Book Tag

Big thanks to Kennedy and Amy for both tagging me.

Rules:

1. You must post the rules.

2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create ten new questions to ask the people that you have tagged.

3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.

4. Let them know you've tagged them!

Lucky me! I got tagged twice(: But, this seems like a fun way to get to know somebody, so I'm all for participating in this book tag! I'll answer Kennedy's questions first and then Amy's.

1. Best Book You've Ever Read?

There are so many good books out there, but there is one specific book that will always be the best in my mind. Blood Red Road by Moira Young. I can go on and on about this book!

2. What Do You Like Most About The Blog-o-Sphere?

What I like best is that I get to be one of the first to know about new books!

3. What's Your Favorite Genre?

YA, of course. But I also like many sub-genres in that category. Like Paranormal Romance, Steampunk, Historical Romance, Contemporary, and Dystopian.

4. What Do You Do When You're Not Reading?

If I'm not reading, I spend my time writing.

5. Do You Snack While Reading?

Not really. Only when it's something that I don't really want to read, like a school book. I snack to take my mind off of the fact that I'm not interesting in the book.

6. Makeshift Bookmark or Real Bookmark?

Both! I love making my own bookmarks, or using the silliest things as bookmarks. I only use a real bookmark if I happen to have one nearby. I prefer to stick with my homemade ones.

7. Where Do You Buy Your Books From?

I buy my books from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Amazon has cheaper prices, but I usually get giftcards to go to Barnes and Noble

8. Kindle or Nook?

Kindle. No doubt about that answer.

9. Do You're Friends Support Your Book Addiction?

No. Only one of my friends does, but other than that, no one.

10. What Do You Think About Audio Books?

I love audio books! But I have a thing about them. I can only listen to audio books if I have the paper copy in front of me. It's silly, but I can't just listen to an audio book alone.

1. Why did you decide to become a book blogger?

The first time I ever thought about it is when I was entering a giveaway and it said you had to make a blog-post about the giveaway. And then I realized there was a whole 'nother world out there that I didn't know about! A world that I knew would be the perfect way for me to show my appreciation of books.

2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?

I was originally thinking Happily Ever After, but that name had already been claimed. That wasn't a surprise because everybody likes that name! But I wanted something similar to that, and then I tried Happily Ever Endings. That one was already taken as well. It was just my luck that I thought of trying Happily Never Ending. My thoughts around that is, have you ever read a book that you wished never ended? I know there are plenty of books that I wish were continuous. So, my blog name means. . Happily Never Ending, as in never ending books!

3. How much time do you spend working on your blog every day?

Recently, I haven't spent as much time on my blog. Sadly as that is, it's true. School is taking over my lifeD: But, I try to work on my blog at least once a week if anything.

4. Quick! Favorite book that comes to mind!

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

5. What book are you most excited for its release this year? 

Can I say two?(: The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead and Illuminate by Aimee Agresti.

6. If you could get two fictional characters to meet (from different stories), who would they be, and what would they do?

Great question! Hmm, I really have no clue at all! It's horrible, but true.

7. What book do you wish they made into a movie or TV series?

Vampire Academy. There has been rumors of a movie production for it, but I still don't see anything about it. I really want to see it become a movie and see Dimitri on the big scene:D

8. What is the longest book series you've read, and how many books did it have?

The Vampire Academy series. It has 6 books, including a spin-off series. If you count the spin-off book, it'd be 7 books in total. 

9. What's your favorite genre, and why?

YA. Only because I can relate to some of the things that occur. Not about supernatural stuff, but teenage drama. And, I enjoy reading about people my age.

10. If you could meet a favorite author, who would it be and why?

I'd like to meet Richelle Mead. I've met her before at a book signing and she was so sweet, but I wish I could meet her again! She is one of my idols; a writing inspiration. 

Who I Tag: (I'm just going to stick to 8.)

Cristina @ The Princess of Storyland

Julia @ The Competitive Bibilomaniac

Nicci @ Paper Dreams

Christie @ Christie's Book Reviews

Kate @ Ex Libris

Courtney @ Fuzzy.Coffee.Books.

Paula @ PaulaSHx

Celise @ Incandescent Enchantment

My Questions:

What was the first book you reviewed?

What's your favorite movie that is based off a book, i.e. Twilight?

Where do you usually read?

Paperback/Hardcover or Tablet?

When did you become a blogger?

Favorite thing about blogging?

Less favorite thing about blogging?

Do you want your future career to have something to do with books? Like publishing or professional reviewer?

Blog inspiration?

Team Edward or Team Jacob? Or Team Peeta or Team Gale?

Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal {Excerpt & Donation]

Title: Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal
Author: Various Authors
Publish Date: December 8th, 2011 ; Robert Playground.com
Synopsis:

Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawk girl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as the décor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories.

Along the way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlight with a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don’t forget to bring your garlic and wolfsbane—you never know when the shadows will snag you.

Transcendent includes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newest names in young adult fiction.

This is a collection of short stories written by many Young Adult authors. One of the lovely authors, Rita J Webb, contacted me and asked if I could spread the word. This book is something I wanted to check out anyway, so I was honored to do so.
To add to my interest in the book, I learned that for the month of Febraury, 50% of net sales for purchasing this book will go to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to support the care and treatment of children with cancer. I have not lost someone to cancer yet, but I get sadden at the fact that so many young children have been diagnosed with cancer, and a lot didn't survive it.
Robot Playground Inc will donate a minimum of $30 from the sales to St. Jude.

Taken from Rita J Webb's blog.

The Benefit on the Lives of Others:

• $30 can help provide a St. Jude family with meals for one day. 

• $100 can help provide one pair of pediatric crutches. 

• $140 can help provide two platelet count tests. 

• $500 can help provide two transfusion units of red blood cells. 

• $1,000 can help provide two days of oxygen. 

• $1,500 can help provide a day of chemotherapy. 

• $4,000 can help provide a day of outpatient care.

One small sale could help change a life(:

Here is where you can purchase it from:

Purchase Information:

Paperback: $10.99 

Kindle: $2.99 

Nook: $2.99

And as mentioned in the title, here is a excerpt from the novel. 

Excerpt from “Feather”

By Rita J Webb

The morning air chills my bare arms and legs. Stars smile down on me, though I frown back at them. Who wakes before dawn to travel into the wilderness to find a crazy spirit guide? Idiots, that’s who.

Dressed in shorts, tank top, and hardy boots, I stand alone. Maybe I should have done this when I was thirteen like everyone else—maybe I would have enjoyed it—but Grandma had been sick that year. I refused to leave her.

With white braids and a crinkled face, Dirty Face steps out of his teepee. I roll my eyes. Yeah, a teepee. He keeps it around for tourists. Like the rest of us, he lives in manufactured housing with thin windows and doors and no insulation.

When I’m old enough, I’ll leave this hole. I refuse to live in poverty for the rest of my life.

He carries a bowl of white paint. Dipping his finger in the bowl, he chants a prayer then streaks my forehead and cheeks. A weight settles over my shoulders, and fear clenches my throat.

“Come.” Facing the forest, he trudges forward.

I follow, my skin prickling as if a pack of wolves lurk in the shadows, watching me. The deer path winds ahead of me, leading me away from civilization and up into the mountains. Whatever is expected of me on this journey is a hazy idea. Stories of native boys and girls finding their spirit guides race through my mind, but they’re only stories of people who have no bearing on who I am.

The sun tinges the sky a golden red, and as it climbs high above me, the heat beating down on me reminds me that this is July. Sweat burns my eyes, and my hair slips into my face every time I lean forward. This must be why my ancestors wore their hair in braids and wrapped headbands around their foreheads.

Dirty Face’s long strides carry him around the bend, leaving me alone on the path. Stopping to rest on a rock, I pull bands from my pack and braid my hair, laughing at myself. My grandmother would be so pleased to see this.

A rustle of wings and a hawk feather drifts down to me. Snatching it from the air, I look up into the trees, but nothing’s there. So I tuck the feather into my hair.

“What are you doing?”

My stomach leaps into my throat, and I jump up, stumbling backward, and fall on my butt in the middle of the path. In the tree above me, a teenage boy perches on a branch. He’s dressed in traditional deerskin breeches, a talon necklace around his neck, but rather than moccasins, his feet are bare. He is shirtless, and lean muscles cord his body.

His intense eyes capture my attention. They’re like golden fathomless pools. I could get lost in them.

“Don’t your feet get hurt, walking barefoot on the forest floor?” I ask.

“I rarely walk.” He drops down in front of me. His face is so close that I take a step back and thump into a tree. He leans toward me and sniffs. “You smell different. What are you?”

“I’m a girl.” I can’t take my gaze from his.

“No, humans stink. You smell…” He sniffs my hair and grins. “You smell good.”

“Is there a reason that you’re invading my space? I have somewhere to be.” My voice cracks.

He tugs one of my braids and winks at me. My pulse quickens, and my breath catches in my throat. His eyes study me with intensity, and he leans closer. Is he going to kiss me?

“I don’t know what’s up with you, but I don’t like it.”

“You have a feather in your hair. A hawk’s feather.”

My hand flies to the feather tucked into my hair. “So?”

“Nothing.” He shrugs, but a secretive smile spreads across his face.

I push past him and shoulder my pack. Without looking back, I tromp away. The skin on my back pricks as he laughs. I know he’s watching me, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of glancing behind me. I won’t.

“Be careful. There are hunters in the forest,” he calls after me.

I peek over my shoulder, but he’s not there.

Dirty Face waits around the bend, leaning on a walking stick. Silent and steady, he stares out at the trees, his breath deep. I inhale too, taking in the forest smells.

His gaze falls on me. “The road you will travel will take you many places far from here. The reservation cannot keep you safe forever. Pay attention; we must equip you for what comes next.”

A cold breath creeps up my spine, and I shrug it off. Not the usual speech of understanding our past and living in communion with the earth. Maybe he sampled too much booze, and it rotted his brain.

“We need to keep moving. I must take you up the mountain before night fall.” Dirty Face leads me up a steep path. My legs burn until I think I will melt into a puddle of goo, but still we climb, one painful step after another. My feet ache from hiking in worn-out tennis shoes, and my blisters have blisters.

Stepping out on the ridge, I gaze out on my home. Once upon a time, my people ran free through this countryside. Now we cringe from the world, hoping we can remain true to our heritage.

“Here you will meditate.” He sits a few paces away and closes his eyes. The mumble of prayers drifts on the air.

With a sigh, I drop my pack and sit by the cliff’s edge. My eyes closed, I pretend to meditate. What am I even supposed to do? Wait for a spirit guide to show up. If only I could at least do something…

I wonder what his name is—the boy on the trail. I bet his lips are soft.

Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon - Updates

Original Post here.

How many books have I read since this read-a-thon started? NONE. ZERO. ZIP. Sucks right? Only because yesterday, I went to my first high school dance! :D The Winter Formal. It was really fun! Someone from a popular radio station DJ'ed! It was so exciting(: 

Back to my first read-a-thon, I am starting to read books right now as we speak. Since I just got about three in the mail today, I have plenty to do!

February 3rd

Books Read: 0

Pages Read: 0
Total Time: 0 hours


February 4th
Books Read: 1
Pages Read: Well, I finished Shatter Me on my Kindle. Since there is no direct page numbers, only percent, then I finished 40%. 
To page 70 in Want To Go Private.
Total Time: 2 hours


February 5th
Books Read: O
Pages Read: 40
Total Time: 30 mins.


I didn't get to read as much as I wanted to this weekend, but I did enjoy the time I did get to read! :D

Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon

Original Post here.

The Wicked Winter Read-A-Thon is a time when we all get together to dedicate the weekend of February 3-5 to as much reading as possible. You read as much as you can in order to get yourself a little further through that huge to-read pile! We know real life gets in the way and even if you can’t participate more than one day, you’re welcome to join in on the fun!

I think this would definitely help me catch up on my reading. I'm falling behind D: So, this seems like a fun little thing. Sad thing, I don't think I'll be able to get much reading done on the first say (February 3rd) only because there's my Winter Formal. And if I end up going, I can't just bring my Kindle to the dance! I'd look like such a lame-o. Reading at the dance(x But the only two days are free. It'll be me, my Kindle, a few paperbacks in my bed for hours on end!

Wish me luck(:

Teaser Tuesday - {10th]

Teaser Tuesdays 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 {I often use more!}

■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!

His smile is laced with dynamite. "Go to sleep." "Go to hell." He works his jaw. Walks to the door. "I'm working on it."  

New Girl by Paige Harbison {26th]

Title: New Girl
Author: Paige Harbison
Pages: 304
Format: eBook/ eARC
Publish Date: January 31st, 2012 ; HarlequinTeen
Source: NetGalley
Synopsis:

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back

I didn't figure this out until I read a review from someone else, but this is a retelling of another story. The other novel was called Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I had no idea! But, that didn't effect my feelings about this book. Paige Harbison is a wonderful author with a writing style that made me not want to tear away from the book.

New Girl is about a girl who gets transferred to Manderly Academy for her senior year. She had wanted to go there when she was younger, but kept getting rejected. So once she did, she couldn't burst her parents' bubble and say she didn't want to attend. By going to Manderly, it meant she would have to leave her home state, leave her friends and family, and start somewhere completely new. For a girl who was born and raised in Florida, going to New Hampshire must of been a huge change. At first, she believed everything would be okay. Nothing was okay once she arrived at the school. It just so happened that the only reason she got the spot at Manderly was because a girl had gone missing. She, Becca, was a star at the school. Miss Popularity. So, of course, her disappearance wasn't something that went away. Everybody believed she was still there, just waiting for the perfect time to pop out. That didn't make up for the fact that her roommate (Dana) was a major pain in the butt; always yelling and saying how Becca would be back soon.

I enjoyed the way Paige Harbison portrayed the characters.  Dana. Becca. Max. Johnny. The-Girl-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named-Until-The-Very-End. Yes, I mean that. I didn't notice that the main girl's name wasn't mentioned until the complete end when someone said it. I had a blank look on my face, because it took me that long to figure out I hadn't heard her name mentioned before. I really did like that touch Paige Harbison threw in. As well as the alternating point-of-views. The main girl's persepctive and then from Becca's. Becca's point-of-view was in the past, from when she was at Manderly and how she made a difference. But, Becca was just a little bit psycho, so that was interesting to read about.

All in all, this was a very good read. I didn't know what to expect. I thought it'd be a cheesy boarding school story, but it wasn't just about that. I recommend this story to anybody that enjoys retellings and mysteries(:

We could be as dead as anyone who'd lived to be a hundred or as someone who was given a lethal injection. Our lives could be over at any moment. We were not invincible. I think that was a new one. We all knew it of course, but we never really felt it. And as we were all getting ready to end out high school lives and begin our new ones, I realized that these were thoughts worth remembering.

Completely Contemp Challenge

I'm a newbie Contemporary fan, so I wanted to join this challenge. And plus, I already own some of these contemporary books! I just haven't gotten to reading them. And what's not a perfect way to start then now? Plus, these books could count for another challenge I'm participating in! Here's my list of books to read:

2010
-Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
-Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
-A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler

2011
-Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik
-There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
-Forgotten by Cat Patrick

2012
-Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
-The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt
-Dead To You by Lisa McMann