The cover of Destined, House of Night book 9, was just released and oh la la, HOTNESS! I am still a fan of this series and even Heath (who is on this cover). I mean c'mon, he's HOT! This series lost me somewhere around the middle but don't give up! It does get better (in my opinion) so if you are thinking of picking these books back up, do it!
Destined (House of Night #9) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 25th, 2011) Hardcover: 336 pages Add it on Goodreads In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.
But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.
Here is the cover for A Beautiful Evil, book 2 in the Gods & Monsters series by Kelly Keaton. Very spooky!
A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 21st, 2012) Hardcover: 320 pages Add it to Goodreads A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight.
When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.
Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.
Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.
And a section of this post I will title "Book I Just Want to Talk About 'Cause it Sounds Amazing"! I picked up, and finished, Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles on Tuesday and Wow, it is awesome! The Perfect Chemistry series is one of my all-time favorites! I realized that I love that type of love story. When I went looking for more like it, I discovered KISS CRUSH COLLIDE by Christina Meredith. First, let's check out the cover.
*fans self* loveeee it! And now, the summary. Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith Publisher: Greenwillow Books (December 27th, 2011) Hardcover: 336 pages Add it to Goodreads Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.
With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry ( <---THAT'S ME!), Sarah Dessen ( <--- THAT'S ME TOO!), and John Green (<--Haven't read anything by him yet). Gotta love a good forbidden romance! So how many of you want to get your hands on this book???
Bookperk News
You all probably know I'm a huge fan of the Bookperk site from HarperCollins. I've purchased a signed (by the movie cast) version of I Am Number Four and a signed copy of Guy Fieri's cookbook from them already. They add new offers all the time and I just wanted to mention a few of the new ones.
You can USE GOOGLE to see the current deals going on. If you haven't signed up, you can use that link as well. It's good to at least be signed up because amazing deals pop up all the time and sometimes they have very limited quantities.
"The mystery of the plot really kept my interest; there were times when I thought I had it all figured out (after the first initial twist) and then with the last eight chapters there was another twist! And then another! The end of the book was absolutely perfect — I laughed and I cried." — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Haven Moore can't control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother's house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.
In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves, before all is lost and the cycle begins again."
Why I read this: The cover really drew my attention in and then after reading the synopsis I knew I would love this novel.
Plot: It took me a while to warm up to the plot; in the beginning it was slow and I could really connect with the setting or characters. The plot also left a lot out, which adds to the mysteriousness, but frustrated me because 1/4 of the way into the book I figured I should have some idea of what was going on. With patience in check, by half way through the novel the plot thickened and deepened to a point where I couldn't put this novel down. I found myself rethinking reincarnation and wondering "what if" and thinking "how romantic." The mystery of the plot really kept my interest as well, there were times when I thought I had it all figured out (after the first initial twist) and then with the last eight chapters there was another twist! And then another! The end of the book was absolutely perfect — I laughed and I cried.
Characters: I did struggle with some of the characters and the amount of religion emphasized in this small community. Coming from a small Midwestern community, I understand how religion can play an important part of a community but I thought it was caked on pretty heavy throughout (especially) the beginning of this novel. I also struggled with Haven's back and forth mentality in regards to Iain. Speaking of Iain... loved him! I absolutely adored him... even when I really disliked him I enjoyed his character. A great character (in my opinion) is one who you can love and hate at the same time because of the depth of the character... this was Iain Morrow for me. Also, I just gotta say Adam definitely caught me unawares.
Cover: A very simple cover — but definitely cover love.
Random Thoughts: I'll admit it, I definitely googled the Ouroboros Society. I just can't get over how romantic it all is! To continue searching for "the one" for lifetimes. I would LOVE to see this novel as a movie.
Final Thoughts: This book was fantastic; I could not put it down and could not push it from my thoughts. I had about 100 pages left when school got out and read until I was able to leave (3:45) and then took it home with me. Dan was reading "Mockingjay" and when he began to shut his book so that we could "talk about our days" I begged him to continue reading. Together we sat side by side on our recliner and read. He saw me laugh, cry, and shout out in amazement over this book. He saw my despair when the novel was ending and I knew it wasn't going to end the way I wanted it to. He witnessed the small bit of hope that remained as I began reading the final chapter. And he held my hand when I shut the book and let out the sigh that goes along with the end of any great read. It's become a very fond memory that I think says a lot about our relationship and I'm so happy to say that it is a memory that involves this book.
"The story, the message, and the love are so real and pure. My students are going to devour this book!" — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Still haunted by nightmares of her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father’s relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother’s plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn’t do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.
But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn’t think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts."
"Sea" was one of the books I most excited for at BEA that I hadn't heard a lot of — I just absolutely adored the cover (a bit shallow, I know). So when I won it I was ecstatic!
Besides a fantastic "I want this now" cover, the story behind the cover is just as mouth-watering. I found that I could not put this book down and read it in only two sittings. It took me a bit longer to actually get into it simply because the love interest (sweet and innocent love interest) disappears just when I think I can't handle any more suspense. But then as soon as Sea begins her journey, I just had to find out what happened!
Parts of this book were a bit predictable, but as soon as I began to get "bored" a new fantastic twist took place and the whole story changed — it really kept me on my toes. So much so that we had just sat down at the best seats in the Jim Patterson stadium and I just had to finish the last few pages. Rude, I know.
Like "Before I Fall," I fell in love with how innocent and real the love interest (preferably #1 — in my opinion) of this story is. The whole time I was reading I was texting my own love interest gushing about how sweet Spider was. I may also have text him the most romantic line in the whole movie — "It's always been you."
Now that I can almost smell your saliva escaping your open mouth — that's all that you get!
Really, this book is fantastic! The story, the message, and the love are so real and pure. My students are going to devour this book!
"This book gave me the tools to better communicate not only with my significant other but with friends, family, and co-workers as well!" — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Are you and your spouse speaking the same language? While love is a many splendored thing, it is sometimes a very confusing thing, too. And as people come in all varieties, shapes, and sizes, so do their choices of personal expressions of love. But more often than not, the giver and the receiver express love in two different ways. This can lead to misunderstanding, quarrels, and even divorce. Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, Physical Touch.
Dr. Gary Chapman identifies five basic languages of love and then guides couples towards a better understanding of their unique languages of love."
This book was recommended to me by one of my best friends when I came to her one day and told her I wished my boyfriend would tell me how he felt about me more often. I told her that we have said the "L" word but he only says it a few times a month. His reasoning is that he doesn't want saying it to become habitual — he wants it to be special. Well, it IS special (I mean my heart beats like a million times a minute and I can't breathe and I get this ridiculous smile on my face), but then the other few weeks or even months I constantly wonder if he feels the same way. My BFF of course asked me why I didn't tell him about and that's because I don't want to be "that" girl. You know, needy, clingy, etc.
This BFF promptly asked me if I had read "The Five Love Languages." I said I hadn't and she explained that she could promptly see that our love languages were different. She said I was obviously "Words of Affirmation" and he wasn't. The next day I bought this book and devoured it within a few hours.
I instantly started analyzing my relationships not only with the boyfriend but with my parents and friends too. I could tell instantly that my best friend and I are so close because we speak the same love language. I sent out a text message to all my best friends and asked them what they thought their love language was and I continued to discover new things about old friends.
Now that I know exactly what love languages I speak (I tied for Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, and Touch) I know how to address what I'm feeling more maturely and without as much raw emotion (hurt, blame, etc). I think the most important part of this book is that it is not about finding a significant other who speaks the same language as you but more that you need to recognize your loved ones needs and learn to adapt to that.
For instance, to use words of affirmation on my boyfriend would accomplish very little because that's not his love language. After having him take the test at the end of the book (he's such a sport) I discovered that his love languages are Quality Time and Receiving Gifts. When I told him that I was "Words of Affirmation" he quickly said, "Well then I need to tell you how much you mean to me more often then!" It worked like a charm! I didn't have to be all whiny: "You never tell me how you feel!" This book gave me the tools to better communicate not only with my significant other but with friends, family, and co-workers as well!
I highly recommend this quick, enlightening read for everyone. What's your Love Language?
Originality: 10/10 Ending: 10/10 Characters: NA Plot: NA My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10 Theme: 10/10 Imagery: 10/10 Setting: NA Voice: 5/5 Style: 5/5 Tone: 5/5 Cover: 5/10 Overall: 60/65 A
Favorite Quotes:
"I am amazed by how many individuals mess up every new day with yesterday. They insist on bringing into today the failures of yesterday and in doing so, they pollute a potentially wonderful day" (44).
"This book was wildly addicting and honest, when I wasn't reading about it I was wondering about what would happen next." — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Congratulations! You have been admitted to the most prestigious university in the world. Now what are you going to do?
Callie Andrews may not have money or connections or the right clothes, and she may have way too many complications in her love life, what with—
Gregory the guy she loves to hate Evan the guy she'd love to forget Clint the guy she'd love to love and Matt the guy she really should love —all vying for her attention.
But she has three fantastic roommates (best friends or her worst nightmare?) and a wholesome California-girl reputation (oops) and brains and beauty and big, big dreams.
Will it be enough to help her survive freshman year at Harvard?"
Why I read this: I'm not sure what made me read this book; I picked it up at BEA and liked the premise, but the cover really threw me off.
Plot: The plot was slow at first, but the tone of Alexis (page 1) was so fantastic it sparked my curiosity. For the first couple chapters, it was Alexis' "pre-chapter" advice that really kept me going. But once all of the characters were introduced (and I quit hearing about soccer and ACLs) and the premise was more thoroughly developed — I couldn't put this book down. I read it during Recreational Reading Fridays at school and in one class I actually laughed out loud! At first I struggled with the back and forth POV, but I found that at times I really did want to know what Gregory or Clint were thinking. It was also really fun reading about college experiences; it's homecoming at my alma mater and I'm feeling a little more than left out, as I'm the only one of my friends graduated and with a "real" job. It was fun reading all of Callie's college experiences and, I'll admit it, I googled Harvard's Graduate School. I can't help it! I miss being a student!
Characters: While fairly predictable and definitely stereotypical, these characters were honest. In reality, there are many freshmen students who fit the exact subscription of Callie and her friends. Many of you may not know, but before transferring to a small, South Dakota college, I attended San Diego State University my freshman year. While reading "The Ivy," I found myself thinking back on my own crazy freshman year. I did everything I was supposed to do, I joined a sorority, I participated in several campus activities, instead of spending hours in the library I watched Grey's, I spent hundreds of dollars on clothes and accessories and soon found myself broke — in retrospect, I completely changed who I was. And why not? I was half way across the country from my family. It took that year for me to realize that I don't belong in California — I'm a midwest girl all through. (Yes, there is a point to this). I feel like the same thing is happening to Callie in "The Ivy;" she's completely changed who she is in order to break onto the "scene." I can't judge her because, hey, I've been there! I can't wait to see what happens next to Callie, I hope she makes the right decision. Besides "The Duff," I haven't read such an honest novel in a very long time.
Cover: As previously stated, this cover didn't draw me to the book.
Random Thoughts: I love that Lauren is from California, went to Harvard, and is now writing creatively. She's 23 years old (same as me) and has really inspired me — hey, if she and Kody Keplinger can do it... what the heck am I waiting for! I am so excited for the next book!
Final Thoughts: While it did take a while to get into it, after the first couple chapters this book was wildly addicting and honest, when I wasn't reading about it I was wondering about what would happen next.
"This is the perfect novel for a reader who is looking for a vampire story with depth, with no right or wrong answer, and with something a little more mature than the popular Meyer-esque characters and plot." — Miss Remmers
From Barnes and Noble:
"From the shadowy banks of the river Thames to the wild and windswept Yorkshire coast, Dracula’s eternal muse, Mina Murray, vividly recounts the intimate details of what really transpired between her and the Count—the joys and terrors of a passionate affair that has linked them through the centuries, and her rebellion against her own frightening preternatural powers.
Mina’s version of this gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into Victorian England’s dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and asylum chambers, revealing the dark secrets and mysteries locked within. Time falls away as she is swept into a mythical journey far beyond mortal comprehension, where she must finally make the decision she has been avoiding for almost a millennium.
Bram Stoker’s classic novel offered one side of the story, in which Mina had no past and bore no responsibility for the unfolding events. Now, for the first time, the truth of Mina’s personal voyage, and of vampirism itself, is revealed. What this flesh and blood woman has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than the Victorians could have expressed or perhaps even have imagined."
Why I read this: After seeing a review of this book on a blog (which of course I can't remember), I commented that the book looked fantastic but after going to my local Barnes and Noble and seeing the $25 price tag, I would have to wait for the paperback edition. Hours later the author, Karen Essex, emailed me and offered to send me a copy. I happily (and thankfully) accepted.
Plot: "Dracula in Love" is the story of "Dracula" from Mina's perspective. I really appreciated the way the plot was laid out. Firstly, the narration is absolutely fantastic; Mina brings you in before the first chapter in a prologue. Various references to the man who originally told the story (Brom Stoker) intrigued my interests and added further depth to the story. I haven't read "Dracula" (yet), but I was still able to make connections with the infamous plot line of the original story and follow along. The plot had a very significant supernatural tone to it, which I think fits the time period well. The very small subplot in regards to women's rights and the unsureness of the supernatural helped me to get a feel for the time period. The added supernatural and "eternal" elements to the story really kept my interest, but there did come a point at the end of the novel where I became overwhelmed with all of the supernatural elements.
Characters: While there were a few characters that I had a hard time visualizing, for the most part these characters became very real to me. The characters are written so well that I didn't see the several character "surprises" that Essex had in store. I was genuinely surprised in regards to how certain characters turned out again and again. The Count's love for Mina was so well written and described, you couldn't help pity him. In the beginning Mina was such a likable character who was easy to relate to; in the end, however, she was barely recognizable at the end. While I understand why this is important to the plot, I would have preferred a more reasonable and realistic change to her character.
Cover: This cover is gorgeous! Definitely "grab" worthy.
Random Thoughts: I should mention that this is not like other contemporary vampiric novels; Essex never really says that Dracula is a vampire, it's only subtly implied. This is the primary reason I can't really see any of my freshman picking up this book solely based on the "vampire story." This fact, however, did not bother me. I think adult readers will prefer that there is some sort of thought required in regards to Dracula's existence, rather than being told "Dracula is a vampire, an immortal, who sucks blood from the neck of his victims." Essex's Dracula is full of much more depth than that.
Final Thoughts: "Dracula in Love" is a fantastic love story for anyone who is love with the idea of vampires; having read "Dracula" isn't a requirement to fall in love with the characters Dracula and Mina. Actually, since having finished "Dracula in Love" on Saturday, I am now listening to Stoker's "Dracula." "Dracula in Love" is the perfect novel for a reader who is looking for a vampire story with depth, with no right or wrong answer, and with something a little more mature than the popular Meyer-esque characters and plot.
In case you live under a rock or have severely neglected your Google Reader, you are aware that Beth Revis' "Across the Universe" was released yesterday. If you need to jolt your memory, take a look at any one of these fantastic posts:
Frenetic Reader The Compulsive Reader Books with Bite Book Soulmates Hooked To Books Chick Loves Lit Overflowing Shelf Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
I've heard talk about this novel for the past couple weeks and everyone sounded really excited. Here's the kicker and my confession: I ignored every single post in my Google Reader about this book. I ignored every review and every mention of it on Twitter. Yes, world — I stuck up my nose whenever I came across this book's title or cover.
Why?! You ask me WHY?
Because I hated the move "Across the Universe." Gasp. I know. Everybody supposedly loved that movie. Yes, I can appreciate the artistry and I love the Beatles music — but the movie did not float my boat. So immediately upon seeing the cover for Revis' "Across the Universe" and looking at the title — I became a book snob. I assumed it was book with the plot of the movie. I, for the life of me, couldn't figure out why everybody in the blogosphere was so excited for the release of "Across the Universe."
Then, on Monday I was pursuing Flippin' Fabulous and saw this review. I'm not sure why I didn't immediately scroll down or exit out like I had been for so many weeks, but I heaved a huge "here we go" sigh and actually read the synopsis and the review.
From Goodreads
A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder. Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.
After reading this I thought of one thing — my love for Battlestar Galactica.
Yes, I admit it. I love Battlestar Galactica. What do "Across the Universe" and Battlestar Galactica have in common (that I know of)? Basically this: "A spaceship built of secrets and murder." But it's enough to peak my interest!
I always knew I was a cover snob; I pick books up because they look pretty. But I never realized that I am an actual SNOB! That I would let the cover and title deter me from even being open minded about a book because I hated a movie just blows my mind (although, you have to admit, both covers do look similar). I feel bad as a reader that I would be so stuck up. So close-minded! It's something I definitely need to work on — to think, I almost would have never even looked at this book! It has a great synopsis and, I'll admit, the more I look at the cover the more I like it.
Beth, please take this post as the most sincere apology I could come up with. I can't wait to read your book in the very near future.
Godspeed.
Buy "Across the Universe": Amazon | Barnes and Noble Visit Beth Revis: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
In the past year or so I've read many, many… many Indie books. Mostly these have been New Adult titles. I might have an addiction: ) I'm very much behind on these reviews but I still wanted to mention them in a special feature. For the next week, I'm going to post mini-reviews for these titles. I plan to have about 5-8 books per post. Today I wanted to talk about the ones that have received 5 stars from me. I noticed, while going through my Indie reads, that most of my favorite books are not ones talked about the most. I hope that by featuring them here, they are able to get noticed more often.
Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole Add to Goodreads
This was such a cute story! The characters are wonderful and there's no doubt Dante is swoon-worthy. We get to explore another country and follow the main character as she tries to navigate in an environment she is very unfamiliar with. Dante's world is so different from her own but their connection and romance is adorable.
Highly recommended if you want something cute, funny, and perfect for summer.
Unlikely Allies by Tiffany King Add it to Goodreads This book was nothing like I expected. Kimberly finds out that her father is alive and she spends the summer with him and some kids at a summer camp for foster kids. I assumed this book was about her just falling for a guy but it was so much more than that. There is a whole, big, huge catastrophe in there that they are faced with. Kim and Mason don't start out on good terms but by the end, they are forced to get along for survival. This book is much more intense than it may seem. It was the first story I read from Tiffany and it is still my favorite of hers.
Crush by Lacey Weatherford Add to Goodreads I can't help it, I'm a sucker for bad boys and good girls. And Hunter Wilder? Oh yeah, totally loved him! There is a big, huge mystery in this book and Hunter is at the center of it. We get both POVs in this story and I can't tell you how happy I was to find out there would be a second book! I believe Smitten, book 2, is coming out very soon and I will be buying it asap. If you love a good romance with a bad boy, grab up this one. You won't be disappointed in the plot twist!
With the Band by Jean Haus Add to Goodreads I purchased this one randomly because I was in the mood for more band boy books. I honestly never expected to love it as much as I did. Riley is the main character and she loves music. She decides to join a band but one of the band members does not like this idea. Romeo is a jerk to Riley at first but she honestly can't figure out why. Eventually their sparks turn more passionate. I adored this entire book and especially the other side characters. They all had a little dysfunctional family but I felt the story was told in a way that was very realistic for college life. I have this one on my"re-read" list! If you love stories with hot musical males, get this! I know the cover may be a bit lacking but it really packs a punch.
The Truths About Dating and Mating by Jaycee Delorenzo Add to Goodreads Don't you love discovering a book randomly and finding out it rocks? This was another of those cases for me. I hadn't heard anything about this story but the blurb really grabbed me. Often, we read books where main characters have just met. But in this case, the characters had a long-standing friendship. Ivy and Ian are the perfect match. Ian is a bit of a bad boy (yes, like I said, I love them!), but he has a soft spot for Ivy. They even do a love radio show together which is hilarious! Their friendship soon turns into more and neither of them know how to handle it.
If you enjoy friends-to-lovers type of books, this one is for you. Plus, it's freakin' hilarious!
Falling for the Ghost of You by Nicole Christie Add to Goodreads This is one of those cases where you can't judge a book by its cover. This story starts with a bang and doesn't let up. I know we've heard this type of story a lot; girl meets stepbrother, he's hot, blah blah. But this one was actually so well-written and developed. Violet was funny, smart, and quirky. I enjoyed getting to know her. Zane is a bit older and so darn lovable!! Seriously, I want one of him, stat! When they end up living together, wowzers! Actually, reading the summary again just makes me want to re-read this asap. Funny, well-developed, and sizzling, this is perfect if you want a great love story with a twist.
Tear by Rachel Van Dyken Add to Goodreads
Another little-known fact — I love love triangles. But, only if they are good ones where I really feel the girl could be torn between the two guys. This one is exactly that! Two, famous, hot guys start going to Natalee's school so what girl can resist that? Alec and Demetri are both wonderful in their own ways. Demetri is much more open and flirty. Alec is quieter and more laid back. But the brothers share a secret and they are afraid for Natalee to find out. I really enjoyed this story and couldn't stop reading. It was really enjoyable and there is a second book so I'm excited to see what happens next.
Great for fans of love triangles and rocker guys.
Up in Flames by Nicole Williams Add to Goodreads Who doesn't love firefighters? This book opened up an entire new world to me. I had never heard of smokejumpers before this book. Now, I love them! Elle is from a very small town and this book carries out that vibe very well. Cole, and the other smokejumpers, come around to help with wildfires and the girls flock. While Elle is used to being settled down, Cole dreams of traveling and having fun. I really loved these characters and we are able to learn a lot about each one. The plot was a bit predictable but I really focused on the connection between the characters. The town reminded me of where I grew up and the book was well-written and paced. Very enjoyable!
If you want guys in uniform (YEAH!) and a sweet romance with some hot action, this is for you.
The Voice by Janenifer Anne Davis Add to Goodreads
The author contacted me for this one and although I wasn't crazy about the cover at first, the summary sparked my interests. Audrey is abducted and held captive in the woods. While there, she begins to hear voices. Once she gets home she ends up moving away with an aunt in order to get away from the stress from her family and friends watching over her. That's where she meets the twins Caleb and Justin. Caleb is super friendly and caring. He wants to be friends with Audrey immediately. Justin, on the other hand, is very closed-off and seems to want nothing to do with Audrey. But they are all more connected than it seems. This book has a huge twist and I am really keeping my fingers crossed that this will end up being a series. I need more of these characters!
If you want something pretty intense, with some nice twists in the plot, get this book. It's truly amazing! Was really shocked at how well this was written and developed, and by how much it intrigued me from the start.
I am honored to kick off the tour for Damned, the second book in the Crusade series. I have an interview with both authors, Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié and an amazing ARC giveaway listed below. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour. You can see the stops on Nancy Holder's blog.
1. What is it like working with another person on a book? Do you two have a certain system for writing?
Debbie: It’s amazing and fun. What’s great about our relationship is that her strengths are my weaknesses and vice versa. We are able to rely on eachother. Also, the ideas are exciting because with the two of us working on a book it morphs into something awesome that isn’t necessarily what either of us would have done if working solo. Being a co-author means you have to put your ego aside and decide together what’s best for the story. Nancy and I have had no problems doing this with each other and the results have been remarkable! We usually trade off writing chapters and then we swap and edit until by the end we can’t even tell who wrotewhat originally!
Nancy: The real question is, What is it like to working with DEBBIE on a book? It’s no wonder we write about magic. Not only do we complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but we often independently come up with the same edits and fixes. We’re about to celebrate a decade of partnership and it’s flown by.
2. This question is for both of you. Who is your favorite character to write about? Do you tend to focus on certain characters over others while writing?
Debbie: I love writing for Jamie. He isn’t my favorite character, but writing him is just fun. We try really hard to give all the characters a lot of time to have their story unfold. We try to make sure we have several point of view scenes for each main character.
Nancy: Antonio. I love him. I admire him and I would tell you that I pity him, but if he found out he’d be very cross with me.
3. How did you develop the world we see in CRUSADE and DAMNED?
Debbie: We thought about what it would be like if WWIII happened with vampires as the enemies. We tried to craft a world that we thought was a realistic depiction of how people and nations react in times of great despair and how they try to fight foes that seem unbeatable.
Nancy: Our vampire hunters are like the Resistance in World War II. They’re outnumbered and outgunned, but they have stealth and courage on their side. There were so many unsung heroes in WWII. This is our tribute to them, and to soldiers in the trenches today.
4. If each of you could describe your main characters in one word each, what would they be?
Debbie: Jenn heroic Antonio devoted Skye conflicted Jamie explosive Eriko tormented Holgar compassionate Father Juan enigmatic
Nancy: Jenn couragous Antonio idealistic Skye awakened Jamie bitter Eriko suffering Holgar warm Father Juan mysterious
5. What was your reaction to the new covers for the series?
Debbie: I love, love, love the cover of Damned. I think it’s vibrant and exciting and the fact that Antonio has his sleeves rolled up in a snowstorm shows you just how different he is from humans.
Nancy: I also love the cover of Damned. The name of our cover model is Sterling and he’s been in Los Angeles auditioning for pilot season. Good luck, Sterling!
6. If you could both pick to be a vampire, werewolf, witch, or hunter, which would you pick and why?
Debbie: Werewolf. You get to live a normal life except for one night a month at which point you get to unleash your inner animal. It sounds very cathartic. (Frightening and horrific too, but not as life altering ultimately as the others.)
Nancy: Witch Definitely. You have powers to change the fabric of the universe based in a tradition of goodness and mercy.
Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 30th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 384 pages Series: Crusade #2 There is a fine line between love and sacrifice… Antonio would do anything for his beloved fighting partner Janen. He protects her, even suppresses his vampire cravings to be with her. Together, they defend humanity against the Cursed Ones. But tensions threaten to fracture their hunting team and his loyalty—his love—is called into question. Jenn, the newly appointed Hunter, aches for revenge against the Cursed One who converted her sister. And with an even more sinister power on the rise, she must overcome her personal vendettas to lead her team into battle. Antonio and Janen need each other to survive, but evil lurks at every turn. With humanity’s fate hanging in the balance, they must face down the darkness… or die trying.
Prize:
1 winner will receive an ARC of Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié and a SIGNED bookplate for your book (signed by both authors!).
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is INTERNATIONAL and ends August 15th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
This year we wanted to add to the excitement of Top 10 lists by making it an event! Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Rachel from Fiktshun & Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and and I are hosting a top 10 week where everyone can join the fun! You can check out this post for more information. Each day you add your top 10 list to the linky (below), you get an extra entry into the giveaway for a $50 amazon gift card! Just remember, each day will have a linky for THAT Top 10 topic and your list has to be for that top 10.
Today is Top 10 Book Covers of 2011!
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi HarperCollins (November 15th, 2011)
Why: This cover is beautiful! It's one you have to see in person to truly see the beauty of it. I think the girl really shows a strong personality — which is exactly what Juliette is. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini HarperCollins (May 31st, 2011) Why: I fell in love with this cover from day one and it is another one you have to see in person. The shimmer effect some of these newer books have is just incredible! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: How do you defy destiny? Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood.. and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history. As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.
Divergent by Veronica Roth Katherine Tegen Books (May 3rd, 2011)
Why: This cover screams"powerful" to me and that perfectly describes this book. I can't imagine a better cover for this title. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.
Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle Patrice Michelle (June 27th, 2011) Why: Isn't this so pretty? Everything about this cover drew me in — the colors, the trees, the girl, the dress — all perfect! Plus I really think it fits the vibe of the book. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate… until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.
After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.
Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young Balzer & Bray (June 21st, 2011)
Why: I really like the golden look of this cover. I know some people are turned off when a person is on the cover but I like it. I like having a glimpse at a character and this was another cover that I felt showed off the theme of the story. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten…
Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.
Love Story by Janenifer Echols MTV Books (July 19th, 2011) Why: I admit it, I'm a hopeless romantic. If a guy and girl are on a cover being all"cutie patootie" together, it grabs my heart. This is one of many of these covers but this one was my favorite"couple" cover. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:She's writing about him. he's writing about her. And everybody is reading between the lines.
For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter.. so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?
Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter.. except this story could come true.
Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey Penguin (December 8th, 2011)
Why: Who wouldn't think this is beautiful?? The colors are amazing and the way the dress turns into flower petals. so pretty! Even the text is so nice and detailed. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: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.
Wither by Lauren DeStefano Simon & Schuster (March 22nd, 2011) Why: The detail work that went into this cover is outstanding. Each part has significance to the story (which is a big perk to me) and it just gave off that"dystopian" look. Another book you gotta make sure to see in person! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.
Hourglass by Myra McEntire Egmont (June 14th, 2011)
Why: This cover really makes you think. It's so unique and I do love the color (obviously!). Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:One hour to rewrite the past.. For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past. Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes New American Library (March 1st, 2011) Why: Beautiful!! I never thought I'd love a cover that was mostly black with just a touch of color, but wow, this one is perfect! The girl is gorgeous (and that hair, OMG), and the black flowers really make the red dress pop out. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams. As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.
Tomorrow's Topic — Top 10 Book Boyfriends!
Don't forget to link each day! Signing up & then linking your Top 10 posts early you EXTRA entries into the $50.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. The last day to share your posts is January 8th, 2012. The winner will be picked using Random.org and announced during the week of the 9th, 2012. Good Luck!
NOTE: this is the SAME Linky on each of the Co-Hosts Blogs, so please only enter your Name, Blog Name and URL once. Thanks!
2. What are some of the favorite features you see bloggers do?
I really enjoy a chance to interact with book people. I was even invited to do a live chat in Spanish! Another thing I've been grateful for is the chance to donate books to charity auctions and literacy campaigns. We all love books, stories, movies, and talking about the arts. I like hearing about new books to read, which I get from bloggers. — Nancy Holder
Contests and giveaways are great, of course, especially when I get the opportunity to share my books. I’ll often peek at the IMM’s and WoWs just to see what bloggers are getting and what they’re looking forward to. I really enjoy discussions, though. Whether it’s about covers or characters or whatever, it’s fun to see two or more bloggers go back and forth on a particular topic. It doesn’t matter if they agree or disagree with each other, I just enjoy the conversation. It’s like being a fly on the wall of a kitchen where two reader friends talk about what they just read, a character they hate or love, a plot twist that really threw them, comparing books, etc. I would love to be able to sit in on these conversations that go on all over the world at any given time. They’re fun and I learn a lot as a writer. I’d love to see these done more often on the blogs. — Kristie Cook
As an author I do interviews for a lot of blogs. It can be difficult to come up with new and interesting answers. I adore those bloggers who ask me off-the-wall ones, they make me work for it (LOL). I also like blogging as one of my characters. Again, it’s something different and fun. And my characters get to chance to “show off.” — Jana Oliver
The Challenges are cool. Of course, I love the Historical Fiction Challenge. The In My Mailbox meme is exciting – it has that ‘new car’ feel to it. I love when a great idea catches fire, and you see — Julie Chibbaro
Oh, wow, that is so hard. I would have to say that I love character interviews. I also love traditional reviews, though. There's nothing more satisfying than reading how a book emotionally impacts a reader in his or her own words. — Janenifer DeLucy
What especially impresses me is when bloggers do something off the beaten track, or generate deeper discussions about books and other YA topics. Creative and interactive posts are always fun, and I’ll confess… it never fails to make my day when I see someone’s “Waiting on Wednesday” featuring one of my books.: ) — Holly Cupala
I love interviews, especially the ones that really go in depth about writing or books, something more than just"Where did you get the idea for this novel?" I also am rather fond of the"Waiting on Wednesday" meme--I've found several new books that way. — Beth Revis
Bloggers do so many wonderful features. “Waiting on Wednesday” and similar features are great, because they spread the word about upcoming titles. Interviews and guest posts are also fantastic, as they give authors an opportunity to discuss their novels and to share their thoughts with readers. I have seen so many other fun and informative features that I have enjoyed, too. I’m quite impressed with bloggers’ insightfulness and creativity! — Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
There are so many fun aspects of books that bloggers have picked up on, making it difficult for me to choose. I love cover art, and I love the mailbag segments that you do where you show off what's come in the mail. As much as I like reviews of specific books, I like to hear from bloggers about how how they feel about common elements in many of today's popular books. Reading thoughts on what makes a good love triangle, villain, or fantasy world would be fun. One thing I would like that I don't think I've ever seen anyone do would be to choose a short excerpt from a book and describe why you like it. Doing some close reading in the way would be a nice way to think deeply about a book. — Jason Letts
The blog hops, waiting on wednesday, in my mailbox come to mind. — Brenda Pandos
* The third question for the bloggers will be posted tomorrow in 3 parts. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.
"Not only a page turner, but a 'stay-up-all-night-to-finish' book!" — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart. Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever.Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift."
Why I read this: The cover was definitely a "draw in" for me, plus the synopsis, and the author is amazingly approachable and funny — the recipe of a great read!
Plot: Set in "post-Shift", where anyone born after the Shift can see and communicate with the dead, "Shade" is a fantastically riveting read that intrigues readers from the beginning. The idea alone that the young are so separated from the older generation because of this "dis/ability" is alluring enough when you take into consideration how anyone under the age of 17 today assumes they are so disconnected from my generation or older. The plot was unlike anything I had ever read and I couldn't get enough of it.
Characters: I really connected with Aura's character; I can definitely see why she wants to get rid of her "ability" and I love how persistent she is to find the truth. This novel is so heart-breakingly honest, especially during the trial. My emotions throughout the novel ranged from "Oh my gosh are they really... " and "Oh he didn't... " (at the beginning), to mortification and embarrassment (towards the end), and finally settled at "I need the next book!" (the last page). These characters were so real to me that I felt like I had went on this journey right along with Aura, Logan, and Zach.
Speaking of Zach, he definitely gets my vote (can you say "sweetheart"!). His whole story line was definitely intriguing, page turning, and completely surprising.
Cover: This cover is SO eye-catching and alluring, before even meeting the author or reading the synopsis I knew I wanted to read this book due to the beautiful cover.
Random Thoughts: I'm just going to say... I need the next book.
Final Thoughts: I am so upset that I let this book sit on my bookshelf for seven months. It was so fantastic! Not only a page turner, but a "stay up all night to finish" book! I definitely recommend this novel to readers of all ages who are looking for an exciting read. I love this book so much it'll be my first classroom book talk for the New Year! Definitely read this novel.
I love being able to say I know the TRUE story of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.'" — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"The chief part of the stories, however, turned upon the favorite specter of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman, who had been heard several times of late, patrolling the country; and, it was said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard. The story was immediately matched by a thrice marvelous adventure of Brom Bones, who made light of the Galloping Hessian as an arrant jockey. He affirmed that on returning one night from the neighboring village of Sing Sing, he had been overtaken by this midnight trooper; that he had offered to race with him for a bowl of punch, and should have won it too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they came to the church bridge, the Hessian bolted, and vanished in a flash of fire. All these tales, told in that drowsy undertone with which men talk in the dark, the countenances of the listeners only now and then receiving a casual gleam from the glare of a pipe, sank deep in the mind of Ichabod... . "
Why I read this: Who doesn't love the story of "Sleepy Hollow" around Halloween! This has been on my TBR list for a long time; when I realized that Gutenberg had it I began listening to it every spare moment I had.
Plot: It was fascinating hearing/reading the plot as it was originally meant to be told; so many people assume they know the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman because of the countless retellings. There is nothing better than reading the original story and realizing how it has been distorted throughout the years via literature and movie renditions.
Characters: The characters really came to life in the original story of Sleepy Hollow. I really understood exactly how nerdy Ichabod was (and not in that Johnny Depp sort of way). I was also given a whole new perspective on Katrina and her coquettish ways.
Cover: If it weren't for my love of literature (or if I were a high school student), I would not pick up this book because of the cover. It just sort of screams dull and old. I definitely vote on a new cover to inspire more contemporary readers to pick this book up.
Random Thoughts: It was fantastic to read/ listen to this book in October when the haunting season has just begun. There were moments of the text that were very heavy because of the large amount of description so it was nice to be listening to it so that I could be multi-tasking. Towards the end when the Headless Horseman makes his appearance the narrator couldn't speak fast enough.
Final Thoughts: This was a fantastic read for October. I love being able to say I know the TRUE story of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." I think on October 29th (it's our Recreational Reading day), I'll have my students listen to this fantastic original.
"It's worth it to read two equally fantastic love stories that will have you gasping for surprise and blushing with excitement" — Miss Remmers
Release Date: March 27th, 2012 Publisher: Open Road Media Challenges: NetGalley, 75+, eBook
"Elizabeth Farr never wanted to return to America. During her family’s vacation abroad, she has fallen in love with England, and is despondent when her father refuses to let her stay. Returning to New York means having her debut into society, and that means a swiftly arranged marriage. Elizabeth will never go to college, never learn to be a reporter—as she sees it, her life is over as soon as the Titanic reaches port. Of course, if she’s unlucky, her life will be over far sooner than that.
As Elizabeth and her family settle into their first-class cabins, Katie Hanrahan, a young Irish girl with dreams of finding fortune in America, makes her way to a steerage berth. Both girls have plans for the future, but love and death are about to intervene."
Two Diane Hoh books in one week; last week I reviewed Hoh's "The Invitation" and alluded to my favorite book — well folks, this is it! "The Long Night" was the first book that kept me up all night under the covers with a flash light.
On Friday (Recreational Reading day) I was all prepared to read "Kill Me Softly" — except when I started up my Nook it wasn't there! Rather than waste a good day of reading by, oh I don't know, grading, I decided to read the galley of "Titanic: The Long Night." Folks, it's literally been forever since I've reread a book — probably since I started blogging! I was wary of dipping back into these pages after all of these years because I didn't want to lose the magic. I was afraid that while reading this novel as an adult I'd pick up on the shallow characters/plot where I didn't as a young reader. I'm happy to say that that didn't happen. As an adult I'm still in love with Elizabeth and Max and (more importantly) I was able to fall in love again with Katie and Paddy. Yes, somehow throughout the years I forgot about this parallel story line (which, actually, happens to be JUST as good as the first — how often does that happen?). When I got to the first switch in narrative it all came back to me and I was immediately excited.
While much of the narration and description came back to me as if I had just read it a week ago, the feelings of excitement, embarrassment (for the characters), surprise, hurt, and love were still there as if I were reading this book for the very first time. Even though I knew what was coming, I found myself anticipating my reaction but each time the feelings somehow felt new and unexperienced. It was amazing.
Overall, this book was just as great as an adult as it was when I was a child. Really, folks — I had my mom (a librarian) make my book a hardcover (via laminating and somehow taking it apart — I don't know, she's apparently a genius) so that it would never "go bad." I loved it that much!
I know this is more of a review of my feelings and experiences rather than the book itself, but I definitely recommend taking advantage of the rerelease and getting your hands on a copy of this book. It's worth it to read two equally fantastic love stories that will have you gasping for surprise and blushing with excitement (no, not that kind of excitement!).
Below is the 1998 cover that I fell in love with and definitely still prefer. Even though Elizabeth is animated — I like her look more than the newer cover. But perhaps that's because of my emotional stake in the novel.:)
PS: This would be a great read for the Titanic Challenge (starting this weekend!).
-Connect with the author: Goodreads -BUY THE BOOK: Kindle | Barnes and Noble
To the FTC, with love: Galley received from NetGalley (and personal owned copy from 1998)
"This is a fantastic read that's unlike any other I've read. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves the werewolf/vampire craze (admit it...) — this is unique read and you'll find yourself on the new pixie craze next!" — Miss Remmers
From Goodreads...
"Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane... but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.
She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right — not human — in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.
In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you'd have to fear."
Why I read this: I received an awesome poster at BEA advertising Need, Captivate, and Entice and I figured I had better have these books on my classroom shelves if I was going to hang the poster. So I purchased Need and Captivate. I love the covers, very eye catching.
Plot: It took me a while to get into the plot because it was SO mysterious. I felt like there were a few too many factors left out. When questions started to be answered, I also felt like it was done in a very sneaky way. There were parts I had to reread because I had assumed I missed the big "oh, yea... " moment only to find out that the moment was three chapters ahead. Apart from that, the plot was fast moving, captivating, and addicting. I hated putting this book down. There were some fantastic "twists" in the plot that I never saw coming — never even considered! That doesn't happen a lot! I love the idea of pixies as well, it kind of threw me off at first and I had to overcome the urge to say, "Pixies?! Come on." But it's written so well that by the end I really was afraid of these man-eating, soul-sucking pixies!
Characters: I really connected with Zara, although I dislike the name. Witnessing her father dying and having to leave home to live with her Grandma in unfamiliar territory. Her personality and fear of life was really easy to relate to for me and for I think most people. I loved Nick! I'd love to see him portrayed on the big screen. I really adored Issie and Devyn as well, reading about their cute innocent romance made my day. I hate to admit it, but I really felt for the Pixie King; I don't want to give anything away, but I could see myself liking his character in the next book.
Cover: I adore this cover. When my students saw it on my desk, especially the girls, they were drawn to pick it up and see what it was about.
Random Thoughts: I love Betty!!
Final Thoughts: This is a fantastic read that's unlike any other I've read. I highly recommend it to any YA reader, but especially to anyone who loves the werewolf/vampire craze (admit it...) — this is unique read and you'll find yourself on the new pixie craze next!
"While a bit of a let down after "Need," "Captivate" surpasses it's predecessor in regards to plot and with an added "drool-worthy" male protagonist (or antagonist)." — Miss Remmers
Book Description:
"Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.
A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure — despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life — and his."
Why I read this: I enjoyed the first novel in the series, "Need, " and wanted to continue with it.
Plot: I much more enjoyed the plot of "Captivate" than the plot of "Need." With "Need" I felt left out of the loop, constantly curious about what I had missed. "Captivate" was just as fast paced and captivating (no pun intended), but I didn't feel lost in all the mystery. I still love the idea of evil pixies, but I'm not even more in love GOOD pixies! I'm definitely Team Astley (if there were such a team).
Characters: If you look at my review of "Need, " you'll notice a significant decrease in my love (or lack there of) for these two books. "Need," despite the overly mysterious plot, was fantastic. "Captivate," at times, made me cringe and I feel like a lot of it has to do with characters and dialogue. The dialogue felt forced, overly dramatic and self-righteous; I really struggled with the tone and voice of this novel. To me, because it sounded so forced, it sounded fake and weak when the characters were meant to be real and strong. The monologues of self-righteousness just killed me as well as the monologues filled with Buffy pop-culture. While the plot line of Buffy and these novels are extremely similar, I would have never recognized it without the character constantly bringing it up. Now that I'm aware of the similarities it is all I can think of.
All is not lost, however, because of the fantastic character that is Astley. He is the reason I will continue to read this series. Fantastically mysterious and potentially dangerous at the same time, I can't wait to find out what happens next (and I pray that Zara doesn't break his heart)!
Cover: Again, isn't this cover fantastic!!
Random Thoughts: I think I covered most of my random thoughts about dialogue and monologues when talking about characters.
Final Thoughts: While a bit of a let down after "Need," "Captivate" surpasses it's predecessor in regards to plot and with an added "drool-worthy" male protagonist (or antagonist).
Originality: 10/10 Ending: 8/10 Characters: 5/10 Plot: 10/10 My reaction/enjoyment: 8/10 Theme: 10/10 Imagery: 10/10 Setting: 5/5 Voice: 3/5 Style: 3/5 Tone: 3/5 Cover: 10/10 (I LOVED this cover!) Overall: 85/100 B
To the FTC, with love: Bought
The third NEED novel, Entice, will be released on December 14th, 2010.
Lots of things to talk about today. First, here are a few contest winners.
The winner of a signed copy of Trauma Queen, 3 bottles of nail polish, and a t-shirt is… Jessica L.
The winner of a limited edition signed print of The Sisters Brothers is… Mickey @ imabookshark
Congrats you two. Please email me back within 48 hours with your mailing addresses.
I had to mention this cover because for some reason I didn't even know it was released yet! Love that blue.sooo pretty! This is Soul Thief, book 2 in The Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver.Release Date: August 30th, 2011Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Riley Blackthorne’s adventures continue in the second spellbinding Demon Trappers novel, as she battles demons… and a love that could destroy her At the start of the second thrilling installment of the Demon Trappers series, 17-year-old Riley Blackthorne has about had it up to here. After the devastating battle at the Tabernacle, trappers are dead and injured, her sweet boyfriend Simon is gravely injured, and now her beloved late father’s been illegally poached from his grave by a very powerful necromancer. Add to the mix: Ori, one sizzling hot freelance demon hunter who’s made himself Riley’s unofficial body guard, and Beck, a super over-protective “friend” who acts more like a grouchy granddad, and Riley’s almost ready to leave Atlanta altogether. But as the demon count in Atlanta increases, the already crippled Trappers Guild has its hands full, and, when the Vatican finally sends its own Demon Hunters to take care of the city’s “little” problem, pandemonium breaks loose. Only Riley knows that she might be the center of Hell’s attention: an extremely powerful Grade 5 demon is stalking her, and her luck can't last forever. As Riley’s life becomes a dangerous balancing act, will she be strong enough not to tip? And who will be there to catch her if she falls? USE GOOGLE to see The Demon Trapper's site and grab a widget.
I will be hosting a week-long event highlighting relationship abuse and ways to stop/prevent it. Authors Deb Caletti, Janenifer Brown, and Mandy Hubbard will be here discussing their books and providing links to helpful sites people can use if they are in an abusive relationship.
It will be from June 27th- July 1st and the authors and their publishers were kind enough to donate books for the event.
USE GOOGLE to learn more about the books: Stay by Deb Caletti, Bitter End by Janenifer Brown, and But I Love Him by Amanda Grace (Mandy Hubbard).
"I can't wait to bring both of these books into my classroom for my students." — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past... and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabelle, who already lost her brother to the wolves... and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love — the light and the dark, the warm and the cold — in a way you will never forget."
Why I read this: I adored Shiver and couldn't wait to see what happened next for Sam and Grace.
Plot: The plot wasn't was fast-paced and captivating as Shiver, but it held my attention enough. I felt like it was very repetitive in regards to Grace and Cole's conditions — it could have moved a bit faster. Once I realized where Cole's plot line came in I liked it, but until that moment towards the last few chapters of the book I didn't know what to expect with Cole and felt like he was kind of taking of space.
Characters: The characters are what made this book. I adore the relationship between Sam and Grace and I loved the how Cole described their relationship. Hearing someone else's description of the two love-birds made me want an outsider to describe my own relationship simply because "I want that." Weird, isn't it? I really loved getting to know Isabel better. She's so tortured — I love it! (Is that weird?)
Relatability: I am not in love with a werewolf and have no intention of being bitten by and becoming a werewolf myself. But I could relate to Sam and Grace's feelings for each other. There's a line where Sam describes seeing her for the first time in a long time and he says (something around the lines of) — I miss her more now that she's here beside me. At first that line was confusing, but then I realized that when you're really in love it's not that "you don't know what you have until it's gone," painfully you know exactly what you have when you have it and you're afraid to lose it.
Cover: I ADORE the covers of both Shiver and Linger.
Random Thoughts: In both Shiver and Linger I really disliked all the lyrics. But maybe if I were a teenager again I'd see the appeal to the emotional tortured soul. I also really REALLY dislike Grace's parents — UGH!
Final Thoughts: I can't wait to bring both of these books into my classroom for my students. Highly recommended!
Kristie Cook is here today to show us the brand new covers for her Soul Savers series, Promise and Purpose.
Leave a comment below telling us what you think about the new cover and enter for a chance to win some awesome swag!
Can you talk a little bit about the old covers vs. the new covers and how the change came about?
The old covers are pretty. The new ones are gorgeous. ‘nuff said. Haha! Okay, I’ll be serious. The old covers are symbolic, but no one gets the symbolism until I explain it, so it’s pretty much lost on everyone. And for some reason, the flowers seem to give the impression that the books are Young Adult, but they’re not. I also didn’t know how to carry the look out through the entire Soul Savers series. I’d hoped to find a professional cover artist by now who could take my vision and turn it into art and I did – author Brenda Pandos. She did an amazing job and we now have a theme to work with for the rest of the series.
What’s your favorite thing about the new covers?
Oh, so not fair. I love everything about them. One thing that’s important to me is not giving the reader a pre-conceived idea of what the main characters look like. I want the reader to take the basics I give them and make them their own. But I still wanted people on the covers, so I’m really happy with how the people are there, but not. The whole scene for each one just really encapsulates the stories. What’s your favorite thing?
It’s amazing that each book has some additional content; can you talk a bit about those changes and how it’ll impact anyone who’s already read the first two books in the series?
Promise – By the time PROMISE went to publication, it had been manipulated a lot, always in the best interest of the story. But in my heart, I always felt a little dissatisfied with it because, for me, it wasn’t “what really happened.” The order of events was changed up and scenes were altered or deleted when they shouldn’t have been. One scene has a change that isn’t huge but comes up in future books, the events have been returned to the order in which they really happened and a scene that had been deleted is now back in, providing some character insight that I think is much needed. There are some other minor changes, too—bringing back a sentence here or there that had been deleted and getting rid of others that shouldn’t have been added.
Purpose – The changes in PURPOSE are much less extensive than those in PROMISE. When I first wrote the books, they were actually one book and the middle section, the bridge between the two, was a series of letters Alexis had written Tristan on each of their anniversaries. Although she couldn’t send them, this was her way of keeping him updated on her and Dorian’s lives – and also bringing the reader up to speed. When I split the books, I took the letters out and tried to weave those things into the story. However, a lot of readers have the wrong impression of what Alexis had been like over the years and why she’s such a mess in the beginning of PURPOSE. The reason is not what everyone seems to think! I haven’t put the letters back in, but I’ve made some tweaks to the first few chapters to give the reader a better understanding of the past and the present. I may post the letters on my website or blog one of these days.
For the last year, I’d had a secret fantasy to go back and make all these changes. With the new covers and a few other additions – such as adding an excerpt of the next book – we had to obtain new ISBNs, which is basically the new bar code that says “this is a different book.” Since we have to go through all that anyway, we figured we may as well make it worth it. So my publisher let me fulfill my fantasy. Isn’t she awesome?
If you’ve already read PROMISE and PURPOSE, you don’t have to read the new releases to understand the future books. The one change in PROMISE that comes up in later books isn’t major enough to throw you into a big state of confusion if you haven’t read it. But if you’re up for reading them again, I think you’ll get a better grasp of Alexis and Tristan and what motivates their behavior in these two books. Also, PURPOSE has an excerpt of DEVOTION, Book 3, at the end.
When will we be able to purchase the books with the new covers and content? And for those of us with eReaders, when will they be available for download?
They’ll go live on Kindle hopefully by early next week and on Nook about the same time. It might take a week or two before they’re up on the other ereaders. They’ll be available in paperback format on my publisher’s store website ( http://www.readourwrites.com/ ) and Amazon in the next week or so and on other retailer sites in a month or two (sorry, but those guys just take longer to update their sites).
And lastly, can you go over some dates with us? For the novella, Genesis and the third book in the Soul Savers series – Devotion? When will we get a chance to see those covers and when will they be available for purchase?
GENESIS comes out October 28, 2011. The cover will be revealed later this month. I can’t wait!
DEVOTION comes out February 10, 2012. I expect the cover to be ready to share in September or October. I know it will be gorgeous, too.
Kristie, Thanks so much for stopping by both — A Life Bound By Books & Confessions of a Bookaholic — and for sharing the new covers with everyone. We can’t wait to re-read the first two books and the new content and to read Genesis & Devotion!
Thank you so much for having me! It’s always a pleasure to visit both of you and all your followers. I can’t wait to hear what you think. And seriously – what is your favorite thing about the new covers? Fill out the form and enter to win a Soul Savers Series swag pack. Two chances to win – one on each blog — here and at A Life Bound By Books!
Kristie has another giveaway going on over at her blog. Be sure to visit, check it out and enter to win some amazing prize packs! ~USE GOOGLE~
Kristie is giving a lucky winner a Soul Saver Series swag pack! Two chances to win — one here and one on Lisa's blog!! So enter here and over at A Life Bound By Books!
Now, are you ready to see the new cover?!?Promise (Soul Savers #1)
OLD COVER
NEW COVERTo see the cover of Purpose (Soul Savers #2) check out A Life Bound By Books.
GiveawayPrize:
1 winner will receive a Soul Savers swag pack.
Rules:
You must be at least 18 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US Only and ends August 22nd.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
I think the new covers fit the story perfectly! I can't wait to see what the next cover will be like. I think that now people can glance at the cover and get an idea of the story. Plus, it doesn't look YA anymore (especially Promise!). Great job Kristie and Brenda!! Now I'll have to add these to my collection!!
"The entire time I read this, I kept thinking: what a great read for middle school boys. My next thought was 'Thank goodness they sent me book two! Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword.'" — Miss Remmers
I read this book in Central Park during BEA!
From Amazon.com...
"August 1611. Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan – his beloved father and the crew lie slaughtered by ninja pirates. Rescued by the legendary sword master Masamoto Takeshi, Jack's only hope is to become a samurai warrior. And so his training begins. But life at the samurai school is a constant fight for survival. Even with his friend Akiko by his side, Jack is singled out by bullies and treated as an outcast. With courage in his heart and his sword held high, can Jack prove himself and face his deadliest rival yet?"
This is one of those review books I feel absolutely awful about — I mean, really awful. I put it off and put it off (for months) and the publicist and author were SO nice to me. Chris Bradford even did a guest post! But no matter how much I pressured myself, I could not pick up this book. Finally, when it came time to pack for BEA I decided that I would only bring TWO books: The Paradox of Choice and Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior. After finishing The Paradox of Choice I very begrudgingly picked up this book (simply because I had to).
I quickly realized that I had made a grave mistake.
After the first chapter I was completely enveloped into the story and could not put it down. I just HAD to find out what would happen to Jack. Sheila pretty much had to force me out of Central Park that day! I ended up finishing this book the next day while standing in different lines for autographs at BEA. A few odd looks were thrown my way, I had WONDERFUL new books that people had traveled so far for in my bag, but was reading this book instead — a book that nearly no one seemed to have heard about.
Oh what they don't know.
I'll stop gushing and put myself together for the review.
Apart from this book being absolutely fantastic — the characters were all so clear and each with their own individual voice, the plot was fast moving and well directed, the culture depicted was flawless (well, I don't know since I'm not Japanese... but it sounds legit), and the language was superb. I was a little bit weary, after realizing that the entirety of this novel took place in Japan. I don't speak Japanese. Jack doesn't speak Japanese. I was very curious to see how Chris Bradford could even attempt to bridge this gap between Jack and the Japanese and how Jack would be able to communicate with the Japanese. I simply can't explain how he did it, but Chris Bradford effortlessly seemed to entwine these two impossibly different cultures so successfully that half the time when I was reading I'd forget that Jack was not Japanese! This was one of the most impressive aspects of this book.
The plot was fantastic. Every chapter ended with a "cliff hanger" — which aided the fact that I could NOT put it down! It was fast paced and adventure driven — something my reluctant readers (especially boys) will just love! The entire time I read this I kept thinking, what a great read for middle school or high school (with lower reading levels) boys. My next thought was "Thank goodness they sent me book two! Young Samurai: The Way of the Sword."
There were a few things I didn't necessarily love. The ending came pretty quick — but oh, it was a wonderful ending! So scratch that, now that I think about it, I wouldn't change a thing about the ending. I guess the only thing I can really say I disliked, and yes this will be shallow, was the cover. It was this cover that kept me away from this fantastic read for so long. I'm not sure what it is about it — but I know it will be a "pain in my butt"when I try to sway my boys to read this. I think, as a general society, we are all so driven by the cover of a book, and in this particular case it will be the cover that hinders my students from picking this book up (which is a sad thought indeed).
But hopefully with some pushing and enthusiasm I can get my boys (and girls) to pick this fantastic read up. Stay tuned for a review of Book Two (I forgot to pack it so it's at home) and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be reading the third as well (out in August).
