New Look to Let's Evaluate! +Update!

New Blog Design
Hey everyone! Just wanted to do a quick post since some big changes have been happening on my blog. The most obvious of those changes is my overall blog template and design. I have already changed it twice since I started blogging, but being the restless person I am, I decided I wanted to do something new again.

This template was created by the the amazing Blogaholic Designs, so make sure to swing over there if you are interested in design or a new template. Emily, the creator, has everything from backgrounds and templates to even buttons and tutorials. And like this one, some are even free!

I will definitely be tweaking little parts here and there so it may continue to change, but for now I am just glad it is mixed up again.

Update
Here is a quick update on what is coming soon to Let's Evaluate:

> Thursday - Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Read Dangerously Read-a-thon hosted by All By MySHELF so I will have a post up during the day that I will continue to update on how that is going.
> Friday - Will have a TGIF post up focusing on authors (check out GReads! for more on this meme).
> Saturday - Review of 'One Day' by David Nichols will be posted.
> Sunday - Posting an In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren, as long as I get around to putting it together.

Yeah and that is about it. I just feel as though I have been slacking a bit on this blog so I think an update will help keep me on track and post everyday. Hope everyone is having a good week and happy reading! =]

My first giveaway ---WINNER!!!

I am so sorry that I didn't get this announcement written and posted as the giveaway ended on the 5th, but I guess better late than never.

So I am going to jump right to it..

The winner of a copy of 'Stargazer' by Claudia Gray is:

Lyssa Anne

Congrats!! Please just respond to my email as soon as you can! =D

Sorry to those that did not win but I do have another giveaway going on that ends 8 / 19 so go check that out through clicking on the image on my left sidebar advertising the giveaway!

Top 10 Tuesday [3] : Underrated Books

So I have really enjoyed participating in this meme the last two times I've done it. So when I saw what the list would be for this week, I knew I wanted to participate again. So this meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and involves doing a top ten list on a certain topic that is posted.

This week is a top ten list of books that you feel are underrated. My list is of books that I don't notice getting a lot of attention, but still may be ones you are familiar with. So here is my list:

1. 'Sold' by Patricia McCormick

2. 'A Separate Peace' by John Knowles

3. 'The Glass Castle' by Jeannette Walls

4. 'A Northern Light' by Jennifer Donnelly

5. 'Survivor' by Chuck Palahniuk

6. 'The Butterfly Garden' by Chip St. Clair

I could list a few more, but thought I'd stop with these because I feel they are the top of my list. Make sure to leave a link below to your top ten Tuesday so I can make sure to stop by and look at your recommendations. If you aren't up for doing a post, or don't blog, please leave at least a few below in the comments. Thanks!

'Shadow Kiss' by Richelle Mead

So I have already reviewed the first two books in the Vampire Academy series and as I go I realize that my reviews get shorter since I don't want to give anything away. I definitely don't want to spoil this or the previous books, so just as a heads up, like review will be kind of like a mini review and I assume the rest in the series will be the same way.

As a whole, I loved this book and thought it was definitely better than the first two. I adored how action packed and realistic, in terms of the struggles as a society of vampires.

The two main points of this that I loved was the development of two very different but amazing relationships. First, there is Rose and Dimitri, and without giving away much, I will just say I loved the growth in their bond and feelings. Secondly, I really enjoyed how Mead developed the relationship of Rose and Christian. I found them to be amazing together and they really worked well as a team.

So overall, I am still adoring this series and cannot wait to dive into the next soon. And as I said in my review of 'Frostbite,' YA fans of vampires need to add this to their collection and I need more of Dimitri right now! Why can't every series have a man so perfect?! ;-)

Overall rating: 4.5 / 5 stars

My review of Vampire Academy: click here
My review of Frostbite: click here

On My Wishlist [2]

'On My Wishlist' is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It involves a list or post of some sort where are highlight books you are desperately wanting. They can be old, new, or even future releases. I have decided that I may not do this meme every week, but each time I do decide to participate I will highlight two books that I hope to get my hands on in the future.

So here are the two books for this week and feel free to click on each image to be taken to its Goodreads page, if you would like to learn more and read a synopsis.



'The Demon Trapper's Daughter' by Jana Oliver

So I have been wanting this book ever since it came out this past February, but still don't have my hands on it just yet. I absolutely love the cover (probably has to do with my obsession with red) and since the second book is coming out relatively soon, I need to get my hands on this soon. It is in my walmart.com shopping cart so hopefully it will make to the next check out. =D





'Die for Me' by Amy Plum

Every review of this that I have read makes it seem like either you love it or you hate it. But, it is still one I want to give the benefit of the doubt since I love the synopsis and idea of it. I actually borrowed this from my library a little while ago but since it is due soon, I don't think I will get to read it this time around. But with a cover like that, I am hoping to get to it again in the future.






So, there they are! Two books I hope to add to my collection soon. =] Comment below if you have read one of these and let me know your opinions. And make sure to link your 'On My Wishlist' if you participated this week so I can make sure to stop by.

♥ I got a blog award! ♥

Hey everyone! So I just wanted to post real quick today because I received a blog award from another book blogger. So thanks Steph for nominating me and make sure you all stop over at her blog, Steph Likes Books and check out her. She is a great UK blogger with great reviews so you all should follower her too! =D

The award is called the Liebster Blog Award and is out there to recognize, mostly new, bloggers who have less that 200 followers.

 

And here are the rules for this award:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger that gave you the award

2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog

3. Copy and paste the award on your blog

4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers

5. And most of all -- have bloggity-blog fun!

And here are the blogs/bloggers I nominate

(ignore me if I didn't realize you already received it):

1. A Story to Love

2. Enchanted Reads

3. Books are Precious Gems

4. Excitement in Words

5. Book Sniffers Anonymous

I hope you'll stop by their blogs and take a look. They are all great bloggers, with well written reviews. =D

Reminder: my giveaway ends tomorrow!

Just wanted to post real quick today a reminder about my giveaway that I having going on right now. I actually have two right now, but one ends tomorrow so I wanted to reminder anyone that wanted to enter. It is my first giveaway and is celebrating the 50 follower mark. YAY!

Below is the link to the post about the giveaway and where to enter if you want a chance to win 'Stargazer' by Claudia Gray. You can also click the same image link on my sidebar that is advertising the giveaway. And quick reminder, it is US only and you must be a follower! (=

Good luck! And a post announcing the winner will be up sometime this weekend, when I get a free minute. (=

And fyi: there are currently 36 entries, so that gives you an idea of your chances of winning! (=

Read Dangerously Read-a-thon hosted by All By MySHELF

This post is very important. This post means I am an official participant in...

This read-a-thon is only a small part of an even bigger event at All By MySHELF, celebrating Ren's 20th birthday. And everyone knows: big event + blogging = PRIZES!

Here are the important details about the read-a-thon:

The Read Dangerously Read-A-Thon will start at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 11, and end at 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 13. There will be mini-challenges on each day, so you'll have something to amuse yourself during your reading breaks. You can participate on all days or just a few, whatever you feel like or your schedule allows.

But that's not all! Everyone that participates in the read-a-thon will be entered to win $15 to The Book Depository! One winner will get their choice of any already released as of August 20) YA book, and because it's BD, the contest is open to anyone that lives in one of these countries. And if you say Erin @ Let's Evaluate sent you, we'll both get an extra entry! All you have to do to be eligible for the giveaway is sign up for the read-a-thon and post an end of day update on one of the read-a-thon days. Yep, that simple.

Now, what are you waiting for? Go sign up!