oodles of books.

In My Mailbox 50

2012-02-12T00:15:00.000-08:00

Library:
Vaclav and Lena by Haley Tanner
A Monster Calls by Patrick by Patrick Ness

For review:
Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

New Feature: Short Story Saturday | The French Maid by Sabrina Jeffries

2012-02-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Title: The French Maid
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Pages: 30 (E-Book)
Source: iBooks (Free)

Summary: Lady Eleanor Langston has a problem: her husband Henry, prime-minister-in-the-making, is too caught up in his work to notice her. Despite her involvement in his various public appearances, she feels shut out of his life, especially with their one-year anniversary looming. When Henry hires a highly recommended French lady’s maid without consulting her, Eleanor’s anger can't be contained—until she meets her. With Babette’s help, Eleanor arms herself with the one weapon that will make Henry notice her as a woman—her inner siren.

Thoughts: The French Maid turned out to be a delightful short read that I am glad I decided to download. Babette, the French maid, is hired by Henry and instantly sets out to fix Eleanor up to win her husband over. Poor Eleanor has felt neglected the year of her marriage but has never had the courage to do too anything about it, while Henry has meant to interact with her more but makes more excuses than actual time to do so.

We don't really know exactly what Babette does to Eleanor but she is, what seems magically, changed and finally really noticed by her husband, who is usually too caught up with his work to pay much attention to her. A few troubles ensue between them in such few pages though, but I don't want to spoil the story, so I will leave you with that!

We don't learn too much about the characters because of the short length, which is disappointing a bit and Babette really remains a mystery throughout the whole story, leaving us wanting to learn more about her. It is definitely a cute romance about marriage though, that I was happy to read right before sleeping.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Buy the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
About the author: Website

Author Event Recap: Megan Miranda | Reading & Signing

2012-02-09T14:16:00.000-08:00

Last year I got a chance to go to quite a few author events and that made me happy. Earlier this year, I looked for a few events at my local Barnes & Noble and saw that Megan Miranda, author of Fracture was going to be there. I was really looking forward to this and since I hadn't read Fracture yet, I bought it also.

The boyfriend and I got there a little late and so Miranda was already talking to everyone. It was a quiet night and there was a smaller crowd than usual, so we still got an up close view of the author as she was talking. We didn't get to take too many pictures though, but I got at least two decent ones and a few with her as well.

She read a little chunk of Fracture and omg! it sounds so good. I haven't read it yet, but I am really looking forward to it. There was a signing afterwards and Megan is so nice! I know that I say that about all author's, but it's so true! She had bookmarks to hand out to fans so I was able to snag one.

There was a quick t-shirt raffle also, and I won! She signed my shirt and even though it is a Large and pretty big on me, I still plan to wear it. I was really glad that I got to meet her (and win a shirt.) I tweeted about having a giveaway for a signed copy of her book, but no one showed interest so I didn't grab a second copy for you guys. I totally should have, I know that now, but oh well!

Anyways, it was a simple and sweet event that I am glad I got to go to (even if I was late.)

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

2012-02-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

This sounds intriguing and mysterious, definitely my kind of book. The cover really creeps me
out because the legs are covered with dirt.

What are you waiting for this week? :)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

Blog Tour: Review | First You Try Everything by Jane McCafferty

2012-02-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

Title: First You Try Everything
Author: Jane McCafferty
Series: None
Publication: 01.17.2012 by HarperCollins Publishers
Source: TLC Book Tours
Challenges: None

Summary: An engrossing tale of a marriage that’s falling apart and a wife who will stop at nothing to keep it together.

From their early days in college, Evvie and Ben were drawn to each other by feelings of isolation stemming from their wounded childhoods, passionate idealism, and zeal for music. Sheltered by their love, they weathered the challenges and trials of the imperfect world around them. But as the years passed, they grew apart. Now Ben has his sights set on a completely different kind of future—alone, or with someone else.

Convinced that Ben cannot live without her, Evvie begins to unravel, as she obsessively devises ways to reclaim the love that she cannot let go of. She gambles on a spectacularly dangerous scheme, one that may ultimately have devastating consequences.

Jane McCafferty has written a highly original, utterly beguiling, and emotionally satisfying novel about marriage. Told from alternating viewpoints, this gripping, psychologically astute, and madcap novel illuminates the power of love to define and transform our lives, for better or for worse.

Thoughts: I'm always drawn to books about heartbreak and I guess I am some sort of masochist, because I enjoy reading books that I know will make me feel sad. I knew I wanted to read this when I first read the summary and I was easily pulled into Evvie and Ben's story because it is a bit strange but also because it felt familiar. I instantly connected with both characters and was absorbed with their pain, wanting to know more.

Evvie and Ben have been together for 16 years, but things have felt a bit wrong for both of them in the last few years. Evvie is a bizarre person, a free spirit that is afraid of the changes she sees and refuses to accept. Ben fell in love with her uniqueness, but after years of their eccentric lives, he gets a middle class job, wears a suit and tie, and slowly falls in love with someone else. Their marriage cannot last and Ben asks for a divorce. Evvie is brokenhearted, feeling lost without Ben. Her behavior gets a little insane and slightly obsessive as she makes every attempt to get Ben back. Ben tries to cut her out from his life feeling that she needs to accept that he no longer wants a life with her, but feeling guilty of the trouble she is going through. Evvie's insanity only grows, as does Ben's determination to keep her away, and eventually this results in an final conflict that gets a little out of control before it is resolved.

The story is told from both points of views, Ben and Evvie's, and we get to experience the turmoil and ache that they both are going through. Evvie is completely distressed that her marriage has ended, and we watch her struggle with her own insanity and her feelings as she tries to change what has happened. Ben, both guilty and sad, recalls his and Evvie's first days together, what drew him to her. We are able to see how slowly their marriage unraveled in a beautifully interweaving of emotions and memories from both of them and how sometimes, things just don't work out. From reading both points of views, I felt torn. I felt like I needed to choose a side, but couldn't because I felt for both characters. I sympathized with both, but felt frustrated at times with both of them as well.

The whole book is definitely an emotional rollercoaster that left me feeling sad and overwhelmed, both because of the way it was developed and how it ended. I definitely recommend this to others; it is a riveting and unusual story about obsessive love and a marriage that falls apart.

About the author:

Jane McCafferty is the author of the novel One Heart and two collections of stories, Thank You for the Music and Director of the World and Other Stories, which won the Drue Heinz Literature Prize. She is the recipient of an NEA award, the Great Lakes Colleges Association’s New Writers Award, and two Pushcart Prizes. She lives and works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Page | Bio
But the book: Amazon

Blog Tour: Excerpt | Waitlisted by Laurel Gans

2012-02-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

Title: Waitlisted
Series: None
Genre: Chick Lit
Publication: 10.04.2011 by Etopia Press
Pages: 203

Kacey Barlow had no idea it would be this hard to get into grad school. Her well-to-do family has been attending UI for generations, and admissions had been recruiting her since high school! She was a shoo-in—that is, until they gave her the boot.

She can’t tell her parents, and can’t stand the thought of her friends going off to grad school without her. Her grades are slipping. Her professors can’t remember her name, and her tutor, Taylor, won’t stop hitting on her when they’re supposed to be studying.

Okay, maybe that last one isn’t so bad. But it’s not going to help get her a seat in another school...and applications are due in two weeks...

Here is a short excerpt of the first chapter in Laurel Gans' Waitlisted. I will be posting my review of this in the near future and having a giveaway, so look out for that! Enjoy this little sneak peek :)

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Chapter 1

Dear Professor Harper,

Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to microbiology lab today. My roommate was cooking (well, attempting to cook) when she set off the smoke detector. Now, our entire apartment smells of burnt grilled cheese and Febreze. We are attempting to get the smoke smell out of the carpet now so that we do not lose our deposit at the end of our lease. Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,
Kacey Barlow

With a little imagination and a click of the send button I have my afternoon free. I sit up on my bed with my legs crossed, the heat of my little computer warming my lap. I can’t help but wonder if the e-mail I sent needed a little more detail to be convincing. Or, perhaps, it had too much detail for a simple get-out-of-lab-free pass. Either way, it is already in the in-box of my professor across campus and I am, most importantly, a senior who is already accepted into grad school. It’s going to be a good day!

I leave my laptop on the bed and stand up to stretch my arms and legs. I haven’t left my bed yet all morning. I couldn’t help it. You try getting out of bed when there is a marathon of The Nanny on. I grab my remote and give my television a break. It’s nearly noon, but I’m still in my plaid pajama pants and faded high school T-shirt.

I leave my room and go directly into the den. It’s not a huge apartment by any means, but for my roommate and me, it’s perfect. On the coffee table are breakfast dishes from yesterday and an unfinished game of Scrabble from the night before. Off the den is a small but functional kitchen. The table is buried under piles of science books covering everything from genetics to organic chemistry. I wish I could say the apartment isn’t usually like this but I can’t. I only lie to professors.

The laminate floor in the kitchen is starting to peel from years of use, and it’s pretty clear the electrical work is not nearly up to code, but I love the place just the same. It’s mine. Well, financially it’s my parents’, but they’re an hour away.

The apartment has an almost eerie silence to it. Not even our neighbor, Noisy Nick, is living up to his well-earned title. Contrary to my little note, I have the place all to myself. My roommate, Natalie, has physics lecture, and that girl does not miss a class. OK, one time she missed a biology lecture, but it was my fault. I had told her it was canceled. I was in the class too, and I had already e-mailed the professor telling him that our apartment had a roach problem, and we needed to wait for the exterminator.

I pop some frozen waffles into the toaster and sit at the kitchen table to wait for the “ding.” Deep within the pile of papers and textbooks, I can hear a low, steady hum. It pauses for a few seconds, then returns. My cell phone. I put it on vibrate last night while Natalie and I were watching a Lifetime movie about a woman having an affair with her brother-in-law who was a kleptomaniac with a drinking problem.

It was really good.

I dig through the mess in search of my tiny link to the outside world. I finally find it and pull it out of the turmoil. I look down at the screen. I don’t recognize the number but I know it is the campus prefix.

“Hello?”

“Hi. Is this Kacey?” a man’s voice answers back.

“Yes.”

My heart begins to pound. Please don’t let this be Professor Harper. I swear I’ll come to lab next week.

“This is Mark Boyd. Your academic advisor.”

My body relaxes. Screw next week’s lab! “Oh, hi! How are you?”

“Good, um, I need to speak with you about your academic record. Are you free this afternoon to come in?”

I sigh. There goes my afternoon off. “Sure. I can come in.”

“Great. I’ll see you in my office around two?”

“Yeah. That’s fine.”

So much for my free time. I put my phone down and turn to face the odd smell coming from behind me. Tiny waves of smoke grow from my toaster. I jump up and unplug the old machine from the wall. I drop my inedible breakfast into the garbage.

Those were my last two waffles!

The apartment begins to faintly smell of the undesirable odor of smoke. I reach into the pantry and pull out my greatest weapon, a bottle of Febreze. I can’t help but wonder if lies count as lies if they come true minutes later.

Buy the book: Amazon

The TBR Pile: February

2012-02-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

Last month...well, I didn't do as great as I had hoped. It's okay though, I read some good books and now I am ready for more this month. I know this list is incredibly long (for me) and even though I know I can read this many books, I most likely won't. I will still try though! I can't believe it's February already! It seems like the year is going to fly by again.

Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne (started) [January Random Reads]
Pride's Run by Cat Kalen (started)
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake [The Paperbrick Wall]
The Word Gang by Mark McKenna
Happy Birthday to Me Again by Brian Rowe
The Shadow (Borrowing Abby Grace, #1) by Kelly Green
Waitlisted by Laurel Gans
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma
The Virgin Suicides by Jefferey Eugenides
Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin
What Happened to Hannah by Mary Kay McComas
The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby [Random Reads]
The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry
The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
First You Try Everything by Jane McCafferty

Previous months:

January

Random Reads: The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby

2012-02-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

"Basically it’s a meme where we pick a random book from our shelf to read. I’m on Goodreads so I’m using a combination of the sorting feature and Random.org to pick the book I’m going to read."

Since this meme was mentioned in the first post, I was looking forward to it. I think it's a great and fun new way to pick at least one of the books on my TBR list each month. I am always adding more books, but the list never seems to decrease. So I decided to give this a go! Like Sarah, I also used Goodreads and Random.org to pick my new read. Here's what I got:

Another book I own! I've had The King's Rose for years now. I remember really looking forward to reading this and when I finally bought it I put it on my shelf and it's been sitting there since. I am really glad I got another book that I own for this month's Random Reads. Last month's Random Reads was also a book I own and I am almost done with it. I am really excited to read this one because it is YA and Historical Fiction, two of my favorite genre's. Want to join in? Check out this month's Random Reads post.

Review | The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss

2012-01-31T20:09:00.000-08:00

Title: The Thorn and the Blossom
Author: Theodora Goss
Series: None
Publication: 01.17.2012 by Quirk Books
Source: Publisher
Challenges: None

Summary: One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.

When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .

The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

Thoughts: This book was short and sweet, just like it sounds. The unique format is what intrigued me at first, and since I like anything with a love story, I was really looking forward to see what this would be like. Like mentioned, this is a two-sided love story which I thought was great because we got both sides of the story. How often does that happen? I started with Evelyn's side because I felt I would connect with the female character easier (obviously) and I am glad I did.

Evelyn decides to take a week off from school to "find herself" and ends up in the small town of Cornwall, where she meets Brendan Thorne. Instantly, they hit it off and spend every day together. An unexpected event causes Evelyn to flee though, leaving Brendan behind with just the memory of what they shared. Later in the book they meet again and even though it feels like there might be a happy ending, the author leaves it up to your imagination to figure out where the rest of the story goes.

Reading Evelyn's account left me feeling unsatisfied and I was really disappointed there wasn't more to the story. But there was! I waited about a day or so before flipping over to Brendan's side of the story. While reading his side, there were a few things that started making that hadn't before and other small details that changed the story a bit. The Tale of the Green Knight, a story that Brendan shares with Evelyn when they first meet, plays an important role throughout the book. It not only shapes the their careers in the story, but as a reader, you can't help but wonder if like the summary says: "...if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself ."

The only problem I had with this was that I wish it would've been longer! It was too short I think, and even though it was a great story, I think it could've been developed just a little more by adding a few more pages. I thought the author did a great job though, in intertwining the tale and the lives of Brendan and Evelyn, piecing everything together beautifully. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a short fairytale to quickly dive into.

About the author:

Theodora Goss's publications include the short story collection In the Forest of Forgetting (2006); Interfictions (2007), a short story anthology coedited with Delia Sherman; and Voices from Fairyland (2008), a poetry anthology with critical essays and a selection of her own poems. She has been finalist for the Nebula Award, Crawford Award, and Mythopoeic Award, and on the Tiptree Award Honor List. She has won the World Fantasy and Rhysling Awards.

Website | Twitter
Buy the book: Amazon

In My Mailbox 49 | Vlog

2012-01-29T00:21:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I haven't done an IMM in forever, so I decided to make a quick silent video (with music) of the books I have gotten in the last few weeks. Some of it is fast, but I think it turned out okay.

I am really tired and I stayed up late making the video so I don't look too great...and I feel really silly showing my books to a camera. Plus my video making skills aren't very good. Anyways, enjoy :)

Have a great week!

Book Tour: Excerpt | Pride's Run by Cat Kalen

2012-01-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

Title: Pride's Run
Series: Book 1
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Publication: 11.01.2011 [Self-Published]
Pages: 310

Seventeen year old Pride is a tracker—a werewolf with a hunger for blood. Taught to trick and to lure, she is the perfect killing machine.

Kept leashed in the cellar by a master who is as ruthless as he is powerful, Pride dreams of freedom, of living a normal life, but escape from the compound is near impossible and disobedience comes with a price.

When she learns her master intends to breed her she knows she has to run.

Pride soon learns if she is to survive in the wild, she must trust in the boy who promises her freedom, the same boy she was sent to hunt.

With life and death hanging in the balance the two find themselves on the run from the Paranormal Task Force—officers who shoot first and ask questions later—as well as her master’s handlers.

Can Pride flee the man who has held her captive since birth and find sanctuary in the arms of a boy who has captured her heart? Or will her master find her first?

I am currently reading Pride's Run and enjoying it. Look for my review in the near future and a giveaway as well. Enjoy this little sneak peek :)

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Chapter One

California Wine Country
August 23rd, six days until full moon

The click of the lock at the top of the stairwell is my only indication that morning is upon me. My ears perk up and I listen for the coming footfalls. The weight on the stairs combined with the creaking of each wooden step will let me know which handler has come for us this time, which unlucky puppet has drawn the short straw and is stuck with letting the dogs out, or in this case, the werewolves.

Sure, he’ll come sauntering down the stairs sporting a brave face and looking at me with cold, dark eyes meant to intimidate. But the wolf inside me can smell his inner fear. Despite the fact that I’m the one caged, underneath the handler’s cool, superficial shell he’s the one who’s truly afraid.

A long column of light filters down the stairs and I blink my eyes into focus as the bright rays infiltrate the pitch black cellar. I don’t really need to blink. Not with my exceptional vision. But I do it anyway because sometimes I simply like to pretend I’m a normal seventeen-year-old girl, one who can’t see in the dark. It’s nonsense, I know. I’m not fooling anyone. Least of all myself.

The door yawns wider and before the first heavy boot, soiled with old blood that he’ll pass off as wine stains, hits the top step, my senses go on high alert. I never know what morning will bring—or who will bring it.

A breeze rushes down the stairs ahead of the handler, carrying the aroma of the grand estate with it. I push past the metallic scent of dried blood to catch traces of grape juice in the air, a common smell on the majestic vineyard—that and illegal drugs, the estate’s real source of income. Going beyond those familiar fragrances, I breathe deeper and get hints of fresh bread baking in the upstairs kitchen. It must be Thursday. Mica, the estate’s cook, always bakes on Thursday.

In my human form I roll onto my side and lean toward the smell. Wistfully, my tongue darts out and brushes over my bottom lip. There is something about that scent that always entices me and before I can help it I envision myself eating a warm slice covered in rich creamy butter, crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside.

My nostrils widen, but I know the bread isn’t meant for me and not even one delicious crumb will pass over my dry lips. Not unless Mica sneaks it to me. As much as I’d love to taste her offerings I don’t like it when she takes chances for me. Disobedience is far too risky for the aging housekeeper. Despite that, my stomach growls in response to the aroma and I fight off the cravings. I can’t hope for bread when it’s unlikely that I’ll even be given a scrap of food today, especially if I can’t please him.

My master.

A boot hits the second step—the handlers always descend slowly—and as I stretch my legs out on my dusty mattress I hear the waking groans of Jace and Clover stirring in their own cages beside me. I glance their way, and that’s when my attention falls on the one empty cage in the cellar. My mother’s den. I breathe deep and fight off a pang of sadness that I cannot afford to feel.

I turn away from the empty cage and stare at the gray cement walls. I can’t bear to look at her den any longer. It only reminds me of how they killed her and how all the pups were forced to watch—to learn that disobedience comes with a price. Guilt and sorrow eat at me to think that she’d died trying to free me.

When step number five creaks, I diligently try to shake off the memories. The handler is close which means I can’t think about my mother right now. I push all thoughts of her aside, knowing that right now I have to think about my father and what he taught me before the master killed him. Never let them see your fear.

I harden myself.

Prepare.

Before my master’s puppet even reaches the bottom step, I know it’s the one they call Lawrence, the handler I hate the most. The one with a weak mind, strong back, teeth like baked beans and beady eyes that fit his ugly rat face.

He likes to call me kitten. I have a few choice names that I’d like to call him in return, but I always bite the inside of my cheek to resist the urge. Partly because I’d be whipped and partly because Miss Kara educated me and taught me all about manners. I realize that an educated wolf with manners might sound laughable. In my line of work, however, education and manners are as lethal as a bear trap to those I hunt. That’s how I lure my marks, how I bait my prey. A pretty face and good grace go a long way for a trained killer like me.

My glance wanders to my leg, the one peeking out from beneath my ratty blanket, and my eyes are drawn to the long jagged scar tracking the length of my calf. I grimace. Even with my education and manners, I never forget what I really am. I’m never allowed to.

“Hey kitten,” Lawrence says. Most would think the nickname is a play on my birth name, Pride. But I know it’s the handler’s way of cutting me down, to find control where he feels none. My parents called me Pride because I was their pride and joy. Lions live in a pride and since lions are cats…

He tosses a collar and chain into my cage. “Leash up.”

I take note of the gun in his holster before my glance locks on his. As I give him a good hard stare, he flinches. The movement is slight, but I notice it. Dressed in my knee length nightgown, long hair loose around my shoulders, I might look like an average seventeen-year-old girl—harmless and innocent—but we all know I’m not.

Even though Lawrence keeps his face blank and stares down at me with those dark eyes of his, he reeks of terror. The scent is like a mixture of hot sweat and rotting compost. Oh, it’s not pretty by any means. Nevertheless, the werewolf slumbering restlessly inside me feeds off his fear, thrives on it, so I inhale and draw it deep into my lungs.

Without taking my eyes off his, I take my time to leash up. My movements are slow and deliberate as I position the collar. Metal grinds metal and the sound cuts the silence as I secure it around my neck. The handler winces. So do the older, more obedient wolves that I bunk with.

Jace cuts me a glance, chocolate eyes now milky from old age warn me to behave. I realize he’s doing it for my own good, but this morning I’m cold and hungry and in no mood for Lawrence’s insults. Clover makes a noise to draw the handler’s attention away from me, and all sets of eyes shift to her.

As Clover tries to pacify Lawrence, averting her gaze in a show of respect and making small talk about the weather, Lawrence opens my mother’s former cage and pulls out her cot. He gives it a good hard shake and the breeze stirs the dust on the unfinished boards masquerading as our ceiling. The particles dance in the stairwell light before falling to the cold, cement floor.
When Lawrence tosses the cot into a corner I stiffen. It can only mean one thing. My mother has been gone for a little over a year now, and I know the master rarely keeps a cell empty for long, which makes me wonder when and how he’s going to fill it?

Who will he breed?

I cringe at the thought of bringing puppies into this world, but know it’s not something I have to worry about. The master would never breed a wolf like me. My mother always said I was a survivor, the only pup in a litter of three to make it, but hey, a runt is a runt. Thanks to Darwin and his theory of ‘natural selection’ a runt is a heritable trait that a pack can do without. When it comes to canine reproduction, only one motto dictates: runts need not apply.
Deep in the bowels of the estate’s basement, the master keeps other wolves, separating the strong and young from one another. I’m smart enough to understand that he distances us so we can’t conspire against him or speak telepathically. Wolves can only use telepathy when in animal form, however. Well, most wolves that is. Oddly enough, I along with Stone, an alpha wolf two years my senior, are able to communicate while in our human forms.

Sometimes the master does in-house breeding, sometimes he sends us out to one of his associates—other drug lords who also harbor werewolves. It’s like he’s running a regular old puppy mill in here. Except his puppies kill for him. Which begs the question, what does my master have in store for me today?

Buy the book: Amazon

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Darkness Before Dawn

2012-01-25T08:51:00.000-08:00

Okay so the book cover reminds me of both this one and this one, but it is still gorgeous right? I love it! ♥ I think this sounds really amazing and I hope it is as great as I am hoping it will be :)

What are you waiting for this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

Giveaway Results!

2012-01-23T08:11:00.000-08:00

It has taken me a while to announce a few of these winner, but finally, here are the results:

Populazzi giveaway:
JP @ Elle Lit

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It's My Birthday! giveaway:

Justine @ a bookful of thoughts

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Triangles giveaway:

Julie Witt

Natalie @ Mindful Musings

Gisele Alv

TFrances

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Silence poster giveaway:

Ivy @ Ivy Reads

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Erotic Me series:
Barbara

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The Hunger Games inspired necklace:

Tiffany

All the winners have been contacted and have until the end of the week to respond or new winners will be chosen. I want to thank everyone who participated and sorry for the delay in getting the winners out there. Look out for more giveaways in the future :)

Book Tour Review | Fangs Rule: A Girl's Guide to Being a Vampire by Amy Mah (Vampire)

2012-01-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

Title: Fangs Rule
Author: Amy Mah (Vampire)
Series: N/A
Publication: 03.28.2011 by Reardon Publishing
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Challenges: 2012 YA Reading Challenge

Summary: The guide is fully illustrated by manga Artist Heby and is written in an easy to follow A - Z format explaining everything a teenage vampire girl would need to know about living life as a modern Vampire.

* What is fashionable to wear when eating out?
* Fang maintenance & how to keep your claws sharp.
* Should you let a boy bite you on the first date?

Easy to understand clear advice is given to every day problems.

Example: When you get an urge to bite:

"We all get those normal urges to bite things, and I must point out it is very normal. Claws are all well and good in a fight but a bite gives the extra advantage of getting a refreshing drink at the same time."

Lots of girls worry about showing their Fangs in public believing that to show your fangs is rude, but don't be shy they can be a girls greatest asset (ok second greatest asset) if a boy is being rude to you, don't just snarl at him, just bite him! You are a vampire why do you think you have sharp teeth if not for sinking them into a boy that is being rude to you.

Thoughts: I jumped at the chance to review Fangs Rule because it sounded like something that would be fun and enjoyable, but also because I liked the cover. I was right because not only was it fun, but it was a humorous, cynical, journal-like guide on what it is like to be teenage vampire girls these days. And let me tell you, all those movies don't have it right. It is obvious from the start that we humans really know nothing.

Lady Amelia Mistress of the Night Mare and Alpha Female from the Family of the Pink Bat, or Amy Mah for short, has been a teenage vampire for quite a few hundred years now. She was raised by humans until adopted by the Pink Bat family, and then had a lot of things to learn. To help all the teenage vampire girls on how to handle being a vampire, she decided to create this enjoyable guide that pretty much explains what you need to know.

Fangs Rule was a quick read for me, but it is a fun book to get into. There is no real story, but we get to learn a little bit of Amy here and there with her explanations and suggestions. She is definitely a witty and sarcastic girl that you can't help but bond with. There are also great illustrations throughout the pages that are very colorful and eye-catching.

There are some grammatical and spelling errors in the book that bothered me a bit, but they didn't really interrupt the flow of the book. There is also plenty of sexual references that are not too explicit, lots of sarcasm, and many definitions that will have you laughing out loud.

Fangs Rule is an great and beautifully illustrated book that I am sure vampire fanatics (like myself) can enjoy and learn from! I definitely recommend this to 13 + readers and anyone looking for a quick, manga style book that teaches a thing or two about vampires. I look forward to learning more about Amy Mah in future books.

About the author:

Amy is a new and very funny author who blogs about her life as a modern vampire trying to put up with both humans and fellow vampires. The author Amy has been transformed into a manga character by the art of Heby Sim, real photos were changed into the wonderful images you will see in her books.

Website | Blog

Buy the Book: Amazon | Book Depository

Review | Christine by Stephen King

2012-01-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Title: Christine
Author: Stephen King
Series: None
Publication: 09.07.2004 by Signet (first published 1981)
Source: Library
Challenge: None

Summary: It was love at first sight.

Just another lovers' triangle, you say? Not quite. There's a fourth here, the second lady, the dark lady. "Cars are girls," Leigh Cabot says, and the dark force in Stephen King's new novel is a 1958 Plymouth named Christine.

She is no ordinary car, this white-over-red two-toned survivor of a time when high-test gasoline was priced at a quarter a gallon and speedometers were calibrated all the way up to a hundred and twenty miles an hour...a time when rock and roll in all its first crude power ruled America...a time when speed was king.

Arnie Cunningham is determined to have Christine at any price, and little by little, Dennis and Leigh begin to suspect that the price of his growing obsession may be terrifyingly high, its result blackly evil. As Arnie sets feverishly to work on the seemingly hopeless job of resorting Christine, Christine begins to develop a terrible life of her own. Or is that only imagination? Dennis continues to hope so...and then people begin to die on Libertyville's dark suburban streets and roads...and the time comes when Dennis can no longer deny the horrifying truth: Christine is alive.

Thoughts: This was officially my first Stephen King novel. I am proud of myself for getting through this. I listened to it, yes. It took me three check out's at the library to get through the whole thing and it took me months. Was it worth it? Oh, yes. Stephen King is popularly known for being awesome. He has a bunch of books and is really famous and everything. Everyone has heard of him. So obviously, I needed to read at least one of his novels in my life. And I am glad I did.

What I liked:

• Christine is a creepy book: Really, I wasn't sure what to expect when reading this type of horror novel, but I am usually not scared easily when it comes to books. But this book, although not really scary, is really creepy. It takes about half of the book before things really start getting spooky and even though we all know what Christine is capable of, I was horrified by how graphic the killing scenes were. It made me freak out a bit and at night I thought about it once or twice while laying in the dark.

• The characters: Dennis was my favorite character pretty much and Arnie's best friend. He narrates the whole book and although he is missing from a chunk of it, he is probably the best character to describe what happens throughout the story. He is there from beginning to end, and sees it all. I instantly liked Dennis because of his relationship with Arnie. They have best friends all their lives and it was obvious that even though Dennis was slightly popular while Arnie was not, they were true friends that remained together.

Arnie, the main character of the book, is obsessed with Christine. He falls in love with her the moment he sees her and although his personality changes a lot throughout the book, I felt sorry for him and really wanted him to be okay. I know that what was happening to him was something he tried to fight, but couldn't.

Leigh, Arnie's parents, Dennis parents, and all the others (because there was a lot!) added a lot to the book and I never had trouble with keeping track of who was who. This is partly because they all had unique names, but each character was described with such detail that their differences were immediately notable.

• The writing: Stephen King's novels are long and so detailed, but I think that pretty much made Christine a great book. Some might think that there is way too much detail, but I don't think so. I enjoyed every word and am glad I got through the whole thing. It was definitely a lengthy read, but worth it.

What I didn't like:
• The ending: Christine has a this-is-the-end-but-not-really kind of ending where you are left wondering if there will ever be a second book or something. I couldn't decide if this was a good or bad thing, because in the end, I was sort of left with a creepy feeling that she's still out there ready to keep killing...

• The different POV: This changes constantly throughout the book, going from third to first, switching characters often. It didn't confuse me or anything, but I wish this would have remained consistent throughout the book instead of changing so much.

Overall: Christine was a great first book to read by a new author to me. Stephen King obviously knows what he is doing and wrote a fantastic book that I was captivated by. I was able to understand and connect with all the characters and couldn't stop listening to learn what would happen next. Very detailed and lengthy, Christine feels very real. I definitely recommend this to those who enjoy horror novels and King's novels.

About the author:
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947. He made his first professional short story sale in 1967 to Startling Mystery Stories. In the fall of 1973, he began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In the spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co., accepted the novel Carrie for publication, providing him the means to leave teaching and write full-time. He has since published over 50 books and has become one of the world's most successful writers.

Website | Amazon

Random Thoughts | Threaded Comments!

2012-01-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

So, I finally switched over to the new interface on blogger. It is really weird because I have used the old one for years. Why did I finally switch over? Well, I figured eventually they would make everyone do it and I might as well get used to it now, right?

Also, I heard about threaded comments. I was doing my daily reading and I noticed one of my favorite bloggers posted a little note about now having threaded comments...what is that, I wondered? I know, I'm still a noob after all these years...anyways, I usually open a bunch a tabs at once to read blogs and I knew I had seen someone else had posted about threaded comments. I decided to go read what this was all about. Emily from Emily's Reading Room wrote up a helpful post that provided information on how to add threaded comments to a customized design.

Amazing! I had no idea Blogger offered this feature now. I instantly gave it a try and voilà! I have threaded comments too :) I am really happy about this new feature and went off and replied to past comments. I always read my comments and I do read every single one of them, but always felt weird replying back with another comment. Now I can reply to your comments this way, yay!

Book Buzz: The Joy of Books

2012-01-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday: The Disenchantments

2012-01-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

There have only been a few reviews on this one, all saying awesome things about it, and I think it sounds great. I didn't get a chance to read this author's first book, Hold Still, so I am really looking forward to trying this one out. Just a little over a month away! I also love that cover ♥

What are you waiting for this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

Monday Recap (01.02 - 01.08)

2012-01-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! Happy Monday :) I hope everyone had an awesome weekend. I spent mine working and working. I've been at work since Wednesday and don't have a day off until this Friday. I am exhausted. But then, I have the next five days off and I am going to Las Vegas, baby! Woo, super excited.

Anyways, reading was a bit on hold for me, but I have gotten through one book. Here's the breakdown...

Here's what I plan to read/finish this week:

Last week I read:
- The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss

I reviewed:
Nothing!

Other Posts:
+ New Look + other new stuff
+ Random Thoughts | Followers and Following
+ Random Reads: Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne
+ The TBR Pile: January

I hope you all have a great week! Happy reading everyone :)

The TBR Pile: January

2012-01-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

I know it's a few days into January, almost a week already, but I really wanted to post a monthly TBR list that would help me keep track of what I want to read and hopefully help push me through the months. So here goes...

• ~~The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss~~
• ~~Bound by Kira Saito~~
• ~~Fangs Rule: A Girl's Guide to Being a Vampire by Amy Mah~~
• Everneath by Brodi Ashton
• Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne [Random Reads]
• Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake [The Paperbrick Wall]
• The Word Gang by Mark McKenna
• Happy Birthday to Me Again by Brian Rowe
• The Shadow (Borrowing Abby Grace, #1) by Kelly Green

Random Reads: Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne

2012-01-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

"Basically it’s a meme where we pick a random book from our shelf to read. I’m on Goodreads so I’m using a combination of the sorting feature and Random.org to pick the book I’m going to read."

I have owned Youth in Revolt since 2010 and I still haven't read it! I am glad I got a book I own this time, because for my first Random Reads post, I got Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen and I didn't read it. I placed a hold at the library, but they never contacted me so I knew they didn't have by the end of the month. This month, I will definitely be reading this book. I am excited. Especially since I also have the movie recorded on my DVR and haven't watched because I haven't read the book. Yay! Want to join in? Check out this month's Random Reads post.

Random Thoughts | Followers and Following

2012-01-04T11:32:00.000-08:00

This has been a topic that has been talked about quite a bit because of the Google Friend Connect widget being removed from non-Blogger blogs. First off, I want to say I love the GFC button. Not because of the number of followers I gain, but because it is the easiest way for me to follow others. I am sad to see it go because some of the blogs I love are removing it and honestly, I don't know how to use any of the other feed readers. They confuse me and I haven't had time to sit and figure them out. I like going to my Dashboard and being able to see all the blogs there and follow the link for each post from there. I've tried subscribing by email, but I don't like getting so many emails into my inbox either.

I follow blogs because I like to read them. I know everyone says that the numbers don't matter, and I truly believe that because I know that I don't follow blogs to get a "follow back." I also don't follow because of giveaways. I mean, sure, I love to get free books (who doesn't?) and it is always nice to see awesome books, gift cards, swag and other good stuff being given away, but I don't follow blogs because of that. I keep the number of blogs I follow at a low number (less than 100...usually) because I take my time to read and comment on the blogs that I read.

I follow blogs because I enjoy what they have to say and sometimes because I really like the way they look too. I don't feel bad about this because blogs that look good inspire me, make me want to visit and read them. I follow because I want to. I find it a bit weird when people follow every book blog because I know there is no way they are reading them all. I also don't like following blogs that everyone is following. If I really like their stuff, of course, I will anyways. But for example, The Story Siren. I love her blog, it is just awesome. But everyone is always up on her blog...why? Because she is the YA book blogger. Everyone knows that. That's why everyone follows. I know that she is a person who does not care about her number of followers, so if I am one who doesn't follow her on GFC...well, so what? I visit her blog constantly, yes, because I enjoy checking back on her content. I like reading what she has to say and share with everyone about her experiences. Does that mean I follow her? Yes. But I am not a follower. And isn't that what really matters?

I am guilty about being why sometimes your numbers decrease by one. I stop following blogs. Yep. I love a blog, follow it and then months later, I might stop following it. Every few months I will clean out my Google Reader and click that "Stop following this site" link and I stop following. There is one main reason why I do this: inactivity. I feel like the number of blogs I follow is limited. I try to keep it somewhere around or under 100 because I know I won't read more than that. So, every several months, I go and check this guy →

I scroll down the list and check what blogs haven't been posting. By not posting, I mean...months. I wait for months of inactivity before I actually leave a blog. And yes, maybe you think I am totally unfair because I always stop blogging for weeks, but again, I wait months. Sometimes a blogger will leave a last post saying that they are sorry, that they'll be back and I stick around. But sometimes, bloggers just leave their blogs without an explanation...and dammit, I feel like I need to know if they are coming back. If they're not and they don't say that they are, I stop following. I always end up wandering back to old blogs. It's hard not to run into book blogs because it's like we all know each other right? So if I come back to a blog I used to follow and I look around and...hey, they're back! I head on over to that little GFC widget and click "Follow" and there you go. Seems fair enough to me.

I love my followers. Yes, yes, I do. All 400+ of them, even the ones that have no images, or blogs and the ones that never comment. Of course, I especially love the ones that take the time to read my posts and leave a comment every once in a while and have been with me since the beginning. Those have a dear place in my heart. But, I am not all about the numbers.

If you have been around my blog for a while you know I don't host a lot of giveaways. Sure, once in a while I do and I hope I will have a chance to host more this year. But they are never super-awesome-everyone-is-dying-to-get-their-hands-on-this kind of giveaway. They are either an ARC copy of an uncommon book, a low amount gift card or some swag. And usually it's for followers I already have. So I don't host giveaways because I want to gain more numbers. Nope.

I started my blog almost three years ago and I have less than 500 followers. And that is totally okay with me. I blog and sit in front of the computer for hours every day because I enjoy it. I like that there are people reading what I have to say, but mostly, I do it for me. I love reading, always have, so I want to talk about them. I want to enjoy them and hear other gush in the comments about how much they loved them too. I love blogging. I have a personal blog and tumblrs (5 of them!) and other social networking stuff because I can't get enough of the internet. Really, I love it.

I also don't hop, because I don't follow every blog. I liked the Blog Hop every Friday and participated for a few weeks. Then I realized my GFC numbers going up like woah...and all these new followers would leave a comment saying they were new and they loved my blog and blah. And then, they'd disappear. So I was done with the hopping. I think it's a great idea to finding new blogs, yeah, and I totally respect if that is your thing. Those are just not for me.

✓ I have been wanting to write this post for some time now, but I wasn't sure what the point of it really was. These were just a few things I wanted to let others know, about why I follow and why my followers are great but the numbers don't mean much to me. I have been doing this for quite some time, and I still love it. That's why I still do it. I don't do it for free books.

New Look + other new stuff

2012-01-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

I decided to change up the blog a bit for the new year. The header and layout are pretty much the same, except the change in colors and now everything is on the right. I wanted something girly, so the flowered background seems perfect for me right now. What do you all think? I think I love it, but I might change it here and there every once in a while.

Another new thing I added are reading badges:

I've actually wanted some of these guys for a while now, but just had the chance to create my own. I read lots of different kinds of books and although I stick mainly to Young Adult, I am always reading adult novels and others. So I decided to add a few reading badges to my reviews. I am changing the layout of my reviews a bit as well and you'll see that in my next review.

I am really happy with the changes I have made and am also looking forward to all the new books I will read this year. Happy reading everyone :)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T21:34:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great first day of the new year. I was out with my family the whole day and just now had a chance to wish everyone a happy new year!

Here are my book related goals for this year:

• Read 75+ books
I only read 54 last year. I was really sad. I hope this year I have more time to read.

• Read only 1 book at a time
I have the habit of reading too may books at once and sometimes I don't finish all of them.

• Complete challenges
I joined them to complete, so I hope I can do that

• Comment & comment
I always take the time to comment and I definitely want to continue that

• Keep up with reviews
I tend to fall behind A LOT on reviews.

• Attend author events:

I got to go to a few in 2011. I want to make that a lot in 2012 :)

I think that's most of them. Of course, my goals for the blog change all the time. We'll just see how the year goes. I'll be posting regularly again soon. Hope you all had a great weekend!

2012 TBR Pile Challenge

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

Host: Bookish
Timeline: 01.01.2012 - 12.31.2012
Rules:
Challenge guidelines:
This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only bloggers can enter. Sorry about that!
Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)
You can move up levels, but no moving down.
Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
At the end of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you will get +1 entry.
If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;)
December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL.
You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!

Levels:
1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

A Firm Handshake

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2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

2011-12-30T05:50:00.000-08:00

Host: The Eclectic Bookshelf
Timeline: 01.01.2012 - 12.31.2012
Rules: Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.
No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

There are four levels:
The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

The Mini

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2012 E-book Challenge

2011-12-30T05:35:00.000-08:00

Host: Workaday Reads
Timeline: 01.01.2012 - 12.31.2012
Rules:
Challenge Guidelines:
This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. If you don't have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
You can move up levels, but no moving down.
Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:
Floppy disk - 5 ebooks
CD - 10 ebooks
DVD - 25 ebooks
Memory stick - 50 ebooks
Hard drive - 75 ebooks
Server - 100 ebooks
Human brain - 150 ebooks

Floppy disk

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2012 Harry Potter Reading Challenge

2011-12-30T05:25:00.000-08:00

Host: The Reading Fever
Timeline: 01.01.2012 - 12.31.2012
Rules: Read all seven books in the Harry Potter series during 2012.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The challenge will run from January 1st, 2012, to December 31st, 2012. Books read before or after this time frame do not count. You can join anytime until the challenge ends.
Books can be in any format: Print, ebook, audiobook, etc..
You do not have to review the books to participate, although you are more than welcome to. If you choose not to review, you can also do the following and still be eligible for prizes:
Answer the discussion questions each month
Create a post talking about each book after you finish (any topic)
Just update your kickoff post after each book
Those without blogs can leave a comment with their thoughts/review/review link.

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2012 Debut Author Challenge

2011-12-30T05:10:00.000-08:00

Host: The Story Siren
Timeline: 01.01.2012 - 12.31.2012
Rules:
CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:
To read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 - January 31, 2013.*
*The 2013 extension is so that December Debuts can be read and count toward the challenge.

RULES & GUIDELINES:
You must have a Blog to post your reviews or be a member of Goodreads.
Your blog must be written in English.
Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.

BOOK GUIDELINES:
Must be a young adult or middle grade title.
Must be the author’s YA or MG debut, released in 2012.
If an author has a previous novel published for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge.

If an author has a previous YA or MG title, they do not qualify for the challenge.

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Pick Your-A-Thon: Starting Line

2011-12-29T10:46:00.000-08:00

Date: December 28th to January 3rd
Goal: You pick! You can participate in a review-a-thon... a read-a-thon.. or BOTH, if you are feeling really adventurous.To join us, declare yourself!

I really wanted to participate in a New Year's Read-A-Thon but didn't seem to find one. This morning, I happened to check my notifications on Goodreads and saw that I was invited to participate in this pick-your-own-thon in which bloggers choose to read or review into the new year. Even though I am a little late, I decided to join in and to read, of course, and am really excited to start. Hopefully I will get a few books finished as the new year starts. I will be updating regularly and participating in the challenges as well. Here is what I am hoping to read:

The Thorn and the Blossom: A Two-Sided Love Story by Theodora Goss [finish reading]
Bound by Kira Saito
Fangs Rule: A Girls Guide to Being a Vampire by Amy Mah

Random Thoughts | Reading Challenges

2011-12-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

For the year 2011 I stayed away from reading challenges. Why? Because I failed at completing most of them in 2010. I miss them though. I really do. So for 2012, I have joined a good amount. You can see which ones I will be participating in (and maybe join in on the fun?) on my Challenges page.

I am really looking forward to all of them! I feel like they will push me to read more this upcoming year. I haven't done as much reading as I had hoped this year, but it was still a pretty decent amount (my best year has been 2010!)

The one I am most excited about is the DAC. I have seen this one for years, but this is the first time I have ventured to participate. They are also doing ARC tours for it this year, so make sure to check those out. I am also really excited about the Harry Potter challenge because I have wanted to re-read the series for quite some time now. I love Harry Potter ♥ I haven't decided what my new reading goal will be. For 2011, I made it 50 books because I knew it would be a busy year. I don't know if I want to keep it at 50 for 2012 too though. I will see as the year progresses :)

The point of this post is to warn my readers that tomorrow I will be posting all my progress posts for all the challenges. They should go up early enough but they will run continuously on my blog for about 2 hours. Just wanted to let you know about the overload that will be coming from me. Good luck with all your reading goals for next year and thanks for reading :)

Top 10 Book Boyfriends in 2011

2011-12-28T13:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I didn't read enough books this year to come up with 10 book boyfriends. And instead of choosing five more from previous years (which I really wanted to) I just stuck with these. Here are my Top 10 5 Book Boyfriends of 2011...

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"Waiting On" Wednesday: Thou Shalt Not Road Trip

2011-12-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

This sounds like a fun book and I think I would really enjoy it. I also love the cover!

What are you waiting for this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

Top 10 Books I've Read in 2011

2011-12-27T22:19:00.000-08:00

Since it is the last week of 2011, like many of you, I wanted to join in and share what my favorites of 2011 were. For today (since I missed this yesterday), I will be talking about my favorite books read this year. I had a really slow year, so I didn't have too many to choose from. In no particular order...

How to Kill a Rockstar by Tiffanie DeBartolo

Why? I love this author, I think she is amazing. I've read two of her books and they each tugged at my heart. I loved this book, it is one of my favorites of all time.

Summary: Written in her wonderfully honest, edgy, passionate and often hilarious voice, Tiffanie DeBartolo tells the story of Eliza Caelum, a young music journalist, and Paul Hudson, a talented songwriter and lead singer of the band Bananafish. Eliza's reverence for rock is equaled only by Paul's, and the two fall wildly in love. When Bananafish is signed by a big corporate label, and Paul is on his way to becoming a major rock star, Eliza must make a heartbreaking decision that leads to Paul's sudden disappearance and a surprise knock-your-socks-off ending.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Why? Another favorite author. I love ~~most of~~ his books and I think his writing is beautifully simple. I thought A Walk to Remember was such a tender book and it made me cry so much. It was really short and I was able to get through it really fast, but it was so powerful. Loved it.

Summary: Every April, when the wind blows from the sea and mingles with the scent of lilacs, Landon Carter remembers his last year at Beaufort High. It was 1958, and Landon had already dated a girl or two. He even swore that he had once been in love. Certainly the last person in town he thought he'd fall for was Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town's Baptist minister. A quiet girl who always carried a Bible with her schoolbooks, Jamie seemed content living in a world apart from the other teens. She took care of her widowed father, rescued hurt animals, and helped out at the local orphanage. No boy had ever asked her out. Landon would never have dreamed of it. Then a twist of fate made Jamie his partner for the homecoming dance, and Landon Carter's life would never be the same. Being with Jamie would show him the depths of the human heart and lead him to a decision so stunning it would send him irrevocably on the road to manhood...

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Why? I read this author's previous book last year, Half Broke Horses, for a book club and I loved it. I thought it was a fantastic read so when I found The Glass Castle, I definitely wanted to read it. It was amazing. Walls honesty and writing make an amazing combination, and her story telling is absolutely captivating. Definitely one of my favorites of all time :)

Summary: Jeannette Walls's father always called her "Mountain Goat" and there's perhaps no more apt nickname for a girl who navigated a sheer and towering cliff of childhood both daily and stoically. In The Glass Castle, Walls chronicles her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents--Rose Mary, her frustrated-artist mother, and Rex, her brilliant, alcoholic father. To call the elder Walls's childrearing style laissez faire would be putting it mildly. As Rose Mary and Rex, motivated by whims and paranoia, uprooted their kids time and again, the youngsters (Walls, her brother and two sisters) were left largely to their own devices. But while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets. Walls describes in fascinating detail what it was to be a child in this family, from the embarrassing (wearing shoes held together with safety pins; using markers to color her skin in an effort to camouflage holes in her pants) to the horrific (being told, after a creepy uncle pleasured himself in close proximity, that sexual assault is a crime of perception; and being pimped by her father at a bar). Though Walls has well earned the right to complain, at no point does she play the victim. In fact, Walls' removed, nonjudgmental stance is initially startling, since many of the circumstances she describes could be categorized as abusive (and unquestioningly neglectful). But on the contrary, Walls respects her parents' knack for making hardships feel like adventures, and her love for them--despite their overwhelming self-absorption--resonates from cover to cover.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Why? I haven't read too many dystopians, but it's pretty much one of my favorite genre's. This became one of my favorites right away because of the unique storyline and amazing writing. I cannot wait to read more of Oliver's books in the future.

Summary: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Why? I love wolf stories, they are awesome. This was a bit of a different take on wolves and I was really glad to finally pick up a book that everyone enjoyed. I am looking forward to the rest of the series, I have yet to read it.

Summary: Grace and Sam share a kinship so close they could be lovers or siblings. But they also share a problem. When the temperature slips towards freezing, Sam reverts to his wolf identity and must retreat into the woods to protect his pack. He worries that eventually his human side will fade away and he will be left howling alone at the lonely moon. A stirring supernatural teen romance.

Tempest by Julie Cross

Why? This was one of the only few YA ARC's I got to read this year and it still hasn't been released. I loved the characters and the story. I loved the writing and the pace. I think everyone should give this one a try, it such a great book.

Summary: The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun. That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities. But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him. Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Why? This was such a sweet story, I could not put it down. I am a huge contemporary fan and this was one of my favorites, ever. I loved the characters and the story and I cannot wait to read more of this author's work.

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 Etienne St. Clair: 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?

Her Sister's Shadow by Katharine Britton

Why? This was unexpectedly one of my favorite reads this year. I wasn't sure what would come from reading this, but the story was really great and I was really glad I signed up for the tour. I definitely recommend this one.

Summary: Renowned painter Lilli Niles is at home in her North London flat when she receives an unexpected call from her elder sister, Bea, who's at the family homestead in Whitehead, Massachusetts. Bea's husband has just died, and she'd like Lilli to fly home to attend the funeral. There are reasons Lilli moved all the way to England to escape her older sister, reasons that have kept them estranged for decades. But something in Bea's voice makes Lilli think it's time to return to the stately house in New England she loved as a child, to the memory of the beloved younger sister they both lost. With Bea more fragile than Lilli remembered, maybe she can finally forgive Bea for a long-ago betrayal that has simmered between them for nearly forty years.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Why? This book was such a sad and powerful read that I am glad I finally read. It is something everyone needs to read, I think. Definitely a favorite of all time.

Summary: Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously - and at great risk - documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives.

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

Why? I was already a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins, so I was really surprised and pleased to see her create an adult novel that was similar to her YA novels, but totally different. I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to more adult novels from her.

Summary: In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T15:03:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the absence, but I have been enjoying my holidays and I hope that all of you have been too, be that Christmas, Yuletide, Hanukkah, Festivus, Inti Raymi, Modranect, Yalda, Malanka, Kwanzaa, Chrismahanukwanzadan, Flying Spaghetti Monster Day, or a.n.other. I hope you are having a great time with your loved ones. I will be back soon!

Holiday Hiatus (but not really)

2011-12-20T07:46:00.000-08:00

I got done with finals last week (woo!) and will be off from school for the next three odd weeks or so. I have been busy with work related stuff though, with spending time with family, friends and boyfriend, and with relaxing. It is so nice to be out of school for winter break. Anyhow, I haven't been reading much. I have, but I haven't. I usually race from one book to another because of review deadlines, tours, etc., and feel like I haven't read a book for fun in a long time. I have a few that I want to enjoy during this break and I don't want to have to think about reviewing them until after the holidays are over.

I am not leaving my blog. You might've noticed I am still doing the weekly meme's and having this awesome giveaway, as well as a few other random posts. I just don't plan on reviewing any books from now til...sometime next year. I hope everyone is having a happy winter break and happy holidays.

In My Mailbox 48

2011-12-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

For review:
The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss
The Word Gang by Mark McKenna

Giveaway! The Hunger Games inspired Necklace

2011-12-15T17:05:00.000-08:00

Tune in Tuesday {7} | The Doo Wop Shop

2011-12-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music.

To participate, just help spread the love of music by sharing a song with others.

I think to get a real feel of a new-to-you artist, it takes more than one or two songs. That's why for my Tune in Tuesday I have decided to create a short playlist instead, of each artist I pick choose every week, instead of just one song.

Enjoy :)

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Okay, these guys are awesome. I decided that instead of creating the usual playlist of shows I have been to, I wanted to share one video of The Doo Wop Shop guys with all of you. I have never seen these guys (they are in Massachusetts after all) but I would love to see these guys perform at a local school or something. I know they are not famous or anything, and that you probably haven't heard of them, but they are quite talented and on my "bucket list." Enjoy :)

Performers: UMass Amherst A Cappella group: The Doo Wop Shop

Arranged by Jake DiGregorio
Soloists:
Chris Kazarian (Circle of Life - Lion King)
Tim Colby (I Can Go the Distance - Hercules)
Ian McCracken (I Wanna Be Like You - Jungle Book)
Geoff Herrmann (Strangers Like Me - Tarzan)
Keais Pope (I'll Make A Man Out of You - Mulan)
Alec Hutson (Prince Ali - Aladdin)
Jake DiGregorio (Gaston Reprise - Beauty and the Beast)
Justin Husted (Kiss the Girl - Little Mermaid)
Ronald Vorce (Part of Your World - Little Mermaid)

In My Mailbox 47

2011-12-11T23:04:00.000-08:00

For review:
Waitlisted by Laurel Gans
Pride's Run by Cat Kalen
Ugly to Start With by John Michael Cummings

Fangs Rule: A Girl's Guide to being a Vampire by Amy Mah
Bound by Kira Saito
Borrowing Abby Grace: Top of the Class by Kelly Green
The New Death and Others by James Hutchings

Won:
Death, Taxes and a French Manicure by Diane Kelly (thanks Dream!)

Book Tour: Review + Giveaway | Saving June by Hannah Harrington

2011-12-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

Title: Saving June
Author: Hannah Harrington
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: 05.01.2011 by Harlequin Teen
Pages: 336
Source: KismetBT

Summary: If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.

When Harper Scott’s older sister, June, takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split up her sister’s ashes, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the urn and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going—California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession…and an unknown connection to June. So when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs. Except…Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down—again.

Cover: It is a really simple cover but it has always caught my attention.

Thoughts: Saving June opens with Harper Scott attending her older sisters funeral. Instantly we know that there is no way this is not going to be a sad book to read. Harper's sister June committed suicide, and no one really knows why. As Harper struggles with the decision her seemingly perfect sister made, she decides to do something that will eventually change her as well: save June.

Harper is an instantly likable and relatable character. She is an angry, insecure, cynical, confused, bluntly honest, black-nail-polish-wearing-kinda girl, which most teen girls have at one point or another been. In order to save June, she and her best friend Laney, who is really an awesome person and the kind of best friend we all need, and a strange boy, Jake, set off to California. The three deal with their grief along the way, and their trip is both sad and humorous, which helps them in their healing and discover more about life.

Hannah Harrington’s debut novel Saving June is an amazing mixture of angst, humor, hurting and healing. Angry and confused by her sister's, June, suicide, Harper Scott embarks on this journey with her two friends that will forever change their lives and fulfills June’s dream: get to California. I definitely recommend this to those who are okay with reading about pain, loss and heartache because this book does not shy away from those emotions, but also reminds of those little moments and people that make life living. This is definitely a great read that you shouldn't miss.

Favorite Quote:“He took his pain and turned it into something beautiful. Into something that people connect to. And that's what good music does. It speaks to you. It changes you.”

Website | Twitter

Goodreads | Amazon

About the author: Hannah Harrington resides in Michigan with one dog and too many cats. When she isn’t busy writing like a crazy person, she enjoys arguing about politics, watching documentaries, playing guitar (very badly) and speaking about herself in the third person.

Hannah shared with us some her favorite songs at the moment. Check out the
awesome playlist she came up with!

From Idea to Published

My favorite songs and what I like to listen to change from a day-to-day basis, depending on whatever mood I’m in. If I’m feeling down, I just want to listen to sad songs and wallow for a bit; other times I want to listen to something that will pump me up and get excited about life. This is sort of a mix of that!

Ten Songs I'm Currently Into:

I’m sure that of the three characters in Saving June, Laney would approve of the inclusions of Adele and Eminem, Harper would appreciate the RiloKiley, and Jake would side-eye the lack of classic rock, comforted only by Elvis Costello’s inclusion on the list. Whatever, Jake, don’t judge me! You don’t know my life!

Thanks to Hannah and KismetBT, we have a special giveaway for you! Hannah is offering two give-aways for those following her tour! The first give-away is a daily one. Each tour stop can offer the prize of a hardcopy of Saving June. The second give-away is a grand prize of a gorgeous iPod skinned with the cover art from Saving June!

Make sure to check out the rest of the tour as well!

Monday, November 28th – Reading Angel
Wednesday, November 30st – The Secret Life of an Avid Reader
Friday, December 2nd – The Book Cellar
Monday, December 5th - The Unread Reader
Wednesday, December 7th – Mindful Musings
Friday, December 9th – Oodles of Books
Monday, December 12nd - Alice Marvels
Wednesday, Deember 14th - Letters Inside Out
Friday, December 15th – YA bibliophile

Tune in Tuesday {6} | Say Anything

2011-12-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music.

To participate, just help spread the love of music by sharing a song with others.

I think to get a real feel of a new-to-you artist, it takes more than one or two songs. That's why for my Tune in Tuesday I have decided to create a short playlist instead, of each artist I pick choose every week, instead of just one song.

Enjoy :)

---------------------------------------------------------------

Say Anything North American Fall Tour (2010)

Say Anything North American Fall Tour (2010) by Cindy Pliego on Grooveshark

"I'd walk through hell for you, let it burn right through my shoes, these soles are useless without you...through hell for you, let the torturing ensue; My soul is useless without you."

I heard of Say Anything years ago, when I stumbled upon one of their songs on YouTube. I didn't pay much attention to them again until I saw the poster of the band hanging on the wall of my boyfriend's room (back when he was just a friend.) For my birthday last year, he gave me tickets to go see them and I was really excited. I hadn't gone to too many shows in the past, and never before to The House of Blues. Valencia and Saves the Day played before Say Anything and Motion City Soundtrack came right after (that's why I added all four bands to the playlist.) It was a great show and I loved every second of it. Say Anything has definitely become one of my favorite bands, but I am still a newbie to the genre.

Monday Recap (11.28 - 12.04)

2011-12-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday friends! I hope you all had a great weekend. I spent most of my weekend working and working. Fun stuff. More work today, but then I am off for the rest of the week. I am looking forward to two weeks from now when finals are over and school has ended. I cannot wait! I had a slow week in reading and posting, but I am looking to change that now. I decided to bring back this weekly feature that I used to do once a week. It really helps to motivate me to get through at least a few books every week.

Here's what I plan to read/finish this week:

Last week I read:
- Let Me In by Lauren Hawkeye

I reviewed:
- Let Me In by Lauren Hawkeye + giveaway [review]
- Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys [review]

Other posts:
+ Tune in Tuesday {5} | The Postal Service
+ Random Acts of Kindness: Year Closing!
+ Random Reads: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

I hope you all have an awesome week! Don't forget to check out my giveaway here.

Random Reads: Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

2011-12-02T13:45:00.000-08:00

"Basically it’s a meme where we pick a random book from our shelf to read. I’m on Goodreads so I’m using a combination of the sorting feature and Random.org to pick the book I’m going to read."

I have been looking forward to reading Along for the Ride for a long while now, as you can tell (2009!) and I am really excited to get my hands on it. I don't own a copy, so I have placed a hold on a copy at my city library. Hopefully it won't take too long to get it. Want to join in on the fun? Check out this month's Random Reads post.

Review | Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

2011-12-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Genre: Young Adult
Publication: 03.22.2011 by Philomel Books
Pages: 344
Source: Library

Summary: Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously - and at great risk - documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives.

Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

Cover: A very simple, calm looking cover that I find very nice.

Thoughts: Between Shades of Gray is a powerful, moving and heartbreaking novel that I am very glad that I picked it up. Like many others who read this, I had no idea of these events that took place during WWII, at the same time as when Hitler was in control. Stalin was just as cruel to people and he killed millions, but it is shocking that this part of history is so unknown. Between Shades of Gray is definitely an eye-opening book that I am glad Ruta Sepetys decided to write and share with the rest of us.

The author does an amazing job in telling the tale of Lina, an excellent character, who struggles to survive in such terrible conditions. She is a brave young girl and everything that she does to live shows how courageous she really is. Her mother and brother and extremely important characters that the reader learns to love as well, so it is really painful to watch them all suffer so much.

The story is told with glimpses into the past, and it is really sad to learn how wonderful Lina's life really was before their life was destroyed. There are a few light moments in which the reader can see how hope can help some situations seem a little better, but overall, this is a tough book to read. It is an amazing story, but it is also horrifying. I cried in several parts of this book, but I enjoyed each and every one of the pages.

I recommend this to others who have read and enjoyed books based on the Holocaust or who would be interested in learning more about that part of history. Though it is historical fiction, the experiences that the author describes were real and make this book a must read. Also be sure to read the last part in which the author shares her family's experiences during the 1940's, it adds a lot to the ending of the book.

*I listened to the audio version of this book, and while I did not like the narrator's voice, it did not make this book any less amazing, and that is why I still gave it 5 stars.

Favorite Quote: "Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch."

Facebook | Website | Blog

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Random Acts of Kindness: 2011 Closing!

2011-12-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

I joined in on R.A.K. hosted by Book♥Soulmates in April. Haven't heard of it? Well its a neat feature that I now love and will be signing up for each month, if possible. Here's a little blurb on it:

"Random Acts of Kindness" is something I've been dreaming about doing since last year! Isalys and I are always finding bookish goodies to give each other 'just because' {I ♥ my bestie!}. We love seeing the look on the other person's face when they light up after receiving 'that book you've been dying for'. I figured why not create a way to promote goodwill amongst our fellow book soulmates? There's nothing like the feeling you get when doing something thoughtful for another person without expecting something in return. You brighten their day and let them know 'hey, you were thought of today'. :)

It's the last month of the year now, and I decided not to join in for December. I did want to share with all of you what books I got from May until November on the few months that I participated, and thank all those who sent books to me. Thank you so much for your kindness ♥ I hope that this feature will continue next year too, so that I can participate again.

Many thanks to: Emily, Tina, Grace, Beth, Jessica, Krazzyme

I know all the books I received were not "R.A.K's" but they were still an act of kindness and I appreciate it!

Book Tour: Review + Giveaway | Let Me In by Lauren Hawkeye

2011-12-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

Title: Let Me In
Series: Erotic Me #4
Author: Lauren Hawkeye
Genre: Erotic Fiction
Publication: 12.01.2011 by Spice Briefs [TODAY!]
Source: Bewitching Book Tours

Summary: Imogen hasn’t had sex with her husband, Ty, in over a year. She’s still as attracted to him as ever, but they’ve both been looking for something new to renew their desire for one another. Yet she never thought to find it at a friend’s wedding when another couple invites them to share their bed. Ty is obviously aroused by the idea and the thought of a ménage thrills Imogen to her core. Could this be the key to rekindling their passion…and can Imogen go through with it?

Cover: Looks pretty much like the others in the series, so it is not very special in any way.

Thoughts: Unfortunately, I was hoping this one would be different from the last one in the Erotic Me series, which was about a woman and her sexual interactions with two men, and would leave me wanting more. From the summary though, you can read that Let Me In involves two couples and that sort of threw me off a bit.

Like the others in the series, Let Me In takes place during the wedding. Ty and Imogen are having troubles in the bedroom and have not made love in a year. Struggling with this and with herself, Imogen sort of sits around and blames herself the entire time. Imogen is insecure about the way she looks and she beats herself up about it the whole time, which eventually got annoying. Ty, her husband, is not as interesting as I hoped he would be. He is obviously still attracted to his wife, but Imogen is so unsure of herself that she doesn't really see this.

After overhearing a couple talking about swinging with others, they are invited to join them at the hotel room. It caught me off guard how easily Imogen was willing to participate, even though she claims to have never thought about it before. She seems pretty confident that this will help her marriage and so they decide to go ahead with it. Before reaching the room, things spice up with her and her husband, but instead of heading to their own bedroom to rekindle their fire, they still continue to the other couple's bedroom.

That pretty much made me want to stop reading, but I didn't. Things in the bedroom get sexually intense pretty quickly, but I wasn't really interested in reading between two couples and their sexual interactions. Imogen's quick decision in the end definitely made this a little better though, and I was able to read the end with a little satisfaction. Unlike the other books, this one had a lot more emotional problems and seriousness that made me wish it was longer. Not because of the two couple action, but because I wanted to learn more about Imogen and Ty, about their marriage and if they would be able to work it out. Their love and attraction still seems to be there, but it is tough to understand in such few pages why things have been going badly for them. I really wished that I could have learned more about them.

This was not my favorite in the series but it was still a good read. It can be be enjoyed by anyone who likes reading about ménage and is looking for a quick, fun read. Overall, I found the Erotic Me series to be fun and sexy, with a little bit of this and that for everyone to enjoy. The author was able to create a great short series that I am sure many will enjoy and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Facebook | Website | Goodreads

About the author: Lauren Hawkeye is a writer, theatre enthusiast, knitting aficionado and animal lover who lives in the shadows of the great Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.

She’s older than she looks—really—and younger than she feels—most of the time—and she loves to explore the journeys that take women through life in her stories.

Thanks to Lauren Hawkeye and Bewitching Book Tours, I have the 4 e-books of the Erotic Me series to offer to one winner!

Tune in Tuesday {5} | The Postal Service

2011-11-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music.

To participate, just help spread the love of music by sharing a song with others.

I think to get a real feel of a new-to-you artist, it takes more than one or two songs. That's why for my Tune in Tuesday I have decided to create a short playlist of each artist I pick each week, instead of choosing one song.

Enjoy :)

---------------------------------------------------------------

The Postal Service

The Postal Service by Cindy Pliego on Grooveshark

"Will someone please call a surgeon who can crack my ribs and repair this broken heart that you're deserting for better company? I can't accept that it's over and I will block the door like a goalie tending the net in the third quarter of a tied-game rivalry. So just say how to make it right and I swear I'll do my best to comply. Tell me, am I right to think that there could be nothing better than making you my bride and slowly growing old together?"

The Postal Service is one of my all time favorite bands. The first time I heard of them was a few years ago when a guy made me a love mix and added Such Great Heights to it. It wasn't until about a year ago though that I actually looked up the band and found so many other songs that I loved, but sadly discovered that they no longer "existed". I am in love with Ben Gibbard's voice ♥ and I do love Death Cab for Cutie, but I wish I could have seen these guys at least once.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T00:30:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving day with loved ones ♥
I will be spending this day with my family and eating lots of yummy food :D

In My Mailbox 46

2011-11-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

Bought
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

R.A.K
Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
thanks Tina!

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Incarnate

2011-11-16T10:14:00.000-08:00

This sounds really different and really good. I love reading anything that has to do with souls + it's a love story! I love the colors used for the cover although, I must admit, I find the butterfly on her face a little weird :)

What are you waiting for this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

Review | The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

2011-11-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

Title: The Lover's Dictionary
Author: David Levithan
Genre: Fiction
Publication: 01.04.2011 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 211
Source: Library

Summary:

basis, n.

There has to be a moment at the beginning when you wonder whether you’re in love with the person or in love with the feeling of love itself.

If the moment doesn’t pass, that’s it—you’re done. And if the moment does pass, it never goes that far. It stands in the distance, ready for whenever you want it back. Sometimes it’s even there when you thought you were searching for something else, like an escape route, or your lover’s face.

How does one talk about love? Do we even have the right words to describe something that can be both utterly mundane and completely transcendent, pulling us out of our everyday lives and making us feel a part of something greater than ourselves? Taking a unique approach to this problem, the nameless narrator of David Levithan’s The Lover’s Dictionary has constructed the story of his relationship as a dictionary. Through these short entries, he provides an intimate window into the great events and quotidian trifles of being within a couple, giving us an indelible and deeply moving portrait of love in our time.

Cover: It's very simple, but I like that the heart is made of words and that the hearts and letter "V" are in red around the cover.

May contain spoilers, but not really. Just proceed with caution.

Thoughts: I was pretty excited to pick this up because I have heard good things about the author from plenty of bloggers. This was probably not the best book to start off with because it didn't provide the feel for the author's writing that I expected. I was pretty entertained for the first few pages of the book, until I realized that there was no chronological order to the "story," if we can call it that. There is definitely two main characters whose names we never know and we can figure out the book is told through the guy's POV. The story is told only through words and their definitions but the story is out of order.

blemish, n.

The slight acne scars. The penny-sized, penny-shaped birthmark right above your knee. The dot below your shoulder that must have been from when you had chicken pox in third grade. The scratch on your neck -- did I do that?

This brief transcript of moments, written on the body, is so deeply satisfying to read.

There were several times that I felt like I needed a dictionary to read this though because some words were new to me and for some reason, the tidbit that was supposed to "define" the word left me just as clueless about it. For example, the word "doldrums"...well what the heck is that?

doldrums, n.

The proper verb for depression is sink.

If you know what doldrums means, this might make a little more sense. I, in fact, had to look up what it meant because that definition did not help me whatsoever. But even that didn't stop me from wanting to know what would happen next, so I didn't put the book down until I was done.

Even though I was a little disappointed that there was no order, there were definitely connections between the words. It was evident right away what there is no way to know what is going on in regards to time, but about half way through the book it is easier to understand where the story is going. I am not sure exactly how the story ends and this sort of left me a little confused when I finally finished the book. I could literally write down the last word in the book and y'all would not know what happens. I know what happens from previous words, but I don't know how it really all ends. Does that make sense? If you've read the book, then maybe it does. If you haven't read it, maybe you should give it a try.

posterity, n.

I try not to think about us growing old together, mostly because I try not to think about growing old at all. Both things -- the years passing, the years together -- are too enormous to contemplate. But one morning, I gave in. You were asleep, and I imagined you older and older. Your hair graying, your skin folded and creased, your breath catching. And I found myself thinking: If this continues, if this goes on, then when I die, your memories of me will be my greatest accomplishment. Your memories will be my most lasting impression.

I definitely liked The Lover's Dictionary. It is a love story and I am a hopeless romantic. But it is also real look at relationships. Not all the words are cute and fluffy. There were several that made me cry because I could totally relate to them. My favorite word in the entire book is probably the most hurtful one. Whether you're a romantic or not, you should pick this one up. I know everyone will be able to find a bit of themselves in at least one word in this book.

Favorite quote [This quote has been hidden because it may contain spoilers. To view it, highlight]:

"livid, adj.

Fuck you for cheating on me. Fuck you for reducing it to the word cheating. As if this were a card game, and you sneaked a look at my hand. Who came up with the term cheating, anyway? A cheater, I imagine. Someone who thought liar was too harsh. Someone who thought devastator was too emotional. The same person who thought, oops, he'd gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Fuck you. This isn't about slipping yourself an extra twenty dollars of Monopoly money. These are our lives. You went and broke our lives. You are so much worse than a cheater. You killed something. And you killed it when its back was turned."

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Tune in Tuesday {4} | Rosi Golan

2011-11-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music.

To participate, just help spread the love of music by sharing a song with others.

I think to get a real feel of a new-to-you artist, it takes more than one or two songs. That's why for my Tune in Tuesday I have decided to create a short playlist of each artist I pick each week, instead of choosing one song.

Enjoy :)

---------------------------------------------------------------

Rosi Golan

Rosi Golan by Cindy Pliego on Grooveshark

Review | The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond

2011-11-14T13:57:00.000-08:00

Title: The Year of Fog
Author: Michelle Richmond
Genre: Fiction - Contemporary
Publication: 02.28.2006 by Bantam
Pages: 466 (11 CD's)
Source: Library

Summary: Life changes in an instant. On a foggy beach. In the seconds when Abby Mason—photographer, fiancée, soon-to-be-stepmother—looks into her camera and commits her greatest error. Heartbreaking, uplifting, and beautifully told, here is the riveting tale of a family torn apart, of the search for the truth behind a child’s disappearance, and of one woman’s unwavering faith in the redemptive power of love—all made startlingly fresh through Michelle Richmond’s incandescent sensitivity and extraordinary insight.

Six-year-old Emma vanished into the thick San Francisco fog. Or into the heaving Pacific. Or somewhere just beyond: to a parking lot, a stranger’s van, or a road with traffic flashing by. Devastated by guilt, haunted by her fears about becoming a stepmother, Abby refuses to believe that Emma is dead. And so she searches for clues about what happened that morning—and cannot stop the flood of memories reaching from her own childhood to illuminate that irreversible moment on the beach.

Now, as the days drag into weeks, as the police lose interest and fliers fade on telephone poles, Emma’s father finds solace in religion and scientific probability—but Abby can only wander the beaches and city streets, attempting to recover the past and the little girl she lost. With her life at a crossroads, she will leave San Francisco for a country thousands of miles away. And there, by the side of another sea, on a journey that has led her to another man and into a strange subculture of wanderers and surfers, Abby will make the most astounding discovery of all—as the truth of Emma’s disappearance unravels with stunning force.

A profoundly original novel of family, loss, and hope—of the choices we make and the choices made for us—The Year of Fog beguiles with the mysteries of time and memory even as it lays bare the deep and wondrous workings of the human heart. The result is a mesmerizing tour de force that will touch anyone who knows what it means to love a child.

Cover: I love the grainy, textured look it has. It was what caught my attention and made want to read this book.

Thoughts: I don't know. I want to say I loved it because part of me did, but there were also a few things that bothered me.

What I liked:

• Abby is one determined woman. This could possibly because of the immense guilt she feels after losing Emma. But it could also be because of love. She wasn't too sure about it, but Abby might have loved Emma like a daughter. And she wasn't ready to stop searching.

• Part of the story takes place in the past. Before Emma and before Jake. We get to learn about Abby from small glimpses into her childhood, things she learned in her teens, how she got along with her parents and relationships that changed her life. I really was able to appreciate how well the author transitioned from the present into the past, connecting each moment in the present to a moment in from the past that would show why each thing happened the way it did.

• The secondary characters. Abby's sister, neighbor, client, and her first love, Ramon. They are not in the book all that much, but they each have an important role to play that sort of changed the outcome of things. For example, Ramon was a photographer. When he died in a tragic accident, Abby picked up his hobby in honor of his life, and it turned into her career. If she hadn't looked away for those few seconds to take a picture that day maybe Emma wouldn't have disappeared...

• The writing. Yes, I thought it was a little bit of a long story, but Richmond's writing is beautiful. Each scene is described in an almost poetic way and I could really feel and see the things I was reading. I really like when I can "see" what is going on in a book, and The Year of the Fog definitely provided that for me.

• The setting. San Francisco and Costa Rica. The beach. Like I said above, described in great detail that I could see them perfectly.

• The ending. Sure, it was sad and left me feeling sorta empty and alone but I think that was a good thing. Part of me also felt hopeful and that alone changed my mind about not liking the ending.

What I didn't like:

• Probably the only thing that really bothered me was the length. I listened to this but it took me weeks to get through it. It felt like we were going in circles, never really moving on. But that could have just been the author's intention. After all, Abby can't seem to move on and accept that Emma is gone forever.

• Jake. He's Emma's father and is devastated that Emma is lost. So why does he give up so quickly? Okay, maybe not so quickly. But it seemed that Abby had more of a connection with Emma. Abby was so sure that Emma was out there waiting; she could feel it. Not Jake though. And sure, it might make sense that he might just want to move on with his life, but the way he seems to just return to "normal" bothered me. The way he accepted Emma's mom back into his life like she was totally an okay person was not okay either. Not liking Jake could have also been the authors intention though, so I don't think it was a bad part of the book.

• The ending. It made me feel sad and alone. This is something I liked and didn't like. I have mixed feelings about how this book ended and sort of wished the author would've pushed it a bit further.

Overall: The Year of the Fog was a great story, there is no denying that. Sure, it felt lengthy but was also full of amazing details, great characters, and I never really felt like I wanted to give up on reading it. It made me feel mostly sad, but definitely hopeful. And always thinking that love can overcome anything. There were many more things that I liked about this book than not, so I give this book 4 stars. I recommend it to others who are looking for a powerful contemporary novel. This one might be a bit difficult to get through, but not at all disappointing.

Favorite Line: “We take pictures because we can't accept that everything passes, we can't accept that the repetition of a moment is an impossibility. We wage a monotonous war against our own impending deaths, against time that turns children into that other, lesser species: adults. We take pictures because we know we will forget. We will forget the week, the day, the hour. We will forget when we were happiest. We take pictures out of pride, a desire to have the best of ourselves preserved. We fear that we will die and others will not know we lived.”

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Book Buzz: The Hunger Games Movie Trailer | 2 ♥

2011-11-14T07:25:00.000-08:00

I know you'll be seeing this all day, but OMG isn't it awesome? Seriously, I haven't been disappointed so far. I even teared up a bit while watching this. I really hope the movie ends up being as awesome as these trailers have been. What do you all think of this new trailer?

Book Buzz: The Hunger Games Movie Trailer ♥

In My Mailbox 45

2011-11-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

For review:
The Moon Coin by Richard Due
Borrowing Abby Grace by Kelly Green
Girl Steals Guy by Kelly Green

Bought:
Fuse of Armageddon by Sigmund Brouwer
Dodge the Bullet by Christy Hayes
For Time and Eternity by Allison Pittman
The Queen of New Beginnings by Erica James
Fairytale by Maggie Shayne
I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell
Hollowland by Amanda Hocking
Jenny Pox by JL Bryan

Random Thoughts | Consistent Reviews?

2011-11-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

I haven't written a review for about a week, even though I have a few books waiting to be reviewed, because I was debating changing my reviewing style. A few months ago I stumbled upon Alison Can Read's discussion post: How to Write a Review. It's a great post about the basic idea on how to write a good review that includes great content and will attract more readers. She included that blog reviews should be consistent. This is what she had to say about it:

"Here's where I don't follow my own advice. I think the best blog has a standard format for reviews, so the reader knows what to expect when she looks at your blog. My reviews are definitely not consistent. As I said above, my reviews range from multi-paragraph essays to numbered outlines to good v. bad. How I write my review depends on what comes to me in the moment."

I've had my blog for quite some time now and my reviews have always followed the "standard paragraph" format. I have always been okay with this and really didn't feel like changing it until now. Recently I read some books that I just felt like writing reviews in list form: good vs. bad, numbered lists, etc. I checked out many blogs and found that not many ever really change up their reviewing style. Most bloggers stick to one style. So I became a little hesitant about actually changing my style because I thought this might steer readers away.

But there are also blogs that mix up their reviews all the time. For example, Juju at Tales of Whimsy writes her reviews a little different all the time. Gianna at A Neverending Fantasy, a fairly new book blogger, recently wrote a book review in a Dear Author format that I really liked instead of her usual paragraph form. Cara at Chasing Words also has changed her reviews over time. Lately her reviews have been paragraph form but here's an example of a review describing what she loved and didn't love. Heather from Proud Book Nerd also writes out what she loved and didn't love in some of her reviews, instead of keeping it her usual paragraph form.

After some thought, I did decide to start to change up my reviews a bit. I like the paragraph style, but I also like the many other ways of writing reviews out there and I try a few new ways of writing. I don't know if this will affect anyone who reads my blog but I will do it because it will make a happier reviewer/blogger. I still want to know what you think about it though.

Do you prefer consistent reviews? Do you/would you steer away from blogs that had different review writing styles every time you read their reviews? Does it make a difference to you at all?

Author Event Recap + Giveaway: Becca Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Miles & Moira Young | Reading & Signing

2011-11-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, I got the opportunity to meet author's Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush saga) Elizabeth Miles (Fury) and Moira Young (Blood Red Road.) It was an awesome event to attend at one of my local B&N stores. We arrived a little late (the boyfriend & I) so we had to sit all the way in the back. My boyfriend was nice enough to stand the entire time though so he could get some pictures of all the ladies talking.

All three planned to read from their books, but since Becca figured maybe a good chunk of the crowd might not have read the second or third books in her saga (and she was right!) she told us a sweet story on how one of the scenes was inspired from her teen years. Pretty funny stuff that involves a hot dog and peer pressure :)

Elizabeth did read from Fury and it sounds like such a creepy book! I definitely need to get to reading that. I bought the HC of the book even though I had an ARC copy, so one day when I read and review Fury, I will have a signed ARC to give away, yay! :)

Moira told us how she was an actress and a few other things before deciding to write, so when she read from Blood Red Road it was so awesome. She "acted" out some of it by changing voices and moving around a bit. It was such an intense scene too; another book I am dying to read!

After they answered some questions from the audience, there was signing. The line for Becca was the longest, so I got to take pictures and chat with Moira and Elizabeth. This resulted in being one of the last to meet Becca. By then I was tired and anxious to get home (because I am pretty sure the boyfriend was bored, even though he didn't admit it!) but it was definitely worth the wait. Becca was super nice and she was handing out signed posters to everyone who wanted them. I managed to snag one but...it's been neglected in my room. So look below for a chance to win that!

Overall, it was awesome! Unfortunately I couldn't afford to buy multiple copies to give away to my readers, sorry guys. And I still haven't read the books I got at this event either, but I will soon :)

-----------------------------------------------
Giveaway

Thanks to the author of the Hush, Hush saga, Becca Fitzpatrick, I have 1 signed poster (20" x 8.5") to give to my readers of her latest book, Silence.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: For Darkness Shows the Stars

2011-11-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

I just heard of this for the first time this past week and it sounds amazing, doesn't it? And I love that cover, it's so beautiful ♥

What are you waiting for this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

Tune in Tuesday {3} | Bright Eyes

2011-11-08T08:24:00.000-08:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music.

To participate, just help spread the love of music by sharing a song with others.

I think to get a real feel of a new-to-you artist, it takes more than one or two songs. That's why for my Tune in Tuesday I have decided to create a short playlist of each artist I pick each week, instead of choosing one song.

Enjoy :)

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Bright Eyes

Book Buzz: Exclusive Sneak Peak at Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2011-11-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

Title: Cinder
Series: Book 1 of the Lunar Chronicles
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Expected Publication: 01.03.2012 by Macmillan
Pages: 400

H
umans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

I first heard of Cinder a week ago and after receiving this exclusive look into the first chapter, I had to share it with all you that haven't had a chance to check it out. Enjoy :)

scroll

Chapter 1 of Cinder:

The screw through cinder's ankle had rusted, the engraved cross marks worn to a mangled circle. Her knuckles ached from forcing the screwdriver into the joint as she struggled to loosen the screw one gritting twist after another. By the time it was extracted far enough for her to wrench free with her prosthetic steel hand, the hairline threads had been stripped clean.

Tossing the screwdriver onto the table, Cinder gripped her heel and yanked the foot from its socket. A spark singed her fingertips and she jerked away, leaving the foot to dangle from a tangle of red and yellow wires.

She slumped back with a relieved groan. A sense of release hovered at the end of those wires— freedom. Having loathed the too- small foot for four years, she swore to never put the piece of junk back on again. She just hoped Iko would be back soon with its replacement.

Cinder was the only full- service mechanic at New Beijing's weekly market. Without a sign, her booth hinted at her trade only by the shelves of stock android parts that crowded the walls. It was squeezed into a shady cove between a used netscreen dealer and a silk merchant, both of whom frequently complained about the tangy smell of metal and grease that came from Cinder's booth, even though it was usually disguised by the aroma of honey buns from the bakery across the square. Cinder knew they really just didn't like being next to her.

A stained tablecloth divided Cinder from browsers as they shuffled past. The square was filled with shoppers and hawkers, children and noise. The bellows of men as they bargained with robotic shop keepers, trying to talk the computers down from their desired profit t margins. The hum of ID scanners and monotone voice receipts as money changed accounts. The netscreens that covered every building and filled the air with the chatter of advertisements, news reports, gossip.
Cinder's auditory interface dulled the noise into a static thrumming, but today one melody lingered above the rest that she couldn't drown out. A ring of children were standing just outside her booth, trilling—"Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!"— and then laughing hysterically as they collapsed to the pavement.

A smile tugged at Cinder's lips. Not so much at the nursery rhyme, a phantom song about pestilence and death that had regained popularity in the past de cade. The song itself made her squeamish. But she did love the glares from passersby as the giggling children fell over in their paths. The inconvenience of having to swarm around the writhing bodies stirred grumbles from the shoppers, and Cinder adored the children for it.

"Sunto! Sunto!"

Cinder's amusement wilted. She spotted Chang Sacha, the baker, pushing through the crowd in her flour- coated apron. "Sunto, come here! I told you not to play so close to—"

Sacha met Cinder's gaze, knotted her lips, then grabbed her son by the arm and spun away. The boy whined, dragging his feet as Sacha ordered him to stay closer to their booth. Cinder wrinkled her nose at the baker's retreating back. The remaining children fled into the crowd, taking their bright laughter with them.

"It's not like wires are contagious," Cinder muttered to her empty booth.

With a spine- popping stretch, she pulled her dirty fingers through her hair, combing it up into a messy tail, then grabbed her blackened work gloves. She covered her steel hand first, and though her right palm began to sweat immediately inside the thick material, she felt more comfortable with the gloves on, hiding the plating of her left hand. She stretched her fingers wide, working out the cramp that had formed at the fleshy base of her thumb from clenching the screwdriver, and squinted again into the city square. She spotted plenty of stocky white androids in the din, but none of them Iko.

Sighing, Cinder bent over the toolbox beneath the worktable. After digging through the jumbled mess of screwdrivers and wrenches, she emerged with the fuse puller that had been long buried at the bottom. One by one, she disconnected the wires that still linked her foot and ankle, each spurting a tiny spark. She couldn't feel them through the gloves, but her retina display helpfully informed her with blinking red text that she was losing connection to the limb.
With a yank of the last wire, her foot clattered to the concrete.

The difference was instant. For once in her life, she felt . . . weightless.

She made room for the discarded foot on the table, setting it up like a shrine amid the wrenches and lug nuts, before hunkering over her ankle again and cleaning the grime from the socket with an old rag.

THUD.

Cinder jerked, her head smacking the underside of the table. She shoved back from the desk, her scowl landing first on a lifeless android that sat squat on her worktable and then on the man behind it. She was met with startled copper- brown eyes and black hair that hung past his ears and lips that every girl in the country had admired a thousand times.

Her scowl vanished.

His own surprise was short- lived, melting into an apology. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't realize anyone was back there."

Cinder barely heard him above the blankness in her mind. With her heartbeat gathering speed, her retina display scanned his features, so familiar from years spent watching him on the netscreens. He seemed taller in real life and a gray hooded sweatshirt was like none of the fine clothes he usually made appearances in, but still, it took only 2.6 seconds for Cinder's scanner to mea sure the points of his face and link his image to the net database. Another second and the display informed her of what she already knew; details scribbled across the bottom of her vision in a stream of green text.

PRINCE KAITO, CROWN PRINCE OF THE
EASTERN COMMONWEALTH
ID #0082719057
BORN 7 APR 108 T.E.
FF 88,987 MEDIA HITS, REVERSE CHRON
POSTED 14 AUG 126 T.E.: A PRESS
MEETING IS TO BE HOSTED BY CROWN PRINCE
KAI ON 15 AUG TO DISCUSS THE ONGOING
LETUMOSIS RESEARCH AND POSSIBLE LEADS
FOR AN ANTIDOTE—

Cinder launched up from her chair, nearly toppling over when she forgot about her missing limb. Steadying herself with both hands on the table, she managed an awkward bow. The retina display sank out of sight.

"Your Highness," she stammered, head lowered, glad that he couldn't see her empty ankle behind the tablecloth.

The prince flinched and cast a glance over his shoulder before hunching toward her. "Maybe, um . . ."— he pulled his fingers across his lips—"on the Highness stuff?"

Wide- eyed, Cinder forced a shaky nod. "Right. Of course. How— can I— are you—" She swallowed, the words sticking like bean paste to her tongue.

"I'm looking for a Linh Cinder," said the prince. "Is he around?"

Cinder dared to lift one stabilizing hand from the table, using it to tug the hem of her glove higher on her wrist. Staring at the prince's chest, she stammered, "I-I'm Linh Cinder."

Her eyes followed his hand as he planted it on top of the android's bulbous head.

"You're Linh Cinder?"

"Yes, Your High—" She bit down on her lip.

"The mechanic?"

She nodded. "How can I help you?"

Instead of answering, the prince bent down, craning his neck so that she had no choice but to meet his eyes, and dashed a grin at her. Her heart winced.

The prince straightened, forcing her gaze to follow him.

"You're not quite what I was expecting."

"Well you're hardly— what I— um." Unable to hold his gaze, Cinder reached for the android and pulled it to her side of the table. "What seems to be wrong with the android, Your Highness?"

The android looked like it had just stepped off the conveyer belt, but Cinder could tell from the mock- feminine shape that it was an outdated model. The design was sleek, though, with a spherical head atop a pear- shaped body and a glossy white finish.

"I can't get her to turn on," said Prince Kai, watching as Cinder examined the robot. "She was working fi ne one day, and the next, nothing."

Cinder turned the android around so its sensor light faced the prince. She was glad to have routine tasks for her hands and routine questions for her mouth— something to focus on so she wouldn't get flustered and lose control of her brain's net connection again. "Have you had problems with her before?"

"No. She gets a monthly checkup from the royal mechanics, and this is the first real problem she's ever had."

Leaning forward, Prince Kai picked up Cinder's small metal foot from the worktable, turning it curiously over in his palms. Cinder tensed, watching as he peered into the wire- filled cavity, fiddled with the flexible joints of the toes. He used the too- long sleeve of his sweatshirt to polish off a smudge.

"Aren't you hot?" Cinder said, instantly regretting the question when his attention returned to her.

For the briefest moment, the prince almost looked embarrassed. "Dying," he said, "but I'm trying to be inconspicuous."

Cinder considered telling him it wasn't working but thought better of it. The lack of a throng of screaming girls surrounding her booth was probably evidence that it was working better than she suspected. Instead of looking like a royal heartthrob, he just looked crazy.

Clearing her throat, Cinder refocused on the android. She found the nearly invisible latch and opened its back panel. "Why aren't the royal mechanics fixing her?"

"They tried but couldn't figure it out. Someone suggested I bring her to you." He set the foot down and turned his attention to the shelves of old and battered parts— parts for androids, hovers, netscreens, portscreens. Parts for cyborgs. "They say you're the best mechanic in New Beijing. I was expecting an old man."

"Do they?" she murmured.

He wasn't the first to voice surprise. Most of her customers couldn't fathom how a teenage girl could be the best mechanic in the city, and she never broadcast the reason for her talent. The fewer people who knew she was cyborg, the better. She was sure she'd go mad if all the market shop keepers looked at her with the same disdain as Chang Sacha did.

She nudged some of the android's wires aside with her pinkie. "Sometimes they just get worn out. Maybe it's time to upgrade to a new model."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. She contains top- secret information. It's a matter of national security that I retrieve it . . . before anyone else does."

Fingers stalling, Cinder glanced up at him.

He held her gaze a full three seconds before his lips twitched. "I'm just joking. Nainsi was my first android. It's sentimental."

An orange light flickered in the corner of Cinder's vision. Her optobionics had picked up on something, though she didn't know what— an extra swallow, a too- quick blink, a clenching of the prince's jaw.

She was used to the little orange light. It came up all the time.
It meant that someone was lying.

"National security," she said. "Funny."

The prince listed his head, as if challenging her to contradict him. A strand of black hair fell into his eyes. Cinder looked away.

"Tutor8.6 model," she said, reading the faintly lit panel inside the plastic cranium. The android was nearly twenty years old. Ancient for an android. "She looks to be in pristine condition."

Raising her fist, she thunked the android hard on the side of its head, barely catching it before it toppled over onto the table. The prince jumped.

Cinder set the android back on its treads and jabbed the power button but nothing happened. "You'd be surprised how often that works."

The prince let out a single, awkward chuckle. "Are you sure you're Linh Cinder? The mechanic?"
"Cinder! I've got it!" Iko wheeled out of the crowd and up to the worktable, her blue sensor flashing. Lifting one pronged hand, she slammed a brand- new steel- plated foot onto the desk, in the shadow of the prince's android. "It's a huge improvement over the old one, only lightly used, and the wiring looks compatible as is. Plus, I was able to get the dealer down to just 600 univs."

Panic jolted through Cinder. Still balancing on her human leg, she snatched the foot off the table and dropped it behind her. "Good work, Iko. Nguyen- shìfu will be delighted to have a replacement foot for his escort- droid."

Iko's sensor dimmed. "Nguyen- shìfu? I don't compute."

Smiling through locked teeth, Cinder gestured at the prince. "Iko, please pay your respects to our customer." She lowered her voice. "His Imperial Highness."

Iko craned her head, aiming the round sensor up at the prince, who towered more than three feet above her. The light flared as her scanner recognized him. "Prince Kai," she said, her metallic voice squeaking. "You are even more handsome in person."

Cinder's stomach twisted in embarrassment, even as the prince laughed.

"That's enough, Iko. Get in the booth."

Iko obeyed, pushing aside the tablecloth and ducking under the table.

"You don't see a personality like that every day," said Prince Kai, leaning against the booth's door frame as if he brought androids to the market all the time. "Did you program her yourself?"
"Believe it or not, she came that way. I suspect a programming error, which is probably why my stepmother got her so cheap."

"I do not have a programming error!" said Iko from behind her.

Cinder met the prince's gaze, was caught momentarily dazzled by another easy laugh, and ducked her head back behind his android.

"So what do you think?" he asked.

"I'll need to run her diagnostics. It will take me a few days, maybe a week." Tucking a strand of hair behind one ear, Cinder sat down, grateful to give her leg a rest while she examined the android's innards. She knew she must be breaking some rule of etiquette, but the prince didn't seem to mind as he tipped forward, watching her hands.

"Do you need payment up front?"

He held his left wrist toward her, embedded with his ID chip, but Cinder waved a gloved hand at him. "No, thank you. It will be my honor."

Prince Kai looked about to protest but then let his hand fall. "I don't suppose there's any hope of having her done before the festival?"

Cinder shut the android's panel. "I don't think that will be a problem. But without knowing what's wrong with her—"

"I know, I know." He rocked back on his heels. "Just wishful thinking."

"How will I contact you when she's ready?"

"Send a comm to the palace. Or will you be here again next weekend? I could stop by then."

"Oh, yes!" said Iko from the back of the booth. "We're here every market day. You should come by again. That would be lovely."

Cinder flinched. "You don't need to—"

"It'll be my plea sure." He dipped his head in polite farewell, simultaneously pulling the edges of the hood farther over his face. Cinder returned the nod, knowing she should have stood and bowed, but not daring to test her balance a second time.

She waited until his shadow had disappeared from the tabletop before surveying the square. The prince's presence among the harried crowd seemed to have gone unnoticed. Cinder let her muscles relax.

Iko rolled to her side, clasping her metal grippers over her chest. "Prince Kai! Check my fan, I think I'm overheating."

Cinder bent over and picked up her replacement foot, dusting it off on her cargo pants. She checked the plating, glad that she hadn't dented it.

"Can you imagine Peony's expression when she hears about this?" said Iko.

"I can imagine a lot of high- pitched squealing." Cinder allowed one more wary scan of the crowd before the first tickle of giddiness stirred inside her. She couldn't wait to tell Peony. The prince himself! An abrupt laugh escaped her. It was uncanny. It was unbelievable. It was—

"Oh, dear."

Cinder's smile fell. "What?"

Iko pointed at her forehead with a pronged finger. "You have a grease splotch."

Cinder jerked back and scrubbed at her brow. "You're kidding."

"I'm sure he hardly noticed."

Cinder dropped her hand. "What does it matter? Come on, help me put this on before any other royalty stops by." She propped her ankle on the opposite knee and began connecting the color- coordinated wires, wondering if the prince had been fooled.

"Fits like a glove, doesn't it?" Iko said, holding a handful of screws while Cinder twisted them into the predrilled holes.

"It's very nice, Iko, thank you. I just hope Adri doesn't notice. She'd murder me if she knew I'd spent 600 univs on a foot." She tightened the last screw and stretched out her leg, rolling her ankle forward, back, wiggling the toes. It was a little stiff, and the nerve sensors would need a few days to harmonize with the updated wiring, but at least she wouldn't have to limp around off kilter anymore.

"It's perfect," she said, pulling on her boot. She spotted her old foot held in Iko's pincers. "You can throw that piece of junk awa—"

A scream filled Cinder's ears. She flinched, the sound peaking in her audio interface, and turned toward it. The market silenced. The children, who had switched to a game of hide-and-seek among the clustered booths, crept out from their hiding spots.

The scream had come from the baker, Chang Sacha. Baffled, Cinder stood and climbed on top of her chair to peer over the crowd. She spotted Sacha in her booth, behind the glass case of sweet breads and pork buns, gawking at her outstretched hands.

Cinder clamped a hand over her nose at the same moment realization skittered through the rest of the square.

"The plague!" someone yelled. "She has the plague!"

The street filled with panic. Mothers scooped up their children, masking their faces with desperate hands as they scrambled to get away from Sacha's booth. Shop keepers slammed shut their rolling doors.

Sunto screamed and rushed toward his mother, but she held her hands out to him. No, no, stay back. A neighboring shopkeeper grabbed the boy, tucking the child under his arm as he ran. Sacha yelled something after him, but the words were lost in the uproar.

Cinder's stomach churned. They couldn't run or Iko would be trampled in the chaos. Holding her breath, she reached for the cord at the booth's corner and yanked the metal door down its rail. Darkness cloaked them but for a single shard of daylight along the ground. The heat rose up from the concrete floor, stifling in the cramped space.

"Cinder?" said Iko, worry in her robotic voice. She brightened her sensor, washing the booth in blue light.

"Don't worry," Cinder said, hopping down from the chair and grabbing the grease- covered rag from the table. The screams were already fading, transforming the booth into its own empty universe. "She's all the way across the square. We're fine here." But she slipped back toward the wall of shelves anyway, crouched down and covered her nose and mouth with the rag.

There they waited, Cinder breathing as shallowly as possible, until they heard the sirens of the emergency hover come and take Sacha away.

Source: USA Today | Books

In My Mailbox 44

2011-11-06T21:45:00.000-08:00

For review:
Happy Birthday to Me Again by Brian Rowe
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting
Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Giveaway! Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

2011-11-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Triangles
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Genre: Adult Fiction
Publication: 10.18.2011 by Atria
Pages: 544
Rating: ★★★★★

In this first adult novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the unforgettable Crank trilogy, three female friends face midlife crises in a no holds-barred exploration of sex, marriage, and the fragility of life.

Ellen Hopkins has made her mark as the wildly popular author of several novels for young adults—every one of them a New York Times bestseller, and every one a hard-hitting exploration of tough-to-tackle topics. Now, in Triangles, Hopkins brings her storytelling mastery and fearlessness to take on the challenges of adult dramas.

In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.

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Giveaway

Thanks to the publisher, I have 4 copies of Ellen Hopkins new adult novel Triangles to give away to my readers. Just enter below :)

Blog Tour: Review | Triangles by Ellen Hopkins

2011-11-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Triangles
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Genre: Adult Fiction
Publication: 10.18.2011 by Atria
Pages: 544
Source: Crazy Book Tours

Summary: In this emotionally powerful novel, three women face the age-old midlife question: If I’m halfway to death, is this all I’ve got to show for it? Holly, filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom, sheds sixty pounds and loses herself in the world of extramarital sex. Andrea, a single mom and avowed celibate, watches her friend Holly’s meltdown with a mixture of concern and contempt. Holly is throwing away what Andrea has spent her whole life searching for—a committed relationship with a decent guy. So what if Andrea picks up Holly’s castaway husband? Then there’s Marissa. She has more than her fair share of challenges—a gay teenage son, a terminally ill daughter, and a husband who buries himself in his work rather than face the facts. As one woman’s marriage unravels, another one’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s is reconfigured into something bigger and better. In this story of connections and disconnections, one woman’s up is another one’s down, and all three of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness before it is through.

Cover: I have ARC copy of this book, and the cover is gorgeous. I love the colors and the shimmer in the title.

Thoughts: If you are familiar with Ellen Hopkins verse writing, Triangles is no different. In her first adult novel, Hopkins creates a world in Triangles that is written in many poems each seamlessly telling the story of three women and how their lives are connected.

Triangles centers around the lives of three women: Holly, Andrea, and Marissa. Each have their own set of problems and are going through a mid-life crisis. These adult issues are those that many women go through and although I am unfamiliar with many, I was definitely able to understand what the characters were going through. All the characters are realistic and easy to connect with, which is always my favorite aspect in her books. The alternating narration is wonderfully put together and gives the readers the opportunity to connect with the thoughts and emotions that each character feels.

Ellen Hopkins is one of my favorite authors and her incredible writing is unique and captivating. Hopkins takes on a different genre than what we are used to eeing her write and creates an amazing adult novel, that has many lessons readers should consider and can easily relate to. Ellen Hopkins’ novels captivate readers from the start and leave you thinking about the characters and the story long after you're done reading the book.

I highly recommend Triangles to other Hopkins fans; this is one that you should not miss. It does contain more adult elements, such as detailed sex scenes, drugs, and other aspects that some might be uncomfortable with. Recommended for adults and older teens who enjoy emotional, heartbreaking, and powerfully honest books.

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About the author:

Ellen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, and Identical. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Hopkin's MySpace and Facebook pages get thousands of hits from teens who claim Hopkins is the "only one who understands me", and she can be visited at ellenhopkins.com

"Waiting On" Wednesday: This Is Not A Test

2011-11-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

I am dying for this book! It sounds really awesome and June of next year is too long to wait. I love the cover too, it's one of my favorites. What are you waiting for this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

Random Thoughts | November

2011-11-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I love it. But during this season, there is also school taking over our lives. I just started Library Technician classes this semester and I am enjoying them a lot, but they take up a lot of time. I also spend several hours a week observing three year old's for my CDC classes. Of course, I have other things going on in life (job, family, boyfriend, etc.) I don't feel like I have neglected my blog. In fact, I have been as active as usual, but I haven't commented much.

I love reading the blogs I follow, because they are few and they are ones I really enjoy visiting. I seriously spend hours everyday reading and commenting. For most of September and October though, I have not been able to do so for the reasons listed above and a few illnesses. Everyone in my household is better now, midterms are over, projects are completed, less hours of observation are needed and vacations from work are coming, so I will finally get back to reading...not just more books, but more blogs. Just wanted to let you know I still love you all and that I miss reading your reviews, thoughts and other random posts.

Blog Tour: Review | Lead Me On by Lauren Hawkeye

2011-11-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Title: Lead Me On
Series: Erotic Me #3
Author: Lauren Hawkeye
Genre: Erotic Fiction
Publication: 11.01.2011 by Spice Briefs [TODAY!]
Source: Bewitching Book Tours

Summary: Linda doesn’ t know why she agreed to attend an old friend’ s wedding, or the after party where she encounters her old flame, Eric. She’ s as attracted to him now as she was in college…and even more aroused when she meets his captivating friend Nate.

Unlikely as it seems, Linda can’ t deny the two sexy men are interested in her—and that she wants them both, too. She’ s determined to follow the night through with them, wherever it may lead…

Cover: Similar to the rest. It's okay.

Thoughts: So far, I have enjoyed this series. Tie Me Up and Take Me Down, were both fun to read and I was looking forward to reading this one next. It threw me off a little because it involves a ménage, something that is new to me and, unfortunately, I didn't find it as entertaining as the last two.

Linda runs into Eric and meets Nate, as well, during the wedding that is running throughout the series. The wedding night seems to hold lots of different encounters for the characters, so it's fun to see what is happening around the house. The attraction between the Linda and the guys is great, but a little weird because it involves three people

I really wanted to like Lead Me On as much as the rest, but again, this one was a little different because it involved two men and one woman, something I am not used to. I recommend this to other erotic fiction lovers out there who have enjoy similar sexy situations.

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About the author:

Lauren Hawkeye is a writer, theatre enthusiast, knitting aficionado and animal lover who lives in the shadows of the great Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.

She’s older than she looks—really—and younger than she feels—most of the time—and she loves to explore the journeys that take women through life in her stories.

Tune in Tuesday {2} | Angus & Julia Stone

2011-11-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music.

I love music, so I have no idea why I didn't join in on this sooner! To participate, just help spread the love of music by sharing a song with others.

I think to get a real feel of a new-to-you artist, it takes more than one or two songs. That's why, I decided that in my Tune in Tuesday I would add a little twist by adding a short playlist of the artist I pick each week, instead of choosing only one song. Enjoy :)

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Angus & Julia Stone

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has a safe and spooky halloween! I will be dressing up in a costume and watching scary movies tonight. Have a good one :D

Blog Tour: Pre-view | Her Sister's Shadow by Katharine Britton

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Her Sister's Shadow
Author: Katharine Britton
Genre: Adult Fiction - Contemporary
Publication: 06.17.2011 by Berkley Trade
Pages: 341
Source: TLC Book Tours

Summary: Renowned painter Lilli Niles is at home in her North London flat when she receives an unexpected call from her elder sister, Bea, who's at the family homestead in Whitehead, Massachusetts. Bea's husband has just died, and she'd like Lilli to fly home to attend the funeral. There are reasons Lilli moved all the way to England to escape her older sister, reasons that have kept them estranged for decades. But something in Bea's voice makes Lilli think it's time to return to the stately house in New England she loved as a child, to the memory of the beloved younger sister they both lost. With Bea more fragile than Lilli remembered, maybe she can finally forgive Bea for a long-ago betrayal that has simmered between them for nearly forty years.

Cover: I really like it because it gives me a good idea of what Lilli looked like at her young age.

Thoughts: Unfortunately, I haven't finished this book on time for my tour stop. I almost want to say it's not my fault, but I put off reading it sooner expecting to have enough time to read it. Of course, life happened and I haven't finished it on time. But! I am a third of the way through it and so far, I am loving it!

Her Sister's Shadow is told in alternating tenses. It is 2009 and Lilli has returned home to attend her sister's husband service. She hasn't seen her sister, Bea, in almost forty years and really doesn't want to see her because of the troubled past they have. We get a glimpse into the past, 1966 and Lilli at 15 years old. It is obvious to me that getting this look into the past will reveal events that make the 2009 make more sense. Already, I have discovered things that have surprised me, but there is still so many unanswered questions left for me. I want to know what happens next!

The first few pages were a little difficult for me to get into, but the story picks up rather quickly and once we get the first flashback, I haven't been able to put the book down (mostly!) I already like Lilli, but am frustrated with how easily she seems to anger during her young age which is reasonable because during the summer, she has grown from a child into a young woman and is confused about who she is now.

I definitely recommend Her Sister's Shadow (so far) and will leave it unrated until I finish it. I really want to find out what happens next and am dying to see where the story will lead me. Her Sister's Shadow reminds me a little bit of Water for Elephants and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, and the similarities are sure to be enjoyed by others that loved those books like I did. I will re-post this review and a rating once I have completed the book.

Favorite Quote: '"Why do children want so badly to grow up when childhood is so lovely? No one should wish their life away."'

Rating coming soon!

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About the author:

Katharine has a Master's degree in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College. Her screenplay, Goodbye Don't Mean Gone, was a Moondance Film Festival winner and a finalist in the New England Women in Film and Television contest. Katharine is a member of the League of Vermont Writers and PEN New England. She teaches writing at Colby-Sawyer College, and is an instructor at The Writer’s Center.

When not at her desk, Katharine can often be found in her Norwich garden, waging a non-toxic war against the slugs, snails, deer, woodchucks, chipmunks, moles, voles, and beetles with whom she shares her yard. Katharine's defense consists mainly of hand-wringing, after-the-fact.

Tune in Tuesday {1} | 500 Days of Summer

2011-10-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger at GReads! that showcases music.

I love music, so I have no idea why I didn't join in on this sooner! To participate, just help spread the love of music by sharing a song with others.

For the month of October, Ginger created a Soundtrack Edition to Tune in Tuesday and this being the last Tuesday in October, I will only have the opportunity to share one soundtrack that I love to all of you. I hope you enjoy the playlist I made which includes most, if not all, the songs in the movie.

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(500) Days of Summer

In My Mailbox 43

2011-10-24T22:43:00.000-07:00

From the library:

Feed by Mira Grant

I only got one book this past week and it was a book I was "required" to request through the ILL at school. I've been dying to read this, so hopefully I can get to it asap. What's in your mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Blog Tour: Review & Guest Post | An Unexpected Bride by Shadonna Richards

2011-10-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Title: A Unexpected Bride
Author: Shadonna Richards
Genre: Adult Fiction - Romance
Publication: 08.10.2011
Pages: 206
Source: Bewitching Book Tours

Summary: Emma Wiggins is about to marry her heart-stopping, gorgeous boss, CEO Evan Fletcher, in seven days—too bad he doesn’t know it yet!

Desperate to fulfill her ailing grandfather’s last wish to see her settle down and get married, Emma Wiggins, a 30-year-old, career-focused executive tells him a little white lie on his deathbed that she is in fact engaged--to her boss, deliciously handsome and emotionally unavailable, Evan Fletcher.

The situation takes an unexpected turn when her grandfather's condition improves slightly and to her shock, he goes ahead and arranges a wedding ceremony at his hospital bedside before he passes on. Now, all Emma has to do is convince unsuspecting, commitment-phobic Evan to tie the knot with her in seven days.

Can love blossom in the most unlikely situation?

Cover: I like that it is simple and the dress on the bride looks really nice.

Thoughts: I love romance, so when asked to review this one, I instantly said yes. An Unexpected Bride turned out to be a cute and fast read, that yes, had a few errors but also moved along well enough for me to enjoy it.

The story starts off with pretty much Emma telling her grandfather that she is getting married. In a burst of happiness, he no longer has days to live but a few weeks. Now Emma has to find a way to get marrige-phobic Evan to marry her in just a few days. Of course, the fact that he's her boss and totally not interested in her doesn't help.

Emma and Evan are simple, likeable characters. They don't really have much wrong with them except the problems they are in at the moment (Emma needs to marry him; Evan never wants to marry because of a "curse") This problem is reapeated a lot during the first few chapters that it grew a little tiresome after a while. I mean, I knew the situation was, I didn't need it repeated 45764264x. After that though, the story begins to move at a faster pace as Evan and Emma begin to develop their relationship and start to change each other. I'm glad that they were able to grow into different people as the story moved along.

Being a self-published book, it was expected that a few errors would be found. There was some spelling errors, and a few grammar mistakes as well. I think that the transitions between the points of view could've been a little smoother, but it didn't bother me enough to have me put the book down. There a few past/present mistakes as well that bothered me a little more because at first I wasn't sure what tense the autor was going to stick with. I found my biggest problem with the conclusion though and wished the author would've added a "proper" ending. It felt like we were left hanging after so much build up to how it would end.

Looking past the mistakes though, An Unexpected Bride is a sweet and quite unique story about finding love. All you do is root for the characters, hoping that they'll fall in love and live happily ever after. Of course, there are some obstacles along the way, but these helped the story move along quickly. I would recommend An Unexpected Bride for romance lovers and other self-published book readers. This is a nice, quick read.

Favorite Quote: "Funny how the biggest lies we tell are to ourselves."

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Help me welcome the author, Shadonna Richards as she gives a quick list of the Top 10 Wedding Bloopers. Check it out!

THE TOP 10 WEDDING BLOOPERS

Hi, everyone!

I’m Shadonna, author of An Unexpected Bride, a romantic comedy about Emma Wiggins who is about to marry her heart-stopping, gorgeous boss, CEO Evan Fletcher in seven days. Only he doesn’t know about it yet! Since An Unexpected Bride centers around the theme of weddings, I thought I’d make a fun list, based on research and funny wedding videos I’ve seen. Here’s an unofficial list of the Top 10 Wedding Bloopers. Of course, Emma has the number one spot. Check this list out:

10. The minister forgot to show up
9. The groom forgot the bride’s name
8. The bride forgot the groom’s name
7. The ring bearer disappeared with the ring
6. The bride fainted
5. The groom fainted
4. The minister fainted
3. The bride fell into the pool (the wedding was by the poolside)
2. The dog stole the show
And the number one spot goes to Emma Wiggins from An Unexpected Bride
1. The bride forgot to tell the groom they were getting married

Hope you enjoyed the list.

Blog Tour: Review, Character Interview & Giveaway | Something So Right by Elyse Mady

2011-10-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Something So Right
Author: Elyse Mady
Genre: Adult Fiction - Romance
Publication: 09.19.2011 by Carina Press
Pages: 161
Source: Kismet Book Touring

Summary: After having her heart broken, Lily Carver fled north to manage an upscale resort—and back to her longtime friend Sam Denning. Though she’s well aware of how hot Sam’s become, she refuses to risk her heart again. No matter how incredible his kisses make her feel…

Sam’s been in love—and lust—with Lily since the summer they met. When he finally shows her how much he wants her, Lily can’t resist his seduction. But Sam’s a forever kind of a guy and she’s only interested in temporary, painless relationships.

Lily thinks she can protect both their hearts with a short affair to let their passion run its course, something where they both know the rules and can explore the sparks between them without getting burned. But their best laid plans are put to the test by their undeniable attraction—and by a secret Sam’s been keeping from Lily that could ruin everything.

Cover: I love it, it's gorgeous.

Thoughts: This one sounded like the kind of book I needed to take a break from the paranormal, YA, sad books I'd been reading. Something So Right was definitely enjoyable and once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. The story moved quickly and the chemistry between Lily and Sam had me turning the pages until I was done.

I loved both Lily and Sam. Although Lily could be frustrating at times because she was sorta of an emotional wreck, her relationship with Sam made her easier to like. Their friendship was easy to see and their intense attraction for one another was hard to avoid. Plus, I totally understood where she was coming from since she was heartbroken and determined to keep her heart safe. I really liked the way their relationship developed and the way they changed each other and in a way, grew as the story progressed.

Something So Right is a nice, fluffy, quick read that I am sure many will enjoy. It was definitely a good change and something I really was able to dive into and anyone looking for a sexy romance with lots of emotional build up will enjoy this one. I recommend Something So Right to romance lovers; this is one that you shouldn't miss.

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Character Interview with Lily

Thanks for having me for a visit today.

When we meet you, Lily, you've had a bit of hard luck in the romance department. If you had to write Brent's eulogy, what would you say?

That’s a tough question to answer. I’d hope it would say that after I left, he learned his lesson and reformed his life. That he never again lifted a hand to a woman and told her she was nothing without him. That he came to understand the grievous hurt he had inflicted, not only towards me, but to so many of the people he encountered in his life.

I would like to think that’s what it would say but frankly, I don’t hold out much hope. I’ve forgiven him for what he did but it wasn’t easy or quick. I doubt that his transformation would be easy, either.

Happily, the only announcement to the newspaper I’ve got to think about writing these days involves a good, honest man I love to distraction. Something along the lines of “The families of Sam Denning and Lily Carver are pleased to announce the engagement of their children…” 

Even though you and Sam are friends, you're clearly attracted to one another. Have you ever thought about him in a romantic light before?

Yes and no. I think the better question might be had I ever thought of him in a sexual light before we got together and then I would definitely have to admit ‘yes’.

You’d have to be dead not to notice those abs.

Or the way he fills out a pair of jeans.

Or his I’m thinking something naughty and I’m pretty sure you’re going to enjoy it smile. These days, that one always gets me noticing things, particularly the nearest horizontal surface ;)

But having the romance now and being able to express those feelings just makes the sexual side of things even better. It just took me a while to figure out that they’re actually two sides of the same coin.

If you could go back and change just one decision in your life, what would it be and why?

I wish I had never said ‘yes’ to Brent when he asked me out for a drink during orientation week in law school. I spent years and years dealing with the after effects of that one decision. It changed how I saw myself and how I looked at men

It meant that Sam and I had to spend a lot of time apart, at least romantically, before we could get to where we are now, happy and in love.

If you would like readers to know just one thing about you, what would it be?

That I love my life and I love the man I share it with.

At the end of your life, what would you like to be remembered for?
Besides the invention of fat-free, calorie-free caramel macchiato brownies?
That I was a person who held nothing back, who learned from her mistakes but didn’t let them define her and who told the people in her lifer that she loved them every day.

Thanks for having me today to talk. Happily, October slows down for Juliet and I at the lodge, so I had time to stop by.

Lily
PS – Sam says ‘hi’, too!

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About the author: Elyse Mady is the author of “Something So Right”, “Learning Curves” and “The Debutante’s Dilemma”, all with Carina Press. Upcoming books include “The White Swan Affair” (2012). She blogs at www.elysemady.com.

You can also find her on Twitter at @elysemady, Facebook and Goodreads.
In addition to her writing commitments, Elyse also teaches film and literature at a local community college. In her free time she enjoys (well, enjoys might be too strong a word – perhaps pursues with dogged determination would be better) never ending renovations on their century home with her intrepid husband and two boys.

With her excellent writerly imagination, she one day dreams of topping the NY Times Bestseller’s List and reclaiming her pre-kid body without the bother of either sit-ups or the denunciation of ice-cream

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Elyse is offering two give-aways for her tour!

To enter to win an eCopy of either The Debutante’s Dilemma, Learning Curves or Something So Right just leave a comment below. Open internationally!

The second giveaway is a grand prize pack of a a gorgeous hardcover photography book about Muskoka history, a beautiful set of Group of Seven mugs, a set of note cards and some Canadian maple syrup! Just leave a comment below to be entered to win the grand prize as well. Open US/Canada. See full contest rules here.

For more chances to win, check out the other tour stops!

Monday, October 17th - Kate, I Just Wanna Sit Here And Read

Tuesday, October 18th - Grace, Books Like Breathing

Wednesday, October 19th - Rowena, Book Binge

Thursday, October 20th - Sophia, Fiction Vixen

Friday, October 21st - Cindy, Oodles of Books

Monday, October 24th - Loretta, Between the Pages

Tuesday, October 25th - Evie, Bookish

Wednesday, October 26th - Jodie, Riverina Romantics
Thursday, October 27th - Julie, A Tale of Many Reviews
Friday, October 28th - Alyssa, Hesperia Loves Books

Monday, October 31st - Janie, Colloquium
Tuesday, November 1st - Mandy, The Journey and Musings of a Single Country Girl and Her Cat
Wednesday, November 2nd - Hikari, Imaginary Reads
Thursday, November 3rd - Shannon, Cocktails and Books
Friday, November 4th - Stella, Ex Libris

Tuesday, November 8th -Grand prize announcement on Elyse Mady’s blog!

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Shatter Me

2011-10-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

This sounds, pretty much, amazing. And I've read quite a few reviews that say that it is. I can't wait to get my hands on it...one more month! :) What are you waiting for this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

Blog Tour: Review | Space by Emily Sue Harvey

2011-10-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Title: Space
Author: Emily Sue Harvey
Genre: Adult Fiction - Contemporary
Publication: 09.13.2011 by The Story Plant
Pages: 282
Source: Pump Up Your Books

Summary: Dan and Deede Stowe have worked for years, planning and saving for their idyllic retirement years. Just when they finally are about to realize their dream, their adult, recovering drug-addict daughter, Faith, moves back in with them and everything changes. Their “miracle child”, complete with druggie baggage, upsets the tranquil balance of the Stowe’s existence. Private romantic moments evaporate. Faith’s endless needs intrude hour by hour, devouring both their finances, their emotions, and most crucially, their space. In turn, Faith finds herself bereft of everything she cherished most, her health, her marriage, her child, her family, her reputation and, most of all, a space to call her own.

Amid chaotic challenges, all three battle to find peace with each other, a harmony that doggedly eludes them. For the sake of family solidarity, each is forced to sacrifice elemental components of self, until desperation turns them one against the other. Will love be enough to turn the tide? Is it strong enough to warm again hearts grown cold?

Space is a vivid, candid, and life-affirming story from a masterful storyteller of the heart.

Cover: Not really eye-catching but I think the flower is pretty

Thoughts: Space was an emotional and inspirational book about a family's struggle through many problems and the power of faith.

Dan and Deedee have a great marriage and after many years of working hard they are finally ready to retire. On the night of their 35th anniversary though, they find out that their only daughter, Faith, is a drug-addict. Recently divorced and not really stable, Faith moves in with her parents and their lives begin to change as they struggle to live together.

I had a bit of a hard time connecting with any of the characters, and although I knew Dan and Deedee loved Faith, I had a hard time understanding some of their decisions. Faith is sort of a vague character and although we learn a lot about her throughout the book from Deedee, we don't find out about her problems until the end.

I didn't know that the book would include so much on religion and I was caught a little off guard when in the first few chapters, there is a lot of mention of God, church, faith, miracles and prayer. I don't mind it much, but I usually try and steer clear of books that have many religious aspects in them.

Space was definitely a different book for me to read. It was sad, but inspiring. I think the author did a good job portraying what it might be like to live with a drug-addict. The characters develop throughout the book and I liked how close-knit the family was, but I wasn't able to connect with any one of them and this disappointed me a bit. I would recommend this to contemporary readers, and fans of the authors writing, but this one was only okay for me.

Note: This book has an average rating of 3.80 out of 5 on Goodreads.com. Read what others had to say about it here.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon

About the author:

Emily Sue Harvey, author and speaker, writes to make a difference. Dozens of her upbeat stories and articles appear in Chocolate for Women, Chicken Soup for the Soul, women’s magazines, websites, and other anthologies.

Author Event: Lauren Oliver | Reading & Signing

2011-10-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

About a week and a half ago I got to meet Lauren Oliver! It was the release day of Liesl & Po and I was super excited to meet her and buy her new book. The boyfriend and I got there a little early, so we got ourselves some coffee and a copy of the book before heading to the reading and signing.

It turns out that about half the audience was her family, so Lauren seemed really comfortable telling us about the new book. She was really funny, pretty goofy and super nice! She explained the process of getting Liesl & Po illustrated, and even showed us her own drawings of how the illustrations started off. She then read a few pages of the book before signing.

I took my copy of Delirium (of course!) to get it signed also and was really nervous about actually talking to her. Fortunately, she was very talkative and made me laugh, which instantly made me feel at ease. She's totally one of my favorite authors, so I felt really fortunate to meet her and had an awesome time.

In My Mailbox 42

2011-10-15T23:24:00.000-07:00

For review:
Her Sister's Shadow by Katharine Britton

Bought:
[at the Dark Days Tour :D]
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (signed!)
Eve by Anna Carey (signed!)
Fateful by Claudia Gray (signed!)
Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (signed!)

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Review | Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

2011-10-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Title: Anna and the French Kiss
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Genre: YA - Contemporary/Romance
Pages: 372
Publication: 12.02.2010 by Dutton
Source: Library

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 Etienne St. Clair: 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?

Cover: Hmmm, I like most of it except that we can see "Anna." I sort of wish her face wasn't visible like the guy's face.

Thoughts: I wasn't too sure what to expect when I picked up Anna and the French Kiss. Other bloggers kept gushing about it and I knew I had to find out what all the hype was about. And now I must also gush about it because, not only was I quickly pulled into Anna's story, but I fell head over heels in love with the book. It was sweet, emotional, funny and so much more.

Anna has just moved to Paris to finish her senior year in high school. This might sound like something totally awesome to some of us, but not for Anna. Not only does she have to leave behind her mom, best friend and almost-something-crush, but she doesn't speak a bit of French. Anna is sure she's going to be miserable. And with that attitude, I couldn't help but connect and like her instantly. I mean, what 17 year old girl wants to leave behind everyone she knows, her bff and potential romance to go to a country where she'll be totally alone? I know I wouldn't. Anna's reaction is totally understandable and her feelings so realistic that she makes a great protagonist that all chica's out there can relate to.

Once the idea finally sinks in that she's here to stay for the year (the gorgeous and super friendly-to-her St. Clair helps out there,) Anna makes a group of friends that were also very likable. I loved the way they interacted with one another and the way they stayed together reminded me of friendships I had in high school. They were very real to me and I totally connected with them a whole lot more than what I expected.

The romance between Anna and St. Clair was simply adorable. Sure, St. Clair had a girlfriend and Anna was sort of interested in Toph back home, so not much ever really happens...but the build up was great. I mean, the entire time I was hoping for something to happen. And it all gets so complicated and frustrating, and all I could think was "Are they even going to end up together?!" It was so intense I felt I was going to die but yet very simple and sweet that I couldn't help but love it. And yes, I loved St. Clair. He is not perfect, but he's so unique, nice, totally hot and now a favorite of mine ♥

I was already dying to go to Paris before I read this, but now...I am still dying to go there! Perkins described everything so well I could almost see it and smell it. It sounds amazing!

I definitely recommend Anna and the French Kiss. It is a fun, sweet and totally something you can relate to. I couldn't put it down! It made laugh, cry, blush and squeal in excitement. Perkins writing is incredible and she is now one of my favorite author's. I cannot wait to read more of her books and if you have not read this one, you must! It is an unforgettable book that you do not want to miss out on :)

Favorite Quote: “I wish friends held hands more often, like the children I see on the streets sometimes. I'm not sure why we have to grow up and get embarrassed about it.”

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Blog Tour: Review & Interview | Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Bloodstone
Series: Deadtown #3
Author: Nancy Holzner
Publication: 09.27.2011 by Ace
Pages: 336
Source: Bewitching Book Tours

Summary: Boston’s diverse South End is known for its architecture and great restaurants, not its body count. So when mutilated human corpses begin turning up in the area, the entire city takes notice. The killer—dubbed the South End Reaper—uses a curved blade for his grisly work. And even though there’s no real evidence pointing to a paranormal culprit, the deaths are straining the already-tense relations between Boston’s human and inhuman residents.

As the bodies pile up, Vicky, her formidable aunt Mab, and her werewolf boyfriend Kane investigate, only to find that the creature behind the carnage is after something much more than blood…

Cover: Edgy, eye-catching and Vicky definitely looks like she's ready to kick some demon butt. Love it!

Thoughts: The third book in the Deadtown series, Bloodstone, starts off with Vicky fighting off an everyday demon. I have not read the previous books in the series, so I wasn't too sure what to expect when I opened Bloodstone up. I was blown away with all the action, suspense and great characters that I found in between the pages. The unique and dangerous world that Holzner created included all the favorite monsters (vampires, zombies, werewolves) and was so interesting that I had a hard time putting it down.

It was easy for me to get into the story because it is so intense and fast-paced from the start, but I was a bit confused about the characters because there was so much about them I didn't know. Holzner was able to ease me into the story with her writing, and with the little bits of information here and there from previous books, I was able to figure out what was going on eventually. This was definitely helpful because there was so much of Deadtown that I didn't know, but I am not sure how readers of the series might have felt about this.

Vicky was a fun character to read about. She is tough and kicks demon butt like no other. She is determined and caring, really putting herself out there for the people that she loves. I am really interested in reading the other two books to see how Vicky has changed as a character throughout the series. Her family, friends and boyfriend are all a mixture of werewolves, vampires, norms, zombies, and even some unknowns. This created a great set of characters that I really liked reading about, each one so different from the next.

I loved how dark Bloodstone is and some of the scenes had me cringing in pain or disgust (but in a good way!) I really wish I had started off with the first one book in the series though so I could feel more of a connection with Deadtown, Vicky and the other characters, but hopefully I will read the other books in the near future. This is one that I am sure Urban Fantasy lovers will definitely enjoy and if you have read the previous books in the Deadtown series, this is one you don't want to miss! Captivating, gritty and full of action, Bloodstone is a great book with a little bit of everything that many will enjoy.

Favorite Quote: "If I could have one wish then, it would have been the freedom to turn my head away from him. I said nothing."

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About the author:

Nancy Holzner grew up in western Massachusetts with her nose stuck in a book. This meant that she tended to walk into things, wore glasses before she was out of elementary school, and forced her parents to institute a “no reading at the dinner table” rule. It was probably inevitable that she majored in English in college and then, because there were still a lot of books she wanted to read, continued her studies long enough to earn a masters degree and a PhD.

She began her career as a medievalist, then jumped off the tenure track to try some other things. Besides teaching English and philosophy, she’s worked as a technical writer, freelance editor and instructional designer, college admissions counselor, and corporate trainer. Most of her nonfiction books are published under the name Nancy Conner.

Nancy lives in upstate New York with her husband Steve, where they both work from home without getting on each other’s nerves. She enjoys visiting local wineries and listening obsessively to opera. There are still a lot of books she wants to read.

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Thanks so much for inviting me to visit Oodles of Books. I love the name of your blog—it makes me feel at home. My husband and I are the kind of people who have overflowing bookcases in every room. (And now we're both buying ebooks, too!) It's a pleasure to be here today.

If you and Vicky could spend the day together, what would you do?

I'd love to go with Vicky on a Drude extermination, where she enters a client's dreamscape and kills the demons that are giving the client nightmares. Those scenes are always fun to write, and I'd like to see whether other people's dreams are as crazy as I imagine they are.

After she finished work, we'd hang out at Creature Comforts, a “monster bar” in Boston's New Combat Zone, the no man's land between the checkpoints into Deadtown and human-controlled Boston. It's a real back-to-basics place; the owner and bartender, Axel, isn't interested in mixing fancy cocktails. Creature Comforts is a favorite hangout for vampires, werewolves, and other Deadtown residents. Humans go there when they want to take a walk on the wild side—but still be within sprinting distance of safety.

What was your reaction when you saw the cover of Bloodstone (and the first books in the series)? Were they what you had imagined them looking like?

I love the covers of my books. When Deadtown was in production, my editor sent me an email with the subject line, “Prepare to be wowed!” She'd attached Deadtown's cover art, created by Don Sipley (who's done the art for all the covers in the series). “Wowed” wasn't a strong enough word for my reaction. I screamed and called my husband: “You've got to see this!” I couldn't stop staring at the image. I just loved it. If I hadn't already been married, I probably would've wanted to marry it. :) That said, Bloodstone's cover may be my favorite so far.

For all the covers, I love the use of color and the way Vicky's flaming sword stands out. Each cover really captures something about its book: the sense of menace and destruction facing Boston in Deadtown, the Welsh/Celtic background in Hellforged, and the Reaper hovering over Vicky in Bloodstone. I can't wait to see what the cover for the next book, Darklands, will look like!

If Bloodstone came to life, would you want to live in it for a day if you could?

Well, it would be great for research! I'd stick with Vicky, though. She'd know how to navigate Deadtown better than I ever could.

What is the scariest book you've ever read? Scariest movie you've seen?

Hard to pick just one. As a teenager, Stephen King's Pet Sematary and It both scared the heck out of me. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is another. But the scariest thing I ever read is probably the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates.

It starts off with an ordinary situation, a sulky teenage girl who's feeling a bit rebellious. Then, the story gets stranger and stranger, going from subtle threat to overt menace, until the girl is clearly prey to something terrible, but we never know exactly what. It's short, but it stayed with me for days after I first read it.

As for movies, it's a classic: The Shining. The creepiness and rising tension are so well done in that film. It's one of those movies that makes you lie in bed, trying to sleep but listening for creaks and other strange noises in the house.

I have yet to read anything by Stephen King, can ya'll believe it?! I had a really hard time getting into The Shining, don't really understand why so many authors find it scary.

What was the last really great book you read?

This is way outside of my own genre, but I love Ann Patchett's writing. Bel Canto is one of my favorite novels. Her most recent novel, State of Wonder, is also terrific. Patchett's books are simply beautiful: amazingly well written and full of generosity of spirit.

What are three weird facts your readers might not know about you?

I'm an opera fanatic, especially Italian opera. That's not really weird, but it can be a great conversation killer. :) Of course, if I happen across a fellow fanatic, we can talk for hours.

I was born a redhead, but my hair turned blonde when I was still a baby. In my 30s, it got darker. So I've been a redhead, a blonde, and a brunette, all naturally. I don't know what my actual hair color is now. I like it blonde, so I'm sticking with that. :)

The fastest I ever quit a job was after an hour and a half. It was conducting surveys by telephone. I hate talking on the phone—what was I thinking? I made some calls and got hung up on a lot. (Not that I blamed the people who hung up. They didn't ask me to call, and I was interrupting their day. I was living in London at the time, and my American accent probably didn't help, either.) Mid-morning, I got up from my station, said I was taking a bathroom break, and never returned. And I never regretted it for a second!

Oh I also had an experience like that with a job...actually it was almost exactly the same. I got hired to conduct surveys as well and hated it. I lasted about 4 days though, but felt nauseous every time at the start of my shift. On my fourth day, after my break, I got up and told my supervisor I had to leave because of an emergency. I never went back!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! I absolutely loved your responses and really appreciate you being here today :)

I am now on Facebook!

2011-10-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

I finally decided to create a Facebook page for the blog. I am not sure how frequently I will use it though. Please go "Like" my page :)

oodles of books

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Review | The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

2011-10-13T09:49:00.001-07:00

Title: The Princess Diaries
Series: The Princess Diaries #1
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: YA - Contemporary
Publication: 06.14.2001 by HarperTrophy
Pages: 283
Source: Library

Summary: She's just a New York City girl living with her artist mom...

News Flash: Dad is prince of Genovia. (So that's why a limo meets her at the airport!)

Downer: Dad can't have any more kids. (So no heir to the throne.)

Shock of the Century: Like it or not, Mia Thermopolis is prime princess material.

Mia must take princess lessons from her dreaded grandmére, the dowager princess of Genovia, who thinks Mia has a thing or two to learn before she steps up to the throne.

Well, her father can lecture her until he's royal-blue in the face about her princessly duty—no way is she moving to Genovia and leaving Manhattan behind. But what's a girl to do when her name is Princess Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo?

Cover: Fun, simple and very pink...I like :)

Thoughts: To be honest, I wasn't too interested in reading The Princess Diaries series, well...ever. I did watch the movie years ago and I thought it was funny and really cute. I picked this up at the library one day because it was an audiobook and there wasn't too much of a selection. I'm glad I did because I loved it! It was such a fun, quirky and laugh-out-loud book that I couldn't stop listening to!

Mia finds out that her dad isn't just "in politics" but is a Prince! He just found out that he can no longer have children, something that he wasn't counting on, so Mia is the next to take the throne. She's already a freak as it is, and now she has to be a princess too? And not only that, but she's failing Algebra and her mom is dating her Algebra teacher and now she has to take Princess Lessons from her Grandmere! Mia is not happy.

I loved Mia from the start. She's your average 14 year old girl just trying to fit in a school, hanging out with her best friend and hoping the hottest guy around will notice her. She's smart, just a little strange and sooo funny! I was laughing out loud at practically everything she said. I thought it was pretty awesome that Anne Hathaway is the narrator of the book on the audio version, because she's totally who I imagined Mia to be like (since I saw the movie first, duh,) and is a great reader, really acting out her role as Mia which made listening to it a hundred times better.

The Princess Diaries is written in diary form of course, so we only get to find out what happens throughout the day when Mia writes about it. Each entry is a little longer than any "real" diary would be because Mia writes lots of details about her day and dialogue with the characters. I thought the author was able to accomplish this quite smoothly and was really satisfied with the overall pace of the story. It is so cleverly written that it pulled me into the story rather quickly and I just wanted to read more to find out what happens next.

If you've watched the movie, this book is about a third of what the movie shows. It's also pretty different and I thought, a lot funnier. Lots happens in just a few short days, so I was really happy with how the story ended. Of course, it doesn't conclude and there are lots more books to go through, which I might read one day or not. I am really glad that I at least read this first one though, I thought it was great. I definitely recommend The Princess Diaries to anyone looking for something fun, fluffy, girly and quick.

Favorite Quote: “Lilly says I have an overactive imagination and a pathological need to invent drama in my life.”

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