf Books for Young Readers), $17.99
53 53 Kardashian Konfidential, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian (St. Martin's Press), $25.99
54 0 Room, Emma Donoghue (Little, Brown), $11.99
55 54 The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel, Garth Stein (Harper Paperback), $14.99
56 58 The Kane Chronicles, Book 1: The Red Pyramid, Rick Riordan (Hyperion), $17.99
57 55 Crescent Dawn, Clive Cussler, Dirk Cussler (Putnam Adult), $27.95
58 65 Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1: The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion), $7.99
59 56 Rachael Ray’s Look + Cook, Rachael Ray (Clarkson Potter), $24.99
60 74 Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Enter If You Dare!, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Editors (Ripley Books), $28.95
61 59 The Last Boy, Jane Leavy (Harper), $27.99
62 60 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPré (Arthur A. Levine), $14.99
63 71 O’Hurley’s Return, Nora Roberts (Silhouette Special Releases), $7.99
64 79 Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen (Algonquin), $13.95
65 90 The Book of Awakening, Mark Nepo (Conari Press), $18.95
66 63 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot (Crown), $26.00
67 64 I Remember Nothing and Other Reflections, Nora Ephron (Knopf), $22.95
68 72 The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books), $14.95
69 67 American Assassin: A Thriller, Vince Flynn (Atria), $27.99
70 83 The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown), $13.99
71 81 The Shack, William P. Young (Windblown Media), $14.99
72 73 Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown for Young Readers), $8.99
73 24 The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, Carol V. Aebersold, Chanda B. Bell (CCA & B), $29.95
74 49 The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin), $18.95
75 68 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPré (Scholastic), $6.99
76 61 Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese (Vintage), $15.95
77 77 Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love, Larry Levin (Grand Central Publishing), $19.99
78 70 Rainwater, Sandra Brown (Pocket), $7.99
79 78 I Still Dream About You, Fannie Flagg (Random House), $26.00
80 96 Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, Chelsea Handler (Simon Spotlight Entertainment), $16.00
81 92 I, Alex Cross, James Patterson (Vision), $9.99
82 80 Southern Lights: A Novel, Danielle Steel (Dell), $7.99
83 136 Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book, Better Homes & Gardens (John Wiley & Sons), $29.95
84 69 An Object of Beauty, Steve Martin (Grand Central Publishing), $26.99
85 87 Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2: The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion), $7.99
86 103 Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown for Young Readers), $12.99
87 117 Ford County: Stories, John Grisham (Dell), $7.99
88 75 Little Bee: A Novel, Chris Cleave (Simon & Schuster), $14.00
89 119 Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, Chelsea Handler (Grand Central Publishing), $25.99
90 128 What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures, Malcolm Gladwell (Back Bay Books), $16.99
91 82 The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2011, Sarah Janssen, editor (Facts on File), $12.99
92 121 My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands, Chelsea Handler (Bloomsbury USA), $13.95
93 91 The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead, Max Brooks (Three Rivers Press), $13.95
94 76 Colonel Roosevelt, Edmund Morris (Random House), $35.00
95 86 Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion), $7.99
96 241 True Grit, Charles Portis (Overlook Press), $14.95
97 123 A**holes Finish First, Tucker Max (Gallery), $25.99
98 84 Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin (Penguin), $15.00
99 89 Just Kids, Patti Smith (Ecco), $16.00
100 85 A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations, Charles Dickens (Penguin), $20.00
101 0 William and Kate: A Royal Love Story, Christopher Andersen (Gallery), $26.00
102 110 Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3: The Titan’s Curse, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion), $7.99
103 111 Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, DK Publishing (DK Publishing), $21.99
104 106 Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 5: The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion), $17.99
105 99 At Home: A Short History of Private Life, Bill Bryson (Doubleday), $28.95
106 95 Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss (Random House), $7.99
107 113 The Christmas Sweater, Glenn Beck, Kevin Balfe, Jason Wright (Pocket Star), $7.99
108 97 Lucid Intervals, Stuart Woods (Signet), $9.99
109 98 In the Company of Others: A Father Tim Novel, Jan Karon (Viking Adult), $27.95
110 170 Legacy: A Novel, Danielle Steel (Delacorte Press), $28.00
111 93 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPré (Scholastic), $10.99
112 100 Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel, Jeannette Walls (Scribner), $15.00
113 101 The Sooner the Better, Debbie Macomber (Mira), $7.99
114 0 Worth Dying For: A Reacher Novel, Lee Child (Delacorte Press), $28.00
115 108 Sarah’s Key, Tatiana de Rosnay (St. Martin's Griffin), $13.95
116 130 Crazy Love, Francis Chan (David C. Cook), $14.99
117 147 Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, Jon Krakauer (Anchor), $15.95
118 148 New Moon, Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown for Young Readers), $10.99
119 129 The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman (Moody Publishers), $14.99
120 126 Rescue, Anita Shreve (Little, Brown), $26.99
121 104 How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Dr. Seuss (Random House), $14.00
122 156 Love You Forever, Robert Munsch, art by Sheila McGraw (Firefly), $4.95
123 112 The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Ree Drummond (William Morrow Cookbooks), $27.50
124 207 The Lucky One, Nicholas Sparks (Vision), $7.99
125 105 The Wheel of Time: Towers of Midnight, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson (Tor Books), $29.99
126 167 Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, Amy Sedaris (Grand Central Publishing), $27.99
127 193 Under the Dome, Stephen King (Pocket), $19.99
128 231 Power Thoughts, Joyce Meyer (FaithWords), $21.99
129 135 The Emperor’s Tomb, Steve Berry (Ballantine Books), $26.00
130 120 Big Nate Strikes Again, Lincoln Peirce (HarperCollins), $12.99
131 127 The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine, Michael Lewis (W. W. Norton & Co.), $27.95
132 102 Goodnight Moon Board Book, Margaret Wise Brown, art by Clement Hurd (HarperCollins), $6.95
133 131 Heaven is for Real, Todd Burpo, Sonja Burpo, Colton Burpo, Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson), $16.99
134 252 Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain, Portia de Rossi (Atria), $25.99
135 162 The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho (HarperSanFrancisco), $13.95
136 107 The 39 Clues: The Maze Of Bones, Rick Riordan (Scholastic Press), $12.99
137 143 Holidays on Ice, David Sedaris (Back Bay Books), $10.00
138 141 What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Heidi Murkoff, Sharon Mazel (Workman Publishing Group), $14.95
139 122 The Other Side, J.D. Robb, Patricia Gaffney, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Blayney, Mary Kay McComas (Jove), $7.99
140 153 The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2011, Janice Stillman, editor (Yankee Publishing), $6.95
141 250 I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, Tucker Max (Citadel Press), $16.95
142 137 The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, Siddhartha Mukherjee (Scribner), $30.00
143 142 Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl, Rachel Renée Russell (Aladdin), $12.99
144 195 Fallen, Lauren Kate (Delacorte Books for Young Readers), $9.99
145 114 Dr. Seuss’s ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book!, Dr. Seuss (Random House Books for Young Readers), $4.99
146 177 Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, Helen Simonson (Random House Trade Paperbacks), $15.00
147 88 Kingdom of Color: Tangled, Melissa Lagonegro (RH/Disney), $3.99
148 139 One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Dr. Seuss (Random House), $6.95
149 150 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPré (Arthur A. Levine), $7.99
150 169 The Grand Design, Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow (Bantam), $28.00

And The Winners Are...

Vampire Academy: Autographed Book(s) Giveaway Winners

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my Vampire Academy Autographed Book(s) Giveaway!
Without further ado, the following winners were randomly selected on Random.org just after midnight on 12.24:


1st Place:
MOMO (BOOKS OVER BOYS)
Prizes:
  1. Signed hardback of The Last Sacrifice.
  2. Swag: key chain, bracelet, and tattoos.


2nd Place:
Carol Coffelt / Huntress (Spirit Called)
Prizes:
  1. Signed hardback copy of The Last Sacrifice.
  2. Swag: bracelet and tattoos.

 

3rd Place:
Anna (The Bursting Bookshelf)
Prizes:
  1. Signed softback of The Vampire Academy.
  2. Swag: bracelet and tattoos.


 

4th Place:

Renee (Steeler Girl 83)

Prizes:

  1. Signed softback of The Vampire Academy.

  2. Swag: bracelet and tattoos.

I'm in the process of emailing all of the winners now - email will be coming from elschneider@hotmail.com, so check your junk folder! If for any reason you don't find an email from me, leave a comment below and I'll try again.


Please respond to my email with a valid mailing address so I can get your goodies off to you!

Thanks again everyone, for the great participation on my giveaway - and stay tuned...I'm looking for prizes for the next giveaway, already!


Happy Holidays to you all!