My Pile of Books

Thursday Three (2)

2012-01-26T12:54:00.002-05:00

1) This week I have been re-reading a book I read a long time ago. I don't re-read books often because there are always so many great ones I haven't read yet. But I do re-read occasionally. It is interesting to me what a new experience a book can be each time you return to it.

Do you find you like books more or less with a re-read?

For me it is a mix. Sometimes I relate to things or see things I didn't before, and that's exciting. Other times I am more critical of the author's style etc. because I have grown, learned more about writing etc.

2) Do you book club? I book club. One of my favorite things about book club is reading books I wouldn't have picked up. Not necisarrily because I think it's a bad book, but just because it's not on my immediate to read list. I also love book club discussions. It reminds me of being back in school in English classes.

What are some of your favorite book club books?

3) Who's excited for the Hunger Games Movie!? I sure am! I am working on getting an early showing (Thursday night) theater with a ton of friends. Right now we're up to 134 people! I cry every time I see the trailer. "I Volunteer!" Be still my heart! Just because I am so excited about it, here's the trailer for your viewing pleasure.

Happy Reading.

Book Launch Tonight!

2012-01-24T10:50:00.005-05:00

Hey folks!

I want to advertise for all local peeps and distant peeps that today is the book launch for my FAVORITE read of last year (but it comes out today!), EVERNEAT by Brodi Ashton!

You can read my review HERE and my interview with the awesome Brodi HERE.

I unfortunately will not be making it to the book launch so I can't do one of my super fun book signing posts. But hopefully I will catch her another time. And can share that with you. But for your viewing pleasure here is the book trailer.

So local peeps go to The King's English tonight at 7 for an awesome launch, and everyone go to your local bookstore and get this book!

Congrats on your launch Brodi!

New Feature: Thursday Three (1)

2012-01-19T07:30:00.000-05:00

Hey all!

So one of my goals this year is to get this blog more active again. One way I want to do that is by doing a Thursday Three! Lots of blogs do Friday Fives, but I thought this was more doable for me. So I'll post 3 things going on with me in relation to reading/writing. I'd love your thoughts and responses!

1) I have been thinking a lot about why I read YA so much more than any other genre. And I think in the end for me, it's cause it's just good stuff. For me I like to read to escape into a world that is not my own. Whether that's contemporary and someone else's experiences that open my world view, or a fantasy world that I can just jump into wholeheartedly. I love YA because I can always count on a great story.

Why do you love YA?

2) Some books read fast for me, some read slow. It doesn't make one better than the other. Sometimes I just need more time away from a story to process it. Other times I just want to find out what happens so I can't put it down. Which do I like better? Depends on my mood.

3) I've been trying to write more and that's a kinda scary thing for me. I love books and the book world, and I LOVE writing and the writing community around me. But I don't have super thick skin, and I felt a little hurt once. So it's taken me a long time to get back into it. It was absolutely no fault of anyone other than me needing to take time away from my writing. Maybe someday a blogger will be reviewing my stuff! I doubt it. I'm not dedicated enough to the process of writing and editing...I kinda hate editing. But it's a cool thought. ;)

Review: SILENCE by Becca Fitzpatrick

2012-01-11T08:25:00.000-05:00

SILENCE
by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hardcover, 438 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
The noise between Patch and Nora is gone. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

Review:
First I have to say that's not a very good summary of the book that was on Goodreads, but there it is... Here's my summary:

Nora finds herself alone and unsure of herself when she is told that she not only has amnesia that goes back 5 months, but has been gone, abducted for the last 11 weeks of her life. Desperate to remember who she is, she becomes tangled in a world that she no longer remembers exists, all while trying to figure out who she can trust, who is lying, and why she keeps having dreams about a boy with black eyes.

Can Nora and Patch's love survive her not remembering? Will she find out who abducted her and why?

Okay, that sounds better. Gives you a little but of understanding of what this book is about without giving anything away.

That being said, many of you know how much I enjoy these books. I like the bad boy nature of Patch, and I like the overall plotlines. There's characters you love, and characters you love to hate.

Even better the plot of this book and Becca's smooth writing kept me reading. I read this book in about 4 sessions of sitting down and reading -- I just couldn't put it down and it flowed so well it went fast. It's exactly what I needed. Intrigue a good plot, some awesome romance thrown in.

Now that being said there is a possessive nature about Patch and the things he says to Nora. I understand some readers criticize this and say "what a horrible message to teenage girls." But here's my view: I am not reading and reviewing for what a teenage girl might think of a book. I am reading and reviewing for ME. How did I like the book? How did it affect me? Am I smart enough to know that when Patch says, "You're mine Angel." that it's not an abusive I'm going to lock you up and abuse you sort of love? Well, yes, I am. So he doesn't bug me at all, in fact I like that he loves Nora so much that he feels not only possessive of her, but that he belongs to and with her.

If you like this series and haven't read this one yet, do! If you need a good read, pick up the series. For fans of paranormal romance, these will definitely become a fave.

Poll: What Should I read Next?

2012-01-03T15:19:00.002-05:00

One of my goals this year is to be more on top of reading the books I already own. That might not make for the best reviews, but hey, I will read new ones too! Here is what is on my list right now, and I thought I'd ask your opinions! What should I read Next?

Review: CROSSED by Ally Condie

2012-01-03T12:57:00.004-05:00

CROSSED
by Ally Condie

Hardcover, 367 pages

Published November 1st 2011 by Dutton Juvenile

Placement in the Pile: Middle of the Stack

Summary:
In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Review:
I really wanted to love this one, because as you all know by now I loved MATCHED and I love Ally to death. I felt that there were some gems of greatness in this book, moments and information that I found fascinating and exciting, but it was surrounded by everything else that I unfortunately did not love.

One of my biggest issue was for a book that is supposed to be a journey of literally crossing over from one life to another there was a lot of lingering, leaving one location, and coming back. Leaving it again, and coming back. It felt more stagnant than it should have.

One of the more widespread criticisms I've read was one that was bugging me as well while I was reading. Ky is a narrator as well as Cassia, and their voices were too similar. They were beautifully written, well thought out etc. But when I had to flip back to the chapter heading to remember who was speaking, that was a problem.

All in all I think this book just suffered from middle book syndrome. Instead of being a journey in and of itself, it was a spacer to get the characters from point A to point B so that they can move on to the climax, but in and of itself, it didn't have much climax or story.

What I loved? Indie -- She's a great character and truly kept me guessing. Xander -- he isn't in the book much, but there is some big stuff revealed about him. I am liking where his story is going.

In the end. I am very much looking forward to the third book still. The way it left off I think that book is going to have a ton going on and be super interesting! I just wished this one had had more. It's worth reading to get you up to date for the next one.

What Happened to Me Last Year/What I Plan This Year!

2012-01-02T00:39:00.002-05:00

Well, as many of you know the biggest thing that happened to me last year was having a baby. That resulted in the loss of desire/time/brain power to read as much and thus review as much. Which then resulted in losing a lot of my publisher contacts. The year being crazy also resulted in my co-bloggers being busy and not posting as much as before. So again less posts on here.

So that's why things have been slower on here on both the review and give away front.

But, here is my New Year's promise/resolution to you.

I am still here. I may take longer to read books, be giving away not as much, but I am still here. I still want to share my love of books and what I am reading with you. So if you'll stick with me, I will bring you reviews as they come.

I am doing a bit of writing and wanting to get back into that more. So I'd really like to add some of that experience to this blog as well. Bring on the conversations! When people actually comment it encourages me to be on here more and to be a better blogger for you. Just sayin. ;)

Thanks to those of you who do follow me regularly and have stuck it out with me this year. Happy New Year to you all!

Giveaway Overwhelmed

2011-12-01T19:50:00.002-05:00

So, this is going to be a bit of a rant. But I have to say I kind of hate most giveaways.

Once I saw a news story about people that win THOUSANDS of dollars of merchandise a year because they spend all their time entering. They play sweepstakes, do any and all online giveaways they can find. Spend hours, upon hours fulfilling requirements to be entered. And they win.

I could never be one of those people.

Do I like giveaways? Heck yes! Do I like winning? Even better! But am I willing to spend hours working on it? No.

I don't even like giveaways that require you to go to other websites to do things, then come back and answer questions. Or require you to FB or tweet or share.

As someone who hosts giveaways I hope I do a good job of saying, fill out your info, you're done. If you WANT to spread the word, it gives you extra points, but it by no means is necessary. I hope you don't cringe when you see the requirements for my giveaways.

What do you think? Are you less likely to participate in something that requires more work even if the reward is huge? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?

Author Interview: Brodi Ashton!

2011-11-30T07:30:00.000-05:00

Okay not only is debut author Brodi Ashton's novel EVERNEATH one of my favorite books, she is one of my favorite people. She is gorgeous and made of awesome.

Since I have the hook-up I did this little interview with her to run with my review of EVERNEATH. Enjoy!

MPB: Your twist on a well known Greek myth (Persephone and Hades) is very unique. How did you come up with the idea?

BA: The story came first, before the mythology. I never really sat down and thought to myself, "How about I retell the story of Persephone, but make it totally unique." I'd been developing Nikki's story for a long time before I fully recognized the similarities between her plight and that of Persephone. So it was more a matter of making the myth fit with the story, than making the story fit with the myth.

MPB: If you had to choose, who would you choose to be with Cole or Jack?

BA: I'd be with Jack. But I'd go to Cole's concerts.

MPB: What has been the most important ingredient in your success?

BA: Perseverance. And some luck. But without the perseverance, the luck wouldn't have mattered.

MPB: Is there a writing snack that is indispensable to your writing?

BA: Diet Coke. Hands down, cups full.

MPB: How is book two going/What are you working on now?

BA: I am revising the sequel to Everneath, and I really love where book 2 takes us. If you've read book 1, you probably have a good idea of where book 2 takes us.

For more about Brodi and Everneath visit her at http://www.brodiashton.blogspot.com/ It is a great wesite for readers and writers too. Love her posts!

Review: EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton (AKA my favorite read of the year)

2011-11-29T07:30:00.001-05:00

EVERNEATH
by Brodi Ashton
Hardcover, 370 pages
To be Published January 24th 2012 by Harper Collins / Balzer + Bray
(And isn't the cover gorgeous?!)

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!

Summary:
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.

Review:
Oh my goodness!!! I received and read my ARC back in July, JULY!!! And I have waited all this time to review it because I wanted it to be closer to the release date. I don't want ANYONE to forget this one.

I have felt like I've been on a bit of a reading slump this year. I've read books I've enjoyed, and even reccommended, but they didn't WOW me. There are a bunch of books coming out this Fall that I have been excited for (mainly sequels) but this year has just been...eh.

Then I got my hands on Everneath. Oh how I wanted it to be good. After the dry spell I'd had I just couldn't read one more book by someone I know and not be ravishingly in love with it. I hate being in that situation. And as Brodi's debut book, I wanted to love it.

I was not disappointed! I love, love, LOVE this book. I kept waiting for something screwy to happen, something I didn't like, or that didn't fit. I kept waiting for the story to take a turn that made no sense, or the heroine to be stupid about something and make me roll my eyes. None of this happened. Honestly, in my opinion this book is near perfect.

Brodi does an amazing job of making you care for the characters, all of them, even the bad ones. Nikki's voice is genuinely teenager, but she's no dumby. I think too often teenage characters are dumbed down because they are young. The fact that Nikki is not made her more real to me.

Jack is a great character. Easy to understand why Nikki couldn't forget him. And even though Cole is the "bad guy" you know there is something to him, something good. Something you want to know more about.

And I do. I cannot wait for this to come out in Jan. I cannot wait for the sequel. Seriously, I love this book! Save those holiday gift cards for this one. If you like YA romance with a paranormal twist, you'll love this book.

And be sure to come back tomorrow to read my interview with Brodi!

Why Are There Feathers in My Hair?

2011-11-18T19:17:00.004-05:00

This is me and my author bud Sara B. Larson waiting for our pre-showing of Breaking Dawn part 1! We got to see it at 7pm last night with 72 more of my friends and friends of friends (it's good to have a brother who is the manager of a movie theater!).

I have to say I quite enjoyed it. Like the book I think this will be a more polarizing movie for the fans. It is slower paced, has less action, and has less sexual tension because well there's just sex. ;) But as Breaking Dawn was one of my fave books in the series for several reasons, this movie did a good job adapting to the screen. There were definitely laugh out loud moments, moments of quiet reflection, and a few moments of action.

It is certainly for a more mature audience than some of the others. And there were some who saw an editing mistake for something rated PG-13...did anyone see it? I didn't but I wasn't looking at Bella...

So if you've seen it, what did you think?

Breaking Dawn Tour Videos

2011-11-12T13:54:00.004-05:00

Before I get to the videos I had to share this picture of me. It is from the press, rights reserved for Megaplex Theaters, but that's me and my friend Teri there on the gate in the middle. I like this one cause you can see the crowd and really get a view of where we were!

I had to load these to youtube first because blogger was just NOT working! I was sad I didn't get some video of the red carpet...I totally forgot my camera did video. Sad, huh? But I hope you enjoy what's below!

First, here's the video of our local news coverage where you can see me talking to Nikki Reed while she's signing my ticket!!! But you have to click on the link for this one.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18047515&title=twilight-cast-visits-utah-fans

This is Aqualung singing one of his songs for us. (Sorry this one is so quiet)

This one is Lucy Schwartz doing her dancing and the beginning of a song with Aqualung

This is another part of that song from Lucy and Aqualung

And here's some of the Q&A stuff. This was them talking about getting into hair and make-up.

And this is them answering "What's the Funniest thing that happened on set?"

I hope you enjoy them!

Breaking Dawn Concert Series Salt Lake City!

2011-11-12T00:24:00.012-05:00

My awesome book loving friend Teri won tickets the the Breaking Dawn Concert Series Tour show in Salt Lake City tonight! The last stop on the 5-city tour and it was so fun! As Twilight is definitely relevant to this blog, I thought I would share. Here are my pics! (Tomorrow I will try to post the few videos I got!)

This is me all dolled up to go in my red, white and black.

We got there fairly early and waited in line, getting progressively colder and colder.

This is me with Teri and some of her other friends that attended the venue. I love going to things like this and meeting new people! It's a bond that you can't get any other way!

This is me right there on the red carpet waiting for the Cullens to arrive! It was pretty darn awesome to be RIGHT there!

Here's my ticket. Teri actually had some extra tickets so that's what I had the actors sign. I will take some pics of those and post tomorrow...my camera battery is so dead I can't even turn on my camera to attempt to take a pic.

My feet are the ones in the middle, so close to reaching the red carpet behind the barrier!

This group of people arrived and we weren't really sure who they were, but it was the band members to the three groups/singers that performed! The music was awesome.

All the celebs showed up in these awesome black cars, and I had to share because it is my friend's husband's company that provided these cars! It's a small world!

The first of the vamps to arrive was the ever handsome Peter Facinelli! Of all the actors there he seemed to take the most time going up and down the line making sure he could see as many people as possible and sign as many people's stuff as possible. Handsome and kind! Definitely a win!

Then came Nikki Reed. Beautiful as ever with a big smile on her face the whole time.

Then we were all glad to see Charlie Bewley who plays Dimitri, one of the evil Volturi.

And of course Jackson Rathbone the ever adorable Jasper. I've seen him do some other acting jobs and he really is good.

And my all-time favorite picture I got that night...Ashely Greene the GORGEOUS Alice. Alice has always been my favorite character. I know, I know, I'm a huge Edward fan, but he's my crush, she, to me is the most interesting character. And Ashely plays the part perfectly. This is her signing MY ticket. I told her she's always been my fave, and she was very kind to look up and pose for this pic. She is seriously even MORE gorgeous in person than on film, or even than in this picture. I think she's the most beautiful person I've ever met. Okay, maybe I have a girl crush on her too...just a little one.

Ashley and Jackson posed together for the press. It was a really great moment, wish they had turned around!

Heading into the venue The Rail in Sal Lake City! Inside they gave away posters (that would have been nice to have ahead of time for signing...) They were selling the CD which I had bought yesterday already (it's really good!) And it was all set up on stage for the bands and the cast to come out later!

Us with the stage. This is me, Teri, and her sister-in-law Hilery. It's fun to be a twi-hard fan!

On some big screens on the side they were playing some promo stuff, nothing too fabulous that I haven't seen yet, there was some interviewing going on...but they weren't playing the sound. But I had to get this shot of my man Edward. REALLY looking forward to this one!

Then the music began! And it was GOOD! Nothing to dance to cause it was all slower love song type stuff, but man these people are good live. This is Sleeping at Last performing one of his songs not on the album...kinda loved it. I will be looking for his music in the future!

Then he moved over to the piano and played the song from the soundtrack "Turning Page" which you might recognize from some of the previews. Good stuff!

Then the beautiful and very talented Lucy Schwartz came out to perform some of her original songs. Man these people can sing!

This is Lucy with some of her back up musicians. Some random trivia, the guitarists last name is Cullen. Kinda cool!

Then we got to hear from Aqualung. He was not only a GREAT singer but he was a great entertainer. Totally making us all laugh and have a great time. He even got Lucy to dance around on stage for a little bit.

Then Lucy and Aqualung did their song from the soundtrack together "Cold" which I got some video of (when I realized my camera did video!) and will post some of those later!

Then of course the crowning feature...THE CAST!!!! They came out and did Q&A. Nikki was apparently still cold from being outside cause she still had her coat on...but under that was an awesome dress that she only showed for the press photos. ;)

And a few more close up shots of the cast on Stage: Charlie Bewley, who was quite hilarious. He got the audience responding a lot and was really loving it...plus the British accent...who can go wrong? Most memorable quote from him "The best part about being the only carnivorous vampire is...eating little girls." He talked about how it's always more fun to be the bad guy. He grabbed Ashely's neck at one point, like he did in New Moon. And talked about how it was joining the cast post first movie.

Peter and Nikki were very outgoing with the crowd answering questions. Peter especially. I was very impressed with how much time he took with people. He answered a question about what they (the actors) like about Twilight fans, and he simply said "Everything. We know when we are on set that we are making these films for you. We think about you all the time. If it weren't for you we wouldn't be here and we know that. We love, love, love our fans!" Then Ashely said "This has been the biggest crowd we've had so far, so thank you Salt Lake City!" That got a huge roar.

There was also some great moments between Nikki and Peter. Aparently Peter likes to accidentally beat up on Nikki on set. And my favorite story? Nikki saying "Taylor's going to hate me for this, but there's a part where Rosalie makes a dog bowl and writes Fido on it. Taylor was pronouncing it FEEdo." Then Peter said, "Yeah, that's funny cause for about the first week of filming Twilight he kept calling me Car-lisle (pronouncing the s)".

Jackson answered a lot of questions on stage, he played some piano (just a few notes) talked about his band and answered that they will be going on tour in Europe, and will be back in USA and specifically might hit SLC in 2013. He did some banter with Ashely. He did also say that the one scene he wishes they had filmed was Jasper and Alice meeting. So he and Ashely kinda acted something out about them meeting. It was pretty funny (My camera had died by then, I was SO sad!)

And of course the gorgeous Ashely! She answered one of the first questions, about what was hardest about being on set. And she said the getting up at 5 am for a 7 am casting call to go sit in hair and make-up for an hour and a half. All of them are there for a really long time, and most of them wear wigs, which takes even longer to place and get secure.

In this film there will be dancing at the wedding and I guess there's a really cool flip lift that Jasper and Alice do that they were the ones doing, not their stunt doubles. So be sure to look for that!

And since it is morning and my battery is charged, I can show you the signatures I got!!!

This is Nikki Reed on the top and Peter Facinelli on the bottom.

And this one is Chris Bewely on the top and Ashley Greene and Jackson Rathbone on the bottom. (Kinda cool I got them both on the same ticket!)

It was such an amazing AMAZING night! It totally got me pumped for the movie next week! I'm going to a 7 pm pre-show on the 17th! I am so so excited!

Later today, videos will come. I just know this post was long as it is...plus I want another excuse for you to come back to the blog. ;)

Why to buy VARIANT today!

2011-11-10T18:14:00.001-05:00

Check out this story that I just read. Check out the book and see if it's something you're interested in. It's always good to support authors!

http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/book-bomb-variant-today-get-a-good-book-for-a-good-reason/

Review: THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES by Carrie Ryan

2011-11-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES
by Carrie Ryan

Hardcover, 374 pages
Published March 22nd 2011 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!

Summary:
There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again.

But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

Review:
This is the third and final book in the FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH series by the fabulous Carrie Ryan. The whole series has captured me. My review for FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH was done on an old blog that there isn't access to anymore. But my review for THE DEAD TOSSED WAVES can be found HERE.

Each installment of this series gets more and more serious, and more and more dark. But in a good way. Of course as you get deeper into the Return, deeper into the infection and how it affects us as mankind you will find darkness and despair. But just as the books hold despair for humankind, they hold hope and romance that flourishes despite the dire circumstances all around.

What shocked me most about this book was the intense life that Annah has to survive. Just when I think her circumstances can't possibly get harder, they do. She is thrown around and beaten up in this book, but in the end there is hope!

I enjoyed the whole series so, so much. I hope you all give it a chance if you haven't already.

Book Signing Report: Ally Condie!

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

Recognize these books? That's right! I was super lucky enough to go to the book launch on Tuesday night for the fabulous Ally Condie's CROSSED second book in the MATCHED trilogy!!! I have been waiting for this one literally for years. Ever since I met Ally before MATCHED was even sold to the publishers back in gosh was that 2009?

Like most of the events I attend at this FABULOUS indie bookstore The King's English in Sugarhouse (a super cute neighborhood in Salt Lake City), Ally spoke for a little bit about her book and how she got there. Here's what she said! (as close as quotes can get from taking furious notes.

MATCHED was the fastest book I've written, CROSSED was perhaps the slowest and hardest.
The setting is very important to me in this book because it is someplace I have been and loved, the wilderness of Southern Utah

From the beginning I knew this would be Ky's book, but that was hard because he keeps things close to himself. He doesn't open up, sometimes he doesn't even admit things to himself.
There are some new characters in this book that you will meet early on. Vick was easy to write because I knew who he was, part my brother-in-law and part my brother
My BIL is one of those guys that if you're out in the wilderness and you need food, he'll say okay, grab a big gun and say "let's go"
my little brother knows a lot about wilderness survival and fishing. I do not. So I made a lot of phone calls.
At some points with all the survival stuff I thought to myself "How did I end up writing HATCHET?"

The there's Indie. Cassia needed someone to go on her journey with.
Indie is a loose cannon. She's like a tiger that people keep in their backyard in a cage and everything is okay...until it's not. She's like that Tiger. She's very unpredictable.
There is a painting in MATCHED that's important to Cassia, a landscape by Thomas Moran. Xander gave it to her at the end of the book as a "I know you" good bye present. There's a moment in CROSSED where Cassia experiences a landscape very similar to that painting (and Ally read that excerpt to us)
My mother was a painter and so was Ky's. I took a lot of her character from my mom. My mom used pastels. And I remember asking her once why she didn't use a medium like oils or something else that lasted longer. Her response was something I never forgot "I don't care how long they last, I just want them to be beautiful while they're there."

Then Ally took a few Q&As

Q: Can you talk about the inspiration for the covers?
A: They're awesome, and I can say that because I had nothing to do with it. (She went more into depth about the process of getting the cover)

Q: Why is the "R" backwards?
A: They wanted something to be off about the font of each cover. So the "A" in Matched is missing the line across it, and the R in Crossed is backwards.

Q: Is the third book finished? If so, which is your favorite?
A: That's like asking me to pick a favorite child, but the third book is newest and has had less time to misbehave, so right now it's my favorite. The draft is done, and needs editing and it doesn't have a title as of yet.

Q: If the first book was more Cassia's story, and this is more Ky's then is the third book more another character's story?
A: One might assume...I'm nodding significantly, but I can't say more.

Q: Which national park is your favorite?
A: Zion because that is where we went growing up.

Q: There's an event mentioned in this book that happened in Matched that everyone forgot. Do we find out what it is?
A: Without giving anything away all I can say is at some point you will find out.

It was SUCH a pleasure to see Ally again and support her! Her books truly are amazing, and I am not just saying that cause I know her and love her smiling face! Please check these books out! As soon as I finish reading CROSSED I will give you my review. I am trying to do NaNo and read at the same time (and take care of my 1 month old and 3 year old!) So I will try to hurry!

NaNoWriMo

2011-10-30T13:58:00.003-04:00

As if I could be slacking on this blog even more...I am planning on doing NaNoWriMo!

I am really excited about this. You may not know this about me, but I dabble at writing. I've always wanted to write a novel.

When I was a little girl I was always making up stories. One of the ones I remember was about having a pet dolphin that I wrote in a weekend of church conference meetings that my family listened to. When I was about 11 I wanted to be the youngest author ever, then found out that I was already too old, and literally cried. In High School my hopes were crushed when I wrote this crazy creative story for our creative writing project...and got a C.

But I know I'm not a bad writer today. I just lack the consistency and the focus to edit as I should. I attempted to write my first novel a few years ago. A story that is very near and dear to my heart still, but needs a lot of editing. And I got caught up in the editing and frustrated with that process and never finished writing it.

So, my goal with NaNoWriMo is to write my new idea. Let it be the boss. And not share it or take any editing notes until it's done.

For those of you who are not familiar with NaNoWriMo. It is National Novel Writing Month, where authors, novice and professional all over the world spend a whole month focusing on writing a new project. The goal. JUST WRITE! And try to crank out 50,000 words to "win" (everyone who cranks out that many wins).

So you reader types, what do you think of this crazy idea? Want to join me? Check out the link to my NaNo profile (I'll post the button on the sidebar shortly) and link to me. We can keep dibs on each other's progress and send words of encouragement.

A Message from Author Neil Gaiman

2011-10-14T19:13:00.001-04:00

I had to share this because it is my tradition to give my daughter a Halloween book each year, and read "Halloweeny" books each October. Enjoy!

Happy Release Day!

2011-10-11T13:31:00.004-04:00

I have had quite the last few weeks! Having a new baby sure throws off ones schedule, body, energy, brain...

Anyway, I had to share this happy release day message because I am SO sad I can't go be part of the book launch party today (healing from surgery and all...).

So, happy release day to James Dashner and the third book in the Maze Runner trilogy THE DEATH CURE!!!

I have been a big fan of James' since I received and read my ARC of THE MAZE RUNNER and met him at a writing conference. He is an amazing guy. Tons of fun, inspiring and just all around great. Check out these books! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book!

Update

2011-10-03T05:22:00.002-04:00

Hey all! I have been trying to get some reading done, and I promise I will have stuff for you as soon as I can! I go in in just a few hours to have baby #2! So I will be very out of it the next few months, so bear with me.

I hope you all are having a great time reading! So many great books come out this month that I am dying that I will be incapacitated for many signings that are happening in my area. Support your authors, keep reading and don't forget about us while I am gone!

Ta ta for now!

AFTER OBSESSION Giveaway Winner!

2011-09-22T12:19:00.003-04:00

I am such a big fat liar. Literally. When you are 38 weeks pregnant, that's all you can be, big!

Okay so here's our winner! Remember the book is coming from the publisher, so I have no control how fast it gets there (but right now with how scatterbrained I am you'll probably get it way faster than if I were in control!)

Shannon Warnick!

I will pass your info onto the publisher! Thanks everyone for entering!

Sorry

2011-09-21T12:37:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the delay, a winner of our giveaway will be announced later today, promise!

Getting ready for this baby is taking all my time and brain power. I still love you all!

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway!: AFTER OBSESSION by Carrie Jones and Steven E Wedel

2011-09-14T07:45:00.001-04:00

AFTER OBSESSION
by Carrie Jones and Seven E Wedel

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
Aimee and Alan have secrets. Both teens have unusual pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. But when they meet each other, in a cold Maine town, they can't stop their secrets from spilling out. Strange things have been happening lately, and they both feel that something-or someone- is haunting them. They're wrong. Despite their unusual history and powers, it's neither Aimee nor Alan who is truly haunted. It's Alan's cousin Courtney who, in a desperate plea to find her missing father, has invited a demon into her life-and into her body. Only together can Aimee and Alan exorcise the ghost. And they have to move quickly, before it devours not just Courtney but everything around her.

Filled with heart-pounding romance, paranormal activity, and rich teen characters to love-and introducing an exciting new YA voice, Steven Wedel-this novel is exactly what Carrie Jones fans have been waiting for. Meet your next obsession.

Review:
I am a big fan of Carrie Jones' previous work and I was really excited for this new book. I have to be honest that I haven't read a novel written by two authors yet, and I didn't know how it would work out. But the seamlessness of the story telling between Carrie's writing of Aimee's voice and Steven's writing of Alan's character was perfect. I was never pulled out of the story and thought, oh this is a different author, or that didn't flow well.

AFTER OBSESSION tells a bone chilling story of good vs. evil, paranormal powers, coming of age and even a bit of romance. What's not to love?

I fell in love with the voices of both Aimee and Alan. I could relate to both of them. They were very complex and real. Aimee is strong, yet insecure in many ways. And was dealing with growing up and figuring out her inner strength. Alan was thrown into a new world where he was the outsider but the key to saving the whole town.

If you are a fan of paranormal stories this is worth reading. It sucessfully creeped me out to the point where I coudln't sleep, but that just kept me reading. I enjoyed everything about this book!

And lucky you the publisher is giving away one of our readers an ARC copy of this book! Just fill out your info below! Open until 11:59 pm Sunday Sept 18th. for US residents with street addresses only (no P.O. boxes).

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Happy Release Day

2011-09-13T19:13:00.006-04:00

Sorry I have been gone so much lately. Life has been busy! I am having DD #2 in just less than 3 weeks, and having a 3 yr old and being hugely pregnant my life has been torn apart!

But I had to remind everyone that today is the release day for Lisa Mantchev's SO SILVER BRIGHT, book 3 in the Theater Illuminata series!

If you recall we were lucky enough to give you a first peek at the cover, reveal the cover and review the book! (all linked)

Congrats Lisa! We love you and your books!

And readers be sure to come back tomorrow because I am actually reviewing another book that came out today too! ;)

Books on CD

2011-08-26T11:06:00.003-04:00

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about books on CD.

I never thought I would be one to really enjoy them. I thought there was no way I could enjoy the written word as well hearing someone else interpret it through voice. I am someone who likes to savor the words and the way they are put together. I've always been this way. It makes me a slower reader because I don't like skimming or skipping.

So, you could say I was prejudiced against listening to books rather than reading them. Was there a place and a market for them? Of course. Those who can't see the words on the page, or who are in their car a lot and want to multi-task. But that just wasn't me...

Or was it?

I'm a busy person. I'm a mom of a very active 3 year old, a new one on the way. Keeping my house clean is a daily chore that I can never seem to keep up with. Then there is my desire to not be stuck at home all the time. Don't get me wrong, home is where I find my most joy in life, but getting out with my girlfriends is vital to my sanity. And I have book club, and a church calling, and this blog...life gets busy!

Perhaps multi-tasking is just what I needed.

So I decided to grab a book on CD from my local library when I knew I would be driving a long distance a few days a week, and then I could listen to it on my headphones when I was folding laundry etc.

And you know what? I loved it! It was a great reader, I was able to multitask AND enjoy a great book.

I have been lucky that the books I have listened to all have great readers. I have heard there are books that are not so fortunate to get a good actor reading the book. And that would just be unfortunate.

So give books on CD a try! I haven't listened to a lot of them, but those I have have been great. Here is a list of the ones I have listened to and really loved.

The Harry Potter Series -- the reader is just perfect!
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Wicked Lovely Series by Melissa Marr -- several different narrators from book to book, I am listening to book 4 right now and loving it!
These is My Words by Nancy E Turner

Do you listen to books on CD? Do you have some suggestions of good ones?

Review: SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White

2011-08-17T09:22:00.004-04:00

SUPERNATURALLY
by Kiersten White

Hardcover, US, 336 pages

Published July 26th 2011 by HarperTeen

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Eviehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

Review:
I absolutely adored PARANORMALCY, book one to this great series. It's best feature was Evie's voice. She was so unique and so real. SUPERNATURALLY doesn't lose any of that. Evie is a joy to read. Her train of thought style narration is true to a teenager's thought process and so fun to read.

I enjoyed the new characters, Evie's new set of problems. She finally has the "normal" life she's always craved, and she realizes it's not all it's cracked up to be. And then paranormal things keep happening to her and she is worried that the fey are messing with her life, again.

We find some answers about Evie's past, and some decisions about her future. Even have some moments with Vivian. All things that were great to read about. The story has an end of itself, but there is plenty left open to explore in the third book.

SUPERNATURALLY was an enjoyable, easy read. Not quite as good as the first, but I still found myself falling in love with Evie and her eclectic cohort of characters all over again. Definitely worth reading!

Book Signing Report: Kiersten White!

2011-08-09T10:36:00.004-04:00

We were so so lucky to have Kiersten White make a stop in Utah on her tour for Supernaturally. Really we have such a HUGE YA book following here in Utah that I don't know why EVERYONE doesn't come here. Cause we love you!

Anyway, for those of you unfamiliar with Kiersten, she is the fabulous author of PARANORMALCY and the sequel SUPERNATURALLY that just came out.

Here's my re-cap of what she had to say (remember I try to stick as closely to what they said as my hand can write, but this is paraphrasing not full quotes)!

SUPERNATURALLY is the second book in the trilogy. Writing it was harder. In our lives as adults I feel like I am in the second book in my trilogy. You have gotten what you wanted in your first book and you are finding out that sometimes you get more than you bargained for.
Fortunately for you I do NOT do cliffhanger endings, so even though this is the second book, it has an end.
I really love mythology. A current idea I am working on deals with Ancient Egyptian mythology and the daughter of and ancient egyptian god.
Mythology is what we have used as humans to interpret our world around us, and today in the modern world we study these constructs to explain what it is to be human and to connect to each other.
ENDLESSLY is the title of the 3rd and final book in the series
"Thank you for being readers. Writers don't make best sellers, readers make best sellers."

Then she had a short Q&A (cause it was outside and we were all melting) here are some of my faves.

Q: Critique partners are really important -- how did you find yours?
A: I found mine through online communities, reading other writer's blogs etc. then developing friendships through e-mail. The most important thing about my partners is that we have different strengths so we can help each other in different areas of writing.

Q: What's your favorite letter in the alphabet?
A: I don't like "C". It's really kind of useless. It makes the "K" sound and the "S" sound, and we already have those. But I've always like "Q" and of course "K" for Kiersten.

Q: What is your revision process like?
A: I don't let myself edit as I go because I feel that editing brain and writing brain are very different brains. I enjoy creating and enjoying that. And then later I pick apart my baby. One big thing I do is read my manuscript aloud. You miss a lot when you are reading silently. Your eyes actually skip words and phrases. But reading aloud you catch a lot.

But my process is not your process. And I don't do it the same for every book.

Q: You wrote the first draft of PARANORMALCY in two weeks! Was the process harder for SUPERNATURALLY?
A: PARANORMALCY was just fun. SUPERNATURALLY was already bought before it was even written. And that was stress. I had already been paid for it, I had bought a car. I didn't want them to take my car away. It took me 6 years to get my own car! I thought there was no way I could write this book.

Writing under contract is much harder than just writing at your own pace, for fun. Whenever I had time I worked on it. The first draft was only about 50K words long, and after edits it was around 72K, so I had to add a lot.

I am very proud of this book though, because it was a struggle.

Regardless of what authors may say, we write ourselves into our books. Evie's story in SUPERNATURALLY mirrored my own life experience. I had finally achieved something I really wanted, but now I was questioning if it's all that it's cracked up to be. It was harder and came with trials I didn't expect.

Writing books is always impossible until you finish. And then editing is impossible.

Kiersten was such a blast to see. I am currently reading SUPERNATURALLY so I will review that as soon as I'm done! I can say so far I am enjoying it very much.

Books!

2011-08-01T11:41:00.002-04:00

I love books, don't you? I don't think you'd be reading this blog if you didn't.

I am going book shopping today, and although I don't have a LOT of money to spend, I still plan on getting a couple of books for me and maybe one or two picture books for my DD.

So my questions for you today is...if you could go buy any two books in the bookstore today what would they be? What about one picture book you'd like to add to your collection?

Winner!

2011-07-29T12:00:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered! Winner of our 2nd Blogiversary giveaway is...

Dialma Jensen!

Thanks so much for reading and supporting our blog! Here's to another awesome year, and many awesome books!

Reminder

2011-07-27T19:46:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! You have one more day to spread the word and sign up for our awesome giveaway!

And sorry there has been a lack of posting. My co-blogger Erin Writes has been having some internet and technical difficulties, so hopefully those will be resolved soon!

What have I been reading? Here's a quick note:
I read Anna and the French Kiss, and as Guinevere already reviewed it for you I didn't re-post about it. But I LOVED it! Really great contemporary YA. In fact it was very similar to the book I wanted to write! (My first manuscript ever that I think is being put aside anyway...but still...similar ideas). She did it so much better than me, though, which is why I can say, LOVED IT! ;)

Then I read an incredible ARC I received called EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton. I'm not reviewing that yet since it doesn't come out until January, but again LOVED it. Check out Brodi's blog and get excited about this one folks!

And then life has gotten in the way of much else lately. What have you been reading?

Blogiversary Giveaway #2 -- Fantasy Pack

2011-07-21T11:45:00.004-04:00

Okay, so these aren't ALL "fantasy" like dragons and elves, but I think that title could explain an element in all of these books. From dystopia to fairy tales, they all have an element of fantasy right? So here's what you're going to get!

MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER by Janette Rallison -- Signed paperback ARC!
TEMPEST RISING by Tracy Deebs -- paperback ARC
POSSESSION by Elana Johnson -- Signed paperback ARC!
A TOUCH MORTAL by Leah Clifford -- Hardcover

*If you are unfamiliar with the title, click on the title if it's a link for our review.

Giveaway is open until 11:59 pm EST on Thursday July 28th! USA and Canada addresses only please. Just fill out the form below!

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Author Interview: Janette Rallison!

2011-07-19T11:06:00.005-04:00

I was very excited to snag this interview with the totally awesome Janette Rallison. I have been lucky to be acquainted with this amazing author for a few years now. She is uplifting, supportive and inspirational to be around! Not to mention she's just made of awesome. So enjoy!

1) How was writing this story different from writing the first "My Fair Godmother"?

JR: Writing My Unfair Godmother had a big built-in stresser: I’d set the bar high with My Fair Godmother. MFG had action, humor, romance, fantasy, time travel, quirky characters, twisted fairy tales, family problems, social commentary, a mystery, and a twist at the end. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to duplicate all of that and at the same time have a story that was different and original. I knew I wanted to have the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale as one of the fairy tales but I had no idea what else to do with the story or how Tansy was going to use her wishes. I gave myself writers’ block for a long time worrying that the story wouldn’t be good enough. Finally I just had to make myself write it. I was surprised that I had so much fun with the story and equally surprised when so many reviewers said they liked My Unfair Godmother even better than My Fair Godmother.

2) Tansy seemed different than some of your other teenage characters, she was more rebellious in many ways. How did you come up with Tansy's character and voice?

JR: I got the idea for a rebellious teen girl at a plot workshop I was doing at a school. The character had moved into a new school and wanted friends but was going about it in all the wrong ways. I liked the character so I decided to use her and her ill fated vandalism date in my story.

3) Are there plans for another "Godmother" book?

JR: Yes, there are plans, but I haven’t actually started writing the book. You see, there’s this built in stresser with a third book: I’ve set the bar high with MFG and MUG and so how am I going to come up with a story that has all the elements and is just as good as the first two? Also, I have contracts for other books I’ve got to write first.

4) What are you working on now?

JR: I’m revising a time travel dystopia that’s coming out with Harper Sept 2012 and I just sent a paranormal romance to my agent. I have a dragon slayer book (present day, dragons are coming back and some kids have super powers to fight them) which will be out in October 2011. I need to start the sequel to that book. And I have about three other books that I’m dying to start working on. If I just had about five extra hours a day, I think I could accomplish everything I want to do. Well, maybe.

5) What is your key to being a successful author with multiple books published?

JR: Don’t stop learning the craft. Read a lot and write a lot. All of those things are absolutely necessary.

6) What is your indulgence food that you have to have on hand when writing?

JR: Chocolate. I could live on Almond Joys.

Thanks so much Janette! Be sure to come back soon as I will be doing another blogiversary giveaway, including a SIGNED ARC copy of MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER!

Oh and I have to give credit where credit is due, since I know the awesome photographer who took that author photo for Janette. http://erinsummerillphotography.com/blog/

Review: MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER by Janette Rallison

2011-07-18T11:33:00.003-04:00

MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER
by Janette Rallison
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published April 12th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!

Summary:
Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother.

Review:
From the start MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER hooked me back into the crazy world of that haphazard fairy Chrysanthemum Everstar. This time around she is trying to raise her semester grade with an extra credit project, and chooses Tansy...poor girl.

Tansy is having a difficult time right now. Her mom has sent her to live with her father, whom she is upset with for leaving them years ago. She makes some rebellious choices in who she hangs out with and what she spends her time doing. Landing her in a situation worthy of needing a fairy godmother. Too bad she only gets a fair one.

Even more hilarious than the first, with a swoon worthy boy and an overall enjoyable read Janette has done it again -- and better!

If you haven't read Janette's stuff get off the couch and go get one. I love everything she writes. Be sure to come back tomorrow for my interview with Janette and another awesome blogiversary giveaway later this week!

Consuming My Week

2011-07-14T10:15:00.003-04:00

What else would be consuming my week other than the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part Two! Every year I do a party and get tickets for a group of us to go to the midnight show.

This year is the biggest group yet and I am very excited! From the few lucky ducks who have seen it I have heard it is amazing, and to bring tissues along!

What I love most is that this HUGE fandom came from someone's imagination. From someone putting "pen to paper" as it were, and sharing that with the world. Going through the grueling process of putting themselves out there and sharing their ideas with the world. Of someone being rejected over and over again, and never giving up.

Thank you JK Rowling for your amazing story! I can't believe it has come to an end!

Blogiversary Giveaway #1!!! Historical Fiction Pack Winner!!!

2011-07-12T10:58:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. Today we are announcing the winner of our first Blogiversary giveaway!

Kelly W!!!

Thanks to all who entered and shared about the contest! Keep on checking in for some awesome stuff in the next few weeks! We love our readers. Without you our opinions on books wouldn't matter. And we love sharing our love of books with you!!!

Video Interviews with Alyxandra Harvey!

2011-07-07T11:58:00.003-04:00

As if you needed another reason to enter my current giveaway including HAUNTING VIOLET by Alyxandra Harvey. Check out these video interviews curtesy of Bloomsbury.

Blogiversary Giveaway #1!!! Historical Fiction Pack

2011-07-06T10:56:00.005-04:00

Hey everyone! As promised we're celebrating our 2 years of blogging with our first blogiversary giveaway! Our 4- book Historical Fiction Pack!

HAUNTING VIOLET by Alyxandra Harvey -- paperback ARC
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly -- Hardcover
FALLEN GRACE by by Mary Hooper -- paperback ARC
ANASTASIA'S SECRET by Susanne Dunlap -- paperback ARC

*Note, purple links go to our review of these books. Check them out if you aren't familiar with the title.

Just fill out the form below! Be sure to spread the word. The more you spread the more you can win.

Contest is open to USA and Canada addresses only, it will close on Tuesday July 12, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.

Good luck!

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*** if you tweet please use the @AubreyatMPB so I can verify it. Thanks!
**** secret incentive -- there might be an extra special giveaway item if we reach 300 followers this month. So the more you share, the better prizes you get!

Blog Tour Review: HAUNTING VIOLET by Alyxandra Harvey

2011-07-05T06:30:00.001-04:00

HAUNTING VIOLET
by Alyxandra Harvey
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published June 21st 2011 by Walker Childrens

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her.

After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Review:
I was instantly drawn into this Victorian world of Spiritualism, skeptics, romance, class differentiations, and secret romance. Alyxandra Harvey weaves the historical nearly perfectly with the supernatural. Her era is spot on, her ghosts disturbingly believable.

I really enjoyed Violet's character and voice. She was strong from the start, she knew what she wanted, but was a bit helpless to change it. Her mother, a false medium, had raised her to be an actress, a fake, and she never wanted that. Then when her own real medium powers show up, it is nothing less than frightening.

This book is definitely worth reading. I always love a good historical fiction, and I love paranormal books as well. It was a perfect blend. Was it perfect? No, there were some cliche characters, some predictable moments etc. But in the end those minor things didn't matter so much, because I was just enjoying the story.

Happy Fourth Of July!

2011-07-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

For all my American readers, Happy Fourth of July! I hope you enjoy the day celebrating our country and it's freedoms. And always remember, freedom was not free!

Also, know that although I have been slacking on the blog the last few weeks, I have some big things coming this week and the coming weeks. A few reviews, a blog tour review (tomorrow), and some giveaways for my 2nd Blogiversary! (Which was technically on June 30th, but I celebrate in July)

Review: Mudville by Kurtis Scaletta

2011-06-21T16:09:00.004-04:00

MUDVILLE
by Kurtis Scaletta

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published February 24th 2009 by Alfred A. Knopf

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:

Welcome to Moundville, where it’s been raining for longer than Roy McGuire has been alive. Most people say the town is cursed—right in the middle of their big baseball game against rival town Sinister Bend, black clouds crept across the sky and it started to rain. That was 22 years ago . . . and it’s still pouring.

Baseball camp is over, and Roy knows he’s in for a dreary, soggy summer. But when he returns home, he finds a foster kid named Sturgis sprawled out on his couch. As if this isn’t weird enough, just a few days after Sturgis’s arrival, the sun comes out. No one can explain why the rain has finally stopped, but as far as Roy’s concerned, it’s time to play some baseball. It’s time to get a Moundville team together and finish what was started 22 years ago. It’s time for a rematch.

Review:
This was our book club book pick this month, and I am so glad I finally had a chance to read it! This was one that I wanted to read way back when I started blogging, but never got around to it.

Not my typical fall in love with book, but this book is WELL worth reading. I laughed a lot. This is a boy book that will get boys reading. The characters in the book are so genuinely BOY! That I think was my favorite part. The characters were so real.

I can best describe this book as Holes meets The Sandlot.

I am very passionate about getting boys to read. If you have a 10-14 year old boy this is a book for them! I can't see how they wouldn't like it!

Me, the slacker

2011-06-16T11:00:00.002-04:00

I have not been posting not for lack of having things to post, just cause summer has hit in full force at our house and we are BUSY BUSY BUSY!

Speaking of, I gotta get going!

What are you doing this summer? What is on your summer reading list to enhance your summer goings on?

Author Interview: Elana Johnson!

2011-06-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

The beautiful and fabulous Elana Johnson agreed to answer these questions for us regarding her new release (officially out today!) POSSESSION!

MPB: Can you briefly tell us a little about your publishing story?

EJ: Okay, so I’ve never wanted to be a writer. Let’s get that out of the way first. In fact, in high school I took the AP English test as a junior so I could skip language arts completely as a senior. In college I majored in chemistry and math before settling into elementary education. No lie.

Fast-forward a few years. Or a decade. Whatever. I was about to turn thirty, and I’d recently been through a very dark time in my life.

Writing became my flashlight. I wrote my personal history, and realized that writing could remove some of the negative emotions that were festering inside me.

When I finished the personal history, I wrote a novel. And it was completely natural to pour that angst and depression into a teenage girl. (Ha!)

Anyway, then the pitbull in me emerged. See, I’m a little OCD, and when I do something, I DO IT.

So, of course, the next step was to figure out how to publish a book. Here’s a timeline for that.

December 2007: Begin writing. Write first novel.
April 2008: Write POSSESSION
April – November 2008: Query a different book. Not a good one. My first one. Write a few more novels. Okay, maybe like 8 more.
December 2008: Shelve said book. Decide which book to revise and query next. Chose POSSESSION.
January – April 2009: Revise POSSESSION.
April – November 2009: Query POSSESSION while writing new books, blogging, etc. After a few phone calls, a few rounds of agent-requested revisions, I finally…
November 2009: Get an offer of representation!
December 2009 – January 2010: Revise some more.
February 2010: Sell POSSESSION to Simon & Schuster
March 2010 – Current day: Freak out. Blog. Tweet. Write some more. Blog. Tweet. Facebook. Manage websites. Freak out.
MPB: How did you come up with the idea for how your dystopian society is set up?

After I decided I wanted to write a dystopian novel, I knew I needed a society. So I played the “What if?” game that some authors are fond of. I came up with “What if there was no free will?” and my society evolved from there. I needed a way to remove the free will; I needed a character who wanted her free will; I needed a place where there was some free will to balance the place where there is none.

I needed rules. I needed tech. I needed it all. I just sort of shoved it all in and cleaned it up later.

MPB: Possession deals with the theme of "choice". How important do you think our choices are?

Ah, excellent question. I think choices are everything. It’s through our choices that we become the way we are. Choice is everything.

MPB: What are some of your favorite reads from the last 6 months?

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis
MEMENTO NORA by Angie Smibert
THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa and Laura Roecker
CLARITY by Kim Harrington
BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton
THE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab
I DON’T WANT TO KILL YOU by Dan Wells
A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young
THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder

MPB: What are you working on now? / How is book 2 going?

I am not working on anything! Launching a book is like building an arc. There’s only time for one or the other. I have written and turned in (and sold!) my second book. Edits are due to get to me in July, and I plan on chillaxing until then.

MPB: What is the one thing that keeps you writing when it gets hard to be committed?

Well, now that I’m writing for publication—instead of just for fun—I have deadlines. Those keep me on track. And if I don’t have a deadline, I make one for myself so that I’ll actually get something done. Otherwise, it’s so easy to burn five hours on twitter or Facebook or blogs or TV or reading. You know?

MPB: What is your favorite snack to eat while writing?

I don’t snack while writing. I only snack during the revisions, and those require a big honking bag of sour patch kids.

MPB: See folks! I told you she was made of awesome! Thank you so much Elana! I hope POSSESSION does fabulously well, and I am very excited to see what happens next!

Review: POSSESSION by Elana Johnson

2011-06-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

POSSESSION
by Elana Johnson
Hardcover, 416 pages
Published June 7th 2011 by Simon Pulse

Placement in the Pile: Middle of the Stack, inching towards New Heights

Summary:
Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Review:
Alright, so this was another really hard one for me to review cause once again I have met Elana, I read her blog and I think she is made of fabulous. So remember that as I review, cause I really do want you all to give this one a try!

Possession is a bit of a wild ride. The reader is thrown into this world of literally "control or be controlled". I thought Elana's dystopic world was unique and really quite interesting. I like her use of technology beyond our current science, and yet the people still felt the basic needs of love and family.

I also really like the characters in Possession. Instantly the voice of Vi was strong. Her world was not being torn upside down by one decision, she had always been a bit of a rule breaker. It was just who she was. She has a strong voice and it is easy to like her. Jag was another favorite of mine. I have to admit I've always been a fan of the dark mysterious boys and Jag has it all, he's strong, secretive, hot, loyal...and yet there is a sense that he could disappear any minute.

Despite it's sudden beginning, which threw me off guard, the story between Vi and Jag is what kept me reading this book.

So there really were some great aspects to the book. But I wouldn't be a good reviewer if I didn't give my honest opinion that I thought the narrative was at times choppy in the action scenes. I'd be reading along, crazy action would be going on, and then all of a sudden something would happen, or something would be revealed as being part of the society, or even something as simple as all of sudden the action was over and I was pulled out of the story. My brain went "wait, what just happened?" I'd have to go back and try to figure it out.

I am all for revelations of big things taking the reader by surprise, but I don't think it should ever make the reader stop and be pulled out of the story and the narrative prose. And unfortunately I think the moments that were supposed to be big surprises weren't (besides the twisted ending!) and the moments that were just revelations of world building really messed with the flow of reading. This is the main reason I can't say I was in LOVE with POSSESSION.

I also kinda didn't like the ending, but as Elana announced on Friday there will be a second book, so I have hope! I can't tell you why, cause it would ruin the surprise. ;)

In the end this book is worth giving a try. It has some really great characters and unique world views. Fans of "thinking" dystopias like MATCHED will enjoy this book, but it also has enough action to entice fans of THE HUNGER GAMES.

Come back tomorrow for my interview with Elana! As I said she is made of awesome so you will want to read what she has to say.

Review CRYER'S CROSS by Lisa McMann

2011-05-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

CRYER'S CROSS by Lisa McMann

Details:
Hardcover, 233 pages

Published February 8th 2011 by Simon Pulse

Placement in Pile:
Reaching new Heights

Summary:
The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

Review:
Lisa McMann captures a unique and compelling story of Kendall, a motivated teen girl that suffers from OCD. One thing Kendall resists most is change. So when her best friend/boyfriend go missing, Kendall must figure out if the voices in her head are a manifestation that her OCD has run rampant, or if they're clues to the disappearances. In short, this novel is compelling and disturbing. McMann crafts a clear teen voice, with internal struggles that are easy to identify with. The mystery of the story will leave you breathless, if not completely and utterly shocked. But I think you'll enjoy the ride. Should you read this? I think so. But you would most likely love it if you're into a good thriller.

Review DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth

2011-05-25T10:16:00.000-04:00

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth

Details:
Hardcover, 487 pages

Published May 3rd 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books

Placement in Pile:
Top of the Stack!

Summary:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Review:
I hate when I hear awesome and amazing things about a book, only to read it and find it lacking somehow. Usually in character development, the character's internal struggles, plot development, or consistency in world building. So when I picked up Divergent by Veronica Roth, I was, to say the very least, skeptical. But if you devoured The Hunger Games then you'll love Divergent. Call me bold, but for me Divergent hit the dystopic crave that The Hunger Games awakened in me. It was a maze of complex plot development with action, romance, and memorable characters. The emotional struggles in the book had me turning page after page, unable to stop reading. Frankly, I loved it! Should you go out and read this? YES!

TEMPEST RISING Winner!

2011-05-23T10:35:00.004-04:00

Thanks to all who entered to win an ARC copy of TEMPEST RISING by Tracy Deebs!

And the winner is...

Sheena!

I have your address and will send your information to the publisher today! Congrats and enjoy the book!

A Great Conversation

2011-05-20T14:16:00.002-04:00

Hey all!

Many of you are aware of my good friend and fellow blogger Speed Reader over at My Favorite Author.

Well she just posted a very thought provoking post sparked be a twitter discussion with Barry Goldblatt.

I encourage all of my readers to go check it out and really think about this. What do you think about it? I think it is something worth discussing and understanding from both sides!

http://myfavoriteauthor.blogspot.com/2011/05/top-five-list-for-barry-goldblatt.html

Review: SO SILVER BRIGHT by Lisa Mantchev

2011-05-19T13:08:00.003-04:00

So Silver Bright
by Lisa Mantchev
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: September 13th 2011 by Feiwel & Friends

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
All Beatrice Shakespeare Smith has ever wanted is a true family of her own. And she’s close to reuniting her parents when her father disappears. Now Bertie must deal with a vengeful sea goddess and a mysterious queen as she tries to keep her family – and the Theatre Illuminata – from crumbling. To complicate it all, Bertie is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate.

Review:
The whole cast of The Theater Illuminata is back for their final curtain call.

It always takes me a bit to get back into her style of writing, and the thick of the story, but once I'm used to it again, I can't put it down. I particularly loved the faeries in this one, their comic relief was perfect and so well written.

Bertie's journey to try to reunite her family, and decide where her heart truly lies doesn't run smooth, that's for sure. I don't want to be spoilery, so let's just say this book ups the ante again, and finally answers all of the questions raised in the last two.

A fast-paced, satisfying conclusion to the series. I won't comment on my feelings about which love interest she ends up with, since anything I said either positive or negative would reveal the outcome to anyone who remembers which team I was rooting for. You'll just have to find out when the book is released!

TEMPEST RISING Giveaway!

2011-05-17T09:29:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! Walker Books for Young Readers offered up my readers a chance to win an ARC copy of TEMPEST RISING! How cool is that? Just fill out the form below!

Contest runs from today to 11:59 pm EST Saturday, May 21st. Contest winner will be announced Monday.

All entries must be USA addresses only. No P.O. Boxes please.

Good luck!

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Blog Tour Review: TEMPEST RISING by Tracy Deebs

2011-05-16T09:11:00.004-04:00

TEMPEST RISING
by Tracy Deebs
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published May 10th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

Review:
I was really excited about this one. I have never read a mermaid book even though there have been several in the YA world in the last few years. I have to say TEMPEST RISING whet my appetite for more of them. It is a fun change of pace from your everyday paranormals, something a bit more unique with an underwater world foreign yet compelling.

Tempest's character lives up to her name in many ways. She is fairly emotional, but for me it worked with the situation. Tempest deals with abandonment and anger issues, fear of becoming a mermaid, and normal teenage hormones and problems at school. I felt her to be genuine.

One of the things I loved the most about this book was how it took me back to high school. I grew up in Southern California and her descriptions of the High School, the neighborhood and the beach and ocean were things I could draw from my memory. The surf team from my high school did just as Tempest and her friends did, they went surfing very early in the morning before school every day. I could picture it clearly, and it was nice to have that personal connection to the story.

My biggest complaint, why it didn't get 5 stars it the story did feel a little slow at times and then the climax went very quickly. I would have liked to have seen more of the underwater world, and to have more face time with her mother in the book.

What I loved? Kai. Tempest has truly found her other half in Kai, and yet she already has someone she deeply cares for Mark. Normally I am not a fan of both guys in the love triangle thing, but this time, although I definitely was rooting for Kai, I could see why she felt so attracted to Mark as well.

This is the first of a series -- I assume from the ending of the book, that finishes well, but leaves open a LOT -- but this is one series I will definitely look to find out more.

Be sure to check in tomorrow for your change to win a copy of TEMPEST RISING so you can read it for yourself!

Review: A TOUCH MORTAL

2011-05-05T08:41:00.002-04:00

A TOUCH MORTAL
by Leah Clifford
Hardcover, 432 pages
Published February 22nd 2011 by Greenwillow Books

Placement in the Pile: Middle of the stack

Summary:
Eden didn't expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick-up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long, happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else's game. Her heart is her own.

And that's only the beginning of the end.

Review:
This book had such an interesting premise. Unfortunately for me, the strong language and content detracted from the excitement and intrigue of the plot. The characters were interesting and complex, but quite dark--suicide, murder, and death are major themes throughout. Her mythology and world building were unique, and definitely made me want to know more.

Overall, it was an interesting read, and I'm curious to see what happens. I just wish the language hadn't been so strong, but that's obviously a personal preference.

Review: BACK WHEN YOU WERE EASIER TO LOVE by Emily Wing Smith

2011-05-02T10:26:00.003-04:00

BACK WHEN YOU WERE EASIER TO LOVE
by Emily Wing Smith
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published April 28th 2011 by Dutton Childrens Books

Placement in the Pile: Middle of the Stack reaching to New Heights

Summary:
What's worse than getting dumped? Not even knowing if you've been dumped. Joy got no goodbye, and certainly no explanation when Zan—the love of her life and the only good thing about stifling, backward Haven, Utah—unceremoniously and unexpectedly left for college a year early. Joy needs closure almost as much as she needs Zan, so she heads for California, and Zan, riding shotgun beside Zan's former-best-friend Noah.

Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy's story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent.

Review:
Going into this book I wanted to be so in love with it. I had read amazing reviews from others who have read it, and I ADORE Emily. I cannot say that enough. Emily is one of the sweetest most genuine people I know and I love her to death. But my job is to review how I felt about a book, not how I feel about an author. And that dichotomy with this novel makes my job very, very hard.

Honestly, at the beginning of this book I had a very hard time because I really, really disliked the main character. Joy was whinny. And since we are jumping straight into her Bella-like obsession with her boyfriend who out of the blue left, without having any feeling for who he is and why he did it, we don't sympathize with her feelings, at least I didn't.

And on top of that I honestly have to admit I was a bit offended by the main character and completely disagreed with the image she portrayed of California Mormons verses Utah Mormons (which I will admit that I am a California Mormon who moved to Utah in my later teen years, and I have to say most of the "differences" portrayed were pretty wrong for me and my life experiences, and I couldn't get over the negative view it was portraying.)

That being said, all of those issues were in the beginning of the book. But I kept plugging along dealing with Joy because of my love of Emily.

And I'm glad I did.

In the end, the plotline was a little predictable but very enjoyable. Joy realizes that Zan is not who she thought he was, that she isn't even who she used to be with Zan. That it's okay to be herself. And that in the end, that is what makes her happy. There were some really funny moments, some really sweet moments and I have to admit, I liked Joy in the end. All in all, this story was worth reading. And it is worth giving it a try. Just remember, plug through the beginning, the end is enjoyable.

A Real Fairy Tale

2011-04-29T12:04:00.003-04:00

A lot of the books I read are Fairy Tale retellings, but today I am focused on this real life story.

Her dress was PERFECT, the wedding was romantic, and I really am truly happy for them! Great new couple to be the face of Royalty.

Review: THE LOST SAINT by Bree Despain

2011-04-13T09:40:00.002-04:00

THE LOST SAINT
by Bree Despain
Hardcover, 404 pages
Published December 28th 2010 by EgmontUSA

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Review:
I hate to give it only 4 stars since I know and love Bree to pieces! But as a reviewer first I have to be honest! *I HATE this part of being a reviewer. But here's the thing...it's more like 4 1/2 stars, I just wasn't AS in love with it as the first one.

But let's talk first about what I DID love! I love Bree's world building. How we go from the little town of Rose Crest to a more global view of the world of paranormals, not just Urbats. It makes the story broader, richer and gives the characters new challenges. The characters in this book are so real. They act real, they act as they should for their age. Does that make some of their decisions and actions frustrating? Of course! We are dealing with mostly teenagers here! Grace in particular is dealing with so much, and I do have to say I teared up a few times at her thoughts and actions -- but at other times felt like the person talking to the movie screen, knowing the character can't hear me but saying "Don't do that!".

THE LOST SAINT has tons to offer. Romance, intrigue, mystery, and it is a great segway into a deeper story. It does end in a cliffhanger as most middle books do, but that is to be expected, although the cliffhanger is very UNexpected!

That said, as a reviewer I have to tell you why I don't love this one as much as the first one. Although there were many things that were mysterious and revealed throughout the book, I found it more predictable than the first book. Maybe it's just me. One of the things I absolutely loved about the first book was that Bree shocked me. This time I guessed too much ahead of time. It was still a fabulous book to read, and I can't WAIT for the next one!

This is definitely one worth reading if you are a paranormal fan. If you have not read the first one, get them both! I will say this book brought me back into reading, and hopefully I will be having more reviews for you more often again. It's always nice when a book reminds you that reading isn't a time killer or a chore, but it's a joy!

Non-book related things...that affect me reading books!

2011-04-06T10:55:00.002-04:00

So, I am sure you all have noticed how much my reading has slowed down. It is a source of sadness and stress for me because I have so MANY wonderful books to read and review for you!

I just wanted to let you all know why. It is a combination of being gone on vacation (I was in Southern Utah and California for a week and a half), getting ready for and having birthdays (today is my birthday and Saturday is my daughter's birthday), and me being tired and spending my extra time napping rather than reading because....

I'm pregnant with #2!

So don't think I am abandoning this blog! I am coming into my second trimester, feeling better and hopefully will be able to devote more time to reading again soon! I love all of my readers and author friends and will hopefully have more for you soon!

Happy Reading!

Book Signing: Carrie Ryan!

2011-03-31T09:45:00.006-04:00

Last night I was SO priveledged to go see Carrie Ryan at my local B&N! Carrie is on tour for the third book in her zombie trilogy THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES.

I honestly didn't think I would ever have a chance to meet this fabulous author that I have been following on FB and twitter etc. Utah has an amazing author community, and many that are connected to Utah, but when I heard Carrie was coming it was a dream come true!

I hope more authors add Utah to their tour lists because it was SUCH an incredible night! I do have to warn you, this post is long. There was too much to talk about and I wanted you all to have all the info!

* I love the Vanna White pose in this one. ;)
First I have to say Carrie is amazing. She is INCREDIBLE! So personable, so funny and just completely amazing. She was writing down names and taking notes on the people she met as she signed and was just pure amazing. Here are my notes from what she told us all: *again note that these are my paraphrased notes, I tried getting direct quotes and sometimes they are, but not always exact.

THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH begins about 150 years after a zombie apocalypse. THE DEAD TOSSED WAVES is a generation later.
THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES is hard to describe. Like any final book in a series it should hit that point where the reader says there is no way the author can pull this together, but in the end it does.
There is no kissing the zombies. Very big rule.

The first question I get is "why zombies?" Like all good stories it starts in the 1980's.
Her babysitter showed her Poltergeist and she was so terrified she didn't watch the end (to this day she has not seen it) and always hated horror stories.
In her 2nd year of law school her boyfriend at the time (JP- who is now her hubby! And their first anniversary is on Friday, April fools! Congrats guys!) took her to see Dawn of the Dead.
Like any good zombie movie someone lives, someone dies, and someone gets infected. And there is that moment when you feel empowered like "go world!" "we will survive!"
A lot of zombie stories it's about getting from point A to point B. Point B is better than point A, but the problem isn't gone. They haven't solved the zombie problem, they haven't cured them.
Carrie kind of learned a love for the genre here. She wanted more and watched more (but still shunned other types of scary stories). She loved the idea of survival.

*this picture is of me with awesome Utah authors and writer friends that came out to see Carrie! It was an incredible night! I LOVE the Utah author community! Here is Top L-R, Ally Condie, Elana Johnson, me, Brodi Ashton, Bree Despain Bottom L-R, my writer and blogger friends Chersti and Jenny!

It wasn't long after Carrie was practicing law that she knew she wasn't in love with it.
She asked herslef, If I could do anything, what would that be? And the answer was write. She wanted to be an author.
Made a 10 year plan and was determined to be invested for 10 years. She would write, and write and write and submit and if after 10 years nothing had happened she would move on. But no matter what rejections or hardships she got, she knew she could hold on for those 10 years.
Carrie started writing out some Chic Lit, and romance and when NaNoWriMo came along she had to start a new novel. After talking with JP that ended up being a zombie story that became THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH. Four months later she had an agent and sold the book!

*Another amazing Utah author in attendance Jessica Day George, always willing to strike a pose!

And here is some notes on how Carrie came up with the idea for Forest of Hands and Teeth.
I read an article on the over fishing of wild Tuna and how in the future Tuna will be rare. It made me think how in one generation something common can become rare.
There was a story my grandmother told me about her prom. She wore purple tights that matched her dress. Back then colored tights were a brand new thing. One of the chaperones called her a harlot and asked her to leave the dance. Her mother was also a chaperone and had an awesome one liner come back.
This story made her 1) realize how strong the women in her family were, that this was the stock she came from and 2) she forgot the line. And that made her think that in one generation we can not only loose things outside of ourselves, but we can loose our family, our history, ourselves.

*This is James Dashner with anther attendee of the signing who brought James' book over. James was thrilled because this was the first time he had seen the line "New York Times Besteller" on the top of his book!" James was also hilarious in the Q&A portion. With so many authors present he asked Carrie "Who is your favorite Utah author?" Oh James, ever the comic. It's why we love ya!

I'm a survivor. I want to throw the world at my characters and I want to see if they will survive, because if they do, I can.
I am fascinated by people who line in the most untenable circumstances and don't just live but they thrive.
Then Carrie gave some advice on writing: She said if you want to write, you have to write! It is one thing to want to do it, to talk about doing it, to blog about doing it. And another entirely to sit down and actually do it. But once you experience passion for something how do you not live it?

*This is some of those same author and blogger friends, add my good friend who came with me to the signing (in her awesome zombie shirt) and one other writer/blogger friend I know I have met and I can't think of her name! I STINK at names. Sorry awesome zombie to my right! We as you can see are being zombies. I like how Jenny is about to eat by brains!

Then Carrie did some Q&A time. Here are some of my faves.

What is your favorite book ever read? A: Oh that's like the most impossible question ever. Um, I'd have to say at the top of the list is THE THINGS THEY CARRIED by Tim O'Brien, and THE DEVIL'S ARITHMETIC
What are you working on now? A: I am doing edits for my summer 2012 release that I can't tell you anything about. It is as of right now untitled. JP titles all of my books, and we're waiting...

*This is Carrie signing my books! I love this part! I feel like a kid in a candy store!

Is there a movie in the works for FofHandT? A: We have sold the movie rights, I have read the script and it is good. Right now they are interviewing directors. But I don't know what that all means really as far as when/if it will be made.
Do you have any good writing advice for someone just starting out? A: People will tell you write what you know. I think write what you know means the emotional connections you feel. Capture those moments that mean the most to you and use them.

This is me and Carrie. She is SO amazing and so cute! I will hopefully be getting some swag from her in the future for a giveaway, but until then PLEASE check out her books. They are creepy and beautiful and I have very much enjoyed them and how much they make me think.

If you are interested here is my review for THE DEAD TOSSED WAVES. I look forward to reading and reviewing THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES.

Happy Release Day!

2011-03-29T11:32:00.004-04:00

I wanted to shout out a HUGE Happy Release Day to my friend Heather Dixon for her debut novel ENTWINED!

It is SUCH a beautiful book inside and out! Check out my REVIEW and my GUEST POST with Heather! Also check out Heather's blog and contest to win a book HERE! This is a fun one!

Review: REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly

2011-03-28T11:51:00.003-04:00

REVOLUTION
by Jennifer Donnelly
Hardcover, 472 pages
Published October 12th 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Placement in the Pile: Middle of the Stack, leaning towards Reaching New Heights

Summary:
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Review:
REVOLUTION is one of those books that could be so fabulous, but there were just some issues I had with it. I have read many reviews who loved this book, even listed it as their favorite of 2010, so I had really high expectations going into it. Maybe that was part of the problem.

REVOLUTION introduces you to Andi, a gritty troubled teenager that despite her frustrating attitude, you can't help but like. When she goes to Paris she finds a diary (how she finds it is one of the reasons I rolled my eyes reading this book) and then we switch back and forth from Andi's story and Alex's.

Here is where I think Donnelly lost me too. I like books that give us different perspectives, and I actually really like historical fiction. But I find books that switch timelines and plots almost every other chapter to be 1) usually longer than they need to be because you are telling more than one story and 2) put-downable. I'd get all invested in one character's plot and then it would switch. So I'd put the book down, even for a few weeks at a time, before I picked it up again. That of course is MY problem, not the books. There are many books out there like that. I just think that kind of book is not the best choice for me.

The last thing I had issue with in the book was the incredible coincidences. An old key that belonged to her brother was the key that opened an 18th century guitar case, that belonged to a girl with a fantastical background who knew someone that her father was researching, who was also connected to the musician that Andi was studying for school...I realize it was all part of the plot that it all worked out, but it really was sort of unbelievable.

Besides those though, I thought Donnelly's writing was good. I was drawn in to both characters, they were distinct and unique and I cared about them individually....just didn't care so much about their connection, since I thought it was forced. I loved the look into the French Revolution era, as I love historical fiction.

So all in all, this is a really really good book. I recommend it to people who love historical fiction, and who are not put off by time changes every other chapter. It really is worth reading, even though it wasn't my favorite of all time.

Big News!

2011-03-23T13:07:00.004-04:00

First of all, hi everyone! I'm back from vacation and ready to get reading and reviewing again! Things may take a while to get frequent as recovery takes a while, but I am excited to get going again!

Okay, on to the news.

So it seems like I was just browsing my local bookstore with some friends commenting, "Will the Eragon series EVER be finished?" Well today, the answer is YES!

It comes out November 8, 2011.

Now I wasn't super thrilled with the last book, but I enjoyed it well enough. I am excited to finally have an end! I don't like waiting for sequels as it is, and this one took a LONG time. Brisingr (the third book) came out in 2008.

So what say you? Are you excited for this one?

MIA

2011-03-16T09:56:00.002-04:00

Sorry I have been so off the charts lately! I am on vacation in California, and have not been getting reading done. And my co-bloggers have been busy beavers with their families.

More awesome blog stuff will be coming soon, I promise! I hope you are all having a fabulous time, and getting lots more reading done than I am. SO many great books are out this month!

If you are dying for some book suggestions, please use the blogroll feature on the left side of the blog where I list some of the awesome and best book bloggers out there!

Have fun!

Awesome Book Trailer

2011-03-09T11:17:00.001-05:00

I was sent this book trailer by the publisher of these books, and I have to say it's pretty awesome. I have enjoyed the series and look forward to the last installment. Check it out!

Review: THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN by Kate Morton

2011-03-04T09:46:00.002-05:00

THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN
by Kate Morton
Hardcover, 552 pages
Published April 7th 2009 by Atria (first published January 1st 2008)

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
n 1913, in the last year before the world plunged into war, a tiny orphan girl arrives alone on the shores of colonial Australia from England. Struck by pity, the dock master and his wife take her in and raise her as their own. On her 21st birthday, they finally reveal to "Nell" her true origins. Suddenly troubled by her missing history, she returns to her country of origin, hoping to trace her roots. She parses together some of her hidden past but dies before she can learn the complete story. Years later, her young granddaughter Cassandra pieces together the final missing parts of the puzzle. The author of The House at Riverton has crafted a novel of gothic intrigue that will remind some readers of The 13th Tale.

Review:
First, I have to say that summary on goodreads is pretty bland for this book. Sure, it sums it up, but it does not capture the magical way the book weaves in and out of past and present to reveal bits of the whole mystery.

Some might think that THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN has a lot to do with the story THE SECRET GARDEN, and upon reading the whole thing, there is not a lot in common. But I wonder if it was a source of inspiration for Kate Morton. There is a Father with a sickly child, greiving for the loss of his sister. When that sister's daughter his neice comes, the father instantly falls in love with her, and the cousins become great friends -- the niece helping the sickly cousin get better by taking her outside often and into the garden. Sound familiar? But that is honestly only like one or two chapters of the story.

The rest is a masterfully interwoven tale of mystery. Why was Nell left alone? Why can she not remember her past -- she was nearly 5 years old after all. Who is the Authoress? I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that Kate Morton has created a gem here, and I hope you give it a try even though it isn't strictly a Young Adult book.

That being said, I have a few complaints that attributed to the book not being a "Top Pick". Some attributes of the characters were a bit creepy. The way that the father obsessed over his sister. How completely cruel and heartless his wife was. Some of the arrangements that were made etc. Were all just a little bit odd. Then there were times where I would be in the book and think...she just changed point of view. There is no way that character would know exactly what the other character was feeling or thinking. And it was only occasionally. And the fact that it took me SO long to get through this book is a negative. Did I really enjoy it? Yes! Was I dying to keep reading? No. I was able to put it down, and often needed to to digest the information.

But don't let these things stop you from reading the book! If you like a good mystery, this is a book for you!

Loveable Giveaway Winner!

2011-03-02T11:27:00.003-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered our Feb. Giveaway! I am very excited to announce the winner for our 3 book giveaway, MAD LOVE, BLOODY VALENTINE, and I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU SOMEONE ELSE!

DANIELLE CHRISTIANSON!

I will contact you soon about getting you your books! Congrats!

Reminder

2011-02-27T13:40:00.003-05:00

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

2011-02-25T11:57:00.003-05:00

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

2011-02-23T13:28:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-02-21T10:33:00.006-05:00

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!

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Full Cover Reveal SO SILVER BRIGHT by Lisa Mantchev

2011-02-18T11:00:00.004-05:00

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

2011-02-17T10:14:00.004-05:00

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!

2011-02-16T07:30:00.002-05:00

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!

2011-02-14T10:49:00.002-05:00

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

2011-02-08T14:47:00.002-05:00

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

2011-02-03T18:11:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-02-01T15:36:00.003-05:00

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!

Review: BLOODY VALENTINE by Melissa de la Cruz

2011-01-31T11:17:00.003-05:00

BLOODY VALENTINE
by Melissa de la Cruz
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published December 28th 2010 by Hyperion Book CH

Placement in the Pile: Middle of the Stack

Summary:
Vampires have powers beyond human comprehension: strength that defies logic, speed that cannot be captured on film, the ability to shapeshift and more. But in matters of the heart, no one, not even the strikingly beautiful and outrageously wealthy Blue Bloods, has total control. In Bloody Valentine, bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz offers readers a new story about the love lives of their favorite vamps - the passion and heartache, the hope and devastation, the lust and longing. Combined with all the glitz, glamour, and mystery fans have come to expect, this is sure to be another huge hit in the Blue Bloods series.

Review:
Fans of the Blue Bloods series will enjoy this fast read that gives a deeper glimpse into the characters that they love.

This book is a compilation of three short stories that are sweet, romantic, and perfect for a valentine's read. My favorite was the third story where we get to see Jack and Schuyler's bonding ceremony.

I wish there was more to be said about this one. So my review is short and sweet, it is a good, fast read. Oh and the cover is GORGEOUS! Love it.

When Writing is Hard: Guest Blog by Melissa de la Cruz

2011-01-27T07:30:00.002-05:00

When Writing is Hard

Rick Riordan, the mega-selling author of the Percy Jackson series, has a fantastic post about the myths of writing. Go read it.

I wish I had written that post. Rick says everything every writer feels. He speaks for us all.

I love being a writer, and I love that I get paid from telling stories, that I spend my days playing. When I'm writing, I'm in the world of the story, my books are an escape for me as well, and it's the best feeling in the world.

For the most part, writing is not work—until it is—oh god, the grind that settles once the wheels are turning and you have to make the book work!—In fact in my household, when I was writing Witches of East End—I thought it would never end, as the book did not have an ending—for such a long time. I had an ending in mind, but it did not fit the story and so I had to keep digging to figure out what the true ending was. A month after I finished, my family is still suffering from Post-Traumatic-Writing-Disorder, my husband cannot look at that book without wincing, knowing how much we all suffered to make it happen. I lived under constant stress, I had headaches, I yelled at everyone, my eye twitched like crazy. Books demand their pound of flesh. They demand that you pay attention to them, that you neglect the ones you love, that you push everything to the very limit—your health, your sanity, until they get done and the story is told correctly.

While I was writing Witches, when I wasn't in front of the computer writing, I was walking around wild-eyed, my hair a fright, my fingernails ragged, because certain parts of the book kept eluding me, kept bothering me, kept nagging at me—and I lived in terror and fear that this time, with this book, I would not be able to fix it.

When I was not writing the book, I was breaking down the plot with my husband, I talked about the book CONSTANTLY. I kept talking and talking, explaining why this was working and why this was not, until I finally reached the EUREKA! Moment. The Eureka Moment happens when you grab hold of an idea that fixes the book and makes the story work. It's the kernel of the story—the discovery of the story you are actually writing, and then everything falls into place from there. That one great idea saves your butt, I mean, your book.

Writing is hard. The creative process is a mystery. Writing is a puzzle and an exercise, it takes over your life, it takes your family hostage, and as for a social life, forget about it. If only it was something that could be taught in school, but it is not. You can teach grammar, you can teach structure, you can teach formula. But you can't teach EUREKA! You can only experience it for yourself. I wish you all the grit to get to the place where you have struck gold in your story, because what's on the other side is better than a rainbow. It's a happy editor and a finished book. Good luck!

*Thank you SO SO much Melissa. We have loved reading and featuring your books on the blog, and love the writing advice! It is particularly helpful for me right now! Readers, be sure to check in tomorrow for my review of Melissa's new collection of short stories in the Blue Bloods world, BLOODY VALENTINE!

The Lost Saint Giveaway!

2011-01-25T12:08:00.006-05:00

Okay, I am horrible...I have had a SIGNED copy of TLS to give away since I went to Bree Despain's book signing, it has been a very busy few weeks, so I just haven't had time to put the post together!

Anyway, all you have to do is fill out the form below between now and Monday January 31st, 11:59 PM EST, and you are entered to win! Just for fun, I also have a bottle of TLS nail polish, TDD nail polish, and some bookmarks going to the winner as well! USA and CANADA addresses only.

Good luck!

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Why Have I Been MIA?

2011-01-24T12:31:00.005-05:00

Thanks to my friend Carolyn for posting this on FB! Do you ever feel this way? My problem is being a full time mom, most of the time, I DO get interrupted and it takes me way longer to get through books than it should! Some awesome posts, and HOPEFULLY reviews will be coming this week! So stay tuned, meanwhile...I'm reading a book!

Stylish Blogger Award!

2011-01-20T11:36:00.004-05:00

Hey!

I am very excited and grateful to my awesome writer and blogger friend Ali for this award! Thanks Ali!

The rules for accepting this award are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award. (check!)
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers. (Except, as I am breaking this rule, I give you my permission to break it too...)
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

Okay, seven things about me...

1. I have 33 nieces and nephews! And some of the families are just getting started!

2. Disneyland is one of my favorite places in the entire world. I know lots of ins and outs and secrets about it and love going on a regular basis.

3. I hate doing laundry. It is the bane of my existence. After I get it washed I have issues getting it folded. After it is folded I have issues getting it put away. Laundry sucks.

4. I hate socks. HATE them. The ONLY reason to wear them is so that your feet don't get sweaty and stinky in shoes. If you are not wearing shoes, you should not be wearing socks.

5. I cannot stand my hands being dry, or any other skin for that matter, feet, arms, lips. I am constantly using lotion and chapstick. I think this is why I don't like socks.

6. I am a really slow reader. I love to blog about what I read, but I don't read as much as many of my friends who don't blog, simply because I can't read that fast.

7. The cat on my header is designed after my cat Mocha. She is the softest, sleekest cat in the entire world, but she is very picky who she lets touch her. (Okay that one's not really about me, but I couldn't think of anything else!)

So that's a little about me! I hope you enjoyed reading it! And I also hope you take time to check out the bloggers below that I am awarding!

1. Natasha at MAW Books
2. Katie at Call Me Crazy
3. Claire at YA Bookie Monster
4. Inspired Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
5. Amy J at My Overstuffed Bookshelf

Win a Book, Support an Author

2011-01-17T11:18:00.003-05:00

Hey all! I wanted to let you know about this awesome contest. The 2009 Debs authors are giving away FORTY books by L.K. Madigan! She just recently revealed on her blog that she has been diagnosed and is dying of cancer. It is a very very sad story, and very personal for the YA world!

Please check out her post HERE.

And go over to the Deb's website and see details to enter to win HERE.

I know all of my readers and the YA community are amazing and will want to show this author some love!

A Question for You!

2011-01-13T23:43:00.002-05:00

Do you ever read more than one thing at a time? Have two different books in progress? Maybe one is for a book club, and one is a book you've been wanting to read for a long time.

Or maybe you started something, and then a book you were waiting for came out so you started that right away?

Right now I am reading an historical fiction novel, and doing some research for a new novel idea of my own. Switching back and forth between the French Revolution and Greek Mythology has been interesting. And then I just participated in a 30 minute writing prompt on Michelle Zink's website set in Regency England. My brain is going a little nuts with the history tonight.

How about you? What sorts of things do you read simultaneously, and how does it affect your view of those books?

Review: CRESCENDO by Becca Fitzpatrick

2011-01-12T11:15:00.003-05:00

CRESCENDO
by Becca Fitzpatrick
Hardcover, 427 pages
Published October 19th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks

Summary:
Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but atleast she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Review:
Becca writes a riveting second book to her series. Usually middle books often fall a little bit short, their entire plot is to set up another book, but this one certainly holds its own.

I literally sat down to read this after slowly reading the first few chapters, and then read the bulk of it (like chapter 3 to the end) in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.

The best part was Becca kept me guessing and second guessing myself the whole time. Too often in YA (even in YA novels I love) it is too easy to predict what is going to happen, even though I still enjoy how it plays out. But with Becca she really made me question the characters I love and the ones I don't.

I have to admit how much I love this series. It seems like with other reviewers it's a love/hate thing with the book, mainly because the main male protagonist, Patch, is a bad boy. I have to admit I love Patch, and although I spent a long time in this book being mad at him, I still liked him and had hope for him the whole time.

Lastly, one thing you MUST be aware of is the ending is a HUGE cliffhanger. Things finally start to settle down the climax is resolved and you feel a sigh of relief SO briefly you don't even have time to enjoy it before BAM!!!!!! Cliffhanger and the end. I literally screamed out loud. The thing that drove me nuts about it the most was that it left me with too many questions. Of course, that is the point. But...if that type of ending bothers you, I would suggest waiting to read this one until TEMPEST comes out in October 2011.

Book Signing Report: Bree Despain!

2011-01-11T07:10:00.000-05:00

I was SO happy that Bree decided to have another local signing, as I wasn't in town for her book launch party at another local indie bookstore. So I got to go to my local B&N to see her and get my copy of THE LOST SAINT signed!

I really loved one of the things read in her bio intro (the whole thing can be found on her website HERE):

"As a kid, Bree would staple folded papers to make her own "novels." As a teen, she wrote stories in notebooks while her friends waited for the next page to be finished. Her teachers told her she should be a writer. But Bree thought only special people could be writers, so as the years past, she settled into the idea of becoming a lawyer or something else just as ordinary."

I just wanted to tell Bree something. You are VERY special Bree! You are one of the most genuine people I have met, and I am so glad that I have. Your determination and talent inspires me.

Then Bree spoke a little about her journey to creating Grace and Daniel and how THE LOST SAINT came about. Here is where I will use bullets -- please note none of these are direct direct quotes as I was writing as fast as I could, but they are pretty close!

I thought THE DARK DIVINE was a tradgedy and a stand alone book. It wasn't until a mentor of mine pulled me aside and said, "You can't leave it like that, there is more!" Then I figured out TDD was a romance, and re-wrote the ending.
When I sold TDD I sold that and one other book that was to be determined...no one would tell me what that book was supposed to be until finally they said "We need a sequel and we need it in 4 months"
I freaked. I was paralyzed. It took me 4 years to write TDD.

Writing THE LOST SAINT was really hard. I started it over and over again.
So I went to a class and the teacher asked such a simple question "What does your character want?" Well I knew what Grace wanted in the first book, and I thought she got it. But I realized that she only got half of what she wanted, there is still something she desperately wanted, and then she started talking to me again.
I sound like a crazy person when I talk about my characters talking to me...but they do

When I started TLS was when lots of reviews were starting to come out for TDD and they were so positive. A lot of people would just be happy with that, but for me it was pressure. Pressure to live up to their expectations, to write that second book that is just as good if not better.
Sara Zarr, a local author friend understood when I said this. Then she gave me this advice (again this is me paraphrasing) "There are lots of kinds of authors out there. There are those that write one book and go away. There are authors that work for it, keep going, and write more. The trick is to write that second book."

Bree decided she could do it. She wrote a good book once, she could do it again, and TLS came into being!
Then she went on to Grace more, and how developing her character was different in this book. She said: "Grace is grace. She always has been. But in the first book, grace was forgiveness and mercy. In the second book grace is help -- she wants to help people, to be a hero with her new developing superpowers.
The frustrations I felt while writing TLS really bled into Grace's reactions and conversations, some of them are word for word almost conversations that I had with people while I was venting my frustrations about writing the book.
My frustration was because I knew I had the potential to write a good book, but it wasn't happening fast enough. Grace's frustrations were that she has the potential to be a hero but the abilities aren't coming fast enough.

Then Bree read us a bit from the book, and signed books and I had a chance to talk to her a little more. She said she is working on TDD3, no title approved yet. In fact she is working on finishing that AND moving at the same time. She is seriously super woman.

So everyone go out and check out this amazing author's books if you haven't yet! She is just great!

Woops!

2011-01-10T19:09:00.002-05:00

Should have blogged today, instead I sat on my couch with my nose stuck in a book...a fun post will be up tomorrow!

Review: ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins

2011-01-07T10:18:00.003-05:00

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS
by Stephanie Perkins
Hardcover, 372 pages
Published December 2nd 2010 by Dutton
Placement in the Pile: Top Picks

Summary:
Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris—until she meets Étienne St. Claire: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.

As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna—and readers—have long awaited?

Review:
I LOVE this book. I had heard so many awesome reviews for it, I knew it had to be good. But there's always some trepidation going into a book with that much good buzz. I've been disappointed in the past, because my expectations got too high. Not this time. I was immediately sucked in to Anna's world, I adored Etienne St. Clair (even though she kept making such a big deal out of how short he was, and being a tall girl, that doesn't really help me think a guy is attractive. So I pretended he was taller, and we were all good). ;) Stephanie did an amazing job making you feel like you are there in Paris (and also, making you WANT to go to Paris, oh man the food sounded heavenly). The characters are layered, complex, and all have their own troubles and triumphs. This is a book with depth, it isn't just a light chick-lit read--though it has those fun, exciting, light-hearted elements too, at times. Anna is definitely a fast read (mostly because I couldn't put it down), but you will want to savor this one. Also? Wow, does Stephanie know how to build romantic tension. Yes, indeed.

Just be warned for all of our readers that like to know, this is an upper YA book. There is some pretty intense language at times, and mature content. In this case it didn't bother me, but we always like to let our readers know what to expect.

This is one that I'm glad I bought! (I nabbed the last one at my local bookstore, but hopefully they'll keep getting more in.)

Me the Slacker, and a Friend Who is Not

2011-01-06T00:26:00.003-05:00

So...me. I'm the slacker. Sorry! We have all been a bit sick over here to start the new year, and still trying to get life in order, so very little reading has been going on. I know Guinevere has been doing some, so maybe she can review some stuff for us soon...

In the meantime, I wanted to post about a friend of mine whose book is coming out soon! It is more self-help/non-fiction than my usual reading, but I know Julie is going to be great at this, so here's the info!

Don't Throw Rocks at His Window: Real Advice to Mend a Broken Heart
by Julie Donaldson
To Be Published February 2011 by Deseret Book

Summary: Don't do it. I know you want to. I know you want to pick up that jagged rock and just chuck it through his window. After all, he broke your heart. Worse, he threw it to the ground, danced on it, and then kicked it aside. But you don’t have to resort to criminal activity. There are better ways to get over your broken heart.

Using humor, common sense, and honest, heart-to-heart advice, author Julie C. Donaldson lays out four simple rules that will help you mend your broken heart (including Rule #1: Don’t be pathetic).

Don’t Throw Rocks at His Window is filled with practical remedies and fun, interactive ideas that will help you strengthen your heart, keep your perspective on what matters most, and find comfort.

It is possible to survive a broken heart. What’s more, it’s possible to love again with a heart that is strong and sure and whole. So drop the rock, toss the tissue, and take the journey from hurt to healing.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T15:43:00.003-05:00

Well I hope you are enjoying your new year! It is a time for goal setting so here are some of mine.

I want to be a better blogger, but I also want to keep my life in balance.

I want to have more awesome giveaways and get you all as excited about books as I am.

And I want all of my readers to be able to take something good away from my blog and our reviews!

Happy New Year everyone! Back to life, and back to reading!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T15:35:00.001-05:00

Hi all, I have been MIA because I am on vacation! I hope you are all having a wonderful break from the hum drum of life and are enjoying Christmas with your loved ones!

For those of you who don't celebrate, I hope you have a fabulous holiday break anyway!

Guest Post:: How to Perform a Soul's Curtsy, by Heather Dixon

2010-12-22T07:30:00.001-05:00

HOW TO PERFORM A SOUL'S CURTSY

While I was writing "Entwined," I spent a lot of time studying Victorian dances and etiquette. I remember reading one funny piece: When a well-born girl came of age, she had to present herself to Queen Victoria, do a flawless curtsy, and then back out of the room gracefully. The only problem with this was their of-age dresses had long, long trains, and it was impossible to back out without tripping over them. Girls lost sleep just thinking about it.

Reading that inspired the "Soul's Curtsy," a curtsy so deep and graceful it must be practiced several years to be perfected. Azalea, the main character in Entwined, teaches her sisters how it is done. And, as Aubrey was kind enough to let me guest post, the visitors to My Pile of Books can learn how to do it, too.

How to perform a Soul's Curtsy (with pictures):

First: Touch your right toe out in front of you, then trace it in a wide semi-circle behind yourself.

Bend your left knee so you are lowering yourself as the right leg moves.

As you are lowering yourself, tuck your left arm behind your back, and raise your right arm out in front of you.

When your right leg reaches 8 o'clock, you should be low enough to shift your weight to it and bring your left foot out in front of you. This is the trickiest part of the curtsy--you are basically folding yourself up, and it must be done gracefully.

Meanwhile, your right arm is offered up to the gentleman, your face is nearly kissing your knee, and your right leg is folded underneath you like a pretzel.

You look absolutely gorgeous!

Here's a side view of it:

Now you can try it at home! If you dare. As far as I know they don't make curtsy-shaped coffins, so proceed with care. Especially as a Soul's Curtsy, when done as gracefully as Azalea, can render a gentleman completely speechless.

**Thank you SO much Heather! I absolutely adore your illustrations and your book! I hope all of our readers are as excited for this one as I am!

Review: ENTWINED by Heather Dixon

2010-12-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

ENTWINED
by Heather Dixon
Hardcover, 336 pages
Expected publication: March 29th 2011 by Greenwillow Books
Source: ARC from Publisher

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!

Summary:
Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Review:
First of all isn't this cover AMAZING! I have total dress envy. Okay, on to the real review...

I adore this book as much as I adore it's author! Entwined is a beautiful fairy tale retelling that will grasp at your heart and send shivers down your spine. Heather Dixon has created her own take on the Twelve Dancing Princesses tale that makes you re-think the story behind the dancing.

The best thing that pulled me into the story were the characters. All twelve sisters have such unique personalities they really felt real to me, and I loved them all. Bramble is perhaps the most hilarious character. Azalea is the perfect oldest sister, all the way down to little baby Lily. I just loved these girls and wanted them to succeed in all of their endeavors.

Now since I personally have met both authors, I have to say my opinion might be a bit skewed, BUT...do not just read one retelling of this amazing fairy tale (which also happends to be a favorite of mine since I was little, adding to my love of both books.) But if you HAVE read PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL by Jessica Day George, don't skip reading ENTWINED and vice versa. Each author brings their own magic, their own insight into this beautiful fairy tale, and I can honestly say- knowing them or not - that I loved each one in their own right.

The only thing about this book that I feel you should know is that the beginning can feel a bit slow. It is certainly still good reading, and very enjoyable, but my word of advice is take the time to get into the story for this one. Because once I did I could NOT put it down. The pacing of slower to faster action was perfect, and I am glad that everything that was in the book was there, because it made for a richer reading experience in the end.

So I know this book is still a long time coming, but I wanted to post about it as soon as I finished reading it. I want you all to know about this amazing book. Stay tuned on Wed. I have a guest post by Heather Dixon that is sure to be amazing, as she is also an illustrator and has included illustrations in her post! Yay! And don't worry, I will definitely be reminding you of this one closer to the release date!

ENTICE Giveaway Winner!

2010-12-19T17:44:00.003-05:00

Thanks for all who entered! The random number generator has spoken, and the winner of ENTICE by Carrie Jones is....

Carrie Jenson!!!!!

Fitting since you share a name with the author! Congrats. I will send your info along to the publisher and they should send the book and bookmark out shortly!

Happy Birthday!

2010-12-16T11:25:00.003-05:00

Today is the day of birth of the ever amazing Jane Austen. I think all book lovers everywhere can appreciate her impact on the world of books. But most specifically she gave us....

So Happy Birthday Ms. Austen! 235 years ago the world was blessed with a bit of genius!

Release Day Giveaway!

2010-12-14T11:47:00.004-05:00

Hi all! So it is the release day for ENTICE by Carrie Jones! Woot! If you aren't excited enough, check out the book trailer:

Also, Carrie is answering questions about the book throughout the day at this link below! So be sure to check that out! She is an absolute hoot. I have LOVED interviewing her before!
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=53387039515&topic=14517

Okay now the part you've all been waiting for! The giveaway. You can win ENTICE and some awesome ENTICE bookmarks!

Contest open until 11:59 PM EST on Friday, Dec. 17. USA mailing addresses only, no PO boxes. (This is going to be mailed directly from the publisher). Just fill out the form below to enter!

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Blog Tour Review: ENTICE by Carrie Jones

2010-12-13T07:30:00.002-05:00

ENTICE
by Carrie Jones
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published December 14th 2010 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
*Yes that means it is out TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks

Summary: *Spoils if you have not read the other books*
Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that’s not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he’s been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it’s taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there’s that other small problem: Zara’s been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn’t just turned… She’s Astley’s queen.

Review: *if you read the summary, this holds no spoils*
I literally just finished this book and my thoughts are swirling around my head. There is SO much to love about this book, so much that is just plain awesome sauce -- including the fact that the phrase "awesome sauce" is IN the book.

Something I absolutely love about the NEED series is Carrie's way of creating quirky and completely believable characters. I can't say there is one of the main characters that I dislike; other than the bad guys of course.

Zara in particular stands out because it is her story, and her point of view. But I think Zara's character is so relateable. She is fiercely loyal and loving to her friends and family and has a strong moral compass. But she is also a bit insecure, and questions herself and who she has become, as all teenagers do.

However my biggest issue with her is her loyalty. I am on team Astley, and much of this book is spent developing their relationship and the hardships they face as Pixie King and Queen in a warring territory -- but Zara's driving force in this book really is Nick. He is gone (for now) but not forgotten.

Carrie Jones has once again sucked me right back into Zara's world of intricate pixie and fae lore and makes me so very much want to fast forward the next year to get the fourth (and I believe final) book in the series!

For more info on this title check out these links:
http://www.facebook.com/BloomsburyTeens
http://www.facebook.com/NeedPixies

*Thanks so much to Bloomsbury for including me in the blog tour! And stay tuned this week for another great giveaway!! Now, everyone go out and buy this book!

Contest Winner!

2010-12-12T22:42:00.004-05:00

Sorry this took me so long to post...BUT without any further waiting! The randomizer has spoken and the winner of the signed copy of MATCHED by Ally Condie is...

Jenna Wood!!!

Congrats Jenna! Thanks so much to EVERYONE who entered and our followers old and new! And if you didn't win this one, keep reading this week! There might just be another chance to win something great!

In My Mailbox (25)

2010-12-12T11:48:00.002-05:00

Well, this is KINDA from my mailbox. It is a book I got this week. This week my writer's group had a Christmas Party and we did a gift/book exchange to celebrate Christmas together!

I scored this awesome book that I have been eyeing!

REVOLUTION
by Jennifer Donnelly
Hardcover, 472 pages
Published October 12th 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary:
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

**Doesn't that sound awesome? I have not read A NORTHERN LIGHT, but if I love this one I may just have to!

P.S.

2010-12-12T01:06:00.002-05:00

I didn't forget about the giveaway! The winner will be announced Sunday night. ;)

Movie Review: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

2010-12-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Alright folks. I REALLY want to help push this movie. My husband and went and saw it last night and we were very impressed. We are fans of the other movies in this series, and I was interested to see how the film would translate from a different studio (as Disney - I think prematurely - dropped the films after trying to sell a Narnia movie as a summer blockbuster and not a holiday movie).

Here is the scoop. It was good. Really good. All the main actors played their parts even better than the first two. Lucy is adorable, yet growing up and she doesn't know who she is or wants to be. Edmund is still frustrating, but generally happier, more mature and stronger than he ever was. Caspian is well, Caspian. We'll get to him...he deserves his own paragraph. And Eustice, besides having a horrendous name and being an incredibly annoying character both physically and personality-wise, ends up winning your heart in the end.

The story does not stick completely to the book, as the book is more episodic in nature they added a plot line element to tie it all together, but it didn't detract from the main story, or the point of the book. CS Lewis is one of my favorite authors, and I LOVE these stories and the world of Narnia!

Okay, on to my main reason for pushing the film. I love Ben Barnes. He is just the most perfect eye candy in the world. So of course Caspian is my favorite character, but it isn't just that Ben plays him. I really do love Caspian's character and his personal journey in this movie is subtly played out, yet poignant in the end.

So, take some time THIS WEEKEND to go see this movie. I think it didn't have as much money in publicity as the others and is thus getting low audiences. I won't have it. If just HALF of my regular readers read this and decide to go see this movie this weekend then I will be happy!

Plus, didn't I mention that you get to look at this guy for over 2 hours? Yeah. It's worth every penny! ;) Just wish the loose pirate pants were more flattering on any of them...

Review: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis

2010-12-10T14:21:00.003-05:00

Across the Universe
by Beth Revis

Hardcover, 400 pages

To Be Published January 11th 2011 by Razorbill

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks

Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Review:
Wow, what a ride!

This is one of the most unique books I've read in a long time. It's sci-fi, but also dystopian. I couldn't put it down, and can't wait for the next one. The first chapter alone is so powerful, the imagery and emotions reach out and throttle you, forcing you to keep reading.

It never lets up throughout the whole book. As you try to figure out what the deal is with "Elder" and "Eldest" and everyone else. Oh, and don't get me started on "the season." Yikes!

The whole thing is masterfully executed, with twists and turns and highs and lows that will leave you begging for more. Definitely put this one on your TBR list.

200 Followers Giveaway!!!!!!!!

2010-12-07T10:21:00.008-05:00

WOOT! How cool is that? I reached 200 followers! I just want to say how incredibly grateful I am for all of those who read and support our blog! I wish I had a big stack of books to giveaway for this really cool event! But I kinda cleaned house last month and gave away most of my extras.

BUT I think this giveaway is pretty darn awesome!

Just fill out the form below to win a SIGNED hardcover copy of MATCHED by Ally Condie!

The contest is open only until this Friday December 10th 11:59 pm EST so I can get it out in the mail in time for you to receive it for Christmas (if you celebrate it). Open to USA and Canada mailing addresses only.

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