Reminder

Tomorrow is the last day to enter our February Loveable Giveaway! Good luck to all of you who have already and will be entering!

Thoughts on a Sad Moment in the YA Book World

So, I didn't personally know LK Madigan I never had personal contact with her, but her story touched my heart.

When I first read about THE MERMAID'S MIRROR I thought it sounded like a lovely book and I really wanted to read it. But that's about as far as it went, as you all know I have tons of books on my to read list, and I am just NOT a fast reader.

Then, through other author friends on Facebook, I was directed to her very heart wrenching post about her fight with cancer. You can read it HERE. Her story touched me deeply. My father died from lymphoma just over a year and a half ago, so cancer is very real to me.

Then I was lucky enough to win a book giveaway and received her two published works, FLASH BURNOUT and THE MERMAID'S MIRROR in the mail this last week. I am so thrilled to have them and excited to read them. I am glad that she was able to leave some part of her behind.

What I do know about LK Madigan is she was a fighter. She fought this for a long time and her death is a huge loss to the YA community. As a lover of books, especially YA I am saddened for her family and friends and associates. And I am especially sad for the stories she never got to tell.

Let's appreciate a little bit more each day those stories that we do get to read, those books that are written. Because our time here is precious.

Review STORK by Wendy Delsol

Stork by Wendy Delsol

Details:
Hardcover, 355 pages
Published October 12th 2010 by Candlewick

Placement in Pile:
Reaching New Heights

Summary:
Family secrets. Lost memories. And the arrival of an ancient magical ability that will reveal everything.

Sixteen-year-old Katla LeBlanc has just moved from Los Angeles to Minnesota. As if it weren’t enough that her trendy fashion sense draws stares, Katla soon finds out that she’s a Stork, a member of a mysterious order of women tasked with a very unique duty. But Katla’s biggest challenge may be finding her flock at a new school. Between being ignored by Wade, the arrogant jock she stupidly fooled around with, and constantly arguing with gorgeous farm boy and editor-in-chief Jack, Katla is relieved when her assignment as the school paper’s fashion columnist brings with it some much-needed friendship. But as Homecoming approaches, Katla uncovers a shocking secret about her past — a secret that binds her fate to Jack’s in a way neither could have ever anticipated. With a nod to Hans Christian Andersen and inspired by Norse lore, Wendy Delsol’s debut novel introduces a hip and witty heroine who finds herself tail-feathers deep in small-town life.

Review: 
If you're still high on the paranormal romance, than this is a read for you. Wendy Delsol weaves a charming story that threads together pieces of Icelandic lore with modern family conflict in a setting that's unfamiliar to the character and filled with mystery. To be honest, I wasn't jazzed about reading a novel that plays up the idea that a "stork" chooses a baby's mother. Frankly, it sounds bizarre, right?

Not at all the setting I'd choose to write a YA book. But then again, maybe that's why I'm not a published author yet. I have to admit, within the first three chapters I was hooked. And primarily it was due to Wendy Delsol's ability to write a character wit strong voice.
When it comes to voice, this book is king. Katla LeBlanc's witty banter and equally charming internalization are what sold this book for me. I'm such a sucker for good voice in a YA novel.

So, given that, it was easy to forgive some of the plot points that didn't jive with me. Or the other sub-character reactions that felt misplaced.

Now, go read it for yourself, and let me know what you think.

Lovable Giveaway!

Hey everyone! I thought that since there is still another week or so in Feb. that we still needed to have a Valentine's day themed giveaway!
Enter to win these THREE great books!















Just enter below.

Open to USA and Canada addresses only. The giveaway ends 11:59 PM EST Monday Feb 28th!

Full Cover Reveal SO SILVER BRIGHT by Lisa Mantchev

I was so honored to be picked to participate in this great week of reveals for the cover of SO SILVER BRIGHT! Check out Wednesday's post for a summary on the book. And here's the full cover!



Isn't it GORGEOUS! I love it and I love this series! Congrats on an awesome cover Lisa! I can't wait for the book! (That was a lot of exclamations!)

Blog Tour Review: MAD LOVE by Suzanne Selfors

MAD LOVE
by Suzanne Selfors
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published January 4th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
When you're the daughter of the bestselling Queen of Romance, life should be pretty good. But 16-year-old Alice Amorous has been living a lie ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. After putting on a brave front for months, time is running out. The next book is overdue, and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother—and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid, who insists that Alice write about the greatest love story in history: his tragic relationship with Psyche. But Alice doesn't believe in Cupid...

Review:
I was really excited to get on this blog tour. The story sounded interesting. Not something I normally love, but I was willing to give it a try as a good Valentine's day read. What I was presented with was a lovable cast of characters that were witty, funny and frustrating in their own rights, a story that reads smoothly, so much so that in the end, you may just start believing in Cupid's story.

One of the great things about this book is how real it is, even with the mythological element of Cupid. Yes, he's in the book, and a big part of the book. But it is more a book about family, friendship and love -- all kinds of love.

There is one thing I wish had been explained a little more, and I have my theories, but this book really is worth reading.

SO SILVER BRIGHT Cover Reveal Fragment 3!

Hi everyone! I am SO excited to be able to share this bit of the cover for SO SILVER BRIGHT by Lisa Mantchev, book three in the Theater Illuminata Series! Here is some info about the book:

SO SILVER BRIGHT
by Lisa Mantchev
To Be Published September 13th 2011 by Feiwel & Friends (as listed on Goodreads)

Summary:
Bertie thinks her quest is almost done. With the help of Ariel and the rest of her friends, she has managed to find her father and rescue the kidnapped pirate, Nate, from Sedna the sea goddess. Now all she has to do is reunite her father, The Scrimshander, with her mother, Ophelia, and she will finally have a true family of her own.

However, things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Her father has vanished, Sedna is out for revenge, her own actions have trapped the Theatre Illuminata, the only home she’s ever known, into a strange kind of limbo, and the stress of her in-between state is tearing apart the fragile threads of her mother’s sanity. Bertie’s best hope for salvaging the situation may lie in the summons by Her Gracious Majesty, Queen of the Distant Castle and hope of winning the magical boon given to the most pleasing performance. Bertie is caught between her growing responsibilities to home and family and the dream of flying free, just as her heart is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate.

With so many forces pulling on her, how will Bertie be able to choose which wish to make come true?

And with no further adieu, here is a bit of the cover!



Amazing right? I am so excited! Let us know what you think in the comments. And be sure to come back on Friday to see the entire cover revealed!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hi all! I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's day!

I wanted you to all know this week we have some AMAZING things going on!

Wednesday & Friday: I am part of the cover reveal for Lisa Mantchev's SO SILVER BRIGHT, book 3 in the Theater Illuminata series! Each day this week a few lucky book bloggers are revealing a piece of the cover, and then on Friday we will all reveal the full cover! Go to Lisa's website for links to the other blogs participating, and be sure to check in Wed and Fri!

Thursday: I am part of the blog tour for MAD LOVE by Suzanne Selfors! So be sure to tune in for a review and giveaway!

And there will likely be some other posts from my co-bloggers. Again Happy V-day! Tell someone you love them today!

Teaser Tuesday

I haven't done one of these in a long time...and since I am reading 3 things right now, and don't have something to review, I thought I would share with you a line from one of the books.

REVOLUTION
by Jennifer Donnelly

"He talks on, but I'm not listening anymore. I'm wishing. Wihsing he could hear music. Wishing he could hear me." pg. 86

Review THE REPLACEMENT by Brenna Yovanoff

The Replacement
by Brenna Yovanoff
Hardcover, 343 pages

Published September 21st 2010 by Razorbill

Placement in the Pile:
Middle of the Stack

Summary:
Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Review:
First let me say that, The Replacement, as a debut novel, is excellent on so many literary levels. I was impressed with Brenna Yovanoff's ability to weave the dark tone and murky, eerie mood into the character interactions, character descriptions, setting and conflicts. To me, this novel had the mix of a Tim Burton movie and Something Wicked This Way Comes. To call it eerie would be using the world lightly.
While reading the novel, I couldn't help but feel connected to Mackie, the protagonist, sensing his life of gloom and secrets.
Unfortunately that's where, for me, the novel fell flat. While I'll admit that Yovanoff excells in writing strong character voice, and mood so deep you can feel it in your bones, the main driving conflict of the novel lacked the necessary substance to sustain me. Since the novel is centered around the idea of a controlling, baby-stealing underworld, I'd hoped for mythology that was well-defined. And it wasn't. It was vague and unbelievable.
For me, this one didn't grab at heart strings, or even steal my breath away with it's complex wierdness. Mostly I was left with the feeling of wanting so much more.

The Lost Saint Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to all that participated! I am really excited to share with you the result of my question: What color do you think should be on the cover of TDD3?

Green: 12 votes
Red: 5 votes
Pink: 2 votes
Orange: 2 votes
White: 2 votes

My vote would have got with a deep hot pink or crimson. I was VERY interested so many of you picked green! We will all have to wait and see!

Anyway, on to the winner!

Shari!

I will e-mail you when the book and stuff is in the mail!

Thanks to everyone who participated. I know it sounds silly, but it means a lot to me that you would take the time to enter my giveaways!