October 30, 2010

Excited for NaNoWriMo



Only two more days until NaNoWriMo 2010! I am very excited!

I finally have a cover and synopsis (click HERE for my NaNo profile). I wrote out a rough outline with approximately 30 scenes (starting off with one scene per day) and a fool-proof way of keeping my inner-editor at bay.

Those of you who are (and possibly have in the past) what is your strategy? Are there any tips from the past NaNoWriMo's you can share?

October 29, 2010

The Frenzy (Francesca Lia Block) Review

Publisher: HarperTeen (September 28, 2010)
Hardcover: 272 Pages
Book from Publisher
Love is a werewolf, influenced by the moon and terror, and always about to change. Liv has a secret. Something happened to her when she was thirteen. Something that changed everything. Liv knows she doesn't belong anymore-not in her own skin, not in her family . . . not anywhere. The only time she truly feels like herself is when she's with her boyfriend, Corey, and in the woods that surround her town.

But in the woods, a mysterious woman watches Liv. In the woods, a pack of wild boys lurks. In the woods, Liv learns about the curse that will haunt her forever. The curse that caused the frenzy four years ago. And that may cause it again, all too soon.While Corey and Liv's love binds them together, Liv's dark secret threatens to tear them apart as she struggles to understand who-or what-she really is. And by the light of the full moon, the most dangerous secrets bare their claws. . . . (Source)

Review
THE FRENZY, by Francesca Lia Block, is an interesting new perspective on werewolves. Liv spent her time after "the incident" at thirteen avoiding the posibility that it might happen again, or why. It was a fun ride to figure out what she was and what caused this change within her.

It is like a breath of fresh air when I come across a paranormal book that truly seperates itself from the rest. I love werewolf books, but after reading so many they all seem to blend together. Block really stepped out of the "norm" for this genre and created something haunting, suspenseful, and pretty amazing. When most other books in this category experience how the person changes and then adapts, this one showcased the fight against the change. Liv had to live with being so different, internally and externally, all she wanted was to be herself. She had to hide the relationship with the love of her life, and hold the secret of her best friends identity along with her own.

The relationships among the characters were very complex and created an emotional turmoil in me. I absolutely hated Liv's mother, felt pity for her father, and loved Corey and Pace. I hated that Pace and Liv had to pretend to be with each other because it was socially accepted in their community. Neither could be with who they truely wanted to. Block's writing really tugged at my heart-strings.

One thing I would have liked to see more of was the family of wolves in the forest. I had a hard time deciding what part of Liv to side with. I understand her motivation to want to be normal, but I am always attracted to the 'paranormal' in these books. I wish I could have gotten to see more of Liv with the other wolves and what could have become of that.

The best way I think to describe this story is that it is gritty and rough around the edges. This community that Liv lives in is not an accepting place for anyone outside the norm and how a young girl struggles through it is the focus of this story. For anyone who is a fan of the paranormal and YA, I do recommend this book.

For more info, check out Francesca Lia Block's website 

October 28, 2010

Book News: Sweetly ARCs (Jackson Pearce)

Some exciting news via Jackson Pearce! One her blog today she announced the arrival of some ARC copies of her newest book (and companion to Sisters Red) Sweetly, a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, which will be published June 2011.

Here is is synopsis (via her blog):

Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.

Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.

Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.

I am intrigued and ready to read this one! Here are some pics of the ARCs:

  

Jackson also mentioned that giveaways for the ARCs will start in January so keep an eye out for that!

Are you excited to read this book? I sure am!

Blog Tour: Judith Graves Interview (Under My Skin)

Today as part of the Under My Skin tour, Judith Graves has been gracious enough to participate in an interview.

_____________________________________________

A little about Judith (from her website): Judith really digs words. She writes them, she sings them, she wants kids to read them – and sometimes her own writing doesn’t suck.

She’s got a few projects in the works. The Skinned series: Under My Skin, Second Skin and Skin of My Teeth. As well as, Witch’s Shadow, a tale set in a pseudo Salem town called, Origins – part of a series with YA author, Kitty Keswick.

Judith Graves loves tragic romance, werewolves, vampires, magick and all things a bit creepy. Thankfully, her sidekick, and lick-the-boogy-man- to-death labrador retriever, Weeping Willow, is always nearby.

Residing in a northern Alberta community, similar to the fictional town of Redgrave, where Under My Skin is set – Judith unhappily endures snow in the winter, and runs away from bees in the summer. A firm believer that Canadian teen fiction can be sexy, action packed and snarky as hell – Judith writes paranormal stories with attitude.



Kate: What do you think about the current paranormal market for teens? How did you try and make your book more unique from the rest?

Judith:
I think the YA paranormal market is just catching up with the adult market. Paranormals have been hugely popular with adults for years. There have been some YA in this genre, but as more readers seek it out, more authors appear to fill the gap.

With UMS, I set out to have a strong female lead character – I wanted her to be full of conflict and couldn’t think of a better creature than a half human / half shapeshifter. The Skinned series as a whole features many paranorm beasties, which spreads out the monster love and is a bit more involved than the standard vamp / human thing. All of my creatures have interesting back stories that come more to the forefront as the series unfolds.

Kate: Did you use any type of media (music, other books, visual aids, etc) to draw inspiration from while writing?

Judith:
I love listening to tunes when writing and being surrounded by stacks of paranorm fiction / mythology texts. I’ve also been known to have a horror movie on in the background – something about the screams perhaps? J For me music, movies and writing kind of make one world.

Kate: How did you find the publication process for this book? What is one thing you enjoyed?

Judith:
I loved working with my illustrator, Val Cox (www.valcox.ca). Having visual elements in UMS was an added bonus and working with Val to bring my characters to 2D life was an experience I’m looking forward to repeating for Second Skin and Skin of My Teeth. Val’s gothic style melds well with my writing….in fact, she made Eryn’s hair so cool, I had to go back and weave (pun intended) the style in.

Kate: Do you think having an "online" presence as an author helps your book succeed more than more old fashioned methods?

Judith:
I sure do. With publishers no longer investing as much moola in newbie (or even established) authors, us world-building pencil pushers have a ton of techy work to do. Without my website/blogs (I write for three)/Facebook page/Twitter account – I would have missed out on numerous opportunities. Developing an online presence was one of the main reasons I joined the Class of 2k10 (www.classof2k10.com), a collective of 23 debut YA and MG authors. We cross promote each other, we blog together, we tweet, and shout out, and it’s been a blessing.

Kate: What books have you read recently that you absolutely love?

Judith:
I just finished The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay all within a week. It took me a while to get to this series, but I’m so in love with it. The action, the internal conflict, the horrid rules of the Capital – it’s a story that makes me want to get up and protest something....anything….it makes your wishy-washy backbone want more backbone, ya know?

Thanks Judith for stopping by!

For more blogs participating in this tour, check out Teen Book Scene

Under My Skin (Skinned, #1)
From Goodreads. All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.

A normal life? Now that's the real fairytale.

October 27, 2010

The Twin's Daughter (Lauren Baratz-Logsted) Review

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (September 1, 2010)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Book from Publisher
From Goodreads. Lucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day... a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known. And the transformation in Aunt Helen is indeed remarkable. But when Helen begins to imitate her sister in every way, even Lucy isn't sure at times which twin is which. Can Helen really be trusted, or does her sweet face mask a chilling agenda?

Filled with shocking twists and turns, The Twin's Daughter is an engrossing gothic novel of betrayal, jealousy, and treacherous secrets that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Review
THE TWIN'S DAUGHTER, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted, absolutely blew me away. At the beginning of the book, I was not sure if I would be too invested in this young girl and her hoity-toity lifestyle, but when Aunt Helen appeared, I was captivated.

I do not think I have ever read a book that tossed me for a loop so many times than this one. I fell in step along with Lucy not being able to trust anyone who she thought was close to her. As a fourteen year old, she was fascinated with her long-lost aunt who was doing anything and everything to fit into the mold of her well-off twin. I was suspicious of her intentions to be too much like Aliese but when a terrible tragedy struck, I immediately sided with Lucy in her deductions of what happened. As the story continued, my suspicions were once again raised as her family structure was slowly crumbling.

Lucy was a great character to experience. She was tenacious, and reminded me of Elizabeth Bennett (from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice). She was well off, but she stayed honest to herself and always asked questions and spoke her mind freely. I adored the friendship between Lucy and Kit. I always knew of his intentions for her, but Lucy's ever-active brain unknowingly brushed him aside.

Overall, this was a fantastic book. There was romance, intrigue, mystery, and high volumes of suspense that will keep you reading until the final page.



For more info, check out Lauren Baratz-Logsted's website

October 26, 2010

Winners: The Secret's Sisters Keep (Abby Drake)

Congrats to the winners of The Secrets Sisters Keep by Abby Drake: 

Nancye, Sandra, and Ashley!

The winners have been notified. 

Thanks to everyone for entering and be sure to enter my next giveaway for a copy of The Twin's Daughter by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Stray (Rachel Vincent) Review

Stray (Shifters, #1)
Publisher: MIRA (June 1, 2007)
Mass Market Paperback: 618 pages
Genre: Adult
There are only eight breeding female werecats left . . .
And I'm one of them.

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays -- werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back . . . for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever -- and whoever -- I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays -- 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them . . . (Source)

Review
STRAY, by Rachel Vincent, is the fantastic beginning to her Shifter's series. This adult series provides immense action, romance, and girl-power that will knock your socks off.

As a fan of Vincent's Soul Screamers series, I just had to read more of her work. This series started off on a very positive note for me. I loved Faythe as an overall character. Although at times I could not sympathize with her wanting to be on her own (with all those men looking for attention, I would have stuck around! :) ), but she was very honest in her beliefs and fought tooth and nail for them.

The love triangle between Faythe, Jace, and Marc was wicked steamy. I had it figured from the beginning who she was going to end up with, but I patiently read through the hot (hot!) situations until Faythe realized it for herself.

I enjoyed getting to experience a different type of shifter. I have never read about Werecats before and I liked getting to read the creativity that Vincent put into her history and culture of these creatures.

The villians in this book were absolutely dispicable. Some villians are "bad" but Vincent truly created some nasty, sick men. The things that these guys did to women brought out strong emotions of hate and anger out of me, and I think that truly reflects the talent that Vincent possesses. The scenes between the villians and victims were very graphic and I felt strong pity for these girls, but they were very real and I appreciated that because it made the victories a cause for celebration.

I am excited to continue this series, and it is one that I do recommend!


For more info, check out Rachel Vincent's website
Other review's I have done of Vincent's books:

October 25, 2010

The Twin's Daughter (Lauren Baratz-Logsted) Giveaway

From Goodreads. Lucy Sexton is stunned when a disheveled woman appears at the door one day... a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lucy's own beautiful mother. It turns out the two women are identical twins, separated at birth, and raised in dramatically different circumstances. Lucy's mother quickly resolves to give her less fortunate sister the kind of life she has never known. And the transformation in Aunt Helen is indeed remarkable. But when Helen begins to imitate her sister in every way, even Lucy isn't sure at times which twin is which. Can Helen really be trusted, or does her sweet face mask a chilling agenda?

Filled with shocking twists and turns, The Twin's Daughter is an engrossing gothic novel of betrayal, jealousy, and treacherous secrets that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Blood Feud (Alyxandra Harvey) Review

Blood Feud (The Drake Chronicles, #2)
Publisher: Bloomsbury US (June 22, 2010)
Hardcover: 272 Pages
Book from Publisher
The action and romance continue as the Drakes face a new vampire with a 200-year-old grudge. It’s been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she’s made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That’s if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena’s royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha’s reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte—a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself—the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy. (Source)

Review
BLOOD FEUD, Alyxandra Harvey, is the second installment in The Drake Chronicles. This book alternates the POV of Logan Drake and Isabeau St. Croix. I got really attached to Lucy and Solange narrating in the first book so I was a bit hesitant for different POV's but I immediately fell in love with these two.

Logan and Isabeau have much in common in terms of taste. Logan's style and actions reflected the era that Isabeau grew up in when she was human. They are one of my top favorite YA couples at the moment. That alone should make you want to read this book.

Another aspect that set this book apart in this series was the introduction of a different type of vampire clan, the Hounds. These vampires were very unique in how they were very cultured and connected well with nature and dogs. They were very spiritual and I really enjoyed reading the customs that were performed. It was great reading from Logan's POV during that specific part because he was new to it as well and Harvey pulled me along for the ride with him. Also, the flashes to Isabeau's past life before becoming a vampire kept my heart pounding with anticipation.

I am not fond of the cover choice. Harvey described Isabeau with tattoos and scaring on her body and this model did not follow suit. I don't tend to like books that tell me how the character is supposed to look, I like to visualize it for myself.

Overall, if you liked My Love Lies Bleeding (AKA Hearts At Stake: my Review) I think you will really enjoy this one.



For more info, check out Alyxandra Harvey's website

October 24, 2010

Winner of Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

Sorry for the delay in winner announcing. I thought I scheduled this for last week but I guess it never went through (darn you Blogger!)

The winner of a copy of Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens is:

Jessica T. 

Congrats, and winner has been notified. Thanks for all those who entered!! :)

In My Mailbox (21)

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox each week!

This week was kinda a mail fail but I got two books that I have been looking forward to reading!

Cryer's Cross


Won 
(from Jennifer Laurens Book Release Party on FB)
Absolution (Heavenly, #3)

October 22, 2010

City of Glass (Cassandra Clare) Review

SPOILER ALERT

If you have not read City of Bones/City of Ashes there may be spoilers ahead.
SPOILER ALERT


Publisher: Walker Books Ltd (July 6th 2009) (first published March 24th 2009)
Paperback: 492 pages
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost? (Source)
Review
CITY OF GLASS, by Cassandra Clare, was my favorite book of this series. Clare wrapped up the story absolutely perfectly. This book was jam-packed with action and suspense that made my adrenaline run wild!

One main thing (among many) that made me love this book so much was the humor. There has been humor in all of the books, but in the midst of an all out war, I think the sarcasm and quips of these characters lightened the mood and truly made this a phenomenal book. The fact that Simon was now the main focus of not one but two females, and could not decide between the two was hilarious and cute. And pretty much anything Magnus said made me laugh, gosh I love that man.

The main relationships were resolved (finally) and I have to say I am very pleased (finally). Learning the truth between Jace, Clary, and Sebastian definitely made my jaw drop. But, I do feel bad about how mentally damaged Jace is now after being duped by his father once again. And one final "finally" for Alec and Magnus. I was so proud of Alec for letting his true self show to his family.

The action was pretty awesome as well. Clare's visuals for the fight scenes were amazing and I felt like I was inside the book watching it occur in front of me. Overall, this was the perfect ending to this trilogy and I am very excited that Cassandra has decided to extend the Mortal Instruments Series into another trilogy. After reading the excerpt for City of Fallen Angels, in the back of this book, all I have to say is TEASE!


My reviews of City of Bones and City of Ashes

October 21, 2010

City of Ashes (Cassandra Clare) Review

SPOILER ALERT
If you have not read City of Bones (Mortal Instruments #1), there may be spoilers ahead
SPOILER ALERT

Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 24th 2009) (first published March 25th 2008)
Paperback: 453 pages
Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father? (Source)
Review
CITY OF ASHES, by Cassandra Clare, continues this action-packed series with more surprises. Clare definitely stepped up the game in this book where Clary becomes more fierce and the characters around her were growing and changing as well.

I sped through this book just like I did with City of Bones. Mainly because I wanted to see if Jace and Clary weren't brother and sister, and I was disappointed once again. The feelings between them were still creepy and weird to me but it was not in the forefront of the story. I actually became more interested in Valentine and his motivations for killing the young Downworlders. Although he was a terrible person, I was intrigued by him as a character.

The second book in a trilogy can sometimes lean toward being a "filler" book but I have to say this one was not. The plot actually thickened with the discovery of Simon as a vampire and the forbidden relationship between Alec and Magnus growing.

Clare added to the tension by inserting doubts about Jace and his relationship with Valentine. I was very interested to learn the actual truth of this boy's past.  The fast-paced action of this book made my heart pump with excitement for the final book of this trilogy, City of Glass.


My review of City of Bones

October 20, 2010

NaNoWriMo 2010


This year I will be participating in NaNoWriMo! 

NaNoWriMo stands for 
National Novel Writing Month 
and it takes place from November 1- November 30 each year. The goal is to finish (at least) a 50,000 word novel in 30 days (or complete 50,000 words of your novel). I am so excited to be a part of this amazing group of authors, everyone is wicked nice and is willing to cheer you on. I joined my region thread on the forum and we have weekly write-in's (online and local) to get it done!

If you want to join or just want more info, check out NaNo in a Nutshell and if you join let me know and we can be buddies!

I am currently torn between two novel ideas, one paranormal/contemporary and the other is chick-lit, totally different and both totally breaking my heart because I can't choose!

Since I will be doing this all next month, I want to warn you that I won't be posting here as often, in terms of reviews, etc. I do have some on the back burner that will pop in every once in a while, but I am serious about this project and I want to win! So if I don't get back to comments right away, don't fret, I am crazily typing away at my (hopefully) debut novel.

And of course since this is a blog, I will be writing about my writing process when I get a chance so you guys can keep me centered.

Can't wait for November 1!!

The Van Alen Legacy (Melissa de la Cruz) Audiobook Review

SPOILER ALERT
If you have not read the first three books of the Blue Bloods Series there may be spoilers ahead.
SPOILER ALERT

Publisher: Recorded Books (2010)
Format: Audiobook (Length 8 Hours 57 Minutes)
Read by: Christina Moore
From Goodreads. Melissa de la Cruz delivers the fourth novel in this New York Times best-selling vampire series. As confrontation with the Silver Bloods escalates to even deadlier levels, Schuyler and her peers watch as their glamorous New York lifestyle turns into a battle for survival. Even though no love is lost between Oliver and Jack as they compete for Schuyler’s heart, both human and vampire will have to unite if the Silver Bloods are going to be defeated.

Review
THE VAN ALEN LEGACY, by Melissa de la Cruz, is the fourth installment of the Blue Blood series. I have been extremely impressed with this series up through Revelations, so I could not wait to read this one. But out of the four I have read, I have to admit it was my least favorite.

I felt that 3/4 of the book dragged on. I did not like Bliss' POV at all, and I was mad because she was one of my favorite characters. The stories of all the three girls (Bliss, Schulyer, and Mimi) through this part of the book were very day-to-day "blah" chapters to me. At one point I almost stopped reading. BUT! There is a big but here, the last 1/4 of the book was insanely good!

The character I loved to follow was Mimi (surprising, I know), I actually began to like her (eep!). Getting into her thoughts was the highlight of the journey through this book. Forget Jack and Schuyler, Kingsley and Mimi were where it was at! The tension that both of these egotistical characters created was so fantastic. They are absolutely perfect for each other minus the whole Mimi bonded with Jack thing.

Also, many more questions were answered near the end of the book. The ending was phenomenal and ended with a killer cliffhanger. Overall, the last part of the book made up for the entire as a whole. If you are a fan of this series, I highly recommend it!!


For more info, check out Melissa de la Cruz's website

October 19, 2010

Grace (Elizabeth Scott) Mini-Review

Grace

Publisher: Dutton (September 16, 2010)
Hardcover: 208 Pages
Book from Traveling Arc Tours
From Goodreads. A fable of a terrifying near future by critically acclaimed author Elizabeth Scott.

Grace was raised to be an Angel, a herald of death by suicide bomb. But she refuses to die for the cause, and now Grace is on the run, daring to dream of freedom. In search of a border she may never reach, she travels among malevolent soldiers on a decrepit train crawling through the desert. Accompanied by the mysterious Kerr, Grace struggles to be invisible, but the fear of discovery looms large as she recalls the history and events that delivered her uncertain fate.

Told in spare, powerful prose, this tale of a dystopian near future will haunt readers long after they've reached the final page.

Review
GRACE, by Elizabeth Scott, is a quick dystopian read that will keep you thinking about it for days after. The synopsis on the ARC I received did not do this book justice. When I read "Angel" I think white wings, pure heart, and fighting for the good guys.  This book was the farthest thing away from my initial idea.

The Angels in this book are chosen to be suicide bombers in a society that is ruled by a dictator. Our fearful heroine does the unthinkable and lives after her mission is complete. She tries to escape from her past and finds many surprises along the way. Scott's prose was very moving and I loved how she weaved snippets of Grace's life during the main story of her escape.

Although my expectations weren't met from my initial reaction of the story, I thought this was a great book and so beautifully written. The plot is horrible to think about but it definitely brings out emotion in each precise word.

For more info, check out Elizabeth Scott's website 

October 18, 2010

City of Bones (Cassandra Clare) Review


Publisher: McElderry (February 19th 2008) (first published March 27th 2005)
Paperback: 512 pages
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.... (Source)
Review
CITY OF BONES, by Cassandra Clare, starts The Mortal Instruments series with a serious bang. After reading Clockwork Angel, I already had an idea about the Shadowhunters, but this book gives more of an introduction which I needed to fill the gaps. Clare is correct in saying that The Mortal Instruments series and The Infernal Devices series are companion series versus sequels/prequels.

I love books that take place in Manhattan, probably because I am extremely bias and love it there! The action of the book started straight away and I instantly loved the characters that Clare created. We got a sense that there was something more to Clary and within the first couple chapters I was hooked. Clare wasted no time explaining about the Shadowhunters and their background with the many races of Downworlders.

I was instantly attracted to Jace because he was definitely sexy, but also there was an underlying innocence that I wanted to explore. Jace and Clary definitely had some steamy moments that I enjoyed. Simon was never a contender for Clary in my mind because I knew that her blood and history could never be normal after discovering what her mother was. Everyone had secrets in this book and I was intrigued to figure them out.

My biggest problem with the book was the discovery of the relationship between Jace and Clary. When I found out I wanted to literally throw the book away. To be honest, I was grossed out thinking about what they had done and them thinking it was okay! But with all of the phenomenal reviews of the series, I decided to give it another chance and start reading City of Ashes immediately after.

Another plus was the cover of the book. I love the intricate details of the runes and it helped form a better visual in my mind about what the Shadowhunters skin looked like.


For more info, check out Cassandra Clare's website

October 17, 2010

In My Mailbox (20)

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox each week!

Review*
Gemini Night  (Star Crossed, #3)

Won**
My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours

Bought from Library Bookstore
Halo (Halo, #1)      Red Moon Rising 

October 15, 2010

Book Tour: The Brat (Sherry Gloag)

Today Sherry Gloag is here with an excerpt from her book, The Brat, and also a guest post about being a debut author. Enjoy!


The Holy Grail for every dedicated writer is publication.

With my debut novel, The Brat, it was a case of ‘third time lucky’. By that I mean it was rejected twice before it was accepted. So what! Every writer experiences rejection! Very true, and if they are wise and fortunate enough to get comments stating why it returned with indecent haste, then they can learn from their mistakes.

Did I send in a shoddy piece of work the first time? I didn’t think so, but the receiving editor did! She also stated she didn’t like my writing style. So what was wrong with my style? Nothing, other than it didn’t meet the criteria of the publisher I sent it to.

And the second time? Well. The second time I was very fortunate. The editor loved the story, admitted she’d love to accept it but I hadn’t quite read the target requirements properly, but why didn’t I try… That would mean a pretty major re-write she admitted, but felt the story and characters were worth the extra effort.

So what did I learn? What would I do differently with my next submission?

I learned that every publisher has their own house-style. Oh yes, I’d heard of that, even, to some extent noticed it in my reading, but I had not absorbed the truth of it. So if I want to publish another book, I have to ensure I’ve done my research thoroughly this time so that my offering is suitable for my target market.

What else did I learn and would do differently? Editing! Once more, I’d read reams of information online, thought I’d got the process sussed and soon learned the error of my ways. It does not matter how thoroughly I thought I’d edited, a second pair of eyes is essential. My fingers and brain do not always work in sync when typing what is going on in my head. Your inner vision often gets in the way. You think you’ve got it down when in reality your fingers couldn’t keep up with the brain. And when you read it back, you still ‘see’ what you intended. Not good.

The final learning curve that rocked me off my feet was the ‘net work required. Thankfully it is now in place, but for those aspiring authors out there, I’d advise you study a variety of author web pages and blogs and if you are seriously aiming for publication, get the ground work in place before you sign your first contract.

I have been incredibly fortunate that I signed with a wonderful publisher, who provided an inspirational editor, and who offer advice and opportunities for their authors. All essential stuff for the newbie author!

The one thing I’ll change for next time is getting a text-to-speech software programme. I just hate reading aloud and to hear what you’ve written is essential if you want to minimise your editorial errors :-)

From Goodreads, Gina Williams is a 35-year-old famous children’s author, who also writes detective mysteries under the name of George Williamson. She was robbed of her childhood when aged ten by the late mother of the hero, Ben Kouvaris. When he was ten-years-old his mother sent him to her ex Theo Kouvaris, multi-millionaire, who lives in Greece. When he returns to her funeral he is haunted by the beautiful woman who organised the funeral. When his father orders him to marry he thinks of Gina Williams. They have to overcome the horrors of the past and forgive their parents for their betrayals. Will their past destroy their future?

The Brat – Excerpt Three - Pg 99

“I guess life diverted your dreams.”
The earlier light-hearted banter between them vanished. “Yes.” Ben signalled the waiter, passed over his credit card, and rose.
She leaned forward to pick up her bag just as her phone rang. Without checking the caller ID she took the call.
“You think I don’t know what you’re up to?”
The last time she heard that voice the Inspector had walked into her house seconds later. The phone almost slipped through her fingers, and she swung away from Ben’s perceptive stare.
“Who are you? What do you want?”
“You won’t deny your family’s existence for much longer, I promise you.”
The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Dear God in heaven, what did that mean? She’d never denied her family! They’d deserted her.


Check out the rest of the tour here, and please leave Sherry a comment!

Regression (Kathy Bell) Review

Regression (Book One of the Infinion Trilogy)
Publisher: Northern Sanctum (June 20, 2009)
EBook: 352 pages
Book from Kathy Bell
From Goodreads: Fourteen-year-old Adya Jordan is too good to be true. Her skills with people, information, and technology make her the perfect new intern at megacorp Three Eleven, the company which covertly controls the world in an alternate 1985. Could this be because this is not her first lifetime? Or even her second? Or does it have more to do with the strange sequence of DNA in her cells?

Find out what makes Adya tick as she and a group of elite scientists strive to prevent a global disaster.

Review
REGRESSION, by Kathy Bell, is an interesting introduction to the Infinion Series. Bell stretched my imagination while showing travel between dimensions. I appreciate all books that have to do with time traveling or slipping into other dimensions because the topic always fascinates me.

I did enjoy the concept of this book very much but I had a few issues with the main character. Adya started off as a 40-year old and then BAM! she was fourteen again with no recollection of what happened. She was still 40 stuck inside this teen body so the conversations that she engaged in were obviously more mature than her body, which was not my issue at all. My issue was her constant preaching to those in Three Eleven about how they should respect women and treat her like her actual age, etc. It was a bit redundant at times so that was pretty much the only thing that bugged me.

Other than that the book as a whole was great. I loved the world that Bell created. I liked how all of these scientists used their knowledge to try and make the world better (from their perspective) and it was good for Adya to question the methods. I felt like I was going on the journey with her the whole time and it kept the pages swiftly turning.

At the end there were many questions unanswered, but I am hopeful for the next book Evolussion to answer them all and expand on this pretty great book!

For more info, check out Kathy Bell's blog and her guest post on my blog!

October 14, 2010

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Kathy Bell (Regression)

I am very excited to be a part of the Regression (Kathy Bell) Blog Tour hosted by Pump Up Your Book! I asked Kathy to post about character names and how she comes up with them. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for my review of Regression.



Need just a random name? Or do your character names have a deeper meaning? There’s a site for that!

You can put a lot of time and effort into selecting character names for your work. You have to take into consideration the time period they exist in, the sex, the ethnic origins, and even the ease with which the readers can read the name. I’ll admit, Adya gives people pause. But there was a reason I chose that name.

When writing Regression, I wanted names that had a specific meaning, but also had origins in different cultures/nationalities. The main character’s first and last name foreshadowed her role (Adya Jordan – Mother, from the cradle of humanity or Mother of descendants). But, I also had to find twenty-eight names that were common to twenty-odd different nations, to populate the scientists of the Three Eleven corporation.

I will admit, Wikipedia was certainly very helpful. The popular or common surnames for most countries are listed if you delve deeply enough. Some common first names are also listed.
Here are some other sites that list first names by origins.

~Behind The Name - this site gives the history and origins
~Name Lab - lists popular baby names, searchable by origin and sex, and also allows you to search the history of surnames.
~Top 100 Baby Names – lists the top 100 names by year, country, sports type, or soap opera.
~Random Name Generator – This site is awesome because you can generate names based on ethnicity or even fairy, witch, and transformer names!

Adding a little story to a name can give an extra dimension to your character’s development…my family spells Dennis Denis because generations ago one of my forebears had a son named Dennis who died and they wanted to name their next son Dennis as well. They were told they had to change the name because of birth records, so they simply spelt it differently! A little creepy, if you ask me!

October 13, 2010

The Jumbee (Pamela Keyes) Review

Publisher: Penguin Group (October 14, 2010)
Hardcover: 400 Pages
Book from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.
Seventeen-year-old Esti Legard spent her childhood in the Shakespearean world of her famous father, and when he died, she knew she could never give up acting. After she and her mother move to a Caribbean island for her senior year, she realizes that nothing at her new school's theater department is quite as it seems. Stunned by the death of a fellow student on her first day of class, Esti is soon surrounded by legends of the wicked jumbees that haunt the West Indies. She finds herself snubbed by the school’s star actress and relegated to a minor part in Romeo and Juliet.

Only her intriguing new friend, the elusive Alan, shares her passion for Shakespeare. Hiding in the dark recesses of the theater, he leads Esti deep into her own soul to explore the limits of her talent. When Esti's childhood best friend moves to the island and back into her life, however, Alan disappears. Rocked by growing accusations of befriending a jumbee, Esti realizes she must find out who – or what – Alan really is. She is soon forced to defy everyone and everything she’s ever believed in, as she plunges into the mysteries of Shakespeare and the legends of the West Indians, discovering shocking truths about her own past that will forever shape her future. (Source)
Review
THE JUMBEE, by Pamela Keyes, is a Caribbean-flavored Phantom of the Opera-esque book filled with mystery, romance, and intrigue. I have read many books with PotO roots and I pretty much loved them all so I was extremely excited to read The Jumbee.

I loved the West Indie environment for this book. I enjoyed learning about the culture and the people's fascination, if not repulsion, with the local jumbees (ghosts). The atmosphere that the locals created was interesting and definitely pulled me into the book.

Since PotO is one of my favorite stories I was excited to find all the similarities from the original, and there were many (which excited me more). I loved Keyes twist on one of my favorite stories and she really did it justice. Esti was the typical Christine in her obsession with the theater and trying to create a name for herself outside her father. But her obsession with his death created the attachment to the Phantom, who in this case was Alan. Alan was an enchanting man and I desperately wanted to know his secret. Keyes stretched my imagination outside of PotO and created a new and unique world which was enchanting and utterly breathtaking. Rafe was the typical Raoul (perfect, handsome, rugged..etc.) and I was curious to see how Keyes would develop this relationship. And I was pleased.

Overall, this was a great read. I enjoyed the different environment of the story and the new essence brought to this story. Any fan of Phantom of the Opera will definitely love this book.

For more info, check out Pamela Keyes' website 

October 12, 2010

Crescendo (Becca Fitzpatrick) Review

*SPOILER ALERT*
If you have not read Hush, Hush this review may have spoilers from the book. You have been warned.
*SPOILER ALERT*

Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2)Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (October 19, 2010)
Hardcover: 432 pages
Book borrowed from Sherry (thanks!!)
Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine? (Source)
Review
CRESCENDO, by Becca Fitzpatrick, was an emotional rollercoaster ride. Fitzpatrick definitely put her main protagonist, Nora, throught twists and turns that made me dizzy by the end. This book starts where Hush, Hush ended with Patch and Nora together in their new capacity as guardian angel and guarded teenage girl, but they are soon challenged by beings and powers that are too big even for love to fight against.

Here is another example of me starting and finishing a book in less than a day. Wow! Was my initial reaction after finishing the book. Fitzpatrick ripped my heart out with the difficulties that Nora and Patch had to face regarding their relationship. This talented author fabricated unpredictable surprises that really made this book fast-paced and exciting.

This book is definitely a must-read for those who liked Hush, Hush. I am a huge Nora/Patch fan so right away I was disappointed in the separation between the two love birds. My heart broke when Nora felt the embarrassment and neglect from Patch with no explanation. I admit I was angry most of the book with their relationship but it was a wild ride and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I have to say one of my FAVORITE scenes was "the fight scene". I will not ruin it but I thought it was amazing, hilarious, and well-deserved! Also, this time around Vee was 100% less annoying that she was in Hush, Hush. That was one of my biggest issues with that book, but Vee definitely redeemed herself this time around.

There is not much to say without ruining half the book, but I really enjoyed this book because of the characters (great new ones), mystery, and definite cliffhanging surprise at the end. I highly recommend you go out and get it!


For more info about the author and books:
Becca Fitzpatrick's website
My Review of Hush, Hush

Also, I am very pleased to hear that there WILL be a third book in this series. The Tempest will be released Fall 2011, check out Becca's post about it. YAY!

October 11, 2010

Giveaway: The Secrets Sisters Keep (Abby Drake)

The Secrets Sisters Keep: A Novel

Amanda, Babe, and Ellie have very busy lives, but that doesn't mean the three women don't have the time for their beloved Uncle Edward's seventy-fifth birthday. It's an opportunity to celebrate-and to find out exactly who is included in the rich old man's will. When Edward disappears, however, the sisters have far more to worry about than just money. It may not be the first time he's gone missing, but they all fear it might be the last.

When estranged sister Carleen shows up, all four must confront their long-buried past-and figure out what they're going to do in the present. Will Amanda leave her husband, who's cheating on her with a Brazilian back-waxer? Will Babe dump her has-been action star husband to return to the man of her dreams? Will Ellie be able to stand on her own Birkenstock-sandalled feet? Will anyone ever forgive Carleen? And where on earth could Edward be? The journey won't be easy, because while each needs something different, they could all use a little understanding-and a windfall of cash. (Source)

Paranormalcy (Kiersten White) Review

Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy, #1)
Publisher: HarperTeen (August 31, 2010)
Hardcover: 352 Pages
Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. (Source)

Review
PARANORMALCY, Kiersten White, is and interesting concept of paranormals and those whose duties are to contain those who get out of hand. Evie thought she was a normal human with an added ability to see through glamours but as the pieces of her past fall into place, she starts to question herself and those around her.

I have heard such great things about this book so I just had to read it! I really liked the whole idea of the IPCA. I enjoyed exploring White's creativity through her words and the world that these characters live in. This world was a paranormal melting pot and I loved getting to know the different races through Evie's point of view. Evie lived for the agency, but when a stranger infiltrated it her views changed and it was an interesting road to follow along with her.

I have to say one thing bugged me about this book, but it didn't hinder my appreciation for it. Evie's obsession with pink and girly things really got to me. I am not that type of girl at all so it got under my skin a little. But this was just a small part of what made her unique as a character within the paranormal genre. She was very true to herself and was still strong at heart. Even though around Lend, she acted like a silly girl, it was very true to first love.

I loved learning about where Evie really came from. It was definitely unique and now I understand why everyone likes this book so much! I felt the story ended too soon and we only touched the tip of the iceberg about Evie and her past. I appreciated White's vision for the book and it really stuck with me after I read it. I am excited to explore that a more in the sequel, Supernaturally.



For more info, check out Kiersten White's website 



October 10, 2010

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-A-Thon FINAL Update & Winner!


The read-a-thon for me was a fail this time around. I had to go up to my parents this weekend where their internet was not functioning so I did not get to participate in any challenges. Boo! I did get to finish Grace by Elizabeth Scott, and I have one hour left in The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz. 

Here is the end of event meme (I only filled the questions that applied to me since I did not do much):

~How many books did you read? Almost 2
~What were the names of the books you read?
Grace by Elizabeth Scott
The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
~Which book did you enjoy most? The Van Alen Legacy
~Which did you enjoy least? Grace
~How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Absolutely, I would like to be a reader again

Next time, I think I will plan nothing the weekend of the next read-a-thon so I can get more accomplished, this weekend was tough for me, but I always have fun reading so it wasn't a total waste! :)

The winner of my mini-challenge was Ruby, here was her entry:

"Dust of 100 Dogs by AS King.


Historical fiction, pirates, dogs, reincarnation and the power of luuuuuurve. Imagine yourself as Kiera Knightley in Pirates of the Carribean? How about being reborn while trying to find lost treasure and a long lost love? All this and more if you pick up this book!!"

Congrats!!

In My Mailbox (19)

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox each week!

For Review*

Flip this Zombie (Living with the Dead, #2) What My Best Friend Did: A NovelThe Transformation of Things: A Novel

Bought 
(the first six books I got from my library book store, epic win!)

CatalystSpeakTwo-Way Street

Someone Like You13 Little Blue EnvelopesGeneration Dead (Generation Dead Series #1)
Crescendo (Hush, Hush, #2)

*I'd like to thank Orbit & Harper for these books.
 
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