So here it is, what we've all been waiting for....

I was so excited when I heard that the world premier for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie trailer would be tonight. How exciting!! Little did I know that when I watched it (at least a 881 times!!) that it would make me want to cry. It's almost over...the amazing world known as Harry Potter is just about finished. Anywho, enough with the ramblings, just watch this:



There you have it (and I bet you watched it more than once), the final movie of the EPIC series known as Harry Potter. As sad as it is, I have NEVER seen a Harry Potter movie in theatres. I didn't even see Part 1 (because my daughter wanted to see it, and I heard that it was too 'dark' for her, and blah blah. So I didn't see it, and we have since bought the DVD, and daughter LOVES it. So we're going to see this one for sure. We have to see at least one in the theatres.
It's been a wonderful journey, and though it's officially ending, The Magical World of Harry Potter will never actually 'end'. We will continue to love and read and watch Harry Potter!

So so exciting!
(Now I'm off to look at more Harry Potter tattoos on the net... !!)

Book Review - City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Publish Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Pages: 424
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0354-3
Series: The Mortal Instruments
Source: Simon & Schuster

Goodreads Summary: 
City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever. Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels. 

My Review:
I was really looking forward to reading City of Fallen Angels, and when I got my own copy from Simon & Schuster in the mail, I was totally stoked.

I started reading it that night, and was right away engaged in Simon, Clary and Jace. I loved that the first part of CoFA was in Simon's point of view. I liked seeing how he was dealing with the whole vampire / daylighter thing. Next we moved onto Jace and Clary. I loved the way we started with them, the playful training, and flirting, and I was full of goosebumps and butterflies and I was happy for them. I was happy for me too, honestly! I was glad to be diving into the Shadowhunter realm, and I wanted to see Isabelle, and Alec again! I was ready for this!

Then something happened, Jace started avoiding Clary, and I had no idea why! A little while in we found out the reasoning behind this, but I still felt like I missed something. I went back and read a few chapters thinking that maybe in my excitement I missed a page (or 10) and missed a very clear and obvious reason behind Jace’s behaviour. I was wrong though – and the back and forth happenings between Jace and Clary just got a little frustrating.

Clary seems like a whole other character at some points. She doesn’t seem to be the strong willed, independent Shadowhunter (in-training) like the other books. And to be honest, we didn’t get into a lot of actual Shadowhunter fight scenes which was lackluster for me! I wanted the tension, and the fighting, and get a feel of Clary in her new life as a Shadowhunter. There was a pretty wicked scene at the end of the book, which kind of made up for the previous chapters, and Cassandra Clare left us with a HUGE cliffhanger and I swear throughout the last chapter of the book, I was holding my breath the whole time!

Cassandra Clare still has her ways with writing though, she still manages to make her scenes come to life in my eyes with the description she uses. Though at points there were comma’s used excessively (I don’t usually care about this, I use comma’s where I’m sure they aren’t supposed to be, it happens – but it seemed to really stand out to me this book) We’re introduced (or re-introduced) to a few characters from Clockwork Angel, and we meet a new character of whom I’m totally looking forward to seeing more of. The favourites were back of course, Alec, Magnus, Isabelle, Simon, Luke and Jocelyn. And it was great seeing the familiar names.

Overall, I enjoyed City of Fallen Angels because I enjoy the story, the characters, and Clare’s writing. Sure, Clary wasn’t her usual self, and at times the story felt rushed, but overall, it was enjoyable! I’d recommend this book to others who have read the series, and if you haven’t read the Mortal Instruments series, then you should – they are worth it!

Book Review - Perfect by Sara Shepard

Publish Date: June 1st, 2008
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Pages: 298
ISBN: 978-0-06-088738-4
Series: Pretty Little Liars
Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary:
In a town where gossip thrives like the ivy that clings to its mansions, where mysteries lie behind manicured hedges and skeletons hide in every walk-in closet, four perfect-looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem.
Three years ago, Spencer, Aria, Emily, Hanna, and their best friend Alison were the girls at Rosewood Day School. They clicked through the halls in their Miu Miu flats, tanned in their matching Pucci bikinis, and laughed behind their freshly manicured fingernails. They were the girls everyone loved but secretly hated—especially Alison.
So when Alison mysteriously vanished one night, Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna's grief was tinged with . . . relief. And when Alison's body was later discovered in her own backyard, the girls were forced to unearth some ugly memories of their old friend, too. Could there be more to Alison's death than anyone realizes?
Now someone named A, someone who seems to know everything, is pointing the finger at one of them for Ali's murder. As their secrets get darker and their scandals turn deadly, A is poised to ruin their perfect little lives forever.

My Review:
There's not much to say about this book that I haven't already said about the first 2. The suspense of Perfect is there and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Things in the novel started to become clearer and sometimes you'll get that "a-ha!" moment when you figure something out (or think you have).
The characters are all the same, they haven't changed one bit, and I like that about this book. Along with the characters being true for all 3 novels, the action, suspense, drama and excitment is true too. I'm glad that I have number 4 to jump right into because with the ending of Perfect, you will want and need to have Unbelievable in your hands to start right away.
I'm excited to be able to see what else A has planned and see what get's revealed in Pretty Little Liars #4 since I've heard that this is where the good (better), juicy stuff comes out!
If you haven't already, you should definitely grab these books to read. You wont be disappointed, and they are quick, easy reads for in between some of the other books that are on you pile to read!

Spring is in the air!

Here in Ontario we've been having some pretty decent weather. The sun is shining, the grass is slowly turning green, and flowers are starting to bloom. All of this, along with the laundry hanging outside is fabulous. But what I don't like about Spring?

SPIDERS!

 They are everywhere now, yes, including in my bathroom, where a big black one was narrowly staring me down last night. Eww, I hate spiders, and I refuse to kill them myself unless I have a shoe with me. I can't aim with a kleenex and get it the first time - they crawl around the kleenex making me scream even louder, and it's an all out disaster. Sure, some of you will hate that I kill them, but I cannot be kind to those eight legged nasty things.

"Why spiders? Why couldn't it be "follow the butterflies"?" - Ron Weasley Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I give Ron Weasley full credit for what he did in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Follow the spiders? Never would I do that, and Ron, who is deathly affraid of spiders too, followed the spiders. Aragog was a ginormous spider that not only did Ron have to stand and look at, but he then sent his "children" to chase after Ron and Harry. Gross.

Poor Ron even has dreams of spiders wanting to tap-dance with him later on in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban!




Anyways, while I love Spring, I do not like the spiders that come with it! But I do love Harry Potter and Ron :)

And on that good note - Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is coming out on DVD tomorrow!

In My Mailbox (April 10, 2011)

In My Mailbox credit goes to The Story Siren

Once again, I've missed a week - so sorry about that!

I've had an exciting 2 weeks that's for sure.

Bought:Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Poster Book

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret's Poster Book

Harry Potter Hogwarts Through the Years Poster Book - these 3 books were bought a a used book store, my daughter found them, and we love them!

Won:

Get Laid or Die Trying by Jeff Allen

ARC Drought by Pam Bachorz

Review:

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare | Goodreads Synopsis

Up, Up, Up by Julie Booker | Amazon.ca Synopsis

The Taker by Alma Katsu | Goodreads Synopsis (I have the US edition cover, the one on goodreads.com is the UK edition)

I was so excited to get City of Fallen Angels, I was so eager to check the mail each day, and I tweeted about it, and I talked about it. I think I drove everyone nuts - "Has the mail came yet?" "Where's the mail?" "Is that my book?!" but when it finally came (I had to wait for my daughter to come home from school, because she loves to open these packages for me!) she tore it open, and there were City of Fallen Angels buttons with the book! How freaking fun! Then, the next day - ding dong, dogs barking - the mailman came again, but this time with a CoFA POSTER! Yippee! Thank you, thank you Simon & Schuster - you guys rock!

So thanks as always to Simon & Schuster (again)! You guys are awesome. Thanks as well to Nikki Katz, and YMCbookalicious bookclub!

Book Review - The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Publish Date: April 5th, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 368
ISBN: 978-0-385-66851-4
Series: Darkness Rising #1, Darkest Powers #4
Source: ARC won online

Summary:
Strange things are happening in Maya's tiny Vancouver Island town. First, her friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, drowns mysteriously in the middle of a calm lake. Then, one year later, mountain lions are spotted rather frequently around Maya's home—and her reactions to them are somewhat . . . unexpected. Her best friend, Daniel, has also been experiencing unexplainable premonitions about certain people and situations.
It doesn't help that the new bad boy in town, Rafe, has a dangerous secret, and he's interested in one special part of Maya's anatomy—her paw-print birthmark.

My Review:
Honestly, this book was great! I read this book quick and it had me wanting more. I'd sit down for a coffee and find myself an hour later (done my coffee) but still reading. Kelley Armstrong's books do this to me though, when I read the Darkest Powers (The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning), it was the same thing. What I loved about The Gathering was that I was hooked right away, on the first page. There is no slowly introducing characters, plots etc before anything happens, you get a major event playing out in the first chapter and then BAM! you're hooked and there's no turning back!
We have what seems to be the typical characters in books like this - girl, girl's friend, new boy in town - but Kelley Armstrong still makes these characters original and her own. Maya, the girl who loves animals,  and lost her best friend has a relationship with her parents where she can talk about her sexuality and about her dog being the only "protection" her and a guy will need for going on a walk in the forest. She's a teenager who lives in this small town in Vancouver, and loves to wander the forest. The new guy, Rafe, is the mysterious one who lives in an old abandoned cabin with his sister and people just aren't sure about him. He's got a secret and of course he's totally cute and only interested in Maya and her paw print birthmark. Then we have Daniel, Maya's best friend. He's a genuine guy who looks out for Maya and keeps her out of trouble. He's my favourite character in the book and I'm really looking forward to knowing more about him.
Overall, The Gathering is an exciting read and the fact that it's set in Canada AND Kelley herself is Canadian (lives in Ontario, as do I!) is awesome. I love reading books with beautiful Canada as the backdrop and it's also so great and important to support talented local authors!

Just a reminder - CoFA TOMORROW!

For any of you who live under a rock, you shouldn't because you may miss something as exciting as tomorrow!

City of Fallen Angels will be released April 5th, 2011. That's right, tomorrow! Woo Hoo!

So exciting! Happy Reading :)

Do You iClue?

I came across this totally awesome contest, and I thought I would share it with you!



Pretty awesome, huh?

You can go here to read some more about it, get details and enter yourself. This sounds like a fun game, a clue to answer each day for 6 days - answer each and get 6 entries to win the iTouch, and there's other ways to get entries too.

Good luck to everyone who enters!