It’s not too late to vote for Proud Book Nerd for Goodreads’ Independent Book Blogger Awards! There are only about 12 hours left – voting closes tonight at 11:59 Eastern. So, please, if you have not yet voted and you like this blog, please vote for me. You can read more about it HERE.
The button below will take you directly to my entry, where you can place your vote. Your support is appreciated!
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I found out last week that Goodreads is hosting an Independent Book Blogger Awards, and the winners in each of four categories gets a trip to BEA. BEA is something I’ve longed to attend since I first found out about it two years ago. So far, the finances haven’t allowed for me to go (airfare, hotel, and admission … plus incidentals, like food). If I were to win this, how cool would that be? When I saw the BEA tidbit, I decided to throw my blog for consideration. To even have a shot at BEA, I need to make it as a finalist. To do that, I need your vote! Please consider voting for me in the Young Adult General category. While I feel like it’s a long shot (especially since I threw my name in for the YA category), just being a finalist (even though there’d be no prize) would make me happy.
How it works:
Entry Materials will be separated and judged within the following four categories: Adult Fiction, Adult Non-Fiction, Children’s/Young Adult, and Industry News.
Within each of the four categories, one prize winner will be selected following two (2) rounds of judging. Round 1 Judging (Public Voting): Each Entrant’s name and a link to his/her blog will be posted online at http://www.goodreads.com and judged by registered Goodreads users from 12:00 am EST on April 10, 2012 through 11:59 pm EST on April 23, 2012 (“Voting Period”). Voters are limited to one vote per person per category. Voters will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite Independent Blogger during the Voting Period by reviewing the Posts each blog, using as a suggested guide the following criteria:
- quality of writing (well-written, cohesive, succinct, without spelling or grammatical errors),
- quality of analysis (illustrates blogger’s knowledge and comfort with the topic at hand),
- visual design and presentation (design and layout of the blog should be aesthetically pleasing without detracting from the focus of the content),
- audience tone (dialogue reflects intended audience), and
- reader discussion/impact (relative concentration of the types of discussion that the blog prompts among its readers, regardless of whether the discussion is positive or negative in nature).
The top 15 entries in each of the four categories that receive the highest scores will proceed to Round 2 (“Finalists”). Those entries proceeding to Round 2 will be publicized during the week of May 1, 2012. In the event of a tie in Round 1, the tied entries will be re-judged by the Round 2 judges. In the event that any of the Finalists are disqualified, an alternate Finalist with the next highest score may be selected, within the Sponsors’ sole discretion.
Round 2 Judging: The Finalists’ blogs and Entry Materials (including the Posts) will then be reviewed by a committee of industry representatives selected by the Sponsors … The decisions on all matters relating to the judging of the Contest are subject to Sponsors’s sole discretion.
There are a lot of great blogs on there, so vote for your favorites of course. The button at the top of this page – and this post – will take you directly to my entry. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Good luck to everyone!
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Today is the final day of this fun week-long event. It’s been great seeing everyone else’s picks, and really thinking through everything I’ve read over the last year. It’s a great way to say good-bye to 2011. Today’s topic looks forward. It’s top 10 books I’m looking forward to for next year. Not sure I can keep this to 10, but I’ll try! While these are not in any particular order, I’m thinking my excitement over them is largely reflected in the order in which I thought of them! 
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS…THE ELVES HAVE CROSSED THE NIDWALDEN. TWO THIEVES WILL DECIDE THE FUTURE
“I saw a great journey. Ten upon the road, she who wears the light will lead the way. The road goes deep into the earth, and into despair. The voices of the dead guide your steps. You walk back in time. The three-thousand-year battle begins again. Cold grips the world, death comes to all, and a choice is before you.” — Fan Irlanu, Tenkin Seerer of Oudorro VillagePercepliquis is the final installment of the epic fantasy, The Riyria Revelations. In this saga that began with The Crown Conspiracy, two thieves caught in the wrong place at the right time were launched on a series of ever escalating adventures that have all lead to this moment. Three thousand years have passed and the time for Novron’s heir to act has arrived.
The final book in a six-book series is officially released in a couple of weeks. I have been waiting a LONG time for this. I have it in my possession – and it is THICK. 
I cannot wait to crack it open!
The Ultimate Sacrifice.
Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.
In the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A dynamic end to this breathtaking trilogy.
Do I really need to explain this one? I LOVED Nightshade and Wolfsbane and am dying to see how it all plays out at the end!
As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.
As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.
Given that Starcrossed was one of my favorites this year, I’m guessing this isn’t a surprise! LOL
She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…
When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.
Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.
And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start
I was shocked by how much I loved Falling Under. This is another sequel I’ve been pining for!
A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.
Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.
With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan’s death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace’s shoulders.
The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace’s love story to a breathtaking conclusion.
I loved The Dark Divine. And The Lost Saint was pretty good, too. I am very much looking forward to seeing how it ends!
I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.
Hmm … I’m noticing a trend here. LOL I guess it’s safe to say I love series – or at least once I’m sucked in I can’t stop until it’s all out! Delirium was fantastic. I have high hopes for Pandemonium.
A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight.
When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.
Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.
Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.
Darkness Becomes Her was amazing. And a bit of a cliffhanger. I wanna read this one NOW! (I have been avoiding posting this cover because of my ophidiofobia, or serious fear of snakes … not sure how I’ll do with actually READING it! LOL)
In the end, all that’s left is an echo.
Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice.
When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye.
I haven’t loved this series as much as most other book bloggers I’ve seen out there, but it’s still an excellent story. I’m very much looking forward to this!
The third book in the Paranormalcy trilogy.
The final chapter of Evie’s adventures. Old friends, new ones, all wrapped up in impossible decisions. And some ball gowns. Because what’s a life of normal and paranormal drama without a ball gown or two?
Firstly, that description sucks. I know this book is still in its infancy, but it’s so short! LOL Still, I don’t need more to know I want to read this. After all, I loved Paranormalcy. Not so much with Supernaturally. I didn’t hate it. Just didn’t think it was anywhere near as good as the first. I’m hoping Endlessly will be as good as – if not better than – Paranormalcy. Plus, I’m dying to know how it all ends!
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she’s returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld… this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s.
I actually had the ARC to read, but wasn’t able to get to it and had to send it on. (It was for a tour site.) I have been kicking myself for that ever since. I definitely want to read this one!
So, how about you? What are you looking forward to reading in 2012?
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Today we’re talking about characters in general. According to the original post, it can be anything so long as it’s character-based. So, here’s my take on it! I’m going to do 10 characters, each categorized differently (or a few under each categorization, we’ll see what works). Remember, I’m basing this list on what I’ve read this year, regardless of when it was published (or will be, as the case might be).
I can’t wait to see everyone else’s picks! 
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What a fun topic! This is harder, as I don’t tend to keep track of the characters as well as I’d like. But, here we go! Once again, these are in no particular order.
There likely are more, but I stopped when I reached 10, because I didn’t want to have to choose! LOL
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Today’s topic is about the top covers of the year. I am going to keep it to top 10 covers of the books I’ve read this year, regardless of publication date. I love gorgeous covers, so this is another one that’ll be tough. They are listed in no particular order.
Breathtaking! I cannot wait to see it in hardcover! (I had an ARC.)
This plus the sequel. Read below for my thoughts.
Gorgeous. Both of them. And each element on each cover is significant to the story.
I find this one AMAZING. And it fits the story very well.
It is GORGEOUS. I love the simplicity and the colors. I can’t look at this one enough.
While I didn’t care much for the book, the cover is AWESOME. I read this book because of the cover.
This is another that drew me in with the cover, I really enjoyed it. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!
Wow, wow, wow!
Another breathtakingly gorgeous one! And the hardcover is more gorgeous than this picture. It’s iridescent!
This just might be my ultimate favorite this year, although Incarnate might beat it out. Not sure – haven’t seen hardcover of that one yet.
And, because (as I mentioned yesterday), I read more than 160 books this year, I have a few honorable mentions.
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This is a week I’ve been looking forward to, but man is it hard. I’ve read so many awesome books. Picking just 10 is going to be agonizing. Here goes (in no particular order, as trying to rank would be simply impossible. Links are to reviews.)!
Honorable mentions (in no particular order):
I know there are a lot of honorables, but I’ve read close to 170 books this year. I think, given that knowledge, this is a reasonable list.
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Namine (169)
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Alexis @ Reflecti... (30)
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