Mundie Moms

Saturday, December 31, 2011

12 Books I Can't Wait To Read in 2012


Now that we've shared with you some of our favorites from 2011, here's a few books I'm looking forward to reading in 2012.

12 books I can't wait to pick in up from est. authors:
  1. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
  2. Black Heart by Holly Black
  3. Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
  4. Until I Die by Amy Plum
  5. The Savage Grace by Bree Despain (I'm dying to know what Bree does with the character she named after me)
  6. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
  7. BitterBlue by Kristen Cashore
  8. Timepiece by Myra McEntire
  9. The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell
  10. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
  11. Endlessly by Kiersten White
  12. A Million Suns by Beth Revis
  13. * and the sequels to The Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Shatter Me, and The Girl of Fire & Thorns, The Pledge... I swear my list could go on and on
** Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (it sounds like this will most likely be released in 2013)

Okay that was more than 12. It is hard picking just a few from the huge list of upcoming MUST HAVE 2012 releases.

12 books from 2012 Debs I can't wait to read:
  1. Everneath by Brodi Ashton (I actually already read it and LOVED it)
  2. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
  3. Fracture by Megan Miranda
  4. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
  5. Ditched by Robin Mellom
  6. Tempest by Julie Cross
  7. Struck by Jennifer Boswick
  8. The Selection by Kiera Cass
  9. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
  10. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
  11. Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
  12. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
You can find my complete list of upcoming debs I can't wait to read here.

I thought 2011 was huge for debs and book releases, but I'm guessing 2012 is going to be amazing. I'm seriously so excited for the upcoming releases in 2012! There are so many awesome books I can't wait to get my hands on. I've been trying to update the books I'm looking forward to reading in 2012 via my Goodreads 2012 to read list, but I know I'm missing a ton of them on there. What books are you looking forward to?

1,000,000 Views Giveaway!!



WOW!! We hit over 1 MILLION views this week on the blog! I am so completely blown away that so many of you have taken the time to come by and check out the blog. It's been such a fabulously journey here on Mundie Moms since I started the blog and I'm so thrilled you guys have been apart of it.

THANK YOU to all of our followers and visitors who have stopped by to visit us! I sincerely appreciate all your support. We've enjoyed talking to you guys on the blog, in person and on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Goodreads.

THANK YOU to all the authors and publishers who have worked with us over the last couple of years. I truly appreciate all your support you've given to us. It's been such a pleasure working with each of you.

THANK YOU to our friends and affiliates who continue to support us, promote us, RT us, and take part in our all the things we do on Mundie Moms.

THANK YOU to those who have been apart of the blog and have taken the time to share your reviews and have helped out in many different ways when it first started out. Huge thanks to Shandra who does the .com, Sophie who continues to help me, and shares her reviews & Cynthia for her reviews.

A huge THANK YOU goes to our family members who put up with our rather slight addiction to all things book related. Now they realize we're not "the only ones" who love reading YA.


To say thank you and to celebrate in this huge milestone we're hosting a giveaway!!! 1 lucky winner will receive:
- a box of books (not sure what those will be yet, but it will be a combination of books, ARCs and signed swag)
- the Clockwork Prince AudioBook set
- and this LOVELY poster:


To enter, please fill out the form below:

- Open internationally
- You must be 13 yrs & older to enter (if 12 & under you must have a parent/guardian's permission to enter)
- 1 entry per person (more than one will result in your being removed from the giveaway)
- This giveaway ends on 1/31/12


2011 Mundie Moms Favorites: Top Reads of 2011


It's the last day of 2011 and the last day of our 2011 Mundie Moms Favorites! This year was a stellar year for YA book releases. We've gone on adventures back in time, we've time traveled, gone to futuristic cities, fell in love with beautifully rewritten fairy tale classics, spent time with wolves, vampires, angels and our favorites, the Shadowhunters. There's many more adventures we've taken and new characters we've met this year that we've completely fallen in love with.

Here's our Favorite Books of 2011:

Katie: (I couldn't pick ten or even eleven for that matter. I figured since I read a little over 250 books this year I could get away with posting 22).

  1. Clockwork Princes & City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
  2. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
  3. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
  4. The Iron Queen & The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
  5. The Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
  6. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
  7. Divergent by Veronica Roth
  8. The Girl of Fire & Thorns by Rae Carson
  9. Between The Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
  10. HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson
  11. Red Glove by Holly Black
  12. Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
  13. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
  14. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
  15. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
  16. Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
  17. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
  18. Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren
  19. Lola & The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
  20. DIE FOR ME by Amy Plum
  21. Vanish by Sophie Jordan
  22. Supernaturally by Kiersten White
  23. Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink

Sophie:

  1. Lola & the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
  2. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
  3. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
  4. Red Glove by Holly Black
  5. Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
  6. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
  7. Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
  8. The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
  9. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
  10. Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren

These are just a few of the books we've fallen in love with this. There are many more wonderful books we'd highly recommend picking up and you can see all of this year favorites under our 2011 Mundie Moms Favorites posts, and check out for 2011 Favorites for:
Thank you so much for following this fun, end of year series of posts. We've enjoyed reading what some of your favorites were from this year. Please leave us a comment and tell us what your all time favorite reads from this year were.

2011 Highlights

A quick look back at the highlights, milestones and fun things that happened on Mundie Moms.


2011 proved to be a fantastic here on Mundie Moms! We were able to meet a lot fabulous bloggers/followers as well as authors at various events through out 2011. From signings at Book People to Kepler's, working and attending TLA (Texas Library Association) as well as The Austin Teen Book Festival, we enjoyed being able to meet new friends, reconnect with older ones and talk with a variety of authors we've come to really admire.

We also hit HUGE milestones on the blog like hitting over 1,000,000 page views this past week! That is just crazy awesome! On the blog we also celebrated a lot of book releases, hosted a ton of fun author chats, gave away a ton of awesome books, hosted blog tours and read more books this year than we could have imagined possible. I took part in a few reading challenges this year, as well as a few collectively as a blog this year. Here's a look back in our reading achievements this year.

Here's a look at this year's 2011 Reading Challenges:

Twilight Moms 100 Book Challenge: My end result for YA & MG reads = 282 books

You're probably as shocked as I am. Thank you to my lovely friend, insomnia, I've read more books this year than I thought possibly. I highly doubt I will achieve this goal, nor will I even attempt this in 2012 lol.

Here's my (long) list of books I read this year:
  1. Songs of Love and Death edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozios
  2. *The Boy Who Howled by Timothy Power ('10 Debut Author)
  3. The Lost Gate (arc) By Orson Scott Card
  4. Shadowspell by Jenna Black
  5. *XVI (arc) by Julia Karr
  6. Star Crossed by Elizabeth C Bunce
  7. The Dragon's Of Noor (arc) by Janet Lee Carey
  8. Crescent by Jordan Deen
  9. Half Moon (e-arc) by Jordan Deen
  10. *Warped by Maurissa Guibord
  11. Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey
  12. Invasion by Jon S. Lewis
  13. Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
  14. Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith
  15. Lost on Spirit River by Tommy Batchelor
  16. Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
  17. *The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
  18. Dark Goddess (arc) By Sarwat Chadda
  19. Fallen Angel (arc) by Heather Terrell
  20. Second Hand Charm by Julie Berry
  21. *The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
  22. *The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
  23. A True Princess (arc) by Diane Zahler
  24. *Tiger's Curse (arc) by Colleen Houck
  25. Cryer's Cross (arc) by Lisa McMann
  26. Darkest Mercy (arc) by Melissa Marr
  27. Once In A Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber
  28. Drought (arc) by Pam Bachorz
  29. Desires of the Dead (arc) by Kimbery Derting
  30. Will Work For Prom Dress (arc) by Aimee Ferris
  31. Red Moon Rising (arc) by Peter Moore
  32. Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakely-Cartwright
  33. Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors
  34. The Star Maker (arc) by Laurence Yep
  35. Heist Society by Ally Carter
  36. Secrets and Shadows by Shannon Delany
  37. Death Cloud (Sherlock Holmes The Legend Begins) (arc) by Andrew Lane
  38. *Griffin Rising (arc) by Darby Karchut
  39. Father of Lies (arc) by Ann Turner
  40. Half Way To The Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost
  41. One Foot In The Grave (Night Huntress #2) by Jeaniene Frost
  42. Mieradome (arc) by Kate O'Hegarty
  43. By These Ten Bones by Clare Dunkle
  44. The Vespertine (arc) by Saundra Mitchell
  45. *The Liar Society (arc) by Lisa and Laura Roecker
  46. The Secret Life of Ms Finleman by Ben H. Winters
  47. Lemniscate by Jennifer Murgia
  48. *Haven by Kristi Cook
  49. Afterlife (arc) by Claudia Gray
  50. Beautiful Dead (Summer) (arc) by Eden Maguire
  51. *Moon Spell by Samantha Young
  52. River Cast by Samantha Young
  53. Blessed (arc) by Cynthia Leitch Smith
  54. *Divergent (arc) by Veronica Roth
  55. Steel (arc) by Carrie Vaughn
  56. CHIME (arc) By Franny Billingsley
  57. *Between the Shades of Gray (arc) by Ruta Sepetys
  58. The Dark and Hollow Places (arc) by Carrie Ryan
  59. *No Hope for Gomez by Graham Parke
  60. *Priscilla The Great by Sybil Nelson
  61. Take Me To The River (arc) by Will Hobbs
  62. *Inside Out & Back Again (arc) by Thanhha Lai
  63. Love Ya Like A Sister by Tom Kepler
  64. If I Stay (arc) by Gayle Forman
  65. Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
  66. *A Touch Mortal (arc) by Leah Clifford
  67. Where She Went (arc) by Gayle Forman
  68. Shades of Atlantis by Carol Oates
  69. *Memento Nora (arc) by Angie Smibert
  70. Fury of the Phoenix (arc) by Cindy Pon
  71. Persephone The Phony (MK's review) by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
  72. Red Glove (arc) by Holly Black
  73. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
  74. Rage (arc) by Jackie Morse Kessler
  75. Enclave (arc) by Ann Aguirre
  76. Athena the Wise (MK's review) by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
  77. The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide by Stephenie Meyer
  78. *Entwined (arc) by Heather Dixon
  79. *The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
  80. Blood Solstice (book in the Lunarmorte Series) by Samantha Young
  81. Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream
  82. *Kevin's Point of View by Del Shannon
  83. The Ancillary's Mark by Daniel A Cohen
  84. *Clarity by Kim Harrington
  85. Through Her Eyes (arc) by Jennifer Archer
  86. *The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder
  87. So Much Closer (arc) by Susane Colasanti
  88. Illusions (arc) by Aprilynne Pike
  89. *DIE FOR ME (arc) by Amy Plum
  90. Abandon (arc) by Meg Cabot
  91. Compulsion (arc) by Heidi Ayarbe
  92. *Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
  93. *The Pull of Gravity (arc) by Gae H. Polisner
  94. Hex, A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray
  95. *STARCROSSED (arc) by Josephine Angelini
  96. *Tempest Rising (arc) by Tracy Deebs
  97. *Kane Richards Must Die (arc) by Shanice Williams
  98. *The Time-Traveling Fashionista by Bianca Turetsky
  99. *The Emerald Atlas (arc) by John Stephens
  100. Relic Master, The Dark City (arc) by Catherine Fisher
  101. *Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler
  102. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson
  103. Juniper Berry (arc) by M.P. Kozlowsky
  104. Between Here and Forever (arc) by Elizabeth Scott
  105. Cut by Patricia McCormick
  106. Nightspell by Leah Cypess
  107. The Eternal Sea by Angie Frazier
  108. The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen
  109. Between by Cyndi Tefft
  110. Faithful by Janet Fox
  111. Forgiven by Janet Fox
  112. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
  113. Mercy by Rebecca Lim
  114. *A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
  115. *HEREAFTER by Tara Hudson
  116. Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison
  117. Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  118. *Possession by Elana Johnson
  119. Passion by Lauren Kate
  120. The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan
  121. Breath of Angel of Karyn Henley
  122. The Secret War by Matt Myklusch
  123. *Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
  124. The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newcome
  125. The Emerald Casket by Richard Newcome
  126. Petal Pushers, Too Many Blooms by Catherine Daly
  127. *Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray
  128. *Hourglass by Myra McEntire
  129. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
  130. Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck
  131. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
  132. Cryptic Cravings by Ellen Schreiber
  133. *Luminous by Dawn Metcalf
  134. Lost Voices by Sarah Porter
  135. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
  136. Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs
  137. Deception by Lee Nichols
  138. Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
  139. *Flawless by Lara Chapman
  140. Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
  141. Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers
  142. Countess Nobody by Lynn Liele Bonasia
  143. Minder by Kate Kaynak
  144. Adversary by Kate Kaynak
  145. *Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor
  146. *Blood Red Road by Moira Young
  147. Vanish by Sophie Jordan
  148. Beyonders. A World Without Heros by Brandon Mull
  149. Supernaturally by Kiersten White
  150. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
  151. *Crossroads by Mary Ting
  152. Dark Parities by Sara Grant
  153. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
  154. Dead Rules by Randy Russell
  155. Alex Van Helsing: Vampire Rising by Jason Henderson
  156. *The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
  157. *Wildefire by Karsten Knight
  158. *Vanished by Sheela Chari
  159. Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
  160. *Cat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
  161. Dark Souls by Paula Morris
  162. *The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg
  163. The Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink
  164. *Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
  165. A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
  166. Misfit by Jon Skovron
  167. Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
  168. Hunted by DJ DeSmyter
  169. Waterfall by Lisa T Bergren
  170. Betrayed by Ednah Walters
  171. Bargains & Betrayals by Shannon Delany
  172. *The Magnificent 12: The Trap by Michael Grant
  173. Chain Reaction by Simon Elkeles
  174. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
  175. The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
  176. *Aphrodite the Diva, Goddess Girls #6 by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
  177. *Wildwood, Chronicles of Wildwood #1 by Colin Meloy
  178. This Dark Endeavor, The Apprentice of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel
  179. Nocturne by Christine Johnson
  180. Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
  181. Michael Vey, The Prison of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans
  182. Cascade by Lisa T Bergren
  183. Hades by Alexandra Adornetto
  184. *Shark Wars by EJ Altbacker
  185. Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
  186. *Vordak the Incompressible: Rule the School by Vordak
  187. Torrent by Lisa T Bergren
  188. Notes from an Accidental Band Geek by Erin Dionner
  189. *Cahills vs Vespers: The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman
  190. *The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
  191. Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
  192. Crave by Melissa Darnell
  193. Blood (BK 1 of The Mercian Trilogy) by K.J. Wignall
  194. Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
  195. Witch Song by Amber Argyle
  196. The Shattering by Karen Healey
  197. The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen
  198. *bye for now A Wisher's Story by Kathleen Churhill
  199. Fateful by Claudia Gray
  200. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
  201. Other by Karen Kincy
  202. Bloodborn by Karen Kincy
  203. Drip Drop Teardrop by Samantha Young
  204. Phantom Universe by Laura Kreitzer
  205. Unlocked by Ryan G Van Cleave
  206. *Truth with a capital T by Bethany Hegedus
  207. Intrinsical by Lani Woodland
  208. Laney, The Brookehaven Vampires by Joann Martin Sowles
  209. Taking Off by Jenny Moss
  210. Entralled edited by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong
  211. Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake
  212. After Obsession by Carrie Jones & Steven E Wedel
  213. Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace
  214. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
  215. *The Familiars: Secrets of the Grown by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson
  216. *Half Upon A Time by James Riley
  217. *Possum Summer by Jen K. Blom
  218. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
  219. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
  220. Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen
  221. The Girl of Fire & Thorns by Rae Carson
  222. Dear Bully : 70 Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Carrie Jones & Megan Kelley Hall
  223. Seers by Heather Frost
  224. The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
  225. Reckless by Cornelia Funke
  226. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
  227. *Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
  228. *Liesel & Po by Lauren Oliver
  229. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
  230. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
  231. Change of Heart by Shari Maurer
  232. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
  233. Love is The Higher Law by David Levithan
  234. Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore
  235. Tris & Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
  236. Crave by Melissa Darnell
  237. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
  238. Everyone Sees The Ants by A.S. King
  239. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
  240. The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
  241. Shifting by Bethany Wiggins
  242. Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
  243. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
  244. On The Fringe by Courtney King Walker
  245. Austenland by Shannon Hale
  246. Without Tess by Marcella Pixley
  247. Frost by Wendy Delsol
  248. Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien
  249. Eve by Anna Carey
  250. Out of Breath by Blair Richmond
  251. Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout
  252. First Kill, The Slayer Chronicles by Heather Brewer
  253. Bridger by Megan Curd
  254. Wildfire by Dee Garretson
  255. CROSSED by Ally Condie
  256. Touch by Jus Accardo
  257. The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
  258. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
  259. Wherever You Go by Heather Davis
  260. Destined by Jessi Harrell
  261. Smokeless Fire by Samantha Young
  262. Unforgettable by Loretta Ellsworth
  263. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
  264. Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
  265. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard
  266. The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
  267. LEGEND by Marie Lu
  268. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
  269. The Scorch Trials by James Dahsner
  270. The Death Cure by James Dashner
  271. The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
  272. Underdogs by Markus Zusak
  273. iBoy by Kevin Brooks
  274. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally
  275. *Nicholas St North & the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce & Laura Geringer
  276. Eternal Starling by Angie Corbett
  277. Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook
  278. EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton
  279. BLOODROSE by Andrea Cremer
  280. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
  281. Love Story by Jennifer Echols
  282. Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan

YA Bliss's Historical Reading Challenge: My End Result = 23 books


The Story Siren's Debut Author Challenge: We read 85 books / My End Result = 81 books

GoodReads 2011 Reading Challenge: My original goal for myself was to read 250 books, but it kept growing as I included YA, MG and Children's picture books in this goal. Collectively as a blog (reviews/books read include Cynthia, Sophie's & my reviews) we read 405 books

You can read our 2011 Favorite Reads here:

This year was an amazing year and I'm truly grateful for all the fun we've had and all the things we've been able to take part in. THANK YOU for being apart of this years fabulous journey with us! I'm looking forward to sharing with you all the fun things we have planned for 2012!

Friday, December 30, 2011

2011 Mundie Moms Favorites: Author Interviews #3


It's day 13 of our 2011 Mundie Moms Favorites, and today I'm exited to share my last mini interview series post that was done with some of our favorite authors from this year. It's been a lot of fun doing these interviews and I want send out a huge THANK YOU to each of the authors who graciously took time to answer my questions. You can read each of my author interview posts here: Favorite Author Interviews #1 | Favorite Author Interviews #2


If you could go back and give your aspiring author self one piece of advice, what would that be?

Saundra Mitchell (The Vespertine):

"It's always going to be hard to do the exposition. You will always be wrecked by it. Once you make it past, you'll be fine. Just realize that struggle is never going away; stop being surprised every time it's hard to get started!"


Kimberly Derting (The Pledge & Desires of the Dead):

I would tell myself to recognize the signs that it's time to give up on that one (dead) manuscript and work on something new. I was that writer that thought my first work was brilliant, that it should be published and hailed by millions. It shouldn't have been, which was why it was rejected. Repeatedly. But instead of starting something new, I got stuck on it, and kept revising it and re-submitting it. I spent years on it. Years that I should have been writing new books.

It wasn't until I (finally) gave up on that first manuscript, that I discovered I had better stories to tell…and better writing in me.

As it turns out, that book was just really good practice!


Ally Condie (CROSSED):

I would tell myself not to worry so much about my terrible first drafts. I loved writing them and the joy of writing is always so pure in that first round when the book belongs to you and the characters--but when I'd get done and re-read, I would think, "Good grief, this is AWFUL." I've since learned that other authors feel that way too about their drafts and that it's okay to have a LOT of cleanup to do after that first attempt!


Tera Lynn Childs (Sweet Venom):

Write more. When I think back to all the time I spent worrying about getting published, staying published, and promotion and marketing, I kind of cringe. In hindsight those were countless hours I could have spent writing more books or novellas or short stories or even blog posts and becoming a better writer. I believe that everything happens in its own time and at its own pace, but writing leads to better writing. I wish I had written more from the start. Then all those other things I wasted time worrying about would have fallen into place faster.


Lisa T Bergren (The River of Time Series):

Give yourself time. There's hardly any endeavor that makes one an "overnight success," and for most writers, success is years in the making; just keep at it, one book at a time.


Thank you to Saundra Mitchell, Kimberly Derting, Ally Condie, Tera Lynn Childs, and Lisa T Bergren for stopping by today!

2011 Mundie Moms Favorites: Middle Grade Reads


With the end of 2011 being tomorrow, I wanted to save our last two posts for our all time favorites of 2011. Today's post is my 2011 Favorite Middle Grade Reads. For those of you that don't know, I also have a children's book review blog, Mundie Kids. You can find all of our middle grade and children's book reviews on there. Some of my favorite reviews from there are also spot lighted here on Mundie Moms.

This year there I had the privilege of reading a number of fantastic middle grade releases! I narrowed my list down to my Top 11 Favorite Middle Grade Reads to:

  1. The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
  2. Wildwood by Colin Meloy
  3. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
  4. The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
  5. Liesel & Po by Lauren Oliver
  6. The Secret War by Matt Myklusch
  7. The Familiars, Secrets of the Crown by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrea Jacobson
  8. Nicholas ST. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce & Laure Geringer
  9. Kat the Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis
  10. A True Princess by Diane Zahler
  11. Vordak The Incomprehensible Rule the School
Other favorites:

These are only a small number of fabulous reads I recommend picking up. You can read/see all of our children/tweens reviews here on Mundie Kids. What were some of your favorite middle grade reads this year?

2012- Twilight Moms 100 Book Reading Challenge


I LOVE this challenge! This is my 4th year taken part in the Twilight Moms (now Eve's Fan Garden) reading challenge. I love being challenged and last year was one of those wow years in reading for me. While I highly doubt I'll read 282 books like I read last year, I'm looking forward to hopefully hitting 150.

Here's my list of 2012 reads which includes all YA and MG that are over 100 pages:
  1. Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony & Rodrigo Corral *I'm not counting this towards my reads, but I'm still listing it*
  2. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith
  3. Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
  4. Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
  5. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
  6. The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams
  7. A Million Suns by Beth Revis
  8. INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows
  9. Tempest by Julie Cross
  10. The Childe by C.A. Kunz
  11. Dark Days by C.A. Kunz
  12. Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  13. Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
  14. Forbidden by Syrie James & Ryan M James
  15. Untraceable by S.R. Johannes
  16. Between by Mary Ting
  17. The Deadlies: Spiders on the Case by Kathryn Lasky
  18. The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards *MK
  19. Tales of a Sixth Grade Muppet by Kirk Scroggs *MG
  20. Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey
  21. The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark
  22. Dust City of Robert Paul Weston
  23. Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
  24. Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
  25. Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Alison Moutlon
  26. Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne
  27. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
  28. Fairy Lies by E.D. Baker *MG
  29. Dead To You by Lisa McMann
  30. The Wood Queen by Karen Mahoney
  31. The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone *MG
  32. The Diary of Emma Simpson, When Will This Cruel War Be Over (Dear America Series) by Barry Denenberg *MG
  33. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
  34. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
  35. Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler *MG
  36. Winterling by Sarah Prineas *MG
  37. SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen
  38. Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey
  39. FIRE by Kristen Cashore
  40. Standing in the Light, The Diary of Catharine Carey Logan (Dear America Series) by Mary Pope Osborne *MG
  41. Fracture by Megan Miranda
  42. The Secret of Spruce Knoll by Heather McCorkle
  43. Haunted by Joy Preble
  44. EMBRACE by Jessica Shirivington
  45. Bewitching by Alex Flinn
  46. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
  47. PERCEPTION by Kim Harrington
  48. Latasha and the little red Tornado by Michael Scotto *MG
  49. PARTIALS by Dan Wells
  50. My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent
  51. A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
  52. Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby
  53. Balthazar by Claudia Gray
  54. LOSS by Jackie Morse Kessler
  55. The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez
  56. Zero to Hero (Ghost Buddy series) by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver *MG
  57. The Humming Room by Ellen Potter *MG
  58. The Moon Over High Street by Natalie Babbitt *MG
  59. Dear Hound by Jill Murphy *MG
  60. Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner *MG
  61. The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen *MG
  62. Medusa The Mean by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams *MG
  63. The Savage Grace by Bree Despain
  64. Starters by Lissa Price
  65. Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig
  66. Bourne by Lisa T Bergren
  67. Immortal City by Scott Speer
  68. A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies
  69. Cross My Heart & Hope To Spy by Ally Carter
  70. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
  71. Ripper by Amy Carole Reeves
  72. Emerald City by Alicia K Leppert
  73. Take A Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg
  74. Pure by Jennifer Armentrout
  75. Black Heart by Holly Black
  76. Destined by Aprilynne Pike
  77. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
  78. The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell
  79. Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist
  80. Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross
  81. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate *MG
  82. Until I Die by Amy Plum
  83. In Honor by Jessi Kirby
  84. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
  85. Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
  86. Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
  87. The Hero's Guiding for Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy *MG
  88. Wrecked by Anna Davies
  89. Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
  90. Talisman of El by Alecia Stone
  91. Surrender by Elana Johnson
  92. Changeling by Philippa Gregory
  93. Tua and the Elephant by R.P. Harris *MG
  94. Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli *MG
  95. Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter
  96. Eden by Keary Taylor
  97. DREAMLESS by Josephine Angelini
  98. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
  99. The Survivors by Amanda Havard
  100. Point of Origin by Amanda Havard
  101. Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs
  102. Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London
  103. ARISE by Tara Hudson
  104. Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen
  105. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
  106. Timepiece by Myra McEntire
  107. Transcendence by C.J. Omololu
  108. Amplified by Tara Kelly
  109. Ghosts in the Fog by Samantha Seiple *MG
  110. Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden
  111. Fated by Alyson Noel
  112. The Classroom by Robin Mellom *MG
  113. Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel
  114. Burn Mark by Laura Powell
  115. The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
  116. Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost
  117. The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
  118. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
  119. Just for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
  120. Once by Anna Carey
  121. The Temptation by Alisa Valdes
  122. Mothership by Martin Leicht and Isa Neal
  123. A Discover of Witches by Deborah Harkness
  124. Fall from Grace by Charles Benoit
  125. Endlessley by Kiersten White
  126. A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
  127. I Am NOT the Walrus by Ed Briant
  128. Rift by Andrea Cremer
  129. The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse
  130. The Vindico by Wesley King
  131. Survive by Alex Morel
  132. Skylark by Meagan Spooner
  133. Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear
  134. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
  135. Anastasia Forever by Joy Preble
  136. 52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody
  137. Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout
  138. The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
  139. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale *MG
  140. Auracle by Gina Rosati
  141. Defiance by C.J. Redwine
  142. Hidden by Sophie Jordan
  143. Origin by Jessica Khoury
  144. The Unwanteds: Island of Silence
  145. Madhattan Mystery by John J Bonk *MG
  146. Heroes in Training by Johan Holub & Suzanne Williams *MG
  147. The End of Infinity by Matt Myklusch *MG
  148. The Boxcar Children Beginning by Patricia MacLachlan *MG
  149. Whatever After: Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski *MG
  150. Heirs of Prophecy by Michael A Rothman *MG
  151. Tools of Prophecy by Michael A Rothman *MG
  152. The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin *MG
  153. Goddess Girls: Super Special by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams *MG
  154. Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr
  155. Quarantine: the Losers by Lex Thomas
  156. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
  157. Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien
  158. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
  159. Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle
  160. Anew by Chelsea Fine
  161. Entice by Jessica Shirvington
  162. Keeper of the Lost Gates by Shannon  Messenger
  163. Breathe by Sarah Crossan
  164. Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantete Sedgwick
  165. Sanctum by Sarah Fine
  166. Who I Kissed by Janet Gutler
  167. A Fractured Light by Jocelyn Davies
  168. Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
  169. Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins *MG
  170. The Splinders by Lauren Oliver *MG
  171. The Infinity Ring by James Dashner
  172. The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski
  173. Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone
  174. The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long
  175. Burning Blue by Paul Griffin
  176. The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
  177. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
  178. Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
  179. The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel Graphic Novel
  180. I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
  181. Ten by Gretchen McNeil
  182. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
  183. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
  184. Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick
  185. Easy by Tammara Webber
  186. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill
  187. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
  188. Renegade by J.A. Souders
  189. Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  190. Silver by Talia Vance
  191. Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson
  192. Reached by Ally Condie
  193. Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black
  194. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
  195. Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs
  196. Glass Heart by Amy Garvey
  197. Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan
  198. The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton
  199. The Mephisto Kiss by Trinity Faegen
  200. Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
  201. Touched by Corinne Jackson
  202. Greta and The Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs
  203. Henry the Horrid by Francesca Simon *MG
  204. Big Nate by Lincoln Pierce *MG
  205. Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green by Helen Phillips *MG
  206. Dark Lord by Dirk Lloyd *MG
  207. Libby of High Hopes by Elise Primavera *MG
  208. Stupid Perfect World by Scott Westerfeld
  209. Cruisin' by Sarah Mlynowski
  210. Radiant by Cynthia Hand
  211. Breathless by Sophie Jordan
  212. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
  213. Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay
  214. The Dark Light by Sara Walsh
  215. The Farm by Emily McKay
  216. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
  217. Dust Lands by Moira Young
  218. Splintered by A.G. Howard
  219. The Marked by Inara Scott
  220. Crash by Lisa McMann
Goal exceeded. This does not include 100 pg books and less or picture books. 

Labels