Mel's Books and Info

Book Review: Truth by Julia Karr

2012-01-26T07:00:00.006-05:00

Title: Truth
Author: Julia Karr
Genre: Teen Fiction, Dystopian Fiction
Publication Date: January 19, 2012
Publisher: Puffin
ISBN-13 Book: 9780142417720
Source: I received a copy from the author for review as part of the {Teen} Book Scene Tours. This is my honest review.

Truth by Julia Karr

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nina Oberon is back in this sequel to Karr's XVI. Truth takes place immediately after XVI ends. Nina and her sister are still attending school, and living with their grandparents. When Child Protective Services issue a writ declaring Nina's grandparents unsuitable guardians, and Pops finds himself arrested by B.O.S.S. Nina and her sister find themselves in a whole lot of trouble. What will happen to them, how will they elude the government this time?

Something about Karr's writing style just draws me into her novels. I don't know what it is about the way she writes, but it is so accessible and inviting even when I am tired after a day of work. A couple of times I was so tired when I got home I didn't want to read until I picked up Truth then I became so engrossed that I didn't want to put it down.

This novel is definitely a continuation of the first. Which means, you really must read the first to understand the situations in this novel.

That being said, I really enjoyed this sequel. Although not as thoroughly terrifying as the first novel, this one definitely had you on the edge of your seat as you watched Nina try to navigate the system once more.

Karr's dystopia is very involved and heavily regulated. It is a world where the media runs the nation, and because of their antifeminist tendencies, they have created a world where it is dangerous to be a woman. Once again sex is a central topic in this novel, but it is only really talked about.

Nina Oberon is becoming more and more of an adult as these novels progress, and it is refreshing to see a character change and grow. She is a strong female character who wants to do the right thing, and seeks to make her world a better place.

Overall this is a wonderful continuation of the series. In many ways, this book was even better than the first. Karr knows how to build tension and keep the reader engaged. Her writing just keeps getting better. I love these novels and can't wait to read more.

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Book Review: Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick [Audio]

2012-01-24T18:15:00.002-05:00

Title: Silence
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: Teen Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
ISBN-13 Book: 9781442426641
Publisher Audio CD: Simon and Schuster Audio
ISBN CD: 9781442343818
Length: 8 CDs (Approximately 9.5 hours)
Narrator: Caitlin Greer
Disclosure: I received a copy of the audio book for review from Simon and Schuster Audio through Audiobook Jukebox (http://www.audiobookjukebox.com/). This is my honest review!

Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Warning: This review may contain spoilers from the previous novel Crescendo.

This third installment in the series takes place shortly after book two, Crescendo leaves off. At the end of Crescendo Nora is been kidnapped by the Black Hand. At the beginning of Silence we discover the desperate extremes Patch is willing to go to rescue her. When she finally is returned to her mother, a lot has changed. First Nora has no memory of the events of the last five months and second her mother is now dating Hank Miller, the father of her enemy Marcie Miller. She knows there are gaps in her memory and she knows not everyone is telling her the truth, especially about a dark eyed boy that keeps popping up in her scattered memory.

Since this is the third book in the series, Fitzpatrick doesn’t waste any time thrusting the reader into the story. The characters are familiar and we know their history. What we can’t figure out is why their stories differ so completely from the ones we read in the past two books.

While amnesia tends to be a bit cliché in books these days, given the powers of the characters I found it to be a believable motif, and it definitely lets her move from Nora’s captivity at the end of Crescendo to the events of this book without a lot of drawn out scenes and explanation. In fact, I think it was great that we didn’t have to experience Nora in captivity.

Once again the nephilim and the fallen angels are preparing for battle. While I enjoyed Silence while I was reading it, in the end I was left feeling a little disappointed and felt that it kind of fell flat. In essence we don’t learn anything new in this novel until the very end. There was no new information, no new events; we basically waited for Nora to get her memory back so we could progress with the story once again. It was good for a refresher of events, but kind of stalled the progress of the series.

The ending sets us up for a new playing field and for an exciting conclusion in the final installment in this series. I am anxious to know what happens next.

I listened to the audiobook for this novel and found that it was a pleasant way to experience the book. Given how much of the book rehashes the previous novels, I found myself less impatient listening to the book than I would have been had I been reading it. The audio format suits this book well and is a good way to get through this novel.

The audiobook is produced by Simon & Schuster audio and read by Caitlin Greer. Greer does an excellent job narrating, and is clear and believable as the voice of Nora Grey. Sometimes the male voices seem a bit stretched, but this is common with almost any narrator reading for the opposite sex. Alter Graham (sp?) reads the first chapter, and it was worth listening to the audio just to hear Patch’s voice come from a male reader.

The production of this novel is well done. The volume is consistent throughout the book and the quality is very good. The pacing for the narration is perfect and the audio flows smoothly. The audio is definitely a good way to get through this third novel. In fact, there were several days when I found myself sitting in the car listening to the book even though I had arrived at my destination.

Overall, this was a good book, but it could have been better. I felt that we spent too much time rehashing events that occurred in the previous books. I still like the series and can’t wait to see what will happen in book four.

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Adult Book Review: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

2012-01-21T07:00:00.003-05:00

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
Genre: Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: February 8, 2011
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN-13 Book: 9780143119685
Source: I purchased a paperback copy of this novel from Meijer. This is my honest review!

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When scholar Diana Bishop calls up the manuscript Ashmole 782 from the Bodlein library in Oxford, she has no idea how that single act will change her life. Born a witch, but refusing to have anything to do with her magic, Diana has suddenly caught the interest of witches, daemons, and a very alluring vampire. Soon she is being pursued and threatened by witches who believe she knows more than she is letting on, by daemons who want her to give them the manuscript, and by a vampire who may want more from her than just the manuscript.
To be completely honest I have to admit that my friend, who wasn’t able to finish the book, was right—there is a bit too much mooning over how handsome Matthew is and how perfect he is. Like in the novel Twilight we are told over and over how perfect, strong, white, and handsome the vampire Matthew Clairmont is to the protagonist. I can see how that grated on her, and why she couldn’t go any further with this novel, but I really wish she had finished it.

I will admit that on the surface this novel has the ability to come off as a bit of a Twilight for grownups, but the mooning over the perfectly handsome vampire who insists to our charming protagonist that he is a dangerous creature who could lose control and kill her is really where the similarities end. Unlike the protagonist of the other mentioned vampire novel, Diana Bishop is a strong and capable woman. She is a scholar who wants nothing more than to work on her keynote address for an upcoming conference when she unwittingly calls up a book on alchemy that soon has the world of paranormal creatures buzzing.

While a little slow in the beginning, this novel definitely picks up the pace at the end. Strangely the slowness of the beginning didn’t turn me off the novel. For some reason it felt right for this book, it made me savor each chapter and appreciate the time I got to spend with the book. I honestly didn’t want to turn that last page knowing I would have to wait until July to find out what was going to happen next. Even now, having just finished it last evening, I find myself wanting to go back and reread the novel and spend more time with these characters.

Speaking of characters, you can’t help but like spunky and defiant Diana. It was a bit frustrating seeing her do something dangerous because of her defiance, but on the other hand I liked that the heroine of this novel could stand up for herself. Yes, she does get a bit moony over Matthew, but tell me, do you know any girl or woman who hasn’t gotten moony over someone at least once. Sickening as it may be to some, sometimes we don’t always think with our brains; sometimes we see candy and we like it. The fawning over Matthew does lessen later in the novel, when the events and action begin to take over and despite the fact that this bothered my friend, I was able to get past this without much effort.

Matthew was a puzzle whose pieces were slowly doled out over the course of the novel. Each little tidbit was fascinating, and it really answers the question what would you do if you could live forever. He has known history firsthand, and to a historian like Diana that knowledge itself is what draws her to him—not merely his looks. His instincts and his long life have made him a protector of the weak—strange for a vampire, but he has been living among humans for many years. When he first meets Diana he sees a witch who has never learned to use her power, and who can’t protect herself from other witches. It makes him feel like he needs to shield her, and try to protect her from this world she has shut out of her life.

The other characters are equally fascinating Ysabeau especially intrigued me. Diana’s aunts are a fun lot, and so are many of the creatures we meet in this novel. I still want to know more about Marcus, Miriam, and Nathaniel, so I hope we get to see them again in the next novel.

This novel would probably be called more of a romance than general fiction, but the adventure, the history, and mystery will keep non-romance readers interested. It is definitely a page turner and I can see why it has garnered such good reviews and a place on the bestseller lists.

You are probably wondering why I gave a book where I have acknowledged flaws a 5 star review. To be absolutely and completely honest, it is because I loved the book. It hooked me on the first page, and though I could see the flaws my friend pointed out they didn’t matter to me. This book was an engrossing read. It was a book where I wanted to savor every page. I liked the characters, the romance, the action, the magic, and the history. It blended all those aspects well, and no matter where I was in the book I wanted to keep reading. Maybe it was because this book gave me something that has been missing from my reading choices lately, and I admit I whole heartedly want more. I only hope the second book is as good as the first.

Overall, this is one of my favorite books. How can I tell? I can tell because I just finished the book yesterday and already I want to go back and reread it. That hasn’t happened to me for a very, very, long time. If you like adventure, with romance, and some history give A Discovery of Witches a try. The sequel Shadow of Night comes out July 10, 2012—I’m not sure I can wait that long.

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Author Interview with Julia Karr author of Truth the Sequel to XVI

2012-01-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Julia Karr to my blog. A year ago when I read her first book XVI I was amazed by the strong character she had created in Nina Oberon, I was thrilled to read this latest installment and see what has changed in Nina's life. Welcome, Julia, to my blog.

Author Interview with Julia Karr

1. Where is the most unusual place you have ever written any parts of you novels?

Probably the most unusual place would be in the bathtub.

2. Do you have any writing rituals or any specific place you have to be when you write?

I can write just about anywhere, but I have to have fed the cats and dog first. I must have a cup of tea - gunpowder green - when I’m getting started.

3. What was your most embarrassing moment?

In writing? Cause boy, I’ve had a ton of embarrassing moments in my life! But... in writing, probably when I was querying agents. I sent out XVI (which has a pretty memorable title) to a particular agent. He asked for a partial and then declined. Two months later, I accidentally queried him again - same query letter! He politely responded that if he wasn’t interested in the first place, he wouldn’t be again. I wanted to die!

4. What one thing would you like readers to take away from your novels?

That we need to question what’s going on in our government and we need to be sure that we don’t take the word of the media about what’s really going on around us. We have to dig deeper and find out the truth about things for ourselves. Also - and this is a big ALSO... Girls are as capable as guys of doing pretty much anything. Girls do not need to be protected and molly-coddled (I always wanted to use that word!) - unless they’re injured or sick or in some condition where you would be protecting anyone, male or female. We’re all people - we’re all capable.

5. Do you have any other projects in the works?

I do.

6. Can you tell us about them?

Not right at this moment - hopefully soon!

Book Review: Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey

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

Title: Dragonswood
Author: Janet Lee Carey
Genre: Teen Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: January 5, 2012
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
ISBN-13 Book: 9780803735040
Source: I purchased and ebook version for my nook. This is my honest review!

Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
When Tess is accused of being a witch, and then tortured to reveal the names of her best friends, she and her two best friends must leave their perilous lives behind in their small village to escape the witch hunter. Unsure who to trust and with nowhere safe to run, Tess and her friends are helped by a mysterious huntsman who Tess had seen in her visions; a man who may know more about the kingdom’s affairs than he lets on.

I was really looking forward to this novel. It sounded so intriguing, and like a good engrossing fantasy. I was looking for something completely set in a fantasy world, and this novel fit the bill.

Dragonswood starts off with a bang and a lot of action. At the very beginning Tess is accused of witchcraft, and then tortured. This was the type of beginning that really hooks me as a reader. It was fast and action packed.

After a great start, however, the novel slows down considerably—perhaps even too much. There were later parts that dragged by so much so that I was tempted to put the book down. Still the need to know what was going to happen and where the novel would go kept me reading.

Tess is a likable character who is realistically flawed. She only knows what she has been told and is ignorant of much of the world. I like the fact that Tess’s character is so well rounded. She makes mistakes and has flaws, and that made her so much more real than even her two best friends.

Overall, there were some parts of the story that could have been better developed, and some loose ends that were too neatly tied up at the end, but all in all this was an interesting book to read. While you may notice some connections with Carey’s book Dragon’s Keep, it is not necessary to read Dragon’s Keep to enjoy Dragonswood although doing so may provide you with some background and history that will be useful.

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I Kiss a Lot of Frogs: Finding My Next Great Read

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

I know I have been a little on the quiet side lately--still reviewing, but not much commentary. I blame it on illness. I got zapped with bronchitis, laryngitis, a sinus infection, and did you know you could pull muscles in your neck from coughing--found that one out the hard way. Anyway, while I have been a bit under the weather I have used the opportunity to catch up on some of my reading--if I can't talk, why not read.

Last night I was pondering what to read next. There are always so many great books coming out it is sometimes hard to choose. Most of the time I have a booked up reading list with deadlines looming, but for once it seems like I have caught up and now have the chance to pick and choose what I want to read.

In some ways this is more daunting than the deadlines. With so much to choose from, what do I read next? Like so many others I have my TBR shelf stuffed full of books I haven't read yet, so of course it makes sense to grab one of those, but what if none of those strike my fancy? I have read two outstanding fantasy novels recently--high fantasy, and I want more. I want another book that makes me feel as wonderful as those two did. Then I look at my shelf and shake my head nothing seems like those book--no suitable read-a-likes.

So what do I do when I can't find what I am looking for? I pick up several books and just begin reading the first few pages. The one that holds my interest may be my next read. The ones that don't, go back to the TBR pile. Sometimes I start several before I find one that hooks me, but this tells me something about my reading. I have to have a good beginning.

Authors, are you listening? Beginnings are everything. If I can't get past the beginning, getting to the stunning conclusion you wrote at the end will be difficult if not impossible. I am the type of reader who needs to be hooked from the first page, and the scary part of that is that I am not alone. When I booktalk to teens in the library so many of them tell me that they just couldn't get into the novel. It may be a fabulous book, but if it doesn't hold their interest in the beginning, only the persistent readers will make it to the stunning conclusion.

Teens have so much going on in their lives, and with everything happening so fast, a novel needs to draw them in quickly and keep their attention. The only way around this that has worked for me has been reading audio books--I can get past a slow start with a good audio, but most of the kids I see aren't big audio fans.

So what do I recommend, start your books out with a bang! Grab my attention so that you aren't another frog, and instead become the next prince charming I will be spending my time with. I guess that makes me sound like book slut, but what can I say I am always looking for that next great book. :)

Books with Great Beginnings:

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins--dramatic, very dramatic
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick--this latest installment had me salivating at the beginning
Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder--on the way to the gallows
Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey--witches, torture, how will she escape
Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross--love the action
Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer--this e-book really hooked me
The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong--this one had chills going down my spine

Whether you start it off with action or intrigue, a book needs to give me a reason to keep reading. What about you? What makes you eager to start a new book? What books with great beginnings would you add to my list?

Book Review: Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer

2012-01-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Notes to Self
Author: Avery Sawyer
Genre: Teen Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication Date: November 20, 2011
Publisher: Avery Sawyer, via Smashwords
Sold by: SMASHWORDS - EBKS (Available from either Amazon or Barnes and Noble)

Source: I received a copy from the author for review. This is my honest review.

Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
All Robin remembers is that she and Emily both climbed up the Sling Shot at Fun Towne, and then they fell. When Robin wakes up she can’t remember the details of that evening, but knows there is something important there. Worse, Emily hasn’t woken up yet and Robin must learn to live her life anew with the results of a traumatic brain injury.

I can’t tell you how much this novel amazed me. The premise intrigued me from the beginning, but the writing and the story are so engrossing I couldn’t put it down. Robin is a likable narrator who is struggling to put her life back together after the fall. She knows there is something about that night that she is missing and she wants so badly to remember, but when she can’t even remember how to take a shower, how can she expect to remember that one night.

The character development in this novel is well done. You can believe that Robin is a real person, and you can feel and understand her pain. Her support system is so small you really can see how hard it is for her to find people she can really trust.

The story often flashes back to memories from Robins past, and especially memories of Emily. This isn’t at all distracting to the story, and adds quite a bit of dimension to the writing. You can see how she and Emily got to the places they are now, and it does much to further the character development.

Overall this novel was a fast and interesting read. I highly recommend it to readers of realistic fiction. It was definitely a hard one to put down.

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Book Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick [Audio]

2012-01-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Crescendo
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: Teen Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: October 19, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
ISBN-13 Book: 9781416989431
Publisher Audio CD: Simon and Schuster Audio
ISBN CD: 9781442334199
Source: I checked out both the book and the audio from my local library. This is my honest review!

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
After surviving a near death experience, Nora Gray hopes that life can return to normal. All she wants for the summer is to avoid her nemesis Marcie Miller, spend time with her hot guardian angel boyfriend Patch, and pass summer chemistry. What she gets though is far from what she had hoped. Patch starts acting weird and hanging out with Marcie and after a huge fight he and Nora part ways; leaving Nora reeling and her mother setting her up with the new guy in town, Scott Parnell, who may have more to hide in his shady past than even Nora is prepared to deal with.

Crescendo takes up right where Hush, Hush left off. Nora and Patch are back again, but not everything is going as smoothly as Nora had planned. Something is up with Patch and he isn’t sharing, and suddenly Marcie Miller is butting into her life and making it miserable.

We met most of the characters in the first novel, so we didn’t need to go into a lot of detail with this one. We still wonder what Marcie’s grudge is against Nora, and eventually do get more insight into this dysfunctional relationship. Vee is back and as flippant as ever. I think one of my major complaints in the first novel was that Vee seemed so oblivious to Nora’s feelings. That is still somewhat true, but in the end Vee is always there for her—the one person she can count on in a pinch.

Scott Parnell is a new character in this novel, and something definitely isn’t right with this bad boy. Even Nora’s mother senses it. Scott is definitely hiding something that will keep the reader anxious to find out exactly what is going on with him.

Nora was a bit of a frustration to me in this novel. I had very little sympathy for her problems with her relationship with Patch because so much of it was her own doing. She jumped to a conclusion and then shoved Patch out of her life based on her false assumptions. I guess though that is what makes these relationships interesting.

I must admit this novel had some surprises in store for me. There were some aspects of the plot that I had figured out ahead of time, but Fitzpatrick was still able to pull a few surprises. Not bad for a middle novel, and in some ways more fulfilling than the first.

The audio version of this novel is produced by Simon and Shuster Audio and read by Caitlin Greer. Greer does an excellent job narrating and her voices feel true to the characters. As with any female narrator, the guys come out a little stretched, but Greer still makes them believable. The audio is definitely worth a listen if you don’t have time to pick up the book, and is very well done.

Overall, you definitely need to read the first book in this series Hush, Hush to understand what is going on in this novel. I will say though, for a middle book this one stood up pretty good and kept this reader interested. This is a must read if you wish to continue with the series—and the cliffhanger at the end will have you clamoring for book three Silence.

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Book Review: The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

2012-01-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: The International Kissing Club
Author: Ivy Adams
Genre: Teen Fiction,
Publication Date: January 3, 2012 (YEP, It comes out tomorrow!!!)
Publisher: Walker Childrens
ISBN-13 Book: 9780802723185
Source: I received a copy from the author for review as part of the {Teen} Book Scene Tours. This is my honest review.

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Four teen girls, best friends, have wished their entire lives to get out of their small town of Paris, Texas. When the opportunity arises for the four of them to participate in a foreign exchange program the girls jump at the chance. Piper will go to Paris, Mei to China, Cassidy to Australia, and Izzy will remain in Texas because her parents can't afford her trip. Four girls, 10 weeks, and many exciting experiences, new guys, new kisses, but will they be the same people they were before they left? Welcome to the International Kissing Club.

There is no way to avoid the comparison. The first thing I thought of when I saw this book listed was Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (SOTTP). As much as I would like to there is no escaping the comparison. There is even an allusion to that series in this novel that definitely made me chuckle. Like SOTTP, this novel features four best friends separating for the first time in their lives. Each teen has her own reasons for wanting to leave their tiny town and start fresh somewhere else. Like SOTTP, these girls are searching for identity, and to some extent their first real encounter with love.

The characters in this novel are easy to relate to--you know them or have even been them. First there is Piper, who longs to escape the bullying and harassment of the queen bee of their school Germaine. Ever since falling victim to a cruel pageant prank, Piper has been known as Kiss the Pig Girl. Every where she goes the nickname and insulting oinks follow. She longs to get away and go somewhere where she can find a boy who isn't familiar with her notorious past.

Mei is the overachiever trying to prove that she is worthy of her adoptive parents who love her. She is the smart sensible member of the group, but she really wants to know more about who she really is. Little does she realize that in China, the students will see her as one more Chinese girl among millions--one that was unwanted.

Cassidy is the only daughter of a single mother who had her while she was a teenager. Her family has lived in Paris for generations, and Cassidy longs to seek adventure elsewhere. She wants to escape the stereotypes of her small town life and have people know her for who she is rather than where she is from.

Finally ther is Izzy whose breakup with her boyfriend has left her reeling. She had hoped to get away from her chaotic family life and the painful memories of her breakup, but when her irritating older brother breaks his hand and has no hope at a football scholarship, Izzy is forced to give up her trip and stay without her friends in their small town.

While they are apart the girls form the International Kissing Club, a Facebook page for them to share their adventures and conquests. But the page becomes so much more as more and more people begin to follow and support these young adventurers.

The technological aspects of the story, and various pop culture references may eventually date the story, but the themes of growing up and searching for your own identity will remain true. All of these young women are charming characters who you would want to know. You can even see bits of yourself in each of them. The novel manages to tackle serious topics such as bullying, and identity without taking itself to seriously. I love that this novel could make me laugh and cry.

Overall this charming novel is a great addition to the realistic fiction genre. I can see it appealing to fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and many others. This is a really fun read.

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Adult Book Review: Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Explosive Eighteen
Author: Janet Evanovich
Genre: Adult Fiction, Mystery
Publication Date: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13 Book: 9780375814709
Source: I purchased a e-book from Barnes and Noble. This is my honest review.

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When Stephanie comes back from Hawaii with a mysterious tan line on her finger, everyone is anxious to find what's up. But a tan isn't all Stephanie got in Hawaii. Someone deposited a photo in her luggage that a number of parties are willing to kill for. Just another day in the life of your favorite New Jersey bounty hunter.
I do enjoy a good Evanovich novel. These novels usually have the reader shaking their heads and laughing at the crazy antics of Stephanie Plum. Like the others in the series, this one is more than a little predictable. After 18 books we are certainly familiar with the standard Evanovich gags, and Stephanie's numerous missteps. I will say the ring mystery kept my attention though--Evanovich fans will definitely know what I mean.

Overall, this was a fun and entertaining story, if a bit predictable. Stephanie Plum fans will find that their favorite character is back for more.

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Book Review: Mastiff by Tamora Pierce

2011-12-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Mastiff
Author: Tamora Pierce
Genre: Teen Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13 Book: 9780375814709
Source: I purchased a copy from Barnes and Noble. This is my honest review.

Mastiff by Tamora Pierce
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mastiff takes place a few years after the events of Bloodhound and a few things have changed for Beka. When she and her partner are secretly summoned to the Summer Palace to solve a kidnapping, they have no idea how deep this case is going to go, or who they will be able to trust in the end.

I have been a long time Tamora Pierce fan. I especially love her novels that take place in Tortall. When she first announced that she was writing a prequel to the previous novels featuring a guardswoman, I was a bit nervous. I usually don’t care for prequels. I want to know what happens in the future, not what happened in the past. Pierce surprised me though, providing me with a spunky, strong, yet slightly flawed heroine who came to life on the page. I love Beka Cooper.

Of all of Pierce’s wonderful heroines, I think Beka is one of my favorites. While I also love Alanna and Daine, I felt that Beka was much more real to me. She is strong, and smart, and determined beyond belief and these novels envelope you and pull you into this magical world. You don’t want to leave and you really want to meet these characters.

This was a perfect conclusion to a fantastic series. Since it is the third book in the series, I do recommend that readers read both Terrier and Bloodhound first—it will help you better understand events alluded to in this novel, and the interactions between the characters. Pierce is honest with her characters and creates story lines that feel true to the events of the book. I couldn’t put this one down.

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Character This or That with Marco from My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today I have the pleasure of doing an This or That Interview with Marco from My Own Worst Frenemy. Marco, like Chanti, is a scholarship student and is also accused in the series of thefts, and according to Chanti he is irresitably hot! See what some of his choices are and then check out the book My Own Worst Frenemy to find out what will happen with Chanti and Marco!

This or That with Marco!

1. Mysteries or Science fiction

2. Video Games or Movies

3. Books or TV

4. Pasta or Pizza

5. Dogs or Cats

6. Vegetarian or Carnivore

7. Music or Movies

8. Sweet or Spicy

9. Summer or Winter

10. City or Country

11. Hiking or Dancing

12. Sports or Studies

13. Uniforms or Your Own Clothes

14. Friends or Family

15. Chocolate or Candy

Read more about Marco and Chanti in My Own Worst Frenemy on sale now!

Book Review: My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid

2011-12-22T08:00:00.004-05:00

Title: My Own Worst Frenemy
Author: Kimberly Reid
Genre: Teen Fiction, Urban Fiction, Mystery
Publication Date: September 1, 2011
Publisher: Dafina
ISBN-13 Book: 9780758267405
Source: I received a copy for review from {Teen} Book Scene Tours. This is my honest review.

My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It wasn't Chanti's idea to become a scholarship student at Langdon, an exclusive private school. In fact, Chanti would have much rather gone to North with all of her friends, but after a bit of trouble over the summer her mother is insistent that she attend Langdon. It doesn't even take a full day for Chanti's dire predictions about Langdon to come true. Before the end of the day she has already made enemies of the headmistress and the most popular girl at Langdon. Just when she thinks things can't get worse, she is accused of stealing from students, and if that isn't bad enough she and fellow scholarship student Marco are both arrested for a series of home burglaries. Chanti knows she and Marco didn't do it, now she just has to prove it before she is sent to jail or worse.

Chanti is a likable and compelling character. It takes you a while before you get her whole story, but that doesn't stop you from liking her from the very beginning. She is smart, sassy, and extremely observant. You can't help but like her.

Bethanie, who is supposed to be a scholarship student too, but unexplainably has an enormous stash of cash. Bethanie was probably the most interesting of the supporting character, and you really want to know what is up with this girl and her family.

Marco is a sweet guy, who Chanti is obviously crushing on. While he is our leading man, there is a lot we don't know about his family.

The other characters are less well developed, and some of them are downright stereotypical. The rich mean girl, the mean head mistress, even the drugged up rich kid all make an appearance in the novel. Not that this is a bad thing, the familiar stereotypes will help readers fall in to this novel.

The mystery is well done, and definitely keeps you on your toes, and Reid does a superb job describing her characters and their environments. You could see Chanti's neighborhood and believe that it was a real place. The writing is wonderful.

Overall this is a great work of urban fiction that will undoubtedly appeal to mystery fans. I definitely have some teens who will want to read this one.

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Book Review: In My Dreams by Cameo Renae

2011-12-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: In My Dreams
Author: Cameo Renae
Genre: Teen Fiction, Paranormal Fiction
Publication Date: April 17, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN-13 Book: 9781461083993
Source: I received a copy for review from {Teen} Book Scene Tours. This is my honest review.

In My Dreams by Cameo Renae
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lizzy Hayes is doing alright for herself. Although she is seventeen, she has moved out on her own to get away from her alcoholic mother, she has a job, she pays her bills, she goes to school, but best of all she has the best boyfriend ever, Michael. When Michael is murdered and begins visiting Lizzy in her dreams, warning her that the killer is coming after her too, Lizzy can't even imagine the danger she is in, danger that is coming for her.

I love novels that have just a touch of the paranormal in them, especially when they involve a good mystery. In My Dreams is one of those novels. The story is a page turner taking you from one harrowing situation to the next.

I love the characters in this novel. Lizzy is a smart, strong girl who felt very realistic to me. Michael, as sweet as he is, was a bit too perfect to be true. I love the relationship between the two of them, a relationship that is severed by Michael's death. Emily, Lizzy's best friend, was simply charming, and fun to be around.

The bad guy of the novel was a bit stereotypical, but would definitely get bonus points for creepy factor. This was not a guy you would ever want to meet.

I usually don't notice grammar or typos in novels, usually I am too engrossed in the novel, but this one did have a few. My copy does not indicate that it is an advance, but that may well be the case or perhaps a first printing with some errors. It looks like the book has been rereleased with a completely new and totally awesome cover--it is the one you see with this review. Great cover right?! So it is very possible that those small flaws may have been fixed with the new printing. I also want to mention that these were minor, and did not influence my feelings on the story being told.

Overall, this was a great action packed mystery that kept me turning pages. I recommend it to those who like mysteries with that touch of paranormal, and a spunky main character. In the end it sounded like this may have been a first book--perhaps more to come. I certainly hope so because I do want to see what happens next.

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Book Review: Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

2011-12-16T08:00:00.004-05:00

Title: Shattered Souls
Author: Mary Lindsey
Genre: Teen Fiction, Paranormal Fiction
Publication Date: December 8, 2011
Publisher: Philomel
ISBN-13 Book: 9780399256226
Source: I received an ARC for review from {Teen} Book Scene Tours. This is my honest review.

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lenzi can hear voices asking for her help. She is afraid that, like her father, she is descending into schizophrenia. Her boyfriend Zak tries to support her, but as the voices get more persistent, and are accompanied by startling visions, she begins to worry that it is too late for her until she meets Alden. Alden tells Lenzi that she is a speaker meant to hear the cries of hindered souls. With Alden, Lenzi gains some control over the voices crying for her help. Lenzi must choose between Zak and her destiny with Alden.

When I first started reading this I wasn’t sure it was going to be one I was going to like. First off, it set me up for the all too common teenage love triangle—one girl attracted to two incredibly hot boys. Second the whole paranormal/ghost/past lives seemed to be a bit overdone. Actually, the first descriptions of this book reminded me a little of Lauren Kate’s Fallen series which both intrigued me and frustrated me. There was something however, that despite my reservations, made me want to read this novel.

Shattered Souls took me by complete surprise. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but the book is like a combination of the best parts of Fallen and the action and organization of Kiersten White’s Paranormalcy. From the very first page, I was intrigued by this book, and as the story progressed I found myself not wanting to put it down.

The characters are well drawn, but there is a mystery that surrounds all of them. Many of them have histories in their past lives, and Lenzi, because of her amnesia, has forgotten it all. At the beginning of the novel, I wasn’t sure about Lenzi. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like her or not. She was still reeling from the death of her father, and afraid that like him, she was losing her mind. Zak too was a puzzle to me. He clearly has a past of his own, but he cares for Lenzi. At the same time his choices seem selfish and wrong. Alden was probably my favorite character—mostly because he got Lenzi out of her I’m going crazy like my father stage. All the characters had flaws, and that made them feel like real people.

I love the story of Rose and Alden. The past lives were very intriguing. So much so that I would love to know more about that whole back story. I couldn’t wait for the next flashback. Smith was interesting too, and seeing that whole story play out would have been great.

Overall this was a great paranormal novel with real characters and an intriguing story. At the end, I found myself wanting to spend more time with these characters and find out more about their remarkable lives. A great read!

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Book Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

2011-12-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Touch of Power
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Teen Fiction, Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: 12/20/11 (I can't wait to purchase my copy!!!)
Publisher: Mira
ISBN-13 Book: 9780778313076
Source: I received a copy for review from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In a land where healers are hunted and blamed for a plague, healer Avery of Kazan has been on the run for three years, never staying too long in one place, constantly fearing capture, and keeping to herself for her own safety. Until, one night when she heals a child and is turned in to the city guard by the child’s parents. There is only one sentences for those accused of being a healer, death. While waiting for her punishment, Kerrick appears and offers to rescue her from her predicament if she will heal a friend. Unfortunately, Kerrick’s friend has the plague, and healing a plague victim is a death sentence for any healer.

I love fantasy novels, if you can’t tell by the number of them that I review. I love it when a fantasy world envelops you and becomes so believable that you can see it, smell it, and even taste it. Very few authors are capable of creating a world that attractive and enticing, but I am definitely going to have to add Snyder’s name to the list of authors that can. Her world of the fifteen kingdoms is remarkable, as is her world building. I had no problem navigating my way through her fantasy world.

The characters were interesting. Kerrick is stubborn, but noble. Belen is the lovable “Poppa Bear” always looking out for his cubs. Flea, is the youngster who just wants to grow up, and don’t forget the inseparable Vinn and Quain. Each character has the niche, and getting to know them was part of the fun. Avery herself is a strong female character. She lets Kerrick know that she decides who she will and won’t heal. I love that despite being a captive, she has the strength of character to stand up for herself.

The pacing of the novel is perfect, it was a very quick read, and I loathed putting it down. It had enough detail to keep the reader interested and involved, yet this didn’t hamper the momentum of the novel. It kept me turning pages all the way through.

The dialogue between Kerrick and Avery was one of my favorite parts of the novel. Avery isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and she is a very strong character. It was interesting to see these two butting heads.

My only criticism of the novel is that it was a bit predictable. I saw the ending coming a mile away, and yes even some of the relationships too. In this novel though, I am not sure it is a bad thing. The author gave me what I wanted. I wanted that ending and that relationship. Call me a sucker, but it worked for me.

Overall, I loved this fantasy book, and hope Snyder writes more—I want to see these characters again. Besides, they have so loose ends to tie up! This is being billed as a first in the series—I personally can’t wait for number two!

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Book Review: In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton

2011-12-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: In the Forests of the Night
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Genre: Teen Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: November 22, 2011
Publisher: Clarion Books
ISBN-13 Book: 9780547435602
Source: I received a copy from the author for review for Teen Book Scene Tours. This is my honest review.

In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Teagan, Finn, Aiden, and Abby are all back along with an assortment of characters in this sequel to Hamilton’s Tyger, Tyger. Teagan knows she loves Finn, but is afraid of what a relationship between them might mean now that she knows she is a highborn. She knows what she wants, but fears her blood may get in the way. The Dark Man, however, hasn’t forgotten about Teagan and still wants her at any cost, even the lives of her friends and family.

In the Forests of the Night picks up immediately after the events of Tyger, Tyger. So much so, that you may want to go back and read the end of the previous book so you can remember where we left off. Once again at Teagan’s home, they are still being threatened by goblins

Hamilton does a wonderful job writing dialogue and family dynamics. There were moments when the family interactions had me laughing out loud. These were people you would feel right at home living with—despite their oddities. The greatest part of this novel was seeing the relationships grow and change as you read.

I love her characters, Abby and Aiden are my favorites. I love how Aiden can simply charm you and I love how prickly Abby is and how she picks at Finn. The relationships are endearing, and you love these characters.

My one concern for this novel is that it seems to have “middle book syndrome.” You know that so much more is going to happen in this series, but this novel is merely a stepping stone to get there. It is a bit slow going, but there is a lot of development occurring in those passages. There isn’t a lot of action in the novel until the end, but the end definitely leaves you anticipating the next book.

Overall, I love the originality of this series, which deals with goblins, the dark man, and angels. It is incredibly interesting and I would love to spend more time investigating the mysteries of Mag Mell. This series is definitely one to follow, but be prepared for a little slow going in this book. If the ending is any indication though, I think we will all eagerly anticipate book three.

The reader must definitely read book one Tyger, Tyger before tackling this one, otherwise be prepared to be overwhelmed.

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Lyrical Author Interview with Cameo Renae Author of In My Dreams

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Cameo Renae author of In My Dreams to my blog. In My Dreams is a novel of nightmares, ghosts and murder. Definitely a book you will want to check out!

Author Interview w/ Music Lyric Answers

How would you describe your most embarrassing moment?
You make me want to say…
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh my gosh
Oh my gosh
oh my
oh my
oh, oh my gosh
oh myy gosh- OMG –Usher

(Sorry… this was the first song that popped into my mind, so I had to write it down. Lol I’ve had more than my share of embarrassing moments, and I’ve heard those words a lot… :))

What was your reaction when you held In My Dreams in book form in your hands for the first time?
No matter what you'll never take that from me
My reign is as far as your eyes can see
It's amazin', so amazin', so amazin', so amazin'
It's amazin', so amazin', so amazin', so amazin'
It's amazin'
(Let's go)! Amazing - Kanye West
AND….
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Haaa-lleeeee- luuuu-jaaaaah!!!!! 

Describe your writing process.
Is it strange that I talk to myself?
Is it weird when I hear someone else?
What do I do? (What do I do?)
Is it strange I believe them again (oh-oh-oh)
Voices in my head, the voices, the voices, the voices.
Voices in my head the voices (oh), the voices, the voices – Bruno Mars - Voices in My Head

(Seriously… sometimes I do hear my characters voices in my head… Does that mean I’m crazy? :p)

What inspired you to write In My Dreams?
Time, time will never be a friend of mine again
It tries to make your memory fade but I won’t let it end
Let the sun go down, so I can drift away
Let me close my eyes and live another day
You keep comin’, you keep comin’ back, you keep comin’ back for more.

I’ll see you in my dreams,
There we’ll be safe tonight
From the lonely days of memories
I’ll see you in my dreams.
Back in my arms again
And no matter what tomorrow brings
I’ll see you in my dreams. – I’ll See You In My Dreams - Giant

(I did have a dream, which inspired the story, but the main reason was the passing of my mother-in-law.)

How would you describe In My Dreams?
I would die for you, lay down my life for you
The only thing that means everything to me
‘Cause when you’re in my arms, you make me prouder than
Than anything I ever could achieve

And you make everything that used to seem so big
Seem to be so small since you arrived

On angel’s wings, an angelical formation
Angel’s wings, like letters in the sky
Now I know, no matter what the question
That love is the answer, it’s written on Angel’s wings. - Angel’s Wings - Westlife

(This is definitely a love story, but with twist, turns and tears.)

What is the one thing you want people to remember about In My Dreams?
Love will keep us alive
Let's make the moment right
It's now or never
Love will keep us alive
Even the darkest night
Will shine forever
Love will keep us alive
Love will keep us alive
Love, love will keep us alive. – Love Will Keep Us Alive - Scorpions

(I believe that our loved ones are still with us when they pass… guiding and watching over us.)

If you could give aspiring writers one piece of advice, what would it be?
Every victory comes in time, work today to change tomorrow
It gets easier, who's to say that you can't fly
Every step you take you get, closer to your destination
You can feel it now; don't you know you're almost there?

To fulfill divine purpose, you gotta answer when you're called
So don't be afraid to face the world against all odds

Keep the dream alive don't let it die
If something deep inside keeps inspiring you to try, don't stop
And never give up, don't ever give up on you. – Never Give Up - Yolanda Adams

Thanks Melissa for letting me come and visit! 

Thank you Cameo for dropping by!

Don't forget to check out In My Dreams by Cameo Renae. Need more covincing? Check out this blurb from Goodreads!

In My Dreams by Cameo Renae description from Goodreads.com:

It was happening again. The dreams. The nightmares. It was something seventeen year-old Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hayes thought she'd outgrown; dreams that would come true; detailed premonitions of how people would die. This time she dreams about her boyfriend, Michael Young, and soon discovers that he's been found... dead.
Michael hasn't crossed over because he was murdered, and now his murderer is coming for Lizzy. His spirit won't rest until she is safe, and as a newbie spirit, the easiest way for him to make contact is through Lizzy's dreams. When she dreams, it's as if he hasn't died.
Lizzy must learn to pull on her inner strength to survive horrifying events. Meanwhile, in the spirit world, Michael learns everything he can about his supernatural gifts to help. But will it be enough to save her?

Book Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

2011-12-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne
Author: Kady Cross
Genre: Teen Fiction, Steampunk
Publication Date: 5/1/2011
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN-13 Book: 9781459204140
Source: I purchased a copy from Barnes and Noble. This is my honest review.

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Kady Cross's book Girl in the Steel Corset and this book was a welcome addition. In this novella, we meet Finley before she meets the Griffin King. After an unfortunate altercation with a governess, Finley accepts a position as a companion to Lady Phoebe, a young woman engaged to a much older Earl. Phoebe's mother isn't convinced that the match is in her daughter's best interest, and soon Finley is on the trail to find out what diabolical secrets the Earl is hiding.

This story had everything I loved from the novel, a strong, smart heroine, lots of non-stop action, and a wonderful sense of humor.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the book, and anyone who is considering reading the book. I loved the references to Frankenstein and the whole steampunk motif. This is a fabulous novella, and I absolutely can't wait for the next installment in this thrilling series.

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Book Review: Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan

2011-12-09T07:59:00.001-05:00

Title: Hare Moon
Author: Carrie Ryan
Genre: Teen Fiction, Post Apocalyptic Fiction
Publication Date: April 5, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13 Book: 9780375979996
Source: I purchased a copy from Barnes and Noble. This is my honest review.

Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In Ryan's first book The Forest of Hands and Teeth we meet Sister Tabitha. Now in Hare Moon we finally see the story behind the egnimatic sister. It is story of love loss and impossible choices.

I love Carrie Ryan's books. In my opinion they are some of the best teen horror out there. I never pictured myself as a person who would enjoy zombie books, but Ryan's writing is brilliant. Her stories elicit the inherent fear that the image of the zombie is supposed to evoke.

While I love her novels, I found myself wishing for more from this short story. I wanted to know Tabitha's family, her relationships in the village, and all the details of her life that would lead her to her ultimate choice. I think knowing that would have helped me better understand this character. Unlike her novels I felt that I was told the story rather than experiencing it the way you do in her other work.

Overall this was an interesting foray into one of the side stories of this series. I did like seeing how similar Mary and Tabitha actually were. Definitely worth reading, but it left me wishing for more.

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Character Book Picks and Giveaway: The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

2011-12-06T08:00:00.003-05:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Ivy Adams author of the book The International Kissing Club. Every character is unique, and like us they have favorite books. Today Ivy will share with us some of Piper's (from The International Kissing Club) favorite books. There is also a giveaway, so keep reading!

Welcome Ivy!

Thanks so much for a hosting Smooch Spot #9 on the Around the World in 80 Kisses Tour. While Piper is the ringleader of the International Kissing Club, she’s much more of an artist and fashionista than she is a reader. However, there are a few books that she absolutely loves—namely ones that talk about clothes or ones with really hot guys in them. :) Of course, books with both get extra points …

1.    IN VOGUE: The Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine   This coffee table book does exactly what its title says it does—it follows all the amazing looks and trends from Vogue magazine from its inception until now. It’s a gorgeous book with a lot of truly iconic photographs. Sometimes when I don’t know what to paint, I open this book up and pick a style to try to imitate in an abstract painting.
2.    Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins: What’s not to love about this book? Lola is a great heroine with a flair for dramatic style. And Cricket is adorable, too!
3.    Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez: This book has the most amazing cover and the story of a seventeen-year-old violin prodigy (and the boy she competes with and falls in love with) is incredible.
4.    Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott: This book is a few years old, but it’s a fascinating story of friendship and once I started it I couldn’t put it down.
5.    The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Perkins: I love this book. The cover is breathtaking and the story is just as entrancing—especially the poems the main character writes and then sends out into the universe. Plus, the guy in here is totally hot. :)

So these are some of Piper’s picks. How about you? What are some of your go-to books? Leave a comment (include your email addy) to be entered into the Around the World in 80 Kisses daily, weekly and grand prize drawing.

Want to know more about The International Kissing Club? Check out the blurb below and don't forget to pre-order you copy--it comes out January 3, 2012!

Description from Goodreads: Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?

Giveaway:
Ivy shared some of Piper's favorite books, what are yours? What are some of your go-to books? Leave a comment (include your email addy) to be entered into the Around the World in 80 Kisses daily, weekly and grand prize drawing. (For more details about the giveaway visit http://tracy-deebs.blogspot.com/2011/11/around-world-in-80-kisses-blog-tour-and.html.)

E-readers: Before You Buy Buying Tips

2011-11-30T08:00:00.005-05:00

I can't believe that December is almost here! This year is flying by. Once again at our library's reference desk we are having concerned family members seeking our advice about which e-reader they should buy their loved ones for Christmas this year. Being a librarian, I really have no vested interest in what readers you buy, but I do know what works with the library's Overdrive program, and the readers that are the easiest to use with Overdrive. I am not trying to sell anyone anything. I have a nook and I love my nook, but I am also extremely impressed with the Kindle. While I will focus on Kindle and Nook in this post, many of these questions will be relevant to any e-reader you are looking at.

Even if you are buying for yourself or someone else, these questions and tips will hopefully help you select which device will suit you or the person receiving the gift best.

E-reader Buying Tips and Questions to Ask Yourself:

Cheaper isn't always better. There are a lot of cheap readers on the market, some of them are exceptional, while others are not. Make sure you know you like the device you are buying because if you don't it wasn't really a bargain.
Where do you like to buy books? Do you like buying books better from Amazon (Kindle) or from Barnes and Noble (Nook). Whichever device you buy, you will be required to register your device with their website before you can buy books. This means giving your credit card number to that company. Your buying preferences figure heavily here keep this in mind when you choose your device--make sure you are comfortable buying from that company.
Go somewhere that has the device out where you can touch it and play with it. I can't emphasize this enough. Even though there is no Barnes and Noble where I live, I can go to Books a Million and hold a Nook if I want to see how the device looks, feels, and works in person. The same is true for Kindle. Find local retailers that have the devices out where you can touch them, read on them, and try to navigate on them. Look for these things as you handle the device:

Weight and size. Although most ereaders are around the same size and weight, there are subtle differences that can influence your decision. Hold the device in your hand, does it feel comfortable to hold, or is it too bulky (my reader an original nook is kind of heavy, and sometimes makes me wish I had purchased a newer lighter one), do you like the size and and shape of the reader?

Read on it! This is probably the most important tip I can give you. Whatever one you choose you need to actually read on the device. Read at least three pages on the device.

Can you read it easily?
Does the glare bother you?
Do you prefer your screens to be backlit?
Adjust the font type--does that make it easier to read?
Adjust the size? Do you like how the font changes with size?

Turn the pages. This is another important one. Some e-readers have a really slow page turn. While some of you may think that is no big deal, let me tell you a slow page turn can be extremely frustrating when you are reading. Think about it...you finish a page and can't wait to see what happens next, but for some reason your e-reader is taking its own sweet time turning the page. You are so excited you hit the button again and suddenly your e-reader flips ahead two pages. Now you have to hit the back button and wait for it to flip back. I am really not exaggerating here--I have seen this happen and have seen some very upset people trying to navigate on their readers. Make sure the reader you choose is responsive. By this I mean the e-reader turns your pages smoothly and quickly--you should not have to wait.

Look for e-reader reviews! Not sure what you are looking for when you handle an e-reader? If you do a google search, you can come up with a multitude of reviews from various sources. If you are more traditional and prefer paper publications, you can find reviews from Consumer Reports and various electronics and computer magazines and journals. You can also ask your friends if they have one what they like or dislike about their reader. Make sure you are asking someone who actually uses the reader though!

The next part is some things you should consider if your library has Overdrive and you want to get free e-books from the library.

Getting Books From Your Library Through Overdrive:
Overdrive is a wonderful service, and I love getting free ebooks from my library. Check with your library to see if they subscribe. Each library has different lending rules--for ours we get the books for two weeks and then they stop working and we delete them off of our devices. The one thing first time users, or anyone buying an e-reader, should know is that how you download books from your library will vary from device to device. If you are considering buying an e-reader, you should make sure that you are comfortable with how this will work for your device. Most of this information will probably be available on Overdrive's website, or your library's, and if you have a Kindle you can find the information for you on Amazon.com. Here are some things you should know about how Nook and Kindle downloads differ (keep in mind I am not covering specifics here--for details ask your library):

Nook

You currently need a computer to do the download.
You need to have Adobe Digital Editions downloaded to your computer. Don't worry, Adobe is free, but you will have to register the software with Adobe and Authorize both your computer and your nook. You only have to do this once, but set up can sometimes be daunting for people who aren't comfortable around computers. Here is the link to Adobe Digital Editions for more info about the software.
You will search for books, check out books, and download the books to a computer before you will even touch your nook.
Once you download the book to your computer it should download it directly to Adobe Digital Editions. Then you plug in your Nook. Once your Nook appears on the Digital Editions page you click and drag the book to your Nook. It really is as simple as clicking and dragging.
You can delete the books (both library and purchased books--so be careful) off your device using Adobe Digital Editions, and you even have an option to return a book early using Adobe Digital Editions.
When the book is on your Nook you will probably find it under My Files, or My Documents--my one wish is that Barnes and Noble would use consistent terminology, but alas no luck there. Once you find it though you are ready to read.

Kindle

You need a computer to access Overdrive (we aren't sure if this is necessary for the Kindle Fire, but it is for the other Kindles).
You will search for and check out books from a regular computer before you will do anything with a device.
Once you have found a book and checked it out, you will click on a button in your Overdrive account that says "Get for Kindle."
At this point you will be redirected to the Amazon page where you will log in with your Amazon account.
Follow the instructions, select the device you want the book delivered to, and then sync your Kindle.
If you have 3G you will need to download the book using your USB cord. There are instructions for this on Amazon's website including a video, but here is the gist: Save the book to the external drive that your Kindle is on (:E or :F) Once you save it, you will have to copy the title and paste it into the Kindle’s “documents” folder. After you eject the Kindle from the external drive, the book should be on your Kindle.
For more details visit your library's website.

On the surface both sound complicated, but they really aren't that bad once you get used to it. I hope I am not scaring anyone away from library books from Overdrive. Just remember, talk to you librarians--they can help you with this. At my library we even have one on one trainings that you can schedule to learn how to get e-books from the library--ask your library if they do this.

The #1 thing to remember before you purchase an e-reader--test it out!

Book Review: Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2011-11-29T08:00:00.004-05:00

Title: Kiss of Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Genre: Teen Fiction, Paranormal Fiction
Publication Date: November 29, 2011 (TODAY!!!!)
Publisher: Kensington
ISBN-13 Book: 9780758266941
Source: I received a copy for review from the publisher. This is my honest review.

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gwen and friends are back in this second installment of the Mythos Academy series. As the students of Mythos head off to Powder, a winter ski resort, for the Winter Carnival, Gwen is afraid another Reaper may be on her trail . After several attempts on her life, Gwen is more concerned with staying alive than hitting the slopes, and Vic--he just wants blood. Can Gwen find out who may be trying to kill her before they succeed?

I love how fast paced these novels are. This is the second installment in the Mythos Academy series, and it starts out with plenty of action, and doesn’t let up until you turn the last page. In many ways this book is better than the first because the author could step right into the story, without a lot of world building.

I really enjoyed the setting for this novel. Taking us off campus to a winter ski resort was a fantastic twist. We got to see the Mythos students having fun, kicking back, and partying. This novel also had some very nice meat to it that progressed Gwen’s story well.

I love the action, I love the characters, and I love the mythology. This novel leads to some important revelations, and Gwen developing new abilities. Gwen’s character progressed and developed through this story, and it is nice to see those changes. After turning the last page there was only one thing I could regret--that I have to wait until May for the next installment Dark Frost. That is going to be one very long wait. I can’t wait to see what happens to Gwen and friends next!

Overall, this is a fun series that I will continue to read and recommend to teens looking for more action packed paranormal mysteries. I can’t wait for the next installment.

View all my reviews

Giveaway and This or That with In the Forests of the Night Author Kersten Hamilton

2011-11-28T08:00:00.020-05:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Kersten Hamilton to my blog! I loved her first book Tyger Tyger and have been eagerly anticipating the sequel, In the Forests of the Night. She is here today to tell us a bit about herself and her preferences! Welcome Kersten!

This or That with Kersten Hamilton

1. Chocolate or candy? 
Chocolate. Dark and bitter. Yum!

2. Surprises or something more predictable?
Surprises. I have very little patience for predictable, in plots…or in life!

3. Books or movies? 
Books, most of the time.

4. Horror or Comedy?
Comedy with a dash of daring, a kiss of class, and a better than average adventure. I love the movie Much Ado About Nothing with Emma Thompson, the Amelia Peabody novels by Elizabeth Peters, and The Ananasi Boys by Neil Gaiman.

5. Cats or Dogs?
When I was young, cats and dogs were my only friends. I met a mangy, one-eyed alley cat named Terrible Tom walking down a fence, and we loved each other at first sight. He didn’t like water; if he could get into the bathroom while I was taking a bath he’d jump in and bite me until I got out of the nasty wet stuff. He’d follow me to school and yowl outside the classroom door until the teacher sent me home. When I was thirteen, I saved a puppy and named him Shadrach. He grew up to be my best friend. How could I ever choose between them?

6. Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter?
Fall. I love chrysanthemums that face the frost with a blaze of courage.

7. Traveling or Staying Home with Family?
Traveling…with family.

 8. Cooking at Home or Eating Out?
Do you mean ME cooking or someone else cooking? Because…I don’t cook. Nope. Just write. I do love it when people cook for me, though.

 9. Shopping or Hiking?
Hiking—and looking for dinosaur bones.

10. Board Games or Video Games?
Board Games if I must. But I’d really rather read a book.

11. Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate?
Yes, please! I love them all. Coffee to wake up, tea with good friends and hot chocolate for cold, rainy days.

12. Ebooks or Paper Books?
Any old kind of book will do. It’s the story I crave, not the body it is wrapped in.

 13. Sweet or Salty?
Salty.

14. Vampires, Werewolves, Dystopias, or Goblins?
Goblins, of course.

15. Morning Person or Night Owl?
I’m a Zone person. When I’m writing, I fall into the Zone, and time collapses. I don’t know if it is day or night, early or late. I just…write. Until I have to come back to reality for food or more coffee, tea or hot chocolate!

Thank you for having me on your blog, Melissa!

Thank you so much for joining me today!

In the Forests of the Night came out on November 22nd and is now available in stores. I just started reading it this past weekend, and let me tell you, she has me hooked! If you haven't read Tyger Tyger yet, go out and get it--it is now available in paperback and is definitely a fantastic fantasy!

Giveaway!!!
Click Read More for more details and to sign up!

One lucky winner will win a SIGNED hardcover copy of In the Forests of the Night by Kersten Hamilton!

Terms and Conditions:

Contest will run from 12:01 am November 28th through 12:01 am December 7th.
Open Internationally!
Must be 13 years of age or older.

*Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Adult Book Review: Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

2011-11-26T08:00:00.003-05:00

Title: Julie and Julia
Author: Julie Powell
Genre: Adult Nonfiction, Memoir
Publication Date: September 7, 2006
Publisher: Back Bay Books
ISBN-13 Book: 0316013269
Source: I purchased a copy from Barnes and Noble for my personal collection. This is my honest review.

Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, you may not know this about me, but I am a wanna-be foodie. I watch tremendous amounts of Food TV, and just about any other cooking show on TV. Sometimes, when I am really desperate, I will watch them sell cooking utensils and pots and pans on QVC or the Home Shopping Channel. The only magazine subscriptions I have are to food magazines, and although the titles will vary from time to time, I always seem to have at least two active subscriptions. Yeah, it is an addiction, but of all the addictions I could have, I guess it is a relatively harmless one. But note I said wanna-be—in essence this means that while I would love to cook like they do, my talent for cooking seems to be limited to pasta and cheese. Okay, I am a very picky, not very creative, wannabe foodie.

When two things I love come together like reading and cooking, I just couldn’t help myself—I had to see what all the hype was about. Julia and Julia is a memoir of Julie Powell’s time attempting to cook all 524 recipe’s in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It is more than about just the cooking though. She spends a lot of time thinking about her upcoming 30th birthday, her dreary secretarial job, her tiny apartment, and her failure to become an author—guess that is one she can strike off the list.

You know, I am not the biggest reader of realistic fiction, and that I have to be really interested to even give it a shot. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a food book and for the most part I was right.

I love the bits and pieces that flashback to Julia Child—I learned so much about her life that I never knew, and I thought that it was interesting how Julie put Julia on such a pedestal and tried to be like her. I discovered that I really wanted to know more about Julia Child, so much so that as we speak I have Julia Child’s book, My Life in France sitting on the desk next to me.

This was a surprisingly fast read for me. Again because it was non-fiction I figured it would be hard for me to get through, but surprisingly it was a fun book to read. There were laugh out loud moments, and moments where you were frustrated by Julie’s reactions to things. She had a lot of negativity towards her work, and as someone who has done the secretarial job I can understand where that comes from—it reminds me a lot of the time I spent working for a call center that shall remain nameless. I was surprised by how well I connected to Julie’s narrative voice. I could see where she was coming from even when I didn’t necessarily agree. Not that I could ever be as vocal as she is.

Overall, this book is about many things, not just about food and cooking—actually I kind of wish there had been more about the food. It is about the changes we go through when we reach the age of 30, the frustration of being in a job where your opinions aren’t heard and aren’t wanted when you are heard. Yes, there was a lot of frustration in the novel. Not just with the cooking, but with life. All I have to say is that Eric must be the most patient man in the world. The “Project” as Julie calls it is amazing, I can honestly say it is something I will never attempt, but I might pick up Julia’s cookbook and give a recipe a shot.

Overall, this was an interesting read, and I loved the talk about food, cooking, and the things I learned about Julia Child. If anything, I think it might have encouraged me to find out more about her. We’ll see how far I get into My Life in France.

View all my reviews

Gratitude Giveaway Hop

2011-11-17T00:01:00.020-05:00

Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaway Hop! This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and by All-Consuming Books! Be sure to stop by as many blogs as possible for your chance to win some great books or book related items!

For my giveaway you have the chance to win a SIGNED copy of Ashfall by Mike Mullin!

Here are the rules:

* Contest will run from 12:01 am November 17th through 12:01 am November 28th.
* US entries only (sorry I don't have a lot of money to pay for postage)
* Must be 13 years of age or older.
* Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
* Not responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail. I will pay for delivery confirmation.

Sign up for the giveaway using Rafflecopter below!

Book Review: Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

2011-11-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Prized
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
Genre: Teen Fiction, Dystopian Fiction
Publication Date: November 8, 2011
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
ISBN-13 Book: 9781596435704
Source: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review!

Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Prized takes place shortly after the events of Birthmarked. We join Gaia who has run away from the Enclave with her newborn sister, who is barely surviving the wasteland. When she is found and taken to a nearby settlement, Sylum, Gaia hopes that she can nurse her sister back to health and find the grandmother who left the Enclave years ago, but when her sister is taken from her and she finds that her grandmother has been dead for years, Gaia must decide to leave Sylum without her sister, or stay in this rather unusual matriarical society. When she disobeys the Matrarc, she finds herself under house arrest, unable to help either her sister or Leon who has followed her to Sylum.

I enjoyed Birthmarked when I read it last year, and was eager to know what would happen to Gaia in her quest to leave the Enclave and find her grandmother. Gaia is a strongwilled character, and that was one of the things I liked about her. In this novel, the Matrarc seems determined to break Gaia, and make her into one of her proper Mlasses. I didn’t like some of the turns the story took, but O’Brien’s writing kept me interested enough that I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen.

This novel is a good sequel to the first, and it definitely keeps you interested, but I found myself wishing Gaia could have found her safety in a place that didn’t have controversies as bad if not worse than the Enclave. Aren’t there any normal societies left in Gaia’s world? I guess her finding a new home and living happily ever after wouldn’t have made nearly as interesting a story.

Characterizations are well done, and O’Brien is still finding time to drop those SAT vocab words—I loved finding those in the text, they were like little gems! While I knew what they meant, I know some of my teens will definitely be reaching for the dictionary. It’s nice when YA lit proves that it can be smart as well as entertaining.

Overall, this is a good sequel to Birthmarked. It is not a novel you will really want to tackle unless you have read the first, because you will need to know much of the characters’ histories in order to understand much of the emotional impact of the novel. If you like dystopian and you enjoyed Birthmarked you might want to see what comes next.

View all my reviews

Adult Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2011-11-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Genre: Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: September 13, 2011
Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN-13 Book: 9780385534635
Publisher Audio CD: Random House Audio
ISBN CD: 9780307938909
Source: I checked out the audio from my local library. I purchased a copy of the book for my personal collection. This is my honest review!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“The circus arrives without warning.” So begins a novel like no other. Two young illusionists are pitted against each other in a battle of skill that has far reaching consequences. Both a love story and a tale of magic, this book will leave you wanting more.

Let me start by saying that there is no way this review will do the book justice. I have fallen in love with this novel, and can’t seem to find adequate words to describe it. I want to applaud the author for her originality. This novel is unique and intriguing. It was like nothing I had ever read before, and when I turned that last page I wanted more. Given the originality of the novel, I think I must learn to live with disappointment and the fact that The Night Circus has ruined me for other novels. 

It is the mysterious challenge that propels the action of the novel, but the circus itself that keeps you turning the pages. I found myself wanting to believe in that magical circus and find myself in that place of imagination. I just wanted to go there and stay in that magic forever.

The audio version of The Night Circus is produced by Random House Audio and read by Jim Dale who is probably best known for his narration of the Harry Potter audiobooks. Dale is a superb narrator and probably one of the bests in the industry. I think I could listen to him narrate the phone book, he is so good. It comes as no surprise then that the audio version of The Night Circus would be so remarkable. It is a great way to read this wonderful novel.

Overall, The Night Circus is a story of imagination, love, and determination. The Night Circus will take you places you have never been before and to places you will never want to leave.

View all my reviews

2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge

2011-11-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

We all do it, purchase a book, win one for a prize, etc... and then take it home to sit on the shelf and remain unread, because we are too busy reading other things, newer books, etc... When I came across this challenge hosted by Evie at Bookish, I knew I needed to sign up. So this coming year in 2012 I am going to attempt to read down my reading pile.

There are several levels for this challenge and a whole group of hosts:

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

Thank you to all the wonderful blogs hosting this challenge--I hope I can do well and at least get through my ten!

Hosts:
Evie from Bookish - http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com @SeoEvie
Nicole from All I Ever Read - http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/ @Nicoleabouttown
Bonnie from Hands and Home - http://www.handsandhome.ca/ @HandsHomeBlog
Donna from Book Passion For Life - http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/ @BookPforLife
Caitlin from WatchYA Reading - http://whatchyareading.net @caitlingss
Rie from Mission To Read - http://missiontoread.com/ @missiontoread
Vicky from Books, Biscuits & Tea -http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/ @alouetteuette
Christa from Hooked On Books - http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com @ChristasBooks
Jenna from Fans Of Fiction - http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/ @fansoffiction
Angel from Mermaids Vision - http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com @mermaidvisions

For my challenge, I plan on starting small. I am going to try to complete 10 books--the Firm Handshake level. I am not sure I will accomplish it, but I am certainly going to try. Here are a few of the books I hope to tackle:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Torn by Erica O'Rourke
Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (if I don't get to it this year)

and many more...

I'm Back! Reviews to Follow

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I am back and slowly recovering from our Battle of the Books competition. After it was over on Saturday, I was ready to collapse!

It took place Saturday November 12th, and we had a total of 144 people there for the competition! Thirteen Middle School teams competed to take home the Battle trophy and let me tell you those kids were prepared. I couldn't have done it without help from my wonderful coworkers!

I spend all year working on Battle of the Books, and although it is a lot of fun, it is a lot of work. Today, I start the preparations for next year's competition; choosing the books, reviewing what we can do better, and getting the awards out to the schools.

I have finished a couple books during my time away so expect reviews soon! Thank you for your patience, and keep your eyes open for a giveaway later this week for the Gratitude Hop! (Hint, hint...it is SIGNED!!!)

Why So Silent?

2011-11-03T09:30:00.000-04:00

You have probably noticed by now that my reviews have slowed down a bit in the last couple of weeks. To be honest, my reading has too. I still have books I am working on:

The problem is I have been taking work home with me lately. November 12th is our library's 26th annual Battle of the Books competition. Each year I select 10 books for the competition and write 100 questions per book (usually 5 of the books are ones I have used in the past so I can reuse the questions). This means I will write 500 questions for books this year. Battle of the Books is a lot of work and now it is crunch time. I need to finish writing questions for Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan and Julie Kagawa's Iron King. Writing 100 questions per book is no easy task, and I do have help to get me through this. But since our deadline is quickly approaching I have put off all my reading and started taking these books home to write battle questions. After November 12th, I am hopeful that everything will go back to normal. In case you are curious, here are our ten titles for this year:

Title / Author

5 new:

Iron King / Julie Kagawa

Dark Life / Kat Falls

Leviathan / Scott Westerfeld

Demon King / Cinda Williams Chima

Incarceron / Catherine Fisher

5 reused:

Hatchet / Paulsen

Witch of Blackbird Pond / Speare

Maniac Magee / Spinelli

Left for Dead / Nelson

Down the Rabbit Hole / Abrahams

Thank you for your patience! I can't wait to get back to some real reading!

Book Review: The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

2011-11-03T09:16:00.000-04:00

Title: Summoning
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Paranormal Fiction, Teen Fiction
Publication Date: March 31, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN-13 Book: 9780061450549
Publisher Audio CD: Recorded Books
ISBN CD:: 9781436197205
Source: I checked out the audio from my local library. I purchased a copy of the book for my personal collection. This is my honest review!

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fifteen year old Chloe Saunders sees dead people. As a result of this startling discovery and being chased by a dead custodian, she is sent to Lyle House Group Home where she is diagnosed as having schizophrenia. But what Chloe can do is real, and as she soon learns, she isn’t the only one with special abilities at Lyle House. Something strange is going on, and if the dead can’t convince her, then she and her friends may be joining them sooner than they think.

This was an interesting novel, but you definitely get the impression this is a first novel in a series. There are a lot of questions left unanswered at the end of the book, plus a pretty big cliffhanger. The thing that bothers me about novels like these, is that they really have difficulty standing on their own. It is like I have only read part of a book, rather than a whole novel. I just wish I had more explanations and more of a solid novel that could stand alone.

Armstrong does incredibly well with the creep factor. The first scene in the novel sends chills down your spine, and I really wish I had gotten more of that. I loved the creepy parts, and want to know more about Chloe’s abilities.

Chloe and the other characters in the book can be more than a little bit unpredictable at times, but in a novel of suspense this is a good thing. The characters don’t always do what you predict they will do. Chloe is perhaps the most fully drawn character, and she is likable enough. You definitely want to know what is going on with the other kids at Lyle house, but a lot of that is left unexplained—for future books no doubt.

The audio version of the book is produced by Recorded Books and read by Cassandra Morris. When I first started listening to this novel, I had trouble with the audio version. The narrator sounded too young to be a fifteen year-old girl. As you progress through the story you discover that Chloe is a little underdeveloped for her age, and can excuse the too youthful narration. This is a good production, you just have to get used to it.

Overall this was an interesting series opener, that didn’t quite meet my expectations. I may go on in the series just simply because I want some explanations—I guess in that sense it did its job!

View all my reviews

Why I Love Halloween!

2011-10-28T17:28:00.000-04:00

It isn't just Halloween that I love, I love the entire fall season leading up to it. There is so much ambiance to this season, colors, scents, and fun. I admit it, I am a sucker for this season!

Here are my top 5 reasons for loving this season and Halloween:

The scent of falling leaves. Sometime when you are outside during this season take a moment to sniff the air.
I love the smell of apples on the tree.3
I love scary stories told around the campfire. (Or just scary stories in general.)
I love to see the kids all dressed up and going door to door.
I love the candy.

Those are my reason for loving Halloween and the whole season leading up to it. What are your favorite things about Halloween.

Teen Tales Around the Campfire

2011-10-25T08:00:00.008-04:00

Last Friday night, my library did one of the best programs I have attended. It was a simple affair, but we had a blast. We had a night of roasting hot dogs and marshmallows while listening to Addie Hirschten from Fantastic Fables tell scary stories around the fire. Addie did a superb job with the stories and we had a wonderful night. I hope we can do it again next year--what a blast. There is nothing quite like listening to a professional storyteller tell stories. Add in s'mores and a campfire and you have a great evening of fun and food!

And in case anyone asks--yes this city girl does know how to build a campfire. My secret is the paper towels, but don't tell anyone. :)

Addie, thank you so much for visiting us!

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop!

2011-10-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop! This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and by The Diary of a Bookworm! Be sure to stop by as many blogs as possible for your chance to win some great books or book related items!

For my giveaway you have a choice of either of these two books!

Here are the rules:

* Contest will run from 12:01 am October 24th through 12:01 am November 1st.
* US entries only (sorry I don't have a lot of money to pay for postage)
* Must be 13 years of age or older.
* Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
* Not responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail. I will pay for delivery confirmation.

Sign up for the giveaway using Rafflecopter below!Don't forget to stop by the other blogs on the hop for your chance to win some great prizes!

Bout of Books Read-a-thon + Updates #boutofbooks

2011-10-23T23:59:00.001-04:00

button designed by TaraSG

I am once again participating in the Bout of Books Read-a-thon hosted by On a Book Bender. Once again I have a ton of book that I need to read, but little time to do it. So I am going to try to squeeze in as many books as I can this week. Here are a few of the titles I am going to attempt to read:

Wish me luck!

Updates:

10/24
Number of books I’ve finished today: 0
Number of pages I've finished today: 50
Titles of Books Read: Iron Knight
Total number of books I’ve finished: 0
Comments: Working Monday evening and having a car appointment first thing in the morning really put a cramp in my reading time today. Yeah, I got some reading done while waiting for them to finish my car, but really there were too many distractions there to really concentrate on my book. Plus, the customer sitting next to me wanted to know about my nook. She was thinking of purchasing a Kindle and wanted to know why I had chosen the nook. Being the good librarian, who trains people on both devices at our library, I had to share with her what I knew about both the devices.

10/25
Number of books I’ve finished today: 0

Number of pages I've finished today: 10
Titles of Books Read: The Night Circus
Total number of books I’ve finished: 0
Comments: I know pathetic. The only time I had to read today was at lunch with one of my friends from the book group we just started. In case you couldn't guess--the first title we are reading is The Night Circus. When I got home this evening I had to spend all night writing my 100 questions from Incarceron. I got 75 done. Our Battle of the Books program requires that I write a 100 questions per book, unfortunately I haven't had time at work to get them done, so I have to take them home. Only 3 more books to go. (Hey does this count as reading?)

10/26
Number of books I’ve finished today: 0

Number of pages I've finished today: 10
Titles of Books Read: The Night Circus
Total number of books I’ve finished: 0
Comments: Okay this is getting a bit disheartening. Yes I read a few more pages at lunch today, but nothing significant. Once more I ended up taking Incarceron home to write Battle questions. I'm up to 92! When I finish, I get to move on to Leviathan! This is depressing. #boutofbooks Twitter chat did make me feel better. Thanks for the encouragement guys!

10/27
Number of books I’ve finished today: 0

Number of pages I've finished today:
Titles of Books Read:
Total number of books I’ve finished:
Comments:

10/28
Number of books I’ve finished today: 0

Number of pages I've finished today:
Titles of Books Read:
Total number of books I’ve finished:
Comments:

10/29
Number of books I’ve finished today: 0

Number of pages I've finished today:
Titles of Books Read:
Total number of books I’ve finished:
Comments:

Adult Book Review: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

2011-10-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Author: Jamie Ford
Genre: Adult Fiction
Publication Date: January 27, 2009
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN-13 Book: 9780345505347
Publisher Audio CD: Random House Audio
ISBN CD:: 9780739382837
Source: I checked out the audio from my local library. I purchased a copy of the book for my personal collection. (Also, so I could get it signed when the author comes to Kokomo!) This is my honest review!

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Henry Lee first meets Keiko Okabe in 1942 Seattle, he thinks of her as just another Japanese girl. But as these two become friends, and share their love of jazz, something begins that he isn’t ready for. He and his father have never been on good terms and a Japanese friend is out of the question. In 1986, when personal items belonging to Japanese families sent away to internment camps are discovered in the basement of the Panama Hotel, Henry remembers his friendship with Keiko, and all the things they shared. As he searches through the old belongings, Henry finds more than he ever hoped for, including a relationship with his son, an understanding of his father, and events that he never dreamed possible.

I don’t get around to reading a lot of adult novels, but on occasion, I like to pick one up to see what I have been missing. This book has been chosen as our One Book One Community read for 2011, and many of my coworkers have recommended it to me.

This book was wonderful. I loved how the novel switched back and forth between 1942 and 1986. I love how real Henry felt as a character and how charming he was. Since I tend to prefer teen novels, I thought I would prefer the 1942 flashbacks, but I actually enjoyed seeing Henry’s relationship with his son and the events of 1986 the best.

This book took me by surprise. I am familiar with the Japanese internment, and the history there. The internment, while important to the story, wasn’t at the heart of the novel. The heart of the novel was about relationships and promises.

The audio version is produced by Random House Audio and read by Feodor Chin. The audio is extremely well done and easily draws the reader into this remarkable story. Chin is a convincing narrator and the production is exceptional. A good listening experience.

Overall, this is an exceptional novel about people, love, and families. I recommend it to anyone who love a story with heart.

Note: The author has been invited to come to Haven's Auditorium here in Kokomo on December 1st. Tickets are a available for free at the library. Should be a great event.

View all my reviews

This or That with Alex from Mike Mullin's Ashfall and Giveaway

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Alex from Mike Mullin's gripping novel Ashfall. Ashfall is an exciting page turner that features a young man who is determined to find his family when his world falls apart after the eruption of a super volcano. Scroll down for a complete description.

This or That with Alex from Mike Mullin's Ashfall

Cats or Dogs?

Cats, but my sister is allergic. It used to annoy me that we couldn’t get a cat because of her, but it was probably lucky. What in the world would I have done with a cat after the volcano erupted? For as bad as the disaster was for humans, it was even worse for pets.

Summer or Winter?

Summer

Oatmeal cookies or chocolate chip?

Chocolate Chip

Music or Sports?

Sports – especially taekwondo

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke

Toilet tank water or bathtub water?

You would think bathtub water, right? Toilet tank water just sounds disgusting. But after the eruption, toilet tank water actually tasted a lot better. It was covered so very little ash got in it. The water in my neighbors’ bathtub started to taste sulfurous very quickly, and even to get a little grit in it. It didn’t seem to hurt us, but it didn’t taste good.

Sweet or Salty?

Salty

Books or Movies?

Books

World of Warcraft or Runescape?

World of Warcraft. I tried Runescape once, but I couldn’t get into it. It felt a little too cartoonish for my taste.

Staying at Home or Traveling?

Staying at home. I wish I still had a home to stay at.

Thank you Alex for joining us today. Trust me you don't want to miss a moment of Alex's adventures!

About the Author:

Mike Mullin’s first job was scraping the gum off the undersides of desks at his high school. From there, things went steadily downhill. He almost got fired by the owner of a bookstore due to his poor taste in earrings. He worked at a place that showed slides of poopy diapers during lunch (it did cut down on the cafeteria budget). The hazing process at the next company included eating live termites raised by the resident entomologist, so that didn’t last long either. For a while Mike juggled bottles at a wine shop, sometimes to disastrous effect. Oh, and then there was the job where swarms of wasps occasionally tried to chase him off ladders. So he’s really hoping this writing thing works out.

Mike holds a black belt in Songahm Taekwondo. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife and her three cats. ASHFALL is his first novel.

About ASHFALL:

Many visitors to Yellowstone National Park don’t realize that the boiling hot springs and spraying geysers are caused by an underlying supervolcano. It has erupted three times in the last 2.1 million years, and it will erupt again, changing the Earth forever.
Fifteen-year-old Alex is home alone when the supervolcano erupts. His town collapses into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence, forcing him to flee. He begins a harrowing trek in search of his parents and sister, who were visiting relatives 140 miles away.
Along the way, Alex struggles through a landscape transformed by more than a foot of ash. The disaster brings out the best and worst in people desperate for food, clean water, and shelter. When an escaped convict injures Alex, he searches for a sheltered place where he can wait—to heal or to die. Instead, he finds Darla. Together, they fight to achieve a nearly impossible goal: surviving the supervolcano.
Excerpt
The first two chapters are available on my website: www.mikemullinauthor.com. You may reprint the first two chapters in whole or in part on your website so long as you do not charge anyone anything to access them.

Social Media Links

Goodreads

Ashfall came out September 27, 2011, and is available at any of the links below.

GIVEAWAY!!!

Mike will be giving away fourhardback ASHFALL first editions during the blog tour, one to a random commenter from each week of the tour. The giveaway is US/Canada only, however anyone international can enter if they are willing to pay for shipping.

One International commenter will have the opportunity to win a copy of Ashfall. The Book Depository must ship to your country. Mike will purchase a copy of the book through the Book Depository to send out to the international winner.

So comment away! Make sure to include an email in your comment so we can contact you if you win! Stop by the other sites as well and comment for more chances to win!

Tuesday, October 18: Val at Truth Be Told (When I’m Not Writing)
Wednesday, October 19: Michelle B at Hooked to Books (Review)
Thursday, October 20: Corrine at Lost for Words (Character Book Picks: Alex)
Friday, October 21: Julie at That’s Swell (Review)

Book Review: Ashfall by Mike Mullin

2011-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Ashfall
Author: Mike Mullin
Genre: Teen Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
ISBN-13 Book: 9781933718552
Source: I received a e-copy of this book from Netgalley, then purchased a copy for my personal collection. This is my honest review!

Ashfall by Mike Mullin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alex was looking forward to his weekend alone while his parents and little sister traveled to Warren, IL to visit his uncle. He thought he would finally have time to play video games and avoid being hassled by his mother. Little did he know that soon he would be wishing to see his parents and little sister again. When the supervolcano under Yellowstone erupts spreading ash and debris hundreds of miles, Alex finds himself homeless and alone. Determined to find his family again, Alex packs up some supplies, grabs a pair of skis and sets off a on a journey that will take him over a 150 miles. Alex travels through a world in chaos, looters and desperate people pepper his journey to find his family.

When I first finished reading this novel I felt like I needed to form this review in the form of a letter to the author. “Dear Mr. Mullin, couldn’t you cut poor Alex a break?” This novel keeps you on the edge of your seat never knowing what will happen to Alex next. His journey to find his family is full of danger, suspense, and even a dash of romance.

This novel has some of best developed characters I have found in a novel in a long time. I enjoyed watching Alex change and grow through his experiences in the novel. Darla was a fascinating character and equally well developed. These are two people watching as their world collapses around them and doing their best to survive and remain hopeful. Neither knows what lies at the end of their journey, but they are determined to get there.

The plot is tight, and the journey harrowing. The pacing in this novel is spot on and keeps you turning the pages eager to see what is going to happen to Alex next. Readers should be prepared to face a society that is falling apart. Violence, looting, and even sexual violence, have all become a part of this disintegrating society.

Overall this is one of the most engaging books I have read this year. Not since I read Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It have I had such a reaction to the setting and events of a novel. Like with Pfeffer’s work, Mullin had me wanting to go out to Sam’s Club and start stockpiling food, water, and nonperishables for the end of the world. I love it when an author can pull you that deeply into their story and have you feeling like you are living in the world they created. Thank you, Mike, for an unforgettable novel, a novel that could make me believe I was there. I eagerly anticipate the next installment Ashen Winter which is due out in October of 2013.

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Book Review: Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

2011-10-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Juliet Immortal
Author:Stacey Jay
Genre: Teen Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: August 9, 2011
Publisher:Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13 Book: 9780385740166
Source: I checked out a copy of this book from my local library. This is my honest review!

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Juliet wakes up in the body of teenage girl Ariel, a girl whose scars are more than just skin deep. Juliet is an Ambassador, someone who is supposed to give soul mates a push in the right direction, and help them find their way together. But the universe requires balance, and for Juliet’s good, there must be a force of evil. Enter Romeo. For centuries these two have fought over the fates of soul mates; Juliet for good and Romeo for the evil cause of the Mercenaries. Something is different about this latest shift for both Juliet and Romeo. Both are weaker, and for the first time, Juliet isn’t able to contact Nurse for guidance. The mirrors have gone dark and specters of their former selves haunt them. Can Juliet save the soul mates she was sent to unite, or will her own love for one of them, stand in her way?

I honestly am not sure what to make of this novel. Perhaps I should have waited a little longer to absorb the book before writing my review, but I am not sure that would help. I just can’t seem to sort out my feelings for this novel.

I guess I should start with the obvious question: Did I like this book? Again, this is a difficult question for me to answer. There are some parts that I enjoyed, I liked Juliet’s character, I thought her romance with Ben was sweet, and I like how she stood up for Ariel with Ariel’s mother and others. Juliet was a spunky heroine trapped in a timid person’s body. As to the rest of the story, it just didn’t mesh for me.

Ariel’s best friend Gemma, is a bit chaotic, going one minute from sweet likable girl to mean manipulative witch. It was exhausting trying to keep up with her mood swings. I also didn’t like how Juliet needed to push Ben away. Romeo, however was a train wreck. You don’t know whether to hate him or feel sorry for him. One minute he tries to force himself on Juliet and the next he is begging her to love him again—I guess that is accurate for an abusive relationship, but it just didn’t achieve any coherency for me.

Overall the story just lacks explanations and coherency especially the mythology surrounding the Ambassadors and the Mercenaries. I do like how the author tried to incorporate the story of Romeo and Juliet, that was definitely a pleasant choice, but I think the mythology kind of lost me. I just didn’t get it.

There is an audience for this book, and I can see teens enjoying this book enough to overlook those gaps in the mythology. This book will appeal to fans of the original play who like to see a modern twist to the old story. Be warned though, this novel isn’t for the faint of heart. Be prepared for gore, extreme violence, and even some sexual violence.

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Book Review: Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2011-10-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Shut Out
Author: Kody Keplinger
Genre: Teen Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication Date: September 5, 2011
Publisher: Poppy
ISBN-13 Book: 9780316175562
Source: I checked out a copy of this book from my local library. This is my honest review!

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lissa is sick and tired of the rivalry between the boys’ football team and the boys’ soccer team taking precedence over her relationship with Randy. She is tired of both teams trying to one up each other with pranks, and she is worried that someone will end up seriously injured. In an act of desperation, Lissa enlists all the girlfriends of the boys on the football and soccer teams to participate in a sex strike until the rivalry ends. Little does Lissa know what a hornets nest she is about to stir up.

I will admit this book surprised me. As a rule, I am not a realistic fiction fan, and while this book won’t change that opinion, it definitely has more depth and insight than the premise would give it credit for.

I think to adequately write this review, I need to mention that the premise was a bit uncomfortable for me in the beginning. I live in a conservative community, and I know that this book is a possible wave maker. In my community, parents don’t want to even think about teens having sex, let alone find it in their books, but I found this book to be about so much more than sex.

I found myself wishing there were books like this one when I was a teen. Not so much the rivalry aspect, but the frank discussion that the characters began to have about sex and female sexuality. This novel isn’t pushing sex, or even advocating it for teens. There are no graphic scenes of sex, just some plain speaking and honest talk about sexual experiences, or in the case of a few characters, the choice to wait. I loved how honest the characters were. One girl loves sex and the power she feels over her own body. Another girl has sex with her boyfriend, but doesn’t enjoy it. One girl has chosen to wait for the right time to have sex, and still another isn’t sure she ever wants to have sex. I loved how Keplinger explored the different aspects and opinions, and leaves the girls feeling that there is no wrong choice as long as you do what is right for you and your body. I love how she empowers the characters.

The actual rivalry in the story pales in comparison to the message Keplinger is sending teens. Even the budding romance between a couple of the characters takes a back seat to the frank conversations this novel demonstrates. The characterizations aren’t as fully developed as I would like, some prominent characters come across as rather flat and predictable, but ultimately that doesn’t matter. The story and the experiences of the characters is what teen girls need to hear.

While this book isn’t going to make the lists for the literary awards it is original and the message of empowering women and teen girls will definitely find an audience. Librarians, be prepared to defend this one, but I do recommend this book for libraries—I wish it had been around when I was a teen.

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Ten Things You Would Tell Your Teenage Self with Just Your Average Princess Author Kristina Springer

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Kristina Springer, author of Just Your Average Princess to my blog.

Just Your Average Princess is the story of Jamie Edwards who works hard on her family's pumpkin patch. Since she was a little girl Jamie has dreamed of being named Pumpkin Princess, and this year she is a shoe in for the title. That is until her cousin Milan shows up and starts spoiling things. The next thing you know Milan is attempting to steal Jamie's long time crush, her parents affection, and now even the title Pumpkin Princess. Jamie isn't the type of girl who will go down without a fight.

Ten Things You Would Tell Your Teenage Self
Those girls who look like they have all the answers? Yeah, they don't have a clue either.
That butt and thighs that you think are so big? You're going to be wishing you still had them in fifteen years.
I know it doesn't seem like it now, but someday you will be able to successfully straighten your hair.
Always, always, always wash your make-up off at night.
That boy that liked you freshman year who you thought was gross? You'll like him junior year but he'll be so over you by then.
No crash diets! They are bad, bad, bad!
Mom is right.
Study more.
Have as much fun as possible!
The best is yet to come!

Thank you so much for stopping by Kristina! Just Your Average Princess is released tomorrow October 11, 2011. A prefect book for the season!

Book Review: Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer

2011-10-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Just Your Average Princess
Author: Kristina Springer
Genre: Teen Fiction
Publication Date: October 11, 2011
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN-13 Book: 9780374361501
Source: I received a copy of the ARC for review from Teen [Book] Scene Tours. This is my honest review!

Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Since she was little Jamie Edwards has dreamed of being the Pumpkin Princess. Now it is finally her shot at the title and only one thing is standing in her way; her spoiled celebrity cousin, Milan. Milan, the daughter of two famous movie stars, used to be friends with Jamie, but for some reason is set on showing Jamie up and making her look like a fool. She seems to want to take everything from Jamie, her crush Danny, the love of her parents, and now even the title of Pumpkin Princess. Jamie works hard in the pumpkin patch and doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty. That may just be just what she needs if she is going to deal with Milan.

I seem to have fallen into the fall reads lately. I love autumn and I really love it when I can find books that take place during that season. This was a perfect fit, pumpkins, a pumpkin patch, and a rivalry between cousins.

I love Jamie, she is sweet, hardworking, and a fun character. She has good, if a little odd friends. She is realistically portrayed and well drawn. You could understand her frustrations and her obsession with Milan who has suddenly pushed her aside in her own family.

Springer does an excellent job capturing the fall setting, and describing the pumpkin patch. So much so, that I found myself wishing I could find the place and go there! My only qualm with this book is that Springer named the town Average, Illinois. I felt that the name might have been a bit two generic, and would have like a name assigned to the town, because to me, this town was charming and anything but average.

Overall, this is a fun lighthearted read that is sure to entertain. Definitely a perfect fit for the season.

Cautions for sensitive readers: None.

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Book Review: Nomansland by Lesley Hauge

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Nomansland
Author: Lesley Hauge
Genre: Teen Fiction, Dystopian Fiction
Publication Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
ISBN-13 Book: 9780805090642
Publisher: Listening Library
ISBN-13 Book: 9780307737915
Source: I checked out both the book and the audiobook from my public library. This is my honest review!

Nomansland by Lesley Hauge
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Keller is training to be a tracker for her community. As a tracker she learns to shoot and ride, take care of weapons and animals. She and the other trackers in training live on an island that is populated solely by women; women who are strong, and have no need for men whom they deem the enemy. When her squad finds a house long buried under the vegetation which contains artifacts of the time before, they fall victim to the mysteries these items (magazines, high heeled shoes, makeup, etc…) represent and begin to question what their leaders have told them. They begin to question who really is the enemy.

Keller’s world is hard and full of rules. These rules are often called pitfalls. Keller cannot look at her reflection because that would be a pitfall, she isn’t allowed to have friends, or see images of the past. Her society has done everything to control the minds of the girls they are training.

Keller’s character is well developed. She questions her society, yet at the same time recognizes that she must stay in her place. She treads a fine line, and when she attracts the attention of the Chair, Ms. Windsor, her actions become even more closely watched.

Keller’s world is not one I would be eager to jump into. No friends, difficult training, and any number of rules to break. Not to mention the fact that mutations have occurred since Tribulation, and her community destroys the mutations they find. Hauge has done a great job making Nomansland, (or Foundland as Keller and her people call it) a very unwelcoming place. Rules are strict, punishments stricter, and friends downright dangerous.

My only complaint about the novel is that I wanted to know more about how the world got this way. You are only told that it happened during Tribulation. Like so many other dystopian novels, this one only vaguely describes how we found ourselves in such dire straights.

The audio version of the book is produced by Listening Library and read by Justine Eyre. Eyre, who has a very memorable voice, also reads the Fallen series by Lauren Kate which had me thinking of those books while she was reading this one. The audio production is well done however, and once I got past the shock of thinking that Luce from Fallen was narrating the novel everything was fine. This is a short audiobook at only five CDs so definitely a quick listen for those who enjoy dystopian stories. Very well done audio.

Overall this is an interesting story. A fast read for dystopian fans.

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Book Review: Remembrance by Michelle Madow

2011-10-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Remembrance
Author: Michelle Madow
Genre: Teen Fiction, Past Lives Fiction
Publication Date: August 5, 2011
Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing
ISBN-13 Book: 9780615512440
Source: I received an e-copy for review from the author. This is my honest review!

Remembrance by Michelle Madow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Lizzie first meets Drew it is like a switch goes on in her brain. Suddenly she is remembering places and events from the regency era and drawing pictures of that time. She feels like she knows Drew, and despite the fact that she is seeing someone else and her best friend has staked a claim on Drew, Lizzie feels that she needs to be closer to him. But the closer she gets the more he pushes her away telling her he is trying to protect her. What secrets lie in their shared past?

I have been looking forward to this novel since I first heard about it. I have also seen it pop up on a number of blogs. I couldn't wait to start reading this one, but ultimately it had to wait until I finished my committee list. It was well worth the wait, and everything it promised to be. Madow came up with the idea while watching the music video for Taylor Swift’s song “Love Story.” Several times while reading this I found myself humming the song; I can see the inspiration.

Madow does a good job developing her characters. Lizzie is a reliable girl who has been with her boyfriend Jeremy for three years—a long time for a high school relationship. Her best friend Chelsea thinks that Jeremy and Lizzie are perfect for each other and hopes to find a relationship of her own with Drew. Throughout the novel, the relationships between the characters strain against each other, make in the novel believable and giving it much of its tension.

I love the aspect of the past life, and the references to Pride and Prejudice. Madow does a wonderful job carefully building the past life into the story and making the past and the present reflect each other

Overall, this was a fun light read. Great for the season since it takes place in the fall. I enjoyed the parallels between the times and really enjoyed the way the author built suspense in the novel. A Great first novel, I look forward to reading more from this author.

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Book Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

2011-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Faerie Ring
Author: Kiki Hamilton
Genre: Teen Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Tor Teen
ISBN-13 Book: 9780765327222
Source: I received a copy of the ARC for review from Teen [Book] Scene Tours. This is my honest review!

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is 1871 London, Tiki and her family of orphan children are just barely scraping by with what they can steal. When Tiki hops onto the boot of the carriage, her only thought is to get away from the man chasing her, but when she finds herself at Buckingham Palace, she thinks that stealing a little food for her family wouldn’t hurt—the royals have plenty more after all. When she’s spotted in the kitchens, she runs making her way through the maze of the palace. It is here that the Queen’s ring, first crosses her path. Tiki steals it hoping to sell it for money for her family, but the ring is more than it appears to be. It holds the key to a truce between the Royal family and the Faeries. Now with the ring no longer in royal hands the faeries are seeking the ring to destroy the truce and they will stop at nothing to get it.

At first I was a bit skeptical about this book. I have read a lot of fairy books of late, and to be honest, I am not a big fairy fan. This book had a historical aspect though that made it sound intriguing and so I gave it a try. I am so glad I did.

The Faerie Ring has to be one of my favorite reads this year. Hamilton does a marvelous job setting the story in the gritty Dickens’ London. I loved the fact that she includes references to Dickens’ Oliver Twist--it felt like she was paying homage to Dickens with her orphans and their story. She describes the cold, the dirt, and the places in such detail that you feel like you have been there.

The characters come alive, and are so well depicted that you want to meet them and befriend them. Their voices and their relationships ring true, and you just want to know more about them and their lives. Tiki is a wonderful character who cares for her friends and does the best she can to survive in a city where dying on the streets is a real possibility. She and her family of orphans stick together to help each other and to provide for each other. And Rieker is just plain charming—I loved him from the first time we met him in the tavern.

From start to finish this book was one I loathed to put down. Hamilton hooks you from the first page and propels you through the novel. The pacing is perfect. She holds your interest no matter what twists or turns the story takes. She is a master of setting and characterization.

Overall this is a fantastic book that you won’t want to miss. I fell in love with this story and my only regret is that it had to end. I want more. I loved these characters, I loved the adventure, and I loved the story. A perfect read, start to finish.

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Book Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

2011-09-28T16:08:00.002-04:00

Title: The Name of the Star
Author: Maureen Johnson
Genre: Teen Fiction, Paranormal Fiction
Publication Date: September 29, 2011
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
ISBN-13 Book: 9780399256608
Source: I won a copy of the ARC for review from The Reading Date. This is my honest review!

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Rory moves to England to spend a year studying at a boarding school in London, she had no idea how much excitement she was in for. New school, new friends, new sports, and most of all, a serial killer in the neighborhood mimicking the killings of the infamous Jack the Ripper make for an interesting start to the school year. When Rory sees a man the police suspect to be the Ripper on the same night another woman is murdered, Rory’s life is turned upside down. First her roommate didn’t see the man, and second he may have turned his sights on Rory.

I love a good ghost story, and who can honestly say that they aren’t fascinated by the story of Jack the Ripper, the serial killer no one has ever identified. Johnson combines these two elements into a page turning story that won’t let you go until the very end.

The characters are well developed. Rory and her friends are believable and likable. Each character has their own story and motivations, and while all of their motivations aren’t revealed, that made the story that much more real.

The setting is dynamite. Rory’s school, Wexford, is near the haunts of Jack the Ripper. Her school is old as is the area of London in which she lives. London has a long history, and ghosts and history go hand in hand.

The pacing is well done, although there are a couple of spots where the story lagged a bit in the middle. This is more than made up for with the quick pacing of the conclusion.

Johnson is an expert at creating mood in this novel. This book definitely has those spine tingling moments when you don’t know what is going to happen next. I loved how she incorporated history into modern events.

Overall, if you like a good ghost story, this would be the book for you. This novel has twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is the first in a proposed trilogy, and I will definitely be reading the next one to see where this story goes.

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This or That with Faerie Ring Author Kiki Hamilton

2011-09-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Kiki Hamilton to my blog. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading her novel, The Faerie Ring. I couldn't put the book down. Just imagine, Dicken's London with charming orphans and malevolent faeries! The book is one of my favorite fantasies this year! Check back on September 29th for my full review!

This or That With Kiki Hamilton

1. Books or Movies?

Books, then I get to hear what the characters are thinking, I can

envision what they really look like and I learn WAY more than I ever do in movies.

2. Chocolate or Something Else?

Always chocolate

3. Spicy or Sweet?

hmmm….that’s a hard one. I think I’d probably choose sweet.

4. Summer, Winter, Fall, or Spring?

Always summer. Though I like the seasons, a lot, I love

summer.

5. Stay at home with family or travel the world?

I’d like to travel the world with my family, but if I had to choose one or the other, I’d definitely stay home with them.

6. Fiction or Non-Fiction Fiction?

I love the idea of unlimited possibilities.

7. Roller Coaster or Carousel?

Roller Coaster

8. Cats, Dogs or Neither?

Dogs. Mine’s asleep on the couch next to me right now.

9. Morning Person or Night Owl?

Well, I used to be a Night Owl in my 20’s and then I had to get up for work all the time so I became a Morning Person, so I guess that’s what I am now. (Though I did just go to the midnight premerie of Harry Potter last night…so for the right reasons I can be a night owl….. )

10. Harry Potter or Twilight?

Harry Potter, of course.

11. Since your book Faerie Ring is a bit of both, time to choose between Historical Fiction or

Fantasy Fiction which one do you prefer reading?

How about Historical Fantasy?

Thank you Kiki for stopping by today!

Don't forget to check out The Faerie Ring which comes out September 27th! This is one fantasy you don't want to miss!

Follow Friday!

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

Come and join the fun of the Friday Follow hosted by Parajunkee's View. You can find the instructions and rules on Parajunkee's Follow Friday post. Happy Hopping!

Question of the Week: Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep on revisiting it?

I do have a favorite series that I read over and over again. It is Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet series.

These books were the first that really introduced me to YA fantasy. I loved that Alanna was such a strong character and that she was willing to risk everything to do what she wants. I became addicted to these books and read them so many times that they fell apart! They my comfort reads now. Whenever I feel sad or like I need a break from everything, I will pick up these books and reread them. Visit my old friends and this wonderful world that Pierce has created.

What series do you come back to?

Exciting News for Library Lovers and Kindle Owners

2011-09-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Mid-afternoon yesterday it finally happened. The event that anyone who loves e-books, Kindles, and libraries had been waiting for...Overdrive became Kindle compatible! Now for the very first time, Kindle owners can look to their libraries for e-books.

We knew it was going to happen for months, we just weren't sure when. Earlier this month when I attended one of Overdrive's live training webinars, we were told soon. Earlier this week, that soon turned into a "very soon." Yesterday it finally happened.

Lucky for us, one of our staff members is a Kindle owner. Once we got the news, she was the first to try out the new compatibility here at my library. It was amazing how simple and how smoothly the download was. It is so much easier than the cumbersome process that Nook and other e-reader users have to go through. Actually, because it avoids the Adobe registration, it is probably even easier than using the Overdrive app for iPads, android, etc...

This has really thrown us, because up until this point, when someone asked us what e-reader we recommend, we were always telling people not Kindle, because it wasn't Overdrive compatible. Now not only is the Kindle compatible with both the apps and the devices--it is much easier to use without all the hoops of the adobe registration needed for the other devices or apps. With a few clicks on your computer you can have a library ebook wirelessly delivered to your Kindle or Kindle app. Sync your Kindle and you are done. In fact, it is so simple that if I had an iPad or other tablet device, I would use the Kindle app to get my library e-books rather the Overdrive app--crazy I know.

We have been preparing for the onslaught of Kindle users, buying as many books as we can, but we know it won't be enough. There will be holds, but there will be a lot more people using library e-books now. It should be exciting.

For more information visit Library eBooks now available for Amazon® Kindle on the Overdrive Blog.

Waiting On Wednesday: Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

2011-09-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. WOW spotlights forthcoming titles that we absolutely can't wait to read.

Last year when I read Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien, I wasn't sure what to expect. I read it as part of a book of the month feature for another blog. What I found was another wonderful dystopian tale, that made me anxious to read what comes next. So I have waited. I am anxious to see where this novel will take me. The blurb sounds so exciting!

Title: Prized
Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
ISBN:9781596435704
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Release Date:November 8, 2011

Description from Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press:

Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime. In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

Book Review: Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

2011-09-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Tender Morsels
Author: Margo Lanagan
Genre: Teen Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tale
Publication Date: October 14, 2008
Publisher: Ember
ISBN-13 Book: 9780375843051
Publisher Audio: Brilliance Audio
ISBN-13 Audio: 9781423396772
Source: I received a copy of the book for review from the publisher for my book award committee. I borrowed a copy of the audio from my library. This is my honest review!

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After an extremely horrifying set of events, Liga is taken away to her own personal heaven, where she lives, learns, and raises her two daughters. After the outside world begins to intrude on Liga’s heaven, she and her daughters must come to terms with the fact that they can’t escape the real world forever.

To be honest this is a really hard review for me to write. On one hand I can admire the exquisite writing, the intricate detail, and the overall amazing quality of the writing in this novel. On the other hand, I must admit that this novel just wasn’t for me. Truth be told I would not have picked this one up, had it not been for the fact it was on my required reading list for the committee.

Lanagan’s fantasy is so gritty in nature, the events that lead Liga to create her own “heaven” are so horrific, that it is hard to read past those opening events. What she has built though, is a remarkable dark fantasy. In the world of truth, Lanagan has created world where women without proper families are victims, to the vicious natures of unscrupulous men. To escape from that horrific world, Liga creates her own heaven where she is accepted, and safe to raise her two daughters.

The audio version is done by Brilliance Audio. It is narrated by Anne Flosnik and Michael Page. While Flosnik did an admirable job voicing the myriad of characters, I felt that Page’s performance was too similar. One character sounded like the other. I could not tell the difference between Collaby Dought or Ramstrong. In Page’s narration the all the men sounded similar. I loved the accent he used, and the robustness of his voice, I just wish there had been a bit more differentiation between characters.

Overall, the writing in this novel is extremely well done, but the story itself just didn’t appeal to this reader. Check this one out if you like dark fairy tales, and don’t mind them being a little on the gritty side. Definitely a read for mature readers.

View all my reviews

Saundra Mitchell Visit to My Library and Giveaway!

2011-09-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my library had the pleasure of hosting YA Author Saundra Mitchell. If you have never heard her speak before, I highly recommend it. She is a very interesting person, and had some very good insight on writing for teens. During her talk she mentioned four books that she found very influential as she was growing up.

Here are the four books:

We had a great time and Saundra's experiences were very interesting. I really want to thank her for dropping by our library and talking about her books and writing with us. Thank you Saundra! I had a blast!

Since this was such a wonderful experience for me, I thought I would share it with you too! I am giving away a SIGNED copy of Saundra's The Vespertine!

Details:

Contest ends 10/1/11 at 12:01 EST.
US entries only
Must be 13 years of age or older.
Not responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail. I will pay for delivery confirmation.

Have You Seen the New Cover for Veronica Roth's Insurgent?

2011-09-16T12:50:00.001-04:00

I don't often post about covers, but I just saw this EW article about Veronica Roth's Insurgent. I can't tell you how excited I am for this book to come out. I loved Divergent and found the book impossible to put down. I know I must wait until May of 2012, but now I have something to look at while I wait!

Isn't it great!

If you have time drop by EW's website for the article--it has a great interview with Veronica Roth who has a great sense of humor! :)

Veronica Roth's 'Insurgent' cover revealed -- EXCLUSIVE

What do you think of this cover?

Friday Five: Guy Reads

2011-09-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

I was brainstorming fun activities to do on my blog and I thought perhaps I should try my own type of feature or maybe make it a meme. I know developing book lists is often hard, but with so many wonderful readers out there, I thought, hey what if we do it together.

So this will be the Friday Five. I will list a subject and you will list your favorite books or maybe articles you found on that subject. Be sure to let readers know if your picks are YA or Adult!

This week's subject is Favorite books for boys! (All five of mine are YA)

Ashfall by Mike Mullin (Okay, I know this one isn't out yet, but it is great! Definitely worthy of this list
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan--I love this entire series, and it is a great book to recommend to boys--especially with a first chapter titled "I Accidentally Vaporized by Pre-Algebra Teacher."
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz--This fast fun read is action packed and hooks those readers right off.
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins--I know that the main character in this book is a girl, but the action and the pacing definitely makes it one that appeals to both genders.
Shift by Jennifer Bradbury--This is one I don't hear about often, but I really enjoyed. It has mystery, biking, adventure, and some great travel.

So how about you? What are your five favorite books with guy appeal? Share them here in the comments, or make up your own post and add it to the linky.

Read Your Own Books Read-a-thon #SIRYOBM

2011-09-16T07:55:00.000-04:00

I am participating in the Read Your Own Books Read-a-thon hosted by Monica at The Bibliophilic Blog. If you are interested in joining stop by Monica's blog for the details!

I have many books to finish, and so little time. Lately, I have found myself not wanting to read--probably because I am having a really hard time getting through one of the books on my required reading list for work. Some of these are books I have to read for work, one is a review request, and the others are ones I want to read. So here are the books I hope to work on in no particular order:

I don't know how far I will get, I haven't had much luck with my reading this week. I will personally be happy if I finish one book. What do you think?

Saundra Mitchell is Coming to My Library This Weekend!

2011-09-15T10:00:00.000-04:00

Sunday, Sept. 18 • 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at KHCPL Main

Saundra Mitchell, author of The Vespertine (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011) and Shadowed Summer (Random House, 2009) will be at the KHCPL Main at 220 N. Union St. Sunday, September 18^th from 2:30-4:30 P.M. for a book signing, talk, and question and answer session.

Join us for an exciting afternoon while we chat with award-winning young adult (YA) author Saundra Mitchell. She will talk about her books and the writing experience, and will answer questions from the audience.

The Vespertine is the story of a teen girl who discovers she has an unusual ability to see the future while visiting relatives in 1889 Baltimore. It is a gripping piece of historical fiction and fantasy. It is a 2011 Amazon Summer Reading List Selection and received excellent reviews from VOYA and Kirkus. A spinoff novel, The Springsweet, will be published on April 17, 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Shadowed Summer was a 2009 ALAN pick, a 2009 Junior Library Guild Selection, and a 2010 Edgar Nominee for Best YA Mystery. Shadowed Summer takes place in the small town of Ondine, Louisiana. Fourteen-year-old Iris uncovers family secrets when she conjures up the ghost of a boy missing for decades and decides to solve the mystery of his disappearance

Saundra Mitchell resides in Indianapolis. I attended a couple of her signings in Indy and she is an excellent speaker. She can talk about writing and publishing as well as about her experiences in the process of getting her novel published. This is an excellent opportunity for teens to meet a published author and ask questions. I hope you will pass this information on to your students.

You may bring books to have signed or purchase books at the event. Hardcovers of The Vespertine will be $14 and paperbacks of Shadowed Summer will be $7. Cash only please.
Coming Soon:

Character Interview: Zak from Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

2011-09-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Zak from Mary Lindsey's Shattered Souls to my blog. Zak is Lenzi's boyfriend. We first meet Zak at the beginning of the novel when he takes Lenzi out for her birthday. Shattered Souls is a haunting and remarkable novel about ghosts and past lives. This book is a page turner that had me on the edge of my seat.

Interview with Zak from Shattered Souls

1. First of all, Zak, welcome to my blog. Tell me, what was your first thought when you met Lenzi?

Hot. This chick is hot. My first thought for sure.

2. What attracted you to Lenzi?

Well, at first it was what I said above—she’s hot, but once we talked a little bit, I realized we were a lot alike. She hurts deep down and needs a friend—just like me.

3. Some of your behavior around Lenzi seems questionable, for instance, the night when you went to the cemetery with Lenzi you started drinking and had too much? Why were you drinking so much that night?

Look. I’m not in high school anymore and I’m living on my own. I like to have a good time and unwind a bit, you know? It’s not like I do it all the time. You sound like Lenzi. She hassles me all the time about this. I’ve got this under control, okay?

4. I know you have had some troubles of your own in the past. Can you tell us more about your family and your past?

They weren’t my troubles, really. My old man died of an overdose when I was just a kid. I don’t really remember him. My mom said I was too much like him and kicked me out when I finished high school last year. I’m not like him though. I’m not.

5. Why are you so threatened by Alden's relationship with Lenzi?

I’m not threatened. He’s just some punk guy she used to know from Galveston. She says it’s no big deal. Hey, what’s he got that I don’t?

6. Do you trust Lenzi?

I do. She says I don’t. She says I deny stuff to hide my feelings sometimes. What I don’t trust is that Alden guy. He’s totally into her and she doesn’t even see it. I just want to help her. He wants something else. She needs to stay away from him.

Thank you Zak for joining me today!

Shattered Souls is a book you don't want to miss. Don't believe me? Check the praise for Shattered Souls.

About Shattered Souls

A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Advance Praise for Shattered Souls
"Drawing readers into a world where the past holds secrets that can offer salvation or destruction, with spirits haunting every nook and cranny, Mary Lindsey crafts a tale that is frightening, beautiful, and wonderfully memorable."
--Andrea Cremer, New York Times bestselling author of Nightshade

For More Information:
http://www.marylindsey.com

About the Author

Mary Lindsey's debut young adult novel, SHATTEREDSOULS, is scheduled for release December 8, 2011 from Philomel/Penguin.

Having received a B.A. in English literature witha minor in drama from the University of Houston, she currently teaches actingto children and teens at a private studio in Houston, Texas.

Mary lives with her husband, three kids, twodogs, her daughter's pet rats, an Australian Bearded Dragon, and dozens ofMadagascar Hissing Cockroaches.

She is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette from theErin Murphy Literary Agency.

We Remember 9/11

2011-09-11T09:43:00.000-04:00

I don't think any of us, who are old enough to remember will ever forget where we were when 9/11 happened. I was at work, when one of the girls in the training room came out and told us a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. Our first reaction was that he had to be some kind of accident, because at that time we were still innocent. We thought we were safe on U.S. soil, and that no one would or could attack us here. When the second plane hit, we knew we were wrong. Someone had just attacked our nation, and stolen our safety.

Ten years later, we are no longer the same nation. We have the scars and the sacrifices to prove what we have been through. We are more alert, more suspicious, and always on guard for the next attack. We have lost much, but we have learned that as a nation we can endure and that we have the strength to go on.

I will never forget where I was that day, or how it felt seeing my homeland attacked. I will never forget all the sacrifices that were made to save those trapped inside those buildings, and the sacrifices of those who saved lives by giving up their own. No matter how far we travel from that day ten years ago, this day will always be part of us. Part of our sorrow and part of our strength.

Today I pray for those who lost their lives, those who saved lives, and those who survived. I pray for the families of all the victims of 9/11.

I will always remember.

Book Review: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

2011-09-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
Author: Morgan Matson
Genre: Teen Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Publication Date: May 4, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
ISBN-13 Book: 9781416990659
Source: I received a copy of the book for review from the publisher for my book award committee. I purchased a copy of the audio from audible.com. This is my honest review!

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amy isn’t happy about leaving her home in California and moving across the country to Conniticutt. She isn’t happy that she’s been deserted by her mother, her brother is in therapy, and now she is expected to ride across country with a virtual stranger. But when Roger suggest making this trip into a real road trip, Amy takes him up on the offer. As they travel across the country, Amy confronts the reasons she is leaving home and the guilt she feels after the death of her father.

This novel is a real road trip and I loved that. Amy and Roger take detours, backtrack, and even find the Loneliest Road in America. Along the way she collects facts, and adds to a scrapbook of her travels.

This book is a great summer read. Even if you go nowhere this summer, this book will take you to destinations you haven’t visited complete with song mixes. While the heart of this novel centers on grief and guilt, it doesn’t get bogged down by that. Yes you know Amy feels guilty, but she is also learning how to live again.

I tried the audio version of this book, but found that the print version was better suited to the book. In the print version you have pictures, scrapbook pages, receipts, and other momentos that don’t translate well into an audio version of the story. In audio it comes off sounding like an inventory rather than a scrapbook. The book is narrated by Suzy Jackson. I really enjoy her narration, but the book itself isn’t formatted the best for audio. No fault of the narrator’s, this book is just better suited to reading.

Overall this is a fun story with a serious subject at its center and an amazing adventure.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Starcrossed
Author: Elizabeth C. Bunce
Genre: Teen Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
ISBN-13 Book: 9780545136051
Source: I received a copy for review from the publisher for my book award committee. This is my honest review!

Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Greenmen were after her. They had already killed her partner, and now they were looking for her. Digger, a petty thief needed to get out of the city, and when a party of young rich nobs come along and offer her a way out, who could blame her for seeking safety among them. But as she grows closer to the young Merista Nemair, she finds that the safety of that household may be tenuous at best. When she is caught stealing and blackmailed into spying on her host’s family, Digger wants nothing more than a way out. Unfortunately, it may be too late.

Bunce’s fantasy world is one of intrigue, war, and religious revolution. The king has banned magic and worshipers of the goddess Sar. Years ago, a war raged between the King and the Sarists, but when the King defeated the Sarist, it became dangerous for any of her worshipers.

I usually enjoy fantasy, but politics and religion reign in this novel. It was hard stepping into this world and finding it so unfamiliar. I didn’t understand either the politics or the religion, but I knew that it would result in a complicated explanations.

As a character, I found Digger interesting. She has a past that she is hiding and you really want to know what her secret is. Unfortunately, I found her behavior somewhat irritating—why would you steal from the people who just saved you from death or worse?

This book is the first of a series, which will hopefully continue Digger’s adventures, but I am not sure that I will pick it up. Although the book was full of lavish detail, and wonderful settings, its plot was overly complex and the beginning was very hard to follow. I had a very hard time starting this book despite its opening action sequence.

Overall, this is a good fantasy that will appeal to those willing to plod through the politics. Perhaps the second book will offer more.

View all my reviews

Adult Book Review: The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

2011-09-06T08:05:00.000-04:00

Title: The Scent of Rain and Lightning
Author: Nancy Pickard
Genre: Adult Fiction, mystery
Publication Date: May 4, 2010
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN-13 Book: 9780345471017
Source: I purchased a copy for review from Barnes and Noble

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When Jody Linder's three uncles arrive on her doorstep with the news that the prison sentence of the man who killed her parents 23 years ago has been commuted, Jody is furious. But when people of her small town start discussing the crime and start saying that Billy Crosby wasn't guilty, Jody wants to know more. What secrets does her small town hold, and what is her own family keeping from her?

A year ago, a sales person at the Barnes and Noble in Valporaiso, IN told me that she had just finished this book and loved it. I looked at it then, read the first chapter, thought about purchasing it for my nook, and then put it back. I didn't have time for an adult book--I had too much that I had to read for work. I remember mentioning this book to my mother-in-law a few weeks after that. I told her what the sales person told me, and what I had read about the book on Goodreads, and about the chapter I had read. It was enough to interest her and for her to pick it up. Little did I know she would fall in love with the book, and then go on to seek out everything else Nancy Pickard had written--at the same time asking me if I had yet finished this book. Over a year later, I finally have.

Last weekend when I went down for my conference in Indianapolis, I stopped by Barnes and Noble and picked up a paperback copy of this book. I didn't know when I was going to get around to reading it, but I knew I should soon. My mother-in-law wants to recommend it to her reading group and she wanted to know what I thought of the book. Little did I know that the story would hook me so that I would finish the book in two days.

I am so used to being able to predict the endings of mysteries and TV shows that I was actually taken aback when I finished this novel. Not only did Pickard surprise me, she completely blindsided me with her ending. I can't remember the last time that has happened and I loved every minute of it!

I love how she worked the setting and the storm into her novel. Not only was there a real storm, there was a storm going on in the lives of her characters. You could feel the storm brewing as the story progressed, and you never knew what was going to happen next.

Mild spoiler coming:

S

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I did feel that the relationship in the novel between Collin and Jody felt a bit forced. I found it hard to believe that two people with that much history between them could get together, and there was never any support to back up the relationship in the story. You are just kind of told that he loves her and she might love him with out any reason given for those feelings.

Overall this was a fun read, and one that left me pleasantly surprised. I was happy to not have predicted the ending to this one.

View all my reviews

This book reminded me a little of Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts.

My Weekend in Books

2011-09-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hope you all had a nice Labor Day weekend. This year I was blessed with a four day weekend, but that didn't stop it from flying by. We had plans to visit our favorite fair in Ohio this weekend, but the weather wouldn't cooperate. It was too hot Friday and Saturday, rained on Sunday, and then we had to head home on Monday. Still, we had a good time hanging out with our family.

I finished three books this weekend. Two of them from my reading list and one that my mother-in-law has been wanting me to read. I actually picked up that third one because I hadn't pack a 3rd book from my reading list--I didn't expect to finish the two I brought with me.

Here's what I finished over the weekend:

Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

Reviews to come!

What did you finish this weekend? How was your Labor Day?

Into the Past with Amber Argyle Author of Witch Song [Teen Book Scene Tours]

2011-09-01T08:00:00.020-04:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Amber Argyle to my blog. Her book Witch Song is a compelling and exciting fantasy set in a world where the magic of witches control the seasons and where one witch has turned against the others, destroying her own kind. I literally couldn't put it down. Don't believe me? Check out my review for Witch Song.

In the meantime, help me welcome Amber while she shares with us some of her favorite books from her past!

Into the Past with Amber Argyle: Her Favorite Books From Ages 5, 11, 15 and 19.

At 5 I loved nursery rhymes (the Cow Jumped Over the Moon, Little Bo Peep, Humpty Dumpty(etc), Goldie Locks, Little Red Riding Hood, Bambi, Berenstain Bears, Where the Wild Things Are, Goodnight Moon, and Scuffy the Red Painted Tugboat to name a few.

At 11, I read the Little House on the Prairie Series, Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew, and a bit of historical fiction.

At fifteen I didn’t read quite as much for pleasure as I was so busy with school, rodeo, basketball, honor society, etc. So most of my reading was stuff for English class. Some that I remember are Red Badge of Courage, All Quiet on the Western Front, Heart of Darkness, Wuthering Heights, The Grapes of Wrath, Animal Farm, Shakespeare, Huckleberry Finn, etc. For pleasure, I read a lot of historical fiction.

Nineteen was much the same. My major was English lit with an emphasis on teaching, so I read a lot of literary fiction. I remember Shakespeare, Dante, Willa Cather, etc. Honestly, I try to block it all out. My teachers told me this was great fiction. That genre fiction didn’t count. But the plots were often sluggish or even nonexistent. Character development sometimes went in reverse. Prose was overbearing and overdone. I didn’t think they were great books. But my all time favorite class was young adult literature. It only reinforced my desire to write books instead of tearing them apart. Books that focused on story.

It wasn’t until my mother-in-law gave my husband a fantasy book after college that I finally found my niche.

Thank you so much for dropping by today Amber! I hope everyone will pick up a copy of Witch Song--it is definitely one of my favorites this year!

Book Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

2011-08-31T11:04:00.002-04:00

Title: Revolution
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Genre: Teen Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication Date: July 26, 2011 (Paperback); October 12, 2010 (Hardcover)
Publisher: Ember
ISBN-13 Book: 9780385737647
Publisher CD: Listening Library
ISBN-13 CD: 9780307746214
Source: I purchased a copy for review for my book award committee and checked out the audio from my local library. This is my honest review!

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
After the death of her brother Truman, Andi is consumed by guilt and sadness. Her mother has retreated inside herself painting portrait after portrait of Truman, but never finding them quite right. When Andi’s father hospitalizes her mother, and hauls Andi off to Paris, Andi is furious. All she wants is to get as far away from her father as possible. When she stumbles across a diary of a girl written during the French Revolution, Andi becomes engrossed in Alex’s story. In Alex’s words Andi finds a story of love, betrayal, and misery as ghosts from the past become more and more real, and past and the present collide.

At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this novel. I found the narrator, Andi to be a caustic. I know she has her reasons for pushing everyone away and for popping the pills she does, but at first I had difficulty connecting with her. I am so glad that I stuck with this novel, because there is so much more to Andi than her bitchy attitude.

Andi knows pain, and no matter what she does, how many pills she pops, the pain doesn’t relent. When her father drags her off to Paris with him, Andi doesn’t want to go. She doesn’t want to be anywhere near her father, or anyone else. In her misery she finds a diary of a girl named Alex who lived during the French Revolution. In that diary she finds another type of pain, in the story Alex recounts.

This is where I admit the faults in my education. I never studied the French Revolution in school—I don’t think it was even mentioned in any of my history classes. In high school we only really covered American history and even then we never made it to the 20th century. In college, my interest was in ancient history, the Mesopotamians, ancient Egyptians, and the beginnings of civilization. The latest dates I studied in college history and humanities classes were in the 1300s. Despite my spotty education, I have managed to fill in some gaps, and acquire some knowledge since graduating.

Some people think you can’t learn anything from fiction. That it is all fluff and nonsense. I am not one of those people. I have learned more about history and the world from fiction books than I ever did in school. Revolution is a perfect example of this. Donnelly presents fact about the French Revolution, creates characters from people of that time, and that entices me enough that I found myself in the history books looking up the names she mentions, and the places and events. I learn from fiction, and it inspires me to learn more.

Donnelly is a gifted storyteller. She lured me in to her novel, and wouldn’t let me go until I finished the last page. I became addicted to this book, similar to the way Andi was addicted to her pills and guilt. I loathed to put it down, I wanted to know more, and at the same time I hated how close I was getting to the end.

Admittedly the beginning is slow, but the rest of the novel makes up for it. You need the foundation that Donnelly lays in the beginning of the novel to understand the choices Andi makes later on and her intense connection to Alex.

The audiobook is produced by Listening Library. Emily Janice Card and Emma Bering do the narration for this novel. While I don’t recall listening to their narration in any of the other audiobooks I have listened to I must say I am impressed. Their narration is perfectly performed. The audiobook is wonderfully done, and is definitely worth listening to. It is 12 CDs long, so definitely not one of the shorter novels, but pacing and narration are perfect.

Overall, this is a beautifully written novel that has become my favorite read this year. This is the type of book that frequently puts me in a reading funk, because I know whatever I pick up next will pale in comparison. I want more!

Vivid and poignant, Revolution is a novel that will haunt you long after you turn the last page.

I don’t usually do this, but I am going to include a couple of my favorite quotes from the book.

In this scene Andi is in the catacombs of Paris:

“There are skulls piled on skulls. Femurs on femurs. Some are neatly stacked. Others are worked into decorative patterns—stripes and bands and crosses and flowers. It feels like I’ve stumbled into the basement of a mass murderer with a flair for interior design.” (pg. 236)

This quote is from Alex as she talks about the massacres in Paris:

“The decent people of Paris had hidden themselves behind closed doors as decent people always do. Massacres could not happen if it were not for decent people.” (pg. 296)

View all my reviews

2011 CYPD Conference: Free Your Mind

2011-08-30T08:05:00.002-04:00

I spent Sunday and Monday at the CYPD conference in Indianapolis. CYPD is the Children and Young People's Division of the Indiana Library Federation. It is an annual conference that is held every year in August. I love going to CYPD because I get to see old friends, people I went to library school with, and others in my field who have some great new ideas for reaching out to teens.

This year I was a presenter too. Abby from Abby the Librarian and I did a presentation called "Staying On Top: Using Blogs for Children’s and YA Collection Development." We had over 60 people attend our session about using blogs for collection development. Unfortunately we ran out of handouts, but it was a fun presentation and I really enjoyed working with Abby on the project. I had never really thought about how much I relied on using blogs until we sat down and started putting this presentation together. Blogs have become essential to what I do, and help me stay informed about what is going on in the publishing world.

For those that didn't get a handout because we ran out (we only made 50) you will be able to find the PDF version of the handout and handouts from the other sessions on the CYPD wiki soon. If you can't wait, here is a link to the PDF version:

http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/63573569?access_key=key-np0cgmfdw97wz339hv7

I want to thank Abby for partnering with me--I really enjoyed presenting with you! If you want to find Abby on the web you can visit her at Abby the Librarian--she definitely has a blog worth following!

Some other things I did at the conference:

Sunday:

The Welcome and First General Session featured Alexis O'Neill who spoke about authors who had been Dis-Invited to an event or a signing. It was an interesting session where she told us many of the reasons authors had been asked not to come after being invited to a school or event.

After the general session was over I attended a breakout session on Spontaneous Programming put together by librarians Lisa and Benita from the Pontiac branch of the Allen County Public Library. What they do for their teens is amazing and they had some really great ideas for spontaneous programming.

Every year Shirley Mullin, owner of Kid's Ink Children's Bookstore in Indianapolis speaks about books. I wouldn't miss her breakout session for anything. This year she presented with her son, YA author Mike Mullin (http://www.mikemullinauthor.com/), whose novel Ashfall comes out in October. Together they spoke about how important it is to have a collection that includes a diverse range of titles. How libraries and bookstores need to include books that meet the needs of all patrons. Like in years past, she provided us with a list of books that we should be aware of and have in our collections! Did I mention I love attending her sessions!

(Note: Ashfall is a great book! Don't miss your chance to read it. It reminds me a little of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet and Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life as We Knew It--definitely a great read.)

At dinner we listened to author Alex Sanchez talk about how librarians can help inspire young people. He talked about many of the kids that have contacted him through the years and shared their stories with him. Unfortunately, I was sitting in the back of the room and had difficulty hearing him, but his session was still quite enlightening.

Monday:

First thing the next morning we had another General Session. This was with Doug Archer who has worked with the Intellectual Freedom Committee. He had many interesting tales to tell about censorship.

My first breakout session on Monday was one about Teen Book Clubs and a relationship one librarian forged with her local school. She told us how she got into the schools and how important those open lines of communication are between schools and public libraries.

The second breakout session of the day was the one I presented with Abby. Boy was I glad when that was over--I get nervous speaking in front of people. :)

Next came lunch and and the final General Session. E. Lockhart was our scheduled speaker, but due to hurricane Irene, she couldn't make it to our conference. Instead Valarie Marsh and taught us various storytelling techniques. She also told us about Bikes4Kids. What I thought was so amazing was that she put together a keynote speech with less than 2 days notice. It was fun and entertaining.

Finally it was time to attend the last breakout session of the day. I chose to go to "How to Own the Night: Ideas for SRP 2012." Librarian Staci from the the Anderson Public Library shared several program ideas all with monstrous themes--Zombiepalooza, Werewolfs, and a twist of word How to own the Knight. It was fun.

The conference was immensely informative, but I can't tell you how glad I was to go home and sleep in my own bed last night. I literally went home and went to bed--at a little after 5. I was wiped out, but I learned so much and had so much fun.

If you have any questions about the conference, or the presentation Abby and I gave feel free to contact me or visit me on twitter (@wheems01).

Bout of Books Read-a-thon Finish Line

2011-08-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

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Okay, I realize that this is a couple days late, but I promise I have a good excuse--I was at a conference Sunday and Monday. So here is my wrap up post for the Bout of Books Read-a-thon hosted by On a Book Bender.

Before I start I want to say that this was a really great event. I am so glad to participate. I loved that it was a full week, so even when I had days that were too busy to read, I was still able to participate.

Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima (8/30) Finished.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson (9/26)
Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams (9/26) Finished.
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (9/26) Finished about half of this book.
Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce (9/26) Read about 100 pages of this book.
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (9/26)
Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (9/26)
Remembrance by Michelle Madow (10/7)
Ashfall by Mike Mullin (10/11)
Iron Knight (10/25)

Not as good as I had hoped, but not too bad considering everything I had to work on this week.

Here is how my reading went this week:

Day One Update:

Okay, I didn't finish anything today. Big Surprise! Since this is my late night working I didn't get anything finished.

I did get some reading done on Cinda Williams Chima's Gray Wolf Throne.

Back to the books!

Day Two Update:

Haven't had much time to read today because I have been so busy! Still working on Gray Wolf Throne.

Day Three Update:

I am still trying to finish Gray Wolf Throne. Should be able to finish the book tomorrow. I am cutting myself a little slack on this one since it is 528 pages! :)

Day Four Update:

Finally some progress!!! I finished two books today:

Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

I am still listening to Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly in my car. The book has me hooked and I can't wait to find out where its going to lead.

Day Five Update:

Migraine--no progress. :(

Day Six Update:

Read some chapters in Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce.

Day Seven Update:

Today is the first day of my conference. I listened to Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly on my way to the conference, so I did make some progress there. I also picked up some new books at the conference--more to add to my TBR pile.

Want to Know More About Me?

2011-08-28T08:00:00.002-04:00

As you can see by the button near the bottom of the page, I signed up for the Ultimate Reviewer's Challenge for August hosted by Karen from For What It's Worth Reviews, Tiger at All Consuming Books, and Lena at Addicted 2 Novels. Actually, this was a good month for it too, because I am in crunch time with my reading list. While signing up for the Challenge, I also signed up for Better Know a Blogger with Karen from For What It's Worth Reviews. Visit her site and check out my interview! Better Know a Blogger Interview

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon Update: Day Six 8/26

2011-08-27T23:59:00.000-04:00

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Day Six Update:

It was a busy day today, so not much time for reading. I am up to page 78 in Starcrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce. While the book is interesting, it seems to be a bit of a slow go. There is a lot of world building going on, and sometimes that can really slow down a fantasy novel.

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon Update: Day Five 8/26

2011-08-26T23:59:00.001-04:00

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Day Five Update:

After some progress yesterday, I fell flat on my face today. I read one chapter of Elizabeth C. Bunce's Starcrossed. Why so little? Killer migraine that lasted all day. Oh well, maybe tomorrow will be better.

Book Review: Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

2011-08-26T08:05:00.000-04:00

Title: Glimpse
Author: Carol Lynch Williams
Genre: Teen Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Novel in Verse
Publication Date: June 22, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN-13 Book: 9781416997306
Source: I received a copy for review from the publisher for my book award committee. This is my honest review!

Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Liz and Hope, sisters separated by a year, have always taken care of each other. When Hope finds Liz in the bathroom with the shotgun, Hope wonders what could have done this to her big sister. As Hope remembers more about the past few months, she begins to see a darkness that she never saw before, a darkness and secrets that may swallow Liz and their family whole.

Glimpse is a novel in verse, and a very fast read. Told from the perspective of Hope, flashbacks from her memory show us pieces of the puzzle leading up to Liz’s extreme actions. It is amazing how much can be told with so few words.

This book is skillfully written, and the sparseness of the book reflects the lives of these two girls. They have nothing solid they can cling to other than each other and the format of the verse and shortness of the pages reflect that. While not quite as well done as Ellen Hopkin’s book Crank which made the read feel they were coming down from a high as the words crashed down the page, Williams has written a novel that is at once sparsely formed, yet fully fleshed out.

The characters are well developed, you can see their strengths and their weaknesses, their dreams, and the harsh reality that is their life. The way the story was told worked well and kept the reader hooked—wanting to know the whole truth of the story.

Overall, this was a wonderful yet shocking novel in verse.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

2011-08-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

Title: The Gray Wolf Throne
Author: Cinda Williams Chima
Genre: Teen Fiction, Fantasy
Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
ISBN-13 Book: 9781423118251
Source: I received an e-galley of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest review!

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As Raisa races back to the Fells to take her rightful place at the Queen’s side as Princess Heir, assassins will stop at nothing to make sure that she doesn’t make it home. Following closely behind for reasons of his own is former thief and fledgling wizard Han Alister who has been called home by the clans to fight their battle against the wizard council. With so much at stake for them both, will they survive to confront their enemies? Harsh truths, assassination attempts, and plots galore adorn this third installment in the Seven Realms series.

First off, if you haven’t read the first two books, The Demon King and The Exiled Queen this will not be the book for you. Go back, read those two, and then come back to this one because it is one wild ride.

This book starts off where we left off in The Exiled Queen. Raisa, the Princesss Heir to the throne of the Fells, is racing home to her kingdom to help her mother face down the opposition that wishes to steal the throne from Raisa. Beloved characters from the last book return once again and we see how the world around them is changing so quickly.

Chima is a talented author who has filled this book with exquisite details and settings, wonderful characters, and a detailed plot. Some might find this book a little on the slow side, but if you see it as Williams setting up pieces on a chess board, you will see the novel for what it is; a foundation for the next book in the series and a lead into the battles that will shape the Seven Realms in the book to come.

Overall, I love Chima’s writing and I positively adore this series. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves fantasy. This book is an excellent addition to this series, and I am dying to find out what happens next. Book four, still untitled, cannot come soon enough for this readers liking.

View all my reviews

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon Update: Day Four 8/25

2011-08-25T23:59:00.007-04:00

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Day Four Update:

Finally some progress!!! I finished two books today:

Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima
Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

I am still listening to Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly in my car. The book has me hooked and I can't wait to find out where its going to lead.

Well I'm off to write reviews!

Author Book Picks from The Revenant Author Sonia Gensler [Teen Book Scene Tours]

2011-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming The Revenant author Sonia Gensler to my blog. The Revenant is the story of a seventeen year-old Willie, a teacher who fakes her credentials to get a job at a Cherokee boarding school. Little does she know there are secrets at the school more haunting than her own.

Today Sonia is going to share with us some of her favorite books! Thank you for joining us today!

A short list of favorite books I’d recommend:

(based on a quick scan of my bookshelf, so doesn’t include ARCs, books on my kindle, or things that are misplaced, hee!):

This is quite an eclectic group, but one thing all these books have in common is beautiful characterization.

Middle Grade

The Penderwicks (+ sequels), by Jeanne Birdsall

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z., by Kate Messner**

The Wild Girls, by Pat Murphy

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead**

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (+ sequel), by Maryrose Wood

Young Adult

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Chime, by Frannie Billingsley

Plain Kate, by Erin Bow**

The Hunger Games (+ sequels) by Suzanne Collins

A Brief History of Montmaray (+ sequel), by Michelle Cooper

A Northern Light, by Jennifer Donnelly

Flash Burnout, by LK Madigan

Set in Stone, by Linda Newbery

How I Live Now, by Meg Rosoff**

Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys**

The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusack

**warning for MAJOR BLUBBERING POTENTIAL. Tissues recommended. Keep water on hand in case of dehydration. :)

The kind of books you’d find in my library:

My “library” is spread out all over my house. In my office, I have two main categories of fiction – classics and MG/YA – and then certain shelves devoted to research books for different stories I’m writing or already have completed. I also have a section for general writing reference and a large section for “to be read” (which is bursting at the seams). In my living room are the shelves for mainstream adult fiction. Upstairs I have shelves for mystery, fantasy and sci-fi. I know it sounds like I’ve ghettoized genre fiction in my own household, but it’s really that my mass market paperbacks fill that upstairs bookcase perfectly. And my guests can browse and read when they stay in the upstairs bedroom!

Thanks for having me, Mel!

Thank you for joining me here on my blog. I think I might add ** to The Book Thief too, because I remember how upset I was at the end! :) This is a great list, and I see some books I am definitely going to add to my "To Read" list.

Thank you again Sonia and congratulations on your book The Revenant!

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon Update: Day Three 8/24

2011-08-24T23:59:00.000-04:00

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Day Three Update:

Still reading Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Chima Williams. Day three has brought me within 30 pages of finishing the novel so I should have no trouble wrapping this up tomorrow. Since it is 528 pages I am cutting myself a little slack--it is a really long book, and her writing is very descriptive. (I don't want to miss a word!)

Soundtracks for E-Books? It's True and Coming to a Book Near You!

2011-08-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

I read a lot of book news, and for the most part I rarely comment, but this article caught my attention:

Bells and Whistles for a Few E-Books

Did you know that they are coming out with e-books that will include a soundtrack? Booktrack, will be releasing e-books with soundtracks starting with The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore.

I read a lot of books and I listen to a lot of audiobooks, but a book with sound effects will definitely be a new experience. I am just not sure what I think of this. I find sound effects in audiobooks annoying at times, and while this will be more like a movie soundtrack, how will it work for those of us who aren't fast readers? I know that they mention the reader will set the pace, but still, how accurate is this technology?

I admit I have my curiosity peaked, but will that be enough for me to pay the extra charge for the soundtracks? Right now I am pretty skeptical, but I am curious to see what other readers think of this. To quote my library co-worker, "What's next? Smell-o-vision?"

Do you think a book soundtrack will be something you would enjoy?

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon Update: Day Two 8/23

2011-08-23T23:59:00.000-04:00

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Day Two Update:

Still reading Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Chima Williams. It's a long book, so I am going to cut myself some slack on this one. Hopefully I can finish it on day three!

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon Update: Day One 8/22

2011-08-22T23:59:00.001-04:00

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Day One Update:

Okay, I didn't finish anything today. Big Surprise! Since this is my late night working I didn't get anything finished.

I did get some reading done on Cinda Williams Chima's Gray Wolf Throne.

Back to the books!